<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<rss version="2.0" 
    xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
    xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
    xmlns:admin="http://webns.net/mvcb/"
    xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#"
    xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd">
	<channel>
<title>Jim Gross - Pastor&#x27;s Desk</title><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/index.html</link><description>From The Pastor&#x27;s Desk</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2006 James Gross</dc:rights><dc:date>2012-01-29T19:19:00-05:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
<admin:errorReportsTo rdf:resource="mailto:jim@wordworshipcenter.com" /><sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
<sy:updateBase>2000-01-01T12:00+00:00</sy:updateBase>
<lastBuildDate>Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:20:01 -0500</lastBuildDate><item><title>Inconvenient Truths&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2012-01-29T19:19:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ec06000de74cd500d83d01035b3bbb36-293.html#unique-entry-id-293</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ec06000de74cd500d83d01035b3bbb36-293.html#unique-entry-id-293</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Gore&rsquo;s campaign on global warming is so well known that one has to at least stop and &ldquo;scratch the head&rdquo; on this one. 


...Gore&rsquo;s (with many others in agreement) theories on global warming believe that the sea levels will rise significantly due to the melting polar caps. 

...How could a man who so totally believes in something, who promotes the message so emphatically and no doubt lives what he believes, make such a critical error in judgment? 


...First, God reminded me of all the hypocrisy that He witnesses from sun up to sun down, everyday &ndash;all the time. 

...Then, why are there countless men and women who live in this sin daily and who believe that they love Jesus and will someday rule and reign with Him for all eternity?    Maybe it is because there are men and women who claim to be ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teach others that homosexuality is not a sin! 

...Just a thought here; do you think that God has more patience for those who do not know the truth, or for those who say they hold to the Truth?   I tend to have more patience with those who do not claim to be Christian, then with those who do. 


...I remember Jesus nailing the Pharisees to their own hypocrisies, while telling the woman caught in adultery, &ldquo;Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.&rdquo;   


...Maybe it was a lie, maybe you cheated on your taxes, maybe it was sexual in nature, or maybe you just down right stole something. ...  But as hypocritical as we may think others show themselves to be, how much more the Christian who at the moment of temptation chooses to sin rather than to submit to the Lover of his soul. 

...To sin (for the Christian) is the ultimate show of stupidity; for at that moment, we dethrone God from our hearts and believe that we will not have to answer to Him in the end. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>FAITH IS&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2012-01-22T20:03:59-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3d86b4e2095abc522859a1f17bfd5ae3-292.html#unique-entry-id-292</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3d86b4e2095abc522859a1f17bfd5ae3-292.html#unique-entry-id-292</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The cave is actually a series of caves and tunnels, and you are at the conjunction where four tunnels have joined before running in four separate directions. 

...As you hold the match out at arm&rsquo;s distance, you circle around to see if there is any hope. 

...Thinking that there may be a breeze coming in from your right, you move in that direction and realize that maybe, just maybe your assumption may be correct. 

...	This is the situation; you need to remove rock and dirt from the area you think one of the tunnels is that will lead you out of the cave.   You cannot see any light and you actually feel no breeze &ndash;you only see the movement of the flame from the head of the match. 


Now, you can sit there and say to yourself, &ldquo;I think air is coming from that direction, the evidence is the flame of the match. ...  I am not even sure that this pile of rock, if cleared away, will lead me to a tunnel. 

...And when you are at your last breath, with very little strength, you&rsquo;ll wonder to yourself, &ldquo;I wonder if my assumptions were correct?&rdquo; 

...If, however, you truly believed that little bit of evidence (the flickering flame of the match) you would have begun to clear away the rock and debris in the direction from where you thought the breeze was originating. 

...If Jesus wasn&rsquo;t resurrected from the grave, then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. 


The resurrection is the evidence, that, not only can we hope for eternal life, but that we can begin living (going in the direction that we believe will lead us to eternal life) with that hope as a motivator. 

...By faith, (for by which, I am saved) I will move in the direction (clearing away all the debris that is keeping me away from salvation) in which the Evidence points.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Ain&#x2019;t It Just Like God&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2012-01-15T19:49:45-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3a0da0480cea9d0275e95da8f3af6463-291.html#unique-entry-id-291</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3a0da0480cea9d0275e95da8f3af6463-291.html#unique-entry-id-291</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Tim Tebow, the young quarterback for the Denver Broncos is the latest sensation that has the country up in arms and the Christian world hollering, &ldquo;Alright and Amen!&rdquo; 


...But the thing that gets the &ldquo;Amens&rdquo; is the fact that Tim Tebow is a Christian and an outspoken one at that. 


...So, when Tim would be interviewed after a game, millions would see the Scriptural reference that he wore on his face. 


...It just goes to show you.. it&rsquo;s alright to talk about God &ndash;just don&rsquo;t use that name-Jesus Christ. 


In 2010 the  NCAA made a new rule for its college players, dubbing it the &ldquo;Tebow Rule&rdquo; stating that players were no longer allowed to write messages on their person. 


Tim was drafted in 2010 by the Denver Broncos and it was this year (after five games) that Tim became the starting quarterback for the team. 

...Even though Tim couldn&rsquo;t get his John 3:16 message out on his person (the NFL has the same rule as does the NCAA) God seems to have brought the message to America just the same. 


You see, Tim&rsquo;s total passing yards for the game was 316 yards and he averaged 31.6 yards per pass.   Ben Roethlisberger (the quarterback for the Pittsburg Steelers) threw an interception in the second quarter, on the 3rd down with 16 yards to go. 

...He once held a Bible up in his hands proclaiming that within one hundred years Christianity would be dead and that the Bible might be able to be found in second-hand bookstores.   Oddly though, it was within one hundred years after his own death that his very own home was turned into a place where they printed books. 

...I hope you don&rsquo;t think after all of this that your God is vindictive &ndash;He is not. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pastor Is Sick: Update on Adelene Mulford</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2012-01-08T17:50:12-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4c46288d2bb95f5476f479a5c2f080b7-290.html#unique-entry-id-290</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4c46288d2bb95f5476f479a5c2f080b7-290.html#unique-entry-id-290</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In place of Pastor&rsquo;s submission, I thought it might be nice to share with you from Julie Mulford&rsquo;s pen. 

...Adelene is doing really well today, not very many spells (like they call it) which could vary on some things which consists of low oxygen levels, heart rate drop, or residual (food left undigested).   Those things they tell us are normal for babies her size, but today she is doing very good since I called this morning.   They moved her feeds from 5 to 4 ml because she had a spell with all that food yesterday....they were going to try 5 today for supper......  We will be staying the whole weekend with my cousin in Columbus so we can be close to her.   Please continue to pray for Adelene to grow quickly, strong and well and that she doesn't forget her mommy when I have to be away :) and for us to have traveling mercies.   Also for me to heal very quickly, which seems to be happening Praise God...so I can get this house in order in time for her to return home :) Love you all! 

...I couldn't sleep one morning and God laid this poem on my heart for her and I just wanted to share it with you :) 


...I am so thankful to have you and so blessed and thankful for such an awesome God that we serve! ...  Pray for Adelene to grow fast and well, we want her home so bad it hurts.   It hurts so much to have her so far away and to be gone away from her for days.....it makes it much easier knowing that she is in better hands at the NICU getting better care than I could give her. ...  Knowing these things helps me get through the day a lot easier, but still have that longing to be with my sweet baby :) Please pray for a fast recovery for me so I can go to see her more often, and for Justin as it is hard for him to have a recovering wife and baby in the NICU and still have to go to work....]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>First Thing&#x2019;s First</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2012-01-01T20:40:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ba7ad0c65443d218238d000137f37ed6-289.html#unique-entry-id-289</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ba7ad0c65443d218238d000137f37ed6-289.html#unique-entry-id-289</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I have believed in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture since I&rsquo;ve given my heart to the Lord over twenty-six years ago and even though I thought that He would have returned by now, my hope is in no way deferred.  


...As I approach this year, hope springs anew and my heart is refreshed in the greatness of our God and the surety of His Promises!   O, praise the Lord, all you saints, lift His Name high and proclaim the mighty things He has done! 

...Brothers and Sisters, we our living in a time when the Lord will come back for His own. 


For the Lord Himself will come down, with a mighty shout, a trumpet call of an archangel, and the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive will be caught up together with them to meet the Lord in the air &ndash;and so, we will ever be with the Lord!  


...I cannot truly explain it, I can&rsquo;t find the words to describe it, but I am more and more assured that God&rsquo;s will, will be done!  


...It seems as though He speaks this even within the context of other things that He is saying. 

...And again, when he was in trouble and his soul was vexed, he cried out, &ldquo;Why so downcast, O my soul, put thy trust in the Lord!&rdquo;


...O, we are living in exciting times; we are living in the time sought by the Church for the last two thousand years. 


...Now, they are gathered again in their homeland (just as He said) and soon they will be crying out for their Messiah. ...  I know that He has always been watching over it, but now, His anger will be aroused and no one will be able to stay His hand. 


...Some can trust in riches, some, in the things of this world; but as for Robin and I, we will trust in the Lord! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Ultimate Weapon&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-12-25T10:59:46-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e4a6344ffb47239f529bc0e53e158d52-288.html#unique-entry-id-288</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e4a6344ffb47239f529bc0e53e158d52-288.html#unique-entry-id-288</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The tension in the citadel had come to a boiling point and not to be ready assured strong disciplinary measures that surely would have brought on even more trouble. 


...There were rumors that the Enemy was up to something, no one was for certain, but extra defenses to the outer wall were added. 


...The Commander-n-Chief&rsquo;s strategy had worked well for years, he had a secure hold on everything, yet something was amiss &ndash;he could feel it. 


...This day was no different, so with caution in his step and a lump in his throat, the soldier stood back just a little more timidly, &ldquo;Sir,&rdquo; He choked out, &ldquo;I think you are needed in the control room.&rdquo; 


Without a word the Commander turned with an ice-cold stare, paused has if to have known, and then the two of them proceeded past security into the main control room.   The room was large with hundreds of computers, manned and operating with the same precision that the troops on the streets moved in. 


...Operations had been running smoothly for a number of years, people were under control, prisoners were secured and the citadel had become impregnable. 


There were a few times, years ago, that the outer defenses had been broken through, but nothing really amounted to much.   Sure, there were some skirmishes in the mountains, and a few close calls with rebellions, but all in all, the citadel was securely under the Commander&rsquo;s tyrannical thumb.


...The soldier motioned to the operator to bring up the information that he had on his computer to the large monitor for all to see. 


...Their eyes turned toward the bright light even as some had hidden behind some rocks, yet they couldn&rsquo;t take their eyes off the light. 


The spinning, pulsating orb transformed into a beautiful array of colored light and took shape into what everyone in the room knew &ndash;an angel &ndash;a messenger of light! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Meaning for Christmas</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-12-18T20:20:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/387e8a1e2eea159b54db73eb93e8935d-287.html#unique-entry-id-287</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/387e8a1e2eea159b54db73eb93e8935d-287.html#unique-entry-id-287</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When it comes to the basic argument on how this world came into being, no one in their right mind can neglect the principle of Cause and Effect. 


...For instance, if we happen upon a book in the middle of a field, we would have to determine that something caused that book to be lying there &ndash;books just do not appear spontaneously in fields. 


The folks who want to congeal science and religion with a &ldquo;played down&rdquo; version of God will ultimately do more harm for themselves than good. 

...And given the fact that two men still can&rsquo;t live next to each other without squabbling about something, that&rsquo;s a path I hope we never go down. 


...The smells of Christmas, the lights, the good will, all those things I associate with Christmas, flood my heart every year to bring new joys and blessings &ndash;a new sense of worship. 

...I didn&rsquo;t know exactly what I was feeling, but the excitement associated with not knowing what my gifts were was gone! ...  This is why people want to celebrate Christmas in their own traditional ways &ndash;they&rsquo;re looking for that excitement they remember as a child. 


...In fact, there is no way we could even think of God within the context of creation, unless He first revealed Himself to us.   And if there were no God causing His effect on His creatures, then we wouldn&rsquo;t even think to look up into the heavens and ask, &ldquo;Why?&rdquo; 


...So when Jesus was speaking to the unbelieving Jews of His day, His words bring more significance to not only His identity, but to ours. 


...Though you do not know Him, I know Him&hellip;Your father, Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.&rsquo; 

...And that is one of many gifts Jesus has given to us by being born in Bethlehem. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Leaving It All On The Earth</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-12-11T19:59:22-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a92d0bbb519964e1de29e198656bf0fe-286.html#unique-entry-id-286</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a92d0bbb519964e1de29e198656bf0fe-286.html#unique-entry-id-286</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What they mean by this, of course, is to leave all of their capabilities, all of their potential, every ounce of their strength and stamina &ndash; and all of their sweat! 


The idea is that it would be such a waste of talent and practice if they would &ldquo;hold back&rdquo; or even save something for the next game. ...  It would be a shame for the team to lose because one of the players didn&rsquo;t give their all. 


How would you feel if you knew that you didn&rsquo;t run as fast as you could have and your team lost the big game? ...  Pastor Mark was telling me about his son, Cyrus, and what the coaches had instructed the running team for the college that he attends. ...  Cyrus told his dad that runners were crossing the finish line and immediately going to the side and collapsing to the ground, some vomiting and retching what little there may have been in them. 

...Football players in college are told to give it all and they&rsquo;ll be playing on Sunday, the day professional football is played. ...  But there is one thing that baffles me; if people feel this strongly about sports, that are here today and gone tomorrow, why then, can&rsquo;t we Christians feel this way towards the things of God? 


...This day is approaching faster than many think and soon, this life here on earth will be gone before you know it. ...  Gone, will be the chance to give it your all, hold nothing back, but offer yourself up to the Lord as a living sacrifice. 


There is coming a time when our toil shall be over and forever we must live with what we had done for the Lord while here on earth. 

...And I know that you feel the same, so by the grace of God let&rsquo;s be all we can be and not leave anything on the field. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>How much time is left?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-12-04T20:57:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e04810ef357987fd4d43eab851e32de-285.html#unique-entry-id-285</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e04810ef357987fd4d43eab851e32de-285.html#unique-entry-id-285</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I talk with people on just about any topic, it seems to me that Jesus&rsquo; return is one of the furthest things from their minds. 


...We have this natural tendency to think that life is going to go on just as it has since the beginning. 

...I realize that we must live for today, that we need to plan for the future and be diligent in taking care of those God entrusted us with. 

...1Timothy 6:8 But I wonder what Paul was thinking when he spoke to the Corinthians and said, &ldquo;What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short.   From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. 

...&ldquo;Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another &ndash;and all the more as you see the Day approaching.&rdquo; 

...And His Word has given us all we need, not only to make us wise unto salvation, but of the understanding of the times! ...  It is time to wake up from our slumber, to put off the sinful nature and to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls and strength.


I may not be the best preacher, or the most loving pastor and shepherd; I may not be the most charismatic personality or even the most spiritual man you may know or even heard of.   But, (by the grace of God) I am what I am, and I declare to you all &ndash;the time is really, really short! 

...Some of you need to be more faithful to the Body of Christ, by coming to church and serving God with whatever talent He has given you.   It is not time to become spiritually lazy, or to think that you&rsquo;re not needed in the House of God. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;What a shame&#x21;&#x201d; What is shame?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-11-27T09:37:50-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/220a680adca63bebb3a970d29b065c61-284.html#unique-entry-id-284</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/220a680adca63bebb3a970d29b065c61-284.html#unique-entry-id-284</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And every Christian knows that his or her guilt has been (and at times is being) removed by the Blood of Jesus Christ. 


&ldquo;Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience&hellip;&rdquo; Heb.10:22 


The Hebrew writer tells us that the blood of bulls and goats could never take away the guilt of sin and so there was a need for another Sacrifice, a pure Lamb, one without defect.   Jesus Christ is that pure Lamb and when a man or a woman believes on Him, their sins are forgiven and their guilt is removed. 


One of the things that announced a man&rsquo;s guilt was shame; a sense of remorse for his actions or behavior. 

...Paul tells us in 1 Corintians that Christ did not send him to baptize, but to preach the Gospel. ...  It is exactly this worldly wisdom that has been used by many a preacher in an attempt to bring people to the faith.   But in their foolish tactics, many folks have never experience the blessing that comes from the Cross&rsquo;s removal of not only guilt &ndash;but the shame that should accompany a sinful life. 


...It was a shame if a man had an extramarital affair, it was a shame if he was a drunk, didn&rsquo;t work, or he was ill tempered. 

...Where are the broken hearts that can be mended by the Blood, the wounded spirits that can be renewed by the very Word of God? 


...We are living in a sort of  &ldquo;limbo dance&rdquo; where society&rsquo;s moral stance is the movable horizontal pole, as long as it&rsquo;s people continue to pass under &ldquo;successfully&rdquo;, the culture will continue its downward trend. 


...Shame is actually a blessing from God, for the truly repentant and the removal of the shame from the Cross of Jesus Christ pledges the new Christian into a loyalty that cannot be easily removed from the heart. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What the Cross Didn&#x2019;t Do&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-11-20T19:14:53-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/541fe4ce8f8f0799bf472b2465fc4fac-283.html#unique-entry-id-283</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/541fe4ce8f8f0799bf472b2465fc4fac-283.html#unique-entry-id-283</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Speaking of Jesus Christ, Paul tells us, &ldquo;For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.&rdquo; 

...What Scripture is telling us here is that God has chosen to reconcile to Himself all things by the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

...Through Jesus, humanity has known mercy and grace, and if they think for one minute that people can know mercy and grace without Jesus, then they are more deceived then we first thought!   Beloved, believe me when I say this, &ldquo;Every good gift and perfect gift has come down to us from the Father of heavenly lights in whom there is no shadow of turning!&rdquo; 

...This is why people will mourn when they finally see God &ndash;they will then realize that all good, any good, and every good has only existed because of God. 


...In fact, there is even a push by the atheists to be &ldquo;good for goodness&rsquo; sake&rdquo; They actually believe that they can be good on their own volition. 

...It is laughable when I hear people say that we Christians are so self-righteous because we are assured of our eternal life.   Yet, it is really those folks who are self-righteous; for they believe that they are &ldquo;good enough&rdquo; to get to heaven. 

...There is one thing we should never associate with the Cross of Christ; and that is, that the Cross is some kind of &ldquo;hocus pocus,&rdquo; magic trick of God. 

...God justly forgave man through the death of His Son and because He has done this justly,  man can know that he is truly forgiven.   When a man or woman knows that God has justly forgiven them of their sins &ndash;they cease from them. 

...Paul tells us that since we have been given His Spirit (and God gives His Spirit to all who come to Him through the Cross of Jesus Christ.) we have an obligation to God. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>1Timothy 6:6</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-11-13T16:54:10-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2931d8feacce996870730b1139e421d-282.html#unique-entry-id-282</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2931d8feacce996870730b1139e421d-282.html#unique-entry-id-282</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	I read something very neat the other day and thought I would share its thought with you all.   I don&rsquo;t have a clue where this little booklet came from, but I do know that wherever it lay for years, the mice tried to make a meal of it! ...  I am assuming that it came from Robin&rsquo;s mother&rsquo;s home as she has been cleaning diligently there for the past several months.   I only say this, because as I sat and perused through this little treasure I was realizing that there were so many things more important than money &ndash;then, I found this: 


...	Whether we like to admit it or not, money is very important to many of us. ...  There is always one more thing we would like to purchase, one more thing we would like to do.   When money is scarce, we tend to think that if we just had enough to pay the bills&hellip; But again, if the bills were paid, we would purchase something else, which in turn, would give us another bill! 

...To be assured that nothing will go wrong, but if it does, we hope that the wrong will not get beyond our control. 


For example, things may be running smoothly on your home front, when all of a sudden, you&rsquo;re hit with an emergency that you hope you have the money for. ...  But here&rsquo;s the rub; life is too big and defining whether or not &ldquo;you are in control&rdquo; should never be measured by your outward circumstances. 


...People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 

...Learn to be contented in all situations and the God of peace will guard your heart and mind.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Down Time&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-11-06T20:09:50-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/606af03edc708828e57505ce3f9f7da6-281.html#unique-entry-id-281</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/606af03edc708828e57505ce3f9f7da6-281.html#unique-entry-id-281</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The throttle has to be adjusted at the carburetor by a bolt that I tighten and loosen according to the gas that it is calling for. 

...The point I am making here is that I had this little window of time to get the grass cut and part of that time was used to get the tractor running. ...  As I was buzzing around the lawn, thinking about not getting done what I had set out to do, God spoke to my heart and said, &ldquo;I know just how you feel.&rdquo; 

...He began by reminding me of what Jesus said in Matthew 11; when He was discussing that since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven had been forcefully advancing and that forceful men lay hold of it.   Then He spoke about the time that Jesus was telling Peter and the disciples that He was going to build His Church upon a rock. 


...There can be a number of reasons for the down time, but no matter the reason, the priority is to get things back on schedule.    If anyone has read a little of Church history, they are aware of the different &ldquo;down times&rdquo; that were suffered by the Church; times when it seemed as though, if God had not intervened, the Church might have dissolved completely. 


...I get just a little tickled when I hear folks say they don&rsquo;t believe in God or the devil; that they don&rsquo;t believe in heaven and hell. 

...Back to the conversation on the lawn tractor: As I was praying about the different things that may cause &ldquo;down time&rdquo; for Church growth, I came to the conclusion that one of the biggest causes was God&rsquo;s people themselves! 

...Live as children of the light&hellip; Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them&hellip; This is why it is said: &lsquo;Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.&rsquo;   Be careful, then, how you live &ndash;not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

...I believe that if you and I took these few Scriptures to heart, we can be assured that we wouldn&rsquo;t be the cause of any down time for the Lord!   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>God&#x2019;s Mercy&#x2c; God&#x2019;s Strength</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-10-30T20:34:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b70551a881aed41d75c195b775e87e60-280.html#unique-entry-id-280</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b70551a881aed41d75c195b775e87e60-280.html#unique-entry-id-280</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I believe and I know that I am saved, but like Paul, I do what I do not want to do and I don&rsquo;t do what good I know I should do. 

...You and I wouldn&rsquo;t even care to follow the Lord&rsquo;s will if it weren&rsquo;t for His mercy in our lives! 


Paul tells us that it therefore does not depend on him who willeth or him who runneth &ndash;but on God&rsquo;s mercy!   (Rom.9:16) Again, Paul tells us that it is only Jesus Christ who can save him from his body of death.   So, it stands to reason, that if we are having trouble in our lives, we should pray for God to have mercy &ndash;and He is faithful! 


...I believe that Jesus was making a specific declaration that those who show mercy, will be the same as those who is shown mercy. 

...	Here&rsquo;s the rub: Usually, when I am having a hard time in my Christian walk, whether it be from coldness of heart, sickness in body, or just plain selfishness; I find that my attitude towards others is rather ugly. 

...So, I&rsquo;m thinking that if I would just put that principle in practice when I am struggling, then maybe, I would begin seeing more of God&rsquo;s mercy during my struggles.   Then, it stands to reason, that once I begin to experience God&rsquo;s mercy, I will be able to bear the struggle more easily and joyfully! 

...Finally, Peter tells us that God, &ldquo;In His great mercy, has given us a new birth into the living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade &ndash;kept in heaven for us!&rdquo; ...  1:3,4  God&rsquo;s strength is shown in the mercy that He has shown us and for all who trust in His Name. ...  And that inheritance will never fade away &ndash;but kept alive in our hearts by the living hope that He has placed in us. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Best Gift Ever&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-10-23T14:12:49-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/cc6b8e3052d8c7a39e51b006d24061cd-279.html#unique-entry-id-279</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/cc6b8e3052d8c7a39e51b006d24061cd-279.html#unique-entry-id-279</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With Christmas just around the corner people are starting to think about those gifts that they put under the tree for their loved ones. 

...We feel that if we have to just walk around the aisles of some department store, looking, searching and hoping to find &ldquo;something,&rdquo; the whole idea behind giving is defeated. 

...There is a difference for me when I watch Robin open a gift that I know she wanted rather than wait to see if she &ldquo;likes&rdquo; what I got her. 


In the past, I&rsquo;ve gotten lucky and hit a bull&rsquo;s eye; she didn&rsquo;t even know she wanted one of those &ldquo;things.&rdquo;    I admit, I&rsquo;ve had to explain what one of those &ldquo;things&rdquo; were good for, at times, but all in all I think she was happy &ndash;I think.  


...Don&rsquo;t misunderstand, giving is important (in fact, it is more blessed to give than to receive.) but &ldquo;things&rdquo; have lost their importance. ...  She would rather spend the day with me; where I give her all my attention and show that I truly love spending time with her. 

...What good is it, if you give your kids an X-box, something that you know they&rsquo;ll love; yet never give them your attention?   There are many people who have given their kids all the material things those kids wanted, yet the kids actually just wanted the love of their parents. ...  How many times have you heard a person tell of the joy they felt when their loved one opened the gift that they had given them? 

...For example; instead of just giving someone a ring in the gift box that it comes in, we put that box in a box; and then put that box in another box, getting the final box so large, our loved one has no idea what could be in such a large box. 


...Then wouldn&rsquo;t it stand to reason, that the best gift ever; the best gift we could give to one another this year would be the same as God had done for us? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;Well done&#x21;&#x201d; is better than: &#x201c;Well said&#x21;&#x201d;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-10-16T18:38:44-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2b514b68eeefcf25be9045d988978541-278.html#unique-entry-id-278</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2b514b68eeefcf25be9045d988978541-278.html#unique-entry-id-278</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I think it is very important for us to encourage one another as Robin did for me. 

...I sort of chuckled to myself thinking about what it would be like for some folks when they stood before the Lord and He began: &ldquo;You know, I watched you the whole time and I was really impressed how elegantly you spoke. 

...I have always thought that the worst enemy to the gospel is not those who have openly tried to destroy it, but rather those who live among the brethren as wolves in sheep&rsquo;s clothing.   There can be no true joy as a Christian if one cannot walk the talk and be what they say they are. 

...It&rsquo;s ironic, but this statement is given to us in the same discussion of not loving one another with mere words &ndash;but action as well!   Going back to the feeling I told you about earlier (the one I get when Robin lets me know that I had done good) that feeling is only the tip of the iceberg of what each of us will experience on that Day. 


Think about it for just a minute; think of the look upon Jesus&rsquo; face when He smiles those two words into our hearts! ...  So, what is it that we have to do in order to ensure that we hear those words? 

...So, knowing that this is all that we have to do &ndash;we can know that the Spirit has defined believing more than mere words.   Yes, saints of God, it&rsquo;s not just what we know and speak, but it is what we have done.   And by the grace of God, let us continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling, as we know that it is Him who works in us to will and do! ...  I was naked and you clothed Me&hellip;&rdquo; As we can see, Jesus rewarded by what folks did rather than just by what was said.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Prayer: a remedy for a cold heart</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-10-09T19:26:25-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/822f5b403c1394fb0e1c9777237ece46-277.html#unique-entry-id-277</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/822f5b403c1394fb0e1c9777237ece46-277.html#unique-entry-id-277</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Each day these trials trouble men&rsquo;s souls; it can be anything form personal health to the geo-political upheavals that have plagued the world in recent history. 


...Even if one sanctifies him or herself to the Lord, they are still subjected to the draining effect of evil. ...  It doesn&rsquo;t happen all at once, it sort of sneaks up on you, until one day, you&rsquo;re saying to yourself, &ldquo;Where is the God of Elijah?&rdquo; 


This is what the prophet Elisha cried out as he crossed back over the river Jordan to continue the mission of the Lord. ...  But just as he was about to lead the people of Israel to God, Jezebel, the wicked wife of King Ahab, put a death warrant on his life. 


...Isn&rsquo;t that sort of like us, after we have been busy living life in this sin laden world; we end up in a desert all alone? ...  And for the saint, all of these things are associated with, none other than, a time without God&rsquo;s Presence. 

...You look back to see where you may have turned away from complete trust, where you may have needlessly feared, or maybe you have discovered that your heart isn&rsquo;t as on fire as it once was.   All of these signs are evidence that you may indeed be in a desert experience. 

...Going back to Elijah&rsquo;s desert experience, God had His angel waiting for Elijah at the point of his exhaustion! 

...That&rsquo;s what happens to people when they get in the Desert of Cold Heart; they quit praying and start worrying. 


...Spend some time with God this week, see if you&rsquo;re travels seem to take you out of the wilderness and up to the mountain?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sin&#x2019;s Subtleness&#x2c; Jesus&#x2019; Victory</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-10-02T13:15:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/831dbebcd831326dfac7be103bad5257-276.html#unique-entry-id-276</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/831dbebcd831326dfac7be103bad5257-276.html#unique-entry-id-276</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Scriptures paint a pretty clear description of that fateful day; and ever since, sin has been crouching at the door of hearts, desiring to master the soul. 


Cain, Adam&rsquo;s firstborn, is a wonderful picture of the subtleness of sin as we know he was visited by God to reveal this very desire of sin. ...  If he hadn&rsquo;t then there would have been a need for the Lord to try and change Cain&rsquo;s behavior. 


...If you find yourself getting angry for no apparent reason; in other words, you&rsquo;re just not in a good mood and you snap at others, or maybe you just sit and mope &ndash;it&rsquo;s very possible that sin has been making its first steps into your heart. 


...As far as Cain was concerned, his actions were just fine; he had the right to sacrifice in his own way. 


Remember though, what James tells us, &ldquo;He who knows to do good and doesn&rsquo;t do it &ndash;to him it is sin.&rdquo; 

...But if we miss the subtleness of sin, we too, may find ourselves in that position where we ask ourselves, &ldquo;How, did I ever get like this!&rdquo; 

...If you have ever found yourself in this sort of situation, or saying some of these things yourself, your only remedy is to look to Jesus Christ who alone was tempted as we, yet was without sin! ...  And my response to that would be: &ldquo;You do err because you do not know the Scriptures!&rdquo; 


...Jesus showed us how to live for God while He was on earth and Psalm 40 gives us the light to see into His heart. 


...And because God gave each of us the Spirit of His Son, we too can be victorious over sin. 


...If I understand this right, then if I loved God&rsquo;s law enough to have it in my heart and act on it, then I will even have victory over the subtleness of sin! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Applying God&#x2019;s Word</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-09-25T22:25:29-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6222c50a749955fa909021c21ee0abbb-275.html#unique-entry-id-275</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6222c50a749955fa909021c21ee0abbb-275.html#unique-entry-id-275</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I replumbed my house back in 1981 from the well up; and it was a blessing for me that the plastic water pipe was available for all of us so called, do-it-yourselfers! 


Working with galvanized steal or copper pipe takes more expertise than I have, so the plastic pipe sure did save me a lot of time and money. 

...Now the thing about the gluing part; you have to read the directions, and this is important, you have to do what the directions say. ...  The manufacturer knows his product and was kind enough to write those directions right there on the back of the can of glue. 


I wondered what it would have been like if they just gave you the stuff and expected you to figure out how to use it. ...  I&rsquo;ll bet you would think I was pretty silly if I had purchased the glue but never opened the can. 


It would be even sillier if I had read all the directions and agreed that that was indeed how you apply the cement and&hellip; never opened the can! ...  Pipes leaky, water everywhere and none of the faucets working; that&rsquo;s the image of a man who didn&rsquo;t apply the glue as the manufacturer directed.  


	You know that God&rsquo;s Word is the &ldquo;directions&rdquo; for our lives and really, the &ldquo;glue&rdquo; that holds our lives together. 

...Now, the thing to do here, (in keeping with our analogy) is to make sure that, we apply God&rsquo;s Word!   You would think we were pretty silly, if we said that we believed in God and wanted to go to heaven and yet, never applied His Word to our lives. 

...What&rsquo;s the point of saying we believe God knows best, if we never apply His Word to our lives? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Offended People</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-09-18T08:10:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b6ba8c10be7f9097a81fbc7e238cd901-274.html#unique-entry-id-274</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b6ba8c10be7f9097a81fbc7e238cd901-274.html#unique-entry-id-274</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The NFL was quick to respond, trying to &ldquo;spin&rdquo; the star quarterback&rsquo;s words so that they didn&rsquo;t mean what the offended people thought they meant. 


...If a man who is given any kind of platform, he had better choose his words carefully, because somebody is going to be listening and they will be looking for any kind of infraction, no matter how small.   Grant it, there are people who shouldn&rsquo;t be given a public platform because of the trash that spews from between their lips.   But what I have been witnessing here lately, is an attempt by the &ldquo;word police&rdquo; to bind anyone from saying anything contrary to their standards of right and wrong. 

...This, my dear friends, is an impossibility; for no matter what one has to say about anything &ndash; he or she is bound to offend someone. 


...I am not saying that we should go around trying to offend people with the truth, for that would be a wrong even against God.   But folks, Jesus didn&rsquo;t fail to speak the truth just because it may have offended some of His hearers. 


...Every Christian should know that the gospel that has been entrusted to them to share with the world is an offense in itself &ndash; to the carnal mind.   This is why Paul was speaking as he was in Galatians, when he exhorted them to not count on their ability to follow the law but to express their faith through love. 

...The world finds it terribly offensive when God tells them that they are dead and the only way to life is through the Cross of Christ. 

...Jesus has offended the world, and no matter how you look at it, so will His followers.   So, if you have offended someone with the Truth, don&rsquo;t allow the devil to steal your blessing, but trust yourself to God and know that He knows your heart!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Remembering the Blood</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-09-11T09:13:19-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e399f3259170a1165d647d0f9e5c6134-273.html#unique-entry-id-273</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e399f3259170a1165d647d0f9e5c6134-273.html#unique-entry-id-273</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I like to catch a couple of segments of the headline news as I start my day and I couldn&rsquo;t help but notice the patriotism the media is promoting on their coverage of the tenth anniversary of the 9-11 tragedy that befell us at the hands of terrorist. 


I think it is important that we are reminded of such things and it does the heart good to memorialize those who gave their lives to respond first to those in need of help.   There is something special about the person who sees a need, steps up and lends a hand, at whatever cost; in fact, these heroes usually do not consider the cost.   And what I mean by that is, not that they haphazardly fling themselves into action, but they do not consider their lives so important as not to help. 


...It could be that the man I recently passed on the sidewalk, or the woman at the store, or even possibly that teenager driving by on Main Street. 


...Or maybe that woman is &ldquo;sacrificing&rdquo; her life to care for an elderly parent, or the teen, who just informed a friend&rsquo;s parents of some dangerous activity on the part of his friend. 

...	Yet, after I think of all the heroes that I may have missed, there is One Hero that I am so thankful that I have gotten the privilege to know and remember and that is Jesus Christ. 

...I wonder if any of those fireman, paramedics, or police officers ever thought that just one person was not worth saving? 

...What if one of those saved, began to really hate their life and thought back on their rescuer with spite? ...  I have even thought what others may think of the rescuer who may have saved a life that later might have committed some atrocity. 

...I wouldn&rsquo;t want anyone to see my life and think, &ldquo;Boy, there&rsquo;s one the Lord could have passed by!&rdquo; 


I wonder, do you think any of those who were rescued ever make an attempt to get with those who rescued them? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Accepting Christ or Believing on Christ</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-09-04T20:13:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b5ae18056d573cfaee679155547e2aed-272.html#unique-entry-id-272</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b5ae18056d573cfaee679155547e2aed-272.html#unique-entry-id-272</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[So, in our normal, everyday conversations, I do not try to split hairs, by inquiring of what one means when they say, &ldquo;I have accepted Christ.&rdquo; ...  I accepted Christ over twenty-five years ago and throughout those years, I have learned that accepting Christ is just not enough &ndash; according to the definitions above. 


...I was watching a show on T.V. the other day and a man was on the side of a deep rocky ravine with one of those old rope bridges that spanned the mighty gorge. ...  He looked at the bridge and &ldquo;accepted&rdquo; that it was indeed a rope bridge and it was the only way across. 

...But, did he &ldquo;believe&rdquo; in the integrity of that bridge; that it would carry his weight, that the boards or rope were not dry-rotted? ...  He had put his confidence in the bridge&rsquo;s strength and by doing so, he showed that he did more than just accept the fact that, yes, that was a rope bridge and the only way across the gorge. 

...Well, I could tell you that when I made that decision to receive Jesus into my heart, I had not yet put my confidence in Him. 


...Over the years I found that He was faithful and that the Bible explained what was originally very confusing for me &ndash; namely, life and all of its dire situations.   When I would find myself in a predicament of choosing God&rsquo;s way of doing things or my &ldquo;old&rdquo; way of doing things, more times then not, if I chose my &ldquo;old&rdquo; way, I got myself into more trouble. 

...Placing confidence in Jesus is an act of faith that increases faith; the more you believe and obey, the more confidence you have for the next time the situation calls for your faith to be tested.   Its opposite is just as true; the more I revert back to my &ldquo;old&rdquo; ways the more I am only accepting that Jesus and the Bible are true. 

...Obviously he trusted Jesus because later we see that the people, who first pleaded with Jesus to leave the area, received him and even brought their infirmed for Him to heal. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Preparation for Eternity</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-08-28T09:09:42-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/11df7ac72085c80265a2bd79d810e8e8-271.html#unique-entry-id-271</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/11df7ac72085c80265a2bd79d810e8e8-271.html#unique-entry-id-271</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It&rsquo;s not as though you would be leaving for a couple days of vacation; it would entail more than just making sure the coffee pot was unplugged.   When I saw a news clip of the empty store shelves, people being turned away who wanted to buy flashlights, plywood and the like, my mind raced to the parable of the ten virgins who heard the cry, &ldquo;Behold, the bridegroom cometh!&rdquo; 


...While they were gone to buy the oil the five went into the wedding banquet and the door was shut; the foolish were left out in the darkness where there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.   It would be a sad thing to have to face; they could have enjoyed the wedding and the Bridegroom &ndash; if only they had prepared.


...Though this is certainly true, if we associated His blessing with just the here and now, we will fail to see what His real blessings are! 


...To have the mind of Christ here, we must conclude that if we live our lives in a manner of the philosophy, &ldquo;I want it all and I want it now!&rdquo; 

...	There is an old story of a king of bygone days and his &lsquo;clown&rsquo; or &lsquo;jester&rsquo;, who sometimes said very foolish things and sometimes made very wise utterances.   One day the jester had said something so foolish that the king, handing him a staff, said to him, &ldquo;Take this, and keep it until you find a bigger fool than yourself.&rdquo; 


...And I am going on a very long journey, and shall not return again to this place; so I have called you all here to say &lsquo;Goodbye&rsquo;.&rdquo;  

...When you have journeyed abroad visiting your people, staying with your nobles, or paying diplomatic visits to other courts, your heralds and servants have always gone before you, making preparations for you.   May I ask what preparations your Majesty has made for this long journey that he is about to take?&rdquo; 


...&ldquo;Then,&rdquo; said the jester, &ldquo;take this staff with you, for now I have found a bigger fool than myself.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Julie Green is a Princess</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-08-21T20:07:47-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/708db49fcf3396301aead4e6f0bcd468-270.html#unique-entry-id-270</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/708db49fcf3396301aead4e6f0bcd468-270.html#unique-entry-id-270</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[She took part in the Canal Days Princess contest this last week where she took first place for the Spirit Award and won a trophy to show for it! 

...This was her first attempt at this sort of thing and I think her award is fantastic; it speaks volumes to me as far as her Christian upbringing. 


...She always has a smile on her face and a bounce in her step &ndash;she brings a joyous lift to my life and for that, young lady, I pray God blesses you over and over again!  


...Even though she had to miss a couple of days because of her commitments in the contest, she made it back to VBS as soon as possible on Thursday to be with her buddies at Church! 

...In my opinion, the Spirit Award revealed the true winner and I am very proud to know that it was our Julie Green. 


The contestants were judged on a number of things, including a written essay and oral exam; Julie had to answer a question from the judges that she only received right there on stage! ...  But there is more; Julie is number one in my book, because in essence she said, &ldquo;Here, let me put myself in front of you all, and you can judge me.&rdquo; 

...But we hide behind the curtain of pride and oftentimes we &ldquo;twist&rdquo; the truth about ourselves, so as to give no possibility for judging. 

...I want people to think I am an all around neat fellow -- but if I am one way in front of the public, and another way in my private life, then I have to admit, that I am hiding behind the curtain of pride and I am afraid of your judgment. 


So you see, I admire Julie Green for placing herself in that position to be judged by others &ndash;it shows not only a courageous spirit, but an open one as well. ...  You reminded me that even though I might hide from other&rsquo;s judgments, my life and heart is an open book before His eyes. 

...&ldquo;Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>It&#x2019;s Heart Revealing&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-08-14T20:10:47-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/98d31cbc3dffa3d82daf3a140ac4ea77-269.html#unique-entry-id-269</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/98d31cbc3dffa3d82daf3a140ac4ea77-269.html#unique-entry-id-269</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I was in school and it came time to show my parents my grade card they were interested enough in the grades I received for math, reading and spelling; but what my dad focused on was the two side remarks apart from the grades.


...It was my conduct and effort that told my dad if I had put my all into my education for the semester in question.


...Art critics will tell us that such and such painting is definitely the heart of so-n-so artist, because he put all of himself into it. 


...Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, &lsquo;Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.&rdquo; ...  When Jesus land and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 

...He put His effort, all of Himself, His whole heart, everything, into the life God gave Him.   David prophesized: &ldquo;Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you have prepared for me; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require. 

...Jesus came to do the will of the Father and He applied all of His strength and might to just that. 

...He did not mean all His work was finished, but only that which concerned the judgment of sin and the defeat of the devil and the grave. 


While Jesus was breathing His last, He realized that He was now going to enter death &ndash;but He knew that He had finished what God wanted Him to do &ndash;so, He said, &ldquo;Father, into Your hands, I commit My Spirit.&rdquo; 


...Then, even after all this, Jesus went to heaven with the heart to sit at the right hand of God to intercede on our behalf. 


...He&rsquo;s not up there &ldquo;kicking back,&rdquo; waiting around, biding His time; He is pouring His heart out to the Father in prayer, for our good! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Heaven; Home of the Righteous</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-08-07T22:37:19-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3fc92458083bc2bfdf14afab12ccad20-268.html#unique-entry-id-268</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3fc92458083bc2bfdf14afab12ccad20-268.html#unique-entry-id-268</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus has compared the Kingdom of Heaven to a great net that was let down into the waters for a catch of fish.   When the net was pulled up there were all sorts of fish caught within the meshing of the net, some good and some bad. 

...He said that this is how it will be at the end of the age; the angels will come and separate the righteous from the unrighteous. ...  The promise here is that when all is said and done, the righteous will live forever without any hindrances whatsoever, from the ungodly. 


...It is no wonder that Peter encourages us with the warning that it is hard for the righteous to be saved.   Yet, he tells us to commit ourselves to the faithful Creator, because after we have suffered for a little while, God will give us the kingdom! 


...Let me prove this to you; the faith that Paul had while he was living here on earth, benefited those that were living during that day.   Well, Paul went on to be with the Lord, yet his faith is still benefiting us today!   Paul&rsquo;s faith didn&rsquo;t die with him; it still is working today (and for all those years prior to today) to bring about the kingdom of Jesus Christ. 


...What blessedness there will be to experience the happiness of our Lord &ndash;and that- without any encumbrances!   There will be no temptations, no testing or trials and everywhere you look, the righteous will be fully satisfied and the glory of the Lord will shine upon them! 


...Never again, will you and I worry about troubles that the morrow might bring &ndash;for the morrow will never come &ndash;it shall always be Today! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christian; Almost&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-07-31T22:42:09-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/021b373f564f27efbb6446f54f8e8b34-267.html#unique-entry-id-267</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/021b373f564f27efbb6446f54f8e8b34-267.html#unique-entry-id-267</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yes, eighteen inches is the average length from the head to the heart; and those who will miss heaven by that measurement are said to have knowledge of God, but never had Him in their heart. 


That is true Christianity you know; John tells us in his first epistle, &ldquo;We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. ...  We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true.   And we are in him who is true &ndash;even in his Son Jesus Christ. 

...At one point the man who believes there is a God and has some sort of mental recognition of Him will be restrained from certain evils. 

...Nevertheless, the man who knows God in the head alone has been duped into believing that living for God entails only that of &ldquo;not doing bad things.&rdquo;    He assumes that because he doesn&rsquo;t drink, cuss and smoke, that he takes his family to church and sings in the choir, that this is what living for God is all about. 


