Bob Cooks

The Missus told Tildy "When Bob cooks he uses every skillet in the house.  Fries or sautes  everything.  Well, except for the ice cream he dips for dessert."

She said Tildy said, "And this is a problem how? Herk can't even find his way around a kitchen, I doubt he even knows what a skillet is."

Then she said, "Thank you, Hon, for fixing dinner.  But maybe next time you might not fry the green beans."

So and So

Recently it seems that every third paragraph I read and most verbal accounts of a life-incident begin with "So."  So here is a whole bunch of them, used up and canceled.  Find another opener.

So so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so
so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so 
so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so

And so on and so forth.

Well, that was disappointing.

He's no John F. Kennedy.

The Best Part of Me

We did go to church yesterday but circumstances precluded posting of sermon notes.  So for your Monday consideration the scripture lesson is from Genesis 22 in which Abraham is directed to take his son, Isaac, to the mountain of sacrifice.
 
Abraham experienced testing.  He demonstrated a willingness to give up everything for the sake of following God.

 Strong faith means everything is in subordination to adoration and worship of God.

God + nothing = Faith

On the mountain of the Lord, it will be provided.

What?  When God lays his hand on what you hold dearest, then what? To what extent has God tested your faith?

When things get shaky, that's when you know the kind of faith you have.

     There is a time in every person's life when one must undergo a crucial test.

     It will take place in reference to that which we love and value most.

     Your answer must be "God will provide.  God sees."

God sees the details of your life.  God is in the details.  God is not out to hurt you: He is after your heart.

It is through testing that character is shaped.

God was making Abraham like Himself.  God reminds of His promise but we must continue to obey. 

(Pastor described a severe testing in his own life.)

    

    "Would I have chosen to go through that test?  NO!  But it was necessary for me to become a new kind of me!"

(Study question.  When you read the account of Abraham and Isaac traveling to the mountain, did you note that Abraham, when he told his servants to wait, said, "We will be back"?  That is an expression of complete trust in God.)

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

 

 

Don't Forget Me

Continuing to follow the account of Abraham and Sarah, Genesis 14-16.  Looking today at the couple, failing in patience awaiting God's promise of offspring, hatch a plan outside the will of God.

Snippets from Pastor's sermon:

Whenever we act outside the will of God there will be negative consequences.

Too often instant gratification gets you into serious financial difficulty.

God's time-frame is not the same as yours.

When you receive a promise of God, it is as good as done.

 "I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them,
    and my soul is downcast within me.Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.'

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord."  --Lamentations 3:19-26 (NIV)

 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him.

It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning

Tomfoolery

Read an article which centered on the foolish behavior of some teens.  A woman commented to the effect that she had been a middle school teacher for many years and it was her observation that taken by ones most youngsters are good and well behaved people; it is when you get them in groups that the nonsense takes over.

I taught junior high school kids for many years and in general I concur with the lady's observation.  Dad stated the principle in these words:

One boy's a boy; two boys, a half-boy; three boys, no boy at all.

Ever notice that whenever someone calls out sin in our society, Someone plays the "judge not" card?  Odds are it is the only scripture with which Someone is familiar, and he would be hard pressed to
find it in the Bible.

Unfortunately, many who do know scripture use it only selectively to support their own notions.  Sad.

21st Century

Why do all the modern "conveniences" that are supposed to make our lives easier in reality complicate everything immeasurably?

Conversion

I heard someone say (I am not making this up), "Jesus took away my sins; He didn't take away my mind."

And I believe that is true.  I also believe there are those for whom Jesus took away their sins, yet He didn't take away the stupidity.

Salvation is for everyone.

Outside of Me

The lesson from the Bible is from Genesis 4:1-5 in which God calls Abram to leave his homeland, his relatives and his familiar lifestyle and remove himself to a land God will show him.

Salvation is free; true discipleship will cost you everything.

To be what God wants you to be will require your all.

Jesus loves you but his grace is so powerful that he doesn't want to leave you as you are.

HE WANTS TO MAKE YOU NEW!

 He can change your life for the better.

God's promise to Abram:  I will make you a great nation.  God made Abram a better version of himself.  God will make of you a brand new you.  You will still be you, but a different you.

If we want God to change us, we must be like Abram.  He

     1.  was open to hearing the voice of God

     2.  surrendered to God's plan for his life.

     3.  obeyed the word of God; it became his way of life.

Whatever you have planned for your life, 

God's plan is better!

 In Matthew chapter four, we see Jesus call Peter and Andrew, fishermen, to follow Him and become fishers of people.  The did; they were the same men, but they were new men.

What steps do you need to take

to obey the voice of God?   

Pastor Johnnie Blair

Sunday morning