And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV)

The value of faith cannot be disputed. In fact, Hebrews 11:6 states, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Without faith, we couldn’t come to Christ, and without faith, we couldn’t walk in obedience to him.

Hope keeps us going when the situation we face seems impossible. Hope is the expectation that we will obtain something specific we desire. Think of how life would be without hope. I wouldn’t want to live a life without faith, and I wouldn’t want to live a life without hope.

Bro Larry 

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” (2 Timothy 3:16)

When President Ronald Reagan introduced the information super highway, which is better known at the WWW (world wide web), I’m sure experts never dreamed we would have what we have today. My first computer, a Tandy from Radio Shack, was used to play a few games and make a few notes for my Sunday school class and for the youth group that I was a minister to at the time. Now, it’s no longer a Tandy computer with floppy discs and little permanent memory – I now have a laptop, a smart phone, a Surface Pro, and an iPad, all having the information needed at any and all times, day or night.

The internet has become the major source for information. Students are doing their research via the computer and ministers are doing much of their study as well. If you need information, just Google the question and the answer is at your finger tip. Easy access makes it convenient but not all information on the internet is trustworthy. The information read on the internet is only as reliable as the source of the information.

But, when it comes to the Bible you can be sure the source is reliable. We are told that all information is inspired by God (God-breathed). The words of scripture are the words of God Himself. I am not saying that the scriptures were dictated by God word by word. I am saying that those who spoke for God were under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

The writers of scripture were the recording devices. Yet, their personalities and vocabulary ring throughout the words. But the Holy Spirit’s ministry guaranteed that they would write only what God wanted to be recorded.  Other books may contain wisdom and even convey truth, but only the Bible speaks with God’s full authority. It deserves our trust. It deserves our attention. More than that: it demands our obedience.

Dig into the Word. Allow His story to become your story. By the way, the Bible is on all my devices.

Bro Larry

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22, KJV)

The game show Jeopardy first appeared on television in 1984. It has always been a wealth of information as contestants choose from the five information categories to test their knowledge on those specific subjects. Alex Trebeck must be the smartest person on the planet.

I have never been smart enough to play Jeopardy well. I can’t even come out on top with Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? I don’t do well with trivia games that cover questions on different subjects.

Many believers collect knowledge on biblical matters and can answer many knowledge questions with ease. They live their lives as trivia collectors gathering information about God. They sign up for one Bible study after another but fail to apply the truths on the pages to their hearts. I have discovered that it is easier to memorize the Fruit of the Spirit than to live it. It is easier to recite words, but much harder to live them out.

To avoid trivializing God’s truth, here are three basic thoughts. First, as you read the Bible soak it in. Allow the words to have time to saturate your mind and heart. Don’t rush through the pages like craming the spiritual food without first tasting it. Secondly, apply the words to your life. Don’t apply it to your friend’s life or anyone else’s. See what it says to you personally. The Bible is always speaking personally as well as collectively. Finally, share what you have learned with a friend. As we talk about how we have been challenged by God’s Word, we also encourage others as well.

Will you strive to become a champion of Bible trivia or will you strive to become a transformed follower of Christ? Gaining Bible information does not guarantee spiritual transformation without application.

Bro Larry

“Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19 KJV)

So much time is wasted when we look back. In the world around us voices for personal gain and well-being are all around. They call out to us to dig up the bones from the past so we can do better in the future.

However, the above verses from Isaiah clearly tells us to not remember the things of the past or consider the things of old. There are times the past serves as lessons for the present or future. But, there is nothing accomplished when we continue to stare in the rearview mirror. The Lord is always wishing to do a new thing in our lives. This should not come as a surprise. The Lord’s resurrection power can change any circumstance.

Take note of the new things God is doing: giving opportunities and opening doors that spring forth from His hand. Sadly, we don’t always follow His operation of newness. If we get too busy with the circumstances around us we will miss it. If we dwell on the successes or failures in the past, we will miss it. Don’t get blindsided by a new thing – keep your eyes open to see it or you may miss it altogether.

Bro Larry

“And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation…” (2 Corinthians 5:18)

Two brothers lived on adjoining farms, but they had a deep quarrel. They had often shared their resources, but that practice stopped; and there was nothing left but bitterness. One morning a brother that we will call John answered a knock at his door. It was a carpenter. The carpenter asked if there was any work to do.

