Pastor Paul’s Blog

Last night as I was walking into our weekly Wednesday night meal that we host here at Valley Shepherd, I stopped to greet a couple young girls. The older of the sisters greeted me and quickly added “my daddy’s coming home in five weeks, and we’re gonna have a party. She and her younger sister have been separated from her dad for over a year now. I wish I could describe to you the look on her face. She is so excited about having her father return home. Well in a little over three weeks “we’re gonna have a party” here at Valley Shepherd. The excitement is already overwhelming me, as I look forward with anticipation to the celebration. Imagine the excitement the disciples felt when they were reunited with a resurrected Christ. I would invite you to spend some time meditating on the scripture passages of those days we call Holy Week, in preparation for Easter. In Matthew it starts at chapter 21, in Mark, chapter 11, in Luke, chapter 19 and in John, chapter 12.

Pastor Casey’s Blog

Need a Map? Or not?

This last week I was able to go up to Bogus Basin area and go snow shoeing with my wife Alyssa.

We bought snow shoes last year and want to do it more often but this was the first time getting out this year.

We started up a pretty steep hill and soon found it was going to be more difficult than we expected. We made it up a little ways before we needed to stop and rest.

Finally, after moving side to side, we made it to the top…only to be disappointed by the view. It was fairly foggy that day and even from the top of the mountain, we couldn’t see more than 100 feet in front of us. We rested for a little bit and then began contemplating which way we could try going in order to get back to our car. We had a rough idea of which way we needed to go. It was not snowing at all, so our tracks were still easily visible. Not long after beginning the trek down had we run into our own tracks from hiking up. We made it back to the bottom of the mountain with ease. I don’t doubt we could have made it back without our tracks; my manly instincts would have kicked in and I would have never needed to even ask for directions…right? But it was still nice to know that we “for sure” were heading in the right direction.

I was reminded about this incident later on when my Upward team went through the Gospel message and the salvation prayer (all teams did so this week). We had our prayer time and then following our prayer time I was able to meet with each boy to see if they “knew” which direction they were going. We talked about Romans 10:9, “That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” And then verse 13 of the same chapter says that “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The direction I want to go is the one where God is leading the way. We can be assured that God does not turn his back on us, he continues to be there waiting for us to open our arms to Him. Knowing that by following our tracks in the snow, I knew we would never be lead toward the wrong direction. The same happens when you put your sites on God. Following His plan for your life is exactly what He longs for. We can not get lost when we keep our eyes on Jesus. You may feel distracted but no matter how off course or distracted you feel, God is still waiting to help you get right back on track. No map required…good thing for most men.

Pastor Ron’s Blog

FROM MILK TO MEAT

A college student was heard to confess: “The thing that bothers me, is that I’ve received Christ as my Savior, but I have all the same problems I had before. I don’t have victory…It seems all I do is struggle, struggle, struggle, and it isn’t a pleasant experience. Jesus Christ is my Savior, but I don’ feel He’s real to me. I want to feel He’s alive to me, that He’s right here controlling and directing me as I try to walk with God.”

We have an example of this same problem in the life of the Apostle Peter. He tended to live by feeling and not walk by faith. He was reflecting immaturity and the fact that he had not advanced in his Christian walk. He was incredibly slow to catch on, insecure, loudmouthed, hot headed, and with his foot never far from his mouth. But Peter, having failed so miserably in life became repentant, broken and submissive. We see a picture of this changed man one morning after breakfast when Jesus begins to probe deeply into the quality of Peter’s commitment to Him. The Scriptural account is as follows in John 21:15-17, “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these”? “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep. The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Why did Jesus question Peter in this manner? He needed Peter to affirm his deepening faith. Indeed Peter was moving from living on milk, as a infant Christian, to taking on the meat of the Word. His love for Christ was not just a feeling but was becoming a strong walk by faith. .

Lets take a moment and do a self evaluation to see if there is a need to move from milk to meat in our Christian journey.