...I know folks (who don&rsquo;t feel a need to go to church) that believe that they are going to heaven because (in their eyes) they are &ldquo;not that bad.&rdquo; 

...As soon as someone says, &ldquo;I am trying&hellip;&rdquo; he has revealed his true thoughts; that Christianity can be lived by human ability.   As a Christian for twenty-six years, I can tell you first hand, that living a Christian life is totally impossible for any man, except One who did it! 

...Jesus lived for God, and so, any one who wants to live for God must do what Jesus did. 


...The true Christian is thankful &ndash;that Jesus Christ did not die for nothing- but that He lives! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Fires of Hell</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-07-30T21:01:41-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c419031dfd3de9c21f7d6122537e4c6a-266.html#unique-entry-id-266</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c419031dfd3de9c21f7d6122537e4c6a-266.html#unique-entry-id-266</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This last week was a scorcher for most of the nation as a heat wave stretched all the way from Texas to Minnesota and Kansas to Maine. 

...But we know better; September&rsquo;s cool nights are just around the corner and that makes bearing this last week&rsquo;s heat just a little easier. 

...But what I can know is that the fires of Hell are even hotter and they will never loosen their grip on those who will enter there. ...  The Bible speaks of a place where the dead are eternally lost in a torment that never ceases &ndash; where the smoke of that torment rises forever and ever. 


...There are some folks who can&rsquo;t believe in a place of eternal fire and torment, and even if there was such a place, surely a loving God will never allow someone to suffer such a fate. 


...In order to extend mercy and do this righteously, He must punish (condemn) the sin that was the cause of man&rsquo;s fall in the first place. 

...Now, if this loving God has made a way for man to be rescued from death, but a man chooses not to be rescued, then that doesn&rsquo;t change the fact that God is still a loving and just God!   It&rsquo;s sort of like this; what if you saw someone standing out in the heat of the day and you offered a time of rest in the coolness of your air-conditioned home.   You tell them they can spend as much time as they need to cool off and you even have some iced tea. 


...God does not delight in the death of the wicked, nor is He willing that any should perish, but what this loving God will never do is &ndash;force you to do anything that you don&rsquo;t want to do. 


So, the choice is really ours, do we want to spend eternity with the great hope and anticipation of all that God has prepared for us? 

...I would come down off the trough and plop myself on the bench in the break-room and sigh, &ldquo;Boy, I&rsquo;m sure glad I&rsquo;m not going to Hell!&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Attack of the Fleas&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-07-17T11:09:26-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/87ab92d757ebb25a81699b139f76bb18-265.html#unique-entry-id-265</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/87ab92d757ebb25a81699b139f76bb18-265.html#unique-entry-id-265</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Let&rsquo;s go back to the beginning; it was back around Father&rsquo;s Day when Robin told me it was time to get the dogs their flea medicine. ...  No, I put it off another week and then another, until I was outside with poor little Eli and the dog was just dying; eating and scratching himself to death. 


...I had told Robin that the dogs needed to stay outside until the fleas were gone&hellip; That&rsquo;s when we discovered the fleas in the house!  

...The idea that our house had fleas really bothers Robin and me, but what really bothers us is that we neglected (I neglected) the problem in the first place. ...  By the time we discovered them, they had moved in&hellip;along with their brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins and friends and&hellip;every flea in God&rsquo;s creation!  


...People don&rsquo;t realize that their lives have been invested with pride and greed until it is way too late, until it has &ldquo;nested&rdquo; into our society.   Isn&rsquo;t this why we are having such a problem with the National Debt &ldquo;Ceiling,&rdquo; because of the greed and avarice that has found life in the fabric of our society &ndash;no pun intended. 


I don&rsquo;t believe people realize the magnitude of the problem either; sin has so nestled itself into our culture that it appears quite normal. 

...We Christians know that the wages of sin is death, but very few people think about the consequences of sin &ndash;that we live with today! ...  Little do they realize that sin in the lives of others has its effect on many more than just those who practice it. 

...What would you think if I told you that Robin and I have just decided to go ahead and live with the fleas?   What would you think of us if we said that, &ldquo;Well, we have fleas, but we can&rsquo;t do anything about it; we&rsquo;ll just have to live with them.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What will be the Coming of Jesus be Like?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-07-10T19:49:09-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b9cd56a903abb228f9952a6c807a3d6c-264.html#unique-entry-id-264</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b9cd56a903abb228f9952a6c807a3d6c-264.html#unique-entry-id-264</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[You know, like when Jesus said, &ldquo;What is the kingdom of heaven like; and what can I compare it to?&rdquo; 

...And even if there was something close to heaven here on earth, we, as fallen man, still couldn&rsquo;t perceive what heaven was. 

...So, I was thinking, &ldquo;I wonder what the Coming of Jesus will be like for the people of the world?&rdquo;  


...It&rsquo;s a sad day when men throw off all restraint and any fear of God; when they think that they know more (and better) than Him. 


...Well, I don&rsquo;t really want to get into some great theological dramatization here and I am sure that no matter what I say, it will surely be something more than what I can write here. 

...It was a rough place, but the young fella thought he could handle it and the owner was ready to give him a shot. ...  &ldquo;Now, listen here you young whipper snapper, if you ever hear that Big Mean John is in town, you lock up the place and cut on out of here. 

...Well it wasn&rsquo;t a week into the job, when a man ran in hollering something about Big John coming into town. ...  But he was too slow and just as he was getting ready to get out, a big hulk of a man came busting through the swinging doors riding a rip-snorting bull! 

...The young buck bartender was shaking in his boots, but was able to slide a bottle to the big man though he cowered just behind the bar. 

...There is an old song that talks about men running to the rocks to hide their face, but the rocks cried out, &ldquo;There&rsquo;s no hiding place down here.&rdquo;   The song is about the coming of the Lord and on that Day, the Bible says, that men will run to the rocks and the hills saying, &ldquo;Cover us, hide us from the face of Him who sits on the Throne!&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Godly Freedom</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-07-03T08:19:23-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a719afa0bbd368db03564f79c2137ce2-263.html#unique-entry-id-263</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a719afa0bbd368db03564f79c2137ce2-263.html#unique-entry-id-263</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When we Christians, proclaim that our God is the Only Wise Sovereign, we are also proclaiming that He is Omnipotent in power and absolutely free. 

...Jesus spoke this truth in the Gospel of John when He said, &ldquo;If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.   Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free&hellip; I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin&hellip;So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.&rdquo; 

...Now, the skeptic asks, &ldquo;If God is absolutely free to do anything; if He is omnipotent so as to be capable of doing anything, then why can God not lie?&rdquo;   The skeptic would spout the words of Jesus who said that with God, all things are possible; but then, we know that God cannot make what has happened, to have not happened. 

...When you and I sin, we are being influenced by something outside of our will; this is what temptation is all about. 


When Jesus comes into our hearts, He gives us the ability to resist temptation and do what we ought &ndash;this is true freedom. ...  It is this sort of doctrine that establishes a man or woman in sound faith, and gives them an anchor for the trials of life.


...There are a number of things the devil uses to entrap us into this bondage; fear of man, envy, pride and lack of knowledge of God&rsquo;s Word. 


...He wants to set John free, but he is afraid of John, so he asks John, &ldquo;If I let you go free, what will you do with your freedom?&rdquo;   John looks through the iron bars at the fearful Herod and says, &ldquo;I would proclaim the truth of the One who is to come after me.&rdquo; 


...In the land and time that we are living in, we have been given most every privilege to make the most of the freedom we have in Christ. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>David&#x2019;s Greatest Testimony </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-06-26T20:13:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c4d68ead37eb5cd838337e062afda9b0-262.html#unique-entry-id-262</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c4d68ead37eb5cd838337e062afda9b0-262.html#unique-entry-id-262</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I think of all the great men of God, in and out of the Bible, David comes in at one of the top five. 

...He was a true leader of Israel, one who led by example and drew a nation&rsquo;s heart closer to their Maker.   David defeated the Philistine giant, Goliath, when he was probably just sixteen or seventeen years old and he changed the course of the battle and encouraged those who once feared to strengthen their feeble arms and fight for their country. 


David was fair and just and even when his anger got the best of him, he allowed the wisdom of Abigail to deter any foolish action he had planned for her husband, Nabal. 

...I don&rsquo;t know about you, but it sounds to me like David was going through a &ldquo;dry time&rdquo; with the Lord. 

...Or those times when it seems like you don&rsquo;t have favor with God or men and trouble sprouts as certain as the sunrise. 

...The Psalm that I am quoting here is Psalm 13, and at the end of the mournful cry, David&rsquo;s faith surfaces; &ldquo;But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 

...	While David was running for his life and seemingly forsaken by all, he continued to trust in the Lord and to rejoice in God&rsquo;s salvation. 

...I am referring to what Paul said in Acts thirteen; &ldquo;For when David had served God&rsquo;s purpose in his own generation&hellip;&rdquo; Acts 13:36


Each of us has a purpose, specifically designed by God, so that God&rsquo; s will can be made manifest within our own generation. ...  Of all good things that can be said about you and I, on that great Day, is if God can say, &ldquo;You served My purpose for your generation!&rdquo; 


...And just think how tremendous you are going to feel when you can look into God&rsquo;s loving eyes and know in your heart (and in His!) ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happy Father&#x2019;s Day&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-06-19T22:44:01-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/74c022fee78099ff89f60ad0693d43c7-261.html#unique-entry-id-261</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/74c022fee78099ff89f60ad0693d43c7-261.html#unique-entry-id-261</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It is one of the greatest privileges any man can aspire to, yet, if a man is a good father, he is the last one to know. ...  If I live my life thinking, I am the #1 dad in the world, the arrogance to hold such a thought is an obvious chink in the old armor. 


And what is the correct response from a father who is told that he is a good one, &ldquo;Thanks, I know.&rdquo;?  ...  If, however, he makes a pal of you when you&rsquo;re good, and is too wise to let you pull the wool over his loving eyes when you&rsquo;re not; if, moreover, you&rsquo;re quite sure no other fellow you know has quite so fine a father, you may call him, &lsquo;Dad.&rsquo;&rdquo;  


...He is never quite the hero his daughter thinks; never quite the man his son believes him to be, and this worries him.&rdquo; 

... The worst thing any father could hear, or know about himself, is that he wasn&rsquo;t there for his family, that he wasn&rsquo;t a good father.   So, as a Christian, how does a man realize that he is a good father, and that he is heading down the right &lsquo;road&rsquo; of becoming a great father? 


...No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. 

...It is my belief that a father is not a father if he is only one outwardly; no, he must be a father inwardly.   He must do the things fathers do, fulfill the responsibilities that they fulfill, joy in the things they joy in and guard against those things fathers guard against. 

...When they do these things, their praise comes from God and their reward is in His hand.   Think about it, men, God knows best what it means to be a good father, so it stands to reason that if you and I are having trouble being a father, we have a Wonderful Source to learn from! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Looking for a City</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-06-12T22:09:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ad90cbd3c05479ab70a4d65945431143-260.html#unique-entry-id-260</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ad90cbd3c05479ab70a4d65945431143-260.html#unique-entry-id-260</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When the writer of Hebrews wrote that Abraham was looking for a city, (For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.)(...  This city is the home of the righteous, where they will live with God and He with them. 


...For instance, the born-again experience of every believer that undergoes a new transformation when he or she surrenders their lives to His Lordship. 

...Ezekiel tells us that the unbeliever&rsquo;s heart is a heart of stone and God transforms it to a heart of flesh. 

...All of these truths speak of the coming of Jesus Christ and His kingdom, which will be totally new from the governments and way of life that we are so accustomed to now. 

...The Scriptures speak that this belief was credited to him for righteousness, as it is for every believer who believes the Word of God. 

...This is why Jesus commands us to set our treasures in heaven; for he knew that where we place our treasures, there is where we will place our hearts. 

...Paul tells us here that he believes that everyone who calls themselves a Christian, a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, longs for a righteousness to be the &ldquo;rule&rdquo; of the heart. ...  (Proverb 23:7 KJV) So, through the Spirit of Christ, you and I can now long for something that we didn&rsquo;t even really have a hope for its existence! 


I never dreamed, before I was a Christian, that there could be a life where there would be no locks, no guns, and no reason for security systems!   God promises that there will come a time when there will be no wars and really no reasons for them! 

...This is the city of God that is coming; the City that we long for, the City whose maker and builder is God. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Leaving Home and Going Home</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-06-05T20:42:02-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5f5167faded945031dd0f75967fc8e1b-259.html#unique-entry-id-259</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5f5167faded945031dd0f75967fc8e1b-259.html#unique-entry-id-259</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It could be that they are going on vacation, simply going to work, or shopping; or it could be that they are setting out to start a life of their own. 


...Whatever the reason someone has for running away from home, it seems to them legitimate at the time, but soon the memories of comfort and safety come to those who have fallen on hard times and home doesn&rsquo;t seem so bad any more. 

...When folks go away on vacation, they make sure that everything is secured and safe; they shut off things and lock other things up. 

...Everything is fine as far as they are concerned, and as far as back &ldquo;home,&rdquo; things are probably the same. 


...While we are on this side of the grave, you can count on that one truth: everything changes and everything changes constantly. 


...One of the greatest misconceptions about leaving home is that home will be there when you decide to return. ...  In fact, he wanted to check things out, but wasn&rsquo;t even allowed in the vicinity until the authorities cleared it and gave the go ahead. 


But, think about it: what if you left home, and then, weren&rsquo;t allowed to return? 

...There is something like that in the Bible though; if someone keeps on sinning after he has learned the truth, it is impossible for him or her to return.   For by doing so, he crucifies the Lord all over again and puts Him to public shame again; and that&rsquo;s not going to happen as long as God is on the Throne!


...When I think of the times that I had been away from home for a while, and then started my journey back, I was filled with joy and anticipation of being in Robin&rsquo;s arms once again. 

...Now, a true prodigal may have a long journey back, but Jesus speaks of the Father, running out to meet him, even when he is a far way off! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Memorial; in Thanksgiving&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-05-29T22:06:44-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f1b4e90ed14603983ce2d17b7980da76-258.html#unique-entry-id-258</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f1b4e90ed14603983ce2d17b7980da76-258.html#unique-entry-id-258</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us &ndash;that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion &ndash;that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom &ndash;and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.&rdquo;


...The greatest task set before us, each and every Memorial Day, would be, to honor the dead who were so dedicated to the continuance of this great Country. 

...But the greatest honor given to the dead would be to have made sure that they had not given their full measure of devotion &ndash;in vain. 

...As a Christian I know of only One who enables people to live in this sort of freedom and it&rsquo;s not the government. 


Do not misunderstand; the United States is the greatest country that exists in the world today but we can never forget the One who gave her that greatness.   I am very thankful for all the ranks of troops who marched into every battle for her sovereignty, but I am also aware of the Spirit in the hearts of those who fought so bravely. 


For them, there was a cause; and though I am not na&iuml;ve enough to believe that every soldier held to the Christian faith, I am well aware of the Sovereignty of God Himself. 


...Whether the United States admits it or not; it was and is God, through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that has made her the land of the brave and the home of the free. 


So, as Christians, it behooves each of us to honor Him who, in the words of Julia Ward Howe; &ldquo;As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.&rdquo;  


...Wouldn&rsquo;t that be the way to honor those who gave the ultimate cause for our Country? 

...I would at this time like to thank every living member of the families of those soldiers who gave their lives in the service of United States.   I would also like to thank every Christian who has died to self &ndash;so that Christ may live &ndash;in them!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Who are We to Believe?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-05-22T21:13:16-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8f4cde9566bc022f3e6cc4d3561cf86f-257.html#unique-entry-id-257</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8f4cde9566bc022f3e6cc4d3561cf86f-257.html#unique-entry-id-257</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I guess if you are reading this today and we are in Church, there has been yet another false prediction on the return of Jesus Christ. 

...The minister from California may have had some good intentions in trying to &ldquo;warn&rdquo; the world that their days were numbered, but good in intention or not, he had no business setting a date. 


This fellow said that he has studied the Word of God for years and using mathematical calculations had come up with this latest prediction.   My question in all of this is; if this man had studied the Bible all those years, didn&rsquo;t he ever come across the Scripture where Jesus said, &ldquo;No man knoweth the day or hour?&rdquo;  

...Listen, Beloved, anytime a preacher or teacher of God&rsquo;s Word, including myself, teaches something from that Word, it must align itself with the Word. 

...God has provided us with a comprehensive, all-encompassing, epistle that gives us the opportunity to trust in the covenant that He desires to share with all men. 

...But a cloud enveloped them all and the Voice from Heaven said, (about Jesus) &ldquo;This is My Son, hear ye Him!&rdquo;    Now, I do not believe that God wants us to forget about what Moses taught or what Elijah prophesized, but it was time to bring all of God&rsquo;s wisdom under one head &ndash;and that being Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 


Paul tells us in Ephesians that we are being built upon a foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus, being the cornerstone. 

...So, every teaching that runs itself through the Bible, whether it begins in the Old, or New Testament, should be &ldquo;squared&rdquo; with the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

...As far as the latest apocalyptic prediction; Jesus told us to be vigil and pray, for we will not know the day of His return, and He wants us to be ready for when He does.   We can know the season and we can know that the &ldquo;Day&rdquo; is approaching fast, but as far as a date and a time &ndash;that is hidden in the heart of the Father.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Boat without a Sail</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-05-17T08:15:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/de3f0aa2f159fc6163a64bd1b37231fc-256.html#unique-entry-id-256</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/de3f0aa2f159fc6163a64bd1b37231fc-256.html#unique-entry-id-256</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	When someone is stranded in a predicament, caught between a rock and a hard place, we say that the poor soul is, &ldquo;up the creek without a paddle.&rdquo;   Then there is the person who is living aimlessly throughout their life; this person, we say is on &ldquo;a ship without a sail.&rdquo; 


But the folks I would like to talk about this morning are those who venture out into life without any direction. 

...Lewis, in his classic, Mere Christianity, made the analogy between the lives of human beings going through life with a fleet of ships crossing the Atlantic. 

...But he went on to say that there was a third aspect to this analogy that was just as necessary, &ldquo;We have not asked where the fleet is trying to get to&hellip; however well the fleet sailed, the voyage would be a failure if it were meant to reach New York and actually arrived at Calcutta.&rdquo;  

...	Robin and I took a few days off a while back and told each other that it would be fun just to jump in the car and go. 

...I remember waking up the next morning thinking, &ldquo;Okay, yesterday was a disaster, but I&rsquo;m going to show Robin the time of her life today!&rdquo; 


...I&rsquo;ll bet I wouldn&rsquo;t have weathered it as well as I would have if I had a purpose for being out there. 


...We have taken away people&rsquo;s reason for living (living well) and folks no longer think they are accountable for their actions. 

...I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I believe that walking in the light to a destination clearly marked is better than wandering aimlessly in the dark. 

...I was witnessing to someone the other day when they made the comment that they believed that there was &ldquo;Someone&rdquo; out there.   I simply said, &ldquo;If that were true, then when you reach that &ldquo;Someone,&rdquo; you will have to give an account for the life that He gave you.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happy Mother&#x2019;s Day</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-05-08T11:17:48-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e9fa0da6a0470a4312601cdd1f1a37ce-255.html#unique-entry-id-255</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e9fa0da6a0470a4312601cdd1f1a37ce-255.html#unique-entry-id-255</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	When I think of how God has blessed the earth, first of all with His Presence, I am just simply overjoyed and my heart gladdened with hope. 


...He gave us the seasons of the year and the dawning of the day; it is a beautiful thing to watch the sun come forth from his chamber to bring light to all the earth. 


...God has left nothing to mediocrity, even the songs of birds chorus throughout the day and inspire us to sing along. 


...The song, &ldquo;What a Wonderful World&rdquo; that Louis Armstrong made famous says it much better than I:


...There are countless delectable treats that God has provided for us that satisfies our hunger and delights the palette. 

...I think that God has provided us with so much more, that not even the half has been discovered. 

...Above all that God has blessed mankind with, mothers are at the top in any list. 

...It&rsquo;s just like what the little boy said after his mother returned home after a long stay in the hospital. 


...&ldquo;Well,&rdquo; the little fellow said, &ldquo;When you were gone, Sissy stayed with Auntie, Bubby was all out of sorts, and Daddy and I had a hard time here all alone.&rdquo; 


When I think of all the mothers that I have ever seen, including my very own; two words come to mind, ceaseless and indestructible. 


Mother, you are a source of wisdom and your life has taught me about the love of God.   Yes, of all the things God has blessed us with &ndash;mothers are at the top of the list.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Weeping for now&#x2c; but&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-05-01T08:29:52-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a98ad5336f82a8739c3cfc6b7df04947-254.html#unique-entry-id-254</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a98ad5336f82a8739c3cfc6b7df04947-254.html#unique-entry-id-254</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I know that there are many people who go through this life never really experiencing the comfort that God brings to the soul; and that in itself is very troubling to me. 


It reminds me of Rachel, Jacob&rsquo;s wife, whom the prophet tells us that &ldquo;she is weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.&rdquo;  


I have seen people whose lives were changed forever because of a loss of a loved one; a child, or a spouse who departed way too soon. 

...The man that I am speaking of is David Wilkerson, pastor of the Times Square Church in New York City. 


...Not that Pastor Wilkerson went on to be with the Lord, but that the Church was really blessed while he shined his light and that light is now on the streets of glory. 


...In 1987, God had him move back to New York, and begin Times Square Church, where he was still pastoring. 


...Every believer in Christ has that promise given to him or her and so no matter what they go through here and now, we await for the time for God to fulfill His promise &ndash;and wipe away every tear. 


Christians know what the Psalmist meant when he said, &ldquo;Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me!&rdquo;   You see, when the people of this world suffer grief here, they have no hope of any comfort coming to them. 

...Then, they begin to think and speak things that they wished they hadn&rsquo;t but by now, it&rsquo;s too late and they are stuck living out the consequences of their actions.   It&rsquo;s really all too sad to watch someone &ldquo;go down hill&rdquo; in their personality and character because they chose to act out of their bitterness. 


... Beloved, no matter what you and I go through in this life, nothing is worth comparing to the glories that will be revealed. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Importance of the Resurrection</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-04-24T22:10:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a2d40f9219959e54e588f948ae373711-253.html#unique-entry-id-253</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a2d40f9219959e54e588f948ae373711-253.html#unique-entry-id-253</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In it he reminds us of the gospel that we have believed and put our hope in. 


...This gospel is simply that Jesus Christ was put to death for our sins but made alive by the Spirit of God. 


...I mean, it&rsquo;s not cool that Jesus had to die, but that He freely paid for every infraction that is apart from the will of God.   I think this is why Paul spoke that God reconciled all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, to Himself through the blood shed on the cross. 

...And by fulfilling God&rsquo;s will in this way, He made it possible for God to justly redeem mankind.   This is what I mean; because of the sin of the first man and woman, death has entered in to the human race, something that God never intended. 


I realize that He knew all along that Adam and Eve would bring death to His creation; yet, He never wanted things to be like they are. 

...Everyone on the earth, or who has ever lived on the earth, was subjected to this law of sin and death. 

...By saying these sorts of things we are implying that people are alive as we see them here. 


...Grant it, life is very powerful; and when the law of sin begins at the moment of conception, it takes it a &ldquo;lifetime&rdquo; (sometimes) to bring complete death. 


Every Christian should recall what John said in Revelation 20:13 &ldquo;Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. 

...The law of God is simply stated: &ldquo;For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life!&rdquo; 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Character vs. Talent</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-04-17T17:08:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e57bef2bccc755640a3fc3c44a943b04-252.html#unique-entry-id-252</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e57bef2bccc755640a3fc3c44a943b04-252.html#unique-entry-id-252</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you have ever watched me play golf, you would certainly come in agreement when I say, &ldquo;When the Lord passed out abilities, I thought He said, &lsquo;liabilities,&rsquo; and I told Him that I was good, I didn&rsquo;t need any of those!&rdquo; 

...It&rsquo;s not that I don&rsquo;t try; and I think, I should at least get an &ldquo;A&rdquo; for effort, but I have to call it like I see it. 


I watch some of these young sports stars and think, &ldquo;O my, God has surely blessed them with such talent.&rdquo; 

...That&rsquo;s why I would never want to play golf with a Tiger Woods, or a Phil Mickelson &ndash;it just wouldn&rsquo;t be any fun for them. 

...But, one thing is for certain: I realize that when I stand before God in the judgment, He isn&rsquo;t going to grade my talents in golf and billiards.   Ability is certainly a gift from God but the ability is nothing in itself; it&rsquo;s what I did with those abilities that count. 


...It seems that God blessed this man with all sorts of talents and abilities, and then, to top it all off, gave him the grace to put those talents into perspective. 


...And isn&rsquo;t it something how even though America holds these sports stars up on a pedestal, deep down we want them to be men and women of character.   We love to see them give to charities, sacrifice their time for the less fortunate and show us that &ldquo;who they are&rdquo; is more important than &ldquo;what they are.&rdquo;


...Saul was the first king of Israel, and when it came to character, well, let&rsquo;s just say &ldquo;there was something lacking there.&rdquo; 


...Jonathan&rsquo;s son, Mephibosheth, was a cripple, and yet David blessed him the rest of his life when he had the power to do so. 


...May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation&mdash;the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ &mdash;for this will bring much glory and praise to God.                                ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Jesus John Knew</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-04-10T21:04:04-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d460087d1d8e2d2e12bb367dfaef9721-251.html#unique-entry-id-251</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d460087d1d8e2d2e12bb367dfaef9721-251.html#unique-entry-id-251</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In John&rsquo;s first epistle, and in his opening salutation, we see John&rsquo;s credentials for writing to us about Jesus: &ldquo;That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched &ndash;this we proclaim concerning the Word of Life.&rdquo; 


...John and James were so sure that Jesus was who He said He was, that they even tried to get a special place in heaven next to Him. 


...I for one have always felt, that you really don&rsquo;t know someone until you&rsquo;ve lived with them. 


...The point of all this is that John knew Jesus and thus (never mind that fact that all Scripture is inspired by God&rsquo;s Spirit) has every right to define for us the difference between those who know Jesus and those who know about Jesus.


...The man who says, &lsquo;I know him.&rsquo; but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ...  This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.&rdquo; 

...How could the Church ever know for sure who was a Christian and who was not, if we didn&rsquo;t have this simple standard to discern our lives?


...Remember also what John said, &ldquo;This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.   If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.   But if we walk in the light, even as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.&rdquo; 

...Jesus is the Way and those who walk with Jesus live with Him and He with them.   One of the things I find most comforting is that Jesus said that God did not send Him into the world to condemn the world. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Heart of the Matter</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-04-03T21:21:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1ee55f1c61049cfeae3bbba42561aa7e-250.html#unique-entry-id-250</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1ee55f1c61049cfeae3bbba42561aa7e-250.html#unique-entry-id-250</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I read about someone who has left riches and the comforts of life to give themselves to missionary work in the deep recesses of the African jungles, I end up saying to myself, &ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t you love God like that?&rdquo;  


Reading the biographies of men like, Livingston, Wesley and others, gives charge to my heart to love the Lord my God, with all my heart, all my soul &ndash;with everything that is within me. 


...I understand what Jesus meant when He said that if any man loves me, he will keep my commands. 

...Gary Stearman, in his article The Mysterious Prophecy of the Heart, explains the lunacy of my dilemma: &ldquo;Keeping the Law is utterly impossible without a heart totally driven by the love of God, and if that had been the case, there would have been no need for the Law in the first place. 

...What I have to come to grips with is the fact that I&rsquo;m not in love with God, in my natural self; I am in love with me. 

...In fact, if we really thought about it; if it was natural for us to love God with all our hearts, then there would have been no reason for God to give His Law. 


...So, if I try to keep the law to prove my love for God, then I am actually proving the opposite &ndash; that I am a lawbreaker and a rebel. 

...Paul, quoting the prophet Isaiah, tells us that God has laid a stone in Zion that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame. 


The Lord has made a way for our salvation to be secured and that by the Spirit of His Son, Jesus Christ.   The Cross of Christ opened the door for the Spirit of Christ to enter our hearts and teach us what it means to love the Lord. 


...But what is this you have done, to leave your palace and glory, to sit with me in this dark place, to partake of my coarse fare, to care whether my heart is glad or sorry? 


...On others you may bestow rich presents, but to me you have given yourself; it only remains to ask that you never withdraw this gift of your friendship.&rdquo; 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Merciful God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-03-27T15:17:15-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8b884fca13bb598d4904dc6ea25a11f3-249.html#unique-entry-id-249</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8b884fca13bb598d4904dc6ea25a11f3-249.html#unique-entry-id-249</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[But their body language usually tells me that even though they know God is merciful, they just don&rsquo;t seem to feel like they are the recipients of His mercy. 


Now, before all of you faith people jump in here about &lsquo;feeling&rsquo;, let me explain something about God communicating to men. 


Is there anywhere in the Bible, anywhere at all, that you can show me where a man or woman remained stoic and unfeeling when visited by God or one of His angels? 


...Case in point; when I initially asked Jesus to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart, I did it solely in faith &ndash;I did not feel as though I was forgiven. 


But soon afterward, while I was in prayer and thanking God for His forgiveness, I began to feel really bad for the way I had been living my life before I became a Christian. 

...Are you telling me preacher that I must feel my faith in order for it to be real?&rdquo;   Absolutely not, but what I am saying is that if you don&rsquo;t feel your faith, I doubt very much if it&rsquo;s real. 


...Even being in prayer is an act of faith, and if it is, then it&rsquo;s a gift of God. 


Did you know that after all the wickedness that King Ahab did; God was still merciful to him?   King Ahab was one of the worst kings Israel ever saw (his wife was Jezebel, so what does that tell you) and yet, at the end of his life, he repented in the sight of God. 


...(Acts 5:31) If King Ahab felt bad for all his wickedness, it was because God gave him mercy. 


...Sometimes people are looking for that feeling of forgiveness before they are feeling sorry for what they did. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Gaining Access</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-03-20T14:01:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3ac3198480a2b3583aa7caf2f25658d3-248.html#unique-entry-id-248</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3ac3198480a2b3583aa7caf2f25658d3-248.html#unique-entry-id-248</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[While watching a spy movie a few weeks ago, I witnessed the frustration of a man trying to gain access to a top-secret web site. 

...As far as the governmental web sites go, I am pretty sure you would have to have a clearance code, a password that would gain you access to the site. 


...They hope that God sees that they are trying to be good and that will be enough; besides no one is perfect. 


...But I am from the &lsquo;old school&rsquo; and I still believe that there is one God and one Mediator between God and man &ndash;the man, Christ Jesus! 


Jesus said that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life; no man came to the Father except through Him! 

...Paul puts it in Romans 5: &ldquo;Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.&rdquo; 


The confidence I have of eternal life is not based on myself, but solely on Him who died for me.   It is by faith, through grace that we have been saved, and it is not of ourselves. 


...We hope that our being good for a while will gain us access to that Throne of Grace that we all long for. 


...Therefore, if any should desire eternal life in Heaven, they must enter in behind Him who has gone in before us! 


...It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went in before us, has entered in on our behalf.&rdquo; 

...Even in my Christian walk, at times I have tried to &lsquo;hack&rsquo; my way in prayer, thinking I could be given audience because, well you know, I&rsquo;m trying to be good and all.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>God&#x2019;s Ability vs. Man&#x2019;s Determination</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-03-13T22:07:47-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/451791bc1b96efd4c020121afb3d605a-247.html#unique-entry-id-247</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/451791bc1b96efd4c020121afb3d605a-247.html#unique-entry-id-247</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We pray for God to do such and such and when it doesn&rsquo;t happen when we would like for it to, then doubt weakens our faith back to &ldquo;square one&rdquo;. 


...There was an account from a pioneer&rsquo;s log that stated thus: &ldquo;In the year of our Lord, in 1848, vast swarms of crickets descended down upon our settlement.   T&rsquo;was judgment upon us, ye certain, for how else could you explain the devastation to our crops, and the dimming hope of survival for the coming winter? 


...Nothing seemed to work, not even our prayers for deliverance seemed to stop the massive destruction of these crickets.   Then, after much prayer, one morning the sky over the Great Salt Lake was filled with the hoarse cry of the gull and the thundering of their wings. 


...These folks adopted the gull as their official State bird as a reminder of this wonderful miracle. 


What this story tells me is that what is impossible with man is possible with God. 

...Some things are just impossible and no matter how much we are determined and no matter how much we believe (a thing will happen) it nevertheless takes the Divine intervention of an Almighty God. 


With all the things that will undoubtedly come from this week&rsquo;s earthquake in Japan, man&rsquo;s determination to rebuild, to stand together and survive will be the great motivational strength behind our leaders. 


...All of these things are good and necessary, yet if we fail to see that it is only God who is able to deliver mankind from these ills, we will be doomed to the mercy of such disasters. 

...Paul exhorted us to rejoice in affliction, (for suffering produces character; and character, hope; and hope does not disappoint) he warns us that our lives do not depend on our desire or effort, but rather on God&rsquo;s mercy.   Let us therefore approach the Throne of grace for our brothers in Japan so that we can receive mercy in our time of need.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sharing an Internet Story</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-03-06T14:29:40-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/daa99b692b50f3ac690e6af364f0826c-246.html#unique-entry-id-246</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/daa99b692b50f3ac690e6af364f0826c-246.html#unique-entry-id-246</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.

...I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. ...  They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.


...So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. 

...As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. 


...We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my&nbsp;friends thought the same of him. 


...I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! 

...He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. 

...As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began, 'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. 

...I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. 

...I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met. ...  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Same God&#x2c; as always</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-02-27T10:01:27-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/18776243f2e320dcc3a204788433c4cd-245.html#unique-entry-id-245</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/18776243f2e320dcc3a204788433c4cd-245.html#unique-entry-id-245</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[God informed him that Moses was now dead and that it was time for him to get the people of Israel into the Promise Land. 

...Now then, you and all these people get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them &ndash;to the Israelites. 

...Now, I realize that God hasn&rsquo;t called us to lead a nation into their promised inheritance, to fight with enemies bigger and stronger than us, or even to cross a river &ndash;without a bridge!  


But one thing needs to be understood here; that no matter what God commands us to do, it is just as important to the Kingdom of God, as was what He commanded Joshua to do. 


...Then let me remind you that the importance of the matter does not depend on you and I, but rather on God, who command such and such to be done. 


In other words, God isn&rsquo;t asking you and I if we think it&rsquo;s important, He just says, &ldquo;Do it.&rdquo; 


...No matter what it may be; cleaning a house for a shut-in, speaking up for righteousness, not laughing at a dirty joke told by fellow employees, or really anything at all. 


...	Joshua received a promise that God would be with him just as He was with Moses.   If I were Joshua, this would give me great comfort after seeing all that God had done for, and through, Moses. 


...Not only is this because of God&rsquo;s faithfulness, but also it is for the reason of completing the work of God &ndash; the same God who was working with Moses! 


If all of this sounds elementary and you&rsquo;re thinking, &ldquo;Yeah, I know all this stuff,&rdquo; then my question is, &ldquo;Why do you fear to do anything for the Lord?&rdquo; 


...Everything, no matter how small you and I perceive the job to be &ndash;  is important to God and He will see that the same anointing He gave for others will also be available to us. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x263a; Spring-Cleaning &#x263a;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-02-20T23:50:55-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1a9673caa9fa7030b4db1a70fe5488f7-244.html#unique-entry-id-244</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1a9673caa9fa7030b4db1a70fe5488f7-244.html#unique-entry-id-244</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[With the warmer temperatures this last week thoughts of Spring came to mind quickly and those thoughts included the seasonal tradition of Spring-cleaning! 


The morning sun pushed its way into our living room and I noticed the dust that had gathered on Robin&rsquo;s curio and that reminded me of the mess upstairs and the disaster out in the garage and out in the yard and&hellip; Dear God, help me!  


You may think I&rsquo;m kidding, or maybe I am being a little flippant, throwing a prayer up to God about my Spring-cleaning duties, but in actuality I really meant it.    Solomon tells us that whatsoever things we find to do, we should do it with all our might. ...  9:10 And Paul tells us that we should do all things unto the glory of God, 1Cor.10:31 so it is out of necessity, that the first order of business is to seek the help of the Almighty! 


...So, when I see things like spring-cleaning coming into my life and I begin to pray to God about it, He does the obvious and begins with me!  


...As I was praying the other morning and thinking about spring-cleaning, the Lord spoke to my heart asking me if I remembered cleaning up the same things around the house last year?   When I told Him that I did, He said that sometimes that&rsquo;s what it is like in the spiritual sense. 


When David cried out to God, asking that He search him, and know his heart, to see if there be anything offensive to Him, it wasn&rsquo;t the first time he asked that and it wouldn&rsquo;t be the last. 

...So, it behooves you and I to go back to God and say, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s do some spring-cleaning of the soul Lord!   I think God is looking for those kinds of souls and it is to these that He overwhelms with grace and mercy. 


...So it is with us when we ask God to search us and to know us and to reveal anything in our hearts that may be offensive to Him. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>An Invitation</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-02-13T15:24:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5949835d14f71f16107740940d3eafe8-243.html#unique-entry-id-243</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5949835d14f71f16107740940d3eafe8-243.html#unique-entry-id-243</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One day, while Jesus was preaching and teaching on the Kingdom of God, a man spoke up in the crowd and said, &ldquo;Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the Kingdom of God.&rdquo; 


...There was a man who held a banquet at his home and invited many to come and dine with him.   When everything was prepared, the master of the house told his servants to go inform all who had been invited. 

...I mean, no one sent word back saying, they just didn&rsquo;t want to come, or they weren&rsquo;t interested in his banquet. 

...Now, within the context of this parable, Jesus was stating the obvious; God has called out to the Jewish nation (and for that matter, all people) to come and fellowship with Him in His Kingdom, and they found reasons not to attend. 


This is where excuses are looked at from a different perspective, a perspective that is more in line with Jesus&rsquo; parable.   As far as the excuses go, it wasn&rsquo;t so much on their legitimacy, as it was on the fact that they were even given. 


...There is the sweat and toil of the labor and the mental stress of making sure nothing is forgotten and everything is &ldquo;just so&rdquo; as to afford everyone a good time.


 Finally, the day comes when all is ready and the host goes over his checklist one final time to assure that everything is ready. 

...It reminds me of when Isaiah sang about the One he loved and about His vineyard: &ldquo;I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard; My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 

...In actuality, whoever finds excuses to put off receiving salvation (no matter how legitimate he or she may think they are) they are still an open insult to the Cross of Jesus Christ. 


As for us Christians, anytime God invites us to come and dine, and we find excuses not to attend, I think the hedge is destroyed just a little more. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Super&#x2026; Sunday</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-02-06T13:19:02-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e734c43be3cceea5b98386b764ecb21-242.html#unique-entry-id-242</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e734c43be3cceea5b98386b764ecb21-242.html#unique-entry-id-242</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This is the day that the best team from the AFC plays against the best team from the NFC, and most of the world will be watching. 


There has been news coverage all week on this upcoming event and all eyes will be on&hellip; the new, 1.3 billion dollar, Dallas Stadium! 

...Our country is on the brink of economic disaster, the Middle East right now is a cauldron of geopolitical frustrations and the whole world, for that matter, is at the crossroads once again, of either moving toward or away from God. 


...There are going to be famines and earthquakes in various places, wars and rumors of wars, pestilences and persecutions and the rise of an antichrist spirit that which the world has, to this date, never seen. 

...I wonder what Peter and Paul would be thinking about us Americans if they could walk the streets of our cities today. 


...As they walk down the street, it doesn&rsquo;t take them very long before they come to a grand edifice on the corner with a Cross perched high upon its roof.   The symbol is familiar, but causes apprehension in our two time travelers &ndash;for the Cross was a symbol of crucifixion and death! 


...When Peter and Paul realize that they are in a Christian service, celebrating the Resurrection and worshipping the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ they look at one another in total disbelief &ndash;they know what must be done. 


...When they reach the front they turn toward their hearers and look at them with sorrowful eyes and saddened hearts. 

...It was only after Jesus died and rose again did I realize that service to Christ and a life devoted to God did not depend on my strength. 


...Return to your first Love, for the Judge is at the door and soon you will see with your own eyes and in your own flesh &ndash;the Lord of Glory!&rdquo; 


I know that Peter and Paul could never travel to our time and speak to us about what really is important, but did you ever think that maybe&hellip; God is?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When the Simple Things Become Hard</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-01-30T18:54:07-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c00f79d570627e704b2f78a7367b86b2-241.html#unique-entry-id-241</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c00f79d570627e704b2f78a7367b86b2-241.html#unique-entry-id-241</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As we know, through the Scriptures, Eve was deceived by the devil and took the fruit from the Tree from which God had forbidden them to eat. 

...I wonder what was going on in Adam&rsquo;s head at the moment she reached out and offered him this forbidden fruit?   I believe the Bible implies that Adam knew exactly what he was doing when he also ate from the Tree.   For the Scripture says, &ldquo;And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.&rdquo; 

...So, there may have been a lapse in the time from when Eve became a sinner and when Adam became a sinner. 

...It was decision time for Adam, and life was now not so simple anymore. ...  He could sense that the two were no longer one &ndash;she was different, even though he could not explain it. 


I imagine it was kind of like the same feeling you and I feel for our loved ones who do not subscribe to the Christian faith. 

...In other words; Adam said in that moment; &ldquo;I would rather die, then live without her.&rdquo;   Isn&rsquo;t it ironic; for that is exactly what Jesus must have said when he considered the Cross. 

...For the point is, in essence, a brutal truth: God requires simple obedience, and at times obedience to God is not so simple.   &ldquo;You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>All things&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-01-23T00:06:25-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/581782df504812af09c30c1933118ea2-240.html#unique-entry-id-240</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/581782df504812af09c30c1933118ea2-240.html#unique-entry-id-240</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 

...Sure, there is nothing wrong with a little motivational push, and I certainly don&rsquo;t want to be negative here, but sometimes you have to call it like it really is. ...  When the Church asks me to sing solo, they are really asking me to sing so low that no one will be able to hear. 

...	Paul isn&rsquo;t trying to motivate us here to be all we can be with this Scripture, but what he is telling us is that through Jesus Christ, there is nothing you can&rsquo;t do. 

...I can&rsquo;t say that Christ gives me the strength while I am trying to hide cherished sin in my heart.   I have heard people say that they know not everything is right in their lives, but they&rsquo;re trying to get closer to God. 


Now, if what they are saying is that they realize that they are not perfect, but they are allowing the Spirit freedom to circumcise their heart, I can truly understand their dilemma.   I know it has been very hard for God to brings things up out of my heart, while I remained in &ldquo;ignorant heaven.&rdquo; 


But if they mean they already know that what they are doing is sin and yet, they are trying to get closer to God; that will never work.   This is what James meant when he said that the man who asks for wisdom should not doubt, &ldquo;that man should not think he shall receive anything form the Lord.&rdquo; 


...Should I choose to be kind, gentle and self-controlled, I can do all those things through Christ who strengthens us. 

...I can live as Christ would have while being poorer than the Church mouse and I can be a saint even with a pocket full of gold. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Place For Everything</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-01-16T10:24:45-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a8476518e5bbf495d7d180416cee7fed-239.html#unique-entry-id-239</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a8476518e5bbf495d7d180416cee7fed-239.html#unique-entry-id-239</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sometimes this is how my life is defined and it bothers me that I can&rsquo;t be more organized and directed. 


...Please don&rsquo;t misunderstand, I am only questioning myself here, this is not an admission of guilt.   I am just not sure that I am where God would have me to be at this moment in my walk with Him. 

...You see each of us has many things in our personalities; things like joy, fears, courage, determination and things like that. 

...But sometimes my life gets busy and I may have an hour window to work on something here at the house, but no time to put tools away. 

...The top of the workbench can get very ugly with all sorts of junk, unnecessary junk, junk that just clutters and makes my life less efficient. ...  But I relate to this only in that a messy life (like a messy workbench) means an inefficient life!


	Paul tells us in Timothy that in the Father&rsquo;s house there are many vessels, some of silver and gold and some of wood and clay. ...  There are many things in our lives when we come to Christ (Stuff on the workbench that makes us ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of Him) that needs to be checked and removed if need be. 


For instance, James tells us that anger in one&rsquo;s life doesn&rsquo;t bring about the righteous life that God requires. 

