Category Archives: Pastors Corner

Inspirational faith based articles from local Pastors in the Eastvale area.

Joy vs Happiness

By Rohmon Merchant

Joy isn’t like happiness which is based upon happenings or whether things are going well or not. No, joy remains even amidst the suffering. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an emotion that’s acquired by the anticipation, acquisition or even the expectations of something great or wonderful. It could be described as exhilaration, delight, sheer gladness, and can result from a remarkable success. You can even find joy in a unmet expectation, or a letdown, if you determine in your heart to not let situations get the best of you and keep your positive outlook and continence, graduation but the definition of joy that the world holds is not nearly as amazing as biblical joy, but joy is also a gift.

During my time in ministry, which coincidentally also holds some of the most devastating moments of my life I found that the only way God can get the best out of me is when I receive his joy for me and stay in that vein. I am quickly reminded through the times when God showed how real he is and how he carried me out of tough times and even had has hand on me during the incredible times. When I think of those times, and the beauty that only God can make from this life that I clearly messed up more than anyone can I feel this overwhelming peace that passes all understanding and this strong confidence that God is in total control and excitement about possibilities and unknown futures…that’s Joy. It’s contagious and it brings the scripture “the joy of the lord is my strength” to life. (Nehemiah 8:10)

So instead of looking for happiness this year I will live in the joy. Letting it grow in and through me and who knows? Let’s see what happens what God can do with someone with everlasting joy in their heart, or compromising happiness that is fleeting.

The Bridge

14189 Foothill Blvd ste 102

Fontana, Ca. 92336

Service starts at 9am

The Manger Was A Cave?

By Sean Ortiz

Every year we see the Manger as a wooden stable. If we look deeper at the Judean culture and what things could have been like in Bethlehem we can see that there were two ways people kept their livestock. The first type was that the animals were kept in a setting in their homes. Most people were not rich and did not own much livestock so the family would actually set up a place to keep livestock in their homes with a wooden trough, hay and a fence.  Ewww, that must have been a stinky situation, the Paschal Lamb used for the Passover meal was actually a pet that was raised inside the home.                                                                                            The other type of stable was generally a cave on the edge of town. This is possibly where those who came to see the baby Jesus on that first Christmas ended up. It is possible when Joseph and Mary went to see the innkeeper they ended up in a cave behind the inn or at the edge of town because it was so crowded in Bethlehem. There were probably goats, sheep, pigs and chickens, but the couple made due. Jesus possibly being born in a cave is a foreshadowing of what was to come 33 years later when he was put into a tomb (cave) after His crucifixion on the cross. It was there that He rose again on the third day to open Heaven to all people so that whosoever BELIEVES in Him (Jesus) would not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus came into the world born in cave, was laid to rest in a cave, to overcome darkness and the stench of sin, death, the grave and hell. Now we have complete access to a real relationship with God through His son Jesus. This is why we rejoice on Christmas day and all year long. The world around celebrates the birth of Jesus, because over 2000 years later HIS impact is still going strong. A humble beginning changed the world for eternity.

The angels proclaimed in LUKE 2:14 “GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST, AND ON EARTH PEACE, GOOD WILL TOWARD MEN.” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from all of us at New Beginnings Community Church Jurupa Valley. Join us this Christmas Eve Sunday December 24th at 10:00 am with our Live Illustrated Sermon, Live Music and a Living Nativity.

