Things to Consider

Fiery Troubles - They Happen!

2010-09-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

Dear friends, don’t be surprised by the fiery troubles that are coming in order to test you. Don’t feel as though something strange is happening to you, but be happy as you share Christ’s sufferings.(1 Peter 4:12-13)

I love the thought that now that I have given my heart and life to God that I am on "easy street." I love to sit back and think that when He said that "all things work for my good" - that matter is settled right there, no further discussion. I love to relish in the idea that all of life's blessings are enjoyable and that when He said He "owned the cattle on a thousand hills" that He already has mine branded for me.

You know, when I came to Christ and gave my life to Him, all of these things did happen and become true in my life, but not to the point of excess. "Easy street" doesn't mean that I have everything handed to me on a silver platter or that I have more money in the bank than I know what to do with - it means that He goes before me and that He prepares my way; It doesn't mean that I don't have to walk and follow behind Him in The Way.

When He said that he was working "all things for my good," didn't mean that sometimes things were not going to be tough and hard in my life. As I sit back and think of the trials and troubles I have encountered in life, at this point in my journey I wouldn't take anything for those times; yet, during those times I was praying for strength to endure and even grace to be pulled from those things, yet these are the things that have shaped me into the person I am today.

I read so many times throughout the Bible and I see the things that really made an impact for the Gospel and all of these things were wrought out of persecutions, trials, tribulations, and troubles of all sorts. The blessings of God were truly upon these men of God, yet they had to endure the fiery troubles of life and when they came forth - they came forth as "gold." Reading in the Old Testament, I find that it was not until the 3 Hebrew boys were in the hottest fire of their life that those around truly saw the Lord working on their behalf.

I don't know what you may be going through today, and it may be the hottest and most fiery circumstance of your life, but I want you to know that when "He" is Lord of your life - He will come through in the "fire's" of your life. He's not caught by surprise and He knows what you're made of - He will work this for your good.

How Will They Know?

2010-09-03T16:57:00.000-05:00

Knowledge is a great thing yet in all that we do and all that we are, there are so many things in life that we just don't know. Most of us go through life and if we are lucky and blessed we gain a little more knowledge each and every day of our life and I believe this is a good thing. The capacity of the human mind to learn is amazing.

As I have been thinking these last few days, it appears to me that the thirst for knowledge is innate and to a certain degree we crave it almost like a food or drug. In fact I feel a degree of disappointment if I go through a day without knowing that I have learned something or discovered something new. As much as learning and knowledge is desirous, the main ingredient of this concoction that produces a state of pleasure and satisfaction is that the thing we learn must be truth.

The world in which we live is starving for knowledge, wrapped in a blanket of "truth" - we yearn to learn the meaning and purpose behind the great questions of life. You see, life must have meaning and purpose to be fulfilling and that is where people get lost and confused. We look for and many times and yet we still get lost in the quest for the meaning of life.

With that being said, I believe that the truth and the source of answers , to such a large degree, so many times stares us in the face yet it has not been shared as it was intended to be. As I read the scriptures, I find that as a child of God, I am called, no, not just called, but commanded to share the knowledge of the truth to others that God places in my life. This sounds good and easy, yet getting our brothers and sisters in Christ to share the "Good News" seems to be a most difficult thing.

You see, I don't necessarily believe it is out of embarrassment or shame but more or less out of the thought that they don't know what or how to say what needs to be said. Paul in his writings told Timothy that he should, "study to show yourself approved unto God a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the 'word' of truth." This is the root of the problem.

From my observations as a pastor, I have found a lack of "study" in the "Word." If you don't read it; if you don't study it; if you don't meditate upon it, you can't share it. So in the viscous circle, it comes down to this - they don't hear the "Word of God" from the "Child of God" because the "word" is not read or studied.

As a minister, and every child of God is a minister of some sort, it is my duty and obligation to be ready to speak as opportunities present themselves to me. If I don't tell them - how will they know of the Love, Mercy, Grace, and Compassion that Christ has for them. How will they know that Christ still sets the captive free, that He still heals the sick, that He still brings peace to the troubled.

To every question of life - the answer is found in the Book of Life that has been given to us, the Bible, and can be confirmed in our lives by the Holy Spirit who bare witness to what the Word tells us. It takes more than being just a hearer - we must be doers of the Word also.

