Doubt????

Mark 6: 4-6 -  Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household."  So He was not able to do any miracles there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them and He was amazed at their unbelief. Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.

After pondering over this subject, which I think you would agree is a common problem for all Christians, the Spirit began to speak to me about what it is that causes me to slump in this department, my problem is the same problem that prevented the citizens of Nazareth from seeing Jesus, it was what they already "knew."  

Paul warns us about this in Phillippians Ch 3:3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who serve by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh. The citizens of Nazareth certainly could not see past the flesh could they.  In fact we shouldn't be to quick to judge them, after all, this is the crowd that Jesus grew up around, the ones that were familiar with His family, you know they "knew" who He was in the flesh.

The old saying that goes something like this is so true, we really don't grasp the full meaning of it most of the time, " it is hard to fill a cup that is full."  So our problem is solved when we empty the cup of the flesh that it knows so well, and fill it with the Spirit of God who will help us past these "huge" problems that hinder our flesh from recognizing who God is in our lives, just as it hindered the people of Nazareth.

Is it easy, no not by any means, but that is why we are told in God's Word that without faith it is impossible to please God, for it is through faith in Him that we truly see who He is.   We cannot shrink back at the harder things, they are there to make us better, we are really to do the opposite, we are to "boast" of what Jesus can do in us and place all that we are in His Hands.  A big task for us all, but we have a big God...

In His Grip
Pastor William


Doubting

“I think the trouble with me is lack of faith. I have no rational ground for going back on the arguments that convinced me of God’s existence: but the irrational deadweight of my old sceptical habits, and the spirit of this age, and the cares of the day, steal away all my lively feeling of the truth, and often when I pray I wonder if I am not posting letters to a non-existent address. Mind you I don’t think so–the whole of my reasonable mind is convinced: but I often feel so.”

C.S Lewis

How To Burn Brightly

Paul is writing to Timothy from prison. He is desiring to inspire this young man that he spiritually adopted, with nothing held back...he loves Timothy. Timothy's world has seen the increased persecution of an unfriendly world and Paul wants him to survive this test.

2 Timothy 6,7  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

What is it that will sustain Timothy in the increasingly hostile world of Nero. I think it is love...Paul is communicating that isn't he. He is reminding Timothy of the moment he layed his hands on him and shared the ministry of Christ with him. 
What kind of love is that? It Family love. We can go back to Romans chapter 12 vs 9-11, and find this blazing flame here, "Love must be without hypocrisy. Detest evil; cling to what is good.  Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor.  Do not lack diligence; be fervent in spirit; serve the Lord."  Isn't this saying the same thing, Paul is encouraging family affection, brotherly love, showing of honer, diligence, and fervency of Spirit in serving the Lord.


I have heard so many times people use the excuse that they can "worship anywhere."  Yes, that is definitely true, but, and this is a big "but"  here, we have to be together to fan the flames of the Spirit in one another. This cannot be replaced with anything else, not a TV preacher, not a weekend on the river reading the Bible, or 40 days in the desert seeking God.  All of those things have there place. But we cannot fan the flames alone, it takes the Family of God around us to keep us honest, uplifted, accountable and strengthened.


For us to thing we can make it without each other is ignorance of the worst nature, and allows Satan to attack a lone Christian with no protection. If you go back to vs 1 Paul addresses Timothy as his dearly loved son. Was he Timothy's natural father? No, he was his spiritual father, and we have this same kind of relationship with each other in the family of God.  We are meant to be together, we make each other better and we can't do that unless we are acting like family. 


One of my first early memories of church was of the fans that used to be on the pews.  If everyone was fanning while the word was being taught it moved a lot of air in that room. I can remember sitting next to others that would make a wide swing with their fan to the benefit of those next to them, a young child, or an elderly person next to them. That's what I'm talking about, you need the fans of others to avoid overheating in this spiritual journey...you need the Family of God.

In His Grip
Pastor William

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”



― C.S. Lewis

What is Normal?

