Called to Honor Governing Authorities

by M.T. Michalak

Ever since word came out that President Obama was coming to West Wilkes High, Facebook has exploded about it, and I've been shocked (and disgusted) to read what many of my fellow believers are posting. The sarcasm, insults, crude jokes, eye-rolls, and rude remarks have been everywhere, and I think that as believers, we all ought to feel ashamed. We have eleven, thirteen, fifteen year old kids posting comments about how Obama's crazy to come here, how he's liable to get shot here in Wilkes, how it's stupid that he's coming, how they couldn't care less, etc. I can't believe the stuff that is coming out of our youth's mouths, but after reading some parents' posts, it's easy to see where they are getting it. And I'm appalled!

Securing the Blessings

by Keith Gardner

Deuteronomy 1:21  See, the LORD your God has given you the land. Go up and take possession of it as the LORD, the God of your fathers, told you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Have you ever noticed that relationships are two sided? Your off handed reply might be; “this is a statement of the obvious”. And it is. It does not take much thought to realize you cannot have a relationship with someone by yourself. The other person has to participate. It reminds me of the “Anne girl” of Anne of Green Gables; the friendless Anne and her window friend; the reflection of herself that would show up around mirrors and darkened windows. The window friend could never reply, never show emotion, never reject, never love back.

Hello, are you there?

by Keith Gardner

Psalms 13:1-4 How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

Word of God Speak

by Keith Gardner

Revelation 16:17-21  The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since man has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. From the sky huge hailstones of about a hundred pounds each fell upon men. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.

Faith?

by Keith Gardner

Have you ever described living by faith; trusting in God for something other than the obvious? Try telling someone to believe in a thing that is contrary to what one sees. What does it look like when we are not worried about an event that to all those around us say should be a grave concern?

Love Runs Deep

by Keith Gardner

There is a love that penetrates the surface, but does not penetrate the heart. This love is usually birthed out of duty or familiarity. I can know God through my senses. The Psalmist said; “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hand.” I can see the evidence of His presence. I can know God through my intellect. Psalms 19:2 continues with “Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.” I can study the evidence of God through the things He has made and I can understand with a deep conviction that He has made them. But these things that point me towards a creator do not point me towards love. I can also know God through my experiences. Throughout the gospels Jesus demonstrated who he was by his many miracles. Many saw him coming on a donkey and screamed in celebration; “Hosanna! “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord”. About a week later many were yelling in great anger; “crucify him, crucify him”. They all saw the same Jesus, they all heard the same words, they all experienced the same miracles; but the love of God did not penetrate to the same depth. Why not?

Staying the Course

by Keith Gardner

The story of the Israelites journey from the bondage of Egypt to the land long promised to Abraham, the father of our faith, is the story of our birth into new life and our passage into maturity in Christ. The trip is not an easy one. Like the Hebrews of old, our journey has victories and failures, faithfulness and rebellion. There are those moments our hearts follow hard after our Father God and our time in His presence is an unquenchable thirst; and there are those moments when we so easily choose to go our own way, forgetting our promises and the lessons recently learned.