Serving the community since 1922
Serving the community since 1922
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Proverbs 22:11 says a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches. I would like to talk about the greatest name ever spoken upon this earth. There is no other name like the name of Jesus Christ. His name is a saving name. Isaiah. 45:22: His name is a precious name. In 1 Peter 2:7, Peter said the name of Jesus was precious. His name means everything to a Christian. In that precious name I was saved. When I find myself in the storms of life I cling to that precious name....
You know that moment in the movies... someone who's terrified of heights must climb out on a ledge or jump between two high buildings. And they look down and the fear that overwhelms them almost makes them lose their grip and fall. We live in uncertain, scary times and the last thing we need to do is look down. If you look down... at your problems and your worries for too long, you'll soon be depressed and afraid to go on. If you look down... at your cell phone or tablet and...
As a child in Sunday school when the teacher said quote a Bible verse and you will get a candy bar every student quoted John 11:35 Jesus wept. Every time Jesus wept it was connected with the effects or consequences of sin. No wonder he was known as the man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Jesus stood over Lazarus and he wept. The strongest manhood has its roots in tender feeling. The ancient Stoics would conceal and hide their tears, but not Jesus. As he wept over...
Have you ever had an argument? Most of us have. It may have been with your kids, a co-worker or your spouse. It is unfortunate that arguments have become a way of life. There are actually people living around us who can’t communicate unless they elevate the volume of their voice. They have to be heard no matter what, so they talk over everybody. If we are to be honest with ourselves, is anything really ever solved or accomplished by arguing, except maybe in a courtroom. I h...
The story of the Old Testament patriarch Joseph is one of the most dramatic in the Bible. With a couple of interruptions this story runs in Genesis from chapter 37 to the end of the book (chapter 50). During that time, Joseph's brothers first planned to kill him and then decided to sell him into slavery instead. Once in Egypt he was imprisoned as a result of a false accusation. A prisoner whom he helps forgets all about him for a long time. Joseph's story for a very long time...
If you are a pastor in the Shafter/Wasco area and would like to contribute to our weekly column, email [email protected] or call 661-292-5100. to get added to our list of pastors.It’s now been almost two years since the threat of contagion and illness changed almost every aspect of our lives. It trapped us for weeks on end in our homes, eliminated the simplest gestures of love, friendship and solidarity — from smiles to handshakes and hugs to high-fives, and lef...
On the way out to church the other day the old song “What a friend we have in Jesus” played on the radio. I began to sing along with the man on the radio. When the song was over I thought, Jesus you are my friend. In John 15:15 Jesus said I have called you friends… Some friends can let you down, but Jesus is a friend that will never let you down. You are always on his mind and he cares for you like no other person. Jesus is my friend, he took my sins away. 1st John 1:9 says...
Whenever I think of the month of July I tend to think of the word "freedom" due to the July 4th holiday (fireworks too). We certainly enjoy and hopefully appreciate the many freedoms we have in the United States, not just on July 4th, but I'm sure throughout the year. The Bible speaks of freedom too, but not so much in the political sense as we recognize with our holiday. The freedom found in Jesus is in many ways much deeper and more freeing. For example, the Bible tells us that through faith in Jesus: • We are free from t...
Is it safe to say that for the past year and a half we have been on an emotional rollercoaster? A year and a half ago we had never heard the word covid before. Since then it has changed lives around the world. Just like everything else in our lives it seems that there are at least two sides to this problem. We as a society can’t seem to come to a consensus on the correct plan of action. Do we wear masks or not wear masks? Do we open restaurants or leave them closed? Do we a...
Time is a present. As King Solomon wrote in the book of Ecclesiastes, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, KJV). The book of James, states, “Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” (James 4:14, ESV). Time is the most valuable commodity we possess, yet we do not own time. The time th...
Encourage – To give someone courage, hope or confidence. Discourage – To deprive courage, dishearten, or be disapproving. Life, itself, will discourage us at times. People will discourage us at times. We, ourselves, will discourage ourselves at times. Many years ago, there was a young lawyer who suffered such deep depression that his friends thought it was wise to keep all knives and razors from him. During this time, he wrote, “I am now the most miserable man living. If wh...
Let me start by saying that the Christian life in the greatest life there is. It is so much better than my old life. I praise God that He rescued me from a life of hopelessness and misery. You gain by being a Christian, and you lose by not being one. Let’s look at somethings you lose by not being a Christian. You lose peace. There will be a continual uneasiness in man’s soul until he finds peace with God. Romans 5:1 therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God...
