Mid-Week Message - Carrying on His Mission

"This is my commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command."  John 15:12-14 (NLT) 

When my daughter was in junior high school, she encountered a group of girls who were less than kind to her.  Although these girls had been together for several years in a small Christian school, when puberty hit, suddenly these young ladies began comparing themselves to one another and found the need to find someone to elevate themselves over.  Unfortunately it was my child they chose.   She handled it fairly well until one of her closest friends joined with the bullies.  That was simply more than she could handle.  She felt totally isolated and her self esteem fell to the point that her comment to me was, "I'd rather die than go to school."  

Friends have great power in our lives.  Who we choose to align ourselves with will influence our thoughts, our choices and how we see ourselves and others.  That is why it is so important to choose wisely.  So many lives have tumbled out of control by "getting in with the wrong crowd."  

Jesus laid down His life for us.  His command to us is that we love each other the way He loved us.  As He reached out to us with the love of the Father, so we are to reach out to others.  He says we are His "friends" if we do what He commands.  In other words, He wishes for us to align ourselves with His purpose, His mission to bring salvation to the world.  He wishes for us to spend our lives sharing His love and honoring the Lord.  The greatest friend we can be to someone else is by sharing the gospel message and by living our lives for Him rather than blending in with the depravity of this world.  In order accomplish this, we must be willing to allow Him to change us from the innermost parts of ourselves, to call out sin when we see it in ourselves and others, and to speak truth as it is revealed in God's Word.  This will definitely not make us popular with the world but if others are able to see Jesus in us and make a decision to follow Him, then that is the greatest gift we can give.  

My daughter's heart was troubled that she was not part of the "popular" circle.  We may experience the same feelings when we are scorned for seeking to live our lives for Jesus.  We live in a time in this country when more and more people are moving away from churches and are developing their own ideas of spirituality and what they want to have faith in.  False religions are becoming more prevalent and the idea that "all paths lead to Heaven" is becoming more acceptable.  Scripture tells us that the only way to the Father is through His Son.  That is the ultimate truth.  We are to be the messengers that boldly carry that message in a time when it is not popular.  This is one way that we "lay down our lives" for our friends.  We will be laughed at.  We will be argued with.  Many will call us crazy and tell us that we are believing in fairy tales.  However, we must not lose heart.  Too much is at stake if we give up.  

I know that what I have spoken about today is difficult.  None of us want others to turn their backs on us or slam doors in our faces.  Sometimes we tend to think that loving others means that we stay quiet about what we know is sin.  Jesus did not do that.  He loved, but He was truthful.  When we consider though that by not speaking truth we are aiding and abetting sinful choices, then we know that we are not truly being loving at all.  The greatest love is the love of God and it is honest and convicting and life changing.  I pray that we all examine our hearts, that we repent of the sin in our own lives and ask the Lord to help us fulfill His desire for us to carry out the mission He has laid before us.  With sincerity of heart, God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - The Everlasting Love of Our Father

"Long ago the Lord said to Israel: 'I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.'"  Jeremiah 31:3 (NLT)  

I had this habit as a little one of getting in trouble first thing in the morning.  I would get out of my bed, walk into the living room or kitchen and straight into a fight with my brother or sassing my mother.  One way or the other, I found a way to start my day off with these words, "Just wait until  your Daddy gets home."  Those dreaded words set the tone of my days on a fairly regular basis for a span of my young years.  My mother knew that I loved my father beyond measure and the worst punishment I could have was the knowledge that I would disappoint him.  

Fast forward to my teen years.  After church one evening, the youth group was going to the local A&W restaurant.  Since I had driven my mother's car that evening, I offered to be one of the drivers.  As I was making a left hand turn into the parking lot, one of my passengers said, "A motorcycle!" right before I heard it hit the car.  The hardest part of the accident for me was calling my dad and telling him about it.  By the grace of God, no one was hurt.  But I had wrecked my mom's car.  When my parents arrived at the scene I saw that my dad's left cheek was twitching, which was a tell-tale sign that he was angry.  My heart was crushed.  

Because I derived my picture of God from my relationship with my earthly father, I spent much of my adult life worrying that I would disappoint Him just like I worried about disappointing my dad.  When I struggled with sin in my life I wondered how long the Lord would continue to love me.  I was fearful that at some point He would give up on me.  I have heard other people wonder how He could possibly continue to love them when they are unsuccessful at conquering the challenges life presents.  

What I have learned through the years, as my relationship with Him has grown, is that His love has no end.  God is not going to turn His back on us.  Just as the prodigal son's father ran to greet him, so the Lord is waiting for us to return to Him when we stray.  Sin is a fact of our lives.  We have an enemy that is unwilling to cease tempting us with earthly pleasures that seek to pull us out from under the umbrella of God's covering.  However, provision was made over two thousand years ago for the remission of our sins.  It is the blood of Christ that washes us clean and allows us to stand before the Father and receive His acceptance and to be confident in His love for us.  

I know so many people who are dealing with sin in its various forms.  Aren't we all in some way or another?  What I want to reassure everyone of is that we are not at risk of losing the love of our heavenly Father, no matter how difficult the road we walk might be.  He is right there with each of us.  Every step.  Every struggle.  Every tear.  His love for us never wavers.  There is nothing we can do to stop our Creator from loving us.  All we have to do is to turn to Him and ask Him for his help and confess that we need Him.  When we ask for His forgiveness, scripture says He will grant it.  May we all walk in His love and peace this week. 

