Just wanted to drop a note to my readers that I am not finished writing the blog but am taking a temporary hiatus. With vacations, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years upon and passing by us, I have not had a lot of time to devote to writing.
Please check back with my post after the New Year and check out "Things to Consider!"
Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!.
Pastor Russell
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
I'm Still Here
For the last few months, things have really been hectic around the Snider house and I am hoping the light that I see at the end of the tunnel is not a train coming my direction. I have not written as much lately as I would have liked to have done, but that being said, I have not done quite a few things that I would have liked to have done.
I am glad of one thing though today - I'm glad the election is over and that we have elected a new president. At this point, it doesn't matter whether he was or was not my pick - the fact is he will be my new president and I will pray for him. When the dust settled from the election, I woke up the next morning and found that the world had not come to an end (yet) and that I am still here.
My faith is not in the economy; my faith is not in my job; it's not in the president, wall street, the war or any of the other things that seem to bring fear to many that are around me - my faith is in Jesus and the relationship that He and I share. I have found that even when things are hectic and things don't seem to go my way that I can find a place of peace and a place of rest when I find myself not looking at the circumstance but at the Savior.
It is so comforting to know that when I call upon him, that he is still here, but oh what a blessing when he calls and I can say, yes Lord, I am still here. This writing today was probably not for you, it is probably only meant for me because sometimes I just need to clear the dust from my mind and remember.
Pastor Russell
I am glad of one thing though today - I'm glad the election is over and that we have elected a new president. At this point, it doesn't matter whether he was or was not my pick - the fact is he will be my new president and I will pray for him. When the dust settled from the election, I woke up the next morning and found that the world had not come to an end (yet) and that I am still here.
My faith is not in the economy; my faith is not in my job; it's not in the president, wall street, the war or any of the other things that seem to bring fear to many that are around me - my faith is in Jesus and the relationship that He and I share. I have found that even when things are hectic and things don't seem to go my way that I can find a place of peace and a place of rest when I find myself not looking at the circumstance but at the Savior.
It is so comforting to know that when I call upon him, that he is still here, but oh what a blessing when he calls and I can say, yes Lord, I am still here. This writing today was probably not for you, it is probably only meant for me because sometimes I just need to clear the dust from my mind and remember.
Pastor Russell
Friday, October 24, 2008
Blessed and Highly Favored
Psalm 8:4 (NASB95) 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?
I was reading an email this morning from my friend Ashley Buffington on the progress of her son Jordan. Why some things are the way they are, I guess I may never know this side of life, but "one thing" I do know is this - God loves that baby and He watches over him night and day. As I read the email, I began to realize that truly I am "Blessed and Highly Favored" of God.
Sure I have troubles and things that in the brevity of the situation seem to be crashing down around me, but you know - I am "Blessed and Highly Favored." When I begin to compare my situation with the situation of others, I soon realize that I really don't have it oh so bad after all.
I have used the statement many times to others as they have complained, that they should consider what others are going through before they look so down upon their situation. As I now consider what some of my friends and family members have gone through and as I place my problems next to theirs, I realize that I am "Blessed and Highly Favored."
And you know as I consider the plight of my friends and then begin to compare their struggles with others that I have seen and heard about, I know too that my friends are also "Blessed and Highly Favored." And now I think of mankind in general and the condition we are in and the circumstances that we face as a race, I realize too that we have all been "Blessed and Highly Favored."
A little over two thousand years ago, God sent his son, and they called his name "Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, The Mightly God, Emanuel - Jesus" to come and to live among us. It so wonderfully amazes me that the creator of all creation - the sun, the moon, the stars and the heavenly host, would come to a small insignificant place called earth to rescue His creation. But let me tell you something - He came - HE came - HE CAME - and He gave His life on a cross for your sins and for my sins. And I Praise His Name that because he lives, I can face today and tomorrow and whatever life throws at me because I realize that I am "Blessed and Highly Favored!" I realize that you are "Blessed and Highly Favored" and that all man kind has been "Blessed and Highly Favored!!!!"
But you know, when all is said and done, many do not realize the blessing and the favor of God that He would send His son to die for them and so they reject this gift. But God loved us even when we didn't deserve it and he showed us - Undeserved and unmerited favor - the Grace of God that He would pay a price that He did not owe to save someone like you and me.
If you are reading this and you do not know this Jesus that I speak about, salvation is so simple -the Bible says that if we "Confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we can be saved." If that is your desire, just do that right now where you are - Accept, Believe, Confess and Be Saved!
Glory to God,
Pastor Russell
I was reading an email this morning from my friend Ashley Buffington on the progress of her son Jordan. Why some things are the way they are, I guess I may never know this side of life, but "one thing" I do know is this - God loves that baby and He watches over him night and day. As I read the email, I began to realize that truly I am "Blessed and Highly Favored" of God.
