No Thanks.

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4

Rafael Benitez is the coach of the professional soccer team Liverpool of the English Premier League team based in Liverpool England. Born in Spain, he had a very promising career as a young player but was injured in a match against Canada at the World Student Games in Mexico. With his chances ruined for becoming a professional player, he became a coach, rising to the top level as the head of Liverpool. In 2007, “Rafa” as he is called, was offered not one but two lucrative contracts to change jobs. One to manage Chelsea, one of the top teams in the English league, the other to return to Spain and coach at Real Madrid, long recognized as one of the best teams in the world. “Each offered more money,” said Rafa, “But me and my family are happy here and I have the support of most of the fans, the staff and the players and I believe we can be brilliant here.” As Christians, we are often tempted by temporal and worldly things like power, sex and money. Like Jesus, we must learn to ground ourselves in the Word and prayer in order to resist temptation.

It is significantly important that the Bible recounts the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. While Jesus is in a weakened state after fasting, Satan tries to get Jesus to prove he is the Son of God by turning rocks into bread. Similarly, our greatest temptations will come when we are close to the point of powerless to defend against them. The opportunity will be present, our ability to do it won’t be in question and we probably will even want to do it. At the crucial moment of decision, we need to do exactly what Jesus did. He searched God’s Word for the answer. When we are angry, sick, tired, desperate, lonely or otherwise compromised; we are extremely vulnerable to temptation. It is in these times our knowledge of the scripture and our dedication to regular prayer help us to resist and overcome the desire to yield.

My prayer for you today is for the ability to recognize and resist temptation.

Deacon Larry Woodard

House Cleaning.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? Matthew 7:3

Spring and fall cleaning are a revelation for me. Busy commuting, working and traveling for most of the year; when I stop to organize and toss out I’m amazed at what I find. Unopened mail, bags from the drugstore forgotten before the contents were taken out, clothes I forgot I owned and enough magazines and books to open a small shop. Ironically, while I spend most of the year helping clients organize their marketing and advertising efforts, my organizing efforts go lacking. As Christians, we must guard against paying so much attention to the shortcomings of others we neglect to see, recognize and deal with our own.

The most completely documented sermon given by Jesus can be found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Jesus teaches in a simple, compelling straightforward manner. He gives us many practical lessons including how to pray, how to fast and why we shouldn’t worry. At the beginning of chapter 7 he deals with an issue that plagued the people of that day and continues to be a major stumbling block for us. He issues a command. Do not judge. Jesus says. For you will be judged the same way. Instead, he suggests, focus on your own shortcomings. Focusing on where we fall short humbles us and gives us the proper attitude to deal with problems others may have. It puts us in the frame of mind to be patient, forgiving and merciful. These are all traits in short supply in the world today.

Spend a little more time in front of the mirror this morning..

Deacon Larry Woodard

Care Bearer.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. Psalm 55:22

I woke up with stiffness in my neck and upper back. The precious few hours of sleep I had were insufficient to produce any relief from the issues I was dealing with. The stiffness in my back and the fuzziness in my head were quickly joined as list of problems I faced came flooding into my consciousness. As I lay there, I realized the weight of the burdens I was carrying was getting a little heavy. Right where I was began to talk to God about my circumstances and to align myself with his promises. I didn’t get up until I had put all of my problems on the altar determined to leave each of these issues with the God who is able to sustain me. As Christians, we need to always remember that God will actually carry our burdens.

How many times in life are we actually slowed down to the level of ineffectiveness as Christians by our personal problems? We who are supposed to have the abundant life Jesus promises in John 10:10 are paralyzed by our problems. No one watching us sees any difference in our lives as we wallow in our distress. In Psalm 55, David found himself in the pit of despair. His thoughts were troubling him. The voice of the enemy and the stares of the wicked had him trembling. He fantasized about having wings like a dove so he could fly away and be at rest. Then he remembers to call on the name of the Lord. Who, he writes, in spite of the opposition ransoms him unharmed.

Count on God to carry your burdens today and trust in Him to carry you through your troubles unharmed.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Go Slow.

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” James 1:19

There is a joke about four elderly women stopped by a policeman for driving too slow. The officer explained to the driver that driving too slow on an interstate is just as dangerous as driving too fast. The old woman explained she was going 22, just as the sign said. The officer explained to her the sign was the interstate number and not the speed limit. All the while the other women were quiet, obviously shaken up. He asked the driver if they were all right. She assured him they would be alright and explained they had just gotten off route 119. As Christians, we must be slow and deliberate when it comes to speaking our minds and becoming angry, but quick to listen and to do the work of the Lord.

The First chapter of James is an important one for Christians. It discusses how we often miss the mark by not reining in our tongues and by not taking the time to listen to the word of God and act on it instead of merely listening. Any athlete will tell you the significant difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it. James instructs us to be humble listeners and then patient and persistent doers of the word. The blessing, he tells us, comes from doing.

Be a deliberate Christian today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Little Trees.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

On Tuesday, August 18, 2009, a powerful storm boasting strong winds and driving rains knocked down hundreds of trees in New York City’s Central Park. With winds gusting up to 80 miles an hour, the swift storm damaged trees, knocked down electrical wires, smashed park benches and damaged cars parked in the area. While the storm destroyed towering elm trees, as I drove along the West Side Highway the next day, I noticed that all along the Hudson River small trees ranging from 2 feet to 6 feet remained undamaged. In fact, some of the trees were so recently planted they still had support wires attached. As Christians, we take comfort in knowing that in spite of the severity of the storms in our life, God can keep us from being harmed.

I was powerfully moved by seeing these small trees undamaged just yards away from towering, strong trees destroyed. It seemed logical the strong, deep roots would keep the big trees from being uprooted and the shallow roots of the new trees would provide virtually no protection. What an important message for us to learn. The strength we believe we have is no match for the all-consuming destructive power of this world. Only by the power of God and His grace are a match for the storms we face. We have no reason to boast or take comfort in any security we believe we have as Christians except getting as close to God as possible through prayer and the knowledge of God’s word. We are weak, but He is strong.

I pray that you trust God today and recognize your weaknesses.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Hold On.

But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. Revelation 2:25

Many athletes employ the use of cleats for footwear during an athletic contest. These shoes have studs, spikes or ridges on the bottom help to prevent the athlete from slipping and sliding. They also help them hold their positions and quickly maneuver by changing direction to avoid contact. Cleats are particularly useful in less than optimal situations, like wet grass or loose dirt. As Christians, we need to be able to hold fast and to maneuver through life’s challenges.

