Wow, what a tremendous Easter Service!  It is awesome to see God at work in His people and His church.  We had a record number attendance this Easter.  We had a total of 371 people  between the two services.  Be in prayer for those who visited that God would bring them back this upcoming Sunday!

In service Pastor Ken talked about being bold for Jesus (Acts 4:1-31).  A bold Witness for Jesus Christ will be blessed by God, must be authentic, will be tested and must continue.  Though we must be compassionate and tactful, a bold witness will not be tolerant because all truth is not tolerant.  Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.

Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Galatians 6:7  Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

I’ve known this verse for so many years, but always have focused on the last half of it and not the first half.  Of course it completely makes sense that what you sow, you will reap.  Just like if you put bad, spoiled ingredients into a cake, when it’s done baking it will still be rotten and foul. 

However, it’s interesting to take a moment to look at the first half of this verse that talks about how we should not be deceived because God will not be mocked (No one will ever call God a liar).   In these current days, I’ve always thought about how “mocked” means to make fun of or to ridicule — like how the kids talk about mocking.  But what becomes enlightening is how this really means that what He says will come true (whether you think you got away with something or not). 

In addition to the definition of ridiculing, the word mock also means ”to challenge; defy”.    So this verse means:  Do not let anyone trick you into thinking that you can challenge and defy God because whatever you do will come back to you.   

And I love how the rest of this passage continues:  Galations 6:8-10  ⁸The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. ⁹Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. ¹⁰Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

A new year!  A new decade!  How about some new resolutions?  We are familiar with the many repetitive resolutions (which are good ones) like:  Lose 10 pounds, pay-off credit card debt, read through the Bible, etc.  But what about taking a more intentional look at “walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called?” (Ephesians 4:1)  Jonathon Edwards knew what it meant to write and live out “resolutions” that helped him “walk worthy.”

In the 1700’s, Jonathon Edwards was one of the most powerful preachers during the Great Awakening – the religious revival which swept through the colonial America.  Jonathon Edwards wrote his “resolutions”.  Here are 4 of the 70 resolutions that he read once a week to keep his mind focused on what he was to be about.

Resolution number one that Jonathan Edwards made was, “I am resolved to do whatsoever I think most to the glory of God.” Resolution number four, “Resolved never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God.” Resolution number twenty-three, “Resolve frequently to take some deliberate action for the glory of God or if I find it not to be for God’s glory to repute it as a breach of number four.” Number twenty-seven, “Resolve never willfully to omit anything unless the omission is for the glory of God and frequently to examine my omissions.”

“… one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.”  Philippians 3:13

From Pastor Jack:

My earliest memories are of a house with no running or heated water in the house and therefore no bathroom in the house, just an outhouse out back.  It had a stove with a one gallon container of coal oil mounted on the side.  The house was heated with a wood/coal furnace that set in the middle of the living room and was coooold on winter mornings.  It was about 900 square feet of plain space for a family of eleven.  We usually got a bath once a week whether we needed it or not!  The best part was the wonderful family I grew up in though I didn’t always appreciate them.  I said all of that to say “Don’t tell me about ‘the good old days.’”

Out future looks much better.  Jesus promised, “I got o prepare a place for you;” and that promise is a source of joy in the life of each Christian.  Our joy arises from the Bible promise that “God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain.”  Having spent a large part of my life counseling the troubled, visiting the sick, and preaching funerals; I long for that day when all that shall end.  With the Apostle John I pray, “Even so, comd, Lord Jesus”.  Revelation 22:20

Last night we saw some great performances at our Christmas plays, The Christmas Cruise and Manger Mania.   The plays were entertaining and funny and the kids and teens did a fabulous job.  Through it all, the message was clear.  Christmas is a time to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

Luke 2

 ¹And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed.

 ²(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

 ³And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

 ⁴And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)

 ⁵To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

 ⁶And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

 ⁷And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

 ⁸And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 ⁹And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

 ¹⁰And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

 ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

 ¹²And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

 ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

 ¹⁴Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

 ¹⁵And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

 ¹⁶And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

 ¹⁷And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

 ¹⁸And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

 ¹⁹But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

 ²⁰And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.

