Get Out of the Boat

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
A message that the Lord spoke to me about at the prayer gathering was distinct. "Get out of the boat!" I have taken that both personally and associationally. I have made it a part of my life to both live a life that depends on total focus on the Lord and also challenge others to do the same. I am not certain of the full ramifications of the message and I am not sure that I am intended to totally understand or simply meant to follow its concept.
Jesus called four of the disciples out of their boats to follow Him. They left their comfort zones of livelihood and safety to follow Christ and learn from Him.
In a later passage, Jesus was walking on water and urged Peter to join Him. As Peter took his first steps on the surface of the Sea of Galilee, he was successful in doing what our Lord was doing (walking on water). It was only when peter looked down to the troubled waters that his fear overtook him and he began to sink. Event then as he cried out for the Lord to save him Jesus reached down and brought Peter up to safety.
Some of us need to gather up enough fortitude to follow Jesus and learn more about His way of reaching out to the lost. Others of us might even need to gather up enough gumption to try walking on the water with Christ Jesus.
Blessings to you all, Al

Being a Good Soldier

Being a Good Soldier 1 Timothy 6:3-21

Things to avoid in the battle:
False teachings (v3)
Controversies about words (or wording) (v4)
Trying to get rich (v9)


Things to focus on in the battle:
Righteousness (v11)
Godliness
Faith
Love
Endurance
Gentleness
The example of Christ Jesus (v13)
Hold this command (hold the fort; hold the hill) (v14;20)
Remember how worthy and holy our leader is (v15)
Remind those who are rich to give to the cause and be rich in good deeds (v17-19)
Guard what has been entrusted to you (v20)
Turn away from godless chatter (v20)

Conclusion: Grace be with you (v21)

Let's Be ChurchWhy people don’t go to church:

Why people don’t go to church:
1. Life is too busy. I have no time.
2. I’ve never been a particularly religious person.
3. It’s boring and irrelevant.
4. I was never brought up to go.
5. I had a bad experience of church.
6. Too many bad things have happened in my life to believe there is a God.
7. You don’t have to go to church to be a Christian.
8. I have never truly given it any thought.
9. I was made to go when I was younger.
10. My partner is not interested in going.






Why people should go to church:
1. People make time for what they really want to do.
2. Jesus wasn’t religious either.
3. What can you do to change it?
4. It is your eternal destiny, not church attendance that is at stake here. John 8:24
5. So you’ve had nothing but good experiences outside of the church?
6. Bad things happen because of sin. Job and Jesus had bad things happen to them Romans 8:24
7. I don’t have to live with my wife and converse with her to be married to here but it makes my relationship with her a bit better if I do so.
8. You ought to!
9. That is unfortunate, God never intended for others to brow-beat you into submission to His will. John 3:17
10. Are you willing to spend eternity in hell because your partner is not interested in church?




Let me leave you with this thought. Martin Luther King was once asked how, as a convinced pacifist, he could be an admirer of Air Force General Daniel "Chappie" James, who at that time was the nations highest-ranking black officer. Dr. King replied, "I judge people by their own principles - not by my own".

Getting a Good Report

Getting a Good Report Hebrews 11:1; 12:1-2
Hebrews 11:1
1Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Aunt Bessie’s blueberry pie came up missing and no one admitted to taking it, but two small boys had blueberry stains on their shirts and weren’t very hungry at dinner time.

The changed lives of believers is evidence of the Holy Spirit moving in the lives of believers.

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3. This is a specific course; do not try another path.

4. Keep your eyes on the prize.