tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-122379222012-01-29T07:46:51.113-08:00PastorBlastorPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.comBlogger2421100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-82543104820821316372012-01-29T07:41:00.000-08:002012-01-29T07:46:51.184-08:00Malachi 4:4-6 – Being prepared!Malachi 4:4-6 – Being prepared!By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 29, 2012 AMMost of us on that Tuesday morning had not given much thought to what the day held. After all it was a pretty normal Tuesday. I was on my way to Morning Prayer and my thoughts were on what we would pray about when we met. I was not thinking about eternal things. This was true for most of those who boarded planes in Boston, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-26284331887257653272012-01-22T07:28:00.000-08:002012-01-22T07:37:18.515-08:00Malachi 3:13-4:3 – Being fearful!Malachi 3:13-4:3 – Being fearful!By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 22, 2012 AMI sat amazed at the pictures of passenger jets smashing into the twin towers in New York. At first I was shocked, horrified, and then angered. I even wondered why it had to happen. One young man who witnessed the planes smash into the World Trade Center related, “I wonder what it will take to wake America up?” During the PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-50390004980634908242012-01-15T07:50:00.000-08:002012-01-15T08:13:04.703-08:00Malachi 3:7-12 – Being obedient!Malachi 3:7-12 – Being obedient!By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 15, 2012 AMAt the turn of the century a young salesman approached a farmer and excitedly told him about a great new book he was selling. It had all the information needed to run a profitable farm: when to plant and harvest, how to predict the weather and care for livestock—everything that would make the farmer a success. The farmer PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-38124237648734728702012-01-08T07:59:00.000-08:002012-01-08T08:05:12.515-08:00Malachi 2:17-3:6 – Being hopeful!Malachi 2:17-3:6 – Being hopeful!By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 8, 2012 AMBeing a parent is tough, but I cannot imagine being a single parent. When we were kids my mother, after a particularly hard day, would tell us, “You kids are going to wear your old mother out!” Looking back on this I find it kind of humorous since at the time she was only about 35 years old and she had the backup of my PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-12788308829314345462012-01-01T07:44:00.000-08:002012-01-01T07:49:07.976-08:00Being Faithful - Malachi 2:10-16Being Faithful - Malachi 2:10-16By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 1, 2012 AMAfter learning to forcefully say, “No!” we quickly learn to ask the question, “Why?” I believe it is an innate thing with us as sinful human beings. It goes all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Eve rebelled and then asked the very same question! It exists in every preschooler and manifests itself in our adult life PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-32406526520561378192011-12-25T07:46:00.000-08:002011-12-25T07:48:44.421-08:00For to us a child is born…For to us a child is born…December 25, 2011Pastor Lee HemenFor 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 increase 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 PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-3107387613105343882011-12-18T07:28:00.000-08:002011-12-18T07:32:58.076-08:00Luke 2:8-12; John 1:1-5 - The Word among us…Luke 2:8-12; John 1:1-5 - The Word among us…By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 18, 2011 AMFrom small beginnings mighty things can happen especially when God is involved. Take for instance the man known as Francis of Assisi. When he committed his life to Christ, he gave away everything he had. He came from a very wealthy family. For clothing, he put on a brown robe discarded by a peasant. For a belt PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-72306275966576562752011-12-11T08:18:00.000-08:002011-12-11T08:24:59.517-08:00Malachi 1:6-14 – Being honorable!Malachi 1:6-14 – Being honorable!By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 11, 2011 AMWe can dishonor someone by not holding them in high regard. The people of Israel had done this with God. Within the Ten Commandments given to them on Mt. Sinai was the first and most important command that instructed, “You shall have no other gods before me.” Following this command was the simple reasoning that they were PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-24075153370568808642011-12-04T07:44:00.000-08:002011-12-04T07:48:46.839-08:00Malachi 1:1-5 – Being responsive!Malachi 1:1-5 – Being responsive!By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 4, 2011 AMMy Mom used to play mind games with us kids when we did something bad. A lot of mothers do this. Here’s what I mean: Right in the middle of scolding us over our bad behavior, she would innocently ask, “Don’t you love your dear old mother?” Or she would declare, “I work and I slave and what thanks do I get?” It was a form PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-24566235519727969802011-11-20T07:32:00.000-08:002011-11-20T07:49:05.953-08:00Now thank we all our God! - Psalm 100Now thank we all our God! - Psalm 100By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 20, 2011 AMFor some people being thankful is kind of like the story told about a 4-year-old daughter and her mother who were strolling through an open-air market. As the little girl stared at a large pile of oranges, a generous vendor took one from the pile and handed it to the little girl. “What do you say to the nice man?” the PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-84483671071832794502011-11-06T06:59:00.000-08:002011-11-06T07:03:40.952-08:00John 17:20-26 - Jesus prayed for us!John 17:20-26 - Jesus prayed for us!By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 6, 2011 AM“I’ll pray for you” are words often uttered as an empathetic gesture by many, yet they can have a tremendous impact on the life of a person. Have you ever had someone pray for you? Perhaps you were sick, maybe even in the hospital, and someone from the church stopped by and, after a brief visit, prayed for your recoveryPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-71793522787976918142011-10-30T08:06:00.001-07:002011-10-30T08:16:57.924-07:00The Great Awakening - Romans 1:18; Joel 2:1-2, 11-13, 15-18, 28-32The Great Awakening - Romans 1:18; Joel 2:1-2, 11-13, 15-18, 28-32By Pastor Lee HemenOct 30, 2011 AMToday, we will finish our study on prayer by putting into practice what we have learned from God through his Word. Everything we’ve focused on has been in preparation for this evening, when we will gather as one body of believers to pray for the dreams and plans God has for us as a church in PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-54250368627420353072011-10-23T08:04:00.000-07:002011-10-23T08:11:23.407-07:00The principles of a powerful prayer meeting, Part 2The