Church like Jesus

Most people don’t really have a problem with Jesus, just the ‘church’ that claims to represent him. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Israelites loved being God’s chosen nation, but His laws and commands left a lot to be desired. Hmm!

Things aren’t always as they appear. It's a truth I’m sure we’re all somewhat familiar with, and one we need to make sure does not apply to us. In our proclaiming the relevance of Christ for today’s world, we need to make sure that it is Christ’s message we are sharing and living and not simply our convenient version of it. Yes the world is as sinful today as it was in the time that Jesus walked the earth physically, and though we do ‘hate the sin’ they practice; we must not project that hatred on to them, lest we will never reach out to them. Jesus ate and communed with sinners and looked for every opportunity to mingle with them in hopes to cleanse, purify and save them. Our challenge is not to ‘condemn’ anyone but to try and love them to repentance just as Jesus did. God will be testing us all in some measure today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus sake.” – II Corinthians 4:5

The Bright Side

Being an optimist after you’ve gotten everything you want doesn’t count. – F.M. Hubbard

When Jesus’ mother troubled him about the wine at the wedding feast, she knew something would be done, and it would be good. Wow!

Make no mistake friend, this world can present itself as a very formidable and powerful opponent; with its shocking human interest stories, depressing economic news, or downright evil activities of mankind seemingly going on all day, every day. But as those who trust in God, we must always know He is in control, nothing happening is catching Him off-guard, and He is always with us. So in the midst of our surroundings we can still live courageously, not shrinking back or retreating at all, but holding steady, listening for His call to move forward or move out of the way. Yes, this world will test us but we only need remember the battle is the Lord’s and He has already assured us of the victory. So whatever today brings, know that if we hold fast we will overcome.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“…and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him….” – Romans 8:28

Worry, No Good. Prayer, All Good!

Anything worth worrying about is worth praying about. – Anon

In the midst of hostility and deceit, Nehemiah worked and prayed, prayed and worked. God answered. WOW!

Stressed out, worried sick, anxiety-laden, or just plain fearful. These are emotional states to avoid for we know no good thing can arise from them. But yet we often find ourselves going through these emotions over some of the smallest matters (an unreturned phone call, a non-existent rumor, a friend’s strange stare or non-stare, etc.). It is a testament to what we believe about our God in terms of what we will take before Him in prayer, and how soon we’ll take it there. Worry does nothing good for us and it keeps us from fully trusting in God. There will always be uncertainties in life and things we just can’t know at the time, but God doesn’t want them to interfere with us fully enjoying what He has given us right here, right now, so pray if you must.

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

“Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall.” – Psalm 55:22

Compromise Not

Compromise is simply changing the question to fit the answer. – M. Malloy

When Samuel caught Saul red-handed with plunder from the victory over the Amalekites, Saul tried to appease Samuel and God with an offering of the cattle and sheep, animals he knew were to be destroyed in the battle. God was not pleased.

A somewhat recent new term introduced into the English language is “politically correct.” It means to speak within the context of what is perceived as right. Perception is not necessarily truth. The enemy is so very subtle. All he needs is just a little change in the word of God, a little “gray area” in our thinking and compromise enters in. Just think back to the Garden of Eden. But God has always been exact in his instruction and requirements for obedience. The events and circumstances that arise each day are but tests and trials to prove ourselves faithful in all things. Compromise erodes the will, but obedience increases faith.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7

Problems Solved

When God solves your problems, you have faith in His abilities; when God doesn’t solve your problems He has faith in your abilities. – Anon

God did not call Gideon ‘mighty warrior’ just for fun. Amen!

Anyone familiar with the ‘A-Team’ knows their leader’s catch-phrase “I love it when a plan comes together.” And for most of us it’s a truth we live by and fully depend on, trusting God will always work it out. We faithfully believe God cannot and will not fail, and because He is true to His Word He won’t fail. There is nothing God can’t do, but there are many things God won’t do. He has trusted those things to us, and has instructed us, trained us, gifted us, and surrounded us with support for those times. So if times are a bit tough as they can often become, while we’re faithfully waiting on God’s ability, we might want to check to see if He’s not just smiling and waiting on us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” – John 14:12

Life: Best By...

Putting off plans doesn’t put off life. – Anon

The people scoffed at Noah when he was building the ark, but the rains did come. OUCH!

PROCRASTINATION: it offers us a very comfortable place or way to live – for today. But also with today we’re a day older and closer to meeting with eternity. Our dreams of love, life, adventure, etc. all come with an expiration date, and the reasons we often put forth as to why we shouldn’t pursue them are shallow at best. Things may or may not work out, but we will never know until we at least begin the attempt, inviting God into the mix. Today is the gift God gives us, and no; we don’t try to live all of life in this one day, but in this one day we should live life to the fullest.

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them.’” – Ecclesiastes 12:1

Extending Love, Reaching Unity

Love should not only be extended to those who agree with us, but to all who are loved by God. – Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Though Job did not agree with his friends assessments of himself, he still respected them. Hmm!

