Pastors Pen
Hi. My name is Bill Bogers and I am Pastor at Albion Hills Bible Church. Some weeks I write a short devotional comment for the weekly bulletin. We decided to post this on our website as well for your benefit. If you would like to comment on any of my posts, please email me from the feedback form. We would love to hear your comments. If I can be of any help, please contact me.
January 15, 2012
“Even angels long to look into these things.”
1 Peter 1: 12
Have you ever read a book or watched a play where you just couldn’t wait to find out how it ends? I confess that on occasions I have looked to the back of a book to find out “who done it.”
We are beginning a study of 1 Peter on Wednesday night and the phrase above caught my attention. It is as if human history is a stage and the angels are watching intently to marvel at how God is moving through history. They watched intently with the Old Testament Prophets to get some idea how God was going to redeem fallen humans. They marvelled when Jesus was born and sang, “Glory in the Highest.” How they must have looked in horror as Jesus was despised and rejected on the Cross, but what rejoicing they experienced when Jesus arose. There are many of us who would love to know when Jesus is going to come back again to take his Church to be with Him. The angels long to know as well.
The difference between them and us is that we are subjects of this drama rather than observers. We have the Word of God to study and see where everything is going. Jesus died for us and for our salvation. What an amazing privilege we have. Jesus explained that "there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." Let’s not neglect it.
December 25, 2011
Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.
2 Corinthians 9: 15
Many of you that are parents have probably been up this morning for quite a while as anxious children couldn’t wait to see what was under the tree. At Christmas time we love the tradition of giving and receiving gifts. I remember that first sight of the tree and the stockings in my house. My Mom and Dad had a rule about how early we could get up. We would all first open our stockings and then have breakfast together. It was then time to tackle the gifts under the tree. I was fortunate enough to live in a family who could afford those gifts.
There are many people who have theorized about the origins of gift giving at Christmas. Some say it is a reflection on the Three Wise Men who brought gifts to the baby Jesus. Some claim it originated with St. Nicholas in the 4th century, some say it has pagan origins.
I think ultimately it comes from that first and most important gift that we received on Christmas Day. God became man, Immanuel – God with us. And while you might or might not be impressed by some of the gifts you received this morning, the Bible says that the gift of God to us in the person of Jesus Christ is an “unspeakable gift,” it can’t be described or expressed. But as Louis said last week, a gift has to be received for it to be a true gift. And as the Scripture says, only those who have received the gift of salvation can truly and sincerely be thankful for it. I trust that you will take time this Christmas to say thanks to God for His unspeakable gift.
April 10, 2011
At Albion Hills it is our privilege to support many missionaries serving around the world. Each year we set aside at least two weeks in April to focus on the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28. It is our prayer that these weeks will help us to renew our commitment to World and Home Missions.
There are some things you can do all year to make sure this is an important part of your spiritual life.
1. You can keep yourself and your family informed. Be sure you have a prayer card for our Missionaries. Read the newsletters we post and check the file at the Back for extra news and prayer requests.
2. Communicate with our Missionaries. You can find email and addresses posted in the back of our directory. They would love an encouraging word from you.
3. Demonstrate hospitality to visiting missionaries.
4. Keep up to date on needs and trends in missions. You can read missions oriented books or magazines. Sometimes the worst news stories are opportunities to bring the message of Christ to nations which might otherwise be closed or resistant to the Gospel. Find out how God is moving.
5. Give regularly and generously to the support of missions. You can do that through our Church or through the Missions organizations directly.
6. Make prayer for our missionaries a priority! Remember:
Away in a foreign land, they wondered “How?”
Their simple words had power.
At home the gleaners two and three, had
Met to pray and hour.
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