A precious treasure found in a field : from my perspective
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"Two are better than one," says Ecclesiastes, 
"because if one falls down, his friend can help him up." 

I deeply desire to bring Christian comfort and the power of prayer to those who are challenged with sickness or circumstances in life. However, in this time of restricted visitation call me and I will attempt to contact them.

Please, assume that if you don’t tell us, we do not know. 
Call me at 301-4956 if surgery or hospital stay is imminent or if a visit could be helpful. 

Pastor Dennis
from my perspective…

    Breaking News, or Headline News, is updated by the hour and minute. The programs are designed to get our attention and to sell advertising. (Big surprise!) On the other hand, the Good News of Jesus Christ was proclaimed and is proclaimed today for an entirely different purpose.

    Mark begins his gospel with “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mk 1:1, ESV) It sounds like Mark is reporting, “Breaking news! Pay attention! Something important has happened!” 


    Matthew begins his gospel, “The book of genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David.” (Mt. 1:1) It sounds like Matthew is introducing a history lesson whereby we might learn something. Don’t get me wrong – I love history because I believe with George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” 


    John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” (Jn. 1:1) This is something totally different. John invites us to lay aside our daily concerns and ponder life’s Big Questions concerning God and “The Word of God.” 


    Each year, we might take a measure of our life on Tax Day, an anniversary, or any number of other milestones. Regardless of the circumstances, we go through a process of reflection, evaluation, and decision-making. We might reflect on the Big Questions of Life, like “Who are we? And “How do I fit in with family and society?” or “What positive difference am I making?” 

    I will grant that the most common daily question is, “Am I happy.” But I believe the Bible teaches us that happiness results from how we think of ourselves and our relationship with others. Therefore, John invites us to ponder anew our relationship with the One God of the Holy Scriptures, as opposed to mental or emotional gods of pleasure, wealth or self-importance. 
In the church year, Lent is the season that encourages us to ponder our relationship with the one and only eternal God and one another or who we desire to become. 

    Join us as we explore Jesus’ great encounters with religious rulers, a disrespected woman from a disrespected people and His disciples. In John, Jesus, the Word of God, invites people to question who we are in God’s eyes and who He desires us to become to live a fulfilling life. (e.g. John 10:10)
As John informs us, Jesus, the true Word of God, comes into the world to save us from ourselves and the destructive temptations brought on by the evil lies of the great Satan. “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV) 

Please join us in our encounter with the Living Word of God, your pastor, Dennis.

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A precious treasure found in a field

by Pastor Dennis on 07/25/14

A man found a treasure hidden in someone else’s field and covered it up. Then we went and sold all that he had to buy the field. Jesus tells this parable in Matthew 13.44. Of course, the man should have informed the owner but he didn't.  Instead he kept quiet in order to experience the joy of owning the treasure.

 The man would not have found the hidden treasure unless some seed of instinct caused him to dig for it. Jesus says this is the way in the kingdom of God. Maybe the man passed that field many times and never thought to look for a treasure but that moment came when something led him into the field to a particular place. Maybe he was in dire need (and I would like to think) he had turned to God for help and God led him to the treasure.

 But what is this treasure in the kingdom of God? The treasure must be unbelievable, astounding and fantastic for the man to sell everything he has to possess it. What if the treasure is God’s redemption in Jesus? Maybe the person heard about God’s redemption and salvation in Jesus but this was the first time they saw Jesus suffering and dying for their sins on the cross – personally. Then with great joy, their eyes are opened and with some guilt, they realize Jesus came for them and is here now – the kingdom of Heaven has come near to their heart.

 It doesn't take long for the newly reborn believer to realize, in their heart, that they do not deserve God’s precious gift. In fact, when they examine their heart they find stones of envy, jealousy and all kinds of evil. How do they know this?  For “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles.” Jesus tells us. (Matthew 15.16-20)  But somewhere surrounded by the stones is a seed of faith that the Lord placed there long ago. That seed once uncovered, glows like a light in the darkness; a light that reveals human sinfulness and transforms the stones into living tissue; hardness becomes gentleness; despair becomes hope: hate becomes love; anger becomes patience. (Galatians 5.22ff) This is the hidden treasure found in faith and the joy is tremendous. 

As with other parables Jesus taught, our human nature cannot believe He is advocating the cheating man as a role model. Therefore, Jesus’ true message must lie elsewhere – hidden from our sinful human nature. Once our eyes are opened by faith to realize the field is a metaphor for our heart, created by God; the treasure we find - that we would give all we own to possess - is the peace of living in a right relationship with God. It is impossible to assess the worth of this treasure. Even though we would be willing to sell all that we have to own this gift, we could not pay the price. For only the sinless life of the Son of man could redeem humankind. Therefore the treasure is given as a gift, as Jesus gave His life, so that we might be save and restored to a right relationship with God - and I am grateful, very grateful.

Take a look at Ephesians 2.1-10 to see how the Apostle Paul sees the seed of faith growing into a precious treasure.

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