Revitalize Your Church

In John 9, we find the story of the man who was blind from birth. 1) The Neighbors saw him as a beggar 2) The Disciples saw him as a sinner 3) Jesus saw him as a man -- a person with potential. The method of healing: mud on the eyes. That hurt!! Have you ever had dirt or sand in your eyes?? Ouch!! Sometimes, when Jesus begins a healing process, it HURTS! Jesus used dirt -- why?? Maybe. . . 1) Humans created from earth. A creative process. 2) Symbolizes the "earthly things" that blind us. 3) The beggar was treated like dirt. Maybe he thought of himself as dirt. And Jesus took dirt and made a miracle out of it. Pool of Siloam was a Mikvah -- a place of ritual cleansing. Jer. 17:13 -- The Lord is the hope ("MIKVAH") of Israel. John 8 -- Springs of Living Water! Jesus, Himself, is the cleansing place! Two times you can't see: 1) When you're in the dark. 2) When something is in the way The blind man saw Jesus -- via a process: 1) Saw him as a stranger --...

A lady e-mailed me last week and told me that her best friend is suffering from cancer. Her friend refuses any medical treatment, because she believes Jesus is the Great Physician who will heal her. Any effort to receive medical attention from physicians is seen as a lack of faith -- and doing the "human" way v.s. following God's way. She asked me if I could give her some biblical support which would show her friend that seeking medical treatment is not a sin -- or against "God's way" of healing. I had a few ideas -- but am wondering what you would have said.

Yesterday, at the end of the worship services, I invited people who desired prayer to come forward. I prayed with over a dozen different people with a wide variety of needs. It was a joy to pray with a friend to commit her life to Christ. One lady, whose husband is suffering from a serious illness came forward. "I know why you're here." I said, assuming it was on behalf of her husband. To this she replied, "I am concerned for my son. He needs Jesus." In her heart, this was the most urgent and pressing need. I stood properly rebuked. Christina, a young lady with downs syndrome came forward for prayer. "I hurt right here," she said, pointing to her ear. I anoined her with oil, laying my hand over her ear, and prayed for her healing. Later in the day, Cathy and I ended up at Christina's house for her brother's graduation party. "How's your ear?" I inquired. "ALL BETTER!" she beamed. Then a cloud of concern came over her fac...

My heart is heavy today. Yesterday, about the time I was praying in the 11:00 worship service that God would heal our dear friend, Maira Koser, she passed away. I was called to the hospital to go in with her husband, Don and a couple of good friends to pray and say farewell She was a beautiful and kind young lady who loved Jesus. She sang a solo in the Easter Musical last month. She was starting a Spanish speaking Bible study in Minong. She had served as a small group leader here at the church. A few months ago, she gave a powerful testimony of the transformation Christ made in her life. She beamed with the love of Jesus in her heart. It has been such a blessing to watch grow in grace. Just two weeks ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. She went downhill fast. Even in her suffering, at the hospital, she was a shining example of God's love and peace. She blessed all the nurses and doctors when they came into the room. I had a strong feeling that God was going to work a miracle, and r...