principles of a powerful prayer meeting, Part 2By Pastor Lee Hemen’October 23, 2011 AMLast time, we asked why Elijah, Moses, Joshua, Jesus and Paul were so filled with confidence when praying about the impossible that they often announced that it would take place even before they prayed! How could they be so sure that God would answer their prayers? I believe it was because they had paid PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-16806764318790471222011-10-16T07:24:00.000-07:002011-10-16T07:28:19.039-07:00Principles for a Powerful Prayer Meeting, Part 1 - Acts 12:1-11Principles for a Powerful Prayer Meeting, Part 1 - Acts 12:1-11By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 16, 2011 AMThere is a plain marker on a neglected grave in a cemetery near the Canadian border that reads, “Daniel Nash, Pastor, Laborer with Finney, Mighty in Prayer.” Who was Nash? He never had the limelight but he shook heaven and hell because he believed in the power of prayer. Charles Finney, a PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-52622633903327675562011-10-09T07:57:00.000-07:002011-10-09T08:03:37.343-07:00Hindrances to Effective Prayer - James 4:1-10Hindrances to Effective Prayer - James 4:1-10By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 9, 2011 AMWe can let the littlest things in life frustrate us. A red light that doesn’t turn green fast enough, a slow checkout line, or just a bad mood! Have you ever tried praying at those times? I have. It is hard for me to do. I guess it is because my heart and thoughts are not in the right place!There are hindrances PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-75429251360197237892011-10-02T07:29:00.000-07:002011-10-02T07:35:36.652-07:00The power that unleashes God’s will! - Revelation 8:1-5The power that unleashes God’s will! - Revelation 8:1-5By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 2, 2011 AMJohn Franklin, in his book “And the Place Was Shaken”, recounts a time in 1990 when he joined about 250 people in a two-week evangelistic crusade in Mombasa, Kenya. They were divided into teams of three, each team going hut-to-hut and house-to-house, presenting the Gospel. Franklin said he was in awe. PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-25253109646183393512011-09-25T07:48:00.000-07:002011-09-25T07:57:13.005-07:00The precedence of praying together - Acts 6:1-5The precedence of praying together - Acts 6:1-5By Pastor Lee HemenSeptember 25, 2011 AMThe church today is a mere spiritual shadow of its former self. The reason I believe is because it has forgotten the importance of praying together. This issue is extremely important for three reasons: 1) Praying together as a church is crucial for a spiritually healthy church. 2) Praying together is a PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-5205662085752330222011-09-18T07:35:00.000-07:002011-09-18T07:39:48.894-07:00Love one another - Mark 12:28-34; Luke 6:27-31; John 13:34-35Love one another - Mark 12:28-34; Luke 6:27-31; John 13:34-35 By Pastor Lee HemenSeptember 18, 2011 AMWasn’t it Tina Turner who sang, “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” I am not certain about the full meaning of that lyric, nor does it necessarily pique my interest. One thing is sure, she is not singing about Christian love! Jesus repeatedly admonishes his followers to love God totally, to lovePastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-390354079481649702011-09-11T07:26:00.000-07:002011-09-11T07:30:21.845-07:00God’s incredible gift! - John 3:1-17God’s incredible gift! - John 3:1-17By Pastor Lee HemenSeptember 11, 2011 AMIncredible bargains! Fantastic values! Unbelievable quality! These are some of the phrases that are blared into our ears and blazoned before our eyes as advertisers try to make us believe and buy on the basis of what they have just told us. I tend to accept their acknowledgment of reckless exaggeration and keep my PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-56987600039990437502011-09-04T07:39:00.000-07:002011-09-04T07:43:11.099-07:00Galatians 1:1-5 & 2:20-21 - God’s calling…Galatians 1:1-5 & 2:20-21 - God’s calling…
September 4, 2011 AM
By Pastor Lee Hemen
My mother used to embarrass the tar out of me when she would call me in for dinner. She would stand out on our front porch and holler “Leeeeeeee Howard Heeeeemen, come home!” Not satisfied to do it once, she would repeat her siren call for several humiliating minutes. Just one time did I decide not to respondPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-782204082376971212011-08-28T07:38:00.000-07:002011-08-28T07:43:44.788-07:00Christian Responsibilities – Colossians 3:18-4:6Christian Responsibilities – Colossians 3:18-4:6
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 28, 2011 AM
We all have responsibilities in life. Some of us may take them very seriously while others may have never prioritized their lives at all. I remember very well how I had to learn what responsibility meant when I got my first dog. It meant I had to make sure he was fed, tied up at night, bathed when he PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-76416539054031153072011-08-21T07:25:00.000-07:002011-08-21T07:30:16.265-07:00Psalm 32 - The joy of forgiveness!Psalm 32 - The joy of forgiveness!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
August 21, 2011 AM
Who are the happiest people on earth you know? No, it is not necessarily those who go to Disneyland! Usually it is someone who has something wonderful to share like the birth of a baby or an anniversary of some kind. That is the way it was with King David in Psalm 32. He had something wonderful he just had to share. PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-65945673654471550682011-07-31T07:44:00.000-07:002011-07-31T07:49:38.211-07:00Acts 4:23-33 - Overcoming our fear in telling the Good NewsActs 4:23-33 - Overcoming our fear in telling the Good NewsBy Pastor Lee HemenJuly 31, 2011 AMFear can be something that can control our lives. Fear can keep us from the joys that God has for us. One of the greatest joys of all is the ability to tell another person about our faith in Christ. Yet, fear may have kept us from it. Do you know what fear stands for? False Expectations Appearing PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-47323905749320011992011-07-24T08:09:00.000-07:002011-07-24T08:13:37.076-07:00Psalm 51 - Out of the DepthsPsalm 51 - Out of the DepthsBy Pastor Lee HemenJuly 24, 2011 AMFor countless generations spectators have looked on in breathless wonder as they have witnessed and read the story concerning a helpless man dealing with a personal problem that clearly has no human solution. They have clearly listened to the sobs of his pain and seen the tears of his confession. Although a king of a great nation,PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-32413996030164265852011-07-17T08:07:00.000-07:002011-07-17T08:10:18.470-07:00Never be Ashamed! - 2 Timothy 1:5-10Never be Ashamed! - 2 Timothy 1:5-10By Pastor Lee HemenJuly 17, 2011 AMC. H. Spurgeon a 19th century Baptist preacher wrote about what it meant to be a Christian. He related