Emmaus Church

Sunday: He is Alive!

2009-04-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

This week we will explore a few of the many events that took place during the week prior to Christ’s crucifixion and his resurrection from the dead on the first day of the week, the day we call Easter. Let us walk with Jesus as he walked those last steps of his life on the road to Calvary.

><><><><><><><><><><

EASTER SUNDAY, April 12

Reading: John 20:1-9

The Empty Tomb

¹Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ²So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!"

³So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. ⁸Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹(They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: He is Alive!

Can you imagine hiding in fear for your very life? Grieving over the loss of the only hope you have ever known? Gone. How can you go on? What will you do? His love, truth, authority, power, protection, hope. All gone. This was Christ’s disciples. A shadow had fallen on their lives. Yet, we are no different than they. Our condition is dark. Despair, our master. The disciples did not know Jesus was alive. And even though we walk with Christ, we, too, sometimes live like we don’t know that Jesus is alive.

Into the dark tomb came the explosive power of Life, and death was banished forever. It no longer exists. That which held sin’s answer now holds God’s life. There is no fear. There is no sting. He, Jesus, is Alive! He destroyed the power of Death. He walked out of the grave into our lives to liberate us from that which held us in bondage. He is now Lord of all, and all things are under His feet! He is alive!

I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. ~ Revelation 1:18

Prayer: Jesus, help me live in you as you live in me. Please let the power of your resurrection transform me even as it did your body. Amen.

Saturday: Silence Hidden

2009-04-10T16:00:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

SATURDAY, April 11

Reading: John 12:23-25

(In the Gospels there is very little written about the days Jesus was in the tomb)

²³Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Silence Hidden

Jesus was executed.

Travelers prepared to go home.

Hope was low.

The High Priest was smug.

The devil thought that he had won.

The Romans had squelched another potential rebellion.

The world, the flesh and the devil were in control.

In the ground lay the broken and dead seed, hidden from the sight of man, waiting for the power of God to conquer the sting of death and grant new life to His creation. In silence it lay hidden, and the world would never be the same again.

Our hope is not in what we see, but in what is promised.

For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

~ Colossians 3:3-4

Prayer: Jesus, create within me an excited expectation for the power of God to regenerate new life in me where death once reigned. Amen.

Friday: Jesus Walks Ahead Alone

2009-04-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

FRIDAY, April 10

Reading: John 19:28-42

The Death of Jesus

²⁸Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." ²⁹A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. ³⁰When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³²The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: "Not one of his bones will be broken," ³⁷and, as another scripture says, "They will look on the one they have pierced."

The Burial of Jesus

³⁸Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate's permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰Taking Jesus' body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴²Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Jesus Walks Ahead Alone

Earlier, Jesus told his disciples he was going where they could not go. The crowds had left him. Even Peter denied him. Yet, Jesus knew this was the plan. There was to be only one perfect sacrifice, the second Adam.

Jesus was completely aware of the history of sin in mankind and its devastation and effect for thousands of years yet to come. His road was to be traveled alone. His earthly destiny would be led by men who had no understanding of who he was or his role in their redemption. God gave his son Jesus the Creator into the hands of the created, those now fallen, corrupted and full of death.

Arrested, mocked, beaten beyond recognition, humiliated, abandoned, falsely condemned, and nailed to a rough cruel cross, Jesus submitted himself to his Father’s plan. Then God placed the sin of all mankind on his only son, from the first sin of the first man Adam to the last sin to be committed by the last man on earth. The burden was so great that only a perfect sacrifice could bear it. And when, at the perfect time, Jesus gave up his spirit and died, Joseph of Arimathea laid his body in a tomb. And there he lay guarded.

Once more Jesus said to them, "I am going away, and you will look for me, … Where I go, you cannot come." ~ John 8:21

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for loving me so much that you did for me what I could not do, die for my sin. I love you, Jesus. Amen.

Thursday: Father Knows Best

2009-04-08T16:00:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

THURSDAY, April 9

Reading: John 13:1-17

Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet

¹It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.

