Keep us in your prayers as we begin to move some things and visit and preach at various churches, we ask that you pray that God open the doors for us that He wants us to enter and close the others to keep us in His Will...Postings might be sparse on some days due to the transition and being on the road...God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
How To Profit
Excellence
Excellence means when a man or woman asks of himself more than others do.
Jose Ortega Y Gasset 1883-1955, Spanish Essayist, Philosopher
1 Tim 4:7-11
But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. NASU
Discipline for the purpose of godliness, what profit does it bring us in our lives? If we believe and trust what Paul says, it is profitable for “All” things. Hallelujah! and it holds what? It holds promises and not just for this life, but for the life to come. Paul is communicating to the Christian some wonderful life truths that can bring healing and hope to us in all situations.
Paul tells us not to listen to worldly tales and fables, superstition and gossip, but to trust in the discipline of a godly life style, a life fixed and grounded on the cross of Calvary. We are to trust fully in the Lord and rely upon Him and teach others of His trustworthiness. Paul in this wonderful verse of scripture declares to the world that God is the Savior of all men. That is to say that it matters not what men may think, He is the only God able to save to the uttermost.
What is godly discipline? Well, some of the areas covered would certainly be prayer, and then again bible study, and also using these tools to discipline our bodies to follow the guidelines set forth in scripture to bring profit from our lives here for Christ, and not for ourselves. To serve God here, is also to our profit, it is set forth in scripture to enable us as His children while we are here to reap a profit that will last each of us an eternity.
How shortsighted so many are to look only at this world and the short and fleeting time that they have here. This is a time of preparation, and yet also, a time of blessing for those that endure in this life, and see beyond its temporary suffering. We will see so much more and be rewarded with even greater things that our mind could not begin to comprehend, if we will not be shortsighted and miss the bigger picture of what is really going on during our short sojourn on this earth...God Bless.
Pastor William
Excellence means when a man or woman asks of himself more than others do.
Jose Ortega Y Gasset 1883-1955, Spanish Essayist, Philosopher
1 Tim 4:7-11
But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things. NASU
Discipline for the purpose of godliness, what profit does it bring us in our lives? If we believe and trust what Paul says, it is profitable for “All” things. Hallelujah! and it holds what? It holds promises and not just for this life, but for the life to come. Paul is communicating to the Christian some wonderful life truths that can bring healing and hope to us in all situations.
Paul tells us not to listen to worldly tales and fables, superstition and gossip, but to trust in the discipline of a godly life style, a life fixed and grounded on the cross of Calvary. We are to trust fully in the Lord and rely upon Him and teach others of His trustworthiness. Paul in this wonderful verse of scripture declares to the world that God is the Savior of all men. That is to say that it matters not what men may think, He is the only God able to save to the uttermost.
What is godly discipline? Well, some of the areas covered would certainly be prayer, and then again bible study, and also using these tools to discipline our bodies to follow the guidelines set forth in scripture to bring profit from our lives here for Christ, and not for ourselves. To serve God here, is also to our profit, it is set forth in scripture to enable us as His children while we are here to reap a profit that will last each of us an eternity.
How shortsighted so many are to look only at this world and the short and fleeting time that they have here. This is a time of preparation, and yet also, a time of blessing for those that endure in this life, and see beyond its temporary suffering. We will see so much more and be rewarded with even greater things that our mind could not begin to comprehend, if we will not be shortsighted and miss the bigger picture of what is really going on during our short sojourn on this earth...God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, March 24, 2008
Spreading Good
Malice
It is remarkable by how much a pinch of malice enhances the penetrating power of an idea or an opinion. Our ears, it seems, are wonderfully attuned to sneers and evil reports about our fellow men.
Eric Hoffer 1902-1983, American Author, Philosopher
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. NASU
Amazing isn’t it, what am I talking about? I am speaking of rumors and innuendo and how quickly stories spread, and how much people like to spread bad stories. I believe that our 24 hour news services haven’t help things out to much in this area. For the most part when things start smelling they are just minutes away to be the “First” to tell the world of the latest bad or scandalous news.
They are proud of their ratings and want to be the ones that you turn too for the latest and the greatest. But, there are also people that are in our lives, on our jobs, and yes, even in our churches, who want to be the ones with the latest and greatest on those around them. Their main care is to be in the know, and they will go to any extent to know so they can tell. We all know one or two of them, and we may not be doing the best for them when we listen to them.
Wouldn’t it also be great if we as Christians refused to listen to those that wish to spread rumors and gossip? It would be a good thing, as a true friend and brother to those that do those things, to take our time to admonish those with morbid interest in these areas. One way would be to ask them if they spend as much time telling the Good News of Christ as much as they tell the bad news of others.
We need to learn to see the good in others and to spend more time lifting up others rather than tearing them down. The pitiful thing though, is that you can find these kinds of things running in our churches and tearing down the bond of Love that Christ intended to exist in the Body. These kinds of things are viruses and diseases that tear down and sicken the body and prevent it from doing the things needed to change our world.
Do you know someone that does this, well if you do you may be enabling them as a listener…we should seek to help each other in this area, these tongues are so easy to let loose and so hard to stop, let’s give each other a hand in making encouragement the main subject in our churches…not tearing down the church by tearing down each other…God Bless
Pastor William
It is remarkable by how much a pinch of malice enhances the penetrating power of an idea or an opinion. Our ears, it seems, are wonderfully attuned to sneers and evil reports about our fellow men.
Eric Hoffer 1902-1983, American Author, Philosopher
Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers. NASU
Amazing isn’t it, what am I talking about? I am speaking of rumors and innuendo and how quickly stories spread, and how much people like to spread bad stories. I believe that our 24 hour news services haven’t help things out to much in this area. For the most part when things start smelling they are just minutes away to be the “First” to tell the world of the latest bad or scandalous news.
They are proud of their ratings and want to be the ones that you turn too for the latest and the greatest. But, there are also people that are in our lives, on our jobs, and yes, even in our churches, who want to be the ones with the latest and greatest on those around them. Their main care is to be in the know, and they will go to any extent to know so they can tell. We all know one or two of them, and we may not be doing the best for them when we listen to them.
Wouldn’t it also be great if we as Christians refused to listen to those that wish to spread rumors and gossip? It would be a good thing, as a true friend and brother to those that do those things, to take our time to admonish those with morbid interest in these areas. One way would be to ask them if they spend as much time telling the Good News of Christ as much as they tell the bad news of others.
We need to learn to see the good in others and to spend more time lifting up others rather than tearing them down. The pitiful thing though, is that you can find these kinds of things running in our churches and tearing down the bond of Love that Christ intended to exist in the Body. These kinds of things are viruses and diseases that tear down and sicken the body and prevent it from doing the things needed to change our world.
Do you know someone that does this, well if you do you may be enabling them as a listener…we should seek to help each other in this area, these tongues are so easy to let loose and so hard to stop, let’s give each other a hand in making encouragement the main subject in our churches…not tearing down the church by tearing down each other…God Bless
Pastor William
Friday, March 21, 2008
No Right To Vengeance
Revenge
She [Eleanor Roosevelt] got even in a way that was almost cruel. She forgave them.
Ralph McGill
Deut 32:34-36
'Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries? 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, NASU
In the OT we find our first hint as to whom vengeance belongs, and if that isn’t enough we find again in Heb 10:30 and also in Rom 12:19, a reminder as to who holds the authority and right of vengeance, and it is not us. In Ps 50:12 we are put on notice by the most important fact when God says, “For the world is Mine, and all it contains.”
