Yesterday Pastor James shared the Word of God by explaining Dispensationalism. It is so good to see from the Word of God that God has a plan for the ages, for the times we know that run from eternity to eternity. We were encouraged in our faith as we were able to see the faithfulness to God, combined with His mercy and grace, meet the need of man's unfaithfulness. In every dispensation man failed but God provided a substitute for us for our sin until Jesus came and provided our "once for all", nothing more is needed, sacrifice for sin. It is so good now that we have this message of salvation to give out to others that they, too, can be filled with the blessed hope of a coming Savior. So we say we great desire "come quickly, Lord Jesus", Great is our God and His faithfulness! Amen!!

His name shall be called Wonderful, He is marvelous, surpassing, extraordinary, beyond words, awesome!!! He is the joy of our life, the goose-bumps of our body, the happiness of our heart, the twinkle of our eyes, the song of our soul, the clap of our hands, and the smile of our face, He’s all we ever dreamed of and more! Amen???

Well, it happened again last night at the hymn sing. Faces left church radiating with smiles because they had joy in their hearts. It was our Christmas hymn sing and people esthetically lifted their voices in praise to God and it made our hearts happy. Music is such good therapy for the soul, it just replaces the gloom that life might bring and restores the soul. God's music is so much different from the world because it's all about a God who loves, cares, and gives us hope. So the lesson learned last night was simple, if you want your spirit lifted and your joy restored, get together with God's people and bellow out praise to God! It's guaranteed to put a smile on your kisser, and don't forget, if you'll do this, sir, life won't be miserable. Don't believe me, check out James 5.

One of the points of last's message about Ezekiel the watchman was that when someone gives a warning there is a call for a decision. After all what good is a warning if there isn't a response to it. In our post modern culture this is almost a thing of the past; invitations are seldom given, Bible studies express comments not commitments, praise music doesn't have songs of invitation, it's culturally taboo to "go forward" any more, no one likes to be put on the spot. Yet if our message is true, it must have a call of decision, or the message is just another idea. agree?

Yesterday brought a challenge to get on board with Jesus and His purpose for the church today. Soul-winning should be our number one purpose, baptizing people should be our mark of distinction, and teaching the Bible our continuing task. Agree? Wow, that's great, so who will you share the Gospel with today and encourage to continue on in the Words of Jesus. Let's be doers of the Word and not agreers only!!

Last evening we celebrated the Lord's table, remembering His sacrifice, our salvation, and His second coming. It is always a special time and a scared event that leaves the believer joyful and standing in awe. We are asked to look back to God's love shown at the cross and remember this was done "for us". We are told to look in and search out our walk with the Lord, lest we trample on His body and blood and treat it as an unholy thing. The whole celebration is about a living Lord who conquered death and so we're told to look up and expect His coming again. But the best look with the table of fellowship is when we look around and see our brothers and sisters and "tarry with one another". It's all because of our Lord Jesus we have the family of God, we're blessed with God's wonderful people, and we're His body. I guess that's my favorite part of communion, what's yours?

It was so good yesterday morning to see and hear our ministry team present the Gospel with a clear cut invitation to repent of sin and be saved. Last night as we looked at Jeremiah 23 one of the failures of the false prophets was to rebuke sin and encourage repentance. It is so apparent in our Christian world today that we have make a distinct turn away from a sin Gospel to a Son gospel lest we offend people. With little mention of sin today we invite people to ask the Son (Jesus) into their life so God can bless them and give them eternal life. It's time to get back to why Jesus came, that is, to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:12) and wash us from our sins by His blood (Revelation 1:5)..I'm only a sinner saved by grace!

One of the blessings of yesterday was the afterglow of the services. As it is on most Sundays I was at church a good half hour watching people just stand around and talk. It is so good to see this, that people take time with one another, just to chat. From the church then, several journey to McDonalds or some other place and continue to visit over a "goodie". There is nothing like the friendship of the people of God, it's good when life is going great, but is great when the times are not. So if you haven't ever taken the time to stop and speak try it the next time you are at church. Remember a blessing is waiting for you, both to receive and give! Share with us if you have ever experienced this special part of fellowship.