Pastor Sean Ortiz

Lead Pastor

New Beginnings Community Church Jurupa Valley

9010 Limonite Ave

Jurupa Valley, CA 92509

http://www.nbccjv.org

Thanksgiving Day after Day

Pastor Rob Norris, The Crossings

Pastor Rob Norris, The Crossings

By Rob Norris

He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me.
Psalm 50:23

Has it ever seemed surprising to you that God made the Israelites wander in the wilderness for 40 years just for grumbling and complaining? My kids may have spent 30 minutes in their rooms for griping, but 40 years? That’s some severe discipline!
One thing is crystal clear from this biblical account: God is obviously not pleased with grumbling, ungrateful hearts. And we should not tolerate grumbling either—in ourselves or in our children.
Being grateful is a choice that we readily and ritually express on Thanksgiving Day. But what do we do on other days of the year when the mood is less festive or the atmosphere is more ordinary?
I like the contented way the Pilgrims approached life. They did not allow their feelings or circumstances to determine whether or not they would exercise gratitude and thanksgiving. They believed that God was in control—”providence,” they called it. Following this belief to its logical conclusion, they responded to challenges with a perspective that said, “God has allowed this for our good.” They chose to believe—rightly so—that their dependence on a holy, faithful God was well placed and that even though much was against them, there was always much more for which to be grateful.
Developing a heart of gratitude is essential to growing a stronger faith. “If we do not believe that we are deeply dependent on God for all we have or hope to have, the very spring of gratitude and faith runs dry.”
Make the choice today to take your eyes off yourself and your circumstances, gratefully acknowledging who God is and what He is doing. Deny yourself the right to complain, embracing instead the deep-seated joy of thanksgiving … in all things.
A grateful heart pleases God.

Live It:

How would a more thankful spirit alter your approach to the situations you’re facing as a family? Make a list together of some things you need to be grateful for right now.

Pray:

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name” (Psalm 103:1).

Meeting @ 10:00 at River Heights Intermediate School 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale CA.

Join us for a Christmas Eve Service at 10am Trusting and believing with you.

Pastor Rob

 

Dreaming Dreams

Pastor Rob Norris, The Crossings

Pastor Rob Norris, The Crossings

By Pastor Rob Norris

 

So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.
Galatians 6:10

 

I think one of the greatest needs in the Christian community is for individual men and women to dream some dreams about how they can use their talents to impact people’s lives for Christ.

Let me tell you about a family that is making a difference. A small family ministry called Standing with Hope provides prosthetic limbs for below-the-knee amputees, not only in the United States, but also in Ghana, Africa.

The process of adding “skin” covering to make a prosthetic look real can cost thousands of dollars—far too costly for an outreach whose goal is to help as many people as possible be able to walk again. That’s where the family’s 15-year-old son, Grayson Rosenberger, comes in. While noodling over an entry idea for a nationwide science contest, Grayson came across one of his mom’s old, discarded prosthetic legs. He found that by wrapping it in a very common household item, he could give the mechanical limb a realistic shape.

His inexpensive solution? Bubble wrap.

Total cost for application? About one dollar.

No, it doesn’t look like skin. But with the right hose or stockings, the prosthetic leg can be made to look real. And for poverty-stricken adults and children in Africa who are often ostracized and teased for the primitive, bare-bones appearance of a fake leg, this is a confidence-creating alternative.

Bubble wrap. Who’d have thought?

Could it be that there’s a right-under-your-nose opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives—right where you are? Could it be that, if you slowed down and set your mind on seeking God for a way you could really serve Him, He might lay out an idea that’s so simple, you’ll be shocked you didn’t think of it earlier?

Just think. Bubble wrap.

 

Live IT

Every person and every couple has an assignment from God—a ministry. What’s yours? If you can’t articulate your ministry, plan a time when you can begin to pray and think together.

Pray

Express your availability to God, and ask Him to show you the best way to serve.

 

Meeting @ 10:00 at River Heights Intermediate School 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale CA.

Trusting and believing with you.

Pastor Rob

 

Real Church

By Jeremy Mercer, Lead Pastor of Connection Church, Corona

CHURCH. What comes to mind when you hear that word? My guess is a few things. For some, hopefully, they are good thoughts. For others, I know it might be bad. I grew up in church, and now, at 41 years old, I pastor a local church and have done so for the past 5 years. I’ve seen a lot of things in the church and I’ve heard even more stories of what has happened in the church. Some of them are not so good but, having been part of the church for the whole of my life; I have seen and experienced so many more wonderful things.

Church attendance in America is on the decline, and has been for decades now. Why are Americans rejecting church more and more? Is it because church is such a terrible place? Is it because it became boring and monotonous? Perhaps it’s because of the hypocrisy some have seen, the famous scandals of the 1980’s come to mind. Is it the fulfillment of scripture in 2 Timothy 3:1-4 that says, “in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God…They will consider nothing sacred….and love pleasure rather than God.” I think the decline is a mixture of all the above and I lean heavily to the latter hypothesis.

