A historical church in Clarksboro, NJ that is passionate about Jesus Christ. Join us in treasuring Him together.
Pastor's Pen
Stay up to date on the life of our church with Pastor Gary Turk's blog, updated monthly. His blog features devotional reflections, reports, observations, and more!Mar 2010
Hallelujah! Christ Arose!
31 March 2010 / 11:23 AM
Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
These words, written by Robert Lowry in 1874, are just as vibrant today as when he first penned them. This is the heart of the gospel message, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified, died, and was buried, rose up from the grave, victorious over sin and death. “Up from the grave He arose.” Upon His death ont he cross, His body had been taken down, wrapped for burial, laid in a stone cold tomb, closed with a large stone and sealed with the stamp of the governor. Yet, on the third day He arose, He came out of the grave, leaving behind an empty tomb.
His resurrection was “a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” Those who had Him crucified thought His death meant the end of His life, and of their troubhles caused by His life and ministry. They thought they had won the battle, that they were the victors. But Jesus arose, and in doing so was triumphant over His foes.
And “He arose a Victor from the dark domain.” Jesus had died. He had experienced the depths of death, yet He arose from death and the grave victoriously. He arose from the domain of darkness, to conquer sin and death once and for all. Death would not have the last word.
ON that first day of the week, when the women went to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus, an angel said to them, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6). The grave could not contain Him and He arose the Victor.
“And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.” Lazarus came back to life from the grave and others were raised from the dead. But they would all die again. However, Jesus arose never to die again. He came back to life and He continues to live, now and forever. And the glorious message of Easter is not only that He lives, but that because He lives, we shall live also. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish.” (John 11:25-26 NLT)
Death is all around us and we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” again and again. But Easter comes to remind us that death doesn’t have the final word, for Jesus Christ arose from the grave to give us everlasting life.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes,
He arose a Victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
These words, written by Robert Lowry in 1874, are just as vibrant today as when he first penned them. This is the heart of the gospel message, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was crucified, died, and was buried, rose up from the grave, victorious over sin and death. “Up from the grave He arose.” Upon His death ont he cross, His body had been taken down, wrapped for burial, laid in a stone cold tomb, closed with a large stone and sealed with the stamp of the governor. Yet, on the third day He arose, He came out of the grave, leaving behind an empty tomb.
His resurrection was “a mighty triumph o’er His foes.” Those who had Him crucified thought His death meant the end of His life, and of their troubhles caused by His life and ministry. They thought they had won the battle, that they were the victors. But Jesus arose, and in doing so was triumphant over His foes.
And “He arose a Victor from the dark domain.” Jesus had died. He had experienced the depths of death, yet He arose from death and the grave victoriously. He arose from the domain of darkness, to conquer sin and death once and for all. Death would not have the last word.
ON that first day of the week, when the women went to the tomb with spices to anoint the body of Jesus, an angel said to them, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6). The grave could not contain Him and He arose the Victor.
“And He lives forever, with His saints to reign.” Lazarus came back to life from the grave and others were raised from the dead. But they would all die again. However, Jesus arose never to die again. He came back to life and He continues to live, now and forever. And the glorious message of Easter is not only that He lives, but that because He lives, we shall live also. Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again. They are given eternal life for believing in me and will never perish.” (John 11:25-26 NLT)
Death is all around us and we “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” again and again. But Easter comes to remind us that death doesn’t have the final word, for Jesus Christ arose from the grave to give us everlasting life.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!
Of Disney And The Church
02 March 2010 / 09:15 AM
Recently, Linda and I visited Disney World with some of our family, including most particularly our granddaughter Caitlyn. Being our first visit to Disney there was a lot for us to take in. Disney is certainly an impressive place, and almost overwhelming in its size. The ingenuity and creativity that is displayed throughout the park fills you with amazement. We enjoyed the many different activities and events that were available for us to participate in.