Spiritual Pride – A Warning from 1 Corinthians 5:1-12 NLT

Spiritual pride is a subtle yet dangerous condition that can creep into the hearts of believers and even entire church communities. It is the elevation of one's perceived righteousness, wisdom, or spiritual standing to a level where correction and humility are resisted. As Christians, we are called to walk humbly before our God, recognizing that we are saved by grace, not by our own merits. However, when spiritual pride takes root, it blinds us to the seriousness of sin and hinders our ability to receive correction from others or from God. This form of pride can manifest when we become complacent, when we believe that our knowledge or spiritual status exempts us from accountability, or when we allow sin to exist within our communities unchecked. Today's message, based on 1 Corinthians 5:1-12, will examine the Apostle Paul's stern warning to the church in Corinth concerning their spiritual pride. His rebuke serves as a powerful reminder that tolerating sin, whether in our own lives or in the life of the church, is not a sign of spiritual maturity but of arrogance. As we explore this passage, we will consider how spiritual pride can distort our understanding of grace and why it is so critical to cultivate a spirit of humility and repentance in our walk with Christ.

The city of Corinth, where the church to whom Paul was writing resided, was a thriving metropolis known for its wealth, cultural diversity, and rampant immorality. As a major center for trade and commerce, it was a city deeply influenced by pagan practices and indulgent lifestyles, and these influences often crept into the church. The congregation in Corinth, while diverse and gifted, struggled with various issues, including divisions, immorality, and spiritual arrogance. The Apostle Paul, who had established this church during his second missionary journey, maintained a deep pastoral concern for their spiritual health. Upon hearing troubling reports of disunity and moral failure within the Corinthian church, Paul felt compelled to address these matters in his letter.

The purpose of 1 Corinthians was to correct the spiritual and moral failings that had taken root among the believers. Paul wrote to remind the church of the holiness required of them as followers of Christ and to bring them back to the foundational principles of Christian living. Throughout the letter, Paul tackles various issues, including divisions among believers, misunderstandings about spiritual gifts, and, as we will explore today, the dangerous pride that allowed them to tolerate serious sin in their midst. By writing this epistle, Paul sought to restore the church’s unity and integrity, calling them to reject the worldly influences around them and live as a sanctified body of believers. The passage we focus on today, 1 Corinthians 5:1-12, is a key section where Paul confronts a specific case of immorality and the spiritual pride that allowed it to persist unchecked in the church.

In this passage, Paul addresses a situation of grave immorality within the Corinthian church: a man living in a relationship with his father’s wife, a sin so outrageous that even those outside the church would condemn it. Yet, rather than being grieved over this transgression, the Corinthians were proud, boasting about their tolerance. They mistakenly saw their indifference to sin as a mark of spiritual maturity, thinking that their supposed understanding of grace elevated them above the need for correction or discipline. Paul sharply rebukes them for their arrogance, calling their pride not a sign of wisdom, but of spiritual blindness.

Spiritual pride is a subtle and dangerous force. It causes us to ignore or excuse sin, leaving a congregation vulnerable to moral decay. I have seen this pattern personally in several churches where sin was allowed to flourish. I have witnessed pastors, deacons, and church members engaging in affairs, both within and outside the congregation. In each of these cases, the result was devastating: the churches fell apart, families were torn, and congregants scattered to other places of worship. Like the Corinthians, these churches were blinded by spiritual pride, ignoring sin in their midst rather than addressing it in humility and love. And just as Paul warned, the consequences were ruinous, as unchecked sin inevitably led to division and collapse. Paul’s words remind us that tolerating sin under the guise of grace is not a virtue; it is a manifestation of pride that endangers the health of the entire church community.

In response to the situation, Paul’s rebuke is stern and uncompromising. He admonishes the Corinthians for their failure to act, telling them that instead of being filled with pride, they should have been mourning. Their spiritual arrogance had blinded them to the seriousness of sin, and Paul instructs them to remove the offender from their fellowship. This act of discipline was not out of cruelty but out of a desire to bring about repentance and restoration. Paul’s goal was to ensure that the man's spirit might be saved, even if it meant delivering him over to Satan, which refers to removing him from the protection of the church community (v. 5).

This form of church discipline is a necessary response to sin that remains unrepentant. The Corinthians had allowed spiritual pride to convince them that their tolerance was a demonstration of grace, but in reality, it was a failure to uphold the holiness to which Christ calls His followers. By refusing to confront sin, they jeopardized not only the spiritual health of the individual involved but also the entire congregation. Sin, when left unchecked, spreads and corrupts like yeast in dough. Paul's instruction emphasizes the importance of accountability and the responsibility the church has to safeguard its members from the destructive power of sin.

In my own experience, I have seen churches torn apart when they failed to take action against serious sin. Whether it was a pastor, a deacon, or a member of the congregation, when immorality went unaddressed, the consequences were severe. Families were devastated, trust was broken, and the church ultimately crumbled under the weight of spiritual pride and moral decay. Paul's call to discipline is not about judgment but about love and restoration. It is a reminder that the church must be a place of holiness, accountability, and truth, where sin is confronted in a spirit of humility, with the goal of restoring both the individual and the community to a right relationship with God.

Paul continues his exhortation by using the analogy of yeast to illustrate the corrupting nature of sin. He warns the Corinthians that just as a small amount of yeast affects an entire batch of dough, allowing even one unchecked sin within the church can spread and corrupt the whole body of believers. Spiritual pride had led the Corinthians to believe that they could tolerate sin without consequences, but Paul sharply refutes this idea. He reminds them of their identity as a new creation in Christ, purified by the sacrifice of the Lamb, and calls them to remove the "old yeast" of sin, so that they might be a holy and pure "batch of dough."

Paul’s message is clear: the church is called to holiness, and with that comes the responsibility to address sin when it arises. Spiritual pride deceives us into thinking we are beyond correction, but true spiritual maturity requires humility and a commitment to purity within the body of Christ. By tolerating sin, the Corinthians were dishonoring the very sacrifice of Christ, who died to cleanse and sanctify them. Instead of boasting in their supposed tolerance, they should have been striving to maintain the purity of the church, not only for their own sake but for the sake of the gospel witness.

