Category Archives: Encouragement

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Praise be to our Sovereign God and His Son Jesus Christ – and the Holy Spirit who indwells all who believe. The transcendent God exists in the 3 persons: God the Father – God the Son – and God the Holy Spirit. They are co-equal in their essence yet “subordinate” in Their functions.

As I stated in last week’s sermon, God has created human beings in His image. This means that all human beings have equal value and worth.(Genesis 1:26 a. – 27) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness …. 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We saw that the image of God in human beings was not lost at the “fall” (when Adam and Eve Sinned). However, the image was severely damaged in terms of moral orientation but not in terms of intrinsic worth.(James 3:9-11) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? – Of course the answer is NO.

As God’s elect, chosen, adopted and redeemed people we have no right to mock a fellow human being created in God’s image – yet it happens all the time! “ …. Did you see the size of that guy’s ears?” “Did you see how ugly our new co-worker is?”

We have no right to make fun of a fellow human being! No one has a choice when it comes to physical appearance – i.e.our inherited physical features (not talking about the need to lose weight when necessary etc.) I’m working on that one.

So, as Christians, let us stop this behavior; let us banish it from our lives both in speech and in thought.The old saying – “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me”, is patently false.

(Proverbs 12:18) The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.Let’s begin putting aside this behavior today and rather look for ways to build others up in honesty – Pastor Dan

Hope & Comfort

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Our world has been — and is going through such a crazy time. Who would’ve thought in January of 2020 we would soon undergo a worldwide pandemic? I don’t think I would have believed it. Moreover, the riots that have broken out in major cities and even our nation’s capital. Add to that, the political unrest we’re experiencing. None of us know what the “immediate future” (not the distant future) will look like. And that can churn up worry and fear in the pits so our stomachs.

So, I simply want to offer some hope and comfort as we face the uncertainties of how all of this will unravel.

In the Old Testament, things were about to collapse on God’s people Israel and Judah – there was no turning back. Nevertheless, in the midst of this their fear and uncertainty, God‘s prophet Jeremiah proclaimed the following:

Laminations3:19-26 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. 20 I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me.

21 Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: 22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24 I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore, I will wait for him.” 

25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

This assurance is something to hold onto. 

Blessings, Dan

Good Friday

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Good Friday

Romans 6:5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

On Good Friday we remember the day Jesus willingly suffered and died by crucifixion as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins (1 John 1:10). It is followed by Easter, the glorious celebration of the day Jesus was raised from the dead, proclaiming his victory over sin and death and pointing ahead to a future resurrection for all who are united to him by faith.

So, In order for the good news of the gospel to have meaning for us, we first have to understand the bad news of our condition as sinful people under condemnation. This verse in Romans succinctly says at all.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Significance of Palm Sunday

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Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, commemorating the historical event of the Lord Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. This event is also referred to as The Triumphal Entry.

In the historical setting here – a great crowed had gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. When they heard that Jesus was making his way into the city, many rushed out to see and honor him. They were shouting, “Hosanna!” (The term is a transliteration of a Hebrew word that means “give salvation now).  “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” And they shouted, “Blessed is the King of Israel!” 

At this point, many people recognized that the Lord Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah who would liberate Israel and establish His Kingdom Forever. This event was prophesied centuries ago in the Old Testament (Zech. 9:9). The people here are seeing the fulfillment of this very prophecy unfold right before their very eyes.

Did you ever stop and ponder, “Why palm branches?  Why not olive branches, fig leaves, or pine needles?” Well here’s why – because palm branches were used in celebrations of great victories.

The apostle John was given a remarkable glimpse into heaven – let’s take a look.

