Something To Think About

Calvary shows how far men will go in sin, and how far God will go for man’s salvation. —H.C. Trumball

Pastor's Corner

A Thrill of Hope, a Weary World Rejoices.

As we pack away the Christmas stuff and throw out the paper wrappings from Christmas it’s easy to pack “Christmas” away too. We quickly return to “business as usual” and we forget the baby born in a manger; we forget the wonder of this most profound event. Our attitude of worship is far too quickly eclipsed by the pressures of daily living. Christmas marks the greatest miracle of all time – the miracle of God in human flesh. Does this amaze you? Are you compelled to ask the question “Why?”  Why did God become flesh? Why would He enter this world the way everyone else enters this world – as a baby!? The answer to these questions is found in one three letter word – SIN. In fact, one could say that SIN is the reason for the season. Our sin separated us from God and Jesus came to reconcile us to God. Listen to these words from “Oh Holy Night”:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining
'Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, a weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the angel voices.
Oh, night divine,
Oh, night when Christ was born!

Only in Jesus does our soul find its true worth. The thrill of hope! A weary world rejoices! Because of Jesus we have worth, we have hope and we have joy! So while you’re packing your Christmas stuff away, don’t pack Christmas away.

Pastor Don.

Something to Think About

I don’t have to attend every argument I am invited to. Author Unknown

Pastor's Corner

Are we there yet?!!

“After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God!  Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah!
 For the Lord our God 
the Almighty reigns! Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God.  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 19-21)
Christmas (modern speech for the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus) is why we anticipate this most glorious day. In fact reading of this event should fill us with the excitement that a kid feels anticipating Christmas day.
Pastor Don

Something to Think About

When we deal seriously with our sins, God will deal gently with us. —C.H. Spurgeon

Pastor's Corner

Not Again!!

Recently Doug Phillips, president of Vision Forum Ministries, a ministry dedicated to producing resources to strengthen Christian marriages, to instruct children, to call men to bold leadership of their families, and to promote virtuous behavior through quality Christian films, confessed to an inappropriate romantic and affectionate relationship with a woman not his wife. Even as we groan and say, “Not again!” we’re reminded of Satan’s ruthless and predatory stance against anyone who promotes what God values. Doug Murray who blogged on this situation makes this very valid observation, “Does Satan attack our strengths or our weaknesses? Does he try to destroy us where we’re strong or where we’re weak? For most Christians, it’s usually our weaknesses that the devil targets. But for Christian leaders it’s usually their strengths, the areas they’ve built ministries upon, the moral and spiritual qualities they are best known for promoting. Why? Why does the devil go for the citadel rather than for the little cracks in the wall? Because the damage is so much greater, the fallout is more horrendous, the church is more discouraged, and the world is most delighted when a Christian leader falls in the one place he really planted his flag and made a stand.” There’s a warning here for all of us, Satan will attack you where you have “planted your flag and made a stand”, or where you are trying to minister to someone. These are the areas that Satan will come after us, hoping to bring us down and thus bring disgrace to the God we serve and worship. So, be alert for our enemy “goes about like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour”.

Pastor Don