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!