The fact that Americans are attending church less and less grieves me, and no, not because I am a pastor and this is my job. I’ve read the scriptures and when it talks about the church and I see what church is supposed to be it is such a beautiful picture! In the church that I pastor, Connection Church in Corona if you’re wondering, I tell our people all the time that we’re striving to be the church that God intended for us to be…for every church to be; a place of love, healing, hope, joy, and encouragement. A place where people can be refreshed and know that they’re not alone, a place of community where we can help others and receive help when we need it…and we all need it at times.

Hebrews 10:25 says, “let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near” (emphasis added). With so much turmoil in the world, people are asking questions and they should. Jesus Christ is returning, I believe soon, and you and I must make sure we’re ready. If you don’t believe me, I’d be happy to show you prophecy after prophecy after prophecy, written thousands of years ago, that prove the Bible is true. I heard about these prophecies growing up in the church. To be totally honest, at the time (the 80’s), I thought some of them sounded a little crazy, definitely far-fetched, and possibly even like science fiction. However, as technology has rapidly advanced in my lifetime, it has been shocking to me to see things that I heard about growing up in church and that are prophesied about in scripture that at the time they were written would have been literally impossible. These scriptures have not only become possible but you can see how modern technology can make these scriptures not only possible but probable in the future. I don’t have time in this article to lay some of those out, but if you would like to know more about them, email me or visit me at my church, and I’d be happy to share them with you. I’m not a conspiracy theorist and don’t even like sci-fi. In fact, by nature, I’m a bit of a skeptic. However, saying it would be foolish to ignore the facts that are right in front of us would be a massive understatement. There are just too many scriptures describing modern events to be ignored.

I encourage you to find a good church and become part of it. This means more than just attending a service. Church is so much more than a service. The church is an extension of Jesus Himself. Colossians 1:18 tells us that Jesus is the head of the church, and the church is His body. Some people don’t attend church because someone hurt them; a pastor, a leader, a friend or just a regular person attending. But we don’t follow people, we follow Christ! There is no perfect church but there are so many good churches out there! Trust me, this is my business, this is the “industry” I’m in. I know a lot of churches and work with a lot of pastors. There are some great ones in this area!

Think about this; all of us have been to a bad restaurant before or have received bad food or bad service. We may choose not to return to that establishment again but I bet none of us have given up on restaurants. We just find a good one! And once we find a good one, we go there again and again and tell others about it. Why do we treat church any differently? Okay, so you may have had a bad experience, but don’t give up. Pray, and ask God to lead you to a good one for you. Trust me, He will. I’d be happy to help you find one as well.

Now, more than ever, we need to come together. We need to find the love, healing, mercy, grace and strength that can only come through Jesus Christ. The church is the vehicle God chose to help us achieve these things. So let’s be the church, the real church, the church that God intended for us to be. None of us are perfect, we can’t be. But, we can let God work in our lives and be better and be more like Christ. As we do, people will be healed, broken lives will be restored, we’ll live with peace that surpasses understanding, have strength for the the “day-to-day,” and begin bridging the divide in our nation and communities. That’s who the real church is.

 

“His Way”

By Pastor Dennis Morales

““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.” Isaiah 55:8

My sons are 5yrs and 7yrs old.  They are the best of friends.  But even the best of friends can have disagreements sometimes.  I was watching my boys play a board game then all of sudden they started quarreling.  What were they quarreling about?  They were accusing each other of not playing correctly.  They both made the same argument.  What was it? “You have to play it my way!”  I think sometimes we are guilty of the same attitude when it comes to our decisions.   Naaman is a classic example in the Bible (2 Kings 5).  He was an army commander for the king of Syria.  His wife’s servant girl was led captive from Israel.  She suggested that he seek healing by consulting Elisha, the prophet.  Naaman was ready to do anything, but he didn’t want to go to Elisha, he wanted Elisha to go to him.  Because of his position, Naaman expected to be served.  Elisha sent Naaman instruction to bathe seven times in the Jordan River.  Naaman felt disrespected and refused at first, then later he humbled himself and went to the Jordan.  That is when Naaman found healing.  Naaman finally humbled himself and did things God’s way.  That’s when Naaman found healing.  How many times have you told God “I want to do it this way!”  But later we always find that His way is the best way.     “Selfish” pride should never be what guides us.  Humility seeks God’s ways (Psalm 25:9).  Though you may not always see the result in view, God’s ways make “better sense.” (Isaiah 55:9).

