If I am alone within myself and create
a fear of unknown things
things
that have not been past nor foretold
Then I within myself can create love for things known and unknown
things
that now exist and are to be just as if they had already been
If I am alone within myself and create a terrible path to tread upon
a
path of chill and hopelessness that leads to darkness
Then I within myself can create a beautiful path to float upon
a
path of hope and joy that leads to everlasting light and warmth
If I am alone within myself and create distrust for another human
a
distrust that leaves me with misunderstanding and unwanted thoughts
Then I alone within myself can create a trust for all that belong to this world
a
trust that leaves me with understanding and pleasant feelings
If I am alone within myself and create
Then I alone within myself am
Gregory
Chastain
On
Reflection &
Contemplation
Submitted by Francisco
Reading Into the Silent Land, has brought me back to my past.
Where I didn’t know Christ just Religion. I felt it deep because I was also in
jail and also wanted to kill myself as a youth. I found peace where there wasn’t any. I had to separate
myself from my gang and think, pray, and hope for another way. I never knew
love, understanding, joy and peace, and I found it in a place where everybody
lost something of great value. In there I didn’t know how to seek, how to pray,
how to read, but something showed me. I learn and a fire burned in me and never
left even when I left it. So I pushed forward and never stopped. It’s been 3
years since I gave myself to god, but it’s been 10 years since Gods found me.
So to this days I’m still looking and finding silence in my soul.
SERMONS
Submitted by a student working toward certification as a Nondenominational Christian Minister as a portion of his final exam:
GRACE IS CENTRAL
According to
Peter Feldmeier, author of The Developing Christian, “After Jesus Himself, the
most important voice in Christian theology and spirituality is St. Paul… for
Paul God’s grace is God’s favor, His election and His life within us. Grace
justifies us and makes us righteous before God. Grace is God’s saving action in
the soul of humanity, (Romans 3:9, 23-24)”.
My brothers and sisters, today I would like to talk about the importance of God’s grace. You see grace is the central part of our faith life and indeed our life, period. Grace is God’s unmerited, (unearned) favor upon us, many times we get caught up in thinking that there is some marvelous deed we did that caused God to grant his favor upon us , I tell you we could not be more wrong about that.
You see
Romans 3:9, tells us that “we are all under sin…” it doesn’t say big sin or
little sin, it simply says sin. How often do we get caught up in believing and
even saying that God’s favor is not upon this one or that one because their sin
(s) is so great, Lord knows if I began to tell you what the Lord has delivered
me from some of you might wonder what I’m doing in the pulpit.
If we only
looked beyond verse 9, verse in 23, the Apostle Paul reminds us “for all have
sinned and fall short of the Glory of God and in verse 24 he lets us know that,
“being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in
Christ Jesus”.
Who among us
can boast of being perfect and sin free? Now in terms of our children, we have
to be careful to let them know that yes, they will sin but that the God we
serve is a forgiving God and not this terrible person who constantly punishes
them for everything they do. We must be very careful with how we present God to
our children.
So you see
saints, God’s grace is a gift to us all, there is no prayer we pray to receive
it, there is no special work we do, GOD GIVES IT TO US!!! As we look deeper into God’s grace and
how it is His unmerited favor just read Isaiah 59: which says, “Surely the arm
of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear” and verses 7
and 8 where we find that the same sins that are committed by one are in the
nature of us all, now notice I did not say COMMITTED by us all but sin is in
our very nature. But for the Grace of God, there go I, I am sure you’ve heard
it before, it didn’t just pop up out of nowhere, it was somebody’s testimony.
Think about your childhood as far back as you can remember, and children think about now and about the many times our parents showered us with love and affection , showed their approval of you, not for something you did but just because. Think about that unconditional love, we here so much about, well that’s how it is with God’s grace, it is unconditional, it is God’s affirmation of His love for us and His favor upon us.
As you begin
and/or continue to develop spiritually you will understand more clearly that
God deals with and speaks directly to you. Many will tell you what God has told
them for you but I would caution you to go into prayer and meditation and ask
God what his purpose for your life is and then LISTEN for HIS VOICE.
