Peace or A Fight

Good Morning,

Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

vs. 35 "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

vs. 36 “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

One of the things the devil uses very successfully is the godly person’s desire for peace. I am not only talking about Christians, I am talking about common, decent people. The normal decent person is not looking for a fight; they are not looking for contention; they are not looking to argue and attack.

Look at what the liberals did with President Trump. There has never been anything proven about January 6, about Russian collusion, or about countless other issues. He was consistently proven innocent in all of these matters, but evil stirred up a fuss.  Truth did not matter; strife was the goal.  It was the same for Clarence Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh.  If conservatives are thinking they need a candidate without all the fuss attached to him, they had better choose a liberal.   It would be wise if we decided whether we want the right candidate or peace.

Our founders had to make a decision regarding their relationship to England. For years, they tried to secure peace and order between the colonies and England. Strife and battle were the last resort, but it had to happen.  Someone had to be willing to stand up and fight.   

To that crowd that wants peace at any price, I say, go on and compromise on everything from your marriage to your children! People are free to compromise on morals, job, and finance! Go ahead! Be a communist rather than fight for liberty! Embrace peace rather than righteousness! Go ahead and use a soft path rather than a righteous path! Choose a church so passive that it makes no waves - that is what America allows.

Remember, the river is crooked because it follows the path of least resistance. 

I say, go ahead! Find your way to a peaceful existence where there is no tension or strife, and you will find yourself destroying and losing everything that you hold precious.

If a two-year-old stomps his feet and you give him his way, you may create temporary peace, but you set the scene for war in the future. 

The devil’s crowd knows that we do not like to throw a fit and cause a fight. If we lose an election, we go on about our business with our jobs and our families, and we wait for the next election.

If a liberal does not get his way, he throws a fit and causes much tension just as a two-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. Silly conservatives give in because they would rather have peace than right. Consider the spirit of our founders as is made clear in Samuel Adam’s address: 

Samuel Adams in a speech to the Second Continental Congress on August 1, 1776.

“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”

Look at the number of Scriptures that deal with fighting: 

“Fight the good fight…”

“We wrestle not against…”

“Stand fast in the liberty…” 

• In Galatians 2 Paul publicly withstood Peter to the face. 

• Abraham had to tell Lot to go.

• Noah was not directed by God to pick the soft, easy path.

When Jesus comes, it will not be in peace and kindness, but with a sword.  

Being peace-loving people is right, as long as our love for peace does not supersede our desire for right.   There will be strife in this life, or righteousness will be forfeit.  

Pastor  

Great Friends

Good morning,

We will always find people in each area of life who are exceptional, and according to their role or their place in life, it is proper to give them the honor that is due them.

Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

This verse in Romans tells us that there are people in political positions who deserve appropriate honor and even fear.

In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul spoke of some unusual Christians, people who also deserve unusual honor.

Timothy

1 Corinthians 16:10 "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.”

vs. 11 “Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”

Timothy began traveling with Paul as a very young man.  According to verse 10, he did the same work Paul did regarding church planting,  soul winning, and preaching.  At Corinth, Paul wanted to be sure that when Timothy got to this new city, he could do God’s work without fear and that no one would despise him.  Paul also wanted to be sure people would help Timothy along on his journey and not look down on him for any reason.  Timothy was not an apostle, but Paul said that he was worthy of special treatment.     

The House of Stephanas

God also mentions the family of a man named Stephanas.  It appears that he was one of the first people saved in his area and that he was a great leader in his church; it was said that he was “addicted to the ministry.”

1 Corinthians 16:15 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”

vs. 16 "That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”

Stephanas’ family was such that Paul wanted them lifted up and honored, a family that people would be wise to trust and to follow.

Verse 16 ends with an interesting statement, “…and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”  Paul urged the body of believers to submit themselves and to choose to follow the leadership and wisdom of, “…every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”  

Paul said nothing about following the businessman, the smooth talker, or the bold and confident leader, but he did say the church would be wise to follow and trust the leadership of those common people who are addicted to the ministry.

In a culture that idolizes an athlete, a singer, or a movie star, I am amazed how often we struggle with giving honor to people who are servants of God.  Paul certainly did not teach that kind of Christianity.

You can look around our church and find people who punch a clock in a secular job forty to sixty hours a week, but they are tireless laborers and even addicted to the Bible and the ministry of the Gospel.  What a blessing to have people among us whom we can honor and look to for wisdom.    

Pastor

Against the World

Good Morning,

When Peter wrote of Noah and Lot, he referred to the world in which we live. (2 Peter 2:5-7)  The picture is sad, and the results are tragic, yet God will allow men to travel the road of their own choosing.  The destination though is out of their control.  

In the following verses, Peter lists a few of the character traits of these people:

2 Peter 2:10 “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”

vs. 13 “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time…"

vs. 14 “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

Notice the actions and character traits by which they are known: they are unclean; they despise government; they are presumptuous; they are self-willed; they are covetous; they are unstable and take part in rioting, adultery, etc.

These characterizations perfectly describe American liberalism and outline our government’s system of teaching the children in schools and colleges.   Ultimately, this description identifies the people who leave the paths of righteousness and follow sin.

Although, we should remember that there is a reward.  The prior verses talk about Noah and Lot; both lived in a day when God poured out His wrath on countless people.  

vs.13 "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness..."

Mankind has always had sinful "believers" (as Lot who was described as "righteous and just" 2:7-8).  The world has always had those who followed the path of shame and filth.  The believer has a choice: to live like the world or to walk daily against the grain of the covetous, shameful world, and stand up for God and right.

If a believer chooses to walk in the world and love the things of this world, then that believer will end up losing all on earth (as Lot did) and face God with no rewards to give Him.  

1 Corinthians 3:15 “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

The end result is far better to be a "preacher of righteousness" (2:5) and be the misfit, outcast, and object of ridicule - as Noah was.

I heard a preacher say that the world moves against the sun; every day it is evident that the world moves one way, and the sun moves the opposite way. The entire world system moved against the Son, and if we are to follow the Son, we will be in constant conflict with the world. 

Pastor

Slow Down

Good Morning,



Nehemiah 1:3  “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”


vs. 4 “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”


vs. 5 “And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:”



Do you remember when Job had his terrible trouble?  His friends showed up and spent a week just sitting with him, crying.



