Good News - Great Joy!

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Dec. 29, 2014 Monday Message:

Angel of the Lord to shepherds: “Don’t be afraid! I am here with good news for you, which will bring great joy to all the people.” Luke 2:10 GNT

With Jesus, we all expect good news and great joy. “Gospel” translates as “good news.” And we also expect joy, as in “joy of the Lord.” (Remember that happiness depends on circumstances; happiness comes and goes. But the joy of the Lord is derived from things of substance, things eternal. When you call Jesus “Lord and Savior,” you can be filled with the Holy Spirit and you can be filled with perpetual Joy of the Lord.)

What we don’t emphasize in the Christmas story, is that prior to Jesus’ arrival, there was big shortage of joy in the holy land. Herod the Great is the villain in the story, and there was no joy about him. He was a schemer who clawed his way to the top of the regional Roman government by oppressing the Hebrew people.

Herod saw the baby Jesus as a threat, since people were referring to Jesus as, “King of the Jews.” A common greeting at the time was, “Caesar is Lord,” and Herod was Augustus Caesar’s man in charge of Israel and the Jews. Herod had no tolerance for another “King” of anything.

Herod was an insecure, angry, mean man, totally lacking in joy. And day-by-day, the Hebrews lived in this land with no joy in its leadership. They were really looking for someone to be nice and kind, someone with a good disposition – someone to emphasize love.

And so even though Jesus was poor, born in a stable, his birth fulfilled many prophecies, which gave the people hope, which filled them with joy!

Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship Together! Each Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Jan. 4, we’re in Acts 13:1-12, the Holy Spirit sends Barnabas and Saul, and we’ll look at prophets and prophesies. Bring your Bible!

Jesus is THE Way!

Dec. 22, 2014 Monday Message:

Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 1:14:6 NIV

There is a fairly common but incorrect belief, that a good person doing the best they can, will certainly see eternity with the creator. Jesus says otherwise.

God doesn’t grade on a curve; it’s “pass/fail!” No one has ever been able to keep God’s law perfectly. The Bible says that, “All have sinned and fallen short…” In fact, the best use of the law is to make us aware of our shortcomings and our need for a redeemer.

That’s why Christmas is such good news. Jesus came to rescue us! “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 NIV

So the fact that we all need Jesus to be with Father God in eternity wasn’t just Jesus’ idea – it was God’s plan all along!

Jesus: “I have come so that everyone would have life…” from John 10:10 CEV

Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dec. 28, Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from Luke 2:21-40 – Baby Jesus visits the Temple.

Purpose?

Dec. 15, 2014 Monday Message:

“John (the Baptist) will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord with the same power and spirit that Elijah had.” Luke 1:16:17a

John was conceived and born with a purpose, God’s purpose. He preached, “Repent and return,” to anyone who would listen, preparing them for the soon-to-arrive Jesus.

Jesus too had a purpose – to teach, heal and rescue mankind. It would have been easier, more expeditious, for God to remain in heaven and just write-off the human sinners. But God truly loves his created mankind, so he came to earth in the form of Jesus, Son of God, to firsthand deal with our sin-problem. And God IS God, so sin-problem - solved! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 AKJV

Sometimes we feel that we’ve been sent by God to do something. Other times we feel called by God. What’s important is knowing that we all have a purpose in the kingdom. God’s kingdom would not be complete without each one of us. Do you know your purpose? When God calls, do you answer, “Yes?”

“When there is no vision, the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18a KJV

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dec. 21, Pastor Michael Pilla welcomes all as we celebrate the birth of our Lord.

Prepare the Way - #2

Dec. 08, 2014 Monday Message:

Last week we talked about John the Baptist preparing the way for Jesus’ ministry, and the value of advance preparation.

Mary too had been prepared for what was about to take place. The angel Gabriel told her that she would have a son named Jesus who will be called, “Son of the Most High, and like David he will reign as King of Israel, and his kingdom will never end.” Wow! from Luke 1:31-33 CEV

Mary was somewhat confused: “How can this happen? I am not married!”