John said that there was something he could do. He took the carpenter to where the two properties met and showed him how the other brother had taken a bulldozer and created a creek where the meadow used to be. John said, “I know he did this to make me angry. I want you to help me get even by building a big fence so I won’t have to see him or his property ever again.”

So the carpenter worked hard all day. When he reported back to John, John noticed there was no fence. The carpenter had used his skill and built a bridge over the creek instead of a fence. When John’s brother saw the bridge and was quite moved that his brother would do such a thing. The two brothers met in the middle and embraced. They saw the carpenter packing his tools and asked him to stay a while and do more work. The carpenter replied, “I’m sorry, but I have other bridges to build.” Does he have one to build in your life?

Reconciliation is simply building bridges to bring people back together. We Christians have received reconciliation through Christ building the bridge of the cross to bring people back to God. We have also been given the ministry of reconciliation to persuade men to come back to God. As we are still in the early days of a new year, are there any bridges you desperately need to build, bridges between you and a relative, neighbor, work mate, fellow student, or even a brother or sister in Christ?

Bro Larry

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Luke 6:38)

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible; (Matt. 19:26)

Have you ever been up against what seemed impossible?  Jesus told his disciples that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Notice that he did not say is was impossible. The disciples were astonished and asked how anyone could be saved given the standard Jesus just mentioned.  Jesus didn’t answer them directly, but indirectly with words of wisdom that have proven true over and over in life.  He gave them a principle that applies to ALL of life.  “With God all things are possible.”

If you are not yet saved, you may be thinking, “I have gone too far, God would never save me.” Or “You don’t know what I’ve done.”  Over the years, I have heard many statements from people who say in one way or another that God cannot save them.  With God all things are possible.  Romans 10:13 tells that “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If you are saved and facing a situation that looks impossible in human terms, ask God.   While God may vary in different situations of life, God’s ability is never lacking.  Our job is to ask and believe.  Connect to the impossible making God.  You may look back on your situation in wonder of what God did.

As Corrie ten Boon once said, “Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.”

Bro. Larry

P.S. Our church’s web site is still being developed.  There are already some good stuff on it and more to come in the future including interaction programs and the Sunday morning services.

And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; (Rom. 12:1-2)

What was the biggest giant David ever faced?  It was not Goliath and it was not on the battlefield.  The biggest giant David faced was the one in the mirror.  It was himself as an idol.  During an unguarded moment, this man the Bible described as a man who was “after God’s own heart” allowed his mind and heart to wander away from the spiritual to pursue forbidden fruits.  All it took was a fleeting moment.

David was approximately 50 years old and had been king for around twenty years when he fell to the giant in his life.  It was at “the time when kings go off to war” yet David the king remained in Jerusalem.  He should have been mature enough to have it figured out by this time of life.

If David had taken a closer look in that mirror, he might have seen that he was shirking his responsibilities as king and pulling back from the battle.  He also might have notice that he chose the place of comfort over the place of battle.  Was he wrestling with getting older or did he no longer feel like following God as closely as he had before.  Whatever he may have been facing, he allowed himself to take over the will of God and what was right.  David would not have had to be confronted by Nathan and told “Thou are the man.”

When you honestly look in your mirror, see beyond yourself and look toward the God who is within you as He attempts to lead by the prompting of His Holy Spirit.

Bro. Larry

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  (Rom. 12:2)

The following words were written on the tomb of an Anglican bishop in the crypts of Westminster Abbey:

When I was young and free and my imagination had

no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country.

But it too seemed immovable.

As I grew into my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only family, those

closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it.

And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realize

if I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family.

From their inspiration and encouragement, I would

then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed the world.

~ Author Unknown

As a pastor, there are times that I have to do marriage counselling sessions with couples.  Most husbands seek for change in their wives and most wives seek change in their husbands.  But, almost none seem to seek change for themselves. In their minds, the problems lie outside themselves. That’s the way it seems in most of life.  Even Christians seek change in others or change in their church but hardly ever seek change in the themselves. 

My Dad had a plague on one of the churches he pastored when I was a teen that read, “If every church member were like me what kind of church would my church be?”

If we wish to change those around us, seek personal change and see if others change around you.  How do I change?  The answer is in the above verses of Scripture.

Bro. Larry