According to the 2nd chapter of the Book of Revelation, the Church at Thyatira was under particular duress. On the surface, they had an impressive resume: works, service, charity, faith and patience; but they were also greatly influenced by Jezebel whose idea of religion was the tempting practice of fornication and eating food sacrificed to idols. In fact, she called herself a prophetess. Over time, she had managed to involve a large number of people from the church in her practices, convincing them it was consistent with their beliefs. To those who had not yet fallen prey, the message from God was: “hold on.” This is a very relevant message for Christians today. Many things considered acceptable by society are not acceptable to God. The temptation is great not to be considered intolerant, judgmental or overly pious and just accept that times have changed. To Christians, who know the word of God I urge you to hold on.

I pray that you are able to hold steady to your beliefs today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Go Bold.

29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Acts 4:29

A few years ago, my advertising agency had the opportunity to introduce a line of brightly colored, fruity beverages from the Snapple Beverage Company. In addition to the bright colors the brands were flavored with exotic sweet fruits like Mangosteen, Yuzo and Pitaya. In our advertising, we implored consumers to “Go Bold”. As Christians, we must never be afraid of challenges or obstacles to living purposeful lives.

After the Upper Room experience, Peter and John began to have a very effective preaching ministry and thousands had become believers. The high priests summoned them before the Sanhedren Council and forbade them to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. After they told the council they would not obey this command; they gathered their group together and prayed for boldness. At some level, I have no doubt that we all are believers but there is a level of commitment necessary before your beliefs begin to have an effect on others. Those who see us must detect a level of sincerity and boldness in the way we go about our lives that convinces them our belief and trust in God makes an everyday difference. It has to go beyond talk and it has to be exhibited even in the face of obstacles, setbacks and opposition.

Go bold today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Fret Not.

Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of workers of iniquity. Psalm 37:1

Last week, Portuguese police recaptured a convict who escaped from prison in 1993. He had served 2 years of a 10-year sentence. He had lived in caves in the mountains outside Lisbon for 16 years. He was thin, heavily bearded and had spent the majority of the time with little to no human contact. Those who worried about his escape could have rested easy; his self-imposed exile was a greater punishment than he had been given. Christians must trust that any gains realized by those who cheat, steal and take shortcuts, will not last.

Psalm 37 assures the righteous that in spite of how it looks God ultimately will punish the wicked and reward the righteous. Although there are those who prosper by scheming, the believer is instructed to trust in the Lord and do good. The psalmist invites us to feed on His faithfulness and to delight ourselves in the Lord and He will give us the desires of our hearts. In this prolonged recession we can be tempted to take short cuts. When confronted with diminishing resources and mounting debt, we may feel that compromise is necessary or even unavoidable. It is during these times we must hold on to the words of Psalm 37 even more tightly. Commit your way to the Lord, David writes, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass. When we take matters into our own hands, we risk cheating ourselves of God’s blessings and his mercy.

My prayer for you today is that you work with what you have and trust in the Lord to hold you up.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Follow Me.

Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Some years ago I was driving late at night returning from Cornell on my way back to Syracuse. My wife and her friend were asleep in the car and the fog was so thick on Interstate 81 in the rolling hills and valleys of Upstate New York that visibility was near zero. Even with my fog lights on, I literally could not see more than two feet in front of me. I gripped the steering wheel like it was a rope and I was hanging over a cliff trying to keep from falling. As I drove slowly through the quiet of the night I kept my eyes on the white lines right in front of the car to the left, knowing that as long as I followed the lines I would still be on the road heading in the right direction. As Christians, we only have one way to make sure we are on the proper path, moving in the right direction and that is Jesus.

The fourth chapter of Matthew describes the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. He rebukes temptation saying “you shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve.” He begins to speak to crowds telling them that they must repent and once reaching Galilee, he begins to recruit his Disciples by asking them to follow Him. In this life, like a heavy fog, we will never be able to peer more than a half a second into the future. We must have some way to navigate. Jesus is the way the truth and the light. He is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. He is the only hope of our salvation.

My prayer for us today is that God orders our steps and that we follow Him.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Flash Point.

At once they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:20


Flash point is a term used in chemistry to describe the minimum temperature at which ignition can occur. The term is also used to describe the point at which significant action occurs. That is, the point at which something begins to happen. As Christians we must always remember nothing happens until we do something.

Peter, Andrew, James and John were at work when Jesus called them to follow him. Peter and Andrew were casting their nets into the sea while James and John were working with their father, Zebedee, mending nets. I believe it is significant that Jesus chose men who were at work. Jesus chose men who were largely responsible for the rapid spread of the Gospel. He chose them and things began to happen. We live in communities in need of workers. We are in desperate need of men and women willing to reach the flash point and begin to live for God.

My prayer for you today is that you realize the harvest is plentiful but the laborers few and make yourself available to work for the kingdom.


Deacon Larry Woodard

Stretch Out.

But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thine hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. Exodus 14:16

The Institutional Radio Choir had a popular song when I was a kid. The first line of the song is “When trouble comes, storm begins to rise, hold on and learn to stretch out” The song goes on to encourage the listener to keep on fasting, keep on praying because the race isn’t given to the swift or the strong but to those who endure until the end. As a child I loved the song because the music was so fast it was almost frenetic and it seemed that the choir could barely keep up and the tune was catchy . After I would hear it, it would play in my head for most of the day. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I began to understand the concept of “stretching out”. As Christians, the ability to stretch out through faith is a fundamental component of our relationship with God.

God told Moses to stretch his hand out over the sea and divide it in two. He told Moses that the people would walk, with the sea on either side of them, on dry land. This obviously seriously defied logic. They were being pursued by the King of Egypt and his army…even if the sea parted, the sea bed would not have enough time to dry! Stretching out, however, requires commitment. Even the act of reaching out over the sea, required an action that implied trust. When problems confront us we need to operate with the same type of commitment. After we have fervently prayed and read the word of the Lord and meditated on the scriptures listening for Guidance from the Holy Spirit; we need to stretch out in faith and continue confident that God will act on our behalf.

My prayer for you today is that you would lean into your problems as you have faith that God will take you through them, on dry ground, to the other side.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Look Up.

