April 2012 Phish Bowl Magazine

Phish Bowl Ministries
March/April 2012
Matthew 4:19
“Chummin’ for Saints…until the nets are full”

Dear Saints,

There is no way to package the beginning of this month’s Phish Bowl. I am sorry about us not getting a newsletter out to all of you last month. The month started off overly packed with me working on my final project, the “Narrative”, for Group and working on being ready for presentation which was two-1.5 hour group sessions long. Needless to say, it was not easy, but with God’s help, I got though it, but not with flying colors. After all of the feed back that I received, I had to go back and do an almost complete re-write. While I was working on this and trying to study for Phish Bowl, I was called to the Chaplain’s office where I was informed that my mother had passed away on February 15th, 2012. It was a little overwhelming! It took everything just to move forward and stay focused on Group. Group does not have a break or time-outs. One of the things that we learned in Group is handling life on life’s terms by using the tools given to us. Death is a part of life, so even with all of the stress of Group I had to go on moment by moment. So, after talking with Pastor Kevin who had talked with Barb, we decided to take the time off to regroup. I had thought about sending out a note to let everyone know, but with God providing the funds each month for mailing, it was best to wait until this month to inform everyone. So, I hope that you can forgive me for not being better prepared for life to pop its head up at an unexpected time.
My mother mad a confession of faith in December 2012, right after having a stroke. So, my grief is in the flesh, but my joy is in the hope of our risen Lord, Jesus the Christ. This is my first death-salvation message. Let your hearts hear from the Holy Spirit the truth of accepting Jesus the Christ as your Lord and Savior. In John 14:6, Jesus Himself said that “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me”. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus is the way to the Father. He is also “The Truth” and “the Life”. As Truth, He is the revelation of God. As Life, He is the communication of God to us. These are not the church’s words, they are not my words, they are Jesus’ words, “I am the way to the Father.’ There is no other way.
“It is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16). The Greek word for salvation used by Paul literally means “deliverance” or “preservation”. In a spiritual context, the idea is rescue from the power and dominion of sin. Paul’s drive for preaching the gospel (the good news) was rooted in its power “to free” or “to rescue”, as Jesus rescued me from the tragic consequences of my own sin.
Take a walk with me down a road. I’m going to let the Bible talk to you:
(Romans 5:8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (NKJV) God loves us the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are. See John 15:16, Philippians 1:6.
(Romans 3:23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (NKJV) No one can live up to what God created us to be: we all fall short of His glory every day. Nothing else can save us because as sinners, we can never meet God’s requirements. Our only hope is faith in Jesus the Christ.
(Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NKJV) As you move on in your walk with Jesus, you will learn through the Bible that eternal life is not just static. It is out of this world, a growing relationship with Jesus the Christ. Living in faith and obedience, Christians can fully enjoy God’s free gift of eternal life.
Romans 10:13) For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved." (NKJV) The offer of salvation is to the “Whoevers”. In Greek, this word means “Who-so-ever!” All, including Jews and Greeks.
Romans 10:9) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (NKJV)
LORD: this means Master, ownership over our Life.
Believe: to place one’s trust in another. To believe in Jesus is to believe in His person and to trust in Him completely for salvation (John 3:15-16). Many will believe in Jesus’ miraculous powers, but they will not believe in Jesus Himself (John 6:23-26). Others want to believe in a political Messiah, but will not believe in the One who suffered for their sins (Mark 15:32). We must be careful to believe and trust in the Jesus presented in the Scriptures, in the Son of God who sacrificed His life for our sins. (Galatians 1:3-4; Philippians 2:5-8).
(Acts 4:12) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (NKJV) Only by placing faith in the historical Jesus, the One who came, died, and was raised again, can a person be saved.
Acts 2:42) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. (NKJV)

At a time like this, the world asks if I’m doing OK. My answer is “yes”. My mother is with Jesus, whole and healed. My grief is in my flesh, but my Joy is in who Jesus is and what He has promised. I will see my mother again and look forward to the day! P.T.L.!

Friends (not Saints), you need to put your trust in Jesus the Christ. The Bible is also clear if you don’t choose Jesus, then you have chosen to spend eternity separated from God. What that looks like, is highly debated, so I don’t want to lose you at this point on a word or a dogma. The point is that you’re either for God or against God. If you are against Him, you will not spend eternity with Him and us. It doesn’t matter how good you are!

I love you all and look forward to spending eternity with you and most of all, Jesus Our Christ. Saints, I pray for you and love you. Remember that it is a life journey to understand that God will not disappoint us. There is soul healing in God’s loving word and in the Church of the Messiah’s Misfits. Remember my chains as I remember yours. Watch! Hold fast in the faith. Be brave and be strong to the end. Let all you do, be done in love.


Semper Fidelis!

I Corinthians 16: 13-14

Phish Bowl Coffee House/Ministries
276 E 29th St.
Loveland, CO 80539.
http://inthephishbowl.blogspot.com
An outreach of Calvary Chapel Loveland