Sadly, the work ethic in our culture is not what it once was.  We have lost our drive; our desire. Work has become a four letter word.  Much is revealed about our attitudes when we hear someone say “don't work too hard” or “take it easy”. It is assumed that people don't want to work and that it is not necessary to work.  Work is feared and underappreciated.

As Christians what should be our attitude toward work?  What does the Bible say? Here are some thoughts:

When God created the first man Adam, what did he have in mind for him to do? Remember, Adam was commanded to work and to take care of the Garden of Eden. [Gen 2:15].  So, Adam didn't just “take it easy”, he had a job to do.  God expected work.  Adam dove in and worked hard to complete his task.  Later on God saw how hard he worked, so he blessed him with a helper, ie, Eve.  Hard work is rewarded by God.

Adam (Reid) recently taught on Ephesians. Remember Ephesians 2:10?  “We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  So you see, just like Adam, we have a job to do. God expects work from us, and just like Adam, we will be rewarded for our hard work.

I like Romans chapter 16.  This is Paul's salutation to the Roman church, and specifically honors individuals in the church.  Notice: Priscilla and Aquila are called “fellow workers”; Mary, who worked very hard for you; Tryphena and Tryphosa, women who worked very hard in the Lord. Persis is another woman who worked very hard in the Lord.  So you see that God honors those who work hard.  Our work is not forgotten.  Someone is watching and taking note of all that we do. How would you like to have your name added to this list? Wow!

Here is a key to pleasing the LORD with our work: Colossians 3:23 says: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord you are serving.” You got that?  No matter who signs your paycheck, really you should see yourself as working for the Lord.  Human bosses fall short, but God never does.  He will reward you.

Here is a rule that Apostle Paul laid down for all the churches: 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” This is a hard saying. What does Paul mean? Did he want people to starve? I think he wanted everyone to see, as much as it depended on them, that it was not fair if some worked and others did not. However, this was a rule for the church and not for everyone in society.

Will we work in Heaven?  Yes according to Randy Alcorn of Eternal Perspective Ministries.  He gives many passages that indicate that we will have responsibilities. Often people are surprised to learn this as Heaven is mistakenly thought to be a boring place with nothing to do but sing and play harps.  In reality, Heaven will be an amazing and awesome place.

Proverbs 14:23 says “All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”  Hard work yields a return, but good intentions lead to nothing. Think about it! Here are several people as examples: 

Tiger Woods has become one of the greatest golfers ever. How did he get there? - Hard work. As a young boy, his father pushed him to be better.  He taught him discipline.  Young Tiger Woods made golf his passion and sacrificed many other distractions to reach his goal.  He achieved it. He is a hard worker.

Elon Musk is a name everyone has heard of.  He has his hands in many things and has been successful at all of them.  I don't know much about him, but I know he must be an incredibly hard worker. His Tesla Motors, Spacex rockets, and his boring company have really changed our world in many ways. He is also super rich.

God designed our bodies to work.  Consequently, when we don't work our bodies, we are not using them as they were designed.  Bad things happen.  Here are some benefits to hard work:

1. Sleep well. We never sleep better than when our body is dead tired.
2. Satisfaction of a job well done.
3. Our mind stays sharp and focused when we work.
4. We reap only when we sow.
5. Our bodies become firm and muscular.

I am sure there are great examples of hard workers in your life. Think about their life, their outcome, and imitate them.

I hope these thoughts on WORK have inspired you. So go out and WORK HARD!

Steve Garner

In the Bible, prophecy gives us the ability to look forward and see ahead of the present, what signs to look for and events that may give us a clue that something is going to happen.  The Great Tribulation, a seven year period of trouble over the whole earth, is one of those events.  Tribulation refers to troubling times.  We don’t know when it will come.  The Bible is clear that it will be a surprise, but there will be signs.  I believe it is getting closer, along with Christ’s return. 

Whether you believe Christians will be spared and taken before the Tribulation (pre-tribulation rapture) or that Christians will be taken up after the Tribulation (post-tribulation rapture), we all should not take certain signs lightly.  We should all be more motivated, during these times on earth, to share the Gospel, because of these troubling times and the hope that will help us endure whatever we have to face. 

