Insecurity.  We all know it.  We've all felt it.  We've all dealt with it.  In one form or another, in one aspect of life or another, insecurity has reared its ugly head to all of us.  Some are insecure in their appearance or in their career.  Some are insecure in their marriage or friendships.  Some folks may even be insecure in their material possessions/financial standing, or the lack thereof.  As for me, I have personally dealt with insecurity in each one of these areas.  Yes, suffice it to say, insecurity is absolutely a part of the human condition, and one that we all will face at some point.
     Have you ever heard someone say something like this, "I just don't know who I am anymore."  Such a person has not forgotten their name, where they were born, or who raised them.  They have simply become so insecure in themselves that they have lost sight of their place in the world, their own self-worth, or (most importantly) who they are in Christ.  There is an ancient Latin phrase that has been the basis for many philosophies over the years: nosce te ipsum, or, "know thyself."  Yet for all of our searching, contemplating, meditating, and even praying, who among us feels sufficient to boldly proclaim "I know exactly who I am."
     It is my belief that most insecurities are the result of fear.  Fear of what?  Rejection for one.  While reading through a devotional series about New Year's resolutions, the author briefly touched on rejection and the fear thereof.  No one experienced rejection quite like King David.  Think about it, he was rejected by his brothers, lovers, King Saul, even his own son.  With all of this rejection, it is irrational to believe that David never faced the inner-demons of insecurity.  Yet all he accomplished was to slay a giant, defeat the enemies of God, and become the King of Israel.   Oh yes, and do not forget that it would be his lineage that would see born the savior of the world, Jesus Christ.  So the question becomes this: did David ever have a crisis of faith?  Did he ever question his own self-worth?  Did he question his worthiness before God?  The answer is a resounding yes, yes, yes, and yes.
     Dear beloved reader, have your ever felt insecure in your faith?  In your salvation?  Have you ever done something and then proclaimed to your heart, "well old fella, you've done it this time.  God will never take you now."  I believe if we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we have all experienced such a crisis of faith. I have.  Heck, I often still have those momentary thoughts when I am faced with the reality of my unworthiness before God.  "How could God love me, in spite of what I've done?  Of who I am?"  This is spiritual insecurity, and it is very real.
     There have been times in my life, even in my pastoral life, where I have attempted to pick up my Bible only to put it down, because I felt like a fraud before God.  "How can I logically read my God's Word, knowing the things I've done", I have thought to myself.  The result? A loss of opportunity to spend time with Jesus in the very place He has revealed Himself to us the most.  Friend, there is one mystery I can solve for you, one question I can most certainly answer: you, like myself, are unworthy.  We are not worthy of God's love, or His endless grace.  As sinners, and sinners we are, we are not worthy of God's mercy.  Yet, in spite of our unworthiness, the Lord God grants to us these things and more through Jesus.  The Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 3:23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  However, in the following two verses Paul informs us that we are "justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God sent forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed" (Romans 3:24-25).
     Have ever thought about your forgiveness and salvation and thought, "can it really be this easy?"  Oh how sweet the knowledge that it is in fact this easy.  The moment we confess our sin, the moment we place our faith in Chrsit and He alone, we pass from damnation and into eternal hope.  So why then would a Christian ever have a crisis of faith?  Why would one ever question a salvation that was given freely to us, not one that we had to earn?  Because there is still a part of our human intellect, hidden in some desolate corner of the mind, that says "you are still not worthy."
     Let us turn briefly back to King David for a moment.  One simply needs to start reading through the Psalms to find that he frequently had moments of doubt and crisis of faith.  In fact, one might come to the conclusion that ole David could be a bit of a whiner at times.  Yet, it is also quite easy to see that, even when weak, his faith in God was always found, rekindled, and fulfilled.  Listen to his words in Psalms 27:10; "When my father and my mother forsake me, Then the Lord will take care of me."  Or this one; "I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."  
     Did David ever have moments of spiritual insecurity?  Absolutely.  Though he never forgot from whence came his true strength, his real purpose.  David did not allow fear, rejection, insecurity, or even persecution to turn him away from God.  In fact, David desired MORE of God, not less.  "One thing that I have desired of the Lord, that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple" (Psalms 27:4).
