"Keep yourselves in the love of God ..." - Jude 1:21
The bible is a revelation of the fact that God is love. Many people misunderstand the attribute of God's nature which is love. "God is love" does not mean that everything is sweet, beautiful, and happy, and that God's love could not possibly allow punishment for sin.
Because God is righteous, for sin to be ignored would disqualify His righteousness. Would we ask God to deny His righteousness?
There are many voices on the wind. Certainly God's voice is there, through His Word and the Spirit calling each of us to repentance, challenging us to love unconditionally and to encouraging our evangelism to a world lost in sin.
There are, however, other voices. As mentioned in 1 Timothy 4:1: "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons."
These voices will cause man to turn from God and follow society in pursuit of not being offensive. Folks, we can stand firm in our belief - and still not offend. We can proclaim the loving grace of the Father and the lifesaving death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to the nations ... and we can do it with love.
When we preach justice, it is justice tempered with love. When we preach righteousness, it is righteousness founded on love. When we preach atonement (making amends), it is atonement planned by love, provided by love, given by love, finished by love, dedicated because of love. When we preach the resurrection of Christ, we are preaching the miracle of love. When we preach the return of Christ, we are preaching the fulfillment of love.
No matter what sin man has committed, or how terrible, dirty, or shameful it may be, God loves all His children, and prefers forgiveness and redemption over punishment and hate. The love of God is immeasurable, unmistakable, and unending!
So don't take the bait - and be tempted to follow the crowd and react to the world. The voices of the world should be no surprise to Christians - it certainly is not a surprise to God. We are called to rise above the argument and share the light of Christ.
Keep yourselves in the love of God .... ~ Pastor Todd
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
Outdoor Worship at Natural Chimneys
Yesterday at Natural Chimneys Park was the second in a series of outdoor worship services this summer for the Mount Olivet congregation. The rain cleared away for a beautiful morning of worship right next to the towering rocks.
The remaining outdoor services this year are:
Sunday, July 26th and 10:30am on the church lawn followed by a freewill offering meal provided by the youth as a fundraiser
Sunday, August 30th at 5:00pm at Oakdale Park Shelter #3 with a covered dish meal
Sunday, October 4th at 10:30am at the Sangerville Ruritan Hall Shelter, followed by a covered dish meal and a hayride
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Pastor's Penpoint - "God's on Vacation" - June 2015
The writer of Hebrews tells us not to forsake "...the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
Over nine years ago,Dina,the kids and I spent about ten months at a church in Hot Springs where I offered pulpit supply three weeks out of the month. Julian, one of the older men in the church always had a good story to tell or have me read. One Sunday, he gave me a little article that he had clipped out of a magazine decades before.
I ran across it a few Sunday's ago while looking for something in the pastor's study. I share it now with the hope that it sticks in your heart and mind the same way that it has in mine.
God Takes the Summer Off
"We are sorry to inform you that God will not be available during the summer beginning June 1st. He feels He deserves some time off, so He has canceled His normal duties for the summer.
He has agreed to send the sun and rain occasionally when He happens to be in town,but so far as answering prayers for the needs of your family, please don't count on Him.
God has let church leaders know that they should not plan any outreach efforts or mission trips during the summer - or at least if they do, they will have to do it without Him because He plans to be gone a lot to see relatives, baseball games and the lake. God has expressed the opinion that we should find someone else to take His place.
Then we reminded Him of His promise, "Surely I will be with you always," but He said He didn't realize when He said it that it meant going two or three years without a break. He expressed Hes sincere regret and hopes that it will not cause anyone any inconvenience.
God may be contacted any time after September 1st at which time He hopes to get back into the routine. "Please defer all requests until then," He requested.
Aren't you glad God doesn't take the summer off? As we approach summer, make it your determination to bring yourself and your family to God's House on Sunday. He'll be waiting for us to worship Him."
Luckily, Mt. Olivet doesn't close for summer. We will worship our Lord, who is always here!
~ Pastor Todd
Over nine years ago,Dina,the kids and I spent about ten months at a church in Hot Springs where I offered pulpit supply three weeks out of the month. Julian, one of the older men in the church always had a good story to tell or have me read. One Sunday, he gave me a little article that he had clipped out of a magazine decades before.
I ran across it a few Sunday's ago while looking for something in the pastor's study. I share it now with the hope that it sticks in your heart and mind the same way that it has in mine.
God Takes the Summer Off
"We are sorry to inform you that God will not be available during the summer beginning June 1st. He feels He deserves some time off, so He has canceled His normal duties for the summer.
He has agreed to send the sun and rain occasionally when He happens to be in town,but so far as answering prayers for the needs of your family, please don't count on Him.
God has let church leaders know that they should not plan any outreach efforts or mission trips during the summer - or at least if they do, they will have to do it without Him because He plans to be gone a lot to see relatives, baseball games and the lake. God has expressed the opinion that we should find someone else to take His place.
Then we reminded Him of His promise, "Surely I will be with you always," but He said He didn't realize when He said it that it meant going two or three years without a break. He expressed Hes sincere regret and hopes that it will not cause anyone any inconvenience.
God may be contacted any time after September 1st at which time He hopes to get back into the routine. "Please defer all requests until then," He requested.
Aren't you glad God doesn't take the summer off? As we approach summer, make it your determination to bring yourself and your family to God's House on Sunday. He'll be waiting for us to worship Him."
Luckily, Mt. Olivet doesn't close for summer. We will worship our Lord, who is always here!
~ Pastor Todd
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