Yesterday's message was from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-23 and was about making a "to do" list. The wonderful thing is that lists do help us do many of the things that we want and need to do. In this passage there are a dozen things that we should be doing as Christians but for one reason or another we just don't get round to it. List making is helpful but a list doesn't cause us"to do" the things that has to do with our want to and our will do; in other words living for Jesus has to do with the heart. So will you, from your heart, make the list, do it, and share with me and the other readers the one thing on the list you need the most encouragement to keep on doing? It will be great someday to hear a "TA Da" from our Lord!

Every once in a while a pastor will hear someone say, "that was a good sermon or that was a great message". Pastor's strive for that response from the people because it indicates to them that the message was heard and, we hope, received. The word good usually means beneficial and when the Word is received in a good for me attitude God is pleased.
The word great, however, puzzles me a little bit. Great can mean a lot of volume, or stuff, or lengthy. So does it mean the message was too long, stuffy, and loud? I guess maybe it could mean excellence. In that case we pastors are thankful for this is what we strive for in the preaching of the Word. It's a goal to do what we do for the Lord with excellence.
Sometimes people will leave and say "nice tie, pastor". Now that comment sets a pastor back a little because it carries the idea that the person didn't get much from the message that day but wanted to say something nice.
Last night the pastor had a nice tie on but the message was good, great and excellent, exalting our living God, edifying the Saint, evangelizing the sinner. What do you say to the pastors about the Word when you hear it?

Last night we were blessed to have an evening of "Spirituals". It was informative and inspiring and created and evening of joy and happiness through an evening of great music. The old negro spirituals came out of the hardest of times yet were filled with hope and foot tapping, hand clapping, heart moving rhythm. It left the people who wrote and sang it happy when they were done. So last night the people who were there left with a smile on their face and a bounce in their step.
Yet as I thought about the evening there were two things that went through my mind. The first is common to pastors and that was simply how can I convince God's people to come to our services? The attendance was good yet it could have been better. The benefit to God's people was wonderful as we learned how God used music to encourage and build up the lives of people living in the worst of conditions and times. It was an encouraging evening. I only wished more of God's people could have been blessed.
The other thing that went through my mind was how God's people have fought over music throughout the history of the church. This music was never allowed in our white churches in the days of slavery because it came from heathen Africa. Little did we know that some of these slaves had been reached with the Gospel before there were taken into slavery. It seems in every generation God's people struggle with music rather than to let music bless them and grow them in the faith.
We were blessed last night and thanking the Lord for people of faith who wrote and sang of this faith from their heart and soul. Will you let music encourage you and build you up, even if it move your foot before it moves your heart?

I like that worship service! I hear that once in a while and can't help but wonder if our God could ever say that about the service. In our seeker sensitive services we try so hard to have a worship service that people like I can't help but wonder if we don't leave God out of the picture. It seems the music has to be to our taste, the order of service needs to please us, (please nothing different) and everything within a certain time slot or we're upset. Why is it what we get out of the service and not what God gets out of it? Do we come to give God His rightful honor or come to take from Him another blessing? Maybe it's time to change our attitude toward worship and make it about God and not us. Isn't He worth it?

After the message yesterday someone asked me why life is so full of vanity. I replied that life isn't but life without God at the center is vanity and empty. Many times in the pursuit of experiencing life's things we are so busy and intense it doesn't seem this way but at the pauses it floods in on us. Life has shown so many people successful "under the sun" who are restless with what they have and are and just have to go on and try something new hoping that the new thing will quench the thirst for meaning in their life. Only when God is in His proper place in a life does that life find fullness. Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it in it's fullness" (John 10:10). Have you ever known anyone who tried and was successful in finding what the world offered but was still empty?

