The debt crisis

The last couple of weeks one of the big news topics is the debt crisis that USA is experiencing. There is much debated in how to solve this problem but the issue is becoming too political. The topic of this blog is the debt crisis but not the financial one America is experiencing but the debt crisis that each one of us experiences in a spiritual sense. Being part of the human race automatically means I have a debt crisis and though there are many proposed solutions, ie. many different religions there is only one solution, Jesus Christ. Jesus said that narrow is the road that leads to heaven. I am the way, the truth, and the life and noone comes unto the Father except through me. I am the bread of life. I am the good shepherd. Saying Jesus is the only solution is not the politically correct to say but it is the biblically correct thing to say. Jesus is not only our solution to get saved but I have a continue debt problem that Jesus is the only solution. I wish the moment I accepted Jesus as my Savior that my struggle against sin was over but I thank God there is not only the intial forgiveness but a continual forgiveness as I live a life humble dependence upon Christ and what He has done for me at the cross of Calvary. Now that Jesus paid my debt that I owed due to my sin there is now for me a debt of love that I need to pay on a continual basis for all that Jesus has done for me. Let us put our hope and trust in Christ who helps us to pay the debt of love.

Pastor John

Having a standard

Many things in life have a standard by which we can judge just how things are going. The standard will let us know if what we are doing is working or not. The standards of life are on our money, building, how we rate movies, and as a follower of Christ there are standards on morals and ethics that govern how we are to live. There is not complete agreement on where some of these standard ought to align but if there are no standards then we will reenter the time of the Judges where the scriptures says that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. On Sunday I sensed the Lord speak this to may heart. "I have a gold standard." God as the creator of all of life has the right and obligation to set in place the standards on how this life is to work. Not only does God have that right but He sets in place a gold standard. A standard by which if we are willing to follow will be filled with many blessings. Life will always go better when I willingly do life His ways, or I could say doing life by His standards, the gold within what I sensed the Lord saying was that one could not improve upon the standard that He has given, it is sufficient and bring about His favor upon our lives when we follow His standard for being a follower of Jesus Christ.

May the Lord strengthen us in our inner life that we may please Him.

Pastor John

The Power of Life

Just a simple thought this morning. The power of life is seen all around in nature and there are spiritual lessons concerning the power of life. Spring time is a great time of the year with new life, things turning green and flowers popping out of the ground. This spring our area saw lots of rain which delayed much of the planting of crops but now the fields are bursting with life and growth. Spiritually speaking the power of life begins with our new birth as a being in Christ. The conditions needed for growth of this new life is simple. I must learn to do life God's way. That maybe a simple principle but I have found out through the years that it is not always an easy principle to live out. Within the natural world if you want to see the power of life you must control the weeds, fertilize the soil, receiving timely rain and be patient because fruit does not happen over night. When these conditions are present you witness the power of life. Spiritually, the conditions are similar: we must control the tendency of the fallen world that can crowd out our new life, we must feed on the Word of God which is like fertilizer to our soul, we have timely encounters with the Living God, Heavenly Rain that encourages our spirit life and we must persevere and remain faithful until the fruit begins to come. When the spiritual conditions are right you will witness the power of life in ways that will change your life. May we allow this life influence how we live in this world.
May the God of life and mercy be with you.

Pastor John