Job 2:12 “And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.”


vs. 13 “So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”



We have been used to a fast-paced society, one in which we race to work and encourage our children towards academics and sports when they are very young.  We hurry romance, marriage (and divorce), as well as time with family.  What ever happened to spending time with the family?  Evenings at home are almost extinct.  Instead, they are filled with all of the events we rush through in any given week.



Nehemiah was in Babylon, a part of the captivity.  He had a good position at work and had probably grown up there in Babylon, somewhat a slave, an outsider, an immigrant.  Yet when he heard circumstances were not going well “at home,”  he sat down and for certain days to pray, fast, and mourn.



I would like to make the case for slowing down a little, especially when trials come.   We need to draw near to God, to seek His presence and help, and to do so without any hurry in mind.



With all of the pressure that had been forced upon the Lord, He went to pray for long hours.   He had time to spend with widows and fallen women, time to eat at the home of religious leaders, and to time to have close friendships with Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and others.  He was known for blessing the children and for teaching by the hour.  He reminded us of the importance of visiting those in prison, and the fatherless and widows.  Jesus urged us to pray.



Let me urge you to prayer -- to pray for those who hurt, for the broken, for the troubled, for the wonderful people we all know like Job who had friends who sat and wept for seven days with him.  Care and prayer go very closly together, and spending time is a requirement for both.



Our hurried society has kept us from receiving the strength and peace our Lord promised.  We rush to do good things and find ourselves needing anxiety pills.



The days before technology were perhaps no better; but certainly, the ability to get a text message during our time in the Bible, or to answer a telephone when in prayer, has not helped in keeping our walk with God uninterrupted.  The big need is to eliminate the hours wasted on foolish entertainment.  If we were to take the hours spent on sports and spend them on time with the family, solitude with Christ, or visiting the needy, our twenty-four hours each day would be more restful.  No matter who you are, to do as Nehemiah or Job’s friends did when they spent hours or days in mourning certainly requires sacrifice.



May we learn to slow down, to care, to pray.



Pastor

Christmas Day - The Pricetag of Blessings

Good Morning,

Merry Christmas from Mrs. Goddard and me. 

As we remember our Saviour's birth, may we remember that it was difficult.

• The era was first century (not the easiest time in which to be born).

• The location was far from home and family.

• The medical situation was difficult.  Having a baby in a stable, with no doctor or hospital, was obviously awkward for this couple.

• Socially, Mary and Joseph were uncomfortable; the couple was associated with the rumor of Mary’s unfaithfulness - which, of course, was untrue.

• Spiritually, the battle was difficult. The young couple probably asked themselves what God was doing? They could not have had any idea of all that was involved in the situation.

• Their age made it difficult.  They were young, probably financially broke, and it was the first time they had experienced childbirth.

• The surroundings were uncomfortable.  Imagine what may have been happening as these strange shepherds came to the stable telling stories of angels and who knows what else.

• The future was going to be difficult.

All that to say, our blessings have a high cost.  The gift of eternal life was expensive beyond words.  When God asks us to face an injustice or a trial, may we remember that He also faced injustice and unrighteous actions of others.  May we be reminded that God uses injustice for His glory; our job is to surrender and follow, not complain and become bitter.

Pastor 

Who Cares?

Good Morning,

Christmas is certainly a time of encouraging fellowship, enjoying family reunions, exchanging gifts, and expressing love.  To Americans, Christmas is a few days off, extra food, and spending a little extra time with those we love.  I am certainly in complete favor of all the above.

We need to understand that Christmas was originally about the most incredible sacrifice that ever could have been made.  The original Christmas involved a Father giving up His only begotten Son.  The original Christmas involved a young couple surrendering to a life of absolute uncertainty and instability, beginning with a baby born far from home in a manger.  The original Christmas was not focused on food and receiving gifts, but on a cross, hatred, tragic violence, and giving of the most sacrificial kind.

The original Christmas was all about saving mankind from hell.  The original Christmas included the willingness to give up everything for everyone to have the opportunity to gain salvation.  The original Christmas was founded in the deep depravity of mankind but was built by focusing on the deep love of our holy God.   The original Christmas was comprised of sacrifice, death, and giving people a chance to find salvation.

How can we think of Christmas or Easter and not consider the lost people of this world? 

I hope this Christmas you will determine to carry Gospel tracts, to witness to those whose path you cross, and pray for lost souls. That is what Christmas is all about. We are to sacrifice in order that others might be saved. This is the Gospel message that started in Bethlehem and ended on a cross.

Merry Christmas (with the real Christmas in mind)!

Pastor

The Fight

Good Morning,


A battle is raging. Do we ever wonder why the battles come?  Of course we do, yet God said we are "soldiers" and that we are to "war a good warfare." Satan has no use for churches that continue to train folks to live for the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

vs. 4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

2 Corinthians 10:4 "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;"

If we read our Bibles, we ought to expect a fight.  Paul spoke of our "wrestling" in spiritual battle as well.  

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

We fight because we live in a troubled world, just as every other human being, saved or lost. We all face sickness, car accidents, family struggles, and much more.  As Christians, we have spiritual wickedness in high places to face.  The demonic evil will always fight against us; especially if we daily seek the will of God.  We should also remember that we are flesh, and that we live in a fleshly house that is prone to wrong.  Our old body would rather eat than fast, sleep than read the Bible, or relax than teach a Sunday school class.  Our enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Although none of us like it, we should accept the reality that we will fight, will wrestle, and will have enemies that will try to keep us from doing the will of God.  The fight is normal; just do not give up the fight.  

Pastor

Active Christians

Good Morning,

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

We have created a sedate society that sits, watches, and does very little.  Americans are television watchers; they have no fight, and they do not strive for the goal, labor to succeed, or spend long hours staying up late to achieve their desires.  We have raised a generation that plays video games rather than kickball on the playground.  Children used to ride bikes, run outside, go to ball courts, put up basketball hoops, build forts, and dig holes – not now.  

We have adult-controlled games so no child gets punched in the mouth for saying stupid things. (There ought to be a healthy fear of getting beat up; that is life, and every person should learn it.)   Children used to learn that being stupid yields hurt: riding bikes, climbing trees, or even by saying dumb things.

