Truth, in Love

Nov. 05, 2018 Monday Message:

“You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” Matt. 23:24 NIV

I believe God is looking for positive trends in his Holy Family. Being human, we won’t always get everything right, but I believe God wants to see how we are trending.

God loves us – unconditionally. His desire is that no one would perish, but that all would repent and return home to spend eternity with him in his kingdom. God has this curious insatiable love for mankind, and as well as God knows truth and theology, it would all be pointless without love and compassion, of which God has an abundance.

God isn’t constantly looking over our shoulders, waiting to convict us on some theological technicality. God is not petty. Rather, God is “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness.” Ps. 86:15

We should speak God’s truth, but like God, we need to do so with love. Then we can become more like Jesus the Christ, head of the church. from Eph. 4:15

Norton Lawellin

Let’s worship together! Jesus in the City Fellowship meets next Sunday, Nov. 11, 2018, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30 AM. Together we’ll open up words from the prophet Zechariah. See you at church!

Psalm 30

January 25, 2016 Monday Message:

“You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.” Psalm 30:11a

God doesn’t hold a grudge. If we sin, but then confess our shortcomings, Jesus is our path to forgiveness, and our account with God shows a zero balance.

Again and again in Psalm 30, David writes about this radical transformation – of individuals, and their life-situations. “I cried to You for help, and You restored my health.” “You brought me up from the grave.” “You kept me from falling into the pit of death.” “God’s anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime!”

It’s important for us to recognize that this pattern of love, forgiveness and restoration is the norm for our God. We can count on God behaving in this way - a “God-trend.”

Interestingly, David wanted this Psalm used in the dedication of a palace, probably THE Temple, which didn’t exist yet.

“Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” Psalm 30:5b

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10 am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Jan. 31, 2016, it’s Pastor Retha – Evangelism pt. 2, Luke 14:15-24 & 15:3-7.

Psalm 28

January 11, 2016 Monday Message:

“To you, LORD, I call; you are my Rock.” Psalm 28:1a

David’s life was complicated, but his God was always easy to understand, and we can just as easily understand God nowadays. The Bible says that God is like a rock – stable and unchanging. The Bible says that Jesus, the Messiah, is the same yesterday and today – and forever.

Knowing this, we can spot “God trends.” When God separates the sheep from the goats, the sheep will ALWAYS belong over here, and the goats will ALWAYS be sent over there. When God separates the wheat from the chaff, the good wheat is always retained here, while the chaff blows away over there. What God says is good is ALWAYS good, and what God says is bad is ALWAYS bad – forever.

If God says that it’s wrong to steal, then it’s NEVER right to take something that doesn’t belong to you. You can’t rationalize your way out of it, it doesn’t depend upon circumstances, it doesn’t matter if you really need something and the other person has way too much. Stealing is wrong – end of story. Why? Because God said so. It’s a “God trend,” and He’s not changing!

God writes his laws upon our hearts. Primitive, uneducated people all over the world know that taking something that isn’t theirs is wrong. Even non-Christians know God’s rules.

You don’t need to memorize the entire Bible, but be alert to identify and memorize the “God trends.” Then as you live your life, if something seems good, right, fair, honest, beneficial for all concerned – you already know that it’s OK with God. But if you have to sneak to do something, lie, cheat, steal, hurt somebody – better pass on that activity.

God’s not changing his mind any time soon. My God is like a Rock!

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets at 10 am every Sunday in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This Sunday, Jan. 17, 2016, we welcome all the Christmas In the City families as Dan Pilla delivers a special message for Sanctity of Life Sunday.