²The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. ³Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; ⁴so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. ⁵After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

⁷Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

⁸"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."

⁹"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"

¹⁰Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." ¹¹For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.

¹²When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. ¹³"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. ¹⁵I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Father Knows Best

When we walk with Jesus we sometimes have needs that we believe God should meet in a certain way – uh, our way. We spend time in prayer boldly asking, and in some cases, demanding God to change this or do that. We forget that God has a plan. A perfect plan. He knows our needs, physically, spiritually and emotionally, long before we are even aware of them. We get afraid or impatient and get lost in our own answers.

Peter was just like us. Jesus was ministering to the disciples just as they needed. He was teaching them just what they needed to know. Peter resisted it and demanded more, even something different.

Jesus wants us to know that the Father has established the path for our life. He knows what we need and when we need it. Indeed, our Father knows best! The question is, can we see and receive his leading?

Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand." ~ John 13:7

Prayer: Jesus, help me trust you with my life. Enable me to see the wisdom in your plan for me. Amen.

Wednesday: Our Intended Purpose

2009-04-07T16:00:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

WEDNESDAY, April 8

Reading: Matthew 21:12-17

Jesus at the Temple

¹²Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ¹³"It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' "

¹⁴The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

¹⁶"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
" 'From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise'?"

¹⁷And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Our Intended Purpose

As a child, did you ever go exploring at your grandparents’ house and discover an interesting object and you did not know what it was? Maybe you’ve been shopping at a yard sale or antique shop and saw an item for which you had to ask the owner, “What exactly is this and what was it used for?” As adults, we may even possess objects that our own children or grandchildren have to ask us about. And if we do not pass on this information to them, its use may be lost at our death.

In today’s scripture passage, this is what happened with the temple. It angered Jesus and he drove out the money changers. He then re-established the temple’s intended purpose as “A House of Prayer”. He called it “His House”.

When we give our life to Jesus, we are then “His House of the Holy Spirit”. Let us ask our Maker, “What was my original intended purpose? What did You create me to do?” God alone knows, and if we ask him to re-establish that purpose, he will drive out everything that hinders and even blocks us from becoming all that he wants us to be.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. ~ Proverbs 19:21

Prayer: Jesus, please help me let you re-establish your original intended purpose in my life. I confess sometimes I don’t even know what that is. Thank you that you are waiting and willing to drive out all that hinders my development in you. Amen.

Tuesday: Watch in Expectation

2009-04-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

TUESDAY, April 7

Reading: Matthew 25:1-14; Mark 13:32-35

The Parable of the Ten Virgins

¹"At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. ⁴The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. ⁵The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

⁶"At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!'

⁷"Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.'

⁹" 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.'

¹⁰"But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

¹¹"Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!'

¹²"But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.'

¹³"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

The Day and Hour Unknown

³²"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. ³⁴It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

³⁵"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn.

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Watching in Expectation

Jesus. Won’t it be great to see him? To bow before him and kiss his feet in worship? To thank him for all his love and forgiveness and provision? To praise him for how he has changed you and your family?

In his last days here on earth, Jesus made it clear that he will come back to get us. There are times it is so hard to live here without him in physical form to encourage us. That is why we must watch for his coming. There are two things that are true here. First, Jesus is coming. We don’t know when, but he will come back anytime, any day. I personally can’t wait. Second, we are easily distracted. Every day is filled with our needs, pain, fear, unforgiveness, anger, and yes, even rebellion.

We need to ask Jesus to teach us to watch for him. We really don’t know how to wait in expectation for his return. An application is found in our daily reliance on Jesus. See, when a need appears we ask for his intervention, then we look for him to come and meet us in that need. We rely on him and we expect him to care for us. Likewise, we can watch for his coming and wait expectantly, knowing it will come to pass. God’s Word is true. Jesus is coming again!

"… This same Jesus … will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." – Acts 1:11

Prayer: Father, teach me how to look for Jesus to come to me in my everyday needs. Then, teach me to watch for Him ‘til he comes for us all. Amen.