When sin goes unaddressed—whether through spiritual pride, fear of confrontation, or a misunderstanding of grace—it erodes the foundation of the church. The moral failure of one leader or member can lead to disillusionment, division, and a loss of trust, as I witnessed in churches that allowed affairs and immorality to persist unchecked. Paul’s call to "cleanse out the old yeast" is a reminder that the church must take seriously the responsibility of preserving its holiness, not in a spirit of judgment, but in a spirit of love, accountability, and restoration. We must be vigilant to address sin before it spreads, and to do so with the humility and grace that reflects our new identity in Christ.

In the final part of this passage, Paul clarifies an important distinction about judgment within the church. He acknowledges that while Christians are called to engage with the world around them, they are not to pass judgment on those outside the church. Instead, Paul emphasizes that judgment must begin within the community of believers. When Paul originally wrote to the Corinthians, instructing them not to associate with immoral people, they misunderstood him to mean they should avoid all people living in sin, whether inside or outside the church. However, Paul corrects this misconception, explaining that his instructions pertain specifically to those within the church who claim to be believers but continue to live in unrepentant sin.

Paul's concern is not with the immorality of the world, which he acknowledges is to be expected, but with the behavior of professing Christians. The church is meant to be a witness to the transformative power of the gospel, but when believers tolerate sin among themselves, they compromise their testimony. Paul calls for decisive action, urging the church to distance themselves from those who persist in sin without repentance. This is not about self-righteousness, but about preserving the integrity and holiness of the body of Christ. The goal of such discipline is always restoration, but it begins with recognizing that accountability is a responsibility the church must uphold.

I have personally witnessed the tragic outcomes when churches fail to follow Paul’s instructions. In cases where leaders or members engaged in immoral behavior, yet the church chose to overlook or excuse the sin, the community suffered greatly. Without accountability, the church’s witness to the world was compromised, and members became disillusioned, leading to division and collapse. Paul's teaching in this passage is a reminder that the church has a duty to confront sin within its walls—not to shame or condemn, but to protect the holiness of the body and to lovingly guide those in error back to repentance. The integrity of the church is upheld not by ignoring sin but by addressing it with humility, discernment, and a desire for spiritual restoration.

Paul’s message to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 5:1-12 serves as a powerful warning against the dangers of spiritual pride and the consequences of tolerating sin within the church. The Corinthians, blinded by their arrogance, believed that their tolerance of immorality was a mark of spiritual maturity, but Paul exposes this as a grave misunderstanding. Their failure to confront sin was not a reflection of grace but a sign of their pride, which was eroding the foundation of their community.

Spiritual pride is a subtle yet destructive force. It causes us to elevate our own perceived wisdom above the call to holiness and leads us to ignore or minimize the seriousness of sin. The Corinthian church, much like many churches today, fell into this trap, boasting about their so-called tolerance while neglecting their responsibility to uphold the purity of the body of Christ. Paul’s words are a sobering reminder that true spiritual maturity is marked by humility, a commitment to accountability, and a deep reverence for the holiness of God.

As I reflect on my own experiences with sin in the church, I am reminded of the devastating effects that arise when spiritual pride and a lack of accountability take root. I have seen churches fall apart because they refused to address immorality within their leadership and congregation. Instead of confronting the sin, they allowed it to fester, ultimately leading to division, disillusionment, and the scattering of members. These painful experiences echo Paul’s warning: when sin is tolerated, it spreads like yeast, corrupting the entire body and undermining the church’s witness.

In light of Paul’s teaching, it is clear that the church must be vigilant in maintaining its holiness. This does not mean we act in self-righteousness or harsh judgment, but rather in a spirit of love and restoration. Discipline, when done rightly, is an expression of care for both the individual and the congregation. The church must hold each other accountable, not to condemn, but to protect the spiritual health of the community and to honor the God who has called us to be holy. Ultimately, Paul’s instruction reminds us that humility and accountability are essential to preserving the integrity of the church and ensuring that we live in a way that reflects the transformative power of the gospel.

Mid-Week Message - Truthful About Sin

"Although they know God's righteous decree and His judgement, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them."  Romans 1:32  (AMP) 

The message that I have today is hard to write but it has been on my heart for many weeks.  I have no desire to offend anyone but, as the Lord addresses the sin in my own life, I am coming to a greater understanding of the danger of leaving it unacknowledged.   

Today's world affords many ways to keep from being accountable for the sins we commit.  In fact, many things that God names as wrong are now celebrated.  In many cases, they have been legislated and counted as lawful.  Rather than being called out by believers, those who walk in darkness are ignored or approved of due to the fear that the believer will be labeled as a hater, or worse.  We are told to love others the way they are and to just accept that the choices they have made may be different from our own but that doesn't make them wrong.  

However, Scripture disagrees with that.  If we believe in the Bible as God's inerrant Word, then we must be willing to take what He says as truth.  We do not get to pick and choose the parts of it that make us feel good.  No matter how difficult it is for us, we must come to the point of understanding that what God calls sin is sin indeed.  We help no one, including ourselves, by approving or being tolerant of what He says is worthy of death.  

The greatest act of love that has ever taken place was the Father's gift of His Son.  Jesus left Heaven to live as one of us on earth.  He felt pain.  He knew what it was like to suffer.  He was rejected and felt sadness.  His ultimate action was taking our sins, all of them, upon Himself on the cross.  He took the punishment for me and for you.  He who never did one thing wrong received the wrath of God for every wrong that would ever be committed.  

