MAC KIRK

Because I live, you also will live.” John 14:19; Acts 17:22-31; I Peter 3:13-22 A few weeks ago we celebrated the Resurrection of the God-Man Jesus Christ. “ I believe in the Resurrection of the body” we say. Today in light of Memorial Day coming tomorrow and the fact that this is the 6th Sunday of Easter we have an opportunity to be re-encouraged about this wonderful truth. This gives us hope in the most difficult situations we face in this life. The hymn, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow “written by the Gaithers was written in such a time for them: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, All fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living just because He lives.” We can have this hope in our own lives as well despite what is going on around us or in us as well. I like what Rev. Lloyd Ogilvie said in his book, A Future and a Hope: “ But then when I was hurt, why had the Lord waited so long to send help? Even in the fog of m...

“ Trouble-free Mansions” John 14 How do we limit God? I imagine we could say in many ways. Can God be limited? Well, no. The Scriptures paint a picture of God that shows Him to be with Sovereign power in all areas of the world. He created it. He sustains it. He orders it . “ Have you not known ? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not grow faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable…” Isaiah 40:28 (ESV) Yet we limit Him. But that does not mean He is limited. In John 14 , our Gospel for this 5th Sunday of Easter, Jesus tells of a Mansion that has many rooms. “In my Father’s house are many rooms..” John 14:2 Peter---- Jesus predicted He would deny him. We hear these words right before John 14 in John 13, “ truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow till you have denied me three times.” (13:38) In response to this Jesus says, “ Let not your hearts be troubled.” Imagine saying ...

“The Continuing Acts of Jesus in the Church"Acts 2:42-47 In the last few Sundays our first lessons have all been from Acts. Acts 1:1 ,” In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” (ESV) In one sense the Acts of the Apostles is better titled the continuing acts of Jesus in the in the Church. It may be also, “ a true prescription for church growth.” ( not a flash in the pan kind of growth) We heard one lesson from Acts 2 , a sermon from Peter, “ This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses….those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about 3,000 souls.” (2:32,41) Another lesson was from Acts 10 , “ and we are w...

“ Journey with Jesus” Luke 24: 13-35 Many people today are struggling with how life has any purpose or plan. It is easy to look at what is going on in the world and wonder this. Why do some live to ripe old age while others die in their prime? Does this life have any purpose besides what I can find on my own? Where is truth? Does God speak today? How does He do that? Why bother trying to find out what He is saying? Is there any rhyme or reason to the events of my life? Are we finding any of these questions in our lives? Suicide rates among young people are high. In fact many of the stresses in war contribute to it. The services are struggling with how to reduce suicides among their own members. The bad economy also contributes to a higher suicide rate. Why do people get depressed? I imagine that a wish unfulfilled is part of that issue. Some have unrealistic expectations. Two of the disciples of Jesus were on the Resurrection day traveling with each other and talk...

Enjoyed the cool weather , the view of the Monterey bay, the quaint little town of Pacific Grove. It is hard to live so far away but now and then when able to come out and spend some money. It is expensive out here to live.