You may be considering some things you think are “end times” signs.  I think that a Tribulation, that is severe, should be preceded by somewhat troubling signs.  There seem to be many of those “troubling signs” in the time we are living.  Things like: geopolitical upheaval, crucial diseases, wars, natural disasters (fires, major storms, climate changes, etc.), and economic instabilities; just to name a few. 

We, as Christians, should not require signs in order to believe, but we should recognize situations that could be signs, and consider their meaning and reason for our benefit.  As recorded in John 16:33 Jesus said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

As was mentioned before, no one will know when it will all happen, we just need to be prepared.  “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.” (2 Corinthians 5:1).  Jesus is preparing a place for each of us.  He has been working on it for some time, even though He didn’t need the time, but we do. What a place to look forward to. 

Max Lucado, in his book called “When God Whispers Your Name”, said: “We may speak about this future place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven.  The beauty of heaven is seeing God. 

Don’t miss your signs!

God Bless You!  -  Pastor Rod

Most people reading this article can also say that their lives have changed since Covid 19. It seems the entire world has been turned upside down in a matter of weeks. Many have been laid off work. Schools have been canceled, marriages postponed, graduation ceremonies put on hold and social and religious gatherings are frowned upon. Goodness gracious, we even have a new vocabulary word to throw around. One month ago, who would have ever use the term, “social distance”? Everyone knows and practices social distancing now. I can’t remember the last time I shook someone’s hand. Yes, each of our lives have been changed and transformed by this tiny but deadly virus.

One of the changes that we are adjusting to is how we do church. We now live stream our worship and sermons at 10 AM on Sundays. The congregation is watching the service at home. Praise God for modern technology!

As I write this article, Easter is a little over 3 weeks away. Think about that. The most cherished and important Sunday in all of Christendom is Easter. And most church doors around the world may be shuttered! Has anything like this happened before?

As unprecedented as this is, the most unprecedented event in all of history was the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Jesus’ resurrection changed everything for every generation, that has ever lived.

The importance of the cross and the empty tomb is stated in I Corinthians 15:3-4. It says “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also receive: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with scripture that he was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures.” What does this scripture mean? What does it mean for you?

1. That means you can experience hope that relieves your doubts. In Matthew 28:5-8, we are told Mary Magdalen and the other Mary went to the tomb. It was empty! They saw an angel. They were initially terrified but were told that Jesus was raised from the dead and, given certain instructions. They left with a great joy and hope. Christians can experience that same hope and joy in the present. When others are ringing their hands in anguish about this virus, our hope in Christ can relieve our doubts and fears. We understand that all things are under His control and He gives us courage that conquers our fears.

2. Because Jesus was raised from the dead that means: You can receive life that overcomes death. I Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in Heaven for you.”

We serve a living God who rose from the grave and who promises eternal life to all those who believe in Him. His power transcends life, death, heaven, hell, and the Covid 19 virus. He doesn't slumber or sleep. When other gods weaken and shrink, His power remains intact. Many of today's gods are on a forced vacation. The god of sport has been canceled or put on hold. The god of entertainment is relegated to reruns. Hollywood, Disney World, the casinos are all shut down. The god of mammon is being drained of power and prestige. Wall Street has lost nearly 20% in the last month.

In the present crisis we can better see and understand what truly is important and what is fluff. When all other gods wither and crumble under the weight of sickness and the harsh realities of life, Christ stands strong. In all the changes taking place around us, there is one who changes not. That one is Jesus. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

As we place our trust and hope in Christ, He will shepherd us through this crisis. May the blessing of the Lord and the power of His resurrection by yours and your families in the weeks ahead.

Pastor Dan

One person I will use as an example of grace and mercy is Joseph.  He had learned many lessons over the years before becoming second in command to Pharaoh in Egypt.  He obviously learned from the mistakes of his youth.  In his younger years, he revealed his dreams without grace and flaunted his father’s favoritism before his brothers (Genesis 37:3-11).  After being sold into slavery in Egypt, he submitted to God’s will, seeking more of God’s plan for his life.  With this he gained humility and became more serious about serving in order to give God the glory.