     So, friend, what power will you give insecurity in your own life?  Will your insecurities come between you and your church?  Between you and your time with God in His Word?  In prayer?  Will insecurity cause you to doubt your salvation or the extent of God's mercy towards you?  Remember this above all; Jesus promised us that He would never abandon us.  Leave or forsake us.  If you belong to Christ, you are NOT one mistake away from being "kicked out of the club."  Have faith.  Revel in the hope of the truth and promises of Jesus your Lord and Savior!  Remember the words of Paul, once again; "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
     So indeed I may at times be insecure.  I may briefly loose sight of who I am from time to time.  I may feel shaky in my relationships or in my finances.  But all of that is OK, because I know Jesus. I know who He is and what He has done for me.  And for me, that is enough.

Alive in Christ,
Bro John

           It only takes a little faith.  At least that it what they say.  Have you ever been going through something profound in your life and hear the plethora of platitudes, philosophical comments, and Scriptural tidbits?  Folks say these things with the best of intentions, but for you, likely the worst of times.  Take this one for instance; “They are in a better place now.”  If spoken of a Christian brother or sister, this statement is true.  Telling this to a grieving family while standing at the foot of the recently deceased loved one’s hospital bed, however, is surely a statement offered in bad timing. 
            Maybe you are struggling with some unforeseen life event (loss of a job, illness, a broken relationship), and someone says to you, “it will get better; just have a little faith.”  Such a statement is true of course, but offered at the climax of a personal issue, the statement sounds…well, cliché. 
            Suppose you are talking to your best friend about some things that are weighing heavy upon your heart, and at that moment they say, “eh, you just need to pray about it”.  Afterwards they move the conversation on to talking about mundane things, themselves, or the score from Friday night’s football game.  In your mind you are thinking, “thanks bro, color me comforted!”  🙄
            So, what am I saying?  Am I saying that we should not offer advice?  Am I saying that we should not try to say things to make our loved ones feel comforted during times of trial?  Am I even suggesting that we not quote holy Scripture to a grieving person?  No, this is not what I am saying at all.  What I am saying, however, is that often the best thing we can do for someone else is simply to be there.  To pray for them.  To be a leaning post when they need someone on which to lean.  To be the shoulder on which they cry.  Yes, beloved, often what we do is much more important than what we say.
            How do we begin to truly support a person in need?  It starts with being intentional.  At the loss of both my parents, I cannot tell you how many people said to me, “holler if you need anything.”  I cannot recall ever calling one of these folks and saying, “hey do you remember that time you said to holler if I needed anything, well…”.  This type of generalized statement is usually meant with the best of intention but is generally uttered to make ourselves feel like we have helped, more than to genuinely comfort someone else.  Be intentional with your support.  “Is there anything I can do for you?”  “How can I be praying for you?”  These statements suggest the caring attitude of an individual that can be depended upon if/when needed.
            As a pastor, people seem to expect that I always know what to say and when to say it.  Honestly?  Most of the time I haven’t a clue!  I am that weird guy that is prone to laughing at a funeral because a funny memory involving the deceased crossed my mind.  Yes, this has actually happened to me more than once!  At my father’s funeral we played a song that he had requested.  Problem was, it was an Irish rock song that was completely out of character for my dear olé dad.  The looks on the faces of the attendees conjured an image of my dad saying “bet ya’ll didn’t expect that, now did you?”  I spent the next several minutes laughing out loud.  One person actually asked me afterwards, “Are you sure you are ok?”  So, even as a pastor I find myself struggling to provide the right words at the right time.  During times like these, I often focus more on what not to say.  “I know you were just diagnosed with a terminal disease, how are you?”  What kind of response would I expect?  “Well pastor, it is a wonderful feeling I hope you get to experience someday, thanks for asking.”  Yes, probably not.  Instead, be intentional with your statements.  “I want you to know that we are here for you and your family.  We are praying for you daily.”  Be specific.  “How did your test go on Wednesday?”  “How is your family handling your illness?” 