Just a few 'Things to Consider'

Setting the Standard

2010-08-24T08:28:00.000-05:00

Been driving around my home town lately and I have noticed that there are political signs everywhere that tout the attributes of the various candidates. There is one slogan that seems to stand out in my mind, every time I pass by and read, it says, "Setting the Standard." Many times I wonder what the "standard" actually is or what guidelines are used to determine that "standard."

As a child of God, I believe we should all have standards that are based upon nothing less that the Word of God - yes I am speaking of the Bible. A standard is in its most basic terms - an object used as a basis of judgmemt or comparison. I believe that too many times "we" blur the lines of what right and wrong, by our desire to conform, instead of being "the standard" or set apart.

I look at the culture and the world around me that continues to decay and just wonder what things will look like when my son reaches my current age. As this generation grows up, we need to instill within them a firm sense of right and wrong; we need to tell them that "sin" is still "sin" and that God has not, does not, and will not change His position of it.

You see, I for one believe that God still desires His people to be "holy," because He is "Holy." I believe that there is a line that has been drawn and the things on one side are "right" and the things on the other are "wrong" - I do not believe there are "gray" areas. I have contemplated upon the scripture that says "there IS a way that SEEMS right unto a man, but the end thereof is the way of destruction."

As a child of God, we must uphold the standards of the Word of God and allow God to use us as a witness to the world in which we live. What will you do? Will you "Set the Standard" or conform? "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

There's More To It Than Just A Great Start

2010-08-20T08:47:00.001-05:00

I remember as I was growing up so many years ago that there were so many opportunities for new adventures in life. During summers we made a choice of whether or not to play baseball; when school started there was band, or basketball or football. To add to the confusion of choices their were clubs and groups that were available to keep one busy in both our social and physical realms of life.

As time progressed we learned that before we made a choice, we needed to consider the consequences of being involved in that particular thing. The problem was not that we were forbidden to participate but the deal was this, "if you start it, you will finish it and you will give it all you have." It was not enough for us to just start something, but once committed to a certain thing, we were to give it all we had and to make it as successful as we were able - a half hearted attitude was not allowed.

As I grew up, I learned to be careful of the things that I committed myself to and if I chose to be a part of something, a lot of thought went in to the decision. In July of 1978, I made a decision to join a cause that would forever change the course of my life and I will never look back with regret. I made a commitment after a Sunday morning altar call to join the cause of Christ and I gave my life to God.

Many people have made decisions throughout the ages just like I did in 1978, but through the struggles and the reality of life, they have not remained true to that decision. Paul asked the question, "You did run well; who did hinder you that you should not obey the truth?"

You see, I believe there is more to a commitment than just making a good start and showing up at the beginning, I believe that only those that finish should be praised. Paul said it like this, "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."

When all is said and done, it comes down to this - the start is not as important as the end. So my question or thought for you today is this - "how is your race going?" Many of you have started; some have given up along the way; and yet others are beginning to look around and wonder why they even started.

Let me encourage you today - no matter how great the pain or struggle - crossing that finish line and hearing the words "Well Done", will be worth it all. You may be going through things that are overwhelming but I would rather go through them with Christ by my side than to go through them alone. Life is tough and hard at times, but "You Will Make It Through!" "I CAN do all things through Christ, who gives me strength!"

Just a few 'Things to Consider'.

Quarrels and Fights

2010-08-19T07:51:00.005-05:00

I would dare say that everyone that reads this post have had their share of quarrels and fights in their lives. We have disagreements and 'rifts' between our spouses, sibilings, parents, friends, and on and on it goes.

Many times the things that we fuss and fight about are just small and in the whole scheme of things "petty" yet it is places in our lives that help us to grow and become flexible in our relationship. At other times they reveal to us something within that needs to be changed.

In James 4, James is speaking about these more serious problems and the things and the attitudes that lie behind them. He tells us that at the heart of the problems he sees in the church with its quarreling and fighting is ungodliness. He tells "the church" that it is all because their relationship with Christ is not where it should be, they have broken their covenant relationship with him and now there's a problem.

It amazes me as I sit back and consider the problems that we see, not only in the church, but in families and marriages that the root of such problems we find a little area we can call "selfishness." This is the thing that James is picking up on an in effect that their is a cause and effect of all of these problems:
You want and do not have: so you murder.
You covet and cannot obtain: so you quarrel and fight.

