Tempering Your Speech

When words are 'heated' they lose their sweetness! - Anon

When they brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, he thought long and hard before he spoke. Hmm!

Coffee! Cocoa! Chili! Some things are good served piping hot. It adds to their overall presentation and enjoyment. We couldn't imagine receiving it any other way. But when it comes to conversation our words are not one of them. The bible tells us 'practice self-control', 'be slow to speak, slow to get angry', and 'in your anger do not sin'! Why, because in our anger not only do our tempers rise (think temperature) but our desire to inflict hurt, harm, and pain on others also increases. It's a mixture of self-presentation combined with pride, and everyone knows that's not a recipe to help build community. It's true, there are times we need to 'say what we need to say', but it should always be thought through and said constructively and in love. Sometimes silence sends an even greater message.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." - Colossians 4:6

Turning Down the Heat

When words are 'heated' they lose their sweetness! - Anon

When they brought the woman caught in adultery to Jesus, he thought long and hard before he spoke. Hmm!

Coffee! Cocoa! Chili! Some things are good served piping hot. It adds to their overall presentation and enjoyment. We couldn't imagine receiving it any other way. But when it comes to conversation our words are not one of them. The bible tells us 'practice self-control', 'be slow to speak, slow to get angry', and 'in your anger do not sin'! Why, because in our anger not only do our tempers rise (think temperature) but our desire to inflict hurt, harm, and pain on others also increases. It's a mixture of self-presentation combined with pride, and everyone knows that not a recipe to help build community. It's true, there are times we need to 'say what we need to say', but it should always be thought through and said constructively and in love. Sometimes silence sends an even greater message.

Until tomorrow...

Pastor Botts

"let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." - Colossians 4:6

Blooming Where You Are

Brighten the corner where YOU are! - Song refrain

His brother Peter got more print and notice, but Andrew had great impact as well. AMEN!

We live in a culture/society where it's all about ME! I take "center stage." Shine the spotlight on MY deeds of greatness, follow MY life on social media, or hear about MY vast amount of need and right to exist. But what if it really isn't about YOU! The poet Thomas Gray wrote "full many a flower is born to blush unseen and waste its sweetness in the desert air." It means some flowers are never seen - they never make it into the floral bouquet, table centerpiece, hospital room, secretary's desk, or wives hands. They grow in some distant, dark place, but yet they grow and bloom and give beauty to that place. You may not ever write a book, preach a sermon, sing a solo, or stand in front of a crowd, but you can still bloom for God just by SERVING where you are with what you have. Shine On!

Until tomorrow.....

Pastor Botts

"....see how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not eve Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these...." - Matthew 6:27-28

Simple Sweet Moments of Life

Life is a great bundle of little things. – O.W. Holmes

As Mary watched her ‘child’ grow the bible says she treasured many moments and hid them in her heart. Hmm!

Remember as a kid biting into a nice freshly picked peach or apple maybe. All natural, plump, juicy, sweet as can be with no additives, preservatives, or artificial coloring. Much different than what you get today from the market. There’s a difference too, between the natural ‘sweetness’ of life and the things we think should be added to it. A hectic pace that keeps our calendars crowded and far from the pace God wants us to walk that we may savor the day(s), a vast number of online connections and conversations rather than a meaningful face to face encounter with a friend. God never said life has to be lived in the fast lane nor be crowded without margin. His idea is that we just enjoy the simple pleasures. Today would be a great time to start.

Until tomorrow…..

Pastor Botts

“…better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil…” – Proverbs 15:16

P.S. - Due to unforeseen circumstances we WILL NOT be hosting the Medical Missions Adventures VISION CARE program this Saturday. We will keep you updated when more information becomes available.