It's Snowing Today

Today was a great day at The Rock. We had our annual Holiday Dinner and enjoyed great fellowship and a wonderful holiday dinner. I was most thankful for everyone who made it out today due to the fact tht we had snow this morning (as seen by my neighbor's Pontiac Vibe) and the roads were very slippery but God kept us all safe and got everyone home safely. This was a very nice end to a busy week and weekend. God bless you all and have a great day.

Signs of the Times

No doubt this pastor is a "Hellfire and Brimstone" preacher. I am just thankful he's not afraid to mention the word Hell in the church or on the church sign. It's not taboo to mention that people can die in sin and be separated from God in Hell. Hopefully none of us will every make it to that point. God bless and have a great weekend.

From my family to you we would like to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and may God's blessings be yours on this special day of Thanksgiving. God bless you.

Vessels Of Honor

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some of honour, and some to dishonour" (II Timothy 2:20).

There are different vessels for the Lord's service - vessels of grace and of disgrace. The only way that we can become vessels unto honor is to have godly thinking in our minds. David Livingston used to say that he ate, drank and slept for the people he ministered to. He said he was dead to anything else. We need to allow God's Word to sanctify us (set us apart), and make us available for the Kingdom of God just as David Livingston was. We must remember - it is only when the furnace becomes hot that the Word of God is revealed in our lives. How does a Christian come to know his calling in God's work? He becomes sanctified by the Word of God. He finds that there is no need to be concerned with the details of life, for God arranges them. God continually works His life in us through His Word so that we will be vessels of honor fit for His service.

"And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory " (Romans 9:23).

Lip Service

King Cyrus of Persia didn't just say things to get attention. He backed up his words with action. According to the book of Ezra, during his first year on the throne, Cyrus ordered to rebuild the temple in an effort to honor the Lord. As king, Cyrus was very specific in his commands. The temple would have a strong foundation, specific measurements, and a new wood floor. All the people of Jerusalem should have a part in working on the building, he commanded.
The king didn't just mean physical labor. People could provide finances, clothing, transportation, or offer supplies. The king himself vowed that all gold bowls and other valuable items originally taken from the temple would be returned. The next time we agree to volunteer, or tell someone that we are Christians, be ready. We need to make sure we are able to back up our words, and not let them be just lip service.

Preparing for Church Thanksgiving Dinner

Well it's Monday, and I hope that you all had a great weekend and I hope your week is off to a good start. I spent most of the day preparing for our Thanksgiving Day Dinner we hold each year at our church. We start on Monday and work through Wednesday and serve dinner on Thanksgiving Day and deliver meals to the elderly citizens and those who are in need of Thanksgiving Dinner. We served over 530 meals last year and this year we will increase that number. We will cook over 50 turkeys this week and it all starts with yours truly here firing up the stoves and putting in the first turkey and cooking the turkeys. It should be a great week and praise the Lord for meeting all of our needs and providing everything we need this year for Thanksgiving. Have a great week.

"In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

As we approach the Thanksgiving Holiday, we need to stop and remember that Thanksgiving is not something we should do wants a year. We should be giving thanks throughout each and every day of our lives. Paul tells us in the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in everything. Whether this is good or bad, we should thank God for His grace and mercy and realize how blessed we are as children of God. We have so much to be thankful for when we realize how good the Lord has been to us. God bless everyone and have a blessed week.

Signs of the Times

I would like to say something about this sign but I won't.

God bless everyone and have a good weekend.

Seeing Problems as Possibilities

“. . . the God of heaven, He will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build. . .” Nehemiah 2:20

Do you have any problems today? You do? Well, I just have one word for you:

“Congratulations!” I don’t want to sound flippant, but I am very serious about my comment. You see, a problem really is an opportunity in disguise.

You need to learn that God wants you to see your problems as potentialities and your adversaries as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a difficulty in every opportunity, but to the contrary, he’s one who sees an opportunity in every difficulty.
Think of a problem you are struggling through today. Now, get on your knees. Ask God to show you the opportunity hidden away in your struggle that will bring Him glory.

Somthing To Think About

Albert Pujols Named 2008 MVP

Congratulations to Albert Pujols, who today was named the National League's Most Valuable Player for 2008. This is a great honor for Albert Pujols and this is his second time being named the MVP of the National League. As a lifelong Cardinals fan, I am so thankful that I get to watch him play and I saw him this summer in St. Louis at Busch Stadium with my daughter Madison, who is also a big fan of Albert Pujols. We sure are happy for "Grande Numero Cinco" and hopefully he'll have a great 2009. GO CARDINALS!

Faith When Your Funds Are Low

In Luke 21:1-4 we read the story of the poor widow who gave her two mites in the temple treausry while the rich men all around her were putting in their offerings. However, Jesus said that she from her poverty had given more than anyone else. How could this be possible? Jesus taught us that our faithfulness in giving and our attitude in our giving is greater than the size of our gift to God. The truth is that God doesn't need our money and he owns everything and we are simply stewards of His possessions. This widow gave all she had and her heart was right, and God honored her and the Lord Jesus spoke of her faithfulness and it is now recorded in the Word of God. Be faithful in your giving, even when funds are low, and God will bless and reward you.

