Full Of God

 "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power." Col. 2:9-10

In Christ is all the fullness of God. All the power, the character, the attributes of the Father, the Son, and the Spirit are all found in the person of Jesus Christ. The disciples caught a glimpse of this on the mount of Transfiguration, when they saw Him in His glory. And yet, after Jesus rose from the dead, he was seen as a man by a lot of people for 40 days. All I can say is, in Heaven, we will be like Him with abilities beyond our understanding now, but we will still be us.

The word fullness is the Greek word pleroma. It denotes not just that something is full, but it also expresses what it is full of. In this context it speaks of Jesus being full of God in the completeness of His being.

"to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Eph. 3:19

All that we need to get saved, to stay saved, and to be saved are in Christ.

It also says that we are complete in Him. The word complete is the Greek word pleroo. It means to fill or to be made full. To be complete in Christ is to be full of Christ. So we read in Ephesians 3:19. Also, in ancient languages, the word enthusiasm is literally en Theos, which literally means full of God. So being full of God is both a fact and a theological statement. It is also an experience.

To be much for God we must be much with God. In prayer, in reading, in worship, in works.

Some people have just enough of God in them to make them miserable.

First Words

 Did you know that the first word in the Gospel message is not Jesus loves you or God can change your life. The first word is repent.

"From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand." Mat. 4:17

I know that we must adjust our message to our audience. But no matter how we adapt, it still must convey the idea of repent and turn from your sins.

The big word in the end times is deceive. The big danger of the end times is to not be deceived. The big struggle is not drugs or booze or sex. It is being deceived to disobey God. Just like Adam and Eve.

"And Jesus answered and said to them: take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and will deceive many." Mat. 24:4-5

We never out grow our need for Jesus, for the Bible, for our local church, and pastoral care. My prayer is that the spirit of truth will guide us all into truth.

Darkest Just Before Dawn.

 I was saved at the end of the hippie movement and towards the end of the Jesus People revival. I had a thought about why revival happened then. Could it be partly due to the fact that a whole generation was burned out on the empty promises of the hippie lifestyle? The sex, drugs, and rock and roll had left many feeling empty and lost and unfulfilled. It was a perfect time for the Holy Spirit to visit a generation of people all looking for a change.

The hippies believed the same lies that deceived Eve in the Garden. It all looked good. It all seemed right. It felt enlightened. And behind it all was the serpent's handiwork. One thing to realize is that Satan is a master deceiver. He has a knack for it. He has been doing it for a long time. He knows what works and does not have to waste his time experimenting.

But while society was filled with darkness and despair, God was moving. God was setting things in order. God was restoring lives and building churches. God is an expert at what He does. God is greater!

With God, the darkest hour is often just before the dawn! Maranatha!

The Time Is Now!

"It is time for You to act, O Lord, for they have regarded your law as void" Psalm 119:126

"...Behold, now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." 2Cor. 6:2

There comes a time in life where there is nothing more that we can do and it is time for God to act. It might happen after a long illness. It might happen after a long bout of unemployment. It might happen after your marriage is stalled. But I think that every believer will face something in life that, after they have done all that they know to do, they need God to intervene. 

I am at that place in my life now. I have been sick for two weeks. I haven't had a good nights sleep in that time. I prayed today to tell the Lord that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. It is time for God to arise and scatter these enemies.

"Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those also who hate him flee before him." Psalm 68:1

How about you, have you reached the point where you think, enough is enough, yet? Are you sick and tired too? Just remember, we can do all things through Christ.

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13

It's time for the great I Am to show Himself alive by infallible proofs.

"to whom he also presented himself alive after his suffering by many infallible proofs" Acts 1:3

"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Heb. 4:15-16

Blessed

 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil.4:19

I was going over my checkbook yesterday and I realized that I had paid all of my bills for the month and I still had money in the bank. This may not be a big deal to you. But it is to me. I do not bring in a lot of money every month. But with God's help, I seem to be able to live comfortably on what I get.

I cannot plan any big trips this year. I do not plan to make any big purchases this year. But I can put gas in my van and put food on my table and keep a roof over my head.

Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me!

Let God Be True

 "How could one man pursue a thousand, or two put ten thousand to flight, unless their rock had sold them, unless the Lord had given them up? For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies concede." Deu.32:30-31

"...Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" 2Kin.6:16

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." 1Jn.4:4

"Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up,..." Jas.5:14-15

Let God be true, and every man be a liar. Let God's word be true. 