For many people, it takes many “ups and downs” in life to gain Godly perspective.  Many Proverbs offer two sides of the Godly learning coin.  One side has a rod and the other has reproofs.  The rod is an instrument for punishment and reproofs are used for lessons of “Don’t do that again!”.  The two can actually, at times, work together for added emphasis. 

Joseph turned a corner in his life and it was even recognized by Pharaoh when he said “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?”  Godly growth had occurred when His brothers, who had sold him as a slave, came to Egypt to survive.  Joseph told his steward to let them dine with him at noon (Genesis 43:16).  He could have punished them but showed them grace and mercy with favor they did not deserve. 

Just like Joseph, when we embrace both sides of the theological coin, we will grow in wisdom and maturity.  God is also gracious and merciful to us and we are to grow to be more like Him.  If we pray for these things, and keep our eyes and heart open to opportunities, we will find situations and people that we can show both mercy and grace.  If you are like me, we need to pray for more wisdom and discernment of where to demonstrate mercy and grace (Ephesians 4:32).  

Pastor Rod

John 10:27 says, "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."

Listening to God is a very important part of the Christian life. God wants to speak to us and we should desire to hear what He has to say. William Barclay said, "Prayer is not a way of making use of God; prayer is a way of offering ourselves to God in order that He should be able to make use of us. It may be that one of our great faults in prayer is that we talk too much and listen too little. When prayer is at its highest, we wait in silence for God's voice to us.”

Listening to God is like listening to anyone else…before you can hear Him, you have to be ready to listen. Just like any other conversation, you can’t hear the other person if you are talking over them or if your mind is somewhere else. It is the same with God. If we want to hear Him we have to be quiet (so hard in a time in history that is rarely silent) and you have to be singularly focused on what He is saying. 

A conversation goes two ways and involves speaking as well as listening, but a monologue is one-sided where there is only one person talking. Chances are that most of us monologue with God instead of conversing with God.  

Regular CONVERSATION with God will transform your life! We all need to find…no, MAKE time to meet with God everyday.  It is essential to being successful in this Christian life. 

Is God someone you can hear? The Bible says He is, and the Bible is one of the main avenues through which He speaks to us. 

We live in a world full of noise. Almost everywhere we go, we find sounds and images competing for our attention and focus, keeping us from letting our thoughts go past the surface level. Hearing God's voice means choosing to not listen to the noise of the world around us. It's not easy, but it is critical and it can be done. 

King David gave us a model for our time with God… “Let me experience your faithful love in the morning, for I trust in you. Reveal to me the way I should go because I appeal to you." (Psalm 143:8). 

He is seeking God's plan and direction in the morning… at the beginning of the day. Like a soldier in the army, he wanted to hear from his Commander before he entered the battle. Beginning each day with God is a great way to start your day!  Scripture says that Jesus went off in the mornings to a solitary place to pray. Lamentations 3:22-23 say that “His mercies are new every morning” and “His faithfulness is great!” You have to find the time of day that works for you, but morning seems to be the best time, if that is possible. 

Do you want to hear God speak to you? Listening to God requires regular time in reading and studying the Bible since it is the Word of God. Listening to God requires that our hearts are committed to hearing and understanding the message that HE has for us rather than what WE want to hear.

God can speak to us through visual images. The prophet Habakkuk experienced this… in Habakkuk chapter 2. He was longing to hear from God! He was longing to hear so much that he was willing to stand and wait as long as it took."I will stand at my guard post and station myself on the lookout tower. I will watch to see what He will say to me and what I should reply about my complaint" (Habakkuk 2:1). Because he was willing to wait and hear, Habakkuk found that God was faithful. "The Lord answered me: Write down this vision; clearly inscribe it on tablets so one may easily read it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it testifies about the end and will not lie. Though it delays, wait for it, since it will certainly come and not be late." (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

Listening to God requires a right attitude in our hearts. Not only do we need to be open to hearing what God has to say but, when He speaks, we have to be willing to do what He says. We have to determine ahead of time that we will do WHATEVER He asks or tells us. In order to listen to God and receive His instruction, we have to WANT to do His will… like Habakkuk did.

