Something to think about.

You can’t change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday March 29th.
God's timing is perfect.
In our bible study on Thursday nights we have been looking at the life of Joseph and every time I read his story I am encouraged and inspired to trust in God more completely. We're at that point in his life where he is in prison and two prominent men from Pharaoh's palace are placed in prison with him. While they are in prison they have dreams and Joseph tells them what their dreams mean. For the one man it means that he will be restored to his place as Pharaoh's butler. Joseph asks this man to remember him when he's once again serving Pharaoh. It's seems so clear, this man will go back to Pharaoh and tell him of Joseph and then Pharaoh will hear Joseph's case and finding him innocent will release him from prison. But the cupbearer forgets Joseph and Joseph stays in prison another two years! Joseph must have thought, "God, what's going on?!" But here's where we're reminded that God's timing is perfect. If Joseph had been released when the cupbearer returned to his position as Pharaoh's butler Joseph would never have been placed at the very highest position in Egypt. God put the cupbearer in prison so that Joseph could interpret his dream so that when Pharaoh had his dreams Joseph would be called and through interpreting Pharaoh's dreams he would be given the highest position in Egypt. And here's something else, Joseph's "salvation" came from a totally unexpected source and in a totally unexpected way! God's solutions to our situations are so unique and unexpected and it's exciting to wait upon God to see how He is going to bring glory to Himself through our situation. The key here is to wait for God's solution and not push for our solution. I don't know what struggles you are facing right now but I have confidence that God has an amazing solution, just be patient and WAIT for His solution is far superior to yours!
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

"He who thinks only of number one must remember this number is next to nothing."

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday March 22nd
Obedience brings trouble.
“Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and you have not rescued your people at all.” (Exodus 5:23 NIV) Moses is confused; God had sent him to tell Israel that God was going to deliver them from Egyptian bondage but all that has happened is more trouble has been brought against Israel. I’m sure you have experienced the same thing. We work hard at doing what it right; we try harder to do it God’s way instead of our way and all that seems to happen is we experience more problems. But, why does this surprise us? Is it because we view God as a “means to an end” instead of the “end” itself? What I mean is, we come to God so that he can fix our lives. With our obedience we’re actually trying to trade with Him – I’ll be good if your fix what’s wrong with me. However, we must obey God because of who He IS and not because of what He can do for me; we will still experience the attack of the devil but we will see this as being part and parcel of being with God. Since the devil is at war with God, when we surrender to God we will become the focus of his attack. However, now we see these troubles as proof that we’re doing something right instead of thinking that we’re doing something wrong.
Pastor Don

Something to think about.

“Worry is the wrong use of the imagination”

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday March 15th
Can a Christian survive apart from a church?
There are many who are convinced that one can be a Christian without "going to church". How do you feel? Would you agree with them? Well, to be honest sometimes the thought has crossed my mind, I mean sometimes people are just hard to understand, sometimes people have expectations that are just impossible to meet. Relationships are hard work, there's no question about it. But, just as you were born into a family you didn't choose so too with God's family. However, back to our question: can a Christian survive apart from the church? The answer is no, and here's why. The church - that's the congregation of believers, not the building with the steeple - is the mechanism (if I may use that word) by which God strips away my selfishness, my pride, my independence, well, He strips "me" away. You see God won't let me get any closer to Him if I won't get close to my Christian brothers and sisters. Husbands if you mistreat your wives then God won't hear your prayers. Christian, if you won't forgive your brother or sister then God won't accept our worship of Him. Our relationship with God is tied to our relationship with one another. Another reason why church is important is because at church you come under the preaching of God's word and it is through His word that God shapes you into the image of Jesus. It is through the preaching of His word that He speaks truth into our lives and without truth we would be like ships tossed about on the ocean, no direction and no anchor for the soul. A third reason why we can't survive without the church is because in the church we come under the authority of the church leadership. Now I can hear you running for the door but this is perhaps the most important reason why God calls us into community. We are like sheep, we're always going astray and we NEED God's leaders to lead us and, when necessary, correct us and as shepherds bring us back to the safety of the fold. Since our relationship with God is tied to our relationship with one another, then just as you cannot survive without God so too you cannot survive with the church.
Pastor Don

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Something to think about.

You have made us for Yourself, and therefore our hearts are restless until we find our rest in Thee. (Augustine)

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday March 8th
Church is a community thing.
What does the church mean to you? Why do you go to church? What do you like about church? Is the church an indispensable part of your life? The answers to these questions are relevant because I think many go to church out of "me" centered reasons. Without realizing it church can become just another place where it's all about me. We live in a culture that exalts the individual. This is seen clearly in our entertainment, education, economics, domestic patterns and religion which are all geared toward the idolatry of self. Phrases are frequently heard like, "celebrate yourself", "you must first love yourself"; "you deserve to spoil yourself", and relationships are often jettisoned in order to go off and "find ourselves". Without realizing it we believe that it's all about me and so we go to church IF I need it. And if "church" doesn't "pump me up" then I feel like I wasted my time and if it happens often enough I start looking for another church where my needs will be met. However, Jesus brings us into a community that scripture describes as a "body" - each part serving the rest of the body. Jesus places us in a community where you must die to self and deny yourself. The church is where we as individuals learn to love others; we learn to put others first; we love them because Jesus loves them. Another important function of the church is that in the church we are held accountable. If the church is truly living as a community it's not a place where you can hide but where the Holy Spirit will challenge you and convict you through that brother or sister that comes alongside you and encourages you and, if necessary, gently but firmly challenges you. Our narcissistic culture is slowly killing us but God will bring real life through this community we call church (if you stick around) - He will take your eyes off yourself and focus them on others and that is a very healthy thing.
Pastor Don.