It's time for the Lord to act!

A Song From A Grateful People

 "The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him." Exod.15:2

Once Moses and the people had escaped the army of Egypt, they paused to thank God with a song. These words are from a people who were facing destruction and certain death who were suddenly free and they were amazed by what had just happened.

When God moves it not a time to be proud or arrogant or to act like a know it all. It is a time to be amazed and to be humble and to be grateful. When a young couple gets married it is a time to be grateful. When a loved one gets saved, when a job opens up, when you get an unexpected windfall of money, when you are miraculously healed. These are times to be grateful to God.

Let's not make the same mistake that others have made, by thinking that we did, or deserved, what God did. We say that this is a work of God. It really is. We have a lot to be grateful to God for.

That's why we sing!

Still Here!

I am grateful to God for His help in my life. I am grateful to God for all the pastoral support in my church. I am grateful to God for those I now call friends. I am grateful to God for the Bible. I am grateful to God for the Blood. I am Grateful to God for all the blessings He has put in my life.

I am counting some of my blessings today. I am naming them one by one. It is amazing how rich and full my life is right now. To be where I am, to know what I know, and to be a part of a great Fellowship is amazing to me.

I am still here! 

Abraham and Abimelech Genesis 20

Tonight, pastor Rubi told us some interesting things that God did for Abraham. We find the story in Genesis chapter 20, verses 1-18. It is the story of Abraham and Abimelech. I won't go into everything that pastor preached on. But I wanted to share a few things that were brought out.

First, nobody is perfect. Abraham basically lied to the king about Sarah, telling the king that she was his sister. The unwritten part of this story is how Abraham repented before God over what he had done to his wife.

Second, God uses imperfect people to minister. This is not an excuse to be carnal or worldly. It does mean that God can use us in spite of out inner flaws. Abraham's prayer for the king saved them from the curse. God calls Abraham a prophet. 

Third, God went to work to save Abraham's marriage. God speaks to Abimelech in a dream and makes it clear that he is in a lot of trouble. God tells him how to make things right. God wants your marriage to work more than you want it to work.

 Abraham learned a lesson that day. We can learn from his mistake. And, here is a perfect example of how the wealth of sinners is laid up for the righteous. The king loaded Abraham with riches and wealth at the end. I wonder if Abraham gave the silver to Sarah.

One more thought. It is in the very next chapter that God brings to pass His promise to Abraham and Sarah. The devil tried to stop this from happening. God is still greater than any devil or king.

Enough

" So when they measured it by omers, he who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack. Every man had gathered according to each one's need." Exod.16:18

Manna was the way that God sustained Israel in the wilderness for 40 years. Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. The manna was always there. It was nutritious. It was satisfying to the soul. It was always just enough.

There is a lesson for the church to learn in the manna. Enough is enough. God may not give you all that you want. But He always gives us enough. Godliness with contentment is great gain. Ambition and competition had no place in the wilderness. Everyone had just enough.

I am grateful for this, that no matter how much I take in, it is always enough to meet my needs. Money is important in life. Money is you in a spendable form. Money is necessary. And for the little that I bring in, I live pretty well. No lack is just enough for the day.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we wear? " Mat.6:31

My prayer is that you will, day by day, always have enough.

Asleep In The Storm

 "Now when he got into a boat, his disciples followed him. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered by the waves. But He was asleep." Mat.8:23-24

First, life has storms. Great storms. Life threatening storms. Do not be surprised when you find that Jesus is asleep during your storms.

Second, Disciples are followers. They went where Jesus went. They went where Jesus said to go. They would become leaders. But in the local church they are just followers.

Jesus asleep during the storm bothers some well meaning saints. Did he care? Was he unaware?

First, Jesus was a hard working man who saw the value of taking a nap. He didn't have a phone to intrude. He wasn't checking his email. Jesus was tired and he took a nap.

Second, we find that Jesus does not freak out just because you are freaking out. He has an answer to your problem. He knows what to do even though you don't. 

Third, Jesus says that this whole story exposed a faith problem with the disciples. 

"But he said to them, why are you fearful, O you of little faith?...:" Mat.8:26

The disciples didn't get it yet. Do you get it yet?

Wintley Phipps - My Tribute [Live]

Gathering Matters

 To God be the glory, great things He has done!

