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Pastor's Update
A Brainwashed Church?
When God sovereignly gave Jehoiakim to Nebuchadnezzar, it wasn't the complete obliteration of the city of Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar was determined to maintain his rule over Jerusalem with complete military action being a last resort. One of his methods was that he would take the best and the brightest from the conquered people, retrain their minds, get them to think like a Babylonian, then use them to help control their own people. And so the book of Daniel begins with this account.
Satan is not always blasting trumpets to rally the troops for a frontal assault. More often he is subtle in his approach, slowly leading astray with small compromises. Our culture today is driven by him to do exactly what Nebuchadnezzar did 2500 years ago
Aug 6, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Is This Us?
Revelation 3:4-22
"Blessed are the Lukewarm!" Jesus never said that, but from the lackadaisical attitude of many of His followers, you would think that was one of His beatitudes.
That is the attitude of our Western Civilization and cultural Christians. That was the attitude of the church of Laodicea. They wore the name Christian without actually practicing the faith; didn’t actually believe it; didn’t get excited about it.
"Blessed are the Lukewarm." The world wants our religion and faith to be lukewarm because then we don’t create problems. Then we don't take a stand against abortion or sexual immorality or homosexual practice, or government that wastes our nation’s resources and represses righteous teaching and practice.
Jul 30, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Where Is God's Church Headed?
Some thoughts to consider:
Where are we going?
What do we care about?
Let us consider the important work of God in Maine and the world. This work includes the eradication of evil, (including homosexuality and abortion), the cessation of looting and violent crime against men, women and children, the establishment of peace and the end of war, wiping out poverty and hunger across every continent, the evangelism of nations, the revival of multitudes, and the redemption of humanity – all resulting from the activity of the Church.
Some might say, "Now, wait just a minute . . . my church doesn’t have the capacity, skill, influence, power, presence, patience, or perseverance to make the slightest difference in these problems. What can we do that will make any difference in this broken world?"
Jul 23, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Is The Church Salty?
Salt is the most effective and most widely used of all food preservatives - Medieval and ancient societies used salt as a preservative for food because they didn’t have refrigeration to keep it from spoiling - one source said that it is included in Egyptian mummy preservation - it is an antiseptic and a flavor enhancer.
What did Jesus mean when He said, "You are the salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13 NIV)?
John MacArthur writes: "Christians are a preserving influence in the world; they retard moral and spiritual spoilage" (MacArthur’s New Testament Commentary: Matthew).
With that in mind, just think about what would happen if every true Christian disappeared off the face of the planet. What would happen to our American government?
Jul 16, 2010 - 10:00:01 AM
Pastor's Update
Happy Birthday, USA - Part 2
[This edition is a re-print that was published at an earlier time]
Last week, we looked at the incredible sacrifices our founding fathers made to create a nation that honored God and the family. We noted the beginning of telling God we didn’t need Him and the removal of prayer from our public schools. Today we continue with the account of this history.
In 1853 a movement was started in which a group petitioned congress for the separation of Christian principles from government, a separation of church and state. For nearly one year the Senate and House Judiciary committees reviewed and studied the petition to see if it would be possible to separate Christian principles from our civil government. Both returned almost identical reports.
Jul 9, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Happy Birthday, USA
[This edition is a re-print that was published at an earlier time]
The 4th of July is a special day in our country but not just for the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Many special things have happened on this day.
Three American presidents died on the Fourth of July, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. Monroe was ready to die several days before but doctors kept him alive with drugs just long enough so that he could die on the fourth of July. Why did they do that? Because the fourth of July meant something.
Jul 2, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Is it Okay To Judge?
A Lion, unable from old age and infirmities, to provide himself with food by force, was resolved to do so by savvy or wit. He returned to his den, and lying down there, pretended to be sick, taking care that his sickness should be publicly known. The beasts expressed their sorrow, and came one by one to his den, where the Lion devoured them.
After many of the beasts had thus disappeared, the Fox discovered the trick and presenting himself to the Lion, stood on the outside of the cave, at a respectful distance, and asked him how he was.
Jun 25, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Fathers Today
This article appeared in an eariler edition of the Pastors update
Ephesians 6:2
This Sunday is Father's Day when we honor our fathers who helped give us life and have nurtured us through life.
THE MEN’S THESAURUS (men don’t always say what they mean) – excerpts:
- When a man says: "IT’S A GUY THING" - He means: "There is no rational thought pattern connected with this, and you have no chance at all of making it logical."
- When a man says "CAN I HELP WITH DINNER" - He means: "Why isn't it already on the table?"
- When a man says "UH HUH, SURE HONEY," or "YES, DEAR" - He means: Absolutely nothing – It's a conditioned response.
- When a man says "IT WOULD TAKE TOO LONG TO EXPLAIN" - He means: "I have no idea how it works."
- When a man says "TAKE A BREAK, HONEY. YOU ARE WORKING TOO HARD" - He means: "I can't hear the game over the vacuum cleaner."
[read full article for complete list]
Jun 18, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Flag Day
Jeremiah 50:2 "Declare ye among the nations, and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and conceal not: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is confounded, Merodach is broken in pieces; her idols are confounded, her images are broken in pieces."
In this verse there is a reference to setting up the standard. Scholars tell us that the word used here can mean a rallying point, a signal, a banner or a flag. And to set up the standard simply means to raise the flag.
A flag can tell us a lot about a nation or its people. A flag becomes a symbol of that body. It can become so revered, that it can cause men and women to fight to their death for its cause. And a flag is usually on a pole at a high or prominent place to let everyone know who has occupied the place.
Jun 11, 2010 - 10:00:00 AM
Pastor's Update
Stand Up!
Standing up for God in a less-than-friendly society often involves our willingness to stand alone. Two well-known examples found in God's word about men of courage who stood alone are Elijah and Jesus. No one was more of a man; no one was more willing to stand alone than Jesus was. First let's look at the story of Elijah and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal.
The first time we see Elijah is in 1 Kings 18. He is told by God to go and announce that there will not be rain on the land until he says so. Baal worship had become common and Baal was thought to be the god of rain, so what better way to put that to rest than to stop all rain.
Jun 4, 2010 - 11:50:33 AM
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