Busy Body

Good Morning,

Peter makes an interesting statement in 1 Peter 4:15:  “But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.”

Peter warns that, as the people of God, we may suffer for a multitude of reasons.  In his generation, people were fed to lions and imprisoned.  Peter said he wanted to make one thing very clear; Christians should never suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer.  Those make sense to us.  If we are going to be called the children of God or claim the name of Christ, certainly, we should not be accused of murder, theft, or evil deeds; but there is a fourth item mentioned in that passage -- “…a busybody in other men's matters.”  

Our inability to put a busybody in the same category as a murderer, thief, or an evil person shows our poor perception of right and wrong.  God puts a busybody in the category of grievous sins.  A busybody is someone who gets involved in business that is not his own. Specifically, in the text, somebody who tries to take authority over a matter that belongs to someone else; such as me writing a speeding ticket for someone who is driving too fast. I have no authority or right to punish people who speed; only police have that job.  It is not MY job.  

Our granddaughter lives in our home, but she has a mother and a father; I am not her parent, and I have not been given the divine or earthly authority to rule in that little girl's life.  If I were to meddle in the training of that little girl, I would be a busybody.  I would be getting involved in something that is another man's matter.  

In 1 Thessalonians 4:11, it says that we should study to be quiet and to do our own business.  

Obviously, in our culture, everyone feels it is his business to get involved in everyone else’s lives.  God does not feel that way.  It is none of my business what you do, unless the thing you do harms another of whom I have been given charge.  

The church in Thessalonica had its share of difficulties, and several times, Paul rebuked certain behaviors.  This matter of minding our own business was brought up again in 2 Thessalonians 3:11 when he said some were walking disorderly and were busybodies.  Again, we see the importance that God places on our staying out of other people's affairs.  

When it comes to electing people, as we did recently, certainly, those we elect are going to influence all of our lives.  As citizens and voters, we have some responsibility and privilege to get involved in elections, but that which my neighbor does or something a church friend does, in his own life, is none of my business.  

Paul also reminded Timothy to teach and to preach on the subject of meddling in other men's affairs.  In 1 Timothy 5:13, Paul talked about people being busybodies and speaking about subjects which they ought not.  The amount of hurt done by thoughtless or uninformed words is almost endless.  The scars and troubles that careless comments have caused are painful beyond description.  Friends have been separated.  Church members have lost their churches, their ministries, and their spiritual relationships.  Relatives have parted company not to speak again, and that is only the beginning of the list that could be compiled when we consider how wrong it is to get involved in matters that are none of our business. Meddling in affairs that are not our own and talking about matters about which we are poorly informed hurts countless people.  

On occasion, some people are decent enough Christians to go to the person they spoke of and confess their own wrong.  The problem is, you can never undo the damage that was incurred to a name or reputation.  Apologies can be offered, accepted, and forgiven, and everyone can go on their way; but the ill-spoken words of people meddling in things that are not their affair, will never be erased.  Neither can someone find the path of all the repeated comments that have been made.

I would encourage every Christian to regularly go through Proverbs and mark the verses that have to do with the tongue.  The book of James is another good place to focus attention.  James tells us that the tongue is an unruly evil and is full of deadly poison set on fires of hell. Whether it be gossip, slander, or being a busybody in other men's affairs, this tongue of ours can surely hurt many people.  

Let us be careful who we talk about and whose life we are meddling in.  A busybody is a dangerous person.  

Not only should we study the use of our tongues, but it would also be prudent to pray that God will help us to be careful with our tongues.  Silence may not be the most enjoyable, but it is better than saying words that cannot ever be taken back or erased from the mind and heart of the listener.  

Pastor

Purpose

Good Morning,


Fulfillment and meaning in life have been the subject of countless books and lectures throughout time.  One of the distinctions that set mankind apart from animals is the desire to have meaning for life.  


Our purpose is to glorify God.

Revelation 4:11 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” 


Other passages amplify this in varied vocabulary, but the essence is the same – we are here for God and our goal is to make Him look good. 


The last part of that verse clarifies that truth: “...and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”  If it pleases God that I face trouble, then it is my job to face that trouble and bring glory to God through my behavior as I face the trial of my faith (James 1).

1 Peter 1:7 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”


We live in a culture that seeks fulfillment everywhere except in God.  Mankind wants a cause that makes them look good, whether it be charitable, environmental, or social.  We see people finding a cause in saving an animal or helping the planet by what they drive or what kind of bag they use for groceries.  We see others who find a purpose in the promotion of healthy eating, or non-toxic gardening – none of these things are sinful unless they take us away from glorifying God, for that is why we were created.  The "cause" is really unimportant, glorifying God is the priority.


Parents are seeking fulfillment by doing what others have not done, like living in a bus and driving the nation while homeschooling their children.  Again, there is no sin in that “purpose” unless it keeps you from church and service of others – and it usually does. 


The home remodelers are popular today; and there is nothing wrong with that, except for the great imbalance in expenditures on the house and our giving to the church, both of time and money.  We can remodel our entire home but cannot get out soul winning once a week, and that is wrong.  We can travel the nation to show our children the world, yet we cannot show one poor sinner the Gospel and teach our children about Sunday school and training others to grow in grace. 


1 Corinthians 10:13 “Whether Ye therefore eat or drink, or whatsoever Ye do, do all to the glory of God.”


The same principle applies to sports.  We give countless hours to training our child in some athletic skill, yet we fail to train them to love the poor or to serve their church and community.  Dare we even consider video games and social media in our purpose?  How far do these activities cause us to stray from our purpose? 


The greatest fulfillment comes from investing in eternity, a spiritual walk, and in actions that glorify God.  For this reason, we have always had a service-oriented ministry.  We want folks to sing, pass out tracts, teach the Bible, preach in public, run buses to pick up the poor, and be involved in any outreach that will affect lives for eternity.  We desire folks to walk daily with God, and to worship Him, to praise Him, to talk to Him, and to read His Word.

