I was listening to Whit’s End, a children’s program on WCRF, the other day while driving in my car. I didn’t catch the whole show but I did hear a little nugget of truth that blessed my heart as I took it to prayer.

The situation was about the young man Eugene, the eccentric intellectual that helps Mr. Whittaker with the Imagination Station. Well, it seems that Eugene had applied for a position at the local college and his resume was being looked over by the hiring committee. It didn’t look like he was going to get the job and he was just a little disappointed. But this is what he said about his resume: “You know, there are some things that a resume can’t speak of… like passion and the desire to do the job.”

I thought about that for the rest of the day and like I said, I took it to the Lord in prayer. “God.” I said, “Eugene was so right. Resumes can only speak of accomplishments and experience. They cannot speak of the individual’s character.

If I was going to hire someone for a job, I don’t think I would hire an individual based on qualifications alone. For instances, if I was going to hire an accountant to manage my finances, I would surely want one that I could trust had my best interest in mind. Sure, keeping the figures correct and the decimal points in the right place is important, but if the fellow was a snake…”

God reminded me of the situation he had with Moses. Moses was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter as a prince in Egypt. He was obviously schooled by the best. Stephen tells us that Moses was educated in all wisdom of the Egyptians and was powerful in speech and action.” Acts 7:22 Moses was ready to free his fellow Israelites before he went into exile. But God had other plans. God had to change Moses. Moses was impetuous and God would make him meek. Moses thought he alone could free the slaves and God showed him that God alone would free the slaves. Credentials are important but character is more so. I would rather hire a man I know held regard for the Word of God than someone who was more qualified. I would rather be in partnership with a person who feared God than one who gave Him no regard.

As I was praying God also reminded me that I would be hiring someone –the next President of the United States! I would cast my vote and my vote counts, so, who should get my vote…?

This is how I vote: I vote character, not credentials. God hates abortion and so I cannot vote for a man who voted for it and against the ban on partial birth abortion. Homosexuality is still an abomination therefore, I cannot vote for someone who votes against the ban on same-sex-marriages. How could I? What would I say to God on the day that he judges my works as a Christian?

“O, God, I know that you were angry with us for killing all those children, but the economy was so bad…” No, I will vote for the candidate that aligns closest to God’s Word. I may not agree with everything the man does but I definitely want someone who at least holds the Word of God, to some extent, in high regard.

Just think about this for a moment: Doesn’t the United States have people with great abilities, wisdom and intellect? Isn’t her land pleasant and profitable for farming? Doesn’t the United States have what it takes, and then some, as far as credentials go? Then why are we in the mess we’re in? I tell you; because of our character –it stinks. Let me tell you what would turn this country around; a good godly character, and it starts with you and me.

It really doesn’t matter what we have done, experienced or accomplished if our character is off. Remember what Solomon once said, “A good name is more to be desired than great riches!”
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim

I just got off the phone with an Internet Provider who sent us a bill for services incurred this past year. One problem; we didn’t use their services. The story begins last October when Robin informed me that she would need a faster internet because of her home-schooling the girls. So we switched and I went to inform the business here in town that we would no longer be using them. Ironically enough this local business was in the process of selling to a business in California. “Good deal,” I thought. “I wanted to keep my business local anyway.” I was paid up through February of 2008 and since it was only going to be a matter of a few dollars in refund, I was just going to let them have the money rather than go through the hassle of being refunded.

Meanwhile, the company in California sold to a company in Virginia, and guess what? We got a bill from the company in Virginia! And the funny thing about it is the bill is for the time period of Feb.08 –Jul. 08. Funny? Yeah, go ahead and laugh, it’s not your bill! Well I thought one quick call would clear up their misunderstanding and life would go back to normal. Wrong.

We got another bill in August and so I called and left a message on their machine. We got another bill in September; I got busy and forgot to call. So this brings us up to the present. The representative was friendly and said she would look into the matter. But you know something, I’ve got this funny feeling that come November, I am going to receive another invoice from these guys!

Back on March 10th in the year, 1985; I went to Jesus Christ and asked Him to cancel my debt of sin. He did instantly and has never brought up my past debt again! (I’m sure glad God didn’t sell out to another company!)

You know, every man, woman and child has incurred a debt that only God can cancel. This debt is the debt of sin for the Bible says that everyone has sinned and everyone has fallen from God and everyone needs forgiveness. BUT check this out! It also says that EVERYONE who believes on His Name SHALL… BE… SAVED!!

John tells us that if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us of our sins and cleans us from all unrighteousness. And again, love bears no record of wrongs. And again, love covers over a multitude of sin. But the Scripture that blesses me the most in regards to my past life is found in Hebrews.

As the author was quoting from Jeremiah, he reminds us of that new covenant that God was making with mankind through His Son. “The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: ‘This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.’ Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’” Now, we must understand that God does not forget our sins like man would forget. But God chooses to remember them no more.

So, if you would happen to call (prayer) the Main Office and ask if the debt was cancelled, you are not going to get the run-around or “We’ll look into it…” No sir, the muzak that plays, if you happen to be put on hold, is the old hymn, “The Old Account was Settled Long Ago”

Long ago, long ago
Yes, the old account was settled long ago; And the record’s clear today, For He washed my sins away, When the old account was settled long ago.