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1

There is a joke about a Sunday School teacher filling in for the regular teacher. She was struggling to open a combination lock that held the craft supplies needed for the morning’s lesson. She had been told the combination but had forgotten. Finally, she went to the pastor’s study to ask for help. The pastor came into the room and began to turn the dial. After the first two numbers he paused for a moment and looked serenely heavenward while his lips moved silently. Suddenly, he looked down, turned to the last number and opened the lock. The teacher was amazed at the pastor’s faith and told him so. “It’s really nothing,” replied the pastor. “The number is on a piece of tape on the ceiling.” Our answers are not on the ceiling, as Christians, we know our help comes from the Lord.

In Psalm 40, David describes his situation as in extreme peril. He was in a “desolate pit”, a “miry bog”. The implication is that the situation was so bad every time he tried to get out he slipped or was pulled back in. Many of us know this situation well. In the midst of our trouble we see no way out. And many times, in addition to our trouble, we have an active audience of those who seemingly take pleasure in our trouble. David waits patiently. God hears his cry and sets his feet upon a rock, making his steps secure. David understands that God’s mercy is unmerited and is thankful and quick to tell all those who will listen about the goodness of the Lord. In your time of trouble, look up. When God delivers you, be truly thankful.

My prayer for you today is that God hears your cry, sees you waiting patiently and comes quickly to deliver you.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Remember Me.

And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. Luke 23:42

Many times disaster strikes in an instant. One moment everything is okay and the next, you are caught up in a whirlwind of chaos. Christians need to always be prepared to have a spiritual response to adversity.

Jesus was crucified between two thieves. One chose to mock him, the other asked to be remembered when Jesus went to his kingdom. That thief was given the gift of salvation. Lord, remember me! It is a simple, but effective prayer. It acknowledges the sovereignty of God. It exhibits faith. It is a plea for salvation. Christians would do well to remember this prayer now and in your time of great need.

My prayer for you today is that you practice your spiritual first aid drill from time to time so it will be there for you when you need it most.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Close Call.

and he threw the spear, thinking, "I will nail David to the wall." But David jumped out of his way twice. 1 Samuel 18:11

On November 16th, 2007 an eastbound Midwest Airlines plane and a westbound United Express plane, flying 25,000 feet over Indiana came within seconds of a midair collision. The planes were flying at a combined speed of more than 700 m.p.h. (about 12 miles every minute). On the ground, the air traffic controller, a 26-year veteran, in a rush to get home during a shift change had mistakenly removed the electronic identification tag of one of the planes from his screen. A cockpit safety device alerted one of the pilots who was able to avoid the collision at the last minute saving the lives of the hundreds on board. As Christians, we need to always be aware of the grace of God that grants us unmerited favor and preserves us to do His will.

Reading the life of David backwards is a fascinating exercise. Here is this King, who found God’s favor and accomplished so much during his lifetime and left so much to inspire comfort and direct us. As we continue the story however, we see that David escapes extinction many times before he even gets started. As a boy, he battles a lion and a bear in the defense of his family’s sheep (1 Sam 17:34-36). He fights and kills the giant Goliath (1 Sam 17:49). When we get near the beginning of the story, we see the prophet Samuel recognizing David as the successor to King Saul and anointing him with oil. It is then we understand that the hand of God protected David for His purpose throughout his life. As Christians, when we live committed to God’s purpose for our lives, God keeps us. As David wrote in Psalm 121:6, “The sun shall not smite the by day, nor the moon by night” and in the final verse of the same Psalm: “The Lord will watch over your coming and going, forever and ever”

My prayer for you today is that you recognize that the safest place in the world is within God’s will for you. Seek to serve Him.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Rock Solid.

Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24

In my business I get a chance to speak to a lot of young people who are just starting their careers. The majority of them are very bright, eager and almost always impatient. They want to be promoted and make lots of money and to be able to afford expensive things. They want it all now! From my vantage point, I can usually tell a lot about what their value systems are and what kind of foundation was laid during their formative years. I always tell them to invest the time to really learn the business. I explain to them that if they lay a solid foundation it will serve them throughout their entire careers. So it is with Christians, we must build lives fashioned out of the teachings of the Bible in order to have the direction and faith to go through lives that will have not just good times but trials as well.

In Matthew, Jesus uses the analogy of the wise and foolish builders in order to make a specific point about listening, hearing and doing. He emphasizes that the wise builder is like the man who hears the Word and puts it into practice. How often do you hear sound advice from someone who fails to practice what they are preaching? How often do we know what we should be doing but lack the ability to actually do it? The Bible is full of wisdom. Wisdom that is as accurate and instructive today as it was when it was written.

Find some quiet time and spend it with God’s Word this weekend. Pray that God give you the strength, courage and wisdom to use the Bible to build a rock solid foundation for your actions.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Smooth Stones.

Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd's bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine. 1 Samuel 17:40

My brother is three years older than I am. This is significant when you are in grade school. I was nine and he was eleven but after school we did almost everything together. We were the foosball champs at the local youth center on the military base we lived on in Germany. We played all types of sports but among our favorites was football. We practiced a single play over and over again we called the ‘Reggie Mantle” for reasons I’ve long forgotten. He would be the quarterback and I would be the tight end. I would run straight out at full speed and at the last minutes break left sharply and meet the ball at a spot he always threw it to. It was a play that was hard to defend. There was no indication of where I was going or where the ball would be. I was a little kid playing with larger boys. I was the one it wasn’t necessary to guard with a skilled player. More often than not, this play would result in a touchdown. It was the result of perfect trust and the understanding between us that if I got to the spot where the ball would be, it would be there. He knew it and I knew it. The story of David and Goliath offers great reassurance for the Christian. Complete trust in God yields powerful results.

The biblical account of David and Goliath is powerful and detailed. The Bible paints David, the young shepherd boy as almost arrogant. Sent to the battlefront to deliver food to his brothers, he becomes indignant that this giant is ridiculing the army of God. As he persists in asking questions he begins to raise the ire of the soldiers. Ultimately he is taken to King Saul. He recounts facing lions and bears defending his sheep. It is important to note that he didn’t simply ward the wild animals off – he pursued them and snatched the sheep out of the jaws of these beasts to restore them back to the fold. When he finally persuades Saul to let him face the giant, he is unable to wear the armor or wield the standard weapons of war so he falls back on his weapon of choice, a slingshot. He selects five smooth stones from the river and vanquishes the giant Goliath. As Christians, we must trust that our abilities, finances, health, personalities, stature or even age might, to the world, look like insurmountable obstacles; but adding unwavering trust in God will give us success beyond belief.