      Well, after being on the medicines that helped me deal with the pain from the the detereorating condition that caused my knees to age at an advanced rate and collapse, I am now getting back to feeling normal.  I now have two titanium knees, which I received last year. The first on May 5th, and the second on November 15th. The medicines that helped me to function somewhat normal, also came with the nasty effects of withdrawal symptoms from those pain killers.  This caused me to ask myself the question, if I am feeling normal again, what is "normal and, is it good to be "normal, " and do I really want to be normal?

     Deuteronomy 14:2, 1 Peter 2:9, and also Titus 2:14, gives me a clue as to the answer of my question.  Listen to God in Deuteronomy and then read the rest of these scriptures for yourself. "For you are a holy people belonging to the Lord your God. The Lord has chosen you to be His special people out of all the peoples on the face of the earth."

    The word read in many translations as "Peculiar" is interpreted in the Greek as special. That is something that God has said about you and I, we didn't choose it for ourselves.  This also removes from us the option of being normal, or ordinary. Now this can all get confusing if we aren't careful.  Normal is often what society says and defines as "Normal," and this can't be trusted as a safe guideline, and then there is the other standard, "just going back to being me," and what I think is normal.

     Well, if we go back to being ourselves, then we start a journey back to what God saved us from.  Now that leaves us only one safe shelter to return to from all of our journey's in life, and that's back to being that special person that God Himself called you to be.  You aren't to be normal, and God has already accepted the "ME" that you and I are, and now we continue on as His Special People, on a very special journey, to a wonderfully special place...with Jesus, He, Christ is the true picture of who we need to be...
Be Filled With His Blessings
In His Grip
Pastor William

 "Human beings, all over the earth, have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way, and can't really get rid of it."
C.S. Lewis
The Case for Christianity



      

Sweating The Small Stuff

     This past Sunday was a good experience for our church.  We all talk about trusting God through tough times, but when we face the reality of fear and testing we sometimes fail the exam.  Consider the pressure this morning that Jacob was under as he obediently returned to his homeland as commanded by God.

      Genesis 32: 3-8 - Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He commanded them, “You are to say to my lord Esau, ‘This is what your servant Jacob says. I have been staying with Laban and have been delayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male and female slaves. I have sent this message to inform my lord, in order to seek your favor." When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau; he is coming to meet you—and he has 400 men with him.”  Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; he divided the people with him into two camps, along with the flocks, cattle, and camels.  He thought, “If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, the remaining one can escape.”

     God had made specific appointments at different timesto visit Jacob and reassure him that He was with Him and that he would be Safe in His Hands.  God had given to Jacob the very same promise that He had given Abraham, and Isaac.  He would bless those that blessed him and cursed those that cursed him, He would be watching over him closely.

     Now look at Jacob as doubt begins to interfere with faith.  Most likely the servants that came back to report to Jacob may have had some doubts, but it doesn't matter where the doubt will come from, just be reassured that it will come.  Jacob now begins to plan ahead, he isn't comforted by what God has told him personally, he has to take things into his on hands. He splits up his camp, sends his family away and then starts sending gifts of contrition ahead to his Esau.

     Of course, if we read on we find that Esau was excited to see his brother and embraced him and welcomed him home.  When we doubt God we can end up looking foolish.  God had already been working ahead of Jacob and had prepared this day for him.  The years of hate had diminished and Esau was not the man he remembered. We must believe that God is working in front of us and that He has our days in His Hands, when we don't doubt will take away from us the experience of growing in faith as we see God's hands working in a real way in our lives.
In His Grip
Pastor William

     God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, or sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way. If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

INCREASING, OR USELESS

    

I'm sitting by the fire this morning as I write this and reflecting on the words of Peter in 2 Peter Chp1 vs 5 - 9... can't seem to let this go from Sunday, I think it is very important...

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.
     
