Evening Service

In the final hours of the siege on the Alamo, Santa Anna sent a letter to the men inside saying that all who surrendered would be spared. Col. Travis read the letter to his men and asked who would stay to defend the Alamo. All but one of the men committed to stand with Col. Travis. Our world today has little regard for commitment. Contracts have escape clauses. People enter into marriages not with the idea of the long haul, but with the attitude of until the going gets rough. In the past, men would agree on business deals with just a handshake. But we live in a time when a man’s word is no longer his bond. Many just are not committed to what they say they believe. In our text, Jesus meets three could-have-been disciples. They said they wanted to follow Him, but they had other things to do or finish first. Jesus let them know that to follow Him would require a total commitment. Living for God is not without its problems. People who live for God experience difficulty. People who live for God lose loved ones. People who live for God get rained on. But, it is far better to be living for God during the hurt, the loss, and the rain. The benefits of living for and serving Him are beyond measure. Many want to follow Christ and begin doing good work. But over time, their zeal for the work of the Kingdom fades. When we put our hands to God’s plow, we must not waver or look back. Once we set out to do the work, God requires a sold-out commitment. Are you committed?

Evening Service

In the final hours of the siege on the Alamo, Santa Anna sent a letter to the men inside saying that all who surrendered would be spared. Col. Travis read the letter to his men and asked who would stay to defend the Alamo. All but one of the men committed to stand with Col. Travis. Our world today has little regard for commitment. Contracts have escape clauses. People enter into marriages not with the idea of the long haul, but with the attitude of until the going gets rough. In the past, men would agree on business deals with just a handshake. But we live in a time when a man’s word is no longer his bond. Many just are not committed to what they say they believe. In our text, Jesus meets three could-have-been disciples. They said they wanted to follow Him, but they had other things to do or finish first. Jesus let them know that to follow Him would require a total commitment. Living for God is not without its problems. People who live for God experience difficulty. People who live for God lose loved ones. People who live for God get rained on. But, it is far better to be living for God during the hurt, the loss, and the rain. The benefits of living for and serving Him are beyond measure. Many want to follow Christ and begin doing good work. But over time, their zeal for the work of the Kingdom fades. When we put our hands to God’s plow, we must not waver or look back. Once we set out to do the work, God requires a sold-out commitment. Are you committed?

Our church and our nation are emerging from a long season of unrest. The pandemic, hurricanes, civil unrest, and winter storms have taken a toll on all of our nation. If we are not careful, the struggles of life can silence our song. God wants us to enjoy His presence. Bro. Hughes declares that Summer 2021 will be a Summer of Psalms. As we kick this off, we ask God for a new song for a new season.

The phrase “sing a new song” appears in the bible nine times. Why would God tell us to sing a new song? Because He knows the power of music to help us cope with life’s challenges. Singing is soothing to the soul. Scientists have discovered many benefits to singing, including reducing stress, stimulating an immune response, promoting positive feelings, and suppressing the effects of pain. There is nothing that opens up a well of help and hope like singing to the Lord. If our world needs to hear anything right now, it is God’s people singing and praising. God wants to give us a new song for a new season of our life.

Our church and our nation are emerging from a long season of unrest. The pandemic, hurricanes, civil unrest, and winter storms have taken a toll on all of our nation. If we are not careful, the struggles of life can silence our song. God wants us to enjoy His presence. Bro. Hughes declares that Summer 2021 will be a Summer of Psalms. As we kick this off, we ask God for a new song for a new season.

The phrase “sing a new song” appears in the bible nine times. Why would God tell us to sing a new song? Because He knows the power of music to help us cope with life’s challenges. Singing is soothing to the soul. Scientists have discovered many benefits to singing, including reducing stress, stimulating an immune response, promoting positive feelings, and suppressing the effects of pain. There is nothing that opens up a well of help and hope like singing to the Lord. If our world needs to hear anything right now, it is God’s people singing and praising. God wants to give us a new song for a new season of our life.

Our church and our nation are emerging from a long season of unrest. The pandemic, hurricanes, civil unrest, and winter storms have taken a toll on all of our nation. If we are not careful, the struggles of life can silence our song. God wants us to enjoy His presence. Bro. Hughes declares that Summer 2021 will be a Summer of Psalms. As we kick this off, we ask God for a new song for a new season.

