EARTH DAY VS EASTER

April 27, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

I am amazed, confused, and angry regarding many people’s attitude toward President Obama. In their mind, it seems that he can do no wrong. His supporters continue to defend him regardless of what he does or doesn’t do. Consider this example from an article by Charlie Butts:

President Barack Obama had a lot to say about Earth Day in a presidential proclamation — but apparently ignored another major occasion.

On Good Friday, the White House issued an eight-paragraph proclamation honoring the 41st observance of Earth Day. The president, however, neglected to offer a proclamation on the centuries-old celebration of Easter — an omission that some Christian leaders find troubling.

Dr. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas, offered these remarks to OneNewsNow:

“On one hand, you have a president who never met a Muslim holiday he didn’t like, or at least wasn’t willing to issue a proclamation for,” he says, referring to the White House’s many statements honoring Muslim holidays. “Yet he turns around and ignores the most important holiday on the Christian calendar — and you have the White House wondering why it is that one in five Americans believe the president’s a Muslim.”

Jeffress says he can think of two reasons why President Obama seems to be so absentminded about Christianity.

“Either he is really getting bad counsel from strategists who are telling him that it’s politically expedient to denigrate Christianity and yet elevate other world religions like Islam,” he offers. “And if it’s a case of bad advice, Republicans better pray that those advisors stay in place through the 2012 election cycle.”

Secondly, Jeffress says another possible explanation is that in spite of what the president says, “deep down inside of him there is something that keeps him from making the public proclamations about Christianity.” He also points to other incidents, such as a speech in Turkey where President Obama said America does not consider itself a Christian nation.

I just don’t get it! How can professing Christians keep coming to his rescue and “tooting his horn”? Page after page of documentation could be given proving that he often takes a stance that is un-American and un-Christian, and yet these folks continue to defend and support him. Not only that– they criticize those who criticize him, as though we are the ones who are un-American and un-Christian. Well, as I said, “I am amazed, confused and angry!”. THINK ABOUT IT!

WHY ARE WE HERE? WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE?

September 5, 2014 By Pastor David Stone

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

Before there was a Milky Way–there was God!
Before there were galaxies, solar systems, constellations, and nebulae–there was God!
Before Mercury, Venus, and Mars were plugged into their sockets–there was God!
Before Polaris was fastened above the North Pole–there was God!
Before Orion the hunter had a belt, and Saturn had its rings–there was God; all alone, perfect and content, glorious in His solitary existence as the eternal I AM!

Before there was a sun, a moon, or an earth;
before there was grass to clothe the field, and flowers to adorn it;
before the mountains were brought forth, and the sea filled the depths;
before the eagle soared through the sky, and the fish swam through the sea;
before angels, devils, and men had their being–there was God alone!

If we would understand things aright, we must not begin with man, but with God, for He is the beginning of all things. To begin with man is folly, for man is but a creature–a production of the Creator. We must back up and begin where the Bible begins, with God!

God’s people know, and have always known, what continues to baffle the minds of the scholars and scientists of our day, that “in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Through faith, God’s people understand the mystery of creation.— “Why are we here? What is our purpose? What is God’s purpose?” Can we even know the answer to these questions? Indeed we can. The twenty four elders seated around God’s throne in Heaven give us the answer in Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying , Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created . “

You, me, angels, animals, plants, rocks, and all other things, exist and were created for one reason–the pleasure of the Creator. We were created according to His will and purpose, for His pleasure and glory.

God did not create the Heaven and the earth arbitrarily. He created them to be the stage upon which He would perform His eternal purpose of grace, and reveal all the wonders of His goodness and mercy toward His elect. It is upon the stage of time, that God displays His eternal purpose and shows forth His glory in the salvation of chosen sinners. He created this world for the salvation of His people, that they would be recovered from their sin by His almighty grace.—Frank Hall
“ Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done , saying , My counsel shall stand , and I will do all my pleasure: “ Isaiah 46:9-10

BOASTING

April 18, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

We just observed the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War and as you might expect there was a lot of foolish talk. Here’s one lame example of trying to find something humorous about it:

A trio of old veterans were bragging about the heroic exploits of their
ancestors one afternoon down at the VFW hall.

“My great grandfather, at age 12,” one declared proudly, “was the youngest
drummer boy at Gettysburg.”

“Mine,” boasted another, “helped load the cannon at Ft Sumter that started
the whole war 150 years ago today.”

“I’m the only soldier in my family,” confessed vet number three, “but if my
great grandfather was living today he’d be the most famous man in the
world.”

“Really? What’d he do?” his friends wanted to know.

“Nothing much. But he would be 168 years old.”

