All Hallows' Eve!

For Friday, October 31, 2025:

Deuteronomy 18:10b-11 NLT, Instructions for people living in the Promised Land: “Do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead.”

Q: Should Christians celebrate Halloween? A: Only in an innocent and fun way!

All Hallows’ Eve is the night before All Saints’ Day. Pagan Celts erroneously believed that graves would open, and the dead would walk among the living. That’s why we see cemeteries, tombstones and skeletons as Halloween decorations. Witches with their black cats and brooms filled out the dark side of Halloween, practices Christians should avoid at all costs. But Halloween doesn’t have to be like that!

There’s nothing wrong with kids dressing in fun costumes and seeking free candy. My church held a “Trunk of Treat” event. We ate popcorn, drank hot cider, and signed people up for the New Members’ class. The kids played simple games in which everybody won free candy. We signed some of them up for Sunday School! I brought my grandson, dressed as Spiderman. He had a ball! I saw four Spidermen at the event!

We did not have witches, ghosts or ghouls. No “spirits,” evil or otherwise, walked among us. We kept the good, fun parts of Halloween, while discarding the evil.

I want to close by reminding everyone that Satan is real, and he’s always looking to get his foot in our doors. Halloween presents a perfect opportunity for the Devil’s evil plans. His demon helpers are still problematic today. Jesus spent a fair amount of time casting out demons. There’s a lot of evil in our world, and Satan is fueling most of it, so we need to stay alert. Avoid the Evil One at all costs, while loving the children who enjoy a fall party and free candy!

Happy Halloween!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Most Faith!

For Thursday, October 30, 2025:

Hebrews 11:8 NLT: “It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.”

There’s that word again – “faith!” Faith is believing that with God at the helm, everything will turn out for the best. So Abraham told everyone who lived in his circle to pack up and follow him. That would include all of the servants. Nowadays, we’d call them hired hands or just workers. They pitched their tents alongside Abraham’s, for both the job and for safety. Shepherds and stable workers, harvesters and those who prepared food, domestic workers, and their spouses and families – everyone was told to pack up, because God told us to get going!

Imagine the conversation. Abraham: “Honey, we need to pack everything and head down the road. We’re moving! God said!”

Sarah: “Sounds exciting! And where did God say that we’re going?”

Abe: “He hasn’t told me that yet. He just said to get going, so we need to get going.”

Sarah: “You tell that God of yours that we need more information!”

Nowadays, we wouldn’t plan a trip to another city without having a hotel reservation. And to do that, we’d need to know the name of the city! But this is a lesson in extreme, all-in faith. We need to be ready to pack up all our belongings, our friends, our families and our co-workers. We’re gonna herd our livestock down the road until God says “stop.” He’ll let us know when we have arrived.

The Bible says to trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. God’s way will always prove to be the best way!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith = Obedience!

For Wednesday, October 29, 2025:

Hebrews 11:7 NLT: “It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.”

Noah was the laughingstock of his neighborhood. At that time, if people lived near a lake, they might have a raft or something the size of a rowboat. If you fished for a living, your boat might be three times that size, but still quite small by today’s standards. God had commanded Noah to construct a monstrosity! It would be as long as five football fields, 85 feet wide and 51 feet tall! A comedian joked that Noah’s wife kept shouting, “You get that thing out of the driveway!”

We call “that thing” Noah’s Ark. Suffice it to say that this was the largest boat ever, built to survive the most rain ever! They would need space for 2 of every animal, and provisions for them. Noah’s family would care for the animals, so we need housing and food for them, too. There were multiple decks on the ark, separating animals that didn’t play well with others.

When God asks you to build a boat, you should start gathering lumber. It didn’t rain much, if at all, where Noah lived, so no one believed a global deluge was on the way. But Noah believed! Noah had faith, which is our lesson here. We shouldn’t ever question God’s need for a boat, and we shouldn’t second-guess the dimensions. God knows what he wants; God knows what he needs. Our job is to be obedient. Our job is to have faith!

When everything was ready, just as God had ordered, Noah gathered his family and then closed and sealed the opening that would soon be underwater! Are you on board?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

More Faith!

