Saturday, May 28, 2011

In Honor of all who have fallen.

All gave some, some gave all.  Be mindful of the sacrifices made on our behalf as you go through this weekend.  Be in prayer for those who have lost loved ones and be in prayer for those in harms way.


Sunday, May 22, 2011

Still Here

Now what?  It is May 22 as one person put it the world did not end, and all the good people I know are still here so the rapture must not have taken place either.  I figure along with relief there are a lot of people who are really mad right now.  There were people who spent their life's saving to share the message that the rapture would take place, and woke up still here this morning.  Somewhere in their anger they end up being mad at God.  How could you let this happen after all I did for you, after all I gave up for you.  How does this happen how do we end up like this?

In this case they were guilty of focusing on a man, Harold Camping, who said for the second time in his life that he knew the end was coming.  First time, when it did not occur,  was a miscalculation, now we hear that he is bewildered because the rapture did not take place.  Harold Camping made a convincing case and sounded good, but if people would have just looked at God's word they would have seen the errors. 

Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone."  That does not leave room for one man to figure out not only the day, but the hour as well.  Jesus, Himself, was saying at that point that even He did not know.  I know Camping explained this away in his teaching, making it sound like a believer could figure this out.  If a person would have truly looked at this passage, if they would have looked at what the Bible says will occur after the rapture, they would have seen the weakness in his teaching from the start.

Instead of being mad at God, and asking Him how this could happen, it is time to be answering these questions for ourselves.  When someone comes along teaching something that is "new" and sounds really good check it out.  Look at the Bible and see what God has to say about it.  In fact maybe we need to follow the instruction of Ephesians 4: 14-15 as we face the coming days.  Not sure what that says look it up and see for yourself.  Have a great day.   

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Five Core Values Of A Church In Decline

Churches in decline is a topic that we could spend a lot of time discussing and many could speak from experience.  The problem is most of that time is spent pointing at individuals or situations that we feel is the problem, but if we are honest that is all just the surface stuff.  In fact it it probably time we start being honest about where the real problems lie, even though we may not like the answer.  In this article Pastor Perry Noble addresses five core values of a church in decline, it may seem that most of the problems are a little deeper than we may have originally thought.  Click on the title above to read this article.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Song of the month - Matterhorn

For the second month in a row The Country Gentlemen  are performing the song of the month, Matterhorn.  Enjoy.