Truth: Friend or Foe?

Truth is either the greatest of friends or an unbeatable foe. – Anon

As Jesus stood before him, Pilate had a major decision to make about the truth. We know how it ended with him. WOW!

TRUTH – Courts of law search for it; we demand it in our daily interactions. Yes, truth is something we are to seek after, embrace, and affirm. Yet it is not so much a matter of us finding the truth as it is us surrendering to it. Jesus said “You shall know the truth and it will set you free.” To know means to understand, accept, and abide in. Our surrender to ‘truth’ is what establishes our foundation for a life of integrity, honesty, and righteousness before God and others. The point we often overlook is that when we find the truth and refuse to surrender it no longer remains our friend but actually becomes the foe that condemns us. God leaves the choice to us.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice…” – Proverbs 21:3

Toxic Friendship?

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life. – J. Thorpe

Abram left everything (family, homeland, etc.) to follow God’s call. He was later called a ‘friend of God.’ Hmm!

The saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ has a lot of truth to it. By nature, we generally associate and befriend those that are somewhat like us. That’s okay if and when we’re trying to live for Christ, but often we want to live for Jesus but keep the same old friends and the same old habits. One of the best ways to break a habit is to get away from those who aid us in keeping it. That may mean letting go of some of our ‘well intentioned’ friendships and associations. God’s Word calls on us to ‘forsake mother, father, sister, and brother’ if they will in any way impede our coming to Him, meaning some of our closest relationships may need to be broken in our quest for eternal life. The question is how much do we love God?

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

P.S. - Hope you can make it out tonight at 6:30pm for Game Night. Join us for fun, food, and fellowship.

True Supporting Cast Members

God evidently does not intend us all to be rich, or powerful, or great, but He does intend us all to be friends. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jonathan would not let the kingship nor his father, king Saul, take from him what he cherished most – FRIENDSHIP with David. Hmm!

In any society there are only so many that can be leaders, standouts, or greats if you will. But in reality, they cannot be such without the support of the people, so to be a standout or great is really nothing without friends to support you. One of the key elements God looks for in us down here is our ability to love one another in spite of our different stations, cultures, or preferences, and to prefer one another over ourselves – that’s a picture of true friendship. Remember, it’s easier to be a friend than to find one.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:14

Loving Everyone

We make our friends and our enemies, but God makes our neighbor. – Anon

The expert lawyer was looking for a loophole as to who his neighbor was. Jesus cleared it up. Hmm!

Choice – what a great gift God gave us. The ability to make our own choices or decisions. We get to choose where to live, what to eat, what to drive, even who gets to be our friend. But the one choice God did not leave to us is who to love. We’re commanded to love everyone, especially our neighbor. And though we’d like it to be the people who live to the right and left of us, God says emphatically our neighbor is anyone we can help regardless of location, color, creed or affiliation. So as the day and weekend unfolds remember God might be bringing ‘new neighbors’ our way.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“….and the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

P.S. Hope you can join us for 'Family Fun and Game Night' tonight at 6:30pm.

The Gift of True Friendship

True friends are God's way of taking care of us. - Anon

Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and David, the man whom God chose to replace King Saul. Mortal enemies right - NO, it was a friendship made by God. Hmm!

We often take them for granted, and seldom remember how they came into our lives - friends. But that's just it - they are in our lives - and we would be somewhat at a loss if they weren't. They step up when others step back, add to you instead of taking away from you. Remember what the bible says, 'every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father...' I pray we may all be a true friend and have a true friend.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." - Proverbs 27:6

Stay Courageous

He who loses wealth loses much, he who loses a friend loses more, but he who loses his courage loses all. – Miguel de Cervantes

Of all the things Judas lost on that fateful night, his courage to seek a forgiving Christ cost him most. Ouch!