Monday: Walk in Hope

2009-04-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

On the Road to Calvary

><><><><><><><><><><

MONDAY, April 6

Reading: John 11:1-44

The Death of Lazarus

¹Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ²This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. ³So the sisters sent word to Jesus, "Lord, the one you love is sick."

⁴When he heard this, Jesus said, "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." ⁵Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

⁷Then he said to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea."

⁸"But Rabbi," they said, "a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?"

⁹Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world's light. ¹⁰It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light."

¹¹After he had said this, he went on to tell them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up."

¹²His disciples replied, "Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better." ¹³Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

¹⁴So then he told them plainly, "Lazarus is dead, ¹⁵and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

¹⁶Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

Jesus Comforts the Sisters

¹⁷On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, ¹⁹and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. ²⁰When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

²¹"Lord," Martha said to Jesus, "if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²²But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask."

²³Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

²⁴Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."

²⁵Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; ²⁶and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

²⁷"Yes, Lord," she told him, "I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world."

²⁸And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. "The Teacher is here," she said, "and is asking for you." ²⁹When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. ³⁰Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. ³¹When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

³²When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. ³⁴"Where have you laid him?" he asked.
"Come and see, Lord," they replied.

³⁵Jesus wept.

³⁶Then the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

³⁷But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"

Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead

³⁸Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. ³⁹"Take away the stone," he said.
"But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days."

⁴⁰Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

⁴¹So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me."

⁴³When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

><><><><><><><><><><

Devotional: Walk in Hope

Mary and Martha send a messenger to Jesus to inform him of the illness of their brother and his friend, Lazarus. Jesus does not hurry to his side, but waits two days before beginning his journey. He knows that Lazarus is now dead and tells his disciples he is going to awaken him. By the time they arrive, Lazarus has been dead four days. The house once filled with times of joy and comfort is now filled with grief. Lazarus’ sisters are alone. When Martha hears that Jesus is coming, she goes out to meet him. She tells him that if he had been there her brother would not have died.

Even though we walk with Jesus, we still walk in our own understanding. In this case, Mary and Martha walked in grief. That was all they knew. They did not understand what they needed, but Jesus did. He said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die." Mary and Martha needed hope.

We live in a world that is very limited in hope. But, take heart! Jesus is our Hope and his resources are limitless! This week as you walk with Jesus on the Road to Calvary, do not walk in your own understanding. Ask God to help you walk in Christ’s unlimited hope.

Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go."

– John 11:44b

Prayer: Father, help me live with Jesus as my Hope and not in this world’s hope. Amen.

Come and Worship - One More Thing

2009-01-29T03:34:00.000-08:00

One more thing. This is an ongoing project. Sunday happens every week. So though this may be small, you can always find a more recent (hopefully bigger) version at

http://calebnei.com/calebnei/come-and-worship/

Last updated January 27, 2009.

Come and Worship - Gotta Serve Somebody

2009-01-29T03:28:00.000-08:00

Gotta Serve Somebody
http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf
Matthew 26:24
Today we begin with the words of Bob Dylan:

Gotta Serve Somebody
©1979 Special Rider Music
You may be an ambassador to England or France,
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,
You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls

But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody,
Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody.

You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage,
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage,
You may be a business man or some high degree thief,
They may call you Doctor or they may call you Chief

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk,
You may be the head of some big TV network,!
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame,!
You may be living in another country under another name

Being a Dylan song, there are four more verses. You get the point. It’s the same one Jesus makes in the book of Matthew.

Matthew 26:24
24 No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

I’m told Jesus’ point is less about money and more about the focus of our heart. That brings us to our point: as we begin, let’s pray that God would give us a focused, consistent, authentic hearts.