Now that is an important fact to remember when we are dealing with those around us. We must remember that we are not their judge, we did not create them, and we do not own them. If we can remember this, then we will let their true owner deal with them as “He” wishes, and save ourselves from judgment and pain. For us to act on our own authority against the children of God is to take ownership over someone over whom we do not have a deed to, only Christ.
God’s Word tells us that we are not our own, but we were bought with a price, who paid that price? Jesus, and we all belong to Him and the way that He deals with us all is with Grace, and with mercy. God knew what we were and how we got in trouble and removed us as a problem in our redemption. But, we have a habit of trying to do things for Him, or to act on His behalf thinking we have a better plan, and it is what got us into this fix that we are in now.
Juvenal, a Roman Poet (AD.55-AD.130, said this of revenge, “Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.” This is true, and it is as many have said before us, when planning revenge, dig two graves, one for your enemy and one for yourself. Scripture backs this up some ways, for God says for us to forgive, is to be forgiven and if we choose judgment, we choose also wrath for ourselves.
It’s time for Christians to be known as a people of peace again, peacemakers and a people who trust fully in the Judgment and authority of their God… He is in control, and if we will leave Him room to work, as He says in Romans 12, things would workout so much better for our world, and ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
She [Eleanor Roosevelt] got even in a way that was almost cruel. She forgave them.
Ralph McGill
Deut 32:34-36
'Is it not laid up in store with Me, Sealed up in My treasuries? 'Vengeance is Mine, and retribution, in due time their foot will slip; for the day of their calamity is near, and the impending things are hastening upon them.' "For the LORD will vindicate His people, and will have compassion on His servants, When He sees that their strength is gone, NASU
In the OT we find our first hint as to whom vengeance belongs, and if that isn’t enough we find again in Heb 10:30 and also in Rom 12:19, a reminder as to who holds the authority and right of vengeance, and it is not us. In Ps 50:12 we are put on notice by the most important fact when God says, “For the world is Mine, and all it contains.”
Now that is an important fact to remember when we are dealing with those around us. We must remember that we are not their judge, we did not create them, and we do not own them. If we can remember this, then we will let their true owner deal with them as “He” wishes, and save ourselves from judgment and pain. For us to act on our own authority against the children of God is to take ownership over someone over whom we do not have a deed to, only Christ.
God’s Word tells us that we are not our own, but we were bought with a price, who paid that price? Jesus, and we all belong to Him and the way that He deals with us all is with Grace, and with mercy. God knew what we were and how we got in trouble and removed us as a problem in our redemption. But, we have a habit of trying to do things for Him, or to act on His behalf thinking we have a better plan, and it is what got us into this fix that we are in now.
Juvenal, a Roman Poet (AD.55-AD.130, said this of revenge, “Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.” This is true, and it is as many have said before us, when planning revenge, dig two graves, one for your enemy and one for yourself. Scripture backs this up some ways, for God says for us to forgive, is to be forgiven and if we choose judgment, we choose also wrath for ourselves.
It’s time for Christians to be known as a people of peace again, peacemakers and a people who trust fully in the Judgment and authority of their God… He is in control, and if we will leave Him room to work, as He says in Romans 12, things would workout so much better for our world, and ourselves…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Living Faithfulness
Ethics
Evangelical faith without Christian ethics is a travesty on the gospel.
V. Raymond Edman
Ps 141:3-5
3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it, for still my prayer is against their wicked deeds. NASU
Much of our Christian faith and belief has met with compromise on the stage which we as Christians live. The world has not seen us practice and lean towards holiness, but has seen us lean towards acceptance of the prosperity gospel the world teaches. We have become completely immersed in their social gospel of acceptance. Listen to Ezekiel’s perspective of what was happening on stage in his day, “Ezek 33:32 "Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.”
How did we get here? Sir John Harvey, said this of Harvard in his day, “It horrifies me that ethics is only an optional extra at Harvard Business School.” I am not sure if it was, or wasn’t, but we all know that the dollar has caused many to prosper and many to fall, and without ethics, many to suffer. Raymond Chandler, 1888-1959; said this of how we have been conquered by the lust of money in this society, “Such is the brutalization of commercial ethics in this country that no one can feel anything more delicate than the velvet touch of a soft buck.”
My wife and I went on our regular trip to Wal-Mart and when walking through the parking lot, I found a check, some cash, and a grocery receipt. The check had the address of the person who I was sure had dropped the cash, so I immediately called and left a message telling the person to call and confirm the address on the check and we would send them their check and cash. The person called back in disbelief, they were sure that they would never hear a word about their belongings, they were sure that someone would pocket their good luck and go on.
What would you have done? The person that called said this, “there is some hope for this world isn’t there, people like you give me hope.” He also said this, “keep the cash and send us the check, and you and your wife have dinner on us.” Wow! We as followers of Christ can make a big difference on our world just by simply striving to be Holy. That means in the little things and the big things, it makes a big difference, for Christ said this, “Luke 16:10" He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much...God Bless.
Pastor William
Evangelical faith without Christian ethics is a travesty on the gospel.
V. Raymond Edman
Ps 141:3-5
3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity; and do not let me eat of their delicacies. Let the righteous smite me in kindness and reprove me; it is oil upon the head; do not let my head refuse it, for still my prayer is against their wicked deeds. NASU
Much of our Christian faith and belief has met with compromise on the stage which we as Christians live. The world has not seen us practice and lean towards holiness, but has seen us lean towards acceptance of the prosperity gospel the world teaches. We have become completely immersed in their social gospel of acceptance. Listen to Ezekiel’s perspective of what was happening on stage in his day, “Ezek 33:32 "Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them.”
How did we get here? Sir John Harvey, said this of Harvard in his day, “It horrifies me that ethics is only an optional extra at Harvard Business School.” I am not sure if it was, or wasn’t, but we all know that the dollar has caused many to prosper and many to fall, and without ethics, many to suffer. Raymond Chandler, 1888-1959; said this of how we have been conquered by the lust of money in this society, “Such is the brutalization of commercial ethics in this country that no one can feel anything more delicate than the velvet touch of a soft buck.”
My wife and I went on our regular trip to Wal-Mart and when walking through the parking lot, I found a check, some cash, and a grocery receipt. The check had the address of the person who I was sure had dropped the cash, so I immediately called and left a message telling the person to call and confirm the address on the check and we would send them their check and cash. The person called back in disbelief, they were sure that they would never hear a word about their belongings, they were sure that someone would pocket their good luck and go on.
What would you have done? The person that called said this, “there is some hope for this world isn’t there, people like you give me hope.” He also said this, “keep the cash and send us the check, and you and your wife have dinner on us.” Wow! We as followers of Christ can make a big difference on our world just by simply striving to be Holy. That means in the little things and the big things, it makes a big difference, for Christ said this, “Luke 16:10" He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much...God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Living in Harmony
Cooperation
The world basically and fundamentally is constituted on the basis of harmony. Everything works in co-operation with something else.
Preston Bradley
Rom 8:28-29
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; NASU
What is peace, and what is harmony? Is it having everything you want and not suffering the things that you don’t want. Is it everything going right for you, and nothing falling out of place in your life? Doug Floyd said this of Harmony, “You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.” Actually if that is the kind of atmosphere that you have around you, you are living a pretty closed and selfish life.
