February 14, 2010 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 NKJV) Today of course is Valentine’s Day and many expressions of love will be shown this day. Valentine’s Day is normally associated with romantic love. But today I want to extend it to love between all people, not in a romantic way but in a godly way. The Bible clearly teaches us that God is love He acts toward us out of His love. That being the case we would do well to act toward each other out of love for others. As a matter of fact, the Bible teaches us that if we do not love, we really don’t know God (I John 4:7-8). A man named Dennis Waitely, in his work – Seeds of Greatness explained love in the following way: L – listening when another is speaking. O – overlooking petty faults and forgiving all failures. V – valuing other people for who they are. E – expressing love in a practical way. Have a blessed Valentine’s Day and remember we are to love everyday of the year.

2/14/2010 12:57:38 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)    Comments [0] 

January 28, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

A church member recently sent me this email.  It is amusing but also serious. 

A Terrorist Group in the Church House!

Latest news reports are that five terrorist cell groups have been operating in many of our churches.  They have been identified as:

• Bin Sleepin
• Bin Arguin
• Bin Fightin
• Bin Complainin
• Bin Missin

Their leader, Lucifer Bin Workin, trained these groups to destroy the Body of Christ.  The plan is to come into the church disguised as Christians and to work within the church to discourage, disrupt, and destroy.

However, there have been reports of a sixth group.  A tiny cell known by the name Bin Prayin is actually the only effective counter terrorism force in the church.  Unlike other terrorist cells, the Bin Prayin team does not blend in with whoever and whatever comes along.

Bin Prayin does whatever is needed to uplift and encourage the Body of Christ.  We have noticed that the Bin Prayin cell group has different characteristics than the others.  They have Bin Watchin, Bin Waitin, Bin Fastin, and Bin Longin for their Master, Jesus Christ to return.

NO CHURCH IS EXEMPT!

(However, you can spot them if you bin lookin and bin goin.)

“Prayer Changes Things”

1/31/2010 1:23:04 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)    Comments [0] 

January 24, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

The Bible clearly states – “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Timothy 2:15 NKJV).  In other words, the Bible clearly tells us to be students of scripture.  But how many “Christians” take to heart what the Bible says?

In the reading to follow it is my prayer that this year we will be encouraged to seriously invest time in the reading and studying of God’s Word:

I supposed I knew my Bible,

Reading piece-meal, hit or miss;

Now a bit of “John” or “Matthew,”

Next a snatch of “Genesis.”

Certain chapters of “Isaiah”,

Certain “Psalms,” – the twenty-third,

Twelfth of “Romans,” first of “Proverbs.”

Yes, I thought I knew the Word.

But I found a thorough reading

Was a different thing to do,

And the way was unfamiliar

When I read the Bible through.

Ye who treat the Crown of Writings

As you treat no other book –

Just a paragraph disjointed,

Just a crude impatient look –

Try a worthier procedure,

Try a broad and steady view;

You will kneel in very rapture

When you read the Bible through.

                                                                   - Amos R. Wells, quoted in John R. Rice, Poems That Preach

                                                                    (From Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations and Quotations)

Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

                                                                                                                                   (Psalm 119:105 NKJV)

1/31/2010 12:11:39 AM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)    Comments [0] 

January 17, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25 NKJV)

The above verse found in the ninth chapter of the gospel of John centers around a man who was blind since birth.  One day he met Jesus and Jesus healed him of his blindness – sight was given to him.

The religious leaders who should have been rejoicing at the healing this man received were upset at what Jesus had done.  Rather than spend energy celebrating the blessing this man had received, they wasted energy in trying to find fault with Jesus and the man.

The religious leaders questioned him vigorously as well as his parents.  During another round of questioning in which the religious leaders were trying to discredit the work of Jesus by classifying Him as a sinner, the man who had been healed simply responded – “Whether He is a sinner or not, I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”  Unfortunately, the religious leaders banned this man from the synagogue.

He knew what had happened to him.  He couldn’t explain how it happened nor could he tell much about who was responsible for his healing.  He just knew that he could see.  What little he did know was enough for him to enjoy his blessing and live his life differently.  Eventually, he came to know the identity of Jesus and began to worship Him.  But until that happened he was sustained by what he knew.

I’m convinced that what we know can sustain us as we make our journey through life.  We will not know everything there is to know about God or His Word, but there is enough for us to know that can make a difference as we make our journey through life.

Let us not spend so much time focusing on what we don’t know, rather let us focus on what we do know.  What we know can dispel hopelessness and despair.  What we do know can give us strength and a reason to go on.  We might not know much, but we ought to know something that leads us to say – “One thing I do know…”

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart.

1/16/2010 6:43:55 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)    Comments [0] 

January 10, 2010

Bulletin Thought

A Thought from Pastor Bryson,

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sin.”

                                                                                                                                   (Ephesians 2:1)

We are into the second week of a brand New Year and I would imagine that we’re thankful to be alive to continue our journey through life.

But how alive are we?  At one time I worked as a nurse and we had patients who were on life support, they were alive but barely.  Their heart was beating, they were breathing with the aid of a ventilator.  They were alive but not to the point where they could engage in conversation or enjoy all the beauty of creation.  It is safe to say that their quality of life was lacking.

Unfortunately today there are many people who are alive but their quality of life is lacking.  To be sure they are up and about, breathing on their own which is a blessing.  But many fail to realize just how blessed they are.  Many are dull to God speaking to them or God’s work around them.  They are in one sense alive physically but dead spiritually.

The GOOD NEWS of faith in Jesus is that through Jesus we become alive spiritually.  Sin, being disobedient to God slowly but surely alienates us from God.  But when we come to know Jesus as Savior, we become alive spiritually – which only enhances our quality of life.  When we are alive physically and spiritually, our lives are characterized by certain qualities.  Such as:

• We are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:11).  In other words, we see the handiwork of God all around us.  We are sensitive to Him speaking and moving in our midst.  Because of Him, we have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10).

• We are filled with joy (Romans 5:11; 1 Peter 1:8).  The Bible clearly teaches that joy is a fruit of the Spirit meaning that not just some Christians are to have joy, but all Christians are to have joy.  This joy has nothing to do with external circumstances.  It simply comes from our walk with Him.

• We are filled with gratitude (Colossians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).  When we think of the goodness of God toward us, how can we not help but be thankful?

• We are filled with hope (John 14:1-3).  No matter how bad things may get, we know that God is and that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Of course, there are a lot of more qualities that we possess that only help us to be alive.  THANK GOD I’m alive.  How alive are you?

1/11/2010 8:47:21 PM (Central Standard Time, UTC-06:00)    Comments [0]