Because of His death and resurrection, we have the promise of a future that lacks pain, sorrow and sickness.  No more tears.  No more fear.  All that is asked of us is that we believe in Him and repent of our sins.  Repenting means acknowledging and turning away from those things that He calls out as wrong and following and obeying Him.  When we place our approval on what we know is not acceptable to our Lord, whether in our own lives or the lives of others, then we are negating Christ's sacrifice and turning toward separation from Him.  

If we truly love those around us, then we must be willing to be truthful.  True love comes from God.  If we want to sincerely love someone then we must find it within ourselves, with His help and guidance, to speak hard words.  Though some won't want to hear them, and though they may turn away from us, "how will they hear unless someone tells them?"

Our days are numbered and growing ever fewer.  None of us knows when we will draw our last breath.  We must take each opportunity we have to make sure that those around us know that we love them.  Time is not to be wasted.  This moment may be the only one we have to make a difference in another's life.  I urge each of us to ask our Lord to lead us in each and every action we take and each and every word we speak.  They matter and they may make a difference in someone's eternity.

Mid-Week Message - Telling the Truth About Sin

 "Although they know God's righteous decree and His judgement, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them."  Romans 1:32  (AMP) 

The message that I have today is hard to write but it has been on my heart for many weeks.  I have no desire to offend anyone but, as I struggle with sin in my own life, I am coming to a greater understanding of the danger of leaving it unacknowledged.   

Today's world affords many ways to keep from being accountable for the sins we commit.  In fact, many things that God names as wrong are now celebrated.  In many cases, they have been legislated and counted as lawful.  Rather than being called out by believers, those who walk in darkness are ignored or approved of due to the fear that the believer will be labeled as a hater, or worse.  We are told to love others the way they are and to just accept that the choices they have made may be different from our own but that doesn't make them wrong.  

However, Scripture disagrees with that.  If we believe in the Bible as God's inerrant Word, then we must be willing to take what He says as truth.  We do not get to pick and choose the parts of it that make us feel good.  No matter how difficult it is for us, we must come to the point of understanding that what God calls sin is sin indeed.  We help no one, including ourselves, by approving or being tolerant of what He says is worthy of death.  

The greatest act of love that has ever taken place was the Father's gift of His Son.  Jesus left Heaven to live as one of us on earth.  He felt pain.  He knew what it was like to suffer.  He was rejected and felt sadness.  His ultimate action was taking our sins, all of them, upon Himself on the cross.  He took the punishment for me and for you.  He who never did one thing wrong received the wrath of God for every wrong ever committed.  

Because of His death and resurrection, we have the promise of a future that lacks pain, sorrow and sickness.  No more tears.  No more fear.  All that is asked of us is that we believe in Him and repent of our sins.  Repenting means that we turn away from those things that He calls out as wrong and that we follow and obey Him.  When we place our approval on what we know is not acceptable by our Lord, whether in our own lives or the lives of others, then we are negating Christ's sacrifice and turning toward separation from Him.  

If we truly love those around us, then we must be willing to be truthful.  True love comes from God.  If we want to sincerely love someone then we must find it within ourselves, with His help and guidance, to speak hard words.  Though some won't want to hear them, and though they may turn away from us, "how will they hear unless someone tells them?"

Our days are numbered and growing ever fewer.  None of us knows when we will draw our last breath.  We must take each opportunity we have to make sure that those around us know that we love them.  Time is not to be wasted.  This moment may be the only one we have to make a difference in another's life.  I urge each of us to ask our Lord to lead us in each and every action we take and each and every word we speak.  They matter.  They may make a difference in someone's eternity.  

   

 

Mid-Week Message - Evil Prowls, Prayer a Must

"Be unceasing and persistent in prayer;"  1 Thessalonians 5:17  (AMP)

Today (Tuesday) an unspeakable tragedy took place in Uvalde, Texas.  A teenage young man walked into an elementary school, took aim, and opened fire.  As I write this, they are reporting 19 second, third and fourth grade children have lost their lives, as have 2 adults.  This does not count the shooter, who was killed by law enforcement.  

As the parents who have not yet located their students await news, we are all horrified, and hopefully, lifting them up in our prayers.  In the coming days these mothers and fathers will be planning for the burial of their slain young ones after which they will struggle in grief to come to terms with the smiles they will never again see, the goodnight hugs and kisses that will never again take place, the Christmas stockings that will never again be filled and the futures that have been taken away forever.  

I wish I could write that this is a one time occurrence, however, sadly, it is not.  Our children have been targets for years.  Whether in schools, on the streets or in their own homes, hearing of young lives lost due to violence has become a regular report on the daily news.  

And we ask God why He didn't prevent this from happening.   

Because we were given free will, there will always be those that will choose evil.  They will fail to see the value of human life and will think nothing of stealing life from those who treasure it.  Just as He will not take away my choices, neither will He take away theirs.  When we do anything against His will, when we sin in any way, our actions will affect others.  Unfortunately. this was a sin that ended the lives of precious children and has forever changed the lives of countless others.  

Ephesians 6:12 tells us, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."  

So, what can we do?  First and foremost, we have to commit to prayer.  This world, its leaders, each and every child and adult, needs to covered by prayer.  The power of going before the Father on our knees is greater than any other power that exists.  Second, we have to be serious about sharing the Gospel.  We must be vocal about the need for Jesus in this world.  Although we may think everyone knows, they don't.  I'm not talking about church-life, I'm talking about a relationship with the risen King of Kings.  

My heart is aching for parents that will not take their children home this evening.  I am beseeching the Comforter to wrap His arms tightly around them and walk with them through all that is coming.  I can't imagine the devastation they are feeling but I know that their Creator knows and cares deeply.  As I lift them up in my time with Him tonight, I lift each of you as well.  

I pray that His goodness, mercy and grace will surround us all.  