__I often feel like I’m standing still as a Christian

__I know I’m a Christian and Christ has definitely made some changes in my life. I think I should be more mature.

__I often feel frustrated at myself for yielding to the same temptation over and over again.

__Too often I live under the circumstances and fail to experience the joyful abundant life Jesus desires.

The steps to maturity are the same as Peter experienced, repentant, broken and submissive. The Christian life is a journey and it can be a joyful one as we live in obedience to our wonderful Lord.

Pastor Paul’s Blog

Unsolicited advice – if you don’t want it stop reading this blog. I can’t get away from that phrase and thought. It was at Valley Shepherd’s one day marriage conference that Dr. Todd Bennett spoke to us about unsolicited advice. Think about it, if you’re dealing with an issue in life, whether spiritual, mental, financial, physical or any other, you don’t want to hear or listen to anyone’s advice unless you solicit (ask for) it. And then, even if you ask for their advice, you won’t necessarily take it unless you believe in and trust the individual giving it.

My problem is that I think I know enough about life and what it’s all about that I don’t ever need to ask for anyone’s advice. Ah, but I’ve noticed that the wiser I get in my old age the more I solicit other’s advice. I read this proverb one day in a devotional book by Chuck Swindoll which said; “A Freshman doesn’t know that he doesn’t know. A Sophomore knows that he doesn’t know. A Junior doesn’t know that he knows. A Senior knows that he knows.” I don’t know that I know which one of those stages I’m in right now in life. I’m pretty sure I’m not the Freshman and I know that I know I’m not the Senior.

So why am I blogging about this? Well, I guess because I watched a movie last Sunday night with our teen group – “To Save A Life”, in which the main character stood up in a youth group meeting and gave some very stern “unsolicited advice”. In the scene he said something to the effect of “If we’re not going to allow this stuff to change our lives then what are we doing here?” Well, what are we doing here? Why are you reading a blog on a church website? Why do you attend church? Why do you read the Bible? Is it all just a bunch of unsolicited advice to you? Or do you let it change your life? I’ll be honest, at times it’s been the former for me, but at other times and especially as of late it’s been the latter.

So here’s my bit of unsolicited advice for you; Read God’s Word, listen to Him when you pray, go to church, get involved with the Body of Christ, and let His love change your life. Hey, and if you don’t like it, re-read the first sentence in paragraph one.

Pastor Tim’s Blog

LEAVE A LEGACY…

As many of you know, Valley Shepherd has partnered with the Church of the Nazarene Foundation in what is called “Legacy Ministry.” Through Legacy, we’re being challenged to consider leaving a legacy of ministry that will outlast our lives. (By the way, Cindy and I have appreciated the wise input of Bob Crew, the Financial Consultant with whom Valley Shepherd is working. He has great credentials in the financial world, plus a heart for the Lord—which helps him understand our priorities. If you didn’t come to the workshop or take advantage of the opportunity to meet with him personally, I’d sure encourage you to do so the next time we have him here—perhaps next fall.)

Legacy Ministry is prompting a lot of thought regarding the legacy of faith I’ll leave my children (and grandchildren!) when this life is over. What will they have learned about Christ through my life? What will they have learned about Christ’s faithfulness? What will they have learned about the need for us to stay close to Him? What difference will they have seen that Christ has made in my life? What will they say at my funeral? What will they say to their children and their grandchildren about me?

One thing I’m convinced of is that the example of our lives makes a difference. I know our kids—even as young adults—are watching my life. When I walked through the most challenging season of my life, one thing that kept me leaning hard on the Lord was the knowledge that my kids were watching. I so much wanted them to see the faithfulness of God when my personal resources were depleted. And God was faithful!

So…what do others see in your life right now? What legacy are you leaving others? What do you want them to see?

Pastor Tyler’s Blog

READY OR NOT…

As a toddler or child, you most likely played this game. If you have a toddler, then you’ve most likely played this game recently! It starts by closing your eyes and beginning to count. Once you begin to count, everyone else scatters and runs to find the best hiding spot. Finally, you say it—“Ready or not…here I come!”—and everyone freezes as to not make any sounds to reveal their whereabouts.

