For scheduling your appointment please go to this link and sign-up for a picture time that would work well for your schedule.

As always, you can sign up in the foyer during service times.

For everyone who signs up for a free portrait session, they will receive a free 8×10 picture with no obligation.

However, if you would like to take advantage of some Life-touch’s great picture packages, they encourage you to bring things to your session like people you would like in your pictures, pets, and even props. (violins, basketballs, etc)

Also, in support of our new ministry “Feed the Need”, Life-touch will give each family a $5.00 coupon towards a picture package, who brings a can good or dry good for that ministry. They will also donate $1.00 per family who sits for a directory picture towards this needful ministry.

Thanks for your part in our church family!

Obviously, I would not liken ourselves to dim witted trolls! However, it is strangely similar how that we lose thought of the soon approaching dawn and in danger of being caught unaware. In the story, the trolls fought and argued among themselves all the while forgetting that time was running out for them. As the dawn rose over the horizon they were immediately turned into stone figures.

The truth is we often fall into the same trap. We lose our sense of direction and purpose. Is it possible for us to get so sidetracked in our minds that the most important elements in life are pushed aside for whatever may be interesting. Our attention span has sadly diminished over the years. Many Christians find it hard to concentrate on anything that lasts longer than 30 minutes without commercials. Dealing with life and Christian maturity takes attention and effort. If you cannot stay on target and allow the Spirit to continually transform your life, the effect will be a shallow spiritual walk with much carnal behavior. Although a life can be sustained like this without too much apparent ill effect, the real test of this pathetic excuse for spiritual dedication will be known when the Lord Jesus returns in the Rapture of the Saints. Now that will be a sunrise we need to be ready for!

Jesus said that many would be caught by surprise when He returns as a thief in the night. No warning, no preparation, just the immediate light of His divine presence! Let it not be said of us that we played with our lives and time while neglecting the great opportunities that God has given to us!

So I say to you today, your life and all your days will be the only gift you can give to God. It is up to you to determine if that gift is worth anything!

But since when did professing Christian people decide to set aside God’s word in preference to their own passion and promiscuities?

Each Christian can testify of the current presence of sin, at some level, in their life. The time must never come when we stop dealing with our own sin as it arises. The book of Proverbs tells us to confess and forsake our sins. Our ongoing struggle against temptation, along with the sins of commission and omission, must never be embraced or accepted as approved of God. The Apostle Paul said “If we would judge ourselves we should not be judged.”

Sin must never be the ‘welcomed guest’ but rather the forceful intruder, an enemy that we are seeking to expel.

Sadly, it is far easier to accommodate our sinful choices and seek for ways to excuse their presence. Some would argue ‘I was born this way..’ but that appeal would not be accepted for the pedophile, the rapist, the alcoholic, the gambler, the domestic abuser, or the habitual thief and liar.

God has made provision for our struggle, forgiveness, and progressive sanctification. He is ever ready to forgive and to restore. His heart is always looking to reclaim no matter the mistake. Yet the key for the Christian is very simple; never accept sin as accepted! Seek forgiveness, seek victory, and never settle for anything less!

Are There Really “Many paths”?

Was Jesus ill informed or did the professing Son of God simply lie? Did he really desire to mislead billions of people? Was His preaching truth or only partial truth? These questions have been asked for centuries, mostly by the unbelievers. Amazingly, because of the sad, watered down preaching of so many pulpits of our day, even some Christians are advocating a loose form of pluralism. The idea is simple: One Almighty Being has allowed for many ways and paths to bring the world to “Itself” and therefore every religion is no better or worse than any other. All are equally valid.

Pluralism is nothing new in religion. It certainly was the backbone of religious thought for the Roman Empire during Jesus’ life. Until Christianity began to spread after the Lord Jesus’ ascension, the Jews were considered to be peculiar people because of the refusal to accept any other gods as valid. They were mocked and even persecuted for their arrogant belief that they had the one and only true God. Obviously, this same truth was carried forth from the fulfillment of the Mosaic Law in Jesus Christ. In the early days of the infant Christian Church they too received persecution for their singular view of God. This would result in their being distrusted by society. They found themselves set apart from the mainstream Roman culture, and because they did not go with the flow, they became sport in the coliseums. Cruelty and death followed this new movement for many years. These persecutions, from both Jews and Gentiles, would be in retaliation to the Christians firm and unbending belief in Christ alone as the only way to heaven.

