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Last Updated: Oct 12th, 2008 - 13:54:32 |
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
Path Out of Self Destruction
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 6
According to a recent Anchorage Daily News article, “A man police said was apparently suicidal told officers he molested a 6-year-old girl over the weekend to justify ending his life, though he never followed through with his death wish, Anchorage police said Tuesday. This young man, I’ll call him Bobby (not real name) from an Eskimo village is charged with sexually assaulting a minor and was being held at the Anchorage jail in lieu of $50,000 bail, police said. When questioned by police, Bobby told them he planned to kill himself but couldn't do so without having a reason, Honeman said. "He figured he had to do something very disgusting to make people hate him," Honeman said. "He needed a justification to kill himself." Bobby told police he loaded a gun to shoot himself but the weapon didn't fire when he pulled the trigger.” Later, I spoke to the man who owned the weapon; the cartridge used was new; the fact that the gun did not go off was a miracle.
Oct 12, 2008, 13:39
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
Ruin and Rescue
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 5
In last Sunday’s message we learned about faith and trust from Abraham, the Father of Faith. We realize that we can’t live daily unless we have faith in God and a firm belief that no matter what comes, God’s Will is good for us.
When I visited the Anchorage City Jail this last week, I spoke with an inmate who said that when his mother died, he lost his job and with a few weeks even lost his truck. He became mad at God. He was extremely angry for a long time. And because of his anger, he was now in prison. He went on to share that he lost his faith in God. But Praise God God never gave up on him; he shared with me that he recently regained his faith in God in prison. I am glad that I can represent you as your pastor and bring encouragement to prisoners this last week.
Oct 5, 2008, 12:52
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
Our Faith: Taking the Impossible and Making It Possible
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 4
Before I share some thoughts on Paul’s letter to the Romans, last Monday and Tuesday, September 22-23, 2008 I had a good trip to Bethel and visited Alaska Bible Seminary. While I was there one of the former Seminary students, Harry Nicholi wanted me to pass on to Billy Olsen Sr. who is one of our Church members and musician that he still remembers dialogue with Billy, especially when they spoke and argued as brothers about justification, sanctification, mystification, exaltation and glorification. Today, I would like to focus on Justification. I feel that Justification is dealt with or presented in a very important and understandable way here.
Who do you believe in? If you believe in God, do you also have faith in Christ? If you have faith in Christ, is your standing with God a firm and stable relationship? If you think you have a standing with God, do you have blessed assurance in your walk with God? If you have any issues in this area, there is blessed assurance in Romans Chapter 4.
The main character in Romans Chapter 4 is Abraham. According to this read in the Holy Scriptures, Abraham was justified by his faith in God. Justified or Justification is a big word, which literally means a declaration by God in heaven concerning a man, that he stands righteous in God’s sight.
Sep 29, 2008, 10:43
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
We Are All in the Same Boat
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 3
Romans Chapter 3 is a good study. Since I was a young child from a Moravian missionary, I heard Romans 3:23 many times in the simple gospel messages shared - “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” We were lost in sin, but God looked for us and we find him. Even after we are found by him in our daily relationships in the church, oftentimes there is difficulty. That’s why Paul wrote to the Church at Romans to dispel misunderstandings, to bring peace, a spirit of unity amidst disharmony and to assure that the people there really understood what transformation in Christ is (Romans 12:1). This study should help us to understand what we need to do to change our attitudes and hearts and our lives so that peace will reign.
Paul recognized that Christians fail God; that’s why he wrote this letter. Let’s face it; Christians sin. We all sin! One of the sins occurring quite frequently in the life of our Moravian churches is gossip. If we gossip we go against the Bible. According to the way we do things in our church, when we are hurt by someone or if we have a “bone to pick” we must go to the offender first and seek understanding and forgiveness.
Sep 22, 2008, 14:33
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
Judge Not:
Bishop Nicholson Message
Romans Chapter 2:
Last Sunday from Chapter 1 of Romans, we learned that Paul gave up everything to Christ. His confession was the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel or good news in Romans 1:16 and 17 stills speaks. I hope that this becomes our byword as we move on in mission as a Moravian Church in Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage. It is a summary of our faith. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith’”.
As Paul penned the letter of Romans he was looking at a Roman culture and government entering its last stages of corruption. Homosexuality may not have been only a movement nor a culture, but it was rampant often-times among the elite. Paul lashes out against the alternative life-styles. No one is without excuse because what is made know about God is evident in creation. And Paul ends the first chapter by saying that God’s wrath is coming upon the sinners of the world.
Sep 14, 2008, 13:31
Pastor's Corner
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Sermons Online
We Should Not Be Ashamed
Bishop Nicholson's Message
Romans Chapter 1:
For the next several Sundays, I will be presenting very brief series on the Book of Romans. One of my goals is to interest individuals to read their Bibles and to become acquainted or reacquainted with the important doctrines in God’s Word. Another goal is that these short messages will be installed on our church bulletin board for use by the Church at Large. As a Bishop I am praying that God will give me the words to help inspire Moravian ministers to get into God’s Word and to teach it! This way God’s grace and power will be more evident in the lives of people living within the Alaska Moravian Province.
