New Life Takes Time

The secret to being productive is to work on the right thing — even if it’s at a slow pace. - J. Clear

Paul preferred who he was becoming in Christ far and above the 'Pharisee of Pharisees' he once was. Hmm!

In one of my wife's favorite movies 'Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan' the Starfleet Federation scientists develop a technology that can create new life on a barren or frozen planet from scratch. It can form mountains, oceans, vegetation and its own sustaining atmosphere. Of course they call it the 'Genesis' project. I think on this and remember Jesus said "my Father is always at His work!" How often do we take for granted what God is creating new every day? Trees blossoming for example. God is not only creating beauty, but food as the cycle of new life continues. What He started 'in the beginning' continues under His Sovereign will today. And He is at work in re-creating in us Christ's likeness day after day after day. So, in essence you are a new creation today, far different than you were yesterday; and that is not only a great marvel but a reason to rejoice.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you." - Isaiah 42:9

No Permission Needed for This Mission

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES!

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

Before You Speak...

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – Richard Murray

At a heightened moment of temptation, Jesus let it pass and carefully uttered “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” WOW!

One of the old clichéd truisms of life is “please think before you speak.” The adoption of this principle as a doctrine of life could save us from many stressful situations and later apologies. All of us from our childhood have been taught how to talk and enunciate our words, but not so much when and how to choose our words or responses carefully. We should always be ready to speak the truth, but even then, it should be spoken in love, not in hostility or with other unnecessary commentary. And yes, there are times when we should just remain silent and refrain from ‘adding’ in our two-cents on matters that are not constructive about others. Temptation will indeed be great to go off course today, but remember God will provide a way of escape.

Until tomorrow…

Pastor Botts

“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it….” – James 4:11

Truth + Love= Life

Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. – W.C. Stone

Boaz didn’t have to mention there was another kinsman redeemer for Ruth and Naomi, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Hmm!

In our courts systems a witness is sworn in by being asked to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.’ The idea is there will be no shading or jading or shortage of facts in their testimony. It’s a matter of integrity, loyalty and honesty – not personal benefit to the individual. God expects the same of us in our everyday dealings with one another, to live out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and to live by love, complete love, and nothing but unbiased love. True such living may cause some uncomfortable situations, and may require more of us than we’re willing to give; but in those instances we should be reminded of the Cross and what Jesus did for us. So as today unfolds before us with its many situations and circumstances the question is ‘how then shall we live?’

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3

Initiative: Permission Not Required

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES!

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

The Words Can Get in the Way

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – R. Murray

At a heightened moment of temptation, Jesus let it pass and carefully uttered “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” WOW!

One of the old clichéd truisms of life is “please think before you speak.” The adoption of this principle as a doctrine of life could save us from many stressful situations and later apologies. All of us from our childhood have been taught how to talk and enunciate our words, but rarely when and how to choose our words or responses carefully. We should always be ready to speak the truth, but even it should be spoken in LOVE, not hostility or with ‘superlative’ laced commentary; and refrain from ‘adding’ our two-cents in on matters that are not constructive about others. Temptation will indeed be great to go off course today, but remember God will provide a way of escape.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it….” – James 4:11

I was about to Say...

Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment. – R. Murray

At a heightened moment of temptation, Jesus let it pass and carefully uttered “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” WOW!

One of the old clichéd truisms of life is “please think before you speak.” The adoption of this principle as a doctrine of life could save us from many stressful situations and later apologies. All of us from our childhood have been taught how to talk and enunciate our words, but rarely when and how to choose our words or responses carefully. We should always be ready to speak the truth, but even it should be spoken in love, not in hostility or with other unneccessary commentary; and yes there are times when we should just remain siltent and refrain from ‘adding’ in our two-cents on matters that are not constructive about others. Temptation will indeed be great to go off course today, but remember God will provide a way of escape.

Until tomorrow…….

Pastor Botts

“Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it….” – James 4:11

Just Do the Right Thing

Initiative consists simply of doing the right thing without being told. – I. Mack

Jonathan charged a garrison of Philistine soldiers that led to an Israelite conquest. Was he told to do it? NO! Was he right to do it? YES!

"I wonder what I should do!" It's a question we often ask ourselves, with hopes someone else will direct us. If we are honest about it, many of us have never outgrown our adolescent need of being told what to do. It’s comforting to us, because it somewhat absolves us of responsibility and inspiration. However, God leaves us with many choices to make; and the one expectation He has in each case is that we will do the right thing. Many of us are waiting for permission to do what God has already commissioned us to do. The charge is to ‘GO’ until we hear God say ‘STOP!’

Until tomorrow……

Pastor Botts

“Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.” – James 4:17

Doing Right

Do the right thing because it’s the right thing to do. – W.C. Stone

Boaz didn’t have to mention there was another kinsman redeemer for Ruth and Naomi, but he knew it was the right thing to do. Hmm!

In our courts systems a witness is sworn in by being asked to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.’ The idea is there will be no shading or jading or shortage of facts in their testimony. It’s a matter of integrity, loyalty and honesty – not personal benefit to the individual. God expects the same of us in our everyday dealings with one another, to live out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and to live by love, complete love, and nothing but unbiased love. True such living may cause some uncomfortable situations, and may require more of us than we’re willing to give; but in those instances we should be reminded of the Cross and what Jesus did for us. So as today unfolds before us with its many situations and circumstances the question is ‘how then shall we live?’

Until Monday…..

Pastor Botts

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3