2009 Weekly Bulletin Message
*2004, 2005, 2006, 2007  Weekly Bulletin Messages have been archived.  Please contact Der Aram at aram2@charter.net  for more information.

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1/4/09         “TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS ARIGHT, THAT WE MAY GAIN A HEART OF WISDOM.” Psalm 90:12

Moses is the one who, realizing that life is too short (no matter how long you live) is asking God to give him wisdom to use the days and the months to come more wisely and to invest it for eternal life.

As 2008 ended, and we welcomed the New Year with great anticipation and hope. Are we looking back with joy, or with regret? Have we forgiven ourselves for the mistakes we made during 2008? Or we are punishing ourselves by pondering over them?

Today’s Scripture passage states;

“BE VERY CAREFUL, THEN, HOW YOU LIVE-NOT AS UNWISE BUT AS WISE, MAKING THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY, BECAUSE THE DAYS ARE EVIL. THEREFORE DO NOT BE FOOLISH, BUT UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD’S WILL IS.”

In this passage the Apostle Paul presents some important lessons we ought to pay attention to.

A. - OUR TIME ON THIS EARTH IS LIMITED: The sad part is, we cannot turn the clock back. The Psalmist wrote, ”Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” (39:4) If we become aware of something that is precious to us will soon be coming to an end, we will be more careful how we deal with that thing. That is why the Psalmist also says to number our days so that we will develop a heart of wisdom.

A few years ago People Magazine published an article entitled “Dead Ahead” telling about a new clock that keeps track of how much time you have left to live. It calculates an average life span of 75 years for men and 80 years for women. No matter what they predict, the Bible tells us that we have no guarantee of even one day more to live.

B. - WE HAVE TO MAKE THE MOST OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY: If you have earned your money a hard way, you become very careful how you spend it. (specially theses days) That is why most people who hit the Lottery waste the money because as they say, “Easy come easy go.” Life is more than hard earned money, life is precious and you cannot replace it.

Jesus said, Satan is a robber and a thief, and one of the things he robs us of is our time. He makes us waste our time on non-essential things, so that we won’t make a different in our Personal, Family and Church life.

Let us be careful for every minute and for every hour and every week and month as how we live God given life. As the Apostle says, CHRIST SHOULD BE EXALTED IN OUR LIVES.

MAY GOD GIVE US THE WISDOM AND THE INSIGHT TO LIVE A LIFE WITH GOD PLEASING PURPOSE IN MIND.

1/18/09         WHO NEEDS THE CHURCH?

So many of us think that the church is for the weak, people with no self esteem, people who need a crutch to lean on, or the uneducated who have no knowledge of the Universe, galaxies and science.

Will you be surprised if I told you that somewhere in the United States over 110 million people attend church each week? Just imagine more people will be in church this weekend than will go to all the sporting events combined in America in an entire year.

You may ask, but Der Hayr, why should I come to church? What is the benefit of coming to church; especially since I work so hard and Sunday is the only day I have the time to rest?

To be very frank with you, people attend church for many reasons, some don’t even know why they attend church; some have hidden motives only God knows.

If you are a visitor today, I welcome you. You are going to get an inside look at who established the church? Why the church is important? And what is the purpose of the church?

By the way, I am not talking about this church; I am talking about the Universal Church.

So this morning we are going to study God’s purpose for your life and how the church is meant to help you fulfill those purposes of God in your life.

The church is like a big family. Though we come from different backgrounds, nationalities and cultures yet in the eyes of God, those who have Christ in their hearts, are members of this big family, the church. If members, then, they should not be strangers to each other. As it is important for family members to encourage, strengthen and support each other, so it is for the church members. This world is full of trials, tribulations and tragedies. God’s intention is that we be supportive to each other. It is God’s plan to reach out to the hurting person through the church. Some times we feel lost and confused, the church will become a beacon, a guide, a lamp to our feet. God yearns to guide us safely through our earthy pilgrimage through His church, sparing us from many wrong turns and harmful paths. That is why the apostle says, “Exhort one another.” “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Heb. 10:25)

I have said it before, the church is like a hospital, we all, one way or another need treatment, and, by the help of God we have to treat each other.

2/1/09         CHOOSING THE RIGHT CHURCH

How important is it for you to find and join a church and make it your “second home?”

Unfortunately, for some of us it is not that important. I have seen some people join the church when they need its service, when they plan to get married or baptize their children.

To choose and join a church ought to be a serious consideration. Human beings are not made of only body and mind. To nurture the body we look for the right nutrition, and to satisfy our mind we peruse education. We have another part of our being that is the soul, which is the most integral part of our existence.

It is important to look for a church that nurtures your soul, gives you purpose for your life and creates the opportunity to serve others.

I have seen people hopping from one church to other trying to find a perfect church to join. If you are one of them, I assure you that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PERFECT CHURCH! Remember, churches are made exclusively of sinners.

Sometimes the distance becomes obstacle to come or join a certain church. We drive daily an hour or so to go to work, but we complain when we drive 30 minutes a week to get to church.

I remember when a couple was interested in buying my business they said, “the reason we are moving from our present house is because we want to be close to our church.” Twice a week they were driving more than an hour to come to church. They had made the church the integral part of their life style.

Let’s face it, churches differ widely and we have the luxury of choice. We need to choose carefully, more carefully than choosing the right diet for our body and the right school for our mind and career.

CONSIDER THESE POINTS:

A - THE CHURCH MUST LEAD YOU IN KNOWING AND WORSHIPING GOD. B - THE CHURCH MUST NURTURE YOU SPIRITUALLY. C - AND FINALLY, THE CHURCH MUST GIVE YOU THE PRIVLAGE AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE OTHERS.

In choosing a church to join we cannot be selfish.

SO DON’T BE UNCHURCH, FIND A CHURCH AND BE THE PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD.

2/8/09             TEMPTATIONS - GOOD OR BAD

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)

Now that Lent is almost upon us, it is worthwhile to think, how was the idea of observing Lent conceived? Who started the Lent? And what are the benefits of observing Lent?

After Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan, the Scripture says that, Jesus “was led by the Holy Spirit in the desert,” where Jesus experiences His own personal Lent. His forty days in the desert served to prepare him for the most important phase of His life, His public ministry. At the end of this period, the Lord willingly submits to temptation by Satan. This is no accident and Jesus has not fallen victim to demonic powers. Rather, these temptations are part of the divine plan for Jesus. It is an essential element of His obedience to the Father. Thus, Jesus is tempted by the three great sins for all human history - power, wealth, and prestige. Satan is strong and insistent in his words, but Jesus is stronger and wins the confrontation.

So many of us ask this question, why did God the Father allow Satan to tempt Jesus? As we read, “[He] was led by the Holy Spirit in the desert.”

A. – To demonstrate that temptation is inevitable. As long as we are in human body we are prone to be tempted.

B. – To show that even Jesus was not exempt from temptation, in order for us to learn the way to overcome temptation.

C. – Finally, when we are tempted to know that Jesus, an experienced High Priest is able and willing to “deliver us from evil” and make us victorious in every phase of temptation.

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” (Heb. 4:15)

During Lent if you are planning to fast, as Jesus did, giving up from certain foods, as Jesus did, pray as Jesus did, but don’t neglect to read and meditate the Scripture, as Jesus did! We need it in order to overcome and be victorious over all kinds of temptations that we are prone to.

2/15/09             VARTAN THE BRAVE

Once again we are privileged to celebrate the Battle of Avarayr.

On May 26, 451A.D. in the plain of Avarayr, in the shadow of the Biblical Mount Ararat, in defense of their Christian faith and the national homeland the Armenians were battling against the Persian King Hazgert.

It was the first Christian battle that took place to defend their faith against Zoroastanism, religion of worshiping fire.

Prior to the battle, the whole army prayed and took Communion, at which time General Vartan the Great gave his speech to his followers. I will let Vartan Mamigonian give today his inspiring message:

“I have been in many battles; you too, with me. Sometimes we have bravely vanquished the foe; sometimes they have vanquished us. We have often been conquerors. But on all occasions we thought of worldly purposes only, and we fought merely at the command of the mortal king. …all of us have many wounds and scars upon our bodies, and great must have been our intrepidity to have won those marks of honor. But I consider the exploits whereby we have received those marks useless and empty because they have achieved nothing permanent. If, however you have done such deeds of valor in obedience to a mortal ruler, how much more will you do then for our immortal king, the Lord of life and death, who judges everyone according to his works…

“Now, therefore, I entreat you, my dear companions – and especially, as many of you, although greater than I in bravery, worth and inherited distinction, have of your own free will and out of your love, elected me as your leader – I beg of you all, high and low, to listen to me in a sympathetic spirit. Fear not the number of heathen, shield not your necks from the sword of mortal man, but act so that the Lord may give the victory into our hands, that we may annihilate their power and lift on high the standard of truth. Should our life’s purpose be completed by a holy death in battle, let us meet it with a joyful heart….”

