Posted on Tuesday, June 6, 2017

One Handful Living

By Andrew Calabrese

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“Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.” Ecclesiastes 4:6

I love skittles! They are probably the best candy made of all time (in my opinion). However, my love for skittles taught me a very hard lesson to accept. Back when I was in the sixth grade, I went to the movies and I brought two packs of Skittles with me. I ate through the first pack one by one, a red one, a green one, a yellow one, a purple one…I ended up eating a whole pack in one movie!

So, I opened the second pack. I ate and ate and ate, and I got down where I had three left. Then suddenly, my body had a violent reaction and kicked back. To be polite, I remember having a “technicolor yawn”—a “rainbow” come forth out of my mouth right then and there in the theatre! Looking back on that moment, I realize God was trying to teach me a very important lesson.

Our culture teaches us that if one is good, then is two is better! If you’re like me, I bought in to this lie many times over the course of my life. I always thought if having one dollar is good, having two is better. If having one donut is good, two is better. If having one pack of skittles is good, two is better!

God teaches us from His Word that quite frankly the opposite is true. According to Ecclesiastes 4:6, God explains that it is actually better to have less. Come again? You didn’t just say what I think you said, did you? Yes, God says it is better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does.

Better is one hand full with quietness (with tranquility, with peace) than two hands full with travail and vexation of spirit (toil and striving and stress and chasing after the wind.)

Jesus hit this principle head-on in the New Testament. In fact, He was very aggressive with His words. This is what Jesus said in Luke 12:15. He was talking to a group of people and He said: “Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

What was He saying? He basically says, “Watch out! Be on your guard. More is not always better. Watch out for covetousness and greed because your life does not consist in what you have.” And then He told a parable…something along these lines:

Once upon a time, there was a guy that had a very successful business here and the guy said, ‘Oh man, I’m going to tear down my old barns and I’m going to build new ones, bigger ones, better ones, more! I’m going to kick back, and I’m going to take life easy. I’m going to drink; I’m going to be merry; I’m going to be happy!’ And Jesus said, ‘On that very night your life will be taken away from you.’ Why? Here’s what Jesus said, He said in verse 21:

“So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:21)

This will be what it’s like for anyone who just goes, “More, more, more!” You’ll be chasing after the wind, and won’t have what matters most—an intimate relationship with God

I’m convinced God doesn’t care so much about what we have. He doesn’t want what we have to have us. He wants us to be rich in that which really matters. That’s why it’s better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does.

How can we live a “one handful” life?

1) LET GO OF WHAT DOESN’T MATTER.

The writer to the Hebrews in Hebrews 12:1 said: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us,” Why? So that we can, “run with patience the race that is set before us,”

Let us lay aside anything and everything that hinders. This is interesting: the Greek word that is translated as “lay aside” can also be translated as cast down. It’s kind of a violent throwing down. Like if you get a June bug that flies into your hair, what do you do? He meets concrete when you throw that baby down! That’s what you do—you cast off, you throw down, and you lay aside everything that hinders or gets in your way of the race marked out for you.

I hope you’ll always remember that there is a race that God has marked out for you. God put you here on earth to do something significant, and your spiritual enemy is going to say, “Hey, what about that? You don’t have that!” And before long, we’re chasing the wind, something that doesn’t matter. You have to have the discipline to lay that aside, and cast down anything and everything that does not matter.

Now, here’s three quick phrases that I believe will help us let go of the things that do not matter:

CUT BACK

What are we going to cut back? I don’t know what you need to cut back on, but most people I know need to cut back on spending and their schedules.

Let’s start with your spending: Better is one handful; better is less with tranquility and financial margin than two handfuls with a financial noose around your neck. Better is one handful with money left over at the end of the month than two handfuls with fights and worry and financial fears.

How stupid is it in our world that we buy things we don’t need with money we don’t have to impress people we don’t like? And then we worry and we’re anxious about, “I don’t have enough money! I don’t have enough money!” Better is less with room to breathe.

Consider your schedule. For some of you it’s time to get very prayerful and very aggressive in cutting back on society’s pressure to say yes to everything. In fact, what is the most common answer to the question in our culture when someone says, “Hey, how you doing?”

What do most people say?”I’m really busy!” Right? “I’m busy!” And if they don’t say that, then they’ll say, ”I’m tired!”