...Yes; a place for everything and everything in its place and there is no place for pride in a Christian&rsquo;s life.   I don&rsquo;t know about you, but I want to do something for God this year and the first thing I&rsquo;m planning is &ndash;cleaning off the &ldquo;old workbench.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Marriage Supper of the Lamb</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-01-09T09:06:54-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7320160c050ac7e0d853424efbb3667f-238.html#unique-entry-id-238</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7320160c050ac7e0d853424efbb3667f-238.html#unique-entry-id-238</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Then the angel who was showing these things to him said, &ldquo;Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!&rdquo; 

...	Throughout the Bible God has used the marriage between a man and a woman as a type of the union He plans for us, the Church. ...  And finally in the last book of the Bible God promises us that there will indeed be a wedding that will exceed in glory and splendor any wedding thus far. 


In the west, we have turned some old traditions around and for us to understand the wedding supper that will take place at the end of the age requires a little understanding of the eastern wedding. 


...The young man would go to the bride&rsquo;s father and ask for her hand by negotiating with him the price to purchase his bride.   Then, a covenant was made and the woman and man were thus betrothed, what we call an engagement here in the west. 


...The bride, in the mean time was gathering her bridesmaids around her and prepared herself for married life as she waited for her groom to come. 


...The two processions would meet and then in one great procession head back to the father of the groom&rsquo;s house. 

...Jesus is our groom and He has gone to His Father&rsquo;s house to prepare a place for us. 

...By the Lord&rsquo;s own word, we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come back in the clouds of glory and call His Church to rise.   The dead in Christ will rise first and we who are alive shall be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air.   At that time we shall all go back to the Father&rsquo;s house where we shall be blessed to participate in the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Armchair Productivity</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2011-01-02T18:03:57-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1819b475b7681dee0d4e1742e64e9304-237.html#unique-entry-id-237</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1819b475b7681dee0d4e1742e64e9304-237.html#unique-entry-id-237</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Sure, we know what this is; there are millions of armchair quarterbacks and referees that watch football games week in and week out. 

...These are all noble resolutions and would truly bring productivity into one&rsquo;s Christian walk; the trouble is when we leave all these resolutions on the armchair of our soapbox. 


...I remember once when I was a kid; I was going to start an exercise regiment that was going to put me in tip-top physical shape. 

...	Since Robin and I have become Christians, we have never really made New Year&rsquo;s resolutions like we used to. ...  Usually, we Christians are thinking about getting closer to the Lord &ndash;and we are going to start at the first of the year.  ...  After, that first week, if most of us were honest, we would admit that we weren&rsquo;t any closer to the Lord than we were before. 


...Well, first of all we had forgotten that the things of God do not depend on our strength and New Year resolutions spring board off human determination.   Paul tells us in Romans that as far as the things of God are concerned, it does not depend on man&rsquo;s will or effort, or his determination, but on the mercies of God. 


So, in reality, if I was thinking last week, while sitting in my armchair, that after the 1st I was going to get closer to God &ndash;then, (in reality) I was forfeiting the grace that God was giving me last week.   Do you understand that it is God&rsquo;s Spirit that moves on our heart with these desires to draw closer to Him.   If we don&rsquo;t act on those desires right then, then we forfeit the grace that was afforded to us at that moment and are telling God, I&rsquo;ll take that grace when I am ready. 


...When God shuts the door, no man will be able to open it and I believe that there will be a lot of armchair Christians outside, where there will be weeping and gnashing of the teeth. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incarnation</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-12-26T16:21:36-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0e8aa627bff5d8809f6d97784438112a-236.html#unique-entry-id-236</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0e8aa627bff5d8809f6d97784438112a-236.html#unique-entry-id-236</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you are reading this then you know that Christmas is passed for another year and we are heading for the New Year. ...  My prayer is that Jesus would come tonight and this never be printed out into our bulletin, but God, in His wisdom knows just what He is doing and I&rsquo;ll trust Him. 


It&rsquo;s kind of funny, forty-six years ago, I would be really anxious right about now, waiting for Santa to arrive.   It wasn&rsquo;t that I was particularly interested in him, but rather in what he left behind for me. 

...O, I knew the Christmas story years ago and I knew that we were honoring His birth on this day, but my heart was never really stirred as a child. 

...John tells us in his epistle that for this reason the Son of God was manifest &ndash;to destroy the works of the devil. 


Now, we know that through the Word God created all things, whether things in heaven or on earth; whether visible or invisible, all things were created by His Word &ndash;the Son. ...  Evil began to exist in his heart and because there is a law that governs even evil, Lucifer would reap what he sowed.   He fell from the glory of God and began to reek the havoc that we all are now experiencing in this world without God. 


There is constant bloodshed and wickedness unabated because men have refused to acknowledge that Jesus is the Word of God come in the flesh. 

...You see, Jesus Christ has come in the likeness of His fellow man, to destroy the works of the devil in man. ...  Then He shall come in all his glory and splendor and we shall see the total overthrow of evil and destruction. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>David&#x2019;s Heart</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-12-19T00:24:41-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/72536ccb554b545598b1d496a1860a2c-235.html#unique-entry-id-235</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/72536ccb554b545598b1d496a1860a2c-235.html#unique-entry-id-235</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I must have spilled some of the &lsquo;kraut and sausage that Robin had made for the Fellowship. ...  I knew that if I had spilled any, it was a very small amount and would probably just dry up, besides, It was in the trunk anyway. 


...Monday the car was parked in the sun and&hellip; O my&hellip; Someone might as well have just dumped &lsquo;kraut all through my car. 

...Well, Wednesday came around and Robin had taken the car for something and when she got home, she explained the &lsquo;kraut smell. 

...Then, as I was spraying the last of the Febreeze, the Lord spoke to my heart and this is what He said:


...People don&rsquo;t know why their lives &ldquo;stink,&rdquo; they know something wrong, but they never really investigate to try and discover the problem.   Now, My servant David, cried out to Me a number of times asking that I would search his heart to see if there be any offensive way in him.   This is what it means to have a heart like David and this is why I called him a man after my own heart. 

... Remember, that I have set apart a people for Myself and they will be My children. ...  This means that My Light shall become brighter and more intense; brighter so that you will not stumble and more intense so that you may see what is really in you.   The amount of effort that you exert to be found blameless is in correlation to the amount of grace that you have received.   Don&rsquo;t be misled; I have forgiven you of all your sin, but I expect you to apply yourself to My sanctifying power. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>An early Christmas gift for you.</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-12-12T15:55:22-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1b5dbf43c05708e6c6c2c286f29211a3-234.html#unique-entry-id-234</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1b5dbf43c05708e6c6c2c286f29211a3-234.html#unique-entry-id-234</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I have a gift for you, that is, if you are willing to get the movie Robin and I just watched.  

...Every day for a year, Hachiko would meet his master at the Shibuya Station at four o&rsquo;clock in the afternoon. ...  Hachiko went to the station, just like he had before, waiting on his master to come out from among the strange faces that exited the station.   Only this time, his master didn&rsquo;t get off the train, so Hachiko went home, only to return once again at four o&rsquo;clock the next day to wait for his master. 


Folks, this dog did this not just for a week, or a month or for even a year &ndash;that would have been one act of loyalty in itself! 

...Now, I am aware that there are many stories of other animals and even humans (I am not trying to be sarcastic) exhibiting this kind of loyalty and other virtues as well, but I want to draw your attention to the fact that these virtues must indeed exist &ndash;especially when we see them exhibited by animals.   The reason I say that is because it&rsquo;s easier to attribute motives behind human activity that may taint or impinge upon the honor of the act itself. 


When we watch this pure act of devotion and loyalty our hearts can be overwhelmed by the emotions that erupt into them.   We may even find ourselves weeping for a happy ending or in this case, applauding Hachiko for his unadulterated show of love.   So, if these virtues truly exist, and seeing as how they cannot be observed unless someone or something is exhibiting them, it stands to reason that there is One in whom these exist wholly. 


...This lines up with what James tells us in his epistle;  &ldquo;Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadows.&rdquo; 

...So, as a Christian, with the hope of eternal life in Christ Jesus, we also have the hope of one day observing all those virtues that we applaud and truly find worthy of praise. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Before You Know it&#x2026;Christmas&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-12-05T13:27:59-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e33fc9e0a65073045645c6974438dba-233.html#unique-entry-id-233</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4e33fc9e0a65073045645c6974438dba-233.html#unique-entry-id-233</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I remember wondering why Christmas had to be at the end of the month and wished it were at the beginning. 

...I believe the reason for this relativity in Decembers is due to the fact that as one gets older, Christmas takes on a new meaning. ...  If I were to really open my heart here, it would show that those early Decembers were spent more on thinking about what I was going to receive on Christmas Day than on anything else. 


I didn&rsquo;t have many chores and really no responsibilities to speak of, so, the only thing I had to think about was myself.   I relished in the excitement of the holiday spirit and was comforted by its traditions; these feelings only added to the anxiousness that I was already experiencing, thus adding great length to every day!   Now, Christmas means something different to me, I find more joy in watching Robin and other loved ones receive gifts that bless them. 

...Sometimes I find myself getting very anxious about life and my desire for Jesus Christ to come once again &ndash;even as He has promised.   I think about the perilous times that we are experiencing and the struggles that so many are facing and the crime that is so rampant and on, and on, and on. 


...I am tired of murder/suicides and recalls and new scientific findings that the food that I have been eating all along was bad for me! ...  I am tired of the&hellip; Oh, it goes on and on; and it seems like Jesus couldn&rsquo;t get here quick enough. 


...Maybe if I began to think more of others than myself and was more about my Father&rsquo;s business than trying to please myself&hellip; I bet the days would fly by!  


...Maybe if I spent more energy living for God, rather than for my happiness, then the days would just fly by. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>For those who sow with tears&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-11-28T20:02:49-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/50056c16cd6891d7a2c76079d8dd1805-232.html#unique-entry-id-232</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/50056c16cd6891d7a2c76079d8dd1805-232.html#unique-entry-id-232</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I know that there are many of you who have tirelessly prayed and spoken to your loved one about the Lord.   It is a hard thing to do; on one hand you don&rsquo;t want to &ldquo;push&rdquo; them away, and yet on the other, you want them to seriously consider the present condition of their soul. 


...I believe it was Jesus who said that He didn&rsquo;t come to bring peace on this earth but a sword. ...  It seems like it is almost hopeless and many times we have cried ourselves to sleep wondering if our loved ones will ever receive the Lord&rsquo;s salvation. 


...I wonder if any of the conversations led back to two years earlier, when some flee-bitten shepherds came flying down the darkened Bethlehem hillside with news of a newborn King?   Sure there were some who were amazed at what they said at that time, but in the long run, most folks swept away their enthusiastic message under the rug of their memories. 


...Sometimes I have felt like God should have sent someone else besides me to witness to so and so&hellip; Sometimes I wish that I were more powerful with God and men. ...  There are a number of folks that I have spoken to over the years and as I look into their lives today, I see that they are still of the world, they still have not received the Good News. 

...I am not saddened because I want people to know that I was right &ndash; but that they have refused the truth that they may live!   My hearts aches for those Christians who are so worldly that they do not realize that Jesus is about to spew them from His mouth.   What a terrible thing, to go through this life, thinking that you were all right, only to hear the Lord say, &ldquo;Away from Me, I never knew you.&rdquo;  


...When it is all said and done, and the Church of God is standing before the Throne, she will be rejoicing with songs of joy as she sees what great things He has done.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>On Being Happy for Thanksgiving</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-11-21T00:48:08-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/cb1c923661784a2f921aff8d72e02a55-231.html#unique-entry-id-231</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/cb1c923661784a2f921aff8d72e02a55-231.html#unique-entry-id-231</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you ask someone that, they&rsquo;ll look at you strangely and say, &ldquo;I think you need to learn how to pronounce think!&rdquo; 


...They were the ones who roughed it out through the harsh winters building tombs seven times more than houses, no electricity, no running water, none of the comforts of the 21st century.   But they took one day out of the year and adopted it specifically for thanking the All-Mighty, Merciful God! 


...When the boy didn&rsquo;t respond fast enough, the giver of the candy said, &ldquo;That&rsquo;s all right, he need not thank me.&rdquo;   But the mother said, &ldquo;I know he doesn&rsquo;t need to, but he&rsquo;ll become a better man if he does.&rdquo;


	I know that the Bible says that God loves a cheerful giver and truly it does make sense to give a gift out of kindness rather than begrudgingly. 

...It&rsquo;s like you&rsquo;re saying, &ldquo;Thanks, but I wish&hellip;&rdquo;; &ldquo;Thanks, but I wanted&hellip;&rdquo;; Thanks, but&hellip;&rdquo; A thanks and a &ldquo;but&rdquo; is no thanks at all. 


...I watched women get so dog tired from fixing all the fixns&rsquo; that they weren&rsquo;t sure that they were thankful of anything.   That table has to be just so, the turkey has to be just so and on and on it goes, until it spoils their day and sometimes, the day of those around them.   Someone might say, &ldquo;Well, that is easy for you to say, you&rsquo;re a man and you don&rsquo;t have to prepare all that food, clean the house for guests, and make sure all the &ldquo;to do&rdquo; list is done.&rdquo; 


...Thanksgiving Day was meant to stop you from all your toil and thank the God who gave you Jesus Christ. 


Sure there will be carpets to sweep and pies to bake, but in the long run, what really is important is sitting at His feet and thanking Him from a grateful heart. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Cry of God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-11-14T20:28:22-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/02a48f5366a9a1f2cb22b7eecab397de-230.html#unique-entry-id-230</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/02a48f5366a9a1f2cb22b7eecab397de-230.html#unique-entry-id-230</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, for one thing, he was made in the image and likeness of God and because of his rebellion &ndash; fell from the glory that God had beheld him in. 

...So, man has been in this struggle since the first moments of his history and his dilemma is only getting worse. ...  But we know that before the foundation of the world, God had purposed in His heart that man would be redeemed &ndash;and that by the Blood of Jesus Christ. 


The Apostle John tells us that Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who was slain from the foundation of the world.   Man has been purchased back and given the opportunity to believe in God and once again, trust His word to obtain eternal life. ...  The second is that because of this sin, we find that God backs away from direct contact with sin. 


God has purposed in His heart that He and man would exist together and because of sin&rsquo;s temporary stronghold on humanity, God has chosen to abide with man through faith.   Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of the Virgin Mary, and who lived a faithful life in full obedience to God, His Father, accomplished all this. 


...Because Jesus did what He did two thousand years ago, God sent the Spirit of His Son into the hearts of those who would believe on God and trust Him for their salvation.   The faith that believers receive is actually the same faith of Jesus Christ while He walked on this earth as a man. 


...God still dwells with man through faith and therefore, He is searching for anyone willing to go and speak this truth about Jesus to anyone who would receive. 


...Do you know that He is still trying to persuade men to accept salvation through the mouths of other men? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Concern of God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-11-07T10:30:36-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b84cefde5f2f3e1ef4c66231ec105ac8-229.html#unique-entry-id-229</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b84cefde5f2f3e1ef4c66231ec105ac8-229.html#unique-entry-id-229</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Psalm 8:4  (That&rsquo;s Jim Gross&rsquo; version; part King James and part New International) David asks why the Lord would be so concerned about man. 

...It was enough for David to know that God had hedged him in, behind and before. ...  It is a wonderful thing to know that while we travel this life, God has His eyes upon us and so we are upon His mind.   Throughout the pages of the Bible, we can see that God has been concerned for man all along. ...  &ldquo;My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.&rdquo; 

...Well, if sending His Son to die for our sins isn&rsquo;t enough for some people, then nothing will be enough. ...  God told Moses that He had heard the cries of the Israelites while they were under the heavy whip of the Egyptians, and that He was concerned for them. ...  If James tells us that perfect religion in God&rsquo;s eyes was to take care of the widows and orphans, then we can be assured that He does the same!  


...I want my loved ones saved and loving You&hellip; I need&hellip; I want&hellip; I&hellip;&rdquo; And then God interrupts me with a gentle nudge and says, &ldquo;Child, I know what you want. ...  I am so concerned for you that I think I&rsquo;ll stay with the Plan and the course that I have planned for you.&rdquo; ...  He is at my tomorrows and when I lay my head down to sleep, I awaken again, because the Lord sustains me!


 Like Mary, and the tens of thousands before us, let our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior, for He is mindful of the humble state of us all! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pre-Election Prayer</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-10-31T08:08:51-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/dbfc3e79a4d6fc6810b06b67ec77f062-228.html#unique-entry-id-228</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/dbfc3e79a4d6fc6810b06b67ec77f062-228.html#unique-entry-id-228</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I have voted in every election for the past twenty-some years and found one thing is for certain whether my candidate wins or not, and that is - I am a part of this great country.   I believe in the democratic system of our government and I believe that it is the best substitute for God&rsquo;s theocratic form of government, which will no doubt be instituted when Jesus Christ comes back. 


...Think about the peace of mind that comes when you know that the way Jesus says things will be done is the best way! 

...	This Tuesday, our country shall go to the polls and once again vote, to either progress into liberal socialism, or stem the tide of the anti-God policies of the left.   Again, I am so tickled by so called Christians who vote for the ultra liberal left just because they (the candidates) promise us a better economy. 


I would like to remind everyone of us the words of our Savior, who said, &ldquo;Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.&rdquo; 


 The politicians who are promising, more jobs, better healthcare, and a brighter economic future are usually the same ones who are pushing for abortions on demand, same sex marriages, and everything else that is contrary to the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ...  I realize that we Christians will never have that &ldquo;perfect&rdquo; candidate to vote for, but one thing is for certain, God will call our motives in to account for voting for the candidates that we do elect. 


...This means that those men and women who think that God has no place in our policies, will find themselves, with no place in our government. 


...What I mean is this, when I began to pray and think about the options for this Tuesday, the first thing God brought to my mind was, that I needed to open my ears to hear Him. 

...This tells me that I shouldn&rsquo;t automatically vote for who I think is right, but for those candidates that line up as closely to Biblical principles as possible. ...  But just as I feel about being a part of this country when I vote, I also feel that I am doing my Christian duty, when I pray prior to my vote. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I&#x2019;ve Fallen and I Can&#x2019;t Get Up</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-10-24T12:10:55-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a6f93653f46e0c56a2bc061b4dcf733b-227.html#unique-entry-id-227</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a6f93653f46e0c56a2bc061b4dcf733b-227.html#unique-entry-id-227</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you remember that commercial a few years ago where the elderly lady is laying on the floor and she says, &ldquo;Somebody help; I&rsquo;ve fallen and I can&rsquo;t get up&rdquo;? ...  So, when somebody really fell, there undoubtedly would be someone close by, ready to glibly ask, &ldquo;Have you fallen and can&rsquo;t get up?&rdquo; 


...In our Christian walk, there may be someone who you know, that may have fallen, not physically, but spiritually &ndash;and maybe, they can&rsquo;t get back up. ...  Some of these folks chose to walk away from God&rsquo;s love and really all that is left to do is pray for them. 

...And what about those folks who fall and it seems that they think that they are still just fine with the Lord? ...  He was removed from the church and he said himself that he would not pastor again until he received some help and a certain amount of time had passed. 

...John tells us that if we see our brother sin a sin that is not unto death, he should pray and God will give him life.   He went on to point out that he was referring to those whose sin did not lead unto death and not those whose sin leads to death. 


...God forbid, that we should allow our loved ones and even our Christian brothers to remain in a sinful state while all along letting them think that they are just fine &ndash;on their way to Heaven.   God told Ezekiel that He had made him a watchman on the wall and that he needed to sound the trumpet of alarm to his brothers. 

...He came to set the captive free and to be a light for those who were dwelling in darkness.   The Christian response should be the same; we need to shine the light of Christ and pray that the captive may be set free. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Look-a-Likes &#x26; Imitators</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-10-17T11:23:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/35ac3e2ceed1efd464cf5da351967916-226.html#unique-entry-id-226</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/35ac3e2ceed1efd464cf5da351967916-226.html#unique-entry-id-226</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It was Hollywood look-a-likes week on the show and the contestants were folks who looked like famous people. 

...Their mannerisms and voice inflexions were down to the &ldquo;T&rdquo; and if you didn&rsquo;t look real close, you would have thought that the actual famous people were playing the game. 


I got to thinking about the effort it took to learn the mannerisms of these famous people and just how much time it took to be &ldquo;them&rdquo;, to look like them, to act like them and even, I believe, to think like them &ndash;to some extent. 

...I wonder how many times they actually pulled it off &ndash;you know &ndash; pretended that they were really the person that they pretended to be? 

...	Paul tells us in Ephesians that we should be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love. 

...But then, Paul narrows it down a little and tells us that our attitude should be that of Christ Jesus, Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death &ndash;even death on a cross!  


...People don&rsquo;t have a real problem loving (especially when they love according to their own standards.) but folks have a problem humbling themselves into the position of servants. 


In other words, we have no problem bowing down to God just as long as our crown of autonomy doesn&rsquo;t fall from our head.   Then Peter tells us that we should actually suffer as Christ did for us, because He left us an example that we should follow in His steps. 

...Finally, John smacks us into the hard cold reality of the truth &ndash;of whether we are truly in Christ: We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.   The man who says, &lsquo;I know him,&rsquo; but does not do what he commands is a liar and the truth is not in him. ...  This is how we know we are in him; Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Study to Show Thyself Approved</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-10-10T18:11:18-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e81815a2484f0c1c63de3e338eb852ab-225.html#unique-entry-id-225</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e81815a2484f0c1c63de3e338eb852ab-225.html#unique-entry-id-225</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I heard the school bus go by the other morning and the first thought in my head was a big &ldquo;Thank You God that I am not in school anymore.&rdquo; 

...As I was pondering those wonderful carefree years (they weren&rsquo;t real carefree back then though) I recalled saying to myself as I was entering high school that I was going to work really hard and make sure that I got all the credits that I needed to graduate. ...  I pictured myself going through the four years of grueling schoolwork and coming to that final day of caps and diploma&rsquo;s only to be turned away. 

...I studied hard for those first two years and I was on pace to be able to graduate (as far as my credits were concerned) in three years. 

...	Paul tells Timothy to do his best to present himself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.   In the King James Version, the scripture reads; &ldquo;Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.&rdquo; 

...Paul goes on to say that in a house were vessels used for noble purposes and some for ignoble, and he desires that we would be prepared to be used by God for those noble purposes. 


You see, it works this way in Christianity: A Christian doesn&rsquo;t just study the Word of God so that he can know what it says and then tell others what it says. ...  We should study the Word and let it be as a sword to circumcise worldly pleasures and carnality out of our hearts. 


...This is what Jesus meant when He told us that the Holy Spirit would not speak on His own, but only that which He hears. ...  So, we read and study the Word, the Spirit bears witness in our hearts, and then we become transformed by the renewing of our mind. 

...They are also very helpful in making one wise unto the salvation that was given to us through Jesus Christ our Lord!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Count it all Joy Brethren</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-10-03T11:16:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/07b7b9fbfdbb90ccfa2721150ca9d274-224.html#unique-entry-id-224</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/07b7b9fbfdbb90ccfa2721150ca9d274-224.html#unique-entry-id-224</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It could be a car problem, a broken down washer or maybe even a spat with a loved one; whatever it may be, it crowds itself into our life and demands that we react to it. 


...For example, the car breaks down right when your leaving for a day of activities and someone asks, &ldquo;What are you going to do now?&rdquo; 

...But there is more; when we make a mess of things like this, we fail to learn from James when he said, &ldquo;Count it all joy brothers, when you face diverse temptations of many kinds, for you know the testing of our faith develops patience and patience must finish her work, so that we may become mature, complete and lacking no good thing.&rdquo; 


...Solomon might not be able to tell you what is wrong with the car, but it can tell you how to calm your heart, clear your head and what attitude to approach the problem with.   If I am assured that God is for me and it is He who is working for the good in all things, then, I can approach any difficulty with the hope that after all is said and done, I will come out a little better off. 


...In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade &ndash;kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God&rsquo;s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last times.   In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.   These have come so that your faith &ndash;of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire &ndash;may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.&rdquo;


...We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus to walk in those works that will bring glory and honor to Christ and true fulfillment to us. 


God has allowed those seemingly terrible things in your life to bring out your true character, and character brings hope, and hope does not disappoint! 

...I realize now &ndash;through the trials in my life &ndash;that God has not left me to walk this sod alone.   That He is there with me, holding my hand, teaching me through the lessons and bringing a light that shines ever brighter as I trust His Word, by obeying His commands. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tree Stump Removal</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-09-26T09:28:46-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a656017a2529bc1e2381c027a09debd4-223.html#unique-entry-id-223</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a656017a2529bc1e2381c027a09debd4-223.html#unique-entry-id-223</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[First let me inform you that at this time last year there was a tree, about fifty feet tall leaning over the creek about to fall on a couple of other young trees that I wanted to protect.   So, with chain saw in hand, I went to work and cut the tree down, leaving a stump that was about a foot and half tall and about 20 inches in circumference. 

...When I began removing the stump, I never realized just how big this thing was, or how tough of a job it would be. ...  You know that stump symbolizes the sin in our lives and sometimes we never realize just how deep sin&rsquo;s roots grow.   The devil never tells us that the &ldquo;little&rdquo; bit of sin that we see in our lives is actually bigger, deeper, and spreads out further. 


...Again, it&rsquo;s just like the devil to get us to compromise our walk with the Lord, by leaving worldliness, the pride of life and the lust of the flesh in our Christian walk.   He tells us that we can still be &ldquo;good&rdquo; people and &ldquo;love&rsquo; Jesus, we&rsquo;ll just have to work around those other things. 

...Removing the sin from our lives will allow us to shine the light of God more brightly and believe it or not, make our Christian walk more pleasant and of a greater delight. 

...I remember standing in this two-foot trench that encircled the stump and swinging the ax at one of the hundred of roots that needed to be cut.   With one swing, the root was cut and this massive two-ton tree stump was broken loose and no longer had any hold in my yard! 

...I was master as I bound the monster with my chain and used my come-a-long to drag that ugly thing a little over two hundred feet away to be buried &ndash;never to be seen again! 


One of these days there will be an angel that comes down to earth, by the Lord&rsquo;s command, and he will have a large chain with which he will bind that old serpent, the devil. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sincerely Serious</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-09-19T10:38:43-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c20ac4f6609912beedc80e459b55c485-222.html#unique-entry-id-222</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c20ac4f6609912beedc80e459b55c485-222.html#unique-entry-id-222</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It seems that a young girl in North Carolina was recently suspended from school for not removing a &ldquo;nose-piercing&rdquo; that she had because of her &ldquo;religious&rdquo; beliefs. ...  She and her mother belong to the Church of Body Modification and it is the Church&rsquo;s belief that body modification helps one to ascertain some intimate relation with the divine.   Hence, she was not going to remove the stud from her nose even though it was against the school dress code. 


This story made national news when the ACLU took up the girl&rsquo;s case, citing that the school was wrong to make the girl remove the stud, because that inhibited her religious expression of faith.   So, anyway, the talk-show host said that he had searched out this church on the Internet and found that it actually existed, that it was a legitimate church.   So, in order to steer the discussion toward the moral element, the host made the statement that this girl should be allowed to freely practice her faith and since the church seemed to be a serious church, the legitimateness of the Church of Body Modification trumps the school&rsquo;s dress code. 


I agreed with the host that this country allows, and should allow, religious organizations to freely practice their faith, but I would not agree that just because someone is serious about their beliefs, that their beliefs are right. 


...I had a dream the other night and the dream actually gave me emotional feelings that tarried even after I awoke in the morning. 

...This is a fool&rsquo;s axiom and no one can build a society, or in this matter, sustain a society with such foolish philosophies. 


As the discussion on the radio went on, and folks called in with their opinions about the rightness or wrongness of tattoos, it became evident that the host succumbed to another foolish philosophy &ndash;that just because a society evolves into an acceptance of a thing, that acceptance legitimatizes the &ldquo;thing&rdquo; accepted. 


...It only takes one person with twisted feelings and wrong-headedness, to steer a group of people in the wrong direction.   I am afraid that this country has gone  so far into this Relativistic Thought that there is no one strong enough to say, &ldquo;Hey, we&rsquo;re heading the wrong way!&rdquo;  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Armor of Protection</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-09-12T08:18:23-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0cb21358256bd8e5a949c647cafa6200-221.html#unique-entry-id-221</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0cb21358256bd8e5a949c647cafa6200-221.html#unique-entry-id-221</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Some are so miraculous that there is no denying that Something transcendent had happened to bring about such a great deliverance, or what have you.   These testimonies encourage us and in some aspects, strengthen our own faith in Him who is faithful and doesn&rsquo;t show favoritism. 

...Nervously they stood, watching these aircraft hover over them and knowing that their attempt at a peaceful revolution could end in moments with their small army being blown apart. 


...Sure that the end was near, General Honesto Isleta (who personally told [Ravi Zacharias] this story when he was a student in a course [Ravi] was teaching in the Philippines) was reading to them from Psalm 91:


...These men trusted in God, they trusted in the Scriptures and they trusted in prayer to Him whom those Scriptures bear witness to.   And in those Scriptures Paul tells us to put on the full armor of God and take our stand against the devil. 


...This armor is for our protection and if we are faithful to don it, God will be faithful to deliver and protect you in any endeavor you embark upon. ...  The next time you are going through even the smallest of things, see if God will be there for you.   The next time you are being tempted, see if, when you invoke the Name of Jesus Christ, that that temptation doesn&rsquo;t flee. ...  The next time the devil promises you a good time, compare that transient pleasure for the eternal pleasures and glories of your salvation &ndash;see which is worth living for! 


Jesus used the sword of the Spirit against the devil while He was being tempted, if it was good enough for Him, it will be good enough for us as well.   Shod your feet with the gospel boots and those feet won&rsquo;t take you where you really don&rsquo;t want to go. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Work; blessing or curse?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-09-05T17:52:07-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/44a6f8b23fbeb46849b1abc25915d256-220.html#unique-entry-id-220</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/44a6f8b23fbeb46849b1abc25915d256-220.html#unique-entry-id-220</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A piece of firewood from a tree can be moved close to a dozen times before it is carried out in the ash pan. 

...And I like the wood off the ground &ndash;the wood at the bottom of the pile always soaks up the ground water and wet wood doesn&rsquo;t burn. 

...After I have my winter wood ready for burning, it usually is in two long rows five feet high, five feet wide and (hopefully) about thirty feet long. ...  It was also God who enabled me with the strength and health to get the wood. 

...	As we celebrate Labor Day this weekend, I was thinking of how most folks really are blessed by working and accomplishing their goals in the daily grind of survival. ...  Most folks welcome the challenge that a workload brings on, and there is a sense of blessedness of finishing it. 


Only the working person can know the satisfaction of slightly sore muscles after a good day of work. ...  The only curse that God put on work was that it would be done by the sweat of our brow. 


Whether that comes by actual sweat and sore muscles or by the pressure and stress of the mind, nevertheless, a job accomplished brings satisfaction of heart and mind. ...  Man was created to work and he will not find any fulfillment in life if he doesn&rsquo;t do what he was made for.


...Remember, Jesus said that His Father was always at His work and that He also was working. 

...I believe that at the end of the Age, only those who did their work, will truly be blessed as God wanted them to be. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>No Compromise&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-08-29T11:37:03-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebfcbd61e4423da664c243f1078844d7-219.html#unique-entry-id-219</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebfcbd61e4423da664c243f1078844d7-219.html#unique-entry-id-219</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One Sunday morning when he was scheduled to preach, he was told that President Andrew Jackson was in the congregation, and was warned not to say anything out of line. ...  After the service, President Jackson approached Cartwright and shook hands with him, saying, &ldquo;Sir, if I had a regiment of men like you, I could whip the world.&rdquo;


	I wonder how many times we Christians compromise our faith, for fear that those around us will be offended or think of us as fanatical.   We want to be accepted, even by those in the world and so we tone down the message that we should be living with all our strength. ...  He then carves a smiley face on you and sticks His light in you for all the world to see.&rdquo; ...  I am sure that if you and I knew of those Divine moments that God uses us for His purpose, we would be sure to give Him our best witness.   But, since we don&rsquo;t know when (every time) God chooses to use us &ndash; shouldn&rsquo;t we be ready all the time?   You know, in the early days of the Greek games, it wasn&rsquo;t the runner who ran the race in the shortest time that won, but it was the one who crossed the finish line with his torch still burning. 


	One sure way to keep the light in you burning bright is to follow Peter&rsquo;s advice in 2Peter 1, &ldquo;Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.   For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...  For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.&rdquo; 

...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ shine bright in your hearts and may your inner man prosper in the Lord.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Fragrance of Christ&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-08-22T11:48:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e94aef9cb2dc11840ab095618aebbfef-218.html#unique-entry-id-218</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e94aef9cb2dc11840ab095618aebbfef-218.html#unique-entry-id-218</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Of course, God knew that we were fitted candidates for such a task &ndash; He knew that if Robin had to deal with me all day, I probably would have driven her nuts within a few years!  

...Well, the other day when I came back home about mid-morning (Robin had gone to the WOW office) I caught her fragrance when I entered the house. ...  It was just a moment in my day, but it was a nice moment, a good moment; a moment that drew us closer together and made me long for the next moment that we would meet. 


And because of that little moment, I believe, I do remember that the next time we got together, it was a very pleasant and blessed moment.   (I have always thought that those first few minutes when a couple unites again after being separated for some reason, maybe because of jobs or shopping, are very important minutes that can set the atmosphere for their time together. 

...When I lifted my prayer of thanks for her, God reminded me of what Paul told the Corinthians, &ldquo;For we are to God the aroma of Christ&hellip;&rdquo; 2Cor.2:15 God quickly spoke to my heart that His people bring about the same reaction for Him as Robin&rsquo;s fragrance did for me! ...  It is amazing to me that God chooses not to remember our sins and wicked past, but He does choose to remember our love and devotion. 

...I like what God tells Israel through the prophet Isaiah as well; &ldquo;Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? ...  Is.49:15  throughout Scripture God tells us that His people are being constantly remembered and with that, they are delivered, protected and cared for. ...  Israel was commanded by the Lord (in the Mosaic covenant) to sacrifice to the Lord and that these sacrifices would be a pleasing aroma. 


These sacrifices were a foreshadowing of the great Sacrifice of Jesus Christ when He gave himself up for us, as Paul tells us, &ldquo;Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.&rdquo; 

...&ldquo;To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy-  To the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, Through Jesus Christ our Lord &rsquo;Before all ages, now and forevermore! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Our God is the Faithful God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-08-15T16:03:34-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d1b1b89afcfe503d55cc6f10366ed5a-217.html#unique-entry-id-217</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d1b1b89afcfe503d55cc6f10366ed5a-217.html#unique-entry-id-217</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He went on to say, &ldquo;He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.&rdquo; 

...For Moses knew that the Israelites, even though they were about to cross the Jordan into the land of milk and honey, were no doubt going to face trials of different kinds.   He knew that even though God would be faithful to keep His covenant of love, the Israelites would still face warfare from the inhabitants in the land. 


Moses wanted to remind them that no matter what difficulty they faced, God would be faithful to show His love to them. 

...But often times the new convert becomes dismayed and turns away because of the difficulties they face, difficulties that they assumed Jesus would cause to vanish magically somehow. 


You see, the Israelites&rsquo; venture into the Promise Land is a type, a foreshadowing, of a man or woman entering into Christ.   The writer of Hebrews has much to say about this but here, all we need to know is that even though a person may find new life in Christ, he or she will nevertheless still face difficulties.   For instance; we know that God has promised to take away the sin of every man and woman who looks to Jesus for salvation. 


...It took years of trusting in God&rsquo;s faithfulness and keeping His commands, but this man has found himself living in the Promise Land of Jesus Christ and knowing beyond all &ndash;That his God is God, He is the faithful God. 


...First, minister to the kids a single truth that we hope will bless them even in their young lives. 

...The single truth we wanted these children to know; &ldquo;Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto thy own understanding. ...  For, if one could trust in the Lord with all their heart, despite any hardship or difficulty they may face, if they continue to acknowledge Him in all their ways, He will direct their path and they will discover that &ndash;Their God is God, He is the faithful God who keeps His covenant of love! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Little Sin is Just as Evil</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-08-08T21:23:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8e573928cac55975d0381190b0ec11ed-216.html#unique-entry-id-216</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8e573928cac55975d0381190b0ec11ed-216.html#unique-entry-id-216</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We like to excuse our sin with statements like, &ldquo;I know I have this little problem&hellip;&rdquo; and, &ldquo;I really didn&rsquo;t think it was all that bad.&rdquo; 


...What I mean is, without qualms, we condemn the world for not being Christian, yet without remorse we accept we are not Christ like.&rdquo;  


Too often I have found myself in these &ldquo;shoes&rdquo; and to put it bluntly, I am getting very sick of my own failure to be more like Jesus. 

...I have always said that Heaven isn&rsquo;t Heaven without Jesus Christ and if I want to enjoy Heaven, well then, I better align myself up with Him.   Wouldn&rsquo;t it be disappointing to find out in eternity that some of the desires, attitudes and actions of this life are absolutely not acceptable in the next life?   And so, a remedy is needed for us who will not accept the status quo of the American Christian life and desire to press on toward the mark and high calling in God.


	I have a tendency, in this day and age, to look at all the world and truly condemn it as evil.   I am so distraught at the kidnapping of children, especially when I begin to think about what is going on in their little minds while all this is happening to them. 

...First off, homosexuality always was and always will be an abomination; second, in the eyes of God, the act of sex was intended to express the love between a man and a woman who were married. 

...Despite all my disgruntling, I do not want to fail to see sin (all sin and every sin) for what it really is. ...  He died for all sin and when I think of all the wickedness that has ever occurred, I tend to look at my &ldquo;short-comings&rdquo; as not so bad. 

...So, even the smallest of sin that may yet be in my life is still so very, very ugly and wicked. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Jesus is the Way&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-08-01T19:58:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/41daa7ef4a19776bbae3ef9f2d102663-215.html#unique-entry-id-215</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/41daa7ef4a19776bbae3ef9f2d102663-215.html#unique-entry-id-215</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What if, for example, someone began to teach you that if you&rsquo;re not happy, you must not be in God&rsquo;s will?   And because you may experience some of the things that they say are associated with unhappiness, you begin to believe that you are definitely out of the will of God. 

...This is done so that one could &ldquo;feel&rdquo; as though they must now be in the will of God &ndash; this is an example of self-deception.   The whole world has been under this sort of self-deception for six thousand years and it is the result of man&rsquo;s fall from God&rsquo;s grace in the Garden of Eden.   Adam and Eve thought that partaking of the fruit was a good thing, for gaining &ldquo;wisdom&rdquo; and having their eyes opened. ...  So here is my question; I wonder how much of the world&rsquo;s wisdom do we accept and follow, as to the way life should be lived? 

...	Two thousand years ago a Man stood atop a small mount and spoke things that changed the way men and women would live forever. ...  Constantly throughout, you can hear Him say things like; &ldquo;You have heard that it was said&hellip;&rdquo; But then He would add, &ldquo;But I tell you&hellip;&rdquo; What Jesus was doing was showing us what God wanted all along for man and how man should live in peace with God and one another.   Jesus&rsquo; commands to love our enemies, turn other cheeks and going that second mile, were nothing more that what Moses said when he laid down the laws for Israel to live by. 

...Let there be no mistake; Jesus is the wisdom of God and He cries out on the heights along the way, where the paths meet and besides the gates leading to the city. ...  This wisdom has come down to us from Heaven and is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.


...She has prepared a banquet and sent out her messengers with an invite to all who are simple; &ldquo;Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fishing Fundamentals</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-07-25T09:18:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/770f763d16d9f3527d549c9eca8b1cd0-214.html#unique-entry-id-214</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/770f763d16d9f3527d549c9eca8b1cd0-214.html#unique-entry-id-214</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He doesn&rsquo;t want us to head toward the nearest lake or pond, but to the highways and by-ways of our lives. ...  Well anyway, I was thinking about all the neat stuff out there that fishermen could buy so they can catch fish. ...  I wondered how much that guy paid for that thing, &ldquo;Just to catch fish!&rdquo; 


...You know, we find something that is important to us, or maybe it&rsquo;s just a hobby, or something we enjoy doing, but it takes money. ...  And of course, I would get to golf for free &ndash;because I was the club&rsquo;s chaplain.


...If you have done any fishing what so ever, I think you know some of the basic fundamentals of the sport. ...  Worms are traditional and pretty much the bait of choice, but believe me, there are hundreds of different kinds of baits and lures that are used to bring the &ldquo;big one&rdquo; to your stringer.   These baits and lures are used to attract the fish so that the hook seems more appealing. 


What do you think fishermen would think of the guy who just threw a hook into the water without using a lure? ...  Jesus puts our lives into the sea of humanity and through us and the Holy Spirit, we catch other men and women for the Kingdom. 


...Do you lift up Jesus in your life so that your Christianity is something that others want? ...  Jesus let&rsquo;s the decision to follow Him be ours, but once we decide, He expects full devotion and loyalty to Him. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Blessed to Believe</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-07-18T11:09:16-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e24d9acc732d8a14aa634010a1ba7459-213.html#unique-entry-id-213</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e24d9acc732d8a14aa634010a1ba7459-213.html#unique-entry-id-213</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(I thought I would try to get your minds off of the sweltering heat and humidity that this summer has so generously given us!) 

...On the other hand, my thoughts could go the other way just as easily; it begins with the &ldquo;to do&rdquo; list that is ever-present in the back of my mind.   My thoughts can run roughshod over my faith with all the problems and fears that a new day can and will possess.   I remember Jesus warning us not to worry about tomorrow, for the morrow will take care of itself and besides that, the present day has enough trouble for us to give thought about. 

...You know, one of the hidden dangers of our society is our capability to hear and see all the news that the networks would have us to see, or should I say, think we want to see.   I don&rsquo;t know how many little news segments I&rsquo;ve seen on the young nineteen-year-old man who is nicknamed the &ldquo;Barefoot Bandit&rdquo; or about the man seen urinating in the trees on a golf course, that may or may not have been Ben Roethlisberger.   There are untold miseries in the world; wars, famines, human trafficking, child molestations and the like &ndash;and a &ldquo;man&rdquo; seen urinating in the trees makes the news! 

...God has so desired, that we should be partakers of His Divine nature through these promises that He has given us to believe on. 

...If we truly believe that if God be for us, who can be against us, then why can we not assume that the trials in our lives are actually given for our good. 


Think of your lives this way: If a man found a diamond in the ground, he has still found a very valuable thing though it came from the dirt. ...  Now God allows life to be the diamond cutter and trials are given to cut and polish us, making us truly precious in His sight. 

...&ldquo;I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us&hellip;And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The &#x201c;King&#x201d; Leaves Cleveland</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-07-11T12:30:25-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2ff964a489f613c6408a3ee613783f57-212.html#unique-entry-id-212</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2ff964a489f613c6408a3ee613783f57-212.html#unique-entry-id-212</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Even if you&rsquo;re not a sports fan, you couldn&rsquo;t get away from all the news concerning one of the most sought after basketball stars of our time, Lebron James.   Lebron has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers for seven years since being recruited right out of high school; the young man is a &ldquo;phenom&rdquo; and there have been quite a few cities vying for him to come play with their team next season since he entered free-agency this year. 


His decision to leave Cleveland and play for the Miami Heat next year has left many in Cleveland broken hearted and without much hope for contending for a title next year.   Everyone, from the President of the United States to the man on the street hung with quiet desperation last Thursday evening as the question was posed to the young star nicknamed, &ldquo;The King.&rdquo;   City officials from Dallas, Chicago and New York, all wanted Lebron to come to their city to play and that is not just because of their basketball team; Mr. 

...It is no wonder then, of some of the reactions of the folks who would be affected by his decision. 

...So there you have it; the decision was made, based on what would be best for Lebron James. 

...Staying would mean that He would do things His own way and that would mean death for all of us. 


...This King would make the decision that affected not just a few, but all humanity. ...  Jesus based His decision not on self, but rather the will of the Father and the good of others. 

...As followers of Jesus Christ it behooves each and every one of us to make our decisions in life not just based on self-interest, but for the good of others as well. 

...&ldquo;Let 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.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Just because I can&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-07-04T22:32:01-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f6693c43c1d2164cd0d409a3b3b2ff8b-211.html#unique-entry-id-211</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f6693c43c1d2164cd0d409a3b3b2ff8b-211.html#unique-entry-id-211</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In actuality we celebrate our independence from Great Britain and we have done this for 234 years. ...  That tells me, that for 169 years these folks &ldquo;who lived across the pond&rdquo; were dependant upon England and probably would have never survived this rugged frontier if it weren&rsquo;t for the help they received from her. 


...And the people of the United States; well because they didn&rsquo;t fear the sacrifices before them, they gained a freedom that has been cherished by many for 234 years. 