Sure I have troubles and things that in the brevity of the situation seem to be crashing down around me, but you know - I am "Blessed and Highly Favored." When I begin to compare my situation with the situation of others, I soon realize that I really don't have it oh so bad after all.
I have used the statement many times to others as they have complained, that they should consider what others are going through before they look so down upon their situation. As I now consider what some of my friends and family members have gone through and as I place my problems next to theirs, I realize that I am "Blessed and Highly Favored."
And you know as I consider the plight of my friends and then begin to compare their struggles with others that I have seen and heard about, I know too that my friends are also "Blessed and Highly Favored." And now I think of mankind in general and the condition we are in and the circumstances that we face as a race, I realize too that we have all been "Blessed and Highly Favored."
A little over two thousand years ago, God sent his son, and they called his name "Wonderful, Counselor, Prince of Peace, The Mightly God, Emanuel - Jesus" to come and to live among us. It so wonderfully amazes me that the creator of all creation - the sun, the moon, the stars and the heavenly host, would come to a small insignificant place called earth to rescue His creation. But let me tell you something - He came - HE came - HE CAME - and He gave His life on a cross for your sins and for my sins. And I Praise His Name that because he lives, I can face today and tomorrow and whatever life throws at me because I realize that I am "Blessed and Highly Favored!" I realize that you are "Blessed and Highly Favored" and that all man kind has been "Blessed and Highly Favored!!!!"
But you know, when all is said and done, many do not realize the blessing and the favor of God that He would send His son to die for them and so they reject this gift. But God loved us even when we didn't deserve it and he showed us - Undeserved and unmerited favor - the Grace of God that He would pay a price that He did not owe to save someone like you and me.
If you are reading this and you do not know this Jesus that I speak about, salvation is so simple -the Bible says that if we "Confess the Lord Jesus with our mouth and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, then we can be saved." If that is your desire, just do that right now where you are - Accept, Believe, Confess and Be Saved!
Glory to God,
Pastor Russell
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
New Post
I will be posting new blogs again next week - please come back and check them out beginning Monday October 20,2008.
I apologize for the delay - but too many things going on this week to write.
Pastor Russell
I apologize for the delay - but too many things going on this week to write.
Pastor Russell
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Drawn Close
The little boy was sitting in the kitchen playing while his mom was cooking dinner. He had just found an amazing new toy at the store and his mom had bought it for him. As he took the two objects out of their package and set them down beside each other, they rushed toward one another and made a static clapping sound as they joined together.
Davey thought this was so amazing, yet he didn't understand how it happened. There was no string or anything that he could see that attached them yet when one came into the presence of the other they became almost inseparable. How could it be that they were so attracted to each other and to such an extent that they looked like they were one object.
But as Davey continue to play with the magnets that day, he also learned that when he tried to force them together at the opposite ends that they were pushed apart. He thought to himself that this must be a magic trick. He also began to notice that not only was one attracted to the other, but even some other objects were attracted to the pieces.
His mother tried to explain the concept of magnetism that day to Davey, yet the idea was lost somewhere in the child's young mind. Davey continued to play and his mother continued to watch as her son was amazed and mesmerized with his new found toy.
When God created man, he placed within him a "God Magnet" that attracts us to His presence. The closer we get to His presence, the stronger we feel His drawing us closer and closer to Him. I have noticed within my own life that the closer I get to His presence, that I begin to gain strength and comfort from that relationship with Him. I have also learned to be sensitive to His drawing and I feel something is missing in my life when I begin to stray.
Just as the magnet draws things when they are lined up properly and things are pushed away when they are not in order, so is our relationship with God. As our lives begin to get out of order and turn a different direction from the drawing of God, we begin to find ourselves pushing away from His presence because or our actions. But the great thing about all of this is in the fact that if we recognize our fault (our turnings from him, i.e. "sin") and turn back to Him, he is faithful and just to receive us back.
Another thing that I find interesting is in the fact that others are drawn by our actions. As others witness His drawing in our lives and see His light shine upon us as we align our lives and will to His, they too are drawn out of darkness "into His marvelous light."
God let my life be a light (magnet) that shines (draws) before all men that they are drawn to you and that you are glorified in my actions. Help me to draw closer to you and to gain strength from my close relationship with you. Help me to be the type person that reflects your holiness in my life so that when others see me, they see You!
Pastor Russell
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NASB95) 1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3 "Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Davey thought this was so amazing, yet he didn't understand how it happened. There was no string or anything that he could see that attached them yet when one came into the presence of the other they became almost inseparable. How could it be that they were so attracted to each other and to such an extent that they looked like they were one object.
But as Davey continue to play with the magnets that day, he also learned that when he tried to force them together at the opposite ends that they were pushed apart. He thought to himself that this must be a magic trick. He also began to notice that not only was one attracted to the other, but even some other objects were attracted to the pieces.