Nothing to follow up the sermon from yesterday, is it possible? "Some people are like seed along the path, where the Word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan come and takes away the Word that was sown in them". (Mark 4:15) Did this ever happen to you? God wants us to do "Better"!

I didn't go to church yesterday because of my fall so I attended by way of the computer. It was great! I sang to the top of my lungs, I bowed my head and prayed with the Pastor, I listened attentively to the message and even heard Pastor Barbee say "the most miserable Christian is the one who tries to live without Christ". I would have even given some money if the ushers could have gotten an offering plate in front of me. I praise the Lord for our times and the electronics of our day.
Yet I sensed a missing ingredient of Church. Part of our "coming together" is touching one another. Whether it's just greeting each other with a handshake or giving a hug, fellowship includes a touch. I have heard people say so often when given a hug "I needed that". Yesterday when I attended church I was so blessed but really missed the touch of God's people. How about you? Have you ever felt that way? And just think, I'm not a "huggy" person.

In most of our sermon sequel blogs we're reminded of something in a message that we can practically live out in our lives. This one is a bit different, yet it is something we need to be reminded of often. The Bible tells us that angels visit us once in awhile to encourage us to be gracious hosts of others and strangers. Well this isn't about angels but about brothers and sisters who attend our services. Yesterday we had a couple who stood in our foyer after a service just waiting and wanting someone to speak to them. As it often happens most of us we busy talking to our friends and just didn't see this lonely couple so after standing alone awhile they left. Our sequel reminds us that those we don't know don't bit and just need a friendly "hi". Will you try it this week, just say "hi" to someone you don't know? Share the results on this blog...o.k.?

There was a reminder yesterday that one of the joys of being a Christian is to involve ourselves in the lives of others. Following the example of Jesus who responded to the needs of those around Him, taught the disciples, and came "for us", we need to put off self and serve others. All of us have been encouraged and made happy by someone who helped us we ought to do the same. The bottom line remains - will we? Try it this week and your neighbor will like it (Romans 15:1, 2)

Last night several teens gave praise to the Lord about their experiences on the missions trips. It was a blessing to hear of people saved, compassion shown, and lives challenged. It was a joyful night.
Pastor James shared with us two things that stuck with me. One was how this group of teens worked together, adapted, filled in, and emphatically worked together. He reminded us of 1 Corinthians 12 and the working of the body and it's likeness to our working together as believers. It was refreshing to hear of several working together toward a common goal, without grumbling, evening doing things outside their comfort zone and spiritual gifts. This why God blessed and was a good example for us.
the second thing he said was that we have a special and unique group of youth who are sold out for our Lord and His service. We need to pray for them and encourage them in any and all ways we can. So this is the week to speak to a teen, send them an e-mail, write on their facebook, give them a hug, take them out for lunch, or encourage them in any way you can. Agree? Amen?

Last night I asked the question "what is your favorite Psalm"? Many stood up and shared how during times of struggle God brought a Psalm to them and encouraged them in their faith. All of God's Word does that very thing but the Psalms even more. As people left so many of God's people spoke of a Psalm that was their favorite. It is so true, the Psalms are were we live, they touch the emotions of our hearts, they are God's listening ear of sympathy. It's no wonder God said, "feeling happy, sing a Psalm" (James 5:13). What's your favorite?

Yesterday's message was from Psalm 20, "Trusting God, My Crutch". I will trust because the troubles of life make me weak, the truth of the Bible says my God will help me, and the testimony of the saints' experience verifies it works. No rubber crutch for me, Jesus never fails! Amen!!!!!

Yesterday we began a series of messages from the Psalms. Chapter one is almost an introduction to the other 149 chapters. They are devotional in nature, full of relationship experience between redeemed man and his God. They are full of emotions, both positive and negative. They will take in the past, present, and even some prophecy of the coming Messiah. Saints over the centuries have been encouraged, comforted, corrected, challenged, and grown in the faith because of them. So I ask you to respond to this sequel by sharing with everyone your favorite or favorites, I love Psalm 73, as did my friends Junior Warner and Doug Hatulata. Bert Branius loved Psalm 121. What's yours?

