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Did you really think it was time to put the shovels away? C’mon, it is February and we live in Minnesota. There are things that are almost always true like snow and cold for us this time of the year. It just is the way it is! Then there are things that are always…and I mean always. This week we look at Acts 16 in general and verses 6-10 specifically. This passage is often referred to as the Macedonian Call. It is about bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people that need to hear. It is about the Church being the Church, and it is an invitation for us at Oak Hill to make sure that we always are about the main thing. There is a continual temptation to take our focus off what is the main thing. Remember, lots of “good things” will ultimately take us away from what is best. Whenever and wherever this happens, congregations will always begin to drift, losing God’s blessing and His power. There is an intended confidence and clarity that is a gift from God when we are living as a group in unity as we follow our Savior. He wants us time and time again to humbly and thankfully come to the unchanging main thing – Jesus! It doesn’t matter if a congregation is made up of 6 or 6,000; it makes no difference if there is a cathedral to gather in or a tree to gather under; it doesn’t matter if there is an eloquent speaker or a world class band – it is all about God gathering His people around the things that never change. All the rest of it is just the context for God to be God and for us to bask in being His people. Often, I am reminded of the unchanging beauty and truth of our God as He reveals Himself in His creation. He is absolutely dependable and perfectly knows what is best for us! I thought I would share a bit of this reminder with you that I was able to enjoy this past week with Barb through a couple pictures below. May we be as confident in God’s eternal main thing as we are that the sun will rise in the east and it will set in the west. Connecting Lives in Grace and Truth, Pastor Nick  
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People love to talk about the Super Bowl commercials. Some people love the creativity or the innovation or others the humor. Companies spend enormous amounts of money to pitch their products, their name and their brand to the audience from around the world. Even though Super Bowl LI could arguably be lauded as the greatest Super Bowl game ever with the amazing overtime finish, there are probably three groups of what matters most regarding the “Super Bowl Event” – 1] the actual game, 2] the half-time show or 3] the commercials.
Personally, I was all about a good game, no matter who wins since the Vikings weren’t playing. I won’t comment on the half-time show but I will fill you in on my favorite commercial of the night. It was played right at the beginning of the game and it was pitching Ford Motor Company. Do you remember it? It had a pleasant soulful song proclaiming “I wish I knew how good it would feel to be free. I wish I could break all the chains holding me.” The images were one example after another of various ways people feel “imprisoned or trapped” such as being locked out of the house, stranded on a chair lift all alone on a cold mountain, stuck in a traffic jam or a little boy on a tipped over “Big Wheel Tricycle” with his helmet stuck under the handle bars calling out for help. I found myself emotionally relating to these situations of wanting to be free. Can you relate to this at all? Have you ever been trapped? Have you ever wanted out of a situation you created or maybe a situation life forced on you? This can happen in all kinds of ways in our lives. Some of those feelings come in small ways like being locked up in a wrestling hold or being stranded in the middle of a cold lake because the outboard motor isn’t working. Or it can happen in big ways such as literally being in a prison, or in an abusive family or wondering if there is any reason to go on living. This can be very difficult and tragic for so many people. The commercial paints this picture of lacking freedom and then the song changes its tone and the people are set free from their various levels of need. The singer’s voice soars as she proclaims “I wish I could be like a bird in the sky… I sing cause I know how it feels to be free!” What a great message and I found myself rejoicing in being free. Our text for this upcoming Sunday has Peter imprisoned by King Herod. His situation is hopeless or so it seems. That would be true except for one thing – GOD! The plans of God will not be thwarted. God “breaks chains” and Peter is set free.
God is faithful. Whatever it is that is imprisoning your soul from being set free has no power over God. I cannot promise that all your difficulties will go away but I can promise that the biggest prison of all cannot hold you. Jesus Christ will always set people free from the power of sin, death and an empty life if we will just call on His name. Jesus is great, powerful and good. He wants you to know that and be free for all of eternity! In Christ, Pastor Nick People love to talk about the Super Bowl commercials. Some people love the creativity or the innovation or others the humor. Companies spend enormous amounts of money to pitch their products, their name and their brand to the audience from around the world. Even though Super Bowl LI could arguably be lauded as the greatest Super Bowl game ever with the amazing overtime finish, there are probably three groups of what matters most regarding the “Super Bowl Event” – 1] the actual game, 2] the half-time show or 3] the commercials.
Personally, I was all about a good game, no matter who wins since the Vikings weren’t playing. I won’t comment on the half-time show but I will fill you in on my favorite commercial of the night. It was played right at the beginning of the game and it was pitching Ford Motor Company. Do you remember it? It had a pleasant soulful song proclaiming “I wish I knew how good it would feel to be free. I wish I could break all the chains holding me.” The images were one example after another of various ways people feel “imprisoned or trapped” such as being locked out of the house, stranded on a chair lift all alone on a cold mountain, stuck in a traffic jam or a little boy on a tipped over “Big Wheel Tricycle” with his helmet stuck under the handle bars calling out for help. I found myself emotionally relating to these situations of wanting to be free. Can you relate to this at all? Have you ever been trapped? Have you ever wanted out of a situation you created or maybe a situation life forced on you? This can happen in all kinds of ways in our lives. Some of those feelings come in small ways like being locked up in a wrestling hold or being stranded in the middle of a cold lake because the outboard motor isn’t working. Or it can happen in big ways such as literally being in a prison, or in an abusive family or wondering if there is any reason to go on living. This can be very difficult and tragic for so many people. The commercial paints this picture lacking freedom and then the song changes its tone and the people are set free from their various levels of need. The singer’s voice soars as she proclaims “I wish I could be like a bird in the sky…I sing cause I know how it feels to be free!” What a great message and I found myself rejoicing in being free. Our text for this upcoming Sunday has Peter imprisoned by King Herod. His situation is hopeless or so it seems. That would be true except for one thing – GOD! The plans of God will not be thwarted. God “breaks chains” and Peter is set free. Acts 12.6-7 Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his hands. God is faithful. Whatever it is that is imprisoning your soul from being set free has no power over God. I cannot promise that all your difficulties will go away but I can promise that the biggest prison of all cannot hold you. Jesus Christ will always set people free from the power of sin, death and an empty life if we will just call on His name. Jesus is great, powerful and good. He wants you to know that and be free for all of eternity! |
AuthorPastor Nick Mundis 
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May 2019
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