By faith today, let your faith in God take you victoriously through every situation you encounter.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Empty Pedestal.

Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. Psalm 119.23

The famous nineteenth century poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem entitled Ozymandius. In the poem a traveler encounters two huge legs of stone in the desert. The torso has been broken off and is missing. Near the legs, half buried in the sand is a proud, broken stone head and not too far from the head a pedestal. On the pedestal these words are inscribed: “My name is Ozymandius, king of kings: look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!” The poem goes on to read that nothing of the great empire that once stood remains only the broken statue and lone and level sands that stretch far away. As Christians, we must always remember that only the things we do for God will last.

The psalmist asks God to turn his eyes away from looking at worthless things. We too need to guard against pursuing things we think are important today but in the grand scheme of things have no value. Relationships are more important than things. Health is more important than accomplishments. Human contact is more important than an email. In these action-packed days in our 24/7 world we have to make significant time to focus on the things of God.

My prayer for you today is that you balance the meaningless with the meaningful.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Checkmate.

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1

Chess is a game of strategy. The best players can map out in their heads the best moves to make based on the potential moves their opponents can make. It is a game in which one must consider not only his own moves but the moves and options of the person on the other side of the table. It is a game where defense and offense are played at the same time. When I was learning the game, I made the mistake of focusing on offense. I was just a few moves away from cornering my opponent’s king when I heard the fateful word “check” and in the next move “Checkmate”. Sometimes, as Christians we get so wrapped up in our lives that we are surprised when God needs to move to get our attention.

Our scripture today begins the account of the encounter the Prophet Isaiah has with God. It is a startling picture of the wide distance between what we accept for ourselves as adequate and the holiness of God. When faced with true holiness, the prophet shouts out in terror “Woe is me!” and then “I am ruined!” (Isaiah 5: 1 partial). God was calling Isaiah to a task. We live in a time similar to that of Isaiah. King Uzziah started out okay but then became a wicked ruler. We started as a Nation under God, but now chase the almighty dollar. Isaiah recognized that he dwelt among people with unclean lips and that he had unclean lips himself. But when the seraph touched his lips with a burning coal from the alter and took away his guilt Isaiah was able to respond to the voice of the Lord and proclaim: “Here am I, send me!” Jesus has died for our sins. He has directed us to go out into the world. Christians need to be careful that we take care to be Christians every day. Our words, actions, thoughts and deeds need to be centered on faith in God, obedience to his commandments and unwavering hope in the promises of Jesus Christ.

I pray today that you are able to realize the significance of your salvation.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Stiff Headwind.

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch (Acts 14:20)

One of my favorite sayings is: “Everyone has a plan until he gets punched in the face” What I like about the saying is the stark reality that none of us deal well with obstacles or opposition. We want to be liked and we want the way to be smooth. Obstacles and opposition cause us to reconsider our path and our commitment. It should not come as a surprise to us however, that the Bible teaches us to move forward in spite of clear opposition. The path that the Bible teaches will be straight if we lean not unto our own understanding and in all ways acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:5,6), in fact, might lead directly through trouble. But it is trouble that we can make it through if we keep our focus on doing God’s will.

Paul and Barnabas were preaching the Gospel in Iconium and Lystra. Iconium proved to be dangerous; so after they spoke they fled to Lystra and continued preaching. While there opposition caught up with them, stoned Paul, dragged him out of the city and left him for dead. His followers collected him and he and Barnabas went to Derbe. But the text shows that they returned to both Iconium and Lystra. That is where the harvest was. That is where the work was. That was where God could give them the sure victory. As Christians, we have to be careful about shying away from battles. There is a battle raging between good and evil. A battle which cannot be won if it is never fought.

Reflect today about opportunities you may have to speak up and confront people and circumstances that clearly are not right. Pray for the courage to face the obstacles and opposition to God’s work in his creation.


Deacon Larry Woodard

Bumblebee Faith.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

It took scientists and engineers a long time to figure out how bumblebees fly. Generally the flight of objects heavier than air can be described by a combination of lift and thrust. Using the lift + thrust model, engineers can calculate the size and shape of the wing needed to get lift and the amount of power required to generate sufficient thrust. Unfortunately, the bumblebee has neither. Heavy and round with tiny wings, it just seems impossible for the chubby little black and yellow insect to get off the ground. Yet it clearly does fly. We now know that the bumblebee’s wings and the muscle system they are attached to work differently than most other flying things. The wings move in a figure eight pattern, about 130 times per second, creating lift in both the forward and backward strokes. The muscles work like a rubber band not needing to contract. Important to the Christian is the fact that for the thousands of years that scientists had no explanation for the flight of the bumblebee –it flew anyway. Christians live in assurance of their salvation through Jesus Christ.

Faith is critically important in the life of a Christian. When people have no hope they behave differently. Desperation sets in and behavior that would have been unthinkable when hope is present becomes acceptable in the absence of hope. Without hope our actions begin to lead us down a pathway to destruction. In the book of Job, when Job’s situation seemed irreversible, his wife told him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). You might find yourself today in a tough situation. You may have decided that there is no way out. Looking at your situation, from all of the angles available to you, it might seem as if there is no chance you will come out of your situation unscathed. Remember that God has two perspectives that you don’t: From above and from the future. Trust in the Lord. Hold on to the faith you have. Pray for additional faith.

My prayer for you today is that you hold on until God meets you with mercy.

Deacon Larry Woodard

The Zone.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7

Athletes talk about being in “The Zone”. That place where everything works together. Your body flawlessly responds to a mental picture of everything working perfectly and what occurs afterwards is just as you pictured it. Competitors are unable to block your progress and you achieve a level of performance that you believed was possible but until that moment had not achieved. When I was 17 years old, I was playing a game of pick-up basketball with my brother and some friends. I had a breakaway to the basket and everyone was shouting “dunk it”. Problem was, I couldn’t dunk! Somehow on my way down the court everything began to fall into place. I knew my stride was right. I stared at the basket. I leapt off the correct foot, at the correct angle at precisely the right time. There was no doubt in my mind and I jammed the ball home. It felt wonderful. Never again have I been able to create that moment on the basketball court. The Christian can and needs to be able to find the place where God can keep our hearts and minds in perfect peace.