For Tuesday, October 28, 2025:

Hebrews 11:6b NLT: “Anyone who wants to come to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.”

Today’s scripture honors “faith.” Christians repeatedly proclaim that we are saved by grace (undeserved favor from God) through faith (believing that God can and will do what he says.)

Abel and Cain both brought thanksgiving sacrifices to the Lord. Abel’s sacrifice was closer to what God had asked them to do, so his faith appeared to be greater. Enoch’s faith was so great that he was taken up to heaven – without dying! “He disappeared, because God took him.” Long before this incident, he was known as a man who pleased God.

We will see varying degrees of faith within our Christian communities, all the way from Cain to Enoch. If you’re Cain, you need to step it up a good bit. If you’re Enoch, continue your obedient love for the Father, but still seek an increase. You can never have too much faith!

Remember that God rewards those who sincerely seek him. Love the Lord and graciously accept your prize as he ends your journey!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

I'll Be Back!

October 27, 2025, Monday Message:

John 14:28 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really loved me, you would be happy that I am going to the Father, who is greater than I am.”

Dream with me that we could have been alive back when Jesus was here. We would have been eyewitnesses to Jesus changing the world. After Jesus, everything was different. After Jesus, everything was better!

Allowing demons in our lives is akin to dropping sand into smooth-running gears. Many people suffered life-long illnesses, and Jesus either cured the sickness or cast out the demon responsible for the problem. Sometimes those demons would end someone’s life prematurely, and Jesus would raise the dead, correcting the mistake. Jesus empowered his followers to do as he had done: Heal the sick, cure leprosy, raise the dead and cast out demons. He aided the world in operating according to God’s vast eternal plan.

At this point, Jesus told the believers, “I am going away, but I will come back to you again.” I’m sure that many were distraught when their spiritual mentor said he was leaving. “Don’t go,” they shouted! Those people didn’t realize the benefit of Jesus’ leaving. This act would enable him to take the sins of the world to the place of the dead. Therefore, believers would appear sinless in the Book of Life, eligible to take up residence in God’s Eternal Kingdom. Believers would receive the best gift of all, being Heaven-bound, before they even understood how salvation worked.

Jesus was going ahead to prepare a place for his flock. God allowed a little extra time so that more people could hear the Good News. Jesus promised that He’ll be back. He cannot lie, so, “People get ready...

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Kingdom Eternal!

For Sunday, October 26, 2025:

Luke 21:25 MSG, Jesus speaking: “It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.”

Prior to Jesus returning, our world will be a mess. Never-before-seen natural disasters will leave mankind in fear. Nations will be at war with other nations. People will gun down others who used to be their friends. Our leaders will be unable to quash violence and have no authority over the skies. Natural disasters are often called “Acts of God,” and as we get closer to the end times, this may be especially true.

Believers shouldn’t fear the world’s condition, because Jesus gave us “Assurance of Salvation.” If we believe Jesus is God’s Son sent to redeem mankind, he promised to include us in God’s eternal Kingdom. He’s been preparing a place for each believer. There’s a room in Heaven with your name on the door!

Our faith in Jesus is our ticket to eternity. Christians don’t love their neighbors to earn Heaven-points! We’re already saved by Jesus’ work on the cross, the blotting out of our sin-record. So it’s out of gratitude that we obediently love one another. The world falling apart won’t be a problem with Jesus on our side!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Creation's Gift!

For Saturday, October 25, 2025:

Hebrews 11:3 NLT: “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.”

Having a “high view” of the Bible, we believe the words therein are God-inspired and truthful. The Bible states that Jesus was present during the creation of everything – all planets, all galaxies, all universes, and everything in them – and that nothing was created except through Him. God and his Son didn’t gather little pieces of dust and clump them together, hoping to make a planet. No, they spoke, and that of which they spoke became so! Our universe contains all new materials. It’s not the recycled remains of previous efforts. God started from scratch. He did a good job! We’re allowed to live on one of the planets!

