Pastor's Page

Hello, once again. Slowly, but surely our website is beginning to take shape. True there are still a number of areas under construction. I guess I just couldn't wait to get everything completed before starting out. Isn't that usually the way it goes? I know I started out for God long before the work was completely done. We'll just have to wait for heaven to see that miracle. My hope is you'll be back to look often to see what I may be up to next.

I'm very excited about what's happening at our church right now. We are embarking on an adventure in renovation not only of the physical aspects of the church, but the spiritual ones as well. We have this vision for revival of the "old time religion" in a contemporary world. Now, before that picture you're forming in your head takes root, let me tell you what the "old time religion" is really all about.

First, it's about freedom. The freedom to worship God as the Spirit leads you. That doesn't just mean while you're in the building on Sunday morning. It also means as an expression of the life God is creating within you day by day. It's all about being free to live in the Spirit. You see a righteous man does not need the Law ( or man made rules ), for he is led by the Holy Spirit into a transformation of his nature, from darkness into light.

The old time religion is also about the Bible. It's the only rule for living. We believe it was breathed into holy men by the Spirit of God and was preserved by that same Spirit for us today. That Word lives! We know it's true by the stirring it brings to the soul when we hear it. It's true when we are in crisis and need someplace to turn to for help. People here are telling me it works everyday.

The old time religion is about honesty. The way I hear people throw that word around you'd think it was in great supply. Honesty, however, is hard to come by these days. I think that's really because it's not as valued as people profess. Usually we want the truth so long as it agrees with what we think. When someone is honest with us without agreeing, we say they are mean spirited and judgemental. That will usually work to quiet all opposition...if not, we'll just take the stance that we are "open minded". The honesty with which God approaches our lives can be frightening at times. Especially when all we wanted was a little "feel good" for our troubled soul. God is not into half way measures. He doesn't want to just make you rejoice on Sunday. He wants to rejoice with you for an eternity. Do you see a problem here? The problem is us. We're not close to ready. That's what the old time religion is about getting ready, honestly, truely, eternally ready for for fellowship with God.