Pastor’s Corner

Pastors Corner 4-1-2012

Last Sunday I presented the church with a proposal to think about for a week. I’ve had another week to think about it and still think that it is a good idea. The suggestion, I am going to call Making God’s Word a Priority, is intended as a way for the church to get closer to their immediate family while they get closer to God. The proposal asks for a thirty minute daily commitment to reading God’s word for forty days. During this time the family will come together and turn off all distractions (television, phones, computers, back ground music, basically anything that would distract). The family should start out by holding hands and praying before they start reading. Each member of the family should take turns reading out loud. Once you have read for thirty minutes then hold hands again and end in prayer. Depending on your family circumstances your version of Making God’s Word a Priority may be somewhat different. You can start out anywhere in the Bible and do not have to do the books in order. This should give us a way to make God’s Word a priority in our lives and by the end of the forty day I hope that we all look forward to spending these thirty minutes with God and our families.

Pastor Danny

Someone Who Understands

I’d like to share a little story with you that I got in a newsletter:

“Someone Who Understands”

Bob Weber, past president of Kiwanis International, told this story. He had spoken to a club in a small town and was spending the night with a farmer
on the outskirts of the community. He had just relaxed on the front porch when a newsboy delivered the evening paper. The boy noted the sign Puppies for Sale. The boy got off his bike and said to the farmer, “How much do you want for the pups, mister?”

“Twenty-five dollars, son.”

The boy’s face dropped. “Well, sir, could I at least see them anyway?”

The farmer whistled, and in a moment the mother dog came bounding around the corner of the house tagged by four of the cute puppies, wagging their tails and yipping happily. At last, another pup came straggling around the house, dragging one hind leg.

“What’s the matter with that puppy, mister?” the boy asked.

“Well, Son, that puppy is crippled. We took her to the vet and the doctor took an X ray. The pup doesn’t have a hip joint and that leg will never be
right.”

To the amazement of both men, the boy dropped the bike, reached for his collection bag and took out a fifty-cent piece. “Please, mister,” the boy
pleaded, “I want to buy that pup. I’ll pay you fifty cents every week
until the twenty-five dollars is paid. Honest I will, mister.”

The farmer replied, “But, Son, you don’t seem to understand. That pup will never, never be able to run or jump. That pup is going to be a cripple
forever. Why in the world would you want such a useless pup as that?”

The boy paused for a moment, then reached down and pulled up his pant leg, exposing that all too familiar iron brace and leather knee-strap holding a poor twisted leg. The boy answered, “Mister, that pup is going to need someone who understands him to help him in life!”

Hebrews 4:15 says “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.” In this life we need someone who understands, too. I am so thankful that I have that Someone in Jesus Christ! I know that no matter what is going on in my life or ever does He is here for me; and He understands. No matter what I may face, He has faced the same and more. How awesome it is to have a Savior that identifies so closely and personally with me! Aren’t you glad that He has “been there, done that” and did it all for you? Praise God I am!

Valentine

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

As we wrap up Valentine’s Day I thought some of you might be interested to know a little about the holiday that you might not know. Valentine’s Day is actually celebrated to honor two different men: a Roman priest and another bishop. I should also say that while a third man named Valentine also is some times mentioned, I’m leaving out all of the non-factual things and folks associated with the holiday. And since there’s nearly nothing known or recorded about “number three”, he gets left out, too.

Both of the actual Valentine men that the day is named after were martyred. There are many legends and traditions that go along with these men but they are basically just things and traditions men have come up with. The truth of the matter is that they both died out of love: their love for our Lord Jesus Christ. These men of the third century literally made themselves living sacrifices to Jesus.

I’m thankful that before the Valentine’s and the many other martyrs both before and since them that Christ chose to make Himself the perfect sacrifice for “whosoever”.

Make Today Count

Make Today count. Today – each Today – is the most important day of your life.

I found the above annoymous quote online today. It made me think about how little we give thought to the day at hand. The Bible teaches us that our days are surely numbered and that we know not when our time on earth is through. It also teaches us that at any time our Lord could return for His children and to be prepared for that Time.

With no tomorrow guaranteed we ought to treasure each day, no matter the circumstances we are in. With His help whatever we are doing or going through will be for our good ultimately (Rom. 8:28). And if tomorrow doesn’t come here, we have the assurance that we have a far better place awaiting us (see Rev. 21:4). How can we not find a way, with these things in mind, to celebrate the gift of today?

Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

A Letter from God

To: YOU Date:            TODAY From:           GOD Subject:       YOURSELF Reference:   LIFE This is God.  Today I will be handling All of your problems for you.  I do Not need your help.  So, have a nice day. I love you. P.S.  And, remember… If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself!  Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME  All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours. Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it.  Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege. Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years. Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved in return. Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.. Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk. Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine. Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get the opportunity. Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them! Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know! Now, you have a nice day…God Psalm 18:1-2 1. I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. 2. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

A Blessed Weekend

We spent this weekend in PA, for a family reunion. Up until Saturday morning when we left out, the forecast was 80% chance of rain with strong, some severe, thunderstorms, all Saturday into Sunday morning.

The drive up was a little wet at times, not anything terrible though. Once we got about 10 miles into PA the rain left and the sun began to shine.

Through out the rest of the weekend, to all of our suprise, not another drop of rain was to fall. Saturday and Sunday were both beautiful days, lots of sunshine and a nice breeze with temps mildly in the 70s. The Lord graciously blessed us with perfect weather. In fact, I must have heard at least half a dozen different people say how perfect the weather turned out to be, to each who I replied, “Yes, God has richly blessed us this weekend with fine weather and family.”

The Sunday morning portion of the reunion started off with an outdoor church service under a picnic pavilion. It was an encouraging message we were blessed with on lessons we can learn from Matthew’s recounting of Peter walking on water, more on that later in the week.

I can’t express to you or than God enough for the wonderful time He gave us.