Jesus' Treasure

2/26/14

Dear City Calvary,

When I was a boy, my father read to me the novel Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.  It's the story of young Jim Hawkins, a boy who happens to come upon a pirate's treasure map.  He takes the map to men he trusts - Dr. Livesey and Squire Trelawaney.  Believing this to be the map of the famous pirate, late Captain Flint, they purchase a schooner (the Hispaniola), hire the captain & crew, and head off in search of the illustrious treasure.  Little do they know that some of the crew, led by Long John Silver (pretending to be the cook), are actually pirates who are scheming to take the treasure for themselves and kill the others.  After many days, the Hispaniola arrives at Treasure Island and the fight begins.  At one point, Livesey, Trelawney, and their loyal crewmen move into an abandoned stockade.  Long John Silver and his gang show up at the fort, demanding the good guys surrender.  They refuse, to which Silver famously says "Them that die'll be the lucky ones."  A battle ensues and people do die, more fighting, more death and finally our heroes win, taking the treasure back with them to England and living happily ever after (you would think).

In James 5:1-6, James deals with treasure.  He focuses on some of the wealthy in the church who have acted like pirates.  They cheated people, condemned innocent men, and hoarded their treasure; so James confronts them and speaks words of serious judgement over them.  In fact he writes "This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgement."  What a lesson for all of us.  God didn't create us so that we could just gather as much earthly treasure as possible, selfishly spending it on ourselves during this temporary life.  He created us for so much more - to know, glorify, and serve Him forever.  Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in a steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Be generous, trust and obey Jesus, and serve Him with a joyful heart.

Also, wait patiently.  You see, we are Jesus treasure (Matthew 13:44) and He is coming back for us.  So wait patiently.  How do we do that?  Come to church this Sunday and find out as we look at James 5:7-12.  May The Lord encourage you as you finish your week.

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John

29,163.5

Dear CCC,

The number 29,163.5 probably doesn't mean much to you, but it should.  Twentynine thousand one hundred sixty-three point five.  What is so significant about that number?  29,163.5 is average life expectancy (in days) for those living in the State of Washington (ranked 13th nationally for longevity).  If you are average, you will experience 29,163.5 complete rotations of planet Earth.  

If I do my math correctly, I have lived 19,142 days which means I have 10,021.5 remaining.  How many days do you have left?  Do the math.  In fact, it's biblical.  Psalm 90:12 says "Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."   Now obviously the intent in that verse isn't about counting the actual number of days; besides, no one knows that number except The Lord.  The New Living Translation says it well - "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom."

That is what our study was about this past Sunday in James 4:13-17 as the word likens life to a "mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes."  Therefore, it is important that we live each day wisely.  How do we best do that?  James 4:15 tells us, "you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will we will live and do this or that.'"  This recognizes that every day is a gift from God and He is sovereignty in control of each one of them.  Yes, we can make our plans and goals but it is important that we remain fully submitted to Jesus, knowing that His will supersedes everything and our desire must be to make the most of each of day, for His glory.

In our world, the desire and pursuit of money consumes much of each day.  Considering that money is so temporary, what is the right attitude that God wants us to have towards wealth?  In our text this Sunday (James 5:1-6), we definitely see the wrong attitude about money and the resulting consequences.  Be sure to read ahead and I look forward to seeing you on this last Sunday of February - the month with the fewest days.

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John 

Snow Delay

2/11/14

Dear City Calvary,
It is a good thing I'm sending out my letter this week because the snow kept the majority of you home this past Sunday.  Our focus was on James 4:6-12 where we talked about the cure for, or the way to battle, worldliness (friendship with the world) in the life of a believer.  We are faced with the choice every day: am I a friend of God or friend with the world.  This cure/battle plan that James outlines for us has six parts:

1.  "Submit yourselves, then, to God"  This word for "submit" is a military term meaning, "get into the proper rank."  We are to submit to our Lord Jesus, as our Supreme Commander.  Who else would you want to submit to?  He has perfect knowledge of everything.

2.  "Resist the Devil, and he will flee from you."  Our job is to resist Satan and he will flee from us, not the other way around.  How do we effectively resist the devil?  Jesus is our best example.  Every time he was tempted by Satan, while in the wilderness, He always responded by quoting God's word.  Every time He said to the Devil, "It is written" and then gave the appropriate Bible verse.  That is the model for us.  Quote the word of God.  The Bible is our authority.  We stand on the strong foundation of scripture.  Why is this the best way to resist the devil?  He has no comeback to God's word.

3.  "Come near to God and He will come near to you."  Too often, people expect it to be the other way around as well.  They want God to draw near first and then they'll respond.  Or, people, who have allowed themselves to become close in their friendship with the world, while growing cold towards Jesus, feel too unworthy to come near to Jesus.  The Lord is a jealous God but He is not a spurned husband.  He calls us to draw near to Him and the promise is that He will draw near to us.  Just draw near to Jesus, no matter what.

4.  "Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  It is important that we deal with sin, especially if we find ourselves a little too close with the world.  Yes, we draw near to God and He draws near to us but it is important that we confess our sins and repent, turning from our sin - both those we commit (hands) and think (hearts).