It was good to see Eddie and Traci this week. Yes, he is not my pastor. He is a good brother. She is a good sister. In the Lord. Pastor Eddie ministered like a pastor would. It truly touched my heart.

I went to church tonight feeling sick. I had been praying all afternoon. I had a hard time singing. Now I am home after church and I feel great, like I was never sick at all! It is important to gather when the doors are open for service.

I thought about a love offering for tonight. I checked my bank ledger. I had an amount in mind and the ledger said, go ahead. I love it when plans work concerning money.

Here is my final question. Does pastor Eddie sound Australian to you? Some people hear an Aussie accent. Some people do not hear it. Some hear more Spanish than Australian. I hear a man of God who ministered to us a word fitly spoken each night.

" A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver." Prov.25:11

Overcoming Fear

 "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2Tim.1:7

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." 1John 4:18

"Fear not" is a common phrase in the Bible. Over and over God has to remind us or encourage us not to be fearful or afraid. What are we afraid of? Sickness and disease. Financial difficulty. We fear change of any kind. We can fear the future. We can fear a storm. We can fear an election. We all have fears that we deal with, usually not all at once, but often one after another.

Paul says that fear is a spirit. It is an evil, unclean spirit. And, being a spirit, it can be cast out in Jesus' name! John says the fear brings torment. He says that love conquers fear. So in all cases, fear is an unwelcome guest in our born again lives.

You can deal with fear yourself. If your fear is too strong for you, we have pastors who can help you and pray for you. The key to victory over a fear is of course God.

"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. ..." James 4:7-8

Maranatha!

One last thought. Get rid of your TV and you will cut of a source of all kinds of fear masquerading as news.

Eleven Years

 It was eleven years ago today that my wife of 40 years went to be with the saints in Heaven. She died on this day in 2014. I do not dwell on the date and it does not fill me with sadness or grief anymore. But the day did sneak up on me this year and it reminded me of what is no longer a part of my life.

Jesus brought us together in 1974. We lived together and raised our children. And then God took her from me. Too soon by my reckoning. But God knows best.

So I have moved on in life. Not in grief and loneliness but in satisfaction and forward thinking.

But I do remember. I always will. I have learned to live without the one who I couldn't live without.

Pastoral Care

Today pastor Rubi and pastor Baretto came to my house to check up on me. We visited for a while. Then they prayed for me. This was a great blessing to me. In over 50 years of salvation, this was the first time that my pastor came to my house for any reason. I am grateful that he did. 

It doesn't take a lot to make a difference in someone's life. This is a lesson we can all learn. Or relearn.

Revival Thoughts

I watched the service last night. When I saw pastor Eddie's topic my first thought was, are we changing pastors? Is there going to be a change of leadership in our church? Evidently not.

When the stream began there were 14 of us watching. At the peak it was 61 people watching. Most of the time it was in the mid 50s. I don't like watching from home. But as sick as I was I was glad to have it. I sang as best as I could. I prayed. I watched to the end. 

I was a little surprised that there was no response to the invitation to be saved. The camera never pans the crowd to see who is there. And we regularly have a response at every service. I guess it was the dreaded Monday night of revival.

Colds take seven to ten days to run their course. Last night was day seven. I just do not want to spread this cold to immune compromised people who are there. I want to spread the love, not my cold.

Back in ancient days revival meetings ran from Sunday night through Friday night. And sometimes they were extended. Those were the days.

Two more nights. We can do all things through Christ, who strengthens us!

Preparing To Die, or Living in Fear?

 Pastor Rubi said something interesting in Sunday School this morning. He said that not everyone who is saved will live until the rapture. That some of us will die first. This struck me in a strange way. Several times, while I have been sick, I wondered if my life was over and this is how I was going to die. A friend rebuked me for thinking like that. It made me wonder what it must be like to suddenly realize that your life is over.

My wife died alone in our bed. No one but God heard her final words on Earth. I wonder what she said. I wonder what went through her mind. I wonder if she had time to contemplate what was about to happen, And I wonder if, once her life on earth ended, how quickly she realized where she was and what had happened. Her sorrow was suddenly turned to joy.

Our attitude about death seems to be rooted in fear and bad doctrine. God does not give us fear, and we have a living hope. But deep down I wonder if we avoid preparing to die because we are afraid to die. What is the secret to conquering fear? Knowledge. Knowing what happens when we die and what the Bible says about death and dying ought to help us not fear death. Right doctrine, not bad teaching from unbiblical sources, is important.