The 4th Chapter of Philippians has tremendous value to Christians. Our world is full of circumstances that rob us of our equilibrium. Everyone admits that stress is always just below the surface and often reveals itself sometimes with frightening regularity. In our troubled world, how can we avoid being caught up in the pressures we face every day? Philippians talks about the God of peace but also talks about the peace of God. The writer implores us to think (meditate) on things that are right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (4:8) the directive to focus on positive things and to put aside negative things is the key. This sounds simplistic but it is neither simple nor easy. Having a positive attitude and knowing God can place you in “The Zone” where your stressful circumstances no longer are able to reach you and you are able to easily overcome is possible through Christ Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that in the midst of stress you find God’s peace to keep your heart and mind.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Silly Putty.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Jeremiah 18:4

Silly Putty is plastic clay sold in toy stores in a plastic egg. It bounces, but breaks when given a sharp blow. It can also flow like a liquid and will form a puddle given enough time. Kids love it because you can create almost any shape out of it that you can imagine. What Silly Putty becomes is a function of who has it in their hands. Similarly, Christians are the product of the hands of God.

We are in a constant state of becoming. Paul says in Philippians the third chapter that he has not attained the prize but he presses forward, straining to reach his goal. Our key scripture Jeremiah 18:4 paints the picture of a potter who is making a pot that becomes misshapen. He takes the same clay and begins to shape a new pot, presumably one devoid of blemishes. As Christians, we are forced to rely on the grace, mercy and love of God. He forgives us and begins the process over and over again of throwing us back onto the potter’s wheel, centering us and forming a better vessel. In the skillful hands of God, we can become beautiful instruments that can be used to serve peace, love, joy and harmony.

I pray today that you are open to the constructive criticism and instruction and molding it takes to create a finished product.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Better Blessings.

Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazereth, walk.” Acts 3:5

My dad told me a story about when he was a young serviceman stationed in Okinawa. He had a supervisor who decided to be hard on my father because of his race. He warned him if he failed to get a perfect score he would do everything in his power to make sure dad never had the opportunity to succeed. In hindsight my dad credits this supervisor with setting him on the path to success. Christians need to aware that the best blessings might come disguised as something else.

In this passage, Peter and John were on their way to the temple for the afternoon prayer. At the entrance to the temple was a man, lame from birth, begging for coins. Peter said to him that he did not have money, but he could give him something better. Peter took him by the hand and immediately the man was no longer lame, but could walk. Some of us are praying for a job while God is preparing us for an important career. Some of us are praying for success and God is trying to give us purpose. Some are praying for wealth and God is trying to give us wisdom.

I pray today that you accept the better blessing God has for you.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Crisis Management.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Acts 16:25

As the world continues to grow more dangerous, the practice of Crisis Management has grown as a response to the need for ways to cope in these perilous times. Crisis managers prepare and help guide companies through catastrophic events that occur without warning. From terrorist attacks to product recalls to malicious rumors, these professionals help organizations make the best out of bad situations. Christians have a great example of how to behave in tough situations in the biblical account of Paul and Silas in a Roman prison.

Paul and Silas were preaching in Philippi when they encountered a troubled little girl whom they healed. Her owners had made money from her condition and they took Paul and Silas before a judge and had them beaten and thrown into jail. Severely beaten and in prison placed in stocks Paul and Silas surely were encountering a crisis. It is at this point the Bible states that even at midnight they were praying and singing hymns to God and reaching the other prisoners who were listening to them. Our reaction to crisis is usually to focus on our predicament. Paul and Silas instead focused on the task they had been called to do. They continued to lead people to Christ. As Christians, the first item in our crisis management manuals needs to be to continue serving God. If we focus on him then he will dispatch of the crisis as he did for Paul and Silas so we can continue serving him.

If you find yourself confronted by a crisis today, worship your way out of it.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Mirror, Mirror.

But God said to Jonah, "Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?"
"I do," he said. "I am angry enough to die." Jonah 4:9

There is a joke about an older couple on a long car trip. On the way they stop to get lunch. When they get back on the road after about an hour the woman realizes she has left her glasses and tells her husband who is driving. He turns around and on the way back to the restaurant lectures her about responsibility. When they arrive back at the restaurant he says: “While you are in there can you get my hat?” As Christians, we are sometimes very quick to point out the failings of others but ignore the hypocrisy in our actions.

Jonah ran from God when instructed to go to Nineveh. After his encounter with the great fish compelled him to be obedient he did as God asked and went to Nineveh, warning them that God was going to destroy them. After Jonah warned the city as God had instructed, he became angry when God did not destroy them. God could have destroyed Jonah as soon as Jonah showed his disobedience by running away. Even after God didn’t kill Jonah for his disobedience, he could have let him drown when he hit the water after being cast into it by his shipmates. Yet, even though God spared Jonah, he became angry that God spared the inhabitants of Nineveh. So many times we stand with stones in our hands ready to throw them at others caught in sin and disgraced by public failings while our own shortcomings lay safely hidden in our upstairs closets. As Christians we must develop the discipline to consider ours shortcomings before condemning others.

Pray today to that God’s mercy extended to us will soften our attitudes towards others.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Lord's Battle.

You need not fight in this battle; station yourselves, stand and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out to face them, for the LORD is with you." 2 Chronicles 20:17

Have you ever stayed up late worrying about what your next steps needed to be? Thinking of ways to confront the seemingly insurmountable obstacles in your way? Have you ever gotten near the point of despair knowing that logically there was no way to avoid a bad outcome? Have you ever been pretty sure that you were in the middle of something that was going to end badly? Well, Christians always have an escape route. Read on:

In Chronicles, Jehoshaphat and his people faced not one, not two but three enemies who came up against them at the same time. The Moabites, The Ammonites and, the Bible says, even others had come to destroy them. (2 CH:20:1) His people told him that the group together had formed a great multitude and they were in route. Now Jehoshaphat was afraid so the first thing he did was go to the Lord in prayer. Stop. What? Yes! The first thing he did was go to the Lord in prayer. Now for those of us who that is the last thing we do, maybe that is why our outcomes are different than that of Jehoshaphat. God fought his battle. His enemies destroyed one another. That was a great result. As Christians this is a passage of scripture we should commit to memory.

Resolve today to take your burdens to the Lord, first.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Expect The Unexpected.

Jesus said to the servants, "Fill the jars with water"; so they filled them to the brim. John 2:11

Danny DeVito grew up in New Jersey. Diminutive, balding and round with a strong Jersey accent he became a cosmetician in his sister’s Beauty Parlor. A series of events led him to the New York stage to be a make-up artist. He was cast in the hit TV series Taxi as the unlikeable dispatcher. In spite of what seem like insurmountable odds, DeVito became a fan favorite, a Hollywood star, a director, a producer and ultimately the owner of his own film production company. As Christians, we should live a faith that constantly reassures us that anything is possible.