We have developed passive parenting.  Parents want to reason, talk, and logic with their children, but that is not what the Bible says about raising children.

Matthew 7:21-25 tells about being “doers," and ends up with the story of the wise man who built his house upon a rock.  Notice that he built something.  

vs. 24  “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

Those who DO what the Lord says, are the wise men; not those who just sit, watch, or hear. Matthew writes again on this subject:

Matthew 12:50 “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

In our present day, the government controls our speech, tells us what can and cannot be said. (Why cannot I say you are tall, short, etc?) Employers have training about how to address co-workers or customers.  Why does someone else’s feelings control my right to speak?  That is the philosophy of the Old Europe our founders left behind; hence, they wrote the First Amendment - the freedom to speak.  Satan likes people who obey, sit quietly, and do what they are told to do, even if it is drink Kool-aid from Jim Jones in Ghana.  I think it is confusing that the parents who allow all kinds of language on the television do not want anyone to say the word "stupid."  

Our government wants to develop a mindset that obeys without resistance: "put on a mask," "get this shot," "work on Sundays." I do not care what you do; that is your free choice, as long as it is your free choice.  I care when someone forces another to do things against their will.  One may consider someone bad for not wearing a mask, yet another may consider them weak and uneducated for wearing one. The choice should be that of the individual, not because someone said he must.

1 John 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

John says that if you are not a KEEPER of the commandments, you do not know God.  Keeping the commandments is not accomplished by simply sitting in church, but by doing what the Bible says; that makes you true to God.

Running a risk, taking a chance, and trying, even if you fail is reality!  Who will start businesses or churches if no one is willing to get involved and do something?

For years, we have been changing into people who stay out of situations; such as not helping when someone is getting beat up or robbed.  I like the commercial of a Texas store where a guy pulls out a gun to rob the place, and instantly, ten customers pull their guns to stop the robbery.  Some years ago, a bank security guard in Southern California was fired from his job at the bank. The bank policy was to allow robbers to go so that harm to customers would be avoided. This security guard waited until the robber was out of the bank to pursue him.  He caught the robber and held him for police… but the bank fired him anyway.

Many convenience store workers are told to allow folks to steal rather than to allow a conflict. If those guys were caught and were tossed into jail, they would not rob, and then the rest of us could pay less for our goods.

Satan wants folks to allow criminal elections to take place and for honest people to do nothing. That is a passive response; we need an active response. The American revolution was not passive.

Back to the church; we need folks to get involved!  We need people who go soul winning and teach Sunday school classes to be active not passive. Get involved in giving, in teaching, in spreading the Gospel, in working on the buildings and grounds, and in becoming a part of active Christianity!  For Christmas, give God an active Christian life.

Our church motto is “A Church of Active Faith.” May we live it.

Pastor

Disillusioned

Good Morning, 

I have heard people say they were disillusioned with church. I find it interesting how many other things people are not disillusioned with that are just as frail and often disappointing.  Whining about being “disillusioned” is due to two basic mistakes we make. 

The first mistake we make is that we do no realize:

1. How wonderful the church is.  The church is so awesome that God bought it with His own blood.  It is the church that is responsible for most people getting saved and to Heaven.  It is the church that has kept spiritual truth alive. The church set the foundation of America. The church is the place missionaries are called, marriages and funerals are conducted, broken life’s are mended, and countless other good things – but most importantly, God loves it!   If God loves the church, I may be frustrated by some of the sinners within it, but God knows best. I chose to love the church!

Regarding being disillusioned, the second mistake on our part is that we forget:

2. How woefully sinful mankind is. 

Man is so bad that the Son of God was the only One capable of paying their debt. Man is so bad it required the torture of God’s Son to pay for our redemption.

Satan wishes folks to become dissolution with the church: he hates it. The church is his arch rival because it is the entity responsible for souls being saved, for the truth being preached, and for God being glorified.  

If folks stop attending church, all those things will cease. 

Consider how many times folks have been disappointed by those around them. Dads or moms have allowed drugs, booze, job and moral shame to ruin their potential as a good husband and father or mother and wife.  So what do all those kids do, commit suicide?  Give up on life and sit around useless?  No, they went on, cried, and though the road was harder, they continued to do what they thought best.  Most did not give up on the family or the marriage.

How many business partners have wronged their partners and stole money or clients or the entire business.  What happened next was sorrow, shock, and self-examination. Those who were wronged went on with life.  They did not give up on the business world; often, they went right back in; and in some cases, they were better for their hurt. Though hurt, people are not dissolution with business or family, they get hurt but go on.

Spiritually, we can address other areas in life the same way.  The Bible commands us to tell the world how to get saved.  The Bible also commands us to go to church, to read our Bible, to pray, to forgive, to serve, to teach the Bible to others, as well as countless other lessons on money, marriage, children, and our relationship to others.   When we are hurt or disappointed, do we simply those out those lessons? Do we ignore the eternal jobs God designed us to accomplish because someone disappointed us?  (Tell that to Joseph as his brothers sold him into slavery.) 

Can I make this personal for a moment? After four decades of pastoring, how many people do you think have disappointed me? How many people did I invest countless hours, countless dollars, and incredible amounts of love and attention into, only to see them disappear, or worse yet, attack and slander me.

If I were to quit because people disappointed me, I would have quit my first year. To some extent, I understand how precious the church is and how sinful people are; and for those two reasons, I stay true to my Bible, my church, my God, and my spiritual heritage. 

When the thought, “Someone let me down,” crosses my mind, I wonder what I was expecting? Was I expecting no one to ever let me down, or no one to turn and walk away?  Have I read my Bible all these years and not seen how Saul, as the leader, tried to destroy his loyal follower David?  Have I spent the decades reading the Scriptures and not noticed that Jesus had a Judas? Did I also fail to see that the disciples accepted the reality of Judas’ sin, and they went right on about their business preaching the Gospel and starting churches all over the world? 