2/22/09         WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT?

It is that time again, when very soon the curtain will be closed and we will start our Lenten services. We will hear the gospel readings and messages on repentance. Every Sunday we recite the Nicene Creed; “We believe in one, universal, and apostolic church; in one baptism; in repentance of sins.”

What do we really mean when we say we believe in repentance? What does repentance mean? How do we repent?

I looked in the dictionary just to see what the definition of repentance was.

It states, “To change one’s mind, to regret, feel remorse.”

According to the Scriptures to repent, does not only mean to be sorry for something you did wrong, but to turn round, and make a complete change in behavior. Turning from your own ways to God’s way. The Bible clearly says that “We are like sheep, have gone stray, each of us has turned to his (her) own way. (Is. 53:6) Therefore we have to turn the right way, God’s way.

Jesus, in Luke chapter 13 said, “Unless you repent, you … will all perish.” (Luke 13:3) So what Jesus is saying is this. We all have sinned and need forgiveness; we have to make a decision to adopt a new life and new purpose to live for. Of course there is sorrow in repentance, a sorrow over your sins and a desire to restore your life.

I repeat, repentance is not only confessing your sins, but also determining and asking God to help you not to repeat the same sins over and over again, otherwise repentance is no value. Ormanian the patriarch says “Just like the Prodigal son we have to turn back to our heavenly Father.”

Lent is a time when the church is inviting us to acknowledge our sins, repent and walk closer to God.

When conviction of sin leads us to repentance, as the apostle Paul says, we will have the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, and that peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

God says, “Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?” (Ez.33: 11)

Especially during Lent the church will be calling us to repent and turn to God.

3/1/09         WHY TRAGEDIES AND TRIBULATIONS?

The Lenten services are some of the most important services of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is that time when we search our souls and hearts and take inventory of our spiritual condition.

Jesus started Lent in the wilderness. (Luke 4:1-4)

When tragedy happens we ask the questions, “Why did it happen? Why did not God prevent this from happening?”

When Adam and Eve, by disobeying God’s commandment sinned against Him, that brought curse and disruption, caused them to be banished and expelled from the presence of God and from the garden of Eden.. Because it was said by God: “in the day that you eat of it you will surely die.” (Gen.1:17)

In what sense did man “die” by eating the forbidden fruit? Death meant more than the physical cessation of life. God’s view of death is not “the end” of life on earth alone. Adam’s and Eve’s death was a separation and alienation from God, their Creator.

Although “death” from our perspective, faces us with the end of our existence, from the theological perspective of our text, death speaks of change: from the blessing, freedom, vitality and fellowship with God, to curse, bondage to sin, toil, hardship, sickness and, of course, wars and tragedies.

But in spite of Adam’s, as well as our disobedience, God did not abandon us, though He had all the rights to do so. He continued loving us. He sent His only Son Jesus, in order to bring us back to Him. We can look to Christ as the One who took our human nature “that through His death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all of us who, through fear of death are subject to life long bondage.” (Heb.14:15)

St. Paul says, “IT IS IN CHRIST’S DEATH THAT DEATH ITSELF IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.” ( I Cor. 15:54)

St. Paul writes: “HERE IS A TRUSTWORTHY SAYING THAT DESERVES FULL ACCEPTANCE: CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS-OF WHOM I AM THE WORST.” (I Tim. 1:15)

If St. Paul and our St. Nerses the Graceful (Shunorhalee) claimed themselves “To be great sinners how much more we must accept the fact that “WE ALL ARE SINNERS AND HAVE COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.” (Rom.3: 23)

So the cause of hardship that we face everyday is the result of the disobedience both of Adam and Eve and as well as ours today. Through Lent God is inviting us to go back to Him

3/8/09         THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF THE FATHER

In this chapter, Luke tells three parables that Jesus said, describing man’s misery in being lost.

The lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.

In the first two parables we see the efforts of the shepherd and the woman. They try hard, specially the shepherd to find the lost sheep. I bet he puts his life in danger in order to find the lost sheep. The shepherd symbolizes Jesus, THE GREAT SHEPHERD.

I am not going to talk about the first two parables, rather I will talk about the loving father. Although this Sunday is called “THE SUNDAY OF THE PRODIGAL SON” but we, together will focus our eyes on the hero of the Parable, the father. For the Parable emphasizes about an unconditional love of a father.

When Jesus told this Parable, He wanted the listener to know about the love and the forgiveness of God. The father must have been waiting and watching for the son to come home, for he saw him a long way off.

I believe the father had already forgiven to his rebellious son even before the son decided to come home.

It is said, that once Lincoln was asked how he was going to treat the rebellious southerners when they had finally been defeated and had returned to the Union of the United States. The questioner expected that Lincoln would take vengeance, but he answered, “ I will treat them as if they had never been away.”

It is the wonder of the love of God that He treats us like that.

These parables tell us the way and the condition to be saved. Salvation from our sins is the fundamental theme of Luke’s Gospel.

Jesus, by telling the Parable of the loving father, introduces our heavenly Father to us. Our heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His only Son Jesus Christ, He allowed Him to be nailed on the cross in order for us to inherit the Eternal life. The Parable describes the joyful welcome at the sinner’s home coming. The son, like Adam had Eve willingly “short -circuited” God’s plans and they cut themselves off from their father’s presence.

In the mind and the teaching of Jesus, then, man without God is lost and is separated from His presence. Jesus said: “THE SON OF MAN CAME TO SEEK AND TO SAVE WHAT WAS LOST.” (Luke 19:10)

When we ask why the Savior’s coming? Why He was suffered and crucified? The answer to these questions is given by Jesus himself “THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES, TRUSTS AND ADHERES TO HIM MAY NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.” (John 3:16)

3/15/09             WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE

In the mid seventies when I was a Quality Control Manager for an Electronic Company, I remember I often had friction with the Production Control Manager. He wanted to produce the product as fast as he could, yet, I wanted to make sure that whatever his department produced would meet Government quality standard.

Not many of us want to be accountable to someone else. We don’t want to see someone else checking our work. We don’t want to be criticized neither do we want to be corrected.

Lent is a time to check ourselves and let God, through His Spirit to examine our souls. Unless we let God examine us and let us know where we stand we will not be able to meet His standard.

One of the reasons the Prodigal son went “far far away” from his father’s sight because, he was tired of listening his father’s advice. He did not want to be accountable to his father. He wanted to be free.

This Sunday is called “THE SUNDAY OF THE STEWARD.” A Manager” who was in charge of the running of his master’s estate. A business may well have been entrusted to this stewards hands. One day his master found out that the manager was not managing his estate properly he said: “What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your management, because you cannot be manager any longer.” (V.2) The steward was faced, rightly or wrongly with dismissal. That is, he would shortly find himself out of work. In the Parable we see the manager shrewdly was able to earn his master’s trust and “commanded the steward.” Jesus, wanting to make His point clear He said; “For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.” (That is Christians) What Jesus was saying that, the non-Christians are wiser than the Christians.

God has made us managers over the things that He has graced us with. And He expects us to use everything we have the way He wants us to use, knowing that someday we will be accountable for everything God has given us. We have to use our talents, money and possessions as it affects eternity. There is a saying, “The rich help the poor in this world, but the poor help the rich in the world to come.” That is why Jesus said, “Do not store up treasures on earth...But store up treasures in heave.” (Matt. 6:19)

A man’s true wealth would consist not in what he kept, but in what he gave away.

3/22/09             PRAYER, THE IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIFE, YET WE NEGLECT MOST

Prayer, I have often said, is like breathing in a Christian’s life. I learned more how important the breathing is, as I watched my mother in intensive care. The doctors and nurses were doing their best to make sure that she was comfortable IN BREATHING.

In the Bible we see that men and women of God have prayed unceasingly, everywhere they felt the need. Even on the beach.

