The Life of Jesus Series

Vinetum will be hosting a new series on the Life of Jesus and his apostles over the coming weeks, and will be lead by Blace and Mea Brink.

Jesus was not alone in His quest to bring the Word of God to earth; he had the help of his twelve apostles. One in particular is John the Baptist.

John the Baptist

John was a rather interesting fellow, and did not fit the mold of a holy man or prophet. . John was a solitary man, living in the woods and eating off the land. John knew his role in the life of Jesus, and that role was to pave the way for His arrival. John began by preaching the Word of God, and then baptizing them in the name of God with water. However, John was not the type to just blindly baptize anyone. He knew if their hearts were pure, and if they were truly ready to accept the Messiah. So, when the sadducees and pharisees came to be baptized because it was the current trend of the day, John grew furious and said (as written in Matthew 3:7):

But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment?

John warned everyone to truly repent of their sins and to get their lives in order; otherwise they would face the wrath of God on their day of judgment. John took great care to make it clear that Jesus was in fact the Messiah and exclaimed (as written in John 1:36)

As Jesus walked by, John looked at Him and then declared, "Look! There is the Lamb of God!"

John made it very clear that Jesus was the way to salvation, and he made it his mission to tell everyone he could to turn to Jesus, and reject their sinful ways, and gave many people the opportunity to hear and learn about Jesus.

Vinetum will be continuing the series on the Life of Jesus for the next several weeks. Thanks again for stopping by to read our blog, and, should you ever want to attend a service, please feel free to contact Pastor Blace Brink at Blace@cox.net.

-Vinetum

Life Of Jesus Series

Over the next few weeks, we will be examining the Life and Jesus and His apostles, particularly in the early years of life. These messages will be presented by Blace and Mea Brink.

Many of us have some understanding of the life of Jesus. Many of us understand that He is the Son of God, and that He spent his later years preaching His ministry and the Word of God. However, not much is known about his earlier life, or the life of His apostles. This new series begins to explore the unknown part of Jesus and His early life.

John 1:1

In the beginning the Word already existed. He was with God, and he was God.

Jesus had two sides to him, the Godly, and the human. He had a mortal body, He had to eat, drink and sleep, He had to pay His taxes, and deal with many of the troubles that the people of His day had to deal with. Even though Jesus was God in human form, he did not flaunt his powers or use them to better His own lot in life. He wanted to experience the human condition, and witness our suffering so He could relate to us, and understand what we, as people, go through on a day to day basis. It is believed that He worked with His father, Joseph, as a carpenter, and that, just like all of us, He listened to His mother and father, had rules to live by and spent most of his childhood just as any other child would have in that time.

However, Jesus did have a miraculous side. As we know, His birth was a virgin birth, angels appeared to shepherds to herald His arrival, and the three wise men were lead by visions to bear witness to His birth.

Throughout His early life, Jesus was very much human, and lived with His family just as most Jewish families of the day did. It is in this life that we can understand that Jesus knew the trouble of this world, and that He, even as the Son of God, could easily understand what we go through everyday. Even though we now live in the 21st century, our fundamental troubles are the same today as they were then. We all have to have jobs, pay our bills, pay our taxes, and deal with life’s ups and downs as they come. So, when you think that Jesus doesn’t understand your life’s woes because He is God’s son, think again.

It is out hope at Vinetum that this series will bring you closer to Jesus and God though the understanding that our Savior was not just a God, but He was a friend of man, and He came here to help save us all from this fallen world.

-Vinetum

Easter - Short and to the Point.

Recently, Vinutem celebrated Easter Sunday with a traditional 6am service. For us Christians, Easter is day of remembrance and celebration, for it is the day that our Lord conquered death, and rose from the dead to bring us hope and restore our faith. After Jesus was crucified on the cross, His disciples felt empty, for a loved one had been taken from them. When Jesus rose from the grave, He reminded everyone that faith and eternal life is stronger then death, and all of the injustices of this world. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He proved that life was eternal and everlasting, and that there was in fact, a life after death, and that Jesus is the way to the Father.

Romans 10:8-10 (NIV)That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

This message is a simple one – Jesus equals life, both in this world and in the next. Jesus showed us that through faith, devotion, and grace, we can be forgiven of our sins and be brought closer to God.

All we have to do is believe.

What, Me? Worry?

Some quick announcements and updates before our service recap.

First, we would like to wish Arianna a happy birthday from all of us at Vinetum. We hope you enjoy your day!