The phrase “sing a new song” appears in the bible nine times. Why would God tell us to sing a new song? Because He knows the power of music to help us cope with life’s challenges. Singing is soothing to the soul. Scientists have discovered many benefits to singing, including reducing stress, stimulating an immune response, promoting positive feelings, and suppressing the effects of pain. There is nothing that opens up a well of help and hope like singing to the Lord. If our world needs to hear anything right now, it is God’s people singing and praising. God wants to give us a new song for a new season of our life.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in America. For some, it is the end of school and the beginning of Summer. Memorial Day began as decoration day in the years following the Civil War as a way to remember those who lost their lives in that terrible conflict. Over time, the day also became a way to remember soldiers, sailors, and airmen who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. Time has a way of erasing the memories of the many men and women who gave their lives defending our nation. Too many have forgotten the reason for the three-day weekend that we will all enjoy each May. Our text today describes a different kind of memorial. God called Joshua to build a monument at the place where God led His people over the Jordan river into the promised land. God knew that future generations would need to know about this critical time in the life of Israel. The question that these future generations would have would not only be “What Does This Mean” but that it would be “What does this mean to YOU?” The memory has to be personal. If it is not personal to the parents, it will never be meaningful to the children. Some people need to know how we got to where we are now. God wants evidence of what remains as a reminder of how He has kept us. Our world and the enemy are trying to convince us that God’s love doesn’t matter. If it stops mattering to us, it will quit mattering to our children and grandchildren.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in America. For some, it is the end of school and the beginning of Summer. Memorial Day began as decoration day in the years following the Civil War as a way to remember those who lost their lives in that terrible conflict. Over time, the day also became a way to remember soldiers, sailors, and airmen who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. Time has a way of erasing the memories of the many men and women who gave their lives defending our nation. Too many have forgotten the reason for the three-day weekend that we will all enjoy each May. Our text today describes a different kind of memorial. God called Joshua to build a monument at the place where God led His people over the Jordan river into the promised land. God knew that future generations would need to know about this critical time in the life of Israel. The question that these future generations would have would not only be “What Does This Mean” but that it would be “What does this mean to YOU?” The memory has to be personal. If it is not personal to the parents, it will never be meaningful to the children. Some people need to know how we got to where we are now. God wants evidence of what remains as a reminder of how He has kept us. Our world and the enemy are trying to convince us that God’s love doesn’t matter. If it stops mattering to us, it will quit mattering to our children and grandchildren.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day in America. For some, it is the end of school and the beginning of Summer. Memorial Day began as decoration day in the years following the Civil War as a way to remember those who lost their lives in that terrible conflict. Over time, the day also became a way to remember soldiers, sailors, and airmen who sacrificed their lives in service to their country. It became an official federal holiday in 1971. Time has a way of erasing the memories of the many men and women who gave their lives defending our nation. Too many have forgotten the reason for the three-day weekend that we will all enjoy each May. Our text today describes a different kind of memorial. God called Joshua to build a monument at the place where God led His people over the Jordan river into the promised land. God knew that future generations would need to know about this critical time in the life of Israel. The question that these future generations would have would not only be “What Does This Mean” but that it would be “What does this mean to YOU?” The memory has to be personal. If it is not personal to the parents, it will never be meaningful to the children. Some people need to know how we got to where we are now. God wants evidence of what remains as a reminder of how He has kept us. Our world and the enemy are trying to convince us that God’s love doesn’t matter. If it stops mattering to us, it will quit mattering to our children and grandchildren.

We are called to be different from the world. The process of being set apart from the world is called sanctification. The old testament story of Abraham shows a beautiful example of this set apart. God called Abraham to separate himself from his people. In doing this, Abraham becomes a living example of sanctification. He obeyed God and followed the Lord away from his people and into a beautiful blessing and promise. Abraham left his old life, but he tried to take a little bit of that old life in the form of his nephew Lot. As time passed, that relationship with Lot caused a conflict. When God calls us out, the best thing to do is to cast off all that God requires and follow Him and His plan. The idea of Holiness and separation is a God-given plan. From Exodus through the end of the bible, the concept of separateness and being set apart is a central theme. Holiness and separation is not a set of rules and burdens. It is a blessing and an opportunity to draw closer to God in our lives.

We are called to be different from the world. The process of being set apart from the world is called sanctification. The old testament story of Abraham shows a beautiful example of this set apart. God called Abraham to separate himself from his people. In doing this, Abraham becomes a living example of sanctification. He obeyed God and followed the Lord away from his people and into a beautiful blessing and promise. Abraham left his old life, but he tried to take a little bit of that old life in the form of his nephew Lot. As time passed, that relationship with Lot caused a conflict. When God calls us out, the best thing to do is to cast off all that God requires and follow Him and His plan. The idea of Holiness and separation is a God-given plan. From Exodus through the end of the bible, the concept of separateness and being set apart is a central theme. Holiness and separation is not a set of rules and burdens. It is a blessing and an opportunity to draw closer to God in our lives.