Pastor Nate

Living in Church Community in Tumultuous Times 

One of the beautiful parts of Christianity is that it brings together so many people of different backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, cultures, and more (or at least that is what it should do).  We…

I recently came across an interesting grouping of scientific books and research papers that define Parasite Stress Theory, which posits that political and cultural divisions between people into liberal and conservative values is caused by their exposure to infectious diseases…

Fundamentalism (From August 2021 Newsletter Article)

Often seen from a Protestant Christian perspective Fundamentalism (capitalized) refers to a movement in the church focusing on a literal interpretation of the Bible and strict adherence to the beliefs and rules derived therefrom.  

…

"Reverend Rapper" Pastor Nate and singer Nicholas Preston combine for this unique blend of hip hop and classical styles.  A remake of the iconic hymn How Great Thou Art, this remake brings the hymn to the 21st century with some…

My first single of 2021 is titled "Lost Pages"! 

Back in the day when I was a teenager I used to just get lost in my writing, poems and raps and all kinds of stuff. My life may have taken…

Children’s message: 

Jesus came to bring not peace he said, but a sword… 

Now I have a couple of swords right here 

There was certainly a lot of fighting with swords in those days 

Not as much anymore, unless, you…

Children's message:

We have a special broadcast message from our partners in ministry 

Stay tuned 

Methuselah: 

Welcome my dear friends, 

My name is Methuselah, 

And you are watching, the Show 

Oh, it has been so long!  So long! 

 Good to…

Children's message:

What in the world is the Trinity?? 

Many wise and intelligent people have tried to comprehend 

And to explain over the years 

But one way you can imagine (not perfect but just a helpful analogy)

Is with a…

Children’s message: 

Pentecost and the tongues of fire: the Holy Spirit

Disciples went out talking about Jesus 

Everyone heard in their own language! 

Jesus loves you, in multiple languages 

almasih yuhabik  (Arabic) 

Yēsū ài nǐ  (Chinese) 

Jésus t’aime (French) 

Jezi…

The other day our outdoor bird cage 

accidentally got left open. 

Rosetta (Yaretzi’s bird) almost got away  

Coco (Natalia’s) was nowhere in sight 

But we could hear him squeaking and squawking 

Up in the oak tree, right next to the…

Children’s message: 

Methusala the Dragon:  Welcome one and all to story time with Jesus of Nazareth, and his trusty sidekick, the Camel who went through the eye of a needle!  I hear them coming along right now… 

Jesus:  Hello Camel…

Children’s message: 

What would you ask for in Jesus name? 

What does your name mean? 

Many times, there is a story behind it! 

Has anyone ever told you a story about your name? 

If not, you should look up what…

Children’s message:  Listening to the voice of Jesus 

I have a very special guest for you!

Methusala the Dragon:  Welcome one and all, gather around while we hear the tale 

Of Jesus starring in his role as the GATE and…

We can sure get stuck in a rut! 

As someone who writes a sermon message every week 

It is something that could happen to a pastor preacher 

How to come up with something new and creative 

each time?

There are…

So… Jesus, Breathes on his disciples… 

C’mon man, not cool, not cool! 

Jesus is not following current sanitation regulations… 

That’s for sure! 

Although earlier he did spit in the dirt 

and made mud that gave a blind man his eyesight…

There has certainly been an appropriate vibe 

with the weather and political events, 

For this Holy Week!

We are living in interesting times! 

Rain has been coming down,  

Thank you God; for the rain! 

But it does give things a…

I’ve been thinking about this word Hosanna all week long.

What does it mean to shout Hosanna? 

Hosanna is like our Lenten form of Alleluia kind of 

Every song that you typically sing Alleluia 

If you sing it during Lent…

Remember that story from Ezekiel, 

The valley of dry bones? 

In many ways, the world looks like a valley of dry bones 

Empty streets, restaurants, and businesses 

And in general, 

 even when we are not in a crisis, 

Our politics 

…

Growing in times of difficulties...

It is going to rain. 

It might not be that often seeing as we live in Southern California 

But as we saw over the past week.  

It is going to rain eventually. 

Living here I…

This miracle brings to mind a different miracle 

One from the Disney line of stories 

An image of a desolate Cinderella 

Weeping outside with her head on a bench.

– feels like there is no hope 

Her sisters ripped apart…

It is important for us in order to understand this passage 

We need to understand some of the history 

Basically, that means I am going to get the boring part 

Out of the way in the beginning! 

Well not boring…

Does anyone feel like Nicodemus sometimes? 

with what Jesus says? 

Or written in the epistles sometimes especially with Paul? 

Especially the Old Testament 

with the books of laws and the prophets! 

Like, I just don’t get it! 

Like some of…

What kind of temptations do we face? 

Probably the most obvious spoken of is sexual? 

Driving down the freeway  

See billboards advertising  

So, in your face about it!  

What others?  

Money, 

Power,  

Food 

Drugs 

Any kind of overindulgence in material…

I have a friend for many years 

– I know hard to believe right! 

Well, one day we were walking into a building, 

he was ahead of me by like twenty feet, 

but he still held the door open for…