...When the first settlers came to live here there wasn&rsquo;t any way they could have been independent from England, they needed her in order to survive. ...  At some point, the colonist went from being dependant to needing their independence, and that &ldquo;point&rdquo; came when they realized they had the power and ability to fight back. ...  We have always expressed the strength and fortitude to carry out the sacrifices needed in order to ensure the values that we have believed in. 


...The same, &ldquo;Because I now have the ability to carry out my desires&rdquo; can be used for either good or bad. 

...It is in our nature to &ldquo;do what we want&rdquo; when we realize we possess the ability to do it. ...  It is wisdom that declares whether the liberty was in the hands of the doctor, or in the hands of the convict. 


Remember the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed in order to gain eternal life? ...  When Jesus told him what he needed to do, &ldquo;Go and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, then come follow Me.&rdquo;   The young man used his ability to say no and walk away; by this action, he was declaring his independence from Jesus. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Little Truth in a Cookie</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-06-27T16:27:26-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b50ec86d73e25b357c7a0d8fb6af8eb5-210.html#unique-entry-id-210</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b50ec86d73e25b357c7a0d8fb6af8eb5-210.html#unique-entry-id-210</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yes, I sacrificed the opportunity to delight my own little &lsquo;buds so that I could get that one little look; Yeah Jim, you&rsquo;re the man!&rdquo; 


...No, I take that back; I thoroughly enjoy the hostesses; they&rsquo;re always smiling and making sure that I know that they are happy to see me! 

...So, while I&rsquo;m munching on my cookie Robin reads the little paper and says, &ldquo;Ah, boy, there&rsquo;s some truth.&rdquo;  ...  This is what it says: &ldquo;The fact that others are bad, does not imply that you are good.&rdquo; 

...The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: &lsquo;God, I thank you that I am not like other men &ndash;robbers, evildoers, adulterers &ndash;or even like this tax collector. ...  He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, &lsquo;God, have mercy on me, a sinner.&rsquo; 

...And isn&rsquo;t that what we do when we look at someone else and say, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m nothing like that.&rdquo; ...  We try to point out other&rsquo;s mistakes and sins so that we can look good in our own eyes. 

...You see, we don&rsquo;t have to put others down in front of other people, we can do it in our own minds.   And it&rsquo;s just like the cookie said, Just because others are bad, that doesn&rsquo;t imply that we are good.   Jesus told us that there was only One that was good and in comparison, we are as filthy rags, all of us! ...  If you&rsquo;re feeling pretty down and out, try lifting someone up, helping someone out, lending a hand without desiring anything in return and the next thing you know, you&rsquo;re out of the &lsquo;molly-grubs&rsquo; and God is exalting you in your inner man. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happy Father&#x27;s Day</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-06-20T17:43:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2689bd27d935921c3653998478369188-209.html#unique-entry-id-209</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2689bd27d935921c3653998478369188-209.html#unique-entry-id-209</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Leigh Eric Schmidt said, "Father's Day was comical in part because fathers seemed s out of place or uncomfortable in this holiday world of sentimental gifts and domestic flattery.   'The little remembrances' of flowers, cards, and novelties became funny when showered on Father; they opened up a line of humor that played on gender incongruities of holiday gift giving.   As one editorial writer on the holiday put the matter in 1925, fathers have 'no talent for the fribbles and frabbles and furbelows with which Mother signalizes well-being.'"   Schmidt notes that the founder of Mother's Day, Anne Jarvis, saw Father's Day as a "poorly disguised plot of some necktie, tobacco, or whiskey and lottery promoters."   Schmidt further commented, "The snide perception that the holiday was an inane hoax and the merchants were responsible for putting it over on people found ample expression.   Father's Day, more than any other celebration up to that time, demonstrated the corrosive cynicism that had come to hedge in modern rituals in a world of advertising and promotion."


...Even with the introduction of E-Cards, these little pieces of folded paper have made millions of dollars for their owners, all in the name of sentimentality and/or obligation. 

...For Pete's sake, has it come to be that we honor our fathers because they deserve it, or is it because it's Father's Day?   I realize, of course, that children want to honor their fathers, even as the Lord commanded, "Honor thy father and mother." 

...My biological father passed when I was four years old and I didn't have a father for about five years.   My father married my mom when she had five kids and the man worked himself silly, going to school after working forty, sometimes fifty hours a week.


...The only time I really saw him mad was when I (as a tenn aged brat) and after many times of bringing hardship to the family, smarted off to my mother (his wife)! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Unspeakable Things&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-06-13T13:14:41-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/06824a57cb2960b6a75c6c1792de9cba-208.html#unique-entry-id-208</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/06824a57cb2960b6a75c6c1792de9cba-208.html#unique-entry-id-208</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Isaiah says that they will neither harm nor destroy on God&rsquo;s holy mountain and the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. 

...A day when all of our light and momentary troubles, that we are experiencing right now, will achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.   Paul tells us in Romans that our present sufferings are not even worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us then! 


And he should know; God caught him up into the third heaven and Paul saw things that were unlawful for him to speak to us today. 

...What sort of place is Heaven, where sin and temptation is no more; where we will know a joy unspeakable and full of glory?  

...What did Paul mean when he said that we long to be clothed in our heavenly dwelling, that spiritual body that will be able to stand in the Presence of the Most High? ...  I think that on that day the Scripture that says, &ldquo;Now let us make man in our image and in our likeness&hellip;&rdquo; will have much more meaning to us than it does right now. 


...Sin has nearly stolen all the glory that man was given in Paradise and has blinded our eyes to the truth that man was made in the image of God. 

...Let us fix our eyes on Jesus and set our treasure in Heaven where there is now, inexpressible things that await us. 


Beloved, hear the words of the Alpha and Omega, &ldquo;To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. ...  But to the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murders, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars &ndash;their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur.&rdquo;  


As we see the Day of the Lord approaching, the heavens and earth will be shaken, yea, all created things shall be shaken and removed. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What Would Jesus Do?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-06-06T11:34:07-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/928b300677aff9eb9948fc8252cd6fc9-207.html#unique-entry-id-207</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/928b300677aff9eb9948fc8252cd6fc9-207.html#unique-entry-id-207</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It was an attempt to keep forefront in the Christian&rsquo;s mind the desired social action and attitude for them to govern their lives. 

...Those who have only a veneer of knowledge about God cannot possibly know what Jesus would do. 

...Jesus told us that, &ldquo;No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.&rdquo;  


When Peter made his confession that he knew that Jesus was the Christ, Jesus told him that flesh and blood did not reveal that to him but that it was revealed to him by the Father. ...  The mistake most often made by those who receive religious knowledge is that when someone receives a bit of knowledge, they conform it to fit their presuppositions. 


In other words, the God that they think they know is in reality a god of their own making. ...  He must reveal Himself to the spirit of man as the Word declares Him to be &ndash; the mind just agrees and says, &ldquo;Amen.&rdquo; 


This is why Paul exhorts us not to be conformed any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. ...  For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man&rsquo;s spirit within him? 

...The Spirit that is in them is the Spirit of Christ, and the Spirit of Christ says, &ldquo;I have not come to do my own will but the will of Him who sent me.&rdquo;


If every Christian would just do that, then there would be no need to ask, &ldquo;What would Jesus do?&rdquo;   If you think that I am just playing on words, then ask yourselves this one question: &ldquo;Do I live for God, or do I want God to live for me?&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Faithful is He who Promises</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-05-30T12:46:28-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8dcd685a05ad415a2c7ad202397febd9-206.html#unique-entry-id-206</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8dcd685a05ad415a2c7ad202397febd9-206.html#unique-entry-id-206</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Did you know that every time God sees the rainbow in the sky, He remembers the promise that He made with Noah? ...  &ldquo;Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, &lsquo;I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you&hellip; This is the sign of the covenant that I am making between me and you and every living creature with you&hellip; I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth.&rsquo;&rdquo;

...And when we see it, we are reminded of the promise that God had made about never flooding the earth again. 


I have always had the tendency to think this way: When I see the rainbow, I think, &ldquo;Okay, now God should see it and He will remember His promise that He made and won&rsquo;t destroy the earth with a flood.&rdquo; 

...It&rsquo;s a silly way of thinking, but it&rsquo;s normal because we don&rsquo;t even look for the rainbow unless it rains. ...  God set it there and when He sees it appear in the clouds, He promises to remember His covenant. 


...It is a triangular piece of glass that when a single ray of light passes through it, the prism bends the light showing the different colors that make up light.   You see, we even look at light, not as it really is, but only as our atmosphere makes it appear.   Light is actually a make-up of many colors and not just the &ldquo;white light&rdquo; that we see. 


...In the same way, God set His rainbow in the sky and it is a constant, perpetual reminder of the covenant that He made with Noah and his descendants. 

...Because those who God chooses to look at in this way, are those who are in His Son, Jesus Christ. ...  Just as we are sure that God will never again destroy the earth with a flood, we should be just as assured that when we are in Christ Jesus, God sees us through His Son, and we are seen as we really are!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Those who are lead by the Spirit of God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-05-23T16:02:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6099b32f934c0ba39985973a6a6d377c-205.html#unique-entry-id-205</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6099b32f934c0ba39985973a6a6d377c-205.html#unique-entry-id-205</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus&hellip;&rdquo; It is a wonderful thing to know that for those who have surrendered their lives to God through Christ are no longer under the wrath and condemnation of God.   But doesn&rsquo;t this imply that those who do not surrender their lives to God through Christ remain under that cloud of condemnation? 


...Now the unbeliever who will not submit himself to God will usually think that the Christian is doing the judging, whereas, those who know God, know that they are only echoing God&rsquo;s judgment. ...  Christians must discern who is actually living for God and who is not, who has Jesus in their hearts and who does not. 


...Isn&rsquo;t it amazing how fast an unbeliever can stop a Christian in his evangelistic tracks by five little words; &ldquo;Who are you to judge?&rdquo; 

...	So, as Paul continues into the chapter and his discourse upon the security of the salvation of God to all who believe, we begin to learn that Christ is truly the only way to God.   But, Paul begins to hone in on the need to know what it actually means to be &ldquo;in Christ Jesus.&rdquo;  ...  Some folks erroneously believe that if they think about God every now and then, and are troubled by the conditions of the world, well, that constitutes, Christianity. 

...Paul tells us in the ninth verse that if a man doesn&rsquo;t have the Spirit of Christ living in them, then they do not belong to Christ.   And then he hammers home in the fourteenth verse that only those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God.   This is why he told us along with the Corinthians, &ldquo;Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 

... That examination involves not only knowing what you do from day to day, but also, a knowledge of the Word of God &ndash;to see if your life aligns up with it.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What is this Life Really?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-05-16T14:40:07-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3de526c9494dc63922dbdb8297de2f8c-204.html#unique-entry-id-204</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3de526c9494dc63922dbdb8297de2f8c-204.html#unique-entry-id-204</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Oh, I know that I am saved and that one day I will be with the Lord for all eternity, but what am I to do about the lack of faith in my life right now?   Think about it; Jesus is given a simple problem at a wedding reception and He solves it with simple faith, He turns water into wine. ...  No problem, Jesus knew that He would receive anything He asked of the Father, for He knew that His Father always heard Him.   And didn&rsquo;t Jesus say to us that the works He did and yea, even greater works shall we do, because He went to the Father. ...  Isn&rsquo;t this the very One who promised, &ldquo;Ask anything in My Name, and it shall be done for you?&rdquo;   And to make His point even stronger, He has John tells us, &ldquo;I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.   This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us &ndash;whatever we ask- we know that we have what we asked of Him.&rdquo;


...And I think it is because we cannot admit that we are not as full of faith as we think we are. ...  James was right you know; he said that we have not because we don&rsquo;t ask and when we do, we ask amiss. ...  Was I in the service of the King, or did I just want my life to be just a little more comfortable, a little more secure, a little safer?   I guess one has to admit to oneself a truth that they may not want to believe &ndash;could it be that I am &ldquo;living&rdquo; for Jesus for what I get out of it? 

...Jesus knew that, the apostles knew that, and anyone who asks God the Father, &ldquo;Not what You can do for me, but what can I do for You?&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Victory is Found after Resoluteness</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-05-09T21:48:20-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0396ae84d51a76b8cef619fc1d1cafad-203.html#unique-entry-id-203</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0396ae84d51a76b8cef619fc1d1cafad-203.html#unique-entry-id-203</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Fowls of the air swoop in to build their nest in eaves, soffits and any other place they can find; like atop the ladder that is hanging on the wall at the back of my garage!   I have this little porch area where I keep my tractor and ladders out of the weather and these little vermin think that they can just move in building their nests anywhere they please. 

...Every morning for about a week, I would see new activity; grass, mud and twigs being collected and meticulously placed in what they thought was an inconspicuous place! ...  But today, my garage is nest free, and by the grace of God, (revealed through my resoluteness) it will be all summer. 


...Sin tries to build a little home in your heart like those birds tried to build a nest in my garage. ...  He said that he had worked harder than all of those apostles, yet not him, but the grace of God that was in him. 

...God&rsquo;s grace gives us that discernment to know that sin is crouching at the doors of our hearts just waiting for that right moment to come in and make its home there.   It is God&rsquo;s grace that shows us the way in which to live and root the evil out and it&rsquo;s God&rsquo;s grace that empowers us to be resolute in our goal. 

...Charles Swindoll tells of a good friend of his who was raised by a godly mother. &ldquo;&hellip;that when she rocked him to sleep, she didn&rsquo;t sing to him just little ditties and lullabies, she sang him the hymns of the faith.   He remembers her singing hymns like, &ldquo;A Mighty Fortress is our God&rdquo;; &ldquo;My Jesus, I Love Thee&rdquo;; and &ldquo;Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.&rdquo; ...  In fact,&rdquo; he says, &ldquo;when I went to church, I had heard and learned most of the hymns,&rdquo; a contribution in that young man&rsquo;s life that he&rsquo;ll never forget. 


	In this day and age it&rsquo;s all the more important to be resolute in keeping sin out of our lives and the lives of our loved ones. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Silence is Golden&#x2026;and at times&#x2c; instructive.&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-05-02T21:59:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/89a843747e7bf1c4b83d813a306da992-202.html#unique-entry-id-202</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/89a843747e7bf1c4b83d813a306da992-202.html#unique-entry-id-202</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The chief priest and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. ...  Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: &ldquo;We have heard him say, &lsquo;I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.&rsquo;&rdquo; ...  Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, &ldquo;Are you not going to answer? 

...	If I were a betting man, I would say that Jesus had something to say to those folks but wisdom directed Him into silence.   There is no sense in arguing, or trying to explain &lsquo;your side&rsquo; of things, if those with whom you are debating just won&rsquo;t listen. 

...It amazes me that in this day and age, we see the very same things going on right here in America.   Christianity is being marginalized (that&rsquo;s a twenty-first century word for oppressed) by the media and being pushed into irrelevance &ndash;into silence. 

...Robert Jaffray, was of the family that owned and published the Toronto Globe and Mail, who converted to Christianity against his family&rsquo;s wishes. 

...Now, I am not suggesting that the Church silence herself in this age, if there ever was a country that needed a prophet &ndash;America stands right out there in front. ...  One is &ldquo;don&rsquo;t cast your pearls before swine&rdquo; and the other is &ldquo;&hellip;if they won&rsquo;t listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet.&rdquo;  


Jesus isn&rsquo;t advocating that we give up on lost souls, but there comes a time when every effort to testify turns into a futile expression of love and received as an antagonistic attack upon their love for an autonomous life-style. 


Believe me Church, there will come a time that our silence will be heard and they will long for the day to hear our voice. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;Brothers&#x2c; what shall we do?&#x201d;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-04-25T12:37:02-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5a6cafbaa1ac26e48ed5234811d3c98e-201.html#unique-entry-id-201</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5a6cafbaa1ac26e48ed5234811d3c98e-201.html#unique-entry-id-201</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Ten days later while a group of believers were worshipping God in an upper room, there was a sound of a mighty rushing wind and tongues of fire appeared above each of the disciples and they were filled with the Holy Spirit! 


...It is just like Gamaliel said to the Sanhedrin when they were frustrated with the apostle&rsquo;s teachings of Jesus, &ldquo;Therefore, in this present case I advise you! 

...Though at times it has had trouble and at times only a remnant seemed to survive, it would resurrect in another place and become an impacting force in the societies in which she lived. 


After Peter preached that first sermon on the Day of Pentecost, the people who heard him cried, &ldquo;Brothers, what shall we do?&rdquo;  ...  The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off &ndash;for all who the Lord our God will call.&rdquo;


...This is what Peter, through the Holy Spirit commanded them on that day, and it is what he has commanded us today. 

...Why is the Church busy with so many other things, but doesn&rsquo;t have time to study God&rsquo;s Word?   I think we have to admit that our prayer time is considered something that we &lsquo;try to get to&rdquo; after we have done the &lsquo;other things&rsquo; and just before the day ends. 


Again, I think that we become so entangled in the things of this world that hopes and longings for our eternal home become obscured and tomorrow melds into today. 

...I think every one of us, who call on the Lord, should repent, humble ourselves and begin to once again, tremble at His Word.   This Pastor&rsquo;s Desk is straight from the Lord and comes after much prayer concerning the conditions of the Church &ndash; and I am referring to the Church as a whole. 

...I read one the other day from an internationally known preacher; he said, &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and hence counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise that the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Message from God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-04-18T07:22:51-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/11b3edff4aa99624b4b32d079720ce26-200.html#unique-entry-id-200</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/11b3edff4aa99624b4b32d079720ce26-200.html#unique-entry-id-200</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I realize that with all the technology that we have today, not many people write letters. ...  I am still pretty technologically challenged and I am thinking we should just go back to the telegraph, maybe the pony express. 

...You see, if we went back to paper and pen, maybe we could do away with a lot of the nonsense that comes from tapping that keyboard. 

...	There have been times that I have been on the phone or writing a letter to someone and Robin asks me to tell the person that she said, hi, or that she loved them.   When I have written letters, there have been times that I included, &ldquo;Robin says she loves you and hope all is going well.&rdquo;   This tells the reader that not only am I wanting to communicate with them, but Robin has something she would like them to know as well.


It&rsquo;s kind of nice to get a letter from a friend or a relative and see that someone else wanted to include something in the letter.   Like when my mom writes and says, Dad says, &ldquo;hi&rdquo; hope all is going well. 


...&ldquo;Hey Brother Tim, God wanted you to know that He is sending His grace, mercy and peace. 

...You see when Paul starting writing his letter, God kind of butted in and said, &ldquo;Tell Ol&rsquo; Tim I said, Hi.&rdquo; ...  God wanted not only the original recipient to know that He sends His love, but each and every one of us that reads those letters time and time again. 


So, if you are feeling down and it feels like nobody cares get out your Bible and read an epistle &ndash;and don&rsquo;t miss the little special note from God!  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Love for God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-04-11T17:05:24-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7dda48a6daa026cbe239a75f27f7e31-199.html#unique-entry-id-199</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7dda48a6daa026cbe239a75f27f7e31-199.html#unique-entry-id-199</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Solomon tells us that there are many men who claim that they have unfailing love, but then he adds, &ldquo;a faithful man, who can find?&rdquo;    It isn&rsquo;t hard to see the insight that he is trying to teach us here; anyone can say what they want about how much they love this or that, but it&rsquo;s actions that speak louder than words. 


...But my actions spoke otherwise; my eyes wandered beyond my own pasture, my mouth brought forth both fresh and salt water, and my heart was divided between her and (are you ready for this?)

...When I realized this for the first time, that I actually loved Robin because I loved me, I began to see where my actions were proving this ugly disclosure. 

...It took God a number of years before He could get it through my thick scull, that I really thought of myself as somebody special.) 

...It was only after a long period of trial and wilderness, a time when God allowed me to walk on my faith without a special touch from His Presence that I realized that I just loved Him. ...  And what is so amazing is that God had done these things and provided for me while I was yet His enemy. 


...And so, it stands to reason, that in order for me (or you) to love God for Himself, we must love Him faithfully, even when things do not go our way. 


Going back to Solomon&rsquo;s inquiry for a faithful man, we find him when our eyes are fixed upon Jesus Christ.   On the night Jesus was betrayed and handed over to be crucified, He told His disciples that the prince of this world (the devil) was coming to bring about the work of evil men.   He let us know that the devil had no power over Him but the world must learn that He loved the Father and that He was going to do exactly what the Father commanded. 


This is how we can know that we love God for Himself; when we can obey His Word through any circumstance and in every situation. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>He is Risen&#x21;&#xa;He is Risen&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-04-04T21:37:43-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c36a5dbe1f9afe09624d58e454d089b7-198.html#unique-entry-id-198</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c36a5dbe1f9afe09624d58e454d089b7-198.html#unique-entry-id-198</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Christian faith is supported by this one truth and, as Paul rhetorically states, &ldquo;And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.&rdquo; 


It is not remarkable to me that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. 

...I realize that Jesus is and was the image of the invisible God; He is the radiance of God&rsquo;s glory and the exact representation of his being; but He was also &ndash;all man. ...  He suffered just as you and I would and yet, His whole life&rsquo;s mission was to serve God in perfect holiness through obedience to the call. 


He knew this from childhood; &ldquo;Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body Thou hast prepared for me&hellip; Then I said, &lsquo;Here I am, I have come &ndash;it is written about me in the scroll. ...  And again, &ldquo;Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even from my mother&rsquo;s breast.&rdquo;  


While Jesus was ministering publicly to His brethren, He often told them that He had not come to do His own will, but the will of him who sent Him.   Throughout His life, He cried out to God to save Him from death and God heard Him because of His reverent submission.   Jesus knew that full obedience to God would mean death for Him, and so, He cried out to God to save Him from it. 


...Jesus was willing to taste death but He was also believing, (in faith) that God would raise Him up from it!  ...  Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.&rdquo; 


	So you see, the promises that Jesus lived by are the same that we are to live by and if God has raised Jesus to life, He will raise us as well. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-03-28T08:42:01-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f650f2b2c4200c3e1a2faff33518aad5-197.html#unique-entry-id-197</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f650f2b2c4200c3e1a2faff33518aad5-197.html#unique-entry-id-197</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[They would reveal the will of the Lord and speak, not just about God, but also for Him. ...  His testimony is that he walked with God and then was no more, he was taken from this life so that he did not experience death. 

...&ldquo;See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts that they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.&rdquo; 

...Sometimes, He would encourage and at other times He would teach, as in Micah&rsquo;s case: &ldquo;He has showed you, O man, what is good. ...  Micah 6:8 Whatever the intent, these men came and spoke to us all for the express purpose of revealing Him, who lies just beyond our reach. 


These men were actually a blessing to us, because, they were willing to declare the Word and testify for God. ...  Think about it; God had asked them to do a job for Him &ndash;a favor, as such- and they did it! 

...Think about it; Jesus said that even sharing a cup of water, in His Name, shall certainly not lose its reward. 

...	This coming Sunday is the day that we commemorate the coming of the Lamb of God into the city of Jerusalem for the express purpose of declaring the greatest message from God, to all mankind.   That message is this; &ldquo;God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.&rdquo;   Because, &ldquo;God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him, should not perish but have eternal life.&rdquo;   It&rsquo;s no wonder then, that when Jesus was riding into Jerusalem, atop a colt, the foal of a donkey, the crowds shouted, Hosanna to the Son of David! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Jehovah-jireh</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-03-21T21:55:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/215129e2f7a875027f87e6508c66a295-196.html#unique-entry-id-196</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/215129e2f7a875027f87e6508c66a295-196.html#unique-entry-id-196</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In the twenty-second chapter of Genesis, God tests Abraham by asking him to take his son to a mountain, that God would show him, and sacrifice his son there. 

...Even though he knew that God would provide and even though he reasoned that God could raise the dead, there was still this nagging thought that would plague him every step of the way to Moriah &ndash;&ldquo;he would put an end to his son&rsquo;s life!&rdquo;   Now, it came to pass that Abraham and Isaac left the servants and were traveling alone up the mountain when Isaac inquired of his father, &ldquo;The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?&rdquo;  


...I could hear Abraham&rsquo;s thoughts; &ldquo;Isaac, my son, you are that lamb!&rdquo; ...  &ldquo;What will you do when you see that I must bind you to the altar?   How can it be that you are so willing to carry those sticks for the fire? 

...When they reached the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on top of it, praying the whole time, &ldquo;God give me strength to carry out Thy will.&rdquo; ...  &ldquo;Son, you asked me where the lamb for the burnt offering was and I told you that God will provide the lamb. 

...Abraham&rsquo;s because he didn&rsquo;t want to sacrifice the love of his heart.   And God&rsquo;s because He knew what both of them were going through and He felt the pain and sorrow. 

...Men acted without remorse and with unrepentive cruelty, which deserved the quickest and fiercest retributive wrath, but there would be no retribution &ndash;only forgiveness and mercy. 


God watched Abraham bind his son to the altar and said, &ldquo;Yes, Abraham, I will provide the Lamb and so there is no reason for you to lay a hand on the boy.&rdquo;  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Cross is Everything&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-03-14T19:46:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/660ca36fac50cebb6b636972ceb1d942-195.html#unique-entry-id-195</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/660ca36fac50cebb6b636972ceb1d942-195.html#unique-entry-id-195</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[So, what better place to see Jesus, than while He was on the cross, at the moment that He purchased our salvation? 


...The Roman flog left His body torn and chewed, it was a wonder that He could even walk with the cross on His back. 


Did you ever think about those few hours that He spent in jail with the two criminals who would be crucified with Him? 

...I think we have a hard time fixing our eyes on Jesus at this time in His life. ...  It is much easier to see Him teach the people and perform the miracles; but it is here, at the cross, where we see Jesus fulfill the will of God in the most difficult circumstances. 


...As He is now on the cross, and the sin of the world has crushed His very Spirit, we see the power of our Savior in all its glory.


...When I get super busy and can&rsquo;t find time to follow my daily routine, the last thing I&rsquo;m thinking about is making sure that the Scriptures are fulfilled! 


...It is good to sacrifice for the love of God, but if we disobey His word &ndash;the sacrifice means nothing.   What I see in Jesus, while He was on the cross, is His ultimate love for God in the midst of sacrifice. ...  What I mean is this; I have an underlying fear that, if I was ever called on to serve God in the midst of great suffering, I couldn&rsquo;t keep my head, and I would do Him a disservice somehow. 


&ldquo;O, God, may I receive the grace to want to see Your Word fulfilled in my life no matter what the situation.&rdquo; 

...So, the next time you&rsquo;re going through &ldquo;it&rdquo; let the cross be an example for you and know that no matter what you are going through &ndash;if you want to see Scripture fulfilled, God will see that you have the grace to accomplish your heart&rsquo;s desire.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Only Christians are Truly Free</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-03-07T10:09:19-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/720eab02390073f3987a4f2a543623c6-194.html#unique-entry-id-194</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/720eab02390073f3987a4f2a543623c6-194.html#unique-entry-id-194</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I hope that we all understood that, while it is true one has the right to choose something other than God, true freedom only comes from the decisions that God would have us to make.   Now, I know that there may be some fellow out there who might think he&rsquo;s a little smarter than he really is and say something to this order, &ldquo;Well, if you choose something for your life because God wants you to, well then, you are really a slave to Him. ...  And for that fellow, Jesus&rsquo; words to all who would be disciples means absolutely nothing; &hellip;whom the Son sets free, is free indeed.&rdquo;  

...	The dilemma that every man and woman has here on earth, or I should say, in this life, is the fact that no one is perfect! ...  The Scriptures speak without question &ndash; we all like sheep have turn away, each to his own way and God has laid on him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all. ...  And again, all have sinned and fall short&hellip; and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus. ...  And if you sin, you are bound, as a slave would be bound, to that sin. ...  Man is bound to this earth by the same things that binds the birds and for that matter, the rest of the animal kingdom. 

...Then how can Jesus say that if He sets you free, you will be free indeed?   Because, to all who would receive His Word and allow it to live in their hearts, He promised that He would come and live in them. ...  In other words, the fullness of the Word of God is simply the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations but has now been disclosed to the saints of God. ...  He has anointed us and set His seal of ownership on us and He has put His Spirit in our hearts &ndash;guaranteeing what is to come&ndash;total freedom! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I Am Free to Choose Freedom</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-02-28T19:31:04-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/553a3f8d5b638282a21e4ed6b100ff38-193.html#unique-entry-id-193</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/553a3f8d5b638282a21e4ed6b100ff38-193.html#unique-entry-id-193</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Understand that mankind was created to have fellowship with his Creator and because of this, certain parameters would be set in place to ensure this fellowship.   God told Adam and Eve that they were free to eat from any tree in the Garden except the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. ...  Before we go any further in our discussion about freedom, let us be reminded that Adam and Eve were free to not eat from the Tree. 


...Both Adam and Eve were influenced from without and subjected themselves to a whole new set of parameters, parameters that would close in on them continually, until they were not free at all. ...  For instance, when I was a youth I had this freedom (so I thought) to choose a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol.   But, I never dreamed that all the time I was &ldquo;freely&rdquo; choosing this lifestyle, the lifestyle was corralling me into enslavement where my freedom was nothing more than an ideology at best. 


...Some folks are so trapped by money, which by the way, offers so much freedom in the beginning, but soon becomes a situation in which they can never spend a dime without some feeling of dismay. 


	When a man or women comes to Christ, the Spirit of God begins to lead them into a life of total freedom &ndash;whom the Son sets free is free indeed.   God sets the parameters; See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trust in him will never be put to shame. 

...Do you offer God the &ldquo;firstfruits&rdquo; of your life, or is it the hand-me-downs and second-rate stuff that you can do without anyway?   Does God get the best of your mind, or is it when you are tired and weary &ndash;after the two or three hours we give to the world through our television experience.   Did you know that when we sit in front of that thing, we are in actuality offering up ourselves to receive what the &ldquo;gods&rdquo; of Hollywood have to offer? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Key to Understanding Scripture&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-02-21T13:11:08-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d97f93833deaa1fbac4d6c87a0f5175-192.html#unique-entry-id-192</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d97f93833deaa1fbac4d6c87a0f5175-192.html#unique-entry-id-192</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of the greatest hindrances to reading and studying the Bible is the lack of understanding what we have just read. ...  So, instead of trying to tackle the job, some Christians just trust to get the &ldquo;scoop&rdquo; from the preacher, or someone else that they believe has read the Bible with some accomplishment. 


...One of the most rewarding things for the Christian is that time of Bible reading (and studying) where he or she rises up from the study with some new revelation. ...  His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do other Scriptures, to their own destruction.&rdquo;  

...	The key to understanding the Bible is, first of all, don&rsquo;t try to understand it &ndash;believe it!   It&rsquo;s not hard to understand that God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever would believe on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   It&rsquo;s not hard to understand, &ldquo;Thou shalt not&hellip;&rdquo; And it&rsquo;s not hard to understand, &ldquo;Blessed are those who do hunger and thirst for righteousness.&rdquo;   ...  Anselm wrote, &ldquo;I do not seek to understand, in order that I may believe, but I believe, in order that I may understand. 

...We must also remember that the Bible teaches us a way of life that runs contrary to the way the world has taught us and the way most of us had lived.   I&rsquo;ll never forget the time I was trying to sharpen some new pencils on our manual Boston pencil sharpener. 

...Maybe people have a hard time understanding because they have too many excuses, or maybe their pride is getting in the way.   Or, maybe it&rsquo;s as simple as not believing and lacking the trust that God really knows how to direct their lives. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Are You Sure About Heaven?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-02-14T07:17:12-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8b9a2341d2118bc43471ab541e0f30f2-190.html#unique-entry-id-190</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8b9a2341d2118bc43471ab541e0f30f2-190.html#unique-entry-id-190</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I recently saw a news segment about James &ldquo;Buster&rdquo; Douglas, who rose to fame in the boxing world by defeating the Heavy Weight Champion of the world, Mike Tyson, twenty years ago this month.   What caught my interest was what Buster said during the interview when asked about how quickly he lost the title belt as fast as he won it. ...  But I wasn&rsquo;t ready for what that kind of stardom and fame the title brought.&rdquo; 

...	I thought about how what happen to Buster seems to happen so many times to people who &ldquo;go to God&rdquo; or &ldquo;try Jesus&rdquo; because their lives are in need of something.   Often times, people &ldquo;give their hearts&rdquo; to Jesus because there is a dire situation that forces them to look for help beyond themselves.   They have felt that they have tried everything, now it&rsquo;s time to &ldquo;try God&rdquo;. ...  What really happens is that their idea about &ldquo;trying God&rdquo; is hoping that God will square up their lives and bless them here and there, but they themselves will still hold on to those life practices that got them in their dire situations in the first place. 


...If God doesn&rsquo;t &ldquo;do something&rdquo; in the time period that they have allotted Him, they walk further away. ...  For all practical purposes, the Sunday Church scene will hold back a few demons, but it will never prepare you for the Love of God that overwhelms you through Jesus Christ. 


...It&rsquo;s like this; when a person is saved from drowning by another person, the person feels indebted to the one who saved them. ...  In another place he said, &ldquo;When belief in God becomes difficult, the tendency is to turn away from Him; but in heaven&rsquo;s name to what?&rdquo; 


...A love that speaks to the conscious mind that decisions should be weighed in the light of eternity and in paths chosen where One has gone before. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Show Me Your Way&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-02-13T20:27:34-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/16b27f4bf2c5cd842d9eb6dafa347876-189.html#unique-entry-id-189</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/16b27f4bf2c5cd842d9eb6dafa347876-189.html#unique-entry-id-189</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Sacrifice of Praise</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-01-31T18:36:04-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6b80314c96ca94a8ed916f7fa02a8f84-188.html#unique-entry-id-188</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6b80314c96ca94a8ed916f7fa02a8f84-188.html#unique-entry-id-188</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Moses was instructed by the Lord to tell the Israelites,  &ldquo;If someone&rsquo;s offering is a fellowship offering and he offers an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect.&rdquo;


	In the Old Covenant, God had continually demanded that the offerings that were to be presented before Him, required the giver to follow certain regulations or else the offering would not be accepted. ...  And the Lord spoke to Aaron and said, &ldquo;Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.&rdquo;


	In the days of the prophet Malachi, God confronts the Israelites once again with their careless attitude toward God, &ldquo;A son honors his father, and a servant his master. 

...Because Jesus was offered up to God as a lamb without blemish, we, through Jesus, continually offer up to God the sacrifice of praise, -the fruit of our lips that confess His Name.   Therefore, this tells me that when I offer up my praise and worship to the Most High, I must be careful to offer up praise without blemish and worship without defect. 

...My mind should be on the love that God has shown me through Christ Jesus and the greatness of my God in all things.   My fellowship offering is a sacrifice of praise that is lifted up in the thankfulness of my heart. ...  If there comes into my mind any thoughts that speak of my praise being somewhat of a sacrifice (because it cost me something) then, I should find myself at the altar asking my Lord for His forgiveness.   If  I consider my praise and worship to God to be something of a duty or a chore, then may He chastise me severely, so that I may worship Him rightly. ...  I believe the only worship that the Lord accepts is the praise that comes from a soul who worships Him in Spirit and in Truth and from a heart that is pure and thankful. ...  Those of a pure heart and clean hands and who offers up to God the continual freewill offering of praise from a grateful heart.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Something to Think About</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-01-24T11:07:33-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3344f51942b4466f58b5c7c193c9e18e-187.html#unique-entry-id-187</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/3344f51942b4466f58b5c7c193c9e18e-187.html#unique-entry-id-187</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul writes a warning to Timothy that in the latter days people would not put up with the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.   &ldquo;In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage &ndash;with great patience and careful instruction. ...  Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 

...	I think we make a big mistake when we only apply this warning to those we think are sitting under modern day theologians and have all but replaced the Word of God with their own vain imaginations. ...  Paul tells us that there are some who gather around them, a great number of teachers who will teach them what their itching ears want to hear. ...  Do you not know, that when you listen to someone&rsquo;s word of instruction, that they have just become a teacher of sorts?   Maybe it&rsquo;s just for a particular thing, but never the less, when you follow their word of instruction they have become your teacher. ...  When people want to know about the Bible and applying it to their daily lives, they ask me, and I become their teacher, in this particular way. 

...But because it is easier to do so, they get instruction from other places that either condone it or say something appealing like, &ldquo;God understands your situation.&rdquo;   Here&rsquo;s one for you: The Bible says that, &ldquo;He who is born of God does not continue in sin. ...  The sound doctrine of the Bible says that if anyone is born of God they cannot go on sinning, because God&rsquo;s seed remains in him. ...  If I was instructing someone on how to live as a Christian, I think I would be very careful that what I said lined up with the sound doctrine of the Gospel of Christ Jesus. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Longing for Something More&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-01-17T17:09:33-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/803240e832fdf40f92b8f75fd312d280-186.html#unique-entry-id-186</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/803240e832fdf40f92b8f75fd312d280-186.html#unique-entry-id-186</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[My very first recollection of a desire in my heart was when I saw an aquatic boat that was offered on the back of the cereal box of my favorite morning delight, Sugar Frosted Flakes!   I don&rsquo;t know if I was even able to read the offer, but the boat sure looked cool and the picture of the kid playing with it in his bathtub sure looked like he was having fun.   All I needed to do was save three box tops of my favorite cereal. 

...I couldn&rsquo;t believe what I was seeing; you could get a totally cool aqua-boat for practically nothing. ...  I cut the back out of one of the boxes so I could keep a picture of the boat. ...  My first hurdle of three box tops was easy to jump; the $2.25 that I had to send along with those box tops was another thing. ...  I had such wishes to have that boat in my hands, such desires to play with that thing forever, that I never noticed I needed two dollars and twenty-five cents. 


...Well, I don&rsquo;t remember how I earned the money (It was for sure that it wasn&rsquo;t just given to me.) but I remember going to the mailbox every day, while waiting for my package from Battle Creek, Michigan to arrive!  

...But I possess in my heart now a longing that reminds me of that very first one. ...  I long for peace and love between man and for a time when people are genuinely concerned for one another. 


...I long for the time where there will be no more pain and no more suffering and I long for the time when joy will be ever increasing, unspeakable and full of glory! ...  I will wait for as long as it takes; because I have a longing for something more. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Destined for Glory</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-01-10T17:09:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0293e5ae862641dcbde31cc17214da0d-185.html#unique-entry-id-185</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0293e5ae862641dcbde31cc17214da0d-185.html#unique-entry-id-185</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It seems that there were some who couldn&rsquo;t even believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because they couldn&rsquo;t understand how God would be able to do such a thing.   Hear what he has to say concerning this, &ldquo;For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. ...  If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.&rdquo; 

...I can never understand how or why a person could live in this life while thinking that this life was all there is. ...  &ldquo;I have been subjected to the ills of the common man and I will die the death of all&rdquo; It is no wonder why those who do not believe in the resurrection take up the philosophy, &ldquo;Eat, drink, and be merry; for tomorrow we die.&rdquo;  


...Then, what I have believed is worthless and my whole life has been a lie -if Christ has not been raised. 

...He said that it was important that He go away (die, resurrect and ascend) for if He hadn&rsquo;t, then the Father would not have sent the Holy Spirit. ...  Therefore, I can know that there is a resurrection and all those who fall asleep (die) in Christ, has the hope of participating in that resurrection. ...  Paul goes on to tell us that God has given us a body for this life, one that is subjected to corruption, pain, hunger, temptation and sin. 


But in the resurrection God has prepared a body that is not, nor ever will be subjected to those things.   Jesus Christ is the first-fruits of this glorious resurrection and we who are waiting for Him to bring everything under His control are also waiting for Him to transform these lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body. ...  And just as God chose the fullness of Deity to be veiled in the body of Jesus Christ so He also chose to veil the glory of His Church while she awaits her Bridegroom. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Things begin with a New Heart</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2010-01-03T21:47:55-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/258c08d7b7620a2f413df446b06c3227-184.html#unique-entry-id-184</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/258c08d7b7620a2f413df446b06c3227-184.html#unique-entry-id-184</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The thing is, and I know it all too well, that no matter what thing a person does differently on the outside, if they are no different on the inside, then it is no different at all. 

...I&rsquo;ve had my table for years now, and you know something, I wouldn&rsquo;t change how I feel about playing the game if I got a new table.   So, I would play billiards on any table and in any circumstances the same way that I would right now. ...  I would probably treat these new things with a little more care (only because that is what we do with new things) and I would want others to be just as careful. 

...I used to think it was the greatest stuff on earth and I believed that I thought like this only because of my love for it. ...  But, when Christ changed my heart, I began to see more clearly what that stuff was really doing to me. 


...When a man or woman becomes born-again, this is exactly what takes place &ndash;God creates in that person a new heart and renews a right spirit within him/her. ...  A man or woman who has surrendered themselves to God&rsquo;s workmanship, sees new mercies everyday, has a new song in their heart, a new hope for living and a new goal to strive for. 


If you know God, then you know that He is into change, &ldquo;See, I am doing a new thing!&rdquo; 

...And when a man or woman has that hope, things now even though the same &ndash;are new and different. ...  Only those who have placed their full trust in God their Savior, can relate to these things and acknowledge that this new hope is Divine. ...  This year I want to stop leaning on my own understanding and acknowledge Him in all my ways, in all those things 2010 shall bring to me. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christmas Parable</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-12-27T18:34:31-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e230c4f0f6b28c63e4a4594c2018fc53-183.html#unique-entry-id-183</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e230c4f0f6b28c63e4a4594c2018fc53-183.html#unique-entry-id-183</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Council&rsquo;s stimulus program went off without a hitch and none were the wiser that they had acted on their own accord while the king remained missing. ...  It seemed like anybody who was anybody gave gifts; it became trendy and posh, and no one wanted to be that person who didn&rsquo;t give gifts. 

...They waited for Arrogance&rsquo;s man; he had ordered the meeting and he had warned them that the news was not good.   And so, when he finally entered the room, there was no reason to call the meeting to order, for each member found his seat quickly and quietly.   They looked at him intently and uncomfortably; it seemed that for the first time he was at a loss for words.   His lifted his ashen face with an air of confidence but could not hide his fearful, fallen eyes; they spoke volumes, even before he opened his mouth. 

...&ldquo;Are you telling us that there is no money left in the treasury at all? 

...They all knew deep in their hearts that the collapse was imminent and it seemed that the king would never be found.


...He seldom spoke but when he did, his words continued to echo in the hearts of all who heard him. 

...	The stranger smiled as though he needed no help, yet asked, &ldquo;May I come in and sup with you?&rdquo;  ...  The father once more looked at the stranger, their eyes met as he contemplated this man who now sat in his home, &ldquo;I have a feeling this man will bring more to this home than I could ever offer him. 

...	With both hands around his warm cup of drink and his eyes fixed on the father, the stranger smiled assuredly at him and nodded in agreement. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christmas Parable</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-12-20T18:31:48-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/be1454c41813c74a70cdb9cfbd9628e1-182.html#unique-entry-id-182</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/be1454c41813c74a70cdb9cfbd9628e1-182.html#unique-entry-id-182</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As he continued to pound on the door another member of the council came to see what the ruckus was all about.   &ldquo;The king is not responding and I fear that he may be in need of our help.&rdquo;   The two of them began to pry the door open and within a few minutes they entered the king&rsquo;s chamber. 

...We must go on as though we had the king&rsquo;s approval of our stimulation program.&rdquo;  

...We will act as though he is inside his chambers and I will go in from time to time to appear as though I am speaking with him. ...  Again they nodded while looking at one another, as though each member wanted to assure himself that another member agreed. 


&ldquo;Finally, as we implement our program and go out into the countryside, we shall search diligently for our beloved king. ...  I believe that we are capable of turning this kingdom around and if the people are happy and safe, if they are well fed and entertained, then&hellip;&rdquo; he didn&rsquo;t believe these words were going to leave his mouth, &ldquo;should we never find the king, they will not mind so much that he is gone.&rdquo;


&ldquo;You mean that we are going to keep the king&rsquo;s disappearance a secret until&hellip;&rdquo; questioned the eldest council member.


...But I have also noticed that when things are going well, the people soon forget the king.   They don&rsquo;t visit the castle with their gifts as often and have you ever noticed that when things are going well, the people never show up for his festivals? ...  One thing we have going for us, Brothers, is that these folks forget the important things of the heart when the belly is full. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christmas Parable</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-12-13T20:03:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1847b952a673cc4191e9b63f6bbe7a8c-181.html#unique-entry-id-181</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1847b952a673cc4191e9b63f6bbe7a8c-181.html#unique-entry-id-181</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	&ldquo;Now you are all aware that our national holiday is just a couple of weeks away and with the situation the way it is, well I think that we should revamp this thing and turn it into one of the most sought after holidays ever. ...  What if we gave everyone in the whole kingdom, I mean everyone, man, woman and child, some sort of gift and maybe some food. ...  This will create jobs and if you think about it, even good will toward one another. ...  And this is how we&rsquo;ll do it; we&rsquo;ll suggest that the more they send out, the more they&rsquo;ll get. ...  Think about it; if you thought your uncle was going to give you something then you&rsquo;re going to make sure that you get him something. 

