THE TOMB IS EMPTY!!

HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID!!

(What else needs to be said?)

DO WE REALLY BELIEVE IT??

A question - when we (who claim to be Christians) choose not to allow God to work in our lives when we are struggling, hurting, having relationship problems with our spouse, friend, or co-worker, need spiritual, mental, physical, or emotional healing, are weary and worn out, are feeling hopeless, or any other problem you can think of - isn't that a slap in God's face? Actually, if we proclaim that the God whom we serve can do all things, heal all hurts, restore all relationships, replace all heartache with joy, why do we not let him take it from us? Why do we keep hanging on to the stuff? Why do we think we have to be in control? Are we merely saying one thing and doing another? Is this thing called "faith" merely lip service? Is the God of the universe who spoke into being the very world in which we exist unable to help us?

I ask this question because we are preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Christ this Sunday. Yet I feel like many live under the shadow of Good Friday, stuck in a grave with a stone rolled over the entrance. We say we believe in resurrection, but do we really believe that new life is available, resurrected life?

I confess, it's probably my own frustration with many of the things that have occurred recently. But folks, Jesus has come into our world to give us new, joyful, abundant life. When we choose not to believe that and appropriate what he has done for us on the cross we are in essence saying, "God, I don't really believe you can do anything about my situation. This is too big for you. Besides, I don't want to go through what it takes for you to help me". Well, do we really think that Jesus wanted to go through the crucifixion and death on the cross, that he just couldn't wait to be whipped, and beaten, and spit upon, and mocked? Yet, because he loved us so much, he did it. And miracle upon miracle, death did not have the final say. He rose from the grave on the 3rd day just as he promised.

That same victory is available to all of us. But believing is more than empty words and empty proclamation. It is acting upon what we claim to believe and allowing God to go to work in the midst of what may seem to be even the worst of situations. There is power in the resurrection. There is power in the gospel. That power is available to us. Do we believe it???

BLESSED BY GOD!

We had a great time this past Sunday through Tuesday as Rev. Steve Rankin led us in a time of renewal. (Note previous blog). God blessed us with His presence as we gathered together for three days to praise and worship Him. What was especially wonderful was the response of the kids who each night flooded the altar to pray. We are grateful for Steve's leadership and appreciate his willingness to be used by God while here in Leoti.



I believe Steve is trying to make a point, don't you? He made several points as he preached from Hebrews regarding reverent submission, from 2 Corinthians as it pertained to the old giving way to the new, from Matthew 8 as it related to the intentionality of Jesus to touch the untouchables and for us to do the same, and from Ephesians 2 - God's working through Jesus to bring about a new humanity. Great stuff.

Aimee and Heidi smiling as they prepare for the Tuesday evening service. Heidi sang on Monday night and did a wonderful job. She sang the song "In Christ Alone". Thanks Heidi.

Yep, here we are, Rankin, Just, and Just, together again. What a great time to play and sing and lead worship. Hope you all enjoyed it. Most of all I pray God blessed you in our time of worship. God honored our prayers for renewal. May we be intentional about staying renewed as we seek to serve our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

RANKIN AND RENEWAL!

This coming Sunday, the Rev. Steve Rankin will be our guest as he challenges us to grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ and with each other. Steve comes to us from Winfield where he currently serves as a professor and campus minister at Southwestern College. He also is an ordained elder in the Kansas West Conference of the United Methodist Church. He is a what I call our "resident scholar" in the conference. At the last annual conference he was nominated as a candidate for bishop by our conference. The jurisdictional conference this summer will determine the outcome of that nomination.

Steve is a well learned, bright, articulate leader in our conference and has served in a variety of ways in churches, colleges, and seminaries. That all is fine and good but what I like about Steve is he is just a good ole boy who happens to love Jesus and wants others to experience that love too. Steve was a student pastor at my church in Aulne in 1984 where we hit it off as good friends. Little did I know that Steve was mentoring me during those years at Aulne ( I was a little dense - I thought we were just eating pizza together). To make a long story short, it is because of Steve Rankin that I went into ministry. So you can either blame him or thank him when you see him on Sunday.

Both of us have a heart for renewal (or revival as some folks would like to call it). Both of us have been called into ministry to help people move from the bad news that they seem to find themselves in, to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And I am very excited that Steve is coming to lead 3 days of services for us here in Leoti. The schedule is as follows:

A prayer vigil all day Saturday from 6:00 am - 12:00 midnight. Call the office if you have not yet signed up to pray (30 minute time slots).

Sunday, March 9 - Steve will preach during morning worship
- A pizza party for all youth at 5:00 pm - (6-12th grade)
- Evening service at 7:00 pm

Monday, March 10 - Women's luncheon at 11:45 a.m.
- Evening service at 7:00 pm

Tuesday, March 11 - Men's breakfast at 7:00 a.m.
- Evening potluck at 5:30 pm
- Evening service at 7:00 pm

There will be a children's time each service and a nursery will be provided.

I invite all who are able in this area to come to these special services. Even if you have to drive a ways, it will be worth it. But prior to the services I invite you to pray for God's Holy Spirit to prepare each and every heart of those who attend. Pray that God will tear down walls that are interfering with a right relationship with him. And pray that we will make ourselves available to what God wants to do in our lives as individuals and as a church. If we pray, God will move.

Hope to see all of you at church Sunday morning. God will not disappoint!