"and he went on his way rejoicing" (Acts 8:39) He went on his way with an inward bubbling gift from God that made his eyes twinkle, his feet hop, his hands clap, and his mouth praise his new found God and Savior, Jesus Christ. What he experienced is the same for all who believe in Jesus and we're given the Holy Spirit and His fruit is joy.
When I was a child in Sunday School we were taught to spell joy this way, Jesus, others, and you. It's true, when Jesus is first in all I do, when others come before me, and I'm not forgotten but in my proper place I'm living a joy filled life. Agree? Has this been your experience? Share it!

Yesterday we had two special events at our church, a baby dedication and a baptism. What makes them special is a willing spirit to show a commitment public. Neither of them have any saving merit, yet both of them are connected to salvation. In the first is a parents desire to bring a child up in the things of the Lord so the first thing they will seek is the salvation of their child. The second is a confession of the salvation they have experienced and the desire to walk in the fruits of salvation.
It is encouraging to see things done public. In our days of "personal" commitments it's good to see the choice of public commitment. Agree?

Yesterday our message was from John 21 and was about "the love question". It's an important subject and one I believe is so important in our relationship with God. Yet in our response to the question it's important not only to say to our God often "I love You" but to show it. Peter was to fulfill the role of pastor/teacher which the Book of Acts confirms that he did well.
Saul (Paul) was to be a witness of Jesus before the Gentiles and kings and the last chapters of Acts confirms he did with diligence. He also testified that his motivation was the love of Christ and his life revealed it was his love for Christ.
The good Samaritan displayed his love for a stranger by stopping and helping, taking the time, paying the costs, and binding up the wounds.
So the sequel is obvious, what is the evidence that you love Jesus? Could any open door of need be an opportunity to show that we love Jesus? Could it be something as needed as directing children's church, providing a meal for a brother, helping in VBS, or giving toward the dept reduction?
What's your answer to the "love question"?

On Sunday afternoon we had a commissioning service for Brandon and Megan Collins. It is a great joy in a Church to see young people grow up in our church, be saved, dedicate their life to the Lord, and follow the call of God. Such is the case of Brandon and we are happy with his faithfulness to the Lord.
Although the service was special, joyful, and exciting I was disappointed. Our attendance was at an all time low for a service like this or for any service we have had lately. I hope and pray it wasn't discouraging to them. When we send missionaries from our church they like to know the church is behind them and one of the best ways is to see human bodies.
I could come up with a lot of excuses as to why this happened, one being that it was memorial day weekend and it was time to party with friends and family. Well I can't change what happened Sunday but I can hope and pray that in the future our party time doesn't come before special times like these. But then again, our Lord Jesus said that when He comes back we'll be surprised because we would be partying.

Yesterday's morning message "Change" from Colossians 3 and last night's from John 8 went together even though we were not together as we prepared them. What a truth - come to Jesus and you're life will change! Jesus said to the sinner woman "go and sin no more". To all who follow Him, "put off the old man and all his sinful, fleshly deeds and put on the new man who is made like Jesus" . What a privilege, to be changed and to be like Jesus. Oh, the power of the blood, the plan of our God, the "new man" in Jesus. Are you changed and changing?

Yesterday reminded us that Jesus sought and found an indivisible (John 4). His challenge to us was to do the same, so this sequel is short and specific - who will you seek and find? When will you do it? (the next 9 days maybe) What will you say to this person? (I have found the Messiah would be a good start) Why will you do it? (Because the love of God flows through us and it compels us to go and bring others to Jesus is the best reason). I look forward this Sunday to hearing about the person you are "finding" at the well and meeting them.