“ALL THE DISCIPLES AND THEIR WIVES AND CHILDREN ACCOMPANIED US OUT OF THE CITY, AND THERE ON THE BEACH WE KNELT TO PRAY.” Acts 21: 5

I wonder what the people around them thought when they saw them praying on the beach.

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is telling two parables on praying. In today’s passage Jesus is telling us about an unjust, cruel, and a wicket Judge who did not want to hear the poor widow’s case. Maybe because she was poor, helpless, and unattractive. Or, because being poor she could not bribe him. She had no one to protect her or present her case to this wicked judge. She was armed with nothing, except the fact that she had the right to be heard. Whatever this helpless poor widow had she used it. HER PERSISTENCE!

How often have we felt ran out of resources? Have we felt helpless and hopeless? But, when we stop and think, we find an inner voice telling us: “don’t give up, keep trusting and be persistence.”

Jesus, by telling the parable of the “Unjust Judge,” is telling US today that even an unjust judge can sometimes do justice, much more must we expect that the righteous, all loving and compassionate Father will vindicate to His children, who cry day and night without losing heart.

When we are misunderstood and mistreated by people do we get hurt? Do give up hope? Or we go to God and present our case to Him?

Paul writes, “...PRAY IN THE SPIRIT ON ALL OCCASIONS WITH ALL KINDS OF PRAYERS AND REQUESTS. WITH THIS IN MIND, BE ALERT AND ALWAYS KEEP ON PRAYING...” (EPH. 6:18)

The lesson of the parable is, to be persistent, not to give up but to keep on going to God the Father, knowing that He knows your circumstances and will vindicate you soon. Even if He delays, DON’T GIVE UP!

3/29/09             ARE WE REFLECTING THE LOVE OF GOD?

In Jesus’ time, Pharisees were teachers of the Law. They knew the Law very well. Often when a Pharisee asked a question to Jesus, the intention was to either trap Him, or to see whether Jesus was going to say anything to contradict with the Scripture.

Here we see “THE PHARISEES GOT TOGETHER” and then one of them asked the question: “WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW,” In other words they wanted really to test Jesus either to find out whether “THE TEACHER” knew His “stuff” or to find something to accuse Him for.

The Pharisees also were known as the “Religious” group of those days, in this incident we see themselves were trapped by asking the most important question on the greatest Commandment. Because, they were negligent in helping their neighbors.

Jesus quoted from the Book of Deuteronomy 6:5

“HEAR O ISRAEL: THE LORD OUR GOD, THE LORD IS ONE. LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.” It is interesting to see that Jesus did not stop here, He gave the second important Commandment too. “AND THE SECOND IS LIKE IT,” He continued, “ YOU MUST LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”

Religion consists in loving God above every person or thing. That verse was part of the basic and essential teaching of Judaism. A sentence with which every Jewish service still opens, and the first text which every Jewish child commits to memory. It means that to God only we must give our total unreserved love, a love which dominates our emotions, a love which directs our thoughts, and a love which is the dynamic of our daily actions and life.

The second Commandment that Jesus quoted was from the Book of Leviticus: LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.

What the Scripture is saying is this, to love God first and foremost then the love of your fellow men should follow. It is only when we love God with all our heart, mind and soul our fellowmen will become lovable. Even the ones that are dislikable.

BY LOVING GOD WE WILL HAVE THE LOVE OF GOD, AND WHEN WE HAVE THE GENUINE LOVE OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS ONLY THEN WE WILL BE ABLE LOVE OUR NEIGHBOR AND CARE FOR HIM/HER.

4/12/09         WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES EASTER MAKE?

Sunday is a Sunday. Some people attend church every Sunday, better almost every Sunday, (unless they are pastors) but on Easter Sunday more people attend church.

Don’t misunderstand me, I am glad you are here this morning, my question is this, do people who “visit” churches on Easter Sunday believe that Jesus was raised from the dead, or it’s a customary, one visit on Christmas and another one on Easter?

If we have gathered here to only “remember” the Resurrection of Jesus, we are mistaken. Jesus is not a mere memory but a living Person.

It is not enough to know about Jesus, but we must know the Person Jesus. After knowing Him then only we will enjoy the presence and the power of the Resurrection not only on Easter Sunday, but through out the years.

Paul, who, prior to his conversion, did not believe in the Resurrection of Christ, but later when he accepted Him as his personal Savior and Lord, he wrote to the Philippians church.

“I WANT TO KNOW CHRIST AND THE POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION AND THE FELLOWSHIP OF SHARING IN HIS SUFFERINGS BECOMING LIKE HIM IN HIS DEATH, AND SO, SOMEHOW, TO ATTAIN TO THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD.” Phil. 4:10-11

St. Paul after meeting Christ on the way to Damascus, the rest of his life he preached on the Resurrection of Jesus, why?

Believing in the resurrection changes the person.

The disciples were changed. The most telling evidence of the resurrection is not the empty tomb but the transformation of the disciples. Their disappointment changed to exhilarating joy. So it does to you, if you truly believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is alive today.

Secondly, because of the resurrection our view of death has changed.

Paul writes, “Brothers, (I will add sister) we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.” (I Thes. 4:13-14)

That first Easter morning the women came looking for Jesus in sorrow and left in joy." You see, because of Easter your whole view of death has forever changed. The Resurrection is the absolute bedrock of faith. Take it away, and you no longer have a church. As Paul said to the Corinthians: "If Christ has not been raised from the dead then your faith is in vain and our preaching is in vain. Not only that, we have been found to be misrepresenting God, for we testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead."

I hope and pray that as you celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection this morning you allow Him to change your life, as He did the disciples’ and fill your heart with hope and anticipation that death is not the end of the life, but the beginning of a better life.

4/19/09 WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REPENT?

Every Sunday we recite the Nicene Creed; “We believe in one, universal, and apostolic church; in one baptism; in repentance of sins.”

What do we really mean when we say we believe in repentance? What does repentance mean? How do we repent?

I looked in the dictionary just to see what the definition of repentance was.

It states, “To change one’s mind, to regret, feel remorse.”

According to the Scriptures to repent, does not only mean to be sorry for something you did wrong, but to turn round, and make a complete change in behavior. Turning from your own ways to God’s way. The Bible clearly says that “We all like sheep, have gone stray, each of us has turned to his (her) own way. (Is. 53:6) Therefore we have to turn the right way, God’s way.

Jesus, in Luke chapter 13 said, “Unless you repent, you … will all perish.” (Luke 13:3) So what Jesus is saying is this. We all have sinned and need forgiveness; we have to make a decision to adopt a new life and new purpose to live for. Of course there is sorrow in repentance, a sorrow over your sins and a desire to restore your life.

I repeat, repentance is not only confessing your sins, but also determining and asking God to help you not to repeat the same sins over and over again, otherwise repentance is no value. Ormanian the patriarch says “Just like the Prodigal son we have to turn back to our heavenly Father.”

Lent is a time when the church is inviting us to acknowledge our sins, repent and walk closer to God, but that shouldn’t be for Lent alone

When conviction of sin leads us to repentance, as the apostle Paul says, we will have the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, and that peace will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)

God says, “Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die?” (Ez.33: 11)

4/26/09         THE COURAGE OF FAITH

In Memory of our forefathers, who overcame torture and death by faith April 24,1915

In the Old Testament, when God performed a miracle or, when a memorable event took place, men of God erected pillars, memorials to remind themselves the event, or the work of God.

The reason we commemorate events, happy or sad, we make a connection with the past and remind ourselves of the past and TO PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GOODNESS: LEAVING US A REMNANT, SURVIVORS. TO LEARN FROM THE PAST, IN ORDER NOT TO SEE IT HAPPEN THE SAME MISTAKE. TO GO FORWARD AND LIVE A LIFE WITH HOPE... PLEASING GOD.

In chapter 11 of the Letter to the Hebrews we read as follows; “THE HEROES OF FAITH.”

In the first few verses the writer gives the definition of the faith. Tells us what God pleasing faith is, then he writes about the men and the women of God who, by faith, walked with God in spite of persecution, torture, hardship and death.