For the last three Wednesday nights, we have been in a series entitled, “Ready or Not…” We have found ourselves in three different stories, with three different characters, each with a unique lesson to be learned. In week one, we read in Mark 9 about a guy by the name of Bartimaeus. He was a blind beggar. We learned how he shouted above the crowd in order for Jesus to hear him and not pass him by. He was rebuked by the crowd, but that only encourage him to shout louder! Jesus heard him and furthermore, called to him. The text says he immediately through off his cloak, stood to his feet, and made his way to Jesus. Then he was healed of his blindness!

In week two, we learned about Zacchaeus. He was a Jew that was hated and despised, as he was a tax collector. He was considered a traitor to his own people, a sell-out to the Roman government. We read how he, too, knew Jesus was going to be passing by and he didn’t want to miss it. Unfortunately, he wasn’t the tallest guy around. So he changed his position and climbed a tree. He put himself in position to encounter Jesus. Sure enough, Jesus passes by and calls out to him. The text says immediately Zacchaeus climbed out of the tree and took Jesus to his house. Zacchaeus is restored and changed because of Jesus.

This past week we read in Luke 17 about ten individuals who had leprosy. In that day, they could be found on the outside of the village. They were labeled as “unclean.” Therefore, they weren’t welcome…they were outsiders. We read in the text that these men were the first to meet Jesus as he was passing through. Just like Bartimaeus, they shouted out to Jesus. Jesus instructed them to go show themselves to the priest. The key part of what happened next isn’t the fact that they were healed, but the text reads, “…as they went, they were healed.” As they went. They weren’t healed until they responded to what Jesus told them to do.

There is an interesting thread to these three stories. In each one, Jesus is traveling somewhere. In each one, Jesus is passing by. Each of the characters had their own set of challenges, yet they were willing to position themselves in the right way to meet Jesus.

The blind beggar shouted above the scolding crowd. Zacchaeus rose above and separated himself from the crowd, even willing to look foolish in order to see Jesus. These lepers were willing to shout and present themselves as servants in order to be healed. The interesting thing about the ten lepers, though, is that only one returned. If you read the story in Luke, it says they shouted, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” In their shouting, they proclaim Jesus as their master, implying they were willing to serve Him. Yet when they found themselves healed, only one lived out the act of servant hood by returning to the feet of Jesus to thank Him.

There are a couple of truths I want to highlight. There is always a crowd. Sometimes they’re yelling at us to be quiet. Sometimes they judge us because of our reputation. Other times they’ll completely shut us out and close the doors behind. Jesus is always passing by. Sometimes it is at a distance, sometimes it is with the intention of coming to our house for dinner, or sometimes it is in the midst of entering a city. Jesus will notice us if we’re willing to make ourselves available and known to Him. We may have to shout above the crowds in our life. We may have to separate ourselves from our reputation or from the judgments of the crowd. We may have to wait as an outsider, away from the busy life inside the city walls. And maybe most importantly, we all have a choice as to what our response to Jesus will be. We can choose to throw off what hinders us and get up as Bartimaeus did, handicaps and all. We can choose to come down from the tree—or come down from our pedestal—and go with Jesus. We can choose to turn back after Jesus heals us and thank him. Or we can simply choose be a part of the crowd.

The crowd will yell at others to be quiet or stay at a distance. The crowd will judge and point fingers, or maybe scoff at the fact someone wants to see Jesus. The crowd will keep their schedules running, and life will go on just as long as we keep “those” people outside the gates. But, crowds or not, the question with which I’ve challenged our teens is this, “Are you willing to let Jesus pass by without responding to Him?”

Likewise, the questions I pose to you are these:

1) Are you willing to shout above the “crowds” in your life in order for Jesus to hear you?
2) Are you willing to rise above the “crowds” in your life, to put yourself in position to see Jesus?
3) Are you willing to not just cry out, “Jesus, Master…” but actually turn around and make Him Master?

Jesus is passing by today…how will you respond?

