Merry Christmas

Dec. 25, 2017 Monday Message:

“For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given … And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting father and Prince of Peace.” from Isaiah 9:6 NIV

This is a special Monday Message, because it’s Christmas Day! Christmas – the arrival of the King of Kings – is earthly evidence of one of the Bible’s most important teachings. God’s true desire is that none would perish. So in spite of mankind’s sin and disobedience, God – in his wisdom – provided a means of rescue. This is Good News!

God loved us so much that he personally sent his son to hand us a complimentary ticket to spend eternity with the Creator. If you identify with the “sin” group – those who have not lived a perfect life, repent, and identify Jesus as your personal savior, the Father will welcome you into eternity with open arms. And on that very first Christmas day, God was setting mankind’s redemption plan in motion.

Israel had been talking about it for 700 years: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” – God with us. He’s still with us and for us, 2000 years later. from Isaiah 7:14

Merry Christmas!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, New Year’s Eve day, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Jesus is presented in the Temple – Luke 2:21-40 - Pastor Michael Pilla.

Prince of Peace

Dec. 18, 2017 Monday Message:

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.” Psalms 122:6a NIV

Jerusalem in universally known as “the Holy City.” There is debate over which religion should control the Holy City, but no question that it’s a special place for Jews, Christians and Muslims.

Jerusalem – especially “old Jerusalem” - is known as the City of David, and David wrote about it in Psalm 122. Jerusalem is where the people go to praise the name of the Lord. Picture David in your mind’s eye, joyfully shouting, “I was glad what they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord!”

Mostly David asks for peace within his namesake city. “May there be peace within your walls … For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’” from Ps. 122:6-7

We need this prayer as much nowadays as we did 3,000 years ago.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, Christmas Eve day, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla leads us in a celebration of the arrival of the Prince of Peace! All are welcome!

Psalms 121 - My Help Comes from the Lord!

Dec. 04, 2017 Monday Message:

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalms 121:2 NIV

People focused on legalism seem to think God is out to get them. They think He set incredibly high standards that no one could ever achieve, thereby dooming mankind forever.

Nothing could be farther from the truth. God’s desire is that no one would perish, and to that end, Jesus came to earth to help us. Jesus’ sacrifice paid the price for the sins of the world. The penalty for your sins and my sins has been prepaid. All we have to do is acknowledge our sin, declare Jesus to be our redeemer and stick with him in all things. It’s the best gift ever! In return, we get to spend eternity in heaven right along with Jesus, who is already preparing a place for us.

If you’re having trouble with this, God will arrange your rescue. When David’s train was going off the tracks – adultery and murder come to mind – God sent the prophet Nathan to point David in the right direction. Yes, it was God who arranged David’s rescue. He’s a God who loves you and is waiting for you to come home. He has a gift for you if you’re willing to accept it.

“The Lord will … watch over your life, … both now and forevermore.” from Ps. 121:7-8

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla leads us through Advent - See you at church!

Psalms 120 - Save me from Gossip

Nov. 27, 2017 Monday Message:

“Save me, Lord, from lying lips and deceitful tongues.” Psalms 120:2 NIV

In elementary school, I was taught, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I don’t think that’s quite true. Somebody trash-talking you behind your back can leave you in a world of hurt.

Some people just don’t ‘get’ their gossip factor, so they persist in it.

Example: Many people watch a football game on Sunday afternoon, and then spend the next week critiquing what happened. “I think the quarterback messed up the play. They shouldn’t have run that play in the first place. That coach has no business working in the NFL.” Everybody has an opinion on how the day should have gone. Sportscasters and radio show hosts – professional arm-chair quarterbacks – spend the next week criticizing athletes who generally aren’t present to defend themselves.

At least they’re well-paid for taking this kind of abuse. You and I are not, and as Christians with Jesus’ value system in place, we shouldn’t speak badly of others. In fact, we should campaign against gossip, and if someone gossips to us, we need to ask them to please stop. I really don’t want to hear someone’s bad opinion of a third party who can’t answer the charges.