I may go on with a sick stomach, but by God’s grace, I will stay faithful to a soul-winning Baptist church.  I may weep often during my day, but I will still read my Bible, pray, and as God allows, teach the Bible to a group of adults or children.  Someone hurting me does not lessen the temperature in Hell.  Someone doing me wrong does not make Heaven any less wonderful; I still want to help people get there.  Because someone walked out on me, does not justify me walking out on others. I will still sing in the choir, play in the orchestra, work in a ministry, or drive the Sunday school bus. When someone sins, the value of my visitation to a jail or rest home does not decline; bringing the Gospel to those who cannot get to church is priceless. 

My parents split up, and we lived the “single mother” life for some time.  Then there was an addition of a step-dad.  Okay, now what? Should I have changed my life goals? Of course not; I knew I still wanted to be married, have a family, and enjoy life. I did not toss out family dreams because sometimes things did not work. 

I cannot judge a heart, but those who become disillusioned are probably hurt, thinking entirely of themselves, and have an unbiblical view of man and church.  If we get those two right (the biblical view of man and church), we can go on.  Whether we are weeping, hurt, or wounded, truth and right should be our guide. I would like to assure you that I know many who have done this very thing, and enjoyed life and Christian service.  God can heal you and help you get back on the biblical road of Christian victorious living. 

Pastor 

Go Fund Me

Good Morning,

I heard Pastor Domelle make a statement on his morning youtube video: "Go fund me or God fund me?"   He was speaking of how we run to a social media platform when trouble comes instead of going to God.  I am 100% in agreement.  I have never sent money through "Go fund me.”  I will send a check or cash to help with a need, or I will do whatever I can to help people I know (and those I do not know). Regardless of the need, I will not participate in a program that makes God-hating liberals rich, and will keep money back if they do not like the cause.


What happened to prayer, the church, and Christian friends? 

Have we forgotten the Canadian truckers who never got the money that was sent to them?  Some social / political demon determined that freedom was not to be funded. 

Now some will say that getting the word out is so much faster through go fund me. That may be another problem: we do not want to wait on God to fix our problem.  As everything else in our culture, we want it NOW!!

I will take a shot in the dark to say that I bet few, if any, of the go fund me projects ever had a group prayer meeting over the need. I doubt the "friends" who want everyone to contribute through this heathen organization ever fasted a day for a friend in need.  Now I admit, I could be wrong, but think and ask yourself, when have you had anyone send out a group text for a special prayer meeting, or to ask friends to take a meal or a day to fast for the friend in need?

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

I do not think it a sin to use go fund me, but I think it is an occasion for the flesh to take the lead rather than the spirit. Likewise, I am not against giving to friends or strangers in need. In four decades of ministry, we have rarely kept a Wednesday night offering; we give them away.  We give away special offerings when we have communion.  We give money away when we gather food and grocery gift cards for the poor. We give away millions of dollars to missionaries. I encourage people to carry cash for the needs of the poor we meet throughout the week.  The beggar does not have a way to use "cash" from phone to phone.  

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you…"   That statement is in the Bible! 

Giving is an intimate part of the Christian life, but like many mission boards who retain endless donations, I want my gift to go to the person I intend it for, not an organization taking advantage of the needy.  

During the holidays, check the percentage of your donations that actually get to the need.  You will find that some of the biggest charitable organizations are sucking away your gift and giving it to advertisers, administrators and office staff who get the majority of the donations.

Let us give, but may we be sure it gets to the intended person, and perhaps waiting on time in prayer and fasting can be reinstituted.  

Pastor

Personality

Good Morning,

Years ago, I had a dentist that I loved to visit.  He had the personality of a doorknob (absolutely none at all), but the guy was punctual, financially reasonable, and made my teeth better.  I do not visit the dentist office looking for a friend, I want my teeth to work and I do not want to wait forever to get in the office.  He retired, and I have yet to find his equal.  My current dentist will ask over and over if he is hurting me; and I admit, I like that, but most dentists can shoot enough novocaine into my gums to stop the pain.  Can the dentist be a good steward of my time, which is short? I am amazed how many people cannot keep appointments.  My dull dentist was amazingly punctual, and I loved it.

Before I offend this delicate generation, allow me say that I think being nice is good, and I think being polite is proper, but this generation has made "nice" the "priority."  One of our young men who played tackle football would smile and help the other guys up (after crushing them on the field), and I am not against that, but I want him to take the opponent to the ground with passion. Winning the game and having character to do right in a difficult situation is the priority!!  Nice?  Take it or leave it.  It is called football - not "niceball!"

John the Baptist called people vipers and whited sepulchers. Paul called out Peter publicly and often named people who were trouble makers in the church.  Elijah made fun of the gods of the prophets and mocked them publicly.  (Then cut them to pieces; he was not nice.)

Luke 3:7 “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.”

Acts 13:10 “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”

Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all,”

Verses like these are all through your Bible.  (Another reason boys need dads is because moms tend to elevate nice.)

We allowed the media to get people to resent Trump's temperament while the nation prospered like never in my lifetime. I do not want a nice doctor, I want one that can get me well.  I do not care if the president says, "I just love our Chinese neighbors" or  "Speak softly and carry a big stick,” I want our nation free and safe.  I am not looking for a pastor in the White House or Congress.  I am looking for political leaders who will protect my freedom, the freedom of others, and keep our nation functioning economically.

Stupid Americans or crooked people took away the most prosperous time Americans have had in generations, and the only real complaint was, "He is not nice.” Those people would not have liked Jesus, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Micah, or any other man of God in the Bible; neither would they have liked Patton, MacArthur, or Bobby Knight (who won 902 college games).

Pastor

Angry At God

Good Morning,

Job lost ten children and all his wealth, and he handled it okay. Another attack of Satan brought about the loss of health. Job’s answer to his wife was still one of faith, "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not evil also."  It was not those things that brought Job to the precipice of wrong.  Job had some friends who were innocent and broken for their friend, but it was at that point the hole in Job’s armor was discovered.  While his friends attacked his personal righteousness, accused his children, and slandered his character, Job began to bathe in self-pity and turn in frustration toward God.  

When we are pressed, I mean pressed until the weak spot is discovered in our spirit, mankind sometimes has the idea that he can be angry at God, at the church, or at people the Lord placed in their lives.  People may go through life almost ignoring the existence of Deity, but when hurt comes, someone needs to bear the brunt of their anguish.  Even the faithful Christian may, as Job, find himself so deep in sorrow that he begins to cast verbal or heartfelt wrath at the loving Lord Who gave His Son for our sins.  