The Bible mostly talks about the life and ministry of people who are now dead. Even Jesus had to die first. So we have truth to help us face the uncertainty of death. It is uncertain only in the sense that few of us know the day of our death. Some die suddenly, some die slowly. 

The time to get right with God is now, while you are still alive and able to decide.

Feeling Better Still Saved!

 Pastor Eddie is a good man. He, by his own admission, is not an international evangelist who preaches around the world. But he is a good pastor who loves God and who loves us. I have been sick so I only watched the services today. But I did join in as best as I could and it was still food for my soul.

I plan to go see a doctor in the morning to see if they can help me with these miserable cold symptoms. Today was awful until it wasn't. God helped me overcome some terrible symptoms and seemed to revive me.

I hope to attend the rest of the services in person. Watching is not the same as being there.

Thankfully, I think that I have discovered why I cannot get any sleep at night. I will put my theory to the test tonight. I definitely feel better as I write than I did earlier today.

Paradise

 Some people consider Heaven to be pie in the sky theology. They don't think about it now and they figure that if Jesus wants us there eventually, well, they will take whatever He gives them. Some people think that Heaven will be a more perfect version of life here on Earth. It will have mountains and rivers and lakes and there will be plenty of hunting and fishing there. Others think it will be about reuniting with loved ones. And some people think that if it really is paradise, surely their dogs and cats will be there with them.

The word paradise is only used three times in the new testament. 

Luke 23:43"And Jesus said to him, assuredly, I say unto you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

2Cor. 12:4" How he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."

Rev. 2:7" He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God."

Paradise is the abode of risen saints, not their pets. It is a place of blessedness and fulfilment, where finally all of God's promises are fulfilled. Some scholars believe that this is the new Garden of Eden which will be a part of the new heavens and new earth which are yet to come. It is in any sense a place of supreme blessedness, beyond anything that we can imagine.

One thing that I am sure of is no one will be there by accident. 

There is both a present and a future idea concerning Paradise. It is not all pie in the sky, in the sweet by and by! You could go there today.

Maranatha!

Oh That I Could Sleep Again.

 Sorry to bother y'all with personal stuff. I never have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. But this recent bout of sickness has messed my sleep schedule all up. I have trouble laying down so I have slept in my recliner. And tonight, while most of my friends are asleep, I am sitting at my desk writing.

God does promise to give us sleep. I will be glad to be back to normal and on the mend. Oh, that I could sleep like I used to again!

"It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; for so He gives His beloved sleep." Psalm127:2

I am not stressed or sorrowful. I am content and at peace. Sleep is just avoiding me right now.

The Keys Of A Good Revival Meeting

 "So I sent to you immediately, and you have done well to come. Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things commanded you by God. Then Peter opened his mouth and said..." Acts 10:33-34.

We have a revival coming up soon. We are looking forward to having our brother here with us again. It should be a good time of Holy Ghost ministry.

I was surprised when pastor preached a whole sermon on preparing for a revival meeting. Is this the first revival that this church has had? Have they never had an evangelist in for a series of meetings before?

I can tell you a little secret. We will be there, ready and willing to hear all that this brother has to say. The success of the revival has a lot to do with the visiting speaker. Does he bring a word perfect for this church at this time? Does he minister beyond just a few extra sermons? Will the Holy Spirit be there in a tangible and active presence?

It takes a good preacher, a good people, and the Spirit of God to make a good revival. Pretty simple.

Aging Saints

 If you are a young parent and you have a sick child there are resources available to help you know what to do. The older you get, the less resources there are to help you navigate through life. Even in church; where ministry is directed towards the young, the new converts, and the early days of revival.

One thing pastor Greg did was to bring on staff someone to minister to the senior citizens in the Prescott church. And even that guy finds it hard to focus only on old folks.

Many of the nagging illnesses that old folks have are a result of living a long time. Should we encourage assisted suicide?

Children need a unique brand of care. New converts need a unique brand of care. Families and marriages need a unique brand of care. Please do not think it strange that older folks also need a unique brand of care and ministry.

We hear three sermons a week every week. That's a lot of preaching. Don't you think that once in a while a sermon could address the needs and concerns of our aging saints? More than telling them to act young?

Old soldiers never die. They just fade away. So said General McArthur.