Come and Worship - Bigger Than the Mountains

2009-01-29T03:24:00.000-08:00

Bigger Than the Mountains
I realized something about God tonight

I saw this on a friends blog the other day:

I have a friend who recently participated in a study abroad to Oregon. I visited her parents over thanksgiving in Chambersburg, PA (my hometown). Her mother was showing me pictures of their road trip out there and back. When I was looking at the pictures I realized that somewhere in between the rural landscape of south central Pennsylvania and the cityscape of Nashville I had forgotten how vast and beautiful the rest of this nation is. Her photos were stunning. Awe-inspiring mountains jutting up out of perfectly flat ground. Massive lakes surrounded by an audience of pine trees. Miles and miles of red clay and dry deserts. It was so complex and beautiful. I thought about people that live by these natural works of art and get to see them everyday. My initial thought was "How fortunate they are to wake up to such beauty." But as I thought more about it, I realized that those mountains are no more a work of art to the locals than the rolling hills of Chambersburg are to me. They are simply...hills. I've seen them my whole life. No big deal. I am amazed at how jaded we are. Breath-taking landscapes lose their luster in a matter of months...weeks even! With that in mind, I thought about the fact that I have lived for twenty years on this planet and have never ceased to be amazed at God. Time
and time again He shows me just a whisper of his heart and I'm floored, speechless,
humbled, and completely loved. It must be that God is bigger and brighter than the sunsets and more powerful and mighty than Everest and deeper and more mysterious than the ocean. It must be that my mind never reaches the extent of Him. There is always more to discover and with each discovery comes the kind of peace that settles into your bones.

A man can spend his lifetime searching for the heart of God and never be disappointed with what he finds. How fortunate we are to wake up to such beauty.
Kyle Rictor
Dec 4, 2006

Come and Worship - Thirst

2009-01-28T16:47:00.000-08:00

http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf

Psalm 42:1-2
1 As a deer longs for flowing streams,
so my soul longs for you, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God,
for the living God.
When shall I come and behold
the face of God?

Most of us haven’t been thirsty like David was. Nowadays we can hike to the top of a mountain and find a drinking fountain…or a Dasani machine. A rest stop every 35 miles.

Imagine David. Wells are fewer and further between because we don’t have Davis’ Well Drilling service. The wells that exist are precious. Water is precious. There are times a person gets so thirsty. Swollen tongue. Sandy lips.

Real desire.

In Jeremiah 2:13 God is called the "spring of living waters".

Jesus said, "if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him."

Water gives life. God gives life. Without either we shrivel.

How often do you drink?

Come and Worship - Be Present

2009-01-28T16:39:00.000-08:00

http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf

Be Present
Psalm 27:3-5
Stop. Really stop.

In today’s world multi-tasking is a requirement. Eating while driving. Talking on the phone while eating while driving. Listening while talking on the phone while eating while driving.

Rarely do we just do one thing. Listen to the words of David.

Psalm 27:3-5
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then will I be confident.
4 One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

Verse 4. He’s asking “one thing.” To know God. To gaze on His beauty.

I’m asking, that this morning we do one thing. That is…be present. To put yesterday and tomorrow out of our minds. Right now we’re here to dwell in the house of the Lord, to gaze on his beauty, and to seek him in his temple.

Come and Worship - Mary and Martha

2009-01-28T16:27:00.000-08:00

http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf

Mary and Martha
Luke 10:38-42
The setup: Jesus goes to visit the home of Martha. Martha’s sister is there.

Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

It’s not that Jesus doesn’t think that preparations are important. Jesus ate and drank. (Someone prepared the meals.) Scripture values service.

Contrasted attitudes to Jesus’ presence.

Martha is worried. Pasta to drain. a cake to frost, coffee to grind, stemware to polish. Light a candle. Where is the good silverware? She’s Supermartha.

Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, [sigh] you are worried and bothered about so many things.”

Mary: seated at the Master’s feet. Listening. Quiet. Attentive.

Sometimes this is proper. Jesus says “necessary.”

“Mary has chosen the good part.”

Today, let’s focus on the “good part.” Remember: It’s possible to mentally be with the pasta, cake, coffee, stemware. Even when your body is in front of Jesus. So, as we gather here let’s listen. Forget the commute, the boss, the deadlines, the term paper, shopping list, the undone taxes, the unpaid bills. We gather at the feet of Jesus.