However, the Bible is very clear when it comes to the concept of pluralism. God claimed in Isaiah 45:5 “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:” As a Christian, I can stand firm in my unwavering belief of the Word of God and still love and respect people who do not. The call of God to Christians is to go and tell, not to intimidate and force. True Christian salvation is something that can never be forced. Only through humble, repentant willingness can a person receive, through Jesus Christ, real eternal life.

Scripture says in Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” It would seem that the Bible is very exclusive when it comes to who will be granted entry into heaven. Jesus claimed to be the “door” of heaven. This fact is very easy to see and understand.

In his famous book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis makes this statement, “A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic – on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg – or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us.”

So to those who are intolerant of Christ’s claims, your views of multiple paths to heaven are applauded in the world today. But I believe it will never be accepted by a certain One whose hands still bear the scars of the price He paid so you could have eternal life.

In Psalm 146 we find an amazing admonition to relish in trust of our Almighty God! Our God is truly an Awesome God! Unlike the ruler in this world, our God will never loose His power to help us nor His pleasure in us.

Notice verse 5, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”

As our trust in God develops over time, our Christian life will begin to accumulate tools for our spiritual toolbox.

1. The wonderful truth of happiness is that it is really connected with God. God’s blessings will bring a happy heart.

2. Have you ever been without help? It is terrible to be in need and have no help. Obviously our happiness comes from God’s help He extends to us. The psalmist said “this I know, for God is for me.”

3. Hope means to “look forward with desire and confidence”. Have you given God your tomorrows? Do you anticipate God’s hand throughout your future? Are you interested in His divine, miraculous providence of the seemingly mundane?

A person who has God as their hope will find God’s amazing help. This person will find themselves ambushed by happiness.

People today will cite progress, freedom from repression, and a discarding of “antiquated ideas in this post-Christian era” as they strongly push to expose their core beliefs and what should be acceptable upon society. The movement for this has been slow and steady towards an environment that will accept the open and free lifestyle choice of any, except one; biblical Christianity.

Please don’t misunderstand, the “world” that does not know Jesus Christ as Redeemer has and will always act according to their own carnal nature. It is a pathway that will always degenerate towards the dark and base sides of humanity. The problematic issue I see is that those who espouse Christ as Savior are seemingly allowing the philosophy of this “present world” to direct their world-view and behavior.

Even from the pulpits (or teacher’s stand) men who should be firmly committed to giving a clear direction as to the path for Christian people in unclear times are themselves finding it hard to chart these murky waters of “being in the world but not of the world”. Pastors read very little today compared to previous generations. The influence upon a pastor’s heart will always filter over to the congregation.

So instead of allowing the slow and steady change in our cultures entertainment to continue to take your mind down a path of unbiblical ideals, allow this principle to be applied as God truly intended in Isaiah 28:10 “precept upon precept…line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”

Becoming that which God wants us to be is a long journey. This transition should be created, strengthened, added to, strengthened, and added to again. As we regularly give ourselves to be influenced by the precious Word of God we will see our lives being shaped into something different, something miraculous. Where once anger ruled, now peace rules. Where once wickedness controlled, now righteousness grows. A little here and a little there, allow yourself to be influenced more by God than what the world has to offer.

So here we find David, broken, defeated, ashamed. He wanted to find his way back to the joy he had in God. In Psalm 51 he requested that the Lord would give him again the Joy of his Salvation.

David had been tempted before, and he walked away from iniquity. When the joy of our salvation is lost, we begin to look at sin, temptation and worldliness differently. Once our heart no longer delights in Christ, we will gravitate toward the disease of our flesh: sin. The only true cure for a saved person living in depraved flesh, is a heart that embraces Christ, delights in Christ, longs for Christ. It is these people who enjoy life with God.

So David cries out in the midst of adultery and murder, Lord gives me again the Joy of Salvation!

So how can we keep our Joy?
1.  Appreciation is Necessary – A Thankful Christian begins with God but continues to others. This is a tell-tale sign of a heart of joy that we demonstrate appreciation to others.

2.  Action is Needful or Inescapable – When a person is full of Christ’s joy we seek for ways  to bring others into this joy.