...&ldquo;Why don&rsquo;t we have one of us go out into the villages and begin distributing some gifts and some food to get this thing going?   And while we&rsquo;re at it, why don&rsquo;t we suggest they decorate their homes with lights and bells and things?


...Another member piped in, &ldquo;I have a friend that owns a card shop and this would be good business for him.&rdquo;  ...  You know, something that will warm the heart, sooth the soul and say&hellip; well, just what the folks want to hear.&rdquo;


...We can say something like this: We know if you have been naughty or nice and if you&rsquo;re nice we&rsquo;ll put you on a list that will enable you to get more things this holiday! 

...One of their own would have to convince him that this was the solution they were all looking for, and soon, things could get back to normal. 


...	The counsel was so confident in this man&rsquo;s ability that they dispersed to their homes and families excited to jump-start their program. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christmas Parable</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-12-06T09:33:37-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9d92fee735b94bac9af6e54b1fd20072-180.html#unique-entry-id-180</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9d92fee735b94bac9af6e54b1fd20072-180.html#unique-entry-id-180</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There were many whom he thought would be a great candidate, yet he wanted just the right one; one in whom all the people would love and admire. 

...Yes, I am sure to find the man there, a fox in the henhouse, a traitor amongst the faithful, a man for the hour!&rdquo;


...	&ldquo;I could never have imagined that I brought this all on by one little turning away.   I never dreamed that by refusing the king and going my own way would have ever brought all this on. 

...They weren&rsquo;t allowed to go out into the towns because of the edict that the counsel had passed. 

...His heart was broken, he couldn&rsquo;t bear the grief; these people were his children and he loved every one of them with all of his heart. 


...Arrogance had slipped in unnoticed, no one was aware that an attack was about to take place.   They had no clue that one of their own would be tempted, enticed, and ultimately deceived by the spirit of arrogance. 


...And so the whispers of Arrogance began and the counsel member began to be lifted up in his own eyes. ...  Many times the king had taken him aside to speak with him alone, and the other members knew that. 

...He knew (because of Arrogance) that he was the man for the hour. ...  It wasn&rsquo;t conceit, he thought, he just knew the simple fact; he was the man for the hour. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Christmas Parable</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-11-29T15:54:18-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1161ab8d2831fb78e3f801f77909c41a-179.html#unique-entry-id-179</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1161ab8d2831fb78e3f801f77909c41a-179.html#unique-entry-id-179</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A long time ago, in a land far away, lived a good and kindly king whose land was devastated by a curse brought on by a sinister warlock named Pride. ...  He would see a couple of people working together and he would stir up anger in the one because the other wasn&rsquo;t carrying his share of the load.   Someone else would be blessed with a harvest and another would be envious enough to steal it for himself. 

...The king was saddened that his people were so troubled and he asked all of his wise men what could be done to remedy the situation.   They counseled together night and day but even they were under the curse of Pride and could not come up with something that everyone would agree upon.   Pride was having his way and so he brought others to help him destroy the kingdom. 


...Even though the people were becoming more and more hard and insensitive, whenever the king would visit the people, there would be some reprieve from the curse.   So, from time to time, the king would send messengers out with a word of good will for the people. 


...He loved the people so, and now his counsel was suggesting that he no longer venture out into the streets until some order could be restored and his safety insured.   He signed the suggestion into law on one provision; if another suggestion, or another way, could prove more suitable for a remedy, then he granted himself the right to repeal the law. 


...There was even a rumor spread around the villages that the king had died and that was the reason why no one has seen him lately. 


Pride and his cohorts moved freely about the kingdom and thought for sure that everyone would soon succumb to their way of life. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Another Thanksgiving</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-11-22T21:35:47-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/444738a6217f614810d5925f6158bd7b-178.html#unique-entry-id-178</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/444738a6217f614810d5925f6158bd7b-178.html#unique-entry-id-178</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I picture myself now sitting before this plate of harvest, thankful for what God has afforded and blessed me with.   I have never had a problem thanking God for where I am and for what I have &ndash;because it is only through Him that I have received anything.   I truly believe that if God wouldn&rsquo;t have had mercy on me when He did &ndash;I would be in big trouble right now! 

...Okay, maybe I wouldn&rsquo;t get a trophy for humility but&hellip; I am thankful that there are not any trophies for humility!  ...  I can&rsquo;t imagine going through this life, as hard as it is, and not enjoying some of it, and isn&rsquo;t that one of the benefits of thankfulness? 


...I know, it&rsquo;s a circular argument but it is true, the thankful are blessed, and they are blessed because, they are thankful! 


	Now, I am not just talking about thanking God here and there or, for this blessing or that. 

...Can I be just as thankful for what He has blessed my neighbor with? 


...He went home that night thanking God that his life was spared, that he had money to give and&hellip; that it happened to him and not another. 

...When God blesses His children and then watches those same children bless others&hellip; I&rsquo;m telling you that He will be quick to bless again. 


Try this little exercise; the next time God blesses you and after you thank Him for that blessing; thank God for blessing someone else.   And if you cannot think of someone being recently blessed &ndash;change that, and go out and bless someone for yourself. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Do You Believe in Miracles?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-11-15T12:53:29-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/78684d3828b7809b22b561ef18b29716-177.html#unique-entry-id-177</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/78684d3828b7809b22b561ef18b29716-177.html#unique-entry-id-177</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[After all the Israelites had walked over the bridge and were safely on the other side, Moses called in to headquarters and ordered an air strike to the bridge. 

...	Have you ever found yourself in Johnny&rsquo;s shoes; you know, trying to explain away some supernatural event in the Bible?   You know you believe it (at least you&rsquo;re pretty sure) but as you get deeper into the account you sense that you need to help God out here a little bit to explain the unbelievable. 


...You think if you tell him just one more thing that is too fantastic to believe, he is going to walk away and write you off as nuts. 

...I have listened to preachers and I have even done it myself; I have tried to explain away the miraculous, or at least tone down the supernatural, so that the story that I am telling can be &ldquo;believable.&rdquo; ...  I even tried witnessing the Gospel on the statements (and scientific conclusions) of some modern-day archeologist who had discovered the fallen walls of Jericho. 


The article was found in the Columbus Dispatch and stated that they had discovered that the walls of Jericho had fallen just like the Bible reported it. 

...	You see, if just one miraculous event in the Bible is untrue, then all is untrue, and we are lost.   Paul tells us that if Christ is not raised from the dead then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.   The greatest miracle is the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His ascension into Heaven where He is seated at the right hand of God. 


Peter tells us that God accredited Jesus of Nazareth to you through miracles, wonders, and signs that were performed among us by Him.   This same Jesus is the miracle of God that proves there is more to this life than what we experience within the parameters of our comprehension. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Curse of Discontentment</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-11-08T01:36:47-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b713385f7af096167466c38400c6e368-176.html#unique-entry-id-176</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b713385f7af096167466c38400c6e368-176.html#unique-entry-id-176</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If he can deceive us into thinking that we need more, deserve more and want more than what we already possess, then the battle is over halfway won.   You can see this little deception at work in the Garden of Eden where Adam and Eve had everything, and I mean everything! ...  But some how the devil convinced Eve that she needed more than what God had given her and then&hellip; well, you know what happened next. 


...Prov.6:6-11  Even though we have to labor by the sweat of our brow, and that work can be very hard at times, God blesses the man who is contented with what he has. ...  I have seen the burden God has laid on men&hellip; I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 

...Discontentment rears its ugly head when all achievement springs from envy, Eccl.4:4&mdash;6  and we forget that one handful with tranquility is better than two handfuls with toil. ...  O, I am sure that there are those who may say that they do not need God in their lives to find contentment.   But when I look at all those who have acquired wealth, power and fame in their lives only to say things like, &ldquo;Even though I have everything, it&rsquo;s not enough.&rdquo; ...  Solomon said it would be better to have just a dry crust of bread with peace and quiet, than a house of feasting with strife. ...  But when my heart says that I have been going away from that divine fellowship and pressing on toward earthly things, then discontentment begins to show its face. ...  This is why I have always said, &ldquo;You&rsquo;ll never be happy, if happiness is all that you&rsquo;re looking for.&rdquo;    If you can understand that it is better to have a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil, then you will know what Paul meant when he said, I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Understanding Something True</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-11-01T17:58:38-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e5ee8cb953db006046b29e0957b3ab10-175.html#unique-entry-id-175</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e5ee8cb953db006046b29e0957b3ab10-175.html#unique-entry-id-175</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	Jesus had just told the crowd the parable of the sower and later on that day, He was alone with His disciples.   They asked Him about the parable and it seems that the Lord was a little amazed that they had not understood what He had told the crowd. 

...Let me start with a hypothetical situation; have you ever been in an argument with someone and there seemed to be no way the other person was going to see it your way? 

...But to no avail; nothing worked and the other person walked away from the argument never understanding why you did what you did, or said what you said. 


Well, this is kind of like what Jesus was talking about when He was saying that those on the &lsquo;outside&rsquo; would never understand the secrets of the kingdom. 

...I remember hearing of a UFO sighting years ago from a family member and in my mind, I believed that it could have been true. ...  I believed him and I trusted him and so I was able to believe that this could have possibly been true. 

...This is why Jesus was asking His disciples how they expected to understand any parable if they couldn&rsquo;t even understand this one.   Jesus knew that even a child would be insightful enough to understand what He was saying; a child that trusted, that is. 

... He was not advocating that we all become immature as children are at times, but He wanted us to foster a heart&rsquo;s attitude that would trust anything He would say. ...  In other words, can you believe something that is opposite to the way you thought things were, simply on the merits of the One telling you? 


...When we were children, we thought like children, and there comes a time that our trusting in God develops into something deeper so that we can understand even deeper truths. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>There is a River</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-10-25T21:08:10-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/af8968d5a9ec6809b3e64f2e5c964fff-174.html#unique-entry-id-174</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/af8968d5a9ec6809b3e64f2e5c964fff-174.html#unique-entry-id-174</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[But what bothers me the most about this little waterway of trouble is that it doesn&rsquo;t flow all the time. 

...It reminds me of the river Job described, as he likened his friends to it; &ldquo;A despairing man should have the devotion of his friends, even though he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.   But my brothers are as undependable as intermittent streams that overflow when darkened by thawing ice and swollen with melting snow, but that cease to flow in the dry season and in the heat vanish from their channels.&rdquo; 

...	The Lord used this Scripture and one I found in the book of Jeremiah to correct my thinking about a certain situation I was going through. ...  I was going through a spiritual desert and I was really complaining to God about the lack of ministry that I thought He called me to. 

...I was just sure that God was going to bless me with some comfort and assurance that He saw my plight and He fully understood.   All I wanted was a little stroking of the back, a little pat on the head, just a little, &ldquo;Yes Jim, you are right and they are wrong, and I&rsquo;m going to get them for giving you a hard time. 

... So here it is basically; I was complaining to God because things weren&rsquo;t happening and asking Him if He was going to be this deceptive brook, this spring that fails?   Jer.15:18 This is when God led me to Job and pretty much told me that it was not He that was the intermittent stream but me and if I wanted to be used by Him that I needed to prove faithful with the gospel that He entrusted to me. 

...Then He took me back to Jeremiah 15 and laid it all on the line: &ldquo;If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be my spokesman.&rdquo;   Jer.15:19  This all took place back in 1992 and since then, I have tried my best to let God speak through me rather than me trying to speak for God &ndash; there&rsquo;s a difference you know. ...  But if we let God speak through us, we become a river, whose streams make glad the city of our God. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Remembering the Former Things</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-10-11T22:41:44-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/90855461b386e7bda090eda98f5c10d2-173.html#unique-entry-id-173</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/90855461b386e7bda090eda98f5c10d2-173.html#unique-entry-id-173</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;The word of the Lord came to me: &lsquo;Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown.&rsquo;&rdquo; 

...	I have always found it pleasant and somewhat refreshing that the Lord has chosen not to remember the sins of my past and has chosen to remember the love and devotion that I had shown to Him in the beginnings of my walk with Him. 


...Some of these were wrong and needed to be removed from the new heart that He had given me, but some were legitimate and created for man to enjoy while he toiled and labored for the few days of life that God has given him.


Yet, I somehow knew that when I would sacrifice these pleasures, God would be quick to fill in that &ldquo;empty&rdquo; spot in my heart that those desires left behind. 

...I knew also that I had to hide His Word in my heart as well, for David said, &ldquo;Lord, I will hide your word in my heart so that I might not sin against you.&rdquo;  ...  I have found this Scripture to be true to the uttermost and I continually thank my God for the grace that He has apportioned to me through His precious Son, Jesus Christ. 


So, my Christian walk began to become a bigger paradox than ever; on one side I felt so blessed and loved and on the other side, I felt such a need to give myself to His service and ministry of His Church. 

...One of the things about weariness &ndash;we often times bring it on ourselves and then we secretly get mad at God for not blessing us as we have labored for Him. ...  But this went on for a couple of years and I&rsquo;m telling you, there is nothing colder and lonelier than wanting to be in His Presence and He refusing even just a touch. 

...	If you have found yourself in this sort of lukewarm complacency and it has been years since you have literally fallen on your knees in worship, if the Presence hasn&rsquo;t brought you to that point of spiritual ecstasy, then I suggest that you return to God in the spirit of repentance and remember your First Love. 

...I have heard a number of people longing for the days of their spiritual birth when they were so in love with God and He with them. ...  &ldquo;For if, when we were God&rsquo;s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more shall we be saved through his life.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Joy; Through It All&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-10-04T20:58:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d7a01178502de236ffc55b4f2d3c12a7-172.html#unique-entry-id-172</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d7a01178502de236ffc55b4f2d3c12a7-172.html#unique-entry-id-172</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When I think of the array of emotions that are brought on by the trials of life, joy isn&rsquo;t one of them! ...  Yet, rejoicing and exceeding gladness is what our Lord wants us to express when we are suffering such things as persecutions, false testimonies and the like. 


...Woodrow Wilson once said, &ldquo;I would rather lose in a cause that will some day win, than win in a cause that will some day lose.&rdquo;  

...If we do what we have to (even if it means sinning) to get out of our trials, then we&rsquo;ve missed the opportunity that God provided for our growth and lost sight of the big picture all together. 

...When a man cheats on his taxes so that he can have a few more dollars to spend at the moment, he really cheats himself in the long run.   Jesus told us that we would have tribulations in this life, but be of good cheer, He has overcome this life. 


...The man&rsquo;s employer came to him one day after hiring him and asked if he would change some numbers for him on a certain account of a friend. ...  He knew that changing the numbers was wrong and against the law, but if he didn&rsquo;t change the numbers, it would mean his job because the account in consideration was that of a friend of the employer.   The next day he walked into his boss&rsquo;s office and told him that he could not change the numbers as that would be wrong and he feared God, and wanted to do the right thing. ...  A smile came upon his face and he told the new employee that not only was he going to keep his job, but that he would also receive a raise for his honesty and integrity. 

...Beloved, joy is a gift God gives to His children who have their sights on the big picture rather than the moment. 

...And finally, Jesus has promised us, &ldquo;To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Master Carpenter</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-09-27T22:23:28-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b026332dcfb57dfda103f14cf31adb9d-171.html#unique-entry-id-171</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b026332dcfb57dfda103f14cf31adb9d-171.html#unique-entry-id-171</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Joseph was a carpenter by trade and there isn&rsquo;t any reason to think the Jesus grew up to become otherwise.   The gospel of Mark records that while Jesus was in His own hometown (this is after He began His ministry) the people took offense at Him because of some of the things He was saying and doing. 

...He went on to say that He was going back to Heaven to prepare a place for us and that one day He would be back to receive us back to Himself, so where He was, we would be also.   Over the years many of us have believed that Jesus was up in Heaven just busy as a beaver planning and measuring, hammering and sawing and all around building a house for us to inhabit. 

...Yes, Jesus is up in Heaven, sitting at the Right hand of the Father and ever-living to make intercession for us.   (Heb.7:25)  but, He isn&rsquo;t up there with a tool belt strapped around His waist and a hammer in His hand! ...  Remember that Peter told us that we are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 


Paul tells us the same thing in other words: &ldquo;Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God&rsquo;s people and members of God&rsquo;s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. ...  And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.&rdquo; 

...They were shaped to fit together with the other stones that would become one of the most magnificent buildings that ever existed. 

...God is right now forming us and fashioning us to not only prepare us for our eternal dwelling with Him, but also to fit together with others who belong to this wonderful House.   It is very necessary for us to allow Christ to &ldquo;cut away,&rdquo; to &ldquo;set the plumb line,&rdquo; to form us and fashion us now, where He has found us. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>PRE-FORGIVEN&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-09-20T19:13:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4427f0e4373c1b549dcef63b69f1c98a-170.html#unique-entry-id-170</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4427f0e4373c1b549dcef63b69f1c98a-170.html#unique-entry-id-170</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[While getting the mail the other morning and just glancing through the stack of envelopes, there was one that caught my eye in particular. 

...&ldquo;Okay, we&rsquo;ll give you one accident, but after that&hellip; you have to understand, we need to make money in order to stay in business.&rdquo;   I am so thankful that I was pre-forgiven, not just for my first sin, but all my sins! 


Could you imagine if God said to you, &ldquo;Okay, We&rsquo;ll forgive that first offense but every offense after that, you are going to have to pay for.&rdquo; 

...If I am wrong, somebody needs to correct me, but isn&rsquo;t the idea of purchasing insurance to possess some financial assurance in case I have an accident?   These folks are telling me that I&rsquo;m going to get into one and I need to be with them because, well &ndash;they have already pre-forgiven me! ...  Oh, they&rsquo;ll forgive me for parking in a tow-away zone, but not if I park in a handicap zone.   I can be forgiven at four miles an hour over the speed limit, but at five, I&rsquo;m going to pay.  


...We have been forgiven since the foundations of the earth and not only has Jesus Christ forgiven the first sin, He has forgiven all sin, every one of them!   He has forgiven the minor sins (those sins that you know you did yourself ) And those major sins, those same sins that you did &ndash;but this time it was somebody else. 

...The premium has already been paid and besides, you and I couldn&rsquo;t make enough money to even attempt to purchase this insurance. ...  Insurance guarantees me in case of loss, this makes me think that I&rsquo;m okay for right now. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Psalm 23</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-09-13T18:18:59-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1c203d142b0aba2a64e2aa8467b0a00-169.html#unique-entry-id-169</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1c203d142b0aba2a64e2aa8467b0a00-169.html#unique-entry-id-169</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The Lord recently awakened me out of a deep sleep and the only thing that was on my mind was David&rsquo;s 23rd psalm.   It is a psalm of great confidence and assurance with the last verse proclaiming David&rsquo;s hope of dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. ...  And when I had my stroke three years ago, this was the psalm that I continued to try and quote in order to keep my mind and speech in working order.  


It wasn&rsquo;t funny then, but I am sure that if we heard a tape of me trying to quote that psalm back then we would all have a pretty good laugh, mixed with tears, of course.   Strokes are nothing to laugh about and I don&rsquo;t mean to belittle them in anyway, but I do recall beginning the 23rd Psalm saying, &ldquo;The Lord is my fishing boat&hellip;&rdquo; then, &ldquo;Therrr fisher umm Lrrrd is&hellip;&rdquo; I rejoice in that His merciful Hand was upon me and I have fully recovered.   So, you can see that when I awoke the other day trying to quote this same psalm and not getting it exactly right (as you will see) I was just a little concerned!  

...And God says that He is able to save us completely when we come to Him through Jesus Christ. ...  But God, in His rich mercy, though we were dead in our sins, made us alive in Christ Jesus.   In accordance with His great love for us, He has accepted us into the Beloved and we are now living with both God and hope. ...  Paul, &ldquo;Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. 


For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. ...  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Clean Garage</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-09-06T12:35:14-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/22aba4be85a170861946c2d574dd4086-168.html#unique-entry-id-168</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/22aba4be85a170861946c2d574dd4086-168.html#unique-entry-id-168</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[But, soon after a number of small jobs, my garage was a mess and I couldn&rsquo;t find a tool to save my life. 

...The advantages of having a clean garage are too numerous to list here but the number one thing is that of knowing that my tools are where they are suppose to be and that they are ready to be put to work. 


...We, as the body of Christ, are all tools in the Lord&rsquo;s hand. ...  &ldquo;The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body&hellip;Now the body is not made up of one part but of many&hellip;But in fact God arranged the parts of the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.&rdquo; 

...God arranged the parts of the Body just as He wanted them to be just like I cleaned the garage and put the tools where I needed them to be. ...  You see, God has each of us right where He wants us and we should be all the more careful to be where He has placed us.   He has some of us in our prayer closets, some of us on the mission field and some of us evangelizing on the street corner. 


...What if some of His &ldquo;tools&rdquo; are out in the world when they are suppose to be in the Kingdom? ...  I think God could get more things done in the world if He didn&rsquo;t have to spend so much time cleaning His house!


	Each of us is a part of His house; of His Body, and each of us is where He wants us to be. 

...It behooves every one us, no matter where God has us in the body, to be able to function in the liberty that an intimate walk with His Spirit offers. ...  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross &ndash;God&rsquo;s Tool, for the salvation of all mankind!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Crunch Time</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-08-30T15:57:56-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1ef8ee2348b0ed56f5548963ca745560-167.html#unique-entry-id-167</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1ef8ee2348b0ed56f5548963ca745560-167.html#unique-entry-id-167</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Have you ever put off making a decision because you knew that the thing you had to do was going to bring pain?   Maybe you were going to have to spend some money you didn&rsquo;t think you had, yet you knew it was best to spend the money now, or else it was going to cost you more later. 

...I am reminded of the account in the book of Acts when Paul was standing in front of King Agrippa giving his testimony and preaching about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. ...  At this point Paul tells the king and the governor that he is not insane and reminds King Agrippa that Paul knew that he had been familiar with the things that were being told about Jesus. 


...But, for him, giving his life to Christ would mean tremendous changes in his life, and those changes could have very well including losing his royalty and easy life style.   He says to Paul, &ldquo;Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to become a Christian?&rdquo;   Paul then says to Agrippa, &ldquo;Short time or long &ndash; I pray to God that not only you, but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.&rdquo;


...I speak of this because I believe that over the years we have compromised our Christian walk and the decision to surrender our lives to Christ has boiled down to a simple mental affirmation. ...  But, I remember a time when surrendering the life to Christ meant that lifestyles changed drastically and at times, those changes were not pleasant. 


...Maybe you are contemplating Christianity and thinking that it might not be real convenient right now to become a Christian. ...  You know that there are certain changes that He wants you to make and you&rsquo;re stalling because you know those changes are not going to be convenient for you. 


The thing you have to remember is this: God knows that if you let Him take charge of your situation, there will come a time when your heart will leap with joy and gratitude that you made the decision and surrendered to Him.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>An Illustration of Heaven&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-08-23T15:42:02-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c4b7dc7248572cddc7b3e4289ea4f2cc-166.html#unique-entry-id-166</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c4b7dc7248572cddc7b3e4289ea4f2cc-166.html#unique-entry-id-166</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I would personally like to take this time to thank all of you who participated with this year&rsquo;s VBS. ...  People don&rsquo;t realize that there were some who worked 8,9 and 10 hours a day at their regular job and then rushed right over to the church for another three hours of  (fun and games?!  

...They fight the battle of thoughts, &ldquo;Is there some way I can get out of it this year without my conscience eating me up?&rdquo;    But their hearts see the faces of smiling children; their ears hear the song of their voices singing the songs that they hope will stick with them forever. 


The hope of Jesus ministering in some way to those children, to any child, keeps those volunteers with their nose to the grindstone. ...  They know that their labor is not in vain and they know that Jesus will never forget the kindness that they showed His little ones. 


	The Saturday morning after Bible School is like going to bed after a long day of strenuous activity and your muscles finally get to relax. ...  There is something extra sweet about the rest you experience after you know that you gave it your best. 


I&rsquo;ve been tired and sore after a day of doing nothing and I was more miserable because my conscience was keeping me awake. ...  You know, when we get up to Heaven and hear Jesus say, &ldquo;Well done, My good and faithful servant,&rdquo;  I want to be able to look Him in the eye and receive the look that He&rsquo;ll give me. 

...Again, to all of you workers of this year&rsquo;s VBS, &ldquo;Well done and enjoy what little rest God gives you right now.   Because you know as well as I do, your heart won&rsquo;t allow you to stop serving Him in one-way or another. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Power of the Blood</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-08-16T00:12:11-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5c6ec87c6158d54029ac60c84b101f73-165.html#unique-entry-id-165</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5c6ec87c6158d54029ac60c84b101f73-165.html#unique-entry-id-165</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When she gets these things I have to run and open the windows of the house or we get that vacuum effect. 

...I don&rsquo;t know how many times I told her I was really sorry and that I would never do that ever, ever&hellip;ever again!   As I looked back on what happened I realized that even though my intentions were good, what I did was wrong. ...  I know that some people won&rsquo;t agree with this but nevertheless, I prompted feeling in Robin that she should have never had to deal with. ...  I can go on and on with this and show that pretending to choke on my supper was really, really stupid and Jesus would have never acted that way. 

...&ldquo;If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord&rsquo;s commands, he is guilty.&rdquo;   Lev.4:27  So, as far as God is concerned, or better said, as far as how He looks at it, even if I do wrong without realizing it, I am guilty.   Now, instead of complaining that this doesn&rsquo;t sound fair and you really don&rsquo;t think that God should condemn anyone for mistakes done unintentionally, why not look at it according to the grace of the Gospel? ...  The Blood of Jesus has righted all that is, was or ever shall be, wrong in all of God&rsquo;s creation. 


This is why Paul tells us in Colossians, &ldquo;For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, (Jesus) and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.&rdquo; 

...One more thing: Now, if God has so forgiven us of even the slightest of sins against Him, should we forgive even the slightest of sins against us.   Maybe some of us Christians wouldn&rsquo;t get so offended so easily if we could only remember what Jesus has done for us. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>While you were Sleeping</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-08-09T22:56:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5dad57b874ec1b2e67cbcb174cfb9a5c-164.html#unique-entry-id-164</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5dad57b874ec1b2e67cbcb174cfb9a5c-164.html#unique-entry-id-164</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus&rsquo; parable is about ten virgins that were sleeping when the &ldquo;midnight cry&rdquo; was given; Paul&rsquo;s exhortation goes like this, &ldquo;Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.&rdquo;    For some reason, God must have thought it important to warn us that some of the Church was definitely sleeping just prior to His return. 


...Written by Washington Irving in 1819, the story is set at the base of the Catskill Mountains just before and just after the Revolutionary War. 

...So I thought I would tell you folks out there in the world wide web, some of the changes you may be noticing if you just happen to be waking up right about now. ...  I heard that by the year 2010 the United States government will have its hands in (some way or other) about 40% of the private sector. 

...Soon everybody in the country will have health care, what kind of care that will be is yet to be seen. ...  I wonder what will happen to doctors that don&rsquo;t get on board with the national health care?   We are still aborting babies&hellip; No, let me rephrase that, we are still murdering our children and calling it women&rsquo;s rights. 

...A survey dating back as far as 1961 revealed that 54% of ministers polled did not believe in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ; 56% didn&rsquo;t believe in the virgin birth; 71% didn&rsquo;t believe in a literal heaven and hell; 89% didn&rsquo;t believe in the deity of Jesus Christ and a whopping 99% didn&rsquo;t believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 


...These days it&rsquo;s more like: try to be a good person, and maybe God will let you have what you want.   I could go on and on but I don&rsquo;t want to nag you to death with all of this lovely news. ...  Let&rsquo;s (All us Christians) wake up so that Christ will shine upon us while we hold out the Imperishable Word of God that can save our loved ones and friends &ndash;&ldquo;before night cometh, when no man can work.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Blessedness of Life&#xd;The Blessedness of Life&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-08-02T14:20:29-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9f254f6c5621de9be86157267aa5b5c1-163.html#unique-entry-id-163</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9f254f6c5621de9be86157267aa5b5c1-163.html#unique-entry-id-163</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Jesus said that it was more blessed to give than to receive and I have found that to be the truth in my own life. ...  I have found this law at work in my life: When I receive, I want more; and contentment flees like a scared bandit. 

...If I could get people to feel sorry for me, then I could get what I wanted &ndash;what I deserve.&rdquo;    Honey, if your life has gotten so bad that you need pity to get through your day, to go on with life, then let me tell you about a Friend of mine. 


	He lived for Someone else; He came not to do His own will, but the will of His Heavenly Father.   By all rights, He should have been born in a palace, and yet, there was no room for Him at the inn. ...  Foxes have holes and the birds have nests, but He didn&rsquo;t have a place to rest His head. ...  He would bless folks with food and healings and they would walk away from Him when He tried to teach them.   They wanted Him to give them what they demanded and they refused to receive what He had to offer. 


...If you or I were to ask Jesus what He thought about His life, would He change anything if He had it to do all over again?  

...His life was and is the blessedness that we so desperately long for. 

...	&ldquo;My purpose is that you may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that you may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that you may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.&rdquo; 										]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>All Things are Possible with God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-07-26T12:33:03-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/01a3e9ca6d90bbf045eab765d6c5705e-162.html#unique-entry-id-162</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/01a3e9ca6d90bbf045eab765d6c5705e-162.html#unique-entry-id-162</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When Jesus was speaking to His disciples concerning how narrow the gate was which allowed entrance into the kingdom of heaven, He told them that that which was impossible for man was possible with God. 


Jesus had warned his hearers earlier to be very careful to enter through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life, for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction. 


...Now, how much later I am not sure, a rich young ruler who inquired of the Lord concerning his eternal destination met Jesus and the disciples.   He asked the Lord, &ldquo;Good Master, what must I do, to inherit eternal life?&rdquo; 

...He should have left it alone right there, but because he wanted to justify himself, he delved into a deeper conversation with the Lord. 

...It is right here where we realize that flesh and blood has not revealed salvation to us but that God, Himself, has opened our eyes and heart.   It is at this precise moment that we either receive or miss the grace of God.    And it is right here where we are either moving toward Heaven or away from it. 


...You know very well that there is nothing a man can do to inherit eternal life; it is a gift! 

...Whether you have just given your heart to Jesus, or you&rsquo;ve been on &ldquo;the road&rdquo; for awhile, no matter what is asked of you, know for certain that what may seem impossible for you to do is certainly possible for God to do through you. ...  Remember, child of God, you are His workmanship and your life is in His Hands!   He has made us for His pleasure and all things are possible with God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Not Up For Discussion</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-07-19T10:49:48-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2a4dcb26d97e653f0006920c3cb560c0-161.html#unique-entry-id-161</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2a4dcb26d97e653f0006920c3cb560c0-161.html#unique-entry-id-161</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you remember that time in your life when your mother said those awful four words that left you seeking autonomy?   You were maybe between the ages of seven and seventeen and you asked her permission for something that you knew you had to have in your life.   You had already pondered in your heart the benefits of your decision, you used much wisdom in the timing of your question; you even prepared your request with much good behavior. ...  With these four words your mother reinforces her parental rights and you walk away knowing that she will never offer any explanation &ndash;whatsoever!   It is right here in our young formidable years, that our sinful nature kicks in to high gear and we swear by everything that we know (and that isn&rsquo;t much at seven years of age ) that we will always say, &ldquo;Why does it have to be this way? 

...If you are willing and obedient, you will eat from the best of the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.&rdquo;  ...  Jesus said, &ldquo;Father all things are possible with you; if it be possible, let this cup pass from me. ...  There wasn&rsquo;t another way and Jesus Christ went to the Cross that ultimately brought the forgiveness of sins for the whole world. ...  So, when God offered to whiten sin, to remove them from us as far as the east from the west and drop them into a sea, to remember them no more, He offered it without explaining His actions. 

...	It has been 40 some years since I first heard those four dreadful words from my mother and I have raised my own child in the process. ...  I realize and understand now that my mother knew best and she didn&rsquo;t need to explain to her young son about the decision that she made. ...  She was wiser and in her wisdom she thought it best to let me know that her decision was not up for discussion. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Tough Economy</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-07-12T21:44:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d4c4c03783d9b792f4c099317a8cd328-160.html#unique-entry-id-160</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d4c4c03783d9b792f4c099317a8cd328-160.html#unique-entry-id-160</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I know that there was crime during the first Great Depression of the 1930&rsquo;s, but I am afraid it would pale in comparison should we enter another. 


Drug use is up, domestic violence is up, street crime is up; whether it would be urban or suburban, crime and violence is escalating at a tremendous rate.   Someone may argue that it&rsquo;s because there are more people living now than back in the &lsquo;30&rsquo;s. ...  The point being that we are living in dangerous times because of the economic situation and the fact that there are more people living today only makes the times even more dangerous. 


...In other words, if John Doe has what he needs and a few of his wants, then he seems more contented. ...  The investigation revealed that his young girlfriend was in financial trouble, couple that with relationship problems and you end up with a homicide/suicide.


...For the Christian, Jesus Christ is Lord and whether we live in plenty or we are seeking God for our daily bread, there is a peace that surpasses all understanding. 


...Paul said that he knew what it was like to be in need and what it was like to have plenty. 

...On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand&hellip; Isn&rsquo;t this a wonderful time to remind folks what Jesus said about building our houses? 


&ldquo;Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.   The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.&rdquo; 


In these trying times we need to be doubly sure that our lives are secured and anchored to that Rock. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Freedom vs. Liberty</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-07-05T15:03:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5ee02695ae855bbdc8db0947c5de02a4-159.html#unique-entry-id-159</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5ee02695ae855bbdc8db0947c5de02a4-159.html#unique-entry-id-159</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It was one of the first things that He said to man, &ldquo;You are free to eat from any tree in the Garden.&rdquo;   This freedom is defined in that Adam and Eve were unrestrained to choose to eat from any tree. 


Think of it this way; they were just as free to eat from the Tree of Knowledge as they were from any other tree.   But God commanded them not to eat from the Tree of Knowledge, for in the day that they did &ndash;they would surely die.


...We have a few things that will better explain our situation with Christ and the freedom that He has placed us in. 


...Second, they were commanded not to choose from the Tree of Knowledge, so therefore, they were bound by a law. 

...Now, we have the freedom to break the law and travel faster than the posted limit, but we may be restrained by the fear of the authorities and the fine, so we remain under the speed limit. 

...When I am driving down the road, I am free to drive faster than the law allows; I am free to keep the law and I am free to break the law. ...  So then temptation comes to me and now I am not only bound by the law, but I am also bound by temptation. 

...If I am driving down that same section of road and have chosen (freely) to obey the speed limit, then I am free from the law. 

...Back to the Garden: Adam and Eve were free to eat from any of the trees &ndash;God was just informing them of the danger (consequences) of eating from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. 

...True freedom means liberty from not only the law, but also temptation to break the law.  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Going for the Gold</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-06-28T11:33:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2b4cbe4746ee0fa77be713997e51813-158.html#unique-entry-id-158</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2b4cbe4746ee0fa77be713997e51813-158.html#unique-entry-id-158</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was talking to my son, Dan, last week and he was telling me that he was training again for another marathon.   For those of us who only consider &ldquo;marathon&rdquo; as a place to get gas for your car, I would like to remind you that a marathon is a race where the competitors run for twenty-six miles! 

...The only time I think running would be desirable would be if I was running from danger, or to be first in the buffet line.   Running, run, runs, ran; all of these words are associated with bad and uncomfortable things, so how could running a race be good? 

...Why would anyone put himself or herself through the battle of their whole being like that, if they didn&rsquo;t get something in return? 

...But each runner knows (and believe me, I don&rsquo;t) that if they press on, if they stick it out, if they run through that invisible field of emotional attack &ndash;they&rsquo;ll run through the &ldquo;wall.&rdquo;  

...They began their race when they surrendered their lives to Christ and it won&rsquo;t be finished until they kneel before Him and He puts the Crown of Life upon their heads. 

...This marathon lasts longer than twenty-six miles but one thing is for sure &ndash;you don&rsquo;t have to run it alone!   In fact, it is not by might, nor by power that the Christian finishes this race, but by the Spirit of God.   Which is a good thing, because God has a greater desire for us to finish the race than we do.   This means that when you &ldquo;hit the wall&rdquo; you do not have to rely on yourself, but on Him who upholds you all the way. 


...&ldquo;Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.&rdquo; 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Abba Father&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-06-21T09:49:46-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a7a0b7f6788bb978be910f441410575d-157.html#unique-entry-id-157</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a7a0b7f6788bb978be910f441410575d-157.html#unique-entry-id-157</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He is the Creator of all things; things visible and invisible, whether they be things in heaven or on the earth, I know He created it all. 


...&ldquo;The intellect knoweth that it is ignorant of Thee, because it knoweth Thou canst not be known, unless the unknowable could be known, and the invisible beheld, and the inaccessible attained.   If anyone should set forth any concept by which Thou canst be conceived, I know that that concept is not a concept of Thee, for every concept is ended at the wall of Paradise.&rdquo;  


...As Tozer says, &ldquo;Philosophy and science have not always been friendly toward the idea of God, the reason being that they are dedicated to the task of accounting for things and are impatient with anything that refuses to give an account of itself. 


The philosopher and the scientist will admit that there is much that they do not know; but that is quite another thing from admitting that there is something which they can never know, which indeed they have no technique for discovering.&rdquo;  

...It was only through Jesus Christ and His Spirit in my heart that allows my mind to know God.   The declaration spoken to Jesus, &ldquo;You are my Son, today I have become your Father.&rdquo;  is the declaration that each one of us can receive for ourselves. 


...This was the day that God was now able to reveal to your heart, the love that He has possessed for you.   And this is when your heart was able to convince your mind that all that He has revealed to you about Himself was true. 


You and I know all those things that I have written above, about God, because Jesus had revealed to us that God is our Father. 

...Listen, because of my Father, I can do all things, I am more than a conqueror, and nothing will separate me from the love that He has for me.   I know that no good thing will be held from me and that He will work in all things, for my good. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Little Foxes and Small Chores</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-06-14T17:53:49-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/dbc88b3cfec4643b95153eab838b58b1-156.html#unique-entry-id-156</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/dbc88b3cfec4643b95153eab838b58b1-156.html#unique-entry-id-156</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It wasn&rsquo;t very long into my Christian walk when I heard a sermon from the Scripture found in the Song of Solomon;  &ldquo;Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.&rdquo; 

...The message was directed toward those little things that were in our lives that hindered the Spirit&rsquo;s work and made the grace of God of no effect in our lives. ...  They are those things that we desire to get out of our lives because they stop us from realizing God in our lives. 


I can&rsquo;t list anything specific because God deals with each of us on an individual basis &ndash;one&rsquo;s man faith only lets him eat vegetables and another man&rsquo;s faith allows him to eat anything.   But, be assured of this one thing; these little foxes are there and they keep coming no matter how long you&rsquo;ve been a Christian, or how spiritual you may be. 


...In other words, if someone notices my impatience and knows that I am also a Christian, they may come to the conclusion that I&rsquo;m a hypocrite or at least, not a very good Christian.   So, it behooves us to capture all these little foxes and make sure that they don&rsquo;t ruin what we have worked for.


	This takes me to the commitment of completing all those small chores in our lives that will aid us in capturing those little critters.   For the sake of brevity, let me make this little illustration: During the autumn months I have a lot of little chores that I have to do around the home in order to be prepared for the harshness of winter. 


...Maybe, you don&rsquo;t think it is important to meet with Christ first thing in the morning, but that is a little chore that we can&rsquo;t go without. 

... The point that I am trying to make here is this: Not only do we have to capture the little foxes that hinder us but we have to do the small things that aid us. ...  Micah6:8  To do this we not only have to disentangle ourselves from worldly passions but we must also make a conscious attempt to keep in step with the Spirit, no matter how small that step is.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Taking a Wrong Turn</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-06-07T17:44:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/bb61f6366bb43f3a7731d72b2f6b541c-155.html#unique-entry-id-155</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/bb61f6366bb43f3a7731d72b2f6b541c-155.html#unique-entry-id-155</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I didn&rsquo;t like the feeling of not being sure where I was, or where I was going. ...  One thing was for sure, I needed to let the people in the car believe that I knew where I was and where I was going. 

...They take a wrong turn somewhere and it is only later, sometimes much later, before they either realize it, or want to admit it. ...  They may still smile and shake hands at Church, they can still quote a Bible verse or two, but deep inside they know &ndash;something is not right. ...  They feel alone in a crowd; they are sad but not sure why; the joy they used to experience is hampered with the proverbial &ldquo;looking over their shoulder&rdquo; for the trouble that soon follows it. 


...What is the course of action one should take when he or she finally realizes, or admits, that they have taken a wrong turn? 

...Oh, sure there have been times that I was lost and I just happened to come upon a road sign that was familiar and I was able to &ldquo;save face&rdquo; and the passengers in my car were none the wiser! ...  But when he finally got it together, he went back to the land that God had taken him to before. 

...When someone finds himself or herself in that place, where they thought they never would be, that place of dryness, wilderness, and wandering around looking for that &ldquo;thing&rdquo; that will bring the Presence of God into their lives, they need to go back to where they first called upon the Lord.   Jesus told the Church of Ephesus that they needed to remember the height from which they had fallen and start doing again the things that they did at first. 

...He is more than willing to bring us back onto the right road and get us heading back in the right direction.   Remember Solomon said that we shouldn&rsquo;t try to lean on our own understanding, but acknowledge God in all our ways, then, He would direct our paths. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Brand New Heart&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-05-31T12:45:41-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2eab586c24e5369dbb16e9ba9755709b-154.html#unique-entry-id-154</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2eab586c24e5369dbb16e9ba9755709b-154.html#unique-entry-id-154</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Politicians will say anything to get elected and it always pays to get a second opinion when purchasing something from a salesman, and I can not recall how many times I tried snookering my mother into believing that I was an angel in order to get her permission for one thing or another. 


...The reason why this world is in the shape its in is because there is one thing that is more deceitful than all things that I have mentioned &ndash; the heart. 


...Jeremiah not only tells us that our hearts are more deceitful than the devil himself but that it is beyond cure! ...  Could you imagine going to the doctor and asking him if he can do anything for this heart of yours, and he asks you, &ldquo;Well, what&rsquo;s the matter?&rdquo; 

...You see, that&rsquo;s the trouble with a deceitful heart, how do you know when it&rsquo;s not doing its thing?  ...  There are many diseases that have plagued mankind since the beginning of time and every one of them has a cure &ndash; except the plague of deceit incurred by the human heart.


...I&rsquo;m talking about going to the Great Physician and having Him rip out the old one and giving you a brand new one! 


...God promised that He would do just that for anyone who was tired of his or her hearts and old lifestyles. ...  God spoke this prophesy to Israel and yet, at the same time, speaks it to all who would choose to &ldquo;come out from among them&rdquo; and be separated unto God. 


&ldquo;For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. ...  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 

...Being a Christian, becoming born-again (which is really the only way of being a Christian) does not just mean that you try and become a better person. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sweet Memories</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-05-24T13:23:06-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6111c4a174dcce06f646c6ce05663e8e-153.html#unique-entry-id-153</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6111c4a174dcce06f646c6ce05663e8e-153.html#unique-entry-id-153</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This weekend we are to remember those who have fought for our freedoms and gave their lives for the cause.   It does one good to remember such things because it reminds us that the freedoms we now enjoy did not come without a price, a great price. 


These memories keep the heart humble and grateful, and it behooves us all to reflect in thanksgiving, that God has kept a watchful eye upon America.   For no matter how many young men have fallen in battle, there is still the One who gave Himself freely for the one great cause &ndash;Jesus Christ. 


The battle He fought was greater than all the battles ever fought; the fight was more intense, more stressful and way more costly if He would have failed. 

...This Soldier followed the orders of a perfectly thought out battle plan and secured victory for His kingdom. 


...He knew who the traitor was and that all His followers would desert Him after His arrest. 

...&ldquo;No greater love has anyone than this; that a man would lay his life down for his friends.&rdquo;  


When I remember all that Jesus Christ went through to secure the price paid for my redemption, there is no sweeter memory than the one that reminds me that His death was not in vain. 