Many a backslidden Christian sits home bitter at the former church or pastor over failures of their own children or their own marriage.  Many people blame God for their trouble, and perhaps it really is the plan of God, but we had better be wise enough not to become angry at the One Who holds the world in His hand.  

Ezra 10:3 “...those that tremble at the commandment of our God;”

Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?”

vs. 35 “Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?”

God railed on Job for a long time and Job gave the right answer.

Job 40:4 “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.”

vs. 5 “Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”

God ignored his humble submission and continued to rebuke him. This man, made by God for the glory of God, who had no power or wisdom, dared to challenge and to accuse God.  Job was reminded that he ought to fall before God and tremble.  

Psalm 99:1 “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble.”

God asked this question:

Jeremiah 5:22 “Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence…"

When circumstances of life go hard against our dreams and goals, and when suffering enters our life, may we weep, cry out to God, pour out our hearts, and lay broken before Him, but may we not foolishly accuse Him.

Job 1:22 “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”


Do we think God is hurt that we are angry at Him?

Do we suppose God is a grade-school friend whose feelings will get hurt when we do not treat Him kindly?

Do we suppose that God even cares that we disagree with His eternal will?  

Understand that this God, against Whom man is foolishly angry, has no problem sending multitudes of people to an eternal Hell.  The God towards Whom some spew vicious words allows cities to crumble under earthquakes, villages to be buried under mud slides, and sends hurricanes and tornados to shred communities.  Yet man, who cannot tell right from wrong much of the time, sits bitter and angry at the God Who holds all in His hands. 

God makes this observation clear in Solomon's writings;

Ecclesiastes 6:12 “For who knoweth what is good for man in this life…"

What makes mankind think they know what is best or right?  We do not know what tomorrow holds.  We do not know the length of life or the course of nations.  We can sit and weep before God.  We can sit submissively broken over our loss, but how vain and frail is man to harbor bitterness towards the Almighty.  


David wisely said, "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39:4)

Yet some bask in the useless spectator's seat in a church where nothing eternal happens, preaching is guarded so as to never offend, ministry never touches sacrifice, and sin is never named or condemned.  As they sit there, they growl at God for the hurt they faced in life and condemn God never to be the leader or Lord of their behavior.  

Do not be angry at God!  It is better to curse the police or have a child scream at his parents than for man to be angry at his Creator.  

On the other side, do not be too hard on people; heavy burdens enter into our lives.  If you sense someone is bitter at God, just love them and allow God to bring them around. (It is probably not your place to correct their thinking.)   We know there is no reason to be bitter at the Lord, but we also know there is an enemy who is vicious as well as experienced at manipulating the emotions of men.

Whatever it is you are facing, remember anger toward God is too risky.

Pastor

Purpose For Life

Good Morning,

Many times, God is busy working, yet men have no concept that He is.  Consider the situations surrounding one's salvation or the great success of a business. These situations often seem random, but we understand that God works exactly where He sees fit.


Such was the case when Israel was in captivity and Satan had set out to destroy the people of God.  Haman (as other satanic men throughout history have done) sought to kill the Jews.  Esther had providentially found herself in the palace of the king, but the information that she was a Jewess was still not known.  Mordecai asked Esther to approach the king, but that could only be done at great risk to her life.  Mordecai said the choice was hers to make, but God would save Israel one way or another.  Esther had a chance to be a part of something God was going to do; the choice was hers.

Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Notice several truths from this passage.

1. The choice to speak up or not is ours to make.

"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time..."  This might refer to soul winning, speaking a word of praise or encouragement, or perhaps teaching a class at your church.  There will be times placed specifically before us when we have an opportunity to be involved in the work of God.  


2.  God will get His work done one way or another.

"...then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place..."  God has plans to accomplish, and He will find a way to fulfill those plans.  God will be sure to accomplish His plans, with or without us.  I am not saying everything will turn out great even if we fail to do our duty.  The children God gave us will not turn out the same if we do not do our Scriptural duty.  A marriage will not be the same if we do not each treat our spouse in a biblical manner. Missionaries will not have the same provision they might have had if we do not give financially.  In all these situations, God will help folks survive, and somehow they will get along, but the end result will not be what it could have been.  Life will be more difficult.  Struggles will be greater, and trials will be more fierce. God will find a "Plan B" and folks will continue to go on through life; the solution will just have to come from somewhere else.  

3. We will lose if we do not jump in and do what God has led us to do.  

"...but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed..." We do not know all that would have happened if Esther had not stood up for her people, but it appears that her family would have suffered for her failure.  

Consider the story of Esther and what Haman might have accomplished if Esther had not stood for God and right. Haman was an evil man, a man who was thoughtless of life and an enemy of God and decency.  Without a doubt, Haman was a tool in the hands of Satan.  What evil might have been accomplished in future years if Esther had not stepped out of her comfort zone? Man cannot force events. We may be able to see little inklings of what might be or not be, but only God can see the potential of a given hour.  For this reason, He asks us to live by faith and to trust Him.

When I started Faith Baptist, if I had not been willing to do what I had never done before (go without financial resources and live a different life), there is no telling what would have happened in thousands of situations:  More than a dozen churches might never have been started, thousands of people might never have been saved, and tens of thousands of people might never have heard the Gospel. People may not have been fed, the lonely may not have felt loved, the hurting may not have been helped, the broken may not have been given hope, and countless unknown good things may not have been accomplished if my wife had not been willing to live on a shoestring.

4. What evil was suppressed by our presence?

What evil was suppressed by your proper behavior that may have run rampant without your decision to stand for God and right?  We might see the hurt and suffering in our lives and wish we had not been there or done that, but how much more terrible might it have been without the good that you brought into that world? Too much good has been accomplished for me to despair about the wrong around me. Enormous good has been accomplished by the people of God who stepped out to serve Him.  The wrong that Satan has slipped into our world would only have been greater without us. Would Jesus have wished not to come to earth because he knew Judas would betray Him? Would Peter have regretted following Christ and preaching Pentecost because he went to prison unjustly? Would Paul have looked from Heaven and regretted his decision to follow the Lord, having known all of the sufferings he would face, but also knowing the Bible books that would be written by his hand?  I think each of these people would do what they did again and a thousand times more if the chance was given to them.  