that “we share heaven’s honors... for we are already sons of God, already princes of the blood imperial; already we wear the spotless robe of Jesus’ righteousness; already we have angels for our servitors, saints for our PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-637013102599953492011-07-10T07:37:00.000-07:002011-07-10T07:41:29.374-07:00Isaiah 61:1-6 - Freedom, the Love of God reclaimed!Isaiah 61:1-6 - Freedom, the Love of God reclaimed!By Pastor Lee HemenJuly 10, 2011 AMOn a bleak day in February in 1832, a young theological student sat in his seminary room. He was going over some children's sheet music sent to him by his friend Lowell Mason. He glanced at one but he didn't like the wording so he began to tap out the beat and make up his own words. He wrote quickly, "My PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-67915828233330452402011-07-03T07:27:00.000-07:002011-07-03T07:31:26.746-07:00Rejoicing In National Freedom - Psalm 46Rejoicing In National Freedom - Psalm 46By Pastor Lee HemenJuly 3, 2001 AMWhat does the Fourth of July mean for you? Is it just another day to have off from work or do you pause and take notice of the nation and country you live in? Do you remember the story of freedom and the war for independence fought by those who were willing to risk it all for freedom’s cause? Independence Day is more PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-63747244348941540862011-06-26T07:38:00.000-07:002011-06-26T07:44:15.375-07:00Romans 10:17 – Where faith and life connect!Romans 10:17 – Where faith and life connect!By Pastor Lee HemenJune 26, 2011 AMThere are those who actually think that Vacation Bible School is old fashioned. Some in fact have tried to kind of “lie” about it and rename it “Summer Day Camp,” or “Children’s Week.” Vacation Bible School is still VBS, no matter how you try to repackage it. Nevertheless, is it still important for a church to PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-85686692358660145862011-06-19T07:56:00.000-07:002011-06-19T08:01:14.975-07:00Nehemiah 6:15-16 - Building the Church -- Doing the work of God!Nehemiah 6:15-16 - Building the Church -- Doing the work of God!By Pastor Lee HemenJune 19, 2011 AMJust when we thought we would be getting ready to be empty nesters, God had other plans. It may not have been the way we would have planned out our lives, but I am honored and willing to be used of the Lord in helping my grandson grow and mature in him. The spiritual and physical maturation of aPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-90911964742026238682011-06-12T07:34:00.000-07:002011-06-12T07:39:34.665-07:00Nehemiah 6:1-14 - Building the Church -- How Satan’s snares work!Nehemiah 6:1-14 - Building the Church -- How Satan’s snares work!By Pastor Lee HemenJune 12, 2011 AMWhen you’re ten years old, there is nothing better than trapping and catching your own wild animals! Now I am not advocating hurting God’s little creatures for fun, but when you’re 10 being a “big” game hunter is an adventure! My brother and I went after the wily chipmunk. Actually, it was my PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-38112261704407862882011-06-05T07:51:00.000-07:002011-06-05T07:56:21.748-07:00Nehemiah 5:1-13 - Building the Church -- Responding to the challenges!Nehemiah 5:1-13 - Building the Church -- Responding to the challenges!By Pastor Lee HemenJune 5, 2011 AMUp to this time, the spiritual challenges that Nehemiah had to face were mainly from the outside of Judah. Nevertheless, before the walls were rebuilt, he encountered the most difficult and intense problem that most spiritual leaders have to face--problems from within. He faced problems PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-76654936032306511952011-05-29T08:09:00.000-07:002011-05-29T08:23:17.098-07:00Nehemiah 4:1-23 - Building the Church -- Learning how to trust God!Nehemiah 4:1-23 - Building the Church -- Learning how to trust God!By Pastor Lee HemenMay 29, 2011 AMWhy is it that some of us seem to face more opposition in life than others? Perhaps it is because of our circumstances, the results of our choices, or could there be another dynamic at work in our lives that we have not understood before? When children are little, they often love to be thrown PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-85142378374033926872011-05-22T07:51:00.000-07:002011-05-22T07:58:39.774-07:00Building a strong church--accomplishing the impossible!Building a strong church--accomplishing the impossible!Nehemiah 3:1-32By Pastor Lee HemenMay 22, 2011 AMHas anyone ever told you that you cannot do something and so to prove him or her wrong, you went ahead and did it anyway? That attitude can be seen as being headstrong, if it is motivated by pride. I remember when I was in High School I told a young lady I could ski. I had not been on skis PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-1833840920735646802011-05-15T08:11:00.000-07:002011-05-15T08:17:58.307-07:00Nehemiah 2:11-20 - Building a Church through F. A. I. T. H.Nehemiah 2:11-20 - Building a Church through F. A. I. T. H.By Pastor Lee HemenMay 15, 2011 AMWe have all heard the old adage that states, “Heaven helps those who help themselves!” However, many might be surprised to learn that it is not found anywhere in the Bible. In fact, it comes from an Aesop’s fable! The story does give out some good advice. It seems that a teamster got his heavy wagon PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-50005760754134836912011-05-08T07:44:00.000-07:002011-05-08T07:48:40.358-07:00Building the Church--Allowing Time for Proper PreparationBuilding the Church--Allowing Time for Proper PreparationNehemiah 2:1-10By Pastor Lee HemenMay 7, 2011 AMI had received one of those plastic model airplanes! This was going to be great stuff! With eager anticipation I opened the box and out fell hundreds of pieces of tiny little plastic parts, decals, and plans. What had started out as eager anticipation was reduced to utter disappointment. PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-17892037570436239412011-04-17T08:10:00.000-07:002011-04-17T08:15:00.202-07:002 Chronicles 7:13-15 - Building a Strong Church -- How to Pray With Power!2 Chronicles 7:13-15 - Building a Strong Church -- How to Pray With Power!By Pastor Lee HemenApril 17, 2011 AMWe live in a day and age where the church has become pretty much irrelevant, why is that? I believe it has become irrelevant because the church has immersed itself and adopted the ways of the world instead of changing society. When Jesus came, he did so to bring the kingdom of God PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-84786549059314550822011-04-10T08:40:00.000-07:002011-04-12T14:52:11.007-07:00The Victory! - Mark 16:1-13The Victory! - Mark 16:1-20by Pastor Lee HemenApril 10, 2011 AMVictory can come in many forms in our lives. Getting a good grade on a test, which we have studied endlessly for, making a promotion at work that we have worked hard for, or retiring in comfort and contentment. Parents see victories in their children all the time. Perhaps one of the greatest victories that were totally