Romans
chapter 5, verse 1, says “Therefore having been justified by faith we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. I ask you today, do you believe?
Do you trust God above all else? Can you walk off a cliff and trust that God
will do the right thing by you? Notice I didn’t say and let God catch you. Is
your faith in God that solid? Do you believe that His grace/ favor is upon your
life?
In Romans
the eighth (8th) chapter the Apostle Paul writes about
pre-destination and pre-ordination, and I believe that while God has, indeed, ordained
who will be saved, he has not told us who he will save. Therefore we are called
to take the gospel message far and wide preaching it to all of God’s children
and allowing God to work the gift of faith into those whom he has chosen. We
need to understand that our job in evangelism is not ultimately to personally
win people for Christ but to faithfully preach the right gospel message that
God gives us, which if accepted, will ultimately win that soul for Christ. . If
we preach that message then, we have done what God calls us to do.
I tell you
saints as far as I am concerned I know The Lord favored me , the song says,
Amazing grace how sweet the sound,
that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now I’m found I was blind but
now I see. You see the song “Amazing Grace” is so popular, precisely because
God’s grace is indeed AMAZING. No matter who you are, no matter where you come
from, no matter what you have or have not done, we all have the same testimony;
“I was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see”. We know deep within
our hearts that we did not deserve God’s gift of salvation. We know that it is
God’s grace, his unmerited favor that brought us to where we are today.
It was his
amazing grace that has kept my mind after enduring my childhood. It was His amazing grace that brought me through my life thus far. You see another song goes like this, Amazing grace will always be my song
of praise, for it was grace that bought my liberty, I don’t know just why He
loved me so, He looked beyond my fault and saw my need. Then it goes, I will
forever lift mine eyes toward Calvary, to view that cross where Jesus died for
me. HOW MARVELOUS the grace that caught my FALLING SOUL. He looked beyond my
fault and saw my need.
Oh that
amazing grace, oh that amazing grace, I didn’t do anything to deserve it. Jesus
just loved me. Oh that amazing grace. I didn’t pay my tithes to get it. Jesus
just loved me, oh, that amazing grace bought me from a life of sin and shame
just because God said so.
You see saints, I love the Lord with all of my heart and soul. Twenty-five years ago I could not say that, but I believe today, that while I couldn’t say it then, Jesus KNEW IT. That is why
he showered His favor upon me for a time such as this, when he would use a
wretch like me to deliver the message that would help win souls for the
kingdom. You see, in the end that’s what it is all about, allowing God to use us
to spread the message that will win souls for the kingdom. I hope you trust God
today, I pray that you believe that His unmerited favor is upon your life
today. If you don’t know Him today, I invite you to come and get to know Him,
turn your life over to Him and accept Him as your Lord and savior. As I quoted
the author Peter Feldmeier, at the beginning of this message, “grace justifies
us and makes us righteous before God”, I tell you that it is our faith in God
that will cause us to know His grace/favor upon us and it is that grace OH
AMAZING GRACE, that is at the very center of our being seen as righteous before
God.
Oh God as we
leave this place but not your presence, we pray that you continue to shower us
with your grace and that you watch over us one by one and name by name, Lord we
ask a special anointing upon those who didn’t know you when they came in here
this morning and we ask that you receive, lead, guide and direct them as you
have so many of us. We pray for our young people, our spiritual and natural
leaders and we ask this as all things in the name of our Lord and your Son,
Jesus Christ. Amen.
CEREMONIES
Songs prior to ceremony: (and/or songs chosen by couple)
“You
Are Everything” – words/music by Jeremy Johnson & Maribeth Johnson
“Grace” – words/music by Timothy Brown & Tim Foot
“You
Always Take Care of Me” - words/music by – Jeremy Johnson
We warmly welcome each of
you to this joyful occasion of the marriage of (Groom) and (Bride). This is a
magical day of love and light for them and your presence signifies your love
and support to their holy union.