My mother always taught me, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.” I think that’s good advice.

Cruel words are crushing the psalmist, who writes, “I call on the Lord in my distress, and he answers me.” The Lord is always the best place to turn when you need rescuing. Ps. 120:1

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla lead us through Advent - See you at church!

Psalms 119 - God's Law

Nov. 20, 2017 Monday Message:

“Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!” Psalms 119:5 NIV

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. It’s an acrostic poem, each section beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet – therefore there the 176 verses are divided into 22 sections.

The Psalm has a lot to do with God’s Law or Torah, stating, “Happy are those whose way is perfect,” which is an ideal goal, but the Bible also says that ALL have sinned and come up short. So let’s back up and look at this.

Before people become believers, they often behave badly. They don’t know what God’s Law is, or what it requires of them. So when they don’t hit the mark, they don’t care. It’s no big deal.

But after we learn the truth about God, his Law matters to us and we really try to get it right. Most of the time we succeed, but once in a while we still make a few mistakes. These shortcomings are called ‘sins.’

That is why God sent his Son Jesus to redeem us. God knows our heart, and when we truly believe, he wants to meet us in heaven. Jesus prepaid the penalty for the sins of all who would call him Lord. That way, believers can spend eternity in the presence of the Father.

“I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me.” Ps. 119:8

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together. Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll wrap up 1 Cor. 15 this week, and then Pastor Michael Pilla will lead us through Advent and Christmas! See you at church!

Psalms 118 - Forever!

Nov. 13, 2017 Monday Message:

“His love endures forever.” Psalms 118:1b NIV

God’s desire is that none would perish. God loves mankind, his creation, made in his image, and he’s not about to change his mind. It’s ‘forever!.’

You can insert a whole bunch of ‘what-if’s’ if you like – what if I did this bad thing, what if I did that bad thing? – but God will still love you forever. If you’re ready to repent and return, God stands ready to welcome you back.

He protects us even when we don’t realize it. “What can mere mortals do to me?” Ps. 118:6b

We also have Jesus on our side. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Ps. 118:22a

Jesus taught us that when the prodigal son returned home, the Father ran down the road to meet him. The Father had been waiting for him, expecting him. The Father is expecting ALL of us!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Ps. 118:29

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla brings the message from God’s Word, with guest worship leader David Boeltl.

Psalms 117 - Great is God's Love!

Nov. 06, 2017 Monday Message:

“Great is God’s love toward us.” Psalms 117:2a NIV

In the original language, the word we translate ‘great’ or ‘very strong’ actually means ‘will win the war.’ And what a war we’re fighting!

From the beginning, when the serpent coerced Adam and Eve into doing that which was forbidden by God, mankind has been in a war that is far more serious than it often appears. We tend to look at sins as individual incidents, and think, “I might have been a little wrong, but basically I’m not a bad person.”

We need to remember that God doesn’t grade on the curve; God uses a pass/fail system, and the Bible says that we have all missed the mark.

But great is God’s love toward us. God’s desire is that none would parish, and God so loved the world that he sent Jesus – his only Son – so that all who would repent and return could have everlasting life. God IS in the rescue business!

My advice is to repent and return and then stick with Jesus. That’s God’s plan for mankind’s rescue, and “the Lord will always do what he has promised.” Psalms 117:2b

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Nov. 12, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll open 1 Cor. 15 where Paul outlines the basics of Christianity. See you at church.

Psalms 116 - Give Back to the Kingdom!

Oct. 30, 2017 Monday Message:

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? Psalms 116:12 NIV

Psalm 116 asks a question for all of us. We all owe a debt of gratitude for the goodness God has shown us. But we’re all different…

Some of us first needed to be lifted up out of the pit, out of the mire – a radical transformation - while others simply needed their eyes refocused on Jesus and things eternal rather, than things of the world.