...Actually, if we would remember correctly, Jesus triumphed with his death; His resurrection was the consequential proof for us all!   The resurrection is a sweet memory that says, if anyone would trust in Him, they would have a hope of living forever.   It was God&rsquo;s intention, that in bringing many sons to glory, He would make the Captain of their salvation perfect through suffering! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Perfect Life </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-05-17T11:01:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7a6df72fe1c6df7070bb28bbc657d347-152.html#unique-entry-id-152</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7a6df72fe1c6df7070bb28bbc657d347-152.html#unique-entry-id-152</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I bought Robin a dozen roses for Mother&rsquo;s Day and she placed them in the windowsill just above the kitchen sink. ...  When I placed them in their vase I even had a couple of ladies from the church giving me good advice on what to do for them so that they could maintain their appearance of life. 


...You see, I didn&rsquo;t buy Robin a dozen live roses; I bought her a dozen dead roses, or rather, a dozen dying roses. ...  Now, the nursery shipped them as quickly as possible to the store where I purchased them and the florist stuck them in refrigerated compartments to keep them as fresh as possible until I plopped my money down on the counter. 

...But, when I think about the life of those roses I saw how they illustrated so nearly to the life of mankind as we know it today. 

...The law of sin and death works 24/7 until we breath our last and our bodies are covered with the dust that we shall return to. 

...Now, the Gardener did, and does what He can in order to maintain the life of the bouquet of humanity, but He does not stop the inevitable.  ...  The only way that I could possibly save Robin&rsquo;s roses would be if I could somehow attach them back to their life-giving source, if I could graph them back into the vine.   Then, the nutrients from the vine would once again flow to the flowers and I could say, &ldquo;These flowers are no longer dying.&rdquo;   When you and I gave our lives to God through Jesus Christ we were grafted back into the true Vine. 


All of man&rsquo;s efforts to keep up the appearance of life are like my futile attempts to maintain the life of that bouquet of roses. 

...Because He was willing to be cut from Life in order for God to justly graft us (who were already cut from Life) back into the Life-giving Vine. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Happy Mother&#x2019;s Day</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-05-10T10:20:50-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/58dab4dc0b91590ee3ac0874fd8e2d1e-151.html#unique-entry-id-151</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/58dab4dc0b91590ee3ac0874fd8e2d1e-151.html#unique-entry-id-151</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What if a woman didn&rsquo;t want to be a mother and has always resented the fact of being one? ...  Over the last few years I have seen many a woman in the news, that I can definitely say, &ldquo;She really didn&rsquo;t want to be a mother.&rdquo;   But I do not want to go into the morbid and macabre on a day that I want to thank all mothers who have taken their calling with seriousness and delight.   I am amazed at the juggling abilities, not only of those in the cleaning of the house, taxing, being nurse and counselor, but also of the emotions that they juggle within themselves. ...  She could slap you into next week and meet you there with a big hug, unless of course you were like me, and deserved another slap.   My mother taught me there was a God at a very early age, I prayed to Him often when she was exacting her judgment.   If one thing was for certain (and determined by her) Jimmy wasn&rsquo;t growing up to be a criminal.


Helen Rowland once said, &ldquo;It takes a woman twenty years to make a man of her son, and another woman twenty minutes to make a fool of him&rdquo; Mothers want the best for their children but sometimes don&rsquo;t always get what they strive for. ...  She is that woman who has determined the best for her children and works to that end with no thought of self. ...  And so, every mother who determines this and works to that end is a mother that we honor today. ...  Oh, what am I saying; Florida Scott-Maxwell said it best, &ldquo;No matter how old a mother is, she watches her middle-aged children for signs of improvement.&rdquo;    So mothers, we salute you for all your selfless efforts, your sleepless nights filled with prayers and tears, the giving and forgiving and every little thing that went &ldquo;unseen.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Love That Just Won&#x2019;t Quit</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-05-03T12:32:32-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/94af1d9f07640302b9c2f705f7e81f71-150.html#unique-entry-id-150</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/94af1d9f07640302b9c2f705f7e81f71-150.html#unique-entry-id-150</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	Hosea was in love with Gomer and it wasn&rsquo;t long before he asked for her hand in marriage. 

...But Gomer&rsquo;s past began calling on her again and soon she left Hosea high and dry with the three children.   She went back to the streets, she went back to her former lovers, she went back to her old lifestyle, she went back to&hellip;nothing. 


What I mean by nothing is that the world offers us nothing, the devil&rsquo;s promises are nothing and sin leaves us with nothing. 

...Now, Hosea must have gone through a sea of emotions when his wife left him, but what would soon take place revealed his true heart for her. ...  Maybe he hired a nanny for them, no one knows for sure, but what we do know is that Hosea began to search the streets for Gomer. 


...How many nights did he go home alone because he couldn&rsquo;t talk her into to coming back with him? 

...Hosea loved Gomer and she would be the beneficiary of a love that just wouldn&rsquo;t quit.


	You and I and everyone else who has received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, have also received a love that just wouldn&rsquo;t quit. 

...You see, God was using Hosea and his life to illustrate for Israel the love that He had for them &ndash;and us.   God spoke to Israel through the prophet Ezekiel and said this: &ldquo;Later I passed by, and when I looked at you and saw that you were old enough for love, I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness. 

...God has bound Himself to you with an oath and the love that moved Him to do that is the same love that keeps you and I even now. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Holding on to the Promise</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-04-26T17:04:35-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a04015f3e63136cb9c5d36e70d63c5f9-149.html#unique-entry-id-149</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a04015f3e63136cb9c5d36e70d63c5f9-149.html#unique-entry-id-149</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[After three years of Jesus teaching the disciples, you would think that they had their hearts set on Him fulfilling the promises that were foretold by the prophets and patriarchs. ...  Jesus was returning to Heaven and He gathered His apostles so that they could know for sure just where He was going &ndash;there would be no doubt! 


...Jesus said to them, &ldquo; It is not for you to know the times and dates the Father has set by his own authority.   But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.&rdquo;  


...And if we would, by the same faith, take His words to heart, they will also enable us to endure all things. ...  Jesus tells us that the Father has set the times and dates that He would restore Israel to her glory.   We, like the apostles, should also be aware of that which the prophets have promised; that when Israel regains her glory, we shall rule and reign with Him. 


For a thousand years Israel will be the home of the righteous and the law of God shall go out from Jerusalem.   The earth shall be blessed and all the nations shall know that God is God, Yea, the earth shall be filled with the glory of God! ...  Jesus has promised that God has set the time for His return and for all things to be renewed! 

...The thing that is the hardest right now is waiting for what God has promised and set by His own authority. ...  God is faithful, and what Jesus told his disciples, He tells us, &ldquo;Hold on to the Promise.&rdquo;  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When I see Jesus</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-04-19T17:41:52-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6d73b16d595de6753f4f594a5dae77f7-148.html#unique-entry-id-148</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6d73b16d595de6753f4f594a5dae77f7-148.html#unique-entry-id-148</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I think I watch the news now hoping to see something that will correlate with prophecy and those feelings of excitement for the Lord&rsquo;s return springs up and it is a little relief from the languor of life. 


Please don&rsquo;t get me wrong, I love life and I believe that Robin and I are living it to the fullest.   We live in exciting times and count it a blessing to be working for Jesus in this capacity.   But, what I am talking about is the wear and tear this life tries to oppress us with &ndash;believe it or not, the devil tries to beat the saints down so they&rsquo;ll give up on the fight of faith and stop running the race to their Goal. 

...So, at just the right time (because of the mercy and grace of God) we were blessed with an incident from a forty-eight year old Briton woman by the name of Susan Boyle. ...  When I think about it, Susan&rsquo;s life should have never affected mine, we live in different parts of the world and neither one of us even knew or cared that the other existed.   But God blessed Susan so she could bless the world and because of God&rsquo;s mercy, I got to be one of those blessed. ...  She was feeling the same thing and all we could do was sit in pure&hellip; I really don&rsquo;t have the words to describe the experience! 


...This is where I began to think about seeing Him for the first time and watching Him being crowned with many crowns, and hearing His voice shake the thresholds of Heaven, bringing every angelic being to bowed silence. ...  I don&rsquo;t know, but I can tell you this, it will be incomparably greater than anything experienced here on earth and in this life. 


In fact, God has even planned to give us a new body so that we will be able to stand in His Presence and experience every last joyful emotion that this experience offers.   I hope and pray that we all fight the fight and run the race together to the very end, and so, experience the beauty and majesty together on that great and glorious day!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Life Eternal</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-04-12T18:00:51-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a0f10cd6bac02b96fbe51f7f4d1d7f16-147.html#unique-entry-id-147</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a0f10cd6bac02b96fbe51f7f4d1d7f16-147.html#unique-entry-id-147</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Peter, Paul and all the disciples preached that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died and was buried; then on the third day, He arose from the grave. 

...For many years the Church has evangelized with the thought that we were all going to live forever somewhere, so it would be wise to choose Christ and live forever with Him in Heaven. 


Though this may be a great strategy to elicit thoughts of the eternal, it is somewhat erroneous and liable to leave many confused with the choice that they really have.   What I mean is this; there are a lot of people who do not want any thing to do with God, Jesus, or especially Christianity. 

...Ordinations of homosexuals and the constant bickering between denominations only adds fuel to the rationale that unbelievers are just as good as those within the Church. 


And so when it comes to a decision to live forever somewhere, many unbelievers choose to live forever away from these &ldquo;Christian&rdquo; folks. ...  The choice as far as the Scriptures speak of is&hellip; &ldquo;Choose you this day between life and death.&rdquo;  ...  This means death is life&rsquo;s opposite and everything that we are blessed with in life, is not found in death. 


...In death there will be an existence of eternal corruption where the pain and suffering will be immeasurable. 

...I fully understand that there be qualms about the temporary presence of evil and corruption within life as it is now, but God has promised that death shall be cast into the lake of fire, along with everything associated with it.   Life eternal will be one of great bliss, for the corruptible in this life will pass away and shall not be remembered any longer. 


...Charity and compassion, mercy and grace, all of these experienced forever within the Being of Him who defeated death two thousand years ago. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>But&#x2c; What about Me?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-04-05T09:53:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/00e3468af739ed18c3ffadb6e0fb2816-146.html#unique-entry-id-146</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/00e3468af739ed18c3ffadb6e0fb2816-146.html#unique-entry-id-146</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[While Jesus was teaching a very large crowd about the kingdom of God and God&rsquo;s care for man, there was a man who spoke up asking the Lord to arbitrate what he assumed was a simple case. 


...Moses had given these laws to the Israelites because whether we like it or not, some folks are just plain stingy!   It&rsquo;s all about them and their &ldquo;right&rdquo; to their fair share in this life.   And to make matters worse, usually the one demanding their fair share is looking to actually get a little more.   This is how it works: It&rsquo;s a heart thing and heart things tend to go bad if left to themselves. ...  &ldquo;Because it&rsquo;s their right to have&hellip;&rdquo; Have you ever watched a child receiving ice cream along with their playmate? 

...While the man was demanding treasures here on earth, Jesus was instructing that where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.   If you look for your treasures here on earth, your heart will be susceptible to the greed that will grow like a cancer until it consumes every little bit of happiness that you have. ...  There is more to life than what you have your eyes on.&rdquo; ...  When we stand before God, I guarantee us all, that we will realize that it was not so much what we received in this life that mattered, but what we gave.   The words of Jesus sums it all up here; &ldquo;It is more blessed to give than to receive.&rdquo;  ...  The axiom for a blessed life is simply to give your life away for the sake of Christ, and you will have treasure in heaven.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Lord is My Shepherd</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-03-29T23:36:35-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b3106bdfca81936d8cca6784a702a030-145.html#unique-entry-id-145</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b3106bdfca81936d8cca6784a702a030-145.html#unique-entry-id-145</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I can picture David under the shade of some great big rock in the heat of the day, watching over his father&rsquo;s sheep. ...  Forty winks should do and then he would lead them beside the still waters of the Jordan. 

...The way he usually goes is busy with other shepherds and because he doesn&rsquo;t want to cause a ruckus, he takes the path leading toward the lush valleys below Bethlehem. ...  David&rsquo;s concern is for his sheep and so he huddles them down; pinned into the rocky walls. ...  Yet, he also knew that it was easier on them if he allowed them to lead their sheep without David being in their way. ...  There were a few close calls; he felt the hot breath of his attackers and took a couple of scratches on the shoulders and legs.   But they gave up, knowing David was just too good of a protector&hellip; &ldquo;He leads me in paths of righteousness for His namesake. 

...They feast at Jesse&rsquo;s banquet that night and David is sitting at the head table with his father and Samuel.    &ldquo;Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.&rdquo;


...David thanks God for all His goodness and vows to Him that goodness and mercy will follow his name &ndash;for His Namesake.   He wouldn&rsquo;t do anything to dishonor that Name and he would fight with all his might to make that Name great throughout the land of his fathers.   Suddenly a still small voice speaks amidst the night breeze: And thou shall dwell in My house forever and ever!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>When Trivia is not Trivial</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-03-22T11:00:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f825a76f7deb925e9c9fa70eda92ed9a-144.html#unique-entry-id-144</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f825a76f7deb925e9c9fa70eda92ed9a-144.html#unique-entry-id-144</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This is the same premise of the many television game shows that have been entertaining us for years. 

...A typical trivia question would be something like this: What is the name of the games that were first held in ancient Greece, every four years, in honor of Zeus? 

...Do you remember being in school asking yourself why you had to learn certain things that you were sure would never enter your adult life? ...  Does it make me any smarter than the next guy if I know how many miles the red knot sandpiper travels in its migratory treks? 


	Now, I am not sure who brought the trivia frenzy into the Christian world but I am sure that their intentions were honorable. 

...But, and I&rsquo;m just making an observation here, are we sublimely associating Holy Scripture with insignificant, unimportant matter?   Now, I&rsquo;m not suggesting that we have a bon-fire and burn all our Bible Trivia games, but I am just trying to show us that what may have begun with good intentions may have become harmful in a very subtle way. 

...Bible Trivia is a misnomer and if you are saying, &ldquo;Lighten up, Pastor, it&rsquo;s just a game.&rdquo; ...  Trivia has become so common place in our lives that we are turning into a very trivial culture where even important information is being processed in the same way trivia is.   The way that we think about information that our brains receive is just as important as the information itself. 

...Just a thought: Do you think that we may have trouble meditating upon Scripture because our minds are already full of the trivial and we have so trained ourselves to think about trivia for a  &ldquo;minute&rdquo; and then toss it out, that maybe, we do the same with Holy Scripture? ...  Do I have trouble retaining Scripture because I treat its information in the same way I treat all other information? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Four Impossible Things</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-03-15T12:07:38-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8ff5182537af67e91c031506b66ce20f-143.html#unique-entry-id-143</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8ff5182537af67e91c031506b66ce20f-143.html#unique-entry-id-143</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[No man has the power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the day of his death.   As no one is discharged in the time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.&rdquo; 


...I just heard on the radio recently that this man is suing his psychic for a quarter of a million dollars and trying to get her evicted from the house he bought her. ...  If you want to know your future go to the back of the Bible and it will explain all that you need to know. ...  And believe me, whoever you are; whether you are reading this in our congregation or from our web page, whether you are a Christian or a nonbeliever, Jesus&rsquo; words will never be negated. ...  O, and by the way; this earth, as we know it, is going to disappear by His Word. ...  What is impossible for man to do is considered a very little thing by Jesus. 

...Just as soon as you choose a way different from the Way God would have you to go, sin pounces on you and digs its claws into your back and neck. ...  And this is why the lake of fire is somewhere you and I do not want to go.   If it is impossible for sin to let loose of those who have sinned, then who can be saved?...  


&ldquo;Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: &lsquo;Rulers and elders of the people&hellip; It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but who God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ...  Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved!&rsquo;&rdquo;   ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Believing What You Want</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-03-08T12:19:56-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e0d2c7c3d401c486b36cf8c1da493787-142.html#unique-entry-id-142</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e0d2c7c3d401c486b36cf8c1da493787-142.html#unique-entry-id-142</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[To this, Jesus replied, &ldquo;I am not possessed by a demon, but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. 

...This statement just floored the Jews and they exclaimed that now they were sure that Jesus was demon-possessed; for who, in their right mind, would say such things? ...  The debate got so hot that the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus yet He slipped away in the crowd and hid Himself from them.


...It was that Jesus told them that if they would keep His Word, they would never see death.   Their anger may have started earlier when Jesus told them that they were slaves to sin and that their father was the devil himself. ...  I wonder if anyone in the crowd that day uttered these words, &ldquo;I can&rsquo;t believe what this fellow is saying.&rdquo; 


...Then, I told you that this small child could pick up the front-end of a car by using the strength of his own two arms. ...  Now, if you thought it so absurd that you just walked away from the whole thing laughing, then, you would have missed this nine year- child accomplishing just what I said that he would do.   For you see, I would have placed the child a few feet away from the car and brought in the hoist that would help the child accomplish the feat.   The hoist was unseen at first and because you didn&rsquo;t see it, your mind would not allow you to believe that the boy could pick up the car with only his arm strength.   There are many people who have walked away from Jesus&rsquo; teachings because they just couldn&rsquo;t believe the things that He told them. ...  And because of this the voice from the field of science is being more readily believed than that of the Voice of God &ndash;and this is in His Church! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>In Praise of Godly Character&#xa;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-03-01T15:56:27-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7a1837fd6e167edccd01458e87e0fbb6-141.html#unique-entry-id-141</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7a1837fd6e167edccd01458e87e0fbb6-141.html#unique-entry-id-141</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As a minister of over twenty years I have witnessed these two truths time and again; some with great joy and others with disappointment.   Please, do not misunderstand; the joy was for those who displayed godly character, knowing that God was using their trial for their good.   Likewise, the disappointment was for those who had missed their opportunity to grow in their Christian faith (obedience to God&rsquo;s Word always causes growth). 


These truths have been witnessed by me again this last week through an incident in Debbie Frye&rsquo;s life and, with her permission, I want to relate to you the application of these truths in our sister. ...  She had also gone through a severe trial in her life that she still has to deal with from time to time.   I had been watching her for the last month or two and came to the decision that she needed a break from the responsibility of teaching the children. 


...She was not given the opportunity to decide for herself whether she thought she could continue teaching or take a rest &ndash;I decided that for her. ...  Right here is the crossroads of decision; am I going to act according to my human nature or am I going to allow God&rsquo;s Word to direct my life? 

...I know that she knows that I do love her with all the love that God is able to show through me. 

...I am blessed to tell you that our sister has shown godly character and she persevered through the struggle of her &ldquo;old man&rdquo; demanding its own way. 

...If she would have remained in her anger, her life would have gone down a different path, and she would have missed the opportunity to bless God down the road.   But, because she desired for Christ&rsquo;s glory and God&rsquo;s will over her own, she will be given the blessing to teach again down the road. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Answering the Postmodern</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-02-22T11:56:54-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7d7579c071524bcf0f1ec8fab3eb86c-140.html#unique-entry-id-140</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7d7579c071524bcf0f1ec8fab3eb86c-140.html#unique-entry-id-140</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It may be because they just watched the latest documentary on so-called &ldquo;new biblical findings&rdquo; or some &ldquo;made-for-television&rsquo; movie, but they feel empowered with this new knowledge that seems to undercut the Scriptures. ...  I heard a minister on the radio the other day say that if he could put a tape recorder in the living-rooms of both the saved and unsaved for the hours from 6pm to midnight, there wouldn&rsquo;t be a nickel&rsquo;s worth of difference from the television shows heard on that tape.   I&rsquo;m afraid that he is right and the unsuspecting Christian doesn&rsquo;t realize that he or she is being boiled into a stew prepared by the liberal media and seasoned with anti-God propaganda. ...  Or, to put it a little more diplomatically, your knowledge of God is in correlation with your amount of Scriptural knowledge.


...While attending one of his seminars a few years back, I asked him how far apologetics could take the unsaved?   Can someone be converted by reason and logic alone when we know the Scriptures say, &ldquo;we are saved by grace &ndash;through faith&hellip;?&rdquo; ...  Being a minister myself, I knew that the time just before he ministered he would want to be talking to God, not to some inquisitive fellow that should have known better. ...  Sometimes apologetics isn&rsquo;t the tool; sometimes it is a song, a sermon or maybe a cake to the new family in the neighborhood. ...  Peter tells us to be ready to give an answer to those who would question our hope and Paul tells us to be instant in season and out of season. ...  For years, especially here in America, the Church has tried to answer life&rsquo;s toughest questions for the unbeliever while attempting to let them hold on to their self-esteem and narcissistic behavior.   The answer for today&rsquo;s society is the same answer that was the Answer for yesteryear&rsquo;s &ndash;the Cross of Jesus Christ. ...  And the burdens of my heart rolled away&hellip;&rdquo; Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Cross of Christ is God&rsquo;s greatest victory and the Answer for all!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title> Sharing the Wonder</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-02-15T20:08:03-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1d621c326d3e76dd43edf8da5ee2188b-139.html#unique-entry-id-139</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1d621c326d3e76dd43edf8da5ee2188b-139.html#unique-entry-id-139</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Some of the cliffs rise close to 200 to 250 feet in the air from the bottom of the gorge. ...  We had walked for about a half hour and decided to sit for a moment on some dry rocks that gave us a clear view of the cliffs on the other side of the river.   The cliffs in this particular view were well over 200 feet high and attached to the top of them were large formations of ice that looked as if they were 50 to 60 feet in length and at least 20 feet in width. ...  As we sat there quietly hoping to see some wildlife, we began to hear a cracking, then, all of a sudden our eyes caught a large portion of these ice formations break free from the ground above it and plummet to the bottom of the gorge.   The whole scene lasted about three seconds and all was over except for large chunks of ice floating down the swift waters. ...  All of the words that we could muster never really captured that first awe and wonder that we felt in the depths of our hearts; we always fell a little short of describing it in all its beauty. 

...God freely forgave us of all of our sins through the blood of Jesus and actually removed the death sentence that hung over our heads.   We have passed over from death to life and the promise to live eternally blessed has been given to us free of charge. ...  Those who realize the price that God paid to forgive them as very great (the death of His Son) find that His love is really something wonderful and they think that everyone should know about it.   I can tell you how God loves me, in what way He loves me but I still cannot comprehend why He loves me &ndash;it is too wonderful.   This greatest thing that has ever happened to a Christian was the day that Jesus met them at the Cross. ...  And God promises that if they would live it He would make sure that it would never become just a memory. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Reality of Self-Esteem</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-02-08T16:46:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/60eebe0292efdabdbf72b5f5a7cd3ab7-138.html#unique-entry-id-138</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/60eebe0292efdabdbf72b5f5a7cd3ab7-138.html#unique-entry-id-138</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Christianity Today writes that Schuller&rsquo;s gospel of success and self-esteem are becoming so important in the Church that it seems to be overshadowing everything else. 

...	&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.&rdquo;


...But we didn&rsquo;t decide to become Christians so that we could &ldquo;feel&rdquo; better about ourselves; we became Christians because we were lost in our sinful condition.   And after twenty-four years of living for Jesus Christ, my honest assessment of myself would be: I am the chief of sinners and if God&rsquo;s grace and mercy were not given to me everyday &ndash;I would be lost to my own demise. ...  As we grew in the Christian faith, Robin and I never really got caught up with the latest trend in the Church or listened to the most recent popular author. ...  Again, this is only because of the mercy of God and we thank Him continually for His grace and love. 


...What sort of things are we seeing now because the Church&rsquo;s leaders have taught her that she is somebody and that she deserves God&rsquo;s best, because after all, she should think of herself as good and special and worthy.   Six years ago I wrote a paper to a local minister trying to explain to him that the Church received God&rsquo;s love because of His mercy and grace to her. ...  Twenty-five years of this garbage as produced a Church of carnal Christians who are more concerned about how they are treated in this life than where they are going in the next.   They are more concerned about the money they make and their toys that they play with than the thousands of thousands of lost souls that Jesus died for. ...  They are like the Laodicean Church that Jesus said to them, &ldquo;You say, &lsquo;I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.&rsquo; 

...But let us not be of them who shrink back, but let us press on in, by and through the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>God has a Way&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-01-25T23:32:54-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b00f07a0bf4b74e5b6906249eae3430c-137.html#unique-entry-id-137</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b00f07a0bf4b74e5b6906249eae3430c-137.html#unique-entry-id-137</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It seems that these three car thieves were stealing a car in Middletown, N.Y., when a cell phone in one of the back pockets of one of the thieves [accidentally] dialed 911. 

...David said that, &ldquo;As for God, His way is perfect&hellip;&rdquo;  David could have grumbled that everything was going wrong while he was running for his life away from Saul.   You see, the Prophet Samuel, had anointed David to become the next king over Israel, but it wouldn&rsquo;t come to pass for nearly another dozen years.   It wasn&rsquo;t anything for God to install David upon Israel&rsquo;s throne; He could have done it the day after Samuel anointed David. 

...It does not matter the circumstance of any situation &ndash;God is still on the Throne and His will, will be done. ...  But the really good news is that God sent His Son, Jesus Christ so that we, through faith in Him, could overcome all of the above &ldquo;problems&rdquo; that we experience in this life.   God&rsquo;s has a way of making you and I into the children of God that He knows, deep down, we desire. ...  It would be nothing for God to place me in the Oval office of this great nation, but that isn&rsquo;t what God is preparing for me. ...  What I am saying is that we shouldn&rsquo;t look down on ourselves because we are not in those kinds of positions. 


We know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him and are the called for His purpose. ...  And have you never read that God has chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith? ...  We who are now looked down upon in this life will one day shine with all the brilliance of His glory. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Two Necessary Things</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-01-18T23:04:53-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/caf23c67bc0744c5c1dbbef5b6cc780b-136.html#unique-entry-id-136</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/caf23c67bc0744c5c1dbbef5b6cc780b-136.html#unique-entry-id-136</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In just a couple of days history will be made in the United States.   Tuesday is Inaugural Day and it will be the first time that an African American will be the Commander &ndash;in-Chief of this great country.   People are saying that change is coming and President Barak Obama will lead us into this great change. ...  The talk I hear lately is filled with either excitement or anxiety concerning this change &ndash;this change that is coming. 

...I really don&rsquo;t think it matters whether Congress is Republican or Democrat, whether the President is Republican or Democrat and it definitely doesn&rsquo;t matter if he is white or black! ...  We will still be dealing with high crime rates, high medical costs, and folks that get high. ...  Television will still glamorize the debauchery of our culture and the Internet will still be filled with pornography. ...  Folks, change will only come to the United States when its citizens, from the President down, fall on their knees and repent before God.   We are a wicked people, who have forsaken our Bibles and quit praying to the One True God. 

...But, I believe that we could see a change that would bless your socks off if everyone began to seek the Lord in the way He has commanded. ...  We need that kind of change; and in truth, no other change will do. ...  He will be faithful to his promise &ndash;&ldquo;If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Good for Goodness Sake&#x21; II</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-01-11T13:43:16-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d3dd13c8b9543cf9e450078f778e27f-135.html#unique-entry-id-135</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/7d3dd13c8b9543cf9e450078f778e27f-135.html#unique-entry-id-135</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The British Humanist Association in partnership with Professor Richard Dawkins, the author of the atheistic book, The God Delusion, have raised quite a bit of money for their little campaign. 

...Now, let&rsquo;s see; the AHA tells us to be good just for goodness&rsquo; sake and the BHA tells us to stop worrying and just enjoy life. ...  One tells us to stop worrying and enjoy life while the other tells us to just be good for goodness&rsquo; sake.   The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that if I am doing good there is no reason for me to worry. ...  Is it not telling us that there is really no threat of eternal punishment because there is probably no God? 


...John 5:29  So, my question to all agnostics and atheist would be; why would you worry if you are already being good (for goodness&rsquo; sake)? 

...Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the BHA believes that the bus ads are &ldquo;overwhelmingly positive&rdquo; and were intended to reassure agnostics and atheist that there is nothing wrong with not believing in God. ...  You mean to tell me that these same folks who deny a loving Sovereign Creator, because of all the evil that exists in our world, are now telling us that denying that this God exists is overwhelmingly positive? 


...I think they really want the freedom to live any way they want (be it good or bad) and not feel they will be accountable for their actions. 

...Then comes along some &ldquo;Christian&rdquo; whose actions don&rsquo;t line up with their talk; and the hypocrisy is the last straw on the camel&rsquo;s back. 


...You see, when a person believes the Gospel, the threat of eternal punishment vanishes and now he can go on in hope that this Loving God will also do away with all evil and injustice. ...  And a man who believes that this is all there is to life (i.e. there&rsquo;s probably no God) cannot have the same measure of hope as does the Christian. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Good for Goodness Sake&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2009-01-04T15:55:06-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0c7043cf94b3d98fd43d4c436289b9d7-134.html#unique-entry-id-134</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/0c7043cf94b3d98fd43d4c436289b9d7-134.html#unique-entry-id-134</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And if they are not being bad or good, what is the incentive for being good. ...  Telling us to be good for goodness&rsquo; sake is like telling us to think of a plate of food when you&rsquo;re hungry. 

...A couple married for over 25 years defines it one way; a teenage boy with his girlfriend in the back seat of a car defines it another way. ...  Should we then define a mugger who can run fast, hit hard and endure through the whole mugging as a good mugger? ...  The AHA wants us to be good for goodness&rsquo; sake, but they have failed to tell us what goodness is &ndash;that&rsquo;s not good! 


	There was a man who came up to Jesus and asked Him, &ldquo;Good Master, what must I do to enter eternal life?&rdquo; ...  In essence, Jesus was asking the young man, &ldquo;Do you believe that I am the Son of God?&rdquo;   For if the young man thought that Jesus was good, then he could trust that Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t lie to him about such important matters. ...  If goodness did exist of its own accord, then the logical conclusion would be that evil would always exist as well.   If that were the case, then I want to go back to an earlier question; what reward is there in being good for goodness&rsquo; sake? ...  Because those who would be good for goodness&rsquo; sake would eventually have to become self-righteous &ndash;and that is not good!  ...  I am going to be good for Christ&rsquo; sake &ndash;because that is what He wants for all of us. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Faithfulness and Change for 2009</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-12-28T20:43:52-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/349ffd564b315253f47ce244763f31db-133.html#unique-entry-id-133</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/349ffd564b315253f47ce244763f31db-133.html#unique-entry-id-133</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[That I am no longer under the wrath of God but have been duly adopted into His family by the atoning work of His Son, Jesus Christ, gives me hope that my future will be bright. 

...Some folks make life-changing decisions without any concern how it may effect the lives of their loved ones in the years to come. 

...Some folks have faced the &ldquo;red-tooth and claw&rdquo; of this life only to find themselves in life&rsquo;s dire straits day after day. ...  They are bitter how things have changed over the years and they have no hope whatsoever for things to get any better. 


...While it is true that the Christian remembers his past, he does so with thankfulness that God saved him out of it. ...  As for living day to day; he doesn&rsquo;t worry about tomorrow but is constantly encouraged what tomorrow will bring &ndash;another day closer to the Hope that lives in his heart. 


...What sort of changes will take place in our lives; will they be changes for the good or will they leave us a day late and a dollar short? 

...Through the grace and faithfulness of God, we can hold to the hope that the change in our lives will be in effect, good for our well-being.   We have the hope that we know that God works for the good in all things for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. ...  No sir; we, like the writer of Hebrews, say, &ldquo;Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 

...We have great hope that God is faithful to effect change in us; and that, for the good. ...  &ldquo;Our citizenship is in Heaven and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform (change) our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A New Tire for Christmas</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-12-21T00:12:32-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1dc550bcd5059bfe29e6f155bfef0ea-132.html#unique-entry-id-132</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1dc550bcd5059bfe29e6f155bfef0ea-132.html#unique-entry-id-132</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[God spoke to my heart about the similarity of the low air in the tire and a Christian who fails to seek Him daily.   The air in the tire is like the Spirit within the Christian; when he or she fails to get with God on a daily basis, they will begin to find out just how difficult living the Christian life can become. ...  In fact, anyone trying to live this Christian walk without the Spirit is like pushing a wheelbarrow full of firewood with a flat tire &ndash;it just can&rsquo;t be done. 


Jesus said that He would not leave us as orphans, but the Spirit would come and lead us into all truth. ...  But when Jesus came into my heart and sent His Spirit to my soul, I became a new man, the old had gone and behold, all things became new!


...Jesus didn&rsquo;t come to try and mend our old hearts or help our old lifestyles; He came to give us a new life and a new heart. 


God said that He would give us a heart of flesh for our old stony hearts. ...  I think that is the trouble with some new converts; they try to just have Jesus mend their old dry-rotted hearts and finding that they&rsquo;re not holding any air! 

...I went to the store and bought a new tire for the wheelbarrow, affixed it to the rim, filled it with plenty of air and now the thing seems to bounce to the woodpile. ...  Jesus has truly been faithful to me when He said that He came to give me life, and that to the fullest. 


...But it doesn&rsquo;t take very long until I find myself falling for mercy at His feet crying out for a new heart and a steadfast spirit.   This Christmas, do yourself a favor if you are living some old dry-rotted life; go to the Christ-child, go to the Savior, go to the Son of God and get a new heart that is filled with the Spirit. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title> Leaving it all &#x2013; to Serve Christ</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-12-14T22:17:36-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ef83a273edf913a245facb40c7b23a42-131.html#unique-entry-id-131</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ef83a273edf913a245facb40c7b23a42-131.html#unique-entry-id-131</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Peter found a seat next to Jesus but his thoughts were still with the rich young man that just asked Jesus what he needed to do to gain eternal life. ...  If Jesus would just begin teaching, this moment of eternity would pass and Peter could just go on with life. 

...	Jesus said to him, &ldquo;I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.   And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.&rdquo; 


	There is one thing that is for certain for believers who have surrendered his or her heart and life to Christ, God will reward them for their service of faith and their sacrifices of love.   For those who have walked this pilgrim way for any amount of time, this is not hard to realize. ...  God knows the way of the righteous and He knows how to bless them in their time of need. ...  The lending officer and I were on a first-name basis &ndash;and it wasn&rsquo;t because we were friends. ...  It is because He has something for us at the renewal of all things. ...  &ldquo;In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exist should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering.&rdquo;  ...  He would leave the glories of Heaven, be born in a stable and have no place to rest His head, so that we may live forever in the greatest City ever &ndash;the New Jerusalem! ...  He will see you through and in the end, at the renewal of all things, God will richly reward you.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Clear Vision</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-12-07T06:40:13-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/61c0e25341fc091063f6d442c411373c-130.html#unique-entry-id-130</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/61c0e25341fc091063f6d442c411373c-130.html#unique-entry-id-130</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[But, as all us drivers know, we are heading into the season of dirt, salt and cinder and our windshield is the magnet for all that the road throws our way. ...  I know when my windshield is dirty my peripheral vision is hindered tremendously; it&rsquo;s like driving in thick fog with your bright lights on and all you see is the glare from your lights. 

...He also said, &ldquo;For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.&rdquo;  


...The Bible says that Paul was a Pharisee, top in his class, bright future ahead of him and one who followed the law of God precisely to the letter. ...  After three days something like scales fell off his eyes and he saw the world around him in a different light &ndash;The light of God! ...  Anyone born again by the Spirit of God has had their eyes washed by the Blood of Jesus and now they can begin seeing things afresh and new for the first time. 


...I tell you the truth Church; there will be many who wished that they could have seen what you see and hear what you hear.   So many people are &ldquo;driving&rsquo; through this life with filthy &ldquo;windshields&rdquo; and they don&rsquo;t even know it. ...  But we should not stand amazed that they are blinded to the Truth that we know &ndash;for flesh and blood has not revealed it to us either!    No, we must pray that God will meet them and confront them with Christ just as He has with us and He did with Paul. 

...Here is something you can do that proves what I have said is true: This Christmas season talk about the Christmas &ldquo;spirit&rdquo; and observe what perception people have of it. ...  We must continually go the Bible so that Christ can &ldquo;wash our feet&rdquo; with the pure water of His Word so that our vision can be clean and unhindered. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Obtaining What You Want</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-11-30T20:22:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/298c9cd42d6faf8e31c9f17d24ac2c13-129.html#unique-entry-id-129</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/298c9cd42d6faf8e31c9f17d24ac2c13-129.html#unique-entry-id-129</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As I was seeking God, concerning the sermon for this week, and thinking about this week&rsquo;s Pastor&rsquo;s Desk, I chuckled at God&rsquo;s timing &ndash; His perfect timing.   It is sort of like when you&rsquo;re going through something and God just ministers His Word to you through the sermon or your Bible time. ...  Well, what better way to realize that those things that I thought I wanted wasn&rsquo;t really what I wanted, than the few minutes right after I ate all that was on my Thanksgiving plate! ...  So many times throughout my life I obtained things that I thought I wanted only to realize that after I obtained them it wasn&rsquo;t what I really wanted.   Or else, what I thought would be good for me actually turned out to be more of a burden, or a bad habit that I later wanted to shake off but couldn&rsquo;t.   For instance, pornography; as a young man I thought that that sort of thing was just what I needed, only to find out later that it wasn&rsquo;t.   Getting drunk, getting high and having illicit sex were all things that I thought I wanted, only to find out years later and several problems besides, that those things were actually killing me. 

...	While the Apostle Paul was being transported to Rome, because of his arrest by the Jews, they were on a ship that was looking for a pleasant south wind to travel by.   Listen to Luke describe it: &ldquo;When a gentle south wind began to blow, they thought they had obtained what they wanted; so they weighed anchor and sailed along the shore of Crete&hellip;&rdquo;  Not too long afterwards though, a wind of hurricane force swept down from the island and the ship was caught in a terrible storm. ...  The crazy thing about this whole ordeal with the ship is that these experienced seamen knew that it was already dangerous to set out because of the time of year. ...  They were even warned by Paul not to set sail and yet they continued in their way to &ldquo;obtain what they thought they wanted&rdquo;.    For years I have spoken to countless people whose lives are trapped by the same things mine was and I try so hard to warn them that what they think they want &ndash; they really don&rsquo;t. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Every day: Thanksgiving Day&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-11-23T11:10:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5e8cc2e02642971059365869186d8454-128.html#unique-entry-id-128</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5e8cc2e02642971059365869186d8454-128.html#unique-entry-id-128</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I think it&rsquo;s the snowy, quiet nights, the carols heard on the radio, the colorful Christmas lights; it is all of these things that excite us into stirring up those nice warm feelings of Christmas spirit. 


...It was Christians who noticed this little phenomenon and we have tried to erase it from our society by being just a little more loving, just a little while longer &ndash; at least until January 2nd!   ...  We know that Christ is the Christmas spirit and so we see the need to share it all year long, not just during the Advent season.


	Well, I was thinking about how the world has marginalized the Christmas spirit and I wondered if we did that with Thanksgiving. ...  Mothers are heard saying things like; &ldquo;Shut up and eat your cranberry sauce &ndash; you should be thankful that you have cranberry sauce to eat,&rdquo; and &ldquo;You should be thankful you have food on that plate young man, there are a lot of children in this world who don&rsquo;t have it as nice as you.&rdquo;    I think that is why we make such a feast on Thanksgiving &ndash;the bigger the feast, the more thankful we&rsquo;ll be. 

...It&rsquo;s really a no-brainer; when a child is given everything he wants, he grows up thinking that the world owes him anything he wants. ...  She remembered sitting underneath a cherry tree with her friend eating cherries and thanking God that no one had bombed this particular tree. 

...You know, by taking one day and setting it apart to give thanks to God for His mighty bounty, then eating all that bounty in one sitting!   We might tend to not be as thankful next time when we go to the refrigerator and see that there is only one piece of lunchmeat left for our sandwich! 


Thanksgiving is an honorable holiday and I am thankful for our founding fathers who established a day when the citizens of this great country thank God for His providential care.   (I read an article the other day that they want us to take time and thank this, that and the other thing, but there was no mention of thanking God. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Trusting in a Stronghold</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-11-16T08:14:08-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c77f696e632c3720bbe049368cbf147c-127.html#unique-entry-id-127</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c77f696e632c3720bbe049368cbf147c-127.html#unique-entry-id-127</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We have Jesus who has become for us a strongtower, where we not only find shelter but strength in our time of need.   The Bible says that the Name of the Lord is a strongtower and the righteous run to it and they are safe. ...  Money is definitely not a refuge, the Bible says it&rsquo;s worthless in the time of wrath. 

...	In these days of economic upheaval, societal collapse and international amalga-mation, we must flee to our Fortress and find mercy in our time of need.   Now, I realize that many Christians may disagree saying that now is not the time to retreat, now is the time to fight, but there comes a time (and has now come) when we need to make sure that we are sure of the calling. ...  These false teachers are leading God&rsquo;s people away from the true Word for the sole purpose of financial gain. ...  If you and I were outside the Church looking in right now, what would we see?   Some Christians preach prosperity as if that is why God wants us to become His children.   Some Christians are solely concentrated on dietary health and physical well-being as if this was the only body they are getting. 

...	Saint of God, there is nothing wrong with retreating back into the arms of the Lord; receiving counsel from His Word and mercy from His hand. ...  The writer of Hebrews gives us this admonition; &ldquo;Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus&hellip;let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.   Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful&hellip; Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another &ndash;and all the more as you see the Day approaching.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Greatest&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-11-09T17:58:16-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4cb2238ee1799df65eba422c8ca744a8-126.html#unique-entry-id-126</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4cb2238ee1799df65eba422c8ca744a8-126.html#unique-entry-id-126</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	It wasn&rsquo;t the first time that a quarrel broke out among Jesus&rsquo; disciples and it wouldn&rsquo;t be the last. 

...Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took time to teach them that he who wanted to be the greatest would be the least among them. 

...Sure, he did miracles, but you have to believe that He did them, and the post-modern mind does everything in its power to discredit what He did. 

...In the thirteenth chapter of the gospel of John, we see Jesus and His disciples at the last meal they would share together before He gave His life for them:


...Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and the he had come from God and was retuning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.   After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.&rdquo; 

...Here&rsquo;s the King of kings bending over with towel and basin and these guys are busy measuring for their thrones next to Him in Heaven. 

...	Take note of the first thing Jesus did when He realized that all power and authority was His and that the Father put all things under His feet. 

...But Jesus knew that people who want to exalt themselves never see the dust that has accumulated upon themselves &ndash; His beloved disciples needed their feet washed! 


...True joy is found in serving, it is better to give than receive, and if you lose your life for the sake of Christ &ndash; in the end you shall keep it! 


...It&rsquo;s not the one who is constantly looking out so that his &ldquo;rights&rdquo; aren&rsquo;t infringed upon. ...  No, the one with the truest joy is the one who is serving, who is looking out for the needs of others and working to be a blessing. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Home at Last</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-11-02T19:22:19-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9b004c587a52bd700a7974e00731d4a7-125.html#unique-entry-id-125</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9b004c587a52bd700a7974e00731d4a7-125.html#unique-entry-id-125</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	Friday was one of those busy days that just didn&rsquo;t seem long enough for everything that needed to be done. ...  While I was there I ran into a few folks I know and one asked me how my day was going (and he actually stopped to hear what I had to say) and was I done for the day.   I told him that all I had left to do was to rake some leaves up and get them burnt before it rained. 

...Home again with rake and leaf blower in hand, I started gathering up those little devils that sneak into your house on the bottom of your shoes. ...  &ldquo;I can get up early tomorrow&hellip;&rdquo; But, as I began working and saw that the job wasn&rsquo;t that big, it seemed that I was getting energized by the minute. ...  (Robin was still out for the day and didn&rsquo;t get home until after ten.) 


...Mental thoughts mellowing into songs of thanks to the One who kept me throughout the day with the hum of the humidifier and the peaceful sounds accompanying Robin as she falls to sleep. 

...Sure, in this life we have trials and tribulation, but God has given us each day, the opportunity to experience just a foretaste of that blessed time that awaits us when we shall enter into our final Rest. ...  I&rsquo;m talking about that Day when you and I will cross the threshold of the Holy City of New Jerusalem, the Day when we shall see the King in all His glory and majesty, the Day when He speaks to us face to face and says, &ldquo;Enter now child, into thy rest. 

...I think that these little enjoyments that we experience when we get home each night are a shadow of the great peace and joy that we will feel when we get to Heaven. 


