Have you chosen to become a slave to Christ? Today, Pastor Ed explains to us what it means to be Christ's slave. Like the Apostle Paul, when we become Christ's bondslave, we recognize that Jesus paid the debt He never owed and that we could never pay. Jesus has redeemed us through His precious blood, and so that should free us to make the choice to live our lives in service and honor to Him. We've been born anew and we're children of God—shouldn't we want to bind ourselves to Christ forever?

It's not hard to see our own failures and frailties. We're imperfect people and it's easy to become discouraged by this. But in today's message, Pastor Ed reminds us that when God sees us, He sees something different. Because we've been washed by the Blood of the Lamb, the Lord sees us as the finished work of Jesus Christ. He doesn't see our problems—He sees us as if Jesus Christ had lived our life. This is Grace, and it frees us to live radically for God everyday. Have you accepted it?

God gives us the ability to enjoy life. Everything else falls short, but living in God's will for us, will bring the greatest joy to our lives. Finishing his series on Ecclesiastes, Pastor Ed teaches us this is the conclusion that Solomon came to in his great wisdom. That life with out God is pointless whereas life with God provides the most wonderful reason to be alive. Life with God not only provides purpose, but provides a father, a friend, a savior, and an eternity praising our all mighty God, Jesus Christ.

When you honestly analyze it, there is a concerning pointlessness to human kinds existence. Finishing his series on Ecclesiastes, Pastor Ed teaches us that Solomon concluded that life without God is empty and meaningless. Solomon was the wisest man of his time, and used his wisdom to accomplish everything he set out to. Despite all his wealth, and power, he realized that death was a great leveler, which rendered all his accomplishments worthless. Only in God did he find purpose.

Though heaven is the destination, life is the journey, and we should enjoy the ride. Continuing his Ecclesiastes series, Pastor Ed tells us that Solomon believed we need to make sure we enjoy the present. The times which we are living now. As humans, there is a tendency to look ahead, and think that things to come, are the things which will make us happy. Solomon states that the day to day journey, is in fact where the real joy occurs. As such, make the most of the moment you have now.

God is responsible for both our good and bad days. The good days He wants us to enjoy and flourish in. The bad days, He wants us to learn and find maturity for our futures. Pastor Ed teaches us, that we should strive to enjoy our lives now. Every present day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed. Though we should approach the future wisely, we should also enjoy the moments which we live right now. Even if the circumstances don't seem ideal. Look for the joy, that's in your presence at this moment.

God wants us to be active for him. He wants us to take risks, for him. The Bible is clear that if we take these risks, we will be blessed tenfold, and we will be blessing others tenfold. Solomon tells us that we cannot be certain of anything except God's word. As such, wisdom would lead us to the conclusion that there is no need to serve anyone, or anything other than God. Dedicate your family, work, time, and energy to God, and you will be investing in something which is certain to have rewards.

Especially in hard times, it's very difficult to give. If we feel like the world around us is falling apart, giving things, like time or money, is typically the last thing we want to do. Pastor Ed tells us though, that both Jesus and Solomon say that we should wisely give. Even in times of uncertainty. It's clear throughout the Bible, that when we give to the Kingdom we are blessed in return. So whether it be your money or your time, give it wisely to the glory of God. You will receive, in return, great blessings.

We've all said something regrettable. It may have been in a heated conversation, or in a moment of over relaxed carelessness. Today Pastor Ed tells us how important it is, that we strive to be wise with the words we say. Solomon warned us that “like dead flies make a perfumes oil stink, so foolishness outweighs wisdom and honor”. A great practice to avoid foolishness is to watch what we speak over ourselves and others. In learning to control our tongues we learn to control our hearts.

We must be sure to guard our hearts and strive to move forward with wise decisions. Pastor Ed tells us today that our hearts guide our direction, and that as such, we need to be aware of the little things which may sway our hearts the wrong way. In Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that seeking and living by wisdom is the best way to live. God calls us to do the right thing despite what the world around us does, and wisdom in God's word is the way to decipher the good and evil of this world.