Often we don’t want to face the trials God puts before us, meet the challenges His church requires of us, or step out on faith as His word tells us, but we must. For it is in going through the circumstances of life we grow our faith and our courage for the next battle. We need remember, Satan’s best and most used tool is “discouragement,” and he keeps it at the ready. And he doesn't use it in big 'doses' but little by little, in very subtle ways, so that it begins to wear us down and lead us to apathy. So we must pray that the Spirit will empower us for today, for the challenges, they are a'comin.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith, be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” – I Corinthians 16:13-14

Fair Financial Future

Yes, men do make counterfeit money, but more often than naught, money makes counterfeit men. - S. Harris

Rehoboam's focus on more taxation made him a lesser man than his father Solomon. OUCH!

The love of money, the attraction, the affectations it brings, the power it yields, the satisfaction and happiness it promises - it's all smoke and mirrors. Yes, we need money to survive in this life, exist in this culture, but no matter how much we have it does not and should not define us, nor should others measure us by it. Jesus told us we should use 'worldly wealth to gain friends' so that one day we 'might be welcomed into eternal dwellings.' Though God requires the tithe of us, I think the question we should sometimes ask ourselves is: what are we doing with the other 90%, how is that portion showing out in my life? That does bear some thought, doesn't it? Will anybody be in heaven based on my spending patterns? The best use of your dollar$ and ¢ent$ is to be $en$ible in preparation for tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"....for where your treasure is there your heart will be also..." - Matthew 6:22

Squad Goals

A good library is a collection of friends. – L. Abbott

When distress came upon Job his friends immediately came to his side. They weren’t the brightest, but they were there for him. Hmm!

Batman & Robin. The Lone Ranger & Tonto. Crimefighters yes, but friends as well. No matter how we try to live out our lives we will soon discover it’s much better and easier with good friends than without them. Yes some events call for solitude but God wired us to be in communion with Him and “not to be alone.” Good fellowship with friends helps build up our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. The key to having them is to allow God to place them in our lives, and then enjoy. Why not read a chapter or two today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” – Luke 6:12-13

Friends: A Gift From God

You do have a right to pick your friends, but not to pieces – Anon

When the people of a small Samaritan village didn’t show themselves friendly and open to Jesus and His message, the disciples were ready to call down fire and destroy them. OUCH!

"Shooting the messenger!" "Crucifying the one closest to us." We've all done it before, often without forethought when life stacks up against us. Even still, we must be careful to keep our heart, minds, and EGO’s in check. When friends disagree with us or disappoint us, it does not declare them “open for hunting or hurting.” We need to remember that true friends are a gift from God, to help us make it through this thing called life. Yes, family matters greatly, but those you don't get to choose. God gives us the opportunity to choose those we call friends. I pray you will reconcile an old friendship today.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:31-32

Being Friends

God evidently does not intend us all to be rich, or powerful, or great, but He does intend us all to be friends. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jonathan would not let the kingship nor his father, king Saul, take from him what he cherished most – FRIENDSHIP with David. Hmm!

In any society there are only so many that can be leaders, standouts, or greats if you will. But in reality they cannot be such without the support of the people, so to be a standout or great is really nothing without friends to support you. One of the key elements God looks for in us down here is our ability to love one another in spite of our different stations, cultures, or preferences, and to prefer one another over ourselves – that’s a picture of true friendship. Remember, it’s easier to be a friend than to find one.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“You are my friends if you do what I command.” – John 15:14

I Am A Friend Of...

Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life. – J. Thorpe

Abram left everything (family, homeland, etc.) to follow God’s call. He was later called a ‘friend of God.’ Hmm!

The saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ has a lot of truth to it. By nature we generally associate and befriend those that are somewhat like us. That’s okay if and when we’re trying to live for Christ, but often we want to live for Jesus but keep the same old friends and the same old habits. One of the best ways to break a habit is to get away from those who aid us in keeping it. That may mean letting go of some of our ‘well intentioned’ friendships and associations. God’s word calls on us to ‘forsake mother, father, sister, and brother’ if they will in any way impede our coming to Him, meaning some of our closest relationships may need to be broken in our quest for  eternal life. The question is how much do we love God?