Getting back to the fire...I've hauled a lot of wood that I cut and sawed to stay warm with this morning, and for that effort I will stay warm as long as I'm still cutting wood.  Now the results of that is the warmth I receive from God because of that effort, (a man once said, " The man who cuts his own wood gets warmed twice) I have stayed warm.
     Now let's apply those same principles to what Peter is trying to tell us. Peter says first, "make every effort," so we must ask ourselves first if we are making honest efforts to excel in these things.  He then shows us the woodpile, goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness,brotherly affection, love...ok, you've got the picture.  He then asks each of us two questions, "are they yours? and are they increasing."  Increasing is the defining word here in this scripture.
     Lastly he he tells us how to avoid falling in this trap, and then a picture of the trap itself, blindness, uselessness, unfruitfulness, and a shortsighted picture of who you were before Christ found you. You know who I'm talking about don't you?  The person inside of us who thinks we have earned our spiritual degree and are qualified and don't need anything else, we have it all figured out, and have quit chopping wood.
     The ashes of many logs will go out in a small bucket, funny isn't it, all of the resources that God will use to keep us close,  it's hard work chopping, heavy hauling it in, and easy to haul out, he uses all of this creation around us to keep us comfortable physically and most of all, God sent His Son to warm our hearts. He also requires of us to be chopping spiritual wood for us and others, and if we do not all become cold shivering forgetful Christians, and useless in God's Kingdom work.
May God Bless You Greatly
Pastor William

If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people together to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea”

Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Arise and Walk

Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but - I hope - into a better shape. --Charles Dickens







2 Corinthians 12:7b - 10
Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Pain and suffering is an many faceted subject in the bible, and in The Word of God there are over twenty one definitions for those two words.  There is suffering of all types that we experience in life.  Some of it is because of our own bad decisions, and sometimes it is the result of the decisions of others, but face it, it is a real part of life that none of us will escape.

God's Word clearly teaches us that we will experience different varieties of suffering. We will suffer because of our faith, and Jesus clearly warned us of this. He said if they persecuted me, they will persecute you, no puzzle there, it's straight to the point. Jesus suffered and we too will suffer that same kind of rejection.

But...when it comes to the suffering that comes because of the effects of time on our bodies, it is plain that Jesus had great compassion with our experience of aging, death and disease.  The shortest but loudest verse in the Bible is "Jesus Wept."  The pain and suffering of ageing and disease impacts us all, and doesn't discriminate by age, nationality or economic status.

You and I can rejoice that God did not leave us in this miserable state, but sent His Son to rescue us from this terrible fate.  We will suffer, but only for a "little while," even though sometimes it seems to drag on for longer than we would like.  Jesus also sees you and I just as He saw Lazarus, and He still speaks to us in our pain, and through our sufferings, and shows us a little more of who we are and who He is.  The very same Savior still calls out to you and I. He calls us out of our darkness and can loosen our bonds and cause us to arise and walk!

God Bless
Pastor William

What is WRONG with People???



What In The World!!!!



Let's pray that the human race never escapes from Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere.

C. S. Lewis

Dueteronomy 32: 43 
"Rejoice with him, O heavens;  bow down to him, all gods,  for he avenges the blood of his children  and takes vengeance on his adversaries.  He repays those who hate him  and cleanses his people's land."

We look around the world and the changes that are taking place and it is a much different world than it was fifty years ago. Now we all agree that washing machines and dishwashers are great, and so are the lights in the house and the cool air that we enjoy in our homes, but some things should never change, and those are God's great and precious truths.


We are living in an age that is lost in desire. God's precious Word had put walls around us and protected us from getting lost in those desires. Today they laugh at God's Word, and His people and even change God's truths to justify their sin. Not only that, they openly threaten God's people who object to those things that go against God's truth. Our government can show "respect" for all other "religions," but Christianity why? Because it has "real" power, not popularity.


We are force fed homosexuality on the air in our schools and it even is trying to penetrate our faith. We have seen Christian leaders fail miserably in the public forum and we have watched Satan rush the open flood gates to destroy the hope of those that trust in God. Some will read this devotion and call us narrowminded or bigoted, but we will wait until the day of judgement comes, and God plainly says, "he who endures to the end will be saved."