Do you really think that God who says, ‘Come to me all who are weary and heavy and I will give you rest’ (paraphrase) meant our lives to be lived out that way? Culture has lied to us: “More is better, more is better, more is better!” It’s time to say no to some things that everybody else says yes to.

THROW OUT

Some of you need to throw out a lot. Clean the clutter out! A friend of mine told me a couple years ago, “We’re throwing out!” And he said, “Throw away as if your life depends on it, because it does!” I love that phrase! I’ll never forget about it! He said, “Throw away as if your life depends upon it because it does!”

And that’s kind of become a motto for me. It’s, I mean, I want to get rid of everything all of the time. Katie and I get rid f things all the time. Here’s the deal, you haven’t worn it in a year, give it to somebody who can use it, get it out of your closet.

TURN OFF

I don’t know what you need to turn off, but some of you need to turn something off. I don’t know what it is, turn the television off. You may spend more time watching the television than you do in God’s Word, or playing with your kids, or serving in your church, and if that’s you…I’m here to tell you that you’re wasting your life! Here’s the deal, you will never change the world watching reruns. So, why would you waste your life spending hours doing something that doesn’t matter?

For many of us, our cell phones have become an idol! You go out to dinner, and watch a nice family of four sitting there at the table. Everybody’s talking to somebody else, reading whatever, words with friends, you know, it’s ridiculous!

One reason I’m so passionate about this is because Katie told me early on in our marriage, “You’re on your phone too much!” And my response was, “Hey, I’m changing the world on my phone baby; I’m talking to people!” And I thought it was important, but I am beginning to realize it actually affects our marriage and our family in a negative way. Some of us need to get real serious and throw down, cast off, let go of what doesn’t matter.

2) FIGHT FOR WHAT DOES MATTER.

I love the way Nehemiah said it whenever Sanballat and Tobiah were trying to talk God’s people out of rebuilding the wall. Nehemiah said: “…remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.” (Nehemiah 4:14)

Fight for what’s important! Draw your swords and fight; fight like a man; fight like a man of God; fight like a woman of God! Fight for it! And don’t let the culture lie to you. Don’t waste your life, fight for what matters. Less of what doesn’t matter, more of what does.

My life is too valuable, my calling is too great, and my God is too good to waste my life on things that don’t matter! And your life is too valuable, your calling is too great, and your God too good to waste your life on things that don’t matter.

God created you and put you on earth to glorify Him, to make a difference, to make Him known, to love Him, and to love people! Don’t sell out chasing the wind—“more, more, more!”

“Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.”

“Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.”

Better one handful and a good marriage.

Better one handful and children that you know.

Better one handful and making a difference in life.

Better one handful and intimate friends.

Better one handful and a great relationship with God.

Better one handful and influence.

Better one handful and margin.

Better one handful and love, than two handfuls with toil, stress, panic, greed, and more and more—chasing after the wind. It is infinitely better to have less of what doesn’t matter and more of what does. Commit today to “one handful” living.

Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Samson’s 20-Year Career

By Jesse Becker

I polled our Sunday School class to find out what we thought could have been Samson’s age when he brought down the house on Philistines and killed them and himself. I hadn’t thought much about it myself. As it turned out, most of us imagined Samson to be in his late 20’s or early 30’s. A lot of us imagined that he was reckless young man and kamikazed his life from an early age. Then I read the last verse in Judges 14:

And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

So, between slaying a thousand men with the jawbone of a donkey and tearing off the city gates and meeting Delilah, Samson did his job for 20 years. It seems that he lived without getting himself in trouble during this time. He actually did the job God called him to with some degree of success. He at least didn’t suffer any notable negative consequences.

Knowing the character of Samson, though, I would believe that he wasn’t living entirely right. Judges 15 starts by telling us that Samson saw a harlot in Gaza and went in unto her. The Gazites were planning on killing him when he took the doors of the city gate to the top of a hill and escaped. Samson was apparently living a secret life of sin and getting away with it.

After this event he met Delilah, and we know the rest of the story. The last verse of Judges 16 tells us that his family came an buried him, and reminds us that Samson judged for 20 years.

I believe Samson always lived on the edge of destruction. He played around with sin and figured out how to get away with a lot of it. He apparently relied on his strengths – physical and mental – to get him out of sticky situations. But, as we know, we reap what we sow. Samson was sowing the destructive seed of sin and deception, and he eventually reaped the horrible crop.