Somewhere it seems we have all heard about the two great commandments – to love God and to love our neighbor.  What kind of grocery bag you carry has absolutely nothing to do with either of those GREAT COMMANDMENTS.  Driving an electric car might help your gas mileage and commute time, but it is far from the great commandments or our purpose on earth. 


A large portion of what we eat in our home is organic, but I seriously doubt God is looking down from Heaven saying, “Look at those kids of mine, eating organic food.  Wow!  That is what I created them for.” Our purpose is not to be vegan, or to homeschool, or to save a fairy shrimp, or even to protect our children from the world.  Our job is to send our children into the world to preach the Gospel, to get folks saved, and to love God! 


Purpose.  I feel sorry for the pro-athlete whose life is engulfed in a ball or a sport, and they are so consumed that they do not even attend church.  I feel sorry for the writer of books who is skilled with words, yet never uses those words to teach the Bible to the unlearned.  How pitiful is the singer or actor who never opens his mouth to speak the eternal Words of the living God!  


Cooking shows or investment strategies, standing against immunization, or for non-GMO foods: those causes do not contain a real purpose; they are a distraction from the REAL PURPOSE for our lives.  We are to serve God and honor Him.  We are to spread the Gospel to the world and love the Word of God, and when we live for those things, we will find true fulfillment.


Pastor

Command to Love

Good Morning,

Have you ever wondered about all those verses telling us to love one another?  Really, did you not wonder why the Lord talked so often about us loving each other?

Colossians 3:12 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;”

vs. 13 “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”

Those are serious and pointed commands. 

Jesus made some very clear statements about loving each other; I do not mean regarding loving the unsaved guy who hates us, I mean loving each other as Christians.

John 13:34 “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.”

vs. 35 “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

This was among the disciples! 

John 15:12 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.”

vs. 17 “These things I command you, that ye love one another.”

I could immediately write twenty verses like these without any searching. Everywhere, we find the Lord urging us to love each other: I mean the twelve Apostles, Christian couples, friends who go to church together, Christians who serve in ministries together –  God says to love one another!

Now, why would He say that so often?  Because we are sinners, and we offend each other, hurt each other, do wrong, misunderstand the actions of others, fail to live up to the expectations of others, and many other reasons.  

Do you understand that the Apostles spent three years working side-by-side and sacrificing their personal lives for the Saviour? Then one of their own betrayed Christ.  It might have been easy to get bitter, hateful, or proud.  Over and over, Jesus urged them to love, to forgive, and to be merciful.  

Not long after the Lord ascended to Heaven, the believers fought over who was getting more financial support (Acts 6:1). Before long, moral trouble showed up in the church (1 Corinthians 5:1).   Our Lord did not write repeatedly to love one another because we are so good, but because humanity is so bad.  

Paul publicly rebuked Peter (Galatians 2) and division showed up in the church (Romans 16:17, 1 Corinthians 1:10 & 3:3).  These situations can cause believers to develop bitterness and anger towards one another, but the body is of Christ, and it is precious in His sight, so He asks us to love one another.

As I heard a preacher say in a recent sermon, "Do not be surprised when a Christian does wrong; be surprised when they do right." 

Our Lord commands us to LOVE ONE ANOTHER and to NOT FORGET IT.  He repeats this over and over to try to imprint this in our minds: LOVE, FORGIVE, BE MERCIFUL. 

Pastor

Healing The Land

Good Morning,

Israel had been in captivity for seventy years. As the story is told in Ezra, they began to return, rebuild, and repopulate (as is told in Nehemiah).  

While trying to turn the people toward right, Nehemiah lead the people into a covenant with God; a covenant for those who would separate from the people of the land;

Nehemiah 10:28 “...all they that had separated themselves from the people of the lands unto the law of God…"

They pledged to keep their children separate from the people of the land.

vs. 30 .”..And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons…"

For the next nine verses, they also committed to the financial support of the ministry and the preachers.

Lastly, they promised not to forsake the house of God, or in our terms, the church.  

vs. 39 "...and we will not forsake the house of our God."


Countless people are passionate about electing Trump who are casual about their church.  That is not the answer – that is the trouble.

Two things were set forth for the healing of the nation: Separation and financial support of the church, these were summarized in the statement, "...and we will not forsake the house of our God." vs. 39

Our New Testament reminds us of a similar truth:  "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."  (Hebrews 10:25)

As the New Year gets under way, may we do the things that might bring the hand of mercy on our nation.  Let us live holy and not forsake the house of our God.

Pastor

Mowing Lawns

For a while, I lived in Indiana, and the last year I was there, I oversaw the maintenance in our apartment complex. I took care of the simple jobs such as shoveling snow, fixing minor household repairs, and mowing lawns. (The grass grew unbelievably fast!)

I was no sooner done with the mowing before I had to go back to where I started and do it again

The Christian life is not much different than that. You hear Sam Gipp talk about reading ten pages of Bible a day, and you dedicate yourself to Bible reading.

Then you hear Tom Williams preaching on prayer and realize you need to be more of a prayer warrior.  You decide that you need not only a prayer time but a prayer life, so you begin focusing your attention on prayer.

Then we have a spring or fall program and an emphasis on soul winning. Soon, you realize you need to build a Sunday school class or a bus route, and you begin working more in the ministry.

Then the pastor has a family conference or a couples’ retreat and you realize how much you need to work on your marriage or your family.

Soon you feel overwhelmed.  

That is the Christian life. Consistently, steadily going from one important thing to another important thing. The danger is when we think prayer is important and neglect soul winning, or we think Bible study is important and we neglect prayer.

All those things are important.

The Christian life is like going from one lawn to the next, mowing each one at the appropriate time, knowing that we will need to keep that circle going the rest of our Christian life if we are to be victorious.

I was told that the Golden Gate Bridge was always being painted. The people who do it (or did it at the time that I heard the story), started at one end and work their way slowly across the bridge and by the time they got to the other end they had to start over, never finishing the job.