Their was a day that the word "gay" was used to describe happiness and holiday cheer, and today it has been redefined to mean something twisted and full of death, as described in "God's" Word. You and I have no reason to feel threatened by those that defend a selfish, and fruitless relationship. I shudder to think about children raised in these relationships; to think that this is the "norm." If that is ever defined as the norm in our society then it is a ticking timebomb that will quickly implode. I don't hate anyone, I choose to let God's Word define my world, not a society absorbed in self desire, and self motivation, but if I stand up for what is right, it is not always "popular" to the small estimated 1.7% of our world trying so hard to force us to accept their sin...God Bless


Pastor William

Leading Follows Loving

 

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
C.S. Lewis
1 Peter 1: 1-3
Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the •Messiah and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you:  Shepherd God’s flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God’s will; not for the money but eagerly;  not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.

So you are maybe saying to yourself, "hey, I wish my leaders were more like that." You wouldn't be alone of course in saying that, but you may want to take a step back like I did this morning to grasp the fullness of what Peter is saying to "All" of us. I think that the key word in these verses is the word "Example."

I have seen some consumed with the desire to be an "Overseer."  In my years as a supervisor I have personally heard a fellow supervisor say something to this effect, " I will walk on whoever and walk through whatever to get to the top." I remember the affect that had on my view of this person, because it instantly made me wary of everything that he said, and did.

Of course, by the grace of God, I was able to get past this because of an older more experienced supervisor who showed me by the way he lived, what it was to be a leader. After that I was "blessed"  to follow God's call into the ministry. Wow! It made supervision look easy.  I chose this picture of Mother Theresa because of the way she led by love and led others to follow her, and establish an order after her. Simply because of the risks she took in the ways that she loved others.

You see this verse is for all of us, not just "elders." Why would I say that? It's because I have never seen an effective leader who wasn't also a good follower.  We all can get lifted up and conceited in our Christian walk, and begin to dish out advice to others, and even sometimes speak against our "Elders" and "Overseers," which instantly puts us in the dangerous place of "Leading" those around us astray.Hebrews 13:17, gives insight: "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."

So many pastors, and church members, have locked their hearts away because of hurt, and you may be one of them, but to love is to take a risk.  Have you hidden your heart away so others can't hurt it? Has it gotten easier for you to just be "friends," but not brothers and sisters in Christ? It's the biggest problem in our churches today, love'em on Sundays, but don't get involved... so my question is this, just how can we be examples in the "Family of God" with distracted hearts, selfish hearts, or hearts locked up and hid away...God Bless
Pastor William

Are You Ready?

It is not a question of God allowing or not allowing things to happen. It is part of living. Some things we do to ourselves, other things we do to each other. Our Father knows about every bird which falls to the ground, but He does not always prevent it from falling. What are we to learn from this? That our response to what happens is more important than what happens. Here is a mystery: one man’s experience drives him to curse God, while another man’s identical experience drives him to bless God. Your response to what happens is more important than what happens.

Chip Brogden




1Peter 4: 18, 1918
 And   "If the righteous is scarcely saved,  what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?"   Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

I believe that this is an important fact for all those that identify themselves with the cause of Christ, regardless what name you might put over the top of what you believe.  Have you researched what it is that you have decided to dedicate your life too? C.S. Lewis said it well, "pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world."

God constantly from the very beginning knew our habit of forgetting who He was, again a good reason for God to call Himself, "I AM."  We have such short memories. "Yahweh" gave his beloved children instructions for different ceremonies for His people to come and gather and remember what He had done for them, in the deserts, in the valleys and finally on the cross. It wasn't an easy journey for any that chose to follow Him. It was marked with suffering and with sacrifice, something we tend to "forget" in the country and the world that we live in.