Many of us are living Christian lives that seem to be clean and free from consequences, while the truth is that we are constantly involved with sin. It could be lust; it could be disrespecting our spouse; it could be a bitter spirit. We think we can handle it because we get away with it for years. But God is not a liar. We will reap what we sow. We need to regularly examine our life and deal with sins that we think we can handle, asking the Holy Spirit to help us change. Time is not on our side.

Posted on Tuesday, May 9, 2017

How to Defuse Conflict and Make Your Marriage Even Better

By Daniel Fleet

In 1 Samuel we read that David and Michal fell in love at a young age and were married. Difficult circumstances befell them and David made poor choices so that in the end David and Michal reached a point where they could not stand to be near each other. One narrative puts it this way: “And it came to pass, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michal the daughter of Saul looking out at a window saw king David dancing and playing: and she despised him in her heart (1 Chronicles 15:29, KJV).”

There is a point that jumps out from this story: People who were once madly in love with each other are capable of reaching a point in their relationship where they literally despise each other. How does this happen? The simple fact of the matter is the more intimate the relationship the more chance there is of deep and lasting conflict.

There is a principle known as the inevitability of conflict that suggests that the closer people become in a relationship the more likely conflict is to occur. Researchers Dudley Cahn and Ruth Abigail note, “The inevitability of conflict principle runs contrary to the idea that, if we look long and hard, we can find people with whom we can share conflict-free lives. It means that we should cease our efforts to find perfect people and learn how to manage the conflicts we are sure to have with those closest to us.” These social scientists are simply stating what God’s Word teaches us over and over again.

While conflict can be messy and hard to navigate there are several steps that couples can take to manage conflict in their lives in order to produce peaceful marriages that are pleasing to God, a testimony to the world, and mutually satisfying to both partners.

1. Live in light of a greater purpose

When a husband or wife understands that they belong to Jesus Christ it changes their outlook on life. This point can be easily lost on those of us who have been saved a long time. We need to be reminded that our marriage reflects the power of Christ in our life. Those who belong to Christ do not have perfect lives, but their life does have a grander purpose and a peaceful marriage is part of God’s plan.

Peaceful marriages and happy couples are important because they are a testimony to the lost world that Jesus makes a difference in one’s life. In his book, The Peacemaker, Ken Sande notes, “Conflict also provides opportunities to encourage others to trust in Jesus Christ. When you are involved in a conflict, your opponent and various bystanders will be observing you closely. If you behave in a worldly way, you will give nonbelievers yet another excuse for mocking Christians and rejecting Christ. On the other hand, if you display God’s love and respond with unnatural humility, wisdom, and self-control, those who are watching you may wonder where you found the power to behave like that, which may open the door to introducing them to Christ.” Knowing Christ and living for Him is the greatest step to a happier marriage and managing marital conflict.

2. Treat your spouse with civility

When civility is present in a relationship positive conflict outcomes are more likely. Again, Cahn and Abigail write, “civility requires that we come into the presence of others with a sense of awe and gratitude, rather than a sense of duty and obligation.” Christ expects us to respect each other and interact with kindness on a constant basis.

While there are moments of disappointment or frustration in any marriage, respect and civility should always be present. Civility is constituted by an attitude of respect toward others manifested in our behavior toward them; that respect is not predicated on how we feel about them. Civility requires that we are mindful of others around us and aware of the impact our behavior has on them. Paul instructs husbands and wives in Ephesians 5 is to love and respect one another and treat each other with same kindness that Christ expresses to the church.

3. Make more deposits than withdrawals in the relationship

Often people evaluate their relationships based on the value they find in them and that value is assessed by cost and reward ratios. William Harley, author of His Needs, Her Needs, introduces the idea of a “love bank” to illustrate this point inside of a marriage relationship: “Figuratively speaking, I believe each of us has a Love Bank. It contains many different accounts, one for each person we know. Each person either makes deposits or withdrawals whenever we interact with him or her. Pleasurable interactions cause deposits, and painful interactions cause withdrawals.”

Harley continues to propose that the account in a persons Love Bank fluctuates depending on the type of interactions he or she has with their partner. Simply put, sometimes there is a cost associated with the interaction and sometimes there is a reward associated with the interaction. It stands to reason then that each spouse in a marriage relationship should seek to add value to the other person in order to successfully navigate the complexities of conflict.