While I was raking the leaves, I was giving God much thanks for the day but also at the same time I was praying for Robin and the girls who were still out on the road. ...  So as, I was praying, the thought occurred to me that there is a Day coming when I will never have to be troubled about her safety again. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>What Really Matters</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-10-26T12:29:12-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2adafce4a5c3a15fc8ae3d7b030d05a9-124.html#unique-entry-id-124</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2adafce4a5c3a15fc8ae3d7b030d05a9-124.html#unique-entry-id-124</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I didn&rsquo;t catch the whole show but I did hear a little nugget of truth that blessed my heart as I took it to prayer. 


...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. ...  But this is what he said about his resume: &ldquo;You know, there are some things that a resume can&rsquo;t speak of&hellip; like passion and the desire to do the job.&rdquo; 


I thought about that for the rest of the day and like I said, I took it to the Lord in prayer. 

...If I was going to hire someone for a job, I don&rsquo;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. 

...I would rather hire a man I know held regard for the Word of God than someone who was more qualified. 

...	As I was praying God also reminded me that I would be hiring someone &ndash;the next President of the United States! 

...God hates abortion and so I cannot vote for a man who voted for it and against the ban on partial birth abortion. 

...&ldquo;O, God, I know that you were angry with us for killing all those children, but the economy was so bad&hellip;&rdquo;   No, I will vote for the candidate that aligns closest to God&rsquo;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&rsquo;t the United States have people with great abilities, wisdom and intellect? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Cancelled Debt&#x21;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-10-19T08:41:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6e37e1252ed0dc8e5e08694772ae669b-123.html#unique-entry-id-123</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6e37e1252ed0dc8e5e08694772ae669b-123.html#unique-entry-id-123</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I just got off the phone with an Internet Provider who sent us a bill for services incurred this past year. ...  So we switched and I went to inform the business here in town that we would no longer be using them. ...  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. 


...We got another bill in August and so I called and left a message on their machine. ...  But you know something, I&rsquo;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. 

...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. 

...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. 

...As the author was quoting from Jeremiah, he reminds us of that new covenant that God was making with mankind through His Son. ...  First he says: &lsquo;This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. 

...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  &ldquo;We&rsquo;ll look into it&hellip;&rdquo; No sir, the muzak that plays, if you happen to be put on hold,  is the old hymn, &ldquo;The Old Account was Settled Long Ago&rdquo;


...Yes, the old account was settled long ago;                                                                                 And the record&rsquo;s clear today,                                                                                                          For He washed my sins away,                                                                                                When the old account was settled long ago.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title> It isn&#x2019;t Rocket Science</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-10-12T17:21:16-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/96e5fb4e590a3c73ce15f43aac795c31-122.html#unique-entry-id-122</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/96e5fb4e590a3c73ce15f43aac795c31-122.html#unique-entry-id-122</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[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&rsquo;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. 

...Does not a child have faith that they will be provided with love, food and clothes by their parents? 

...We don&rsquo;t know what is ailing us and so we go to someone who we trust does &ndash;that&rsquo;s faith. ...  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&rsquo;s life. 

...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. 

...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 empowers one to live and, depending on what or who, one has their faith in, that empowerment can mean a successful life. 

...But if that Man rose from the dead, doesn&rsquo;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&rsquo;s faith, so Christ will continually feed His own and they also will learn faith. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Where Will You be in 2012?</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-10-05T17:24:40-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d16c654b32203aef6778b295c7d7fb3b-121.html#unique-entry-id-121</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d16c654b32203aef6778b295c7d7fb3b-121.html#unique-entry-id-121</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I&rsquo;m sticking with my Bible and with what Jesus said two thousand years ago, &ldquo;No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven&hellip;&rdquo;  There are some things that God has cloaked in mystery and He did so for a reason!    Sure it&rsquo;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.  

...Now, I&rsquo;m not talking about where you will be living, or what job or career you may have, if you&rsquo;ll be married or have grandchildren. ...  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. ...  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 &ndash;and all the more as we see the Day approaching. 

...	When we hear of new things happening in today&rsquo;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. 


...But think about it for one minute; how does it effect you when you think about Jesus coming back, let&rsquo;s say&hellip; a week from now? ...  If you have ever spent time in intimate prayer with God, you know what glory that we experience while there. 

...It will be in an hour that we think not&hellip; He&rsquo;ll come as a thief&hellip; 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, &ldquo;Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life &ndash;and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!&rdquo; 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Hiding Place</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-09-28T15:38:47-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6a96a183cc2fa38a6b9b47d09ebc6606-120.html#unique-entry-id-120</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6a96a183cc2fa38a6b9b47d09ebc6606-120.html#unique-entry-id-120</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And there is no place I would rather be than hiding under the shelter of His wing. 

...Paul tells us since we have been justified by Christ&rsquo;s death, how much more shall we be saved from God&rsquo;s wrath through him!   For if, when we were God&rsquo;s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 

...It is not a geographical place, but a spiritual one, that affords me the opportunity to be intimate with the Creator Himself. 

...I can rest in this secret place for in this place, I am sheltered from the stress of life, from the devil who seeks to devour and from the world that wants to lure me away from my First Love.   In this secret place I receive gold for silver, bronze for iron, joy for tears and a living hope that anchors my heart to eternity. 


...I am not ashamed to tell you that I run and hide under the shelter of His wing. 

...The shadow that God would have you to rest under is the shadow of the Cross of Christ. ...  This is where He redeemed me and covered me with His wings and said to me, &ldquo;I shall no wise cast thee out!&rdquo;    Just as the song says, &ldquo;At the Cross, at the Cross, where I first saw the light and the burden of my heart rolled away&hellip;&rdquo; Yes, I rest in His never ending, never changing, unfailing love for me. 

...No, when I am there in the secret place, He makes me feel that I am the only person on His mind &ndash;I have His undivided attention and heart.   I thank God that He has invited me to come away to this secret place and I am truly blessed within myself, when I go.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Perfection</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-09-21T14:05:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/35be06f887ef50d083f05cc4eac5a1e8-119.html#unique-entry-id-119</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/35be06f887ef50d083f05cc4eac5a1e8-119.html#unique-entry-id-119</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[David said, &ldquo;As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.&rdquo; ...  From what He has declared about Himself in the Bible, there can only be one logical conclusion; God&rsquo;s way is perfect, for God is perfect. 


...So, there we have it; through faith in this perfect God, David could believe and declare that God makes his way perfect!   This is probably why David sang in another place, &ldquo;Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord. 

...Earlier, I said that God could direct our lives in the most perfect way and now David says that God makes his way perfect.   The difference between can and does is the total surrender of our free will to God&rsquo;s perfect will.   For you see, in God&rsquo;s perfect plan, our free will was created &ndash; God knew that this was the only way (remember; as for God, his way is perfect) 


God perfectly created you and I with free will, and through that free will, we can love God perfectly! 

...God created us so that we could perfectly love and be perfectly loved &ndash; for all eternity! 

...So, (with free-will at hand) I choose to surrender to God&rsquo;s way &ndash; God&rsquo;s perfect way! 


I believe, that if we trust God&rsquo;s way now, even though it be through faith, one day we shall see face to face and know fully the love that He has for us. ...  For now, brethren, we must trust that God will perfectly work His perfect way in us &ndash; perfectly! 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Great Church</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-09-14T08:55:34-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/105ae28f597534de69f303dfc0f23267-117.html#unique-entry-id-117</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/105ae28f597534de69f303dfc0f23267-117.html#unique-entry-id-117</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was asked the other day what I thought about the congregation at the Word Worship Center. ...  But I believe that I owe it to you, Word Worship Center, to give you my heart in this matter.


	Robin and I consider it a tremendous honor and privilege to be pastors at Word Worship Center and wouldn&rsquo;t trade our responsibilities for all the money in the world. ...  There have been countless times we have been so proud of your witness, your show of love and generosity, your perseverance and your determination to do what is right.   We know that many of you, in spite of the severe trials that you are facing, are holding fast to your faith and testimony in Christ.   Do not think that it is strange, or that something is wrong with you when you face trials day after day. ...  Please listen and believe: If Robin and I thought for one minute that God couldn&rsquo;t turn your situation around, or that there was no hope, we would also give up as Pastors. ...  Here&rsquo;s a news flash: We all have trials, believers and nonbelievers alike, the difference for us, folks, is that we have a hope that gives us the strength to endure. ...  He is giving us all opportunity to apply His Word to our situations and ultimately changing our character to be more like His own. 

...	But the thing that is blessing me the most about you is that you continue to come to this Church to be challenged, to walk closer to the Lord. ...  So, the next time you falter, remind yourself that you have a Church of brothers and sisters who understand and will forgive. ...  The next time you receive a blessing there will be somebody that will share in your joy. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Due to Technical Problems No Bulletin was published</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-09-07T14:01:48-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/888496dc0ac550b4226cf5b7b5c106e4-118.html#unique-entry-id-118</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/888496dc0ac550b4226cf5b7b5c106e4-118.html#unique-entry-id-118</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[(null)]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;Where are You?&#x201d; (Part III)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-08-31T22:02:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/fae468becd90bc8c1d8dbe78e3987c5a-116.html#unique-entry-id-116</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/fae468becd90bc8c1d8dbe78e3987c5a-116.html#unique-entry-id-116</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If he knows that he shouldn&rsquo;t be where he is at, he may not respond to God&rsquo;s inquiry with enthusiasm.   But if he is abiding in the secret place of the Most High, if he is sheltered under God&rsquo;s shadow, his cry comes with great excitement and anticipation. 


...(Grant it, I believe that God would talk to us more, if only we would take the time to listen. 

...When we have Divine Help to get through this tough life and try to accomplish it on our own &ndash;we&rsquo;re crazy. 

...God knows that we get weary and He knows that our labor for Him is very demanding and unappreciated by the world. 

...Why is it that we think that God may be upset with us because we are tired and spiritually worn out? 

...As Elijah stood at the mouth of the cave, there was a great wind that passed by &ndash; but God was not in the wind. 

...This tells me that God can do more for us with the whisper of His voice than any force here on earth ever could. ...  When God strengthened Elijah, then put things back into perspective, He was then able to commission the prophet for another job. 


...He knows that it takes its toll on us; this is why Paul tells us not to be weary in well doing for in due season, if we faint not, we shall receive our reward. 


Listen, we will never be comforted and strengthened by God if we do not admit that the job got the best of us.   Remember this, saints of God, God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love that you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title> &#x201c;Where are You?&#x201d; (Part II)&#xd;&#xd;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-08-24T11:50:43-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1859aecf387a909326233b988d6c9be-115.html#unique-entry-id-115</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a1859aecf387a909326233b988d6c9be-115.html#unique-entry-id-115</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Last week we learned that God seeks the individual and confronts him with the question, &ldquo;Where are you?&rdquo; 

...Now, when a man or woman has given their heart to the Lord, we can know that God has surely found them and has already confronted them with this all important question. ...  He does this because He knows the potential we have in living closer to Him.


...Sure, God forgave us of those things but we carried them in our lives long before we became Christians and like weeds with deep roots, some of these things are hard to pull out of our lives. 

...When we became Christians, we were like silver that had just been mined from the earth &ndash;full of dross. ...  Then, the miner skims the dross from atop the silver and now he has material ready to fashion into any kind of vessel that he needs. 


...Our sinful ways are exposed by this Light and seen clearly by us, so that we may remove them from our lives. ...  Sometimes, after God gets through with me, after He shows me how worldly I still am, all I can think is, &ldquo;I&rsquo;m so sick of me.&rdquo;


...I know that even after He has revealed to me my sinful ways &ndash;He still loves and accepts me as a son. ...  When God has us at this place, we can either turn aside and remain as we are, or we can remove the dross and be blessed! 


...The potential of blessedness ultimately lies with God, but He has given us opportunity to become truly blessed in Him while we travel this journey Home. 


...Are you settling for who you are, or are you drawing ever closer to the image and likeness of your Creator?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;Where are You?&#x201d; </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-08-17T14:51:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/56e08b02c3b96436521bd0e73a706002-114.html#unique-entry-id-114</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/56e08b02c3b96436521bd0e73a706002-114.html#unique-entry-id-114</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 

...Now, we understand that God knows all things and so, we know that He knew exactly where Adam and Eve were. 

...So God asked him how did he know that he was naked; did he eat from the tree that God commanded him not to eat from? 


...&ldquo;The woman you put here with me &ndash;she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.&rdquo;    We must pay careful attention here at Adam&rsquo;s response because it is exactly this kind of response that keeps people from realizing the blessedness that is found in the presence of God.


...He actually blames God for putting the woman there because, after all, it was the woman who gave him some of the fruit of the tree.   Adam did not take the responsibility for his own actions; and this is how he tried to hide his guilt. 


Man has been hiding his guilt for the last six thousand years and, if you ask me, has gotten pretty good at it. 


We have gone so far as to even turn it around and ask God, &ldquo;What right do you have to question my actions?&rdquo; 


...Oftentimes people believe that their actions are justified because they are &ldquo;under the Blood&rdquo; and therefore, God will not judge their sin. 

...When a person believes that they can act any way they want and still go to Heaven, then they are being more self-righteous than anyone who is in the Church.


Those in the Church believe that they are not going to Heaven on their merit but on the promise of Jesus Christ. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>No Flea Zone</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-08-10T07:22:57-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/80fbc708ebb57bd52de6f99da9f2dacc-113.html#unique-entry-id-113</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/80fbc708ebb57bd52de6f99da9f2dacc-113.html#unique-entry-id-113</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I thought, &ldquo;People have enough problems in their lives; they don&rsquo;t need to come to Church and get another one!&rdquo; 


I remember the story of a little boy who was listening to his Sunday School teacher tell the story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.   As she told the class that the Angels of the Lord commanded Lot to get his wife and daughters and flee from the city, the children listened intently. 

...He had missed the supply closet when he sprayed the first time so the fleas that were living in there survived. ...  The exterminator apologized that he missed the closet in the first place but I told him that it was quite understandable; the closet was so small.   Nevertheless, the fleas survived in there and would have caused us problems down the road if they were not completely destroyed.


	You know, that little flea problem is a lot like that &ldquo;little&rdquo; sin problem that has infested the world.   When a person gives their life over to Jesus, He forgives them of all their sin; even the sin that they are unaware of; sin that has infested and taken over their lives. 

...But what about those &ldquo;little sins&rdquo; that we had acquired over the years that lie hidden in the supply closets of our hearts; sins like pride, anger, envy and greed. 

...When we give our lives to Christ we should allow Him the freedom to every space in our hearts to circumcise every little sin that can bring us trouble down the road. 

...I wasn&rsquo;t capable enough and I didn&rsquo;t have the right stuff; so I called the exterminator and he was able to eradicate the little buggers. ...  We are not capable within ourselves to completely eradicate our sin, we need the Exterminator of sin and I only know of One. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Sticks and Stones</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-08-03T16:55:49-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/246f3a2a604234819f7afdbf0d3a7f4c-112.html#unique-entry-id-112</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/246f3a2a604234819f7afdbf0d3a7f4c-112.html#unique-entry-id-112</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 

...That little adage is a hollow philosophy that gets you thinking more about your physical well being rather than your character, which is who you really are! 


...He said that it was something that he had learned growing up and believed all his life.   Now, that he was in this difficult situation (remember, this was just a movie) he wasn&rsquo;t sure that what he believed about God was true. 

...Then, the next thing you know, while they are going through some dilemma in real life, they begin to question the goodness of God. ...  I wouldn&rsquo;t even want to challenge you to listen to the nightly news for a month straight because I know what it would do to your spirit. 


One of the most deceiving tricks of the enemy would be to get you and I to believe that we are immune to the encroaching darkness of this world. 

...Listen again to Solomon; &ldquo;Stop listening to instruction, my son and you will stray from the words of knowledge.&rdquo;    If we continue to listen to the world and neglect the counsel of God, you can be sure that one day we will wonder where our faith has gone. 


...Well, I&rsquo;ve got some good news for us all and it has come straight from Heaven itself.  ...  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.   To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;High Gas Prices? &#x2013;No Problem&#x201d;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-07-27T14:09:28-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/39172449b0e0d2374174b8a75682a371-110.html#unique-entry-id-110</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/39172449b0e0d2374174b8a75682a371-110.html#unique-entry-id-110</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[He had been stranded at his aunt&rsquo;s house (who happens to live about 300 miles away) for a few days &ndash;no gas money! 

...While he was taking his cousin to her mother&rsquo;s place of work he added up the money he had left in his pocket and the money that his aunt was going to give him only to find out that he was still $50 short. 

...He told Sean that he was a Christian and that God had told him, &ldquo;to give that young man fifty dollars.&rdquo; ...  Not only did Sean now have enough money to get home, but the incident also showed him that God was watching over him for his good.   Sean told me that he had miscalculated the trip because of the high gas prices; he blamed himself for being stranded.   And now he knows that even if we get ourselves into pickles; God is still there, still watching, still providing.


	I was blessed by Sean&rsquo;s call because I see that this incident is a microcosm of our situation today in the United States. ...  We have taken prayer out of the schools, the Ten Commandments off the walls and the mention of Jesus as God&rsquo;s means of salvation.   Because we have miscalculated the strength of God and have not considered the consequences of turning our backs to Him, our economy is suffering and (I believe) on a very dangerous precipice. 


...God has spoken: &ldquo;If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.&rdquo; 


 I don&rsquo;t wish for the United States to be &ldquo;stranded&rdquo; because of her miscalculation of the power of God.   I don&rsquo;t want her to be deceived &ndash;God cannot be mocked; she will reap what she has sown&hellip; And so, I want to be like that Christian boss, who was obedient and blessed Sean. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Work of Grace (Part V)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-07-20T10:26:55-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4c5a3e3bc45f1d2a82416e9cce7bf74f-109.html#unique-entry-id-109</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4c5a3e3bc45f1d2a82416e9cce7bf74f-109.html#unique-entry-id-109</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	For this final installment on the Grace of God, I have tried to come up with a really absurd scenario for us to think about. ...  Or picture another man holding on to rolls of pennies and refusing the bills because he doesn&rsquo;t want to let go of the pennies. 

...The Spirit of God is telling us, through these two men, that there are people who miss the grace of God and forfeit the blessing that could be theirs.   No one in their right mind would refuse a fistful of free money and in the same way, no one in their right mind should refuse the free gift of God. 


As Christians, we all have received this grace, which brings us unto salvation, and so therefore, it is really only Christians who are in there right mind.  


I know what you are thinking, &ldquo;Hey, I&rsquo;ve seen some &ldquo;Christians&rdquo; who were definitely not in their right mind.&rdquo;   But we need to be careful here for as Paul says, &ldquo;To one&rsquo;s own master, a man stands or falls.&rdquo;  


...For example, should we who live in the land of plenty (the grace of God), who are surrounded by mountains of Bibles (the grace of God), with churches on every corner (the grace of God), and are free to express our faith (the grace of God) &ndash; should we judge those who haven&rsquo;t the blessings of this grace. 


Should we not think rather, &ldquo;Since I am afforded all these blessings, I should all the more readily conform to the image of my Savior&rdquo;? 


 I know that I am saved by the Blood of the Lamb, but I wonder if I still show evidence of the wickedness of my old nature? 

...I have at least seven different Bible translations &ndash; am I student of that Word, searching those scriptures to point out the Living Christ to me? ...  I don&rsquo;t want it to be said of me that I forfeited the grace of God or that I missed it all together. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Work of Grace (Part IV)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-07-13T10:51:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9cb820a0367be3db731820c2072055b7-108.html#unique-entry-id-108</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/9cb820a0367be3db731820c2072055b7-108.html#unique-entry-id-108</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[In the 12th chapter of the Gospel of John, we see Jesus knowing full well that His time to go to the Cross was near. ...  Notice, that even though Jesus knew that His time was near, He was still thinking about the people &ndash; that is the grace of God. 


...No matter what takes place in our lives, nothing we could ever go through would even begin to compare to what He was about to experience.   Even if all the trials of our lives would be compiled together and mounted up before us, they still would not be worth comparing to what Jesus knew He was about to face. 


...He knew no sin and because of that He had a perfectly intimate relationship with His Father. 

...I do not mean to be redundant but I want to emphasize that Jesus&rsquo; relationship with God, the Father, was the most important thing in His life &ndash;this is also the evidence of the grace of God. ...  If Jesus had sought to be delivered from this agony, then self would have ruled the will and sin would have entered in. ...  He would go to the Cross &ndash; He, who knew no sin, would become a sin offering. 


Jesus knew that He was going to take our sin unto Himself and that would ultimately bring about what He never wanted &ndash; separation and a broken relationship from God.   It was a no win situation for Jesus, yet, He knew that this is what His Father wanted. 

...And so, He humbled Himself (again, it takes the grace of God to humble oneself) and offered up His body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. 


...This little study can be summed up as such: God has given us all grace so that we may become more like Jesus Christ, who made every attempt to glorify God with His life. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Work of Grace (Part III)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-07-06T14:07:30-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebc36b4850c253f6ede0ce7849043e65-107.html#unique-entry-id-107</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebc36b4850c253f6ede0ce7849043e65-107.html#unique-entry-id-107</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For the sake of brevity, let me say that the grace of God manifested in our lives today, is given for one purpose, to bring our character in agreement with the character of Jesus Christ. 

... If we are thinking that God&rsquo;s grace is given so that we might prosper financially, be praised by men, escape tribulation, be restored to health or anything of the like, we will have missed the sole purpose of God grace in our lives.


 It is true that the grace of God brings these things about in our lives, but we may miss God&rsquo;s intention if we do not realize His purpose. 


Paul tells us that all things work for the good to them who love God who are the called according to His purpose. 

...If Paul is right about all things working for our good (and he is ) then no matter what circumstances come into the life of the Christian, we can know that God intended them for the good of that Christian.


 Jesus said that God causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous; meaning, that life happens to all of us, whether we are believers or unbelievers. 

...Let&rsquo;s go back to the two gentlemen and put them in a hypothetical situation and see if we can observe the grace of God. 

...Now, any Christian who would say that God brought about these accidents for the good of these men, should put their Bible on a shelf and commit themselves to the nearest asylum.   I do not believe that Paul would have us to use Romans 8:28 for the encouragement of those who are going through a fierce trial. 

...The one man becomes despondent while the other forces himself to believe that he can do all things through Christ who strengthens him. 

...If we believe that God&rsquo;s grace is given for our happiness, prosperity, health and well-being then in situations of this magnitude we would be prone to believe that He has really fouled up. 


But if we know that God&rsquo;s grace is given so that we may be drawn out of the philosophies of this world, to become a holy people unto Him and ultimately glorify His Name, then we can know that His grace will be given to us freely in our time of need. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Work of Grace (Part II)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-29T12:27:10-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6354d40791d696f32663484cf5e29348-106.html#unique-entry-id-106</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/6354d40791d696f32663484cf5e29348-106.html#unique-entry-id-106</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, now that I have completely ruined your day  let&rsquo;s move on to the work of grace in the lives of men. 


...Paul tells Timothy, in his second letter to him, that it was God who saved us and called us to a holy life &ndash;not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.   &ldquo;This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.&rdquo; 

...What Paul is telling Timothy and all of us is that God, before He even said, &ldquo;Let there be light&hellip;&rdquo; had determined that Christ Jesus would redeem a people unto Himself. 

...Titus 1:2 So, what we have here is God promising (to Himself) that He would redeem mankind (through Christ) and this would be by a work of grace. ...  For we are God&rsquo;s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works that God had before ordained that we should walk therein.  

...Again, Paul tells the Ephesians that we were chosen in Christ before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. 

...My dear Brothers and Sisters, do you see that God has you blameless in Christ; and that even before a day had been recorded!   What I am saying is that you and I get to experience all that life gives us plus we have the hope of eternal life with all that we may experience with it; all because God, through Christ, loved us and gave Himself for us. 


...The grace that you and I experience in our lives today is the grace given to us in Christ before time began. ...  &ldquo;We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

...In light of God&rsquo;s word and in keeping in context of this subject, these two Scriptures speak volumes of the work of grace in our lives today. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Work of Grace</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-22T17:26:46-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4bf865ee9b884acf2f181610c935a229-105.html#unique-entry-id-105</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4bf865ee9b884acf2f181610c935a229-105.html#unique-entry-id-105</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Despite the fact that the NIV uses one word and the KJV another, there is no problem seeing that God made all men out of the one man, Adam.   Paul told the Athenians this very truth, &ldquo;From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth.&rdquo; 

...This is why each of us has that intrinsic judgment that all men are equal in the sense that every life is of the same value. 


When we hear of someone ranting that a certain group of people are inferior to another group because of the color of their skin, we cringe at the thought. 

...Even when we come across a person debilitated by disease, there is something in us that says we must do all that we can to help. 


...What this tells me is that in the heart of God, he has each of us known, formed, birthed and living. 

...The Psalmist cries out that all the days that were ordained for him were recorded before one of them came into being. 

...I can freely confess that while I was growing up, in my teen years, I made choices that were not beneficial to my well-being. ...  Now, supposing a job for an accountant came open and I was being considered along with a man who received a bachelor&rsquo;s degree in accounting.   Do you think that I would have had any argument against the employer if he chose the other man rather than me? 

...In the next few installments of this Pastor&rsquo;s Desk I will show that work of grace in an individual life.   For the moment though I hope that we all come to the understanding that (if we are able to think at all) we all have been given existence by the grace of God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x263a; Happy Father&#x2019;s Day &#x263a;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-15T15:20:55-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/eb1a00b43109f5f82c1ae968530852fa-104.html#unique-entry-id-104</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/eb1a00b43109f5f82c1ae968530852fa-104.html#unique-entry-id-104</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I wonder if at that very moment he said, &ldquo;Well, I know who I am, but who are You?&rdquo; 

...What I mean is - most of us see God for who He is and then know who we are in relation to Him. ...  But when Jesus Christ revealed Himself and the Father to me, I realized who I really was; I was a lost sinner that needed to be saved! 


You see, my perspective of myself was erroneous and it took God to let me know who and what I really was. ...  But the Word of God tells us different, and if we would receive all of it&rsquo;s revelation of us, we would tend to be more victorious in our daily lives. 


 The truly blessed thing about God is; He knows all about me and yet, He loves me!  


...I believe it delighted the heart of God to watch Adam name every animal that He brought before him.   It was kind of like the joy I felt when I watched Danny open the Christmas presents that his mom and I got for him. 


...Just think; in Jonah&rsquo;s day, the Ninevehites were a fierce people who violently oppressed the Israelites for years. ...  How much more He is concerned about you, you who have been given the spirit of sonship and so we cry, &ldquo;Abba Father!&rdquo; 


Brother and Sister, fear not, for it has pleased the Father to give you the Kingdom and He is never sorry that He has!    I think as far as God is concerned, when He thinks about His people, I think that He is truly blessed to be our Father! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Besiege of the Iconoclasts </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-08T16:31:46-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/df672083227ab1c5c32ee7d4421b872d-103.html#unique-entry-id-103</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/df672083227ab1c5c32ee7d4421b872d-103.html#unique-entry-id-103</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ An icon is a statue or an image that represents something sacred, something that people revere as holy, or regard with very high esteem, to the point of worship. ...  Given the second commandment; &ldquo;You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.   You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.&rdquo; 

...And in light of the Word of God anyone who would turn someone to the living God and away from useless idols surely would be considered a champion of the faith. ...  And again, in this day and age, there are many iconoclasts who have continually been disrespecting the traditional orthodoxy of Christianity.   From the universities right down to the elementary schools our children are being bombarded with ideas and concepts that continually trash the ideals of the Bible. 


For instance; the traditional concept of marriage and family is now considered by the elite influencers of society as just another preference.   They have redefined by setting new parameters and the family will soon include anyone or anything one desires to have in their family &ndash;dogs, cats, or garden vegetables! 


...But by today&rsquo;s standards, (and this is because of the continual onslaught of the iconoclasts) anyone who says he or she is a minister of the Lord must be accepted by the flock. 

...And I&rsquo;ll go so far as to say&hellip; By golly, if some of these ministers were to go speak for me or on by behalf, dressed like they are now preaching in front of millions, I would be setting them down for a little talk. 

...We need to test the spirit of this day and age and every time it tries to knock down one of our held beliefs or traditional doctrines &ndash;we ought to come against it with the full force of prayer and the Spirit of the one true God. 


Let us be warned once again: &ldquo;The Spirit clearly says that in the later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Eli Syndrome</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-06-01T22:40:37-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b091f7662b499175c285bd9a030f97b9-102.html#unique-entry-id-102</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b091f7662b499175c285bd9a030f97b9-102.html#unique-entry-id-102</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was talking to someone recently on the fact that no matter how things seem to change &ndash;things are still the same. ...  The fast pace of societal conglomeration is sending national autonomy into a tailspin and soon there will be -one world. 


...Oh, it may not be happening in your life, or in this particular church, but I guarantee it is happening. 

...Samuel was the last judge of Israel and when he was just a boy Eli was a priest in the house of the Lord.   Now, it says that while Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli &ndash;In those days the word of the Lord was rare- there were not many visions. ...  The parents failed to teach their children the things of God and a whole generation grew up not knowing the Lord (Judges 2:10) 


...It is our obligation to God that we train up our children in the way of the Lord. ...  When the Word of God is held in high regard by the parents the children will grow up knowing what it means to fear the Lord. 


But, even in the midst of the 19th century, the people of the United States began to neglect their Bibles and place importance more on transient things. ...  Now, in the birth of the 21st century we have a society that tramples truth in its streets and the Word of God is rare. 

...It is my opinion that each of us must take a serious look, in self-examination, to see what sort of priority we hold concerning the Word of God. ...  I am not a pessimist &ndash;I am a realist, and it is a real danger that faith in our society, and in particular, in our own lives, will vanish if we do not regard the Bible as the Word of God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Man of Prayer</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-25T17:44:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a6c781243c69dfd415e0ab7faab68717-101.html#unique-entry-id-101</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a6c781243c69dfd415e0ab7faab68717-101.html#unique-entry-id-101</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[What if the other guy forgot a number as he was pacing, or he just couldn&rsquo;t count up to twenty. ...  No, gun slinging is just too risky in my book; I&rsquo;m sure glad that they have done away with that practice! 


	Whether you want to admit it or not &ndash;you are in a duel every day &ndash;with the devil. ...  He is out to steal any strength you may have in order to be that &lsquo;last man&rsquo; standing. ...  The devil will challenge you to a duel and have one or a thousand imps shoot you while you&rsquo;re still counting out your paces!   I have news for every man and woman that has lived or will live &ndash;you cannot beat the devil on your own strength. ...  Jesus was smart enough to know that He couldn&rsquo;t fight the devil alone. ...  When a man prays to get victory over the devil, he doesn&rsquo;t fight alone &ndash;he brings God into his corner. 


The man who prays will beat the devil time and again and he will walk in victory with the hope of eternal life that will leave him as the last man standing. ...  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil&rsquo;s schemes.   For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.   Therefore, put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes&hellip;&rdquo; you will be the last man standing!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Accountable Actions</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-18T21:21:35-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b45b3ceeb18021e8e26c7b074c1cf6e1-100.html#unique-entry-id-100</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/b45b3ceeb18021e8e26c7b074c1cf6e1-100.html#unique-entry-id-100</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. 

...	Just as the man who forms the idol in his mind before he sculpts it in stone, so the man has thought wrongly before he has committed the sinful action.   Too many times we think only of our actions as those things that are displeasing to the Lord, yet, in actuality, it is our attitudes and feelings, prior to these actions, that God is concerned about. 


Think about it; the man who forms an idol has thought wrongly about God before he set his hand to the work. ...  Wasn&rsquo;t it Jesus who said that it is what comes out of a man&rsquo;s heart that makes him unclean?


...So doesn&rsquo;t it stand to reason that if a man can be accountable for his feelings and attitudes, he may fare better to live righteously? 

...	In the last few decades, I have seen that men and women do not want to be accountable for their actions. 

...It all began back in the seventies when there was a little saying that went, &ldquo;If it feels good &ndash;do it!&rdquo;    Then there was the song that went like this: How could it be wrong if it feels so right. ...  Now we have a whole generation of people who think they must act on their feelings no matter what that might entail. 

...If it is pointed out that he was wrong &ndash;he just chalks it up with: &ldquo;Sorry, that&rsquo;s just me; that&rsquo;s just the way I am. 

...We should all do the same when feelings rise up &ndash;we should be accountable for our feelings; for you can be certain that we will be accountable for our actions!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Cars and Clean Consciences</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-11T16:01:17-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/94a42bffdeda1bcc04e7efc5f8d3e38d-99.html#unique-entry-id-99</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/94a42bffdeda1bcc04e7efc5f8d3e38d-99.html#unique-entry-id-99</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And whether or not it was a brand new vehicle that you may have purchased, I can bet ten to one, that you felt something like this: You wanted to keep your new purchase nice and clean.   I think that there is something in human nature that when we purchase something new or remodel a room, or something like that, we try to keep that &ldquo;thing&rdquo; clean and new!   It might be new carpet or a new house, the first few days of living in the &ldquo;new&rdquo; we are very careful not to spoil anything about the newness. ...  I bought a darker tile (because the darker doesn&rsquo;t show the dirt) yet when I installed it, and for a while afterwards, I made sure that nothing would tarnish its pristine beauty!  ...  I&rsquo;m wondering what it would be like if we applied that same desire to keep our new &ldquo;things&rdquo; nice and clean to our consciences. ...  If I keep the windows clear, then, not only will I be able to see outside better, but more light will come into the house. ...  If I have shutters and they are closed tightly then I will not be able to see anything outside. ...  When one&rsquo;s conscience is clear, not only will they be able to see clearly the things in this world, but God will also be able to shed more Light into their soul.   We should desire to keep our consciences clear so that God will be able to speak to us more clearly.   I am not saying that we should be led by our conscience; we should be led by the Spirit, yet, we should not think that we will be led by the Spirit if our consciences are seared to the point of silence. ...  &ldquo;How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death.&rdquo;   Heb.9:14  When one comes to Jesus Christ, not only does He forgive his sins, but now He begins to cleanse his conscience so that he can become totally renewed! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Great Sacrifice</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-04T11:50:16-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/99f3638bf2be9a8599e6f96fe67b6688-98.html#unique-entry-id-98</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/99f3638bf2be9a8599e6f96fe67b6688-98.html#unique-entry-id-98</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This is what was said of Abraham, to teach us that the righteousness that God imparts to His children comes by faith through belief in Jesus Christ.   I think that every red-blooded, born-again Christian truly desires God&rsquo;s will not only in this world, but also in their own personal lives. ...  The umpires ruled that they could replace her with a pinch-runner, but she would only be credited with a single and only two runs could be scored.   The first baseman and shortstop of the opposing team asked if they carried Sara around the bases, could it be scored a homerun. ...  The amazing thing about this is that because of the homerun the Central Washington Wildcats lost 4-2, and were eliminated from getting the title. ...  Yes, it is stories like this one that reminds me that I want God&rsquo;s rule in my life. ...  I know that when I try to be good, holy and righteous, I find myself more critical of my behavior and sadly, the behavior of others.   It is a fine line and a dangerous edge that one walks when he tries to be righteous by obeying God&rsquo;s law. ...  But if we think that we are going to get to Heaven because of how good we are, we will need to learn Christianity 101 all over again. ...  God didn&rsquo;t say, &ldquo;Abraham, if you try to be really good, maybe I&rsquo;ll let you in Heaven after you die.&rdquo;   No, He offered Abraham the promise of eternal life if he would walk with God. ...  But there may be elements of the story that may have gone unnoticed by the masses, and that is, to walk with God causes great sacrifice. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Renewing and Growing</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-27T11:23:06-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ce3c0c1966f2ec2e5056d8d674748b6e-97.html#unique-entry-id-97</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ce3c0c1966f2ec2e5056d8d674748b6e-97.html#unique-entry-id-97</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There is no doubt that there is a vast difference between renewing and growing, yet both are essential for the Christian who aspires to a closer walk with the Savior. 

...Peter encourages us in his first epistle that the trials of our faith are given so that we may grow in our hope. 

...And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Hoy Spirit, whom he has given us.&rdquo; 

...If you and I would take a good honest look back into our Christian walk we would have to admit that it was during the hard times that we grew the most. 

...I would want God to bless me with all kinds of smarts and talents so that people would like me and accept me for who I am. ...  Do you know what I would become if God did all these things for me?   I would become a spoiled brat and a blubbering idiot that was so bored with life, that I would probably want to end it. 


God knows that if He delivered us out of all our trials and blessed us all the time we would never grow up in the faith. ...  But like the wine that sparkles in the glass but bites like a viper in the end, so are the things of this world to the spiritual man.   We become like Samson, holding on to the things of this world without ever realizing that the Spirit of God has been grieved and is no longer walking with us. 

...But no matter what we may be experiencing, grief, suffering, loneliness, guilt or shame; these are prime feelings in which God is able to renew us. 


...When God renews your heart and mind He creates in you a thankful heart which prepares the way for God to move in closer in your life. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Experiencing God&#x2019;s Mercy</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-20T18:04:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/fcf61468dfef86702fb90b361fc17712-96.html#unique-entry-id-96</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/fcf61468dfef86702fb90b361fc17712-96.html#unique-entry-id-96</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	Moses told the Israelites that the Lord, their God was a merciful God and that He would never abandon them, nor forget the covenant that He had established with them. 

...&ldquo;But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you might declare the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.   Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.&rdquo; 

...Tozer said it the best in his study on the attributes of God: &ldquo;Mercy never began to be, but from eternity was; so it will never cease to be&hellip; As judgment is God&rsquo;s justice confronting moral inequity, so mercy is the goodness of God confronting human suffering and guilt.   Were there no guilt in the world, no pain and no tears, God would yet be infinitely merciful; but His mercy might well remain hidden in His heart, unknown to the created universe.&rdquo;  ...  The two piles were not exactly lined up parallel with each other, but were closer to each other at one end forming a &ldquo;V.&rdquo; ...  This is the best analogy that I could come up with as far as man receiving the mercy of God. ...  Sometimes we are so determined to go our way (just like the deer) that we get ourselves jammed up even more. ...  I think that we would see more of the mercy of God if we saw our condition more like He sees it.   The other day a man called to see if the church could purchase a battery for his girlfriend&rsquo;s car. ...  Have you noticed how people in this day and age think that the church is here to help people out of their temporal problems but when it comes to their souls&hellip; well, they will be just fine, thank you very much. ...  Listen, I&rsquo;ve got news for the world; Jesus Christ is the merciful lifeline that God throws out to us and everybody that sees Him as such will receive that mercy. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Question that Remains</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-13T15:54:05-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2cf7131326197e406e44803edf4ad08-95.html#unique-entry-id-95</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f2cf7131326197e406e44803edf4ad08-95.html#unique-entry-id-95</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If we investigate closely, we shall soon discover that the questions of those folks back then are the same questions that we throw up to Him today. ...  If you have ever asked God a question and didn&rsquo;t get an answer, take heart, you are in company of many who, like you, wondered why God never seemed to respond.   Now, I am a great advocate of prayer and believe that this is the way that God has chosen to do many things here on earth.   Prayer is powerful and should never be neglected just because it may seem as though God has had His attention drawn elsewhere. 

...	Going back to the Gospels and searching out those questions that were asked of Jesus, I would say that ninety percent of them were not answered in the way that the inquisitor thought they should be.   For example; when the Jews demanded to know by what authority Jesus was doing certain things is answer was simply a question to them. ...  The Jews discussed it among themselves and concluded that if they would answer; from men, they would fear the revolt of the people, for they knew the people thought that John was indeed sent from God. 

...	While talking with a great many people over the years, believers and nonbelievers alike, I have found a predominant theme when it comes to their doubts about faith. ...  There is only One Way to communicate with the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ...  The second reason may be a little more obscure, but that would be just because we may not be as spiritually sensitive as we might think that we are.   I wonder how many times people have asked God in prayer for this or that and walked away from that prayer thinking that the silence was God not answering, when all along the silence was more preferable (to us) than the question that came from God. ...  Maybe if we approached prayer with the heart to hear from God, no matter what He asks, then we may hear more from God? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;The Way&#x201d;</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-06T18:00:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7f17549d79d913b56f8b73253ef4b9d-94.html#unique-entry-id-94</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c7f17549d79d913b56f8b73253ef4b9d-94.html#unique-entry-id-94</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If we could go back before the beginning of time, before the creation of anything that does exist, to a time when we could observe only God in His Holy solitude, we could then see that there was only one way that anything was done &ndash;God&rsquo;s Way. ...  This was made possible because God created His angels as free moral-agents, i.e. they had a free will.   So, now we have just witnessed where evil originated &ndash;it began in the heart of Lucifer.   You see, when God decided to create free moral-agents He gave opportunity for another &ldquo;way&rdquo; to come into existence along with His Way.   Don&rsquo;t worry, God isn&rsquo;t afraid that evil came into existence; if He were, free will would never have been created.  ...  God is in full control and He always will be even through this temporary existence of evil. ...  So, it stands to reason that if anything is done in any &ldquo;way&rdquo; other than God&rsquo;s Way, that way is unrighteous. ...  Because God&rsquo;s Way is high and lofty, any &ldquo;way&rdquo; other than His Way is lower; this is why the Bible says that we have fallen from grace and come up short to the glorious Way of God.


	The good news therefore, is that Jesus Christ came and lived perfectly to God for all mankind. ...  This is the good news: God has made a Way for all of us to return to doing things God&rsquo;s Way and He did it through the life, death and resurrection of His Only Begotten.   Though we were made after the likeness of the first Adam, it is God&rsquo;s Way that we shall bear the likeness of Jesus Christ.   Yes, it is true and good &ndash;&ldquo;As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless!&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>On Building a Better Mouse Trap</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-30T15:17:42-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/63ad912ce05ed6ed354b214156b917ab-93.html#unique-entry-id-93</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/63ad912ce05ed6ed354b214156b917ab-93.html#unique-entry-id-93</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[ &ldquo;It is not a cheerful thought that millions of us who live in a land of Bibles, who belong to churches and labor to promote the Christian religion, may yet pass our whole life on this earth without once having thought or tried to think seriously about the being of God. ...  We prefer to think where it will do more good &ndash;about how to build a better mousetrap, for instance, or how to make two blades of grass grow where one grew before. 

...Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. 

...I think you&rsquo;ll agree that this is a far cry from the worldly celebrations of Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny or the allurement of antichrist video games.   Do you really think that God approves of us teaching our children about the Easter Bunny over the truth of Jesus Christ resurrecting from the dead!? ...  Even if the idea was just to provide a place for the kids to hold this &ldquo;Guitar Hero&rdquo; contest, that Pastor should have known enough not to have allowed those kids to be subjected to such trash in his church.   The problem is actually greater than I have stated here, for it is one thing to be wrong but it is quite another thing to be wrong and think that you are right. 


...We have been commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ to disciple the nations and to teach them to obey everything that Jesus has told us.   Pastors today think that if they just get the kids together and have fun and have a good time, they are doing the work of God. ...  Those folks who had not thought it worth their time to contemplate the being of God had lowered their conception of Him and gave that same attitude to their children which included the lifestyle that comes with it.   Their children grew up thinking that churches full of spiritually-ill and empty people were better than being a part of small congregations that &ldquo;never had any fun.&rdquo;   The philosophy of &ldquo;let&rsquo;s all go to Heaven and have fun doing it&rdquo; replaced, &ldquo;I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy.&rdquo;  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Thank God for Easter</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-23T08:04:53-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2af8016ff9624784139838043485dfa1-88.html#unique-entry-id-88</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2af8016ff9624784139838043485dfa1-88.html#unique-entry-id-88</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For if He had not risen, then the Cross would have just been another bloody massacre, the martyrdom of another holy man, another victory for the side of evil. ...  Instead of His life being tragically shortened by evil the Cross of Jesus Christ points to His victory over evil. ...  If there were no Resurrection, then the Cross would have been a disaster, a total miscarriage of justice &ndash;the ultimate miscarriage!   But because of Easter, I can look at the Cross and know that God has forgiven the sins of the world justly.   Just think about it; if the Resurrection never happened then nothing would have been written into the Bible after the Gospels.   The Apostle Paul would still be a Pharisee, Jesus&rsquo; band of disciples would have dispersed, and there would be no Acts of the Apostles or Epistles by disciples. ...  Had there not been Easter, there would have been a fog of doubt cast over the life of Jesus that would have been impossible to remove; all of His miracles, all of His teachings and even the Virgin Birth would be brought into justifiable question. ...  And since these are the ligaments and sinews that hold the Bible together, if there would not have been an Easter, that Book would have long disappeared into the attics of the world.   If Jesus wouldn&rsquo;t have risen on that first Easter morn, mankind wouldn&rsquo;t have the Word of God, faith to believe, or hope to persevere. ...  Easter tells us that death is not the end; it is not the final curtain and therefore cannot be the ultimate power. ...  Since death is not the end; then men&rsquo;s lives cannot be buried for eternity. 	