When Paul writes that “all things” work together, he is all inclusive. Everything in God’s creation works in harmony for us. The good and the bad, and a lot of us get into trouble in the area of determining what is good or bad for us. The whole of creation has been subjected into futility Paul says in vs. 20 of this same chapter, so self designed lifestyles can get pretty futile because they are not for God’s purpose, but for our own.
Notice the conditions for things to work for good in our lives that are named in vs. 28, those things are only working together for those that, no. 1, “Love God.” So that is the first thing that can bring peace to our lives regardless of our circumstances is that we have determined to love Him no matter what is going on around us, good or bad, happy or sad. We have decided to trust God fully, no matter what the world or anyone else says of our circumstances, for they really don’t know what God has “predestined” for us anyway.
The second condition that Paul mentions is the fact that we have recognized God’s calling on our lives and we are living our lives for our Lord. He is “transforming” us not to conform us to the image that the god of this world wants to make us into, but that we are being conformed into the image of God’s Son, we are being made into the perfect image of Jesus daily.
Now when you are in this process, you can find peace. Why, it is because your peace does not exist in a person or place or thing in this world, your peace lies in the fact that you…are in “His” Will! ...God Bless.
Pastor William
The world basically and fundamentally is constituted on the basis of harmony. Everything works in co-operation with something else.
Preston Bradley
Rom 8:28-29
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; NASU
What is peace, and what is harmony? Is it having everything you want and not suffering the things that you don’t want. Is it everything going right for you, and nothing falling out of place in your life? Doug Floyd said this of Harmony, “You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.” Actually if that is the kind of atmosphere that you have around you, you are living a pretty closed and selfish life.
When Paul writes that “all things” work together, he is all inclusive. Everything in God’s creation works in harmony for us. The good and the bad, and a lot of us get into trouble in the area of determining what is good or bad for us. The whole of creation has been subjected into futility Paul says in vs. 20 of this same chapter, so self designed lifestyles can get pretty futile because they are not for God’s purpose, but for our own.
Notice the conditions for things to work for good in our lives that are named in vs. 28, those things are only working together for those that, no. 1, “Love God.” So that is the first thing that can bring peace to our lives regardless of our circumstances is that we have determined to love Him no matter what is going on around us, good or bad, happy or sad. We have decided to trust God fully, no matter what the world or anyone else says of our circumstances, for they really don’t know what God has “predestined” for us anyway.
The second condition that Paul mentions is the fact that we have recognized God’s calling on our lives and we are living our lives for our Lord. He is “transforming” us not to conform us to the image that the god of this world wants to make us into, but that we are being conformed into the image of God’s Son, we are being made into the perfect image of Jesus daily.
Now when you are in this process, you can find peace. Why, it is because your peace does not exist in a person or place or thing in this world, your peace lies in the fact that you…are in “His” Will! ...God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
I Don't Have To Understand, I Am Understood
Knowledge
The things we know best are the things we haven't been taught.
Marquis De Vauvenargues 1715-1747, French Moralist
Rom 1:20-23
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. NASU
Man’s thirst for knowledge is one that is not easily satisfied. We find that out early when a child asks the “why” questions. There is a need to understand and a need to put our arms around abstract things that we don’t understand. We feel the need to corral the horses, and to fence in the herd so as to get a 360 view, and to take a long look, and refine, and understand what knowledge we have.
But, is that always best, can we, and will we always be able to understand or figure it all out? I’m sure that I will not be able to, there are some things that I don’t think I will ever understand until I meet my Lord, and King, face to face. Still, that doesn’t mean that I have to have a horrible feeling of doubt or fear within me, I don’t completely understand Trigonometry, but I don’t have a fear of math teachers.
Mark Twain, American Humorist, and Writer said this of our need for knowledge “We have not the reverent feeling for the rainbow that a savage has, because we know how it is made. We have lost as much as we gained by prying into that matter.” Did you hear what he was saying? If you really knew and understood everything of God, how would it affect your life? My belief is that if I knew and understood everything, I would be like God and we know where that leads, it made Satan, Satan.
So the things that I don’t know and can’t explain about God are what makes, Him, God. Me, I can’t understand so many things, why He would choose to spend time worrying about someone like me, and how all of these things in my life are a part of His “bigger” plan for me. Oh the wonder of it all, as the song says, “just to think that God loves me.” If we knew too much, I know enough of human nature to say that what we know too much of we tend to ignore, and take for granted
So maybe that is one of our biggest problems as Christians. Once we think we have Him all figured out, we do just that, ignore, and take for granted the Love, Wonder and Glory of who He is, and lose the fear of, and respect for, our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
The things we know best are the things we haven't been taught.
Marquis De Vauvenargues 1715-1747, French Moralist
Rom 1:20-23
For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. NASU
Man’s thirst for knowledge is one that is not easily satisfied. We find that out early when a child asks the “why” questions. There is a need to understand and a need to put our arms around abstract things that we don’t understand. We feel the need to corral the horses, and to fence in the herd so as to get a 360 view, and to take a long look, and refine, and understand what knowledge we have.
But, is that always best, can we, and will we always be able to understand or figure it all out? I’m sure that I will not be able to, there are some things that I don’t think I will ever understand until I meet my Lord, and King, face to face. Still, that doesn’t mean that I have to have a horrible feeling of doubt or fear within me, I don’t completely understand Trigonometry, but I don’t have a fear of math teachers.
Mark Twain, American Humorist, and Writer said this of our need for knowledge “We have not the reverent feeling for the rainbow that a savage has, because we know how it is made. We have lost as much as we gained by prying into that matter.” Did you hear what he was saying? If you really knew and understood everything of God, how would it affect your life? My belief is that if I knew and understood everything, I would be like God and we know where that leads, it made Satan, Satan.
So the things that I don’t know and can’t explain about God are what makes, Him, God. Me, I can’t understand so many things, why He would choose to spend time worrying about someone like me, and how all of these things in my life are a part of His “bigger” plan for me. Oh the wonder of it all, as the song says, “just to think that God loves me.” If we knew too much, I know enough of human nature to say that what we know too much of we tend to ignore, and take for granted
So maybe that is one of our biggest problems as Christians. Once we think we have Him all figured out, we do just that, ignore, and take for granted the Love, Wonder and Glory of who He is, and lose the fear of, and respect for, our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, March 17, 2008
Help My Unbelief
Faith
''Philosophical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my reason for the faith that was in me; but my heart has always assured and reassured me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be reality.''
Daniel Webster 1782-1852, American Lawyer, Statesman
Mark 9:21-24
And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, ""If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." NASU
With what faith do we approach our Father? Do you and I really realize the importance of our faith and the necessity of our resting our hope and confidence fully upon our God? We must believe, we must trust, and we must do this with all that is within us, leaning completely upon our Lord. But, what is it that so many times prevents us from fully “trusting in His Word?”
I think sometimes that which causes us to doubt and throw suspicion upon the completion of His promise, is our feelings of insignificance. Do you sometimes feel small against all of the problems that are spinning around in your world, well of course you do, and so do I. Don’t we sometimes feel like God has a lot bigger things to take care of in His Creation than whether I am in the fire or the water, right? Even though it may have your head hurting and your stomach rolling, God works just on big things, like wars and worlds and governments, and may consider you, “if” He’s not busy.