However, of all that Disney had to offer the thing that impressed me most was not their ingenious or creative abilities. It was not their size or what they had to offer. The thing that impressed me most was the friendliness and cheerfulness of everyone who worked there. We happened to be there in the wake of the great February snow storms and it was cold in Florida. Yet, from the time we got there until the time we left every employee we encountered was friendly and cheerful, and they were all over the place. That was true of the maids and grounds keepers as well as all other workers. Wherever we went workers were coming up to us and welcoming us, or greeting us, or asking if they could help us. When we weren’t sure which way or where to go, they would often not just give us directions, but take us where we wanted to go. It was as if their one aim was to serve us, to make us feel welcome, that we might get the most out of our experience.
What was continually going through my mind that week was that this is what the church should be like. The church should be a place where each and every member goes out of his or her way to welcome others, especially visitors and new people. And we should do it cheerfully. But all too often it doesn’t happen.
How many times do we go to church, sit in our pew, surrounded by our friends, and never make a move to talk to people we don’t know, who may be new or who may even be members we have never taken the time to get to know them. Too often we are friendly toward those who are already our friends and we ignore those we don’t know.
I have visited in many churches where have gone in and out without a single greeting from a church member, or where, during a time of congregational exchange of greetings, they congregate in their groups and leave the visitors or new people out. This doesn’t just happen in other churches. I have seen it happen too often in our own church.
Friendliness to those who are already our friends doesn’t make us a friendly church. Being a friendly church is getting out of our pew and going across the isle to greet and welcome and get to know somebody we don’t already know. That should not be the responsibility of a few people, but the obligation of every Christian and church member. As Christians, Disney would put many of us to shame in the display of hospitality.
Disney workers offered the kind of cheerful welcome that even if you didn’t care for the activities, you would want to go back just because of the warm friendliness. This is a model of what we as the church are to be. There should be a warm and friendly welcome that radiates from each and ever member that would cause visitors and new people to want to come back. Let us so radiate the love of Jesus that others are to us through our genuine expressions of friendliness.
However, of all that Disney had to offer the thing that impressed me most was not their ingenious or creative abilities. It was not their size or what they had to offer. The thing that impressed me most was the friendliness and cheerfulness of everyone who worked there. We happened to be there in the wake of the great February snow storms and it was cold in Florida. Yet, from the time we got there until the time we left every employee we encountered was friendly and cheerful, and they were all over the place. That was true of the maids and grounds keepers as well as all other workers. Wherever we went workers were coming up to us and welcoming us, or greeting us, or asking if they could help us. When we weren’t sure which way or where to go, they would often not just give us directions, but take us where we wanted to go. It was as if their one aim was to serve us, to make us feel welcome, that we might get the most out of our experience.
What was continually going through my mind that week was that this is what the church should be like. The church should be a place where each and every member goes out of his or her way to welcome others, especially visitors and new people. And we should do it cheerfully. But all too often it doesn’t happen.
How many times do we go to church, sit in our pew, surrounded by our friends, and never make a move to talk to people we don’t know, who may be new or who may even be members we have never taken the time to get to know them. Too often we are friendly toward those who are already our friends and we ignore those we don’t know.
I have visited in many churches where have gone in and out without a single greeting from a church member, or where, during a time of congregational exchange of greetings, they congregate in their groups and leave the visitors or new people out. This doesn’t just happen in other churches. I have seen it happen too often in our own church.
Friendliness to those who are already our friends doesn’t make us a friendly church. Being a friendly church is getting out of our pew and going across the isle to greet and welcome and get to know somebody we don’t already know. That should not be the responsibility of a few people, but the obligation of every Christian and church member. As Christians, Disney would put many of us to shame in the display of hospitality.
Disney workers offered the kind of cheerful welcome that even if you didn’t care for the activities, you would want to go back just because of the warm friendliness. This is a model of what we as the church are to be. There should be a warm and friendly welcome that radiates from each and ever member that would cause visitors and new people to want to come back. Let us so radiate the love of Jesus that others are to us through our genuine expressions of friendliness.