Mid-Week Message - Sin

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin."  Psalm 51:1-2  (NIV)

The world we live in today has found ways to justify what God has called out as sin.  Rather than accepting responsibility for our choices, we place the onus on our Creator by claiming that He is the one who created us with whatever urges we seek to satisfy.  "It isn't my fault!  I was made this way."  Have you heard someone say that?  Have you said it yourself?  

Temptation is on every street corner and on every television screen.  We are reminded continually that the scratch for our particular itch is readily available.  "No money?  No problem!"  "No one needs to know."  "It doesn't make you a bad person if you over-indulge in substances or physical gratification."  "What does it really matter?  Tomorrow is a new day, worry about it then not now."  "Reach for what you want, everyone else does."  "If someone gets hurt then they shouldn't have gotten in your way."

The enemy is always ready with a lie to make it easier for us to do what we know we shouldn't.  But if God has named something as sin, then it is sin indeed.  

In Romans 6:23 Paul reminds us, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  We do not need to be held captive by our sin.  Jesus came so that we could have forgiveness and be free from the tyranny of wrongdoing.

Writing about sin is difficult.  Difficult because it is personal, and yet, universal.  Romans 3:23 says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Each of us wrestles with something that needs to be brought to the foot of the cross and left there, never to be picked up again.  That is what repentance is.  

1 John 1:9 calls our attention to a magnificent promise, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."  Almighty God, the great I Am, will hear us and forgive us.  Not only that, but He does not put a limit on how many times He will forgive us.  This doesn't mean we should continue in the same sin but, if we slip, we can return and repent and that forgiveness will be there.  

There is an interesting quote by Paul David Tripp that I would like to share.  He says, "Sin doesn't always look sinful to us; sometimes it looks beautiful.  That's why we need grace to see sin for what it really is - dark, dangerous, enslaving and destructive."  

Our sin separates us from the Lord.  It creates a chasm that can only be bridged by the love and sacrifice of Jesus.  In order to obtain that grace and forgiveness we have to go through Him.  He is the only way to eternal life.  We have to learn to be honest about the sin in our lives.  We have to stop making excuses, stop justifying our wrongs, accept the fact that we are sinners and repent.  Also, we need to be careful that we are not giving our approval for sin in someone else's life.  

Father, thank you for telling us the truth about sin and how it affects our relationship with you.  Please help us to have open eyes, minds and hearts so that we can see the damage it is doing in our lives.  Remind us that you have made a way for us to be cleansed and free. And thank you for your grace and for never giving up on us.  Amen.  

  

Mid-Week Message - A Story of Tragedy

 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth."  Psalm 121:1-2  (NIV)

I recently saw the story of a fifteen year old girl who ran away from home.  She had crossed the state line and had been gone a couple of days when she realized she hated being alone and decided to return.  She had been hitchhiking and at one point had met up with two others who were also thumbing for a ride.  At this point a van with an older man pulled up.  Although the vehicle appeared to be empty, he said he only had room for one and offered a ride to the teenager.  Those with her warned her not to accept his offer, but she was so ready to get back home that she ignored their advice thinking that the man looked like a kindly grandfather.  

After falling asleep for short time, the girl woke and noticed that the signage was wrong.  The man was not going in the direction he promised.  When she asked him about it, he told her he had taken an alternate route.  She became leery and decided she needed to get away.  When the van pulled over for a short stop, she got out and bent over to tie her shoe so she could run away.  However, the "kindly grandfather" hit her in the head with a sledge hammer.  When she came to she found that she was tied up.  I won't go into all that happened in the van except to say that she was begging to be set free.  Finally, he pulled over, and said to her, "Okay, I'll set you free."  Then he took an axe, chopped off both of her arms and threw her over a cliff.

 Thankfully, this isn't the end of the story.  Somehow this young lady was smart enough to stick what was left of her arms down in the dirt to help stop the bleeding.  She then found the strength to climb back up the thirty foot cliff to the highway where she could get help.  A newlywed couple found her, called for help, and a helicopter took her to the hospital.  

Why would I choose this story?  Because she knew that she could not have survived alone.  Although she encountered evil and endured the unthinkable, she credited the Lord for giving her aid.  As in today's verse, she lifted her eyes to the top of the hill before her and knew that without arms, the only way she could get to the highway was if she had His help.  And He was there to cheer her on, to give her the boost she needed to get where she could be rescued.  

We have an ever-present enemy that works hard to dissuade us from believing that our Savior truly cares what happens to us.  He will lie.  He will whisper in our ears that if God truly cared then bad things wouldn't happen to us.  But that isn't true.  Horrible things still happen because of sin and because He gave us free will.  That doesn't mean the He doesn't love us.  That means we all need the saving blood of Jesus.  

I know that I am writing what will be read by many who have encountered tragedy.  I am so sorry for what you have had to overcome.  I pray that you did, you do and you will turn to the Lord for strength and comfort.  His hands are mighty and His promises are true.  

The young lady is now grown, married and has children.  Though she wears prosthetics on both arms, she was not defeated.  She now shares her story with young people to encourage them to find another way through their problems other than running away.  God took the tragedy of  her life and allowed it to bloom into a ministry.  And she is thankful.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Second Chances

  "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness."  1 John 1:9  (NLT)

Typing.  In Junior High I had to take a typing class, and oh, how I detested that class!  The typing part was okay and could even be a little fun, but the teacher was not fond of me.  She had her star pupils and I simply was not one of them and she wasn't afraid to let me know that.  She would stand behind me and yell each time I was about to make an error.  To this day, I tense up even at the thought of a typewriter, which is silly because I can type absolutely fine on a computer keyboard.

Have you had someone like that in your life?  Someone who delights in pointing out your perceived inadequacies?  I would be very surprised if you answered no.  I think we all have encountered a person here and there who, for whatever reason, seems to have a need to make us feel inferior.  