Pastor Casey’s Blog

Excitement.

The past few weeks have been full of excitement for me. Alyssa and I shared our first Christmas as a married couple which brought on lots of “firsts” for the two of us. My father came into town for a weekend and I got to show him our church, my home, my favorite hamburger place, and the place in between earth and heaven…Cabelas. It was a week packed with excitement traveling home to see distant relatives and friends from school. More excitement in our church came from the children’s Christmas musicals production, Christmas Eve service, New Years Party and now Upward Basketball and Cheerleading. I got to see some of the excitement first hand Monday night as my team showed up one by one for our first practice. The little 1-2 graders were excited to begin practicing, to meet their coach and teammates, and to get their uniforms!  The looks on their faces were priceless as I pulled out each ones uniform and handed it to them. I have no doubts they took it home and put it on right away…they most likely slept in it; it’s a good possibility that they are wearing it right now even. The point I am trying to make is that all of us at some point in time get excited about something. Whether it is opening a present you have been “eyeing” under the tree but not allowed to touch for weeks, seeing family you haven’t seen for awhile, or watching the Fiesta Bowl; excitement can be found almost anywhere. I wonder what our churches would look like if everyone was as excited about Jesus as they were the BSU victory, or the Superbowl, or the national spelling bee contest (don’t act like you don’t watch it, its okay, no one has to know). Passion for God, Compassion for People is our church mission and when lived out, our excitement for God and others cannot be kept to ourselves. Our true passion comes out, no matter what we are going through.

What are you excited about?

Pastor Paul’s Blog

I cried the other day at my son’s “Holiday” concert. I wouldn’t normally be overly concerned about my lack of manly control over my eye spouts, but I cried during that sugar plum fairy song from the Nutcracker. Fortunately I was sitting all alone in the back of the auditorium. Don’t think anyone saw me. I was truly worried there for a while wondering what in the world was the matter with me, but then God began speaking to me. (O.K. not audibly speaking, some of you are probably thinking I’m a real nutcase by now.)

I guess I was having one of those Christmas/holiday moments when you flash back to your childhood and suddenly realize that you’ve grown up and have a wife and three kids, and you’re asking yourself and God, “How did I ever end up here?”. My son, Connor, is 14. I remember when I was his age struggling so much with giving God control of my life. I was so worried that if I really committed everything to Him, my life was going to be so boring and no fun at all.

My life is anything but boring and I would have never dreamed of doing half of the incredible things that I’ve done, or having the opportunities that He has afforded me. I’ll admit there are some things on my “bucket list” that I haven’t been able to do yet, but frankly watching my oldest daughter, Emily, lead a group of children in worship at a youth camp, or hearing my son tell me he loves me, or watching my youngest daughter, Grace, score a soccer goal, tops any of those items on my list.

I could go on and on bragging about my awesome wife, my children, the folks I work for and with, but the bottom line I’m trying to get to here is this; If you’re pondering a decision to let God have complete control of your life, your hopes & dreams, finances . . the whole works, I believe the answer is a no brainer. These scriptures are true my friend; Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”, Proverbs 16:3 “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.”, Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” I can’t think of a better time to make that commitment than right here at the beginning of 2010. May God richly bless you and have a very happy new year.

For HIM,
Pastor Paul

Pastor Tim’s Blog

CHRISTMAS MUSINGS…

As I write this on the morning of December 23rd, I’m feeling pretty good about being ready for Christmas! Presents are purchased, all our wrapping is done, my messages for Christmas Eve and for the Sunday after Christmas are prepared, and I already did my first grandfatherly task of assembling a gift we’ll be giving our new granddaughter on Christmas morning. I’m ready!

I will confess though to a little melancholy this Christmas, as it’s the first time in many years that we won’t be traveling to spend days with my parents in between Christmas and New Years—and seeing other family members who will gather there. And we won’t be with two of our three kids and their spouses at all over Christmas. (We spent Thanksgiving with our son and his wife and are choosing to wait until the end of January to make a trip to see our daughter and her husband in Ohio when our grandbaby “Katelyn Nicole” is born!) And while we’ll have a great Christmas dinner with our daughter and son-in-law who live nearby, along with our new 4-year-old granddaughter, there’s still something within me that longs for the whole family to be together “like it used to be.”