5. There is a reason (a reason unique to me) that I am here.

 Esther 4:14 “...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Mother, your children will grow up with or without a Bible-reading mom, but life will be easier and more honoring to God if you do walk with God.  God will receive much more glory and you will have fewer sorrows from a situation lived properly – but the choice is up to you. You can either miss out or glean the blessing of being the grateful participant in the eternal work of God in the hearts of eternal souls.   Dad, you can choose to be the father who sits in church with his family and teaches them the importance of loving God, the Bible, and the house of God. But if those children care, God will find a way to get His work done without you; you will simply miss out on the blessing of doing something spectacular and eternal.  Dad, in the long run, you will suffer loss for your failure to perform the duties God outlined in the Scriptures.   Whether God has you on this earth to work a Sunday school class or sing in the choir, He has designed specific jobs for you to perform – and no one can do them just like you can do them.  

Giving to your church will help you more than it will help the church.  Supporting missionaries financially will help the giver more than the recipient.  We have the opportunity to be a part of the work of God, and we have been invited to partake in heavenly plans. We will be eternally rewarded for serving the Master and His ministry.  

I am here on earth for a reason.  There is a reason for my background, my physical and emotional makeup, and my education – for “…such a time as this."  (Esther 4:14)

If we quit on our church and go back to our old lives,  God will find a way to continue His ministry, but it is we who will "suffer loss."  (1 Corinthians 3:15) We might sit in church doing nothing, yet know we can participate in the bus ministry, a rest home service, or a Sunday school class. Service is our choice; God will accomplish His goals one way or another, but we are the ones who will suffer the loss.  No one is more perfectly fitted for a job than we are; we are each exactly what God needs for a specific situation.  

At one point, I found myself directing the choir at our church, and I loved it, but I was probably not the one God had specifically trained for the job. I was simply a willing substitute.

I might move to another city for money. In so doing, I may pull my children away from a key influence in their lives. With that move, my children may be directed to a different college, have different friends and teachers in school and church, and may, perhaps, find a different spouse. Who knows what hardship my children will face because of my desire for worldly prosperity.  I will suffer loss as I and my family fail to participate in key events that God specifically designed for us to accomplish for His eternal glory.

Some people might feel that one path might be more difficult than another, but how difficult was the path Esther traveled? She suffered the loss of her family and her nation, and she was married to a heathen king – but she was exactly where God wanted her - "for such a time as this." She has been recorded in the eternal Bible to encourage all of us to do our duty to God and men.  

How much better might our lives had been had choices been made for God and eternity rather than convenience and money?  John warns about some who will be ashamed at the appearing of Christ.

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." 

May we be prayerful, careful, diligent, and spiritual in all the things we do or do not do.  "That no man take thy crown."  (Revelation 3:11)

Pastor

King James

Good Morning,

I asked a Bible teacher, "Do you believe the King James is the Word of God?"  He answered, “Yes,” and then as I asked followup questions. I received many varied answers regarding the Bible. He finally agreed that without Hebrew and Greek one cannot really know what the King James Bible says. He admitted that there is no English Bible that is accurate, word for word.

This idea is not new; it is actually common in the academic world.  In the middle of writing these words, I walked over to witness to a lady sitting in her car. She said, “With all of the different Bibles written by men, I simply have to trust what I feel God thinks.”  That is one of the reasons the devil has encouraged so many different versions – but that is not the big issue.  The varied editions and versions of the Bible take out vital doctrines: the deity of Christ, the reality of hell, the blood atonement, the second coming, and much more.  

Either we have a Bible or we do not!  The academic pastor or teacher would love to have people rally around him to hear what he thinks God said.  Saying things like, “What this word really means” or “This word should have been translated as...” should (in all honesty) alarm us and prompt each one of us to “study to show ourselves approved.” Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 

I will not attempt to explain manuscript evidence or establish versions and their authenticity in this article, but I will simply state that either we have a Bible or we do not.  Either God‘s Word has been preserved for us, or we have no idea where God‘s Word is.  In Matthew 4:4, Jesus did say, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  I believe that God knows what He is saying and that He did preserve His Word so that we might live by every word as Jesus said. 

Here are a few verses to support this thought: 

Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” 

If we are not to add to HIS WORDS, and we are to believe that EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE, then logically, we need to have God’s Word.  

When Paul was writing to Timothy, Paul reminded him that he had known the Scriptures since childhood and that the Scriptures were given by inspiration of God.

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 

vs. 16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

I have been told that Timothy and the average person in that era spoke Aramaic, and that the Old Testament Scriptures were, for the most part, written in Hebrew.  If Timothy spoke Aramaic, then he probably had a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into that language.  Whatever language he spoke, Timothy had Scriptures in that language so he could KNOW it from childhood.  The Scriptures that Timothy had were given by inspiration.  Therefore, there were and must be today, SCRIPTURES that were given by INSPIRATION or we would not be able to obey these verses. 

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures…"

Matthew 22:29 “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” 

John 5:39 “Search the scriptures…"

Since no one claims that any version of the Bible is inspired except for our KJV, and since the KJV has been responsible for every revival and great movement of God in modern history, I will simply believe my Bible to be inspired and preserved – It is the only Book I need to know the will of God for my life. 

Do not allow anyone to rob you of your Bible by silly intellectual debate about which language or which version is best.  With dozens of books on the subject and countless hours of research and study, I can assure you that our Bible is perfect and from God.  In simpler terms, when Jesus said we should live by EVERY WORD OF GOD (Matthew 4:4), He did not lie and He did not give you a command that you cannot obey.  It is only logical to assume that if He commanded us to live by every word then He would give us what we need to accomplish the assignment.  


Pastor 

Holiday Hints

HOLIDAY HINTS

Dear Friends,



Here are a few thoughts I have mentioned in the past; perhaps they will help lend some sanity to your holidays:



1. Budget - Create some kind of a budget for spending, either a total amount for the holidays or a per person budget plan.



