Announcements
SYMPATHY: to Pam Boles and families, at the passing of her husband, Roger Boles, on Monday, September 5. The funeral was held yesterday in Staunton, VA.
SYMPATHY: to Rob & Terri Ward, Josh & Kristen Duvall, and their families at the passing of their sister-in-law/aunt, Kim Breon, on Wednesday, September 7. Arrangements are pending.
VETERANS DAY: Please help us honor our Vets! Mrs. Dyson is working on a display for Veterans Day and needs more pictures as soon as possible. Please place your picture in an envelope marked with the Veteran’s name, service, and include your phone number so she may return your picture to you.
EMAIL ADDRESSES: If you are interested in receiving updates and alerts from the Church, please provide your email address to the Church office.
NURSERY VOLUNTEERS: are needed for the start-up of our Wednesday evening nursery and also to fill empty spots on the 1st, 4th, and 5th Sundays. For any questions about the schedule, please contact Anne-Marie Albaugh at 443-375-2078.
From My Heart
A pastor friend recently asked me this question, “What is taking so long for the Lord to come back for His saints?” I assume that question has been on the lips of many Christians over the last few years! Revelation 1:9 speaks of the “patience of Jesus Christ.” We are certainly not very patient concerning His return to remove us from this wicked world, but our Savior is obviously, very patient.
In II Timothy 3:1-7, Paul instructs Timothy on what to look for in the last days. In verse 1, we learn that in the last days, “perilous times would come.” We are certainly seeing these perilous times happening all around us. Folks read these verses and say, “Yes, the world is certainly just like these verses describe it!” But the world has always been like these verses are describing!
In these verses, Paul is not describing the condition of the world in the last days! He is describing the condition of the Church in the last days. I look back to when I first started pastoring in 1977, and I can tell you that things have dramatically changed in 45 years.
In v. 4, Paul said folks be “lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.” I remember when folks used to come to church, hungry for the Bread of Life and thirsty for the Water that satisfies the thirsty soul! But somewhere along the road, church took a back seat to pleasure. Baseball stadiums, football stadiums, racetracks, the lake, the beach, the mountains, and a whole host of other venues are more important to folks than coming to church to fellowship with God.
Paul goes on to say in v. 5, that in the last days people would have a “form of godliness, but [would be] denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” When I had to dissect these verses years ago, for my doctorate, I read where one commentator said, “This is Paul reminding us, that in the last days, folks will find themselves having church without God.” They will simply be going through the motions of having church.
So how does a person “deny the power thereof?” When someone denies the Bible is the Word of God and is the final authority for faith and practice! When someone denies the Virgin Birth, the Atonement, or the Resurrection of Christ from the dead - these are the doctrines that give power and authority to our faith. Paul said in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”
But today there are more churches that do not believe this Gospel message, and so when they have church, they are simply going through the motions! That is our world today! These are perilous times! We are certainly in the last days! Keep your eye on the sky, and just think…today could be the day our Lord returns.
Pastor Norris