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Today I would like to tell you a brief story. This is certainly not a true story but a story God put on my heart. Once upon a time there was a captain on a ship sailing the great oceans of the great world. His journey had taken him too many strange and unseen destinations. Places of beauty no eye had ever seen nor could any man ever describe. The journey was long and weary and filled with days of triumph and disappointment. Although the captain was skilled in the art of sailing, he was no expert, and he would never take the soul credit for his successes. For you see he had a crew of men committed to him and their voyage together. This commitment to each other was the very substance that made all they had experienced worth the time and effort, in addition to being the key to their success. There is one interesting twist to the story though. The captain and his crew had never faced any major challenges during their journey together on the ship. For the most part, the very beginning stages of this journey were nothing but joy and bliss. After several months together, the crew began to see in the captain some minor flaws and some measure of inexperience. It wasn’t long before the crew became concerned for their safety in the care of what they thought was a skilled sailor. What they failed to realize was it wasn’t the skill level of the captain that made the voyage a success; it was the efforts of the entire team and the captain’s faith in God. Well, as the story continues, one late night while all was well a storm began brewing in the great sea. It wasn’t long before the crew was on deck trying to decide what steps needed to be taken in order to insure the safety of the boat and the crew. As it were, many looked to the captain for his leadership and decision as to what to do next. With a great deal of humility, the captain exclaimed, “I’m not sure what I need to do; this is all new to me.” So he inclined of the crew to give him assistance in determining what to do next. Instead, the captain received a detailed description of the magnitude of the approaching storm and no contributions to the solution. As a result, when the storm finally hit the crew abandoned the ship. “Every man for himself”, proclaimed the crew. Although the crew bailed out, the captain chose to stay on board and steer the ship. Fortunately, the captain made it through the storm unharmed. How did he make it? Sheer determination and a deep trust in his God to get him through. Although he had never steered a ship of such great size through a storm of that magnitude, he stood firm, trusting in Christ. What comfort it would have been for the captain had his crew stood with him when times got tough.

The truth is - everyone is happy when things are going great, but when the tide begins to turn the other direction many will abandon the ship. Remember, the crew saw the lack of experience in the captain instead of the power of God working through him! Are you on or off the ship? God Bless!!

By the way, what happened to the crew you ask? They drowned! It’s safer on board!

Steering God’s Ship for His Glory,
I love you all!
Your Pastor
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Last night after church I had a really comical experience in regards to food. After everyone went home, my family and I were in the church parking lot trying to decide what we were going to eat for dinner. Whitney made several suggestions, most of them I shot down, places like Burger King, Wendys and Whataburger. We sat there forever trying to decide what to do. After about 10 minutes of discussion I asked the Question “What’s in the frig at home?” Boy you should have seen the look on Whitney’s face. When I saw her reaction, I figured I would play on her emotions just a little, and said,”Let’s just eat at home, we have lunch meat and bread!” Whitney, with great enthusiasm, belted out, “I want fast-food.” I must confess I too am a sucker for fast food. I mean it’s fast, fried, greasy, and oh! so full of flavor! But it never fails after eating it I always feel BLAAA. Who can resist though? It’s just not fair. There are fast food restaurants all over the place, one on every corner. The temptation is just too great! Well remember to be healthy we must eat for health not for taste! BORRRING!!

Today as I ate my TURKEY sandwich and BANANA, I was reminded of how important it is for us to not only fill our bodies with the right stuff, but to fill our hearts with the right stuff. You see what you put into your physical body will determine how healthy you are physically. In like fashion, what you put into your spiritual body will also determine how healthy you are spiritually. Satan has no doubt put within your path a multitude of unhealthy junk for you to look upon in hopes that you might partake of it. On every corner, like fast-food restaurants, he has placed some sort of temptation for you to consider. The temptation will vary among people. One may be tempted by one specific act of sin, someone else by another. The reality is that sin is all around you, wooing you to it. At first it may seem fun and inviting, but once over it always leaves you feeling BLAAA. In order to be spiritually healthy you must “eat” The right stuff. The right stuff for the believer is God’s Word.

The Bible teaches us in Psalm 119:105 the Word of God is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. What this verse teaches us is that the word will protect you from yourself. Meaning, the word is a lamp to your actions “The Feet.” It will keep your own sin nature in check so that you can live a life of holiness. In addition, the Word of God is a light to your path. This simply means the word will keep you from taking those sudden detours to sin on your journey of faith. The goal is to stay on the straight and narrow, but remember on every corner there is a temptation trying to draw you off the straight and narrow road. Filling your heart each day with God’s Word will assure you of a healthy spiritual life!
May I encourage each of you to read His Word each day. While at times it may seem easier to go without, remember to be spiritually healthy you must eat what is spiritually good not what is sinfully tasteful! Have a Blessed Day. By the way we went to Arbys! What disappointment.