Why We Love Communion

This weekend we are receiving communion and I saw this cartoon and had to post it. Our church family at The Rock Church takes communion very seriously and we look forward to receiving from the Lord's Table. Don't worry.....we use the trays!

Signs of the Times

This is beyond comprehension, it really boggles my mind that a pastor would title his Sunday message with these words, but worse yet that he would put the title on the church sign....Lord help this church. God bless you and have a great weekend.

Where Is Your Treasure?

As I read my Bible I am reminded that Jesus had some poignant things to say about our hearts:

Luke 16:15 (NIV) He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God's sight.

Matthew 6:19-21 (NIV) "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your treasure? What do you value? This world values prestige and money. It values power. It treasures education and accomplishments. And these things are not bad of course, in themselves; they are evil only if they are our motivating factor, if we put them above God, above the people in our lives. Sometimes, even we Christians get caught up in this system. We become overly impressed with credentials, we choose jobs because of money. (I'm talking about extremes of course; we all need money!) God's value system is different from the world's. David says, "We make 'value' judgements.... the world's values or God's... its a choice we make.." What God treasures is our heart, our love for Him and each other, our service of Him and our fellowman. When Christ chose disciples, He did not choose celebrities. And Paul's devoted fellow workers were probably not on the invitation list of the parties of the upper crust of society, those our world esteems as "important." 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NRSV) Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29 so that no one might boast in the presence of God. God wants us to treasure His Kingdom, and our families and friends.
Matthew 6:33 (NRSV) But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I believe it was Barbara Bush that said (this may not be an exact quote, but it gets to the heart of it) that when we get to the end of this earthly life, we will never say "Gee I wish I had spent more time pursuing success." What is often said is something like this: "I wish I had spent more time playing with my children. Someone has said that an effective means of determining what we treasure, is to look at our checkbook entries over the last month. How much was spent to advance the Kingdom, to help others? How much was spent on our pleasures? We need to keep this in balance.

Just Some Food for Thought

I know this may not set well with some people, but I saw this online and it made me stop and think. Our national election is over and we have a new president-elect in Barack Obama. However, I am very concerned with the so called "Messianic" aura and mantra that seems to be around Mr. Obama. This past Sunday in churches (mostly African-American) all around the country, many pastors and churches are celebrating his election and it is historic and worthy of attention. Howeveer, I believe the Bible says we go to church to worship God, not praise a man. I think we need to remember this simple fact about Barack Obama. He is just a man, and will make mistakes and will not solve all your problems. Let us be very careful how we look upon our new president-elect. I didn't vote for him but I will pray for him. For those who want to espouse some spiritual diety to Barack Obama, remember what the Word of God says, "Thou shalt have no other Gods before me." Serve God and not man. Just a thought.

The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

In my opinion fasting is a "lost" discipline. Few sermons are preached on fasting and I have found in teaching Bible studies that even the most seasoned Christians lack knowledge and understanding of fasting. Let's look at what Jesus said about fasting. Matthew 6:16 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (NIV) Jesus expects us to fast. He said "When you fast", not if you fast, when you feel like fasting, or if you are so inclined to fast. Notice too that Jesus did not say you MUST fast. Let's not become legalistic like the Pharisees and let's certainly not be like the hypocrites who fasted for the wrong reasons. Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. (NIV) What then is the right reason to fast? Fasting should always be for spiritual purposes. Clearly in the above verse the early church fasted, worshipped and prayed. That, my friends, is the key to fasting. It should be a voluntary, private, worshipful and prayerful time between you and our Heavenly Father. My most successful fasts have been when I concentrated on one aspect, one desire, one yearning and one longing to be closer to God and to listen to His will for my life. For example, if I am reading the Bible and the Holy Spirit clearly illuminates a passage for me in a way that I can only describe as supernatural, I will fast and meditate on that passage during the entire fast. I have also found great success in concentrating on one prayer during a fast. The prayer is usually a prayer of thanksgiving for what Christ has done for me, and one desire that I pray God will grant to me. Again the key is to focus on Christ during the fast. Good fasts have always been life-changing for me. What's a bad fast? When I fast for the wrong reason or the wrong attitude in my heart. I have had fasts in which I never experienced the presence of God. Looking back I always was fasting without focusing on Christ during the fast. So, how do you fast? I always suggest to people to start slow, and of course if you have any medical problems, consult your doctor before fasting. On that note, fasting can be the witholding of anything you desire; it does not have be an absence of food. So anyone can fast. I recommend people start out with a 24-hour fast. This simply means skipping two meals. Preferably breakfast and lunch. I do drink water during the fast; some folks drink fruit juice. There are no rules. During the day when the hunger pains occur, pray and focus on Christ and on your purpose for the fast. The pains always remind me of how helpless I am without God. He provides all my needs. There are several books on fasting. I recommend finding a good book and learning more about how to fast in a safe and spiritual way.
Dear Father, thank You again for this time we have together. Thank You for providing all our needs. Father, we are truly nothing apart from You. Father, draw us closer to You. Help us to have the desire to know you more intimately. Most of all we praise You and thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, Who gave up ALL for us. In His name, Amen.