Finishing the job is not the issue; doing the job is the issue!   Some jobs never end. My responsibilities as a husband will never end until one of us goes to Heaven. My responsibilities as a Christian will never end until I see Jesus face-to-face.

Let us enjoy living for God. Let us schedule when to pray and when to go soul winning. Plan when to read the Bible. All the while, know that we are doing the right thing at the right moment.

We are not to say one thing is more important than another. At each moment of the day, there is one thing that is most important. If it is my time of prayer, then prayer is more important than playing with my grandchildren.

If it is time to go soul winning, then that is what is most important. I am not to be distracted from that most important thing at that moment by counseling, getting the car washed, or any other thing. Do not think you are a failure if you wrestle with this, for most people do.  The key is knowing what you are supposed to do at a given moment and doing it, and that it is a constant, never-ending cycle.

Remind yourself that there are many good things that are important; schedule each one with purpose.

I watched a young couple looking over their phones at football games being played the following week, they were planning their week around the football games they wanted to watch.  That makes complete sense to me and I have no problem with it, as long as they planned time for prayer, and planned time for Bible, and planned time for soul winning and ministry as diligently as they did planning time for football.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time…”

 That’s the key – what time is it, and what are you supposed to be doing at that time?

Pastor

Faithful

Good Morning,



In the Garden of Eden, God gave a direct command to Adam to “keep the garden.”  From the beginning, the job to protect and provide was given to the man. Satan entered the Garden and turned to Eve to introduce sin; the result obviously showed that Adam had failed in the hour of need.  Later in the book of Titus, the woman is told to keep the house:


Titus 2:5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”



We see that both the husband and the wife carry the responsibility of guarding the home and controlling what influences enter their domain. 



I cannot say that I understand all that goes on in the spiritual realm around us.  Risking being labeled a crazy person, I would like to say that there are demons seeking to get a foothold in our homes all of the time.  Music, television, friends, and countless other things, in my opinion, are doorways to satanic influence if not blatant entrances.  We are given the admonition to be sober and vigilant:


1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”



Too many Christian parents live as if they do not believe in the devil.  If the dad, the earthly picture of the Heavenly Father, practices shameful deeds on the computer or in daily living or a Christian mom has a semi-secret drug or alcohol problem, their children are in imminent danger.  Satan is a real person; he is living, prowling, and planning — and has 6,000 years of experience at ruining homes, we need to be careful.  



David tried to cover his adultery with Bathsheba; devastation followed.  Amnon, Tamar, Absolom, and many other tragic stories followed the cover-up of David’s sin.  In our lifetime, story after story follows the same pattern.  



Proverbs 28:13 “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”



Cleansing and forgiveness come to those who confess and forsake.


1 John 1:8 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”



In forty years of ministry, I have rarely seen a child go on for God whose parent secretly embraced shameful habits.  Sin shows up here and there, and only the sinner thinks he is getting away with the wrong.  Satan will be sure that your sin will be exposed.  As a result, our children develop casual attitudes toward obedience, complacency towards the things of God, and a warped and defiled image of holiness.   The very term Father is corrupted when children see dad hiding shameful behavior.  If the child cannot trust his earthly father, he is most likely not going to trust his Heavenly Father.



The home and the pulpit are perhaps the two most important places in which to validate the truth of the Scriptures.  The pastor is also looked upon with unusual expectation; and in failing, he can easily shatter the image of the things of God.



Likewise, the attitude of a wife toward her husband is vital if the Bible is to be trusted and loved by children:


Titus 2:5 “To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”



A great responsibility lies with dad and mom to guard their relationship and their actions; for the validity of the Scriptures is resting on their lives and what the children see.  Double standards, secret sins, and a “do as I say and not as I do” lifestyle will corrupt the children’s perspective of all that is good and spiritual.  



As the walls of protection are torn down by parents’ sins, satanic powers will enjoy the freedom of influence in the hearts of children. To acknowledge and confess, to repent and to walk humbly and holy will give hope to the children already facing the onslaught of the devil’s armies.  



My pastor often quoted, “Your walk talks and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks.”  I have seen this statement prove to be true over the decades of my ministry.  You do not need to be perfect, but you do need to be honest and humble enough to confess wrong so that your life is consistent with the teaching under which you place your family.  



Pastor

Don’t Quit!

Good Morning,

We are all aware of the trouble in life; trouble is common.  Trouble was predicted by our Lord when He said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation,” (John 16:33) yet it still catches us off guard.  We still struggle when we face a trial that forces us to our knees not knowing what to do next.  Any kind of Christian has people on his prayer list that make him sit back and simply pray, almost in disbelief, for the grief they bear.  Trouble is more real than any of us wish to admit.

Burdens are not new to the child of God.  Suffering, being overwhelmed, wondering what to do and where to turn: these are trials that come with life on this earth.  Trouble will be your companion, no matter how good of a Christian you are.  Notice Paul's words to the Corinthian church:

2 Corinthians 7:4 “Great is my boldness of speech toward you, great is my glorying of you: I am filled with comfort, I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.”

vs. 5 “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears.”

vs. 6 “Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;”

Look at the key phrases:

“…joyful in all our tribulation.”

“…troubled on every side…”

“…without were fightings…”

“…within were fears…”

“…cast down…”

Today, Paul might be diagnosed with PTSD or some panic disorder; surely, he would have been placed on some medication.  Yet, amidst the trouble, he went on serving God.   Today, some people make plans to serve God when life smooths out.  They act as if one first needs to deal with trials and then get involved in the ministry of the Gospel when the situation clears.   We tend to think that our trials serve as an exemption ticket, allowing us to opt out of ministry.  Yet here we find the greatest church builder, soul winner, and preacher in the early church, and he was beaten over and over, inside and out, and still served God!

I have dear friends who have been abandoned by their spouse, been broken in their body, faced bankruptcy, been betrayed or forsaken by friends, faced depression to the point of wishing to die, and many other tragedies.  Yet each has told me of their witnessing, Sunday school class, or their starting over in the ministry after losing all they had.  Any of these people could have quit on God, but as good soldiers of the cross, they continue to serve because God is worthy of our service.  We award Purple Hearts to wounded soldiers, and you may be sure that one day when we are all home in Heaven, the awards will be meted out to spiritual soldiers as well.  Until then, may we press on for the prize of the high calling in Christ!

Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

Hebrews 3:1 “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;”

vs. 7 “Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice…”

vs. 8 “Harden not your hearts…"

May we continue to serve God, to believe in His plan, to wrestle through our trials, to limp across the finish line, and to be honored to stand for the King.

Pastor

Confidence

Good Morning,

Growing up in a home in which we believed in hard work and proper preparation, it is hard to accept the failure mentality that is so prevalent in our society.  I watched my parents try the most unusual ventures and succeed.  I saw my dad build, design, create and do just about anything imaginable (because brains can always be borrowed as long as someone is willing to do the work).  From determining to earn a college scholarship in the sixth grade, to helping my parents build our house, working my way through Bible college, and starting a church — failure was never something to fear, just something to avoid by wise counsel, hard work and a great deal of prayer.  

Over the years, many have been bothered by my self-assurance in the pulpit.  Critics may call confidence arrogance, but if that about which I am confident about is biblical — that confidence is secure confidence.  Our society is cultivating a fearful, insecure mindset in young people, especially in young men.  

The Bible says a great deal about confidence:

Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

It was David who simply stated, “Is there not a cause?”  

Jonathan climbed up the mountain into the Philistines’ camp simply to see if God might do something great.

1 Samuel 14:6 “And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.”

We are creating a generation of soft, passive people, especially the young men who simply do not believe that they can accomplish anything significant.  Independence,  self-reliance, and self-confidence are all biblical character traits, as long as we are leaning on the Lord for strength.  David rallied his men to victory.  Moses led the people out of Egypt.  Joshua led people into Canaan.  Peter stood up at Pentecost and preached resulting in 3000 people getting saved and baptized.  Someone has to be confident enough to say, ”This will work; let’s go do it.”  Our great generals in WWII did not sit around afraid to act.  Were they always correct?  No!  But they were self-assured.  They prepared and planned, and then they acted, believing they had the best idea available.  

Every other year, the workers of our church step out and run a “Big Day,” a time when we bring the church out to the community and preach to thousands of people.  This task is always done with prayer and some insecurity, but also with the assurance that we can do the work and leave the results up to God.   We always come back rejoicing at all God does! 

We live in an era in which strong leadership that is confident and passionate is almost unwanted.  

Security is displayed in the willingness to start a business or start a church, or the willingness to go out soul winning and expect someone to listen, or the willingness to start a bus route and expect that route will be filled with people — this kind of assurance is getting harder and harder to find.  Who will go to the third-world nations with the Gospel if we have no confidence?  Who will take the risk of death in difficult nations for preaching?   It was Jim Elliot who, having had many invitations to preach in America, chose rather to go to the Auca Indians and take the Gospel to them.  Upon leaving he was warned that it might cost him his life.  His famous reply was, “He is no fool who gives up what he can not keep, to gain what he can not lose.”  That is confidence!  That confidence needs to be in our hearts as we rear our children, train employees, or work with children at church.  

Around 1910 William Borden was said to have donated his inheritance of millions to be used in missions work in China.  He left America at 22 years of age and pursued his calling to the Gansu province in China. Reportedly, in Borden’s Bible (which was found after his death), he had written, “No Reserve” shortly after turning from fortune to the mission field.  In another portion of the Bible the phrase, “No Retreat” was inscribed shortly after he learned of his meningitis diagnosis.  He wrote, “No Regrets” shortly before his death.   Having never reached his desired mission field, this bold young man stepped out into eternity with confidence and assurance.   

Let us redevelop strong self-reliant, bold young men who desire nothing but a cause, seek nothing but to make a difference, and love only God.   

Pastor

Devoted to the Enemy

Good Morning,

Paul had some physical troubles, but these people loved him and learned the Gospel from him.  

Galatians 4:13 “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.”

vs. 14 “And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.”

They treated Paul as if he were an angel.

They so loved Paul, that they would have given him one of their eyes (perhaps indicating that his physical trouble was eyesight). Whatever his ailment was, they loved him, they learned from him, and they were devoted to him.  

Galatians 4:15 “Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.”

Along came a person, a critic who elevated himself to demean Paul.  Notice the word some in Galatians 1:7,  the word him in verse 8, the word who in Galatians 3:1, and the word they in Galatians 4:17.   Paul makes it clear that someone had come into their lives who had not led them to Christ, and who had not taught them the Word of God for long periods of time.  That someone had turned them from the truth, and Paul was very unhappy about it!  

Galatians 4:16 “Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?”

vs. 17 “They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.”

"They" had been zealous and no one would have expected them to have been outwardly demonic, vile, and corrupt. These zealous people were subtile and underhanded; Paul called them "ministers of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:15).  

The ones who were devoted had been turned into destroyers. The people who owed Paul their lives were turned against him and against the Word of God at the same time.  

The greatest tragedies I have seen in nearly fifty years of serving the Lord have been rooted in a "who" that came along and turned good people from their parents, their church, or their faithful friends – all to whom they owed much.  Do not think the work of Satan has changed with the centuries; that which worked in Galatia continues to work today.

Be careful who gets your head and heart, they often have hidden agendas, and you will be the one who suffers.  

Pastor

Praise

Good Morning,

In our culture, men get a lot of praise.  They throw a ball, build a business, or play an instrument, but who deserves the praise?

Judges 5:3 “Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.”

In Chronicles there were thousands of people whose job it was to praise God.  It is easy to neglect praise so they made it someone's job.  

1 Chronicles 23:5 “Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the LORD with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.”

We stand and applaud for a touchdown, stadiums resound with shouts and cheering for a great concert or athletic event, but Who made them? Who made the hands, the eyes, the minds, and enabled the coordination? When does He get the praise He deserves?  

1 Chronicles 29:13 “Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.”

Psalm 22:23 “Ye that fear the LORD, praise him.”