The writer, referring to the people of God writes: “ALL THESE DIED WITHOUT OBTAINING POSSESSION OF THE PROMISED. THEY ONLY SAW THEM FROM FAR...ALL THESE PEOPLE WERE STILL LIVING BY FAITH WHEN THEY DIED, THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS PROMISED, THEY ONLY SAW THEM AND WELCOMED THEM FOR A DISTANCE. AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE ALIENS AND STRANGERS ON EARTH. PEOPLE WHO SAY SUCH THINGS SHOW THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A COUNTRY OF THEIR OWN. ( Heb.11:13-14)

None of the patriarchs entered into the full possession of the promises God had made to Abraham. To the end of their days they were nomads, never living a settled life in a settled land. They had to be forever moving on.Why?

They lived for ever as strangers and foreigners. In other words they had fixed their eyes on eternal things, as the Apostle says. (II Cor. 4:18)

So were the Armenians, though we had our own properties, houses and businesses but we were put out of our own Country. In verse 13 the writer says:” THEY DID NOT RECEIVE THE THINGS PREMISED...” This is of course talking about the promised Land. For our forefathers, the enemy, the Turks promised comfort and future if they had denied their faith and nationality. Like the apostles they said: “THEY RATHER OBEY GOD THAN HAVE EARTHY PROMISES AND POSSESSIONS.”

We ask the question, why God allows tragedies and massacres happen? Sometimes we do not have the answers. One thing we know that our habitation here is temporarily and not permanent. Like the Heroes of the Bible and the Armenians believed that “GOD HAD PLANNED SOMETHING BETTER FOR US THAT ONLY TOGETHER WITH US WOULD THEY BE MADE PERFECT.” (Heb. 11:40)

5/3/09         RECESSION AND DEPRESSION IN THE BOOK OF GOD

We all know that the whole world including the rich and powerful United States is going through recession, and some say we are approaching to depression. Needless to say, we all are tight on money, trying to spend only on whatever is desperately needed. On television the so-called, “experts” are showing how to save money in cooking, shopping and in general. When it comes to cooking they should come to Digin Almas to learn how to cook a nutritious meal the least expensive way.

Personally, when I face trouble and see other people having hard time in life, (in every aspect of life,) I begin to look in the “Good Book” the Bible, knowing that, it tells us about God “[He] is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” (Eph. 3:20)

Our problem is this, when we go through troubles and tribulations, instead of looking and focusing our eyes on God and the Bible, to find a remedy, we focus our eyes on the trouble itself’. By doing so, not only can we not solve the problem but we loose our sleep and health. Jesus said, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life”? (Matt. 6:27)

When we go through financial problems naturally, we begin to “cut corners,” which is very logical and reasonable, BUT UNFORTUNETELLY THE FIRST ”CORNER” THAT WE CUT IS GOD’S PORTION. We spend on everything, if we have some leftover, as giving alms to the poor we give it to God our Creator, Savior and Lord, forgetting that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” (James 1:17)

In the Bible we find so many incidents where recession, depression and famine have taken place. In such circumstances those who sought God’s help, survived, even in hopeless situations, but those who turned their back on God and did not ask His intervention suffered and perished.

Take for instance in Joseph’s time, when there was famine in Egypt, I mean “famine.” THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT TO EAT. THE “REFRIGERATORS “ WERE TOTALLY EMPTY!

The Scripture says, “Seven years of famine ” (Gen. 41:30) it was not a year or two, SEVEN LONG YEARS OF FAMINE.

People were starving, they spent life savings, everything they owned, they were even willing to sell themselves for a piece of bread. God miraculously saved Jacob’s entire family. Why? Because Joseph, in spite of mistreatment and hardship was faithful to God, trusted on His promises, and continued walking with God.

God willing, these upcoming weeks we will study “THE DEPRESSION TIMES IN THE BIBLE”

How did the people handle it? How did Godly people treat God in their poverty? How did God intervene and helped those who looked to Him? You will be amazed at how impossible and hopeless situations became possible and hopeful by God. As Jesus said, “With man [it] is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:27)

I hope and pray that not only will you be able to attend church but also I am going to ask you to invite others to hear these timely messages that we all need.

God bless you.

5/10/09         MOTHER’S LOVE AND HER RESPONSIBILITIES

Once again it is that day when we pause, think and honor our mothers.

Mother is said to be the source of life, a fountain of love,

To appreciate a mother or a grandmother only on Mothers Day is not fair, 365 days they deserve our respect and admiration.

But unfortunately we take them for granted.

When a mother is about to give birth to a child she is sad, because her hour of suffering has come; but when the child is born she forgets her suffering, because she is happy that a baby has been born into the world.

Appreciation of motherhood is a sound Christian attitude, and we do well to designate a special day to recognition them which they deserve.

Mother's Day has a tenderness all its own. It is fitting to celebrate it with flowers and gifts. Mother’s love sheds its fragrance and its life-giving warmth.

As much as we respect and honor our mothers, mothers too need to know and acknowledge their responsibilities in training their children to live a life that pleases the Lord. The Bible says, “Train a child in the way he/she should go, and when he/she is old he/she will not turn from it.” (Pr. 22:6)

Mother’s responsibilities not only are to provide the physical needs of their children but also their spiritual needs.

Mothers must live an exemplified life, find ways and means to come and bring their children to church.

Thus, mothers themselves must be trained by the Master in order to be able to fulfill their mission. Mothers should uplift their children to God daily and pray for them. Tell them about the Love of God and teach them the way of righteousness. Mothers should watch over their children and lead them to Christ. Their faith and dedication to God should be “visible” in their surroundings, and they have to be inspirational to their children.

THE CHILD IS READY TO RECEIVE WHAT THE MOTHER GIVES, AND WILL GROW WHAT THE MOTHER FEEDS.

Let us then raise Godly children.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY AND A BLESSED MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS DAY

GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

5/17/09         GENEROSITY IN RECESSION?

It doesn’t take much to know that money is tight these days.

Even on television, a part of the daily “News” is educating us how to save money in grocery, cooking and buying in general.

The other day one of the newsman said; “30 ways to save in 30 days” then he added “for more tips go to our Web site.”

Though recession is bad, it makes us to become more creative, conscientious how to spend, and how to appreciate for what we have. I remember in the 70’s when we had gas problem, car manufacturers began to think and design to make cars with better mileage. Designed furnaces to run more efficiently.

Nowadays people who have purchased stocks have fixed their eyes on the stock market. Their daily conversation is on stocks.

How should we respond to this recession or depression? The DOW has dropped 5500 points (from 14,000 to 8500) since October 2007 (a 40% drop) - the biggest drop in history. 13 or more bank failures this year (including WaMu - largest in history). Other investment banks, like Lehman brothers have dissolved. And even more, like Merrill Lynch, have avoided those catastrophes only by selling out. AIG, the largest insurance company in the world, survived only through an $85billion government bailout. 2 largest mortgage lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have collapsed. Home values are plummeting; some areas have seen values drop over 20%. Foreclosures are at their highest level in history. Automobile manufactures may merge or go out of business. Many other economic indicators are down and multiple economists, politicians and leaders are fearing and predicting a recession at best and a global depression at worst. People are committing suicide, families are coming apart. Even churches and charitable organizations are cutting their budgets.

Where do we go from here? How can we find solution? If there is any.

One thing for sure is, and thank God for it is, that God has an answer.

Paul writing from jail he says; “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” (Phil.4: 19) And Jesus said, “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear... your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

These are the times either we take the Word of God literally, or we can say, “forget it,” and continue to struggle alone. It’s a challenge!

Where do we put our trust? On Government? On stock Market? Or on our ability?

5/24/09         “CHEER UP! HE IS CALLING YOU.”

In this passage, Jesus, for the last time was passing through Jericho. It was the last opportunity that people could have used. Though people did not know this, but Jesus knew. After this the Triumphal Entry took place, (the Church calls it “Second Palm Sunday.”) and then His betrayal, torture and the crucifixion.

Here the blind beggar Bartimaeus, sitting by the roadside begging. Naturally, he was asking alms, financial help. But the Scripture says that “When [Bartimaeus] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!’”

Now Bartimaeus was not looking for monetary help, rather knowing who Jesus of Nazareth was, he was looking for mercy. The crowd rebuked this blind man and told him to be quiet. May be they thought that a blind man was not significant or important for Jesus. Jesus was too important to be bothered by a blind man.

Don’t we all some way or another think the way the crowd thought. That is, because a person is handicapped or has physical problems we count him/her less important, or second citizen.

But for Jesus, regardless of our physical condition, age or position, we all are the same for Him. He pays equal attention to each and every one of us.