In Genesis 1:27-28 it
reads, “God Created man in His own image; in the image of God He created them.
Male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and said to them, “Be
fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and rule over it. Have
stewardship over the fish of the sea, over the birds in the air, and over every
living thing that moves on earth“.
Because God intended
marriage to bring blessings and joy, let us bow our heads and pray for His
presence as we enter this holy covenant; Lord God, our Father; Creator; and
Redeemer, we come desiring to acknowledge you in all ways, in order that you
might direct our steps, especially on such a special occasion as this. We pray
that you may pour out your richest blessings on this loving couple who stand
before us, and in Your presence, to assume the privileges and responsibilities
of Christian Marriage. May you guide them step by step from this day forth as
they begin their journey together as husband and wife. May the beauty of Jesus Christ be with
them on this day and every day hereafter. We humbly ask this of You, through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
From the beginning of time we’re told of the importance of a loving marriage between two people bonded as one… because it makes you stronger as a person, as people and as a team to stand up to the adversities of the world, making it easier to laugh off your losses and comfort each other for another day. Even as far back as Genesis we’re told “...and they shall be one flesh”. Today’s world is certainly no different. Throughout the Bible in books like Ephesians it explains, “Two people are better than one, they can reap more benefit from their labor. If one falls, the other will pick him up… alone you cannot. If two lie down together, they can keep each other warm, one cannot. And if an assailant overpowers one person, two can withstand him.” And this is true. But if you’re going to keep bonded, you are going to have to get along, treat each other with love and respect. When God said the Old Testament stuff just wasn’t working with man, he deemed one new commandment to replace the old ones; Treat each other as you would want to be treated. He had come up with one very simple law that covered everyone and every situation, even in marriage. Be patient, kind and tender to each other, don’t easily anger. Forgive often and protect each other. Live your sacred marriage covenant in truth, trust, love and hope, and you’ll endure even the toughest of times while finding God’s prosperous blessings everywhere you turn.
Dearly beloved, we gathered here in the presence of God, and with one another, to join this man and this woman in marriage, which is an honorable relationship, ordained of God in the very nature of our being, and designed for the happiness and welfare of mankind. This holy relationship is not to be entered into lightly, but reverently, discreetly, soberly, and in submission to God.
Exchange of Vows
(Groom’s name), do you
take (Bride’s name) to be your wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in
the holy bond of marriage, and will you promise in the presence of God and
before these witnesses, to love her and comfort her, honor her and cherish her,
in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity and forsaking all
others, remain faithful to her for as long as you both shall live? If so,
answer, I will.
(Bride’s name), do you take (Groom’s name) to be your husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy bond of marriage, and will you promise in the presence of God and before these witnesses, to love him and comfort him, honor him and cherish him, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and adversity and forsaking all others, remain faithful to him for as long as you both shall live? If so, answer, I will.
Bride: I will.
Exchange of Rings
Minister to Groom: What
token do you bring as a pledge, that you faithfully perform these vows?
Groom: This ring.
Minister: Let this ring be
the sacred symbol of your abiding loyalty and love.
Groom places ring on bride’s finger: This ring I give you as a pledge of my abiding loyalty and love.
Minister to Bride: What
token do you bring as a pledge, that you faithfully perform these vows?
Bride: This ring.
Minister: Let this ring be
the sacred symbol of your abiding loyalty and love.
Bride places ring on Groom’s finger: This ring I give you as a pledge of my abiding loyalty and love.
Blessing of the Bride and Groom (kneel)
May the Lord
bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May
the Lord smile upon you and give you His peace and fill your hearts with
lasting love. - In the Name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen
Candle Lighting & Roses to the Mothers: Bride & Groom
Song: “You
are Everything”
"So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate."
Inasmuch as (Groom) & (Bride) have exchanged vows and rings, before God and the gathered witnesses, by virtue of the authority entrusted to me as a minister of Christ’s church and in agreement with the laws of the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.
Introduction of Newlyweds
I count it
an honor to be the first to introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. ______________________________.