May we praise to the One Who deserves the praise.  Praise the Creator who made a man so agile that he can run, jump, catch, throw, or play an instrument. Praise the God Who made a brain so spectacular that the five year old can speak in several languages.  

We clap for everybody, but there ought to be some praising of God.

Americans will clap after a song or a touchdown, but look at those stars and lift up your hands toward heaven with adoration and worship, and shout out "What a God!"   I know, we are a more sedate congregation, but seriously, we are not sedate at a ball game.  Folks in our church get a little awkward when people are expressive.  I know, it needs to be well-timed to not distract from the message, but really, how hard is it to say, "Amen?"   What about this uncomfortable verse: Psalms, 47:1 “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.  Maybe He means in private, or outside, but wherever and whenever, he said it, "clap your hands.”

I am not turning Pentecostal, but I am getting sick of all the praise going to some fornicating gorilla out in the pasture, who can run or block or catch. I am tired of folks becoming famous because they make a lot of money when they do not know the Creator. The fact is, the beginning of wisdom and knowledge is the fear of the Lord.  (Proverbs 1:7, 9:10)  Who cares what the Hollywood star or the inventor of a car thinks about politics.  Let us praise the God Who holds our lives in His hands and give respect and honor to those who love and fear Him. 


Let us remember to give praise and honor to God. The Bible says God wants that praise to come from our mouths – out loud! 

Hebrews 13:15 “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

Pastor

Peace or A Fight

Good Morning,

Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

vs. 35 "For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

vs. 36 “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

One of the things the devil uses very successfully is the godly person’s desire for peace. I am not only talking about Christians, I am talking about common, decent people. The normal decent person is not looking for a fight; they are not looking for contention; they are not looking to argue and attack.

Look at what the liberals did with President Trump. There has never been anything proven about January 6, about Russian collusion, or about countless other issues. He was consistently proven innocent in all of these matters, but evil stirred up a fuss.  Truth did not matter; strife was the goal.  It was the same for Clarence Thomas and Justice Kavanaugh.  If conservatives are thinking they need a candidate without all the fuss attached to him, they had better choose a liberal.   It would be wise if we decided whether we want the right candidate or peace.

Our founders had to make a decision regarding their relationship to England. For years, they tried to secure peace and order between the colonies and England. Strife and battle were the last resort, but it had to happen.  Someone had to be willing to stand up and fight.   

To that crowd that wants peace at any price, I say, go on and compromise on everything from your marriage to your children! People are free to compromise on morals, job, and finance! Go ahead! Be a communist rather than fight for liberty! Embrace peace rather than righteousness! Go ahead and use a soft path rather than a righteous path! Choose a church so passive that it makes no waves - that is what America allows.

Remember, the river is crooked because it follows the path of least resistance. 

I say, go ahead! Find your way to a peaceful existence where there is no tension or strife, and you will find yourself destroying and losing everything that you hold precious.

If a two-year-old stomps his feet and you give him his way, you may create temporary peace, but you set the scene for war in the future. 

The devil’s crowd knows that we do not like to throw a fit and cause a fight. If we lose an election, we go on about our business with our jobs and our families, and we wait for the next election.

If a liberal does not get his way, he throws a fit and causes much tension just as a two-year-old throwing a temper tantrum. Silly conservatives give in because they would rather have peace than right. Consider the spirit of our founders as is made clear in Samuel Adam’s address: 

Samuel Adams in a speech to the Second Continental Congress on August 1, 1776.

“If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; May your chains set lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.”

Look at the number of Scriptures that deal with fighting: 

“Fight the good fight…”

“We wrestle not against…”

“Stand fast in the liberty…” 

• In Galatians 2 Paul publicly withstood Peter to the face. 

• Abraham had to tell Lot to go.

• Noah was not directed by God to pick the soft, easy path.

When Jesus comes, it will not be in peace and kindness, but with a sword.  

Being peace-loving people is right, as long as our love for peace does not supersede our desire for right.   There will be strife in this life, or righteousness will be forfeit.  

Pastor  

Great Friends

Good morning,

We will always find people in each area of life who are exceptional, and according to their role or their place in life, it is proper to give them the honor that is due them.

Romans 13:7 “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.”

This verse in Romans tells us that there are people in political positions who deserve appropriate honor and even fear.

In 1 Corinthians 16, Paul spoke of some unusual Christians, people who also deserve unusual honor.

Timothy

1 Corinthians 16:10 "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.”

vs. 11 “Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.”

Timothy began traveling with Paul as a very young man.  According to verse 10, he did the same work Paul did regarding church planting,  soul winning, and preaching.  At Corinth, Paul wanted to be sure that when Timothy got to this new city, he could do God’s work without fear and that no one would despise him.  Paul also wanted to be sure people would help Timothy along on his journey and not look down on him for any reason.  Timothy was not an apostle, but Paul said that he was worthy of special treatment.     

The House of Stephanas

God also mentions the family of a man named Stephanas.  It appears that he was one of the first people saved in his area and that he was a great leader in his church; it was said that he was “addicted to the ministry.”

1 Corinthians 16:15 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints,)”

vs. 16 "That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”

Stephanas’ family was such that Paul wanted them lifted up and honored, a family that people would be wise to trust and to follow.

Verse 16 ends with an interesting statement, “…and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”  Paul urged the body of believers to submit themselves and to choose to follow the leadership and wisdom of, “…every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth.”  

Paul said nothing about following the businessman, the smooth talker, or the bold and confident leader, but he did say the church would be wise to follow and trust the leadership of those common people who are addicted to the ministry.

In a culture that idolizes an athlete, a singer, or a movie star, I am amazed how often we struggle with giving honor to people who are servants of God.  Paul certainly did not teach that kind of Christianity.

You can look around our church and find people who punch a clock in a secular job forty to sixty hours a week, but they are tireless laborers and even addicted to the Bible and the ministry of the Gospel.  What a blessing to have people among us whom we can honor and look to for wisdom.    

