God Helps

There is an old phrase that goes like this, “God helps those who help themselves.” This phrase is not found in the Bible. Anywhere. Not in one book or verse.

Most believe this phrase was first written in Aesop’s fable, Hercules and the Waggoneer, where the moral of the story was, “the gods help those who help themselves.” In the 17^th century, Algernon Sidney, an English political theorist, quoted the version we say today. 

It’s been said so much, many people believe that it really is in the bible, but if we think about that line, we should see that it goes against scripture. 

First, God is faithful even we are not faithful to him. 2 Timothy 2:13 says “if we are faithless, he remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself.” God is honest and whatever He says will happen, will happen. So if we reject Christ, He is faithful to carry out what he says will happen. Remember, there is always a response when God’s word has been read or heard.

Second, we should be fully reliant on God. For everything. According to scripture we should cast every anxiety on Him (1 Peter 5:7), trust Him with all of our heart (Proverbs 3:5), know He will fight for us (Exodus 14:14), supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19) and provide a way to eternal life (John 3:16). 

And then there is the fact that we are taught, though scripture, not to be selfish, but to help others. 

“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” – Hebrews 13:16

Being selfish is not an option in the life of a Christian. Watching out for others, helping others, that is one of our missions in life. John writes in 1 John 3:17, “But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” 

If we abide in God, nothing is ours. We recognize that God provides us with all things. Therefore our “stuff” will sometimes benefit others. That requires us to have an open mind to see those who are hurting around us and having the passion to help in any way possible. 

You can help others by donating items to our Brighter Days Basket campaign, which helps women coming out of the battered women’s shelter, fill a baby bottle with change to benefit Aspire Women’s Center, or bring gently used clothing to benefit members of our community.

Let us not try to help ourselves, but to help others. 

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

What is the Right Proportional Response to God?

Anyone who knows me knows that ‘The West Wing’ is one of my favorite TV shows. I think it gives a solid look at politics in Washington. In one episode, the President must decide a proportional response to an American military aircraft being shot down. He wrestles with the idea if what has been proposed by the Joint Chiefs of Staff is enough or if it should be more.

This is something we should all wrestle with when it comes to our relationship with God. What is my proportional response to God, His love, His grace, His mercy, His provision, etc.?

I try live by the scripture from 1 Samuel 12:24 “Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.”

When I think about all the things God has done for me, I am in awe of Him. God gave me life, God gave me eternal life through the sacrifice of His son on the cross, God gave me Mindy, He gave me my kids, He gave me the opportunity to serve, He gave me a second chance at life, He gave me a grandchild, and I could go on and on and on. God has done everything for me. Knowing that then, I must decide what is the right proportional response to all He has done. 

First, I only fear God. As we serve God in our lives, there will be times that we have a fear of how people will respond to us. Either because of our actions or words that are driven by our faith. But I am not to fear those things, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” – Psalm 118:6

Second, I am to serve Him faithfully. One of the definitions of faithfully is “in a manner that is true to the facts or the original.” What does scripture say about God’s faithfulness? 2 Timothy 2:13 says “If we are faithless, He remains faithful – for He cannot deny Himself.” Just like love, faithfulness is who He is, He cannot be anything but faithful. Therefore, it must be who we are too. 

When we see the phrase, “with all your heart”, like we see in that verse in 1 Samuel, it’s not talking about your organ. It’s talking about your inner being. Serving Him with such faith that people see, it’s just who you are. 

Can people say that about you? Are you serving Him with the right proportional response? If not, what changes can you make in your life to serve God for the betterment of the kingdom?

See you Sunday,

Pastor Glen

Have No Fear, God is Here

Our congregation has been facing a lot of challenges lately. From injuries to illnesses and losing loved ones, we’ve been feeling, what feels like, tough times. But as we know, these things happen in waves. Just like life itself, somedays, weeks and even months, are better than others.

Because we are human, we tend to look to put a negative spin on these moments. We start to fear or have anxiety about what is or could happen next. This is not the way God wants us to live. 

Have you ever wondered what was going through Moses or Joshua’s minds when bad things were happening? Or when the Israelites were anything but faithful to God. They were continually going to bat for the nation, either by encouraging them to be obedient or pleading to God not to destroy them.

When God transferred responsibility over to Joshua, he reminds him not worry. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9

It’s so easy for us to forget that God is with us. When we face times of sorrow or strife, times of anxiety and pain or time of uncertainty, we often feel we are facing them alone. We may look around us and see no one sanding by our side. 

But God is by our side. Not only by our side, but in front of us. Leading, protecting, guiding us along. When the Israelites left Egypt, God didn’t say, “see you guys when you get to the promise land.” No, he was there, guiding them in the day and night. Guarding them as they made the trip. Even when they were disobedient, God was still leading the way.

While we forget that He is there, we also forget what God is capable of doing. As if creating all things wasn’t enough, does God really need to do something else to prove He can do anything? Paul was pretty clear, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” – Philippians 4:13

If there was anyone who knew and understood the capabilities of God, it was Paul. Who went from persecutor to persecuted and never let up. He fought for the cause of Christ with more passion and zeal than his fight to destroy it. He saw how God saved him and protected him throughout his ministry. Especially in those moments when all hope seemed lost.

So have no fear, God is with you through every moment of your life. Lean not on your own understanding, but lean on Him who is faithful and true.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

Can't improve Christianity, it's already perfect.