Wouldn't it be wonderful if life had a "delete" button?  Just like we do if we make a mistake while typing, we could back up, hit that wonderful little button, and see our sin completely disappear.  Imagine how much easier it would be if we could do that.  

There have been many times when I have wished for a second chance.  Times when words came out of my mouth that I wish I could take back.  Times when my parenting was less than it should have been.  Times when my actions toward a friend or loved one fell far short of the love that I should have shown. 

If I could go back to an earlier time, knowing what I know now, there are so many changes I would make!  But, alas, going back to correct my words and actions is not an option.  

But, I have great news!  We serve an amazing heavenly Father who promises to cast our sins away as far as the east is from the west.  Today's verse says that if we confess our sins to Him, He will forgive and cleanse us.  What incredible love!  

Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "The faithful love of the Lord never ends!  His mercies never cease.  Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh every morning."  

Our God is a God of second chances.  Each day is a chance to do better.  His forgiveness is complete when we sincerely confess our wrongs and He remembers our sins no more.  In Him we can be free of the weight of guilt and shame.  In Him we can find rest and peace.  

I know the feeling of not being able to do anything right.  I'm sure you do as well.  And while we don't have a "delete" button to undo our errors, we have the assurance that the Lord's forgiveness is true and thorough and that His love, His grace and His mercy are always available.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Return to the Truth

 "Jesus told him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.'"  John 14:6  (NLT) 

When my daughter was still in high school, one of her classmates invited her to an outreach that his church was having.  Directed toward young people, the hope was that those who were unchurched would be attracted enough to begin attending regularly.  After the event, I picked them up and as I was taking the classmate home, I began asking how everything went.  As it turns out, the night was comprised of performances by "Christian" rock bands, most of which were playing heavy metal music.  Apparently, the music, coupled with the mosh pit, afforded an evening full of fun. 

I would have been interested to know how many of those who attended this event actually came back for a church service.  I still fail to understand how people can be drawn to Christ by being enticed through imitations of what the world offers.  I have no problem with different genres of Christian music, but I do believe it is necessary to at least hear and understand the words that are being sung.   And a mosh pit and body surfing?  How is Jesus presented through that? 

Across this nation, churches are being abandoned and boarded up.  Many of those that remain open claim that attendance has been dropping.  Fewer Americans believe that this country is a "Christian" nation.  Jesus has become the punchline of jokes and those who choose to worship Him are touted as believing in fairy tales.  By giving in to the demands for coffee bars and tickling the ears of attendees with "feel good" messages, we have lost our focus on our mission.  

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives this charge to His disciples, "Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.  And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  

When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are to share Him with others.  The Lord has gifted each of us with abilities and talents that will assist us in doing so.  If you sing, worship Him in song.  If you are an artist, then honor Him with your art.  If you have the gift of hospitality, then open your home and share the Gospel with your visitors.  If you can do public speaking, then openly declare Him.  Maybe you have a deep love for children.  Children are ready learners.  Their hearts are open to the stories of the Bible.  

We need to return to solid Bible teaching.  I love listening to men of God speak the truth.  It is rare these days to hear the honest rebuking of sin from the pulpit.  Too many church leaders are afraid that people will be offended and leave the congregation.  But if the true need for Jesus is exchanged for warm and fuzzy messages, then we fail to offer the need for forgiveness.  

We are watching frightening changes in this country and around the world.  The enemy must sit back and laugh as evil increases and fear grips the followers of Jesus.  This must not continue.  Christians need to be in earnest prayer and we need to stand up for what is right and true.  The Gospel is desperately needed and we are the ones that hold it.  But we need to be ready to speak it in truth which means that the world will likely not appreciate what we have to say.  No more compromising.  We have Jesus to show the way.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Sin in the United States

 "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter."  Isaiah 5:20  (ESV)

There was a time in our history when those who believed in the Word of God accepted what it said as truth.  If God called something sin, then it was understood to be just that.  That doesn't mean that they didn't indulge in those things, only that they understood that they needed forgiveness for what they were doing.  But things have changed.  

Do you remember the Flip Wilson Show?  One of the characters he portrayed was Geraldine Jones.  Her catch phrase, when she did something she shouldn't, was, "The devil made me do it!"  How we laughed at that!  It became a response that we half-heartedly repeated when we found ourselves in a situation we shouldn't be in.  It was funny, but it was an excuse.  The devil, not me or you, was the one responsible. 

Never ones to enjoy the guilt associated with our own error, we have always sought to find a way to rationalize our actions.  That has become even easier to do over the years, as science has worked to find a genetic reason for our proclivities.  Since I know my own sin the best, I will be honest and tell you that I have used all the available excuses for why I am morbidly obese.  Now, doctors say that my body may have been "coded" to gain weight easily and that it may be that it was inevitable.  While I would love to grab onto that explanation and claim it as fact, I know that I am personally responsible for how I have mistreated my body over the years and how I have refused wise counsel that could have saved me from the painful difficulties that I now experience.  

This refusal to accept sin as what it truly is, which is the failure to follow God's directions, has gone far further in our society than just affecting individual lives.  Sin has pervaded our national leadership and is rampant on our streets.  It seems to take little encouragement for mobs to gather who then seek to demean and destroy.  The gradual turn from the Lord that has taken place over the last few decades has brought us to a place where even life itself is no longer valued.  

According to a document produced by Right to Life of Michigan, from 1973 through 2019, 59,902,500 abortions were performed just in the United States.  Psalm 127:3 states that, "Children are a gift from the Lord".  These millions of precious souls were treated as if their lives didn't matter and were "eliminated" as problems that needed to be solved.  Almost daily there are reports of law enforcement officers who are being targeted and gravely wounded or killed.  We are being told that some lives matter more than others but how can that be if Jesus gave His life for each of us?  

