Thursday, May 08, 2008

Week of May 11, 2008

MORNING WORSHIP 11:00 A.M.

Sermon “Faith Comes by Hearing”         Matt Barker

Evening Worship 6:00 P.M.

Sermon “No Other Gods Before Him”         John Garrisi

Announcements

Today – Matthew Barker will be preaching at the Morning Worship Serviceand John Garrisi at the Evening Worship Service.

Vacation – Pastor Parker is on vacation until May 21^st.  If any needs or concerns arise, please call an Elder.

Thursday, May 01, 2008

Week of May 4, 2008

MORNING WORSHIP 11:00 A.M.

Sermon “A Better Priest, A Better Hope” Stephen L. Parker

Evening Worship 6:00 P.M.

Sermon “They Choose to Ignore the Facts” Stephen L Parker

Announcements

Family Bible Study/Prayer – This Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. we will be meeting at the church and studying the “Fundamentals of the Faith”, Westminster Shorter Catechism Questions #70-72, Everyone is invited to attend.

Next Two Sunday’s – May 11^th - Matthew Barker will be preaching at the Morning Worship Service and John Garrisi at the Evening Worship Service.  May 18^th – Rev. Rollin Keller will preach at both the morning and evening services.

Game Night - This Friday, 7:00 p.m. at the Weld’s home.

Men’s Breakfast Fellowship – Meets this Saturday, 7:30 am, at the church.  Mike Chism is leading in a study of “The Life of A God-Made Man”.  See one of the elders for more details, All men young or old are welcome.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Is Excommunication unloving?

Here is an interesting editoral by Rev. Paul Viggiano, on the subject of excommunication. 

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Music and Christian Culture

Rick Phillips gives an excellent assessment of contemporary Christian music and its impact in the Church.  See his Blog in Reformation 21. 

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Pain, Suffering and Back Surgery

If Christ is ruling now, why do “bad” things happen to God’s children?  Scripture teaches that Christ is ruling now, but we don’t always perceive it, Heb 2:8.  I see it being like being awake during back surgery.  We have a skilled and gifted surgeon, but we can’t see what he is doing and it “burns like fire”! 

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Thanksgiving Meals and Sin

Many times we practically take the wrong attitude about our sins.  We think of them being like our overeating at Thanksgiving or Christmas, we will make up for it by eating “good” or fasting in the weeks that follow.  But no amount of being “good” will cover the debt of our sin.  It is only the obedience of Christ that pays for our sin.   Adapted from the sermon, “The Humility of the Son of Man.” 

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

A Good Beef Stew

We have probably all had beef stew, most good, some really bad and occasionally one that is great!  What makes the difference?  Most will have beef, potatoes, carrots, maybe onions that are all easily identifiable.  But much of the flavor comes in the stock or gravy of the stew and it is those ingredients will make it great, good or not so good!  A cook may keep those ingredients secret.  I see a marriage, and for that matter a ministry, much like the stew.  

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Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Pornography:  Idolatry and Addiction

Rick Phillips and Phil Ryken have written excellent blogs on the problem of pornography as an addiction and even more basically, Idolatry.  I highly recommend all men to read these articles.

Rick Phillips

Phil Ryken

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Sailing and Sanctification

    There is a good analogy of faith between sailing and our sanctification.  Our being sanctified and and finishing the course that is set before us, is dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Yet, there is a part that we play. "Walking by faith"  is similar to "running" in a sailboat. 

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Monday, September 10, 2007

Setting Priorities

When we make something a priority in our lives, usually, everything else becomes subservient (becomes a servant to get it) in our lives to that priority!  We become focused on getting that which we have set as our goal, whether it is a luxury, job, the next meal...How do we formulate what is a priority?  Does life depend upon it, or is it something less critical?  For the Israelites, their lives depended upon their priorities, whether they would live in God’s blessing and fellowship or under His curse and chastening.  And so do ours.  Set your priorities in line with God’s Word/ God’s will.  See my sermon, Priorities and Grace, Nehemiah 10:28-39, for details in applying these thoughts. 

Thursday, August 09, 2007

Drafting

Monday, July 30, 2007

Sanctification:  Visiting a Dermatologist or Oncologist?

I wonder if we really understand what we are praying for when we ask God to sanctify and purify us, to make us more like Christ?  I think that many times we are thinking in terms of minor changes, not unlike visiting the dermatologist and having something scraped, dried, frozen or maybe even cut off.  Just dealing with surface problems.  In reality, our sanctification goes to the very center of our being, treating heart issues, like going to an oncologist or cardiologist, and being treated in the very center of our being.  God uses fiery trials to drive the impurities from us, thereby conforming us to the Lord Jesus Christ. Adapted from "Bring on the Fiery Trials". 

The Purpose of Trials- like being on a ship.

God has some very helpful purposes for trials in the lives of Christians.  Romans 5:3ff and James 1:2-4, point out that they are for our being made complete, in Christ. This is seen by what we cling to through life.  It is like standing on a ship in calm waters...you will walk around, completely at ease, just as if you were on dry land.  But when the strorms of life come, the seas get rough and one hangs on to a rail or something solid, to stay upright.  God’s purpose is for us to hang on to Christ, and not let go!  Adapted from, "Bring on the Fiery Trials". 

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Knowledge without Repentance

Monday, June 25, 2007

“Snapping-in” and Prayer

    In Nehemiah 2:4, it says that he “prayed to the God of heaven.”  We understand from the context, it is a short prayer, that shoots up to heaven.  These are important, but they cannot replace the solemn labor of prayer, which in fact become the basis of effectual short prayers.  
    It reminds me of years ago, when I went through Marine PLC Officer Training.  They would place us in large circles around white barrels with black “bull’s eyes” painted on them.  We spent hours practicing firing empty rifles at them in the different shooting positions (snapping-in).  The purpose?  To become very familiar with the weapon and sight picture (view of the target in the sights), and “comfortable” in the shooting positions.  Then we would go to the ranges with “live” ammunition, where the bulk of the time would be spent on developing and perfecting our shooting.  After much time spent in this training, our familiarity and practice made us ready for combat.  In that setting, we could snap into the position and effectively shoot what we were aiming at, wasting little ammo and hopefully saving lives.
    Effective praying is very similar.

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