Remember that God’s desire is that none would parish – no, not one! If you call on His name, God is in the rescue business. He wants us all to come home, to spend eternity with him, not separated from him.

So if God is willing to include you in the Heavenly Kingdom and Jesus has already done the rescue-work on the cross, giving back for the Kingdom’s agenda should be high on our list of priorities.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM, with Pastor Michael Pilla. Don’t forget it’s Daylight Saving Sunday – fall back!

Psalms 115 - Not to Us

Oct. 23, 2017 Monday Message:

“Not to us, but to your name be the glory.” from Psalms 115:1 NIV

Psalm 115 compares man-made idol-gods with the one true God.

You can see the idol, because it is fashioned by mankind. They give it eyes, but it cannot see; ears but it cannot hear; mouths that cannot speak. Those who make them will be like them, not seeing the truth, not speaking the truth.

Our God, whom we cannot see, is aware of every move we make. He will help us, shield us and bless us. The Lord will cause the believers and their children to flourish.

Those who are spiritually dead do not praise the Lord. But we believers praise the Lord, now and forever. He is, after all, the creator of everything!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians 14. See you there!

Psalms 114 - Rescued!

Oct. 16, 2017 Monday Message:

“Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord.” Psalms 114:7a NIV

God is omnipotent – all-powerful.

Psalm 114 reminds us that when the Israelites were slaves to the Egyptians, God caused one plague after another to secure their release from pharaoh. God led them through the Red Sea, which became dry for them. God led them across the Jordan River, which became dry for them. God gave them manna, meat and water as they crossed a dry, sandy desert. God brought them to the Promised Land. In short, God totally rescued the Hebrew people.

Do you need rescuing from something in your life? It could be poverty, pain, addiction, or something else. So many things can go wrong in a world where Satan plies his craftiness.

Not to worry – God is omnipotent! Trust in the Lord. What can God do for you?

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 22, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up 1 Corinthians 13 – love trumps everything else. Guest worship leader David Boeltl.

Psalms 113 - Praise the LORD!

Oct. 9, 2017 Monday Message:

“Praise the Lord.” Psalms 113:1a NIV

Psalm 113 begins and ends with the same words – bookends – “Praise the Lord.” In the original Hebrew, it’s simply, “Hallelujah.”

“Hallel” means to praise someone or something that is great. When that someone is God, the word becomes “Hallelujah.” We translate the Hebrew word Jah or Jahweh as “Lord.” It’s God’s name, just like your name is Mark or Tom or Mary or Martha – Jahweh.

I found 43 places in the Bible where God says words like, “I will be your God, and you will be my people.” God agrees to love his people and send them help, if they agree to love and obey him. So Jahweh is the special name used by those agreeing to love God. Covenant is another word for agreement.

While God is great and mighty and omnipresent – “From the rising to the setting sun…” – he also lifts up the poor from the ground and the needy from the ashes. God’s not afraid to get his hands dirty! God will seat them alongside heaven’s royalty. Don’t miss it!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla continues our discussion of Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.

Psalms 112 - The Winning Team

Oct. 2, 2017 Monday Message:

“The children (of those who believe) will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.” Psalms 112:2 NIV

There’s a value system – a standard-of-character – in every person, every family, every organization, and on a larger scale, every country. Let’s call it the DNA of character, standards to which we have all tacitly agreed to adhere. God gave us these standards.

New believers need to check each situation against the owner’s manual – the Bible, while seasoned believers can say the right things and make the right decisions instinctively. They have been immersed in Jesus’ teaching - his value system – for so long, it becomes second nature.

If all the parents are believers, and they teach their children to believe, and their children’s children are on the right path, God will bless that nation. His gift of righteousness is for those who repent and return, those who love him and serve him.

The Psalm concludes by telling us that evil people will see God favoring the believers and become angry, but the desires of the wicked will come to nothing.

