Be Thankful!

Nov. 25, 2019 Monday Message:

“There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Rom. 8:1 NIV

The key words is ‘now!’ I checked 10 different Bible translations on this passage, and they all include the word ‘now!’ So we don’t have to do anything further. It’s never ‘Jesus plus something else.’ Christ alone is the answer to our salvation. If you have Jesus in your heart, there is no condemnation RIGHT NOW!

We are blessed to live in a nation where it’s easy to learn about Jesus. If we follow Jesus – join a church, make a lot of ‘church friends’ – our lives might go better, be easier. That wasn’t the case for early Christians. Once siding with Jesus, they might be mocked, persecuted, sometimes even killed.

But Paul writes, “In all things God works for the good of those who love him.” Once you’ve been adopted into the Holy Family, you’re promised that this life will end well. Heaven and all within await us in our lives after this life.

This unconditional love of God is another reason for which to be thankful. Just think: God could be ornery, angry and demanding. But He’s not. Our God looked at all his creation and saw that it was very good. He loves us in spite of our faults, in spite of our wrongdoings, and that’s the best gift of all.

Thanksgiving should be more than a day – Thanksgiving should be 24/7!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Founding Pastor Michael Pilla leads us into the Advent Season.

"More God!"

Nov. 18, 2019 Monday Message:

“This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown (from heaven) down to the earth with all his angels.” Rev. 12:9 NLT

In case you don’t know, Satan is an angel gone bad, a fallen angel. And sort of like the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which states (simplified) that two objects cannot occupy the same space at the same time, there can be no evil in the presence of God – only good stuff. Therefore Satan and his supporters were cast down to earth. The bad news is that now WE have to contend with them.

Some people try to tough it out, to do battle with the devil. Oftentimes they don’t win.

I believe a better solution is, “More God!” When the Hebrew people wandered in the desert, a cloud would follow them around and from time to time descend on the tabernacle. This was the divine presence of God, the Shekina, a visible sign that God-the-Creator was still caring for His people.

As we witness revival from time to time, the prayer has always been that God would show up – praying for more God rather than praying for less evil.

Jesus taught us to pray that the Kingdom of Heaven, where God is in charge, would also come to earth. Pray that God would make “up there” come “down here.” Pray for “More God!”

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll talk about Thanksgiving and the goodness of God. See you at church!

Dead Man Walking!

Nov. 11, 2019 Monday Message:

Jesus speaking: “Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” John 11:25b NLT

At the home of Mary and Martha, their brother Lazarus was dead – really dead! He’d been dead long enough that his body was wrapped, prepared for burial and placed in a tomb. Guest were crying, wailing, mourning. They put on ashes and tore their clothes. Lazarus had been dead for four days.

Jesus had been summoned, but it’s like he was dragging his feet. When he heard of the illness of Lazarus, Jesus didn’t even leave for two more days. He says this is for the glory of God, so that everyone will understand who He is.

Arriving at their house, Jesus prayed in a loud voice so that everyone could learn! Jesus claimed, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.” Then Jesus asked Martha if she believed this – but that question should be for all of us. Do you believe what Jesus said?

Dead Lazarus lived once again; everybody present witnessed it!

Jesus himself conquered sin and death on the same day – as a free gift for mankind! Without resurrection and life after this life, there’s no point to our theology. You too can receive Jesus’ gift – forgiveness of all sin and life after this life - if you believe!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Pilla teaches about the prophecies concerning Jesus.

Worship

Nov. 4, 2019 Monday Message:

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’” Psalms 122:1 NKJV

Nowadays, a lot of people view attending church as some kind of requirement, as an obligation. One time when our service ran a little long, the Pastor’s 20-year-old son chastised me. “I’ve been in churches all my life, and church is supposed to be one hour – no more, no less!”

Not true! David regarded worship as an opportunity! He wrote songs, he wrote poems, he wrote prayers and he led others in worship of the Lord. He prayed in a loud voice, played the lyre and sang songs to the Lord. He danced before the Lord both before and after he was king. We need to remember that David was a part-time king, but a full-time worshiper!

I suspect that with David as your Worship Leader, church wouldn’t end after one hour. It would end when David had expended all his energy in worship of the Lord. But he was going to stay for a good while afterwards, praying, and you’re welcome to join him. After all, if God shows up, you don’t want to leave early and miss it!

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. We’ll look at the resurrection of mankind, and how that looks for us, 1 Cor. 15:35-58. See you at church!