Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Something to think about.
When you start to justify a little dishonesty because it seems insignificant, be careful because you’re one step closer to doing what you never thought you would do.
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday 30th
No Good News without Bad News.
“Since . . . we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). This will sound strange but we must be saved from God – saved from His wrath! Without Jesus we are under the wrath of God, or to put it another way, we are under the just condemnation of a holy God for our sin against Him, all who are under the wrath of God are condemned to an eternity in hell. That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news! If you will repent and believe in Jesus then your sins are forgiven. How are they forgiven? When you believe that Jesus took your place and was punished by God for your sins; all of God’s Holy wrath against your sin was poured out on Jesus! Now, if Jesus quenched the wrath of God then there is no wrath left for us. And if there’s no wrath then there’s only love for those who have placed their sin at the cross and received from Him a covering of righteousness. Your destiny has changed, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Place your sins on Jesus, receive His righteousness and change your bad news to good news!
Pastor Don
No Good News without Bad News.
“Since . . . we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God” (Romans 5:9). This will sound strange but we must be saved from God – saved from His wrath! Without Jesus we are under the wrath of God, or to put it another way, we are under the just condemnation of a holy God for our sin against Him, all who are under the wrath of God are condemned to an eternity in hell. That’s the bad news. But here’s the good news! If you will repent and believe in Jesus then your sins are forgiven. How are they forgiven? When you believe that Jesus took your place and was punished by God for your sins; all of God’s Holy wrath against your sin was poured out on Jesus! Now, if Jesus quenched the wrath of God then there is no wrath left for us. And if there’s no wrath then there’s only love for those who have placed their sin at the cross and received from Him a covering of righteousness. Your destiny has changed, “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). Place your sins on Jesus, receive His righteousness and change your bad news to good news!
Pastor Don
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Something to think about.
“If you can't ask God to make you a success at what you're doing, you should be doing something else.” Rick Warren
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday May 23rd
Has anyone seen my easy button?
One of the struggles we have as Christians is having the patience to GROW into Christ. Growing takes time and it is hard work; every day we’re faced with difficult choices and the struggle to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing. We all know that it’s not easy saying “No” to temptation. Don’t you wish you had an “easy button” for that “thing” in your life; that habit that you just can’t seem to master? If you could just hit your “easy button” and make it go away. Or, hit the “Easy button” and all the bad things about us are gone and all the good things we want are instantly added. Or, what about that decision you’re wrestling with? Hit the “Easy button” and the answer is clear. Fact is that God could just “zap” us and have us instantly changed; delivered; full of wisdom and knowledge about life, but what kind of people would we be? If we had an “easy button” what would we have learned? How deep would our relationship with God be? Would we know anything of His character? Would we know that He loves us; that He will always walk beside us? Oh, the “easy button” sounds wonderful but that would make us more like robots than people of character living everyday trusting in the providence of God. Character comes through struggle; relationships are deepened through sharing LIFE together, there’s no “easy button” and now that I think about it, that’s a good thing.
Pastor Don
Has anyone seen my easy button?
One of the struggles we have as Christians is having the patience to GROW into Christ. Growing takes time and it is hard work; every day we’re faced with difficult choices and the struggle to do the right thing instead of the wrong thing. We all know that it’s not easy saying “No” to temptation. Don’t you wish you had an “easy button” for that “thing” in your life; that habit that you just can’t seem to master? If you could just hit your “easy button” and make it go away. Or, hit the “Easy button” and all the bad things about us are gone and all the good things we want are instantly added. Or, what about that decision you’re wrestling with? Hit the “Easy button” and the answer is clear. Fact is that God could just “zap” us and have us instantly changed; delivered; full of wisdom and knowledge about life, but what kind of people would we be? If we had an “easy button” what would we have learned? How deep would our relationship with God be? Would we know anything of His character? Would we know that He loves us; that He will always walk beside us? Oh, the “easy button” sounds wonderful but that would make us more like robots than people of character living everyday trusting in the providence of God. Character comes through struggle; relationships are deepened through sharing LIFE together, there’s no “easy button” and now that I think about it, that’s a good thing.