Often, if we’re not careful we get caught red-handed – loving our church and its ways more than people who are lost. We become a clique or denomination unto ourselves. But the scripture says “God so loved the world that He gave His Son” not He so loved the church, and there is not a person alive that God does not love despite their sin. And we are called on to express that love as Christ did. Thus love in the Christian community should be, first of all not based on principal, commonality, doctrinal unity or common ministry ideologies. It should be a love of the individual who is also loved by God. If we start there we should be able to find some unity in other areas of life to work together for the good of God’s kingdom.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“….He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – II Peter 3:9

Growing Into...

If man is not rising upwards to be like an angel, he is sinking downwards to be a devil. – S.T. Coleridge

Near the end of his ministry Jesus told his disciples one of them was a devil. And each one had to give it some deep thought. HMMM!

Family reunions are great times to catch-up on old times and bring one another up to date. Often you’ll eventually hear the phrase “you haven’t changed one bit.” But to say we are the same person today as we were 5 -10 years ago is to say we have wasted a great deal of God’s time. There should be some definite growth in the life we live and the way we view the world. And done in accordance with God’s plan our growth will create a desire for even greater growth and closeness to God. God is testing us in this life to ensure our eternal desire is for Him alone, for if we don’t love to praise Him in all things here, heaven is not for us.

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” – Psalm 27:4

Appropriate Ambition

Majestic mountains are not meant to envy. – Jonh Piper

John the Baptist never tried to overshadow the ministry of Jesus, he just prepared the way. Hmm!

The Grand Canyon – it’s a beautiful creation and gift of God that inspires awe. But it was not intended to create a desire for us to dig a hole just like it. Truth be known many folks often wish they could sing, preach, pray, write, etc. like the Great ones; and they envy their skills and talents. But comparison’s like this are really a doorway into selfish ambition, it leads us to a place of competition and confrontation rather than God’s design for harmony and unity. Ambition is a great thing, but we should seek to keep it focused on bettering ourselves through the gifts and opportunities God grants us individually, not trying to make ourselves a carbon copy of some other God-gifted saint. For if we fail to be who God made us to be, who will fill in for us?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

Proof of the Pudding...

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, not the presentation. - Anon

Barnabas told the disciples and the people that Paul really wasn’t so bad once you got to know him. Hmm!

We roll our eyes, or turn our nose up, or even get offended at the mere glance of a book or movie title. And though the title may give you a clue about the book or movie, the title alone doesn’t tell the whole story – that comes with the reading, getting into it. And so often with the people in our lives we do the same thing, a mere glance and a galvanized opinion is formed. So we never take time to build a relationship with them, or if we do; we do so through our galvanized lenses, always looking for the facts and circumstances to support it, and often missing the gems and traits that make them unique and lovable by God. A good book always has discovery and intrigue for the reader, drawing them in with twists and plots that often surprise. People are essentially no different. The key to making any relationship successful and prosperous is to find out why the person is so loved by God, after all, they’re possibly doing the same with us.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged…..” – Matthew 7:1

Aging Graciously

Don’t ever regret growing older. It’s a privilege denied to many. – Anon

Methuselah lived 969 years, but I’m sure he would have taken one more day had God offered it. Hmm!

It is said that ‘age is mind over matter,’ - if you don’t mind, it really doesn’t matter. There is a lot of truth in this way of thinking. Oftentimes people get caught up in the idea aging or growing older, not wanting anyone to know their age or so forth. But not one of us had anything to do with our being here, it was God and our parents, so timing was not up to us. And God has been very gracious to allow us to remain here while others have gone. So we should celebrate each day and give glory to Him, aches, pain, troubles and all, for the alternative is not too pretty.

Until Monday………

Pastor Botts

“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout….It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.” Luke 2:25-26

Perfect Plan

Just because things are not going perfectly does not mean that they are not going well. – A. Groh

Joseph was sold into slavery, made a house servant, falsely accused, and thrown into prison. It was all according to God’s plan and purpose for him and his people. Hmm!

“Look on the bright side of things!” That’s a phrase we’re more often than not going to tell someone else who is having a down or difficult time of life, but one we hate to hear ourselves. It’s truly amazing how we so often expect everything to work out to perfection or according to our plan, when in retrospect everything that “did work to our good” didn’t actually happen the way we envisioned it, but according to God’s plan and purpose. There will come times in all our lives that darkness seems to hover over us, resources seem to be a bit short, friends seem to be a bit distant or unhelpful, and family wants little or nothing to do with us. It might just be then that God is saying “just perfect…trust in me.”

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord….” – Jeremiah 29:11

Infectious Greatness

A leader's most powerful ally is his or her own example. - John Wooden

Paul said he became 'whatever' it took to win one to Christ. Wow!

