Pastor’s Corner for January 17-18, 2009

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a Nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character … This will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning, `My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.''' Martin Luther King, Jr.

We are facing a historic week in the United States. On Monday, January 19, 2009, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. In the Proclamation of the day, President Ronald Reagan challenged Americans “of every race and creed and color work together to build in this blessed land a shining city of brotherhood, justice, and harmony.” Remarkably, on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, we will witness the inauguration of president-elect Barack Obama, where he will be sworn into the Office of President of the United States. His chief duty is to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” And Thursday, January 22, 2009, marks the thirty-sixth anniversary of Roe v. Wade. As you know, the case resulted in a landmark decision on life. As a covenant community, we have and will continue to support Life-Chain events, adoptions, etc., to save lives. As we support the right to life, we also need to pray for the salvation of souls. Without the gospel message proclaimed, we will not witness life transformation in America. Martin Luther King, Jr. summed it up well with his speech. The content of our character is what matters. Let’s pray that God will change us - as believers, as a community, and as a nation - from the inside. Let’s pray that God will continue to mold us so that we can be people of character. Let’s pray for our new president - that he will lead this “blessed land” with character and wisdom for God. And let us celebrate and remember the work of our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who made it possible for us to be people of character.

Pastor Jay R. Lee

Pastor's Corner for January 10-11, 2009

“Under Construction” denotes ongoing work, action and activity. Faith requires that kind of response. God desires for us to respond with our lives. For many of us we typically begin the path to believing in God by receiving the head and heart knowledge of His love for us. It then becomes too easy of a routine to see our Christianity as sitting, standing, listening and talking. During 2009 especially, the world will be paying close attention to those among them who profess faith in Christ. First they will observe whether our faith makes a difference in our every day lives. Secondly, they will look to see if there is anyone who cares for the needy, hurting and disenfranchised. One of the great benefits to our short-term missions trips is that our youth begin to see their faith as real, themselves as a valuable contributor to society not only because of what they know but what they do. What is God putting on your heart to do in 2009? What has he given you a passion for? What has he gifted you to do? Goodwill Church and the larger Body of Christ need your contribution to the Kingdom of God and the World. There are many new opportunities on the horizon to seek His purpose for you this year. Take the next step and propose to commit to our one group, one service and one ministry philosophy. Begin by considering assisting in our Food Pantry or with the Angel Food Ministry. Care ministries like Stephen’s Ministry will be kicking off in 2009. Teaching, praying, serving blessings await you and others through you as you step out and respond with action.

Pastor David Kniffin

Pastor's Corner for January 3-4, 2009

Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that it is already 2009. As I look back and reflect upon 2008, I am forever grateful for what the Lord has done in our lives at Goodwill. Here’s a partial list of the highlights from last year – “Dad, the Family Shepherd,” 60 Week Sacrifice, Baptism Service, Seder Dinner, Easter Services, Couples Conference, Choir performing at Carnegie Hall, Graduation Banquet, Israel Trip, VBS, Goodwill hosting the Presbytery, Women’s Conference, Senior Saints Banquet, Operation Christmas Child, Christmas Dinner Party, Christmas services, and the Christmas Cantata. We have witnessed God alive and active in our midst as we have seen Him deliver us from many impossible situations. As you can see, 2008 was an amazing year. As I look ahead to the New Year, I’m excited about what God has in store for us. For one thing, we are expected to complete the new building. This will bring many opportunities for us to advance the gospel. We will be starting up community-oriented ministries such as Angel Food Ministries. I believe that prayer is and needs to be the foundation of our ministry. There are many different ways you can pray at Goodwill Church. We have the prayer room available on Saturdays and Sundays. You can ask an elder to pray for you. We have the Wednesday Prayer Service. And lastly, you can join a small group, where prayer is a central component. As you plan and make resolutions for 2009, would you make room for prayer?

