Just 5 more days!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!! I just love to say that. I guess I am not "politically correct", but I have to tell you - I DON'T CARE! I find it kind of humorous that everyone wants all the perks that Christmas has to bring, but they don't want to celebrate the Christ of Christmas. Well, maybe it's more sad than it is humorous.
All that being said, I hope and pray that each and everyone that reads this blog would come to personally know the Savior OF THE WORLD - who is Christ the Lord. I challenge you to read the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and learn for yourself who this person Jesus really is. Let me share with you a great passage of Scripture to explain a little bit of who He is:

Philippians 2:5-11 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

This passage is one of the most powerful sections in all of Scripture! I challenge you to take some time and really read it over again and ponder the powerful message. Jesus was God and He humbled Himself and put skin on to ultimately die for your sin and mine. And one day...one day every single person is going to bow their knee and confess with their mouth the name JESUS!

Jesus Christ is the only possible way for any person to have a relationship with God. Why not confess His name now while you have the chance, and not wait to do it when you are forced to - then it will be too late to spend eternity with God.

May each and everyone of you have a very Merry Christmas!

Change is GOOD...right?

Don't you just love change? Well, I am not a huge fan of change, but sometimes it is a really good thing!
Here in Western New York we have definitely had a change in seasons. Temperatures have drop, considerably, and the snow has fallen...and there is much more to come I'm sure. I have just moved from one house to another on the same property. And...it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, my favorite celebration of all.
It's time to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to mankind - that precious little baby that was wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The Savior of the world came to bring about change in the hearts of all mankind. About 30 years after His birth that Savior said these words:

John 14:6 "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life - NO ONE comes to the Father except through Me." Now that statement requires a total change for every man, woman and child. On our own we cannot ever have a relationship with God because we will never be "good enough." We can't earn our way or work our way or do anything on our own strength and power to reach God or heaven. What we must do is accept that gift given by God and change or repent of our sins and turn from our sin and live for God.
That's the change that for all of us that is difficult. Why? Because we are sinners and we have a nature that we were born with desires to do things that are contrary to God's way of doing things. It is a battle every single day to do what's right in God's eyes. But I believe it is a battle that we can win with the help of God's Holy Spirit.
Is it time for you to "change" and allow God to be the focus of your life? Things don't magically become perfect but let me tell you from personal experience: Being a follower of Jesus Christ is the greatest life EVER!
I pray during this Christmas season you find out the Truth for yourself if you haven't already, and give your life to the One who created you! 

He is worthy of our praise!

There are so many ways to worship the Lord - by the way we live, give, serve, love and the list can go on and on. One of my favorite ways to worship is through music. I used to sing a lot on worship teams and men's groups, and it seems like I am either whistling or singing all day long.
Before I started this blog - I was singing an old hymn that says:
There's within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low
Fear not I am with thee peace be still
In all of life's ebb and flow
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus the sweetest name I know
Fills my every longing
Keeps me singing as I go.

Is there a melody in your heart today?

There really is something about that name - JESUS, isn't there!

You may not be able to carry a tune in a bucket, but that doesn't really matter. We need to be making a joyful noise unto the Lord all the time, because He IS so worthy of our praise! Again, not just through singing, but singing is one of the best way to worship Him!.

Psalm 100:4-5
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
and into His courts with praise,
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations.

HE IS WORTHY!!

By this one thing!

The last few Sunday's we have been looking at Jesus' words that say: "By this all will know you are My disciples if you have love for one another." I have repeatedly said over these weeks that if we could just get this one thing right our world would be a different place. The Bible says that God demonstrated His love toward us, I believe it's time for us to demonstrate our love to one another and to this world. The church - followers of Jesus Christ, have not done a very good job of doing this, in my opinion. If we as followers of Christ would love our brothers and sisters inside the church, it would truly DRAW more on the outside to want to be a part of God's family.

So the question is - how do we go about doing this?

I believe if we put our pride and petty differences aside and love each other - "the way Jesus loves us" more people would desire to want what we have!

If you don't have a church that you attend and just happen to be reading this - I want to invite you to be a part of our services on Sunday's at 10.

Those of you who already attend, let's make it our priority to show the love of Jesus Christ to all who attend and those that walk through our door and want to check out what's going on.

Time for all of us to act like DISCIPLES and not settle for just being Christians!

Same God?

I had the privilege of speaking in Chapel yesterday at the Christian school that my kids attend. I spoke to the Kindergarten through 5th graders, and that means you kind of have to act out the lesson. I used the passage of Scripture in James chapter 5 all about prayer. I had someone there in the audience call my phone and I pretended that God called me. It was kind of fun to hear their laughter at first. I focused on a few BIG words for them when it talks about praying "fervently" and "earnestly". At the end of that passage it talks about a guy named Elijah and how he prayed that it wouldn't rain, and God held off the rain for 3 1/2 years. Then he prayed again that God would send the rain and He did!
My question to them and to all of us is: Do we believe we could pray that way and that God could do the same kind of thing today?
We DO pray to the same God that Elijah prayed to thousands of years ago, and I believe with all my heart that God WANTS to do the same kind of miraculous things today.
Here's proof:

Ephesians 3:20-21 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen!

He really does want to do more than we could ever ask or even imagine!
Pray and try it out for yourself!

Can't get this verse out of my mind

This past Sunday's text just keeps resonating in mind: Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another daily, while it is called "Today." I don't know about you but I need encouragement TODAY! I am pretty sure I can speak for you as well. We all need it! Another verse comes to mind as well on the heels of the last one: Let no unwholesome speech proceed out of your mouth, only that which is good for building one another up and that it may impart grace to the hearers - Ephesians 4:29
What we say to one another doesn't only affect the one we are talking to, but also those who are around and can hear what we say. I truly believe we need to be much more careful what we say to one another, especially when others are around.
May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Thy sight, my Strength and my Redeemer!
Jesus told the disciples: "what you have done to the least of these my brethren you have done it unto Me. I think it would be safe to say that Jesus would say - what you have SAID to the least of these my brethren you have said to ME!

That should really make us THINK before we speak, Amen?

So encourage one another while it is called today!

Change is good...right?

Do you like change? I have to say most times I don't, I am pretty much a creature of habit and I am not usually into change much.

I say all that to express my total excitement as to what the Lord is doing and directing us to begin at ACC. We believe that God is steering us to start Community Groups the beginning of October. We have had some training for those who are going to host and facilitate these groups. These homes have been strategically located in Alden and the surrounding communities.
The main purpose of these groups is to meet outside the walls of the church to grow relationships with your church family and a intimate place to invite your unsaved friends and family to. Each group will be using their own sermon notes and questions that go along with the sermon to be discussed during your time together. We believe that this is just another way for us all to stay connected and on the same page.

There will be sign-up sheets the next 2 Sunday's after the service to find a house and a night that works good for you. We are hoping and praying that everyone will get involved and choose a Community Group to be apart of.

Let me give you a great passage of Scripture that reinforces this great idea:

* Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

This passage tells us that we should be together, and that we need each other - especially as we see the things that are going on in our world (the Day is approaching...seems like faster and faster).

Please sign up and be apart of this great new adventure! Encourage others to do the same and please be in prayer that we all do this God's way!

Love ya!
Pastor