God blesses and honors the heart that is FULLY surrendered to Him. If we are stubborn and we are still clinging to our own will and desires the message will be confused. The message we get will be an unclear or wrong message that will not be God's voice at all but rather WHAT WE WANT God’s message to be. The likely result will be that we will continue pursuing a path that is not what God has for us but rather what we think it should be. 



Psalm 40:8 says, "I delight to do YOUR WILL, my God, and YOUR INSTRUCTION is deep within me."

In Luke 22 Jesus is praying in the garden and He says “not my will, but YOURS, be done” 

Do you desire God's will for your life above your will? If you do, you can trust that He will direct your path. Listen to HIS message, and be quick to obey. Write down what He tells you and be ready to share it so that others can understand and be encouraged to obey.



When we listen to God and obey Him, we will find a life that is full of purpose and blessing.

     Toward the end of the story, a totally frustrated and emotionally depleted Charlie cries out, “What is Christmas about anyway?”
     Then Linus steps into the spotlight and answered Charlie Brown’s question, and you know what he said - because you have seen that Christmas special. He quoted Luke 2:8-14:

“Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.
Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.
For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, good will toward men!”

     Did you hear that Charlie Brown? Did you hear the angels in Heaven? Scripture sings out that a Savior has been born to save you from your sins! A Savior to lift you from your depression and grant you inner peace!
     Do you believe that Charlie Brown? Believe in Jesus, the Savior, this Christmas and you will find it to be the answer to all the confusion, chaos and conflicts in your life.

Keep it simple Charlie Brown.

Merry Christmas,
Pastor Dan

     Third, God’s Word helps us with the changes God desires in us. He equips us. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Allow God to change you with His Word.
Scripture warns us that there may be some BIG Changes headed our way and that we need to get ready. We are in the FALL SEASON and Winter will soon be upon us. Consider these Scriptures:

Matthew chapter 24

Luke 21

2 Peter 3

     All these Scriptures speak of the “end times”. Please consider reading these on your own.

In His Service,
Steve Garner

I recently helped watch kids in a junior’s program at a Christian conference. By the fourth day of the conference the kids were tired. Many of them refused to do anything the leader suggested, some were seeking to hide or runaway from the leader—it was chaotic.        

Many thoughts go through your mind in a situation like that:

• How can I help bring order here?
• What do these kids need right now?
• Do their parents deal with this at home?
• Are my kids acting out like this for others to deal with?

As I was pondering these things, I remembered that God has children (1 John 3:1-3). This thought brought me comfort. Father God has included instructions and examples on how to handle disobedient children in His Word. For example, when Elijah was running away, God’s solution was a snack and a nap (1 Kings 19:4-5). That might have worked in the junior’s program too, if we had had more time.

A few days later, as I was reading a biography of Gladys Aylward to my kids, I came across the following story from her cook:

I was a lonely bad-tempered old man until [Gladys] came to my village. I listened to her stories and her songs, and I was interested. I learned that she needed a cook, and here I am. I cannot cook, but that does not matter. I do my best. I love these children, to whom Ai-weh-deh (Glady’s name in China, it means virtuous woman) is now more than father and mother. Oh, yes, sometimes they are naughty, but Ai-weh-deh says God loves naughty, wicked people so we must do the same.

Gladys was caring for about twenty children at that time. Having recently been in a room with twenty kids, and one teacher, I can imagine some of the situations she might have experienced.

What instruction does God’s Word offer to His children, those who recognize their need for obedience? 

1 Peter 1:14 says, As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance.

We should recognize those things which captured our hearts before we knew Christ and guard against letting them take His rightful place. Peter goes on to say in 1 Peter 2:1-3:

Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.

God’s Word will provide the nourishment necessary to grow in our new life with Christ. Are you growing in your obedience to Christ? Sometimes it seems like we take one step forward and two steps back. If we keep seeking Him, God will meet us in His Word with grace for every obstacle that would keep us from knowing Him better. He may even provide a snack and a nap too.