Sidenote: Never accuse someone to Jesus. He’ll probably pull out the mirror. Martha, don’t worry. The plank and the speck. (Luke 6:42.) The woman caught in adultery. (John 8:1-11.)

Come and Worship - Introduction

2009-01-28T16:09:00.000-08:00

http://calebnei.com/documents/ComeandWorship.pdf

Intro

Each Sunday I have the privilege of leading worship at Emmaus Church in Berryville, VA. It’s a smallish church, in a smallish town, in a rural county. Don’t be fooled by the cows and fields though. Most people here aren’t actually farmers. We’re about an hour outside of Washington, D. C. (Unless you’re in the commuter traffic. Then it can take twice that long.)

I lead worship for fairly average hard-working Americans. Many of them drive an hour or more in toward D.C. every day of the week. A lot of them work for the government or for employers that work for the government. They’re busy. Sunday comes after a week of working, driving, eating and sleeping.

I love my job. Sometimes leading worship means I pick the songs. Sometimes picking songs isn’t enough though. Sometimes I look out over the gathered mass and know that we need reminded of what’s good, right, beautiful, and true.

That brings me to the purpose of this collection of thoughts. These are reminders. They all come from Scripture or are on Scriptural themes. I use them at the start of the service to get us going.

I offer them to you for this same purpose. You don’t have to read them as written. (Actually, I’d prefer you didn’t. But, in case you do, I’ve written them as conversationally as possible so no one will know.) Think about them. Be inspired. Inspire your people. Let me know what you think.

Caleb
calebnei.com

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rehearsal Schedule 11/29 & 30

2008-11-26T20:50:00.000-08:00

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rehearsal Schedule
Saturday and Sunday rehearsal schedule: (COME WITH LINES MEMORIZED!)
Don't forget to bring a snack to share, as well as items for the taco bar!

9AM Mother, Beth, Alice, Elmer, David, Hobie, The Herdmans, Maxine, Charlie
10 AM Angel Choir
10:30 Mother, Mrs. McCarthy, all kids,
12:00 lunch break- please pick up your children for the 2 hour break
2:00-7:00 Everyone including tech/backstage people

Sunday
9:30AM Bradley Family
10:00 All kids + Bradley family
3:00-6:00 Everyone for run through

Monday-Wednesday
4-8 Everyone!

Thursday Dress Rehearsal
6:30 Be in costume by this time for a run through

Friday-Sunday Shows
Arrive no later than 5:30 for make-up and costumes.

Thank you to everyone!
Briana

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rehearsals 11/22

2008-11-20T15:23:00.001-08:00

Saturday, Nov. 22

9 AM Mrs. McCarthy, Slocum, Armstrong, Clausing, Clark
10 AM Mrs. Clark, Herdmans, Mom, Beth, Charlie, Alice, Maxine, Hobie, David, Elmer
11:30 Bradley family Mrs. Armstrong
12:30 Lunch break
2 PM All children, Mom
3:30-5:30 All children, fire fighters, Mrs. Clark, Rev. Hopkins
5:30 supper break
6:00 Bradley family, All children

Sunday Rehersal
9:00-10:00 TBA on Saturday

Please save the entire Saturday the 28th for rehearsal. It is our last Saturday before the performance. Also, Sunday-Thursday we will have production week. So, please make arrangements to be there from 4-8 Monday-Wednesday and Dress Rehearsal will be Thursday, Dec. 4th from 6-9.

Parents, please bring along a snack to share during rehearsals. NO PEANUTS OR NUT PRODUCTS PLEASE. We have a severe nut allergy in the cast

We will have a play float in the Saturday Dec. 6th Christmas parade. Anyone in the cast is welcomed to be on our float! Posters and invitations will soon be available for distribution.

Please have all lines memorized as soon as possible.