His mother tried to explain the concept of magnetism that day to Davey, yet the idea was lost somewhere in the child's young mind. Davey continued to play and his mother continued to watch as her son was amazed and mesmerized with his new found toy.
When God created man, he placed within him a "God Magnet" that attracts us to His presence. The closer we get to His presence, the stronger we feel His drawing us closer and closer to Him. I have noticed within my own life that the closer I get to His presence, that I begin to gain strength and comfort from that relationship with Him. I have also learned to be sensitive to His drawing and I feel something is missing in my life when I begin to stray.
Just as the magnet draws things when they are lined up properly and things are pushed away when they are not in order, so is our relationship with God. As our lives begin to get out of order and turn a different direction from the drawing of God, we begin to find ourselves pushing away from His presence because or our actions. But the great thing about all of this is in the fact that if we recognize our fault (our turnings from him, i.e. "sin") and turn back to Him, he is faithful and just to receive us back.
Another thing that I find interesting is in the fact that others are drawn by our actions. As others witness His drawing in our lives and see His light shine upon us as we align our lives and will to His, they too are drawn out of darkness "into His marvelous light."
God let my life be a light (magnet) that shines (draws) before all men that they are drawn to you and that you are glorified in my actions. Help me to draw closer to you and to gain strength from my close relationship with you. Help me to be the type person that reflects your holiness in my life so that when others see me, they see You!
Pastor Russell
Isaiah 60:1-3 (NASB95) 1 "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2 "For behold, darkness will cover the earth And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you And His glory will appear upon you. 3 "Nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Because Eating Is Important
I was out visiting tonight while my wife was at home busy cooking and trying to get things in order at the house. It is out of the ordinary that I would go out to visit without her but our son had a lot of homework so we made the decision that I would do the visiting, she would cook and he could work on his homework.
A friend brought some fresh greens to me at church last night and tonight we were going to have a feast. I was getting ready to go visit while Lisa was getting them on the stove to cook and she was telling with me the other things that she would be cooking to go with the greens. While I didn't rush my visitations tonight, I did think constantly of the meal that was waiting on me and the more I thought about the feast the hungrier I became. I had come home from work at noon and only snacked for lunch and now I could hardly wait for the meal that she was preparing.
As I was getting ready for church yesterday morning I also felt a hunger within but it was somehow different from the hunger that I had felt this afternoon. As I sat back and began to think, you know, the two are not really that different. Although I had eaten a snack for lunch today, by this afternoon hunger pains were setting in and I knew it was time to eat; in like manner, I had given time to the Word of God Saturday, yet by Sunday morning, I was hungry.
I really don't understand how people are able to go for such long periods of time without eating. Fasting is something I do not enjoy because I love to eat. I have discovered that "eating is important" and I have learned to enjoy the times that I can just sit back and enjoy the food that has been prepared and is awaiting. As important as eating is, however, many people are able to abstain from eating and they believe that the meal they received once a week at church is sufficient to hold them over to the next Sunday.
While it is true that we are not willing to go a week without physical food, we do so often go without receiving from God sometimes weeks at a time. Spiritual fasting, just like physical fasting will leave you weak and susceptible to sickness and could lead to death. Although America is a land of plenty, so many times we seem to go to the extremes in so many areas including in this one. While we eat to extremes with the physical body, we fast to the extremes with the spiritual body, yet we still wonder why we are sick and out of shape.
I thank God that I have learned that while I can overeat with physical meat, I can never get too much of the meat of the Word. God help me to have a greater hunger for the Word than I have for the other flesh. I know that has to be balance in life, but God help me today to "hide thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee." Help me to make "thy Word a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!"
Pastor Russell
A friend brought some fresh greens to me at church last night and tonight we were going to have a feast. I was getting ready to go visit while Lisa was getting them on the stove to cook and she was telling with me the other things that she would be cooking to go with the greens. While I didn't rush my visitations tonight, I did think constantly of the meal that was waiting on me and the more I thought about the feast the hungrier I became. I had come home from work at noon and only snacked for lunch and now I could hardly wait for the meal that she was preparing.
As I was getting ready for church yesterday morning I also felt a hunger within but it was somehow different from the hunger that I had felt this afternoon. As I sat back and began to think, you know, the two are not really that different. Although I had eaten a snack for lunch today, by this afternoon hunger pains were setting in and I knew it was time to eat; in like manner, I had given time to the Word of God Saturday, yet by Sunday morning, I was hungry.
I really don't understand how people are able to go for such long periods of time without eating. Fasting is something I do not enjoy because I love to eat. I have discovered that "eating is important" and I have learned to enjoy the times that I can just sit back and enjoy the food that has been prepared and is awaiting. As important as eating is, however, many people are able to abstain from eating and they believe that the meal they received once a week at church is sufficient to hold them over to the next Sunday.