God's Word for Today

Signs of the Times

I don't have the words......I think this sign says it all. God help the person in this church who put this message up on this sign.

God Is Our Provider

Well we are two days removed from our election and by all indications, the economy is not doing very well and the business markets have been in a steep decline the past two days. I know many people are starting to worry. Are you a worrier? I confess that I worry about certain things. And I know it's a weakness that I need to work on; in fact, it's a sin! The Word is pretty clear on this in Romans 14:23 (NIV) But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin. "Everything that does not come from faith is sin...." Wow...convicting words, for me anyway! So everything we say and do should be immersed in faith....I believe the way to get that faith and grow in it, is to soak in the Word, fellowship with strong Christians and pray. Logically speaking, there is no reason for us to worry, anyway. As the Word points out, God will provide for us. In fact, sometimes I believe God puts us in situations where we have to rely on Him, as did the Israelites thousands of years ago. Moses writes in Exodus 16:13 (NIV) "That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp." And Jesus also reminded us that God is our provider as he said in Matthew 6:28-33 (NIV) "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." And after all, when we look to God as our provider -- whether spiritually, emotionally or physically, there are no limitations: Philippians 4:19 (NIV) "And my God will meet all (emphasis mine) your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." My prayer for all of us today, is that we learn to rest in God's love and provision for us, and to "put off" our worries, perhaps by praying about them, and forcing ourselves to think about something else when we begin to worry, though I know that is easier said than done! Hope you all have a good weekend!

Obama Wins Historic Election

Well the votes are in and Barack H. Obama has been elected the 44th President of the United States and the country's first black president. He overwhelmingly defeated John McCain and will also have majorities in the House of Represenatives and the Senate. As a McCain supporter, I am obviously disappointed, and I am also somewhat concerned for our country. I hope that Mr. Obama will lead this country by uniting both sides and working with members of the opposition, but I have a feeling he and his fellow Democrats in congress, will overreach and try to enact legistlation that will hurt our country and our economy. That seems to be the historical trend for both parties in Washington. At 37 years of age, I am old enough to remember, quite well, the horrible years of Jimmy Carter and his administration and I am convinced that Mr. Obama is even further to the left than Mr. Carter was when he served as President. I know Mr. Obama has a tough job ahead and he is indeed in my prayers. I just don't have a lot of confindence in his ability or his ideas for the future of our country. As a Pastor and a Christian I feel in my spirit that our country is heading for some difficult times ahead and I seriously doubt Barack Obama can handle the problems our country will face. Hopefully he will prove me wrong.

Election Day

Well it's election day here in the United States and even though I am still sick I voted. I encourage everyone to make it out to the polls and vote. This morning I went to our local polling station and voted with my eight year old daughter. I've been watching the polictal campaign for the past 24 months and I made my decision to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin. This was an important election and my daughter wanted to go with me to help cast my vote for Sarah Palin. I think she will make a great Vice President if elected and she will be a great role model for my daughter and countless other Americans. Regardless of who wins, this is still a great country and we are privilged to live in the USA, the greatest country in the world. God bless and GO VOTE!

Monday Morning Cup of Joe

I hope your week is starting off better than mine. This morning I am sitting here at home, very sick with a cold. I hope I am feeling better soon. I will make myself some hot tea and later on have some chicken soup. God bless and have a great week.

Satan's Plan for the Church

We all pray and want God to fulfill His plan for our lives, but yet our enemy Satan has a plan for our lives also. John 10:10 tells us "For the thief, (Satan) cometh not but for to steal, kill and destroy.." Satan's plan for Christians and the church is two-fold:

1. Satan Tells Christians That Sin Has No Consequences

Sin does have a price and Galatians 6:6-"Be not decieved, God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap." Our actions have consequences and when we sin against God we will have a price to pay. Satan's great lie is that we can live anyway we want to live and that God will still love us and overlook our sins. This just simply isn't true.

2. Satan Also Tells Us That We Don't Need To Live Holy or Righteous

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2-"And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your minds. That ye may be able to prove what is that good and perfect and acceptable will of God." We are not of this world, since we have been born-again by the Holy Spirit, we are filled with the spirit and led by the spirit. John tells us to not love the world or conform our life to the world. Satan tells us we can be like the world and the world will accept us, yet we are not to conform to the world and the works of darkness.

The Bible tells us to give no place to the devil and don't give ear to his lies...serve God faithfully and resist the devil and he will flee from you.