...&ldquo;For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.&rdquo;                                 ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Covenant of Forgiveness</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-16T13:08:27-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/59ce351de6cffc3fb3e6ee9b22382c9a-85.html#unique-entry-id-85</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/59ce351de6cffc3fb3e6ee9b22382c9a-85.html#unique-entry-id-85</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[1John 3:16 In the days prior to the escalating divorce rate and prenuptial agreements, the marriage vow held a place of priority within our society. ...  If she said yes then the two of them set a wedding date and the only thing discussed was wedding plans and where they were to travel for the honeymoon.   Life was simple; the man knew that he loved his fianc&eacute;e and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. ...  In the introduction to his book, The Power of the Covenant Heart, David Huskins illuminates the differences between the covenant and the contract:


...Over the years and in these last few perilous days, we have forgotten the liberating power of a faithful committed heart. ...  With the divorce rate in the Church equaling that of the divorce rate in the world, we should come to realize two important things.   First, that same insecurity is now in the hearts of Christians and secondly, it is only a matter of time before we start thinking of our relationship with God as contractual rather than covenantal.   But thanks be to God, Jesus lifted the cup on the night He was to be betrayed and said, &ldquo;This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.&rdquo; ...  He has said in His heart that He would love mankind; this is the Covenant!   He did not say that He would only love us if we loved Him; that would be contractual.   Jesus sealed this covenant with His own life&rsquo;s blood &ndash;that should be good enough for anybody!   If God so loved us in this Holy Covenant, then we should rest in the liberating assurance that there isn&rsquo;t any contract to be broken.  
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Existentialist at Heart</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-09T19:20:19-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/72f569ebeabae53f4b5fa1abb2e0d430-84.html#unique-entry-id-84</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/72f569ebeabae53f4b5fa1abb2e0d430-84.html#unique-entry-id-84</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Existentialism is the philosophy that at its heart it believes that the personal experiences of life define the life rather than the objective absolute truth defining it. ...  But I fear, because of things that I have observed over the years, that there is a neo-Christian who is an existentialist at heart.   The lines that make up the parameters of his life have become so indistinguishable that, in essence, he has no foundation and therefore he has no moral compass. ...  My sole purpose here is for you to decide whether your life is heading toward an existentialist end or a Christian end?   So let us look into a day in the life of this neo-Christian and contrast it with the Christian who is saved by the grace of God. 


	In the morning, this neo-Christian arises to his prayer closet if time permits and there are things that are pressing him personally and directly. ...  He knows that he is the light of the world and yet, he desires to show the world his light and end it there. ...  He knows that it does the unbeliever no good to see his light and stop there &ndash;the unbeliever must see Jesus Christ &ndash;that is his true desire and motivation. ...  His nominal creed does not always agree with his living creed and convenience is more of a motivational factor than love for God. ...  He tries to be good, and when he is successful, he believes that he has found favor in the eyes of God.   But should this man fall under temptation, run through a dry spell, or become afflicted because of natural causes, he believes that he must do something to merit God&rsquo;s good graces. ...  The true Christian at heart simply rests in the salvation of God that comes through Jesus Christ and he simply states in both his nominal and living creeds; &ldquo;But by the grace of God, I am what I am.&rdquo;   
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Heart of Flesh</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-02T22:09:34-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebf2a2e195db293795c8d27da7ad470f-91.html#unique-entry-id-91</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ebf2a2e195db293795c8d27da7ad470f-91.html#unique-entry-id-91</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[God promises to us all &ndash;&ldquo;I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and all your idols.   I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.&rdquo; 

...When he greeted me last week he told me what happened; this is what he said: &ldquo;I feel bad, I was rude to Bill and Becky, I forgot about cleaning the church with them.&rdquo;   He called and left a message on their phone and they returned his message and told him that all was forgiven!    Now, if you listen carefully and try not to jump to any quick conclusions, I believe the Lord will help you learn something very precious and it will help you draw closer to the heart of God.   When Bill told me what had happened he added that he told Brother John that, &ldquo;it was okay&hellip;&rdquo; Perhaps Bill was just accepting John&rsquo;s apology but it seemed to me like he was excusing the faux pas. ...  Now, you may be thinking that I&rsquo;m being too hard on Brother John, but in actuality, I am blessing him by revealing to him that God has given him a heart of flesh.   You see, most people would have excused themselves from any wrong whatsoever because&hellip; it wasn&rsquo;t their fault that they forgot. ...  Paul tells us in Ephesians: &ldquo;So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.   They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.   Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.&rdquo; ...  Doesn&rsquo;t the Word encourage us that it would be better to be wronged than to be so hard that we demand justice in our lives? ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Faith &#x26; Hyperbole</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-02-24T16:36:04-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/163ab106e94e316bf95901b46490d052-83.html#unique-entry-id-83</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/163ab106e94e316bf95901b46490d052-83.html#unique-entry-id-83</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of the most frequently asked questions by skeptics is, &ldquo;If Adam and Eve were the only two people that were created, where did their son Cain get his wife?&rdquo; ...  God didn&rsquo;t think it was necessary to tell us everything and I&rsquo;m glad He didn&rsquo;t. ...  In fact, if God has to explain everything to you &ndash;then you have a problem with faith. ...  They have grown up and lived with scientists explaining everything so that nothing is left to question or mystery. ...  Faith is trusting and obeying even if I don&rsquo;t know or understand all that God is doing. ...  I don&rsquo;t need to know all the facts because I trust him who does know all the facts!   Years ago a person in my church began to not appreciate the way that I was handling situations within the church. ...  The main reason I believe they were so angry with me was because &ndash; they didn&rsquo;t know all the facts.   During the times that they would question my actions, I would still refuse to give them all the facts. ...  The point I am making is this: During your life you will come into situations where God doesn&rsquo;t tell you all the facts.   I exhort you not to demand to know from Him something that is none of your business.   If God thought it was necessary for you to know something &ndash;He would tell you! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fleeing the Old Man</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-02-17T07:55:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5905991b3faea606772c24228d093703-86.html#unique-entry-id-86</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5905991b3faea606772c24228d093703-86.html#unique-entry-id-86</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It seems to me that with today&rsquo;s new Christians there isn&rsquo;t that quick transformation into the new life. ...  Within months, and sometimes weeks these people seem to have abandoned the faith and given up on any real hope that God will fulfill His promise. ...  Just as Israel was enslaved by their taskmasters, Jesus said that anyone who sins is a slave to it.   When God directed Moses on the night they were to escape Egypt He told them just what they were to eat and how to eat it: &ldquo;This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet and your staff in your hand. ...  Three months later God told Moses to remind the Israelites that it was He that carried them out of Egypt on eagle&rsquo;s wings.   The point was that God swiftly brought them out of a life of slavery and into a life of freedom.   I&rsquo;m sure you have heard the old adage: you can take the boy out of the country but you can&rsquo;t take the country out of the boy. ...  God swiftly brought them out of their slavery yet their hearts yearned for the easy life back in Egypt. ...  Today, people often make the mistake of thinking that once they become Christians that God will give them smooth sailing. ...  God wants the new Christian to be radically transformed, quickly changed from a life of slavery to sin, to a life of obedience and freedom. ...  The idea of being born-again meant that we would be born into a new and different life! ...  It is God&rsquo;s desire that we would be quickly transformed and that we stay transformed forever. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Roller Coaster Faith</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-02-10T07:57:36-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a70acfae5b8b8b510854fd2a0c8987d9-87.html#unique-entry-id-87</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a70acfae5b8b8b510854fd2a0c8987d9-87.html#unique-entry-id-87</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I had instructed him that any good coaster was worth riding without hands and so with hands held high we began the descent. ...  I can remember my heart trying to leap out of my chest as if to say it didn&rsquo;t want to ride this coaster. ...  Roller Coasters may not be for everybody but there is something to be said for feeling danger while being assured of our safety. ...  It may be the other guy that is in the danger but we feel the excitement just the same. 


	I think the reason why we get so excited, whether it be in a roller coaster or on the bench at the circus, is that ultimately we know that we are not in control of what happens. ...  No one rides the coaster anticipating that this is the &ldquo;last ride,&rdquo; neither do people go to the circus to watch someone meet their demise. ...  He wants us to know that we can trust Him with our lives while living life with all its dangers and pitfalls. ...  They say they trust Him, but they want their tax rebate in their pocket, a clean bill of health, job security, retirement package and the knowledge of what is going to happen tomorrow.   Could you imagine how dull life would be if God told you every morning just what was going to happen during the day, secured your finances and assured you of your health?   Listen, God meant for us to live a life of faith and He even made that life of faith to be a blessing.   I&rsquo;m not saying that everything is going to go peachy keen and we&rsquo;ll just tiptoe through this journey. ...  I&rsquo;ll tell you one thing though: I&rsquo;d rather go through life knowing that I am safe in His hands and experience much more in that life, then I would if I just experienced those things that I knew I could control. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fear and Trepidation</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-02-03T21:55:57-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/88a35bf06a50de3fdecc3c61c213f8b4-90.html#unique-entry-id-90</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/88a35bf06a50de3fdecc3c61c213f8b4-90.html#unique-entry-id-90</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As if terrorism, global warming, and the depletion of the ozone wasn&rsquo;t enough to put fear into us; as if random violence, home invasions and car-jackings weren&rsquo;t enough to worry us; we now have to deal with runaway spy satellites.   Yes, folks, there is a U.S. spy satellite that, at this moment, is out of control and expected to hit the earth sometime in February or March! ...  Maybe there will be an earthquake or another devastating hurricane that will wipe out millions of dollars worth of real estate and take out thousands of lives.   With all that could happen to me on this earth and in this life, there is nothing more troubling to me right now then what I am going through.   It is worse than all of these things that I just spoke of; it must be, for nothing is greater on my mind than this one thing.   It must be, for I am not worrying about any of those things right now.   No, the thing that has been pressing upon me for the last couple of days, the one thing that has been troubling me&hellip; I have to go to the dentist! ...  Maybe I&rsquo;ll get lucky and that spy satellite will fall early and right on the parking lot as soon as I pull up! 

...So, if I can handle those things (and I can only handle them because of Christ) I can handle a dentist visit. ...  Isn&rsquo;t it funny, with all the terrible things that are going on in this world today, we fear most the little things that may or may not happen to us? ...  and then he tells us emphatically, &ldquo;For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.&rdquo;   Beloved, we have nothing to fear, our God is still on the Throne and He loves us with the greatest of love.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Chosen by God (Part II) </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-01-27T22:14:17-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e05f4fdbafb8cc5ba717a6b9ab90d9be-92.html#unique-entry-id-92</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/e05f4fdbafb8cc5ba717a6b9ab90d9be-92.html#unique-entry-id-92</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yet, I have found that when I use too many words and illustrations and analogies to explain certain doctrines, everything gets muddled into a state of confusion leaving us all the more befuddled in our faith.   So, I will attempt to do this again (by the grace of God) and perhaps we will better understand our faith in God.   Simply put, we believe that God knows all things, God created all things and that God is in control of all things. ...  If a person believes these six things about God, he or she can possess faith in Him.   Faith is not only believing these things but also trusting God (for our present situations) because we do believe these six things about Him. ...  God determined that this creation would be something other than Himself, yet likened unto Himself (of course, I am speaking specifically of man).   And God has determined that man would be free to decide whether to exist eternally with Him or away from Him.   Therefore, our faith believes that prior to anything being created God already knew who would decide to live with Him eternally.   Eph.1:4; 2Tim.1:9  We believe that God has given each man and woman their position and time in life (here on earth) Acts 17:26; 1Cor.12:18  And, (for the purpose of this particular Pastor&rsquo;s Desk ) we believe that God is in full-control, enabling Him to bring this about. 

...It tells us no matter where we are, no matter what circumstances befall us, no matter what situation we believe ourselves to be in, God will see us through until His purpose for us is completed. ...  For we believe that nothing will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.   We have been chosen by God to live with Him eternally &ndash;nothing will keep us from that!
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Chosen by God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-01-20T21:30:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2acb43a169a95e813356337a632557e5-89.html#unique-entry-id-89</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2acb43a169a95e813356337a632557e5-89.html#unique-entry-id-89</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[At this very moment he is praying and in a vision he sees a man by the name of Ananias coming to this house and placing his hands upon him to restore his sight.&rdquo;


	But Ananias replied, &ldquo;But Lord, I have heard all about this man and how much harm he has caused Your people.   Why, I have even heard that he has come here with the authority of the chief priest to arrest anyone who calls upon Your name.&rdquo; ...  &ldquo;Go on thy way, Ananias, for this man is My chosen instrument to carry My name to the Gentiles.&rdquo;


...If God be for you&hellip; we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! ...  It may mean that we have to clean up our act, sacrifice our time, or even put ourselves in harm&rsquo;s way.   What if you had discovered that you were chosen by God to be used by Him? ...  God has determined that the Church would be His vessel in these last days to proclaim His Name and the Gospel of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! 

...We all are aware that God had chosen Paul, but we may fail to see that God had also chosen Ananias. ...  Acts.9:12 &ldquo;In a vision he (Paul) has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.&rdquo;   Did you notice that God didn&rsquo;t say that Paul had seen you, Ananias, but rather, God said, Paul has seen a man named Ananias. ...  For if Ananias would have refused to be used by God, God would have found another man named Ananias to go pray for Paul! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Intercession for America</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-01-13T16:02:46-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2bb89f76452250bcb7909e368046cd49-82.html#unique-entry-id-82</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/2bb89f76452250bcb7909e368046cd49-82.html#unique-entry-id-82</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There are two men in the Bible that I would like to use as an example for those of us who are living in America. ...  Now, the Bible says that Lot was a righteous man, vexed in his soul because of the grievous sin of his neighbors, but it doesn&rsquo;t say anything about him interceding for Sodom.   In fact, when it came time for Lot to warn of the imminent judgment, they laughed at him. ...  Even when judgment came and God told him he would be safe in the mountains, he chose rather, the city of Zoar because he thought it best suited him.   Lot shows us that it is very difficult to intercede for the lost when you are very concerned about yourself.   Sure, you can be angry at the sin around you but it is extremely difficult to love someone you are angry with.


...The king of that country tried to force his culture and his gods down Daniel&rsquo;s throat, but Daniel would have none of it; he would not defile himself with the delicacies of Babylon! ...  But when it came time for prayer, when it came time to remember Jerusalem, he cried out to God in the spirit of intercession and in the spirit of Truth. ...  I think that Christians who pray for America should pray this prayer of intercession as Daniel&rsquo;s example shows us.   If we are going to intercede for America in the Spirit of Christ, then I believe that we need to consider every word spoken by this great prophet.   It does us no good to be angry at the sinful conditions of our country or vexed in our soul because of the antichrist spirit in our culture, if we aren&rsquo;t going to do something about it. ...  And if we truly love America and want to be a good patriot, then we should fall prostrate before the Lord and plead with Him for mercy and forgiveness. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>In the Beginning</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-01-06T11:45:49-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c48eb1b339ffac9afa51eefc81de9cce-81.html#unique-entry-id-81</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c48eb1b339ffac9afa51eefc81de9cce-81.html#unique-entry-id-81</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As far back as my memory will allow me to travel, I can see myself on the swing-set in my backyard. ...  The two hours that my sister said that it would be before mom got home seemed like an eternity. ...  I think that I began to whine because I vaguely remember my older sister saying that if I didn&rsquo;t straighten up I wouldn&rsquo;t get any ice cream. ...  The next time I wished time would pass quickly was when I was seven and it was my brother&rsquo;s eleventh birthday. ...  It was near my fortieth birthday and I was sitting around a table with some men of God who were in their sixties and seventies. ...  One of the older gentlemen laughed a little and remarked that if I thought those twenty years flew by just wait for the twenty years between forty and sixty! ...  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes&rdquo; Jas.4:14 &ldquo;you have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. 

...	Now, I believe that most people look back on their lives and wished that they could have done a few things differently. ...  It is only by the grace of God that we can live and lead a fulfilling life. ...  And that is when we travel back in our memories, even from the moment of birth, for it was even there that God was watching over our lives with the greatest of care. ...  He has so orchestrated our lives that no one can say that God didn&rsquo;t give it His all in trying to bring us to Himself.   For those who are born-again and know God in their lives, just wait a couple more &ldquo;hours&rdquo;  He&rsquo;ll come for us and we&rsquo;ll go for ice cream!  ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The End is Near</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-12-30T08:42:11-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5eea79814a2cc67ed9d42de92cd4c5ec-80.html#unique-entry-id-80</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/5eea79814a2cc67ed9d42de92cd4c5ec-80.html#unique-entry-id-80</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you remember back in the 1960&rsquo;s, the men on the street corners carrying the signs that read: &ldquo;The End is Near&rdquo;? ...  Most times people would just dismiss them as crazy or fanatical but there was always that looming question that I never had the nerve to ask them; &ldquo;How do you know that the End is near?&rdquo; ...  It is like what Peter said in his second epistle: &ldquo;First of all you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ...  When you look at the world by itself and how one day rolls in right behind another and the future continues to be amalgamated into the present, then there is no real logical reason to think that the end is near. ...  There is no evidence that time will stop as we know it, if we just go by that which is transient. ...  And then, I am telling you, &ldquo;That five more babies will be born to take your place and life will go on.&rdquo; 

...It would be impossible to conceive of an of &lsquo;end&rsquo; to this existence just as it would be impossible to conceive of a &lsquo;time&rsquo; before this existence.   But for some reason man can conceive of a beginning and an end. 

...If we &lsquo;know&rsquo; that the end is near, then we can know for certain that we were made for something more than just this existence. ...  Maybe, just maybe, God wants us to know that we should &lsquo;hang in there&rsquo; &ndash;the End is Near. ...  Life as we know it is ebbing away, but he who does the will of the Lord will live forever &ndash;and that, in a greater existence than this temporary one!   At the close of this year and with new hopes for the next, let us look up, for our Redemption is drawing near. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incomprehensible Birth - Final Installment</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-12-23T15:05:39-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1b52e43d6cb02ed83aa2964e13b7a902-78.html#unique-entry-id-78</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/1b52e43d6cb02ed83aa2964e13b7a902-78.html#unique-entry-id-78</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Ehud,&rdquo; Shimshai paused searching for the right words, &ldquo;did you see how the wind and the rain came in through the door way? ...  Yet this house is part of the whole of nature, and the wind and rain permeated the boundaries of these walls.   The wind and rain seem out of place within these walls, yet the wind and rain has every right to infiltrate this house because this house is a part of nature.&rdquo;


...They all said that the Hebrew God had warned them not to return to Herod and not to return home the way they had come, but to hasten home by another route. 

...I heard that Herod was insane but what insanity would bring him to murder a child?&rdquo;


&ldquo;Because I think he knew, as I know now, and each of the Magi knows &ndash;this Child is no average child.   Ehud, I saw Him with my own eyes and I fell down and worshipped Him as did the Magi. 

...&ldquo;Yes, Ehud, Isaiah&rsquo;s prophecy was fulfilled and I was honored to witness it all!   He then said to me that this Child was the Son of God!   The Eternal God infiltrated His creation just as the rain and wind infiltrated this house a moment ago!   I tell you, He infiltrated my very soul and I will never be the same again!&rdquo;


Brother & Sister, my prayer is that you, too, will allow the Lord, Jesus, to infiltrate your life today and every day, so much so, that you&rsquo;ll never be the same again.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incomprehensible Birth - 3rd Installment</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-12-16T00:45:57-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8bb5a2b96e484760689db6b3f472f20f-77.html#unique-entry-id-77</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/8bb5a2b96e484760689db6b3f472f20f-77.html#unique-entry-id-77</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It is beyond full comprehension, yet if you can believe what I am about to tell you, it will liberate you to a life of joy.&rdquo;


...We live in troublesome times and I don&rsquo;t see anyone who can bring us any relief.&rdquo;


...&ldquo;The magi had determined that this star would bring them to a new born king. ...  Then, when we told them about the star, they were somewhat relieved. ...  When we were given audience to King Herod we asked him, &ldquo;Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?&rdquo; ...  When they searched the writings of their prophets they had told us that he was to be born in Bethlehem.   The prophecy went something like this: &lsquo;but you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.&rsquo;   Herod told us to go to Bethlehem and make a careful search for the child.   Then he said that we should report back to him so that he could go and worship the child also. ...  If anyone wasn&rsquo;t excited by now, they would be after the Magi spoke to us.&rdquo;


...	&ldquo;They told us that by evening, we all would be some of the first to witness, to see with our very own eyes, the proof that the Hebrew God &ndash;was God!&rdquo;


...Shimshai&rsquo;s eyes began to well up with tears and Ehud knew to be silent. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incomprehensible Birth - 2nd installment</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-12-09T17:02:31-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/708d549040709c6899c87ea13313d3bd-76.html#unique-entry-id-76</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/708d549040709c6899c87ea13313d3bd-76.html#unique-entry-id-76</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Do you not recall how long we had studied together our own historians and Jewish manuscripts concerning Daniel, the servant of King Nebuchadnezzar? ...  Just as he wrote that Cyrus would conquer the Babylonians and the Persians would fall by the hands of the Greeks, so he also said that the Jews would return to Jerusalem. ...  The story that I want you to remember in particular was the one of Daniel&rsquo;s friends, who were saved from the flames of Nebuchadnezzar&rsquo;s furnace.   If you recall correctly, the king called them out of the furnace after seeing not three men, but four! 

...	&ldquo;I would normally, but it seems to me that he asked for verification by his own officials.&rdquo; ...  I also remember that when they were first brought into Nebuchadnezzar&rsquo;s service, the king had a dream.   He had asked all of his wise men to tell him his dream and none could do so. ...  When they tried to rebut, saying that only the gods could tell them his dream, they also concluded that the gods do not dwell with humans. ...  This did not stop the king&rsquo;s fury and he had appointed a time for them all to be killed.   Well, it just so happened that Daniel came in to the king&rsquo;s presence and told the king his dream! 

...To answer that question, he would have to admit that Daniel was told the dream by a god, just as Daniel claimed. 

...Didn&rsquo;t their prophet, Isaiah I believe, didn&rsquo;t he predict that Cyrus would decree them back into their homeland?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incomprehensible Birth - 1st Installment</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-12-02T22:39:21-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d06383f4450118b17029436321686e42-79.html#unique-entry-id-79</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/d06383f4450118b17029436321686e42-79.html#unique-entry-id-79</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A few years ago I wrote a short story for the Pastor&rsquo;s Desk during the weeks just before Christmas. 

...The winter rains had cooled the night air and the fire in the hearth was as inviting as the hot tea he poured into the cup.   The cup steamed yet he continued to hold it in his hands as he sat at the table. ...  His friend would be there soon to hear all about his journey; he tried playing it through his mind again but stopped at the same place that had continually left him dumbfounded every time he thought about it. ...  He had always been interested in the study of the stars and this journey was a good opportunity to see some learned men in action.   But he got more than what he bargained for &ndash;everybody in that caravan got more than what they bargained for!   He ran his hand through his beard again, took a sip of tea and brought his thoughts back to the present. 

...During their journey however, the caravan had followed a bright star that had led them up through the Euphrates valley rather than across the desert.   It was a good thing too; the desert could be so dangerous with all the bandits and wild animals. 

...&ldquo;Ehud, what I am about to tell you is so amazing that you will find it very hard to believe.   But as you know that I am your friend and you know that I am not given to fanciful stories. ...  But Ehud,&rdquo; Shimshai swallowed hard, &ldquo;what I am about to tell you is the truth and it is very wonderful.&rdquo;   
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Dying to go to Heaven</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-11-25T11:34:01-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/860c227c9197a01c3ce03b146417013c-75.html#unique-entry-id-75</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/860c227c9197a01c3ce03b146417013c-75.html#unique-entry-id-75</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[	When the Pharisee, Nicodemus, asked Jesus about the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus told him that &ldquo;ye must be born again.&rdquo;   Without getting into a bunch of religious jargon and theological sermonizing, suffice it to say; &ldquo;Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God -children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband&rsquo;s will, but born of God.&rdquo;  ...  Born again, young babes craving new spiritual milk, following the Good Shepherd, and enjoying life to the fullest, while hoping in the eternal life to come. ...  And finally, those born again into the kingdom of heaven know of the peace of Christ, the joy of the Lord and assurance of God&rsquo;s love.


	Now, all of the above is true and many a Christian has lived the blessed life of faith in God.   But if we stop short in the conversation that Jesus had with Nicodemus, we too will fall short in knowing the reality of the whole meaning of being &ldquo;born again.&rdquo; ...  In the fourteenth verse Jesus reveals that He must die in order for us to be born again.   &ldquo;Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.&rdquo;  ...  In fact, if you do not die (in the spiritual sense) then your &ldquo;born again&rdquo; life is just an allusion.   Paul clearly understood this aspect of being born again and he clearly taught it to us: &ldquo;For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ...  The life that I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.   I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Price for Life</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-11-18T22:10:25-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/77bfd56609160f0a5804a1449b80cbec-73.html#unique-entry-id-73</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/77bfd56609160f0a5804a1449b80cbec-73.html#unique-entry-id-73</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The story goes, the way that I heard it, that Robert James, a Baptist minister and the father of Frank and Jesse James said that he once traded his two boys for a dog.   Well, what happened was this: This old stray dog wandered onto their property one day and the dog took a liking to them and they to the mutt.   Everything was going fine until they heard rumors in town that this old couple had lost their dog. ...  Someone told the couple that they thought that they had seen the dog on the James&rsquo; property.   So, Robert James took that old dog behind the barn and chopped off its tail.   When the old man came looking for his dog, he was sure that this was the one.   But, with his boys standing there beside him, he lied to the old man and told him that it couldn&rsquo;t be his dog, &ldquo;for it didn&rsquo;t have no tail.&rdquo;   &ldquo;Them boys saw their dad lie and steal that day and they never stopped lying and stealing since that day.&rdquo; 


...But during the planning of the robbery, the $10,000 reward for Jesse was just too appealing for Bob Ford.   While Jesse&rsquo;s back was to him, Bob Ford put a bullet into the back of his head.


...Then, while He was praying He said, &ldquo;For them, I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.&rdquo;  ...  Living for God is infectious and we should infect those living around us with the Word of God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Incredible Inevitable Change</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-11-11T15:56:32-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4f7b41dcb3f7c970fec5e31424e22a92-71.html#unique-entry-id-71</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/4f7b41dcb3f7c970fec5e31424e22a92-71.html#unique-entry-id-71</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If change is inevitable, and cannot be stopped, then it would be to our best welfare, to use change for our advantage. ...  A few months later her father died and her mother had to go to work to provide for the family. ...  Even though these changes were beyond her control, Fanny would not let these changes determine the kind of person that she would be.   She would eventually give her heart to Jesus Christ and allow him to change her heart and mold her life. ...  Once she was asked about her blindness and this is what she said: &ldquo;It seemed  intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank Him for the dispensation. ...  I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me&hellip;If I had a choice, I would still choose to remain blind&hellip; for when I die, the first face I will ever see will be the face of my blessed Saviour!&rdquo;  ...  What a blessing it would have been to have lived in association with this woman! ...  I wouldn&rsquo;t expect anything less from someone who has been changed by the grace of God.   God changes us for the good and in His wise Providence, He allows circumstances that will give us opportunities for that change.   Just a side note here; do you see how the character of the people in our nation has changed over the last two centuries?   If what happened to Fanny back in the early 19th century would have happened in this day and age, the family would have probably sued for malpractice and felt that &ldquo;life owed them.&rdquo; 

...I pray that God gives us the grace to see the changes that are taking place in our lives and that we freely allow Him to change us for our good.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Whose Child is This? </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-11-04T09:49:43-05:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/53ec6ce35cebf468a166274c0c109e87-69.html#unique-entry-id-69</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/53ec6ce35cebf468a166274c0c109e87-69.html#unique-entry-id-69</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[You are listening intently to every word hoping for some insight into something that you have believed for years. ...  It&rsquo;s not the time to fall asleep or leave church early &ndash;it&rsquo;s an opportunity to hear wisdom and knowledge. ...  It doesn&rsquo;t take long now and your mind begins to wander to daily chores, planning vacations or figuring out what it is you just pulled from your ear. ...  You stretch and in the middle of that stretch&hellip; a young man steps up out of the congregation. 

...	&ldquo;Oh, this is going to be good,&rdquo; you think, &ldquo;This kid can&rsquo;t be twelve years old and he has a question for these men of God? ...  Some of the &ldquo;teachers&rdquo; smirk at the young lad and some patronize smugly, yet all have their attention drawn to this single child.   For the next few minutes you are on the edge of your seat and when you finally look at your watch again, an hour has passed. ...  Then, just when you thought you couldn&rsquo;t be any more astonished with this kid than you already are, he says, &ldquo;Why were you looking for me mother?   Did you not know that I would have to be in my Father&rsquo;s house?&rdquo; 

...	The answer to that question is of such great importance &ndash;it cannot and should not be ignored.   Jesus Christ, at the age of twelve, astounded the temple priest and scribes with His knowledge and understanding of God.   But nothing could be more astounding than when He said, &ldquo;&hellip;I must be in my Father&rsquo;s house.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Speaking with God</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-10-28T22:19:31-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f4744c29bcb59be8f3cb87dc09ee0363-72.html#unique-entry-id-72</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f4744c29bcb59be8f3cb87dc09ee0363-72.html#unique-entry-id-72</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If I am at home and someone wanted to talk to me they would have to call me on the telephone. ...  This simple little act of dialing the right phone number is a perfect illustration of making sure that when we do our praying to God &ndash;we are going to get the one true God.   Now, God doesn&rsquo;t have a phone number but He has surely made it known that there is only one way that you are going to speak to Him. ...  Do you think that God is up in Heaven, governing the universe and then puts everything on hold just because someone is praying to Him?   Do you think that just because someone is praying that God is obligated to hear him? 

...	Paul tells us in 1Timothy 2:5, &ldquo;For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men &ndash;the testimony given at its proper time.&rdquo;  ...  In fact, anyone at anytime and in any situation; if men want to converse with God, they must talk to God through the one Mediator &ndash;Christ Jesus!   Someone may say, &ldquo;But Jesus didn&rsquo;t live until just two thousand years ago; how could He have been the mediator since the beginning of time?&rdquo; ...  Rev.13:8  Did you know that man has received grace from God, through Jesus Christ since the beginning of time?   2Tim.1:9  And, did you know that God chose those who would be in Christ before the foundation of the world? ...  From the beginning of time God has chosen that the only way that He would communicate with man and man with Him &ndash;was through His Christ.   This may be hard to understand but that is only because we are forced to think in a linear manner. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>W.I.T.S.I </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-10-21T09:21:21-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/992fc24bd418132572040b24fbeb9097-67.html#unique-entry-id-67</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/992fc24bd418132572040b24fbeb9097-67.html#unique-entry-id-67</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We have laws to keep people from driving while intoxicated so that our roads will be safer. ...  We were taught to drive defensively; this means that our ability to react plays a very important part in driving well. ...  The ability to react in a correct manner is essential for good driving it is also essential for the Christian life. ...  I think there is a great problem in the Church with Christians who are walking in the Spirit &ndash;impaired!   No, I don&rsquo;t think that they are impaired by alcohol or drugs, but with sin.   And sin will keep you from reacting in a Christian manner when it comes time for you to react.   Before I was a Christian I used to drive under the influence and during those times if I saw a police car I got really nervous. ...  This sort of reaction became a part of me so that even while I was driving legally, I still had that kind of reaction when I saw a police car. ...  It&rsquo;s like this, if you are always going over the speed limit, when you see a police car, then your first reaction will be to look at your speedometer!  ...  Paul tells us in Galatians that we should walk in the spirit so that we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.   I submit to you that if we walk in the spirit, impaired by sin, we will not react in a Christian manner when we come up against a trial or a temptation. ...  Now before my thought gets lost within a bunch of excuses, let me just say that when you bump a cup of coffee &ndash;coffee spills out! ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Enjoying Life but Longing for Home</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-10-14T09:30:08-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c24d90c8be603bd39042c736b2e17ae2-68.html#unique-entry-id-68</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/c24d90c8be603bd39042c736b2e17ae2-68.html#unique-entry-id-68</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Peter, while quoting Proverbs, said, &ldquo;If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?&rdquo;  ...  That we know (by faith) that we are saved, yet we are looking forward to being saved and that we are to love the world and not love it at the same time is a perplexing mystery.   It&rsquo;s no wonder God has chosen for us to live by faith &ndash;you can&rsquo;t do it any other way!    But, what I would like to talk to you about today is the conflict in my heart when I experience the joy of living and the longing for Heaven. ...  But in saying that, I still know that this life is a battleground for the souls of man and that is very serious!


	I believe that God has given man pleasures in this life and He in no way begrudges us those pleasures as long as they are legitimate in His eyes. ...  While I am experiencing these things, the longing that I have in my heart for Heaven seems recessed into the back of my mind. ...  So often we seek God when life gets rough and we go through trials, and this is right and good; but we should seek Him in the blessings and pleasures of life as well.   Doesn&rsquo;t it seem that the people of this world are quick to blame God for the evil but attribute their happiness to themselves. ...  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find any enjoyment?   To the man who pleases him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness&hellip;&rdquo;  I think we should seek the Lord during the blessedness of life, not only will He enhance the blessedness but He&rsquo;ll even stir our hearts for Home.   I hope the next time you enjoy some pleasure here on earth, you hear the Lord say, &ldquo;If you think this is nice, wait until you see what I have for you up here!&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Fear and Faith </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-10-07T11:14:34-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/acef558377768da5b760e9c90acad3f1-70.html#unique-entry-id-70</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/acef558377768da5b760e9c90acad3f1-70.html#unique-entry-id-70</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Before I tell you about Robin going in the water, I have to tell you her great fear of it. ...  I believe that when you&rsquo;re in the water and are comfortable, you can float like a piece of Styrofoam, but if you are nervous and afraid, you&rsquo;ll sink like a bowling ball. ...  I could tell it was great fun for her even though I knew that she was still very afraid. ...  It was probably more exhilarating for her than it was for me because I am not afraid of the water.   Don&rsquo;t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoy swimming in the ocean, but Robin experienced more than just the enjoyment of it.


	You know the Bible says that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind.   There isn&rsquo;t anything wrong with fear unless we let that fear stop us from experiencing what God has for us.   When fear stops us from trusting God then that fear stops us from putting our faith in the love that God has for us.   If anyone knows that God truly loves them, then that faith (in the perfect love that God has for them) should cast out all fear that would stop us from trusting in God. ...  But I didn&rsquo;t, and I left the security of that income to enter into&hellip; well, I really can&rsquo;t tell you where God was leading me, I didn&rsquo;t know. ...  I believe, that the fear actually threw me into God&rsquo;s embrace more often than what I would have if I would have continued to trust in that Clow paycheck. ...  Whatever we are called to do or go through, and there is fear involved, then my suggestion would be that we run to our Father&rsquo;s arms and feel His embrace. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Hope and Preparation </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-09-30T21:19:09-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a08fab7d59a0365e736a8c7ce2f56210-66.html#unique-entry-id-66</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a08fab7d59a0365e736a8c7ce2f56210-66.html#unique-entry-id-66</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Packing a suitcase for vacation and running through a perpetual mental list of things to do before leaving is just a couple of things that one does to prepare for a trip.   I will pack a bathing suit if I have the hope of swimming in the ocean and I&rsquo;ll pack skis if I am planning a trip to the mountains.   I would look pretty silly if I reached to my destination point on the beaches of the Atlantic, and unloaded my car full of ski equipment.   The point is this; the hope that I have during the time that I prepare for my trip will help me to prepare correctly. ...  Some prepare for their days by going over their written list because they want to be sure to complete all that they had hoped to accomplish. ...  The hope that I have of doing this will cause me to arrange my schedule, plan my breaks and do certain jobs at certain times.   I will do the small jobs that I can do alone while I am waiting for my buddy to arrive to help me with the bigger ones. ...  If I sat around idle until my buddy arrived then not only did I lose precious time during the day but also I would still have all those little jobs to accomplish. ...  When you joy in the Lord, He gives you more of Himself and the more joy you receive. 

...I am planning a trip (and it&rsquo;s not just on a vacation to Myrtle Beach). ...  I know that God saved me by the Blood of Jesus Christ, but I also know that He still desires to separate from my heart all the worldly desires that have accumulated in me over the years when I hadn&rsquo;t lived for Him.	  We must remember that we are heading for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb and we shall be presented as the bride&hellip; We must prepare accordingly! 		
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Seeing the Invisible </title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-09-23T22:17:54-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ca103d2cc66ffdaf1db84b00b2860f19-74.html#unique-entry-id-74</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/ca103d2cc66ffdaf1db84b00b2860f19-74.html#unique-entry-id-74</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It doesn&rsquo;t help that I have these huge fingers that have no mechanical ability at all. ...  While I was attempting to put one of the screws back into place it fell through the backside of the grill into and past the engine compartment. ...  Then I remembered this magnet that I have hanging in the garage for just these purposes.   With magnet in hand, I crouched down under the truck, estimated the approximant area where it could have landed, took account for wind velocity, rotation of the earth, gravitational pull&hellip; just kidding.   I just waved that magnet close to the ground where I thought it might have landed. ...  He said, &ldquo;Did you notice that the magnet was more useful than your eyes in this situation? ...  Faith is like a magnet and God is like the lost screw! 

...It will take more than our eyes to see God within our circumstances during times of trial. ...  You see, God does not reveal Himself in the circumstances of our lives. ...  Then, through faith in that Word, we can see God&rsquo;s intervention in the circumstances of our lives! ...  The Bible says that, by faith, Moses regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than all the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. ...  So, let us fix our eyes on not what is seen but rather what is unseen. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Divine Care and Love</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-09-16T20:18:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f694586b32f3f06669262781be3d67e3-65.html#unique-entry-id-65</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f694586b32f3f06669262781be3d67e3-65.html#unique-entry-id-65</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I have many times quoted the Scripture, &ldquo;Casting all your care upon the Lord, for he careth for you.&rdquo;  1Pe.5:7 That scripture allows me to hand over those anxieties in life that are too big for me.   It&rsquo;s true, I have to admit it, no apologies, no qualifications; sometimes life is too big for me to handle! ...  I didn&rsquo;t realize at first, but when the Lord accepted me into His family I received a Watcher over my soul. ...  Some folks say that that is using God as a crutch and that I should learn to be victorious and an overcomer. ...  But there is one thing that I believe no one can overcome and that is keeping safe from unseen dangers. ...  Forget ambushes, you and I know that life is full of hidden dangers that are not necessarily ambushes. ...  But at the exact time that I decided to take Eli out and in just the right place where I would pick up his chain &ndash;was a wasp!   No kidding, in all of the square footage that is considered &ldquo;my yard&rdquo; this wasp decided to be right on that little hook where I was about to put my hand. ...  And it may seem insignificant considering all the pain and suffering in this world, but that just accentuates God&rsquo;s care over me all the more, does it not? ...  When I reached down to pick up that little hook after the wasp was gone a little smile came upon my face as God spoke to my heart. ...  This little moment of Divine intervention blessed my day and enabled me to charge into my work knowing that Someone &ldquo;had my back.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Toil and Sweat (Part 2)</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-09-09T19:56:57-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a716a0b5697faf2927f8057cc6628bf9-64.html#unique-entry-id-64</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a716a0b5697faf2927f8057cc6628bf9-64.html#unique-entry-id-64</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Please do not think that I am being callous about the plight of the poor but I don&rsquo;t fully understand holding a sign on a street corner. ...  Their families go without certain necessities but &ldquo;God forbid&rdquo; that they would humiliate themselves by applying for a job at McDonalds.   I have seen people act like the church owed it to them to provide them with groceries and yet they could spend 50 bucks for a carton of cigarettes! ...  I worked in a food pantry down in Zanesville and you would not believe the number of times able bodied men and women would come and get food with all kinds of reasons why they couldn&rsquo;t work. 

...Think about this: If God ordained that we would work by the sweat of our brow until death, and then someone tries to get through life some other way, then isn&rsquo;t he actually in rebellion against God&rsquo;s word?   If God says that we should work and we think that we would rather not&hellip; then we are actually saying that our way is better than God&rsquo;s. ...  Do you see that man could be in rebellion of God&rsquo;s Word without even a thought of Jesus Christ?   Jesus Christ is the Word of God and when man rebels against any words of God, then technically, he rebels against Christ.   I know that this is hard to accept but in reality, trying to get through life without carrying your load in the work place is just plain sinful and should be repented of.   The problem why this little subject might be so volatile is the fact that there are some folks who (because of truly legitimate reasons) cannot work. ...  People who are truly disabled should be cared for but remember, even Joni Erickson Tada, who is paralyzed from the neck down, works for a living. ...  A man could tell me that he can&rsquo;t work because of his health and be lying out his teeth &ndash;but I wouldn&rsquo;t know. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Toil and Sweat</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-09-02T19:13:19-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/91f6fb51bc42280dbe740a3c4df758ab-63.html#unique-entry-id-63</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/91f6fb51bc42280dbe740a3c4df758ab-63.html#unique-entry-id-63</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[When the Lord told Adam that he would now have to toil the earth by the sweat of his brow He didn&rsquo;t promise him any rewards &ndash;just sweat! ...  Listen to what He says: &ldquo;Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. ...  By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it, you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.&rdquo;   In other words, because of man&rsquo;s sin, the ground is cursed and we are sentenced to hard labor until death. 

...Solomon tells us that finding satisfaction in our work and being contented during the days of our lives is a gift from God. ...  That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil &ndash;this is the gift of God.&rdquo; ...  It would be a terrible thing to go through life constantly complaining about our work, always looking for short cuts so that we don&rsquo;t have to put forth the effort and then, finally, dying a miserable death penniless. ...  Solomon tells us that when a man finds satisfaction in his work, God&rsquo;s hand is upon him and who can eat or find any enjoyment without Him?   If your lot in life is difficult and you just go around complaining about it and trying to skirt responsibility, don&rsquo;t boast about how God is in your life.   Because if I was God and had to listen to you complain all the time, I think I would allow just any little thing to irritate you. ...  My friends, God has made a way in this life so that even though we may toil and sweat, we may also find it rewarding. ...  &ldquo;Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.&rdquo; ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Answers to Life&#x2019;s Questions</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-08-26T18:56:58-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f7d19801e4f303683fa110bbba5846c0-62.html#unique-entry-id-62</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/f7d19801e4f303683fa110bbba5846c0-62.html#unique-entry-id-62</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[It is only by the grace of God that we can enjoy the privilege of such abundance and I am truly grateful that we do have cupboards that are stocked.   In other words, I am thankful that I don&rsquo;t have to ask, &ldquo;Do we have anything to eat?&rdquo;    But what I want to deal with here is not whether or not we have food to eat, but am I hungry?   You see, she first asks if I am hungry before she asks what it is I would like to have. ...  Again, I would like to say that we, here in America, are awfully privileged because of God&rsquo;s blessings upon us.   Some of the questions that we deal with in life are so trivial and insignificant that it would be ridiculous to even mention them here. 

...For instance, Jesus said that we should give no thought about our lives, what we shall eat and drink, or about our bodies, what we should wear. ...  If you are eating for this life only, then go ahead and eat what is going to satisfy the palate and fill your stomach.   But if you are going to eat for eternal life, then share your bread with the hungry. ...  Here&rsquo;s another example: Jesus said that we should set our treasures in Heaven&hellip; for where your treasure is there your heart will be also. ...  In some instances, to ask God if we could store what we liked in Heaven would be comparative to the trash man asking if he could keep his garbage at our house. ...  You would do well to begin your search for answers within God&rsquo;s Word where God has recorded not only the answers but the correct questions as well. 
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>An Invitation Worth Giving</title><dc:creator>jim@wordworshipcenter.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>Pastor&#x27;s Desk</dc:subject><dc:date>2007-08-19T09:31:22-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a3b54dbe05c84f0b5d296329b5514d8f-61.html#unique-entry-id-61</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.wordworshipcenter.com/pastorsdesk/files/a3b54dbe05c84f0b5d296329b5514d8f-61.html#unique-entry-id-61</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The next time that I&rsquo;m invited to such a party, I will cringe and secretly hope my dentist calls for my annual cleaning!  ...  Because I feel that the blame falls on me if the guests that I invite do not have a good time.


	I think that sometimes this is the line of thinking when it comes to inviting our friends and acquaintances to church.   I&rsquo;m not saying that church is a party, but I think we hesitate to invite because we are no