Contentment

 "I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content." Phil.4:11

"Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry" Phil.4:12

"The things which you have learned and received and saw in me, these do" Phil.4:9

It seems that the apostle hit on learning in this part of his epistle to the Philippians. In the Greek it is a word that simply means to learn, to study, to be instructed. It carries the meaning of learning something that you did not previously know. No big secret in the definition of the word learn.

Paul talks about how in life he had learned how to be content as he is and where he is. Whether rich or poor, hungry or full, abased or abounding. He did not learn this from a handbook of how to be a first century apostle. He went through things in life in which the Lord taught him some valuable lessons that were to help him the rest of his life.

The fruit of this lesson is contentment. Paul learned this and we can too. Contentment is not presumption. Contentment is not resignation. Contentment is not being angry or bitter about your circumstances. Contentment is the sense that, no matter what or where, I can trust that God is taking care of me.

I learned to be content. I do not strive for fame or fortune or recognition. I have enough to live on comfortably. I am not always looking for opportunities or business ideas. I do what I can do and that is good enough for me. 

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil.4:13

I am sanctified, justified, and one day in Christ I will be glorified. I am content to let God run my life.

Our Part In God's Work Today

When pastor Mitchell started planting couples to start or take over churches he had no book or blueprint to follow. There were no denominational guidelines for discipleship and church planting. What pastor Mitchell did have was a relationship with God. And evidentially, that was enough.

As we cross the 4000 church mark, we need to remember that this is a work of God and not a work of man. Jesus built our churches and joined us in Fellowship to win souls, make disciples, and plant churches.

We are not the only group that God is using today. But God is using us, and we need to be grateful just to be a part of it all.  

Leah's Eyes And Rachel's Looks

 "And Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored." Gen.29:16-17

These verses contains one of the mysteries of the Bible. The question of what was wrong with Leah. The King James says that she was tender eyed. Bible commentators struggle to decipher what that means. The NKJV says that Leah's eyes were "delicate". The Living Bible says there was no sparkle in Leah's eyes. The NIV says that Leah had weak eyes.

The Hebrew word tender is the word "ralz", for which there is not inclination as to what the writer meant by using it. This word is translated as gentle, tender, weak, or soft. The word for eyes is the common word for eyes.

I wonder if this verse had nothing to do with Leah's vision. We use the phrase, easy on the eyes, not talking about literal eyes, but a person not hard to look at.

First, who is telling this story? Is Laban speaking here? In verse 15 Laban is speaking, but in verse 16 someone seems to be talking about Laban. If Laban is speaking, maybe he did not have high regard for the elder sister. Maybe he was frustrated by her still being single. Maybe she had turned down her father's choice and he thought that she had poor vision concerning men. So as far as Laban was concerned, Leah had weak eyes. Maybe that was a common way of talking back then.

The other thing is the context of the story. Obviously, there is a comparison between Leah and Rachel. Leah was plain, Rachel was pretty. Leah couldn't attract a man, Rachel had no trouble getting attention. Leah was getting older, Rachel was still a teenager. Whoever wrote this could see the difference between these two sisters. Leah was not ugly, but no one could compare to Rachel.

The story of Leah and Jacob is an interesting one. Rachel had the looks, but not the character or the personality. Leah was a good wife, and Jacob seemed to finally understand what a treasure she was. In the end, Leah had the children, and Jacob is buried next to her. Rachel is buried alone by herself.

There is a lesson here for that church you attend. You may not be the biggest or have the fanciest building. But if you are winning souls and planting churches you are a great treasure.

A Challenge

 I don't know who you are. One thing that you can do is give to the Prescott church. Give what the Lord told you to give.  Give it now. Amen.

Prescott Potters House

What Is Jesus Doing Now?

 I was watching one of the conference sermons today and I heard the pastor say how we must preach Jesus, who He is, and what He did. That statement caught my attention. There is a style of preaching that focuses on the Bible and what God did back in ancient days. We go to a lot of work to expound on scripture and to tell the good news of the Gospel and of Christ and what God used to do. We seem to have no trouble believing that God did things and that in the future He will do amazing things. What I want to know is, what is God doing today?

In Matthew 16 we read in verse 18 these words. "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." And we believe that as a wise builder Jesus is building His church today.

I wonder if we avoid talking about what Jesus is doing now because that puts pressure on us to perform. If we say the Jesus heals we better be ready to heal the sick. If we say that Jesus saves we better be ready to get people saved. It's is important to know what Jesus did. We also need to experience what Jesus does today.