4. Work together as a team

Couples should realize that their marriage is bigger and better when the two of them work together as one unit. The Bible says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Furthermore, there is a principle in Ecclesiastes 4 that says that two are better than one. When a man and woman unite, not just psychically, but spiritually, mentally, and emotionally they are able to better manage conflict and become stronger as a result.

5. Listen

Listening is not an easy skill but it is one that can and should be learned by all married couples. Listening communicates to your spouse that you value them as a person and as you listen and pay attention to them they are able to open up their heart. Deeper intimacy and trust are the fruits of listening. When we listen we show the other person how much we value, love, and appreciate them.

Listening is not just hearing, but also paying attention to the other person. Emphatic listening means you listen, not only with your ears, but also with your eyes and with your heart. You sense and feel what your spouse is trying to communicate to you more than just the words they are speaking.

This is the kind of listening that builds intimacy between couples and helps them work through conflict in constructive and helpful ways. Mediation lawyer, Brigid Duffield, writes, “Often, we increase conflict by talking and restating our opinions. Stop and listen to what the other person is saying. What you thought you heard may not be what they said.” Listening allows for proper reflection and understanding during communication processes.

6. Never forget the power of prayer

We believe in prayer but too often we utilize our relationship with God as a last resort. God has the ability to change the hearts of people and often He is the only and best solution to conflict management in marriage. Paul wrote to Timothy, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men… that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty to all that call upon him in truth.”

While conflict is inevitable in marriage these simple steps can help all of us have happier homes and better marriages.

Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2017

Peter: Failure is not Final

By Carol Becker

Proverbs 24:16 – For a just man falleth seven times, and rises again…

None of us are immune to the sting of failure. Even after we are saved, living with our old nature makes sure of that. Knowing that we will experience failure, that we will make unwise decisions and choose to sin, we find ourselves questioning if there is any hope for us in our failures. We don’t have to look any farther than Peter to see what God’s grace can accomplish in the midst of failure. From the life of Peter we can learn some helpful lessons on how to avoid and handle the failures of life.

1. Learn from the Past.

Matthew 14:22-33 tells the story of Peter’s great faith when he stepped out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. We would no doubt classify this as a great success in Peter’s life, and even Jesus was pleased with Peter’s faith. Peter also must have realized in the midst of this success the central figure was Jesus. Success comes through Christ’s power alone. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink. That’s when failure comes. Peter had many other times in his life where Jesus gave him instruction. Like Peter, our past contains valuable lessons. Instead of wasting past successes and failures, we should use them as a catalyst for growth.

2. Learn to heed warnings from God and others.

Peter had the extraordinary benefit of getting to be with Jesus almost 24/7 for three years. Imagine the wisdom and instruction he received from Christ during those years. Peter even had the benefit of an especially close relationship with Jesus as he, James, and John were often called aside for greater instruction, revelation, and responsibility. Scripture records several times when Jesus patiently instructs Peter when he speaks or acts without thought. In Matthew 26:34 Jesus tells Peter that he would deny and forsake Him that very night. Jesus was warning Peter. Peter does not heed the warning. Instead of a humble response, Peter essentially tells Jesus he is wrong. But many times we are no different than Peter. We have the extraordinary benefit of God’s completed Word that guides and warns us. Once saved, we have the working of the Holy Spirit in our lives Who also provides instruction. Countless times God sends His warning through other Christians who are truly concerned for us and our walk with Christ. We need to heed the instruction and warning God places in our life. They are meant for our good.

3. Guard not only your weaknesses but your strengths as well.

Most of us are at least somewhat aware of our strengths and weaknesses. It’s wise to evaluate them often. While we tend to guard ourselves in areas where we are lacking and even concentrate on growth in those areas, we leave our strengths wide open for attack. Peter was a man of passion, a go-getter, zealous in all his endeavors; all commendable qualities. Yet this is where we find Peter attacked. In his last zealous act before Christ’s crucifixion and his denial of Jesus, Peter swung his sword cutting off Malchus’ ear as they were about to take Jesus away. Jesus healed and restored the man’s ear and then warned Peter concerning his zeal. Many of Peter’s failures actually stemmed from his unchecked, unbridled strengths. Our weaknesses keep us humble and our knees, but our strengths can often lead to pride and self sufficiency. Proverbs 4:23 “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Wisdom tells us to guard all aspects of our heart.

