"The best thing a man can do
for his children is love their mother."
- John Wooden
It’s Still the Most Important Question
11 hours ago
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Helpful Song to Prepare Your Heart for the Word
This song is feeding me in getting ready for worship tonight.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Jubilee Prayer Letter - Grand Opening
Greetings Friend of Jubilee,
Aren't you glad that Jesus sets people free and offers to be our Jubilee? This our great hope! A hope we long to make known in South Minneapolis
Thank you for praying for us!
I want to give you an update on Jubilee Community Church.
As you know we set out to seek to plant a church in south Minneapolis that seeks to be Biblically faithful and to engage the diverse peoples of our neighborhoods in South Minneapolis.
We began meeting in our home last summer. We moved to the 16-33 building last fall and began meeting in the basement. In February we moved upstairs for worship and on March 7 of this year we celebrated our first public worship service. We just installed our first four elders. This Sunday we are preparing for our Grand Opening. We are so thankful that the Lord has brought us to this point. Yet we very much feel it is the beginning. If you are available to join us we would love to have you this Sunday. We meet at 10AM here.
A praise and then a few things that I would ask you to pray for:
Praise! God is so good and He is building an amazing group of people at Jubilee who are passionate for His Name and His renown to be made known in our city. I want to give Him thanks for the family that He is at work building here!
1. Fruitful cross cultural ministry. Having lived in this community for 30 years the number one challenge I knew we would face going in was seeing fruitful disciple-making happening cross culturally. Our great longing is to see all kinds of unreached people brought to a maturing knowledge of Christ. We have a great burden to see the Lord grant grace in this happening across many of the cultures that are represented in our community. We long for it, we seek to grow in it and we ask that you would fervently pray for this! We have much to learn and are in great need of the power of God to work.
2. Robert is a young man who is a dear friend and a passionate disciple of Christ. As a young black man in Las Vegas, Robert grew up not knowing the Lord and getting into trouble. But the Lord worked powerfully in his life, brought Him to faith and he is now a godly man. I had the privilege to meet regularly with Robert for several years. I see in him a unique passion and ability to reach young men for Christ. Would you pray for us that the Lord would provide for Robert to join our team at Jubilee for youth outreach and discipleship?
3. Please pray that the Main Thing would always be the Main Thing for us at Jubilee! How easy it is to do many things but forget to abide in Jesus and seek to make Him pre-eminent in everything we do.
4. Last, we ask that you would pray that God would use us to bless the nations, both across the street and across the world. We have many at Jubilee with a passion for the nations. Please pray that God would help us.
God is good. He has provided everything necessary thus far. We long that He would bring Gospel fruit and that He would use weak vessels like us to show Himself mighty!
One song that I pray often for our city is God of this City, if you have time listen to it and pray for us today!
Thanks for praying!
John Erickson
Lead Pastor
Jubilee Community Church
Isaiah 61:1-4
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Aren't you glad that Jesus sets people free and offers to be our Jubilee? This our great hope! A hope we long to make known in South Minneapolis
Thank you for praying for us!
I want to give you an update on Jubilee Community Church.
As you know we set out to seek to plant a church in south Minneapolis that seeks to be Biblically faithful and to engage the diverse peoples of our neighborhoods in South Minneapolis.
We began meeting in our home last summer. We moved to the 16-33 building last fall and began meeting in the basement. In February we moved upstairs for worship and on March 7 of this year we celebrated our first public worship service. We just installed our first four elders. This Sunday we are preparing for our Grand Opening. We are so thankful that the Lord has brought us to this point. Yet we very much feel it is the beginning. If you are available to join us we would love to have you this Sunday. We meet at 10AM here.
A praise and then a few things that I would ask you to pray for:
Praise! God is so good and He is building an amazing group of people at Jubilee who are passionate for His Name and His renown to be made known in our city. I want to give Him thanks for the family that He is at work building here!
1. Fruitful cross cultural ministry. Having lived in this community for 30 years the number one challenge I knew we would face going in was seeing fruitful disciple-making happening cross culturally. Our great longing is to see all kinds of unreached people brought to a maturing knowledge of Christ. We have a great burden to see the Lord grant grace in this happening across many of the cultures that are represented in our community. We long for it, we seek to grow in it and we ask that you would fervently pray for this! We have much to learn and are in great need of the power of God to work.