As children of God, we need to remember this morning what all of creation was for. It was to reveal His Glory, and His purpose, and it was for us. Listen to Rom 8:19-21 “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
That’s right, all of creation is waiting on us, it waits on us to be changed and revealed, and what will the world see if it doesn’t see our faith in our all powerful, but unseen God. He is concerned about you and I more that anything else and He is a personal God that cares about what makes your stomach turn and your head hurt. So, start believing and trusting Him to act on your behalf, He, God, wants you to cast on Him your “every” care. Only believe, and you will find Him there, at the intersection of faith and belief in His eternal love for you, all creation awaits you there…God Bless.
Pastor William
''Philosophical argument, especially that drawn from the vastness of the universe, in comparison with the apparent insignificance of this globe, has sometimes shaken my reason for the faith that was in me; but my heart has always assured and reassured me that the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be reality.''
Daniel Webster 1782-1852, American Lawyer, Statesman
Mark 9:21-24
And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" And Jesus said to him, ""If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my unbelief." NASU
With what faith do we approach our Father? Do you and I really realize the importance of our faith and the necessity of our resting our hope and confidence fully upon our God? We must believe, we must trust, and we must do this with all that is within us, leaning completely upon our Lord. But, what is it that so many times prevents us from fully “trusting in His Word?”
I think sometimes that which causes us to doubt and throw suspicion upon the completion of His promise, is our feelings of insignificance. Do you sometimes feel small against all of the problems that are spinning around in your world, well of course you do, and so do I. Don’t we sometimes feel like God has a lot bigger things to take care of in His Creation than whether I am in the fire or the water, right? Even though it may have your head hurting and your stomach rolling, God works just on big things, like wars and worlds and governments, and may consider you, “if” He’s not busy.
As children of God, we need to remember this morning what all of creation was for. It was to reveal His Glory, and His purpose, and it was for us. Listen to Rom 8:19-21 “For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.”
That’s right, all of creation is waiting on us, it waits on us to be changed and revealed, and what will the world see if it doesn’t see our faith in our all powerful, but unseen God. He is concerned about you and I more that anything else and He is a personal God that cares about what makes your stomach turn and your head hurt. So, start believing and trusting Him to act on your behalf, He, God, wants you to cast on Him your “every” care. Only believe, and you will find Him there, at the intersection of faith and belief in His eternal love for you, all creation awaits you there…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, March 14, 2008
Reporting for Duty
Duty
Rank imposes obligation.
Motto
Deut 7:6
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. NASU
What is your standing before God my Christian brother, or sister? As far as I can tell from His Word, we are pretty well at the top. Didn’t He send His only Son to die for us, and to redeem us from our fallen and useless state? Yes, He did, and that requires a response from us, something besides a light hearted acknowledgement. It requires, and rightly so, a conviction and life served in faithful duty to our Lord, and Savior.
Thomas ã Kempis a German Monk, Mystic, and Religious Writer who lived from 1379-1471, said this of Duty, “Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.” You see God has decided who we are, but we also must decide who and what we are to be. Who are you and what are you right now, and to whom do you hold allegiance? We have a duty as Christians to wake up every day and go to the frontlines at our jobs, shops, factories and homes, and to serve God faithfully in those places, to exemplify His Holiness.
Mark Twain that great American Humorist, and Writer, says this of duty, “Do something every day that you don't want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” You see many have gotten in the habit of only doing what “they” want to do, and actually we are all pretty spoiled in this area. But some of the greatest things that you and I have learned were not learned in doing what we wanted to do, but in what we had to do. Duty called, we experienced, and we learned and we faithfully responded to the call, for duty cannot exist without faith.
We cannot dodge those responsibilities that God has given us as His children, what we do not do today, will still be there for us in the morning. It is as Joseph Newton said, “A duty dodged is like a debt unpaid; it is only deferred, and we must come back and settle the account at last.” It is as I have heard many times, and it is so true. We owed a debt we could not pay, Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, and to this what is our response? Jesus paid it all, ALL to Him, I owe…God Bless.
Pastor William
Rank imposes obligation.
Motto
Deut 7:6
"For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. NASU
What is your standing before God my Christian brother, or sister? As far as I can tell from His Word, we are pretty well at the top. Didn’t He send His only Son to die for us, and to redeem us from our fallen and useless state? Yes, He did, and that requires a response from us, something besides a light hearted acknowledgement. It requires, and rightly so, a conviction and life served in faithful duty to our Lord, and Savior.
Thomas ã Kempis a German Monk, Mystic, and Religious Writer who lived from 1379-1471, said this of Duty, “Activate yourself to duty by remembering your position, who you are, and what you have obliged yourself to be.” You see God has decided who we are, but we also must decide who and what we are to be. Who are you and what are you right now, and to whom do you hold allegiance? We have a duty as Christians to wake up every day and go to the frontlines at our jobs, shops, factories and homes, and to serve God faithfully in those places, to exemplify His Holiness.
Mark Twain that great American Humorist, and Writer, says this of duty, “Do something every day that you don't want to do. This is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.” You see many have gotten in the habit of only doing what “they” want to do, and actually we are all pretty spoiled in this area. But some of the greatest things that you and I have learned were not learned in doing what we wanted to do, but in what we had to do. Duty called, we experienced, and we learned and we faithfully responded to the call, for duty cannot exist without faith.
We cannot dodge those responsibilities that God has given us as His children, what we do not do today, will still be there for us in the morning. It is as Joseph Newton said, “A duty dodged is like a debt unpaid; it is only deferred, and we must come back and settle the account at last.” It is as I have heard many times, and it is so true. We owed a debt we could not pay, Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, and to this what is our response? Jesus paid it all, ALL to Him, I owe…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Bad Encouragement
Praise
Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.
Sydney Smith 1771-1845, British Writer, Clergyman
Prov 28:4-9
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich. He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination. NASU
It’s pretty apparent that we are not doing a good job in directing our praise in the present society isn’t it? As I asked myself this morning the question of what has got us into this predicament, this is the answer I received. We have given away our praise cheaply. I have read many words of wisdom that advise you to praise someone. Mary Kay, not that I have anything against Mary Kay, advises their salesmen to picture a big sign around everyone’s neck that says, “Make me feel important.”
Sometimes in our encouragement of others we can overstep boundaries if we are not careful. Maybe this is what has happened in our society. Encouragement is a good thing, if, the right things are encouraged, but bad encouragement is also a major problem today in our world. People do not encourage their children to be bank robbers, but they do highlight, maybe to much, the importance of money. That is what the world says defines success and if that is what defines “success,” then the lack of it may drive a child to get it, “any way they can.”
God asks you and I to have “integrity. Proverbs says the evil do not understand “justice,” but those who seek the Lord understand “all” things. I think that we as Christians should help in everyway that we can to show our families and all those around us that success is not defined by material things. We can help many by helping to redefine in our world just what success is. To know the Lord and to delight in His Word is success, and if we were to highlight that more, we would have a world where people begin to place value on one another, instead of things.
The last of Proverbs 28:9 said this to us; if we do not delight in God’s law then even our prayers are an abomination to God. God says when you stop listening to me, I stop listening to you. It’s pretty apparent isn’t it…apparent that the world has not been listening, and encouraging what is really important…God Bless.
Pastor William
Among the smaller duties of life I hardly know any one more important than that of not praising where praise is not due.
Sydney Smith 1771-1845, British Writer, Clergyman
Prov 28:4-9
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law strive with them. Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is crooked though he be rich. He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but he who is a companion of gluttons humiliates his father. He who increases his wealth by interest and usury gathers it for him who is gracious to the poor. He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination. NASU
It’s pretty apparent that we are not doing a good job in directing our praise in the present society isn’t it? As I asked myself this morning the question of what has got us into this predicament, this is the answer I received. We have given away our praise cheaply. I have read many words of wisdom that advise you to praise someone. Mary Kay, not that I have anything against Mary Kay, advises their salesmen to picture a big sign around everyone’s neck that says, “Make me feel important.”
