Freedom of Choice

March 30, 2020 Monday Message:

“We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22b

Why do bad things happen to good people? This troubling question has haunted me for years, but especially now as we seek an end to the pandemic devastating our country. Here’s what I have learned.

There is evil in our world. God created the potential for evil when he designed us with “freedom of choice.” Therefore the ball’s now in our court – the good/evil choice belongs to mankind. As “good” people, WE try to do only good, but unfortunately we’re surrounded by legions of evildoers, the worst of whom are purveyors of war and genocide, and some of their evil will fall upon us.

“Freedom of choice” is important. Choice gives meaning to our love of God. God does not force himself upon people, nor force us to love him. It’s our choice. But God really wants us to “choose” to love him. Some people make the right choice – some make the wrong choice.

If we choose correctly, we get to spend eternity in the presence of the Lord, “where there is no more death, mourning, crying or pain.” from Rev. 21:4

Those who choose Jesus will be plucked from the evil of this world, and set down in the presence of God’s glory. See you there!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Walking WITH God

March 23, 2020 Monday Message:

“Adam and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden.” from Gen. 3:8

They knew that sound! Apparently God had walked in the garden before, perhaps even alongside Adam and Eve. Their creator was stirring about in the garden, and if I were Adam, this would have been something that I looked forward to. If God were walking in MY garden, I’d want to hurry up and join Him. And that’s what the couple usually did, “pre-sin.”

But not this time. The verse continues, “So they hid from the Lord God among the trees.” The difference: this is “post-sin” behavior.

So the question for us is, ‘Are you walking alongside the Lord, or is your sin keeping you separated from Him?’ Common sense would tell us that we’d be better off living in harmony with God, not hiding from Him. Fortunately God has provided a solution for our sin-problem.

Jesus is the answer. God’s Son conquered sin and death on the same day, and if we confess our sin to him and claim Jesus as Lord and Savior, we can once again live in the presence of God.

God did not design mankind to live in perpetual fear and anxiety. Rather, God gives us an open-arms invitation to come back home and walk alongside Him. I think God enjoyed his time in the garden as much as Adam and Eve did!

Norton Lawellin, Worship Pastor

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Coronavirus

March 16, 2020 Monday Message:

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b

Coronavirus. In my time on earth, I’ve never seen anything like it. Make no mistake, it’s coming. The mistake would be if we were not prepared, if we ignored the scientific evidence about the spread of what the World Health Organization calls a “Pandemic.”

Last Sunday in the Twin Cities, I found 5 multi-site churches that closed 22 campuses. There were probably more. “Stay home – self-quarantine” was their message. Let’s not spread the disease at church. They all offered a church service with a Bible message via live streaming on the internet.

I heard an interview with a Christian Missionary/English Teacher from China, right where COVID-19 originated. His family has been quarantined for 5 weeks, but because of that isolation, everyone is healthy. He recommends that everyone self-quarantine. Just stay home for a while, until the incidence decreases.

The MN Governor closed all schools starting this Wednesday, but most districts were pro-active and closed today. For now, it’s a 2-week closing, but experts predict it will be much longer. This falls in line with what other states were already doing. Public meetings have been cancelled, and of course all sporting events cancelled last week.

As Christians, we have hope - Jesus is our hope! We live in a fallen world. Things will go wrong, and the coronavirus is a huge example. But there is a light shining for us. Jesus said, “I have overcome the world.”

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship.

3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406

Intelligent Design!

March 9, 2020 Monday Message:

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Intelligent Design vs Incredible Coincidence? What do you think?

In spite of a lot of deep space exploration, we have discovered no other planet suitable for human life. There is nothing else out there, no other home for us. If the earth were any closer to the sun, we would burn up. If we were farther away, everything would freeze. Where we are is perfect. No planet is like ours!

In addition to our planet earth, we have also been given a moon! The moon keeps our oceans alive. The daily tides are not too big, not too small – in a word, perfect. If the moon were larger, tides would be like perpetual tsunami. And without tides, the ocean would stagnate and die. The way tides are is perfect, and it’s because of the moon.

Do all planets have water? Most don’t, but ours does. With most substances, the solid form is more dense than the liquid form, but water is the exception. The solid form is lighter – ice floats, right? This is why lakes freeze from the top down, ice on top, liquid underneath, so fresh-water aquatic creatures can survive.

Vegetation uses our carbon dioxide as part of photosynthesis, and in turn gives us oxygen, which mankind needs to survive. There always seems to be enough oxygen to go around – I’d say God has our back on this one. The ratio seems to be ideal.

For life as we know it to come into existence, far too many things have to be exactly right for me to believe it’s a coincidence. I’m sticking with Intelligent Design!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, March 15, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Pastor Michael Pilla opens up Luke 6.

Believers

March 2, 2020 Monday Message:

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

Question: There are people in remote parts of the world who have never heard of Jesus. Are they condemned?

First of all, no one is condemned for NOT believing in Jesus. Rather ALL of mankind is condemned because of our sinful ways. What is amazing is that God would send his Son to rescue ANY of us! He must truly be a loving God!

God made mankind to be curious. Therefore people all over the world investigate, seek the origin of life, seek a creator. We look for reasons for our existence. To those seekers, God shows his light. If they respond, God shows them more light, because it is God’s desire that none would perish. I leave this in God’s hands.

But as Christians, we are fortunate to have eyewitness knowledge of the One who came to rescue us. Jesus said that no one can come to the Father except through him. I like the converse of that statement: All who repent and claim Jesus as their Savior will see Heaven from the inside!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, March 8, 2020, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Guest Worship Team “People of Hope,” and Chaplain Shar Burgess is our Bible teacher, Luke 5:27-39.