Something to think about.

“The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world that it leaves to its children” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday May 29th
Is Marriage Dying?
Cameron Diaz recently declared that marriage is a “dying institution.” She added that we should “make our own rules”. She continues, “I don't think we should live our lives in relationships based off old traditions that don't suit our world any longer." Psychiatrist and a member of the “Fox News Medical A-Team”, Dr. Keith Ablow agrees and adds that marriage is “a source of real suffering for the vast majority of married people.” Based on his experience in his counseling sessions Dr. Ablow adds that he is “not certain marriage ever did suit most people who tried it.” We all know that some marriages are unhappy, we probably even know some couples who are unhappy in their marriage. I would add that at some point everybody has had unhappy moments in their marriage. However, marriage is not the cause of the unhappiness, the root cause of unhappiness in marriage is our own selfishness. James, the half brother of Jesus says, “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?” (James 4:1) So, getting rid of marriage doesn’t solve the problem, that would simply increase our selfish behavior and desires. If the relationship is not meeting MY needs then I want to be free to leave. Is that not the epitome of selfishness. Yet people believe that happiness and fulfillment will be found down that path. All those who have gone down that path are still seeking happiness and fulfillment. If we want to be happy, if we want to live fulfilled lives then we need to deal with our selfishness and there’s no better place to do that than in a marriage relationship.
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

“But concerning that day[the day of Jesus’ return] and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matthew 24:36

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday May 22nd
Where’s Jesus?
According to Harold Camping Jesus was supposed to return yesterday, Saturday May 21 2011. Since you are sitting here reading this article I guess he was wrong - again! (He predicted that Jesus would return in 1994 and was wrong then too.) Of course most clear thinking Christians are not surprised by this, not because we don’t believe that Jesus is coming but because Jesus told His disciples that no one knows the day of His return except God the Father. So for someone to claim that they know when Jesus is coming back is to go directly against what Jesus said. Also, Jesus said that His return would be when we least expect it, therefore it wouldn’t make sense for Him to return on the very day that we do expect Him. So where do we go from here? We go on as before, looking for and hastening the day of His appearing and, as the apostle Paul tells the Ephesian Christians, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. NOT wasting time with wild and unfounded speculations about Jesus return.
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

“Good habits result from resisting temptation”

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday May 15th
“Take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below.” (Deuteronomy 4:39) Life can be scary sometimes; sometimes it’s overwhelming – it’s just too much, and sometimes life just seems pointless. Have you ever felt that? What’s the point of it all? Well, take heart the Lord is God in heaven and earth. Now I’m glad that He is both Lord and God on earth because, like I said, life can get pretty scary sometimes and I draw courage knowing that God is Lord of this earth. That everything here is under His authority, so even if it looks big and is big to me it’s small to Him. But I am particularly glad that He is Lord God in heaven above because when I’m struggling with “what’s the point of it all?” I need someone from outside this mortal existence to connect with me and give me meaning and purpose. It’s the knowledge that the infinite God is connecting with finite me that reminds me that life is far bigger than just my existence; that the “story”, as John Eldredge puts it, began a long time before me and will go on beyond me. You might think that this would make me feel smaller but it actually give hope, I take heart, because I am a part of something BIG and the BIG and ETERNAL God is at work and therefore “life” didn’t start randomly and will not end randomly. Life may seem random and pointless from time to time, but the God who is in the heavens is moving us purposefully toward a triumphant, glorious ending. So, “Take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on earth below.”
Pastor Don.

Something to think about.

"Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do." John Wooden

Pastor's Corner

for Sunday May 8th
MOTHERS
Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up...

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mummy to Mum to Mother.....
To all you mothers, “Happy mother’s day!” May God bless you as you raise the next generation.
Pastor Don.