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 7pm at Clara Barton Elementary School (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale).  Visit their website at www.calvaryeastvale.org.

 

 

 

 

 

“The Finish”

By Pastor Dennis Morales

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

Paul the Apostle is nearing the end of his life. He is contemplating the things God had called him to accomplish. This is his swan song. I am immediately impressed with the confidence with which he is able to say “I finished.” It’s been said that “a wasted life is really nothing more than a collection of wasted days. As God gives us life, each one of us starts the new year with the same number of opportunities—365—that we can choose to either use and invest in eternal things or allow to drift by without taking advantage of the gift we have been given.” I was walking through a cemetery after a funeral service and my eye caught a headstone that read “a life still unfinished.” We would naturally say that about anyone that had passed from this world at a young age, but this was someone who passed at 78! I don’t want to come to the end and think of all the things I should have done or the ways I should have stepped out in faith. Paul calls life a “race.” My favorite races in the Olympics are the sprints. These races are literally over in seconds, but I am always impressed with the amazing speed of the athletes. The race referred to by Paul is likened to a “long distance” run. A long distance run takes faith, endurance, and focus. Jesus “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Hebrews 12:2). God calls us to focus and invest in things that matter so that we might finish well.

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 7pm at Clara Barton Elementary School (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale). Visit their website at http://www.calvaryeastvale.org.

A Father’s Love

By Pastor Tim Eaton

There is a Randy Travis song from many years ago called, “Raise Him Up.” The lyrics talk about what a son can do with a father’s love: “I’ll provide for him; Walk beside of him; I am strong enough; Cause it’s time he knew what a son can do with a father’s love; He can change the world.”

There is a profound strength that can come from a father’s love. His family leadership can instill great characteristics in his children: courage, drive, determination, and love, just to name a few. Children can learn how to change the world with a father’s love…just look at Jesus.

Jesus came into this world for us, and His Father loved and praised Him for it. “And the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came out of heaven, ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased,’” (Luke 3:22). Jesus often spoke about the greatness of His Father’s love – never wavering; never ending.

The Apostle, Paul, repeatedly calls us all “children of God.” In fact, God loved us so much that he sent His precious Son to die for us so we can spend eternity with Him. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16).

As a parent, can you imagine that kind of love? Jesus says there is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends. He did that willingly. Because of His Father’s love, Jesus changed the world.

As we celebrate our dads this Father’s Day, remember the ultimate example of God the Father. Patient, Protective, Wise, Understanding, and Forgiving. With a Father’s love, you can change the world.

“I’m There”

By Pastor Rob Norris

“I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”
Philippians 2:20

Gary Thomas, author of such inspiring books as Sacred Marriage and Authentic Faith: The Power of a Fire-Tested Life, tells the story of two American soldiers who became fast friends during their preparations for combat in World War I. Though they had known each other only a short time, the camaraderie of battle and their shared dreams of postwar life quickly cemented their relationship.

One day, these two buddies crawled from their foxhole with the rest of their unit in an attack on the German forces. After a valiant fight, the order was given to retreat. But only one of the two friends returned to the trench. The other had been hit by German gunfire and was lying about 50 yards out of reach.

Against his commanding officer’s orders, the other soldier crawled out of the ditch to go find his fallen comrade. Hugging the ground and dodging enemy bullets, he worked his way across the bloody, corpse-littered ground until he finally located the friend he sought. Finding him semi-conscious, they were left with only a few seconds together before he died.

When the man returned to the trench with the body of his soldier friend, the ranking officer flew into a rage for this overt flaunting of his order, asking, “Was it worth it for you to risk your life?”

“Absolutely, sir. Because when I turned him over, he looked up at me and said, ‘I knew you’d come.'”

That’s the kind of loyalty we are called to in all our relationships–especially in our homes and families. Your spouse needs to know without a doubt that when you are needed, you will be there. Your children need to know they can count on you, not just in a pinch, but also in their most routine of expectations. When they need you, can they be sure you’ll come?

Live it:
How can your marriage and family practically demonstrate this kind of love for one another?

Pray:
Pray that the Lord will keep you sensitive to each other, anticipating when you’re needed most.

 

Meeting @ 10:00 at River Heights Intermediate School 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale CA.

Trusting and believing with you, Join us on Mother’s Day for a celebration service.

