Skip navigation.
Pastor Art's Blog
 Home | Blog | Podcasts | About Art | Login

Art's blog

Are We Also Blind?

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 3:17pm. | | | | | | |

“If you were blind you would have no guilt, but now that you say, ‘We see,’ you’re guilt remains.” John 9:41 CEV

Before we left for vacation to Kauai, friends who are retired Navy recommended their favorite dinner spot on the garden isle. “We drove from Barking Sands Base clear around the island for the Alaskan Crab Legs at the Paradise Grill in Princeville!” My wife and I have been cooking everyday at the condo and enjoying it so far. But yesterday, Angela and I decided since we are only about ½ mile from the lauded grill it should be a worthy venture for dinner.

» read more

Love the Father’s Children Too

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 3:15pm. | | | | |
  • “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.” 1 John 5:1 (NLT)


While some people find it hard to take seriously a 50 yr old guy named “Sting” when I read this passage I hear the echo of his 1980's release “Russians;’ “Believe me when I say to you I hope the Russians love their children too.” I must take serious John’s tautology (a logical statement in which the conclusion is equivalent to the premise); “Do I love the Father enough to love his children too?”

» read more

The Accusations of Life

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 3:13pm. | | | | |

Revelation 12

We live in a world where reputations are ravaged and lives are desolated by words of accusation. In June 2006, American track star and five time medalist, Marion Jones failed “sample A” of a drug test at the track and field championships. Accusations that intentionally clouded and corrupted her entire history of achievement on the track and tainted her reputation as a person spread like bird flu on a chicken farm.

» read more

Make Room for Daddy

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 3:10pm. | | | | |

Luke 6:12-16
If you are too young (and who isn’t) to have heard of “Make Room For Daddy” aka “The Danny Thomas Show,” check it out on Nick at Nite or just use your imagination. I remember it because it began its popular run the year I was born (lets just say 1960ish okay?).

Whether you think of “Make Room for Daddy,” “Andy Griffith,” “The Lone Ranger,” or “My Three Sons,” there was an era people actually talked to their dads. Something important to figure out, would be predicated by an interview with dad. I can almost hear “Beaver” starting up the ladder of wisdom with his brother and being told to ask Dad. “Hey, Wally, why is Joey so dumb? Gee, I don't know Beav, You better ask Dad.”

» read more

A Whole New Way

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 3:07pm. | | | |

Romans 3:19-28

Once upon a time people who wanted to meet people talked to people about meeting people, soon people met people whom they then dated. Today there is a whole new way to meet people. Online dating is the No. 1 paid content category online.

Consider Trish McDermott, co-founder Match.com, left the company, saying online dating doesn't work. It sounds easy, "A few dollars down and you’ll discover the love of your life." Months later hundreds of dollars lighter, alone on Valentine's Day, you may feel gypped! But McDermott has a new way, Engage.com, and she claims its solves all the problems!

» read more

Jesus Will Be Able

Submitted by Art on Mon, 30/10/2006 - 2:16pm. | | |

JESUS WILL BE ABLE Mark 5:2-4,19

Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. This man lived among the tombs and could not be restrained, even with a chain. Whenever he was put into chains and shackles--as he often was--he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to control him.

SHORT STORY. . . JESUS WILL BE ABLE

The story of this poor creature fractured by evil he could not control illustrates struggles in my own life. It is really a picture of every follower of Jesus as we learn to trust and yield to the power and authority of Christ. Affecting, influencing and hassling us are powers that seek to bind, control, possess and preoccupy us.

The possessed man’s story is what has become my story, my testimony. Once I was greatly controlled by the powers at work in the world. No limits, no efforts, chains or shackles could bring true healing and freedom. As with the many in the story, Jesus did. Jesus still does.

The possessed man’s story is one of the most colorful in the New Testament complete with talking demons (“My name is Legion, for we are many”), pigs that take a flying leap and a crowd of people who find Jesus’ actions a threat and an embarrassment. But the most significant is the one people would have considered the least significant (most valued the pigs over the man) who Jesus sets free to live a new life.

As the word spreads and the masses encourage Jesus to “move on,” Jesus has some parting words for the man whose chains have been loosed. Jesus tells me the same as he did that once demon-possessed man; “Go home to your friends, and tell them what wonderful things the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." (v19)

Whatever you do, catch up!

Submitted by Art on Sat, 28/10/2006 - 12:10am. | | | |

Someone said to Jesus, "I will follow you no matter where you go." Luke 9:57 (NLT) This morning my appointment with God was in Job. As I am jotting down what I sense from the Spirit, I also hear the distant but repetitive slap, slap, slap of little sneakers speeding down the trail. Even before looking up, I know to whom the rhythmic slaps belong. Here comes a little guy I have seen before, he has a big school pack and is anxiously trying catch up to his mother.

» read more
Syndicate content