(Re 7:9-10)  After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

Do you see it? They’re holding palm branches in victory because Salvation belongs to God and the Lamb. Thus, the people were laying palm branches in Messiah’s path as a sign of Reverence. Why? Because he is the King of Israel! They had the words of Isaiah the prophet ringing in their ears:

Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever…

The people saw Isaiah’s prophecy of a “Conquering King” but missed Isaiah’s prophesy of Messiah as 1st a suffering servant to die on the cross, the Lamb of God to redeem his people. Let’s take a look:

Isa 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Praise God for Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection from the grave and ascension into heaven. Jesus won victory over Satan Jesus conquered death, Jesus is the Victor! As Paul writes:

1Cor. 15: 54 (b.) “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”  55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  

As one Puritan writer put it, “The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.” 

Christ is coming back again. Only this time as King Of Kings and Lord or Lords” Again we look to John’s Revelation. 

(NIV) 19:11 a. I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True.

Have you invited Christ into your life to be your Savior? And are you living for Him?

1 John Sermon Series – A look at Gnosticism

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Gnosticism was still in its “infancy” when John wrote this letter to his readers. Nevertheless, even though their false beliefs had not yet been fully extended, there were enough early beliefs seeping into the churches. This confusion among professing Christians displayed itself in such a way that spawned sinful acts that ran totally counter to the true gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, it had to be completely purged from the early church. Below I will present the very basic elements of Gnostic teaching. As you will see these false teachings clearly have the deceiver’s (Satan) fingerprints all over them (1Tim. 4:1) 

Here are the very basic elements of their false beliefs.

1.   Influenced by Greek Thinking, (Plato’s) matter is evil but spirit is good. With that as one’s pervasive presupposition, why would the Spirit of Jesus ever take on sinful flesh because matter is evil (incarnation) Spirit is good. So, they proffered that the incarnation of Jesus was that his body “appeared” like flesh, but it wasn’t real.  Others claimed that the Spirit of Christ ascended upon Jesus at his baptism but departed before he was crucified. As a result, some concluded that they could sin all they wanted because sin was part of their flesh and not their Spirit.   

2.   Some asserted that because they were initiated into the “Christian faith” that they no longer sinned (1 Jn. 1:8).

3.   Others believed that their knowledge of God removed sin as even a possibility for the “Christian” (1 Jn. 1:10).

Thus we have dangerous (even spiritually lethal) assertions. And as I stated above, these false beliefs must be purged from the True Church of Christ Jesus.

And this was what John had to clear up for his beloved (1 Jn. 2:1) readers.

Hebrews 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil —

New Year Encouragement

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1. Life is best lived in service to others. This doesn’t mean that we do not strive for the best for ourselves. It does mean that in all things we serve other people, including our family, co-workers and friends.

2. Consider the interest of others as important as your own. The way to leave a legacy is to also look out for others.

3. Love your neighbor even if you don’t like him. It is interesting that Jesus told us to love others, but he never tells us to like them. Liking people has to do with emotions. Loving people has to do with actions and what you will find is that when you love them and do good by them, you will more often than not begin to like them.

4. Maintain integrity at all costs. There are very few things you take to the grave with you. When people remember you, you want them to think, “She was the most honest person I knew. What integrity.” There are always going to be temptations to cut corners and break your integrity. Do not do it. Do what is right all of the time, no matter what the cost.

5. You must risk in order to gain. In just about every area of life you must risk in order to gain the reward. In love, you must risk rejection in order to ask that person out for the first time. In investing you must place your capital at risk in the market in order to receive the prize of a growing bank account. When we risk, we gain. And when we gain, we have more to leave for others.

6. You reap what you sow. In fact, you always reap more than you sow—you plant a seed and reap a bushel. What you give you get. What you put into the ground then grows out of the ground. If you give love you will receive love. If you give time, you will gain time. It is one of the truest laws of the universe. Decide what you want out of life and then begin to sow it.

7. Hard work is never a waste. No one will say, “It is too bad he was such a good, hard worker.” But if you aren’t they will surely say, “It’s too bad he was so lazy—he could have been so much more!” Hard work will leave a grand legacy. Give it your all on your trip around the earth. You will do a lot of good and leave a terrific legacy.