I’m feeling checked in my complaining though. I recently had cause to reflect on how blessed I am in so many ways. It’s almost not fair that Cindy and I have been so blessed, for I know a lot of really wonderful people who have to struggle in so many ways that are foreign to us. I recently read a couple of facts that poked a hole in my complaints—
• If you have food in your refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of this world.
• If you have money in the bank and in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace, you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthiest.
• If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture or the pangs of starvation, you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.
Wow! So much for my complaining!

So, I’m counting my blessings today, and choosing to approach Christmas in a spirit of joy and peace and gratitude—rejoicing that Jesus our Savior is Immanuel, God With Us! What greater blessing could any of us experience in life than to know God’s love and His grace and His abiding Presence? What else really matters in the long haul?

Joyfully,

Tim Pusey

Pastor Tyler’s Blog

A Walk in a Winter Wonderland

It’s the time of year when lights decorate houses, gifts are being wrapped, and a building of excitement for Christmas. It’s the time of year when we’re supposed to be filled with joy, peace, and thankfulness for God’s promises and faithfulness. It’s the time of year when a movie on a foggy night, with hot tea and a blanket make you feel right at home. It’s the time of year when snow begins to fall and winter feels more like winter.

As I look back on 2009, it wasn’t always easy to hear “those sleigh bells ringing.” I started this year with no job, and no income. It started by following the Lord in faith to a new state and new city, and a hope for a new job. “Bluebirds” weren’t exactly singing as I questioned God about what He was doing in my life. I knew I needed to move, but moving to Colorado with no money, no job, and no place to live, isn’t exactly the “beautiful sight” you want to behold.

I moved on faith, prayed for help, and God was indeed faithful. I spent the first few months of the year in the mountains as God provided me a job at a Christian campground. There were no “meadows for snowmen,” but plenty of snow to shovel and plow. There were quiet times on that mountain where I would “dream and conspire, pray that we could face unafraid the plans the He was making, as I walked through an unfamiliar wonderland.”

Wedding bells rang, and we were listening. We were listening to hear God show us and guide us to the next step. He moved us to Idaho; He removed some of the trials we had faced. He moved us to a new land. He removed us from a wonderland. He’s helped us to sing a new song. He’s helped us remember some old ones. Here’s my point:

2009 has been a year where trial and hardship took on new meaning. Many families have had their faith tested and their resolve shaken.

Sleigh bells don’t ring as loud, it’s harder to listen for them, and the beautiful sight just doesn’t look as beautiful. Happiness maybe hasn’t been felt in a long time. And for the first time it feels like you’re walking directly in a winter wonderland.

Be encouraged. Psalm 16:7-8 says, “I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me. I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.” And then in verse 11, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the JOY of your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.”

Living in a place of wonder is not always easy. “I WONDER where the next house payment will come from.” “I WONDER why God hasn’t answered my prayer.” I WONDER when things will turn around.” “I WONDER if we should move to find a new job.” “I WONDER if it’s even worth it.” Again I say, be encouraged.

This year should be a reminder to all of us, on our own we can do nothing, but through Christ all things are possible, even living through tough times and making hard sacrifices. He has not abandoned you. Better yet, He wants to come near you. And as we celebrate Christmas this year, may you be reminded that Christ was born, in order for Him to come NEAR to us. To walk with us. To WONDER with us. He walks with us in our winter seasons of life. Those times when we think nothing is happening, nothing is growing, everything is dead. He walks with us telling us to hold on for spring. So be joyful this Christmas, that God himself has given You the most important gift of all. Himself.

So may you hear the bells on Christmas day, may the snow glisten in the lane a little brighter. May it be a beautiful sight, the reminder of Christ, as you walk through a new and beautiful WONDERland!

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