Sometimes in our encouragement of others we can overstep boundaries if we are not careful. Maybe this is what has happened in our society. Encouragement is a good thing, if, the right things are encouraged, but bad encouragement is also a major problem today in our world. People do not encourage their children to be bank robbers, but they do highlight, maybe to much, the importance of money. That is what the world says defines success and if that is what defines “success,” then the lack of it may drive a child to get it, “any way they can.”
God asks you and I to have “integrity. Proverbs says the evil do not understand “justice,” but those who seek the Lord understand “all” things. I think that we as Christians should help in everyway that we can to show our families and all those around us that success is not defined by material things. We can help many by helping to redefine in our world just what success is. To know the Lord and to delight in His Word is success, and if we were to highlight that more, we would have a world where people begin to place value on one another, instead of things.
The last of Proverbs 28:9 said this to us; if we do not delight in God’s law then even our prayers are an abomination to God. God says when you stop listening to me, I stop listening to you. It’s pretty apparent isn’t it…apparent that the world has not been listening, and encouraging what is really important…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Let's Step Outside
Committees and Meetings
One of the reasons why the Ten Commandments are so short and to the point is the fact they were given direct and did not come out of committees.
H. G. Hutcheson
Ps 74:2-5
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs. It seems as if one had lifted up His axe in a forest of trees. NASU
One of the ways to ensure that nothing will get done in some churches, or in any other organization (like our government), is to assign the task to a committee. Now I have nothing against committees, but I have found out throughout the years that in most cases, the committee was as effective as the strongest member in that committee. If it was something that was only a minor task, it was assigned to a committee that was selected in such a way that there was little leadership and therefore little results.
I’m getting pretty bold here, but if you will look in your church you may probably find the same thing true. The importance of the task, in many cases assured that the people assigned to the task were important people, some “hand selected” for the job, to assure the desired result. We would do well to remember that there is no perfection in our churches, and to remember the adversary also has a plan for “The Church” too.
There was in the Old Testament a tent Moses himself setup on the outskirts of the camp. This tent was called the tent of meeting, Exodus 33:7, and it was set up by Moses as a place outside the camp to meet God. This was not the tabernacle, as some suppose, but a place where anyone could go to meet the Lord. I imagine that many prayed there, for they would in the evenings, watch as Moses spoke with the Lord. The Bible says they would each stand at the doorways of their tents and watch as God Himself condescended and met there with Moses and a “Cloud” hovered over the tent. I know I would have like to have prayed there.
So, there, “outside the camp,” God spoke with Moses, His “Perfect Will” for Israel, and for His people. We must be careful within the Body of Christ to remember where our righteousness or “rightness” comes from, especially when it comes to asking Gods Will for His people. It must remain a seeking of His Will, outside of our desires, and who can lead us there, but the Holy Spirit of God. Let us get outside the camp, for from there we can see better what is going on. We would do well to be reminded that it’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, say our Lord, and our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
One of the reasons why the Ten Commandments are so short and to the point is the fact they were given direct and did not come out of committees.
H. G. Hutcheson
Ps 74:2-5
2 Remember Your congregation, which You have purchased of old, Which You have redeemed to be the tribe of Your inheritance; And this Mount Zion, where You have dwelt. Turn Your footsteps toward the perpetual ruins; The enemy has damaged everything within the sanctuary. Your adversaries have roared in the midst of Your meeting place; They have set up their own standards for signs. It seems as if one had lifted up His axe in a forest of trees. NASU
One of the ways to ensure that nothing will get done in some churches, or in any other organization (like our government), is to assign the task to a committee. Now I have nothing against committees, but I have found out throughout the years that in most cases, the committee was as effective as the strongest member in that committee. If it was something that was only a minor task, it was assigned to a committee that was selected in such a way that there was little leadership and therefore little results.
I’m getting pretty bold here, but if you will look in your church you may probably find the same thing true. The importance of the task, in many cases assured that the people assigned to the task were important people, some “hand selected” for the job, to assure the desired result. We would do well to remember that there is no perfection in our churches, and to remember the adversary also has a plan for “The Church” too.
There was in the Old Testament a tent Moses himself setup on the outskirts of the camp. This tent was called the tent of meeting, Exodus 33:7, and it was set up by Moses as a place outside the camp to meet God. This was not the tabernacle, as some suppose, but a place where anyone could go to meet the Lord. I imagine that many prayed there, for they would in the evenings, watch as Moses spoke with the Lord. The Bible says they would each stand at the doorways of their tents and watch as God Himself condescended and met there with Moses and a “Cloud” hovered over the tent. I know I would have like to have prayed there.
So, there, “outside the camp,” God spoke with Moses, His “Perfect Will” for Israel, and for His people. We must be careful within the Body of Christ to remember where our righteousness or “rightness” comes from, especially when it comes to asking Gods Will for His people. It must remain a seeking of His Will, outside of our desires, and who can lead us there, but the Holy Spirit of God. Let us get outside the camp, for from there we can see better what is going on. We would do well to be reminded that it’s not by might, not by power, but by My Spirit, say our Lord, and our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
We Are a Mystery
Mystery
There is something precious in our being mysteries to ourselves, in our being unable ever to see through even the person who is closest to our heart and to reckon with him as though he were a logical proposition or a problem in accounting.
Rudolf Bultmann 1884-1976, German Lutheran Theologian
Ps 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. NASU
There is a good reason that we are not as clear as cellophane, or able to read each other like a book, although Moms can come close at times, we are never sure of others, or as Bultmann said, even ourselves. It has always been a problem among humans that we think ourselves qualified to steer the course for others, even sometimes when we have steered our own lives into countless disasters.
One good at that was Peter. It was Peter that said to The Master, I will never deny Thee, but it was Peter that spoke the words with a curse that he did not know Him who would be crucified for his sins when it counted the most. Peter wept bitterly, but there is an important distinction between him and Judas who went and hung himself. Judas had it all figured out, Judas was going to work the system. His problem was He had no idea or knowledge of the system that God had put in place.
The Psalmist in Psalm 139 is giving praise to God that the plans that were laid out for him, before he was born, were not his plans, but God’s plans. He is saying to his Father that even when he doesn’t understand what the system is that he is confident that His God has knowledge of his tomorrows.
In Luke 22:61 the scripture describes the reaction of our Savior to Peter, it says, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." What can you take from this, you can take the fact that Jesus was saying to Peter in one glance, Peter I am still in control. Jesus had warned Peter of what would happen, and in that one glance Peter realized that Jesus was so much more that He imagined.
You and I need to realize that too. We must take a long glance into the eyes of our Savior and rest in the fact that He is “Still” in control. Doesn’t matter what it looks like or feels like, the days we have, were custom built by our Savior…God Bless.
Pastor William
There is something precious in our being mysteries to ourselves, in our being unable ever to see through even the person who is closest to our heart and to reckon with him as though he were a logical proposition or a problem in accounting.
Rudolf Bultmann 1884-1976, German Lutheran Theologian
Ps 139:13-16
For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. NASU
There is a good reason that we are not as clear as cellophane, or able to read each other like a book, although Moms can come close at times, we are never sure of others, or as Bultmann said, even ourselves. It has always been a problem among humans that we think ourselves qualified to steer the course for others, even sometimes when we have steered our own lives into countless disasters.
