Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

From the Pastor

From The Pastor
In 1910 British journalist and Christian author G. K. Chesterton published a collection of essays under the title, “What’s Wrong with the World?” The title came from a local newspaper that had invited various authors to write on that specific topic. It came out that G. K. Chesterton, this accomplished writer, had submitted the shortest entry to the newspaper. Addressing the issue of what was wrong with the world, Chesterton simply wrote in, “I am.” How true. While we say somebody else is to blame, and it is not my fault, the reality is we are responsible for much of what is wrong, but we resist this, — because of the sin of pride. 
Think about it, an inflated sense of self is the common thread that runs through all sin. Our massive egos get in the way as we believe, “I’m the greatest, others are insignificant, and God is smaller still.” You see, pride flourishes in the soil of my own making. In fact, as we grow larger (in our own eyes), the more deep rooted is our pride. And so, a small view of God’s power means I must assert more of my own. And so, we belt out Frank Sinatra’s signature song, “I did it my way.” And this never works out very well, because a loss of confidence in what God's will means we place more confidence in our own will. So, what's the answer? We have to open our eyes! If we can see God rightly, we can begin to see ourselves rightly as well. And if we open our hearts to his will, and not our own, then our pride won’t get in the way. And then we can lend our voice to a new song, — “I did it Thy way.” 
This is the theme for this Sunday, as we talk about the sin of pride. As James reminds us in surrendering our will to God’s in 4:10 to “humble yourselves, and he will exalt you.” Let’s humble ourselves, and elevate our view of God.  
Pastor John
Quote of the Week
"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.” 
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was an American Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, and speaker, known for his support of the abolition of slavery, his emphasis on God's love.