Scene 1 - Tiger Woods is on the 17th green, and to no one's astonishment, he sinks a monster putt for a birdie. But suddenly he hears a sound behind him and turns to see his bag of clubs fall off the edge of the green into the water, where an alligator begins eating it!
Fade to black...
Scene 2 - Tiger Woods is on the 18th green, preparing to hit a monster drive with the only club he has left - a putter.
The announcer intones, "Ability - 25%; Adaptability - 75%."
Have you ever felt like you were truly on top of your game, only to have your golf bag fall into the water and be eaten by an alligator? Have you ever felt like God was expecting you to drive off the tee with a putter? Has life disappointed you, and you wonder why? At such times, God may be teaching you the importance of adaptability - the importance of letting Him work in your life in His way, and in His time.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Are you open to God's working in your life? However He chooses?
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Good people?
The TV talking head seemed genuinely perplexed as she wrestled with the recent news story of a public figure who had fallen into disgrace and resigned from office. I think she was quite sincere as she asked, "Why do good people do bad things?"
The Bible has the answer - there are no good people!
It is not possible to understand how much God loves you and I until we first understand how very messed up we are! "There is none righteous, no, not one!" (Romans 3:10) No matter how outwardly "good" a person may appear, we are all inwardly sinners in desperate need of a Savior. As one of my favorite preachers is fond of saying, "The best of men are men at best."
And that makes the willingness of the Savior to die for our sins so much more amazing.
The Bible has the answer - there are no good people!
It is not possible to understand how much God loves you and I until we first understand how very messed up we are! "There is none righteous, no, not one!" (Romans 3:10) No matter how outwardly "good" a person may appear, we are all inwardly sinners in desperate need of a Savior. As one of my favorite preachers is fond of saying, "The best of men are men at best."
And that makes the willingness of the Savior to die for our sins so much more amazing.
Oh how He loves you and me.
Oh how He loves you and me!
He gave His life.
What more could He give?
Oh how He loves you.
Oh how He loves me.
Oh how He loves you and me!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Little By Little
By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. (Exodus 23:30)
When the children of Israel were beginning their possession of the promised land, God made this statement to them. It has always seemed a bit odd, to me. Why would God drive out their enemies slowly? Why not all at once?
It struck me the other morning as I read this passage that it is a good illustration of how He works in our lives. When a person trusts Christ, they do not become sinlessly perfect overnight. As a matter of fact, one of the great let downs the new believer sometimes feels is the realization that he / she is still just as rotten to the core as before salvation! Even the great Apostle Paul wrestled with his inner sinfulness and cried out in desperation at the thought "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?" (Romans 7:24)
When those kind of feelings well up in you, remember how God has chosen to work in our lives. Little by little... day by day... here a little and there a little. Although the Christian may not notice drastic changes overnight, as you look back over the path you and God have trod together, you'll see it littered with the enemies He has defeated. And you'll see He did it little by little.
When the children of Israel were beginning their possession of the promised land, God made this statement to them. It has always seemed a bit odd, to me. Why would God drive out their enemies slowly? Why not all at once?
It struck me the other morning as I read this passage that it is a good illustration of how He works in our lives. When a person trusts Christ, they do not become sinlessly perfect overnight. As a matter of fact, one of the great let downs the new believer sometimes feels is the realization that he / she is still just as rotten to the core as before salvation! Even the great Apostle Paul wrestled with his inner sinfulness and cried out in desperation at the thought "O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me?" (Romans 7:24)
When those kind of feelings well up in you, remember how God has chosen to work in our lives. Little by little... day by day... here a little and there a little. Although the Christian may not notice drastic changes overnight, as you look back over the path you and God have trod together, you'll see it littered with the enemies He has defeated. And you'll see He did it little by little.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
I'm with Him
Although television is a terrible source of truth most of the time, once in a while you get something pretty good from it.
Consider the commercial I saw the other morning as I was preparing for work. It was entirely based on the word "with" and pointed out how simply adding the word "with" to a sentence can completely change everything - it adds an element of relationship to the thought.
"I'm with her." "I'm with the band." "He's with me." "She's with child."
If you think about it, "with" is one of the truly wonderful words in the English language - and the basis of one of the most profound thoughts about Jesus Christ ever imagined. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23)
When Jesus came to be with us, it changed everything. He lived, He died, He rose again, just so you and I could be with Him.
Are you with Him?
Consider the commercial I saw the other morning as I was preparing for work. It was entirely based on the word "with" and pointed out how simply adding the word "with" to a sentence can completely change everything - it adds an element of relationship to the thought.
"I'm with her." "I'm with the band." "He's with me." "She's with child."
If you think about it, "with" is one of the truly wonderful words in the English language - and the basis of one of the most profound thoughts about Jesus Christ ever imagined. "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." (Matthew 1:23)
When Jesus came to be with us, it changed everything. He lived, He died, He rose again, just so you and I could be with Him.
Are you with Him?
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Easter Calendar
Don't forget the Easter activities this week:
Good Friday service - 7:00 PM
Easter breakfast - 9:00 AM
Easter Worship - 10:30 AM
There will be special music in both services.
Good Friday service - 7:00 PM
Easter breakfast - 9:00 AM
Easter Worship - 10:30 AM
There will be special music in both services.
It's Spring!
According to the calendar, which is an objective source of information, today is the first day of spring! Hallelujah!
Of course, it may not look like it. Ice covered the roads on my morning commute. Snow is still mounded high in areas, and mud and water abound. The thermometer still hovers near freezing.
But it's SPRING!
Just the thought of it brightens the spirit and encourages the mind. Thoughts turn from the seemingly incessant dreariness that was February and March, and toward green, and sun, and breezes, and flowers. It's SPRING!
It's interesting, isn't it, how just knowing something is true brings encouragement, even when we can't see the reality of it. Our spiritual journey is like that. "We walk by faith, not by sight." There are times we wonder if the troubles and difficulties and stresses of life will ever end (kinda like February in NE Ohio), but the Bible (which is an objective source of information) promises that spring will come. "There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God."
Breathe in the spring air, and rejoice in the promise it brings!
Of course, it may not look like it. Ice covered the roads on my morning commute. Snow is still mounded high in areas, and mud and water abound. The thermometer still hovers near freezing.
But it's SPRING!
Just the thought of it brightens the spirit and encourages the mind. Thoughts turn from the seemingly incessant dreariness that was February and March, and toward green, and sun, and breezes, and flowers. It's SPRING!
It's interesting, isn't it, how just knowing something is true brings encouragement, even when we can't see the reality of it. Our spiritual journey is like that. "We walk by faith, not by sight." There are times we wonder if the troubles and difficulties and stresses of life will ever end (kinda like February in NE Ohio), but the Bible (which is an objective source of information) promises that spring will come. "There remaineth therefore a rest for the people of God."
Breathe in the spring air, and rejoice in the promise it brings!
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Services Cancelled - 3/9/2008
Brothers and Sisters,
Due to the blizzard we are experiencing, we will not hold services tomorrow, 3/9/2008. Stay warm and inside if you can, and spend a few minutes praising God and reading His Word tomorrow morning - He is good!
In Christ,
Pastor
Due to the blizzard we are experiencing, we will not hold services tomorrow, 3/9/2008. Stay warm and inside if you can, and spend a few minutes praising God and reading His Word tomorrow morning - He is good!
In Christ,
Pastor
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