Magic vs. Bird. Steph vs. Lebron. All champions in their own right, but it seems Magic and Steph have a charisma that infected those they played beside with enthusiasm, excitement, and FUN. Our faith should be somewhat like that, so noticeable that it impacts and infects those we're with a good deal of the time. We should live our life and do our jobs as if Jesus were our immediate supervisor (He is). Who we work for and the type of work doesn't really matter, our attitude is what's important, and it's what God looks upon (heart). Each day we should seek the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help us do the job with pleasure, determination, and confidence - this will not only attract others, but also allow us the opportunity to 'infect' them. Not only is it a great feeling, but it leaves the door open for great things to happen, and that's what leaders do, provide opportunities for greatness to enter. Are you in?

Until tomorrow......

Pastor Botts

"...Mordecai the Jew was........preeminent among the Jews, and held in high esteem by his many fellow Jews, because he worked for the good of his people and spoke up for the welfare of all the Jews." - Esther 10:3

Passionate Pursuit

Trivial Pursuit is a game, not a way of life. – Anon

Gideon was content to eke out an obscured, hidden life; but God said ‘No way!’ AMEN!

Motivation – it’s what fuels winners, successes. The desire to be a success drives them to be passionate about their craft – to work at it, sweat at it, give it all they have. It becomes their purpose. The fact of the matter is God created each one of us for a purpose. And just as God is passionate about His creation, within each of us is a passion He’s given us to somehow make the world a better place, make life better for those around us, and make His name known among everyone. The trick is to find out what you’re passionate about and ask God to help you make it work for His glory, that will give our lives purpose, direction, fulfillment, and use for God. There is no reward nor overtime pay for procrastination. Doing the work of God is a responsibility for each of us. Well, today is here, and God is waiting, so “if it’s going to be, it’s up to…..”

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“….Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord…” – Romans 12:11

Seeing God

Good vision consists of being able to see the trees and the forest. Great vision sees the maker. – O. Battista

When Jesus healed the blind man of Bethsaida, he was able to physically see, yet he missed out knowing WHO truly healed him. Hmm!

For the most part we are a grateful people. We often take time to thank God for our blessings and what He has done in our lives, but often we miss the very essence of God Himself within the blessings He gives, or even the understanding of what He is doing in our lives when He is doing it. Just as Jesus stood before Pilate who was so focused on tradition and man-made doctrines he ‘missed’ God before his very eyes; we sometimes get so caught up in the blessing God sends we fail to see the 'spirit of God' in the blessing. Hindsight is 20/20 vision, but we should pray that we will see God often face to face today.

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went. Even though he did not know where he was going…For he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God.” – Hebrews 11:8,10

Enjoying the Detours

A truly joyful person enjoys the scenery on a detour. – Anon

Though the Israelites had to wander 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the Promised Land, it was worth it to Caleb. Hmm!

SigAlerts, accidents, road closures, one-way streets. Oftentimes things of this nature take us out of our normal “driving” patterns and cause us to map out different strategies and routes, and even with GPS it still often gets under our skin. Life is very similar in that oftentimes we must make detours, or put off until later things ‘we’ deemed needful and necessary now. It seemed Joseph’s life was one detour after another, but in reality it was all God’s plan to bring him before Pharaoh and to eventually save his people. Perhaps God has a plan for you in your detours, so maybe you should relax and enjoy the views.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?’ You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” – Genesis 50:19-20

Good Better Best

You can always be better. – Anon

Abel was not just content to offer God the ‘fat portions’ of his increase, he took them from the firstborn of his flock. Hmm!

“Close enough!” If ever a phrase limited man that’s it. We’ve become a people or society that lives by that credo. It’s given us license to reset the target, lower our expectations, and rest our pursuits. But today was given to us for just one purpose – we can all always be better. Better at loving, better at forgiving, better at extending mercy, better at lending a hand, better at listening with an open heart, better at speaking gracefully, better at exercising patience, better at stewardship, better at friendship, and even better at work or play. The list can go on and on and on – for we were all made in the image of God (in character and nature) and He has ALWAYS given us His best, so in truth we have nothing but upside potential. Besides, by getting better in any of the above we actually get better at giving God praise, and in the end that’s what really matters.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty….’” – Luke 17:10

Marvel Everyday

Life is not a guided tour, but it is filled with a lot of marvel. – Anon

In the bible we read the great accounts of many folks who had no idea how it would all turn out, but it did. Hmm!

“How in the world did my life wind up here?” “I can’t believe what I’m seeing!” Blessing or hardship, admittedly we are often amazed or confused as to how some of these things or events happen in our lives and why. Situations that cause us to think deeply, ponder over and over. But that’s the great thing about our God. We get used to the routine, want complacency and little change in our lives. But if God’s compassions and mercies are new everyday, obviously so are many of the events He brings to pass in our lives, hoping that we will marvel in amazement of His wondrous love and concern for us. No matter your situation you have to admit He is an AWE-some God.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight….” – Proverbs 3:5