Pastor Brad’s Notebook

16 Nov

Posted at 09:06h in Fridays Are For Family
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It's that time of year again. Time for those long, family road trips, "over the river and through the woods, to grandmother's house..."  Or, to the house of another family member or friend. I don't think that I ever really thought much about long trips before we had our first child. "B.C.", (Before Children) Kim and I would just throw a small duffel bag in the back of the car, jump in and go.  We wouldn't stop except when we needed to gas up the car. The "end" justified any of the "means" that we had to endure to make it through a long-distance trip as fast as possible.

17 Oct

Posted at 14:30h in Devotionals
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“Whoever abides in Him does not sin.” 1 John 3:6 As a pastor I’m often asked the same question, just with different words.  The heart of the concern being raised is this, “Is is possible for a Christian to live in victory over sin?” Now, surely if we were to read and heed the songs that we’ve sung since childhood, the answer would be a hearty “yes!” We love to bellow out the words to that great hymn (no matter what arrangement your style of worship dictates), “Oh for a thousand tongues to sing my great Redeemer’s praise!” And we even sing with greater gusto when we come to that victorious verse, “He breaks the power of cancelled sin, He sets the prisoner free!”

08 Oct

Posted at 11:33h in Devotionals
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"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You'  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”  John 22:15 "Do you love Me more than these?" Jesus was appealing to Peter's primary personality characteristic - his desire to be first. That was the root of his entire being. He was a very ambitious man. In fact, even in the way that he approached his Lord there had been a longing to be first, a hunger for superiority, a desire that he should be singled and pointed out - recognized above all of the other men.  He'd said it. "Command me to come to You on the water." It was his life's motto.

01 Oct

Posted at 15:30h in Devotionals
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"...to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles..." Galatians 1:16 Paul is describing for us the processs of his personal salvation - the light of His Lord that he saw from heaven on the road to Damascus. In doing so he gives us a very unique insight regarding the location of that revelation. He tells us that it pleased God "to reveal His son in me."