Pastor

Against the World

Good Morning,

When Peter wrote of Noah and Lot, he referred to the world in which we live. (2 Peter 2:5-7)  The picture is sad, and the results are tragic, yet God will allow men to travel the road of their own choosing.  The destination though is out of their control.  

In the following verses, Peter lists a few of the character traits of these people:

2 Peter 2:10 “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”

vs. 13 “And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time…"

vs. 14 “Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:”

Notice the actions and character traits by which they are known: they are unclean; they despise government; they are presumptuous; they are self-willed; they are covetous; they are unstable and take part in rioting, adultery, etc.

These characterizations perfectly describe American liberalism and outline our government’s system of teaching the children in schools and colleges.   Ultimately, this description identifies the people who leave the paths of righteousness and follow sin.

Although, we should remember that there is a reward.  The prior verses talk about Noah and Lot; both lived in a day when God poured out His wrath on countless people.  

vs.13 "And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness..."

Mankind has always had sinful "believers" (as Lot who was described as "righteous and just" 2:7-8).  The world has always had those who followed the path of shame and filth.  The believer has a choice: to live like the world or to walk daily against the grain of the covetous, shameful world, and stand up for God and right.

If a believer chooses to walk in the world and love the things of this world, then that believer will end up losing all on earth (as Lot did) and face God with no rewards to give Him.  

1 Corinthians 3:15 “If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."

The end result is far better to be a "preacher of righteousness" (2:5) and be the misfit, outcast, and object of ridicule - as Noah was.

I heard a preacher say that the world moves against the sun; every day it is evident that the world moves one way, and the sun moves the opposite way. The entire world system moved against the Son, and if we are to follow the Son, we will be in constant conflict with the world. 

Pastor

Slow Down

Good Morning,



Nehemiah 1:3  “And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.”


vs. 4 “And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,”


vs. 5 “And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:”



Do you remember when Job had his terrible trouble?  His friends showed up and spent a week just sitting with him, crying.



Job 2:12 “And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and knew him not, they lifted up their voice, and wept; and they rent every one his mantle, and sprinkled dust upon their heads toward heaven.”


vs. 13 “So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and none spake a word unto him: for they saw that his grief was very great.”



We have been used to a fast-paced society, one in which we race to work and encourage our children towards academics and sports when they are very young.  We hurry romance, marriage (and divorce), as well as time with family.  What ever happened to spending time with the family?  Evenings at home are almost extinct.  Instead, they are filled with all of the events we rush through in any given week.



Nehemiah was in Babylon, a part of the captivity.  He had a good position at work and had probably grown up there in Babylon, somewhat a slave, an outsider, an immigrant.  Yet when he heard circumstances were not going well “at home,”  he sat down and for certain days to pray, fast, and mourn.



I would like to make the case for slowing down a little, especially when trials come.   We need to draw near to God, to seek His presence and help, and to do so without any hurry in mind.



With all of the pressure that had been forced upon the Lord, He went to pray for long hours.   He had time to spend with widows and fallen women, time to eat at the home of religious leaders, and to time to have close friendships with Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and others.  He was known for blessing the children and for teaching by the hour.  He reminded us of the importance of visiting those in prison, and the fatherless and widows.  Jesus urged us to pray.



Let me urge you to prayer -- to pray for those who hurt, for the broken, for the troubled, for the wonderful people we all know like Job who had friends who sat and wept for seven days with him.  Care and prayer go very closly together, and spending time is a requirement for both.



Our hurried society has kept us from receiving the strength and peace our Lord promised.  We rush to do good things and find ourselves needing anxiety pills.



The days before technology were perhaps no better; but certainly, the ability to get a text message during our time in the Bible, or to answer a telephone when in prayer, has not helped in keeping our walk with God uninterrupted.  The big need is to eliminate the hours wasted on foolish entertainment.  If we were to take the hours spent on sports and spend them on time with the family, solitude with Christ, or visiting the needy, our twenty-four hours each day would be more restful.  No matter who you are, to do as Nehemiah or Job’s friends did when they spent hours or days in mourning certainly requires sacrifice.



May we learn to slow down, to care, to pray.



Pastor

Christmas Day - The Pricetag of Blessings

Good Morning,

Merry Christmas from Mrs. Goddard and me. 

As we remember our Saviour's birth, may we remember that it was difficult.

• The era was first century (not the easiest time in which to be born).

• The location was far from home and family.

• The medical situation was difficult.  Having a baby in a stable, with no doctor or hospital, was obviously awkward for this couple.

• Socially, Mary and Joseph were uncomfortable; the couple was associated with the rumor of Mary’s unfaithfulness - which, of course, was untrue.

• Spiritually, the battle was difficult. The young couple probably asked themselves what God was doing? They could not have had any idea of all that was involved in the situation.

• Their age made it difficult.  They were young, probably financially broke, and it was the first time they had experienced childbirth.

• The surroundings were uncomfortable.  Imagine what may have been happening as these strange shepherds came to the stable telling stories of angels and who knows what else.

• The future was going to be difficult.

All that to say, our blessings have a high cost.  The gift of eternal life was expensive beyond words.  When God asks us to face an injustice or a trial, may we remember that He also faced injustice and unrighteous actions of others.  May we be reminded that God uses injustice for His glory; our job is to surrender and follow, not complain and become bitter.

Pastor 

Who Cares?

Good Morning,

Christmas is certainly a time of encouraging fellowship, enjoying family reunions, exchanging gifts, and expressing love.  To Americans, Christmas is a few days off, extra food, and spending a little extra time with those we love.  I am certainly in complete favor of all the above.

We need to understand that Christmas was originally about the most incredible sacrifice that ever could have been made.  The original Christmas involved a Father giving up His only begotten Son.  The original Christmas involved a young couple surrendering to a life of absolute uncertainty and instability, beginning with a baby born far from home in a manger.  The original Christmas was not focused on food and receiving gifts, but on a cross, hatred, tragic violence, and giving of the most sacrificial kind.

