Sermon Thoughts

 I can tell when  sermon sticks to the outline, and when it goes off into the arena of inspiration.

Pastor, we are glad you have pastor friends. We don't and perhaps never will.

Evidently God can only work twice in life. To save you, and to send you out to pastor. 

Preaching is part theology, and part art. There is a skill in preaching that can be learned.

Pastor Mitchell, we are told, used to practice preaching. We could tell.

Sometimes I hear the voice of God in a sermon. Often I don't.

An unprepared preacher feels threatened by a fact checking audience.

I regularly come home from church and remind myself that what I learned is still true.

I am surprised by how off track the Evangelical movement has led us.

That's all for now.

My Thoughts

 It's a poor workman who blames his tools. It's like a person who trips glaring at the sidewalk. I wonder if we can say that it is a poor pastor who blames his church. We could be more if you would do more. We could do more if you would give more. God would move more if you would pray more. We would grow more if y'all would witness more.

The size of a local church is directly linked to the ability of the pastor. This is an inescapable fact. God will not give you more people than you can effectively minister to. Blame must begin by looking in a mirror, not by glaring at the pews.

If you want more, you set the example and you give more or pray more or serve more. Or else you can set the example by being content and happy to be here. Like I am.

Don't mistake being born on third base as the same as hitting a triple.

A Blessed Hope, Or Woe Is Me

 Last night we had a band of thunderstorms move through our area. The weather people made it sound dangerous. There were warnings issued. But the storms moved through and this morning my rain gauge only had a small amount of water in it. No tornadoes were recorded. The sky was falling until it didn't.

We hear dire warnings on a regular basis. The world is much worse than it has ever been. Surely the end is near. I half expect someone to stand on a busy street corner holding a sign saying the end is near. 

I have lived long enough to put warnings into perspective. I have read enough history to know that we have lived through much worse times then this. And this gives me peace when society around me is losing their minds in fear.

The Bible talks about the return of Christ. 

"looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and savior Jesus Christ." Titus 2:13

Have you ever heard a sermon in this verse? The blessed hope instead of doom and gloom.

Forever Young?

 This is important information to help us grow old in our faith.

Winning in life is not always being young and fit. It is not never getting old or infirm. It is being able to live and to remain independent as long as possible. We do not even think about these things when we are young. It is most of what we think about as we get older.

1. Mobility. Can you get out of bed in the morning? Can you get out of a chair unaided?

2. Do you recover from physical setbacks? Are you physically resilient?

3. Can you managing your meds, your pharmacy, and take the meds your doctors recommend?

4. Are you still socially connected? Or are you continually isolated?

5. Are you still curious about life? Are you still mentally engaged?

6. Can you adapt to changing circumstances? Life is about changes. Can you adapt to changes?

7. Do you still have a sense of humor? Can you still laugh?

I think that as we age in our Fellowship we will need to take charge of our own well being and do what is best for us on our own. We will get no support from the pulpit.  It is a fool who thinks that the goal of life is to be forever young. It is still he who endures to the end who will be saved in the end.

He's A Miracle Working God Today!

 I have noticed something happening in our Fellowship. I doesn't seem on the surface to be a big deal. But I wonder if it is more important than we understand. There seems to be a trend to take the supernatural out of the Bible. We seem to be trying to explain the signs and wonders in the Bible through a naturalist lens.

Manna did not grow on a bush or a tree. Manna was angel's food that appeared every morning by a miracle. Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan river on dry ground. That was a miracle. The ram caught in the thicket was not there until God stopped Abraham from killing his son. It appeared at just the right time.

One reason for this drift from the supernatural work of God is partly our naturalist education system. We think that science can explain everything.  And also as we grow and prosper we find that we have no need for miracles. We have all that we need. And finally, if we have asked for God to intervene and nothing has happened we change our theology to reflect our experience.

An evangelist was once asked what do you do if you pray for someone and they don't get healed. He replied; I say, bring me the next one.

Let me share a thought with you about divine healing. There is a time when miracle healing happens. There comes a time when that sick person needs support and care to survive. Those are two different prayers.

God's nature does not change to suit our experience. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is a miracle working God. Don't let your unbelief rob you of a miracle.

The Narcissist Next Door

 We seem to live in a narcissistic age. We see everywhere people who exhibit an inflated sense of self importance. They think that they are superior to everyone and that they deserve to be respected. They are self exalting, which is another word for pride.

We also live in an age where empathy is in short supply. I am no longer a conservative because they consider me to be a parasite because of Social Security and Medicare. They think that poverty is a moral issue and therefore do nothing to help their needy neighbors. Or their employees.

Narcissism may be important to run a business or a government. But it disqualifies you from the kingdom of God. God delights to share His glory with His people, but He will not share His glory with a proud, selfish man or woman. You can run a corporation, but you are unworthy to clean the restrooms at our church.

Pride always goes before destruction. Just because they get away with it today does not guarantee that they will get away with it tomorrow. Payday with God is not always Friday, but God always pays in full.

So if you think that you deserve to be honored watch out. God keeps good books.

Another Day Is Done

I was born again on December the 8th, 1973 in Prescott Arizona. I grew up a reorganized Latter Day Saint. I grew up in a stable two parent home for 15 years. By the time Jesus saved me I needed to be saved. I am still clothed and in my right mind today.

Extra-Biblical books can shed some additional light on the scriptures. But there is nothing to compare to just the Bible. God still speaks today.

Pastors think that by emphasizing soul winning that it will inspire us to witness more. I think they think that revival isn't just a moving of the Holy Spirit, but it really does depend on us witnessing and praying more.

I have old friends that I have known for a long time. I have new friends here and now. They are both vital to my well being. 

In the past I got rid of all of my study books. I have since then gotten replacements. I still study often.

My wife of 40 years died in 2021. People ask me if I miss her. I don't. And I never once asked God why.

I almost eliminated this blog. I used to have other blogs. They serve a purpose. They do not last forever.