posted Nov 2, 2011 9:12 AM by Ben Gregory
No; I don't mean "back slide"! I mean fall is back. I mean fall back with your clock. Daylight saving time ends. The leaves are falling. The weather is changing. It is a beautiful time of year. It is time to look back or reflect on all the things we did this summer. It is time to hurry to finish all the chores we didn't get finished. It is time to take that walk you and your spouse have talked about for the past six months. How about that day trip you have been putting off until cooler weather?
It is certainly beautiful outside. But what is most important is what's going on inside. With all the busy-ness of summer, have you maintained your relationship with Our Lord? With vacations and cook outs and visiting family, perhaps you have missed a few worship services. Or perhaps, due to the busy-ness, you haven't prayed enough or read the Bible as much as you used to. Not to fret! God is standing with open arms to welcome you back!
As a friend once said, " I was so anxious to see you, I looked a hole through the door just watching for you!"
Be blessed and be a blessing.
Pastor Ben |
posted Aug 31, 2011 8:48 AM by Ben Gregory
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updated Aug 31, 2011 8:49 AM
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Everyone seems to be remembering 9/11 as we approach the tenth anniversary of that tragic event, one of the worst in American history. It is certainly the most senseless in any recent history. What concerns me more, and will certainly lead to a worse tragedy if it is allowed to continue, is that politicians and many clergy are embracing Islam in the name of political correctness!
Jesus said, "Pray for your enemies." He did not say, "Embrace them", "agree with them" or "compromise with them." He said, "Pray for them." Our prayers should be that they come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior!
I heard, on the news, this morning that there is a multi-religion combined worship service planned for 9/11 this year. Again, God is not pleased!
The first commandment says clearly, " You shall have no other gods before or besides Me.
You shall not make yourself any graven image [to worship it] or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;
You shall not bow down yourself to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me," (Exodus 20:3-5 Amplified Bible)
'nuff said! |
posted Mar 28, 2011 10:01 AM by Ben Gregory
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updated Mar 28, 2011 10:48 AM
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Many people tell me that they believe in a five fold ministry. With that in mind consider Paul's admonition to all believers in Colossians 3:12-14
"... as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." (Colossians 3:12-14 NIV 1984)
Here is a five fold ministry all of us can do; clothe yourself, wear, cover yourself with 1.Compassion,2. kindness, 3. humility, 4. gentleness, 5. patience. Those are the undergarments. That's what should be on the inside.
Then he says, "Over all these virtues, put on love which binds them all together in unity." Love is the outer garment that holds it all together. As Christ' ambassadors on the Earth, we should live in and live out the love of Christ at all times.
How would this world be different if every believer, every congregation would adhere to this admonition!
Be blessed and be a blessing! |
posted Mar 22, 2011 11:57 AM by Ben Gregory
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updated Mar 22, 2011 12:40 PM
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4 Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains ( Matthew 24:4-8)
That reads like today's headlines.
Jesus also said that in the last days "men's hearts will fail them for fear" (Luke 21:26 KJV)
The earth quake that hit Japan was a 9.0. The largest earthquake ever recorded was a 9.5. That was in 1960. The one that hit Chile last year was an 8.8. These are gigantic upheavels in the earth. These and hundreds more have happened in recent years. I believe this is what Jesus meant by "birth pains" As the time of the return of Christ gets closer, these events, tsunamis, wars, nuclear reactor eruptions, global financial failures, will become more frequent and more severe.
Does that sound like the times we are living in? Jesus also said in Matthew 24:14
"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. "
Do you know of any place on earth where the gospel has not been preached? There may be people in your own neighborhood who have not heard the good news that Jesus died for them. Maybe it is time you shared the gospel with them.
Be blessed and be a blessing! |
posted Feb 3, 2011 1:35 PM by Ben Gregory
We began a new series of messages Jan 23. This is a study on God's amazing grace. Are you familiar with the story of John Newton, the slave trader who became a Christian and wrote the most famous hymn of all time, Amazing Grace? In this series we have looked at the stories of the prodical son, the woman caught in the act of adultery and took a glimpse at King David and John Newton. We will examine other stories of grace from the Bible, recent history and some life experiences as well.