Pastor Don
Friday, May 14, 2010
Something to think about.
"When you blame others, you give up your power to change."-- Douglas Noel Adams
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday May 16th
Just Do It! (or not)
There was a cartoon in which little George Washington is standing with an axe in his hand. Before him lying on the ground is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his admission that he did it -- after all, he "cannot tell a lie." His father is standing there exasperated saying, "All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is, when you are going to stop doing it?" We chuckle at this because it resonates with our experience. So many times we confess our sinfulness; we confess specific sins and we say we’re sorry and we feel bad, but when are we going to stop doing it? There is a time for sincere sorrow and apology and there is a time when we must stop doing it or start doing what we are supposed to be doing. That’s what Jesus’ half brother James is referring to when he said, “Remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. 23 For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”(Jms. 1:22-25) Do you want God’s blessing? Do you feel restless in your soul? Maybe it’s time to stop talking about it and just DO IT! (or stop doing it, as the case may be.)
Pastor Don
Just Do It! (or not)
There was a cartoon in which little George Washington is standing with an axe in his hand. Before him lying on the ground is the famous cherry tree. He has already made his admission that he did it -- after all, he "cannot tell a lie." His father is standing there exasperated saying, "All right, so you admit it! You always admit it! The question is, when you are going to stop doing it?" We chuckle at this because it resonates with our experience. So many times we confess our sinfulness; we confess specific sins and we say we’re sorry and we feel bad, but when are we going to stop doing it? There is a time for sincere sorrow and apology and there is a time when we must stop doing it or start doing what we are supposed to be doing. That’s what Jesus’ half brother James is referring to when he said, “Remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. 23 For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25 But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law—the law that sets you free—and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.”(Jms. 1:22-25) Do you want God’s blessing? Do you feel restless in your soul? Maybe it’s time to stop talking about it and just DO IT! (or stop doing it, as the case may be.)
Pastor Don
Friday, May 7, 2010
Pastor's Corner
for Sunday May 9th
Today is Mother’s day, a day we pay tribute to our mothers, that very special and significant person in our lives. Yet I know many face Mother’s Day with mixed feelings. For some of you, Mother’s Day just highlights some of the more painful aspects of your life. Perhaps you feel sadness because your own mother is no longer around, or perhaps because you have outlived some of your children. Then too, some of you may even feel resentment toward your mother because, to tell the truth, she wasn’t a very good mom. And our hearts break for those of you who long to be mothers yet God has not blessed you with children. Maybe you are a single mom and “motherhood” is simply exhausting. The apostle Paul tells us that, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”. If you are a Christian then God assures you that He will use everything that’s happened and is happening in your life to your good. That scripture goes on to tell us that the “good” that God is working through the “bad” stuff is to shape us into the image of His son Jesus. So, whether you had a good mother or not; if your mother is still alive or not, God is using that to shape you into the image of Jesus and for that we can give Him praise. I don’t know what Mother’s Day holds for you but whether it is a good day or a “mixed” day I hope this promise of God’s will encourage you today.
Pastor Don.
Today is Mother’s day, a day we pay tribute to our mothers, that very special and significant person in our lives. Yet I know many face Mother’s Day with mixed feelings. For some of you, Mother’s Day just highlights some of the more painful aspects of your life. Perhaps you feel sadness because your own mother is no longer around, or perhaps because you have outlived some of your children. Then too, some of you may even feel resentment toward your mother because, to tell the truth, she wasn’t a very good mom. And our hearts break for those of you who long to be mothers yet God has not blessed you with children. Maybe you are a single mom and “motherhood” is simply exhausting. The apostle Paul tells us that, “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”. If you are a Christian then God assures you that He will use everything that’s happened and is happening in your life to your good. That scripture goes on to tell us that the “good” that God is working through the “bad” stuff is to shape us into the image of His son Jesus. So, whether you had a good mother or not; if your mother is still alive or not, God is using that to shape you into the image of Jesus and for that we can give Him praise. I don’t know what Mother’s Day holds for you but whether it is a good day or a “mixed” day I hope this promise of God’s will encourage you today.
Pastor Don.
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