Apr 2008
Don’t Close the Door
04/27/08
Easter 6
1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
Dear friends in Christ,
I read a testimony by a pastor, Dr. Arthur Caliandro, that he wrote about how God used a young man on the maintenance staff of his church to help him through a small mini-crisis of faith he was experiencing. As you may be aware, it is not uncommon for Latino families to give their little boys the name of Jesus. And, of course, they call them Jesús, which was this custodian’s name. One night Dr. Caliandro finished a meeting in the church and went to his office to retrieve his coat. When he got there, the lights were on and the door was open, which was unusual. He noticed that someone had painted the door, and on the side of the wall by the door there was a note written which said this: “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” It was signed, “Jesus.” Dr. Caliandro smiled. He was amused by that. “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” Signed, “Jesus.” As Caliandro went on home, he realized there was a message for him in that little note. In his little faith crisis, when his faith had dulled and he was wondering if God was really present, he needed to keep the door open and once again to reconnect with God. Read More...
1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21
Dear friends in Christ,
I read a testimony by a pastor, Dr. Arthur Caliandro, that he wrote about how God used a young man on the maintenance staff of his church to help him through a small mini-crisis of faith he was experiencing. As you may be aware, it is not uncommon for Latino families to give their little boys the name of Jesus. And, of course, they call them Jesús, which was this custodian’s name. One night Dr. Caliandro finished a meeting in the church and went to his office to retrieve his coat. When he got there, the lights were on and the door was open, which was unusual. He noticed that someone had painted the door, and on the side of the wall by the door there was a note written which said this: “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” It was signed, “Jesus.” Dr. Caliandro smiled. He was amused by that. “Dear Sir, do not close the door.” Signed, “Jesus.” As Caliandro went on home, he realized there was a message for him in that little note. In his little faith crisis, when his faith had dulled and he was wondering if God was really present, he needed to keep the door open and once again to reconnect with God. Read More...
Abundant Life
04/13/08
Easter 4
John 10:1-10
Dear friends in Christ,
The last couple weeks we’ve looked at the resurrection confidence expressed by Peter in the book of Acts and in I Peter. I’ve tried to make the point that, in a time when so many people lack confidence in the future, Christians, of all people, who believe the resurrection, ought have confidence in God’s presence and be a witness of that confidence to others. Remember last week how Peter said we have been born anew with an imperishable seed? That’s a great message of hope. We have within us the seed that grows to eternal life, which nothing, not even death, can destroy. Life is difficult for many right now, but because of the resurrection, we can look forward with confidence. Read More...
John 10:1-10
Dear friends in Christ,
The last couple weeks we’ve looked at the resurrection confidence expressed by Peter in the book of Acts and in I Peter. I’ve tried to make the point that, in a time when so many people lack confidence in the future, Christians, of all people, who believe the resurrection, ought have confidence in God’s presence and be a witness of that confidence to others. Remember last week how Peter said we have been born anew with an imperishable seed? That’s a great message of hope. We have within us the seed that grows to eternal life, which nothing, not even death, can destroy. Life is difficult for many right now, but because of the resurrection, we can look forward with confidence. Read More...
Confidence Continued!
04/06/08
Easter 3
1 Peter 1:17-23
Dear friends in Christ,
If you were here last Sunday, you will recall that the focus of my message was on confidence. We are living in a time where people have very little confidence in their lives or in the future. The consumer confidence level fell to a five year low in March, and the consumer expectation index, which measures the outlook for the future, is at a 35 year low. Not since the days of the Arab oil embargo and Watergate have people felt so uncertain about the future. Read More...
1 Peter 1:17-23
Dear friends in Christ,
If you were here last Sunday, you will recall that the focus of my message was on confidence. We are living in a time where people have very little confidence in their lives or in the future. The consumer confidence level fell to a five year low in March, and the consumer expectation index, which measures the outlook for the future, is at a 35 year low. Not since the days of the Arab oil embargo and Watergate have people felt so uncertain about the future. Read More...