Jesus was present at creation and again in the well-documented New Testament. So when he returns for the end times, what we call the Second Coming will actually be the Third Coming. We call it the Second Coming because it will be the second time Jesus is seen by any large number of humans. At creation, Jesus was known only to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and perhaps Adam and Eve. The earth had not yet been populated.

I pray that we can all enjoy our planet and remember to thank God for his magnificent creation. He keeps us perpetually spinning like a giant top and spinning in a year-long elliptical orbit around the sun. It’s all part of God’s vast eternal plan, and we’re all blessed to be included!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Shalom – Peace of the Lord!

For Friday, October 24, 2025:

John 14:27 ESV, Jesus speaking: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

God dispersed mankind after the Tower of Babel incident, and gave different languages to different groups. The number of words varies. Sometimes more words are required. For example, the different native Inuit tribes of Alaska and western Canada have 40, 53, and as many as 70 different words for snow. Light, fluffy snow; wet, heavy snow. In English, we have to describe it. In Inuit, they have a distinct word for each. Scandinavian natives have over 300 words relating to snow! Now I’m really confused!

Sometimes we need more words. Here, Jesus is speaking about “shalom,” a Hebrew concept, written down in Greek and then translated for us into English. As the saying goes, something is lost in the translation!

Since it’s “the peace of the Lord,” perhaps “serenity” would be closer to the original meaning. The concept requires faith, believing that with God in charge, everything will be OK. Trust in the Lord... If we survive the world's tribulation, we’ll still be alive, and that’s good! If we don’t survive, Jesus will welcome us into God’s eternal Kingdom, and that’s also good! Either way, we’ll be OK. If you’re a believer, worry isn’t necessary and would be a waste of time!

"Shalom” is a traditional Hebrew coming and going prayer, a blessing for each other. “May the peace of the Lord be with you.” Free of worry and fear and trusting in God Almighty, life will be good. After all, believers have been adopted into the Holy Family!

Shalom!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Someday Soon?

For Thursday, October 23, 2025:

Luke 21:25 NLT, Jesus speaking: “There will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.”

As we near the end times, our earth will not stay the same. The Paris Climate Accord of 2015 warns of average temperatures increases over 1.5ºC, with 2ºC being the tipping point. Our world briefly passed the 1.5ºC increase last year, and averaged +1.38ºC. Tourists are flocking to Alaska to see the last of their glaciers, many of which have already fallen into the sea. Consequently, the ocean is rising. Several Pacific island-countries are closing up shop, the residents seeking refuge elsewhere. In the US, New Orleans would be totally underwater if not for dams and levees. Today, flooding is threatened in Laredo, McAllen and Corpus Christi, TX. And Galveston, an island, is always at risk. Let me stress that the sun didn’t get warmer. It is our planet that changed, allowing it to absorb and retain more of the sun’s heat.

Discovered in 2025, Asteroid PN7 is known as Earth’s second moon. Kinda. It follows our path around the sun, but doesn’t orbit the earth itself. To astronomers, it’s new!

Scientists keep inventing better telescopes, allowing mankind to see a far larger universe than we ever thought possible. Again, to astronomers, it’s all new!

Jesus said that there will be wars and rumors of wars until he returns. To learn about today’s wars, check any news feed. The US President helped negotiate a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Less than a week later, it’s already been violated by both sides. Our president has met with Russia’s officials about ending the fighting in Ukraine. Yet the conflict continues, with more killing than ever. The #3 offender may be Syria, with the government defending itself against those who want to be the government! A civil war. There seems to be no end to fighting nowadays.

Are these signs of the end of life as we know it? I can’t say for sure. Jesus said that only the Father knows the exact day and hour he will return. But these are prophesied signs, reminding us that Jesus will be coming again, and with his return comes accountability. Jesus taught that if we knew when the thief was coming, we’d have locked the door! His words are always true, so he IS coming! We just can’t say exactly when! So it’s time to get ready. Time to repent and return!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Faith = Good Idea!

For Wednesday, October 22, 2025:

Hebrews 11:1 TLB: “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.”

What is faith? Good question! Habakkuk 2:4b says that the righteous will live (eternally) by faith. So faith in Holy things assures us of residence in the forever Heavenly Kingdom.