If we as a people would come to the place that we took God's word for what it is, we would have far less problems "IN EVERY AREA" of our lives. We are told to (1) "Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul mind and strenghth" and then (2) "Love our neighbor AS Ourself."

We we begin to practice these two commandments everything else just begins to fall in place. I don't know about you but I know about me and I know that there are areas in my life that needs some work today.

May God Grant you the grace and the humility to not only be a hearer of His Word today, but to also be a doer.

Blessings to you,

Approval - Do We Really Need It

2010-08-18T08:22:00.006-05:00

Some of the greatest challenges in life come from our desire of validation, approval and praise in the things we do. Our very nature causes us to seek out others and to be a part of something that is larger than our individuality.

When God looked at Adam and considered his existence, He said, "it is not good for man to be alone." I know God was thinking of a mate for Adam but I believe the implications of that one statement were much farther reaching than just this one relationship. I believe that God in creating man, created us in His image and in the image of God we are created.

I have found in life that we are able to please some, some of the time and that we are not able to please everyone most of the time. So I have decided that I will choose to please God above all others in the things that I do and let the chips fall where they must with everyone else.

When everything is finally said and done, if I have done all that I can to please my Father, then one day I will hear Him say "Well Done!"

Christmas Season

2008-12-11T14:29:00.002-06:00

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

I'm Still Here

2008-11-07T07:58:00.002-06:00

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

Blessed and Highly Favored

2008-10-24T08:50:00.006-05:00

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

New Post

2008-10-14T15:28:00.002-05:00

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

Drawn Close

2008-10-08T09:09:00.005-05:00

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.

Because Eating Is Important

2008-10-06T20:31:00.004-05:00

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

The Issue of Morality

2008-10-02T15:14:00.006-05:00

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

Two Left Hands

2008-09-29T10:00:00.007-05:00

I just love our older saints, they are such a blessing to those that are coming up behind them in this troubled world that we live. I was blessed yesterday at church as a dear friend, Archie Sumrall, stood and spoke for a few minutes. He said that when he was younger he wanted to play the piano and so he started taking lessons as a youth. About three weeks into his lessons, he said that the teacher gave up on him and told him he had two left hands.

Sometimes we as parents feel like we have two left hands and we wonder if you're ever gonna get it right. We all want to do what is best for our children and see to it that they have it better than we did. We love them and care for them and provide for them, yet we try not to go "too" overboard with everything to such a point that they end of being brats. It just seems like there has to be a balance somewhere.

As I have browsed through book stores and libraries, I have seen myriads of books, magazines, articles and you name it on how to raise your children, and I have found that everyone has a different idea on the success of this task. You even see books written on how to have the "Perfect Child" written by author's that have never had children - like I'm going to take their advice. Parenting for dummies - now that's a title isn't it!

With that said, I believe the best advice that I can give to parents reading this article is this: Relax, you don't have two left hands, you're a parent, you're not perfect at anything else, what makes you think you can be perfect in this area! I thank God for my son, we have truly been blessed. We have covered him in prayer since before the day he was born, we have raised him in church and kept him close to God's Word (the Bible), and let him know daily that he is loved.

Even with all of this though many parents find their children rebelling and going through stages where we think they must have lost all reason, judgment, common sense and quite frankly they must have lost their minds. Don't despair, if you have been faithful in their upbringing they may go through these stages but you will find that God is faithful to His word that if be "bring them up in the way they should go, they will cling to it when they are older."

Continue to pray for and with your children, keep them in church (if they are still under your roof), and be an example for them - someone that they want to follow. Remember when you were a child and the things you put your parents through and where you are today.

"Your Word oh Lord, have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you!!!" Lord help me to trust your Word for my child(ren) and to raise them in a godly atmosphere and help me to be a godly influence in their lives. Allow your favor to be upon my child(ren) and your hand to guide them in the way they should go. Help them to make decisions that are based upon your will for their lives. Lord we Love You and thank you for all these things.

Pastor Russell

Who Moved Christmas?

2008-09-26T08:18:00.009-05:00

Who moved Christmas? I seems to me that we just celebrated Christmas a couple of months ago and as it appears now, Christmas will be here in "3" short months. I just want to know, am I the only one who did't get the notice that someone had moved it up!!!