2. Schedule - Schedule your shopping so that you do not wear out your family by staying out all night.



3. Keep Shopping Lists - Parents should have lists that record what was purchased for whom, especially those who are early shoppers.  Sometimes a gift is purchased early in the year and we forget that it was purchased and we end up repeating the purchase.



4. Forget the "I Have To" - You do not “have to” go to someone's house; you do not “have to” spend money; and you do not “have to” drink booze because others do.



5. Stay Spiritual During the Holidays - Stay in church; keep reading your Bible; and make a plan to keep your family close to God.



6. Remember Those Who Are Hurting During the Holidays - The poor, lonely, widows, and those who could be depressed or discouraged are in need of your encouragement during the holidays.



7. Keep Yourself Alive With A Vision — If you face some discouraging hours, write down things you plan to do in the new year. 



8. Have Fun - Do not get so focused on the holiday that you forget to smile, play, goof off with your family etc…



9. Keep Your Expectations Simple - Do not allow yourself to expect "things" or expect a "reaction" in response to things you give.

10. Remember Jesus - Take time with Him; it is His birth we are celebrating.

Pastor

Enjoy

Good Morning,

With holidays consuming our bodies and souls, I would like to encourage each one of you hard-working, passionate men and women to stop and enjoy your labors.  Sometimes we can get so busy working that it is difficult to stop, to relax, and to watch the grandchildren play.  

God says it is fine to enjoy the fruit of our labors.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

Ecclesiastes 3:13 “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.”

You have worked; and you have worked long hours.  Stop and spend some time doing nothing, watch Muppets Christmas Carol or Mr. Smith goes to Washington.  Enjoy a walk with children to the park, or go on a bike ride.  If you are anything like me, the work is never all done, nor will it ever be. 


I could get up on Christmas morning and work eight or ten hours just like any other day.  Notice what God wrote:

Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”

“Nothing better” than to enjoy the good of your labor.  Take a cruise; go camping; and if you like guns, go shoot them. 

Do not miss the end of the verse (especially you high-pressure, non-stop people):

2:24 “…that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”

3:13 “... it is the gift of God."

Make yourself enjoy the good gift of God.  Force yourself to stop, play, and relax. Honestly, it will not hurt. 

Pastor

Prayer

Good Morning,

We have moved quickly through the year, and I hope we have all kept some spiritual “resolutions” — to resolve to read our Bibles, pray, be faithful to church, to break the ties of certain besetting sins — all of which are good to improve upon.

Though I would like to suggest something upon which to focus — prayer.

Even though we reach the point at which we read our Bibles daily, we still tend to miss the quiet moments of talking with God.  There is more power with God in prayer than any of us understand.

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Here is a simple order from our Saviour:  ALWAYS PRAY!  Prayer ought to be a part of our lives all day long.  We ought to seek God’s insight at every turn, learning to “walk in the Spirit.”

Prayer helps us avoid trouble.

Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Prayer helps us avoid temptation.

Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

Luke 22:46 “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

In those verses, God gives us two incredible reasons to pray: to avoid temptation and trouble.  PRAY!

Read the parable in Luke 18, and you will see the entire story.  We are to consider prayer as our bothering God.  Persistent, non-stop prayer is the way to get things we desire -- for others.

Luke 11:8 “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

Prayer ought to go on often throughout the day.

Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is the pathway to peace in troubled times.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

vs. 7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The “Peace of God” — what a precious possession to have in this world of sin and hurt -- that passes all understanding.  It comes to us partly through committing everything to God in prayer.

Pastor

Busy

Good Morning,

Most of us understand that life is busy, although, some people think they are busy because they cannot sleep when they want, play when they want, and watch television when they want.

I do not know much, but I do know this:  if you want something good, then it will take time.  A good home requires tireless work.  Good children, a good marriage, and an orderly and well-cared-for house all require an enormous amount of time.  Even keeping your body good takes time.  Time is necessary to plan good meals, to get exercise, and to assemble a well-planned wardrobe.

I can personally say that my life includes almost no relaxing time.  The desire to minister to people requires lots and lots of time.  Rearing good children took every moment I could squeeze out of life.  Of course, to stay married and like it requires me to draw from the last few moments from every day.

We cannot do what we feel like doing.  If we relax all day and exert ourselves only when it involves some personal pleasure, we should not expect anything good to come from our lives — this is the recipe for failure. 

I have watched successful college-age young people (those who have worked their way through school, served in ministries, and worked to do right), and in watching them, I can tell you, they were tired — they had no extra time.  When I was in college, I worked six blocks from the Sears Tower in Chicago and never once got to go inside the building.  The first time I ever entered the doors of the Sears Tower was after I was already in the ministry and took a group of young people with me.   When I was in college, I had no time to play; but I never missed my bus route, never slept through a class, and never dreamed of missing a church service (except for Wednesdays when I had to work nights to pay my college bill).   (Student loans are the government’s way to get you indoctrinated in their globalism, secularism, and immoral mentality.)

Mark 1:10 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”

Mark 1:18 “And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”

Mark 1:20 “And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

Mark 1:21”And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.”

Nineteen times in the book of Mark, the word "straightway" is used. This word is only used eight times in the book of Matthew (a book almost twice as long), four times in the book of Luke, once in the book of John, four times in the book of Acts, and once in the book of James.  “Straightway” does not appear in any other New Testament book.   Why was this particular word used so often in the book of Mark?  It is the book that portrays Christ as the servant; and a servant has no time to waste. 

Do you want great children?  Training children will take every free moment — none to waste.  Do you want a great marriage?  No free time is available to the couple wanting a great relationship; a couple must work constantly at making marriage better.  Do you want a great church?  Having a great church requires your getting off the golf course, shutting off the ball games, quitting sitting around eating with friends, and getting to work!   A millionaire once said, “You make a living from 8-5, but you make a success between 5 and 8.”   I know pastors who have been in the ministry for several years who do not run any children's or teen’s activities.   That is why they have no young people; they simply do not care to work at it.   We ran our first teen activity with two teens, and the activity was held only two weeks after starting the church.  Since the first day of our ministry, we have had bike races, ball games, and countless children’s and teen activities — it takes work, but it also pleases God.  I may be accused rightly of being unorganized and terrible with numbers and schedule, but no one will accuse me of being lazy.  In case you have not noticed, God blesses work!!

