Jesus told a story about a man who planted a fig tree. For three years the man looked for fruit on the tree, but the tree never produced any figs.

The man told his servant to cut down the tree. Why? Because it was not producing any fruit. The servant asked for one more year for the tree. He said, "Master, let the tree have one more year to make fruit. Let me dig up the dirt around it and put on some plant food. Maybe the tree will make fruit next year." (verses 8-9)

In this story, you and I are like the fig tree. God gave us life, and we have opportunities to do good things for Him. We have opportunity to produce fruit--are we producing?

God is like the servant who took care of the tree. He wants us to repent and stop sinning. He is patient with us and wants to help, but if we don't produce fruit we will be cut down.

Grow fruit for God!

~Philip

Today's Bible reading: Luke 13:6-9

Do you ever wonder what God is like? Some people think God is some kind of monster waiting to send them to Hell, but that is very wrong! God loves us and wants the best for us.
Our Bible reading today is a story that Jesus told about a father and his sons. In the story, the father was very loving, even when his son ran away and wasted all of his money. The father continued to love the son, even when he finally returned home the father accepted him back.
God never removes his love from us. Even when we turn away from God, He loves us and waits for us to repent (change) and come back home.
Maybe you are far from God today...don't forget that God loves you and is waiting for you to come to forgiveness.
Faith + Obedience + Salvation
Tonight is the Last Night for VBS "Under the Big Top"
Last night we had 140 people, and our goal for tonight is 150. Please be here at 6:30pm!
~Philip
Today's Bible reading: Luke 15:11-24

One day my daughter was in the yard picking flowers (or as most of us would say ...weeds). She brought my wife the dandelions, and she accepted the bouquet. People often see the very same thing very differently.
Our Bible reading today tells us to be kind to other people. A friend may have a problem, and we may think it is a small thing that is easily fixed. The other person may be upset and think it is a very big problem. We should not be unkind and judge them . Instead, "When other people are happy, you should be happy with them, and when other people are sad, you shouldbe sad with them." (verse 15) This is the way we can show real love.
Look for ways to show real love for other people today!

Today's Bible Reading: Romans 12:9-21
VBS
"Under the Big Top" 6:30-8:30pm
~Philip

Susie changed her eating habits, she lost 223 pounds! Now she feels better and looks better. Susie keeps a photo of what she used to look like, to remind herself to continue to eat carefully. Also, it helps her to be thankful for her success.
Sometimes we forget how bad we were before we found God's plan for our salvation. Maybe we have forgotten when we followed the crowd to do wrong. In our Bible reading, Paul reminded the Ephesian Christians about their past. He told them that they had been without Jesus and far away from God. Paul said (verse 13), "but now in Christ Jesus you are brought near to Him. You were brought near to God through the blood (death) of Christ."
Think about how God has changed your lie. Thank Him for the giftr of salvation through Jesus.
Faith + Obedience = Salvation
~Paul
PS. VBS is off to a great start! We had 126 people last night and hope to hae more tonight!
VBS
"Under the Big Top"
6:30-8:30pm
Today's Bible Reading: Ephesians 2:11-13
Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh--who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands--that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

A few years ago I was visiting with a member of the church were I was working. As I walked into the house one of there small, but very fiesty, dogs bit my leg! I yelled at her, because it hurt, and she quickly let go. The man and woman (ie: Dog owners) also yelled at the dog, and even jumped up, running over to remove the dog from my leg.

The devil tries to attack us in many ways, he tempts us to sin. I wonder why we don't react to the devil the same way I reaacted to the dog. Sin is harmful and it hurts. It even separates us from God.

When the dog bit me, I and others reacted very quickly. Our Bible reading reminds us that when the devil tempts us to sin, we need to be strong, react quickly, and ask God to give us strength. As we take action the devil will leave us alone!

A dog bite hurts a lot, but sin is worse. Next time you are tempted to sin, what will you do?

~Philip

Today's Bible reading: James 4:1-10

In our Bible reading today, Jesus talked about people's thoughts. He said, bad thoughts make a person wrong. (verse 18-20)

Our thoughts - good or bad - control our lives. If we think good thoughts, we will do good things, but if we think bad we do bad. God is not happy with bad thinking or doing!

Verse 19 says, "All these bad things begin in the mind: Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual sins, stealing, lying, and insulting people." Wow! All of these bad actions begin in the mind.