As a child I remember looking forward to Christmas, birthdays, end of school years, and many other annual events and thinking to myself that time just seems to slow down and these events are just so far out there. I remember as I got older and fell in love with my wife; after years of waiting we finally decided on the date for our wedding and I thought, "man that is a long time down the road!" Now, however, as I have gotten older, I have noticed that time seems to be getting faster and faster. It is as though someone took a few minutes out of each hour of the day and before you know it that event you have waited on so long in the past arrives before you know it.

As we stumble through life, there are times that just seem to "sneak" upon us like the anniversary we should have prepared for months ago is - tomorrow - again, why didn't someone tell me about this! Or your spouses birthday was - yesterday - how do I make this one up! If we're not careful, life will happen and we'll be left wondering why we didn't get the notice.

The sad fact of life and it's happenings though is in the simple truth that we did get the notice. The Bible, God's planner for our lives is so packed with notices and information that is so important to our daily lives that we shouldn't leave home without knowing what God has for us today. The sad truth though is this, we go through the day many times a life just happens to us and we are not ready and we don't know how to respond. We think to ourselves, "did everyone know this but me?"

One day, according to the book of 1 Thessalonians 4 an event that has been foretold for many thousand years is going to take place. We have read about this event, we have studied, we have memorized and then we placed it on the back burner as something way down the road. If we are not careful and watchful though, that day will come upon us unaware and we will have missed it.

Paul tells us this: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV) 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

Today I want to encourage those that have said I heard about that all my life. Think back with me, haven't there been birthdays, anniversaries, holidays and other dates that you have known about "all your life" but somehow before you knew it they were upon you and you weren't quite ready. Don't let this be one of those; I know we don't know the hour or the day, but the Bible tells us to be ready anyway!

Pastor Russell

But I Don't Like Coffee

2008-09-23T09:10:00.006-05:00

I've never been a coffee drinker but I love the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I have friends that can't hardly get out of bed unless they have a pot of coffee ready and waiting and before they do anything else in the morning, they have to have that first cup (or pot) of java to get things kick-started for the day.

Now I'm a coke man, and I mean Coca Cola, not these offshoot hippie brands like Pepsi, Volt or Dr Thunder. Anyway, back to my point - I have tried many other breakfast drinks, but the only one that really ever satisfies my morning craving is a good ole "Coca Cola"!

The old adage is that opposites attract and I guess to a certain extent that is so, but my wife and son are right there with me - give us a coke in the morning and you'll get no complaints from us, other than having to get up so early in the morning. That reminds me of another adage - the family that drinks together, or is that prays together - well, you know what I mean.

Back to my point again, if there truly is a point to this rambling. Anyways, I have tried many other types of drinks in the past including coffee. The thing that I can't take with coffee though is the bitterness. I can add enough cream and sugar that it is OK and I can drink it, but in reality it no longer even resembles coffee. Others have asked as they have looked at my coffee, "what is that?" The aroma of the coffee is so great and tempting, but when I partake I find a bitterness that I can't handle.

Many times that is the way of sin in our lives also. We know what works for us and we love it. God has always been faithful and steady, just like the coke, but we smell the coffee and we like to fool ourselves into thinking, maybe it's not that bad, maybe I'll be okay. But thank God for the Holy Spirit that brings conviction into our lives as we partake of the things that we know are not for us.

How many times in your life have you attempted to justify the things in your life by adding "cream or sugar" to things that you wanted to do but you knew that you shouldn't be doing. We make excuses and come up with reasons why we believe it will be alright this time. James tells us that "to him that knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" (James 4:17).

Many times we deceive ourselves and will even say, well it doesn't say in the Bible that I can't smoke or drink or do drugs etc... We justify within ourselves that it is okay - again I thank God for the leading of the Holy Spirit that lets me know that this is not something for me; that I need to stay with the things that are pleasing to God and stay close to the good things in life.

No - I don't really even like coffee and I think I will stay with coke.

Disclaimer
(I am not saying that coke is good and coffee is bad. But I am saying that God is always that good thing in your life, He is the one that is always faithful and true, whether he is compared to coffee, coke or some other type for you.)

Pastor Russell

Time Alone

2008-09-20T21:40:00.004-05:00

I had an opportunity this weekend to spend some time alone with my wife and just enjoy her company. Since I am a bi-vocational pastor, these times come "very" few and "far" between. We have a twelve year old son that we love to have with us every where we go, but this weekend we went to the Church Ministries Convention in Pineville and he stayed home with his grandmother (Thanks MaMaw).

