April 21^st, 2024 Song and Worship Service Time Stamps and Sermon Focus Points

27:43 Special Music – “Love Never Fails” – Emily Cain accompanied by Joy Cain

31:50 Call to Worship – Elder Ivan Bird

46:20 Scripture Reading – Priest Ed Mason shares scripture reading from Romans is shared, focusing on presenting oneself as a living sacrifice and being transformed by renewing one’s mind to understand God’s will.

47:15 Special Music – “Alive” – Emily Cain accompanied by Joy Cain

52:22 Introduction – Elder Ivan Bird introduces Priest Ed Mason, praising him for his positive impact, sincerity in his relationship with God, and his upcoming diverse sermon topics.

54:26 Sermon – Priest Ed Mason

Sermon Focus Points

Every day is a good day because every day when we get up in the morning, we wake up when the Lord wakes us up.

Ed begins his sermon, highlighting the theme of appreciating each day as a gift from God, reminding the congregation not to take life for granted, and reflecting on the presence of friends like Larry and Bill.

Taking action and having preparedness.

The speakers emphasized the importance of taking action and being prepared, focusing on the need for attentiveness and readiness in life.

Trip to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum.

Priest Ed Mason fondly recalls a trip with his granddaughter Abby to the Ark Encounter and the Creation Museum, where Abby’s curiosity led to heartfelt discussions and questioning, demonstrating the enriching experience of exploration.

Easter is a happy day because Jesus rose from the dead.

Reflecting on the significance of Easter, Priest Ed Mason delves into the true meaning behind the day, contrasting it with popular symbolisms like Easter eggs, and delves into the somber events preceding Christ’s crucifixion, shedding light on the intense suffering he endured.

He carried the weight of everything for everyone past, present, and future.

Reflecting on the immense pain and suffering Jesus endured leading up to his crucifixion, Priest Ed Mason highlights the gravity of his sacrifice, emphasizing how Jesus bore the weight of humanity’s burdens and sorrows, ultimately paving the way for redemption and salvation for all.

God won’t make us carry our struggles alone, He’s always there with us.

Priest Ed Mason underscores the promise and hope embedded in the message of Easter, conveying that despite the heaviness of life’s challenges and burdens, the assurance of Sunday’s arrival signifies divine presence and support, reminding individuals that they are not alone in their struggles.

Everything God made was good. Did God create evil?

Reflecting on the goodness of all things created by God, Priest Ed Mason discusses the misconception of God creating evil. He shares a story where a student challenges the notion that God created evil, equating it to the absence of divine love.

Evil is simply the absence of God. It is like the darkness and the cold, the absence of light and the absence of heat.

A thought-provoking dialogue unfolds as a student challenges the professor’s beliefs about the creation of evil. Drawing parallels to the absence of heat for cold and absence of light for darkness, the student unfolds a profound concept of evil as the absence of God.

The discussion extends to defining evil as a void without God’s presence, contrasting it with faith, love, and divine virtues. Evil is depicted as the chilling void left when divine love is lacking in human hearts, akin to darkness in the absence of light.

Nothing in this world is eternal, except our spirit.

Priest Ed Mason reflects on the words of the late Charlie Chaplain, emphasizing the ephemeral nature of problems compared to the eternal spirit within us. He shares Chaplain’s wisdom on finding joy in laughter and the importance of living a healthy life. Ed highlights the significance of faith, laughter, and the six ‘best doctors’ for a fulfilling life.

The blood of the Lamb destroyed the Serpent’s venom.

Priest Ed Mason shares a story of a sheep Rancher whose sheep was bitten by a rattlesnake but survived due to the potency of the lamb’s blood. Drawing a parallel to spiritual teachings, Ed conveys the importance of having the Lamb’s blood, symbolizing divine protection, flowing through our veins to overcome life’s adversities.

Never take for granted those who fight for you.

Discussing a heartwarming image of a sheep comforting a sheep dog covered in blood after fighting off wolves, Mason emphasizes appreciating those who fight for us. He stresses the significance of showing gratitude and acknowledging efforts, echoing the divine comfort and forgiveness available to all.

God’s size depends on how close we are to Him.

Mason recounts a child’s inquiry about God’s size to his father, who elucidates that God’s presence in our lives varies with our proximity to Him. Emphasizing the transformative power of closeness to God, Mason urges to seek a closer relationship with the divine, allowing spiritual intervention in one’s life to bring about positive changes.

I want to be more like Jesus and less like myself.

Priest Ed Mason shares the importance of emulating Jesus by focusing on being kind, hanging out with sinners, sharing truths with love, and choosing unpopular friends. He emphasizes the simplicity of being loving, merciful, and taking time for others to make every day fulfilling.

Priest Ed Mason reminds the audience of the unpredictability of life and the gratitude to wake up each day. He encourages listeners to appreciate every day, as it is a gift full of possibilities and to be like Jesus by taking naps on boats to find peace.