Thank you to everyone!
Briana

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rehearsal Schedule

2008-11-12T22:05:00.000-08:00

Best Christmas Pageant Ever Rehearsal Schedule
(subject to change. If in doubt, e-mail Briana OR check the church website at emmausofclarke.com for updates by our beautiful Viqui Dill webmaster.)

THIS Saturday
9AM Beth, Alice, Maxine
10:00 The Bradley family (Maxine and Alice are done till after lunch)
11AM The Bradley’s, Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Clark, Clausing, Slocum
12:30 Break
2:30 Charlie and Leroy
3:00 The Herdmans, Mother, Beth, Charlie, Alice, Maxine, Elmer, Beverly, David, Hobie, all the shepherds, the angel choir members, the baby angels. (chaos ensues) 
Shirley, Juanita, Doris
4:00 Mrs. Armstrong, McCarthy, Slocum, Mr. Bradley, Mother
4:30 All the children, again along with Mother,
5:30 Mother, Beth, Alice, Mrs. Clark
6:00 All the children with Mother
7:00ish. . .finished

Sunday AM
9:30 Beth, Alice and Maxine and the Bradley family (in the JWMS choir room)
10:00 All the kids and Mother (except baby angels)
11 AM is the Emmaus Church worship service. Rehearsal is over. . .all are welcome to attend

Lines all memorized by next Saturday!!!! Mother and Beth have two weeks to memorize lines. Next Saturday’s rehearsal schedule will depend on how this Saturday goes!
Everyone is required to be at all of the rehearsals. (Unless you let me know ahead of time or unless your character is not required to be there.)

Everyone with a speaking role will receive a script. The cost of the script to keep is 7.50. You may pay in cash or make a check out to Emmaus Church. If you cannot afford to purchase the script for some reason, please see me and the church will cover the costs.

Please feel free to bring in any food items to share during rehearsals. Children are not allowed to run around the school. They must stay in the auditorium or choir room. Parents may drop kids off, but we also are looking for parents to help oversee the children. Food is not allowed in the auditorium.

All teenagers playing children will need to find costumes and hair styles to make you look younger! No high heeled shoes during rehearsals, ladies (unless you are Natalie!) Please, even play with different hairstyles, as we will be wanting the teens to look as child-like as possible. Please avoid any major hairstyle changes without consulting the director.

Cast List

2008-11-05T22:47:00.001-08:00

CAST LIST
Father: Ethan Dean
Mother: Natalie Schlosser
Beth Bradley: Rachel Schlosser
Charlie Bradley: Bruce Ward
Ralph H: (Pending)
Imogene Herdman: Gwenda Leonard
Leroy Herdman: Spencer Trask
Claude Herdman: Chris Mason
Ollie Herdman: Sam Mason
Gladys Herdman: Savannah Crim
Alice: Anna Delany
Mrs. Armstrong: Marlissa Eyre
Mrs. Slocum: Katie Burston
Mrs. Clark: Sydney Wilkins
Mrs. Clausing: Tara Gadoury
Mrs. McCarthy: Lee Brian
Maxine: Elizabeth Blight
Elmer Hopkins: Andrew Walraven
Hobie: Anthony Trapnell
David: Patrick Bauserman
Beverly: Emma Dowling
Fireman 1:
Fireman 2: Earl Smith
Baby Angel Shirley: Trinity Walraven
Baby Angel Juanita: Emma Eyre
Doris: Ariel Nei
Reverend Hopkins: Chris Eyre
Eugene Slocum: Isaac Nei
A Mom: Donna Hess
Angel Choir Members: Alyssa Delany, Jessica Poffenberger, Emma Robinson, Jennifer Bitz, Kristin Hackworth, Rachel Bracken, Lilly Davis, Merryn Mason, Victoria Hess, Victory Bryan, Elaine Bryan
Baby angels: Emma Delany, Amber Trapnell, Elaine Brian, Rachel Poffenberger, Addy Eyre, Abby Mason, Chloe Crim, Abigail Hess, Katrina Hess
Shepherds: Elliot Eyre, Ellis Nei, Daniel Schlosser, Jake Pelleman, Nick Pellemen

If by any chance you auditioned and your name is not included, it was an accident. Sorry. Email Briana right away. If you just simply want to be in the play and didn't know about it until now, call Briana Nei at 540-550-7534. We still have a few extras we could cast. To accept your part, please send a confirmation email to Briana at briananei@yahoo.com. The rehearsal schedule will be released this Friday. Thank you.

