MAC KIRK

 Matthew 8/ Luke 7:1-10 " I've learned that there is no fence to sit on between heaven and hell." Johnny Cash The Centurion figured that out quite quickly . He knew about authority.  When his servant was sick near death, this Soldier sent to Jesus the elders of the Jews to come and heal his servant.  ( Luke 7) “Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms.” —C.S. Lewis and I might add- surrender to Jesus. ( Joe Godal)   “Jesus, the Beloved of God, has a pure heart. Having a pure heart means willing one thing. Jesus wanted only to do the will of his heavenly Father. Whatever Jesus did or said, he did and said it as the obedient Son of God: "What I say is what the Father has taught me; he who sent me is with me, and has not left me to myself, for I always do what pleases him" (John 8:...28-29). There are no divisions in Jesus' heart, no double motives or secret intentions. In Jesus there is comp

 The WATER the WINE and the WHYS The Water, The Wine and the Whys   John 2:1-11    Disaster strikes, and life is not the same as it was.  A young person dies suddenly, and we ask, " Why?" Life does not always give us our desires, but we find many disappointments. Our prayers do not seem to be heard. It is in times like this that we ask questions like, " Where was God when the tragedy happened?"  We cannot but be moved as we see the pictures of the needy around us. I am sure all of us can identify with feelings of loss like this as we go on life's journey.  Someone knocks on a door with a military uniform giving some very bad news to a family who was looking forward to seeing their loved one come home.  Many turn to God in times of loss and distress. Others go away from Him.    Jesus and His disciples were at a wedding. The wine had run out. His mother, Mary, lets Jesus know. " They have no wine." There were six stone jars each holding twenty or thirty

  The Scriptures are enough for this life and the life to come Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 Psalm 19 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a Luke 4:14-21   “The first service one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins in listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them. It is God's love for us that He not only gives us His Word but lends us His ear. So it is His work that we do for our brother and sisters when we learn to listen to them.” -           Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945), Life Together [1954] -             “Let us be very careful that we never exalt any minister, or sermon, or book, or friend above the Bible." ~ J.C. Ryle   The wall in Jerusalem  was rebuilt yet the people were not reinstructed in the law of God.  I took some time to re-read the whole Book of Nehemiah .  It is a picture of loss.  The people of God had been exiled to Persia ( and Nehemiah was in Babylon- Ezra 2:1-“ Now the

  Epiphany and the discovery of God's will in our lives Epiphany Jan 6- Matthew 2:1-12   The captain of the ship looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south.” Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.” The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am the captain!” Soon another message was received: "Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am seaman third class Jones." Immediately the captain sent a third message, knowing the fear it would evoke: “Alter your course 10 degrees south—I am a battleship.” Then the reply came: “Alter your course 10 degrees north—I am a lighthouse.” The photographer for a national magazine was assigned to shoot a great forest fire. He was told that a small plane would be waiting to take him over the fire. He arrived at the airstrip