Another interesting point. Usually, when a crowd rebukes a weak person, the person tends to be quiet, in this case we read; “but he shouted all the more, ‘Son of David have mercy on me.’” As I said, Bartimaeus was not asking for money now, he was looking for mercy, he was looking for compassion, and he was looking for his eyesight. Because he knew who Jesus was, he changed his priority.

“CHEER UP, ON YOUR FEET, HE IS CALLING YOU.” They said, Jesus stopped for this beggar, a neglected and disrespected person, and invited him to come and make his request.

Today, Jesus is the same. Don’t feel insignificant and neglected. You are too important for the Lord. He is extending the same invitation to you and telling you to “cheer up…“What do you want me to do for you?” The next question for you will be, What a loving and companionate Jesus we have.

Jesus is telling us today, “cheer up and come to me and make your request, what do you want me to do for you?”

5/31/09             WHO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT?

“WE BELIEVE ALSO IN THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE UNCREATED AND THE PERFECT; WHO SPOKE THROUGH THE LAW AND THROUGH THE PROPHETS AND THROUGH THE GOSPELS; WHO CAME DOWN UPON THE JORDAN, PREACHED THROUGH THE APOSTLES AND DWELLED IN THE SAINTS.” (The Nicene Creed)

It is a familiar quotation, isn’t it? Every Sunday we confess that WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLS IN THE SAINTS, THAT IS IN THE BELIEVER.

Pentecost has three main significances.

A. - It has a historical significance. It commemorated the giving of the Law to Moses on Mount Sinai. B. - It has an agricultural significance. At Passover, the portion of the crop of barley was offered to God; and at Pentecost two loaves were offered in gratitude for the harvest. C. – And the third is the Day when the Holy Spirit was sent and dwelt in the apostles.

Before His departure, Jesus told His disciples “IT IS FOR YOUR GOOD THAT I AM GOING AWAY. UNLESS I GO AWAY, THE COUNSELOR (THE HOLY SPIRIT) WILL NOT COME TO YOU; BUT IF I GO I WILL SEND HIM TO YOU (John 16:7) And later Jesus told His disciples “NOT TO LEAVE JERUSALEM, BUT WAIT FOR THE GIFT MY FATHER PROMISED.” (Acts 1:4) What happened at Pentecost?

The disciples were all together, united in prayer when “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting...All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit..” (Acts 2:1,4)

We see the early Church vibrant, effective and active because they waited and received the Holy Spirit.

If we believe and confess that God so loved us and sent His only Son to be crucified on our behalf, (John 3:16) and that Jesus loved us and “Laid down His life for us,” (I John 3:16) and if we believe in Trinity, as we should, then I ask; what is the function and the duty of the third Person in the Trinity, the Holy Spirit?

HE MUST DWELL IN US!

It will sound strange to some of us. But that is what the Church is teaching and that is what Jesus said In Luke 11:13 “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”

If we want to be a God pleasing people and an effective Church, we must ask the third Person of the Godhood, the Holy Spirit, to “Dwell in us” and among us.

6/7/09         THE MISSION OF THE CHURCH

In Matthew’s Gospel chapter 16 we read that Christ established the Church. The Church is the Christians who have committed their lives to Jesus Christ and trusted Him for their salvation.

Jesus did not establish denominations. Denominations are founded by people. The Church of Christ is non-denominational and non- sectarian. The Creed reads, “WE BELIEVE IN ONE CATHOLIC (That is Universal) AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.”

The purpose of any Church Organization should be to teach men and women the Word of God and to guide them toward eternal life. After his resurrection Jesus gave a Great Commission to His disciples and to us, as a church, He said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matt 28:18-19)

Sometimes a question is asked, “Why do I have come to church?” Or, “Is it mandatory for me to attend church?”

Because Christians are members of one another (Rom. 12:5) we need to be with one another. Worshiping God together is one of the ways we build the unity of the church. During Badarak (Divine Liturgy) when we take and give the “Peace of Kiss”, we sing, “Order of the holy greeting has been given. The Church has become one person.” Also, in worshiping together we see life in God’s perspective, thus our lives will be redirected, if need be. It is just like taking your car to a mechanic for a tune up. We will be “tuned” to God’s voice. The Christian cannot be vital, growing and effective unless he/she is close contact with each other. In the New Testament we see the Church of Christ as a Community where a whole range of spiritual gifts were exercised for the glory of God and for the benefit of others. Christ has commanded us to be part of the Christian Community. We cannot be isolated if we want to become effective in the Kingdom of God. If we are a growing Christian then we participate in worshipping together, not just for what we can get, but also for what we can give. Paul, writing to the Macedonian church, stated, “THEY GAVE THEMSELVES FIRST TO THE LORD AND THEN TO US, IN KEEPING WITH GOD’S WISH.” (II Cor. 8:5)

Just for a family is important to get together, so it is even more important for the family of God to get together;

TO WORSHIP, TO SERVE AND TO EDIFY EACH OTHER.

6/14/09         WE NEED HEALING, AND THE CHURCH IS THE HOSPITAL

IS ANY ONE OF YOU IN TROUBLE? HE/SHE SHOULD PRAY. IS ANY ONE HAPPY? LET HIM/HER SING SONGS OF PRAISE. IS ANY ONE OF YOU SICK? LET HIM/HER ASK AN ELDER TO PRAY

Let’s admit that each one of us needs some kind of healing. Some physical, some of us emotional, and may be most of us have lost the peace of mind and heart. We are disturbed. We need healing.

The Apostle is asking questions and gives the answers himself.

He is telling us the remedy of having a healthy soul and a healthy church.

What James is saying is this;

IN ORDER TO HAVE A HEALTHY CHURCH THE CHURCH FIRST MUST BE A PRAYING CHURCH.

The apostates did not start preaching the Gospel unless first they devoted themselves in prayer.

Then James adds, “Confess your sins to each other, and pray for each other, that you may be healed.”

James is also suggesting that in order to be an effective and a healthy church, confession of sins to God only is not sufficient but also must be done to the fellow Christian if necessary.

Jesus said, “If you are offering your gift at the table and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matt.5: 23-24)

In a very real sense it is easier to confess our sins to God than to confess them to our fellowman; yet in sin there are two barriers to be removed-the barrier it sets up between God and us, and the barrier it sets up between our fellowmen and us. If we wish to see both of these barriers be removed, both kinds of confessions must be made. This was the custom of the early church, they used to meet two or three times a week “to confess their faults to one another and pray for each other that they might be healed.”

There will be no reconciliation without confession. “Therefore,” as James states, “confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5: 16)

“ I NOT ONLY EXPECT TO BE CURED WHEN YOU ARE CLOSE, O COMPASSIONATE GOD, BY THE TOUCH OF YOUR HAND, BUT ALSO WHEN WE ARE SEPARATED BY GREAT DISTENCES THROUGH THE POWER OF YOUR WORDS.” (Saint Gregory Naregatzi)

6/21/09         Father: God’s Representative

The father is head of the home. The Lord has placed him in this position so he will give the family godly direction and guidance. God calls children to obey their father as they would obey the Lord, but dad is the one who teaches them how.

When a child questions authority, a popular response is “Because I said so.” To the parents way of thinking, this phrase should end all discussions and whining. After all, the child’s authority figure has made a decision and will not change his mind. But as children grow older, those four simple words position Dad as their ultimate authority, which means that in their minds, when they rebel, their transgression is against only him.

A godly man understands that God is the true authority. In training his children, such a father will transfer a sense of accountability from himself to the Lord. He does this by teaching his children that he is God’s representative in the household and if they choose to disobey, they will have to answer to God. This approach helps children recognize their accountability before the Lord as they mature. Then when Dad is not around to give instruction or guidance, they’ll still choose to make wise choices because the Lord is watching.

The greated protection a father can give his children is to instill within them a sense of their accountability before God. Doing so is not a one-time lesson. It is a process that lasts throughout the growing-up years as Dad responds to his children’s questions and actions with a new phrase, “Let’s see what God says about that.” – In Touch The Bible In One Year.

6/28/09             Psalm 66

Shout with joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down to you, they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.

Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man’s behalf! He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot – come, let us rejoice in him. He rules forever by his power, his eyes watch the nations – let not the rebellious rise up against him.

Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of his praise be heard; he has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

I will come to your temple with burnt offerings and fulfill my vows to you – vows my lips promised and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble. I will sacrifice fat animals to you and an offering of rams; I will offer bulls and goats.