2. Robert is a young man who is a dear friend and a passionate disciple of Christ. As a young black man in Las Vegas, Robert grew up not knowing the Lord and getting into trouble. But the Lord worked powerfully in his life, brought Him to faith and he is now a godly man. I had the privilege to meet regularly with Robert for several years. I see in him a unique passion and ability to reach young men for Christ. Would you pray for us that the Lord would provide for Robert to join our team at Jubilee for youth outreach and discipleship?
3. Please pray that the Main Thing would always be the Main Thing for us at Jubilee! How easy it is to do many things but forget to abide in Jesus and seek to make Him pre-eminent in everything we do.
4. Last, we ask that you would pray that God would use us to bless the nations, both across the street and across the world. We have many at Jubilee with a passion for the nations. Please pray that God would help us.
God is good. He has provided everything necessary thus far. We long that He would bring Gospel fruit and that He would use weak vessels like us to show Himself mighty!
One song that I pray often for our city is God of this City, if you have time listen to it and pray for us today!
Thanks for praying!
John Erickson
Lead Pastor
Jubilee Community Church
Isaiah 61:1-4
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins;
they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
the devastations of many generations.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Helpful Article - The Priority of Fatherlessness
http://online.worldmag.com/2010/08/11/the-priority-of-fatherlessness/
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Great Sermon Intro
At my desk, I have written out the introduction to Charles Spurgeon's first sermon. It is fantastic as it points us resoundingly to behold God. I hope it encourages you as much as it does me.
The Immutability of God
A Sermon
(No. 1)
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, January 7th, 1855, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
"I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."—Malachi 3:6
It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing." No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God. We shall be obliged to feel—
"Great God, how infinite art thou,
What worthless worms are we!"
But while the subject humbles the mind it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe. He may be a naturalist, boasting of his ability to dissect a beetle, anatomize a fly, or arrange insects and animals in classes with well nigh unutterable names; he may be a geologist, able to discourse of the megatherium and the plesiosaurus, and all kinds of extinct animals; he may imagine that his science, whatever it is, ennobles and enlarges his mind. I dare say it does, but after all, the most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity. And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatary. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning.
The Immutability of God
A Sermon
(No. 1)
Delivered on Sabbath Morning, January 7th, 1855, by the
REV. C. H. Spurgeon
At New Park Street Chapel, Southwark.
"I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."—Malachi 3:6
It has been said by some one that "the proper study of mankind is man." I will not oppose the idea, but I believe it is equally true that the proper study of God's elect is God; the proper study of a Christian is the Godhead. The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the attention of a child of God, is the name, the nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the existence of the great God whom he calls his Father. There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity. Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, "Behold I am wise." But when we come to this master-science, finding that our plumb-line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the thought, that vain man would be wise, but he is like a wild ass's colt; and with the solemn exclamation, "I am but of yesterday, and know nothing." No subject of contemplation will tend more to humble the mind, than thoughts of God. We shall be obliged to feel—
"Great God, how infinite art thou,
What worthless worms are we!"
But while the subject humbles the mind it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe. He may be a naturalist, boasting of his ability to dissect a beetle, anatomize a fly, or arrange insects and animals in classes with well nigh unutterable names; he may be a geologist, able to discourse of the megatherium and the plesiosaurus, and all kinds of extinct animals; he may imagine that his science, whatever it is, ennobles and enlarges his mind. I dare say it does, but after all, the most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity. And, whilst humbling and expanding, this subject is eminently consolatary. Oh, there is, in contemplating Christ, a balm for every wound; in musing on the Father, there is a quietus for every grief; and in the influence of the Holy Ghost, there is a balsam for every sore. Would you lose your sorrows? Would you drown your cares? Then go, plunge yourself in the Godhead's deepest sea; be lost in his immensity; and you shall come forth as from a couch of rest, refreshed and invigorated. I know nothing which can so comfort the soul; so calm the swelling billows of grief and sorrow; so speak peace to the winds of trial, as a devout musing upon the subject of the Godhead. It is to that subject that I invite you this morning.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
