Easter Sunday

This service was one that I think many people will remember. Pastor Shane showed us the perspective of the criminal on another cross, the one who acknowledge Jesus. The Holy Spirit was sweet and convicting. Easter always brings up in me what Jesus went through on the cross. This offered an aspect I had not seen before. How even through the horrid pain He was suffering, He was able to give the criminal salvation and hope. WOW!
Songs:
Joyful
Crown Him
Jesus Loves Me
Above All
Jesus Messiah

We started with a reading of Psalm 139. This is a psalm where David says "Lord search my heart . . ."

Luke 23: 32-43
This seems to be a time of reflection for me. I do not have many words to write. I highly recommend you take some time to watch the video. You can do so at avefc.org and pick the video from 4/5/15.
As Jesus hung from the cross, there was a lot of mocking going on from different groups: the crowd, rulers, soldiers, and a criminal also hanging on a cross. But the other criminal rebuked him, confessed his sin, then asked to be remembered by Jesus. It was a really beautiful moment of faith and by that faith he was saved. There was a lot packed into this message, so please watch the video and God bless you.

We missed the previous Sunday as we were traveling over the weekend. So I did not post last week. We did go over it in our growth groups and got a lot out of it. It is also posted in the same place as the Easter service. Mark 2:13-17 on 3/22/15.

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

Can God be trusted to make all things work for good?

Any small community has pros and cons. But how about a church full of professing Christians, me included? One would think the love of Jesus would rule our lives, and it does to a point. Because we are all human, we naturally lean to our own understandings, forgetting about God. We fumble around and there are the inevitable bumps in the road. Can God be trusted to make all things work for good like the Bible teaches?
We love our congregation at AVEFC. Not just as a "feeling" but in real ways such as concern, helping, being available when called. How do you love them all when one is doing something that may hurt another person? For me it is not making judgments, and knowing God is big enough to handle the tough situations. I pray to be in His will. Sometimes that becomes awkward so I keep moving forward so that He can work things out. That has to be God, because my nature is to not get involved and stay hidden. He gives me strength and love. I must rely solely on Him.
At one point last year, the church leadership at AVEFC realized that as we grow, the church will get messy. What does that mean? Well the Aeneas Valley is a small population base and their backgrounds vary a lot! And there are many broken people in this valley.  As they all come in to be part of God's family, we need to love them. PERIOD. Let God work out any flaws in their lives as He works out the flaws in ours. Its a process and we will always be in process until we get to heaven. We very much expect messiness from a group of people who have different belief backgrounds, such as Catholic, Lutheran, Assembly of God, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist, Messianic Jews, and even non-believers just looking to see what we are about. Frontier Hubby was a diehard atheist until attending this church and meeting Jesus in a new way. AVEFC wants to be a place where people can learn about God in a non-judgmental environment. A safe place. I hope that can become the reality. All Christians are in the family of God. Let's take keep our eyes on Him and not ourselves. In the scope of eternity, denominations and other differences should not keep us from loving one another with agape love -- no judgments, no expectations, no grudges.
If you are curious come check us out. It is a different experience from most churches. The people are real, the preaching is different, the Word of God is explored, and hopefully, then applied to our lives. Bring a teachable spirit. It does not help much if you come in already knowing everything. We all have much to learn. See more at avefc.org
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Frontier Hubby had a really tough week last week. He was preparing to give a teaching Sunday morning on a chapter in the Firm Foundations series. As a new Christian, only 3.5 years old, his depth of knowledge is limited, but he is truly searching out the Word and has been successful at getting the lessons across. This is not a pastoral thing, but as Frontier Hubby has a background in teaching, he is comfortable being up-front. As a teacher/seminar leader, he was an expert in his field. Now that 'expert' prop is gone, he is learning to rely on God -- a difficult lesson for a lifelong, self-reliant man.
He was preparing his teaching and smack in the middle of the week, he was exposed to a horrendous scene of a video on the internet sent via email. It was a sick violence that disturbed him to his core. He could not unsee it. There was an instant hatred that entered him. He began praying about it and God gave him much relief. Over the next few days, his hatred turned to prayers for the people involved. God is showing him how to love those who we would normally hate for their actions. That has to be divine as Frontier Hubby is not one to just love and forgive his way through life.
With all that going on, Frontier Hubby was having problems concentrating how to give his presentation. On Sunday after the service, it was Frontier Hubby's time to talk. We had some great discussion on the scripture and its interpretation, mostly on legalism. He ended his session by talking about his week and how this video affected him and how God was blessing him through this time. His final statement was awesome, "Jesus is enough for me."
The congregation was clapping when it was done. That rather shocked Frontier Hubby as he hardly knew where the words were coming from when he spoke. I think God was helping him to say what He needed to be said. There seemed to be a shift in the room as God touched the hearts of people.
Pastor Shane often tells of problems that come up during the week that relate to what he is preaching about on Sunday. Ken is now learning that God works like that in his life too. Their messages are so much stronger and real when they share what has been going on during the week. It is clearly a God thing to make it so relative to the scripture to be covered. How does He do that? Guess because He is God and He does work all things out for good. Just sometimes we don't always see the good, but it is there.