Come and listen, all you who fear God; let me tell you what he has done for me. I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God; who has not rejected my prayers or withheld his love from me!

7/5/09         BEWARE OF THE WEEDS

Jesus loved giving His messages by parables. Parables, or short stories, made His messages more effective and to the point.

In today’s parable Jesus is talking about sowing weeks among the good seeds.

This is the time when we are watchful to make sure that there will be no weeds in our lawn, and if we find some we spray it.

In this parable Jesus wants us to know; · First, there is always a hostile power in the world we live in. Seeking and wanting to destroy the good seed. Our experience is that both kinds of influence act upon out lives, the influence, which helps the seed of the word to flourish and to grow, and the influence, which seeks to destroy the good seed before it can produce fruit at all. THE LESSON IS WE HAVE TO BE ALWAYS ON OUR GUARD. · Second, this parable teaches us that it is difficult to distinguish between those who are true Christians and those who are not. A person may appear to be good may in fact be bad. That is why apostl bJohn writes, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…” (1John 4:1) We are so quick to classify people and label them good or bad without knowing all the fact. · Third, this parable also teaches us not to take a so quick action with our judgments. If the reapers had had their own way, they would have tried to tear out the weeds and they would have torn out the wheat as well. The final judgment should be left to God. Judgment will come at the end, when God Himself will judge according to our deeds and motives. We may make a great mistake, but then we may confess our sins and be saved by the grace of the Lord. Also a person may live an honorable Christian life and then at the end wreck it all by a sudden claps into sin. · Finally Fourth, this parable teaches us that the only Person who is the right Judge is God, to whom we all are called to be accountable.

“AS SURELY AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE WILL BOW BEFORE ME; EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS TO GOD.” (Rom 14:11)

7/12/09         WHERE DO YOU RUN FOR YOUR NEEDS?

In today’s Scripture reading we see that the disciples were facing a problem greater than they could handle to feed more than 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. In other words, they were facing an impossible task.

The other problem they had was, the place and time. It was a remote place, and it was already getting late. It was a place like a desert, no stores and no farm stands to buy food. The disciples did not have money anyway.

In situations like this, the first thing to do is to quit, and to give up. “I can’t handle it!” That is what the disciples tried to do when they said to Jesus, “Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” (verse 15). In other words, “Lord, it is not possible to feed the 5000 plus people in a desert area, where there is no food.

Some 1500 years before this incident Moses faced a similar situation. When he was leading the Israelites from Egypt to the Promised Land, in the desert the leaders of the Israelites came to Moses and said, “You have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.” (ex 16:3) They were right, they were in the desert and had no food to eat, but they were wrong when they did not remember the past a miracle that the Lord performed, crossing the Red Sea and supplying water in a dry land. They had focused their eyes on the needs rather than the Supplier, God. Moses prayed and God “rained” bread from heaven. (Ez 16:4)

In today’s incident, Jesus told His disciples that the 5000 plus people did not have to be sent away; with a little bit of help from the Master they could do it. Jesus asked them to bring what they had. He blessed the five loaves and the two fish and fed the entire population. “The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.” (Matt 14:21)

The secret of this miracle was that, THEY WENT TO THE LORD AND GAVE HIM WHAT THEY HAD. We too can experience so called “impossible” miracles if we take our problems to the compassionate and caring Jesus and trust Him for the outcome.

Where do we run for our needs? Do we try to fix the problems ourselves? ARE WE READY TO GIVE UP? Or do we give them to God and ask His guidance? Jesus said:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)

7/19/09         JESUS IN HIS GLORY

In Mathew chapter 16 we read that Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, confess that Jesus was the “Christ the Son of the living God.” That is, “God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten and not made.” (The Creed)

In chapter 17 we read, “[Jesus] took with him Peter, James and John and led them up on a high mountain. There He was transfigured before them.” What Jesus did for His disciples was, to show His Divine glory. “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. (V.4)

I am sure for the disciples this experience was frightening but the same time was, pleasant. That is why Peter wished that great moment to be prolonged. He wanted to build three tabernacles. Peter did not want to go down to the crowd; he wanted to stay with Jesus, Moses and Elijah.

This is a feeling and a wish that every one of us should desire. There are moments of intimacy, of serenity, of peace, of nearness to God, which we should desire and can experience. The “Mountain of Transfiguration” experience will give us strength for our daily ministry and enable us to confront our daily difficulties. As some one has said; “Help me, Lord, to remember that religion is not to be confined to the church or closet, nor exercised only in prayer and meditation, but that everywhere I am in Thy presence.”

On the Mountain of Transfiguration, the disciples not only saw the glory of Jesus, but heard God the Father saying to them; “This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”(V.5)

God, through the Transfiguration confirmed that Jesus was His Son and the He was very pleased with Him and told His disciples, and tells us today, to listen to His teachings.

These days we read and hear so many strange teachings. Unfortunately we pay attention to them, which makes us sway from the Word of God. God is telling us to read and listen to the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7/26/09         HAVE YOU EVER GOT LOST? I HAVE.

My wife knows that I get lost very easily. Believe it or not, I have gotten lost coming home. That is why when I bought my car I wanted to make sure that I had a navigation system. Even having the GBS on, one day I was so sure that I knew the way home that I refused to listen the lady. I kept driving on 495 in the wrong direction and she kept telling me “Make a legal U turn,” but I stubbornly kept driving. I am embarrassed to say, that after many miles, I humbly accepted the fact that I was lost and was heading the wrong direction and needed to make a U turn- legal of course.

Most of us are unaware that we are spiritually lost. Many feel they are O.K. because they were born in a Christian family.

Many feel they are O.K. because of their goodness. Like the Rich Young Ruler who said to Jesus that he was keeping the 10 Commandments, wasn’t that sufficient? Jesus said “NO!” He should have accepted the fact that with good deeds alone it is not sufficient to inherit the kingdom of God.

As the Bible says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way…” (Is. 53:6)

If you are honest within yourself, you will realize that everyday you live for yourself to satisfy your needs and you seldom think that you are wandering around and that you are spiritually lost without Christ. Like the prodigal son you need to be motivated to come “home.”

Today’s Scripture is telling us that Jesus, the Great Sheppard, came to seek and save the lost. “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Said Jesus. (Luke 19:10)

God’s Word is an internal mirror, which reveals to us who we really are.

The Psalmist says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)

The Bible not only reveals that we are lost but also like a lamp shows us the way to be found. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Last week I preached on the Deity of Christ, that Jesus is God, and this week the same Jesus who was God came down to find you and me. Have you been found?

8/2/09         HOW TO HAVE PEACE AND JOY

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

8/9/09         THE HELPING FRIENDS

In today’s Scripture we read about when Jesus was preaching in a packed house, where there was no standing room. Four men were carrying a paralyzed man to Jesus. They were seeking help for their friend. These men must have had love and compassion toward this helpless man. The Scripture says that these men came with faith and expectation.

In the Gospel of Luke, the physician mentions, “Jesus healed many who had various diseases.” (Lk.1: 24) He drove out an evil spirit, healed Peter’s Mother in law and the leper.

In all the healings people came to Jesus willingly. They came with faith, trust and expectation. Just remember, Jesus did not heal every sick person. As a matter of fact in some cases, He could not heal them because of their disbelief.

In chapter two of Mark’s Gospel, we read that as soon as people heard that Jesus was in Capernaum, they rushed to hear Him speak. The room was packed. We read that inside and outside the house was full of people. “SO MANY GATHERED THAT THERE WAS NO ROOM LEFT, NOT EVEN OUTSIDE THE DOOR.”

Years ago that used to be the case in Armenia. During the Communist Regime, when preaching the Gospel was prohibited, I was privileged to preach in large homes when inside and outside and the rooms used to be packed. Many went back because there was no standing room. People were hungry for the Word of God. They came with faith and expectation and God, seeing that hunger, blessed them.

Nowadays we have plenty of room in the churches and not enough people to fill them.

The Scripture says that EVERY ONE WHO COMES TO HIM MUST BELIEVE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT HE REWARDS THOSE WHO EARNESTLY SEEK HIM.” (Heb. 11:6) The “EARNESTLY SEEKING” part is missing in our lives today. We come to church but are we “earnestly seeking God?

