Category Archives: Encouragement

Esther: Character Under Pressure

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We are excited to announce our upcoming focus for the Ladies Bible Study, the book of Esther!

“Esther will stir us to examine our character, the deep aspects of our hearts. It will encourage us to take a stand for what is right and give us courage that God is still in control.” – Patty Pell, Esther: Character Under Pressure

Each Tuesday from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m., we will dive into the Word with the accompanying study book, Esther: Character Under Pressure by Patty Pell.

This intriguing study will start on Tuesday, September 24. We personally invite you to join us!

 

Love is an Action Word

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We had the privilege of celebrating 65 years of marriage for Pastor Paul and Maritea Deal. It was so refreshing to be a part of that! In our message, we cited the Apostle Paul’s words from:
(1 Corinthians 13:4 – 8a)
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails…..
Even though we will never reach perfection as we strive to live these virtues out in our everyday lives, there is Joy in the Journey! And moreover, through the power within us (the Holy Spirit) – we can and will embody more and more the words of Paul. It is also worth noting that this is the way Christ loves His “Bride” the Church (Eph. 5:25 ff).
In the closing of our message, we touched on the most common misunderstanding of love that plagues our culture today. That is, understanding that Love is not a FEELING, Love is a CHOICE! So many times I hear as a pastor, “We don’t love each other anymore …. or, “We’ve fallen out of love.” That cannot happen if we choose to Love.
I think of Carol King’s song, “It’s Too Late” as an example (I know it’s a 70’s song and I’m quoting from memory)). ” … And it’s too late baby now, it’s too late, though we really did try to make it – something inside has died and I can’t hide it I just can’t fake it.” “There will be good times again for me and you, but we just can’t stay together can’t you feel it too … but I’m glad for what we had and how I once loved you.”
If we FEEL our love has faded in our marriages – or worse, has totally “died” CHOOSE to love unconditionally. Put into practice the passage quoted above and do it consistently, every day – then the FEELINGS will follow.

What Does It Mean To Be A Fundamentalist?

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I have no problem declaring that I am a “Fundamentalist!” – and here’s why. It simply means that I embrace the fundamentals of the Christian faith – and therefore, I stand on a solid rock foundation of biblical truth. Here are just a few examples:

  1. The Bible is completely true … without error! This means I do not have to explain away the miracles recorded within – from Genesis to Revelation. For example, when reading about God parting the sea for his people to safely pass through (escaping the pursuing Egyptian army). I have no need to believe, “Well, they simply waded through a shallow part of the sea.”
  1. As a fundamentalist, I have no need to explain away a literal six-day creation (Genesis 1- 2). I reject theistic evolution’s claim that God created all that is through the process of evolution. To do so, one must believe that death occurred before the fall of Adam and Eve.
  1. As a fundamentalist, I adhere to the truth that Jesus was/ is fully God and fully man (but without sin). C.S. Lewis is right when he conveyed  the idea of Liar – Lunatic – or Lord. In other words, if Jesus claimed to be God knowing he was not, he would be a liar. On the other hand, if Jesus thought he was God but was not, he would be a lunatic. However, if Jesus is who he proclaims to be – the God Man – he is Lord!
  1. As a fundamentalist I believe that Jesus was crucified, buried, yet rose from the grave conquering sin and death and offering eternal life for all who receive him as Savior and Lord.
  1. As a fundamentalist, I believe that Jesus, after his resurrection from the grave, ascended into heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God. And, I believe, that he will one day return in the same manner he was taken up into heaven to gather his people to be with him forever.
  1. As a fundamentalist, I reject the notion of universal salvation – that is, that all of humanity will one day be saved – even if they did not repent of their sin and accept Christ as Savior and Lord.
  1. As a fundamentalist, I believe that, after the final judgment, God will create a new heaven and a new earth for all who believe. I also believe that those whose names are not written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, will be separated from the True and the Living God for all eternity.

But here’s the GOOD NEWS!

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

 

 

 

 

 

Hope for our Great Nation

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For a time some believed that the Universal Church, by spreading the good news of Jesus Christ via  missionaries in foreign lands, and sharing the truth of reconciliation to God through Jesus Christ in our great nation, that our world would incrementally be transformed in an upward spiral to the point of ushering in the Kingdom of God and setting up Christ’s reign and rule in righteousness. However, after a couple of world wars, this belief faded from view.

But we mustn’t live with a sense of defeated hopelessness. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is alive and well – and (through the work and power of the Holy Spirit) it is powerful to change individual lives and communities. This hope doesn’t stop at the boarders of our great land, but all over the world. Hear the words of Paul:

Col 1: 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints– 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace in all its truth.

Someone has said:

I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers and it was not there …….. in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there …….. in her rich mines and her vast world commerce- and it was not there …….. in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution – and it was not there.   Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great.

Let us be proactive …. go forward … and do what we as a church have been called to do.

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8 NIV)