4. Failure is not final.

Peter must have experienced great torment the three days between Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Sorrow and guilt is a needed response to our sin, but after we have repented and forgiveness has been given we can, at times, be our own worst critic. We may be able to give grace to others for their errors, but we don’t allow any grace for ourselves. We cannot bring ourselves to accept the gift of grace God freely offers. That grace was offered to Peter when the angel told Mary Magdalene to tell Peter that Jesus was risen from the dead. (Mark16:7). Later after Jesus’ resurrection, he met the disciples on the shore for breakfast. There he asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep. (John 21:15-17). He wasn’t done with Peter. God used Peter greatly at Pentecost when he preached the gospel and three thousand were saved (Acts 2:41). God worked through Peter’s life, his successes and failures, using him to accomplish His plan. Living perfectly and without failure is impossible. God never asks us to be perfect, but to always grow into Christ’s likeness. The key word is grow. Peter was a success for the Lord, because he continued to grow in grace. And God blessed him for that.

Peter failed. We will too. However, Peter was not a failure, and neither are we if we will learn and grow and do all for the glory of God.

Posted on Saturday, April 15, 2017

Trusting God In a Changing World

By Pastor Dorrell

It’s amazing sometime how quickly life can change. We live in a face-paced and busy world, and the life we live can be very unpredictable. Circumstances can change, people can change, and of course we all know how quickly the weather can change. But, with sudden change often comes a sense of uncertainty or insecurity. For the most part, people like things to be the same and to know what to expect. When circumstances or people rock our world, we often worry and fret, or—even worse—we become angry and unhappy.

Posted on Friday, April 14, 2017

The 7 Sayings of Jesus on the Cross

By Jesse Becker

A person’s dying words are often some of the most important words a person will say. There are seven last words of Jesus recorded for us in scripture. Nothing Jesus ever said was trite or insignificant, but these seven sayings hold some very precious truths for us.

Father, Forgive Them

Luke 23:34

The forgiveness of sin was the purpose of Christ’s death on the cross. The soldiers who drove the nails into His hands and feet and who cast lots to claim His garments were for the most part ignorant of whom they were dealing with. They probably thought of Him as just another criminal. But in spite of their ignorance, Jesus wanted them to be forgiven, too. What a tremendous picture of God’s mercy, grace, and compassion. God has forgiven us of our sins, also. Let us be careful not to take such a gift for granted.

To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

Luke 23:43

There is a powerful truth in this statement given by Jesus to the criminal on the cross next to Him. The criminal believed who Jesus was when in faith he asked Jesus to remember him when Jesus would enter His kingdom. Jesus’ response tells us that there is no other way to be saved than faith. The criminal had no chance to get baptized, give money to the church, feed the poor, or deny himself in any way. He had no other recourse than to fully trust in Jesus. And that is the place anyone must come to be forgiven and saved from their sin—an all out faith in Jesus and Jesus alone.

Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!

John 19:26, 27

In this moment we see two things. First, Jesus was a caring a responsible individual who took great care of those He loved. His mother would no longer have Him physically near to take care of her needs, so Jesus saw to her wellbeing by giving her to John. Second, Jesus’ relationship with Mary was going to be different now. Jesus had been her son for 33 years, but now He would be her Savior for eternity. Mary was blessed to have birthed the Son of God, but she was as much in need of a Savior as any other person ever born. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world including yours and mine.

My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me?

Mathew 27:46

Perhaps this was the agonizing punishment that Jesus was dreading the most. Never in all eternity had Jesus and God been apart. The Holy God had to separate Himself from His only Son, because at that moment Jesus became sin for us, and God could not fellowship with sin. Because of that moment, we can fellowship with God by believing that Jesus died for us.

I thirst.

John 19:28

Jesus was 100% God and 100% man. There can be no doubt that Jesus was physically exhausted. His human body would have been in great need of many things including a great thirst. But some time before, He told the woman at the well that if any man thirst for God they need to drink the Living Water. It may be that Jesus at this moment of separation from God knew for the first time what it was to thirst for God. Jesus knew all our sin and all its consequences including the void that exists in the heart that cannot fellowship with God. Jesus thirsted so we would never have to thirst again.