The four people who brought the Paralytic to Jesus were EARNESTLY seeking and expecting a miracle to happen. That EARNEST desire and spirit made them overcome all the obstacles and difficulties in order “TO LOWER DOWN” their request to Jesus, which was the healing of the sick one. Jesus seeing their faith healed the paralytic, and when people saw the miracle” THEY WERE AMAZED, SAYING, WE HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY THING LIKE THIS.” (Verse 12)

You too will be amazed, when you see miracles happen in YOUR life when you go to Christ with expectation and seek Him EARNESTLY. As the saying goes, “you haven’t seen anything yet.”

8/16/09         THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

The Armenian word used for the Assumption is, “VERAPOKHOOM,” which means “Transport up.”

This Feast is called “The Tabernacle Feast of Assumption.”

After the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ, much loved disciple, the Apostle John, per our Lord's request, became the guardian and the supporter of Mary. (John 19:26-27)

According to the tradition, Mary lived in Jerusalem the rest of her life and she died at the age of 50.

All the apostles were present at her burial, except Bartholomew, who was in Armenia preaching the Gospel of Christ. After a short while St.Bartholomew returned to Jerusalem. When he was informed of Mary’s death and burial, he insisted on going to the grave and see her for the last time.

The apostles gathered in the cemetery, trying to satisfy Bartholomew’s request. However, according to the tradition, when they opened the grave Mary’s body was not there. The apostles assumed that Jesus had taken her into heaven to be with Him.

I should mention here that this tradition did not become a teaching of the Church until the 9th Century.

When you read the gospels, you can see that Mary’s life, as a mother of Savior was not easy. She knew what was gong to happen to her Son Jesus. Do you remember, when Joseph and Mary brought the Baby Jesus to the temple to be presented to God and the Temple, what Simeon said?

“THE CHILD IS DESTINED TO CAUSE THE FALLING AND RISING OF MANY IN ISRAEL, AND TO BE A SIGN THAT WILL BE SPOKEN AGAINST... SO THAT THE THOUGHTS OF MANY HEARTS WILL BE REVEALED. AND A SWORD WILL PIERCE YOUR OWN SOUL TOO.” (Luke 2:34-35)

Mary faithfully took care of the Baby Jesus, followed Him wherever He went, and painfully, as the Scripture says, “TREASURED UP ALL THESE THINGS AND PONDERED THEM IN HER HEART.” (Luke 2:19)

MARY LISTENED GOD’S COMMANDS AND FAITHFULLY FULFILLED THEM.

8/23/09         FEAR

I am sure for so many of us even fearful is to think and talk about FEAR. I had a wealthy friend who never traveled by plain. He was afraid of flying. I am so glad I don’t have “fly phobia.” (Fear of flying)

Fear was inherited from Adam and Eve. When they disobeyed God’s command they hid themselves, and when God asked, “Where are you?” Adam answered, “ I heard you in the garden and I was afraid.” (Gen 3:10)

Since every person is different, therefore every one of us have different type of fears.

Let me list some of the fears I found interesting, hopefully one or two will describe the type of fear you may have.

1. -fear of the Unknown. Instead of a pioneering spirit or an adventuresome spirit, this fearful spirit would rather sit by the home hearth and never question what may lie beyond the scope of our current knowledge. No wonder the only kind of future many people are carving out for themselves is a rut.

2. -fear of Out-of-Controlness. Instead of living our lives, we monitor them, keeping pagers, cell-phones, and e-mail chats buzzing, beeping, and alerting us to every possible shift in the circumstances surrounding us. We're control addicts, control junkies.

3. - fear of Newfangledness. Instead of welcoming advances in science and technology as promising benefactions and betterments, these discoveries are viewed with hostility, with closed-mouth, closed-minded negativity. Any new technology is suspicious. Any technology or science that has existed for more than a century is viewed without criticism, without debate.

4. fear of Rejection. Instead of the Streisand Doctrine ("People . . . People Who Need People") we subscribe to the Sinatra Doctrine ("I Did It My Way") because we fear the rejection and pain that comes with needing people. The ultimate in our fear of rejection? We put a notice in the paper for people who didn't come to see us when we were alive, to come and see us now that we're dead.

5. fear of Difference. Instead of celebrating a salad bowl or mosaic or smorgasbord existence, we opt for a carefully filtered, perfectly homogenous lifestyle and life experience.

6. fear of Being Different. When you hear that someone's out there, what do you immediately thing? Positive or Negative? "She's out there!" So, YOU don't wanna be out there. You wanna be in here. That's our problem. Not enough people out there! Too many people in here! Instead of exploring the boundaries, pushing the envelope, venturing outside the box, the fear of being different confines the questions of our soul, constricts the longings of our heart.

What will be your biggest regret at the end of your days? Not what you did. But what you didn't do. The times you were afraid? The times you were timid? The times you didn't take the chance? The times you hid in your hobbit holes? The times you didn't "fan into flame the gift of God which is in you."

8/30/09         ARE YOU A RELIGIOUS PERSON?

I have heard people say to me so many times, “so and so is a very religious person.” When I ask them why? They say, “he or she goes to church every Sunday, reads the Bible and works hard for the church.”

Very good! I highly commend this.

But let’s be honest, does reading the Bible alone, or even preaching the Bible make us religious people?

How does the Bible characterize the religious person?

“IF ANYONE CONSIDERS HIMSELF (or herself) RELIGIOUS AND YET DOES NOT KEEP A TIGHT REIN ON HIS TONGUE, HE DECEIVES HIMSELF AND HIS RELIGION IS WORTHLESS. RELIGION THAT GOD OUR FATHER ACCEPTS AS PURE AND FAULTLESS IS THIS: TO LOOK AFTER ORPHANS AND WIDOWS IN THEIR DISTRESS AND TO KEEP ONESELF FROM BEING POLLUTED BY THE WORLD.” (James 1:)

What James is saying is this, FOR THE PERSON WHO CALLS HIMSELF/HERSELF A RELIGIOUS PERSON IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO JUST READ THE BIBLE AND LISTEN TO SERMONS, BUT TO DO WHAT HE/SHE READS OR LISTENS TO.

An amazing thing happens when we take the time to TRULY listen, and TRULY examine ourselves, and then TRULY respond. “But those who look intently into the word and continue in it not forgetting what they have heard but doing it they will be blessed in what they do.” When we look intently into the mirror of God’s word, when we hear the Word, accept the Word, and then choose to DO the word… a transformation of life takes place.

James points out that those of us who consider ourselves religious people and yet do not obey what we read and listen to then our religion is worthless.

When we let God’s Word affect us, when we not only hear it and accept it, but we determine to do it, it will cause us to seek purity in our own lives and it will drive us to find ways to help others, especially those who can’t help themselves.

Indeed, when we finally listen to God, accept what is said, and act on it… then we really will be transformed and called true religious people. Jesus said, “"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21)

9/13/09         HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED GOD’S LOVE?

Today All the Armenian Apostolic churches around the world read John 3:11-21, where Jesus meeting Nicodemus, a Rabbi, tells him the most important message. THAT GOD LOVES EVERYBODY.

FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT IS YOU AND ME, THAT HE GAVE HIS BEST, HIS ONE AND ONLY SON JESUS.

The Psalmist says, “BECAUSE YOUR LOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN LIFE, MY LIPS SHALL PRAISE YOU.” (Psalm 63:3)

The other day I was reading one of the messages in “Our Daily Bread” (incidentally, you may obtain a copy found in the foyer.) I find it appropriate to our subject and I want to share it with you.

In his book Object of his (God’s) affection, Scotty Smith shares his journey of learning to personally experience the passionate love of God.

As a young boy, he lost his mother suddenly in a car accident, Because of this, he closed off his wounded heart to others, including God, Several years later he received Jesus as his Savior and began to learn the truths of Christianity. Yet his relationship with the Lord in those days was, as he described, “side by side rather than face to face. Important, but not intimate.”

Do you feel that way? You talk to the Lord a little bit, read His words in the Bible, but don’t sense a passionate connection with Him like that expressed by David in Psalm chapter 63.

The Author suggests ways to overcome the obstacles to intimacy, from which we may glean these two ideas.

A. - Live honestly. Open up to the Lord about the pain of you losses and admit your failures. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” tells the Scripture. (James 4:8 and I John 1:9)

B. - Ponder and believe the Scriptures about God’s character and His longing for you. “Your loving-kindness is better than life.” Says the Psalmist. Ps. 63:3, 139.

Beloved, being close in relationship with God takes time and effort, but is worth the time and the effort. After all, Christ came down to lead us to have intimate relationship with God the Father through Him.