Faith includes believing that God-the-Father loves us, and that he sent his Son to redeem us. The faithful believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and that all His promises (prophecies) are true. We believe through faith that Jesus can and will do what He said He will do. We believe that God-the-Father, Jesus-his-Son and the Holy Spirit are one God. Believers have no doubt that all of God’s promises will come to fruition. He is, after all, God!

Faithful believers know that Jesus preceded the bulk of mankind into the life after this life, to prepare our forever residence. The believer-filled church is the bride of Christ, and we will be honored to attend the wedding banquet in Heaven’s Great Hall!

Jesus is offering us a gift we cannot repay, residence in an unseen reality for an unending length of time. Our faith tells us that it will be the best thing ever! Sounds good to me! Does it sound good to you?

Pastor Norton Lawellin
Jesus In the City Fellowship
 

Use Your Head!

For Tuesday, October 21, 2025:

John 14:26 NLT, Jesus speaking: “When the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

The human brain is a miracle of God’s creation skill. Troves of valuable information are retained inside our heads. That’s long-term memory. Surprisingly, I can remember a lot of things I learned as a youth or in elementary or secondary school.

We also garner information on a need-to-know basis. Short-term memory. We remember everything we need to, now, but discard the data a short time later. Since I work with church musicians, I’ll use them as an example. Songs are typically assigned about a week in advance. I can look over the music and listen to examples of others performing the selection, but that’s a small part of the big picture. The most effective rehearsal is the one closest to the performance. It’s the rehearsal right before the church service that locks everything in place. That way, the details and any changes are fresh in our minds. Consequently, the best we ever do is when that music is performed for the congregation right after our rehearsal. Top of mind! But by Monday afternoon, I might not even remember the name of the song!

Back to today’s scripture… In Jesus’ absence, the Holy Spirit will (re-)teach us what we may have forgotten, reminding us of what Jesus said. That’s why it’s important to stake out our relationship with the Holy Spirit. He empowers us for service and connects us with spiritual gifts. While there is some denominational disagreement as to how best to connect with our Paraclete, there is no disagreement that we need to cultivate this relationship. The Holy Spirit can move Jesus’ teaching from your short-term memory to your long-term memory. As a believer, you’ll need this knowledge for quite some time!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

End Times Loyalty!

October 20, 2025, Monday Message:

Luke 21:19 NLT, Jesus speaking: “By standing firm, you will win your souls.”

The end times will not be pretty. Countries will succumb to the armies of evil nations. Longtime companions will betray you. Some believers may even be murdered. Jesus suggests running to the hills – and standing firm, not abandoning our faith in God’s Son.

The world is confused and evil in this picture Jesus painted. But while the world is in disarray, Jesus will be our rock. Since the beginning, there has been good vs bad, right vs wrong and God’s way vs Satan’s way. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit have always been on the side of fairness, righteousness and love.

Satan, on the other hand, has no real agenda other than to oppose God. He has no Kingdom, no heaven, no paradise. The only thing a follower of Satan can hope to receive is a toasting in the fires of hell.

Deciding to become a believer is a simple decision. Almost anyone can understand the benefits and join the good guys. So stand firm in your convictions. Jesus promises that your reward will be the eternal salvation of your soul!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Gift for the Faithful!

For Sunday, October 19, 2025:

Hebrews 10:39 NLT: “We are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.”

Living our lives for the Lord requires effort. It takes a lot of work. It might be easier to give up on the project, to turn our backs on God. Of course, that would be wrong. Today’s scripture tells us that our souls can either be saved or left behind. As Christians, our desire would be to spend eternity in Heaven, in the presence of the Lord!

Jesus and his Father have given believers a free gift. We can’t buy it or barter for it. The gift is called forgiveness, and with it comes our ticket to heaven. You see, God and sin cannot exist in the same place. That’s why Jesus blots out our sins. There is no record of a sin. It’s as if we had lived a perfect life.

Christians have Assurance of Salvation. The work of Jesus on the cross brings us to the next reality. When you enter, look for Jesus. Tell him, “Thank you!” He’ll be just to the right of God’s throne!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship