Ending and Beginning

Ending the current year and starting the new year is a matter of one day.  Does changing the date from 12/31 to 1/1, really radically change a person's life?

The change actually comes from the inside not the outside.  Changing the date does not change the heart.

End the current year with a deeper desire to get closer to God, and you will automatically start the new year getting closer to God. Look at James 4:7 and part of verse 8:

"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you..." Christians, get close to God now.  Start with praying to God for clear direction. God Bless, Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

What the Christian Does on Christmas

Merry Christmas:

Christians are not stuck on the exact day of Jesus' birth, we are stuck on the fact that Jesus was born through the Virgin Mary to save the world from sin.

God, the Son, was put inside of the Virgin Mary, and never stopped being God in the process.  Why?  To demonstrate God's love for the world by appearing as a human, living as a human, dying as the ultimate human sacrifice for humans, raising from the dead as a human, and to return one day for the ultimate restoration of humankind (John 3:16).

Jesus, Who came and was 100% God, and 100% man, did for humanity what we could not do for ourselves (Philippians  2:6-11).  Jesus brought human restoration back to God for us (II Corinthians 5:17-21).  Jesus brought meaningful life to us (John 10:10).  Jesus brought new values to us (Rom. 12), and on and on.

Today, we reflect, and we fall down and worship, Jesus, The Christ, born King of the Jews, The Risen Saviir of the world. We also share God's love with others by giving gifts and by doing good works.

FYI:  Christians, our worship leads to a more godly life, such that people see our lives full of good works, and give glory to God (Matt. 5:16).

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Take Time to Worship The Christ

Christ, the Messiah, the Annointed One, Yahweh's Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, is worthy of our undivided attention, and on-going worship.

In all the hustle and bustle, the joy and the sorrow, the giving and receiving, the struggles and good, that accompany this time of year, stop and worship The Christ, born King of the Jews.

Christians, stop, and take time to worship toward the end of this year, with a mind to continue in the New Year.

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy

Where is Your First Love?

Look at Revelation 2:4:

'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

During the Christmas season, we can easily get caught up with the fun, and festivities, or circumstances can consume us, and we lose track of our "first love."  Our "first love" is our love relationship with Jesus.   We stop praying, and reading, and meditating on God's Word like we used to.  We are not in church and serving others like we used to.  We are more withdrawn, and focused on ourselves, and our personal needs, or we are more into worldly music, and activities, and as a result of our moving away from Christ, we are more lonely than ever before. This can happen to any of us.  Jesus says the reason is simple.  We left our "first love."  Jesus also says the solution is simple: "Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place—unless you repent" (Rev. 2:5). Christians, go back and reflect on the rich time you had in Christ, and go back to practicing the things that kept you close to Jesus.  Oh yes, don't forget to repent for slipping away. God Bless, Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Mary & Joseph, The Earthly Parents of Jesus

One of the outstanding lessons we learn from the parents of Jesus Christ is their commitment to fulfill God's call on their lives.  Their call was to parent The Savior of the world.  This call was a good work. Every call that God places on our lives is for good works (Eph. 2:10).

The God of the Bible never calls His children to do evil, or to hurt innocent people.  

Christian's, just like Joseph and Mary, we must willingly submit to God's call on our life to do good works.

Here is a prayer to help:

Dear Lord, Your earthly parents modeled doing good as they willingly
submitted themselves as the human vessels by which You appeared in the
world.  Lord, You also modeled doing good by dying on the cross for the sins
of the world.  Lord, Your Word is full of passages that teach us to do good
works.  As I do life, make me a vessel of honor, sanctified and qualified
for Your use.  Show me where You want me to do good works at home, in the
local church, in the community, and beyond.  Lord, help me to represent You
well.  I love You, Amen.

God Bless

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.

Christians, Continue to Do Good

The violent attack on unarmed and innocent people whose life commitment is to help the vulnerable members of our society, on 12/2/15, was heartless.

This was another act against humankind that highlights how lost people can be.  Domestic and international terrorist keep their hearts cold such that they possess a low view of human life.  Even as the function in the community they dwell on hatred and the destruction of human life to maintain this coldness.

God describes this kind of heart by saying that the heart is deceitful and desperately sick; who can understand it (Jer.17:9)?

However, God, Who knows the heart, can and does change the human heart through His Son, Jesus (II Cor.5:17).  

God also gives His children specific instructions to demonstrate our changed heart in Matt. 25:31-40.

Christians, as we live in an increasingly violent society, we must stay alert and protect our society from evil people doing evil things ("if you see something, say something").  Even if we are wrong, we are better off checking it out.  We must also continue to do good as we are doing in San Bernardino, and as we do good all over the world.

Christians, we even do good to those who hate us (Rom. 12:20-21; Gal. 6:9-10).

God Bless,

Pastor Brian E. Kennedy, Sr.