unexpected PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-22178744804986142172011-04-03T08:22:00.000-07:002011-04-03T08:32:08.825-07:00Today's Thoughts - What are you living for? - Mark 15Today's Thoughts - What are you living for? - Mark 15by Pastor Lee HemenApril 3, 2011What are you living for? It is a good question to ask. I have often asked others this very question yet in a different way. I ask, "Suppose you were standing before God, in heaven, and he asked you, 'Why should I let you into my heaven?', what would you say?" Yet, this week I have been encouraged by another PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-65207097489225496622011-03-27T07:45:00.000-07:002011-03-27T08:07:42.151-07:00Are We Like Peter? - Mark 14:66-72Are We Like Peter? - Mark 14:66-72By Pastor Lee HemenMarch 27, 2011 AMThere is a certainty and assurance that true Christians know and reflect in their lives. Others have noted the peace that believers display no matter what occurs in life. During the cold war a KGB agent for the Soviet Union had nearly beaten to death a young Christian woman. He warned her to never be caught again. Her crimePastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-73611249510543239732011-03-20T08:02:00.000-07:002011-03-20T08:07:01.297-07:00The Trial of Jesus - Mark 14:53-65The Trial of Jesus - Mark 14:53-65By Pastor Lee HemenMarch 20, 2011 AMIf we are lucky in life we will have the opportunity to meet someone who exemplifies what true heroism means. In a day and age where heroism is often defined by what one suffers through rather than the sacrifice of one’s life for another, we need to take a fresh look. The English word for hero was first used in 1387 and PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-8036857563900033162011-03-13T07:55:00.000-07:002011-03-13T08:00:04.667-07:00When We Abandon Jesus - Mark 14:42-52When We Abandon Jesus - Mark 14:42-52By Pastor Lee HemenMarch 13, 2011 AMIt was a warm spring day and my parents had met some friends as we walked downtown. My father had picked me up and sat me on the hood of a car parked nearby. As they stood around talking, I fell fast asleep. I remember waking up and realizing that I was all alone. My parents and siblings were nowhere to be seen. I did PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-48961833527658124642011-03-06T07:26:00.000-08:002011-03-06T07:27:59.137-08:00When We Fail at Prayer - Mark 14:32-41When We Fail at Prayer - Mark 14:32-41By Pastor Lee HemenMarch 6, 2011 AMWhy is the Christian church a mere shadow of what it once was? Some think it is because we do not allow the Spirit of God to work. Others say we are not reaching out enough, witnessing about our faith here at home. While others believe that it is because the church has lost the aspect of being set apart from the rest of PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-24739501540426117082011-02-27T07:39:00.000-08:002011-02-27T07:43:40.477-08:00Would You Betray Jesus? - Mark 14:27-31Would You Betray Jesus? - Mark 14:27-31By Pastor Lee HemenFebruary 27, 2011 AMShe took an autistic friend to a high school football game. While there her friend began to speak with anyone she came in contact with, which wasn’t so bad because most could tell she was autistic. Things changed however when the girl began to talk with some of the more “popular” kids. They began to make fun of her.PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-70795064609532981212011-02-20T07:30:00.000-08:002011-02-20T07:45:26.722-08:00The Final Passover - Mark 14:12-26The Final Passover - Mark 14:12-26By Pastor Lee HemenFebruary 20, 2011 AMMeals are important. More than just a means of nourishing a person, meals serve as a means for families to draw closer, talk, and as a means of getting together. Meals have been used to bring about peace between adversaries, nations, and to secure better relations. The preparation can be just as important as the meal PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-74038373800965045612011-02-13T07:28:00.000-08:002011-02-13T07:35:38.277-08:00Betrayal - Mark 14:1-2; 10-11Betrayal - Mark 14:1-2; 10-11By Pastor Lee HemenFebruary 13, 2011 AMHe had been a successful Army officer, capturing several enemy strongholds, and the decisive factor in the victories of several major battles. Yet, even though he was successful in battle Congress did not reward him as they had done others of lesser skill. After his wife died, suffering from war wounds, mounting indebtedness,PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-91647804793750846452011-02-06T08:28:00.000-08:002011-02-06T08:31:22.661-08:00A Wonderful Witness - Mark 14:3-9A Wonderful Witness - Mark 14:3-9By Pastor Lee HemenFebruary 6, 2011 AMWhat kind of impact does our Christianity have on those around us? If we were suddenly taken ill, would those we come into contact with on a daily basis miss us because of the witness we portray? We believe that faith in Jesus changes people, do we not? Yet, has our faith changed us to the point whereby we make any kind ofPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-41750475930838925582011-01-30T07:31:00.000-08:002011-01-30T07:42:04.299-08:00Be On Guard! - Mark 13:31-37Be On Guard! - Mark 13:31-37By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 30, 2011 AMBefore becoming a Christian I studied various other religions, from the esoteric to mainline faith practices. Each one left something to be desired. Hinduism was too foreign and based mainly on mythology and magic. Islam and Mormonism sounded the same, were hard-lined, strict, and full of inconsistencies. Buddhism and the new PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-937839738652251542011-01-23T08:47:00.000-08:002011-01-23T08:57:50.074-08:00The Sign of the Times! - Mark 13:21-30The Sign of the Times! - Mark 13:21-30By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 23, 2011 AMWe have a tendency to think that what happens to us personally should affect everyone else. And while some of the decisions we make can affect a whole lot of folks, compared to the rest of the city you live in, the State you occupy, or where you reside nationally – what you do affects relatively few folks. That is, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-90175777182023770162011-01-16T08:16:00.000-08:002011-01-16T08:20:25.021-08:00The Coming Crisis! - Mark 13:14-20The Coming Crisis! - Mark 13:14-20By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 16, 2011AMWe can be taught things over and over so many times that we begin to think what we are being taught is absolutely true, whether it is or not. Here are several examples: In Rome a thumbs up signal meant let a defeated gladiator live, but a thumb down signal meant kill him. In reality a thumbs up meant kill the loser, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-73944224965618727762011-01-09T08:00:00.000-08:002011-01-09T08:06:05.418-08:00The Trials of a Disciple - Mark 13:11-13The Trials of a Disciple - Mark 13:11-13By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 09, 2011 AMAmericans are often accused of living sheltered lives. From the cradle to the