            One of the worst things you can do to a hurting individual is to avoid them.  Can life’s situations produce awkward moments with others?  Of course.  But hurting and grieving people heal faster when they know that they are connected to others that care.  Remember that one of the biggest benefits of church membership is fellowship.  Christian fellowship demands that we love one another and carry one another’s burdens. Have you ever heard someone say something like, “Well, I meant to go visit John, but I didn’t go because I just don’t know what to say.”  If you want to help another carry their burdens, you must first be there for them.  Make the visit.  Make the phone call (please do not just send a text to someone, 🤮).  Take some food.  Send a card.  Just let the grieving and hurting know that you love and support them.  Galatians 6:2 sums this up wonderfully; “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
            As cliché as it may sound, the best thing that you can do for ANYONE is to pray for them.  Don’t just tell someone you will pray for them, DO IT!  Why do I make this declaration?  Because we often tell others that we will/are praying for them, but then we do not follow through.  That makes us a liar.  So, do pray.  Remember always, friends, we have a God that loves us.  Our God cares, and He listens.  The apostle Paul was overjoyed by the knowledge that others were praying for him.  It gave him great comfort.  “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance” (Philippians 1:18-19).  The power of prayer must never be underestimated!  Timothy begged, “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1).
            Lastly, it is important to let the grieving and hurting person know that they need not grieve alone.  This is where a bit of Scriptural wisdom can be inserted without being perceived as contrite.  “Sister, I know that you are hurting.  I know this situation is painful.  But please know that you are not alone.  I am here for you.  Your church loves you.  There is always hope to be found in Christ.  Remember what Paul told us in Romans 12:12, ‘Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.’”  The assurance of those connections can have a massive effect on the grieved and hurting.  This says to such a person, “I am loved, thought of, connected to, and cared for.” 
            Do you know someone that may be hurting?  Do you have a friend, family member, or co-worker that is enduring a season of grief?  Just think, you could be the instrument that God uses to bring comfort to these folks.  Let the love and compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ be found also, in you.  I close with this verse of encouragement; “For you were called to freedom, brothers.  Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Galatians 5:13-14)
 
With Love in Christ,
Bro. John

   Each and every day I find myself utterly dismayed at the degradation of the moral and social climate of our beloved country.  Each and every day, as a nation, we find ourselves further and further from Jesus.  In the modern age, all the things that were morally AND socially rejected a mere 60-70 years ago, are today not only accepted, but promoted.  It is safe to say that our country has lost its way.
     Many things that are blatantly sinful are now accepted in the name of inclusiveness and political correctness.  White men are told that, by the very nature of their existence, they are oppressive and racists.  Some ethnic groups are told that they are not accountable for themselves or their actions because of the oppression experienced by their ancestors.  Our children are taught that there is literally no difference between men and woman, and that sex is just a frame of mind (not inclusive to anatomy).  They are taught that homosexuality is something to be celebrated, not frowned upon.  Even more disturbing is the fact that an individual can now "identify" as anything they wish.  A man can be a woman.  A woman can be a man.  There are actually certain circles of people that now claim that pedophilia should not be a crime because, hey, you cannot help who you are attracted to.  We now have men competing in women's sports and using women's restrooms.  We have parents that are giving hormone blockers to their very young children because little 5-year Tommy says that he wants to be a girl when he grows up.  We are now supposed to ask someone their preferred pronoun instead of "assuming" their gender based on obvious anatomy and gender characteristics.  Terms like Mother's Day and Father's Day are now frowned upon and are considered exclusive.  Statues, school names, flags, and even national landmarks are being erased because somewhere at some point in history, someone said or did some thing that someone somewhere MIGHT find offensive.  Yes, it is absolutely a sad state of affairs.  The things that used to be right are now wrong, and the things that were once wrong are now considered right.  Finally, and to the detriment of all, God has been removed from nearly everything.  I believe that we can establish a trend here with little difficulty.  Our modern world suffers from the same calamity that plagued the ancient world…sin.  This is not just an American problem, but one that affects the entirety of the world of mankind.
     And what of Biblical prophecy?  The truth, sad or otherwise, is that these things have been predicted in the Bible, the holy Word of God.  Jesus said, "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they built; but on that day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.  Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed" (Luke 17:28-30).  Lot lived in a Jordan Valley city known as Sodom.  Along with Gomorrah, God destroyed these cities due to their absolute wickedness.  
    What were the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah?  One of the most common was that of sexual immorality.  The Apostle Jude states, "as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in similar manner to these, having given themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire" (Jude 1:7).  What Jude, Paul, and other Biblical writers called sexual immorality; we now call "alternative lifestyle." Though it may roll off the tongue a bit easier, it does not change the nature of these practices and therefore cannot negate what they truly are…sinful.
     Sadly, the sins of these cities did not end there.  In Ezekiel 16, God spoke to Judah; "As I live," says the Lord God, "neither your sister Sodom nor her daughters have done as you and your daughters have done.  Look, this was the iniquity of you sister Sodom: She and her daughters had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.  And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took away as I saw fit" (Ezekiel 16:48-50).
