Blessed Hope Chapel Treasure Valley (Boise, Idaho) is a body of believers made up of people from different backgrounds and stories joined together through the gospel of Christ. Blessed Hope Chapel Treasure Valley is a start-up church and a sister church of Blessed Hope Chapel in Simi Valley, California. Our fellowship currently meets in the city of Eagle, Idaho, led by Pastor Nick Pinneri
Church historian Phillip Schaffer once stated, “So far as we are able to gather our sources, nothing except the Psalms and a few New Testament hymns was a rule sung in public worship before the 4th century.” The Psalms took center stage during worship in the early church and down through the centuries. Today, Christians are missing out if they are not saturating their minds by meditating, memorizing, and singing the Psalms. Even Jesus, prior to His betrayal and crucifixion, was singing with His disciples in the upper room. Many believe they were singing none other than the Psalms, chapters 113-118. Psalms of praise, Psalms of affliction, Psalms of deliverance, and Psalms of worship. How fitting it was for Jesus to be meditating on these Psalms in preparation for the cup that He was soon to drink from.
Satan oppresses, schemes, harasses, and accuses the people of God. He wants Christians dwelling on past failures and doubting whether they’re truly forgiven in Christ. He’ll use any means necessary to lead Christians astray. Paul tells the Colossians in Ch.2vs10 that they have been made complete in Christ. They lack nothing in Him. No secret knowledge, no philosophy, no new teaching or revelation is necessary. When they believed in Christ they were made complete in Him. Paul goes on to remind them of their testimony in Christ—their death, burial and resurrection in Him, and the great victory Christ had on the cross over Satan and his cohorts. True freedom, true forgiveness, and true wholeness found in Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Oh death where is your victory, oh death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Is there any greater news?
The sports sector generates $620 billion in revenue globally each year. Billions of people tune in for the Tour de France, the World Cup, and the Olympics. There is a fascination with sports; and it seems competition and competitiveness are engrained in human nature. The modern fascination with sports however is nothing new. In biblical times chariot races, boxing, wrestling, javelin throws, etc. could all be witnessed at the Olympic Games or the Isthmian Games near Corinth. It’s believed that the Apostle Paul himself may have attended one of these events. Preaching the gospel and enjoying the thrill of athletics seems like something that might attract him. When Paul wrote to the Colossian church, he likens his struggle for them to that of an intense athletic contest. He suffered much for them so that they would know Christ—His love, His strength, and the great wealth that comes from knowing Him. If Paul could get them to fully understand this, nothing could lead them astray.
In Paul’s letter to the Colossian church after building a rich theology of who Christ is, he transitions to speaking directly to the believers at Colossae. He reminds them of who they were before coming to Christ, who they are now in Christ, and what will be evident in their lives if they are truly reconciled to Him. Paul uses the key word “if” to show us a condition must be met if we are to receive the blessings and promises that are found in Christ. We were alienated yet reconciled by the blood of Christ, and He is faithful to complete the work He began in us.
From Genesis to Revelation on every page of scripture is found an imprint of the faithfulness of the Lord. Lamentations 3:22-23 states,”Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail.They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” The Lord keeps His promises, His steadfast love endures forever, and He hears the cries of His people. He’s good to those who wait upon Him, and He’s preparing His people for an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. The trials of this life are light momentary afflictions compared to what’s in store for God’s children. May we never forget, the Lord is faithful.