grave we are encouraged not to personally think about the long-term effect of our actions, to immediately blame our lives on society, or to be completely dependent upon others to bail us out. We live in fractured relationships thinking PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-20657652181242970592011-01-02T08:23:00.000-08:002011-01-02T08:27:40.955-08:00The World Will Continue! - Mark 13:7-10The World Will Continue! - Mark 13:7-10by Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 2, 2011 AMI will never forget when my father died. It was right after New Year's Eve in 1968. He had gotten up to get a drink of water and smoke a cigarette. He was dragging his oxygen tank behind him when his heart gave way. My brother Ed and I were the first ones to find him. We heard him sigh and fall in the hallway of our PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-64646865399845025212010-12-26T13:47:00.000-08:002010-12-26T13:52:51.650-08:00The Deceivers Will Come! - Mark 13:1-6The Deceivers Will Come! - Mark 13:1-6By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 26, 2010 AMMark 13 is sometimes called the eschatological discourse, the prophetic discourse, the Olivet discourse, or the Little Apocalypse. It depends on whether you see within these verses Jesus teaching about the culmination of events, future events, if you are concerned about where it occurred, or if you believe that Mark PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-81394482316255538972010-12-12T07:12:00.000-08:002010-12-12T07:20:22.990-08:00Your Giving Reflects Your Heart - Mark 12:41-44Your Giving Reflects Your Heart - Mark 12:41-44By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 12, 2010 AMThe human heart is an amazing organ that pumps literally hundreds of thousands of gallons of blood through miles of blood vessels night and day for decades. Yet it can be stopped by the smallest of obstructions. The spiritual heart can be an amazing thing as well. When it is truly given to the Lord it can PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-51844142546821268752010-12-05T08:35:00.000-08:002010-12-05T08:40:03.102-08:00What do you value in life? - Mark 12:35-40What do you value in life? - Mark 12:35-40By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 5, 2010 AMIn the gangland movie, “The Untouchables,” Elliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner, moans, “I want to get Capone! I don’t know how to do it.” Malone a tough hardnosed Irish-American cop, played by Sean Connery, tells him, “You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-21269638074633023282010-11-28T07:49:00.000-08:002010-11-28T07:54:35.542-08:00Whom Do You Love? - Mark 12:28-34Whom Do You Love? - Mark 12:28-34By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 28, 2010This past Thanksgiving I heard people exclaim that they loved pie, sweet potatoes, dressing, turkey, and just about any other food that was placed in front of them. We use the word love for defining a lot of things in our lives. Sadly, the word love is often used in the wrong way concerning relationships in our lives. PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-83236560763132135982010-11-21T07:51:00.000-08:002010-11-21T07:59:38.368-08:00A New Relationship - Mark 12:18-27A New Relationship - Mark 12:18-27By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 21, 2010 AMA few years ago I was in a grocery store when a young mother with her little preschooler came walking down the aisle. The little girl kept asking for different things and the mother would patiently respond, “No, you cannot have that, stop asking.” When the little girl had evidently had enough of the answer she did not PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-76139999957972963062010-11-14T08:19:00.000-08:002010-11-14T08:23:31.795-08:00Render Rightly - Mark 12:13-17Render Rightly - Mark 12:13-17By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 14, 2010 AMWhen I was younger we used to set small snares that would safely trap small animals like mice, chipmunks, rabbits and squirrels. In fact, my brother Ed and I spent one whole summer trapping chipmunks, letting them go, and trying to tame them. While the taming never worked, they bit and clawed in a terror-stricken frenzy, thePastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-54789582653143234272010-11-07T08:10:00.000-08:002010-11-07T08:16:47.570-08:00Are You Just A “Tenant”? - Mark 12:1-12Are You Just A “Tenant”? - Mark 12:1-12By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 07, 2010 AMWe like being in control. However, the Psalmist tells us to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalms 2:12) Many have deliberately forgotten this Scriptural truth because the convoluted reasoning goes: “PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-7379837932316031372010-10-31T14:50:00.000-07:002010-10-31T14:58:37.277-07:00Authority! – Mark 11:27-33Authority! – Mark 11:27-33By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 31, 2010 AMFrom the time we are born, until the time we leave this earth, some of us will go kicking and screaming. The reason is we have a problem with authority. We think either we are in control or that we should be in control, when in fact neither is true. Perhaps this is why some of us need to be smacked right away on our bottoms when PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-84478330781723236632010-10-24T07:38:00.000-07:002010-10-24T07:43:51.175-07:00Have Faith in God - Mark 11:22-26Have Faith in God - Mark 11:22-26By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 24, 2010 AMWe find that what many people believe about their spirituality is often influenced in unorthodox ways. Sadly, in the movie “Hereafter”, we find one such view concerning life, death, and the afterlife. It centers on three people touched by death: a reluctant physic who supposedly communicates with dead people, a woman who PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-26648367637847186602010-10-17T07:49:00.000-07:002010-10-17T07:54:44.047-07:00Of Figs and Phonies - Mark 11:11-21Of Figs and Phonies - Mark 11:11-21By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 17, 2010 AMGeorge Barna does research for Christianity and faith practices in America. Recently he completed a study on the “Diversity of Faith in Various U.S. Cities.” It revealed nothing new, except there are some interesting discoveries. Of course, in the Portland, OR market, which includes Vancouver, WA, we discover that they PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-46482278457411358112010-10-03T08:13:00.000-07:002010-10-03T08:17:24.081-07:00The King Comes! - Mark 11:1-10The King Comes! - Mark 11:1-10By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 3, 2010 AMIs it Passover time again? It seems as if we had just celebrated it! Last year, it was marked by the same dusty dirty pilgrims on the same dusty dirty road. Nothing much usually happens here in Nob. Being a suburb of Jerusalem people usually pass us by and leave us alone. Sure, some of the priests live here when they are in PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-62943384706408003392010-09-26T07:20:00.000-07:002010-09-26T07:26:26.038-07:00Bartimaeus – Mark 10:46-52Bartimaeus – Mark 10:46-52By Pastor Lee HemenSeptember 26, 2010 AMI watched a news story the other night that related how a man had noticed that his eyesight was being adversely affected. He had returned from a trip overseas and began to notice that he began to have headaches and his vision was getting worse. What the ophthalmologist discovered was kind of weird and scary. The man had a worm PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-75326441848909673942010-09-19T07:33:00.000-07:002010-09-19T07:37:06.163-07:00The Disciples’ Mistake - Mark 10:35-45The Disciples’ Mistake - Mark 10:35-45September 19, 2010 AMBy Pastor Lee HemenSchool had just ended and Tyler was eager to leave the campus for several reasons: One, because school was so boring to him and, two, his mother was picking him up in their clunky old van. He didn't want anyone to see him with his mother or get into that rotten old van. Of course being the great mother she was, she PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-3534666782075848122010-09-12T07:25:00.000-07:002010-09-12T07:30:40.272-07:00Jesus’ Mission – Mark 10:32-34Jesus’ Mission – Mark 10:32-34September 12, 2010 AMBy Pastor Lee Hemen“Hindsight is always better than foresight,” is an old expression that rings true every time because we can continually think of ways we should have done something better. We often want to know what the future brings, especially when it concerns what we may become, where we might live, or whom we might marry! As children, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-51139559659223606972010-09-05T07:38:00.000-07:002010-09-05T08:41:14.887-07:00Leave Everything Behind! - Mark 10:28-31Leave Everything Behind! - Mark 10:28-31By Pastor Lee HemenSeptember 5, 2010 AMIn March of 2002 Petty Officer Neil Roberts, a U.S. Navy SEAL fell out of a stricken helicopter during Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan. According to a Pentagon report, Roberts survived the fall, and then held off Al Qaida and Taliban fighters for over 30 minutes, firing a belt-fed machine-gun. The terrorists PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-88115370144954664362010-08-29T08:00:00.000-07:002010-08-29T08:09:01.477-07:00Rich Man, Poor Man – Mark 10:17-27Rich Man, Poor Man – Mark 10:17-27August 29, 2010 AMBy Pastor Lee HemenThere are a lot of folks that think God smiles on them because they are financially well off, well educated, or have good looks. Nothing could be further from the truth. Absalom, King David’s son, had all three things in abundance and yet God did not favor the man because of his arrogant pride. In fact, Absalom’s prideful PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-72731321816683280242010-08-22T07:44:00.000-07:002010-08-22T07:50:26.720-07:00Believers Are Childish - Mark 10:13-16Believers Are Childish - Mark 10:13-16By Pastor Lee HemenAugust 22, 2010 AMHave you ever dealt with someone who refuses to forgive another because of a perceived slight? Believers can become bitter because they find it hard to forgive and then use the excuse that they are honoring God. This is spiritually childish. Perhaps you have witnessed an adult who has an emotional fit like a PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-90197369131763211252010-08-01T07:30:00.000-07:002010-08-01T08:23:20.107-07:00The Permanence of Marriage - Mark 10:1-12The Permanence of Marriage - Mark 10:1-12By Pastor Lee HemenAugust 1, 2010 AMThere is nothing permanent in life and folks would do well to remember this plain and simple truth. However there are relationships that are to last. Our relationship with Jesus lasts forever and our marriage relationship is one that is to last a lifetime. For many years when people claimed that the divorce rate in PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-21438058358757591282010-07-24T21:20:00.000-07:002010-07-24T21:23:08.384-07:00The Uncompromising Christ - Mark 9:43-50The Uncompromising Christ - Mark 9:43-50By Pastor Lee HemenJuly 25, 2010 AMWhenever we hear the word “uncompromising”, we often get the notion it means someone is ridged, narrow-minded, or strict. Yet if folks throughout our Nation’s history had not been uncompromising, we would be British citizens or saluting a swastika. Being uncompromising is not necessarily a bad thing. We live in a day PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-57103417618964613182010-07-18T07:39:00.000-07:002010-07-18T07:44:01.614-07:00The Cause of Christ – Mark 9:38-42Pastor Lee HemenJuly 18, 2010 AMThere are many “causes” in the world today, everything from saving whales to wearing natural clothing. Someone once said, “When folks do not have a life, they find someone else’s life or something else to make their life have meaning.” I believe there are so many causes in our world because people have lost what should be PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-74964095014765842622010-07-04T07:29:00.000-07:002010-07-04T07:37:06.355-07:00What’s so great about America? - Psalm 33What’s so great about America? - Psalm 33By Pastor Lee HemenJuly 4, 2010 AMThere are cynics today who demand that we, as Americans, ask ourselves, “What’s so great about America?” They think that because we live in a country of plenty where over half the world goes to bed hungry, cold, and without proper shelter, that we should not enjoy the freedoms we do in this nation. Homemakers in much PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-40239767269637314152010-06-27T08:01:00.000-07:002010-06-27T08:06:58.855-07:00The Cost of Christ - Mark 9:30-37The Cost of Christ - Mark 9:30-37By Pastor Lee HemenJune 27, 2010 AMSometimes we can hear someone say something to us but not understand what they are saying. There are several reasons for this. They could be speaking a foreign language, we could be hard of hearing, we could be distracted, or we could simply be ignoring the other person. Kind of like the old Peanuts cartoons where all the PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-86098880849592333122010-06-20T07:48:00.000-07:002010-06-20T07:52:43.131-07:00The Cure of Christ - Mark 9:14-29The Cure of Christ - Mark 9:14-29By Pastor Lee HemenJune 20, 2010 AMThe likes of John Osteen, deceased, and now Joel Osteen his son, have both preached a health and wealth gospel. A message that is totally contrary to Biblical Christianity. In fact, both have made comments like the following: “It's God's will for you to live in prosperity instead of poverty. It’s God’s will for you to pay PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-65683374633401997022010-06-12T22:28:00.000-07:002010-06-12T22:33:18.798-07:00Jesus' Elijah - John the Baptist - Mark 9:11-13Jesus' Elijah - John the Baptist - Mark 9:11-13By Pastor Lee HemenJune 13, 2010 AMThe Twilight series of novels and movies have intrigued folks, making them into a multimillion-dollar profitable business. I believe it is because of the mysterious nature of the main characters involved. People love enigmatic characters.There are enigmatic characters