The Blind Leading the Blind

In our current culture, those who don't know Christ wander through life with no moral compass. Proverbs 21:2 states, "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes." As mentioned in last Sunday's message, their behavior falls in line with the second law of Thermodynamics. This simply means everything tends to wear out, run down, or stop working. Things move from order to disorder and from organization to chaos.

People with a great deal of life experience can look back and compare the culture today with that of 50 or 60 years ago. The difference is significant. The behaviors and values of people today would have been appalling years ago.

The culture is blind to the values of God. They walk to the drumbeat of a different god. The pathway leads to moral decay. They are blind to the truth of God.

That is sad. However, something that is equally disturbing, maybe even worse, is that Christians follow the culture at a distance. They seem to be blind to the desires of God. The truth is that the behavior of many Christians today would surpass the behavior of the culture 100 years ago.

Who is leading? It appears that the blind culture is leading many of the Christian culture. Both could be called blind to the clearly marked path God lays out in the Bible.

We need to have our eyes open to influences lest we, too, become blind.

Pastor Crosby

Reducing Regret

It is easy for believers to forget that God does not overlook our actions. We often attempt to deceive our mate if we do something we would rather they not know. There are times when we act one way at work and another way at home.

When Cain tried to fool God after he killed Abel, his countenance betrayed his actions. The Bible is very clear that each one of us will give an account of our actions when we stand before Christ (Ecc. 12:4, II Cor. 5:10). We can't fool God. That thought should be branded in our minds.

Take the time to read Psalms 139:7-12. The regret that we would like to avoid will come at the judgment. When God reviews our actions on earth, I believe regret will haunt us.

What should we do to reduce regret? The Bible says, "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin" James 4:17. As believers, the Holy Spirit lives in us. He will stir our conscience to do the right thing and to avoid displeasing behavior. That's when we know we should do right.

If we listen, obey, and change the wrong and do the right, even if it is inconvenient, we will reduce regret at the final judgment. Instead of regret, we will receive reward.

Pastor Crosby

Frog in the Kettle

Several years ago a man named George Barna wrote a book titled, Frog in a Kettle. The content dealt with placing a frog in a kettle of warm water in a stove. The burner under the kettle of water was set on a low temperature. Slowly the water would become hotter and hotter. Eventually the water would come to a boil, and the frog would be cooked. It happened so slowly that the frog didn't realize what was occurring to him.

If you think about it, the point is obvious. We as humans can become lost or destroyed when we get into the wrong place. Slowly we become used to neglecting beneficial behaviors or habits. We find ourselves enjoying an adventure into something that is somewhat beyond what we should be doing. We begin to let some helpful habits slide. These small initial steps seem innocent at first, but they are small steps on a journey that can lead us into territories that we, at one time, knew were not right.

The temptations to take such journeys appeal to all of us. The possibility of allowing ourselves to take a few liberties from the path that is pleasing to our Master often carries some initial appeal. Paul made some interesting comments about the battles of life that challenge us from doing the right thing.  Romans 7:15 "I don't understand why I act the way I do. I don't do the good I want to do, and I do the evil I hate."

Life that is successful and pleasing to God requires self discipline. We need to constantly examine ourselves and/or get an accountability partner to help us see whether or not we are in a kettle of hot water. Determine from this day forward to avoid being a "Frog in the Kettle." Ask yourself many times each day, What would Jesus do in this situation?

Pastor Dick Crosby

A Winner's Discipline

Many people are watching the 2014 Winter Olympics. They see the results of long months, in some cases years, of training as athletes. These participants undergo a disciplined routine in hopes of winning a medal. They have disciplined themselves to eat right, work tirelessly, and to hone their skills to be the world's best. Everyone admires their resolve and willpower.

Is there a lesson to us as spectators? I think so. The drive to be successful grips many people, but few sustain that drive. Often people wish they had the discipline to be successful in business, to lose weight, or get into good physical shape. Many people succeed in those quests, but most make some vital mistakes in stretching for their goals for greatness.

How many sacrifice one area of their life to gain success in another area? Quite often the drive to make more money or to look physically better leads to an unbalanced commitment in another area of life. That objective for success may ignore other areas of importance.

Some areas that suffer are relationships. Marriage relationships often suffer when a person centers their attention on only one goal. Other times the relationship between parents and their children take a back seat. The more significant damage centers on their spiritual relationship. An obsession for a personal goal can pull one's life purpose into one area at the neglect of others. Often that neglected party is God. Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

A winner's discipline looks toward God first. Then they fit their other goals to be in concert with God. No one is a winner who places any goal over God.

Pastor Dick Crosby

Some Change is Too Easy

A legitimate reason to miss going to the gym for exercise is understandable. Yet, is it not strange that the one missed workout makes missing another one much easier? It is easy to delay going to the dentist, postponing it to another day. Postponing it a second time is easier than the first postponement. No matter what the situation, the habit of procrastination is extremely easy. It simply takes one delay to begin the habit of changing a discipline.

I recently read that the average Christian in America now attends church one per month. It seems the average is becoming sub-par. The Bible says that this will happen in the last days in II Timothy 3.

In a competitive nation such as America, it is puzzling that so many people have little urge to be the best they can be in their faith. I pray that the people of Hannaford are determined to be better than the average Christian. Let's set this goal, not simply for pride or ego, but because we want to please the soon-coming Jesus.

Pastor Dick Crosby