^“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!  Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.  Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them.  Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in.  Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of men!  For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.”  Psalm 107:1-9

This Thanksgiving has been such a personal reminder to me about being thankful for everything that God has given to me or allowed in my life.  I do desire to have an attitude of gratitude in my own life.  It’s easy to say “Thanks” for the good things or the things to don’t bother me.  It is only when there is circumstance in my life that I just don’t like that it becomes much more difficult to say, “Thanks.” 

What I am trying to have in my life is have real gratitude.  Just like what I preached last week, I’m walking in that direction with my every choice in having a grateful attitude.  In faith, I am “saying thanks” for that.  I know it is stretching my view of what God is doing in my life, but I am doing it anyway. And I know I will be grateful and glad for the results.

Psalm 1:2 “But his delight is in the law of the Lord.  And in His law he meditates day and night.”

Our 1st and 2nd graders are learning this verse Psalm 1.  What would we tell our children that it means to delight in the Lord?  Sometimes it seems that it’s easy to be unhappy with the mundane things of our lives, whether it be the daily grind of working, busing the kids where they need to be, cleaning the house or making dinner.  We think of these things as “have to” do things on our list for the day.  When we delight in the Lord, our perspective on these daily things change.  We see them as things that we “get to” do.  We are constantly telling our kids to have a better attitude.   Where’s yours at today?

John 13:35  ^“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

This has been a great opportunity to minister to so many in our church and in our community.  It has been exciting to see so many people getting involved.  Now first of all I want to compliment the teens.  They have been coming out for the past 5 weeks and spending 2+ hours each Wednesday raking lawns.  I went one week with them and I was greatly impressed with Pastor Jay, the youth staff and the 20+ teens raking leaves and bagging them up.  Our teens put their faith into action.

Then, I watched our children pack boxes for our college kids and single missionaries.  While they had a blast (taste testing and burning a few of the cookies) they were putting their faith into action.  The Kids Club crew organized and put together stations for the kids to make and bake treats.

Our college students handed out bags of goods and supplies to the homeless.  Then they participated in our “Operation Care” by helping to raise approximately $700 to help needy families during the holidays.  Their faith in action was evident to so many.

Our adults have been faithfully serving in a number of different retirement communities.  Singing, speaking, baking goodies, taking flowers and just fellowshipping with many elderly residents in these homes. 

May our church be a church where our community knows we are true disciples of Christ because of the love we show to others.  I am so proud to be included in this family of believers.  Thank you to all who have participated and if you did not participate, we did not miss out…you missed out.

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

This is such an encouraging verse as we work and serve the Lord.  It is first a reality check and that is a personal evaluation to see if what I am doing is “the work of the Lord.”  There is a lot of work out there that leaves God out of the center and instead He is just a tag-along.  So, as I minister and serve and work I have to be constantly putting my thinking and then my actions through the grid of God’s Word. 

With that mind-set though, how encouraging it is to know that whether I am seeing progress right now or not…it’s working.  I am confident that what I am doing is working because God says, “My labor is not in vain.”  May God help me to keep my eyes on Him and always be faithful in serving for the kingdom of God.

If you haven’t caught our Marriage Discipleship Class yet, you’re really missing out.  Today we talked about the husband and wives roles and we discussed what that meant to each of us.  We took a look at what love looked like from the female and male perspective.  

The most important lesson that I learned was that, “Biblical thinking is learning to adopt God’s perspective.”  So, my being a godly, selfless husband is my choosing to sprint as fast as I can from my selfish thinking and replacing it with the kind of servant leadership Christ displayed in Matthew 20:20-28.  What keeps me from serving my wife is my pride!

Be sure to sign up and join us next month when we are asked to come up with more specific struggles we have in our marriages.  You may anonymously email Dr. Graham those topics before the meeting on November 24 at 7:00 p.m.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her …. Ephesians 5:22
Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord…. Colossians 3:18