8. Don’t give up when you fail. Imagine what legacies would have never existed if someone had given up. How many thriving businesses would have been shut down if they quit at their first failure? Everyone fails. It is a fact of life. But those who succeed are those who do not give up when they fail. They keep going and build a successful life—and a legacy.

9. Don’t ever stop in your pursuit of a legacy. Many people have accomplished tremendous things later on in life. There is never a time to stop in your pursuit of a legacy. Sometimes older people will say, “I am 65. I’ll never change.” That won’t build a great life! There is always time to do more and achieve more, to help more and serve more, to teach more and to learn more. Keep going and growing that legacy!


These are core principles to live by if you want to become the kind of person who leaves a lasting legacy.

-Jim Rohn

Maintaining Thanksgiving

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Greetings! And a blessed Thanksgiving to all. No doubt, we’ve either heard it said or stated it ourselves, that we should be thankful for our many blessings all year long and not encapsulate them to just one day a year. Trite as it may sound, that statement is true! Many of us keep a “Gratitude Journal” that helps us count our blessings everyday and in so doing, enables us to develop a heart of thankfulness every day. It doesn’t take more than 5 minutes to find something or someone we are thankful for. I would like to share a reading that has helped me to maintain this proper perspective when I realize I’ve stepped off the path.

Fulfillment Now

A beautiful, fulfilled life requires nothing more than what you already have. Fulfillment depends solely on your decision to accept and experience it, in the moment where you are.

There are some achievements that may take a lifetime to reach. Yet at any point along the way, from the very moment you begin, you can know fulfillment.

Reaching any goal is a matter of commitment, discipline, intention and effort. Fulfillment itself is immediate, for it is a matter of knowing that you are living true to your highest purpose.

Do not become trapped by measuring success based on what you’ve already done or failed to do. Learn to see that fulfillment is entirely a function of how you are feeling and thinking and acting right now.

Your past cannot hold you back and your future cannot intimidate you, unless you allow it. This moment has every possibility of being the most fulfilling time you’ve ever known.

Your life is infinitely more wonderful than any possession or event or circumstance that you can imagine. And somewhere inside, you know it.

Warm Regards,
Pastor Dan Spaulding

The Myth of Unanswered Prayer Part II

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Life can be very joyous and filled with much happiness …. our loving relationship with family, friends and, most of all, a renewed relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ. In the NT Sometimes Jesus used the term “ABBA” Father. That description can be equated with our term “Daddy” (yes it can).

In this two part series, The Myth Of Unanswered Prayer, yy desire was to convey the truth that God does indeed answer our every prayer (as some of you expressed) YES, NO, or WAIT. Admittedly ”no” and “wait” can be excruciatingly difficult. And intermingled with the joy of life is inevitable pain. But that doesn’t mean God has changed in His love for his children. When I step up to the pulpit to preach I recall a phrase (I cannot remember its source) but it’s this, “In every pew there’s at least one broken heart”. Are you hurting or struggling with something? If you are a child of God, then run to the open arms of your Heavenly Father (Daddy) and feel His strong embrace…. pour out your heart to Him because He loves you.

The Myth of Unanswered Prayer

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As I am preparing Sunday’s sermon, “The Myth Of Unanswered Prayer,” I do so with gladness – gladness because I believe it will clarify many questions folks have regarding this subject. I always strive to maintain personal transparency as a pastor both in my life and preaching – and Sunday’s message is no exception to that rule. I too have wrestled with questions regarding God’s answers to some of my prayers and some of life’s circumstances.

Nevertheless, my delight in writing and preaching this sermon springs from the following premise: to misunderstand God’s answers to prayer is to misunderstand God – who He is, what He is like, and how He works. I do not sit in an “ivory tower” untouched by the various difficulties of life, but God has called me to preach and teach and that is what I will do. And, in the process, I trust that God’s Word will offer listeners hope, understanding, comfort, and joy.

Join us on Sunday for the start of this two week sermon series. I personally invite you, and look forward to seeing you then.
Blessings, Pastor Dan