"And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." Mat.16:19

This last verse is forward looking. It talks about what we will do with what He gave us.

One more thought. What would you do if you knew that you had 15 years left?

"And I will add to your days fifteen years." 2Kings 20:6

Hezekiah's life was over but God gave him 15 more years. What would you do with 15 more years? Not 15 minutes or 15 days or 15 weeks or even 15 months. Fifteen years is a long time. It is enough time to do something. What greater work than Jesus will you do for Him?

Reasons Not To Have a Television in Your Home.

 I remember when not having a tv in your home was a criteria for being involved in ministry. Back then it was a moral issue. People could watch soft core porn on their tv. That is still an issue I suppose, but I can think of other reasons why it is better to not have a tv in your house.

1. It is a time waster. My mother is turning 90 soon. She lives in a senior housing complex. She cannot do what she used to do, and now she spends a lot of time watching tv. It has become her companion. What is your excuse? Why do you waste hours a day passively watching tv shows? Is there nothing else you could be doing?

2. Watching tv affects our ability to concentrate. It makes it hard to pay attention. Tv news does not make you think, it lulls you into accepting what they say. Tv news makes you invest in issues that are contrary to Biblical thinking.

3. Tv is a conduit to this present evil world. It is a world where sodomy is accepted and promoted. Is is a world where the nuclear family is attacked and discredited. It is anti-marriage, anti-Bible, and anti-Christ. 

4. Watching tv makes you think that you have experienced things that you never experienced. Watching tv makes you think that you are smarter than you are. Watching tv makes you arrogant towards those who do not watch.

5. Finally, the world of tv is a fake world full of fake people and fake news. The medium is the message, not the message or the content.

Why is it that, when people backslide and leave church, the first thing that they do is buy a big tv? And one of the first things that new converts get rid of is their tv. Learn a lesson from real life.

Maybe it is time for our Fellowship to stop streaming our services. Streaming is just another word for watching TV. Watching is a poor substitute for being in church.

Prescott Conference Thoughts

 Prescott Conference begins soon. Here are my thoughts about it.

I wonder if anyone truly misses the big tents? The dirt parking lot. The big tent heaters. The tiny plastic chairs.

I wonder if Prescott will plant any churches this conference. I always wonder that.

I wonder if conference is better now than it used to be? I guess it depends on who you ask.

I still wonder why the biggest event happening in Prescott next week is ignored by the city of Prescott.

People here do not understand why I am not going to Prescott conference. Really? Why would I go?

I have great memories of serving during conference. I miss what is gone forever.

Pray for the Prescott church this week. They carry a heavy load. 

Pray for pastor Greg especially. He is making decisions that will change people's lives this week.

Sinners Earn Money For Us

"...but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Prov.13:22b

I have no problem watching lucky rich folks earn more money than they know what to do with or could spend in 100 lifetimes. They are not laying it up for themselves. They are storing up wealth for their grandchildren. And for all of us who are righteous and who pay our tithe on what little we get.

God keeps good books. He knows how much they make. He knows how much we need. God can do what He promised to do; using sinners to bless the saints. 

You cannot buy your way into heaven. But you can give a substantial offering to our churches and our families and us who serve the Lord. 

God loves a cheerful giver. But He will take money from an old grouch like you, too.

Leave a comment and I can tell you where to send it.

A Great New Years Sermon

 "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing..." Isa.43:18-19

Pastor preached an excellent message last night from this text.

Some people that I talk to seem to live in the past. I'm not sure if this is a condition that older folks tend to embrace. I'm not sure if they think that their best years are behind them. But. like I have written before, you cannot go forward while looking backward. Memories have value, but they are not a good place to live. When the prophet tells us not to remember the former things, it is not a call to be ignorant of the past, but rather a call not to live with past failures or past victories. It's a new day.

Pastor mentioned the poor old ostrich last night. Did you know that ostriches do not hide their heads in the sand? That is an old wives fable. They are large, flightless birds that can run fast but, they never hide their heads in the sand. Nor are they cowardly. Yes, I did a little fact checking this morning.

Pastor's final point had to do with worship. In verse 21 it says that we are saved to worship. Not the excessive, concert style worship of some churches. But honest, heart felt praise from a grateful heart. When we come together to sing and to praise and to speak in tongues in worship we glorify God in Heaven. And, worship in spirit and in truth changes us.

Life is like the turning of a page. His compassions are new every morning.