One good at that was Peter. It was Peter that said to The Master, I will never deny Thee, but it was Peter that spoke the words with a curse that he did not know Him who would be crucified for his sins when it counted the most. Peter wept bitterly, but there is an important distinction between him and Judas who went and hung himself. Judas had it all figured out, Judas was going to work the system. His problem was He had no idea or knowledge of the system that God had put in place.
The Psalmist in Psalm 139 is giving praise to God that the plans that were laid out for him, before he was born, were not his plans, but God’s plans. He is saying to his Father that even when he doesn’t understand what the system is that he is confident that His God has knowledge of his tomorrows.
In Luke 22:61 the scripture describes the reaction of our Savior to Peter, it says, “The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, "Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." What can you take from this, you can take the fact that Jesus was saying to Peter in one glance, Peter I am still in control. Jesus had warned Peter of what would happen, and in that one glance Peter realized that Jesus was so much more that He imagined.
You and I need to realize that too. We must take a long glance into the eyes of our Savior and rest in the fact that He is “Still” in control. Doesn’t matter what it looks like or feels like, the days we have, were custom built by our Savior…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, March 10, 2008
Miracle or Problem
Miracles
Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on this earth.
David Sarnoff 1891-1971, Belarus-born American Entrepreneur
Mark 7:18-23
And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." NASU
We are quite a miracle. We are hard to understand, and everyday the question of what makes us tick is asked in various and a sundry places. It is asked when a lone gunman enters a restaurant and assails the customers with weapons that will end their lives. It is asked sometimes even as parents when we look at our children and ask them the question, “what made you do that?” It is asked when people fly jetliners into tall buildings, and thousands of people are destroyed.
Montaigne, a Philosopher, and Essayist said this of himself, “I have never seen a greater monster or miracle than myself.” I believe that it is important that each of us come to that very same conclusion, why not, God did. Listen to Gen 8:21-22 "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
And so, here we are. Many plantings and harvests have gone by, many winters and summers, and many days and nights, and we see the evil natures of men and wonder why God doesn’t react. Well, He said He wouldn’t do that anymore, He has determined to save some and not destroy all again, but this time He wants more than a boat load. We have a choice to be what He wants to save, or to be among those that are destroyed, and we can become a part of the righteous harvest, or the unrighteous destruction.
There are many things in this world that we have to see and listen to as children of God, there are so many things that enter our eyes and ears and pierce our souls. But, praise be to God, we can stop the destruction by one simple task that we can undertake. We, can decide that those things will never come from us, we can determine to be builders of personal arks that can lift the world around us up from the dregs of sin and deliver them to our God, we can choose to be His miracles…God Bless.
Pastor William
Man is still the greatest miracle and the greatest problem on this earth.
David Sarnoff 1891-1971, Belarus-born American Entrepreneur
Mark 7:18-23
And He said to them, "Are you so lacking in understanding also? Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?" (Thus He declared all foods clean.) And He was saying, "That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man. "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. "All these evil things proceed from within and defile the man." NASU
We are quite a miracle. We are hard to understand, and everyday the question of what makes us tick is asked in various and a sundry places. It is asked when a lone gunman enters a restaurant and assails the customers with weapons that will end their lives. It is asked sometimes even as parents when we look at our children and ask them the question, “what made you do that?” It is asked when people fly jetliners into tall buildings, and thousands of people are destroyed.
Montaigne, a Philosopher, and Essayist said this of himself, “I have never seen a greater monster or miracle than myself.” I believe that it is important that each of us come to that very same conclusion, why not, God did. Listen to Gen 8:21-22 "I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man's heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done. "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."
And so, here we are. Many plantings and harvests have gone by, many winters and summers, and many days and nights, and we see the evil natures of men and wonder why God doesn’t react. Well, He said He wouldn’t do that anymore, He has determined to save some and not destroy all again, but this time He wants more than a boat load. We have a choice to be what He wants to save, or to be among those that are destroyed, and we can become a part of the righteous harvest, or the unrighteous destruction.
There are many things in this world that we have to see and listen to as children of God, there are so many things that enter our eyes and ears and pierce our souls. But, praise be to God, we can stop the destruction by one simple task that we can undertake. We, can decide that those things will never come from us, we can determine to be builders of personal arks that can lift the world around us up from the dregs of sin and deliver them to our God, we can choose to be His miracles…God Bless.
Pastor William
Friday, March 7, 2008
Praise For Weakness
Character
Therefore keep in the midst of life. Do not isolate yourself. Be among men and things, and among troubles, and difficulties, and obstacles.
Henry Drummond 1786-1860, British Banker, Politician, Religious Leader
2 Cor 12:9-10
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. NASU
Are you comfortable with your weaknesses? Well, maybe you are one of those that have no weaknesses, or at least never look at your weaknesses to see what they are. The truth is that we are surrounded by weakness, there is absolutely no strong point in this world to which we might cling besides Jesus, and if we place confidence in our flesh then we are twice fooled.
Paul says in Phil 3:3, “for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. If we are placing our trust or confidence on anyone or anything other that God, then we are not secured in the eternal things that really matter, we will have no reward. Paul, a worker, a man of wisdom, an educated man in all spiritual matters, could have boasted of some confidence in the flesh, if there were any, and he chose to believe there was none.
So, are you placing any confidence in yourself right now, or are you aware of what self will do for you. Self confidence for the Christian is an awareness of what God can do through faith in Him, not in what we can do without Him. It is as a great gospel song says, “Without Him, I could do nothing, without Him I’d surely fail.” We must know that one of the greatest things that we can have as a Christian is an awareness of our weaknesses, so that we may find the strengths of Christ.
Paul says, “boast” of you weaknesses, so that you may find strength. Boast that you cannot face trials and difficulties, cry out to God for strength in times of distress and persecution, for in your confession of your weakness the strength of God can be found. Why, because God knows the power behind our pride and knew that our only way to perfection would be made as we confessed our weakness.
Let’s you and I start right now on a long list of our weaknesses, so that we may rest in the power of God. We can return to the Lord and confess all of our sinful trust that we have placed on these fleshly lives, and trust and be led again, by the Holy Spirit into His “Eternal” rest and peace…God Bless.
Pastor William
Therefore keep in the midst of life. Do not isolate yourself. Be among men and things, and among troubles, and difficulties, and obstacles.
Henry Drummond 1786-1860, British Banker, Politician, Religious Leader
2 Cor 12:9-10
And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. NASU
Are you comfortable with your weaknesses? Well, maybe you are one of those that have no weaknesses, or at least never look at your weaknesses to see what they are. The truth is that we are surrounded by weakness, there is absolutely no strong point in this world to which we might cling besides Jesus, and if we place confidence in our flesh then we are twice fooled.
Paul says in Phil 3:3, “for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh. If we are placing our trust or confidence on anyone or anything other that God, then we are not secured in the eternal things that really matter, we will have no reward. Paul, a worker, a man of wisdom, an educated man in all spiritual matters, could have boasted of some confidence in the flesh, if there were any, and he chose to believe there was none.
So, are you placing any confidence in yourself right now, or are you aware of what self will do for you. Self confidence for the Christian is an awareness of what God can do through faith in Him, not in what we can do without Him. It is as a great gospel song says, “Without Him, I could do nothing, without Him I’d surely fail.” We must know that one of the greatest things that we can have as a Christian is an awareness of our weaknesses, so that we may find the strengths of Christ.