Americans are the most spoiled people in the world.  We have so many blessings and we are so unaccustomed to suffering that we do not know how to handle it, and our enemy knows it. Hence Satan's request to God after he had taken all of Job:s possessions and his children, "let me touch his flesh and he will curse "You."   This should cause us also to remember God's Word to us in 2 Timothy 3:1; But understand this, that ^yin the last days there will come times of difficulty."

Are you and I ready to answer those questions without banging our heads in frustration? Will we be faithful witnesses when things get rough? When the fig tree has no blossoms and no fruit is on the vine, and everything is collapsing around us, family, possessions and our faith is on trial before God and "The World."  Not without prayer, not without fellowship and the encouragement of the family of God.  We must be reminded every day where the power comes from, and fall at His feet for strength, for we, more than all before us, live in the "Last Days. We must continue to do good, and trust God through all that happens around us that He is in complete control of our lives...God Bless.

Pastor William

Christ is the End of All

Our destiny in Christ is eternal life. Death is merely a very temporary interruption in the midst of cosmic life.

C. S. Lewis

 

Romans 8:18-23     

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 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.  For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. (NASB95)

It is of great importance to spread the Good News! Christ in whom “All Things were created,” has put an end to death, hell and the grave for all that accept Him as Savior and Lord. Why is the “Lord” part so important? It is for us to answer His command and place the bows of our eternal ships against the waves of the world, to enter to port of our new existence

Christ our eternal Messiah, came to release our world from a spinning whirlpool of death. It is why “Our Lord” wept at the tomb of Lazarus, but the tears that flowed down His precious face also saw again the futility of death in which all of creation suffered, He wept over “Death” itself.

Makes me pretty sure we will not be hunting in heaven. Nothing will ever again have to die so that something can live.  That is why is so necessary for us to spread the message, The Death of Death has occurred, the lion shall lay down by the lamb. The Birth of Christ was the beginning of the end, and the start of a new existence with Him forever.

God Bless…Pastor William

Give Thanks in All Things

We ought to give thanks for all fortune: it is is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country”  C.S. Lewis

 

Ephesians 5:17-21
     So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (NASB95)

Thanksgiving is not just a “holiday,” nor is it just about cooking turkeys or getting the best sales on “Black Friday.” It is a time when we stop and consider what is important, and it is not the physical temporal things that we hold on to so tightly, it is about considering the value of others.

We should take this time to be thankful for our physical family as well as our “eternal” spiritual family, and forget and lay aside all of our personal needs and wants and concentrate on the value of those around us. No one exists as an island, but we sure try to do that in todays world.

We are all gears in a time piece ticking for eternity, and we are all needed to work properly in God’s timing. We may not understand what God is doing all the time in us and others, but it is important for us to realize how much we need God, and each other to make it to an eternity where time shall be no more…God’s Blessings

Pastor William

Expectations

“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.”

David Henry Thoreau

Acts 3:3-5 (NASB95)

         When he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he began asking to receive alms.   But Peter, along with John, fixed his gaze on him and said, “Look at us!”   And he began to give them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.

In this passage is a great secret that many Christians need to grasp and hold on to today. Here we see the man lame from birth, 40 years old who sat at the gate begging for his livelihood. We do need to see the attitude that he had as he sat at the feet of those that walked by.

His attitude when he saw Peter and John was one of expectation. He believed that he was going to receive something from them, he had a spirit of expectation. He was at a place of prayer and worship, was there a better place to seek mercy than at the meeting place of God’s people?

So I ask the question of us all today. What do you expect to happen in your place of worship this Sunday? Do you expect a wonderful life changing experience, or are you just going to meet your friends again and sing a few songs? God Bless

Pastor William

Devotion

To be Devoted implies solemn and exclusive devotion to a sacred or serious use or purpose.

Webster’s Dictionary

Acts 2:42 
     They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. (NASB95)

What do you think of when you think of the word fellowship? As a Christian does it bring to mind the times we get together as the Church to worship? I think for many this is what comes to mind. But this is not all that fellowship entails.

What we miss is the fellowship after the service, that is the times when we get to know one another outside the framework of gathered church meetings. I do think that we could enhance these meetings with more dedication to fellowship on other days of the week than Sunday's.