I am in favor of leisure if it involves walking with my wife or fishing with my son.  I am for leisure if it includes a board game with children or reading a story at bedtime.  Ladies, sleeping in for half the day is a recipe for a messy home, an unhappy husband, and sorry children.  Get up and get to work!!  

"Work" and doing it  "straightway" is one great key to success.

Genesis 5:29 “And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”

Exodus 20:9 “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:”

Exodus 23:12 “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest”

Exodus 31:15 “Six days may work be done;”

Exodus 34:21 “Six days thou shalt work”

Exodus 35:2 “Six days shall work be done”

Leviticus 23:3 “Six days shall work be done”

Deuteronomy 5:13 “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:”

So how many days are we supposed to work?

Do you spend your time playing Pokemon, spending hours on video games, or sleeping in half the day?  When do you have time to train your children to work when you are sleeping all the time?    Watching television every night is hardly fellowship, nor is it a part of child training.  I walked in on my daughter-in-law the other day, and she had her eight-year-old carrying a small vacuum up the stairs to clean the carpets; and the next thing I knew, she was using two rags to dust all the wood along the stairs.  My sons were mowing the lawn long before they were as tall as the mower handle.  What is wrong with children cleaning their rooms, or washing and vacuuming the car inside and out?  The big issue is that it takes work to teach children to work, and most parents are too lazy to teach their children.

The average parents would rather toss their child into a public school and let the state tell the child he is free to choose his gender.  Allowing heathen people to train your children to think that the government owes them a living and that there is no God is being a lazy parent.   

To make a living for the family, to teach a Sunday school class, or to run a bus route for God and the eternal souls of men takes WORK.  Some churches would rather have a rock concert and entertain people rather than work at changing lives.

Do you want your children to attend the Christian school?  Your children could attend the Christian school if cans were collected all summer or sign twirling was done one day a week.  One of our men was out of work, and as a father of four, he walked house-to-house with a lawnmower and tools to wash cars — he paid his bills that way for several weeks until a job came along.  This dedication involves humble, hard work!  Work long hours; work till you drop; work two full-time jobs if necessary.  With hard work, anything can be accomplished!

Work!  Labor!  A few years ago, I talked to a single lady, whose story was not unusual.  She worked twenty to thirty hours a week and could not pay her bills and wanted my help.  I felt like making her follow my wife around for three days and see what the word WORK meant.  A single person could work eighty hours a week and still have eighty hours a week to do the rest of their duties.  I know Christian school teachers who teach full-time and work another twenty to thirty hours a week to pay bills because they want to serve God. 

We live in a cursed world.  If we want to make anything a success, work and toil is our lot.  Rest will come when we enter Heaven.  I have to say, if there is any fear in my life (with the exception of sin), it would be the day when I can no longer work long hours and make a difference — to sit unable to work would kill me.

Pastors, read, study, write, visit, and run activities for young people!

Pastor

Prayer

Good Morning,

As we have moved quickly through the new year, I hope we have all kept some spiritual “resolutions” — to resolve to read our Bibles, pray, be faithful to church, to break the ties of certain besetting sins — all of which are good to improve upon.

Though I would like to suggest something upon which to focus — prayer.

Even though we reach the point at which we read our Bibles daily, we still tend to miss the quiet moments of talking with God.  There is more power with God in prayer than any of us understand.

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Here is a simple order from our Saviour:  ALWAYS PRAY!  Prayer ought to be a part of our lives all day long.  We ought to seek God’s insight at every turn, learning to “walk in the Spirit.”

Prayer helps us avoid trouble.

Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Prayer helps us avoid temptation.

Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

Luke 22:46 “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

In those verses, God gives us two incredible reasons to pray: to avoid temptation and trouble.  PRAY!

Read the parable in Luke 18, and you will see the entire story.  We are to consider prayer as our bothering God.  Persistent, non-stop prayer is the way to get things we desire -- for others.

Luke 11:8 “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

Prayer ought to go on often throughout the day.

Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is the pathway to peace in troubled times.

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

vs. 7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The “Peace of God” — what a precious possession to have in this world of sin and hurt -- that passes all understanding.  It comes to us partly through committing everything to God in prayer.

Pastor

Discourage

Good Morning,

Discouragement: dis means away, like in the word distance; courage refers to spirit.

Discouragement is to have our spirit, our daring, and our willingness to try driven away, leaving us with no willingness to go on.

It is not a sin or grievous failure to be discouraged.  The finest people in history faced their moments of discouragement.


Charles Spurgeon had times of terrible depression.  Abraham Lincoln was said to have been often dark and depressed. Of his troubled times, Paul the Apostle said, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." (2 Corinthians 1:8)  One might consider this a description of discouragement.

Consider David after being chased as an animal in the wilderness.  It seems David was wearing down.

1 Samuel 27:1 “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines.”

Elijah had wonderful victories and obvious blessings from God as he prayed down fire from Heaven (1Kings 18:38), but just a short time later, he asked God to kill him.

1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

Clearly, people get weary, discouraged, depressed, and whatever other words you might chose to explain the "lost and hopeless" feeling that can overcome the best of us.  That is the time when our spirit is away from us.

Suicide is a selfish way out of discouragement. The depressed one forgets everyone else and takes the easiest way out for himself. He neglects the life-long memories of the innocent people around him, and forces them to deal with the tragic consequence.

Even Paul said, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" (Philippians 1:23) Paul was looking forward to getting out of this messed up world.

If you are in a time of depression or discouragement, you are not a failure, not a looser, or forsaken by God, you are a normal human facing perilous times.   The question is, "What do you do now?” If you want the long answer, get a copy of my book, Surviving the Tsunami in which I address the issue in over seventy chapters.  The short answer is, "Believe God!"  Just determine that God is worthy of our trust, no matter how circumstances appear.  

My point is that you are not alone when you get discouraged; the best of the people of God have been there.  You are a normal, average person who is facing a difficult time, do not allow the devil to make you feel that you are hopeless.   Do not give up!

Pastor

…On a side note, while driving by a local elementary school, I see a flashing sign in giant letters saying, "Girls Rule."  That phrase is not good for the boys.  Who would put their sons in that school? No one would tolerate the sign saying "Guys Rule!"  More on that another day.