Pastor's Pen

  Pastor’s Pen… Most of us have a lot of acquaintances, a number of casual friendships, and a very small number of true, deep, authentic friends. Why is this true? There are many factors. For one thing, opening our hearts to someone else is risky. If we have been abused or betrayed, trust can be difficult. Some of us have personalities that make it difficult to build close relationships. The Bible has a great deal to say about genuine friendships. In the Old Testament, Proverbs talks about the benefits of friendships in chapter 17, 18 and especially 27. In the New Testament, one of the words translated love, philos, describes a love that sees merit are worth in another. (Romans 12:10; Hebrews 13:1) there is perhaps no clearer illustration of genuine friendship in Scripture than that which we find in connection with the relationship between David and Jonathan the son of King Saul. This weekend we will examine how this friendship came about, the difference it made in their lives, ...

  Pastor’s Pen… This weekend’s service will have a special element, and ordination of a man who is already spent many years in ministry, especially as a chaplain. Arnie Torres served for decades in a chaplain’s role in the US Army. He has also served as a chaplain to Daystar Ministries and as a life coach to pastors.  Ordination by definition is simply a human recognition of an individual's such as Arnie’s call to ministry. Our service will contain a charge to the ordination candidate as well as a message on Christian service. I want to thank everyone who played a part in our fall Festival. Special thanks to Barbara Bates and those who work with her on putting the plan together and carrying it out. We also appreciate those who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship as well as those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’ on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each Sunday’s message on our websit...

  Pastor’s Pen… Probably every one of us could name the giant David thought and dispatched in the Valley of Elah.  In fact we often use the name Goliath is an adjective for something or someone very large. But there was another John David had to contend with. And after he had dispatched the Philistine giant, little did he know this other job that would pose a far greater problem.  That other giant was King Saul, who as you may recall stood head and shoulders above all the people of Israel. (1 Samuel 9:2) But although he was a physical giant, Saul was a small man when it comes to relationships, particularly with David. The reason is a problem many of us have been faced with in our day. I'm talking about the problem of jealousy. What made this even more difficult was that Saul was supposed to be David's supporter, as David had become with the King, serving as his bodyguard.   Jealousy can wreak havoc with friendships, bring disaster in families, and create chao...

      Pastor’s Pen… It may be the most familiar Bible study in the Old Testament. The cast of characters included a huge, seasoned and armed warrior, trained to kill, facing a young shepherd boy with no military experience and only a slingshot. “David and Goliath” have become a metaphor for athletic and political upsets by underdogs over the years.   But this account is not simply an inspiring story of an underdog gaining a victory. There are principles to be applied to our lives to enable us to experience victory over the “giants” we face in our own experience.   As always, thanks to all who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship. Also, to those who make it possible for us to ‘live-stream’  on Facebook at 10:45 each Sunday morning, and to post each message on our website ( www.fccwylie.org ) each Sunday afternoon.  If you haven't come out to worship with us recently, we sure love to have ...

  Pastor’s Pen… If you were looking for a man to fill the size 13 EEE sandals of Saul to become king of Israel, David would have been the last man you would likely have considered. The text we are considering this weekend bears this out. Undoubtedly Samuel, not to mention Jesse and David's older brothers, were all shot at what happened in this passage. But it was all part of God's plan to fulfill what he had said in first Samuel 13:14.   Saul’s “Watergate experience” as ultimately disqualified him from continuing as God's ruler. But as Asap wrote in Psalm 75:6, 7, “God puts down one and sets up another.” 1 Samuel 16 gives us insight into the selection of proper leaders today, and into the kind of character God looks for and builds on, as we examine the portrait we are beginning to paint of King David, a man after God's own heart.   As always, thanks to all who help sanitize our facilities for services each Saturday morning in preparation for Sunday worship. Also, to tho...