Sanctity of Life/MLK Jr. Day

January 16, 2017 Monday Message:

“You, God, created my innermost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” Psalms 139:13 (NIV)

Many churches celebrate Sanctity of Life Sunday on the 3^rd Sunday of January. Because New Years Day was Jan. 1^st, that means that last Sunday, Jan. 15^th, was Sanctity of Life Sunday, which puts it right up against Monday, Jan. 16^th, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

So in our worship, should we celebrate Sanctity of Life or Racial Equality? I believe the correct answer is, “Both!”

The Bible is quite clear that God places a high priority on his creation of mankind, and that’s ALL mankind! People of different races, people of different colors, both men and women – they are all fearfully and wonderfully made in God’s image. God knows what he’s doing! God had the days planned for each of us before our bodies were even formed.

So this week, let’s celebrate the lives of all our brothers and sisters in Christ – all of God’s people!

Norton Lawellin

Join Jesus in the City Fellowship next Sunday, January 22, 2017. Pastor Van Dickerson brings us a message from 1 Cor. 7. We’re at the Akina Church, 3249 30^th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406, 10:30am.

Psalm 29

January 18, 2016 Monday Message:

“The voice of the Lord is above the waters.” Psalm 29:3a

Our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – spoke the universe into existence. His voice always resonates from high above the waters, from heaven, never from below the waters, sheol. Recognizing God as “the Creator” is our key to unlocking the door of eternal life.

Last Sunday, many churches celebrated Sanctity of Life Sunday. God from above created ALL life, young and old, and people of all colors. God saw everything that he created and declared that it was all “good.” Therefore WE should honor ALL of God’s good creations.

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. day, and we remember the man who sought parity for all mankind in the United States. Civil Rights laws were passed, court cases were won, and on the surface it would appear that Dr. King’s side was victorious. And yet the battle goes on.

Here’s the problem: You can legislate changes in the law, but you cannot legislate changes of the heart. Only God changes people’s minds, hearts and lives. So many in our country have failed to recognize the supremacy and sovereignty of the Creator, who looked at what he made and declared that everything was good.

People tend to want to be like God; they want to declare some of the creation, “NOT good.” This wanting to be like God started with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, when Satan tempted them, saying that they could be more like God. So in their attempt to be more like God, they actually became more like the evil one.

God doesn’t have a problem with anything that He created.

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. 24, 2016, Pastor Retha discusses evangelism, Luke 5:1-11.

In His Image

Jan. 12, 2015 Monday Message:

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, to be like us.” Gen. 1:26 NLT

Our God is a creator, with the unique power to make something out of nothing. He created the heavens and the earth, the plants and the animals, and finally, mankind.

If you follow God’s trend, it’s always towards increase, not decrease. God creates more and more, which always looks better and better to us.

You don’t read in the Bible that one of God’s creations was a bad idea, so He zapped it off the planet. God’s ideas are always good ideas, and our God of abundance shares with us, human beings made in His image.

This coming Sunday, many churches will be celebrating Sanctity of Life, where we honor all the lives our God has created. It’s a good day to thank your creator for creating YOU!

Blessings - see you at church!

Norton Lawellin

This Sunday, Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) is having a big worship celebration. All the people blessed through Christmas in the City are invited, as well as those who sponsored them. We’re giving rides – let us know! It’s also Sanctity of Life Sunday, and Christian songwriter Bruce Underhill will honor us with an original composition. Dan Pilla is speaking. It should be an awesome day! We gather at 10 a.m. in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis.

Special note: On Feb. 1, we’ll be combining our worship service with Victory Christian Church, 3500 E. Lake Street, Minneapolis, 55406. So our service will be in their building that week. It’ll be a great day – we always go “all out” when worshiping with our Christian brothers and sisters. Mark your calendars!

In His Image

Jan. 13, 2014 Monday Message:

“God created humans to be like himself; He made men and women. God gave them his blessing and said, ‘Have a lot of children! Fill the earth with people…’” (Gen. 1:27-28a CEV)

My father taught me to emphasize what is right with one thing, rather than dwell on what is wrong with another. He said, “If you need to sell a Chevy, talk about why Chevys are good, rather than why Fords are bad. Folks won’t like that…”

So this coming Sunday, “Sanctity of Life Sunday” in churches across the US, let’s honor God’s vision for mankind. Let’s talk about what’s right with God’s plan.

God created humans as “spirit-beings,” in His image, similar to God himself. He made them male and female, and commanded them to “go forth and multiply.” I believe that God intended for the earth to be well-populated, full of God’s children, abounding with conceived creations all made in His image.

Because this is a God-ordained plan, each life is precious. One thing that separates Christian countries from non-Christian countries is the value we place on human life. Examples: Suicide bombers are a rarity in our country – and - The US did not retaliate in kind to the kamikaze attacks in WW2. For Christians, these senseless sacrifices of human life are out of the question.

We know the great value of human life because of what Jesus taught, and from our Bibles. May we all live our lives in a way that fits with God’s plan.

Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship (JICF) meets every Sunday at 10:30am in the North end (gym) of the Oliver Ministry Building, 2647 Bloomington Ave., Minneapolis. This week we celebrate Sanctity of Life Sunday, and continue our study in Luke 18:31-34. Bring your Bibles!