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Hebrews 9:1-10 – A new universal order! By Pastor Lee Hemen September 30, 2012 AM There are those in our day and age who spend an unhealthy amount of time wondering about conspiracy theories and who is behind what and when. Often these folks talk in hushed voices about how there might be a secret cabal wanting to start a new world order such as the CFR (Council on Foreign Relations) or the WFM (World Federalist Movement). I have to laugh at some of the convoluted aerobics they have to do in order for their pet conspiracy theory to be remotely fit together and come out anywhere near correct. While there are very real forces who want to control how people vote, what they eat, or how they raise their children, they are not so secret. Some of these utterly weird and fantastic ideas have crossed over into some theological heresy concerning the end times, such as in premillennial dispensationalism. Some folks, however, are surprised to learn that Christians not only believe in,...

Hebrews 8:1-13 – Out with the old, in with the new! By Pastor Lee Hemen September 23, 2012 AM Some folks love to talk about the “good old days” as if they think that everything in the past was way better than what we have now. I don’t know about you but I like the newer HD flat-screens with the better picture and reception than the old black and white TVs that you had to use tinfoil on the antenna to sort of get a picture or where could cook dinner on them because they ran so hot. I like the way electronics have gotten smaller, faster, and more useful. Instead of computers the size of a room, we have handheld tablets and way more computing power. Phones we can use anywhere and use as mini-computers. Cars have superior gas mileage and protect us better in case of a crash. Instead of armor-plated dashboards we have vehicles that are designed to crumple safely with multiple airbags. Modern kitchens, heaters and air conditioners, and bathrooms are a lot more enjoyable than woo...

Hebrews 7:1-28 – Melchizedek! By Pastor Lee Hemen September 16, 2012 AM Secret identities of heroes are nothing new. Years ago when I was very young there was a show called The Lone Ranger. After he had rescued the damsel in distress or saved the town from the bad guys, someone would ask as he rode off into the sunset, “Who was that masked man?” Now being young I did not have a problem that no one could recognize him or other heroes like Batman and Robin, or Zorro, but the one that used to really bug me was Superman. I mean, come on, the only difference was a curl in his hair and his demeanor! You had to be pretty dense not to recognize him! Did you know that one of the first heroes with a secret identity is found in the Bible? It is the intriguing character we find in Genesis 14 who was the king of Salem and Priest of God Most High, Melchizedek. Four kings joined together and waged war on their neighbors. They defeat Sodom and Gomorrah, taking Lot the nephew of Abra...

Hebrews 6:13-20 – The steadfast anchor! By Pastor Lee Hemen September 9, 2012 AM Recently, during the Democratic National Convention, leaders were angrily booed by the delegates when they decided to insert the word “God” back into their party’s platform. In another startling note, President Barack Obama enjoys a massive lead over Mitt Romney among registered voters who say they have no religion whatsoever, according to the Gallup tracking poll of the presidential race. Why are these two things important? They remind us that when people do not have a spiritual core or an anchor in life they will drift away from God. The warning we need to heed is that as individuals go, so goes the nation they live in as well. The writer of Hebrews wrote his sermon because he saw early Christians drifting away from their relationship with Jesus Christ. He warned them about their spiritual drift and he began to share with them the basics of their faith but now wanted to go into deeper ...

Hebrews 6:1-12 – It’s more than elementary! By Pastor Lee Hemen September 2, 2012 AM I have learned over the years that if you have low expectations from yourself or from others, those are the limits you or they will attain. This is true in relationships, education, or your work ethic. It is true spiritually as well. We have a choice as believers to either expect great things from ourselves or to acquiesce to the world and live in the gutter of our sin. At some point one has to decide to leave behind anything or anyone in their life that hinders their maturity in Christ. Continued living in spiritual preschool is not an option for those who want to live as Christ. It involves more than the elementary teachings of Jesus. Hebrews continues on the theme he has been building toward in his sermon. Righteousness requires faith, faith requires trust, and trust requires righteousness. I am amazed how little children grow and the things they quickly learn to do. They crawl, t...