Healing from a Distance (John 4:43-54)

Jesus returns to Galilee from Samaria. It is the place where he turned water into wine. Many believe there because they were at the feast when it happened. An official comes to Jesus to ask him to heal his son. Jesus says you won't believe unless you see signs and miracles. But, he just pleads for him to come. So Jesus tells him to go home, your son is well. He heals him from a great distance. The man believes along with the rest of his household. Nothing is beyond Jesus. He can do anything. Lord, heal our church. Help us to become effective and impactful in our community and throughout the world. Heal my daughter of diabetes. Help me lead well.

The Samaritan's Believe (John 4:39-42)

The Samaritans believed the testimony of the (unnamed) woman from the well. She had led them to Jesus. As they gathered together and spent time with him they became all the more convinced. They too now agreed that Jesus is Messiah and Savior of the world. We have a role to play in bringing others to Jesus. There is nothing more exciting than hearing of how God is working in the life of new believers. To be part of a group of people that God is using is a great and awesome blessing. Help me Father to share this with others.

Is He the Christ? (John 4:27-28)

The woman from the well was told by Jesus himself that he is the Messiah. She drops her water jar and goes off asking others, "Is he the Christ?... Come see this man who told me all I ever did. He knows all." He is the Christ. How easily do we doubt? We look for confirmation not from him but from others. Is his word not enough?

• Jesus' food is to do the will of his father. It is what feeds him and nourishes him.
• What he most wants now is to let his disciples know that the fields are white for the harvest. Notice the context = He took them to Samaria to point this out - The fields are white (ready) among those whom they would consider to be their natural enemies/rivals.
• Lord help me to see as you see

The Woman at the Well (John 4:1-26)

Jesus is thirsty in Samaria at Jacob's Well. He claims that the water that I give will become a wellspring spring of water welling up to eternal life = The water that we are given will become a source of life for others. What we are given does not just save us in our need, but it wells up and overflows. An hour is coming in the future when true worshippers will worship God the Father in spirit and in truth. The Samaritan woman says that she knows that the messiah is coming and he will tells us all things. Jesus says, "I who speak to you am he." Jesus is claiming to be Messiah. He is the one the prophets foretold. He is the savior who has come to bring about the culmination of all things. He is who he says he is. The day that he spoke of has not yet come, but it will. Until then, we must prepare ourselves and our neighbors for what will take place. The future is certain and I want to be among those who worship, the true worshippers, in spirit and truth. Lord help us to serve you and your kingdom well until that day.

Starting a new Journal project = The Gospel of John

I started reading the Gospel of John as per the instructions in "A Call to Joy" - So far, I have read the first three chapters. So I guess I am going to start Journaling and commit to it as a regular practice... I hope! I am reading at my own pace. I hope to put down thoughts that I might look back on this in the future and maybe learn something.

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whomever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life"

Ok. That's a start...

(At this point I am typing in some entries that I had handwritten in my journal. Today is actually October 31. I will be back-filling these entries to bring me up to date. I want to keep my notes here, just in case I might lose my paper notebook. I have no great plan for this. I am just jotting down my thoughts. This is not meant to be anything more than that.)

Church Bonfire

The Annual New Life Bonfire was held on Friday October 10 at 6pm at 7071 Spieth Rd in Medina. We had a great time of fellowship and food. Andy Adams had the giant VBS slide set up in the backyard and he drove the kids around through the woods on the back of his tractor for a hay ride! The teens got together at Rick & Dee's house for a game night as well. 

Ugandan Kids Choir at New Life

The Ugandan Kids Choir (formerly Ugandan Orphans Choir)  came to visit us at New Life on September 7^th at 7pm. This was a free event. No tickets were required and we had over 100 people from several different local churches come out to support the kids. We had 3 member homes volunteer to host the kids and their chaperons while they were with us. Some of us even went to see the kids perform at several different local churches on their next stops. If you have a chance to see these kids perform, go!

The children in the Ugandan Kids Choir are known for their musical talents and their joyful performances. They sing traditional African songs, play authentic African instruments, and dance in their colorful African attire.

The Choir is a ministry of Childcare Worldwide, which has been devoted to empowering children in the developing world since 1981. Childcare Worldwide serves children in nine developing countries by taking care of their physical, spiritual, and educational needs.