Why the Best Leaders Are the Best Leaders.

2008-10-30T07:42:00.000-07:00

Here's an article by John Maxwell on leadership.
http://www.maximumimpact.com/articles/read/article_why_the_best_leaders_are_the_best_leaders/

For Biscuit

2008-09-22T22:46:00.000-07:00

What I have written below is a midnight response to a friend who has chosen not to believe in Christianity because it makes him feel better about the death of his atheist brother.

Let’s say you have a disease. There is a cure for it. All you need to do is acknowledge that you have this disease and accept the cure. That’s it.
So let’s say that you choose not to acknowledge the disease because the outcome of this disease is death, and you really don’t like that idea. It’s not pleasant, not comfortable, generally very depressing. So you refuse to acknowledge the disease and its ultimate end.
Now, just because you choose to believe that you don’t have the disease doesn’t mean you don’t have it. It doesn’t make the end result any less real. You have simply chosen to live in denial. It might make you feel better emotionally, but it doesn’t change reality.
I know about this because I also have the disease. I know for a fact that there is a cure. And I’m telling you that some people are going to choose to be healed of this disease that infects every person on this earth, and some are going to choose that it just doesn’t exist.
But let me tell you, the cure works. And it’s a wonderful feeling to know that I have been healed! The consequence of this disease is no longer an issue in my life. It’s gone!
And I want to make sure that everyone else knows that what is true in my life can be true in theirs. All you need to do is acknowledge that you have this disease and accept the only cure that there is for it. Denial does not change the reality.
Open your eyes. Live your life healed. Do not allow other people’s decisions to send you to an unnecessary grave. That just doesn’t make sense. It’s your life. Choose the Truth. Reality. The Cure. Life.

Tourists and Missionaries

2008-08-31T16:45:00.000-07:00

When you go to a strange place, somewhere that puts you out of your element, you have 2 choices: be a tourist or be a missionary. I wish more of us could be missionaries and fewer of us could be like tourists. So let's talk about I mean.

Jesus gave us The Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Most of us think of missionaries as folks who travel half way around the world to spread the Gospel. But "all nations" includes our nation.

Let's say the mission field is found on the internet. And let's say I surf around and see this:

If you're a tourist, you might think "Ooh, that's gross. I don't want to see all these sexually charged images." But try thinking about the very same ad in the same way that a missionary might think. A missionary would think "Wow, the people in this nation are hurting and lonely. Jesus loves them right where they are and wants to heal them of this isolation and hurt."

Or say you see an ad like this:

If you're a tourist, you might respond with "Yuck, zodiac is just a step away from fortune telling. I have to avoid this kind of thing because it might lead me into a place of sin." But the missionary would think "These folks are comforted by the zodiac. It helps them to make sense of the future and gives them hope. Jesus wants to be their future and their hope, as he says in Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Or how about this one:

An ad for liquor appeals to folks because they are full of pain and need anesthesia to chase away the pain and boredom of their everyday lives. A missionary would hear the cry of the hearts of the hurting folks out in the mission field. Jesus wants to heal us, to be our refuge, to give us a drink of living water so we will never be thirsty again. Jesus didn't come to condemn them (condemn us) for wanting to use alcohol but to save us all from the things that drive us to drink. John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

So try it out. Try out thinking like a missionary instead of a tourist. If you feel uncomfortable by what you see on the internet or hear in a song on the radio or watch on TV or cable or in a movie, ask yourself why it's there. What kind of love does this world need that is temporarily being filled by the disturbing thing you see or hear? What kind of natives live in your mission field and how does Jesus want to love them through you?

