Notes from Pastor Dur

September 23, 2011

Dear First Church Family and Friends,

Have you ever caught something contagious?  I don’t mean strep throat or the flu!  Rather, have you ever encountered a moment that made a positive life change in YOUR life?

It happened in the first century as Jesus went from town to town sharing a message of hope, peace, love, and joy that the people had never before experienced.  It also happened when Jesus walked the shore and found a few men tending nets.  He simply said, “FOLLOW ME.”  Shockingly they did and the rest is history.  It happened when Jesus came to the tax collector Matthew and asked him along for the journey.  The “bug” caught, first a few and then the multitudes, and the name of Jesus became a household word in that region.  

The contagious nature of God’s love in Jesus has been passed from generation to generation.  What began with 12 disciples and a few friends has exploded into the Christian Church today!  God’s love and God’s call exhibits a contagious nature.  I can almost imagine what it must have been  like to have Jesus come close as he did to the women at the well.  Jesus KNEW her. He knew her sin and reputation and yet he calls her to sin no more. While others treated her like dirt,  Jesus wrapped the love of God around her and she was TRANSFORMED!  She is so overwhelmed by Jesus’ love that she immediately shares it with her town.  That’s CONTAGIOUS  love.  THAT’S LOVE WORTH SPREADING! 

I don’t know about you but that’s how God’s love found me.  Just a kid, couldn’t do much right, could find trouble no matter where it was hiding.  Yet one day I heard about Jesus’ love and knew that was the kind of life I wanted to live.  That CONTAGIOUS LOVE “bug” had me.  Not perfect mind you,  just forgiven.  

I wonder, have you caught it?  Do you know the awesome love of God that is yours in Jesus Christ?  It’s contagious!  It’s spreading!  One by one people are coming to know Jesus as their Savior.  If you’ve caught it, have you shared it?  It’s not a bug to own, rather it is something wonderful, powerful and transforming that is meant to be shared.  Catch it today, then pass it around to your family and friends.  You’ll be glad you did!

SEE YOU IN WORSHIP SUNDAY!

I love being your pastor,

Durwood