Wine is made from grapes. It is 80 to 85% water but that water comes from grape juice. So technically wine is mostly water even though none of us can make water into wine. Jesus took this fact and ignored the science and turned water into wine. In like manner everyone who gives their life to Christ becomes a Christian. God can take that and create every kind of success imaginable. The Christian must have the fundamental understanding that no matter what our talent or lack thereof is, God provides the increase. We must believe that he can make a profound difference in the life of the believer whether it is us or someone else, in spite of what we or they have done previously.

Pray today that you don’t fall into the trap of limiting God’s ability to transform you, the situation or others into a demonstration of God’s power and love.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Faith Help.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Hebrews 12:1

The system of apprenticeship was first developed in the Middle Ages. Experienced craftsmen could employ young men (in some cases as young as fourteen). These young men would live in the household of the master craftsmen and over time learn the trade. Although some professions still employ a form of apprenticeship, in modern times we often use the internship model where during formal education young people work in a professional environment in order to gain exposure and some training. As Christians, we should seek out those who are mature in the Faith and learn the behavior and practice of living Godly lives.

The book of Hebrews is a book encouraging those who have become converted to continue in the faith. It outlines examples of faith throughout biblical history. When we feel weak. When we feel we are losing our sense of purpose. When we sense ourselves faltering in our resolve. When we start to become cynical. We can meditate on those who we have known that stood strong and endured hardships, but still kept the faith. Many of the older members of our churches have stories of perseverance and faith that we should know as these stories can help us when our faith is weak.

I pray that you would find the time to seek out a godly, wise, mature member of your church and listen to what they have to say.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Open Membership.

1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. Luke 19:1,2

Even today there are a number of private country clubs that discriminate against women and ethnic minorities. Shoal Creek famously admitted an African American member after their practices became widely known when they were trying to host the 1990 PGA Championship. Augusta, home of the Masters, still does not accept women members. It is important for Christians to note that Jesus consistently demonstrated equal treatment for all.

In our text Zacchaeus is described as being a short, wealthy tax collector. It is well-documented how disliked tax collectors were. Publicans (tax collectors) were hated by the Jews for working on behalf of the Roman Empire, the oppressors of the Jews. They were also disliked because many times they collected extra money for themselves and in doing so became rich. We find it easy to love those who love us. We even try to love those who may be difficult but are like us. But it is very hard to love those who we know mean us harm or have shown themselves to be our enemies. Jesus went to this tax collectors house and ate with him. At some point that is not covered in scripture, Jesus had such a profound effect on Zacchaeus that he turned from his wicked ways and vowed to return back what he had taken from the people four-fold! As Christians, we must believe in the transforming power of the love of Jesus Christ. We can’t fight fire with fire but instead we must love our enemies into submission.

Pray today to be open to accept all people whatever their station in life might be, knowing that God is able to change hearts and minds.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Perfect Order

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Ernestine Ulmer wrote “Life is uncertain. Eat dessert first.” Life is certainly unpredictable and some of us spend our lives worrying about what’s next. We fill our days in desperate attempts to stay a step ahead of our obligations all the while rushing to enter new ones. As Christians we must be careful to spend our time seeking and sharing the goodness of God.

The warnings of the 6th Chapter of Matthew seem tailor-made for our age: Doing good deeds to be seen. Being Pious so that others might see us and trying to store our treasures here on earth. Mathew instructs us to seek the kingdom first. He admonishes us not to worry about what we are going to eat, drink or wear. How many of us can say that we really let God direct our paths? Matthew points out that the flowers of the field are magnificently dressed. This suggests that when God clothes or feeds us that it can be in a fashion beyond our wildest imaginings.

Pray today for the ability to slow down, appreciate life and abandon our ambition for God’s perfect and timely provisions.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Straight Answers

They say unto him, Ceasar’s. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Ceasar the things which are Ceasar’s; and unto God the things that are God’s. Matthew 22:21

Martin Luther King, Jr said: “If you are called to be a street sweeper, sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. Sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” King was dealing with the flip side of an issue that confronts us every day namely the desire to be important. As Christians we must tame our desires to be important and influential at the expense of being obedient and effective.

In the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, James and John ask Jesus to be seated on the left and right of Jesus as he rules. Jesus begins to explain to them that they don’t know what they are asking as he knows he is on his way to give up his life for mankind. So many Christians are ineffective as leaders because they ignore the fact that so much of leadership is actually sacrifice. Most leaders make difficult tradeoffs with time spent with family and friends. Some leaders sacrifice sleep and health. Many travel many miles and become public property and symbols instead of individuals. As Christians we need to carefully examine our ambition. Is our motivation deeply rooted in the desire to serve God whatever the cost or is it in recognition or personal gain. Think about it: the “top dog” is still living a dog’s life.

Examine yourself in prayer and meditation today. Search your heart for the motives behind your actions.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Hold It.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. James 3:9

I returned home after a business trip out-of-town. I had spent the entire day traveling. I had encountered rude service industry workers, irritated fellow travelers and been subjected to the broadcasts of public cell phone users and seat-mates who invaded my space. Before I even took off my overcoat I weighed in on my wife. The house was not clean enough. My things were moved. Errands we had agreed on were undone. Within minutes, what should have been a joyful homecoming was undone by my tongue. As Christians we must battle everyday against the desire to speak without regard to the consequences.

James takes the 3rd chapter of his epistle to outline the destructive power o f the tongue. In the 8th verse he calls it a “restless evil, full of deadly poison” Unfortunately; none of us needs James to tell us the tongue is dangerous. We have all been hurt by something someone has said to us. Likewise we have done harm with our own tongues; sometimes carelessly and other times on purpose. What we say to each other and about each other has a tremendous effect on the ability of the church to function and to be an organization capable of attracting and retaining members. We will not always be able to control our tongues. But if we follow the example of Christ and prayerfully consider all things before we speak, we’ll do a lot less harm.

Pray today to hold your thoughts until you are sure they are not destructive.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Missed Opportunity.