Pastor Rob

 

“Our Everything”

By Pastor Dennis Morales

“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”Psalm 18:2

David, the author of this Psalm, writes eight titles referencing God and His reliability.  He experienced God’s hand of protection and deliverance from his enemies and now David is worshipping God for His faithfulness during battle.  I’m sure David sang often in battle.  I heard it once said a young boy was trying to pull a large weed from his front yard.  Suddenly, the weed came out, root and all, and the boy was thrown back and fell in the process.

A man happened to be passing by and replied to the young boy, “That sure was a hard pull!”  The boy replied, “It sure is tough when you have the whole world pulling against you.”  We can all feel what this boy said at times.   The cares and concerns of the “pulling world” have a way of fading away in God’s presence.  Pressures, demands, deadlines, and failures are no match for the reliability of God.   He strengthens you when you are at your weakest point (2 Corinthians 12:9).  David rejoiced that God was everything he needed to get through the most difficult of situations.   When the battle rages or the world pulls, it takes strong faith to worship.  But as you worship, you will find the One supplying the strength to worship is your “stronghold.”  God is closer than you think and He is “able to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”  (Phil 4:19).

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 7pm at Clara Barton Elementary School (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale). 

Uniqueness of Christianity

By  Pastor Ed Moreno

Jesus said in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This claim rankles people like no other. Christians have been called arrogant, narrow-minded, and bigoted for saying Jesus is the only way to God. But the thing is, Jesus is the one who says that. Christians are just relating what Jesus said.

Part of the reason why this claim is so controversial is because it strikes at the core of three great myths about religion. I’ll briefly address the first one. The first myth says: “When you get down to it, all religions are basically the same.” The truth is that there are major differences between the religions of the world. And Christianity is like no other.  Christianity’s uniqueness is rooted in the uniqueness of Jesus himself.

Someone once noted that other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how to find truth.”  But Jesus says, “I am the truth.”

Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you the way to salvation.”  But Jesus says,  “I am the way to eternal life in heaven.”

Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you how to become enlightened.”  But Jesus says, “I am the light.”

Other religious leaders say, “Follow me and I’ll show you the door that leads to God.”   But Jesus says, “I am the door.”

Then Jesus adds, “So follow Me.”

What the different religions of the world teach contradict each other, so let’s not pretend they are all true. That’s irrational. They can’t all be true. What one needs to look for is who authenticated their claims.  Jesus claimed to be divinity and the only way to God, so how does he back up his claims? Jesus backs up his claims with unique credentials that make him uniquely credible.

For example, Jesus fulfilled dozens of centuries-old prophecies against all mathematical odds of probability. And unlike other religious leaders, Jesus performed great miracles that further authenticated his claim of being God’s one and only Son. And in the most spectacular demonstration of his deity, Jesus fulfilled his own prediction by rising from the grave after three days exactly as he said he would. And this was witnessed by more than 500 people.  No other religious leader ever did the powerful things Jesus did.  So, it’s not narrow-minded to say Jesus is the only way to God if the overwhelming evidence supports that claim.

New Day Christian Church meets Sundays at 9:30 and 11 a.m.  They are located at 7155 Hamner Avenue, at Schleisman Road, next to the Fire Station.  For more information, call (951) 278-8367, or visit http://www.newdaycc.net.

Where He Leads

By Pastor Dennis Morales

Be strong and of good courage…for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”  – Joshua 1:9

The children of Israel were ready to cross the Jordan into the Promise Land, but there was one thing in their way, the Jordan.  It was Harvest and it was a torrent of rushing water and virtually impassible (Joshua 3:15).  God instructed Joshua that they were to cross regardless.  God added He will be with them and He would make the Jordan passable.  In a “step of faith,” the priests were instructed to go first and to take the Ark of the Covenant and start the process.  God said when the feet of the priests dip in the edge of the water that the waters would part.  So God lead them and parted the waters the moment the priests dipped their feet in the water just as He said He would.  God also told the priests to stand on the dry river bed until every last person had crossed.  Why?  The Ark of the Covenant stands as a reminder of God’s presence.  He wanted the people to know He was with them as they passed through the waters.  Where is God leading you?  Does it seem difficult or impossible?  Remember wherever God leads you, He will be with you.  Daniel was lead to the Lion’s den as a result of his faithfulness to God but God shut the mouths of the Lions.  Jesus told His disciples “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20).  God reminds His people in Scripture “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).  God’s strength is realized in allowing God’s leading.