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

A Cleansing of Sorts

Today is beautiful. It is a day of sunshine after a day of snow and rain. The land has a clean white covering. A lot like what Jesus has done for us on the cross. This snow covering will bring new life with it as it waters the plants over time as Jesus is our living water.
The AVEFC camera was broken, so we do not have video. This post might be a little longer so I can capture as much as possible for us. Still, I am giving you Pastor Shane's sermon from my perspective with my thoughts during and after the service.
Songs:
Blessed be Your Name
Crown Him
I Will Rise
Exalted

March 15, Mark 1:40-45. A leper came begging Jesus to heal him if He would. The man submitted himself to Jesus' will. He was humble and desperate. Being a leper meant being cut off from life and all you hold dear: family, friends, home, land, job, everything. They lived in a cave dependent on others for food and clothing, yet no one would go near them. And to the Jews, touching a leper was like touching a dead thing and you had to be cleansed at the temple using special rights. It was a big deal. For a leper to leave their cave to wander the streets was also a big deal, yet this one came to Jesus to ask for healing.
Jesus felt compassion. Do we?
Touching the leper, Jesus said "I will." He wants to heal us. "Be clean!" He commanded. The leprosy left and he was cured. The word cured here also means cleansed.
Jesus then sent him away with instructions to go to the temple, show the priest, make his required sacrifices and to tell NO one about this. Well, just like the rest of us, he went away not following instructions. Apparently, he never made it to the temple. He was told to show the priest. He did not. Was there a specific response that Jesus wanted from that priest? We will never know. The leper was told to make the sacrifices for his cleansing but he did not. As Jesus had not died yet, the sacrifices were still in place.
Jesus was trying to keep His notoriety low, but the leper told everyone. Jesus had to stay out of towns, where He wanted to teach because of the pressing crowds.
We silly people get excited and dance away from a divine experience, jabbering to anyone who will stand still long enough to hear. Do we look to God for His will at that point? Probably not. Our joy and the thrill of seeing God work overcomes us. His timing is perfect and we get in the way. He being all powerful can still circumvent the disobedience, but the impact may not be what He wanted. He still gives us free will and in doing so is probably constantly making up for our downfalls. He is a gracious God.
Can you imagine being a disciple at this time? They agreed to follow a rabbi. Priests taught about God. This one acts like God. How does someone comprehend what they are seeing. Are they questioning the daunting task of healing and casting out demons themselves someday? That was not done, much like our times. I bet there was a lot of backroom discussions between them.
Some other scriptures regarding the word that was used for cured: Matt 4:24, 1 Jphn 1:7, Heb 9:22-23, Acts 15:9.
Jesus is the source of healing. He does not worry about catching "it" whatever the sickness is.  1 Cor 6:9-11 tells us how we are sinners and lists some of the yuck we come from. Then the cleansing word is used again in 11. "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." Washed, sanctified and justified. Jesus and the Holy Spirit cleansed us as though we had gone through the process of sacrifice at the temple.
So here is where things get a little tougher. If this study is true, if Jesus was here on earth to heal us and bring hope, what should our response be? More than just a cursory thank you and move on I should hope.
What is it like to follow Jesus? Like nothing on earth that is for sure.
We should be praying to be used for the kingdom no matter where it leads. He wants us to be ready to leave everything; that does not mean he asks us to actually do it. But there is a letting go of ownership and control that is difficult to do, but His blessings outweigh any loss.
We should empty ourselves like Jesus did for God. Offer our bodies as a living sacrifice to God to cleanse and use us as He sees fit. I feel so far from there.
I am beginning to pray with less hesitation to be in His will. There is a feeling of awe and wonder at what that might entail. Will I be asked to give up my home and family? Oh, I hope not. That is my Achilles heel so to speak. I don't feel like that is what He will be asking. I think He wants me to get out of my comfort zone and speak up. That is certainly not my nature and will be all Him. I am drawn to the concept of healing and pray that someday I will know why He is putting healing in my path. Maybe just to have a better understanding. Maybe someday He will have me pray for a healing and I can watch Him work. I just want to be in His will so I am praying for that.

On another note, God has given me some wonderful friends here. Seems lately that they are going through some very rough times. I ask you help me pray for them. Just ask, God knows who they are and the circumstances. Thank you.