throughout the Bible such as Deborah the PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-45859132074706133012010-06-06T08:04:00.000-07:002010-06-06T08:09:21.928-07:00A Kingdom with Power! - Mark 9:1-10A Kingdom with Power! - Mark 9:1-10By Pastor Lee HemenJune 6, 2010 AMIn our day and age we can be connected 24/7 and do at home what only folks dreamed of doing a few years ago. With personal computers, cell phones, iPads, iPods, and other electronic devices we can contact, process, bank, pay bills, and do a myriad of things. If you are on vacation, you can even turn off the lights at home, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-31011906930292348462010-05-30T08:20:00.000-07:002010-05-30T08:26:51.947-07:00The Cost of Discipleship - Mark 8:34-38The Cost of Discipleship - Mark 8:34-38By Pastor Lee HemenMay 30, 2010 AMI remember when I was 10 years old saying I would cut our neighbor’s grass for a couple of dollars, but I had not considered that I would have to rake grass clumps afterwards, edge the lawn, and clean the mower. My father related something that has held me in good stay for the rest of my life after I had complained to PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-59782780835978074052010-05-16T08:08:00.000-07:002010-05-16T08:13:56.751-07:00Who is Jesus? - Mark 8:27-33Who is Jesus? - Mark 8:27-33By Pastor Lee HemenMay 16, 2010 AMWhat you believe about something says a lot about you truly accept as correct. There are folks who believe that there are many ways to heaven, yet they cannot relate any one particular way. Often their explanations degenerate into a kind of blurred quasi-spiritual mumbo-jumbo about how one feels religious. I would venture that no PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-82068871719347610442010-05-09T07:40:00.000-07:002010-05-09T07:46:00.839-07:00Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:1-15Hannah – 1 Samuel 1:1-15By Pastor Lee HemenMay 9, 2010 AMDo you ever struggle with prayer? What do you think is the nature of the struggle? One struggle is that we end up praying platitudes. How do we stop using the same old platitudes in our prayers? The Proverbist related, “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-11965597093879175472010-05-02T07:30:00.000-07:002010-05-02T07:58:12.872-07:00Some that Are Blind See - Mark 8:22-26Some that Are Blind See - Mark 8:22-26By Pastor Lee HemenMay 2, 2010 AMThere are those in the world, like the Cheshire Cat from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass,” who actually believe their mad rendition of life is a worthy philosophy to follow. It is a rather odd path to walk:Alice “began, rather timidly… Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?”“That depends PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-92105952271783205752010-04-25T07:49:00.000-07:002010-04-25T07:54:49.969-07:00Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs! - Mark 8:11-21Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs! - Mark 8:11-21By Pastor Lee HemenApril 25, 2010 AMUFO Hunters, Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, and River Monsters are just a few of the new reality shows to hit TV. All of them deal with the paranormal, unreal, or supernatural. Why folks are so interested in these things is beyond me, but the truth is we always have been. People flock to see the weird, wackyPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-76072989828571639522010-04-18T07:29:00.000-07:002010-04-18T07:35:09.846-07:00Another Hungry Crowd - Mark 8:1-10Another Hungry Crowd - Mark 8:1-10By Pastor Lee HemenApril 18, 2010 AMThe crowd is not often long satisfied. It demands attention and food for its hunger. And when a crowd does not get fed regularly, it can quickly become very unruly. This is nothing new. We have seen what a mob mentality can do, whether it is an unruly mob at a soccer game, a hyped up political rally, or even an emotionallyPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-90059756544256566832010-04-11T07:37:00.000-07:002010-04-11T07:45:38.288-07:00Are We Deaf and Dumb? - Mark 7:31-37Are We Deaf and Dumb? - Mark 7:31-37By Pastor Lee HemenApril 11, 2010 AMWhen I was younger, I used to think that my folks suffered from a kind of a parental tone-deafness that all adults suffer from when they have children. Not only did they not hear me but also they did not understand me. Many of Christians tacitly believe this about God as well, that he does not hear or understand. In fact,PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-42305289336494472152010-03-28T07:53:00.000-07:002010-03-28T07:57:28.020-07:00The Crumbs Are for the Dogs – Mark 7:24-30The Crumbs Are for the Dogs – Mark 7:24-30March 28, 2010 AMBy Pastor Lee HemenThe late Leona Helmsley was a billionaire New York City hotel operator and real estate investor. She was a flamboyant personality and had a reputation for tyrannical behavior that earned her the nickname “Queen of Mean.” When she died, she instructed that $8 billion of her real estate go to the care of dogs. This PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-86334024054237328872010-03-21T07:42:00.000-07:002010-03-21T07:52:08.131-07:00What Makes A Person Clean or Unclean? - Mark 7:1-23What Makes A Person Clean or Unclean? - Mark 7:1-23By Pastor Lee HemenMarch 21, 2010 AMIt is amazing to me that there are those who do not believe in God and those who do believe in God that presume to speak for God. Non-believers can have a false sense of security and self-righteousness by thinking they can just dismiss that God exists, therefore, justifying a kind of self-made morality. Then, PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-35774451381229527412010-03-07T07:39:00.000-08:002010-03-07T07:54:45.987-08:00Walking on Water - Mark 6:45-56Walking on Water - Mark 6:45-56 By Pastor Lee Hemen March 7, 2009 AM Over the years, I have heard Christians lament over the fact that they have never experienced the same kinds of miracles that they read about in the Bible. However, I suspect the problem is not one of miracles actually occurring but rather one of people's spiritual blindness to their happening. Plus, we forget why JesusPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-17180336094485248892010-01-31T08:09:00.000-08:002010-01-31T08:13:51.353-08:00Feeding the People - Mark 6:30-44Feeding the People - Mark 6:30-44By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 31, 2010 AMThere is an old joke that asks, “How many southern Baptist does it take to change a light bulb?” The answer is, “Nine. Seven to form a committee on ‘finding the right price for light bulbs’, one to change it, and one to bring a casserole for the potluck afterwards.” Then of course, Southern Baptists are the only Christians whoPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-29334757205172520972010-01-24T08:24:00.000-08:002010-01-24T08:33:27.278-08:00Losing Your Head for God - Mark 6:14-29Losing Your Head for God - Mark 6:14-29By Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 24, 2010 AMIt is humorous that when some folks try and share their faith today, they end up endorsing what amounts