Come join us for this dynamic study! 10:30 in the Am every Sunday! |
posted Feb 3, 2011 11:09 AM by Ben Gregory
Last year, we used the theme "2010 The Year We Make Contact" Now that we are in a new year I have to ask, "Did we do it? Did we make contact, not with extraterrestrials; but did we make contact with God?" That leads me to another equally important question. "Have we maintained contact?"
We have seen some great things happen this past year. Baptisms, conversions, healings etc. So it is obvious that God has appeared on occasion. The real challenge is maintaining contact. It isn't about keeping a list and checking it twice. It is about relationship. We must get to know Him and love Him. Then we serve Him because of this love relationship. |
posted Apr 29, 2010 1:23 PM by Ben Gregory
We Nazarenes joined the fine folks at Liberty Church of God, North Warpole Street, April 25, PM for worship. I felt like I was at home the moment I walked in the door. One of Linda's old friends, OOPS! I guess I had better not say "old" Anyway, One of my wife's friends, whom she hadn't seen for a while, attends that church. I had just learned that about two weeks ago but I kept it e secret. Linda wasn't sure about her vision when she saw Burt there. It was a good surprise!
Well back to the church. They are a nice friendly bunch of people who love the Lord. They are doing a great compassionate ministry and reaching many families for Christ. The worship service was great. I brought the message from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 "Work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope." I certainly enjoyed the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. It was WOW worship. |
posted Apr 19, 2010 11:26 AM by Ben Gregory
The evangelist has come and gone but the good news is that the revival doesn't have to go, too. Actually, now it is time for us to go. Go out and spread the good news that Jesus is still in the saving business and as a bonus He is still in the healing business, too!
I am not sure how many accepted Christ as Savior during the revival and I didn't even try to count the ones who came for healing. One person asked, "Is it OK to ask that your life be healed?" I am sure it is more than OK. That is a part of the reason Jesus died on the cross. Remember Luke 4:18 (KJV) "the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted........." Jesus also said in John 10:10 ".....I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly."
The answer is "Yes, Virginia, it is Ok to pray that your life be healed." Thanks be to God! |
posted Mar 1, 2010 12:26 PM by Ben Gregory
Did you watch any of the olympics? Well DUH! You probably saw some amazing feats and some disappointing stuff. New records and come from behind victories. It seems that almost everyone loves to cheer for the underdog. Would it surprise you to know that God cheers for the underdog, too? Remember the Apostle Paul? You know, the guy who wrote almost half the New Testament. The one who made at least three missionary journeys and preached to practically all the known world at that time. And he did it without missionary councils and committees and budgets.
Would it surprise you to know that Paul called himself "Chief among sinners. One who is not worthy to be called an apostle"? (1 Corinthians 15:9 and 1 Timothy 1:15)
Some people seem to think that us preacher types were born in a bubble. Our parents had a lot in common with Mother Teresa and Billy Graham. They seem to think that we went to Christian School, seminary etc. and never really lived in the real world. That may be true in some cases but I don't know anyone who fits in that mold.
The good news is that you don't have to be the worst of the worst or the best of the best. 1 Timothy 1:15 says that Jesus died to save sinners whether you are the "down and out" or "the up and out". If you simply put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, He can and will turn your life around from worst to first; from zero to hero!
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posted Feb 8, 2010 9:54 AM by Ben Gregory
I'm not sure how you found us but I'm glad you did.
Check back here often as I will be adding comments whenever my brain kicks in gear.
Upper Sandusky Church of the Nazarene is a small church in the Wesleyan/holiness tradition. We're not out in the middle of Lake Erie as the name would seem to suggest. Actually We're not even near Sandusky or Cedar Point. We're about 50 or 60 miles south of there. (Don't blame me; I didn't name the place.) As best as I can figure, the Sandusky River flows north into Sandusky Bay. We're at the upper end of the river so we're Upper Sandusky. I've heard a few other explanations but that is the one I prefer.
We like to think of ourselves as "the church with a heart for you". Someone suggested that we should be "the church with a heart for God." I thought that was a given. I mean, if we don't love God first and foremost, what's the point?
We really are striving to be the church that loves all people and leave the judging to the Judge. Most of the time we do a pretty good job at it but sometimes we miss the mark. When we do miss, I hope we learn from our mistakes and do better the next time.
If you are in the area and you don't have a home church, stop in and worship with us. We would love to meet you. Remember it is 10:30 every Sunday morning.
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
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