Pastor Matt's Blog

free at last

I just came back from the courtroom where Homeland Security in an unprecedented move dropped its case against Joseph- there was no reason given for this sudden change of heart but many speculate what could have been the cause.  

Those of us who have been praying know the exact reason. God did it.  We prayed and He answered. It is important that we see God as directly answering our prayers.  Unfortunately even for the best of us we are likely to immediately seek out the earthly reason for this deliverance.  look at the reaction of those praying for the release of Peter: 

"When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying. And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place." (Acts 12:11-17)

they did not believe he was there- it was almost as if they forgot to actually believe God could, and in this case did, answer their prayer directly.  In our case today it is important to remember that no matter what earthly means were used- GOD DIRECTLY ANSWERED THE PRAYER OF HIS CHURCH AND GRANTED ASYLUM TO MOSAB IN A FASHION THAT IS UNPRECEDENTED.  If this is a coincidence i quit.  

Thank you God for this great day.

how to respond to deportation issue

I wanted to give a brief opinion on the proper response to the trial of Mosab Hassan Yousef on the 30th.  As many of you know, Homeland Security is trying to deport him based on alleged terrorist activity as described in his book Son of Hamas, the very same book that describes him as working undercover for the Shin Bet.  In other words there is really no case and the trial is an embarrassment to this administration and Homeland Security and even America.  This is important and is relevant to politics. 

 The Church and Christians in particular have a duty to be involved in the running of this country, which is good citizenship to say the least (Romans 13).  Saying that however it is important to remember that in this instance the church needs to stand for more than politics.  We are representing the God who as Mosab describes in his book is bigger than politics.  We need to come to the courthouse in mass numbers not to protest, which would magnify the political but minimize the more important Spiritual that is on display.  We need to come to show solidarity with our brother and pray for him.  God will magnify this and the fact that we the church are the reasonable ones.  so tell everybody to show up but let us remember who we are representing when we get there.  God WILL glorify His name through this.