5.  "Grieve, mourn and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom."  Some would suggest, quoting this verse, that the Christian life is best lived in sackcloth and ashes.  I don't believe that is our Heavenly Father's desire for us.  Remember, James was writing to believers, some of which had become "friends of the world", following their "desires that battle within".  Jesus was no longer their first love, but rather they had fallen in love with the world.  James likens it to adultery - calling them "adulteresses" (4:4).  They are the ones who should grieve, mourn, and wail - stopping their laughter and replacing it with real tears because that would be the appropriate response of someone caught in adultery.

6.  "Humble yourselves before The Lord and He will lift you up."  How do you do that?  Try doing steps 1-5 and that is a humble response.  Humility before God is important.  James says that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

This coming Sunday, we will finish up James chapter 4, looking at verses 13-17.  In this section, James asks a great question - "What is your life?"  He then gives the answer.  This is one of the most important questions anyone can ever ask themselves.  This will be a great Sunday to invite someone to church, especially those who are really searching for what life is all about.  Ask your neighbor, friend, family, co-worker - whoever, to join us this Sunday.  Have a blessed week.

In Jesus love,

Pastor John

SuperBowl Champs!

SuperBowl Champs!

Pastor John’s Note

2/6/14

Dear City Calvary,

What a week this has been for our city!  As a Seattle native and fan of the Seahawks since their beginning in 1976, I so enjoyed watching our team destroy the Denver Broncos in a blowout.  It was clear Pete Carroll and his Hawks had a very good game plan and understood their opponent.  How else could their defense stuff the NFL's all-time record breaking offense in such a resounding fashion.

Last Sunday we studied James 4, which tells us about our enemy - worldliness (friendship with the world).  In fact, in verse 4, James uses the strongest of language when he writes, "Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."  This Sunday, we will talk about God's plan to defeat worldliness in our lives.  We see it in James 4:6-12.  Be sure to read and ponder those verses and be ready to learn together as we dig back in to the wonderful Word of God.

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John

Friendship with the World and the Super Bowl

Friendship with the World and the Super Bowl

Pastor John’s Notes

1/29/14

Dear City Calvary,

Where will you be this Sunday at 3:30 PM?  I know where I will be - in front of a TV cheering my lungs out for the Seahawks.  Imagine it's first quarter and the Seahawks are about to score.  Russell Wilson gives the ball to Marshawn Lynch, but instead of going into Beastmode and driving for the end zone, Marshawn happily hands the ball over to the blitzing linebacker who then runs the length of the field and scores for the Broncos.  Marshawn then runs up to  congratulate the celebrating Bronco player.  Or, instead of throwing the ball to Golden Tate, Russell Wilson lightly tosses it to the Bronco's free safety and then cheers for him as that safety runs by for another Denver touchdown.  What if Richard Sherman joyfully lets the Broncos wide receiver catch the ball and run for 6 more points and then give him a big congratulatory hug saying, "I'm glad you got a turn to get a touchdown too."  What if Pete Carroll led the whole Seahawks team in serenading the Broncos to the tune of "You've Got To Have Friends"?!?   

Are those things going to happen?  NO WAY!!!  ABSURDITY!!!  Those two teams are not in New York to be friends.  They are there to battle for the Super Bowl Championship.  Each player will do whatever is required of them (even sacrificing their own body) for the goal of winning that game, knowing that they carry the hopes of millions of people.  It will be WAR!

As absurd as this illustration is, let's carry this thought into our lives.  James writes in James 4:4 "Don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God?  Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."  You see, there is a serious battle going on.  The two opposing sides are the world and God.  We know what side we belong to yet, it can be easy to allow ourselves to battle for the wrong side, acting like enemies of God.  It is serious and this is what we will be talking about this Sunday as we dig into James chapter 4.  It's important to not only know what side you are on but how to remain firmly planted on God's side.  See you Sunday.  Feel free to wear your Seahawks clothing.

In Christ's love,

Pastor John

PS  James 4:3 says - regarding prayer - "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."  Does this mean we are not supposed to pray for the Hawks to win?

Wise Up

Wise Up
Pastor John’s Notes
1/23/14

Dear CCC,

In this Information Age in which we live, our need isn't for more information; our need is for wisdom and how to use information wisely.  In our text last Sunday in James 3:13-18, we learned that there are two types of wisdom.  One is the world's wisdom.  Though it is easy to find, it is not wise to seek because it is earthly, unspiritual, and of the devil.  It results in selfish ambition, bitter envy, boasting and even denying the truth.  Who in their wisdom would want that?  And yet, this is the wisdom that permeates our culture today.  

The kind of wisdom we need is the kind that can only be found in one place and that is from heaven.  The wisdom that Jesus gives is pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  How do we find this kind of wisdom?  Ask.  James tells us in James 1:4, "If you need wisdom - if you want to know what God wants you to do - ask Him and He will gladly tell you." (NLT)  Then, look in the right place, His word.  Jesus said, "My word is truth."  

See you Sunday!

Blessings in Jesus,

Pastor John