Concert at Grand Canyon University: On Sunday, April 4th, 2009, starting at 1:30

pm and ending around 6:00 pm, GCU will be hosting a free concert event featuringg: Run Kid Run, Waverly and Building 429, along with a couple of others. If you are interested, please feel free to join us for Sunday service, as we will be heading over there after the message. Grand Canyon University is located at 3300 W. Camelback Rd.Phoenix, AZ 85017, and more information can be found at http://www.gcu.edu/. You can also contact Pastor Blace Brink at www.blace@cox.net

Last Supper Dinner: The Brinks will be hosting a "Last Supper" in remembrance of the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This will be held at the Brink's Residence on April 9th, at about 7:00 pm. The event should last about an hour or so. Please contact Blace if you will be able to attend.

Game Night with the Brinks: Blace and Mea have decided to hold a game night, starting this Sunday night (April 5th, 2009). They have not set an exact time, as they want to get a sense of how many people will attend. If game night is a hit, then they will have one once a month to start with. Again, contact Blace if you are interested.

Countdown to Spirit West Coast: As you all know by now, Spirit West Coast is approaching, so keep saving your cash for this awesome concert event!

The continuing message from Sermon on the Mount, Presented by Blace Brink

Wor·ry: to afflict with mental distress or agitation : make anxious, : to feel or experience concern or anxiety

Worry. It is an ugly word. No good ever seems to come from it. It keeps you up at night, give you ulcers, leads to weight gain, hair loss, marital or relationship stress, and it robs us of time that we can spend with our families and friends. Yet, we all do it. We all worry. Here is an idea of how worry really effects us as a nation (all figures approximate):

6.8 million Americans have Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
40 million Americans suffer from all anxiety disorders combined.
6 million American adults ages 18 and older have panic disorder.
15 million American adults age 18 and over have social phobia.
19.2 million American adults age 18 and over have some type of specific phobia.

That is what worry is doing to us. That is what all those sleepless nights leads to. So, what does this have to do with God? In a word, everything.

The bible is very specific about worry - in short, it tells us not to do it. Understand, this is not a suggestion, or a tip on how to live your life; it is an imperative statement. We are not to worry as Christians. Now, is that because life is going to be so fantastic because we are Christians, and we will never have to worry about anything ever again? Have all the dark and stormy days passed because we have our faith? Of course not. Life is life, and it is hard. However, with Christ by our side, we don't have to worry, because he is here to protect and guide us, and provides us with all we need.

Matthew, Chapter 6, vs 25-34 states:

"So I tell you, don't worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food, drink, and clothes. Doesn't life consist of more than food and clothing? Look at the birds. They don't need to plant or harvest or put food in barns because your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? Of course not. "And why worry about your clothes? Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and gone tomorrow, won't he more surely care for you? You have so little faith! "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern. "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today's trouble is enough for today.

The Bible tells us that worry doesn't accomplish anything, and that to do so is harmful to us. Worry prevents us from trusting God, and takes our attention away from our faithfulness to Him.

As Christians, we are called to seek first the Kingdom of God and to seek the Lord everyday.

The economy may crumble, you may get laid off from your job, you might even lose your house. However, we must understand that God will provide for us, and that He will never abandon us.

Always remember, the Lord will provide in ways that you cannot even fathom.

Vinetum

Who Is Really In Control?

A quick correction before we recap last Sunday's Message: We had the wrong dates for the Spirit West Coast Concert. The actual dates are May 22nd to the 24th, 2009.

Sermon on the Mount (part of the continuing message presented by Blace Brink)

Have you ever stopped to think about who’s really in control of your life? We live a great deal of our lives taking it for granted that we are in control of our own future, after all we make our own decisions as we live in America in the 21st century. Many of us have the mentality of "I am my own boss and I am in charge of me". However, life has a way of crashing into our illusions and challenging our most basic assumptions. When things blow up at home and your parents ruin your plans, suddenly you don’t feel so free; or when you got that ticket from the speed camera, you don't feel so free. Even some of our own choices have left us feeling out of control, such as drug and alcohol abuse, which can lead to addictions that seem to run the very fabric of our lives. The latest economic crisis has left much of the country in the shocked realization that people much more powerful than you and I control our financial future. Even our health, which is so very fragile, has brought many to the humbling realization that so much of our own lives is out of our control.

So, really, who is in control?

