Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is god, follow him." The people said nothing. 1 Kings 18:21 NIV

I believe indifference is one of the greatest sins of our day!

Jesus said He wished we were either hot or cold, but to be lukewarm made Him want to

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree

Hear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Psalm 86:1 NIV

Poor and needy doesn't sound like much fun, does it? We live in a world that recognizes and celebrates wealth. We glamorize the rich and famous. Whoever heard of the "Fortune Negative 500's"? Which sounds more familiar: "When I grow up I'm going to be rich!" or "I think I'd like

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, `You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" Genesis 3:1 NIV

As we lead into Easter Sunday, we will look at the road to the cross. How did we get there? Why did Jesus have to die on the cross anyway? What difference

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23 NIV

Our church s is full of expectant parents. The creation of life by two parents is still a mystery to me and one of God's most awesome miracles. The beginning days in a baby's life are filled with such pleasure. I never tell the parents this, but I know in my heart there will

but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 NIV

And then the GOOD NEWS of JESUS CHRIST!

Yes God loves you!

Yes you are a sinner!

Yes your sin has condemned you to Hell!

Oh, but YES, God did love you enough to send His Son to die on a cross!

And, yes, Jesus rose from the grave!

Yes, in Jesus is the redemption

I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? Psalm 121:1 NIV

When you are in the valley, I mean really, deep in the valley, the only place to look is up!

Have you ever been there before? Have you ever lifted up your eyes, heavy, burdened with guilt, mourning with hurt, drooping from the strain of sorrow, to see the mountains

My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:2 NIV

That's right!

The Psalmist knows: the only place to get help is from the Lord!

Friend, let me make this really simple today! If you are trying to get help from anywhere else, except from the living Lord, you are wasting your time!

God is the Maker of everything!

Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24 NIV

Jesus was very specific about what it takes to be a good disciple. If we want to mature in our Christian walk, you and I should pay close attention.

First, we must deny ourselves. Now Jesus said that

What good will it be if a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Matthew 16:26a NIV

The Lord asked me a question one day. Now it wasn't an audible question, but I knew it came straight from Him. It was simple, easy to understand, but it required me to concentrate deeply before I answered.

Here's the question: If I had to make a

Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine." Acts 2:13 NIV

The first church just couldn't be understood. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to act as they never had before. In addition to being able to tell the gospel in languages they had not learned, they were also overflowing with joy, in spite of their

Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face, who did all those miraculous signs and wonders the LORD sent him to do in Egypt--to Pharaoh and to all his officials and to his whole land. For no one has ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. Keep His decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the LORD your God gives you for all time. Deuteronomy 4:39-40 NIV

One

Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands. Do not be terrified by them, for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God. Deuteronomy 7:9; 21 NIV

Not only did Moses believe that God is God, but that

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God

I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He. Deuteronomy 32:3-4 NIV

This week we have considered the man Moses, specifically trying to figure out what made him successful in his walk with God.

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Acts 7:59 NIV

Stephen was one of the greatest Christian martyrs of the early church. May you and I never have to suffer that way for the sake of our call! But, may we be willing to, should the need arise!

Stephen was not ashamed of the gospel. In the 7th chapter of

"Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you," says the Lord Almighty, "and I will accept no offering from your hands." Malachi 1:10 NIV

What a powerful and scary verse! Let me set the stage.

Times were hard for the Israelites. The land was dry. The crops

On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Acts 8:1 NIV

"Where are we going, Daddy?"

"We're moving to Samaria."

"Samaria? But, Daddy, that's so far from home. We don't know anyone in Samaria."

"We have to go, darling. It is not safe for

And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. Acts 17:25 NIV

Sometimes, as I'm preparing a sermon or writing these thoughts, I have to be reminded that it is by God's strength that I am able. I thank you so much for many of the kind compliments I receive, but