Paul says, “boast” of you weaknesses, so that you may find strength. Boast that you cannot face trials and difficulties, cry out to God for strength in times of distress and persecution, for in your confession of your weakness the strength of God can be found. Why, because God knows the power behind our pride and knew that our only way to perfection would be made as we confessed our weakness.
Let’s you and I start right now on a long list of our weaknesses, so that we may rest in the power of God. We can return to the Lord and confess all of our sinful trust that we have placed on these fleshly lives, and trust and be led again, by the Holy Spirit into His “Eternal” rest and peace…God Bless.
Pastor William
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Giving Proof
Mediocrity
Nothing is as approved as mediocrity, the majority has established it and it fixes it fangs on whatever gets beyond it either way.
Blaise Pascal 1623-1662, French Scientist, Religious Philosopher
Rom 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NASU
Is your life giving this world any proof of the existence of your God? Does it proclaim His greatness or His goodness in anyway, or are you one of those silent Christians in the world, but one that sings at church. Lee Iacocca had a saying that was used in a commercial many years ago, I always liked it, it was something along these lines. Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I think that the way Christians are conforming to this world and not transforming this world, is getting in the way of the world seeing Him. A good word to us all this morning as Christians in this self-centered society, is to take heed to these words and take lead in presenting our Lord to this world. We must follow or support those that take a stand, (that is to stand with them “loudly”) and end this mediocre Christian lifestyle that is hiding the transforming, renewing power of our Lord from being seen.
God said that it was our “transformation” which included a transformed; mind, and lifestyle that could prove to the world around us good things, acceptable and perfect things. God promised us that through this renewal we would find His Will for our lives and the living out of His Special Will in us would prove to this world that His perfect will was the best plan for all His children.
For us to live mediocre lives is to take from God the Glory that He deserves, and the praise that should come from those that are on this earth who never praise Him because they don’t see Him in our undedicated lives. Silence is sin, for us to let our lives go speechless and nameless through this life, and to not give God praise and Glory for who He is, is great sin. It is as the sin of hiding the Masters coin in the sand, and returning to Him nothing while it is in your power to give Him profit.
Scott Alexander once wrote, “All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity are easy. Stay away from easy.” Are you living the easy life, or are you ready for the challenge, lets you and I live lives that will leave behind us the proof of the reality, beauty and power of our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
Nothing is as approved as mediocrity, the majority has established it and it fixes it fangs on whatever gets beyond it either way.
Blaise Pascal 1623-1662, French Scientist, Religious Philosopher
Rom 12:1-2
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NASU
Is your life giving this world any proof of the existence of your God? Does it proclaim His greatness or His goodness in anyway, or are you one of those silent Christians in the world, but one that sings at church. Lee Iacocca had a saying that was used in a commercial many years ago, I always liked it, it was something along these lines. Either lead, follow, or get out of the way.
I think that the way Christians are conforming to this world and not transforming this world, is getting in the way of the world seeing Him. A good word to us all this morning as Christians in this self-centered society, is to take heed to these words and take lead in presenting our Lord to this world. We must follow or support those that take a stand, (that is to stand with them “loudly”) and end this mediocre Christian lifestyle that is hiding the transforming, renewing power of our Lord from being seen.
God said that it was our “transformation” which included a transformed; mind, and lifestyle that could prove to the world around us good things, acceptable and perfect things. God promised us that through this renewal we would find His Will for our lives and the living out of His Special Will in us would prove to this world that His perfect will was the best plan for all His children.
For us to live mediocre lives is to take from God the Glory that He deserves, and the praise that should come from those that are on this earth who never praise Him because they don’t see Him in our undedicated lives. Silence is sin, for us to let our lives go speechless and nameless through this life, and to not give God praise and Glory for who He is, is great sin. It is as the sin of hiding the Masters coin in the sand, and returning to Him nothing while it is in your power to give Him profit.
Scott Alexander once wrote, “All good is hard. All evil is easy. Dying, losing, cheating, and mediocrity are easy. Stay away from easy.” Are you living the easy life, or are you ready for the challenge, lets you and I live lives that will leave behind us the proof of the reality, beauty and power of our God…God Bless.
Pastor William
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Cheering Each Other On
Affirmation
It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
Claude M. Bristol 1891-1951, American Author of ''The Magic of Believing''
Heb 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASU
Do you believe? It is the most important question you can ask yourself today. You may have said you believed at one time in your life, but where is your heart now, do you still believe? Are the heavenly things that Jesus promised you still in your sights today, do you still truly believe? Affirmation is important isn’t it, we all seek it, we seek for someone to say that our direction and life’s meaning is worthwhile don’t we.
For us to stay in the race it’s nice to hear the cheers from those on the same track. We, as Christians should make encouragement a regular part of our fellowship and worship experience. Paul tells us that for us to hold on to that original confession, without wavering, we should be stimulating each other towards love and good deeds, and the only way for us to do that is to be seeing one another on a regular basis.
I think that the Church is failing in today’s world mainly because we are not seeing enough of each other. Some churches have cut services back to once a week, and I am sure that isn’t enough time to be encouragers of one another in the service of Christ our Lord. The world has succeeded in some cases of putting the church in their closet of convenience, they do not hold fast their hope, and they do not stimulate their hope with encouragement. Instead they through in a few moth balls of “Yes, I believe in God, but I can find Him and worship Him without going to church, I don’t have to be with others to worship.
I believe if everyone that felt that way would go to the Word of God, they would always find that God “happens” in the midst of people. He loves people, and He interacts with them. You are not going to go to the mountain and become a monk to experience Him, you will experience Him in being with others and in helping others. A simple glance at the life of Jesus will tell you where you should be, and what you should be doing. TV preachers are fine, but experiencing true worship can only be felt in the presence of other believers of the Body of Christ. And if you go to the hospital or if your family has needs, a TV preacher isn’t coming to “your” house or to your bedside.
Love is time, and if you really love God you want to spend time with Him. The best way to do that is to meet WITH the Body of Christ at every opportunity, it’s a good habit to get into, it will preserve you and me for that approaching day…God Bless.
Pastor William
It's the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.
Claude M. Bristol 1891-1951, American Author of ''The Magic of Believing''
Heb 10:23-25
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. NASU
Do you believe? It is the most important question you can ask yourself today. You may have said you believed at one time in your life, but where is your heart now, do you still believe? Are the heavenly things that Jesus promised you still in your sights today, do you still truly believe? Affirmation is important isn’t it, we all seek it, we seek for someone to say that our direction and life’s meaning is worthwhile don’t we.
For us to stay in the race it’s nice to hear the cheers from those on the same track. We, as Christians should make encouragement a regular part of our fellowship and worship experience. Paul tells us that for us to hold on to that original confession, without wavering, we should be stimulating each other towards love and good deeds, and the only way for us to do that is to be seeing one another on a regular basis.
I think that the Church is failing in today’s world mainly because we are not seeing enough of each other. Some churches have cut services back to once a week, and I am sure that isn’t enough time to be encouragers of one another in the service of Christ our Lord. The world has succeeded in some cases of putting the church in their closet of convenience, they do not hold fast their hope, and they do not stimulate their hope with encouragement. Instead they through in a few moth balls of “Yes, I believe in God, but I can find Him and worship Him without going to church, I don’t have to be with others to worship.