Do you allow yourself to get caught up in day to day problems and leave God out of the equation? It is an easy trap to get yourself into. However, we must remember that God is in control, and that He is there to guide us and protect us, and we must remember that what we have here on Earth is temporary. Our true riches and rewards can only be found in Heaven. We must remember that seeking the approval of our fellow man, and looking for Earthly rewards is hollow, and the only true comfort that we have is knowing that God is our Father and Provider.

Matthew Chapter 6, Vs. 16-18 says:

And when you fast, don't make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, who try to look pale and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I assure you, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will suspect you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in secret. And your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

Matthew Chapter 6, Vs. 22-24 says:

Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be! "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Remember, this life is temporary. Our true lives are to be found in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What we have today can be gone tomorrow, so we must always remember who looks out for us, and who really takes care of us. We must learn to enjoy the gifts of today, and enjoy and appreciate what we have now and not take the gift of life for granted. So, the next time you get a speeding ticket, remember this - it is not even a blip on the radar screen of life, and in the grand scope of things, that traffic ticket means nothing. We, as Christians, have something so much more important and powerful in our lives, and that is our faith, and in the knowledge that we have that God is good and all powerful.

Now is the time to look to God, our families and our friends to find out what is really important to us in this life, and in the next.

Vinetum.

How Do You Talk To God?

Hello All - Welcome back to our blog. Before the highlights of our last service - we have some announcements and reminders:

Spirit West Coast: This is still an event we are planning to attend, so keep saving your pennies! We have decided that we will be leaving for the concert on May 24th (Friday - we will attempt to hit the road around 1 p.m.). We will be returning on Memorial Day in the evening. Tickets are $120.00 for the multi-day event. Don't forget to bring cash for food!

Vinetum is now on Facebook! Copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1570778307 - or -
just do a search for Vinetum Church on the Facebook home page.

Vinetum's Shining Artist!

We have quite the artist in our little group - Meghan Amter. Meghan has been with Vinetum since we started our church. Meghan is a very unique and artistic individual; not only is she an amazing painter, but we have seen her handy work in clay sculpting as well. Meghan is one of those great people that faithfully comes to our start up church every Sunday, and is always willing to lend a helping hand. She was inspired by Vinetum and our message to create this beautiful piece of artwork. Thanks Meghan!

Sermon on the Mount (Pastor Brink's Ongoing Series Dedicated to the Teaching of Christ)

In today's world, people have a tendency to compartmentalize God and the rest of their lives. God stays in the church, and the rest of the world stays outside of the church. In other instances, people feel that they must some how be rewarded among men for "good religious deeds", such as tithing.

Jesus teaches us that this is the wrong way to go.

In Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 1-4, He says:

"Take care! Don't do your good deeds publicly, to be admired, because then you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.

When you give a gift to someone in need, don't shout about it as the hypocrites do--blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get.

But when you give to someone, don't tell your left hand what your right hand is doing.

Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.

In other words, let your tithes and good deeds be between you and God. There is no need to call attention to it among the population. Tithing and giving are not the only acts that are subject to this need for public approval. Even the way we pray can get swept up in this notion of needing to be noticed for "how holy and godly we are".

Think about it this way: When you talk to your boss, you talk to him in a professional manner, keeping your conversations on point and as short as possible. When you talk to your friends and acquaintances, you are a bit more relaxed, and talk in a more natural way. However, when you are with your closest friend, the guy or girl you have known your whole life, you speak to them in what can be described as your own language. Just a gesture or the simplest of phrases can express an entire days worth of conversation, and your closest friend gets it.

That is the closeness that we should have when praying to God. Speak to Him like you would speak to a friend, because realistically, he already knows what you are going to say and do - so be honest! Be who you are, after all, He made you that way. When you pray the "Our Father" prayer - are you praying it because it is ritual, and you have to, or are you really communicating with God. Are you really saying and believing what is in that prayer?

Our Father, Who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy Name;
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Jesus teaches us not to be hypocrites - we are to live as we preach. We are to live as we are taught by the Scripture. Our Lord wants us to be sincere in our prayers, and to mean what we say, and to commit ourselves to God's Kingdom.

The next time you pray, close the door to your room, and talk to God - there is no need to stand on ceremony when you are sharing your most intimate of thoughts with your Father.

Speak, and He will hear.

Vinetum

Worship Music

Every now and then we find some excellent new worship music that has the power to move us in unexpected ways. Blace Brink, our head pastor, feels that this is one of those songs, and has decided to share it with you. Enjoy!

"How He Loves Us" by Kim Walker
Album: "We Cry Out"