While it is true that we are not willing to go a week without physical food, we do so often go without receiving from God sometimes weeks at a time. Spiritual fasting, just like physical fasting will leave you weak and susceptible to sickness and could lead to death. Although America is a land of plenty, so many times we seem to go to the extremes in so many areas including in this one. While we eat to extremes with the physical body, we fast to the extremes with the spiritual body, yet we still wonder why we are sick and out of shape.
I thank God that I have learned that while I can overeat with physical meat, I can never get too much of the meat of the Word. God help me to have a greater hunger for the Word than I have for the other flesh. I know that has to be balance in life, but God help me today to "hide thy Word in my heart that I might not sin against thee." Help me to make "thy Word a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!"
Pastor Russell
Thursday, October 2, 2008
The Issue of Morality
I know that everyone has an opinion on almost everything - from what brand diapers are the best to who shot JFK. Part of our design as humans and as God intended is that we have the ability to reason and make choices based upon that reasoning and the truth that God has given us.
When God created man, he did not want someone to commune with just because they were created that way and had no choice, but rather, because they had made the choice to do so of their own free will. I thank God that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" as my creator intended and I choose to serve him because I Love him.
God also gave each of us the ability to make sound and reasonable choices based upon what is right and wrong (morality) and each of us must one day answer for the choices we make in this life. We are quickly coming upon a choice as a nation for the election of the highest office in this great country that we live; we will soon be electing the next President of the United States of America.
In making this decision, I want my decision and my choice to be based upon the will of God for this country, because I believe this leader will determine, to a great extent, the path that our country will follow for even more than the next four years. There are many issues when it comes to which candidate will do the best job in leading the country and I agree there may be positives to both sides and yet many of these issues do not deal with morality but with objects that can be seen as either positive or negative for each candidates abilities to lead.
There is one area that truly concerns me though; an area that is truly a black and white issue, and I am not speaking of the "race" issue. This issue is one that, in my opinion, can only be viewed with an answer of right or wrong. The issue that I speak of is the issue of choice - the right to determine the murder (abortion) of a child that does not have a voice or the ability to speak for itself. In making the choice to support a candidate that says the mother has the free choice to make a decision to "end the life" of the child she is carrying (murder by any other name is still murder) is a fist and the object of this act is the face of God.
We rationalize and and we make excuses, yet if we don't take a stand, are we no better than those who have committed acts of genocide all over this world. We call it pro-choice - God calls it murder. God did give us as humans pro-choice, but God also gave us his word that tells us right from wrong, He gives us the Holy Spirit to convict us and many other signs that tell us when we are doing wrong.
When you go to the polls this year, I ask you to consider this point and vote for the issue of morality. We have two candidates to choose from this fall, will you make the right choice and say that abortion is wrong; or will you allow our country to go down a path that leads to destruction.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
Pastor Russell
When God created man, he did not want someone to commune with just because they were created that way and had no choice, but rather, because they had made the choice to do so of their own free will. I thank God that "I am fearfully and wonderfully made" as my creator intended and I choose to serve him because I Love him.
God also gave each of us the ability to make sound and reasonable choices based upon what is right and wrong (morality) and each of us must one day answer for the choices we make in this life. We are quickly coming upon a choice as a nation for the election of the highest office in this great country that we live; we will soon be electing the next President of the United States of America.
In making this decision, I want my decision and my choice to be based upon the will of God for this country, because I believe this leader will determine, to a great extent, the path that our country will follow for even more than the next four years. There are many issues when it comes to which candidate will do the best job in leading the country and I agree there may be positives to both sides and yet many of these issues do not deal with morality but with objects that can be seen as either positive or negative for each candidates abilities to lead.
There is one area that truly concerns me though; an area that is truly a black and white issue, and I am not speaking of the "race" issue. This issue is one that, in my opinion, can only be viewed with an answer of right or wrong. The issue that I speak of is the issue of choice - the right to determine the murder (abortion) of a child that does not have a voice or the ability to speak for itself. In making the choice to support a candidate that says the mother has the free choice to make a decision to "end the life" of the child she is carrying (murder by any other name is still murder) is a fist and the object of this act is the face of God.
We rationalize and and we make excuses, yet if we don't take a stand, are we no better than those who have committed acts of genocide all over this world. We call it pro-choice - God calls it murder. God did give us as humans pro-choice, but God also gave us his word that tells us right from wrong, He gives us the Holy Spirit to convict us and many other signs that tell us when we are doing wrong.
When you go to the polls this year, I ask you to consider this point and vote for the issue of morality. We have two candidates to choose from this fall, will you make the right choice and say that abortion is wrong; or will you allow our country to go down a path that leads to destruction.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT) 19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!
Pastor Russell
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