9/27/09         HOLY CROSS OF VARAG

The Armenian Church, and other Apostolic churches recognize the same feasts connected with the Holy Cross, and observe them at about the same time. They are: · Discovery of the Cross · Apparition of the Cross, and · Exaltation of the Cross However, the Armenian Church has its own, unique feast dedicated to the Cross, it belongs only to the Armenian people. Its nature is similar to that of the Apparition of the Cross, but different in that the appearance was not over the heights of Jerusalem, but over the heights in the vicinity of the city of Van.

It was “The Apparition of the Holy Cross” in Armenia!

The feast is called “Ton Varaga Srbo Khachi” (Feast of the Holy Cross of Varag), marking the appearance of the Cross over the mountains of Varag.

The Armenian people had suffered materially in the Perso-Byzantine wars. The military successes of the new Arab power had laid much of the land to waste, and shed much blood.

It was in this widespread sad situation that the Light of Hope, Faith, and new Spiritual Power miraculously dawned over the Armenian world, emanating from the Varag Mountains of Van.

The hermit Todik, exalted in his prayers, suddenly saw a miraculous light in the shape of a cross, which illuminated the summit of the mountain, as by the sun, and produced twelve luminous columns.

Todik, taking with him his pupil Hovel, went to the light. But a little later the illumination moved majestically toward the Varag Vank and settled on the altar.

Todik and Hovel went to the monastery. They entered the chapel and there they saw, at the base of the illumination, the fragment of the Holy Cross, resting on the altar.

There was no doubt in the hermit’s mind that that was the fragment of the Cross deposited there by St. Hripsime, because the ray of light had first rested on the Galilee mountain where in one of its caves tha sacred fragment had been hidden. It was the miraculous light that had revealed the hidden relic.

Here we must mention the fact that being in the presence of the Holy Cross has always been the primary desire of hermits. To have found it and to have access to it has been their supreme dream and personal grace.

It was in about the same time frame that the Hripsimians and their holiness had been the subject of special attention on the part of the masses of people. The Catholoicos Komitas (615-628) had not only rebuilt the Church of St. Hripsime, but he had also opened the caskets of the martyred maidens, confirmed the reality of the remains contained in them, and once again sealed them to protect them against the ravages of time for centuries to come.

And with the miracle of the Cross of Varag, the fragment of the Holy Cross had found its proper place.

The miraculous illumination persisted for twelve days. The faithful came in droves from far-off places to view the miracle of the revelation of the Holy Cross of Varag.

Word had been sent to the Catholicos at the time, Nerses III Shinogh (Bulder) who, despite his extreme preoccupation and deep concern over the political situation, came with the son Vard of the Prime Minister of the Rushnini lineage to the site of the revelation, to share his prayers of joy and comfort with the people.

The Catholicos Nerses III Shinogh, enthralled with the Cross and its revelation, composed the magnificent sharakan, “Nshanav Amenahaght Khachivd…” (Through the Sing of Your All-Conquering Cross…) and consecrated the hallowed revelation. He prescribed a week’s abstinence and prayer, and ordained a yearly celebration of the revelation of the Cross.

10/11/09         WHAT DO YOU KNOW ABOUT JESUS?

In today’s Scripture reading, (Matt. 16:13-16) Jesus was curious to know what people thought about Him. He asked the question to His disciples; “Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Then He asked to His disciples, but what about you? "He asked. "Who do you say I am?" I am sure when Jesus directed the question to them, the disciples may have had a moment of silence. They did not expect such a question.

It is easy for us to express people’s opinion on something that is critical; we don’t want to take personal responsibility for important issues. That was the case of the people then. But Peter, known as an outspoken person, declared by God’s grace, JESUS WAS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. The word Messiah and the word Christ are the same, which means, The Anointed One.

Isn’t that the same today? Just like then, today also, people don’t have the least idea who Jesus is. Some of us take it very lightly. I am sure some still think, like people in His time, that He was a good teacher or a philosopher. Because when we claim Him as a Savior or the Christ, then the question comes up what are we suppose to do with Him? What is our responsibility toward Him? After all He was crucified or us.

Today’s passage teaches us that our discovery of Jesus Christ must be a personal discovery. Jesus’ question to each one of us is, “You- what do you personally think of me?

Our knowledge of Jesus must never be what people think of Him, but what we personally think of Him. Christianity never consists in knowing about Jesus; it always consists in knowing Jesus. Jesus Christ demands a personal verdict. He did not only ask Peter or His disciples, He is asking you and me today; “You-what do you think of me?”

Years ago Napoleon gave his verdict on Jesus. He said, “ I know men, and Jesus is more than a man.”

Has Jesus been your personal Savior and Lord?

10/18/09         KEEP TRACK OF YOUR DAYS

Let’s be honest, something that we take granted for, is our life! Life is irreplaceable, no “guarantee,” (anything could happen to us anytime) something that we cannot “return.”

Moses wrote psalm 90. It is one of the oldest Psalms. I consider Moses a good time manager. In some ways he learned it from is father-in-Law, who taught him how to delegate. (Read Exodus 18: 13-27)

In this chapter Moses realizes the short time a person has on this earth. “Seventy or eighty… they quickly pass away.” Then he asks God to teach him how to number his days in order to live wisely and not to waste time.

When Moses asks God to teach him to “number his days,” it does not mean that Moses asks God how many days he had lived so far, neither Moses was asking God to let him know how many more days left to live, or God to make him aware of mortality and accountability. He was asking God for a “heart of wisdom” to not waste his life.

How often we have said; “I can’t believe it, the day is gone and I haven’t done much.”

Life is the most precious gift God has ever given to us. I am sure you have heard the expression that “time is money,” this is not true. You can punch your time card to make money, but you cannot purchase time with the money you make. Time is more valuable than money. It’s priceless. Someone once said, “Time is a resource that is nonrenewable and nontransferable. You cannot store it, slow it down, hold it up, divide it up or give it up. You can’t hoard it or save it for a rainy day-when it’s lost, it’s unrecoverable. When you kill it, remember that has no resurrection.

We have to come to realize that: A. – TIME IS PRECIOUS AND PRICELESS. B. – WE CAN’T TURN THE CLOCK BACK. C. – WE CAN’T SAVE IT BUT WE CAN INVEST IT. D. – WE NEED WISDOM FROM OBOVE AND MANAGERIAL SKILLS IN ORDER TO LIVE A PRODUCTIVE, EFFECTIVE AND GOD PLEASING LIFE.

So, what is the price tag of your life? How wisely are you spending your time? Let us then with David, ask the Lord to teach us how to “number our days” in order to live a life pleasing to Him, who created us and be ready for eternity.

10/25/09         DO YOU FEEL FORSAKEN BY GOD?

In Psalm chapter 10 the psalmist starts,

“WHY, O LORD, DO YOU STAND FAR OFF? WHY DO YOU HIDE YOURSELF IN TIMES OF TRUBLE?”

How often have we felt the same way? Thinking that God has forsaken us. How often have we wished that we could feel the closeness of God or that we could hear Him speak to us with His majestic voice, or make His presence more tangible?

If we are not as close to God as we wish to be, I must ask the question; who made the move?

The key word is moved.

If we want to be closer to God we cannot shift into neutral and stay in one spot. In order to go forward we have to shift into the “drive” position.

We don’t get to know a person without spending time with him or her, sharing in conversation, activities, even conflicts or difficulties. God desires and expects us to give the same if not more attention that we give too others to Him too.

Coming to church, reading His word and praying are opportunities to express our selves and to know God better.

Years ago when I owned my automobile business, customers used to bring their cars to be aligned. A car without front-end alignment will handle all right. It will not stall, it will take you where you want to go, BUT, a big BUT, if the car is not aligned properly the tires will wear off and eventually you will notice the car pulling to one side. If neglected you will eventually have flat tire and experience disaster.

I like to think walking with God is aligning our lives with God in order not to sway from one side or another.

We can try to overcome life’s difficulties ourselves, but in the process we often feel slightly misdirected and eventually will fail.

So if we want to enjoy the presence of God we have to be aligned with God, in order to stay in tune and remain on the right track.

The Bible tells us, “SUBMIT YOURSELVES THEN (AND) COME NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL COME NEAR TO YOU.” (James 4:7-8) So, God is still on the throne and waiting for you and me to call him. As they say, “you are only a call away.”