I believe if everyone that felt that way would go to the Word of God, they would always find that God “happens” in the midst of people. He loves people, and He interacts with them. You are not going to go to the mountain and become a monk to experience Him, you will experience Him in being with others and in helping others. A simple glance at the life of Jesus will tell you where you should be, and what you should be doing. TV preachers are fine, but experiencing true worship can only be felt in the presence of other believers of the Body of Christ. And if you go to the hospital or if your family has needs, a TV preacher isn’t coming to “your” house or to your bedside.
Love is time, and if you really love God you want to spend time with Him. The best way to do that is to meet WITH the Body of Christ at every opportunity, it’s a good habit to get into, it will preserve you and me for that approaching day…God Bless.
Pastor William
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
To Arise Morally
Morality
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
George Washington 1732-1799, First President of the USA
Eph 2:12
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
NASU
Listen to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson an American Poet, Essayist, who lived from 1803-1882, “The fatal trait of the times is the divorce between religion and morality.” As you can see one of the early problems of this newly found democracy was the steady creep away from Godly principle. We shouldn’t find that surprising because we mostly see this in our own lives don’t we. Aren’t we always fighting within our own souls to keep Christ the aim and center of our lives?
Socrates 469-399 BC, a Greek Philosopher of Athens had this to say of morality, “A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.” Spoken in today’s vernacular, it is to say this, “we justify our actions, by our feelings, and if it makes sense to us at the time, it is justifiable. Mistakes are often made in this way and the comment made afterwards is this, “Well, at the time it made sense.”
There is a great danger in this sinking and diminishing morality, for the deeper we sink the faster and easier it becomes to disappear into the depths of moral depravity, and the harder it is to rise again to reason. Bertrand Russell once said, “We have in fact, two kinds of morality, side by side: one that we preach, but do not practice, and another that we practice, but seldom preach.” In other words we are saying one thing and living another, and the other life we are living, we really don’t want anyone to explain, and we chose to live in ignorance, rather than examine its direction.
This is an important subject, for we have made excuses for our departure away from where we began as a country and as Godly Citizens of this country. It is time to rise, it is time we as the people that began as “One Nation, Under God, re-centered our aim and direction so as to stop the moral sinking of who we are, and redefine ourselves as a people centered around the Word of God, with a Godly love and caring for one another as defined in the Word of God. We can love all people, but we cannot compromise with anyone what made us a Great Nation, and that is the principles and commandments of our “Great God”…God Bless.
Pastor William
Let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion. Reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.
George Washington 1732-1799, First President of the USA
Eph 2:12
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
NASU
Listen to the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson an American Poet, Essayist, who lived from 1803-1882, “The fatal trait of the times is the divorce between religion and morality.” As you can see one of the early problems of this newly found democracy was the steady creep away from Godly principle. We shouldn’t find that surprising because we mostly see this in our own lives don’t we. Aren’t we always fighting within our own souls to keep Christ the aim and center of our lives?
Socrates 469-399 BC, a Greek Philosopher of Athens had this to say of morality, “A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true.” Spoken in today’s vernacular, it is to say this, “we justify our actions, by our feelings, and if it makes sense to us at the time, it is justifiable. Mistakes are often made in this way and the comment made afterwards is this, “Well, at the time it made sense.”
There is a great danger in this sinking and diminishing morality, for the deeper we sink the faster and easier it becomes to disappear into the depths of moral depravity, and the harder it is to rise again to reason. Bertrand Russell once said, “We have in fact, two kinds of morality, side by side: one that we preach, but do not practice, and another that we practice, but seldom preach.” In other words we are saying one thing and living another, and the other life we are living, we really don’t want anyone to explain, and we chose to live in ignorance, rather than examine its direction.
This is an important subject, for we have made excuses for our departure away from where we began as a country and as Godly Citizens of this country. It is time to rise, it is time we as the people that began as “One Nation, Under God, re-centered our aim and direction so as to stop the moral sinking of who we are, and redefine ourselves as a people centered around the Word of God, with a Godly love and caring for one another as defined in the Word of God. We can love all people, but we cannot compromise with anyone what made us a Great Nation, and that is the principles and commandments of our “Great God”…God Bless.
Pastor William
Monday, March 3, 2008
Seeking His Will
Understanding
Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.
St. Augustine 354-430, Numidian-born Bishop of Hippo, Theologian
1 Cor 2:14-16
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. NASU
The mind of death, is the mind of the flesh. The flesh must die for the Spirit to live in side of us. Rom 8:6 tells us “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Now that is a rude awakening for most, but the confusion comes when we are waging the battle of the minds. That is when we are trying to understand God’s will for our lives, how do I make the “right decision?”
There are some things that help us in this area. For one the right decision is not always the easiest decision. God may require us to step out in faith and believe Him for a miracle, or to completely trust Him with our lives and all that we are. Sometimes it may call for sacrifice, but there is one thing that will always accompany this if that is true. He will open and close the doors, and you will feel Him doing this.
How do you lay yourself before the Lord and take your hands off of your life in these times? You do it with the mind of Christ. This is when your faith becomes sight and you lay your life in His Hands to be guarded safely through your trials. Christ did this when He came into this world to save us, at His Birth, and at His death when He left this world. At each crucial point, Christ had no control, except to say, Father…Thy Will be done.
There will be much advice that you will receive, but there will only be one voice that you can trust. You may be scared, but you will feel comfort, the doors will open and you will step through. One thing to be careful of is to not listen to your voice of want, for what you want, may not be what God wants. The mind of Christ beckons once again…Father not my will, but Thy Will, peace comes, we get up and we go on.
The peace may not be outside, but it will be inside, the comfort may not be seen by others, but it will reside in your soul. That is peace, that is safety and that is the kind of mind that keeps things on target, and that target is the mind of Christ. We do as Paul says in Heb 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Pastor William
Seek not to understand that you may believe, but believe that you may understand.
St. Augustine 354-430, Numidian-born Bishop of Hippo, Theologian
1 Cor 2:14-16
But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ. NASU
The mind of death, is the mind of the flesh. The flesh must die for the Spirit to live in side of us. Rom 8:6 tells us “For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.” Now that is a rude awakening for most, but the confusion comes when we are waging the battle of the minds. That is when we are trying to understand God’s will for our lives, how do I make the “right decision?”
There are some things that help us in this area. For one the right decision is not always the easiest decision. God may require us to step out in faith and believe Him for a miracle, or to completely trust Him with our lives and all that we are. Sometimes it may call for sacrifice, but there is one thing that will always accompany this if that is true. He will open and close the doors, and you will feel Him doing this.
How do you lay yourself before the Lord and take your hands off of your life in these times? You do it with the mind of Christ. This is when your faith becomes sight and you lay your life in His Hands to be guarded safely through your trials. Christ did this when He came into this world to save us, at His Birth, and at His death when He left this world. At each crucial point, Christ had no control, except to say, Father…Thy Will be done.
There will be much advice that you will receive, but there will only be one voice that you can trust. You may be scared, but you will feel comfort, the doors will open and you will step through. One thing to be careful of is to not listen to your voice of want, for what you want, may not be what God wants. The mind of Christ beckons once again…Father not my will, but Thy Will, peace comes, we get up and we go on.
The peace may not be outside, but it will be inside, the comfort may not be seen by others, but it will reside in your soul. That is peace, that is safety and that is the kind of mind that keeps things on target, and that target is the mind of Christ. We do as Paul says in Heb 12:2, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Pastor William
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- Pastor William F Burroughs
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