The first blog post: From Briana!

2008-08-27T16:32:00.000-07:00

Lessons in leadership. . .lessons in faith

You’d think I’d have learned by now. Leadership is not performance. It is not asking those you are leading to sit back and watch while you perform the next great feat. In prayer this morning God revealed these simple truths to me again. In fact, the word leading should be revealing in and of itself. Merriam-Webster.com defines the word lead as: transitive verb1 a: to guide on a way especially by going in advance. There are other various definitions of the word lead, but this definition is leadership in a nutshell. In the Old Testament, when Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, he went first and then they followed. Everyone had a part that day. When Joshua led the children of Israel over the Jordan river into the promised land, the priests led that day. The river showed no sign of receding and they went in. Their faith and obedience showed those following, “This is something we can all do together.” Their actions were, as it says in Hebrews, “The substance of things hoped for- (hoping for the promised land, in particular. . .and the hope that we won’t all really drown in the river.) and the evidence of things not seen.” (Look God really is with us! Look at the priests! Look at the river!) The priests’ faith and leadership showed everyone that they could now take action and trust God, too.

This seems pretty clear. But, as I just reminisced, when you are in front the pressure’s on. You are the one taking the first steps and exercising faith. “Hey everyone! God’s over here! Let’s all go meet him together!” Yikes. That means we have to be seeing God, hearing from God and being the first one to jump in. But, we are not alone. We are not “Out in front” by ourselves. Jesus is leading ahead of us. His servant leadership led him to die before he called us to die daily. He took up his cross first then said, “Follow me- Hey, don’t forget your cross!”

So many times I get scared in leadership. I think to myself, “Well, this is what God is saying to me, but will anyone want to come, too?” So, then, in my fear, I try to take things into my own hands and forget about asking people to help carry the burden. Remember, even Jesus asked us to carry our part of the burden. (Of course, he said, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”) Remember our part: to love one another, to serve one another, to Go into the world and make disciples? We are working together with Christ as he leads us. He does his part all the time. Hopefully, I am following his lead.

So, God is a great delegator. He has gifted the body of Christ to do his work. He is the head, and as we know, the head is always on duty. The head is always serving the rest of the body. So, like Christ, if he calls me to lead, I can delegate too! I can ask people to follow me as I follow Christ. This lesson really will alleviate great frustration if I listen to it, because God never intended us to function by ourselves in the Body. If he calls you to lead, it is not to go across the Jordan by yourself, but to take the first steps into the muddy, rushing water. How many times have I been afraid to burden someone else in the body, when God had been preparing them to go with me and for us to share this burden together? If I try to do my ministry all alone and by myself, I really am not leading, I am really setting myself up for the same failure a foot would have if it was disconnected from the leg.

One last lesson in faith. God prompted me to write this with all this in mind, and one last connective thought. He is leading us. He will do his part. He will always come through. He will not fail us. Just as I would never ask someone to help me with something and then not do the part I agree to, he will never ask me to do something and stop short of fulfilling his duty. On top of all of that he loves us. We are his children. He will provide for all our needs emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. He is all powerful. When our finances look scary, God does his part. He always does. I, of course, forget that on a regular basis. As a leader, when I am leading, I need to know that while leading me into the promised land God will keep his promises. In that knowledge, I can lead others into the promised land. He is faithful, even when I am faithless. Time after time he leads me in paths of righteousness personally, in my family and as a leader. Time after time, no matter how big the walls of Jericho are, they always fall when I obey him.
Why? Because God is faithful. So, I can look to God and trust him enough to ask other people to join me.

The Apostle Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” He didn’t mean, “Try to be like me.” He meant, “I am walking after Jesus. This is the way. I know Jesus will lead us to places where we will see miracles and lives changed and we will never be the same. And by the way, if we run out of money, we will find it in a fish’s mouth. If we don’t have enough food, he will multiply it for us, even in the middle of the wilderness.”

Here's the Emmaus Blog.

2008-03-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

Hello.