Although we enjoy the company of our son on all our trips, I had almost forgotten how it felt to just have time with my wife. I soon discovered the reason that I fell in love with her to start out. My wife is a very caring individual with such a sweet spirit and beautiful personality.

As we spent time together and talked, there seemed to be a refreshing to my spirit as we were able to just enjoy time, not thinking about what was for dinner, have the dishes been washed, have the dogs been fed - you get the point. No we just enjoyed each others company and were able to share our lives un-distracted and just focus on each other for a few hours.

As I was thinking about this refreshing, I began to think of the times that Jesus would just find a time of alone time with his father and the power that he drew from these intense moments of peace. I began to reflect upon my walk with God and the time that I spend with him and began to realize that this is what a love affair with our God is like.

Our relationship with God is not unlike the relationship that we have with our spouse. There are times that we spend in his presence with others and I thank God for those times; but there are times that we need that "time alone" - just you and him. These are the times that we draw strength and comfort and we re-discover the reason that we fell in love with him in the first place - "Because He first loved us!"

This week, make an effort to just spend some time in His Presence and renew that relationship.

Pastor Russell

May The Force Be With You

2008-09-18T08:09:00.007-05:00

Romans 8:35-39
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Don't that just make you want to say PRAISE THE LORD!!!

I was watching a little of one of the Star Wars episodes this week and I remember one of the statements that Palpatine made to Luke Skywalker, he said "the force is strong in you young Skywalker!" As I thought of this statement, I began to think of our walk with the Lord and what others see and sense as we pass through the pages of their lives. Do we withstand the assaults and pressures in a godly manner bearing a positive testimony to our faith or do we crumble and allow everyone to see that the not only the flesh but the spirit is also weak?

I have often said that when my final days on this earth are done and as I am laid into the ground that those that remember me would be able to say, "I saw Jesus in him." Our witness is more than the words we speak but is evidenced to the world around us by the life that we live. May the force within us be greater than the pressures without. Hopefully as we close the pages on our lives, our friends will be able to see more of God in us than they did anything else.

May we learn to live in the power of the Holy Spirit and walk in the love of Christ. We need to let our lives be a written testimony of the power that resides within. Then, when the things around us begin to try and bring us down, or the temptations try to sway us to the "dark side," we can say as Paul did that "nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God."

As Luke battled the evil forces and temptations that were surrounding him that day, we also have battles to fight but we have the assurance that "greater is He (the force) that is in us than he that is in this world (the dark side)." Just as Luke was able to overcome, we too are "more than conquerors."

May The Force Be With You,
Pastor Russell

Stand

2008-09-16T07:07:00.009-05:00

As many of you are aware, I had a very important interview process yesterday for the completion of my ministerial credentials. As we grow past the school age years, it appears to me that we seem to get more and more apprehensive and nervous when we hear the word "testing." I was not scared but I was at a point of nervousness that I have not been in for a long time.

During the week leading up to this interview, I studied and prayed and felt like I had everything in order for the process. Sunday night as I got home from church and began to look the information over, it all looked like "Greek" and the panic began to set in once more, so I continued to study even more.

As I was taking Austin to school yesterday, he turned to me and told me good luck on the interview and then he asked me, "Dad do you want me to pray for you?" I was so proud in that moment and I said, "yes I would love for you too." Austin then said a very simple and straight forward prayer that seemed to follow along with the prayers that I pray for him as we go to school and I know that he is nervous for the test he will be taking that day.

As I sat there after the prayer, I began to remember some of the things that I try to reassure him of when he is going through times, similar to what I was presently going through. The times that it seems like you just don't have everything nailed down and a panic attack begins to form within. I thought about the questions we ask him such as "have you done everything that 'you' could do to prepare for this" ;"is there anything else that 'you' can or could do to prepare better"; "are you going to do the best that 'you' can do"; and then a final question as a way of reassurance "do we expect 'you' to do any better than what 'you' can do?"