Have a great week!
Pastor Jim

Whether one believes in evolution or creation as the beginning point of all that we see, they must believe by faith. The origins of creation are beyond man’s vision and therefore, he must hold his belief by faith.

As history is told from different perspectives, even to the point of contradiction, those who hold those perspectives do so by faith. For example; there are those who refuse to believe that the Holocaust ever happened, because they choose to believe those who purvey that denial. History has been written –and rewritten and whatever history one chooses to believe does so by faith.

Everyone lives by faith in their everyday lives, whether they are theist or antitheist. Do we not have faith that those providing us with electricity will do so everyday? Does not a child have faith that they will be provided with love, food and clothes by their parents? Isn’t it faith that moves us forward when we need to see a doctor?

We don’t know what is ailing us and so we go to someone who we trust does –that’s faith. (Faith is manifested when we make the appointment, go to the office and wait for the doctor to examine us.) The Bible says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. I am only making an observation here; but what I see is that faith is a part of every living person’s life. Faith is intrinsic to the human psyche and that is where my questions begin.

I don’t have any problem with developing faith; a child learns faith and it develops with age. A child cries to its mother for milk. The mother gives the child good, nourishing milk. Now when she continues to do this, the child learns to have faith in its mother. When the child becomes a toddler and is in a room full of mothers, he knows just who to go to when he gets hungry. This toddler has developed his faith in his mother. The question remains; how did the child get faith in the first place? Parents don’t give their children faith like they give them food and clothing. Everyone has some portion of faith in their make-up and that’s all there is to that!

But if faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see, then faith must, in essence, transcend the human psyche! Faith is given to man so that he may know that something lies beyond human existence. Faith enables man to live beyond his own strength and go beyond his own comprehension. Faith empowers one to live and, depending on what or who, one has their faith in, that empowerment can mean a successful life. The Bible tells us that the righteous will live by faith. It of course means faith in God or better said; by God’s faith. You see, Jesus lived completely by this faith and He conquered the grave! He beat death by this faith and by this faith He is alive right now! Listen, everyone wants to live forever and it is only by faith in God that makes this possible.

Wouldn’t it be foolish to have faith that I could help NASA send the next satellite into space? Would you have faith that Tiger Woods could diagnose and cure your mystery illness? No, but you could have faith that Tiger Woods could help your golf game. Why would any man put his faith in another man who died? But if that Man rose from the dead, doesn’t it stand to reason that if you wanted eternal life, that you put your faith in Him? Just like the mother who continually fed her child with nourishing food, and so developed that child’s faith, so Christ will continually feed His own and they also will learn faith. Faith cometh by hearing the Word of the Lord! It isn’t rocket science it just makes plain good sense.

There is a lot of talk about the year 2012 and the return of Jesus Christ. I’m sticking with my Bible and with what Jesus said two thousand years ago, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven…” There are some things that God has cloaked in mystery and He did so for a reason! Sure it’s neat to study end-time prophecies and watch the daily headlines for any hint of fulfillment, but in the long run it can do more damage than good. “Why?” you may ask; it is because it keeps you from asking the really important question surrounding these times.

“Where will I be in the year 2012?” Now, I’m not talking about where you will be living, or what job or career you may have, if you’ll be married or have grandchildren. No, I’m strictly talking about your spiritual state and your relationship with God. What does it matter if by the year 2012, you have gained the whole world and yet are completely lost as far as God is concerned?

The rise of apocalyptic expectations may have a very positive effect on some folks, but for most, it only strikes another new fear to add to the ever-growing list. Twenty years ago I felt as though Jesus could rapture His Church at any moment –I still feel this very strongly. The return of Jesus Christ is imminent, which means that He can return now! The men who wrote the New Testament thought so! Paul thought the time was short. The writer of Hebrews said that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as some were in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another –and all the more as we see the Day approaching. James tells us to be patient, standing firm, for the Lord’s coming is near… The Judge is standing at the door! Finally, Peter exhorts us to be clear-minded and self-controlled so that we can pray. Why? Because the end of all things is near.
When we hear of new things happening in today’s world that seem to correlate with the prophetic announcements of the Bible, we should be all the more determined to draw closer to God.

When I was given chores to do while my mother was away I would put off doing them until I thought she was soon to return. I know, I know, that wasn’t the best display of character. But at eight years of age I was more interested in playing than fulfilling responsibilities. I think it has something to do with human nature!

But think about it for one minute; how does it effect you when you think about Jesus coming back, let’s say… a week from now? Would you feel as though you had to buckle down? What if it was a year from now? Would you think that you still had time to play? What if it was the year 2012 when He’ll return? What would your thoughts be today? You would have just a little over four years left of this life. How would you prioritize? What would become important to you? What would become less important? Finally, where are you going to be in 2012? We are all going to be somewhere; I guarantee you that one. If you have ever spent time in intimate prayer with God, you know what glory that we experience while there. Now we commune with Him by faith. Now, we see through a “glass darkly” but then, we shall see Him face to face!

Oh, what glory divine, what joys shall be ours, what peace we shall behold! Brothers and Sisters, the King is coming. Will it be in 2012? It will be in an hour that we think not… He’ll come as a thief… It will be as fast as lightning! You and I need not fear, nor do we need to know the exact time of His return. For we have the same assurance as David when he said, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life –and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!”
Have a great week!
Pastor Jim