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 7pm at Clara Barton Elementary School (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale).  Visit their website at www.calvaryeastvale.org.

 

Hands Down

By Pastor Rob Norris

Put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Colossians 3:12

In a classic Sunday comic strip from Charles Schulz, creator of Peanuts, Linus is eating a sandwich and Lucy is nearby as he begins to ponder. “Hands are fascinating things,” he says. “I like my hands. I think I have nice hands. My hands seem to have a lot of character. These are hands which may someday accomplish great things. These are hands which may someday do marvelous works. They may build mighty bridges, or heal the sick, or hit home runs, or write soul-stirring novels. These are hands which may someday change the course of destiny!”

A moment of silence. Then Lucy’s one-line reply: “They’ve got jelly on them.”

Even as we laugh, we know that Lucy’s comment is typical of the way she treats other people.  unfortunately, it is also a picture of how you can treat your spouse. Rather than encouraging your spouse and building him or her up, you choose instead of be the voice of criticism and harsh reality.

Dr. John Gottman, a leading expert in sociological research, conducted a 10-year study to determine the types of communication — both verbal and nonverbal — The four critical elements he determined as being the most detrimental.

  • Criticism — nagging, deflating, picking at each other
  • Contempt — rolling your eyes, discounting the other’s value
  • Defensiveness — refusing to hear the truth or to deal with self
  • Stonewalling — retreating, withdrawing, not saying anything

Live it:

Take a look at how you are relating with one another and see how you can use attitudes and words to strengthen and encourage one another.
Pray

Invite the Lord to intervene every time you feel like saying something you shouldn’t..

 

Join us Easter Sunday for a Easter Celebration Service and Egg Hunt, Meeting @ 10:00 at River Heights Intermediate School 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale CA.

 

 

Rolling Stone

By Pastor Tim Eaton

Have you ever imagined yourself walking with Jesus back in His time here on earth? What kind of relationship would you have had with Him? Do you liken yourself to John, “The disciple whom Jesus loved?” Or would you be more like Peter, and deny Him three times even though you loved Him?

It’s hard to say what we would have done at the time, for the turmoil surrounding the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus was profound, to say the least. Even though the disciples walked with Him, followed Him, and learned from Him what was to come, they still had their doubts.

When the women brought spices to Jesus’ tomb and found the stone rolled away, they were astonished to find Him gone. In Luke 24, we read that Mary, Mary Magdalene and Joanna ran to tell the disciples what the angels had told them, yet they still did not believe. They had to see Him face to face.

What would you do when you saw the stone rolled away? Would you recall the words your Lord told you with joy? Matthew 27:63-64 says, “They told him, ‘Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead!’” Obviously the Pharisees and Chief Priests had their doubts, too. It took several men to roll that stone into place, and guards stood watch those three days.

The good news is, He is Risen! We don’t have to doubt. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3).

Have no doubts; come and hear the real story of Easter. Join us for Holy Week services at Edgewater.

Palm Sunday: April 9, 10 a.m.

Good Friday: April 14, 7 p.m.

Sonrise Service, April 16, 6 a.m.; Pancake Breakfast 8 to 9:45 a.m.; Resurrection Celebration, 10 a.m.

Edgewater Lutheran Church meets Sundays at 10am at Harada Elementary, 12884 Oakdale Street., Eastvale, CA  92880. www.EdgewaterEastvale.org

Remember You Are Dust And To Dust You Shall Return

EV - Father PatrickBy Fr. Patrick Kirsch

“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”  This admonition, graphically emphasized by the imposition of Ashes on our foreheads, sets the theme of Lent reminding us of our mortality and that one day we will go home to our Creator.  Just as God originally made humanity in grace, finding his creation “very good” we are called to conversion and to return to God in that same goodness.  Although sinners, we are able to regain that state of grace as we prepare for the Paschal Mystery by turning to God for help, asking him to cleanse us of our iniquities and renew within us a steadfast spirit.