Gabriel explained God’s power, the power of the Holy Spirit, and told her that her child will be called the Holy Son of God!

Mary agreed, saying, “I am here to serve the Lord.” She was now prepared for all that would happen, and therefore played her role perfectly when it was time.

This is a great story, but I have to ask: What if she had NOT been properly prepared? What if she just turned up pregnant one day?

An unwed pregnant woman would be an embarrassment to her family, estranged from her fiancé, and could be stoned by her community.

But Mary had been prepared – she knew the inside story of what was about to happen. It took another angel to bring Joseph around. But then Mary and Joseph in turn prepared their close family and friends for what was about to take place, as the prophesy of Isaiah was being fulfilled: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel – God is with us!” Isaiah 7:14b NIV

“Jesus” means “The Lord saves!”

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dec. 14, we welcome all as Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

Prepare the Way

Dec. 01, 2014 Monday Message:

“John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord…” Luke 1:16-17a CEV

Never underestimate the value of preparing the way. That’s what John the Baptist did - he prepared the way for Jesus.

Jesus could have simply appeared at the appointed time: “Hey! Great Redeemer, here! Anybody interested?” Probably not.

But John got the people ready: “Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!” He told the people to expect the Messiah, to watch for the Messiah. John encouraged people to repent and return to the Lord, and he baptized them in the Jordan. When Jesus came forth for baptism, John said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the One…” And John testified that the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, like a dove from heaven.

Because of John’s work, when it was time for Jesus’ ministry to begin, people were ready for it. “I’ve heard about this. I’m on-board; I want to be part of it too! So this is what John was talking about!” In other words, the people weren’t taken by surprise; they were well prepared.

By the way - it’s always a good idea to thoroughly prepare your congregation for any significant change. Preparing the way, you see, is biblical!

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Dec. 7, Pastor Michael Pilla continues our Advent journey.

His Love Endures Forever

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Nov. 24, 2014 Monday Message:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His Love endures forever.” Psalms 136:1 NIV

This Thursday, Nov. 27, we celebrate Thanksgiving in the US. Psalm 136 is about giving thanks to God for a variety of things. It’s sung responsively, with the leader detailing many good things about our God, and the congregation responding, “His love endures forever.”

In Jewish tradition, this psalm is called ‘The Great Hallel,’ the supreme praise & worship song about the awesome nature of God.

In a word-for-word translation, “Give thanks,” would read, “Give God a hand!” Not like applause, but it means to worship with gusto, hands in the air, dancing, shouting – all-in praise for our Lord, just like David! And “Lord” is actually God’s covenant name, the name he said to use when he agreed to be our God and we agreed to be his people.

“His love” is hesed, God’s unconditional love for us, which the King James translates as “everlasting lovingkindness.”

How long is “forever?” Eternal is a good answer. But most people look at “forever” and “eternity” as moving forward in time, forever into the future. But the Bible’s “forever” extends in both directions - past, present and future. God wanted to redeem you before you were even born. His desire is that no one would perish.

Have a good Thanksgiving, a great holiday, thank God and remember his everlasting lovingkindness! His love endures forever!

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 30, Pastor Michael Pilla begins our Advent journey.

Choose Life!

Nov. 17, 2014 Monday Message:

“Choose life, so that you and your children will live.” Deut. 30:19ba MSG

Becoming a Christian is a 2-part endeavor. God does the first part. He deals with the sin problem in the world. Jesus reconciled the separation of God and mankind by taking the sin of the world upon himself. Good news – your sins are forgiven! In fact, the sin problem of mankind has been reconciled once and for all.

So does everyone have salvation, eternal life with the Father? No, not yet. It’s a choice each of us has to make.

Think about this – when the prodigal son was at his lowest, feeding pigs, it was not the father who kept him away. In fact, the father gazed longingly at the road each day, hoping his lost son would return home.