The original Christmas was all about saving mankind from hell.  The original Christmas included the willingness to give up everything for everyone to have the opportunity to gain salvation.  The original Christmas was founded in the deep depravity of mankind but was built by focusing on the deep love of our holy God.   The original Christmas was comprised of sacrifice, death, and giving people a chance to find salvation.

How can we think of Christmas or Easter and not consider the lost people of this world? 

I hope this Christmas you will determine to carry Gospel tracts, to witness to those whose path you cross, and pray for lost souls. That is what Christmas is all about. We are to sacrifice in order that others might be saved. This is the Gospel message that started in Bethlehem and ended on a cross.

Merry Christmas (with the real Christmas in mind)!

Pastor

The Fight

Good Morning,


A battle is raging. Do we ever wonder why the battles come?  Of course we do, yet God said we are "soldiers" and that we are to "war a good warfare." Satan has no use for churches that continue to train folks to live for the Lord.

2 Timothy 2:3 "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ."

vs. 4 "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

2 Corinthians 10:4 "(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)"

1 Timothy 1:18 "This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;"

If we read our Bibles, we ought to expect a fight.  Paul spoke of our "wrestling" in spiritual battle as well.  

Ephesians 6:12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."

We fight because we live in a troubled world, just as every other human being, saved or lost. We all face sickness, car accidents, family struggles, and much more.  As Christians, we have spiritual wickedness in high places to face.  The demonic evil will always fight against us; especially if we daily seek the will of God.  We should also remember that we are flesh, and that we live in a fleshly house that is prone to wrong.  Our old body would rather eat than fast, sleep than read the Bible, or relax than teach a Sunday school class.  Our enemies are the world, the flesh, and the devil. 

1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

Although none of us like it, we should accept the reality that we will fight, will wrestle, and will have enemies that will try to keep us from doing the will of God.  The fight is normal; just do not give up the fight.  

Pastor

Active Christians

Good Morning,

James 1:22 “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

We have created a sedate society that sits, watches, and does very little.  Americans are television watchers; they have no fight, and they do not strive for the goal, labor to succeed, or spend long hours staying up late to achieve their desires.  We have raised a generation that plays video games rather than kickball on the playground.  Children used to ride bikes, run outside, go to ball courts, put up basketball hoops, build forts, and dig holes – not now.  

We have adult-controlled games so no child gets punched in the mouth for saying stupid things. (There ought to be a healthy fear of getting beat up; that is life, and every person should learn it.)   Children used to learn that being stupid yields hurt: riding bikes, climbing trees, or even by saying dumb things.

We have developed passive parenting.  Parents want to reason, talk, and logic with their children, but that is not what the Bible says about raising children.

Matthew 7:21-25 tells about being “doers," and ends up with the story of the wise man who built his house upon a rock.  Notice that he built something.  

vs. 24  “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

Those who DO what the Lord says, are the wise men; not those who just sit, watch, or hear. Matthew writes again on this subject:

Matthew 12:50 “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

In our present day, the government controls our speech, tells us what can and cannot be said. (Why cannot I say you are tall, short, etc?) Employers have training about how to address co-workers or customers.  Why does someone else’s feelings control my right to speak?  That is the philosophy of the Old Europe our founders left behind; hence, they wrote the First Amendment - the freedom to speak.  Satan likes people who obey, sit quietly, and do what they are told to do, even if it is drink Kool-aid from Jim Jones in Ghana.  I think it is confusing that the parents who allow all kinds of language on the television do not want anyone to say the word "stupid."  

Our government wants to develop a mindset that obeys without resistance: "put on a mask," "get this shot," "work on Sundays." I do not care what you do; that is your free choice, as long as it is your free choice.  I care when someone forces another to do things against their will.  One may consider someone bad for not wearing a mask, yet another may consider them weak and uneducated for wearing one. The choice should be that of the individual, not because someone said he must.

1 John 2:3 “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

John says that if you are not a KEEPER of the commandments, you do not know God.  Keeping the commandments is not accomplished by simply sitting in church, but by doing what the Bible says; that makes you true to God.

Running a risk, taking a chance, and trying, even if you fail is reality!  Who will start businesses or churches if no one is willing to get involved and do something?

For years, we have been changing into people who stay out of situations; such as not helping when someone is getting beat up or robbed.  I like the commercial of a Texas store where a guy pulls out a gun to rob the place, and instantly, ten customers pull their guns to stop the robbery.  Some years ago, a bank security guard in Southern California was fired from his job at the bank. The bank policy was to allow robbers to go so that harm to customers would be avoided. This security guard waited until the robber was out of the bank to pursue him.  He caught the robber and held him for police… but the bank fired him anyway.

Many convenience store workers are told to allow folks to steal rather than to allow a conflict. If those guys were caught and were tossed into jail, they would not rob, and then the rest of us could pay less for our goods.

Satan wants folks to allow criminal elections to take place and for honest people to do nothing. That is a passive response; we need an active response. The American revolution was not passive.

Back to the church; we need folks to get involved!  We need people who go soul winning and teach Sunday school classes to be active not passive. Get involved in giving, in teaching, in spreading the Gospel, in working on the buildings and grounds, and in becoming a part of active Christianity!  For Christmas, give God an active Christian life.

Our church motto is “A Church of Active Faith.” May we live it.

Pastor

Disillusioned

Good Morning, 

I have heard people say they were disillusioned with church. I find it interesting how many other things people are not disillusioned with that are just as frail and often disappointing.  Whining about being “disillusioned” is due to two basic mistakes we make. 

The first mistake we make is that we do no realize:

1. How wonderful the church is.  The church is so awesome that God bought it with His own blood.  It is the church that is responsible for most people getting saved and to Heaven.  It is the church that has kept spiritual truth alive. The church set the foundation of America. The church is the place missionaries are called, marriages and funerals are conducted, broken life’s are mended, and countless other good things – but most importantly, God loves it!   If God loves the church, I may be frustrated by some of the sinners within it, but God knows best. I chose to love the church!