Remember products that were supposed to be better than their counterparts or products that “improved” the original?

Who could ever forget the new Coke? Coca-Cola thought it was time to update Coke because it had been losing market share. Some smart people thought they needed to redo the formula and rebrand. It launched in 1985, renamed Coke II in 1990, and was discontinued in 2002. Coke spent over four million dollars on development and marketing, and was left with 30 million dollars of unused product. It was a big flop.

In 2001, Apple introduced the world to a new product that would change everything. It was called the i-Pod. The i-Pod was a portable media player that could play downloaded music, videos and more. Five years later, Microsoft launched a “better” product called the Zune. The Zune would do the same thing as the i-Pod but consumers were already hooked on the Apple device. Millions of dollars and six years later, the Zune was discontinued.

The world is always trying to make things better. Better cars, smarter phones, louder speakers, better-tasting food, etc. And that includes Christianity. Take Mormons for instance. Joseph Smith claims Jesus spoke to him about special tablets. Smith “found” these tablets and interpreted them, writing a companion to the Bible. Smith is claiming a new and improved Christianity. But that just isn’t the case. 

Christianity is already perfect because of Jesus Christ;

“2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. ” – Hebrews 12:2

Our faith is already perfect because He made it perfect through His life and His actions on the cross. While our faith cannot become more perfect, certainly we can be better followers of Christ. So, if there is anything that could become new and improved, it’s us.

New through our belief of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and improved because we have turned from the old self and set our eyes on Jesus. Who provided something better for us, a reconciliation with God that leads to salvation for all eternity.

Can the church get better? Certainly, because we the church can get better. But our faith, our faith is perfect in Jesus.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

Be An Influencer, Show Others Christ

Can you imagine teaching yourself Greek at four years old? Being the top of your elementary school at 5 or enrolling in college by 14? Now imagine, because of an illness, you pass away at 28 years old and you were such a positive influence on your community 7,000 people show up for your funeral.

That’s what happened in 1843 when Robert Murray McCheyne passed from typhus. McCheyne knew early on that God was calling him to something great. He committed himself to prayer every morning. He wrote poetry, hymns and letters concerning faith, God and the church. By the age of 22 he was the pastor of St. Peter’s Church in Dundee, which had over 1,100 regular attenders.

McCheyne was a great influencer of his day. This was before the internet, cell phones and social media apps. In 28 years, this young lad in Scotland had such a positive influence on his community, that men openly wept as they walked down the road after learning of his passing. What’s amazing is that he still influences us today.

When I think of McCheyne, I think of First Timothy chapter four. In verse 12, Paul writes, “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” Paul was telling a young Timothy to not let your youth be a stumbling block for people. They can and will look past it if you make these things a priority.

What is it that is a stumbling block between you and sharing the Gospel with others? We sometimes find that our minds work against us, and we convince ourselves that we are unworthy to share the Gospel, to act in a way that points people to Christ. Of course we’re not worthy, none of us are worthy. God chooses to use “unworthy” people for His purpose.

Sometimes we convince ourselves of some reason why we can’t share the Gospel or teach, or sing, or play or whatever the church may need. We need to stop making excuses. Go, live a life that points people to Jesus. Become an influencer for Christ, for the Kingdom, for God.

See you Sunday!

Pastor Glen

The Guardian

As a man, husband and father protection is a very important word. In my home I am to stand between my family and harm’s way. Today, I want to add to that definition.

I have come to realize, especially with a daughter near completion of high school and a son who will soon be a freshman, it is also my job to protect their reputation.

Many of us can think of someone from high school who did not turn out to be the person the rumors told us they were. We can name girls we thought got around, were stuck up or dingy. Guys who hit girls, drank too much or were doing something harder than alcohol.

While some of those rumors might have turned out to be true, many were not. The rumor mill fuels high schools.

Some would say I am too strict when it comes to my children. Not allowed to date, if they go to a dance, the movies or just somewhere to eat and there is a person of the opposite sex with them there has to be one or more people there too. Our daughter wasn’t allowed to wear make up until she was 16. If they are with friends on the weekends we have to know where they are at all times. These are just a few of our rules.

While these rules may seem harsh, they are meant to protect the reputation of our children. Even the most obedient child slips up from time to time. Without thinking they make a decision that stays with them the rest of their life.

When young men look at my daughter I want them to see a young woman rooted in a Christian foundation, pure, joyful and a heart so big that it breaks when she sees someone in need. When young women look at my son I want them to see a young man, rooted in a Christian foundation, pure, humble and who goes out of his way to help those in need.

Yes, my children may not get to experience certain things that other teens experience at their age. They may not get to watch certain movies, listen to certain music or get to go to all of the parties. But at the end of the day I won’t have to worry about an embarrassing picture or video finding its way to Youtube, Facebook or Twitter.

God does the same for us. Through-out the New Testament we are taught not to quarrel, fight to use good words not words that are harsh or offend, not to act on revenge and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Basically we are to live a life that is as blameless as possible.

Our reputation has a direct effect on our ability to witness. Every time we tarnish our image we make Christ a little less visible. If we are to be beacons who shine in the darkness we have to keep the lens clear of any dirt or grime that blocks the light from shining through.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

Have Fun, Live Free, Hope Strong

Pastor G