Io mi sono rallegrato di ciÒ che mi è stato ditto: Andiamo alla Casa del Signore. Psalm 122:1 (Italian)
I was glad when they said unto me: Come let us go into the house of the Lord. Psalm 122:1 (English)

I was a college student studying in Florence, Italy. I was homesick. I woke up Sunday morning yearning for the familiar of my church back in the states, Mount Calvary Baptist. I longed to sit in Sister Tims’s Sunday school class. What I would have given to hear the choir sing or to hear one of Rev. Kennedy’s funny stories. I missed stealing furtive glances at the Westin twins. Determined to find a sanctuary to worship in, I went to a local Italian protestant church. I was met with warm smiles and the hymns, though in Italian, had familiar melodies and the message was one of God’s love and mercy. Halfway around the world, I was at home in God’s house. As Christians, we must always keep in perspective what a wonderful opportunity it is to worship with one another.

David, in Psalm 122 is glad to go to the house of the Lord. For Christians, sometimes it is only after an illness or an unfortunate circumstance that keeps us away from church that we begin to realize how important it is to fellowship with other Christians. In a good Christian fellowship we are happy when there is good news; we support each other in sickness and distress. We help each other grieve. We bear one another’s burdens. We lift our voices together in songs and corporate prayer. We share the same ultimate goal and focus on the same Savior. Don’t miss every opportunity you have to join together in the house of the Lord.

As you share your faith remember to tell others how good it is for Christians to gather together in love.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Standing Around.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”Acts 1:10,11

In August of 2005, Hurricane Katrina made landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi and soon thereafter became one of the most devastating hurricane in United Sates history. The events that unfolded over the next few weeks were devastating and emotionally draining. What became apparent was that the Army Core of Engineers and government officials, in spite of having planned and trained, were unprepared. As Christians,we can just as easily be caught flat-footed in our spiritual lives and unable to follow God’s plan for our lives

By the time Jesus ascended to heaven, the disciples had spent 3 years living with Jesus. They had traveled with him, ate with him, been in the same homes and boats.They had listened to many hours of instruction. Now Jesus has fulfilled the prophecy of the scripture and he has been resurrected, appeared to the disciples and is returning to heaven. He has given them the commandment to go into the entire world and preach the gospel. Yet in spite of clear and specific directions the disciples are standing there staring heavenward. In our churches today we have heard God speak. We have listened to the songs of Zion. We have prayed the prayers of faith…and now we gather on a weekly basis gazing upward and waiting. God needs for us to hear the words of the angels as they told the disciples that there was no need to stand there and stare upward. Our communities need for us to find those in need of God’s love where they are and compel them to come and experience it with us.

Pray today to stop standing and staring and start walking and reaching.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Knew It.

Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” John 1:48

When my friend Jim’s daughter Erin was four years old she helped herself to some cookies from the cookie jar without permission. When Jim surprised her in the kitchen she tried to hide the cookies behind her back. At the time, Erin was about two and a half feet tall and Jim, who stands about 6’2” could see behind her back even while he was standing in front of her. Behind her back was not a suitable hiding place for the cookies and Erin paid the price for both stealing and lying. As Christians, a clear understanding of God’s power can help us admit to our sins and lead us towards His will for us instead of away from it.

In this passage of scripture, Jesus is choosing his disciples. He elects to share with Nathanael that he knew him before he met him. How much of what we do is trying to mask the things we think and do when away from family, friends and outside of the scrutiny of the church? How much of our true selves do we attempt to bury or keep on a shelf, like a piece of clothing only to put it on when we feel we are safely away from those who will judge us? Save your effort. What people think about us does not matter and God already knows who we are. In spite of our past and present sins, he has given us the directive and the opportunity to serve him. The fact that the Lord knows us by name and calls us to serve him should encourage us to try to live up to our calling.

Pray today to live a life that can stand up to public scrutiny.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Old Dog.

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money 19and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Acts 8:18,19

There is an old adage that goes “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. It suggests that people who have been doing things a certain way for a long time can’t abandon their habits. When we become Christians we are forgiven of past sins but we must be cautious that we put away our old ‘nature’ and take on new habits guided by the Bible and the example of Jesus Christ.

The 8th chapter of Acts gives an account of Simon the Sorcerer’s conversion to Christianity. He claimed to be a holy man and had performed magic all over the city. He had been proclaiming to the people that he had a divine and great power. When he heard Phillip preach, he was baptized and began to follow the disciples. After seeing Peter and John pray that the new converts receive the Holy Spirit and lay hands on them, Simon asked the disciples if they would sell him that ability. The disciples rebuked him and questioned whether he had ever really experienced conversion. How often do we abandon God’s way for our own? How many times do we let our flawed and sinful thoughts drive our decision making? When we decide we need to set someone straight by confronting them instead of praying for them and for guidance to handle the situation? When we decide that we had a hard day so we need a drink instead of meditation and prayer? When we use the same backstabbing and ambitious social-climbing practiced in the world in order to better our position at church? Upon mature reflection, we must confess that we have more in common with Simon than we care to admit.

Pray today for that the Holy Spirit guide you away from your old habits and attitudes and help you embrace and internalize God’s plan for your life.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Best Defense.

What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31

There is a saying that goes: The best defense is a good offense. The secular world believes that you should do unto others before they do unto you. This belief system mistrusts the motives of others believing that in this cruel world that everyone takes what they can and that if you are not the taker then you are the “takee” The Christian must understand that the battle is not ours but the Lord’s.

In Romans the eighth chapter, the 28th through the 39th verses offer one of the Bible’s most encouraging passages. They outline the profound love that God has for us, assuring us that all things work together for good for those that love the Lord (Rom 8:28) and declaring that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom 8:39) This passage paints a great visual in our key verse by reminding us that if God is for us then no one can stand against us (Rom 8:31). This is a powerful reminder as we face life’s challenges. You might feel overwhelmed today. You might be facing what looks like a sure defeat. In the song The Lord is my Banner and Shield the first verse goes:

My enemies have surfaced,
They’re too numerous to count.
They sound the call to arms,
Thinking I have no way out.
But instead of retreat,
I raise the flag of victory.
My battle is the Lord’s,
He’s the one who fights for me.

Pray today for the quiet peace and strength in the assurance that God will be your defense today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Stand.

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! Revelation 3:15

There is nothing like a cold glass of water on a hot and steamy day. Similarly, nothing beats a steaming hot beverage or cup of soup on a cold, snowy morning. A warm glass of water or a cold cup of soup not only falls short of satisfying us, but also make us mad that it is not what it is intended to be and therefore doesn’t fulfill its purpose. Likewise, Christians who can’t make up their minds to serve the Lord with their whole hearts are displeasing to God.

