This Is The Word Of The Lord...

Our response each Sunday: Thanks be to God!

“Christians should be grateful to God for the gift of his written Word, and conscientious in basing their faith and life entirely and exclusively upon it. Otherwise, we cannot ever honor or please him as he calls us to do.” JI Packer

Have I Really Repented From My Sin?

Some people encounter Jesus and say, "Sweet! Jesus, do You want to join the party of my life with this sin, that addiction, this destructive relationship, and we'll all co-exist together?"

But repentance means saying, "Sweet Jesus, You are the best thing that has ever happened to me! I want to turn from all the sin and selfishness that rules me. I want to let it go and walk with You. Only You. You are my life now. Help me to walk away from the enslaving, worthless things in life."

Do you see the difference between these two examples? Which do you think more accurately portrays your own life?

-Francis Chan, Forgotten God

Christ Is Everything!

What do JC Ryle, Max Lucado, and John Piper all have in common? They all "get it" when it comes to the centrality of Jesus Christ. Eternal life in heaven is not our treasure. Forgiveness of sins is not our treasure. Denominations or church affiliations are not our treasures. Jesus Christ is our supreme reward and treasure. See for yourself...

"We are all traveling fast towards a place where names and forms and Church government will be nothing, and Christ will be everything." - JC Ryle

"The reward of Christianity is Christ" - Max Lucado

"We become what we crave and what Christians crave above all else is the glory of Christ." - John Piper

Resolutions

Resolutions - you either love them or hate them. Many hopeful people make (and inevitably break) resolutions every single new year. Others, perhaps more pessimistic, believe resolutions are a waste of time and don't even bother. What about you? Is it wise or foolish to resolve to do things each year? The famous pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards evidently thought so and he made 70 resolutions (over a period of two years) that he reviewed every week.

Here are three of his that just might help stir up some resolutions of your own:

Resolved, Never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions (sin), however unsuccessful I may be.

Resolved, Never to do any thing, which I should be afraid to do if it were the last hour of my life.

Resolved, to ask myself, at the end of every day, week, month, and year, wherein I could possibly, in any respect, have done better.

No Worship Service December 26, 2010

Due to the weather we will not have our worship service today. Please be safe, enjoy the snow, and take time to praise the Lord in the warmth of your own homes!

"God As A Fetus"

“God became a man. While the creatures of earth walked unaware, Divinity arrived. Heaven opened herself and placed her most precious one in a human womb. The Omnipotent, in one instant, made himself breakable. He who had been spirit became pierceable. He who was larger than the universe became an embryo. And he who sustains the world with a word chose to be dependent upon the nourishment of a young girl. God as a fetus. Holiness sleeping in a womb. The creator of life being created. God was given eyebrows, elbows, two kidneys, and a spleen. He stretched against the walls and floated in the amniotic fluids of his mother. God had come near.” – Max Lucado