It is finished.

John 19:30

What an incredibly important statement. Finished. Complete. Paid in full. Jesus satisfied the holiness of God so that the wrath of God would be spared. It is impossible to fully grasp what Jesus did for us. If we could even comprehend the desolation of our own sinful hearts we could begin to understand, but we can’t even do that. How can we ever appreciate something so vast? As far as the east is from the west, that is how far He has removed our iniquity. It is finished. There is nothing left for you or me to do. It was finished on the cross.

Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.

Luke 23:46

Jesus was absolutely alone on the cross. None of His friends or disciples were up there with Him. God had turned His back on His Son. Darkness cloaked Calvary’s hill. He was alone. Then Jesus said this with a loud voice, perhaps in desperation for God to hear, “Father, into Thy hands I commend my spirit.” He felt that He must yell these words because God was so far from Him. Then Jesus was silent. He laid down His life and gave up the ghost. He had fully obeyed and done the work of His Father, and now He trusted His spirit into His Father’s care believing that God would raise Him from the dead.

God’s plan of salvation is so wonderful and so amazing. Everything Jesus said on the cross helps us appreciate what He went through for us. Then to think that it was all done because God so loved the world—because God so loved me—my heart is filled with gratitude and worship.

Posted on Thursday, April 13, 2017

The Hope of the Future

By John Mardirosian

Eastland Baptist Church has enjoyed a great history. As Youth Pastor, I look at our teens and dream of all the great things God has planned for each of them and for our future here at Eastland.

We are truly blessed with a great church and a great group of teenagers. I have the privilege of spending time with them each week and getting to know them individually. Our teens have a great heart to know and serve God. While you might not have the same opportunity every week, I want you to get to know our teens and invest in their lives. The investment you make today will reap unimaginable dividends in years to come. This past year, we saw amazing investments through the Dessert Auctions and “I Love my Church” Offering.

You invested significantly through the “I Love My Church” Offering. With that offering, we were able to construct new restrooms, add a welcome center, replace HVAC, create a new back entrance with awning, install windows across the front, install new front doors, a new front porch, and a wheelchair ramp. We could not have completed any of this work without your generosity. Before our “I Love My Church” Offering this year, we will take some time for our teens to tell you how grateful they are for your generosity.

We will be taking our “I Love My Church” Offering on Sunday, April 23^rd. This year’s offering will again be designated for our teenagers and the completion of the youth room renovation. Significant progress has been made, but we still need to complete drywall and painting, install new flooring throughout, add lighting in the game room, and add roll-up doors between the game room and Jr. High room. This year’s offering will pay for a significant part of this work.

We are expecting great things for the future of Eastland Baptist Church. One of the ways we are making preparation is through the continued investment in our teenagers. Thank you for all the investments you have made and will make this year through our special “I Love My Church” offering.

Posted on Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Thomas – Friend of Jesus

By Carol Becker

While writing the script for this Easter’s dramatization I knew I wanted to study the life of Thomas. You see, I think if most of us are honest, we see ourselves in Thomas maybe more than any other character in the resurrection story. What comes to mind when you hear Thomas’ name? We all know Thomas’ label – doubter…doubting Thomas. He earned this reputation based on one incident in his life. I’m not sure that we should be so quick to label others. A label dismisses a person’s other positive character traits and diminishes the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in their life. A negative label defines and devalues a soul for whom Jesus gave His life, a soul He loves. I spent many hours reading about Thomas and studying the different times he is mentioned in the Scriptures, and I found out there was a lot more to the man Thomas than just one label.

God’s Word records three separate times that Thomas speaks. We can learn much from the life of Thomas and his relationship with Christ.

Posted on Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Mary Magdalene – Lessons from a Servant’s Heart

By Carol Becker

Who was Mary Magdalene? We do not know much about her past. Luke 8:2 does mention Jesus had healed her from evil spirits and infirmities, but that is about all we know. What we do know is that was her past; it was her old life. It did not look anything like her new life in Christ. Once she believed on Jesus her past no longer dictated her future. Thankfulness now filled her heart, and Mary desired to serve the Lord. She served her Lord because of her love for Him. We can learn some important truths from Mary’s heart of service.

Posted on Monday, April 10, 2017

Mary – Surviving the Sword

By Carol Becker

Luke 2:34-35

And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his Mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;

(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.