LENT:  A LIST OF “GIVE UPS.” Give up Bitterness; Turn to Forgiveness, Give up Hatred; Return Good for Evil, Give up Negativism; Be Positive, Give up Pessimism; Be an Optimist, Give up Complaining; Be Grateful, Give up Harsh Judgments; Think Kind Thoughts, Give up Worry; Trust Divine Providence, Give up Discouragement; Be full of Hope, Give up Anger; Be more Patient, Give up Pettiness; Be more Mature, Give up Gloom; Enjoy the Beauty around you, Give up Jealousy; Pray for Trust, Give up Gossiping; Control your Thoughts, Give up Sin; Turn to Virtue.

 

Blessed Oscar Romero: http://www.BlessedOscarRomero.com

Textual Criticism

EV - Ed Moreno.jpgBy Pastor Ed Moreno

Have you ever heard someone say: “How true to the original can the Bible we have today be?  I mean, it was translated from Greek to Latin, and then from Latin to German, and then from German to English, and so on.  By now our modern translations have surely been corrupted.  There’s got to be a lot of mistakes, alterations, and distortions.”

Is this objection correct?  No!  You see, our current Bible is not the end of some long chain of translations from one language to the next.  Rather, it is a direct translation from ancient manuscripts in the original language – Hebrew for the Old Testament and Greek for the New Testament.

Now, as is the case with all ancient writings, the original handwritten documents themselves no longer exist because they were written on papyrus, and those have disintegrated.  This is true of the writings of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, and every other ancient work – including the original handwritten letters and books by the apostles.

But what we do have are very old reliable copies of these ancient writers.  And there is a science called, “Textual Criticism” that has methods and means for determining if the current text of an ancient work is pure or if it has been corrupted over time.   Please note that this science is applied in the assessing of all ancient writings.

One of the things Textual Critics do to determine the purity of an ancient work is to compare several of the oldest copies of that ancient work, if several copies are available.

If there is agreement, consistency and continuity between the oldest copies, then the original document is considered to have been kept in tact by the copyists who transmitted it and, thus, the current copy is considered to be pure and uncorrupted.

And the rule is that the more ancient copies the science of “Textual Criticism” has to work with, the greater the ability of Textual Critics to determine if the text we have today is true to the original or not.

Well, just for the New Testament alone, there are over 5000 more ancient copies than its closest competitor, which happens to be Homer’s Illiad with just 643 ancient copies for Textual Critics to examine.

So guess what the science of “Textual Criticism” has determined?  It has determined that the Bible is the most accurately transmitted ancient work of all time!   In other words, the Bible we have today is the same as the one early Christians used.  So you can trust it, folks.  It is trustworthy and reliable.  Read it.  Live by it.  You’ll be glad you did!

 

God Listens

EV - Dennis Morales.jpgBy Pastor Dennis Morales

Psalm 54:2  “Hear my prayer, O God; Give ear to the words of my mouth…”

A young boy was saying his prayers before bed with his mom and dad one night.  He began to pray in a loud voice  “Lord, thank you for my family, thank you for my teachers, and bless my grandma.  Also, please make sure she remembers that I would like the brand new red bike we saw today for my birthday!!”  His parents told him he didn’t have to pray so loudly and that God can hear him just fine.  The boy answered “I know, but Grandma is in the next room and she can’t hear very well.”    David in Psalm 54 is running from a jealous king and is calling out to God for help (1 Samuel 24).  God eventually delivers him in miraculous fashion as only God can do.  David had confidence that God would hear and come through.  This is one of the reasons that God calls David a man after His own heart.  Davids prayer ignited his faith to see beyond impossibility.  If it seems that God isn’t listening to you, maybe He is prompting your faith.  Remember God’s delays aren’t necessarily his denials.  Faith sees what our physical eyes can’t.  Remember God is always working through the details and God is never hard of hearing.  The answer is around the corner.  Have peace knowing that God know every detail of your prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).

Calvary Chapel Eastvale meets Sundays 8:30 & 10:30 am, Wednesdays at 7pm at Clara Barton Elementary School (7437 Corona Valley Ave, Eastvale).  Visit their website at www.calvaryeastvale.org.

 

 

When We Are Drowning In Our Blessings

EV - Mark LeeBy Pastor Mark Lee

Last month, California’s prayers were answered.  After years of water shortages and dry weather, the sky opened up and rain began to fall.  And fall.  Within weeks, approximately 80% of the state’s historic drought had ended.  Californians, however, soon found themselves drowning in their blessings.  As the soil became saturated and the streets flooded, many people grew frustrated with the very thing they had asked God to send.

