If I Could Be Like...Jesus

This commercial brings back a lot of memories while calling to mind the desire of children (and adults too!) to emulate their heroes. Who are you seeking to emulate today? Who are your heroes? Is the life you are living in front of your friends, co-workers and kids inspiring them to be more like Christ? Is your hero Christ? Is the desire of your heart to be like Christ? Do your actions prove it?

Pastor James

Justified...Are You?

Christians usually use the term "justified" to indicate one's standing before God. So, usually, the word "justified" means "to be declared "ok" and "good" by God because of one's faith in the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for his or her sins." However in James 2:24 the scripture says, "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone." Have we got it all wrong? Are we declared "ok" and "good" by God through something more than our faith in Jesus???

If we look at the context of the passage in James we see he uses the word "justified" differently than Christians most often use it. James is using "justified" in terms of vindication or evidence. Our actions give evidence and prove our faith in Christ to be real. In this case the word "justified" indicates the surety of our relationship with Christ. James says in 2:18, "I will show you my faith by what I do." Our actions, more so than our words, should give proof and vindication of our faith in Christ (what we believe and trust to be true about Him).

So, are you justified before God and the world today? Is your faith proven real by your works? Is the faith you profess with your mouth making a difference in your life? Can others see that difference? James said in 2:17, "faith without works is dead faith." Dead faith cannot justify a person before God nor will it justify him before man because such faith is simple lip service. Make sure you have real, saving faith that makes you justified before God (declared good and in right standing) and justified before man (proven true by the change seen in your actions). True, living faith that justifies a person before God produces obedience to Him (Romans 1:5). Don't be fooled by any imitations...make sure you have the real thing; make sure you have real faith in Jesus!

Pastor James

Where Has The Time Gone?

Recently I took some time to consider that very soon I will be 40 years old and became very aware of the brevity of life. Forty years have flown by like sand through the hourglass, literally! Soon I will be looking back at 80 years, God willing, bewildered at where the time has gone.

How are you spending your precious God given gift called time? The book of James tells us we are a "mist that appears for a little while then vanishes." We have only a short while on this earth and then are gone to eternity. As the old poem says, "Only one life t'will soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." Make sure you are living a life with eternity in mind. Don't waste the opportunity to live a life that matters for the Kingdom of God. Live a life that brings glory to God and makes impact for eternity.

Pastor James

We Have No Creed But The Bible

We do not recite the Apostle's Creed, Nicene Creed or any other creed in the worship of the church I pastor. Nor do we require acceptance of a creed prior to welcoming a person into church membership. We have always championed the Bible itself as our only "creed" and advocated acceptance of the truth contained therein as the only criteria necessary for membership. I believe this to be the Biblical way of doing things but in following this theology we must regularly ask ourselves the question...have we allowed extra-biblical ideas, traditions and methods to trump the Scriptures in our life of faith?

I challenge you to consider areas of your life and belief which may find their basis in traditions, influences and philosophy outside of the Bible. Is your relationship with God scripturally based or have you allowed extra-biblical influences to sidetrack you and place you in spiritual bondage? Make certain your faith is rooted in the truth of God's Word!

James

Great Testimony From Matt Chandler

Matt Chandler is lead pastor of The Village Church in Dallas. He found out over the Thanksgiving holiday that he has a brain tumor. The link below is to a video he made a few days before having brain surgery. This video is powerful testimony to God's grace and power even in the darkest of times.

http://hv.thevillagechurch.net/blog/hvpastor/

James

Christmas!

Waiting to Do The Work The Right Way

Waiting does not come easy for most of us. Waiting in line, waiting for Christmas, waiting for your wedding day...not much fun! Waiting requires patience and most folks in our "microwave society" have far too little of this precious comodity. But to those who practice patience and wait on the Lord the rewards are excellent.

Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit and THEN they would be witnesses for Him. The disciples were sitting on the biggest story ever but were told to wait and not share it just yet! How does this make any sense? The crucifixtion and resurrection were hot of the presses big news! Yet, they were told to wait until God came upon them and then, in God's time, they would be turned loose on the population as God's witness.

The results...The apostles preached with power in the language of ever person present at Pentecost...at the same time! The Greeks heard the apostle's testimony in Greek, the Jews in Hebrew and the Arabs in Arabic! Every man, woman and child heard the witness of the apostles in their own tongue without need of a translator!

When we wait upon God we do things in His power, His way and with the results only He can bring. How do we wait on God??? We pray, read His Word, listen and go to the work when He opens the door and sends us...not a moment before He convicts and sends!

Doing the work right means doing it in the Lord's time, empowered by the Lord and exactly as the Lord asks us to do it...the results of doing so are nothing short of remarkable!

Pastor James

Love God, Be Available and Obey: Being a Part of God's Plan

I was reading Luke 1 and 2 yesterday as will be my custom often during Advent and God spoke a word to me concerning His grace and sovereignty. Think about the people and their story in these chapters. What did any of them do to be chosen and used by God for His glory? An aside here...to glorify God is to be a demonstration of his character and power...Each person in these chapters was used of God to further His plan of redemption and bring glory to Himself. All they did to be a part of God's plan was love Him and make themselves available to Him!

Want to be a part of God's plans and bring glory to Him? Love Him, make yourself available to Him and when the call comes...obey Him! You don't have to work hard to become "useful." You don't have to earn a place at the party! God loves us and wants us to be a part of what He is doing in the world and by His grace He will make a way for that to happen. Love Christ and be ready to obey Him Him when He calls!

Pastor James