In yesterday's sermon just mentioned in passing Timothy's mother and grandmother (referred to in 2 Timothy) and the influence they had on Timothy's life. Yet the thing I like the most about them was the assurance their lives gave to the Scriptures they taught him. In 2 Timothy 3 the Bible tells of the difficult times in the end and how the courage and confidence to withstand the evil days comes from "continuing in the things learned and been assured of, knowing of whom you've learned them" (vs.14-16) I remember my mom and grandmother I am thankful that their lives supported the Bible they taught me. Anyone else had that experience of a mother teaching the Scriptures by her life?

Authority or advice? So many of us who believe say we accept the Bible as the final authority in all that we believe and how we behave yet do we?
Authority requires obedience, advice is optional. Authority is without question, advice is open to revision. Authority will bring judgment, advice will go unnoticed. There is a world of difference so how do you receive the Bible -advice or authority?

On Saturday night the pastor said, commenting on the Pharisee and the publican, "a skunk thinks it smells better when it finds a garbage can!" The comparison game that the Pharisee played when he compared himself to the publican may have made him think he was better but he wasn't. He was still a sinner in need of mercy.
Yet sometimes even Christians get into the comparison game to feel better. We, when convicted about a sin, often find someone who has 2 sins; when neglecting a service we find someone who misses 2 services; It doesn't change the wrong but we try to feel better.
Next time, why not confess the wrong, ask for mercy, and be cleansed. It's God's way so it should be our way.
Skunks don't smell better when compared to a garbage can - They both stink!

In yesterday's message about discipleship I said that all that's needed for building a life of discipleship is provided by Jesus. He has given us the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8) for our courage and power, the Scriptures for our construction and blueprints (2Timothy 3:15,16), and the Saints for our companionship and help (Galatians 6:3-10).
All of what Jesus provides for our building and battle is of no use however if we are not filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 4:18), reading and doing the Bible daily (Joshua 1:8,9), and attending the fellowship of the believers (Hebrews 10:25). It's like going to a gas station, not filling up, and then wondering why we run out of gas!
Awesome, isn't it, that Jesus referred to us as His personal, present, possessive disciples!!

Yesterday's messages were good and nobody said I like your tie! Yet as I sit here Monday morning I ask myself if I received the Word as the Holy Spirit wanted me to receive it. What fruit should result from the hearing of the Word yesterday? How will I measure it?
The Bible says the fruit can be up to 100% in my life or maybe 50% or as little as 25%. Yet the important fact is that the is fruit if I have received the Word.
So how did a message about prayer effect my life Do I look for a longer time spent in prayer, a different way to pray, or perhaps a change in my attitude of prayer. I will look for something new in my prayer knowledge and begin to put it into practice.
What about being God's man for God's time? Will I seek to be like David and slay the giants in my life? Will I seek to live up to the calling God has given to me? I can learn from the man after God's heart.
The question of this sequel is about the hearing of the Word. Should we be able to see visible fruit result from the Bible every time we hear it? Or will it just naturally be produced in our live over time and show itself to others? One thing is for sure....the Bible will produce fruit in us! What do you think?

Yesterday as I preached I pointed out the fear of the disciples. It's true that the storms of our life often bring fear with them when we think that we are in danger of perishing. It's a natural reaction to real or imagined danger. Yet with Christ in the vessel we are safe and in His time the storm will pass and peace will return.
Yet it was the "fear" that came when the disciples realized who it was that was in the boat with them that was the best fear of all. They were in the presence of the almighty creator God, the all powerful one, the eternal, all-wise, never late, holy God and master Jesus Christ. It was in His presence they felt the awe, wonder, reverence of the dirty creature before this awesome God. It was this fear that caused Manoah to say "we are doomed to die, we have seen God", Isaiah to cry out "unclean", and John to fall at His feet as dead. What a wonderful (awesome, fearful) day it will be when we experience this "fear" in the presence of our resurrected Lord and faith becomes sight.