I now know how my son feels as I am now in his shoes. But there is more to this than meets the eye, because knowing how I feel toward my son in these times lets me know how my Heavenly Father feels toward me when I go through the test of life. I understand that God expects me to do all that I can and then leave the rest up to Him. The scriptures teach that "faith without works is dead." If I don't try and do all that I can to see things accomplished, then my prayer will just fall, but if I have done all that I can and there is nothing else left that I can do - then I can trust in Him.

I love the scripture that tells me that "when I have done all that I can to stand - to stand," because this tells me that when I have come to the place that I can no longer do it or no longer make it in my strength, I can stand in His. I also learn in the Word of God that "I can do all things through Christ, because He gives me strength" (my paraphrase).

So as I sat in the hallway waiting for my interview, I just said "Thank you Father for your strength and help." As the process began, I was still a little nervous but the peace of God wiped that away quickly and I began to rely upon him and the answers began to come quickly and with very little effort. God is Good!!!

I just want to assure you today that when we place our faith in God and when we have done "all that we can do to stand" that God will give us that extra boost to continue to stand in His strength.

Best

2008-09-13T13:47:00.004-05:00

This morning I met our worship team at the church to prepare for Sunday morning and Sunday night. As we prepare for our time in the presence of God we should do so with such diligence.

Many times, we as people give God what is left over. We rush around all week with "important" things and by the time that Sunday comes along, we are over- spent. Just like many times with our tithes and offerings. We have bills and obligations and when Sunday comes along we find that in this area also, we have over-spent.

My hunger is that we as children of God, would come into His presence at the beginning of our pay period of the week, I am speaking of our time, and bring him the "Best" of our week. Let this Sunday morning be the fresh beginning of your week and not what is left after a busy week.

This Sunday, would you purpose in your heart that 'God, I am going to give you the Best today of my worship, my praise, my time and my offerings. This day I will praise you and I will lift up your name because you and you alone are worthy of all my praise.'

Pastor Russell

Don't Hurry - Be Happy

2008-09-11T07:10:00.006-05:00

This morning was not so unlike other mornings that have come before. As I got up and got everything in order to go to work today I began to feel the hurriedness of the morning overcoming me.

Sometimes if we are not careful we let these feelings of hurriedness, anxiety, and apperhension crowd out our time for the good things in life. With this thought, I decided I would not let this happen and so I just sat down for a few minutes to relax and prepare my mind. I purposed in my heart that I was going to slow down and enjoy this day.

You know, so many times we let the "speed" of life crowd out the "joy" of life. It's always hurry do this; now do this and this. We are pulled in so many directions with work, school, church (did I say that), sports, lessons of some sort, and if we are not careful we tend to lose sight of the better things of life. When I say better things I mean God, family, friends, and self.

I read in the book of Genesis that when God created man, He slowed down from his busy schedule of creation and took time during the cool of the evening to enjoy the life He had created. This time that God spent with Adam tells me that I too need to take time to slow down and enjoy the day. This example tells me that there is more to life than what we do; there is also the aspect of just enjoying life.

Sometimes we just have to "stop and smell the roses" along the journey of life. So today, among all the things that you have to do, because I know life does not stop, take a detour, don't hurry but enjoy the day, be happy - because "this is the day that the Lord has made." Purpose in your heart today that you will "rejoice and be glad in it!"

Pastor Russell

One Giant Step for Me

2008-09-10T08:43:00.004-05:00

I am stepping out today on new ground with this blog, but I believe to keep up with the times we have to learn new things. In "No Way" am I saying that this "old dog" is learning new tricks, just trying to stay current.

As I begin this blog, I want to say "Thank You" to the ones who take the time to stop by, read, and leave their thoughts along the way. I am not an avid writer but I do enjoy the dissemination of information and now I am becoming a part of this process.

Today I am preparing for my Wednesday night Bible Study at First Assembly of God in Minden, LA. We have been studying the book of Acts for the last ten months and this has been a very interesting and informative study. Tonight we will be studying out of the 16th chapter and as I sit here this morning, I am amazed, impressed, and in awe at the life of Paul.

Paul, if he were alive today would have been a "hockey dad", no lipstick. He was tenacious in his defense of the gospel and yet the tenacity for the defense of the church was of equal value. Within the scriptures we find that David, that great psalmist, was a man after God's heart, but I believe that Paul was just as equal in his pursuit.

God give us more Paul's and Timothy's and David's for the church today. Men of God and women of God that pursue you with all their hearts and are after "your" heart.

Pastor Russell