Well, I guess you can always find something to brag about if you try hard enough! Have you noticed that just about everyone likes to brag about something, and it goes beyond the “fish tales” regarding who caught the biggest fish. You can find people “weaving yarns” everywhere and they will brag about anything if it makes them appear better at something than someone else. We just can’t seem to accept the fact that we are not the best or most important person on earth.

Nearly all our conflicts revolve around our attitude concerning self–our inflated view of our goodness or importance. That’s why we speak so much about “our rights”. We feel we deserve more, bigger, and better than others. And that creates contention.

The truth of the matter is that none of us have anything to brag about. If we could see ourselves through God’s eyes we would realize that the very best among us are nothing but sinners. The only good thing about anyone is Jesus. We might fail or sin in different ways, but we all are dirty, rotten, vile sinners, undeserving of anything good. Even the worse people might do some “good deed”, but that doesn’t make them good. None of us are good. None of us have anything to brag about. None of us have cause to compare ourself to anyone. The only standard by which we have a right to compare ourselves is the perfect Son of God, and none of us measure up to Him. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Therefore we have nothing to brag about. That’s why Paul wrote,”But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ–“(Gal. 6:14). Now that’s something worth boasting about, and all the praise goes to Him and none to us. Think about it!

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

September 4, 2014 By Pastor David Stone

“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”.–John 5:39

Of all the advice ever given by Jesus, or anyone else, it doesn’t get any better than this. Searching the Scriptures is the wisest thing you can do. This is exactly what the Bereans did—“they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily”(Acts 17:11). We should do the same! There we find the answers to life’s most important questions, promises the are exceeding great and precious, instructions that are flawless, and comfort that is sufficient.

We keep debating issues and wrestling with problems that could have been settled long ago had we simply searched the Scriptures and let God’s Word determine the conclusion. Sadly, instead of doing that, many–
–skip the Scriptures, as though they have more important things to do.
–skim the Scriptures, as though some parts aren’t important.
–slight the Scriptures as though they are of no value.
–substitute the Scriptures, as though something else is better.
–scorn the Scriptures, as though they aren’t worthy of consideration.
–select portions and ignore the rest, as though it was cafeteria style.
–suppress the Scriptures, rather than submit to them.

But, Christ tells us to “Search the Scriptures”. The word “search” signifies a close, careful, curious search. We should search as a miner digs for gold, as a hunter searches for game, etc. We ought to search the Scriptures as though our very lives depended on it. The reasons for such a search are numerous. The responsibility to search is clear. The results of such a search are glorious. In the Scriptures we find a treasure, due to its theme, which is Christ; theology, describing the glorious attributes of God; truth, without any admixture of error; topics, dealing with everything of practical value; transforming power, as it provides, protects and prepares us; and timelessness, as it is relevant to all generations.Don’t let another day pass without spending quality time in the Bible. Search its wonders. Seek its wisdom. Store its words. Submit to its will. Share it with the world. — HDS, 9/4/14

VAUABLE OBSERVATIONS

April 12, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

I don’t usually expect any good spiritual advice from football coaches, but here’s an exception to that rule. These words from coach Joe Gibbs gives us some great advice–if we would only listen. Coach Gibbs said:

Have you ever noticed that a five percent raise doesn’t really change much in your take-home pay? Aren’t you just as hungry for breakfast the morning after a $50.00 meal as after a $5.00 one? How many of the items in your garage or attic once served a useful purpose inside your actual living space? And why do all of us know these things to be true?

Because we’ve seen them. We’ve lived them. If there’s one thing we know about money and the things it can buy, it’s the fact that we routinely overvalue them. We expect them to be so much more than they typically turn out to be. So God tells us in His Word to give “careful thought” to this: “Ye have sown much, and bring in little; ye eat, but ye have not enough; ye drink, but ye are not filled with drink; ye clothe you, but there is none warm; and he that earneth wages earneth wages to put it into a bag with holes.” (Haggai 1:6).

Don’t just know this. Do something with it.

What habits do you need to discontinue based on this common-sense information? How should this insight affect the way you parent or counsel your children? What kind of character traits would have more room to grow in you if you based more of your decisions on this? When money lessons become life lessons, they can do more than just impact your shopping and saving patterns. They can go to work in your heart.

Pray this prayer: Father, I pray for the wisdom to be more thoughtful than I usually am—to base my life on the truths you’ve so clearly shown us, rather than acting like they don’t apply to me. (Scripture references changed to KJV).

That’s pretty good preaching, even if it does come from a football coach. If you want to win in life listen to the coach! THINK ABOUT IT!

EARTH DAY VS EASTER

WHY ARE WE HERE? WHAT IS OUR PURPOSE?

BOASTING

SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES

VAUABLE OBSERVATIONS

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