It's time for another lunch run with Dan and Rachel

 

God knows everything about you and He loves you anyhow

 

Nothing can separate us from God's love -- Full message

 

Thanksgiving is good for you!

 

Don't allow the devil to accuse you or condemn you

 

If God is for you, who can be against you? -- Full message

 

Another drone? Yes, I'm going to try again.

 

Dan and Rachel talk about riding a personal drone

 

This will be nonsense unless you believe in miracles

 

Having right standing with God and sharing His glory

 

Testing the limits of God's patience?

 

Pastor's Report 2022

 Pastor’s Report 2022

“And all nations will hate you because you are my followers. But everyone who endures to the end will be saved.”   Spoken by Jesus to His followers, Matthew 10:22

I know. That’s not a very bright and cheery way to begin a pastor’s report. But I figured if I start like that there’s nowhere to go but more and more cheerful!

I was thinking and praying about the pastor’s report and nothing was coming to mind. Don’t worry, that’s what happens every year the first 4 or 5 times I sit down at the keypad and try to write it.

But then as I was praying, this Matthew 10:22 verse came to mind. I figured, “This must be from God because it is not something I would typically use to start a report.”

Frankly, I believe it came to mind—at least in part—because I have had a few reminders, recently, that when the church does what it is supposed to do there will be some people who will not like it.

“People won’t like a church, Dan?!? Get out of here!!!”

Well, it’s true.

Our church has helped people in areas of life that involve emotional, relational, mental health, financial, physical and spiritual matters. And I frequently receive earnest words of gratitude for the many ways in which our church reaches out and ministers to people in the name of Jesus.

But every now and then people are upset about Jesus, the message of Jesus, the truth of Jesus, and they let that be known.

When this happens, I have to remind myself, number one, of verses like Matthew 10:22, quoted above, in which the Lord told us, long ago, to be ready for this reality.

And, number two, I remind myself to remain faithful.

Jesus calls us to remain faithful.

Before I was born, this congregation that I now pastor, was in existence. They were one of many local expressions of the body of Christ that followed the Lord Jesus, faithfully. I am grateful for the faithfulness of those sturdy, sincere, diligent folks.

Fast forward a bit. When I was a kid, this congregation, was in existence. It faithfully ministered the truth of Jesus to my family and myself. Jesus used this church to make a profound difference in our lives. It ministered to many others, as well. They were faithful.

Now here we are in 2022. We have had a couple of interesting years, recently. (Particularly in 2020.) Yet, you, the people of this church love the Lord and you remain faithful to Him. After many, many years this church is still faithful. I love it! You are an inspiration and an amazing encouragement to me.

I was talking with an old friend, recently, and she remarked that it bothered her that in the past couple of years a number of people seem to have given up on church. This is definitely true throughout the United States, I suspect it’s true in other countries, as well.

That reality makes your faithfulness all the more special, all the more important and all the more encouraging to me. (By the way, don’t worry, God is not defeated. He will always have a people. See? The optimism is increasing!)

Thank you for your obedience and faithfulness to Jesus. Part of being faithful to Jesus means being committed to His bride, the church. Your commitment inspires me!

Umm…let’s see…I don’t really know any other way to work another subject into this report except to just awkwardly say: Now, I’m going to change the subject!

So…now I’m going to change the subject.

We were blessed to have Collin Glatz intern with the church this summer and that was one of the highlights of the year for me. I’ve known Collin his whole life. In fact, I’ve known Collin’s family since long before he was born. Collin is a brilliant young man who is gifted in a number of ways but he also has this important factor: A genuine heart for God. That truth blesses my heart beyond words.

Collin taught in several different contexts; preached; served Communion; went on visitation with me; participated in groups like our Tuesday prayer team; put a new transmission in my van; vanquished a dragon; and helped out in other ways. (Just kidding about the transmission in the van and the dragon.)

He is a wonderful young man who is seeking God’s guidance regarding His calling. We trust that God is going to work through Collin in powerful ways.

Some folks have asked me: “Dan, will Collin be coming back this coming summer?”

My answer: I don’t know Collin’s plans and I suspect Collin may not even know his plans for the coming summer yet. But we can pray, right?

I love you all very much. You are a tremendous blessing to me.

…And did I mention that I love you? Oh, I did? Well, I thought it was worth repeating.

Love and blessings,

 

Dan

First Church of God

Oak Lawn, IL

 

Reality-escape Artists

I was reading and then I had to go back and re-read the following line, this morning, from a book by Os Guinness. It is, for me, a convicting thought:

“Modern society itself is one grand diversion—the Republic of Entertainment. With our shops, shows, sports, games, tourism, recreation, cosmetics, plastic surgery, virtual reality, and the endless glorification of health and youth, our culture is a vast conspiracy to make us forget about our transience and mortality. We turn away. We tune out. Alibis for reality-escape artists are on every hand.”

Pray like this: Lord, help me to love you and trust you

 

Everything working together for good -- Full message

 

Rachel is getting some fancy new glasses

 

The Holy Spirit helps us pray -- Full message

 

Not trying to be cynical...however...

 

There is a future glory that awaits us.