The Church at Laodecia was suffering from lack of zeal. They were simply going through the motions. How often does that describe the modern church? How often does that describe us? We are slow to start and always ready to be finished. The doors of the church are opened and closed, but the mouth of the church seems to always be open. As Christians, we should constantly remind ourselves that God calls us to be fervent workers; working with purpose, determination and an understanding of the brevity of our existence. It is day now. But night comes quickly.

Pray for zeal and the desire to serve God today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Wrong.

As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Acts 8:3

New York City and the Atlanta airport are my favorite places to people-watch. From these two nexus of human interaction one can observe every shape and size of human being and an encyclopedia of behaviors. It is at such places that we are confronted by our nature to judge people and to draw conclusions from little more than appearance. We can’t really tell a sinner from a saint, a rich man from a poor one; but we believe we can. As Christians we must guard against bringing our tendencies to try and convict people in our minds into the church.

Saul believing he was right persecuted Christians with determination and dedication. He worked with local authorities to make sure he had free reign to pursue, catch and convict those guilty of following Christ. As Christians, we need to take some serious time to reflect how we interact with each other as the “Church”. Too often, we pursue each other and are quick to hurl harmful accusations, share negative half-truths and attempt to assassinate each others character. What we need to realize is that when we do these things we are often acting as enemies of the church. The good news of the gospel is that Christ calls for us to live together in harmony promising that when He comes he will separate the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:30)

Be truthful today about the things you may be doing and saying that are hurting the household of faith. Pray for forgiveness and work to build rather than tear down.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Stop It.

Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves Matthew 21:12

A company called LifeCall had a famous commercial in which a woman says, “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”. When we are lost in sin, God has mercy on us. He does not want us to stay in this condition - - he wants to give us salvation. But once saved, we have to be careful we don’t keep others from seeing the saving grace of Jesus Christ. The Christian must guard against impeding the work of God with his creation. We sometimes inadvertently or on purpose find ourselves opposing or just getting in the way of the work of the Lord.

In our text, as the faithful went in to make their sacrifices, a group of money changers and merchants had set up in the church and made themselves obstacles to those attempting to be obedient to God’s commandments. Jesus, angered, physically drove them out of the temple. When Paul was on his way to persecute more Christians, God intervened, stopped him in his tracks and demanded to know why Paul was doing what he was doing. As Christians, we spend a lot of time focused on ourselves. We would be wise to consider that God is not pleased when we get in the way of His work and His purpose. We must remember Mark 9:42 “And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” God loves us and wants us to enjoy his salvation, grace and mercy. But make no mistake about it; there is no wiggle room for those who are in the way of His desire for all men to be saved. You might not be in agreement with one of the church leaders. You might not like someone in the church or dislike one of the churches programs. You might just like to laugh at the expense of others. These are not harmless acts without consequences. If you have issues, you can deal with them directly and permanently, but you don’t want to find yourself pulling in the wrong direction.

If upon reflection you find you have been blocking the progress of the church or in the way of someone seeing the saving power of Jesus, I pray that you God give you the courage and the power to stop it today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Free Lunch.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8

We have a serious problem with things that are free. We will, of course, accept them. We just don’t value them. My firm worked very hard a few years ago developing a marketing program for a national non-profit agency and we gave it to them at no charge. It cost us a significant amount of time and money to develop. They gratefully accepted and began to use it. A few months later, another, more prestigious firm offered to work with them and they abandoned our work and began using the work prepared by the new firm. We learned from that situation and now we send an invoice, showing the full value and marked “Paid in Full. As Christians, we must grasp the idea that we have been given a priceless gift. It was an expensive gift. A gift we could never afford. Nevertheless, it was given to us, for free.

In Ephesians, Paul outlines for the Christian an important reason. If we could be granted salvation for our works (our service), we could boast that we earned it. The fact is, mankind was hopelessly lost and the only chance we had at redemption was Jesus Christ. Now that we are followers of Christ, Paul continues, we are his workmanship and therefore will do good works because that is the way of and the nature of Christ.

So, in spite of our skepticism of free things, we must come to grips with the fact that the most valuable thing in the world, salvation, has been given to us free. Not free to God, put “Paid in Full” for us. And this priceless gift should govern the way we live everyday.

Let God’s free gift make you a grateful servant today.

Deacon Larry Woodard

The Right Time.

And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. Luke: 5:5

One of life’s true pleasures is to hear a live musical performance. In person you witness firsthand the fact that some musicians produce beautiful tones out of their instruments and others have certain trademark riffs or phrasing but they all share the one thing that separates most great musicians from the rest of us – impeccable timing. As Christians, we all desire to do God’s will and to have our work bear fruit, but it is only when we are in step with the Master that our activity yields impressive results.

Simon and the other fishermen in the area had been fishing all night to no avail. Their livelihood was fishing. There is no doubt they knew the waters they were fishing in. Simon was successful enough to have his own boat. He was a confident fisherman. He and the others had made the assessment there were no fish to be had. They had brought their boats in and were washing their nets. Jesus asks Simon to return to the water and drop their nets. The catch was so great the others had to come and assist. Jesus tells us that the harvest is plentiful. He knows they are a great many in our community that are in need of salvation and will come. He asks us to be workers and also to pray for workers. As in the scripture, we must follow His lead to cast our nets where he leads us, so that men might be saved.

Pray today to be obedient to our Lord and be ready to cast your net.

Deacon Larry Woodard

Press On.

“For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.” Matthew 9:21

There is a saying that goes “when the world says, Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.” In our information rich world there is the temptation to believe there is a clear understanding of many of life’s problems. Conventional wisdom will bring pressure on us to come to the conclusion that it may be time to throw in the towel and give up on the prospect of success or healing or achievement. As Christians we must ignore the deafening roar of the crowd and trust in God through whom all things are possible.

In our scripture we visit the mind of a woman in a crowd. She has been suffering for years with a serious illness. She believes she can be healed if she just touches the hem of the garment Jesus is wearing. According to the text, this is what she is thinking as she presses through the crowd. In other words, her determination is based on her faith. We need to draw strength from this passage of scripture. As we face circumstances that cause us to carry around heavy burdens, we need to know that we need to press on with prayer and faith, believing there is relief at the feet of Jesus. There is no problem too great for God to completely resolve.

After you pray to increase your faith today, press on.

Deacon Larry Woodard