Jesus Is Coming When?

o Who? o When? o Where? o Why? 2 Peter 3:8 says, "But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day." What's he talking about? Some people were saying that Jesus' promise of coming back was not going to happen. "If he's coming, then where is he? As far back as anyone can remember, everything has remained exactly the same since the world was first created." Peter addressed this when he spoke of a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. Who is He the people were talking about? JESUS. On the day Jesus went back to sit at His Father's right hand, an angel told the disciples who were watching Jesus leave that He would return in like manner. When will He return? At the Father's appointed time. The people, even the apostles, were looking for his soon return. Where will He return? To the earth (actually just above it). Why will He return? To take the Christians who had died and the ones who are alive to be with Him forever. You see, the soul, or spirit, of Christians who had already died were already with the Lord but their old bodies will be made new and will be reunited with their soul. Peter was saying that God is eternal and His time frame is not like ours. A thousand years is like a day. He doesn't measure time like we do. When we read of Christ's soon return I think of soon as maybe tonight or tomorrow, but to God it could be a thousand years. I hope this is not confusing. The best way to look at it is to sincerely trust that God's promises are true (in His time) and that Jesus is coming back like the Bible promises. Have a blessed day, Pastor Gary

Really Living

I've heard people say that they are really living. Probably because they just got paid that day, have all kinds of gadgets, eating at fancy restaurants. I guess to some that is "really living". But how do you live it up when the paychecks stop (it's happened to a lot of people lately), the gadgets get old, the fancy restaurants have lost their appeal?

In Philippians 1: 20-23, the Apostle Paul declared that he was "really living". What did he mean? "Really living" to him was living for Christ. Serving Him every day and experiencing the expectation of living with Him for all of eternity.

You see, that never gets old. God's paychecks never stop coming (they're called blessings), His wonders are always amazing, and we continually eat from His table.

Now that is really "living it up"!

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Gary

Sweet Tea In Heaven

If I were to ask you your favorite all-time meal, what would it be? Well, mine is fried chicken (in an iron skillet), fried potatoes, pinto beans, a vadalia onion, cornbread (with white cornmeal), and sweet tea to drink. For dessert it's banana pudding with lots of vanilla wafers. And, with all my heart I believe that's what we are going to eat and drink in heaven.

Seriously, I don't know what we are going to eat or drink in heaven but I know we will not be disappointed. As a matter of fact, we will not be disappointed in anything. We will be perfectly satisfied with everything. Doesn't that sound great? No complaints, no grudges, no heartaches, no headaches. Nothing bad at all! And most of all it will be eternity with God, our saved family and friends, and all those bible people we have read about for years. And we owe it all to Jesus.

Don't neglect to share God's gift of His Son before you open Christmas presents. He came wrapped in strips of cloth and slept in a feed bin. But I promise you, He is the most precious gift you will ever receive.

Have a wonderful Christmas,

Pastor Gary

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Eight to ten inches. That's what we got where I live in southeast Michigan. Church was cancelled and it was time to just stay home and cope. Well, we almost got to do that. My daughter fell down her basement steps so Kathy and I spent some time over there (she's going to be okay).

What do you do when you are snowed in? Read, watch television or movies, sleep? It's a time to do some things you normally might not be able to do. Maybe call someone you haven't talked to in a while. Turn the TV off and read. Take a pad of paper and a pen and write down all the blessings you have. Why not write a letter to a friend instead of emailing him/her. Do some things the old fashioned way. Pretend you don't have a computer or television. You may re-discover some things about yourself, your family, and your friends.

Have a blessed day.

Pastor Gary

Today's The Day

Once a year the guys in my family get together for our Christmas shopping trip. It's really more of an eating trip and if time permits we'll do some shopping. One of the reasons we go is we like to be together. It's a time of laughing and talking about past trips, like the time my brother-in-law took coupons to the dollar store.

Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus but it's also a time of picking a date where most of the guys can hang out with each other for a day. The ladies are doing the same thing today.

My grandson, who is 7, is buying his mom a ring. His heart is set on it so we are gong to help him do that. Angie, my daughter, said she would wear it proudly even if it makes her finger turn green. This is what's going to make today so special for him. For me, it's watching him pick out the ring, hanging with the guys, laughing, talking, people watching, eating, and maybe do a little shopping.

Don't let the time get away from you before it's too late to "spend time with the guys".

Have a good day,

Pastor Gary

As I Sit Here

Hey everyone. Hope everything is well at your house. I'm writing this while listening to some of my favorite music - Christmas. It's just feel good music, and I love to feel good.

I've got a lot of things going on in my mind. For example, church. I've got such a desire for CrossPoint to be a witness and an honest to goodness local church ambassador for Christ. I don't want us to be phony, gossipy(?), unfriendly or any of those kind of things. I'm sure we may have a little bit of that but I don't want us too. The fact is, we are just like everyone else - humans with faults. But we're working on it.
I want to make sure the gospel is taught and lived to the best of our abilities. I want visitors not only to feel welcome but at home. When they leave the service they can say I felt God's presence.

My family - I've got a great family. A wonderful wife who I have been blessed to be married to for 36 years. She is such a godly person that has gone through a lot of trials but has remained faithful to God. My children Marty and Angie who I adore. They love the Lord and serve Him faithfully. My grandchildren Makayla and Caleb. I can't get over them. I get concerned about all of my families needs, their safety, their well-being. Pastor's families are like everyone else's.

My health - I'm in pretty good health but I'm overweight. I'm not as big as a ship but I do come close to a tugboat (230 pounds). That may not seem like a lot to some but it's a lot for me. I've had about 5 pairs of suit pants let out so I can wear them.

My friends - I'm got lots of them and appreciate them so much. I include my church family as my friends. I never want to let them down.

My hair - I'm losing it.

Okay, this blog is getting too long. I'll write more later.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Gary

What A Difference A Letter Makes

The Bible Society of South Africa reports that in an early draft of their translation of the Bible into Southern Sotho (one of many South African dialects), the typesetter typed "jwala" (which means "beer") instead of "jwalo" (which is translated "so"). The result of Genesis 1:9 was, "And God said: 'Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place....And it was beer.'"

One little letter changes the whole meaning. This can be a gentle reminder of how important it is to get things right the first time. A lot of people's feelings are hurt and relationships destroyed because something was presented the wrong way or misunderstood.

Don't let your temper or emotions speak for you. The Apostle James says, "Be swift to hear and slow to speak." Maybe that's why God gave us two ears and only one mouth.

Have a blessed day,

Pastor Gary