Author: admin

The month of February is known as “The Month of Love.” As a way of testing your knowledge about the subject of love in the Bible, I’ve listed below a few questions. See how well you can do! 

What couple in the Bible experienced love at first sight? 

What portion of the Bible is know as “The Love Chapter?”

Who in the Bible was almost divorced before she even got married? 

Husbands should love their wives as _____________________________.

Jesus said the greatest act of love for another person is to ___________________________.

What were Adam’s first words when God introduced him to his new wife? 

Which book of the Bible uses the word love and its variations the most times? 

This bride-to-be received an engagement ring for her nose. Who was she?

Fill in the blank. “There is no ____________ in love.” (1 John 4:18)

In order to follow God and maintain his commitment to sexual purity, what did the OT character Joseph do when tempted? 

Typical resolutions in January are to lose weight, exercise more, and spend less time at work and more time with family. We usually want to change the things in our lives that we’re unhappy about. What if you were to ask God what He wants you to change, improve, or begin this year? He might tell you to: 

• Demonstrate more of the fruit of the Spirit in your life (Galatians 5:22-23). 
• Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44).
• Be content with such things as you have (Hebrews 13:5). 
• Walk according to His commandments (2 John 1:6).
• Go and make disciples of all the nations (Matthew 28:19). 

As believers and new creations, we can be free from old patterns and failures. We have to ask God to help us live each day in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then we can do away with the old and put on the new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Remember: resolutions are easier to keep when you rely on God! 

Bro. Ken

The word “advent” means arrival, and it refers to the arrival of Jesus Christ into the world. The “Advent Season” usually starts four weeks before Christmas and concludes with the celebration of Christ’s birth. 

Some churches emphasize the Advent Season more than others, but all Christians look forward to celebrating Christ’s birth during this season of the year. Why was Jesus’ birth so important? The reason is because over 2,000 years ago, God stooped down from heaven and became a human being in the person of Jesus. The Bible puts it this way, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…” (John 1:14). 

Think of it: God became a man! He did it because He loves us and that’s what we should celebrate as Christmas approaches. Take time between now and Christmas to reflect on this great truth. Then you’ll truly understand what it means to say, “Jesus is the reason for the season!” 

Bro. Ken

Here are some life lessons to be learned from a jigsaw puzzle:

Don’t force a fit. If something is meant to be, it will come together naturally. 

When things aren’t going so well, take a break. Everything will look different when you return. 

Be sure to look at the big picture. Getting hung up on the little pieces only leads to frustration. 

Perseverance pays off. Every important puzzle went together piece by piece. 

When one spot stops working, move to another, but be sure to come back later. 

The creator of the puzzle gave you the picture as a guidebook. 

Variety is the spice of life. It’s the different colors and patterns that make the puzzle interesting. 

Establish the border first. Boundaries give a sense of security and order. 

Don’t be afraid to try different combinations. Some matches are surprising. 

Take time to celebrate your successes, even little ones. 

Anything worth doing takes time and effort. A great puzzle can’t be rushed. 

Every piece is important; if you doubt it, notice the effect when the puzzle is finished and a piece is missing. 

Please know how much I love and value all of you, my church family. We are all a part of this big puzzle that the Bible calls the body of Christ. You are all valuable and make the big picture interesting and I truly enjoy ministering together with you. 

~Bro. Ken

How do you motivate people? One pastor had an interesting approach. A depressed and overweight man came to him because he couldn’t lose weight or find a date. The pastor said, “I can help you. At eight in the morning be ready to exercise.” The man said, “I’ve tried all the exercise programs and they don’t work,” to which the pastor replied, “This works. Be ready at eight.” The pastor was adamant so the man was ready at 8:00 a.m.

When the doorbell rang, the man went to the door and there he saw a gorgeous woman in an exercise suit. She said, “The pastor told me to tell you that if you can catch me you can marry me.” And then she took off. He huffed and puffed after her but he couldn’t catch her. This routine continued for several months and the man lost about fifty pounds. He became a lean, mean, running machine. 

The day finally came when he knew he could catch the woman. He was ready early and couldn’t wait for the doorbell to ring. When it rang, he ran to the door, jerked it open and saw the biggest woman he’d even seen dressed in a jogging suit waiting for him. She said, “The pastor told me to tell you that if I can catch you, I can marry you.” Last I heard the guy was still running!

