JR. Forasteros - December 31, 2017

New Hope for a New Year

To Be Continued

Christmas is such an intimate celebration – a time to gather with friends and family – that we often forget the global sweep of the story. But two often-overlooked encounters with the infant Jesus remind us of God’s faithfulness – not only to us, but to the whole world! As we look toward a new year, how can we be filled with hope at what God will do?

Discussion Guide     Manuscript

More Messages From JR. Forasteros...

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The meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear powerplant in 2011 should never have happened. The powerplant was one of four constructed and operated by the Tokyo Electric Power Co. damaged in the 2011 tsunami that struck Japan.

Fukushima melted down because the tsunami washed over the complex, flooding the backup generators and tearing down powerlines. With no power, the pumps that kept the nuclear core cool shut down, and the reactor melted down. The disaster is considered the worst since the plant in Chernobyl melted down.

The problem with the Fukushima disaster is that, as multiple studies found after the fact, the TEPC had ignored multiple inspections, regulations and recommendations – including those from their own scientists.

In other words, the officials in charge of the plant had plenty of warning that, if they didn’t make some serious changes, they were headed for disaster.

They chose to ignore those warnings… and… disaster struck. Like they were told it would.

Have you ever been there? You were told something was bad for you, but you did it anyway, and it blew up in your face. Or you knew a habit would get you in trouble, but you silenced that voice of reason? 

God works to rescue us from our sin. But faith is a relationship – God isn’t going to force us to obey (then it’s not obedience, it’s compulsion). If we want life, we need to learn to hear God’s voice – and listen.

God loves us. God wants good for us. God wants to save us from disaster.

Join us Sunday as we learn how the Holy Spirit works to rescue us – even from ourselves!

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