May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving 

Follow Me - Authority of Jesus

We were out of town for the week of Feb. 21-22. The rest of the week filled up quickly with another trip on Wed-Thurs. We are finally catching up to ourselves and getting rested. If you are interested in the sermon from Sun, Feb. 22, you can go to HisPlace.org, scroll down to the service dated 7/5/14 named The Word Became Flesh (Follow Me 2) video and watch it.
Yesterday, Mar. 1, was back to Pastor Shane Freese doing the sermon, as part of the series "Follow Me". It will be posted on Vimeo tomorrow, Tuesday. My posts, although based on the sermon, incorporate my thoughts as well, so to see the video of the sermon is recommended.
I was really moved as we learned about the authority of Jesus. As we continue to delve into scriptures word by word and verse by verse, we as a congregation seem to be transformed in our understanding and how we apply our new knowledge to our lives. Wow! God continuously makes Himself new to us as He allows us to see Him more clearly. The negative of that is the more one knows, the more we are held responsible to make it change ourselves: our hearts, our minds, our interactions with others, everything! Following Jesus brings a lifetime of learning and changing. I pray to be up to that challenge and for those reading this to also be strengthened by God to allow His Spirit to touch your lives and make things new.
The scripture started with Mark 1:21-28. ". . . he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." So imagine you are sitting and listening to a new rabbi who does not speak as you have heard before, but speaks with the authority (higher knowledge and experience) of the one who wrote the scriptures. There is a new perspective and with it more revelations. It would feel odd and certainly get your attention as it did the rabbis who heard Him. The people were amazed. The rabbis were incensed.
It was probably much like the sermon on the mount where Jesus repeated many scriptures, and added nuances that gave them newer, more intense meanings such as Matt 5:21-22 where Jesus said comparing to the law against murder, ". . . anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment." That is spoken from authority, as one who knows the intent of the law and the only one who does that is God.
What type of people do other people tend to follow, generally those with more knowledge than themselves. Why do they follow someone with more knowledge? To learn more, gain a better perspective and possibly get some experience with their new found knowledge and skills. What is a sign that someone has more knowledge? They speak with authority on subjects, understand the principles behind the knowledge and do things far superior to others. Jesus did just that and gained a following of not only disciples, but of people who saw and heard Him. Being separated by many generations, we do not get see Jesus like they did, nor even get the direct stories of what He did and said. But that does not change who he is and we can experience him directly. We need only ask it of him.
How did the Pharisees respond? With grumbling and anger. They were the authority, until Jesus showed up. Did they accept His authority? For the most part, no. Do we accept His authority? Sadly, for the most part, no. We are a rebellious people and do not like authority over us. What is the best type of authority? A benevolent dictator. One who always has good intentions and the power to make it happen. People cannot do that. We use power to get our way even if only some of the time, it is enough to make bad outcomes. God is the only one who can be trusted to not abuse His power, but to always do good with it. It is ourselves who invite bad things to happen, with negative results from selfish things we do.
We, as people, think that if circumstances were different, things would be better. That is a rather unlikely scenario as we are always present in our circumstances. Shane said he has a lot of car problems and "changes cars like socks" and there are still problems or opportunities for growth as we like to call them.
It was joked that it could probably be said that those here in Aeneas Valley would probably be more rebellious than most places, since we moved here as a type of rebellion against the main direction of society to live in cities, under the watchful eye of the government, neighbors and other authorities at all times. Thus, it is reasonable to consider us a bit more reluctant to give up our "authority over ourselves" in our Christian walk. That is what is meant by dying daily to ourselves so we can Follow Him.
Our goal is to be open to let God change us through Jesus into holy vessels. Holy, not always happy. But the reward is in heaven for the times we are unhappy in circumstances. So, do not despair, He is with us always.

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving

Follow Me

Sunday's service at AVEFC was actually a video of a service by Doug Weiber, from His Place Church in Post Falls, as the first in a series about following Jesus. The series started last summer and is continuing still. To see the video we used today, you can go here and scroll down to the video (or audio if you prefer) Follow Me 1 dated 6/29/14.

Today was from Mark 1:14-17 where Jesus calls for Simon and his brother Andrew to "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."
The message, the start of a series, was that to follow Jesus, we need to be in His will, walking with Him, in His footsteps. How do we know if we are in sync with Him? There is a test!
1 John 2:3-6. We know we have come to know Him if we obey His commands. The man who says "I know Him." but does not what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. but if anyone obeys His word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in Him. Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did.
Doug described how we must look at our relationship with Jesus using the DTR process. What is DTR? It is a term used when a couple takes time to Define The Relationship, often thought of as when one person asks the other where they see the relationship going.
So, where do you see your relationship going with Jesus? Are you just dating casually or maybe going steady? Are you seeing others or have a friendship with benefits? If you have learned the Bible is the true word of God, what does that mean to you? Are you ready to make a full-time, all out, commitment to the God of the Universe?

What are some of the negatives? Well, if you are used to thinking in terms of "me" then you may be worried that all the worldly things you have gathered and loved, might have to go away. Are you afraid where God might take you? What He asks of you might be embarrassing? Is there a sacrifice He can ask of you that is greater than what He did for you on the cross? No!
After the video, Pastor Shane lead us in a discussion about what the message meant to each of us and what stood out. We left with the instruction to ponder where we were in our relationship with Christ. Are we ready to commit or have we already taken that step? Can we go further? There is no test here at church. The test comes on Judgment Day when we are either accepted into His kingdom or told to depart, He never knew us. Where do you want to stand on that day?

May you find all things new in Him,
Frontier Woman @ FrontierChristianLiving