So there are 2 teams – God’s people vs the bad guys, and God has given us free will to decide which is our team. I want to be on the winning side, so I peeked at the end of the book – God wins!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 8, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll continue our discussion of Spiritual Gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 – each of us is a necessary part of the body of Christ. See you at church!

Psalms 111 - Get Wisdom!

Sept. 25, 2017 Monday Message:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalms 111:10a NIV

When you acknowledge the Creator – a power greater than yourself – you’re starting to ‘get it.’ God is God and you are not!

Scientists – people with big brains – have questioned everything about our world, from how many leaves are needed on a tree to how were the planets created. Joyce Kilmer wrote that only God can make a tree, while the best guess scientists have about the creation of the universe is the Big Bang theory (not the TV show,) the prevailing cosmological model for the creation of the universe.

Apparently the Big Bang was just enough to break up the central mass into stars & suns, planets and galaxies, solar systems and universes, and send them precisely where they needed to go, settling into perfect gravitational harmony with one another - and not too large a bang as to send everything into oblivion.

Here are 3 more questions:

1. Who created the big central mass that COULD explode?

2. Who created the space into which everything could settle?

3. Who knew just how big to make the Big Bang explosion, to perfectly send everything just where it needed to go?

Only God! See – we’re getting smarter!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla continues our Spiritual Gifts series in 1 Corinthians 12.

Psalms 110 - Trinity

Sept. 18, 2017 Monday Message:

“The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Psalms 110:1 NIV

Most of you know that in the Old Testament, “Lord,” written in capital letters, stands for God’s name, sometimes translated as Yahweh or Jehovah, but we usually use “Lord” since the exact pronunciation is uncertain.

“Lord” or “lord,” upper/lower case or all lower case letters, refers to a master, in this case the Messiah or Adonai, the anointed one. In Psalm 110, David is prophesying about Jesus, the one we call the Christ.

If we just see the word “Lord” by itself, we assume it’s referring to the triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But in this scripture, God-the-Father is clearly speaking to God-the-Son. Jesus would face many enemies on his mission trip to earth to rescue mankind, and the Father is reassuring him that the enemies will wind up under his feet. (We sing about that!)

‘Sitting at the right hand of God’ tells us that Jesus occupies the most honored position in all of heaven. Jesus is, after all, one with the Father, as is our advocate and counselor, the Holy Spirit.

And that’s one of the mysteries of the Christian faith. We have one God who has shown himself to us in three persons. While the Bible is quite clear that we worship only one God, the Hebrew word for God, “Elohim,” is plural. Interesting. God had David write these things 1,000 years before Jesus ever walked on earth!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Sept. 24, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll open our series in 1 Corinthians 12. See you at church!

Psalms 109 - Vengeance vs Joy!

Sept. 11, 2017 Monday Message:

“Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love.” Psalms 109:26 NIV

We don’t know which event caused David to send Psalm 109 to the worship leaders. Clearly someone was making David’s life miserable, or some opposing country was making Israel’s life miserable. The text contains an exceptional number of curses and bad wishes against the oppressors. David was asking God to intervene, to stop the insults, persecution and evil behavior.

Sometimes insults, persecution and evil fall into all our lives. We’re not altogether different from David.

Which opens up the greater question: “Does God ever let sin like that go unpunished?” The short answer is, “no.” “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Deut. 32:35, Romans 12:19-20

But we don’t know God’s timetable for setting things right, and in fact, we’re told to not concern ourselves with those details. Knowing that Jesus is returning soon, we should always be very joyful. Jesus said, “You will be happy when people are not kind to you and do bad things to you. You will be happy because you love me, even when they say many bad things about you that are not true.” Matt. 5:11

Sometimes it’s challenging, but let God handle the retribution while you handle the joy of knowing Jesus. Like the song says, “Don’t worry – be happy!”

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship gathers next Sunday, Sept. 17, 2017, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll use John 17 to set up our Corinthians series this fall. See you at church!