In our spiritual life, we need to stay on the narrow highway God has for us.  This is what Isaiah 35:8-10 says:  “And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness.  The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it.  No lion will be there, not will any ferocious beast get up on it; they will not be found there.  But only the redeemed will walk there, and the ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.  Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.” (Repeated in Isaiah 51:11)  In ancient times, there were certain roads, between temples, that only the ceremonially pure could travel.

With the business of life and all the technology and gadgets we have available, it is easy to get distracted.  I was driving on Mission St. when a car in the lane next to me came to a screeching halt. I noticed that the driver was texting and almost rear-ended the car in front.  A couple of years ago thirteen people, coming from a church retreat, died in Texas.  The driver, of the truck that hit them, was texting.  America is experiencing more traffic deaths and it is recorded to be because of distracted driving of many kinds.

As we travel the road of Holiness, with God, we can get easily deceived and distracted, if we don’t keep our eyes on Jesus and His specific way for us to travel. The Amplified Bible states Hebrews 12:1-2 this way:  “Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and the sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course…looking away (from all that will distract) to Jesus.”  Also, in 1 Corinthians 7:35 it talks about “undivided devotion to the Lord”. 

Walking the path, of service to the Lord, requires focus which prevents many distractions.  This path of God’s holiness, because we realize we have been ransomed by the price of Jesus’ blood, will keep our heart and mouth singing.  Joy will overtake our minds and hearts. Someday there will also be no more sorrow and sighing.  It is all worth it, for the Kingdom of God, and preventing our lives (and others around us) from spiritual distractions and destruction.  We need good examples, God’s Word and encouraging words, from the Body of Christ, to continue “Staying on the Right Path”. 

This is a great verse that shows our love for God through our obedience to God’s Word (Bible)! If we are disobedient (to God’s Word) it reveals our failure to love God!” ~ Dan Currie

My brother shared this verse the other day and as I read it, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to the crucial connection between loving God and obeying His commands.

*Disclaimer - None of this is assuming or implying works-based salvation or that we need to work to somehow earn God’s love.

We cannot claim to love Jesus and disregard what His Word says, or ignore the way it tells us to live. If we do, there is inconsistency and hypocrisy present - a disconnection between what we say and we do.

Jesus said in John 14:24, “Whoever does not love me does not keep my words.” When we disregard God’s Word and the instructions that are in it, and live the way we want, it shows a lack of love of Jesus. It shows we love ourselves and our lifestyle more than we love Jesus and more than we fear (respect/honor/revere) God.

Jesus said, in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”.  So part of proving we love Jesus is obeying what He has laid out for us in Scripture (Old Testament + New Testament).

Jesus said in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one” So we can’t disconnect the Godhead of the Old Testament with the Messiah of the New Testament. If we want a better picture of and understanding of who Jesus is then we need to look as what/who Scripture (both OT and NT) says He is rather than who we think He is based on our thoughts or feelings

            “God is not who you think He is…He is who/what He says He is!” ~ Unknown

            As we start obeying Scripture, Jesus says, He will reveal Himself to us. As we give ourselves to the study and obeying of God’s Word, Jesus says, “I will love him and reveal myself to him” (John 14:21b).

            Jesus says if we keep His commands then He will “love us” …this is not to say that Jesus only starts to love us when we start to love, and obey Him. Our love and obedience to Him should spring from His love for us; which is a love that has been “from everlasting to everlasting”. This means there is a clearer discovery and understanding of His love for us.

            Jesus says as we prove our love, through obedience to His Word, He will reveal Himself to us. The more we fall in love with, get to know, and obey God’s Word, the more the Holy Spirit will reveal the heart and mind of Jesus to us.

            This revelation is not in a physical sense, like He revealed Himself to His disciples after His resurrection; but in a spiritual way. He makes Himself known to us; through His commands (His wise instructions and direction) and through gracing us with His presence. As this happens, we see His beauty, His fullness, His grace, His righteousness, His power, and His glory…and we are changed.

            If you really love God, prove that love by knowing and keeping His commands.