It’s a choice - that lost one needed to choose to come home to the father. He was fearful of what would happen if he did return. But his fear was misplaced. The father had long ago forgiven him. The father had already settled the son’s sin issue, once and for all. The question now was not about the father – it was about the son, if the son would choose to humble himself before the father, and return home.

Why are you still feeding pigs when you could go home to your father? He loves you so much, has already blotted out your sin and will welcome you with open arms.

Choose life. That’s when heaven celebrates!

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 23, Pastor Michael Pilla leads our Thanksgiving discussion. For what are you thankful?

'This' or 'That?'

Nov. 10, 2014 Monday Message:

“You (who love the Lord) are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.” Psalms 1:3a VOICE

Another ministry principle is, “If you’re doing ‘this,’ you’re not doing ‘that!’” It’s your choice.

God gives us all a new yellow pad every morning – each page is blank. Write, “Agenda,” or, “Things To Do Today,” at the top. As you plan your day, you’ll see some things that are good to do, and some things that could get you into trouble. Add some more good things to the top of the list – that Bible study you’ve been meaning to attend, volunteering at the church, the school, the food shelf, visiting the elderly – keep adding good things, and put them at the top of your list. You’ll have to re-write it a few times, adding the good things at the top, and pushing down the not-so-good things.

If you do this long enough, your entire agenda will be filled with good things, and the bad stuff will have fallen off the bottom of the page. It’s not hard - you don’t really have to make a conscientious effort to put aside the bad habits if your time is all booked up with the good stuff.

If you’re doing ‘this,’ you’re not doing ‘that’ is a good way to live. Fill your list with good things. Plant your roots near the living water that never goes dry. That’s where you find the good stuff.

Norton Lawellin

Every Sunday Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 16, Pastor Michael Pilla teaches from Acts 12.

Plant Your Roots

Nov. 03, 2014 Monday Message:

“You (who love the Lord) are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.” Psalms 1:3a VOICE

As we minister in the inner-city, I repeatedly tell people, “If you’re ‘in here,’ you’re not ‘out there!’” It’s a choice.

In the inner-city, ‘out there’ is a bad place, full of crime, disease, poverty, and drugs. The Bible calls it ‘the world,’ and tells us, “Do not conform to the patterns of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a CEV

Radical transformation occurs when Jesus takes hold of your life, and that happens when you spend time at church with the Bible, and when you hang out with Jesus-like people.

Being in the world is unsafe – you could slip and fall at any moment. But the place we worship our Lord is called a sanctuary, a safe place. If you’re serving at church, doing things for the Kingdom, spending time with your fellow Christians, it will be a lot more difficult for trouble to find you.

“If you’re ‘in here,’ you’re not ‘out there’ is a good plan. Plant your roots near the living water that never goes dry.

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Each Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) gathers at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 9, we’ll conclude Acts Ch. 11, The Church in Antioch.

Living Water

Oct. 27, 2014 Monday Message:

“You (who love the Lord) are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry.” Psalms 1:3a VOICE

Little shrubs grow on the desert. But big trees grow near the source of water. Psalm 1 is telling us to ground ourselves near the source of all life, near God.

Jesus himself uses this ‘water’ analogy as he preaches, “Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” While we think of Jesus as the Living Water, Jesus was actually talking about filling each of us with the Holy Spirit. John 7:38 NIV

He taught the same thing to the Samaritan woman at the well. “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” “Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:10, 13-14 NIV

So plant your roots near the source, near the living water. That means stick with the Bible, the Church and your Christian friends. Don’t plant your roots carelessly in the world. If you tap the living water, you’ll never thirst again. Your road will lead to eternal life. That’s what Jesus said!

Norton Lawellin

Please join us as Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) and International Ministerial Fellowship (IMF) celebrate Rev. Norton Lawellin’s call to JICF ministry, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2014, at 1 p.m. Trinity Lutheran Church of Minnehaha Falls has been gracious in offering their facility for the Ordination – 5212 41^st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55417.

And join us for Sunday worship! JICF meets at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Nov. 2, I’ll open Acts Ch. 11, Peter reports to the church in Jerusalem.

