WEAR RED ON PENTECOST, May 27! 

Soon we'll be reading about the coming of the Holy Spirit to the church at Pentecost. The Church of the Book of Acts is a dynamic church, a church filled with God's spirit, out to change the world. They're not sure just where they're headed but they understand their mission-to tell the entire world about the love of God given to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The proclamation of Jesus is the most important thing they do.

The early Church didn't ask much about the life of Jesus. It wasn't that they didn't care, but they cared more about the testimony that he was raised from the dead. This message of crucifixion and resurrection was so amazing that they simply had to tell the story, and they wanted everyone to know that there was salvation in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, raised from the dead. They were willing to undergo hardship and suffering to tell this story. It was that important to them.

The Church of Acts had purpose. They wanted to carry the life-changing Good News of Jesus to the world. The Church was not respected or valued in first-century society, but the disciples of Jesus just kept at their work, and they changed the history of the world!

The "Acts Church" expected that God was going to continue to do amazing things in their lives. It looked for God to impact every person who called Jesus "Lord and Savior." Things seem different today. Pr. Mike Foss says "The tragedy of much Christian preaching is the fact that both the preacher and the hearer have no expectation that their lives will change as a consequence of hearing the message."

I think Pr. Foss is right, but I'm not sure why. Have we watered down the message of Jesus to be just one of many "godly messages" in our pluralistic culture? Have we decided that Jesus' work just wasn't that important? Or is it that we believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, but just don't see what that has to do with 21^st century American life? How can we believe Jesus is alive but live as though he were dead?

The Acts Church was a powerful force that changed the spiritual landscape of its day. Not by its own power or authority, but by prayerfully submitting to the authority and will of God and by seeking to do God's life-changing mission in the world.

We live in a time much like the book of Acts. Christianity is not important to most people, and Christians are often mocked and derided for their faith. I wonder, could the Church today, our church, Shepherd of the Hills, be a church that God could use to change people's lives, like God used the Acts Church? Could we be an Acts Church? I believe that God can use us in ways we haven't even thought of, if only we, like the early Church, are ready to share the life-changing word of Jesus' resurrection with those around us! Will we be like the church that Foss described above, or will we be an Acts Church?

~ PD

I went to Pastor Dana's office one day seeking wisdom on the relationship between God's free grace and my free will.  After our discussion, I asked him what I needed to do to get a ride on his Harley.  He said I didn't have to do anything, he would be glad to give me a ride on his motorcycle.  Pastor not only preaches grace, he also demonstrates how it works.  All I have to do is believe his promise and trust that he knows what he is doing.  Just like God's grace.

As I anticipate my Harley ride, I also contemplate how much fun it will be.  Will it be more fun than a ride on my power wheelchair?  Definitely.  Will it be more fun than a ride around the golf course with Pastor Bruce and his golfing friends?  Maybe.  Will it be more fun than a Montana trail ride on the back of one of my brother's horses?  Maybe not.  Will it be more fun than my ride through life on God's grace?  Definitely not.    

(Pastor's note: I know what you're all thinking...Bud is clearly a person of great faith.)