3. Enthusiasm is Essential – Forcing a habit of enthusiasm is foundational for continued spirit joy.

Insulate your heart and life by fostering a thirst for the Joy of the Salvation of the Lord! It will be this simple gift that will enable us to endure the pull of this world has for us.

But sadly, we see in Luke chapter four a very different outcome for the returning carpenter’s son. As He gave them an introduction to His Divine ministry they reacted terribly. Instead of joy and support they gave Him anger and rejection. They even went so far as to attempt to kill Him by throughing Him off a cliff. But even though death was His future, it was not His time to die. The Lord released Himself from their hands and walked away. And I can imagine as the demonic fever wore off from the angry residents of Nazareth they were left in disbelief at how things spiraled out of control. Yet the damage was done. Jesus had gone. Never again do we see the Lord returning to accomplish some great miracles in His hometown.

With Nazareth in the distance, our Lord set His face to go to Capernaum. This city was nothing new to Him. He had been here before performing miracles. This city on the Northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee had no reason to open their hearts to the Lord but they did nevertheless! Demons were cast out (Demons who recognized the Lord’s deity more than any in His hometown ever would) sicknesses were healed and the message of repentance was preached.

Yes, Capernaum was a very different experience from Nazareth. However, these two cities were similar in many ways. They both were Jewish. Both were classified as Galileans. Both cities were very religious. Yet both reacted fundamentally different to Christ’s ministry. In your life, were do you reside? Do you fit in with those people who do not see God’s power or enjoy His richest blessings? Are you “too” familiar with Christ that His Word or Will is not held in adoration and respect?

Hopefully, you can better identify with the people of Capernaum! Considering Christ their hearts were open. When His blessings were given they were partakers!

Where do you live today?

Imagine his surprise when in walked his brothers searching to buy food from the great leader who had foreknown of the famine and prepared for it. They did not recognized him but he knew them! In the early verses of Chapter 45 he reveals himself to them and demonstrates more grace than we could conceive. But then he tells them to go to his father and let him know how God has blessed him. Now it was bad enough of a shock to these brothers to find themselves at the mercy of the one whom they had wickedly mistreated. This experience alone would have been most distressing (not to mention cause for cardiact arrest!). However, Joseph demonstrated such grace and mercy to them it helped to calm their terror.

BUT! Then they were sent to the one person they really did not want to explain this new turn of events. Do you remember the scene shortly after they sold their brother? The coat of many colors Joseph was given from his father was torn and colored with animals blood. It was with this awful object they displayed before the eyes of their father and painted a tragic tale of a gruesome death. Jacob morned his beloved son. The loss he felt was very real to him. Now it was their sad duty as repentant offenders to lay before their father what they were guilty of and plead for his forgiveness.

And so it can be for us if we do not show care in our lives. We may find ourselves making a similar journey to lay openly our offense before our Heavenly Father or a wronged loved one. Instead, live with integrity and always treat others in light of the truth that our actions, after years gone by can haunt us when we least expect it!

Just like Dwight Moody in his shoe shop, David Livingston at his Loom, Billy Sunday on the Baseball field the Lord finds us and lays the call of service upon us. However, you may be startled at the suggestion, but probably all the mighty band of men and women who have responded to His Call, were similarly startled when first the summons awoke them to action. Samuel was startled when the Divine voice rang out in the night; Gideon was startled, and replied: “Behold my family is poor, and I am the least in my father’s house”; Jeremiah said, when the call came to him: “Ah, Lord God! Behold I cannot speak, for I am a child.” Moses drew back, and said that he was unequal for the task to which God summoned him.

Yes, all can be saved, many who are saved will walk faithfully for the Lord, but only the chosen of the Divine will know the special burden of having a the Call of service upon their lives. Listen to the appeal of Christ on behalf of the millions of souls for whom He died, and to some of whom He wants to send you. Yield yourself to Him, and let Him infuse into you His mighty passion for their salvation. Do not look at your circumstances, or count your five loaves and two small fishes, wondering if they will suffice; or at the waves, questioning if they will bear you up. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, and your ears open to His voice, and when once you are sure of His leading, go forward in His Name. Jordan will divide before you, and the walls of Jericho will fall flat.