Q & A with Pastor Mark Haines

A place for heartfelt, honest answers to your questions from a caring pastor

Monthly Archives: December 2011

Time Off

I won’t be blogging again until the new year begins.

Getting my ducks in a row

I’m taking time off to give extra attention to my family this week.

If you have  a question or a suggestion for a topic you’d like me to address in the coming year, please leave your suggestion here.

Let Earth Receive Her King

Christmas Day Plus One

Church Mosaic by Petr Kratochvil

Prepare to Read the Bible

Let’s continue our celebration of Jesus’ coming one more day.

Read It and Listen for God’s Voice

Read this passage a couple of times.

But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. (1 Timothy 6:11-16) Read more of this post

No More Gloom!

Christmas Day is finally here!

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

It’s time to celebrate Jesus’ birth.  Remember God’s love and grace.  Receive the hope and peace only his Spirit can give.  Believe in the God who will go to unimaginable lengths to bring you into his family.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Read these verses aloud three times.

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:1-7)

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Gracious Peace

Today is the twenty-eighth day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

“Glory to God!”  His peace is a gift of his grace to all who will receive it.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Read this familiar Christmas text aloud several times expecting God to speak to you in a fresh way.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:8-14)

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Fruitful Peace

Today is the twenty-seventh day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

Today you will uncover the connection between peace and love.  The Holy Spirit is the one who produces them  in your life.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Read these verses aloud nine times, emphasizing one aspect of the Spirit’s fruit each time.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

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Faith and Peace

Today is the twenty-sixth day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

The four themes of Advent (faith, hope, love and peace) are tied together in many ways.  Today we discover one of the connections between peace and faith in God.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Read these verses aloud four or five times, emphasizing the words, “peace,” “trust” and “LORD” each time.

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.  Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD himself, is the Rock eternal. (Isaiah 3-4)

Credit: Free images from acobox.com Read more of this post

Fortress of Peace

Today is the twenty-fifth day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

The Prince of Peace born on Christmas brings you the gift of a heart and mind protected by God’s peace.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Read this statement several times inhaling deeply and exhaling completely between repetitions.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 4:6-7) Read more of this post

Fearless Peace

Today is the twenty-fourth day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

God’s peace provides not only the absence of worry, anxiety, fear and harm but also the presence of health, courage, wisdom. love and everything else you need to enjoy life as God intends.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

This is another promise Jesus gave his disciples on the night before his death on the cross.  Read this statement several times emphasizing the word “peace” each time.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  (John 14:27)

Image: digitalart / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Victorious Peace

Chaiwat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today is the twenty-third day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Image: Chaiwat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

Make a quick list of five people you would want to contact if you knew you were about to die.  What would you say to each one?

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

Jesus made the following statement to prepare his disciples for his quickly approaching death.  Read this statement several times before you begin to think about it.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

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Peace and Joy

Today is the twenty-second day of the Advent season. The theme of our fourth week is PEACE.

Credit: Free images from acobox.com

Prepare to Hear God’s Word

In the Bible, peace means more than the absence of conflict and violence.  Peace is the presence of everything humans need to live as God created us to live.  Jesus is the Prince of this kind of peace.

Read & Listen for God’s Voice

The early church debated about whether eating meat offered to idols as a sacrifice was permissible for committed followers of Jesus.  The apostle Paul made this declaration to both sides of this discussion.  Read this statement aloud several times.  Focus your attention on the words surrounding “peace.”

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.   Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  (Romans 14:17-19)

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