Pastor Jay R. Lee

Pastor’s Corner for December 27-28, 2008

For me, a short sabbatical from my pastorate at Goodwill has begun. It lasts until Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2009. I’ve never taken one, so I’m very interested to see what this will be like. A sabbatical, as you may know, is not merely a vacation or time off. It is a time for refocusing. It is a regular, required feature in the lives of pastors who stay in one congregation for their career. On our website and via brochures that the Goodwill staff will make available, you can read the EPC description and prescription for sabbaticals. The best way to describe it is as a time when the urgent is forced to take a back seat to the important. Usually in life, the urgent wins the day. This may be especially so in pastors’ lives. I’ll take a few weeks for vacation, resting, and family time and then be at it. Reading, writing, study, and – as you’ll soon hear more about – set aside times for intensive prayer, will, for about nine weeks, get all the time they deserve. The vision of the Elders in directing me to take this mini-sabbatical is that I be spiritually strengthened, freshly resourced as a leader, and at my creative best heading into the opening of our new building. There’s a funny balance to it. On one hand, it’s time to rest. On the other hand, it’s time to dig and discover. Pray for me as I’ll be praying for you. Thank you for your devotion and love. May God richly bless you and your family in 2009!

Pastor John Torres

Pastor’s Corner for December 20-21, 2008

Maybe you have a problem this Christmas season: busyness. Many people have complaints about Christmas, but none seem as frustrating as busyness. The good news is that it’s fixable. Do less. Buy less. Shop less. Plan easier meals. Give yourself time. Don’t try to be two places at once or all things to all people. Develop your inner radar for all crazy-makers – things or people – and then proceed with caution. Understand that busyness is a choice; it’s your choice. If you’re so busy that you wonder if you even have time for church or devotions, then you’re too busy and there’s no one else to blame but yourself. Pick a fight with yourself about this, if you need to. Why exist through another blur of frenetic Christmas activity, when you could choose a different path? The path to peace during the holidays is paved with “no.” The most effective weapon against busyness is the word “no.” Holiday is a word formed from the phrase holy day. Holy means set aside, different, separate. Holiness happens through the use of the word “no.” If your observance of the birth of Christ seems profane to you, perhaps it’s because you forgot to say “no.” When you say “no” to crazy busyness, you say “yes” to simple blessedness. May your Christmas this year be your best yet because busyness and stress has been displaced by worship and joy.

Pastor John Torres

Pastor’s Corner for 12/13-14/2008

Advent and Christmas are about the fact that God became a human being. This historical fact changes what it means to be a human being. It implies that no human life can ever be accurately looked at or understood without Jesus’ help. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in Ethics, writes: “Since God became a human being in Christ, all thinking about human beings without Christ is unfruitful abstraction. The counter-image of the human being taken up into the form of Christ is the human being as self-creator, self-judge, and self-renewer; these people bypass their true humanity and therefore, sooner or later, destroy themselves.” Are you confused about your life or who you are as a human being? The one place to find answers to life’s deepest questions lies between the borrowed manger of Christmas and the borrowed tomb of Easter. You can’t decide what your life means; God already has. Go to Him this Advent with all your questions and desires. To turn away from Him is self-destruction: a denial of your own humanity. To turn toward Him is life. Be like the three wise men we sing about every Christmas and follow the star that shines for Jesus Christ. Let His birth bring about new birth in you.

Pastor John Torres

Pastor’s Corner - December 6-7, 2008

Lost has been a popular television show. Though I’ve not watched it at all, I’ve noticed, according to the news, that the premise of the show seems to have been its undoing. The plot now is so complicated that even the most dedicated fan would be hard pressed to try to summarize it. Lost is getting lost. It’s the same for our lostness as human beings. Without Christ, things get complicated quickly. When we have no reason to live and no hope for or vision of eternity, then we have a hard time understanding or explaining our choices and the lives we live that flow from them. Advent is the happy ending to the plot of Lost: not the television show, but the state of the human race. A star shone over the birthplace of Christ. This star still shines and still guides us home. More accurate than any GPS and more significant than any road sign, the star of prophecy shines light on the only way home to God through Christ. If you feel lost this Advent, look for the star in your life. You weren’t born to live a lost life. You were born to follow the Son of God through something He called “abundant life” which leads to eternal life. Call on Him today in prayer. If you haven’t received Him as your Savior and Lord, pray to do that right now. Welcome His guidance and direction. Rejoice in His love for you. This is what Advent and Christmas are all about.

Pastor John Torres