How can one live in peace in a hostile world? 1 Peter 3:10-12: For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” The genuine Christian life is difficult because when Jesus enters your life you...
Have you ever had a problem so big only God could fix it? You may be going through a storm right now and you see no way out. All of us have storms in our lives. You are either in a storm, coming out of a storm or headed into the storm. You are in good company. The 12 disciples faced a storm only Jesus could rescue them from. Matthew 14:22-24 “Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him across the lake. He stayed there to send the people h...
Spring is one of those times of year that has a certain "fresh start" to it, perhaps similar to the New Year feel in January. It's a time of year when we begin seeing more flowers, bees, longer days, time change and a general feeling of newness. In a far greater way, the Lord provides a "spring-like" newness anytime someone places their faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. For example, in John 3:3 Jesus speaks about the need to be "born again" in order to see the Kingdom of God and in II Corinthians 5:17, the Apostle Paul...
Depression is something we never really want to confront, or discuss. However, at some point in our lives every one of us will experience, at the very least, some symptom(s) of depression. As complex human beings, we are capable of the highest highs, and the lowest lows. Some individuals experience minor depression that lasts only a few days or even a few months, but usually disappears with time. Others suffer long-term, or continual, depression and may even be a symptom of...
In Acts 20:35, Paul says, “I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Many people would rather receive $1,000 than to give away that same amount. In a more practical scenario, many individuals would rather sell old possessions in a yard sale than to simply give them away. What does it mean, “…It is more blessed to give?” An individua...
As they rush me to the emergency room in the ambulance, I wondered how bad my situation was. The fear of not knowing was killing me. How serious was covid affecting me? We get to the emergency room and it was a scene of organized confusion. A doctor asking each patient their condition and she starts pointing where to take each person. “Take Mr. Gomez to the secondary E.R.” What does that mean? I thought. As they wheel me into the square shaped room I am surrounded by other sick patients, lined up like sardines against the wal...
For the past couple of weeks there have been "dense fog" alerts on my phone's weather app. With that in mind, each morning I've looked out the window of my home to see if it's foggy or clear. Although many mornings have been clear, there have been a few with pretty thick fog for our area. As we look back on this past year it may feel like we've been living in a "fog" since the first changes happened due to covid-19. As many medical experts shared their insights concerning the pandemic, after awhile we probably all thought...
If you have ever watched a documentary about wild life on the Discovery Channel you would have seen the hunting habits of the predators in the wild. When the predator sees his/her prey, they watch, they wait and then at the exact perfect time they attack. The predator does not attack the strongest of the herd, nor does the predator attack the herd as a whole. The predator will wait for the young, an injured, or one of the herd to wander off and isolate themselves from the...
4 was both our worst and best year ever for Truth Church! Let’s not focus on the worst. Let’s review the best. This year, we purchased and moved into our very own building. Shutting down provided us many unique opportunities to reach outside of our walls such as learning how to live stream and have outside services and be a beacon of light to those in darkness and distress. In addition, we were able to partner with the CAPK Youth Center, the food bank, and the blood ban...
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Romans 12:1 How does a person live a sacrificial life? It is rather simple to live a minimum life. We give the minimum to God and to our families. When you analyze your spiritual life you might at admit that you are only surviving spiritually. You can look at your position as a spouse or parent and admit that you are doing the absolute minimum for your loved...
Here comes the bride, all dressed and white … Congratulations to Santiago and Kristy! At their wedding, I told them, “You’ve actually made my year!” It really was a very beautiful day. In the midst of hate and chaos, their wedding demonstrated a beautiful love and sense of order that I believe God was well pleased. While things may crumble all around us, the love of God still builds and rises in the midst. Many people will remember all of the negativity and ugliness of 2020...
And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” Genesis 22:5 What a peculiar statement by Abraham! Here he is about to sacrifice his only son on the Altar of God, and he calls it worship! When the story is examined further and thought thoroughly the statement and proclamation of worship makes perfect sense. For in this event in the lives of Abraham and Isaac we find a perfect def...
If faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17); why are only a few churches overflowing? I understand the regulations of the pandemic but pre-pandemic. Why does coming to church at times feel like a chore? The Bible tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6), which brings us to realize that faith is a big deal. Faith is such a big deal that it is required for salvation. We are saved by grace, which is a gift from God. We...
