Pastor Rick Hudgens | Jesus in the Garden

There's an old story about the man who sent out a floral arrangement to celebrate the launch of a good friend's new business. When the sender got to the grand opening celebration, he was shocked to find his flower basket with a card that read, "Rest in Peace." So, furiously he phoned the florist and complained about the mix up. The florist said, "Hey, don't be upset. Think of it this way, somewhere in town today someone was buried under a sign that said, "Good Luck in your new location."

Well, Gethsemane is about two things:

First, it's about being jogged out of our spiritual complacency, it's basically saying that there may be some who need a new location spiritually and it's going to take death to get there. It's going to take dying in some way to make it happen because some think that they are just fine today and whatever comes they are going to handle it, just like Peter, James and John. Don't make that mistake. Anyone who thinks they can make it in this life or the next without Jesus really needs to rethink that idea.

Secondly, some are facing a time in life that feels like hell. And you think you're not going to make it. Jesus knows. And He wants you to know that He has been there too. He knows what it's like to be plotted against; he knows what it's like to be confused. He knows what
it's like to be tossed between two desires. Some of you may go to work everyday or wherever and you just don't want to be there, the Lord wants you to know that He's been there. He'll come to the aid of any who will trust Him, who will rely on Him for what's ahead. He won't let you down. Believe and trust in the one who suffered and rose again for us.

Listen

Pastor Rick Hudgens | Jesus Revealed

We continue our journey through the Lenten Season as we approach Resurrection Sunday! Our passage of Scripture today tells the account of The Transfiguration. For many, this is a difficult passage to understand but I believe it carries a special message for us today. It talks about what it means to really follow Jesus.

Recently I read these words from C.S. Lewis about what it means to really follow Christ: “There are two kinds of people: those who say to God ’Thy will be done’ and those, to whom God says, ‘All right, then have it your way.’ Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without him here on earth.”

Pastor Rick Warren adds “When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will begin to live differently. You will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task and circumstance’. (C.S. Lewis and Rick Warren pg. 37 from "The Purpose Driven Life.")

“When the author walks onto the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right; but what is the good of saying you are on His side then, when you see the whole natural universe melting away like a dream and something else comes crashing in? This time it will be God without disguise; something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror into every creature. It will be too late then to choose your side. That will not be the time for choosing; It will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not. Now, today, this moment, is our chance to choose the right side.” - C.S. Lewis

Listen

Guest speaker: Kathy Slamp

Raised in a pastor’s home, Kathy has also been a pastor’s wife for over 35 years. Her speaking takes her from coast to coast where she speaks to groups of all sizes and many different denominations. Her down-to-earth sincerity and sense of humor endear her to audiences wherever she goes.

Kathy’s spiritual depth and life experiences make her someone with whom people easily relate. She was selected to be in the 2007 Who’s Who of American Women.

Kathy taught public school for many years at all levels (kindergarten-college) and served as a high school assistant principal. She is married to Dr. David A. Slamp, who is a pastor in Oregon. They have two grown children–a married son in Washington state and a daughter in New York City. They have two grandsons.

Through her speaking and writing, Kathy inspires and challenges her audiences to grasp the basic and vital Biblical concept: We are all chosen to carry this amazing treasure: Christ in you is the hope of glory. As Christians in this world, God chooses to use each and everyone of us as His vessels!

Listen