Perspectives on the World Christian Movement

Skyline Church starting Tuesday January 11, 2011 6:30 - 9:30 pm. This is a great opportunity to register now so you have your seat secured. Everyone I have spoken to that has been through Perspectives said that it is "Life Changing."

I've been waiting and I'm looking forward to being part of this class. If you are interested, please contact Pastor Sean Howarter at showarter@skylinechurch.org if you have any questions.

You can register online.

Blessings to you,
Pastor Bob Lenz
blenz@skylinechurch.org

Are You making a difference in Your Community?

Proverbs 19:17 He who is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward him for what he has done.

Are you making a difference in your community? If your church decided to move from the community your living in, would it be missed? What are you doing to make a difference?

Every community has needs. Every person has a story to tell. Year after year I see this huge push during the Holiday season to reach out to the poor and then it slowly fades. We need to be intentional and diligent in reaching out on a consistant basis. We should want to know who it is we are serving, their story, and communicate that Jesus Christ loves them and have a willingness to teach who Jesus Christ is. It's just to easy to hand out a booklet and not share the Gospel. How often are you going back to check up on those you feed and hand clothing to. Christianity is all about a personal relationship, Jesus is the model and we have to do a greater job at being like Jesus Christ.

We can easily become a spiritual couch potato. The Bible is clear, we are to serve like Christ. We go to Church to become equipped, that should lead from the information to transformation in our lives leading us to having a willingness to serve where ever we can for Christ in our Churches and community.

We are God's plan, no back up. My closing question will be the same I started with, " Are You making a difference in Your community?"

Blessings,
Pastor Bob

Expanding for His Kingdom

It takes a concious effort to step outside our comfort box. We tend to want to serve God on our terms, within our defined area of comfort. The Word of God tells us to expand the space of our tent, to stretch our the curtains of our tent. Having faith rooted deeply in Jesus Christ will allow each of us to expand to serve the Lord outside our comfort zone. It's easier sometimes to sit back and think, someone else will take care of the problem. Have we gone in prayer to God and ask if He could use us to be part of the solution? Or do we just place on our blinders to avoid the possibility that God would answer and direct us to expand beyond the place we are today.

Isaiah 54:2 (GW)
2 Expand the space of your tent. Stretch out the curtains of your tent, and don't hold back. Lengthen your tent ropes, and drive in the tent pegs.

We need to have greater trust in Jesus Christ if we are to expand from the box we are in today. How can we serve God where we are and also where we may be needed? How do we get past our own needs? How do we become less about ourselves and more about Him? The following Scripture has the answer.

John 3:30 (GW)
30 He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.

Blessings to you today,
Pastor Bob Lenz

Where Do I Go For Answers?

Where do I seek answers for living my life? I believe the Bible to be the inherent, infallible and inspirational Word of God. The Bible has every answer I need to live my life. People debate and wonder how can a book written two thousand years ago have application in 2010? The bookstore shelves are filled with hundreds of self-help books. Society has created a constant demand for quick answers in how to help self. God has given every answer to every question in how to live ones life, how to raise a family, how to live single and how to love your wife, wisdom and purity, love, hope, life and death.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 4:14 but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

God will not force Himself on humanity. He woo's and we chose is an expression that is true. By His grace does humanity have a choice to accept of reject His grace. You will not experience life as God intended unless you are willing to allow Jesus to have Lordship of your life. We were all created with the same opportunity to receive His grace and salvation.

Ephesians 1:5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will--

Surrender, Submission and Obedience are all part of giving up self and turning your life over to Jesus Christ. God has every answer to questions you seek. God is constant and never waivers. He waits patiently for those who want to accept Him.

Blessings to you,
Pastor Bob
pastorboblenz.wesleyan@gmail.com

When you have discovered your passion and purpose in life and can earn a living doing it, you'll never work a day in your life.

Serving God in full time ministry is not a job, it's a calling. I wake up every morning excited about the new day. I'm excited about meeting with people that I can share my faith with. Being able to pray for people and so often just giving an ear to listen doesnt require much when you love people.

Ministry is all about the person in front of you. Being authentic and seeing people as God see's them is the everyday goal. God commands us to love one another as we love ourselves. God loves us unconditionally. He sent His only Son to the cross for all of us. We have been justified and adopted into His family.

I have daily blessings beyond anything I could have dreamed to have in my life. I look forward to every Sunday as it feels like a family reunion at Skyline as people come through the door's, give a smile, a good morning and a hug.

It doesnt require a lot of energy to affirm, encourage and lend an ear to someone in need. Like the "good samaritan", we have a choice to be the hand's and heart of God or just continue to walk by and remain centered on self thinking someone else will take care of it.

Christianity is a transforming lifestyle, not just a religion to attend church on Sunday's and check off the box on a check list of things to do.

In His Grace,

Pastor Bob

Are You Sold Out?

My question is what in your life are you completely sold out to? I've learned through my relationship with Jesus Christ that there is nothing of greater value that I can be completely sold out to than serving Jesus Christ. He is my first love. I have witnessed many answers to my prayers I've prayed in my own life and also for those many people I've come to know and appreciate.

Freedom is the first word that comes to mind when I'm asked to explain my relationship with Jesus Christ. I'm puzzlled when I hear someone say, "he or she is over spiritual?" I have to ask how can I be over spiritual with a God who loves me unconditionally and sent His only Son to the cross to die even if it were just for me. No, I dont think you can be over-spiritual in any part of your life if you are completely sold-out to Christ.

Why does anyone want to hold on to those things that cause pain and sufferring when we have a God who tells us to give our burdens to Him that you and I can be free. (Galations 5:1)

I see so many times people unable to trust God enough to release their struggles to Him. So they go through life struggling, hanging on to the same problems, living in dysfunctional relationships, holding on to unforgiveness, feeling of loneliness, afraid, prideful and not realizing that freedom is just a heartbeat away.

I pray for anyone who is seeking freedom and in need of Jesus. He feels your pain and knows every part of your inner being. All you have to do is accept Him into your heart as your Lord and Savior. Ask forgiveness of your sin and allow Jesus to pour His love into heart and place new desires you can't dream of, that you may live as God intended.

In His Grace and Love,
Pastor Bob Lenz
April 23rd 2010

Mudrun 2010 @ Skyline Church

Sandy running the mudrun! Me working the food table!

Jim Smith

Our dear friend and brother Jim Smith went to be with Jesus unexpectedly yesterday. His wife Nadene called and said he had collapsed yesterday and all efforts failed through the day to revive Jim. I will miss sharing time with Jim as we would have breakfast together often. He was proud of his family and loved the Lord. I know Jim is with Jesus and no longer sufferring. Jim has struggled a long time with parkinsen's.

Jim is a member of the seniors "Young At Heart" Sunday School class at Skyline Church. Jim often told me how lucky they are to have me. My dear friend and brother Jim, I could only hope, I made you feel as appreciated as you have blessed our lives. You will be truly missed. Everytime we accept the offerring, I will think about you.

Your sense of humor and love will be certainly missed. You left unexpectedly before we could say so long for now. I know you'll be waiting for us...

We love and miss you already,

In His Love,
Bob and Sandy