All of us need some motivation at times. It may be to lose weight as the man in the story or to start a project we’ve been dreading or to be more involved in church. There are a lot of great opportunities for serving the Lord by serving others in and through our church. Ask Him for the motivation you need to become more involved. And, be prepared to run! 
~Bro. Ken

A year ago this month, you blessed me and my family, by extending to us the call to serve you as your Pastor and family. We are so very grateful to God for placing us together to minister here in this area. You have responded by loving us, allowing us into your lives, and helping us get to know this area. Please know of our appreciation and gratitude for every expression of your love, caring, and kindness. We truly feel that this is the place that God wants and needs us to be. We look forward to a long and fruitful pastorate, should Jesus tarry His return. 

My prayer for all of us as we begin a new church year and the second year of ministry together is that we would be found faithful stewards of all that to which God has entrusted us. 

Bro. Ken 

A fellow was explaining why he wasn’t in church the previous Sunday. He said his wife had brought her potted plants into the house so they wouldn’t freeze. A little green snake hidden in one of the plants came inside too. When it warmed up, it slithered from the plant to the floor and went under the sofa. His wife saw the snake and let out a scream. He was taking a bath at the time and when he heard her scream, he leaped out of the tub and ran to see what was happening. 

The wife told him about the snake under the sofa so he got down on the floor to look for it. While he was all bent over looking for the snake, his cold-nosed dog touched him. The man thought it was the snake and fainted. 

Thinking he had a heart attack, his wife called an ambulance. When it arrived, the attendants rushed in, loaded him on the stretcher, and started out the door. Just about that time, the little green snake slithered from under the sofa, startling the attendants, who dropped the stretcher, breaking the man’s legs. 

If you think this sounds crazy, you should hear some people’s explanations as to why they weren’t in church Sunday! Let’s not be guilty of finding excuses for not faithfully attending and worshipping and serving God. Let’s in in our places, showing the Lord evidence of our love and commitment.

Bro. Ken

A woman was out shopping one day and decided to stop for a cup of coffee. She bought a bag of cookies, put them into her purse, and then went into a coffee shop. All the tables were filled, except for one at which a man sat reading a newspaper. Seating herself in the opposite chair, she opened her purse, took out a magazine, and began reading. 

After a while, she looked up and reached for a cookie, only to see the man across from her also taking a cookie. She glared at him; he just smiled at her, and she resumed her reading. 

Moments later, she reached for another cookie, just as the man took one. Now feeling quite angry, she stared at the one remaining cookie, whereupon the man reached over, broke the cookie in half and offered her a piece. She grabbed it and stuffed it into her mouth, as the man smiled at her again, rose and left. 

The woman was really steaming as she angrily opened her purse, her coffee break now ruined, and put her magazine away. And there she saw her bag of cookies. All along she had unknowingly been helping herself to the cookies belonging to the gracious man whose table she had shared!

How many times have we received graciously from the hand of God, all the while thinking we have supplied our own need only to discover later that He had? God isn’t stingy and is more than willing to “supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Let’s remember who’s sharing what with whom!

Bro. Ken

The month of May is a time of anticipation and transition. We anticipate the coming of summer with its warmer weather, longer days, and badly-needed vacation time. We transition into these events by putting away our winter clothing, cleaning house, raking yards, and cutting grass. For those who have vegetable gardens, it is a time of hoeing, weeding, and watering in order to later enjoy the fruits of your labor. If you don’t have a garden, someone else usually does and they are willing to share their abundance. 

Caring and sharing should come naturally for us. The God who created us cared so much for us that He shared that which was most valuable to Him, His precious Son that we might know of His great love. Every time we care for and share with others, we’re giving a living testimony of our relationship with Him. 

In the same way that we speak with passion about our favorite pursuits, we’re to passionately speak of the One whose selfless sacrifice made possible our forgiveness of sins and name’s entry into the Book of Life. Let’s work until Jesus comes, caring for those He places across our paths and sharing a sure word of why we do it!

Bro. Ken

“The angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:5-6, NKJV).

What joyous news for those who loved Jesus so dearly! Expecting to find a sealed tomb with the body of the Savior still inside, they found instead an empty tomb and an absent Lord. But before this morning of joy and surprise for Jesus’ followers came a night of suffering and anguish for Him. Jesus knew that He was the only One who could deliver man from the penalty of sin. If He refused to drink this cup, we would all be hopelessly doomed. Only His obedience to His Father’s will and His passionate love for us moved Him to drink the bitterness of death contained in the cup, being fully aware of what it would cost Him. May Holy Week be a time for you to contemplate and honor Jesus’ death and then to rejoice with Him in His victory over it, which ultimately became our victory! 

Bro. Ken