     These cities were not only sinful, but they were also PROUD, and PROUD of their sin.  They flaunted their sin in the face of God.  This brings to my mind something ironic.  Two weeks ago, our small-town municipal park played host to the first ever "Franklin-Simpson Community Pride Festival."  I want you, dear reader, to see the parallels here.  These two TOWNS (community) were proud (pride) of their sinfulness.  They celebrated it (festival).  Community Pride Festival. These ancient cities took that which was right and made it wrong and that which was wrong and made it right.  Can we see the irony in all of this?
     What of the "leaders" in this modern age of inclusiveness and correctness?  Listen to what God said about the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem in the book of Jeremiah; "Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: they commit adultery and walk in lies; they also strengthen the hands of the evildoers, So that no one turns back from their wickedness.  All of them are like Sodom to Me, and her inhabitants like Gomorrah" (Jeremiah 23:14).  I refuse to name names, but I can think of, well, many of our political leaders that walk in lies.  Sadly, it would seem that many of our leaders today also "strengthen the hand of the evil doer."
     I can already hear the collective groan and indignation of many of our fellow citizens.  "You are a bigot, a misogynist, a close-minded Bible lover.". A bigot?  No.  Misogynist?  Not even close. Racist? Nope (in fact, as a Native American this one often tickles me). Bible lover?  YOU BET.  It is now the norm in our society to shout down, shut down, and "cancel" anyone who disagrees with the new standard of the moral and acceptable.  First, they assign you an irrational label (racist, homophobic, etc.) and then they attempt to remove your platform.  That’s ok.  One can call me whatever they wish; I will never fail to stand on God's principles.  I will never forsake an opportunity to share the love and saving grace of God, made possible by the sacrifice of my Lord Jesus Christ.  Bible lover?  Christian radical?  I will wear these labels proudly.  Jesus loved (loves) me radically enough to die for me.  I will not be silenced in fear of the wrath of the new world morality police.  In fact, Jesus declared, "Therefore whoever confess es Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.  But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32-33).
     So here is what is what may be the biggest misconception that the non-believers have as it relates to Christian beliefs: if you do not accept one’s behavior or lifestyle, you must hate them.  This could not be further from the truth.  In fact, Jesus called us to love everyone, including the lost sinner.  What He did not say was "in order to love them you must accept their sin.". Therefore, my dear reader, allow me to say that though I do not endorse the sin of any that fall into the categories we have discussed today, I absolutely LOVE the person.  Why?  Because Jesus also loved me when I was nothing but a lost sinner.  The truth is that we are all sinners.  The apostle Paul wrote, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).  The only difference between a saved Christian and a lost sinner is Jesus.  I realized one day my brokenness.  My eyes were opened to the fact that I had been separated from God.  I knew I needed a Savior.  I realized I needed Jesus.  Therefore, I still call the lost sinner my friend.  My brother.  My sister.  Yes, dear ones, it is possible to dislike the sin while loving the sinner.
    So, my fellow Christians, what do we make of all of this?  What are we to do?  Are we living in the end times, as it would certainly appear that we have returned to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah?  I will start by addressing the last question.  It is absolutely possible that we could be living in the final days.  It is also possible that there may be another millennium (or more) to go.  If someone were to ask me for my personal opinion, I would likely say yes.  The truth is that it doesn’t matter.  We should be living as if Jesus is coming back any second!  As Christians we are supposed to be Kingdom minded.  We yearn for heaven and fellowship with Christ.  Yet, as long as we are here there is work, important Kingdom work, to be done.  We should be sharing the Gospel with the lost.  Leading the sinner to the Savior.  Standing and living upon God's principles instead of cowering in our stained-glass sanctuaries.  Whether Jesus comes back tomorrow or 500 years from now, our lives are short.  We have a short amount of time to accomplish as much as we can.  I am decidedly committed to doing as much as I can for Christ, with whatever time I have.  As such, time has no real meaning to me.  It shouldn't for you either.
     Lastly, what are we to do?  Love people.  Share Jesus with everyone!  Boldly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ directly into the darkness of a morally corrupt world!  Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your work for the Kingdom of God.  Love your neighbor.  Help your brother.  Carry your sister.  And pray for EVERYONE.  
     To my friends, family, brothers and sisters that remain lost in sin.  I beseech you, implore you, search your heart!  Search your mind.  Take off your blinders and accept the reality of what Jesus offers to all.  Forgiveness.  A new heart.  Eternal life with Him.  Yes, I know that world corrupts and is evil, for Satan (for a short time) has been giving the power to corrupt and destroy.  But you need not be destroyed with it.  True love, hope, joy, and peace can be yours today.  Turn to Jesus and accept His offer of Salvation.  Find a Bible.  Find a church.  Find a Christian.  Let us pray for you, or better yet with you!  Listen to the words of the apostle Peter; "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).  Jesus is waiting for you right now.  This hour.  This minute!  Do not wait for we do not know what tomorrow holds.  
     My beloved readers, my fellow brothers and sister in Christ, I am in fact scared for the future of our country and our world.  Yet, I am NEVER found without hope because my hope is not found in the world.  It is found is Jesus, and He has overcome the world.  Remember, my fellow traveler, that we are but mere visitors to this current earth and the current world.  This is not our destination.  My finality is determined not by this world, but through Christ.  So, stand bold.  Stand firm in Christ.  Walk and live in faith.  Love people.  Seek God. Have hope.  Remember Jesus' words; "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33).
 
With Love in Christ,
​Bro. John

     Valentine's Day.  Ah yes, the day of love.  A day of beautiful flowers, sappy cards, and enough chocolate to clog many an artery.  What is this day really about anyhow?  Well, aside from being this pastor's day of birth, it probably has it's origins in an ancient Roman festival known as Lupercalia.​ It was, among other things, a celebration of fertility. This festival was replaced at the end of the fifth century with what was commonly known as St. Valentines Day.  This has a rather dark background that has little to do with love or romance.  In fact, Valentine's Day was not seen as a day of romance until the 14th century.  
     Now that we have established a background, let us talk of love for a few moments.  I am not going recite a sonnet or quote Shakespeare, so fear not in thine heart.  However I doth attest, MEN...if February 14th is the only day of the year you show appreciation to your wife, we must talk, you and I.  With that out of my system, I pose this question; what is the greatest act of love?  Scripture is overflowing with many examples of love.  In fact, the first four books of the New Testament are accounts of the greatest love story ever known to mankind!  No poem or love story could ever begin to equal the powerful conviction of unadulterated love that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
     Yet, we are not Jesus.  We are sinners.  Wicked-hearted and fallen people.  When asked to define love, many a Christian will quip, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39).  Some may point to 1 Corinthians 13, in which Paul went to great lengths to explain to us what love is, and what it is not.  These are very true and beautiful examples of love.  However, when trying to figure out human to human love, what act best characterizes the love of Christ? The answer is simple...forgiveness.
     Forgiveness is the ultimate act of love.  How do I know this?  Because Jesus died to provide it.  Because God offered up His Son so that through Him, we could attain it.  Truth is, my wonderful readers, is that we do not deserve God's forgiveness; yet in His mercy He provided a way for us to receive it.
     Now, I can attest that forgiveness is one of the hardest things to do.  In my life I have been truly and deeply wounded by those that I entrusted to love me the most.  I have been back-burnered, discarded, forgotten, laughed at, and forsaken by many that I called friends and family.  Yet, I have learned over the years that to love is also to forgive.  Jesus was so passionate about our forgiving one another that He declared, "But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:15).  Jesus taught us the greatest thing we can do is to love God with all of heart, soul, and mind.  He taught us that the second greatest thing we can do is to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Yet He also taught us that in order to love, we must also forgive.  Then He died to ensure that we could receive that very thing...forgiveness.
     So, this Valentine's Day buy the flowers.  Write the cards.  Give the chocolates.  But if you rrreeeaaalllyyy want to do something great, give someone forgiveness that you have been withholding.  That is love, and it is beautiful!
     I close with a quote from Shakespeare (gotcha!!); "Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind" (A Midsummer Night's Dream).  Yet friends, forgiveness is a matter of the heart, and the greatest act of true love.

