Summber is Here
Well,summer is almost here and I can say, “Wow the warm weather finally has arrived!” Every winter is followed by spring then summer. I like all the seasons and I love the change in weather. Winter’s pure white snow covers the dirt and reminds me of God’s love and forgiveness covering the dirt of my sins. It is no wonder that creation reflects the Words of God fromIsaiah 1:18
    "Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:though your sins are like scarlet,they shall be as white as snow;though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

Rain from heaven nourishes plants, helps germinate seeds and does its work in secret. But the result of the rain and the warmer weather is that trees, grass, plants and shrubs which appear “dead” and brown, spring to life in shades of green. The Lord provides rain for the earth Psalm 147:8
    He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
We do not see the work water does beneath the ground. Nor do we even understand what triggers seeds to germinate. We do know what conditions are necessary for germination and for trees to produce leaves but we do not understand the mechanisms yet. The work of water and warmer weather reminds me of God’s Word. Often we cannot see the way God works in the heart of a sinner. We cannot see the faith, life and transformation the Holy Spirit produces in the soul of a sinner. Yet, we see little signs of life, like the budding of leaves on a tree or the sprout of seeds. Matthew 13:23

    As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."
When fall arrives we will see the farmers harvest the crops. This too is a reminder of the Word of God. Luke 10:2
    And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.
The fall harvest reminds us that the Lord invites us to welcome the lost to meet His Son Jesus. The Lord bids us to bring them along with us on the road into His heaven.
God uses every season to remind us of His love.

At Shepherd of the Hills June will be a month of new beginnings. Dates are set for weddings and baptisms. Both are opportunities to thank the Lord for life and blessings. Watch for the chance to congratulate, welcome and encourage them. Along the way congratulate those who completed high school or college. Encourage them to continue following Jesus.

Recently some members have asked me “What is the difference with what we believe and what Mormons or others believe?”
•    We believe that Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.”(John 14:6) Jesus is the “Christ, the Son of the living God.”(John 11:27) Jesus is both true God and true man. (1Timothy 2:2-5)
•    We believe that God reveals Himself to us as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is One God yet three persons. (Matthew 28:18-20)
•    We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. (1 Peter 1:25)“but the word of the Lord remains forever."
•    We believe God made all things and preserves all things. (Genesis 1:1)
•    We believe “He that believes and is baptized will be saved. He that believes not will be damned.” (Mark 16:16)

The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints or more commonly called Mormons, does not teach those beliefs. According to Mormon teachings:
•    The Bible and the revelation to their leaders is God’s Word
•    Mormons say, “We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.”
•     According to Mormonism, God the Father, who has a body of flesh and bones (since he was a man), came to earth and had physical sex with Mary, his own daughter and begot Jesus' physical body. (Doctrine and Covenants, 130:22; McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 471)
•    Moromns believe that father, Son and Holy Ghost are three separate Gods.
•    Mormons believe that “worthy men may one day become gods themselves.”
•    Jesus was married.
•    Baptism on behalf of the dead.
•    Secret temple rituals

Jehovah’s Witnesses are another sect that as the Mormons are also not considered Christian.
•    Both Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus was created. 
•    Both teach that salvation must be earned.
•    Jesus is not God, but the archangel Michael
•    Jesus was resurrected only as a spirit body
Islamwas begun by Muhammad about 610
A.D. in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
•    Qur’an is their holy book.
•    Allah is their god, a severe judge.
•    Jesus is one of 124,00 prophets
•    Jesus is not god
•    Jesus was without sin
•    Jesus went to heaven without dying
•    Jesus was not crucified, but Judas was killed in his place
•    Humans are basically good
•    Five Pillars of Islam are::
•    “Allah is the one true god and Muhammad is his prophet.”
•    Pray five times daily facing Mecca.
•    Give alms to the poor.
•    Fast during the month of Ramadan
•    Make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in a lifetime.

Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses as well as Islam, deny the basic truths of the Christian faith. Yet, it is possible that among them there are some who trust Jesus as their Savior and do not realize the harmful teachings of their false religion.

While condemning what they teach, our goal is always to reach the lost with the Good news of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is our personal Savior, yet Jesus is not a private Savior. Paul declares in 2 Corinthians 5:15
andhe died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Jesus died for the lost. Paul continues, in 2 Corinthians 5:19
that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
Jesus gives us the message of reconciliation to share with the lost. We are ambassadors for Christ. We are ones through whom God makes His appeal to the lost.
One last comment about the end, do not worry. Matthew 24:36-39 are worth reading. Jesus says, "But concerning that day and hour no one knows… As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Pastor Stein