Recycling

Wow; do we live in a disposable society or what? I have watched over the past few years how people just throw things away, including relationships. I really don't believe that's the way God planned it.

Of course to follow God's "original design" we have to know the Creator: "God." One obstacle is that there are people who prefer NO God!

These are some very serious days that we are living, and there is a world of disconnected people floating around. Not connected to anybody or anything. Nothing breaks a heart more than watching people die in the sea of loneliness.

My question is this...why is this? Why are people disconnected or afraid to be connected? I believe the answer can be found in the Bible.

Matthew 24:10,12 (New Century Version) (10)"At that time, many will lose their faith and will turn against each other and hate each other." (12) "There will be more and more evil in the world, so most people will stop showing their love for each other"

Did you catch that...why are we throwing away relationship...because we're not walking in love. Would you or someone you know want to be connected to others that don't have love?

We can reach out to others if we would just go back and follow the "original design" that was planned by God. We can recycle a life by showing our love faster than talking about our love.
Look if you want to grow apples you have to plant apple seeds, right? So if you want to be loved you have to plant love. You have the ability to change a life by planting yours; if you remember the seeds of love.

In this day and age we can't change everybody, because the hearts of many have grown cold, but by God; we can recycle a life by reaching out to others and offer hope through love.

Go ahead, reach out to what others may think are junk, because the worlds junk is God's treasure.

God Bless you:
Jim "DoughBoy" Brady
(junk collector)

Still don't get it?

Man; time sure does go by quick. I just realized it's been several weeks since we talked. Sorry, but now were into a new season, spring, the time of year that things that have been dormant,usually start to grow, that is if you take care of them, with water and love.

Wow; there sure was a lot of people who went to church on Easter, which is a good thing. The only part that hurts a Pastor's heart is this fact, a lot of those people still don't get it.

I use to think that it was humorous that on Easter and during Christmas attendance in church's increased for the day, then I noticed that during a crisis like "911" attendance at services was on the rise. The bad part is that after the dust settles its business as usual. (No disrespect intended)

But guess what? I found out through the Bible (we're talked about that book before; but in case your new here it's the "Basic Instructions, Before, Leaving, Earth") that this is nothing new. (Man I learn something ever time I open that book)

Watch this: During certain times back in those days, people from all over would travel to the Temple to pay respects and to worship. To me, that would mean that attendance was up. John 12:12 (NLT) "The next day (we're talking about at the beginning of the Passover celebration) the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors, took palm branches and went down the road to meet Him." See these people come into town to do their yearly Temple worship. (So this is nothing new.)

But this is what I want you to catch today; in Luke 24:11-12 (NLT) "But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn't believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look in. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty lined wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened."

To me this is like people who run to a service during a special festive time, they run to, peek in, and go back home wondering what happened.

Like Peter in this scripture, we check out the facts but still walk away puzzled. It's only when we encounter Jesus personally that we will start to understand the facts of our future.

God does not want you to be puzzled, He loves you and He wants to reveal Himself to you, but just like a personal relationship here on earth, it takes time and effort to cultivate. Are you willing to give God some more of your time? If you are a once or twice a year attender, try something different, go back again and you may get a clearer picture of God's love. Believe me when I tell you, He wants you to get it.

In His service
Jim "DoughBoy" Brady

Something just don't look right!

Have you ever been sized up or been judged, (or maybe you've been the one judging someone) the moment you've met? Well, when you look like me, this seems to be the way of life. I can walk into a store and someone will say, "what kind of Harley do you ride?" I'm not sure why this happens, maybe it's my tattoo's or the way I dress, but I have to laugh. I love to watch the expressions on people's faces when those who are willing to spend a few minutes with me, find out I'm a "Christian" or better yet, when they discover I'm a Pastor.

This behavior doesn't surprise me, after all, we can tell what a person does by the way they look; can't we? I mean, if there all dressed up they have to be very successful in their lives, right?

I said a minute ago (well depending how fast you read) that "this behavior doesn't surprise me."

In the Bible (a great book you should read) there was this man who was sent out to find the next King of Israel. He took one look at this guy and said, "surly this must be the Lord's anointed." It goes on to say "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him." The Lord doesn't make decisions the way we do. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person's thoughts and intentions (what's in the heart). 1 Samuel 16.

To muddy the water a little more, there was this young man teaching and these leaders watched and listened and were "astonished" in fact they said, "where did He get all His wisdom and power to perform such miracles?" "He's just the carpenter, the Son of Mary and brother of James and Joseph..." That guy was Jesus....

These religious leaders (very studious in the word, but no developed relationship;or maybe it's was because they looked the part) were making a judgement call on the way they saw the person.

So what's my point? OK, you asked, here we go; if well meaning "Christians" would look at people the way God does, through His eyes and into the hearts of others, you may be utterly surprised to see you may be overlooking some anointed leadership in the church community.

If you have been on that judgment seat, sizing up someone when you first met, let me give you a simple solution, say I'm sorry and get off that chair. We can be overlooking some important pieces that are needed in the church world today.

And by the way if you do have people like that in your church, do me a favor, don't use them like a public display and say...look we have all kinds here in our church because their not your trophies, we all belong to God.

In the meantime, open your eyes, and look at the heart.
I love you all...really I do.
God bless you
Jim "DoughBoy" Brady
Sr.Pastor, HLFC