Pastor Brad’s Notebook

27 Jul Devotional Thought – Why There’s No Temple In Heaven

"But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." Revelation 21:22 Is this a threat or a promise? The Revelator says that as he surveyed the sublime sights of the heavenly city he "saw no temple in it."  Seems sort of strange, doesn't it? Certainly it makes sense that there would be no pain or sorrow or suffering or death in this place called Heaven. That makes perfect sense to man's mortal mind. But to consider a heaven with no temple seems about as out of place as a sky with no sun, a forest with no trees, or a sea with no water.  Doesn't it?

25 Jul Devotional Thought – Divine Environment

"As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever." Psalm 125:2 "The LORD surrounds His people..." Or, "The LORD is His people's environment," because "to surround" is the same as "to environ". One's environment isn't just important, it is essential. When a bird is captured, caged and kept from its environment - the open air - it mourns. When a fish is taken out of its environment - water- it dies.  So it is with man. When man is kept from his environment - God - he mourns and he dies.

20 Jul Devotional Thought – Bearing A Brother’s Burden

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. . .For each one shall bear his own load." Galatians 6:2,5 I have to admit that when I first read this passage I thought that this was a really strange reason for me to bear a brother's burden. My first thought was that this passage would make better sense if it were to read, "Bear one another's burden because it isn't right that a brother should have to bear his burden alone." Yet Paul says that the reason for bearing another's burden is because "each one shall bear his own load." It was a bit confusing at first, but after carefully considering the context I have come to agree with Paul. It's not strange. In fact, it's beautiful and wonderful.