TEEN CHALLENGE

 "Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said unto them, we ought to obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29     The apostles were having a tough time. The religious leaders kept throwing them in prison, they had to meet in secret, and people (like Saul) were running around throwing any believer they could find in prison, or worse, killing them. And we think we have it tough? We are spoiled. And here is Peter, boldly telling these men (who could throw him in jail and throw away the key) that he will not be doing what they want him to, regardless of the consequences. He got his orders from God, and God alone.      Today we can be very slack in this area. We do what God wants us to, but if it becomes inconvenient then we may stop. And if the world decides they don't want us to do it anymore, we may stop. (We discovered in 2020 that they can successfully close down churches all over the country if they so desire) So who are you obeying? When people pressu...

  A few months before I was born, my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small Tennessee town. From the beginning, Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer, and soon invited him to live with our family.  The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months later. As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. In my young mind, each member had a special niche. My brother, Bill, five years my senior, was my example. Fran, my younger sister, gave me an opportunity to play ‘big brother’ and practice the art of teasing.  My parents were complementary instructors- Mom taught me to love the Word of God, and Dad taught me to obey it. But the stranger was our storyteller. He could weave the most fascinating tales. Adventures, mysteries and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold our whole family spell-bound for hours each evening. If I wanted to know about politics, history, or science, he knew it all. He kne...

     I've always had this thought in my head, but I've never quite been able to put it into words. Then my Pastor, David Cialini, said it perfectly in his message last Sunday night. He basically said, As the world becomes more wicked, we are not to stay the same distance from it, we are supposed to get further away. And that's exactly it! Even though the world is getting worse and worse, it doesn't mean we can! We are not to measure ourselves by the world's standards (I am not as bad as them) but we are to measure ourselves by Christ! We are called to be Christlike, not unlike the world. If we are Christlike, we will be unlike the world, but if we are not like the world, it doesn't necessarily mean we are Christlike.           So, what are you measuring yourself by? The world or Christ?

"Rejoice evermore." I Thessalonians 5:16  When I was thinking about what I should post this week, this verse popped into my head. It is so short and simple, and I thought I had already touched on similar ideas recently, but as I continued thinking and praying, this is the verse that stayed in my head.       We are to rejoice always. This verse says that in two words. One of the shortest verses in the Bible gives us one of the commands that we have the most trouble with! We seem to forget that God is in control of everything that happens and that He isn't surprised by things like we are. When 'accidents' happen (nothing is an accident to God- everything is part of His plan) don't get all bent out of shape about it.      Don't be a grumpy person! No one will want to be around you! And a happy Christian is a good witness! If the world sees a bunch of Christians going around like the world is coming to an end, why would they want to be a Christian?...

 This month's devotional comes from Mr. Richard LeBlanc from Maranatha Baptist Church in Lyons, N.Y.     “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:”                                                                                                  1 Peter 1:7     Peter, a close follower of writes in this verse about how precious you faith in Christ should be as a believer. All the things of this earth will eventually pass away due to the destruction of the earth by fire at some future time.     Something (fine jewelry ...