PASTOR MARTINS MESSAGE for

JUNE 2010

When the day of Pentecost had come, (the, disciples) were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability. Acts 2:14

A couple months ago, I tied in the destruction and devastation that has come from the three major earthquakes of Haiti, Chili and Turkey with Jesus' resurrection and the empty tomb of Easter morning, Fortunately, most of us have never experienced the destruction and the devastation that can come from an earthquake, living in the Midwest, Though unfortunately what we do experience is the destruction and the devastation that comes from tornadoes, especially during this time of year. Much like the major earthquakes that have hit Haiti, Chili and Turkey the first part of this year, there have been many tornadoes that have hit the United States already this year. As of the middle of May there had been 423 tornadoes reported, 233 of those confirmed with 18 fatalities, It has also been reported that the confirmed 233 tornadoes are far less than what is normal for this time of year. What we experience with a tornado is a violent and mighty wind that goes wherever it wants to and leaves major destruction and devastation in its path. Many of us experienced that destruction and devastation with the tornado that hit many of our neighborhoods in the fall of 2002 and destroyed many of our homes and businesses,

As we are in the midst of this tornado season and experience what they do in their destruction and devastation wherever they go, we also celebrate Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit that, like a tornado, came "like a rush of a violent wind" and filled the entire house where the disciples were staying. Then tongues of fire appeared among them and rested on them and they were filled with the Holy Spirit and they were able to speak in many different languages as the Holy Spirit gave them the ability. Much like a tornado, the Holy Spirit goes wherever the Spirit wants and causes destruction and devastation of the sinful lives that people are living, so that they can live in the new life that Jesus gave to all of us through his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. As we celebrate the coming, of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and grow in the Holy Spirit in the following Sundays, let us be filled full with the Holy Spirit and go wherever the, Spirit takes us, so that our sinful lives can be destroyed and we can live in the love and the new life from our Savior Jesus. Let us be filled full of the Holy Spirit, so that we will know Jesus is always with us wherever we go, Let us be filled full of the Holy Spirit and, like the rush of a violent wind, go where our Lord Jesus will take us, as we speak a new language and bring more people to Jesus and his love and salvation for all of us!                                                                                                                                                                                                   PASTOR MARTIN