The book of Romans is really a letter. It is one written by Paul the Apostle to the believers in Rome. Paul at this time was a believer for 21 years and had become a mature believer who received some very important words that God gave him to share, not only to the people of that day, but to us today! Rome had a church which was located in the largest and most powerful city of the known world at that time. The City of Rome, like many of our communities today, was full of corruption and worldly living. The people there are people just like today, looking for answers about life. With these people in mind Paul gives an outstanding literary work in his writing of the Epistle of Romans. This work helps people to find Christ as Savior and helps believers to understand how to live out their faith in Christ.
Sep 8, 2008, 09:25
Pastor's Corner
Before Leave Summer Message: June 8, 2008
Our Journey: Genesis 12:1-9
This is my last message before I enter my Summer break. The Dillingham Moravian Church, my home congregation, has a big celebration planned to celebrate one of their very own becoming a Bishop of the Moravian Church. Please pray that God will give me words of encouragement as I will speak at Dillingham next Sunday.
The key word today is journey! I am going on a journey to Dillingham; then spend quite a bit of time on a fishing boat on Nushagak Bay. I would value your prayers for safety. I will remember each one of you in prayer during my absence. Today I would like to speak a little about the Journeys many of us make. We like to think of ourselves as being fairly stable; rooted because many of us have lived in our village for a long time. We are not like Abram in our text because we enjoy remaining in our home community.
In America and even in Anchorage, Alaska, I find that we are a society of people who are constantly on the move. Even the Native people of Alaska are on the move, many of them. Because of the Economic and Energy crisis, I know that others are thinking of leaving their home villages. In last week’s edition of the Anchorage Daily News an article entitled - Rural Alaska Electric Utilities Stricken by fuel prices. Fuel bills are take a big leap upwards in an area where historically high energy prices have been there for a long time. If immediate relief is not found from the state of Alaska more people may be like Abram leaving their home country and move towards the city where they think life will be more affordable. [Energy relief for Natives is not the only reason for leaving; it includes looking for jobs and education too according to an article entitled "Leaving the Village" by Tom Kizza published May 14, 2008.....notation by Pastor Nicholson August 17, 2008]
Aug 17, 2008, 11:32
Pastor's Corner
The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living
According to the Alaska Moravian Church Book of Order, dated January 2006, Section VI, subsection 825b, page 53 it says, "One of the duties of the Board of Elders of the Anchorage Moravian Church in line with the Alaska Provincial Book of Order is to see that the congregation and individual members abide by the Word of God, 'The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living' (formerly known as 'The Brotherly Agreement', the Book of Order of the Moravian Unity, as well as the decisions of the Anchorage Moravian Church Council."
What follows for our church membership is a read from the Moravian Covenant for Christian Living taken from the Moravian Church in America. Note: Pending approval from the Interprovincial Board of Education.
Mar 31, 2008, 09:50
Pastor's Corner
Beloved AncMC Organist Passed Away During Holy Week 2008
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| Moses When He Was Younger |
Moses Nanalook, beloved sibling of AncMC Elder, Carrie Paton, first cousin to Pastor Nicholson, and friend of everyone in the Anchorage Moravian Church passed away after a lengthy illness at the Anchorage Native Medical Center on March 20, 2008, 11:55 AM. After two to three days in a coma at the point of death "he opened his eyes, smiled and passed on to his eternal reward". He was in the presence of family and friends. A Memorial Service, "A Celebration of Moses Nanalook's life, will be held at AncMC (TUMC), tomorrow, March 22, 2008. Viewing is at 1 PM and Memorial service at 2 PM. Potluck following at Bill & Carrie Paton home. Internment will be in Manokotak, Alaska, on March 25, 2008.
Mar 21, 2008, 11:17
Pastor's Corner
An Alaskan Native Testimony of Traveling to Heaven and Hell
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| Heaven our eventual real home |
Abraham “Epli” George’s Personal Testimony of Traveling to Heaven and Hell
A Commentary written with an Open mind and a Prayer for God’s Guidance
False Prophet? Does the Alaska Moravian Church have prophets who “foretell” of specific future events and are right every time? I don’t think so. On the other hand I believe every ordained or “licensed” pastor is a prophet in the sense of “forth-telling” the Word of God with authority and power through the Holy Spirit. It has come to my attention that some one is saying that we have a false prophet in our midst.
According to one definition “a false prophet is a label given to a person who is viewed as illegitimately claiming charismatic authority within a religious group. Charismatic authority is power given or legitimized on the basis of a leader’s exceptional personal qualities or the demonstration of extraordinary insight and accomplishment which inspire loyalty and obedience from followers”. Oftentimes those who are charismatic display or exhibit traits of narcissism, which means “excessive love or admiration of self”. These type of leaders show large amount of energy and have in their hearts an “inner clarity unhindered by the anxieties and guilt that afflict more ordinary people”. I believe most of us who know about these kinds of people will know that they are not of God.
Also disconcerting for some and yet something that has happened with more frequency, today, is the phenomenon of Near Death Experiences (NDE). In fact there is an emerging science that studies NDEs. These stories are from individuals who die, go through a dark tunnel, see light, a beautiful place they perceive as paradise, see loved ones who have departed, then are directed by a divine being to go back, and when they awake are changed. I personally know of one elder Yupik women who was an excellent Christian in Dillingham, Alaska, who I respect immensely had a classic NDE after her heart stopped on an operating table in Seattle, Washington. Privately she shared her story to encourage me when I re-entered full-time Moravian ministry in 1996.
Mar 12, 2008, 11:37
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