God wants us to control our thoughts. In Philippians 4:8, Paul tells us how we can do this."Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

What will your thoughts be today? I hope they will be good and worthy of praise.

~Philip

Today's Bible reading is: Matthew 15:1-20

I have family and friends that I love, and would do anything for. I would help them, feed them, or comfort them when they are sick or hurting. But would I die for them?

God loves us so much that He sent His son, Jesus, to die for us. That is perfect love! Jesus dying on on the cross was the only way to pay for our sins...have you ever really thought about Jesus' sacrifice?

Jesus went through terrible pain before He was crucified. He also endured people mocking Him and spitting on Him. The pain He suffered on the cross its self was more than I can imagine. Finally, Jesus suffered the greatest pain of all, the pain of separation from God. All this was the price Jesus paid for our salvation.

Our Bible reading today reminds us that we are saved by God's grace. God showed His perfect love when Jesus died on the cross for each of us. No one loves like God loves, but we should try.

Faith +Obedience = Salvation

~Philip

Today's Bible reading: Ephesians 2:4-10

Our Bible reading was written by Paul to Timothy. Paul said that Timothy was "like a true son to me" (verse 2). They had a very special relationship. Today we would call Paul Timothy's mentor. Paul helped Timothy learn more about God's word and the Chrristian life.

As Paul wrote these words , Timothy was living in the city of Ephesus and working with the Christians there. Paul was encouraging him to stay in Ephesus and preach the truth. Maybe Timothy wanted to be with Paul, but there were jobs that needed to be done there.

Sometimees we make plans for our lives, but God has other plans. We need to be sure that we obey God and follow His plan for our life. If we follow God's plan, we can be sure that we are right where God wants us to be.

What about your life? Are you following your plan or God's?

Faith + Obedience = Salvation

~Philip
Today's Bible reading: I Timothy 1:1-11

Today's Bible reading tells us about Hannah. When I read these verses, I feel sorry for her...she wanted a baby for so long, but year after year passed without having a child.
One day Hannah went to the Lord's Holy Building to pray. She was very upset, and she cried as she prayed,. Hannah asked God to give her a son, she even promised God if He gave her a son she would give that son back to God.
Hannah's prayer was answered, and she had a son. She named him Samuel, which means "I asked of God". Hannah kept her promise to God. As soon as Samuel was old enough, she took him to the Lord's house and left him with Eli, the priest. Samuel grew up loving and serving God, and would continue all of his life.
We see as Hannah kept her promise, the Lord blessed her! She later had three more sons and two daughters. This is a wonderful example for us. We should keep our commitment to God, with a faithful life.
~Philip
Today's Bible Reading: I Samuel 1:9-11; I Samuel 1:27-28

We each have a Family Tree. A Family Tree or genealogy is the names of our parents, grandparents, great grandparents, and on and on back through history.

Today's Bible reading is a list of names. Names of people who make-up Jesus' Family Tree. This list starts with these words in Matthew 1:1 "This is the family history of Jesus Christ...."

God chose many different kinds of people to be in Jesus' Family Tree. For example, Abraham was a land owner and shepherd. David was a giant killer and a king. Boaz was a farmer, and Joesph (Jesus' earthly father) was a carpenter. God had just the right people, in just the right time to make-up this Family Tree.

In this, God prepared the world for Jesus to be born as a baby, live on earth, and die for the payment of sin. That was God's wonderful plan! And now Christians are part of the Family Tree too. As we become His, we are added to the family of God. I hope you have already faithfully obeyed His plan of salvation, and if you have not, that you will today!

FAITH + OBEDIENCE = SALVATION
Today's Bible reading: Matthew 1:1-17

Brantley and I sometimes enjoy watching ants working together to carry one dead bug, which was much larger than all of the ants put together. They apparently worked very hard to carry the bug. Sometimes the bug would fall and the ants would pick it up again.
The Christian life should be patterned after this example of hard work (Proverbs 30:25). We faithfully obey God's will, then get busy. We read the Bible, pray, teach others, attend services, and give of our time-talents-treasures. Fellowship with other Christians should also be part of the list. These things help us to grow in Christ.
But, what if we fail - we disobey God...we should not give up. Instead we need to ask God to forgive us, then we can continue working and growing. Our Bible reading today reminds us to follow Jessus' example. We should be patient and not give up trying to follow Him.
~Philip
Today's Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1-3