christianity

THE GOOD WOUNDS OF A FRIEND

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

14 I am not writing these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children.                                                               I Corinthians 4:14 NLT

GOOD WOUNDS! ~ How do you handle being corrected by someone who cares? According to Pew Research, 65% of American adults believe that “people are too easily offended.” What if a caring friend exposes sin in your life and calls you out in love? They are right, but it hurts. What would you do?  It seems many just want to go to church to be reminded what good people we are. This is anti-biblical. The Bible confronts every human being declaring each of us as a terrible sinner not fit for heaven. “There is none righteous.” (read Romans 3:1-23)

Some people are ok with a pastor saying, “Well, we’re all just sinners, right?” However, the Bible declares this TRUTH, JESUS’ death is the only way we can be saved from hell. Every person on Earth needs JESUS!  Feathers ruffled yet? More biblical honesty ahead…

Guess what? You are a no good filthy, dirty, lying, cheating, selfish sinner. Yes, I am too! Without that painful truth as our starting point, we cannot understand why we so desperately need JESUS. If we believe the lie that we are pretty good, then we think we almost make it to heaven on our own. We are almost good enough! That is a lie from the pit of hell! The devil wants us to believe that because he does not want us to realize how urgently and desperately, we need THE LORD JESUS to forgive us and cleanse us from all our sin. We need A NEW LIFE!

Yes, we need encouragement sometimes. However, we are in desperate need of correction as well. If all you hear at church is positivity and encouragement… RUN!!! The Bible is a book of rebuke and correction as well as encouragement! We need to hear it when we are wrong. Yes, it hurts, but genuine repentance brings healing! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST,

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD.

I Corinthians 1:18 NLT

THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE CROSS!  If you have attended church at any point in your life this statement might be offensive to you; however, for those who have avoided church: the statement may make perfect sense. Recently, someone told me that THE BIBLE is a book of fairy tales. Therefore, to some, the cross must seem like foolishness. For others, the Cross (and its Overcomer) is the very purpose for living.

Ironically, for both groups GOD has used the term “FOOLISHNESS” to help you understand a deeper meaning of the true foolishness involved. In the passage above, THE BIBLE says, “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD.”  THE BIBLE goes on to say, “For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than human strength.” (I Cor 1:25).

Consider for a moment, SIR ISAAC NEWTON who is known as “perhaps the greatest physicist who has ever lived.” He said of GOD,

This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being. And if the fixed stars are the centers of other like systems, these, being formed by the like wise counsel, must be all subject to the dominion of One; especially since the light of the fixed stars is of the same nature with the light of the sun.

Why is JESUS remembered by so many as the SAVIOR, and if there is a shred of TRUTH to the Cross shouldn’t you at least consider its TRUTH? After all, JESUS did not say the truth is merely a concept to consider. HE said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through ME.” (John 14:6) EASTER is the living proof of this TRUTH. Happy EASTER! 😊

LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CROSS

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I PETER 3:15

PASSION WEEK!

/ readyforafreshstart / Leave a comment

Frankly Speaking,

8 Many in the crowd spread their garments

on the road ahead of HIM,

and others spread leafy branches they had cut in the fields.

9 JESUS was in the center of the procession,

and the people all around HIM were shouting,

“PRAISE GOD! BLESSINGS ON THE ONE

WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!

10 BLESSINGS ON THE COMING KINGDOM

OF OUR ANCESTOR DAVID!

PRAISE GOD IN HIGHEST HEAVEN!” (Matt 21:8-10)

PASSION WEEK BEGINS! ~ Why would anyone call the week of JESUS’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection “PASSION?” What does the word PASSION really mean? Webster’s dictionary first describes it as “the week between JESUS Last Supper and HIS death;” however, it’s also defined as “an object of deep desire or interest.” I believe both definitions work. JESUS had one purpose during HIS Incarnation; HE came to earth to rescue mankind.  Look what JESUS says in THE BIBLE,

“For THE SON OF MAN

came to seek and save

those who are lost.”

Luke 19:10

That is what this “PASSION WEEK” is all about. PALM SUNDAY marks the pinnacle of people’s expectations for JESUS to be Who they wanted HIM to be. Many are still doing the same thing today. GOOD FRIDAY and EASTER are the proof that HE came for you and me. Without HIM, there is no way to please GOD; otherwise, why did HE come and die? GOD really loves you!

Living in the Shadow of the Cross

Blessings in CHRIST

Pastor Wes

I Peter 3:15