How Precious the Word

I recently read in the August issue of Pulpit Helps, published by AMG Publishers, Chattanooga, TN 37422, the following from John Meador, Senior Pastor of Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN ...

"Believers cannot handle the serious stuff of life, because they aren't hearing the serious stuff of the Scripture." He further states, "His (God) Word does what only the Word can do. The Word builds faith, it increases one's knowledge of God, it builds endurance in times of temptation, it gives direction and guidance for everyday living. It convicts of sin and corrects into the right way of living. In a word, it transforms."

2 Timothy 2: 15 re-enforces the need to live by God's Word. How are we going to win our families and friends to Jesus if we live by worldly standards? It's God's Word that changes our lives and will give lasting change to others.

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary

Who Do You Stand For?

Relationships are wonderful if they are the right kind. In my message today I preached about the friendship that Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego had. There relationship was tested different times but maybe none so much as the firery furnace incident. They, along with the rest of the city, were told to bow and worship the false god that the king had made. They refused and were thrown in the furnace.

If you and I were close friends and were faced with a similar situation, I wonder what our stance would be? Would we say as the Hebrew children did that they would not bow and worship the false god or would we maybe compromise a little bit and pretend to worship the false god just to keep from having problems? It's something to consider. Chances are that we will not be threatened by a fiery furnace but we will face some big tests that will force us to make a decision. Do we stand firm in our devotion to God or do we compromise (no one will ever know) and keep on worshiping God to the best of our ability?

That that held Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego's relationship as friends together was not fear of the king but their love for God. He was the twine that kept them strong. Let me ask you a question. Is there anything in this life worth breaking your devotion to God? Isn't it time we stood firm in our godly convictions? Isn't it time we let people know by how we live who is the Lord and Master of our life?

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary

Where Is Your Faith?

Everyone has a measure of faith. We have faith that we we sit down the chair will hold us, etc. That's one kind of faith. But where is your faith when it comes to God? Do you believe His Word? Do you believe He gave His Son to die on the cross for you? Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead?

You may believe that God is good but is He so good that He would give His Son to die for me? The answer is yes, and it's not that God is just good, it's that He loves you more than you can comprehend. Now comes the part of acting on your faith. You must believe more than that God loves you. You need to believe the rest (His Word, that He gave Jesus to die and that He raised Him from the dead). Impossible stuff? Yes, for mankind, but not for God.

Exercise your faith today if you have not already done so and believe what I have just shared with you. It's in the Bible (Romans 10: 1-10). Ask Jesus to come into your life and forgive you of all your sins (Romans 3: 23). Then, start reading the Bible (an easy to read version is the New Living Translation (NLT) and watch your faith take off.

With faith in God and His Word, you've got an eternal world to learn about.

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary

The Truth or Not the Truth

I recently read about a pastor who had a friend who was an actor. The actor was drawing large crowds while the pastor was preaching to just a few. The pastor asked his friend why his crowds were so much larger. His friend replied, "I present my fiction as though it were truth; you present your truth as though it were fiction."

Often we Christians give the impression that the truth is fiction by the way we live and by the lack of commitment to the teachings of our Lord.

Psalm 145: 12 "They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign."

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary

What Do You Think Is Going On?

Hi everyone,

Years ago I heard someone say that the Middle East was a powder keg ready to blow. Well, it might be blowing as we speak. Israel is blasting away at a terriost group in Lebanon as the world watches. But someone out of this world is watching as well.

I don't know about you but it gets my heart jumping a little bit more when I think that Christ could be ready to come and get us. I've always wanted to leave this life in the rapture. Do you think we are close to the rapture of the church? Let me know what you think and I will share it with others.

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary

What A Week!

This is Monday, July 17 and what a week this past week was. Kathy and I were priviliged to have 12 ladies from Urban Harvest Ministries in the South Bronx in NYC in our home. They were here to minister in downtown Detroit and South Dearborn. Several souls were saved in Detroit and seed planted in South Dearborn in the Muslim community.

I admire these faithful ladies who took 8 days out of their lives and came to Detroit to show the love of Christ. While in our home I saw them pray, study the Word, and show Christ through their everyday lives. Kathy and I are proud to know them.

Please pray for UHM as they continue to work for the Lord in Urban areas of America. And, pray for those they won to the Lord and witnessed too this past week.

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary