Notes On Life

 A tribal native from the deepest part of the Amazon jungle was brought into the big city and was amazed at what he saw. There were giant 'huts' greater than the tallest trees, light without fire, and air conditioning to squelch oppressive heat. However when he returned to his village the thing he was most excited about was seeing a WHEELBARROW. Here was something he could really use to effectively do to leverage what he needed to do that he could not do using just his own strength. When we share our faith while working in and through Christ it is like that wheelbarrow! The word 'effective' in today’s verse in Greek (ἐνεργὴς) is the root of our English word ENERGY! Just as the wheelbarrow helped the native to effectively do his work, Christ in us is the 'Energy Power Source' that always leverages us to effectively accomplish all that we can do to furthering the Kingdom of God. Friend, when you use the 'wheelbarrow' of the Power Of God in all that you do ...

 John Bunyan’s classic 1678 novel “Pilgrim’s Progress” is an allegory of our lifelong journey from birth to death and the challenges we encounter as ‘sojourners upon the earth’ along the way. As today’s scripture passage from the Book of Chronicles reminds us, this journey along the road called ‘Life’ may seem often like it will never end but the reality is- as this verse accurately states — we are all indeed “… like a passing shadow, gone so soon without a trace” and who, what and where we were will be no more. Friend, our steps and our time on this planet is Extremely SHORT , but Eternity Is LONG  — and too long to be wrong about what comes next. Our mortal life is indeed like a shadow that comes then is no more and it is wrought with all kinds of traps that can get us caught up in the miry mud of sin. Therefore in order to finish well we are encouraged therefore to “Lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us RUN with patience the race that is ...

 A Credit Balance You Cannot Afford Did you know you have a type of ‘Credit Card ‘ with no spending limit that lets you get anything you want? Yes, and it is called Free Will  — but just because it is ‘FREE’ doesn’t mean it is not going to cost you something… and here’s how you run up your balance. Each time you sin that transgression is added to the ledger of your debt and the Bible warns us that the danger is that the balance due is like having a card with a compounding interest rate that is so high that no matter how hard we try to offset that debt (and pay it off by doing good works) It Is A Debt That Can NEVER Be Repaid . Your unlimited free will credit card allows you to ‘Charge Ahead’ without being aware that when the final statement comes it will be impossible to ‘Pay Off The Penalty’ . However there is a way to erase that sin-debt and this is what God’s MERCY and GRACE is all about. You see the message of the Gospel is that when Christ died on the cross, the Bible says t...

  The story of the young widow from the Book of Ruth has been a favorite in women’s Bible studies but as the title of this message suggests, there is another even more valuable lesson to be learned here. Ruth and her sister both lost their husbands, and being widows in Jewish culture left them vulnerable. At this TIME, both were at a turning point. While her sister decided to return to their original home in Jerusalem, Ruth made a CHOICE instead to stay with her mother-in-law. Little did she know that that decision would be the beginning of a beneficial turning point in her life. Once at the PLACE her mother-in-law brought her to she introduced her to a wealthy relative of her late husband named Boaz, and as the story goes Ruth went from a poor widow to his bride and the RESULT was to birth a child and become the great-great grandmother of one of the most significant figures in Israel and her people; King David. Friend you see, God works in ways to accomplish His purposes beyond wh...

 American humorist Will Rogers once aptly said, “Everybody’s ignorant, only on different subjects.” Conversely, while being filled with all the knowledge in the world can be beneficial in this life, it has No Benefit in eternity if you are IGNORANT about who Christ is, what He did in the world and for the world and what that means to you. You see, many have the mistaken idea that Christ was simply a historical figure and inspirational teacher that helped found a new religion. Instead, Christ was the personification and incarnation of LOVE as a gift to free the world from sin and death and to bring eternal life for all who seek to know HIM. As the Apostle Paul wrote: “If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus Christ is the LORD' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 Friend, This Is The Single Most Important Fact That You Cannot Be Ignorant About! Do NOT be WRONG ABOUT CHRIST but right about everything else! Believe on Christ an...

  Free-style rock climbing is one of the most dangerous sports, and as this picture tragically shows, when ALMOST a step was MISSED, the result was a great fall. Today’s words of the Psalmist is a pensive reflection of what might have happened if he had taken a misstep, because the fall that could have happened would result in severe consequence. In the Christian walk we need to constantly “Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26) In fact the Greek word for WALK literally means to Walk Around the dangers that could be along our path in this life. It has been said that '30 Seconds Can Change Your Life' and that is why just one bad decision - ONE MISSTEP - could lead to an irreversible consequence. Friend, life is full of difficult choices. That is why we must always be on guard of what we do, say and think because “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't FALL. (1 Corinthians 10:12) Where are your steps taking yo...

  Palliative Care is a treatment for people with cancer. It does not heal, treat the disease or clear their wound, but provides patients relief from their symptoms and emotional support. Sadly, many churches today are practicing Palliative Christianity . They provide a comfortable church environment, emotionally inspiring music and sermons that lift up spirits. Many excellent programs and activities are available for everyone — but there is one essential thing missing. While the BIBLE may be PRESENTED The GOSPEL is not Being PREACHED . 2 Timothy 3:5 warned us of this saying that some churches could “Have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” The gospel is foremost “The POWER of God unto Salvation” (Romans 1:16) and it is the only sure cure of “…loins filled with a loathsome disease where there is no soundness in (the) flesh.” (Psalm 38:7) These are churches that provide a safe gospel of Comfort but not a gospel of Transformation to living as dedicated disciples...