The morning message yesterday was taken from the Bible Book of Judges, the up and down story of the people of God. We were reminded how we often find ourselves in the cycle of fellowship with the Lord, then falling away from the Lord, chastening of the Lord, and finally repentance and restoration to the Lord. We have all have been caught in that cycle, some continue in it and have a disappointing Christian life, while others find Romans 6 -8 and break out of it and live a victorious life. The grace that restores is also the grace that triumphs! What is your experience today? Do you agree that they can be continuing victory in our Christian lives? Is there ever a point of no return?

Last night's message was about the angel's answer to Mary's question of "How can this be?". If you recall the Scripture the Angel said "don't worry God is big enough to keep His Word". This awesome truth connects a mighty God who can do anything to the mysterious "I don't know how" events of our daily living. So when we have a word from God, a little faith, and a big problem we have a God big enough to provide a solution even though in the end we can't explain how He did it. (Can you explain to the skeptic the virgin birth?). Has God done anything like that in your life? Share with us by your comment.

Yesterday, after announcements and during the announcements, I thought about the pay of coming to church. The old saying is that they
"pay" me to go to church but it "pays" you to come to the services. The wealth of church going can't be measured in dollars but can be in spiritual profit.
The first is the education of the Word. The training of the believer to be complete, furnished to good works, is the value of the preaching, teaching, and receiving of Biblical truth. Yesterday's messages were just that; for us to see the cross in the Old Testament and to understand the unity of the Trinity in the Scriptures, and to be reminded of the person of Christ in the Old Testament not only improves our witness to the Jews but enriches our lives as well.
The singing is a blessing as it expresses the grace of our heart and the merriment of our life. It also teaches us and encourages us in our walk with Jesus.
The giving allows us to express thanks to God for being a good provider and enables us to be a part of God's work. Remember Ezra 1?
The presence of those of like faith is an encouragement that God is at work in lives today. The smile, handshake, and conversation as we share things in common lifts our spirits.
Some riches money just can't buy but can be ours by a little effort. Sometimes I think we are like the child who chooses the nickle over the dime because it's bigger. When we choose to do something other than come to church; we may have something of value but loose out on the thing of greater value. It pays to come to church, even Sunday night!

It was our joy last night to have the Jacob Brothers with us. They have been singing Gospel music for nearly 50 years. It was a joy to hear some songs of our faith. I saw a lot of smiles afterward and heard a lot of words of satisfaction.
At every concert the old question raises itself, was this edification or entertainment? Is it alright to be entertained? What's the difference?
As I thought about it I tried to understand it this way. If I was entertained, I had a happy, feel good time that lasted, if I was lucky, until I went to bed that night. In the morning I might remember the feeling but few of the lyrics of the songs.
If I was edified I felt good, or maybe felt reproved, corrected and a pinch of guilt and made things right between the Lord and me, and enjoyed the night. The next morning I still had the words of a song in my mind and the blessing continued.
So which is it, entertainment or edification? Both are good, but I would expect something that lingers and lasts is better. By the way this applies to our Sunday worship and the preaching of God's Word , too.
What do you think? Comment please.

Yesterday's message from the Gospel of Mark reminded us of 2 important facts. The first one is that Jesus cares about us and our food needs and the fears life brings. What an encouragement to know that Jesus "feels our feelings" (Hebrews 2:18). It is so good to know that our God understands the hurts of life, that within itself makes a difference. We're not alone in our need of help.
The second one is that Jesus heals, helps, and meets the need. It may be with a simple lunch and great satisfaction or with a supernatural word of His power to still the storm and remove the fear but our Jesus does make the difference. It may not always happen the way we tell Him to do it, or with the means we expect, or in our timetable but He does make the difference by His power. What more could we ask for in our life?
These 2 things are enough to make a Baptist shout!!! AMEN, AMEN!

This week during Sunday School I was asked to visit the teen girls class. One of the questions I was asked was "what encourages me as a pastor" and I replied that it is to see and hear people continuing to learn God's Word - to take time to ask questions about things they heard, to talk with others about what they learned, to put into practice the things they heard. So, today, I ask you to share in comment something you received from the Word yesterday. May God bless you this week.