With Love in Christ,
​Bro. John

     Jesus' earthly ministry covered an area that was only a few hundred miles; not a great distance, especially by todays standards.  Assuming I travel the speed limit, my trusty truck and I can make a trip of 400 miles in roughly 5.7 hrs.  Put this into perspective: If Jesus (and the disciples) walked three miles an hour for 16 hours per day, it would take them roughly 8.5 DAYS to make the same trip.  This is a conservative estimate considering that He often dealt with rugged geography, hilly terrain, extreme temperatures, etc.  It is estimated that Jesus walked around 3,125 miles during His 3.5 year earthly ministry (thanks for the research Deacon-boy).  Talk about dedication!  ""But He is God," you might say.  Fair point.  Time for more perspective.
     In some places of the world, Christians still walk for hours to attend church.  In Haiti, for example, many have to travel quite a distance on foot to attend worship.  It is common for Haitian's to eat only once a day.  It is far to common for some of them to attend church having not eaten at all for several days.  Yet, so important is their dedication to "Team Jesus", they make the trip.
     In other areas of the world, China and some parts of the Middle East for example, Christians must travel various distances to meet in secretive underground churches, for the sake of their personal safety.  Imagine this, my friends.  "They could execute us or put us in jail for attending this Bible study."  Yet, to church or Bible study they go.
     Now I am going to pick on us freedom having, church going American Christians for a moment.  How many times have we sat and debated on whether or not to hop in our car and drive the 5 minutes across town to partake in fellowship and worship of the Lord?  How many times have we opted out?  "Eh, I am just tired today.  I will go next week."  "I am not feeling all that great.  I am going to stay home today."  "My children have driven me nuts today and I just don't have the mental energy to listen to that pastor ramble for an hour."  Or how about this one...""I have better, more important things to do."  There is a name for these statements...they are called EXCUSES.
     Now, please do not misunderstand!  There are absolutely times when we ARE sick and cannot make it to church.  Maybe we have had a surgery.  Maybe we have the flu.  Maybe we are shut in because we are older and in the midst of a pandemic.  All of these are absolutely rational and valid reasons for not being at church.  Yet for many of us, the rational reasons quickly become excuses. 
     "Pastor, what is the danger in missing a few Wednesday evening Bible studies?  So we missed a few Sundays, big deal right?"  According to modern psychology, it takes roughly 30 days for a behavior to become a habit.  This applies to both positive and negative behaviors.  For instance, if one spends 20 minutes in Bible study everyday for 30 days, it becomes a part of our routine.  Bible study will become something we look forward to and carry out, with almost reflex like dedication.  But... there are only 4 Sundays (ok, sometimes 5) in a month.  If one were to miss 5 out of 6-7 Sundays, what kind of habit is beginning to set up shop?
     Then, of course, there is the Sunday morning crowd.  "Leave me alone pastor, I was at church Sunday morning.  I put my $20.00 in the offering plate.  What more do you want from me?"  Firstly, as a pastor, I demand nothing.  Everything that we do (or don't do) is between a person and God.  But, think of it this way.  We will someday stand before Jesus for judgement.  When that time comes will we tell Him, "Look Lord, I went to church at least two Sunday mornings a month, and I tithed when I could."  Yikes!!  Talk about perspective!  This is the GOD who died for me!  Saved me when I was unsavable.  Loved me when I was unlovable.
     You might be reading this and thinking, "thanks for the scathing rebuke, Pastor."  Please understand, it is not my intention to make anyone feel guilty, or feel badly about themselves.  If you find yourself under said conviction, however, it may just be the Holy Spirit knocking on your heart and saying "hey brother, hey sister, your church misses you.  The Lord misses your obedience.  The obedience He demands."
     The free ability to attend worship is a "privilege" here in our country.  Yet, to many of our brothers and sisters around the world, our privilege is their way of life.  The sad truth, friends, is that churches are closing their doors at the hands of the far to powerful excuse.  A great number of churches no longer offer Wednesday and Sunday evening services, because so few attend.  But what if...We approached our spiritual and church life with the same fervor we do as our job?  Or our family?  Or hobbies?  Or Sunday Night Football?
     Keep this in mind when deciding with what level of dedication you will CHOOSE to approach your church/spiritual life.  What would happen if we said, "I don't feel all that well but I am headed to church; my church needs me."  Or even better, "I am tired after a long days works but I am headed to church; I need them."  When Jesus went to the cross at Calvary, He did not say "Eh, sorry sinners maybe next week.  I am just to busy to die for you today."  Instead, He went willing to that cross and paid the penalty for MY sin.  Perspective, perspective, perspective.  Will we make it a point to be excited and diligent for "Team Jesus"?

​Bro. John Eversole