7 Amazing Promises from the Second Half of Romans 8
1. The Spirit prays for us!
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
2. All things work together for good for those who love God!
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
3. His eternal plan is sure!
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
4. If God be for us who can stand against us?
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
5. God will graciously give us all things!
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
6. No one can bring a charge against God’s elect, Jesus is praying for us!
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
7. Nothing can separate us from the mighty love of God!
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
2. All things work together for good for those who love God!
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
3. His eternal plan is sure!
29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
4. If God be for us who can stand against us?
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
5. God will graciously give us all things!
32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
6. No one can bring a charge against God’s elect, Jesus is praying for us!
33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
7. Nothing can separate us from the mighty love of God!
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Just When You Think You Have Heard It All
Article from World Magazine
“Abortion is a blessing”
http://online.worldmag.com/2009/09/25/abortion-is-a-blessing/
An excerpt:
"An item in New Directions, a publication of the traditional Anglican movement Forward in Faith, reported the news that the Rev. Katherine Ragsdale was recently appointed dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. It went on to recall a speech she gave in Birmingham, Ala., a couple of years ago on the subject of abortion (which Marvin Olasky also commented on in a WORLD column back in May):
When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one, because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.
And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe affordable abortion, there is not a tragedy in sight; only blessing.
The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing. These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.
What more need be said?"
God have mercy!
“Abortion is a blessing”
http://online.worldmag.com/2009/09/25/abortion-is-a-blessing/
An excerpt:
"An item in New Directions, a publication of the traditional Anglican movement Forward in Faith, reported the news that the Rev. Katherine Ragsdale was recently appointed dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass. It went on to recall a speech she gave in Birmingham, Ala., a couple of years ago on the subject of abortion (which Marvin Olasky also commented on in a WORLD column back in May):
When a woman wants a child but can’t afford one, because she hasn’t the education necessary for a sustainable job, or access to health care, or day care, or adequate food, it is the abysmal priorities of our nation, the lack of social supports, the absence of justice that are the tragedies; the abortion is a blessing.
And when a woman becomes pregnant within a loving, supportive, respectful relationship; has every option open to her; decides she does not wish to bear a child; and has access to a safe affordable abortion, there is not a tragedy in sight; only blessing.
The ability to enjoy God’s good gift of sexuality without compromising one’s education, life’s work, or ability to put to use God’s gifts and call is simply blessing. These are the two things I want you, please, to remember – abortion is a blessing and our work is not done. Let me hear you say it. Abortion is a blessing and our work is not done.
What more need be said?"
God have mercy!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
If I died today some things that become more obviously true:
I am very weak and God is very strong. He never dies. I will certainly die and I have no idea when.
He is holy and I am not – Instantly from whatever I happened to be doing I would be moved into His holy presence where I would be dumbstruck and jabbering. My unworthiness will overwhelm me and I will become instantly aware of my impossible-to-express-how-great need for righteousness outside of myself.
Life is very short and I wasted a lot of it. Oh on that day I will certainly have regrets. God please give more grace to live each day with less and less regret.
A lot of things that presently have my attention will instantly not have any, my bank account, team standings, my weight, the next good movie to see. None of these things are evil, they simply will move to zero on the importance scale.
A lot of things that have some measure of my attention will suddenly rocket up in importance though my ability to act in any way regarding them will have ended. My own situation with God will have been fixed. I will be unable to pray for or speak to anyone whom I love regarding their salvation or my concern for them.
If I died today, would I be ready? No, not in many ways. Oh Father give grace that I might live today and this week and this year that I might be more ready for my last day than I am today. Help me to live with the end in sight and to know that I am Christ's and He is mine!
He is holy and I am not – Instantly from whatever I happened to be doing I would be moved into His holy presence where I would be dumbstruck and jabbering. My unworthiness will overwhelm me and I will become instantly aware of my impossible-to-express-how-great need for righteousness outside of myself.
Life is very short and I wasted a lot of it. Oh on that day I will certainly have regrets. God please give more grace to live each day with less and less regret.
A lot of things that presently have my attention will instantly not have any, my bank account, team standings, my weight, the next good movie to see. None of these things are evil, they simply will move to zero on the importance scale.
A lot of things that have some measure of my attention will suddenly rocket up in importance though my ability to act in any way regarding them will have ended. My own situation with God will have been fixed. I will be unable to pray for or speak to anyone whom I love regarding their salvation or my concern for them.
If I died today, would I be ready? No, not in many ways. Oh Father give grace that I might live today and this week and this year that I might be more ready for my last day than I am today. Help me to live with the end in sight and to know that I am Christ's and He is mine!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
ABC News - How to Buy a Child in 10 Hours
A tragic story that highlights the plight of child slave an hour away from our country. There are 300,000 children enslaved in Haiti. They are known as Restavecs. Believers must respond!
Follow the link.
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5330271
Follow the link.
http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=5330271
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