The Storm Shelter

One night when I was five years old a storm turned into a tornado. The things I remember most are the rain and and thunder but most of all how it suddenly stopped and an erie silence set in. It seemed like hours of silence but it was only seconds. Then it happened a boom like an airplane hitting the side of the house. Glass, household articles, and other things went flying all around the house. My mother was raised three feet off the floor trying to save new drapiries going out of the window. Western Kentucky being proned to tornandos had many houses with a storm shelters. Unfortunately our home did not have one. A survey of the homesite the next morning showed total devastation yet no one suffered injuries more than scracthes.

Randy Travis released an album in the mid 80's titled "The Storms of Life" . Randy croons in it's titled song. " I better change my wandaring ways, I know I've seen my better days, always getting high when I get low, Well I left my soul out in the rain, Lord what a price I've had to pay. The Storms of Life are washing me away" .

You see we have many "storms" in life. Some are caused by decisions we make, some by circumstances we have no control over. Whatever your storm may be fianancial, relationships, or health issues where do you go? Some people search for comfort in alcohol, drugs or illicit physical relations. Yet with all this searching they just make the storm rage more.

In Luke we are told of a miricle of Jesus during a storm.
Luke 8:22-25 (NKJV)
22 Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.
23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 But He said to them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, “Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
In Mark 4:39 we are told Jesus rebuked the storm by saying " Peace Be Still"

Jesus Is the "Storm Shelter of Life" Do you know Jesus? Why let the storms rage on?
Know Jesus Know Peace

The Tragedy of Jesus' Birth or The Real Cost of Christmas

The Tragedy of Jesus’ Birth 

(The real cost of Christmas)

·         A tragedy is defined as

    1.    very sad event: an event in life that evokes feelings of sorrow or grief

    2.    disastrous event: a disastrous circumstance or event, e.g. serious illness, financial ruin, or fatality

Have you ever thought that the birth of Christ had tragic consequences? In today's society we rarely think about the true cost of Christmas. I'm not speaking about the expense of toys, travel, or  holiday festivities.

In today's society we think about not being able to buy Christmas presents and give to our loved ones a tragedy. It may be we can't afford to visit our love ones during the Christmas season. And although this may be a very sad situation it is not a true tragedy.

I'm talking about the real cost of Christmas. On the day that Christ was born Angels announced his birth to shepherds watching their flocks at night. The shepherds went to find the Christ child. They found him lying in a manger among the animals with his parents. They could never imagine what would happen in the near future. When a jealous king would destroy an entire city’s male children, every child under two years of age in Bethlehem  would be put to death in fear that they would be king someday. In Matthew 2:16-18

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. 

 ¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

   ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah,

     Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

     Rachel weeping for her children,

     Refusing to be comforted,

     Because they are no more.”

 Little did Herod the great know that Jehovah God had warned the parents of the eternal King, Joseph and Mary to flee to Egypt.

Matthew 2:13-15

¹³ Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

¹⁴ When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt,

¹⁵ and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son

Upon Herod the Great's death Jesus and his family would be called out of Egypt. Once again fulfilling prophecy.

So you see there was a great tragedy that occurred shortly after Jesus’ birth. The tragedy once again fulfilled prophecy. Jesus birth came at a great cost to Bethlehem. Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the ransom of the sin of the world.

The tragedy today is that people still reject Jesus as God's son. This rejection will lead them into eternal damnation and separation from God for all eternity. As Christians we are not responsible for a person to accept Christ. We are responsible as stated in Matthew 28 to tell lost people about Christ and to make disciples.

This year as you contemplate Christmas presents and their cost please keep in mind the greatest present of all which could never be repaid was the birth of the Christ child. Merry Christmas to all and may the love of the Christ child living you.

Let's Grow UP

As I get older I am amazed at how many older Christians have held onto childish attitudes. I have seen people that I had greatly admired for their service to the Lord fall in the area of forgiveness & love. At times the scenario this fall was over may of been very inconsequential at other times very valid.

What has amazed me is sometimes they freely give up a position serving the Lord because they didn't get their own way or they wallow in the anger and bitterness for a very long time. They do this to the point it destroys all the good they have done. I try hard not to question their salvation but it is difficult not to. Seeing someone you've watched for 20 or so years serving the Lord well, sin in this manner is very disheartening.

In 1 Corinthians 13:11 it says ^"When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. "

We are called to Love each other in 1 John 4:20-21 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

LET's put away childish things and GROW UP.

No Shame

A couple of nights ago while eating at a local restaurant two women with two young children came into the restaurant and sat down. They went and served themselves from the buffet. I didn't think they had paid upon entering which was how this restaurant was set-up. I wasn't sure.
While eating their meal a waitress asked if they had paid,  When she informed the manger they hadn't paid the manager started calling someone (police I suppose). The women and children left quickly.

What I must say that shocked me the most was the women were not the least bit ashamed and almost seemed to have the attitude that they were entitled to eat there for free!
No matter how you see it those "ladies" (term used in the loosest since of the word) had  stolen from the restaurant. You could argue they were just trying to feed the children (why did the two adults have more food) or maybe they were hungry ( they didn't look too hungry if you catch my drift).  Bottom line is they are thieves.

 I have often wondered how modern society would handle immediate punishment for any wrongs (sins) committed. God would dole out punishment as soon as the LAW was broken.

Remember Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5:1-10 of the New Testament?.  God Struck Ananias dead at the alter. Then when Sapphira committed the same sin she was struck down too. You see what they did was essentially what the "ladies" did. They had stolen and lied. The "ladies" from the restaurant,  Ananias and Sapphira  from God.. Both cases totally without shame. Both case have consequences.



I just wonder what would happen tomorrow at work if someone steals something or lies about something and the Lord strikes them down immediately how long would it take to make a better work environment. How many people would still be there to take care of the patients. Would you ? Would I? Something to think about isn't it. See you in chuech Sunday?

Deacon Dan
Pastor Dan
John 3:30

Acts 5:1-10 (NKJV)

1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession.
2 And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?
4 While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”
5 Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things.
6 And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him.
7 Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened.
 8 And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”
9 Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”
10 Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband.

WOW AGAIN

My little church Union Chapel has had an increase in attendence
Ordained into the ministry on Mothers Day
My first Funeral today
To God Be The Glory

WOW

Well My Last Post was in June 2010. I alluded to the fact that I had done pulpit supply here in the Delta. You see in April 2010 my wife and I went to the alter at our church my prayer was God if you want me to go into the ministry if you opened the door I'll go through it. I didn't tell anyone about this. The very next day I recieved a phone call to preach at a church. The calls kept coming . Wednesday nights, Sunday morning breakfasts many more churches.
After several Sundays in one particular church I recieved another fateful call A deacon from that little church called and we talked. A week later I met with the deacon board. I have been their pastor now for about two and a half months. We have seen the attendance grow from between seven to thirteen to twenty to twenty-five. God is blessings our church. I will be posting my sermons here on a regular basis. They will not be verbatim as I delivered them but the main thought and verses will be here. Only my personal analogys will missing.
Brother Dan
John 3:30

The Deacons Corner

Well A lot has happened since my last post. We have an interim pastor. So I have not written any more articles. I have rotated out of the "hot seat" as the chairman of the deacon council. My youngest daughter graduated college on May 8th and then got married on May 15th. All the while I have filled several pulpits in this area. God has given me many blessings. Today is my oldest daughters birthday and she's a great mother, wife, daughter and teacher. She was an answer to prayers over 28 years ago.