Last night Pastor Barbee preached the best message on Leviticus I have ever heard. At the conclusion of it he reminded us that as Christians we are not only declared to be holy by God but we are to act holy by how we live each day. This morning in our Bible reading God says that we are not to act like our neighbors who don't know God. I know that sometimes in our practical daily holiness we can be legalistic and measure holiness by what we don't do (Luke 18) but I think we ought to see holiness as it really should be - fellowship with God. So remember there are some things in this world God wouldn't do, some places He wouldn't go, and some things He wouldn't say. So, if holiness is to be practical, try walking with God. What do you think?

Waiting, watching, and working for the Kingdom are the things we ought to be doing in light of the coming of Jesus. Sounds good Sunday morning in a sermon but how about Monday morning in life? Waiting for breakfast, watching TV, and working at the job to put food on the table seems to be more like it on Monday morning. How do we put Sunday's message and Monday's reality together? Share with everyone how they go together in your life.

Last evening as Pastor Barbee was preaching on the permanency of marriage and it's relationship with Christ and the church my mind wondered a bit and I thought of Christians and the local church. We know that membership in the universal church is made actual and real by membership in the local church. So, in my wandering mind, the wondered, why don't we have or ask for lifetime commitment in the local (not a) church?
It seems when we become a little dis-satisfied, offended, or unhappy and can't have our way, the first thing we do is divorce ourselves from the local fellowship that loved, helped, and grew us and find a new one. So I asked myself, if God wants marriage to be for a lifetime, and wants us to work things out rather than divorce, could he want the same of the believer and the local church?
What do you think?

Yesterday our speaker said that the first part of "the good Life" was to remember the good things that God has done for us (Joshua 23:1-5).I have to admit that there are sometimes that I see the things the devil is doing to hurt and destroy God's work here and my heart hurts and my day is blue. Yet if I just take the time to remember what God has done and to see what he is doing it does change everything and makes life good! So how about it people of God at SNMBC has God done any good things and is He doing any good now? Your comment please and your testimony of praise! May God bless your socks off today.

In the last point of yesterday's message we pointed out that when God meets our temporal needs He often will meet others needs too through His goodness to us. In our obedience to do things His way, according to His Word, we have so much others share in the blessings of God on us. Yet the final point of the final point was how God was doing even greater things in our lives. For Joseph, it wasn't just the temporary food for him and the provision of food need for Egypt and other nations but all of it was about God reuniting him and his brothers. Do we recognize the eternal in the temporary? Do we see that the "all things" of Romans 8:28 carries the eternal with the temporary? Can you share today how God provided a temporary need, how others were blessed by it, and how something greater that the temporary was achieved through it all?

This sequel isn't about a sermon preached in the pulpit by one of the pastors but of several preached in the pews by the people. Last night we had a time of testimonies, praise and thanks expressed vocally to our God in the presence of God's people. One spoke of God's answers to prayer, another learning about unanswered prayer, and still another spoke of taking time to pray before making a decision. There were others too that spoke of the goodness of God. They were encouraging and helpful to God's people and will long be remembered. May today you can comment with a simple word thanks or praise to our wonderful Lord Jesus. I'll guarantee it will lift a brother or sister up!

The Sequel - Yesterday, while preaching about the flood, I mentioned how the flood is one of the skeptic's delights. They take issue with a worldwide flood (not enough water to cover the mountains), the size of the ark, (not enough room), and the geological evidence. Many of the questions raised are easily answered by common sense and the Scriptures but some remain unanswered. My challenge to most of you is to get into the Scriptures and answer the skeptics and to explain to them the warning of 2 Peter 3. For your comment answer this question - Does it bother you or your faith if some questions remain unanswered at this time and need to be accepted by faith in the truthfulness of God's word?