Being unappreciative of God’s gifts is not unusual.  Just take a look at our daily lives.  We yearn for children, but lament the active toddler or trying teenager.  We ask God for shelter, but despise the never-ending housework. We pray for a steady paycheck, but can’t stand our co-workers.  From the beloved spouse we argue with to the dinner we don’t want to cook, we often have a tendency to take life’s blessings for granted.

Much has been said about the need to have an “attitude of gratitude.”  And honestly, who doesn’t want to be grateful for everything they have?  Unfortunately, it is easy to lose sight of the positive when faced with the negative.  No matter how hard we try to fight them off, bad thoughts can creep in.  Because of this, we need to intentionally find something to be thankful for in each situation we face – no matter how bad it is.

Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”  The next time you are frustrated while cleaning the toilet or sitting in traffic, remember that many of these circumstances are the result of your answered prayers.

VantagePoint Church meets at Roosevelt High School on Sundays at 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m., and 11 a.m.

New Life

EV - Tim EatonBy Pastor Tim Eaton

Easter has become synonymous with spring.  It’s a time of new life.  Just look at every hill and mountain you can see from our city.  An abundance of rain this winter has brought new green growth everywhere.  It seems miraculous that these once brown-with-death hills are covered in the lushness of life.  It reminds us where Easter and spring got connected.  In the spring new plants sprout to life, and animals awake from their slumber, but on Easter Jesus literally came back to life.

Perhaps you have experienced a time of winter in your own life.  It may not have been marked with cloudy skies, or wet and cold days.  Perhaps it simply seemed a dark cloud was following you.  Maybe you wished you could hibernate like a bear and wait for troubles to pass.  If that sounds familiar, the wonderful news is that Easter ISN’T a season.  It’s a PROMISE!  A promise of new and everlasting life.

The apostle Paul summed it up like this: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).”  Wow!  Life where there had only been death before.  Now that’s something to celebrate!

This promise of new life is simply signified by the tradition of an egg hunt (little signs of life!).  Join us for a free Egg Hunt Saturday, April 1st, at 10am.  It all takes place at American Heroes Park.

Edgewater Lutheran Church meets Sundays at 10am at Harada Elementary, 12884 Oakdale Street., Eastvale, CA  92880. www.EdgewaterEastvale.org

 

Soul Food

EV - Rob NorrisOh, how I love your teachings! I talk about them all the time. Psalm 119:97

By Rob Norris

We’re all familiar with the nutritional listings on food and beverage packages. Most of us are interested in total calories per serving, especially calories coming from good or bad fat, as well as readings on carbohydrates, sugar and sodium. But while these government-regulated fact lists work well for food required by our physical body, what if a similar kind of list were available to help us evaluate the spiritual content of the products we consume?

What if every TV program, magazine, book, DVD or CD revealed the “recommended daily allowance” of the spiritual necessities it provided–things like holiness, truth, forgiveness, perseverance, grace, justice and repentance? How many of them, rather than supplying anything we need, would be shown to actually deplete us, stripping away whatever spiritual health we already have?

But there is one product–the Bible–that is guaranteed to provide everyone in your family with the perfect blend of spiritual nourishment. Whether packaged in cheap paper or top-grain leather, the Bible comes complete with “everything required for life and godliness” (2 Peter 1:3, NIV).

Although most Christians today express a deep fondness for the Scriptures, they are apparently failing to feast on it. Noted researcher George Barna has reported that fewer than 4 in 10 Christians read the Bible on their own even once in a typical week. A survey conducted in churches throughout the United States found that two-thirds of couples read or discussed the Bible together but only occasionally.

If you want a spiritually healthy family, you must make sure that each member consumes a healthy diet of the everlasting Word of God. It’s the difference between a healthy spiritual life and lifelessness.

Live it:
What distractions are keeping the Bible central in your family’s life? What are we saying when we let other things take prominence over the Scriptures?

Pray:

Pray for daily consumption of the Word, it’s food for the soul.

 

Meeting @ 10:00 at River Heights Intermediate School 7227 Scholar Way, Eastvale CA.

Trusting and believing with you