to neo-paganistic superstition. From walking spiritual mazes to Christian chanting has become the latest in fashionable religious practice in some circles. Quasi forms of spirituality have always been used by those whoPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-65793678522617035902010-01-17T07:41:00.000-08:002010-01-17T07:49:59.133-08:00Men With A Mission - Mark 6:7-13Men With A Mission - Mark 6:7-13 January 17, 2010 AM By Pastor Lee Hemen More than ever before God is calling men to minister in his name. Sadly, fewer men are responding to the call of God in their lives. Fewer men are man enough to sacrifice their time, talent, and treasure for the cause of Christ. The church has created a whole cadre of chaps that are weak-willed and willing to allow others toPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-85758499740536799732010-01-10T07:39:00.000-08:002010-01-10T07:54:03.929-08:00You Cannot Always Go Home - Mark 6:1-6You Cannot Always Go Home - Mark 6:1-6January 10, 2010 AMPastor Lee HemenIsn’t it funny how we often have fond memories of experiences that could have been quite awful, especially when it comes to our growing up years? I know I do. Here is what I mean: We could have had a very difficult time of growing up, say like being raised poor or facing some severe trials, but in retrospect we believe they PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-57588620590900455932010-01-03T07:46:00.000-08:002010-01-03T07:50:33.125-08:00The Wonder-working Power - Mark 5:21-43The Wonder-working Power - Mark 5:21-43Pastor Lee HemenJanuary 3, 2010According to a recent AP story, a Colorado woman says a Christmas miracle brought her and her newborn son back from the brink of death after her heart stopped beating during childbirth and the baby was delivered showing no signs of life. “I got a second chance in life,” Tracy Hermanstorfer said. She was being prepped for PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-79050054558424415772009-12-27T07:51:00.000-08:002009-12-27T07:59:25.975-08:00The Traveling CarpenterThe Traveling CarpenterBy Pastor Lee HemenDecember 27, 2009 AMA weary traveler comes into view, sets his one piece of odd-looking luggage and a carpenter's long metal tool box down, and sits heavily down on a long row of chairs of a nondescript airport waiting area. He sighs big, checks his pockets, finds something to eat in them, and opens up a granola bar and begins to eat it. Looking around hePastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-8230500484478349222009-12-13T07:59:00.000-08:002009-12-14T09:46:19.710-08:00Yacob, the Simple CarpenterYacob, the Simple Carpenter12-13-09 AMBy Pastor Lee Hemen(We find an older man, dressed in carpentry clothes, busily working in his shop, and singing to himself.) Yehovah is my shepherd; I shall not be in want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He guides me in His righteousness…Good morning! Shalom! May the Lord bless you! PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-74908159649809531722009-12-06T08:11:00.000-08:002009-12-06T08:17:42.395-08:00Of Pigs, People, and Demons - Mark 5:1-20Of Pigs, People, and Demons - Mark 5:1-20By Pastor Lee HemenDecember 6, 2009 AMWhen we are presented with facts and figures we retain only about 5% of what we are taught. However, when we are given illustrations or parables, like Jesus used, we retain about half of them. If we become emotionally connected to the illustration used, we retain even more of the information given to us. This is why PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-44232473153665411352009-11-29T07:55:00.000-08:002009-11-29T08:22:05.312-08:00Jesus Calms Life’s Storms - Mark 4:35-41Jesus Calms Life’s Storms - Mark 4:35-41By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 29, 2009 AMIf you have never been out in the open ocean during a raging storm you have no idea what true fear can be like. The closest thing to experiencing this kind of fear would be to watch the movie “The Perfect Strom” which was taken from the book about the 1991 perfect storm that hit the North American coast in October 1991PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-4246421018524328402009-11-22T07:46:00.000-08:002009-11-22T07:52:15.672-08:00The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34The Kingdom Parables – Mark 4:26-34by Pastor Lee HemenNovember 22, 2009 AMIn the hymn "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," it tells us that "There's a land that is fairer than day, And by faith we can see it afar; For the Father waits over the way, to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet Bye and bye, we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet, Bye and bye, we shall meet on that PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-43625492008385563862009-11-15T07:27:00.000-08:002009-11-15T07:50:14.513-08:00Measuring Your Light Speed – Mark 4:21-25Measuring Your Light Speed – Mark 4:21-25By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 15, 2009 AMI loved physics in school, especially the labs. It was fascinating to set up experiments. One of the labs we had to do was measure how fast is the speed of light. The speed of light is approximately 186,000 miles per second or exactly 299,792,458 meters per second. The web site instructables.com teaches you how to PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-28466825617984737472009-11-08T08:30:00.000-08:002009-11-08T08:34:16.879-08:00Gospel Gardening - Mark 4:10-20Gospel Gardening - Mark 4:10-20by Pastor Lee HemenNovember 8, 2009 AMHave you ever tried to explain something to someone who could not understand a word of what you were saying? No matter how hard you tried, they simply could not grasp the concepts you were trying to get across to them? I have. Especially when it concerns computer instructions or problems. I can relate to software or computer PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-42693607299030466032009-11-01T07:37:00.000-08:002009-11-01T08:23:17.780-08:00Parables for A Purpose - Mark 4:1-9Parables for A Purpose - Mark 4:1-9By Pastor Lee HemenNovember 1, 2009 AMSeeds are such small superbly created things and yet mankind depends upon these tiny treasures from God in order to feed, cloth, or shelter himself. From a small seed can grow huge trees or the lowly squash. In fact, the maple that is growing outside of my front door is a tree that was started from a small seed. It now PastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12237922.post-10401763148734863792009-10-25T08:31:00.000-07:002009-10-25T08:37:42.716-07:00When Family or Man Does Not Understand - Mark 3:20-35When Family or Man Does Not Understand - Mark 3:20-35By Pastor Lee HemenOctober 25, 2009 AMDuring a Youth Camp I was directing one young teenage girl was deliberately creating personal drama all around her. Because of her self-centeredness and total self-absorption in boys, she was keeping the whole camp in turmoil. Of course, being the Camp Director, I had to be the one to confront her. At firstPastorBlastorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01786152269953331229noreply@blogger.com0