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” – James 4:4

No Hype Communication

One reason the dog has so many friends, he wags his tail instead of his tongue. – Anon

David put to death the man who lied about killing Saul. Though Saul was David’s enemy, he was still God’s anointed. Hmm!

Years ago TV stations merely reported the news as it happened. Today in our media saturated culture they are out and about chasing and looking for it and then “marketing” the news, giving their own bias or slant to it. Often we fall prey to the same type of communication process. Out and about passing on our views on sights and sounds often without the “full understanding.” And when it backfires we’re often wondering why. Conversation is great, but conjecture on others lives is best left unsaid.  Just as the things we do say a lot about us, the things we say communicate even more. Sometimes silence is golden.

Until Monday……

Pastor Botts

“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” – Proverbs 10:19

On Display

People will look at your example long before they listen to your advice. – Anon

When Moses tried to advise a Hebrew slave that it was wrong to hit his fellowman, he was reminded he ‘secretly’ killed an Egyptian. Hmm!

In his book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' Carnegie states "people are drawn by example". The thing to remember is people will see what we do long before they hear what we say. The things we do tell all the world who we really are, and there is not a moment when you are not being who you are. Though we may not be aware of it our every action is being watched and observed, whether by strangers, family, or those we’re dealing with at the moment. So whether we’re cursing or caressing, someone is watching our example. The question is are we giving them ‘godly’ advice.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” – I Corinthians 11:1

The Choice To Love

We make our friends and our enemies, but God makes our neighbor. – Anon

The expert lawyer was looking for a loophole as to who his neighbor was. Jesus cleared it up. Hmm!

Choice – what a great gift God gave us. The ability to make our own choices or decisions. We get to choose where to live, what to eat, what to drive, even who gets to be our friend. But the one choice God did not leave to us is who to love. We’re commanded to love everyone, especially our neighbor. And though we’d like to be the people who live to the right and left of us, God says emphatically our neighbor is anyone we can help regardless of location, color, creed or affiliation. So as the day and weekend unfolds remember God might be bringing ‘new neighbors’ our way.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“….and the second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” – Mark 12:31

Good Fellowship

A good library is a collection of friends. – L. Abbott

When distress came upon Job his friends immediately came to his side. They weren’t the brightest, but they were there for him. Hmm!

Batman & Robin. The Lone Ranger & Tonto. Crimefighters yes, but friends as well. No matter how we try to live out our lives we will soon discover it’s much better and easier with good friends than without them. Yes some events call for solitude but God wired us to be in communion with Him and “not to be alone.” Good fellowship with friends helps build up our spiritual, emotional, and mental well-being. The key to having them is to allow God to place them in our lives, and then enjoy. Why not read a chapter or two today.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.” – Luke 6:12-13

The Theme of Freedom

The best things in life aren’t “things.”

Remember as you gather with family and friends to celebrate the theme of the day it’s the relationships that make it special, not the meals, fireworks, games, etc. And let us remember those who gave their life and are giving their time now to ensure we continue to enjoy such freedoms.   Also remember Jesus came for the same purpose. While we enjoy the theme of today, let's keep our eyes focused on the "THEME" of our life. Make sure to take some time to strengthen your relationship with Christ today!

Until tomorrow….

Pastor Botts

Birds of a Feather...

When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends. – Japanese Proverb

Yes Jesus interacted with the sinners he came to save, but he chose as ‘friends’ men who would lay down their life for others as he did. WOW!

It is often said family has to accept us, but friends have a choice. And that choice tells a lot about us. Nobody gives a greater account of who we are and what we profess than the friends we spend our time with. No matter what we say, we normally fellowship and let our guard down around those we are most comfortable with, for in most instances they are like us, i.e. the same interests, beliefs, moral character, etc. In the circle of friends we have the question we must ask ourselves is: What does it say of our character and relationship to God? Oftentimes many of us think we’re the picture of perfect spiritual health to the world, but our ‘friends’ may say otherwise.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” – Proverbs 27:17