Pastor's Paragraph Aug 28, 2011

And there were noises and thunderings and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such a might and great earthquake as had not occurred since men were on the earth. Revelation 16:18 NKJV

I'm All Shook Up! A popular recording of Elvis Presley, written by Otis Blackwell or how you might have been feeling this past Tuesday afternoon? Quaking Earth is not a common occurrence for our part of the world. This week those in Virginia and points beyond got a remnder that real control is in the hands of the Creator, not a politician. As the clock winds down on this earth's history, earthquakes as prophesied will continually become more frequent and destructive. This earth is experiencing pangs. Just as an expectant mom knows her delivery is approaching the final hour, those who pay attention know the same about this Terrestrial ball in which we live on. Planet Earth, as we know it, is drawing nigh to its reconstruction. It's actually a pretty simple idea. If I were going to build a house on a certain spot where one already existed, I would have to raze the one that presently occupies the spot. That's the plan that God has set in motion for creating His Post Tribulation reconstruction, the "New Earth." Gotta get rid of this one to build the new one. You can read how that comes about in Revelation 16. In that chapter, as the Seventh Bowl of Judgment is poured out, this world is introduced to the most devastating Earthquake it will ever see. It's a doozie! When it's all said and done, islands or mountains, either one, are no more! Now that's an earthquake! So, basically, from here on in, earthquakes/tsunamis will all be positioning this planet for its final makeover! For those who love having the power and control, you need to learn a new catch phrase, "Forget about it." You can't buy enough insurance, you can't dig a deep enough storm cellar and you can't study enough geological tendencies to do anything about what's coming. You can't earthquake-proof your environment so that you will be entirely safe. You can however, earthquake-proof your soul by trusting and following Jesus. He has the power to bridge even the widest of fault lines. He did that when He died for our sins!

Holding on,
Pastor Danny

Pastor's Paragraph Aug 14, 2011

And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. Joshua 24:15 NKJV

...Life is full of choices that quite frankly don't seem as if they would matter a whole lot, no matter what your choice. There is one however, that skew that line of thought. Heaven or Hell? Well now, isn't that a no brainer, you say. It is and it isn't. You may be saying, "Now Pastor, who could possible want to choose hell over Heaven? There is the remotest thing similar about those two!" Well, on the surface, I would have to agree with you, yet if you look deeper, you do see some common things both share. Think about it. Both places are eternal. Tickets are purchased for either place here in this world (they're both one way, by the way). Both places will be filled with like-minded people. Both will contain people of various ethnicity, social status, financial levels, education and for the most part, age. Entrance to either destination is instantaneous and appears when oxygen disappears. In both places, old times will not be forgotten. There won't be any need or use for anyone to try and help you in either place. You can even encourage family members to plan and go with you to either eternal destination. Also, you will find a central figure in each place that you can thank for your being there. That is where the choice becomes clear. You see, it's not the sameness that helps you make a choice. It's the differences, be they large or small, that help you in your decision making process. That being said, the difference maker is always Jesus Christ. Heaven is the right choice because Jesus is there and satan isn't. That's a big difference! Choose Christ, He has chosen you!

Making easy choices,
Pastor Danny

Pastor's Paragraph Aug 7, 2011

Ever feel like you needed an oil change? So you say you do that daily with your bad diet? As I write this Pastor's Paragraph, I'm patiently waiting for my little beep-beep car to get a fresh taste of oil. You know the stuff, the substance nations fight over, the stuff we can't afford but cannot be without. Every piston and every crankshaft can't help but say ahhhh when they get a new drink of fresh oil. Fresh oil is the lifeblood of a combustion engine. Don't believe me? Try running your car a few days without it and then tell me how important it is to your car's life. Fresh oil is important to the Christian's life as well. While oil was often used for specific purposes of anointing throughout scripture and while it istill can be used today as well, the oil that I'm referring to is the Holy Spirit. While all we that are born again possess the Holy Spirit in our lives, if we choose not to exercise the power within, it can become ineffective in our lives. Just like the engine of a car can build up sludge and need a change to clean, fresh, new woil, our lives need a fresh anointing of the Holy Spirit as well. The Apostle Paul says in Ephesians 5:18-21, "And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting toone another in the fear of God." Paul basically is saying if your spiritual motor isn't up to snuff, change the oil! Forget the things this ife gets you drunk on and change to all of the things He mentions for a cleaner, better running life! As I've gotten older and the cars have become more advanced, I pretty much (with the exception of my truck) let the professionals change the oil in my vehicles. Allowing Fresh oil in your life however, is different. It is still a change only you can make. Just be sure you use the right brand, generic won't do. There's an oil that is still sold today called 3 in 1. It might not work too well in your car's engine but I think 3 in 1 would be a really good fit to serve you well in your soul!

Always ready for fresh oil,
Pastor Danny