This past Sunday in Sr. High Sunday School I completed our series on Ecclesiastes. What a great study to see the ultimate responsibilities I have as a follower of Christ.

Text: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

“My duty as a believer is to fear God, keep His Word, and know God is in control.”

Solomon boils down this whole book for us, in fact, he takes life pours it through sieve and then funnels it down to give us the theme of our lives: “My duty as a believer is to fear God, keep His Word, and know God is in control.”

• Fear God – Know who He is
• Keep His Word – Act on your relationship with God
• God is in Control – Trust in a God who sees all and directs all

Think about it:

• Do I know God?
• Am I yielding to God in my relationships, in what I talk about, in what I listen to, in how I do my work, etc…
• Am I at peace knowing God is in control? Do I really believe that He is in control?

Praying for you all!
Pastor Josh

This past Sunday was part 3 of the series on Ecclesiastes. Before I started the message we spent time in prayer for the people of Nepal and the surrounding region. Little did we know what would unfold in Baltimore less than 24 hours later. Not to mention volcanoes, war, and countless injustices occurring worldwide.

Today feels overwhelming as you look at a world spiraling out of control, so it seems. But this post is not about injustice, war, or government. It is about our God, and King Solomon pointed out some facts of life (Ecclesiastes. 8:14-17):

• There are righteous that are treated as wicked
• There are wicked who are treated as righteous
• Enjoy what God has given you
• You can try to figure out every detail of what God is doing, but it will be done in vain, because man cannot fully understand the ways of God

So are we left with an, “all is vain” rhetoric with no hope? Absolutely not! “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Live for God and yield too God for nothing else in this life will amount to anything apart from God.

In our world of social media and an over-saturation of news our world is even smaller and our opinions seem even greater. The question that we must ask ourselves, as a Church is, what are we living for? Where are our ‘Christian’ efforts heading?

We like to think we are above the social norm. I find myself quick to judge and excuse myself from reaching those who are truly needy. Am I better than them? NO!

Ecclesiastes 7:20-22

1. No one is perfect!
2. People will attack you (to your face and behind you back)
3. Remember your own heart

“No one is perfect, but we have a God who is
and He gives us the opportunity and power to show Christ.”

As a church, are we plastic people under plastic steeples just ‘playing’ church? We will not be able to win every war, correct every act of violence or change the politics but we can reach the needy in our community with love, be open and honest with one another in building each other up and share the gospel with an ever-so-rapidly dying world.

My Challenge: Love God, Serve Others, Share the Gospel

Praying for you all!
Pastor Josh

“Stained Glass Masquerade”
https://open.spotify.com/track/0VYDTgzNqIwwze0GiulsUH