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Pastor’s Blog,
December 2008
RESPOND by email Warring for What? (updated 8/16/08)
Progress digitizing Faith Assembly recorded sermons: February 28, 1996
Friday, December 26, 2008 Through Ezekiel 3
7:45 a.m. This weekend we will have no meetings at Faith Assembly, but we will be joining in a “Winter Gathering” with Bread of Life Assembly in Goshen and another fellowship from Franklin, Indiana, meetings being held at Bread of Life. See the News Page for details. Last week, because of ice storms, we had power interruptions here at the church, and every time the power went off, even for a few seconds, the computers all had to reboot. Worse yet, the slightest flicker, not even enough to make the computers reboot, would break the Paltalk connection. These were not lengthy interruptions, but just long enough to interrupt things. So, I’ve now equipped our sound table with an uninterruptible power supply (UPS for short) sufficient to carry the sound system, the computer, and a few lights, and I’ve equipped my own desk with another UPS, somewhat smaller, sufficient to carry my computer, where we monitor the Paltalk room. With these UPS devices, at least a short interruption should not affect the sound system, computers, or Paltalk, so we can tell people what has happened and close down the system in an orderly fashion. If there is only a short power interruption, the UPS devices should maintain our system so there is no interruption at all as far as Paltalk is concerned.
Saturday, December 13, 2008 Through Jeremiah 52
9:40 a.m. In the past couple of weeks I witnessed the laying to rest of the mortal remains of two dear brothers who are now with Jesus. It is another solemn reminder that the number of our days is foreordained by God, and whether I live until Jesus catches the overcomers away or not is predetermined by God, regardless of how carefully I prepare. Certainly, if I am not prepared, I will not be in the group. But not all who are prepared will live to see that day, and no one knows the day or the hour. The only thing we can do is live ready at all times, so that the day will not catch us unawares if it does come in our lifetime. It is no answer to “believe to go up in the firstfruits rapture.” If you can believe to go up in the firstfruits rapture, you can just as well believe to know the day or the hour; you can just as well believe for Jesus to come this week. Some things just are not up to our faith to determine if or when they will happen. Wouldn’t it be nice if I could just make myself really, really ready, and then just believe for it to happen now? I wouldn’t have to worry about being ready all the time. Just get ready, and get it done and over with. None of this business of enduring to the end! No, that is not how it works. I have been teaching from Jeremiah 23. The things which aroused God’s wrath then still arouse His wrath today. Not only the things the people were doing, but the prophets and the priests all were living like there was no God holding them accountable. And, we are seeing the same thing today. Ministers preaching to people who live just like the rest of this wicked world, assuring them that they will be just fine when Christ catches away the overcomers. Just fine? Not included in the catching away is just fine? Because that is how it will be. They will suddenly find themselves in the tribulation, wondering why they didn’t go up with the others. What will it take for anyone — ANYONE! — to really get serious about living a godly, holy life? Well, for sure, we need God’s mercy!
Friday, December 5, 2008 Through Jeremiah 18
10:30 a.m. |