We see in Acts that the church was “Devoted” to fellowship. They were in fellowship with one another constantly and I believe that is what is missing in the church today. We love our locked up solitude, but the reality is we need to be more aware of each other and be united together as a family.

That can only happen when we spend time getting to know one another and to be more personally united in the bond of Christ. Didn't  Christ eat from house to house? Did He ever setup home somewhere to feed His earthly comforts? I think not, and it would be the best thing for the church today to come out of our homes and into the hearts of others.

God Bless! Pastor William

Peace

St Augustine said that "peace is the tranquility of order". Because peace is ordered towards Christ and the eternal Good, it is unlike worldly peace which is more like "a break between wars".

Romans 14:16-19 (NASB95)
     Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men. So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

I worry that many have abandoned the pursuit of peace, other than their own personal peace.  Many are confused about this subject, for this world has convinced most that peace is something that is all about us and has nothing to do with anyone else, if fact we don’t want any other worries right? We have enough of our own.

If we as Christians believe that the Bible is our authority for healthy spiritual living then these words from Paul are a good dose of medicine for us all to take. Paul says happiness is not found at Outback Steakhouse, serving myself, but is found in my serving someone else.

We are to be securing peace for each other, and in that exercise true peace with be found. Someone will be loving you and you will be loving someone else. Knowing that someone else feels we are needed in this world, somehow makes us more secure, and it builds peace around us and others. This is what we are to be chasing… and not the rabbits of self-desire that destroy us all. God Bless

Pastor William

Justice

“Justice and power must be brought together, so that whatever is just may be powerful, and whatever is powerful may be just.”Blaise Pascal

Deut 16:19
“You shall not distort justice; you shall not be partial, and you shall not take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous.

I had, what the judge called a privilege, to be called to present myself to the Federal Court house for juror duty this past Monday. It was a completely different experience from state court duty which I have been called to many times.

I was reminded by the Federal Court judge, and a video presented by the Supreme Court judges, of how our court system is a foundation of our democracy. It is a right to be judged by a jury of our peers, and I was amazed at the effort made to be fair to the defendant on trial.

For whatever reason I was not chosen to sit on the jury, only 13 of 31 were chosen, but the experience reminded me again of the foundation on which our nation stands. It stands on Biblical and Godly principals, and if our nation leaves that standard it shall suffer.

Compare that to the news today where the Arabian courts, under Islamic Law declared it legal for a man to beat his wife and children…and that system awaits to overtake our land…God’s  Blessings

Pastor William

Honestly!

No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Psalm 24:3-5    
Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place?  He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul 1to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.  He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. (NASB95)
Truth is something that requires special handling. It is simple and yet it can be harmful, or helpful. God’s Word gives us an insight in Eph. 4 15, “but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ.” 
Scripture tells us that we are to place the truth in a vessel of sacrificial love patterned by Christ. We find also from the beginning that God has placed us slightly behind His majesty in His commandments to us, which are commands and not just suggestions, as others have said..
We are commanded to Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and body. The second commandment…to love our brother as ourselves.  Ok, it’s pretty clear. We are to weigh our words carefully on the scale of “Agape Love.” Our words may sometimes cut, but you must also bind their wounds…God’s Blessings.
Pastor William

Washing Feet

“Think of the magic of that foot, comparatively small, upon which your whole weight rests. It's a miracle, and the dance...is a celebration of that miracle.”

Martha Washington quotes (American First Lady (1789-97), wife of George Washington, 1st US president. 1732-1802)

 Jesus knew that the Father had given everything into His hands, that He had come from God, and that He was going back to God. 4 So He got up from supper, laid aside His robe, took a towel, and tied it around Himself. 5 Next, He poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples' feet and to dry them with the towel tied around Him

I don’t know if we will ever get the full implication of what Jesus did here. One of the greatest things we need to see is that He, Jesus, Son of God, washed the feet of His Betrayer also.