Eating Right,
Your Pastor
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Wow! What a picture of Christianity today! You see for many believers they begin their journey of faith with great enthusiasm, and determination. However, as their journey of faith enters the fourth quarter they begin to fizzle out. Their bible study becomes shallow. Prayer time is as rare as seeing a red fox at night. Commitment to church becomes more of a duty rather than a love for ministry and people. God too, has called us to play all 60 minutes of our journey of faith with Him. Far too often we give up! We get comfortable with being defeated and before long we are looking at a losing record. Is this God’s plan for His team of saints? Does God enjoy watching His players fizzle out in the fourth quarter? Absolutely not! He has given us all the resources and strength we need to play all 60 minutes. We just simply get lazy and loose our focus. The Apostle Paul told Timothy in II Tim. 4:7 that he played all 60 minutes of the faith. Paul said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” I believe we are all in the fourth quarter of our time here on earth. How will we finish the BIG GAME? I say let’s play all 60 minutes and finish strong. May God continue to richly bless your life!!!

Chop Blocking the Devil,
Your Pastor
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Wow! What a joy it is to serve God!! This past week has been a busy week for us all. I know for me staying focused can be quite a challenge. However, never have I learned a greater lesson about staying focused and spiritual vitality than the one God taught me this past Sunday. Have you ever had a time when just felt like being a little transparent? Well let me take a moment to be “a little transparent” with you. Sunday morning was a difficult time for me. As I arrived on campus this Sunday, I began to feel a little unsettled in my spirit. At first, I concluded it was just nerves, but it wasn’t long before I realized the real reason for my unsettled state of mind. Walking into the church building I could feel the energy and excitement of the people as they scurried around finding their place in Sunday School. Although they each seemed to be filled with joy and anticipation, I was still struggling to get my mind and heart focused on what I had been called to do for that morning. After everything settled down I happened to just be passing by our Worship Pastor’s office and saw him praying. “Oh no!” I exclaimed with fear and disappointment, “I haven’t spent any time with God this morning.” My heart sank as I began to ponder, “ how on earth could I have forgotten to spend time with the One I am about to preach about (Jesus).” So I rushed into my office, closed the door, and did my OBLIGATION to God. After my “brief” time with God, He began to remind me of my past week. A week I would not count as my most productive. A week filled with other important issues to resolve rather than preparing my own heart for Sunday morning. Upon receiving this God sent revelation, I scratched and clawed to gather my thoughts and swiftly entered the sanctuary with the solemn reality that I was not spiritually ready. Smiling face and all, I ascending the platform, praying, “God please do not let this be a hard lessoned learned.” My prayer was genuine and so was the lesson. Forty five minutes later, I wrapped up the sermon and wiped the sweat from my brow (Not sweat from hard preaching I assure you) and began the invitation time. Would you believe even through what I felt like was a personal train wreck of a sermon two ladies were saved! Isn’t God awesome!! I never expected that to happen, but who am I to dictate what God can use to reach people? Thank God it’s Monday! Alright, so what is the moral of the story? In the 20th chapter of Acts verse 28, Paul tells the Ephesian Elders to “Take watch over yourselves…” As believers, we must remember to continually keep watch of our own spiritual condition. God desires each of us to check our spiritual temperature often. As the week goes by and the time ticks away, we must ask ourselves “have I truly prepared myself for the Sunday morning worship experience?” “Will Sunday be an overflow of my weekly worship time.” Friends, I believe our Sunday morning experience hinges on our weekly time of worship. Listen, learn from my past experience. How you prepare your heart weekly will inevitably dictate how you worship God on Sunday! May God Bless you, and may your life bless Him.

Transparently,
Your Pastor
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As I entered the church building this morning, my heart was filled with an over whelming sense of joy. Entering into the kitchen area, I saw one of the greatest testimonies of this church's passion for giving. Food, food, food it was everywhere. Yesterday when I made an appeal for help in our food distribution ministry I really did not know how people would respond to the need. Boy! did this church respond in a big way. Even this morning people are still coming by and dropping off food for tomorrows ministry. Wow! God is so Good!

As I began to think about this wonderful out-pouring of support, I asked myself why did people respond so well to the need? At first I pat myself on the back for doing such a good job expressing the need. Then God quickly rebuked me. "By the way I have repented of my pride." The more I thought about it the more I realized the reason for the support. It all boils down to the heart. The real reason people gave is because their heart was in the right place. I am positively convinced that when we have the right attitude, the right motive, and the right goal about giving there is no limit to what God can do through us as a church! You see, giving is more than meeting a general need. Giving is an outward expression of your love for God and others. God's heart is never more blessed than when His children do as He did. When you brought all that food to give to these needy families you were doing just as Jesus had commanded us to do (Matt. 25) I don't know about you, but I believe when I do as Jesus did I know I'm in the center of His will, and I tell ya there is know Greater place to be. Church keep on keepin on for Jesus! His heart must be over joyed because of your generosity. Remember, give till it hurts!

Ponder: Have I truly had the right attitude about giving? Do I fully understand that when I give I am expressing my love for God and others? If I were honest with myself, am I really giving my best? Have I fully trusted God to provide me with the opportunity to Give?

Pray: Lord, May all that I have be consecrated to you. May my giving be a clear picture of my love for you and others. Oh Lord, I am asking you today to give me the opportunity to be a channel of blessing to someone else. Amen!]]>