This Book

The words in this book have the ability to change your life, believe me when I tell you. But not just the book, you have to get to know the author.

Just the sight of this book has caused so much controversy in our country... but my question is why? You see the book is not the problem... it's the author that people don't like. This country, and I can't talk about any other one because I live here... in America has over the past several years launched an all out attack to get us away from this book.

Why so much hatred?

In 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT) "All scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right."

This is why people are working so hard to get rid of God... they don't want to take responsibility for their wrongs. They think; if we don't know were doing wrong... we can do what ever we want. If you think about that; this mindset is what has gotten us in so much trouble... if it feels good... do it!

Can I show you something else? I glad I have your permission;

In Matthew 24:9-12 (NLT) "Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the word because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold."

Can you see truth here... written thousands of years ago and it describes our American personality today...2007. The part; "and the love of many will grow cold", is what really grabs my attention. Our country is growing so hateful because it's growing cold toward God.

If you took a candle... lit it, the wax would be soft... but when you blow out the flame... the wax is cold and becomes hard; can you see this truth? It really is describing our heart condition.

Jesus didn't die so you could become religious... He died because He want us to have a relationship with Him. Jesus is the light of the world. He is the light that can guide our path.

People hated Him (Jesus) because they loved the darkness of their lives more... just like today; nothing different. But if you would just look at the facts and realize this is true... you can turn you life around.

God has a plan and the blue prints for your life can be found inside of that old book called "The Bible" believe it or not... it's still the number one best seller. We need to get it down... open it up and ask the author to reveal it to us.

God loves you and that fact is still His truth.

Pastor Jim "DoughBoy" Brady

I'll be back

For those of you who may have wondered where is my Monday update... please be patient with me. I was in process of moving offices this week and getting ready to reach my community with some "Good News"

The way I see it... we are at war and we have a real enemy who is killing our friends... families and even our children. It's not my heart to sit back and just pray... the fields are white for harvest and the labors are few... If you need to know more... stop by and visit... but know this....
We're not finished.

I'll have update blogs out each week by Tuesday.

Love you all... thanks for reading

In His Service
DoughBoy

This Old House

This Old House was once a place and symbol of love and respect. Where people would gather as a community, where dads and moms sat with their children and heard God's word together. Where they could share a meal after the preacher man was finished. This Old House was a place of serenity. The place where you could sit next to your neighbor's and discussed the issues of life in a public gathering.

But how things have changed. In society today, we have to have security systems on the house of worship. We have to have state of the art equipment and the best sound systems... We have to offer our people custom tailored classes and padded chairs so they could deal with life. And we better have good air conditioning and heat... a wood burning stove in the middle of the room or open windows are no longer acceptable. My God how we have changed.

Let me ask you a question? If today, you attended a church service and found out that the person sitting right next to you had a past... you know...a past... one that doesn't line up with your expectations in life or even your life style... what would your reaction be? I mean, if that person in the seat right next to you was just released from prison or maybe has the HIV virus or AIDS... how would you react?

The house of God... the church is suppose to have open arms to all. The house of God is suppose to be a hospital for the sick not just a hotel for the saints. We're called to be like Jesus and He said, in Matthew 9:12-13 (NLT) "Healthy people don't need a doctor--sick people do. Then He added, Now go and learn the meaning of this scripture, I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

So now... with just this thought in mind... how do you react when you hear others from your community fellowship talking about that young girl in your church who is...or has been prostituting... or what is your reaction when some tattooed man with piercings walks in, still looks strung out, and sits down next to you? Do you have open arms? Or do you grab your family up and say... we need to find a different church... this one isn't safe, it allows anyone to come here!

Today please listen to my heart; as you read this blog... if you're a Christian, would you take a moment to check out your heart as well as your walk. I don't say this to condemn you, yet to often, us church goers forget... that we too were set free from our sins and we begin to become complacent in our new life... we forget the fact that we all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.

We loose our perspectives, and we begin to focus on our rewards in Heaven. We look down on those who have not arrived at our level of our spiritually... we become judges... we forget that one day not that long ago, we were the ones looking for love and hope.

Our society has changed... our presentation has changed... but our mission has never changed.

We are called to heal the sick... raise the dead and bring a message of hope and love to a lost a dying world. Listen... you can't hug a person if your arms are crossed, and if that fact isn't Biblical enough for you... how about this... what we sow is what we reap... is this how we want God to welcome us?

If you're reading this today, and you have experienced poor treatment in a church... please allow me to apologize to you and ask you to forgive. I too have gone through this same experience and have even been used as a trophy at one of the church's I attended. The Pastor stood in front of his congregation and said... we allow all kinds of people to attend here... then I was asked to go and stand up next to the Pastor. Talk about his pride and my embarrassment.

Today... I know who I stand before and I have learned to forgive much because God has forgiven me of much.

If this has been revelation to you... Call on God's help and change what ever He shows you. If you've acted this way in church... repent. If you've judged the church because of the way you were treated... forgive. Healing can only begin as we apply the truth of God's unchanging Word.

I'm looking forward to your comments.

Jim "DoughBoy" Brady