Washing feet is an humbling experience for both involved. I had the privilege to practice this the other day and it has really stuck with me. It is yet another way that Jesus instructs us to help and support one another.

As Martha said, consider the magic of the foot, that which bears you up through all things. Jesus considered it, and left us this to ponder when we get so spiritually pure and proud that we will not humble ourselves to minister to others.

We never get so big that we are disqualified from this task. If God Himself will use it to humble a proud Peter, and to shame a traitor, we too should make this something that we include in our lives to keep our “pride” caged…God Bless

Pastor William

Cooling Down

I awoke this morning to temperatures in the sixties, and I must confess my disappointment. I am one who loves the Spring and Summer and tolerates the times between. Winter gives me two blessings, it is remembrance of my Saviors birth, and a chance to hunt.

By the way, God loves hunters, I ran across this scripture yesterday in my study of Genesis 10: vs 8-9. Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth. He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before the Lord.”

It made me feel a little more peace about my love of hunting, but just as much, my respect of the animals I hunt. We must also remember that we must use this authority we have over them well. We are not to kill needlessly or just for fun. I eat what I hunt and not just for a wall mount.

God placed a fear of us in animals, and that is to their good, and ours too. We must respect that fear for it keeps us from being gluttons as men are so bent to be. We see this in the whale, and in anything where we do not harness our desires. Isn’t that what being a Christian is about, harnessing desire…God Bless.

Still Here

It’s been awhile since I last invaded your mailboxes, and it has been a busy time.  We have painted and scrubbed, remodeled and rebuilt this house in Gainesville, and I have more time to do the important things that I really enjoy, and that is ministering.

Ministering, for me, is not just about preaching and visiting, but it is about reaching as many people as I can for our Lord and Savior in every way that I can to honor the life He gave for me. I know that you feel the same way.

Our problem is distractions.  We get led off of the narrow way by life, simply because it is so real and the necessities of everyday living so pressing. I am ready to get back on track and again try to help begin your day focused on what is really real, and relevant for our eternity with God.

Frankly I have missed you. As I listen for the Lord’s word for us each day, your faces come across my mind and my heart. I pray for you, and for your loved ones. It is like a renewal of friendship and faith, for we are one in that time. Jesus gave His life so we could all be one with Him and His Father, and each other…and so will we be forever…God Bless.

Moving On

Well we have gotten moved in finally and we are enjoying our new home that God has given us.  I haven’t really shared a lot of what is going on in our lives, but feel like it is time to get you all on board with us and praying for us as we go forward in the calling God has given us.

We are now church planters. It is a description given to men called by God to start new churches. Across our land many Southern Baptist Churches, and many other conservative churches are in decline.  We have missed a generation in our churches for many years, and we also ignore, to some extent, other segments of our society.

I believe that Jesus would not be pleased with some of the things that “The Church” of today is doing, or not doing. In the last two years around 140 churches have died annually. We have started around  120 new churches every year, but can’t keep up with the declining church.  We can either sit back and do nothing and keep doing church as usual, or we can ask our Savior what we need to do to change this.

Well, I asked, and I know what I have to do. We are in the middle of Gainesville, FL now, and everyone knows what a Gator Fan I am, but did you also know that it is the number one city in the State of Florida for abortions? God drew me here and now He is putting us to work. It is our hope to plant churches and to do it in a new way. Please place us on your prayer lists and ask God to use us for His Glory.

Our new address is 3301 NW 27th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605-2222.  We will be here for a while because there is much work to do here.  In the mean time, come by and see us.  We have a spare guest room and an in ground pool, that’s a good excuse to come to Florida and it’s cheaper than a motel. We would enjoy seeing you all and in the mean time please pray. Also, please continue to pray for our current new church, Journey of The Word, and for the churches that God wants to use us to start and also for churches that need to get an infusion of "Kingdom Vision." There is so little time and so much to do for the kingdom in today’s world.

With all our love and His Blessings,

William and Roxanne

My phone is 386-853-0040 call anytime, God Bless