Goodness and Mercy

Oct. 20, 2014 Monday Message:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Psalms 23:6a ESV

Goodness and mercy are both good things.

Goodness is when God gives you good stuff, showers you with blessings. Goodness is when God blesses you with what you don’t really deserve.

Mercy is different. Mercy is undeserved favor. Because of the sin on earth, none of us is innocent. But instead of seeking punishment and retribution, God shows mercy to the followers of his son Jesus. Mercy is God NOT giving you what you in fact DO deserve.

The Good News is that both God’s goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life – and not necessarily in a passive way. God’s blessings will chase you, run after you, pursue you when you least expect it. And when we err, his mercy will rescue us time after time.

At the end of the road, “We will dwell in the house of the Lord – forever.” Ps. 23:6b KJV

God IS good!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Oct. 26, Pastor Michael Pilla continues in Acts Ch. 10, Peter’s encounter with Cornelius.

Soul Restoration

Oct. 13, 2014 Monday Message:

“He restores my soul.” Psalms 23:3a ESV

Is your soul in good shape?

Our souls tend to look ragged from years of slugging it out as part of the human race. The Bible says that we all have come up a little bit short of God’s goals for our lives.

But there’s Good News! God is watching out for you. To all who believe – to all who claim YHWH God as their leader, their shepherd, God will use his restorative powers to put your soul back to the way that He intended.

Yes, with the LORD as your shepherd, you shall not want, and that truth is not only for this life, but for the next life as well. God’s desire is that none would perish, so he is personally handling the restoration of souls. As a believer, your beautifully restored essence – your soul – will live in the presence of God for all time. And that IS Good News!

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord – for ever.” Ps. 23:6b KJV

Norton Lawellin

Join us for worship - Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Oct. 19, we’ll open up Acts Ch. 10, Peter’s strange dream. God sets aside some Old Testament laws and lets Peter know that taking the Good News to ALL nations includes Gentiles! See you at church!

This is the day the LORD has made!

Sept. 29, 2014 Monday Message:

“This is the day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms 118:24

Today it’s sunny, just a light breeze – all in all, a perfect fall day. It’s easy to get behind this Bible verse when we’re handed such beautiful weather. But our scripture goes much deeper than just the weather.

The psalmist is writing about a day in God’s creation, the fact that we have been created (given) for this day, and that God has a purpose for us today.

God does not make mistakes, and our God never embarks on a fool’s errand; so if you’re here on the earth today, it’s because God has a plan, and he knows things will be better his way. You are intentionally placed into the world – God caused it, and that’s a good thing!

So each day, rejoice and be glad that God has made a new day, and be ever-thankful that he chose to include you. The psalm ends, “Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.”

Have a blessed day, this day that the LORD has made!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Oct. 5, Pastor Pilla continues in Acts 9, Saul in Damascus and Jerusalem.

Joy of the LORD

Sept. 22, 2014 Monday Message:

“Do not be grieved, for the Joy of the LORD is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

Happiness comes and goes, and depends on circumstances or other people. When something good happens in your life, or when someone does you a favor, it brings a feeling of happiness. But bad things can also fall into your life. Sometimes people are unkind, and your happiness is replaced with sorrow and anger.

The Joy of the LORD, on the other hand, is permanent. When you and Jesus are best friends – when you trust in Jesus to redeem you, to give you a seat at the wedding banquet in heaven, then you know the Joy of the LORD.

Both bad things and good things will fall into your life. Some people will be loving, but others will be exasperating. Surprisingly, the joy of the true believer is largely unaffected by circumstances.

Even at his lowest, most unhappy point, Job didn’t give up hope. His joy came from knowing that God could and would rescue him from his circumstances. And God did indeed rescue Job.

Happiness is fleeting, but joy is permanent. I pray that we all could be filled with the peace of the LORD that passes all understanding. That gives me great joy!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10:00am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week, Sept. 28, Pastor Pilla wraps up Acts 8, Philip and the Ethiopian church.