Regarding being disillusioned, the second mistake on our part is that we forget:

2. How woefully sinful mankind is. 

Man is so bad that the Son of God was the only One capable of paying their debt. Man is so bad it required the torture of God’s Son to pay for our redemption.

Satan wishes folks to become dissolution with the church: he hates it. The church is his arch rival because it is the entity responsible for souls being saved, for the truth being preached, and for God being glorified.  

If folks stop attending church, all those things will cease. 

Consider how many times folks have been disappointed by those around them. Dads or moms have allowed drugs, booze, job and moral shame to ruin their potential as a good husband and father or mother and wife.  So what do all those kids do, commit suicide?  Give up on life and sit around useless?  No, they went on, cried, and though the road was harder, they continued to do what they thought best.  Most did not give up on the family or the marriage.

How many business partners have wronged their partners and stole money or clients or the entire business.  What happened next was sorrow, shock, and self-examination. Those who were wronged went on with life.  They did not give up on the business world; often, they went right back in; and in some cases, they were better for their hurt. Though hurt, people are not dissolution with business or family, they get hurt but go on.

Spiritually, we can address other areas in life the same way.  The Bible commands us to tell the world how to get saved.  The Bible also commands us to go to church, to read our Bible, to pray, to forgive, to serve, to teach the Bible to others, as well as countless other lessons on money, marriage, children, and our relationship to others.   When we are hurt or disappointed, do we simply those out those lessons? Do we ignore the eternal jobs God designed us to accomplish because someone disappointed us?  (Tell that to Joseph as his brothers sold him into slavery.) 

Can I make this personal for a moment? After four decades of pastoring, how many people do you think have disappointed me? How many people did I invest countless hours, countless dollars, and incredible amounts of love and attention into, only to see them disappear, or worse yet, attack and slander me.

If I were to quit because people disappointed me, I would have quit my first year. To some extent, I understand how precious the church is and how sinful people are; and for those two reasons, I stay true to my Bible, my church, my God, and my spiritual heritage. 

When the thought, “Someone let me down,” crosses my mind, I wonder what I was expecting? Was I expecting no one to ever let me down, or no one to turn and walk away?  Have I read my Bible all these years and not seen how Saul, as the leader, tried to destroy his loyal follower David?  Have I spent the decades reading the Scriptures and not noticed that Jesus had a Judas? Did I also fail to see that the disciples accepted the reality of Judas’ sin, and they went right on about their business preaching the Gospel and starting churches all over the world? 

I may go on with a sick stomach, but by God’s grace, I will stay faithful to a soul-winning Baptist church.  I may weep often during my day, but I will still read my Bible, pray, and as God allows, teach the Bible to a group of adults or children.  Someone hurting me does not lessen the temperature in Hell.  Someone doing me wrong does not make Heaven any less wonderful; I still want to help people get there.  Because someone walked out on me, does not justify me walking out on others. I will still sing in the choir, play in the orchestra, work in a ministry, or drive the Sunday school bus. When someone sins, the value of my visitation to a jail or rest home does not decline; bringing the Gospel to those who cannot get to church is priceless. 

My parents split up, and we lived the “single mother” life for some time.  Then there was an addition of a step-dad.  Okay, now what? Should I have changed my life goals? Of course not; I knew I still wanted to be married, have a family, and enjoy life. I did not toss out family dreams because sometimes things did not work. 

I cannot judge a heart, but those who become disillusioned are probably hurt, thinking entirely of themselves, and have an unbiblical view of man and church.  If we get those two right (the biblical view of man and church), we can go on.  Whether we are weeping, hurt, or wounded, truth and right should be our guide. I would like to assure you that I know many who have done this very thing, and enjoyed life and Christian service.  God can heal you and help you get back on the biblical road of Christian victorious living. 

Pastor 

Go Fund Me

Good Morning,

I heard Pastor Domelle make a statement on his morning youtube video: "Go fund me or God fund me?"   He was speaking of how we run to a social media platform when trouble comes instead of going to God.  I am 100% in agreement.  I have never sent money through "Go fund me.”  I will send a check or cash to help with a need, or I will do whatever I can to help people I know (and those I do not know). Regardless of the need, I will not participate in a program that makes God-hating liberals rich, and will keep money back if they do not like the cause.


What happened to prayer, the church, and Christian friends? 

Have we forgotten the Canadian truckers who never got the money that was sent to them?  Some social / political demon determined that freedom was not to be funded. 

Now some will say that getting the word out is so much faster through go fund me. That may be another problem: we do not want to wait on God to fix our problem.  As everything else in our culture, we want it NOW!!

I will take a shot in the dark to say that I bet few, if any, of the go fund me projects ever had a group prayer meeting over the need. I doubt the "friends" who want everyone to contribute through this heathen organization ever fasted a day for a friend in need.  Now I admit, I could be wrong, but think and ask yourself, when have you had anyone send out a group text for a special prayer meeting, or to ask friends to take a meal or a day to fast for the friend in need?

Galatians 5:13 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.”

I do not think it a sin to use go fund me, but I think it is an occasion for the flesh to take the lead rather than the spirit. Likewise, I am not against giving to friends or strangers in need. In four decades of ministry, we have rarely kept a Wednesday night offering; we give them away.  We give away special offerings when we have communion.  We give money away when we gather food and grocery gift cards for the poor. We give away millions of dollars to missionaries. I encourage people to carry cash for the needs of the poor we meet throughout the week.  The beggar does not have a way to use "cash" from phone to phone.  

Luke 6:38 “Give, and it shall be given unto you…"   That statement is in the Bible! 

Giving is an intimate part of the Christian life, but like many mission boards who retain endless donations, I want my gift to go to the person I intend it for, not an organization taking advantage of the needy.  

During the holidays, check the percentage of your donations that actually get to the need.  You will find that some of the biggest charitable organizations are sucking away your gift and giving it to advertisers, administrators and office staff who get the majority of the donations.

Let us give, but may we be sure it gets to the intended person, and perhaps waiting on time in prayer and fasting can be reinstituted.  

Pastor