There is no magic wand that can be waved to suddenly extinguish the hate and vitriol that we are witnessing, just as there is no magic wand that will prohibit any of us from acting on any sinful thought that we may have.  But, there is something we can do.  Each of us, one by one, must drop to our knees before our Creator and confess our sin and our need for Him.  We need to understand that for those sins our Savior was tortured, ridiculed and crucified.  Then we need to make the choice to return to God's Word and accept it as truth, even though it may mean that we have to forego something we are enjoying.  If we will all do that, we will see a revival like we have never seen before.  That is a big IF, I know.  

Please be honest with yourself and with Him and be open about your faith with others.  Speak up and speak truth.  Don't be afraid of being rejected or yelled at.  Jesus went through those things too.  There is so very much at stake and each life is precious to our Father.  It may be difficult but it is vital.  May you be filled with peace and a fire for Him.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Personal Responsibility

"For we must all stand before Christ to be judged.  We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body."  2 Corinthians 5:10  (NLT)  

All of us, if we had siblings, can remember times when we blamed something we did on a brother or sister.  It was just part of growing up.  Unfortunately, children learn how to lie very early in life and, thus, learn how to avoid taking personal responsibility and the consequences for whatever wrong we have done.  As we grow we become quite adept at finding reasons or excuses to keep from admitting that something that we are going through may be because of our own choices.

I didn't want to write this message.  I prefer to avoid difficult subjects.  However, upon hearing of the death of a dear friend I am reminded, again, that our time here is short and we need to use the precious time we have in the best way possible.  Because we have a Savior, we have the privilege of taking everything in our lives before Him.  We can ask for His forgiveness, we can ask for His guidance and we can be assured that His blood covers our sins and He will help us through whatever we need to do to set things right.

I have talked openly many times about my physical maladies.  My excessive weight has caused mobility problems and I am in pain most of the time.  I have sought counseling a few times over the years to try to find the reasons behind my reliance upon food and, in so doing, have heard many suggestions that my obesity is actually the fault of my parents for not helping to develop or enforce healthy eating habits.  Or, it is because of mistreatment from other people or situations.  Whatever caused it, they implied, was apart from my own conscious will.  

I have heard the same reasoning behind many issues that we struggle with.  Be it alcohol, drugs, sex, not keeping a job, etc., for some reason we are not personally responsible.  The truth is that we are each personally responsible for the choices we make in life.  My parents do not follow me around feeding me the foods that I know are going to cause me to gain weight.  I am sixty-two years old.  I am the one that has chosen to eat unhealthily.  I am the one that is answerable for the condition my body is now in.  

I understand addiction and what a mental trap it is.  I understand it all too well.  I do not mean to lessen its impact or the life and death struggle to escape it.  I simply mean to point to the One that has all the answers.  Psalm 139 tells us how He created us in our mothers' wombs and how He knitted us together.  He is the One that knows each and every cell in our bodies and each and every thought that runs through our minds.  He has been with us through every step we have ever taken.  He knows our hearts and our emotions.  And you know what?  He loves us still.  

One day we will stand before Him.  When that day comes I long to see the loving look on His face and hear the accepting tone in His voice when He reminds me that He died so that I could be forgiven.  Until that day, I will bow at the foot of the cross, pour out all my thoughts, feelings and actions, ask Him to forgive me and help me make it through however many days I have left upon this earth.  Without Him by my side, I am nothing. 

My friends, the only legacy I want to leave behind is that I did my best to share the love of Jesus Christ and to tell His story.  If only one person chooses to give their life over to Him and to follow Him, then my life will have served its purpose.  My only desire is to share His love with you.  May your week be blessed by His mercy and grace. 

Mid-Week Message - What the World Needs Now

"When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Silence!  Be still!'  Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was great calm."  Mark 4:39  (NLT)

One set of my grandparents loved to go fishing.  Sometimes when they would come to Austin to visit, they would go to a nearby lake, rent a boat, and be out on the water for hours.  One time, they asked me if I wanted to go with them and I was so excited.  When we began, the sun was warm and the wind was calm.  As evening set in though, the weather conditions began to change.  A slight breeze arose which turned into a moderate wind and the small boat began to rock.  Neither of my grandparents seemed bothered by it, but I was beginning to be a bit afraid.  Although I could see land, I couldn't see the lights beside the piers.  Gradually, the ripples on the water became small waves and my feeling of safety was gone.  When my focus shifted from the experience of my grandparents to my own perceptions of what could happen, fear took over. 

We know the story that leads to today's verse.  There was a mighty storm and the disciples were sure they were going to perish.  Meanwhile, Jesus was sleeping.  When they woke Him, he commanded the wind and the waves to be still and they obeyed.  Like me, they had forgotten who was in charge.  

At times, it seems that our lives consist of one struggle after another.  We barely get through one trying time before another sets in.  We may feel that we are in a fight we can't possibly win and wonder if we should just give up.  Like sailors battling to keep an endangered ship afloat, we do everything we can think of, but sometimes it just isn't enough.  The winds keep building and the waves grow higher until there is nothing else we can do.  Just when we think all is lost, the clouds begin to pass, the sun peeks through and we cautiously draw a deep breath of relief.  

This year has been a reminder that we are not in control.  First, the COVID-19 virus arrived and our way of daily life was greatly altered.  When it seemed that finally we were going to be allowed to return to our normal schedules, protests and riots broke out in our cities.  Most of us watch the news while shaking our heads in disbelief.  Much is being said and done that we never thought we would see in our lifetimes.  Politicians play their political games while people's lives and livelihoods are being lost to the violence.  This is a storm most of us have not experienced and we waffle between confusion, anger and fear.  

