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Receiving the Gospel - Galatians 2:15–3:9 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 28, 2013 AM Recently, the Dali Lama was in Portland. He held a conference with adherents of various other religions. Many of the Buddhists who attended were in a posture of meditation. Many of individuals who were interviewed by local TV declared all religions are equally valid in helping people experience genuine life. How tragic that some people choose a dead leader’s teachings or an esoteric lama rather than a relationship with God through faith in a living Savior. How would you answer someone who insists all religions are equally valid? Many people today contend truth is relative—what is true for one person may not be true for another. They say one religion is as good as another is; any religion is equally effective in showing the way to God and eternal life. Unfortunately, even some Christians accept this false philosophy and say the gospel is not necessarily true for others. They need to realize this...

Talking about the Gospel - Galatians 1:6-9, 11-12, 15-16; 2:1-6 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 21, 2013 AM One test of being a good student is to understand the instructions for an exam. Once in seminary, our class gathered for a final exam in a Greek language course. We received the test paper with its instructions. Unfortunately, several students misread the directions and translated the wrong Scripture passage. As an act of grace, the professor did not give the students failing grades or automatically lower their grades. Instead, he evaluated their work on the passage they mistakenly translated. He pointed out, however, that they did poorer than they probably would have done on the assigned passage. Their lack of a clear understanding of the instructions cost them. Without being aware of what they are doing, folks often reveal they do not clearly understand the gospel. They make such comments as, “I hope God will let me into heaven.” Or “I hope I'm good enough to get into...

Commitment: A path to fulfillment! - Micah 7:1-7, 18-20 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 14, 2013 AM "Jim" is a committed Christian who works in a large real estate office. He has been reprimanded more than once by management for being "too candid" about problems with the properties, he shows. Most of Jim’s fellow workers either are not Christians or are spiritually shallow. He does not join their conversations about movies because they usually discuss movies he avoids due to their content. He is not invited nor does he want to join them after work at the local bar. Because of his commitment to Christ, he feels lonely and isolated in this ungodly environment. Jim shared his frustrations with his pastor, who suggested he join a men’s support group that met each week for encouragement. Jim agreed and there he found other men who shared his frustration at their places of work. Does anything in your work environment cause you difficulty as a Christian? If so, how d...

Facing fear! Trusting God! – 2 Timothy 1:7 By Pastor Lee Hemen July 7, 2013 AM When John Kennedy’s speechwriters wrote his famous words, “ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country”, they were borrowing from the thoughts of our Nation’s forefathers. George Washington wrote, “Nothing is a greater stranger to my breast, or a sin that my soul more abhors, than that black and detestable one, ingratitude.” We live in a day and age whereby folks seem to be more interested in what they get out their relationship with Jesus than what their responsibility should be in their relationship with Jesus. Paul wrote his young friend Timothy two letters of instruction and encouragement. Paul cared deeply for Timothy, but for some reason, he kept not quite living up to the expectations Paul had for him. Like many believers today, Timothy was often embarrassed of not only Paul and his bold and outgoing witness, but he was often ashamed of his own relatio...