Something to think about.

Your life either sheds light or casts a shadow.

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday Aug 1st
Glorify God even in death?
Jesus said this to let him [Peter] know by what kind of death he [Peter] would glorify God.” (John 21:19) I was struck by these words of Jesus to Peter. Jesus is telling Peter that he would die a martyr’s death and that this is not a tragedy but a victory! There is comfort in these words – you will bring glory to God even in your death! Peter at the arrest and crucifixion of Jesus had run away from death, but now, Jesus says, when his moment of death does come he will not fail but will bring glory to God in his death. Remember, Jesus had risen from the dead when he said this to Peter; the significance of this would not have been lost on Peter. Jesus’ death had glorified God because it was the ultimate expression of faith in God. Jesus’ resurrection proved that Jesus faith in God was not misplaced. It also proved that even in death Satan cannot separate us from God but in fact in death he places us in God’s hands! What a victory?! What glory?! Peter and every other martyr who has died for their faith in Jesus prove that even in death God is victorious! It is my desire and prayer that in my life I will bring glory to God and when it is my time to die, I pray that God be glorified in that too. What greater desire for a Christian can there be than to bring glory to God even in our death?
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

Failure is only an opportunity to begin again more intelligently. Henry Ford

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday 25th July
THE KNOTS PRAYER.
Dear God :
Please untie the knots that are in my mind , my heart my life.
Remove the have nots , the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind
Erase all the will nots , might nots that may find a home in my heart .
Release me from the could nots and would nots that obstruct my life .
And most of all Dear God ; I ask that you remove from my mind ,
my heart and my life all the “ am nots” that I have allowed to hold me back ,
especially the thought, that I am not good enough (Author unknown)
Pastor Don

Something to think about.

" It is never too late to be what you might have been." George Eliot

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday July 18th
This Choice is a BIG Deal!
When choosing ice cream, you choose what you like. When choosing medicine, you have to choose what heals. (Gregory Koukl) Choices! Some are easy and some are difficult. Some are easy because they are made according to taste and others are difficult because they have serious consequences. If you make a poor choice with ice cream it’s no big deal. But choosing the wrong medicine can kill you. Many would like to put Jesus in the ice cream category – if He doesn’t suit your taste simply choose another “flavor”. Our pluralistic culture wants us to believe that every person’s belief is equally valid and equally truthful. But it is very important that we realize that the choice between Jesus and other “religions” is choosing between a medicine that heals and medicine that kills. Jesus heals on two levels. First, He heals by removing the guilt of sin through forgiveness. A forgiveness that’s not simply saying “Forget about it, try not to do it again”. He forgives in that He was punished for our sins and so our sins are literally gone! The second level is that He lives in us through His Spirit and is able to empower us to stop sinning. Now we will never be without sin but through Jesus we do gain victory over sin. Jesus is not AN answer to sin He is THE answer to sin. This is an either-or choice, so choose life – choose Jesus!
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

“Being left alone by Satan is not evidence of being blessed” (from “Streams in the Desert”)

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday 11th July
Through judgment we are delivered.
Then I will rescue…my people, the Israelites—from the land of Egypt with great acts of judgment. (Exodus 7:4 NLT) In order for God to deliver Israel He has to bring judgment upon the nation holding them captive. Deliverance for Israel meant judgment against Egypt for their oppression. Let’s put that alongside this statement of Jesus’, “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” (Matthew 12:29 NLT) To set you free Jesus must judge the one who holds you captive. Is Satan holding you captive through some addiction? Does he hold you captive through pride, jealousy, anger, stealing, cheating? Before God delivers you He will judge what holds you captive first. I’m not talking about the final judgment, only Jesus can save us from that judgment. These judgments are when God very clearly puts His finger on something in our life and says, “This must go!” What do these judgments look like? When your addiction is exposed, that’s His judgment upon it. When a person stands in your path and confronts you concerning the sin in your life that’s His judgment upon it. These judgments are painful but are necessary for there can be no deliverance without acts of judgment. For example, you won’t be free until you see that your behavior is sin; you cannot be free until realize that you are in fact in bondage. And we do not see these truths unless God brings the pain of judgment into our lives. If you are experiencing such a struggle don’t be discouraged but rejoice for your deliverance is near! In fact, judgment is the pathway of deliverance.
Pastor Don.