Now, more than ever, our focus needs to remain on the One in charge.  While this may have caught us all by surprise, He has always known these days would come and already knows the outcome.  Rather than kneeling in the streets, we need to kneel before our Father in Heaven, acknowledge His power and ask Him to calm the winds of discontent and heal the hearts that are being ripped apart.  He loves each of us, no matter where we come from or the color of our skin.  Sin destroys but His perfect love heals and restores.  As we witness the images on our television screens, rather than comment and criticize, maybe we should be praying for the people we see and asking Him to calm this storm.  

In 1965, a song was released entitled "What the World Needs Now."  Sung by Jackie DeShannon, it reminded us that the world needs love.  I woke up this morning with this song on my mind.  The world does need love, God's love, and it is our task to carry it wherever we go.  My hope is that each one of us will pray for those who are hurting and reach out to those we come in contact with.  May you be blessed with His peace and protection.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Living His Mission

"This is my commandment:  Love each other in the same way I have loved you.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command."  John 15:12-14 (NLT) 

When my daughter was in junior high school, she encountered a group of girls who were less than kind to her.  Although these girls had been together for several years in a small Christian school, when puberty hit, suddenly these young ladies began comparing themselves to one another and found the need to find someone to elevate themselves over.  Unfortunately it was my child they chose.   She handled it fairly well until one of her closest friends joined with the bullies.  That was simply more than she could handle.  She felt totally isolated and her self esteem fell to the point that her comment to me was, "I'd rather die than go to school."  

Friends have great power in our lives.  Who we choose to align ourselves with will influence our thoughts, our choices and how we see ourselves and others.  That is why it is so important to choose wisely.  So many lives have tumbled out of control by "getting in with the wrong crowd."  Jesus laid down His life for us.  His command to us is that we love each other the way He loved us.  As He reached out to us with the love of the Father, so we are to reach out to others.  He says we are His "friends" if we do what He commands.  In other words, He wishes for us to align ourselves with His purpose, His mission to bring salvation to the world.  He wishes for us to spend our lives sharing His love and honoring the Lord.  The greatest friend we can be to someone else is by sharing the gospel message and by living our lives for Him rather than blending in with the depravity of this world.  In order accomplish this, we must be willing to allow Him to change us from the innermost parts of ourselves, to call out sin when we see it in ourselves and others, and to speak truth as it is revealed in God's Word.  This will definitely not make us popular with the world but if others are able to see Jesus in us and make a decision to follow Him, then that is the greatest gift we can give.  

My daughter's heart was troubled that she was not part of the "popular" circle.  We may experience the same feelings when we are scorned for seeking to live our lives for Jesus.  We live in a time in this country when more and more people are moving away from churches and are developing their own ideas of spirituality and what they want to have faith in.  False religions are becoming more prevalent and the idea that "all paths lead to Heaven" is becoming more acceptable.  Scripture tells us that the only way to the Father is through His Son.  That is the ultimate truth.  We are to be the messengers that boldly carry that message in a time when it is not popular.  This is one way that we "lay down our lives" for our friends.  We will be laughed at.  We will be argued with.  Many will call us crazy and tell us that we are believing in fairy tales.  However, we must not lose heart.  Too much is at stake if we give up.  

I know that what I have spoken about today is difficult.  None of us want for others to turn their backs on us or slam doors in our faces.  Sometimes we tend to think that loving others means that we stay quiet about what we know is sin.  Jesus did not do that.  He loved, but He was truthful.  When we consider though that by not speaking truth we are aiding and abetting sinful choices, then we know that we are not truly being loving at all.  The greatest love is the love of God and it is honest and convicting and life changing.  I pray that we all examine our hearts, that we repent of the sin in our own lives and ask the Lord to help us fulfill His desire for us to carry out the mission He has laid before us,  With sincerity of heart, God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - All Will Be Fine

Life has its ups and downs.  Some days are wonderful, some are awful.  One day everything works and the next brings mistakes and accidents.  Periods of prosperity are followed with periods of want. Waking up each day is an adventure in itself because we never know what the day ahead will bring.  

I broke something today.  I didn't mean to but it happened anyway. My first impulse was to see if I could fix it so that no one ever had to know about it.  That would save me from embarrassment. Upon realizing that it was out of my expertise I began thinking of who I could call to come and take care of it.  Again, this would be to protect myself from the feelings that are inevitable once my family discovers what I have done.  Having anyone upset with me for any reason is terrifying to me for very personal reasons.  However, it has happened before, it will happen this time, and it will happen again in the future.  

Being human means being tainted by sin.  Sin brings about unwanted consequences.  One day we will be in Heaven and joy will abound.  Today, though, often brings worry, sadness, anger, fear and pain. Jesus died so that we could have forgiveness of sin but that forgiveness doesn't necessarily free us from enduring the consequences.  If we break an earthly law, even though we ask and receive forgiveness from the Lord, we may still have to pay a ticket or spend time in jail.  

How comforting to know that no matter what we are going through at any given moment in our lives, there is One that we can turn to that will always respond to us in love.  Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  While we were still sinners!  What a beautiful verse!  Think about it.  He knew everything about us.  He knew we would sin.  He knew and still His love for us was so strong and so deep and so perfect that He chose to allow Himself to be accused, beaten, humiliated, spat upon, jeered, and ultimately nailed to a cross to die.  How humbling is that?  Everything pales in comparison.  Yes, I broke something today - something of some value here on earth.  I'm not happy about it and I would really prefer that my family didn't find out.  But they will.  And I'm sure there will be tears and hurt feelings.  I also know that Jesus will be there with His arms open wide, and because He loves me and has given my family love for me, all will be fine.  

Answers Inside - Paul

Romans 3:23-24 (NLT)

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.