Stonybank Community Church with Pastor James Carroll

Ingratitude is the character equivalent of inflation - too much stuff in search of happiness.  So much stuff will lead to greed and greed will be the death of our democracy.  More stuff has never made people more happy, in fact, just the opposite is generally the case.  Wherever you may be on the economic food chain, gratitude will always improve your disposition.

In an era gone by interested parents brought bored children to church.  Then we worked hard to interest children who brought bored parents.  Families today are overstimulated and church is a boring option among many other things.  We must prioritize the church or an entire generation will be literally bored to death.

Our Lord did not pay redemption’s price just so He could anniahliate the world but to remake the world, Israel and all believer’s after His perfect plan.  Perhaps more people aren’t interested in going there because we aren’t quit sure its going to be all that exciting. I cannot promise you heaven will be everything you ever wanted but I can promise you it will not be anything you never hoped for.

Pastor Don returned to celebrate our 211th Anniversary.  

An Angel's cell call, Peter's house call and God's final call are heard in a stream of messages.  Each call demands a decision where doors never represent a place to enter and stay but an opportunity to walk through.  Lessons include Angels go where no one else can, prayer does what nothing else can and death makes us think like nothing else does.

The most familiar parable, by title, in all the world.  There is plenty of pleasure to found in this world even if only for a season.  The stuff of this world will always leave you in want - taking everything you have.  And as for the older brother, don't ever forget what manner of person we are and would be apart from the grace of God.

People won't care how much we know until they know how much we care.  We must look upon the needs of others with compassion.  However, with such a great need how can our little be of help?  Bring it to Jesus and BTW, begin with thanksgiving.  

In our study of young people of the Bible, these anonymous children brought to Jesus teach us lessons about money and marriage.  These mothers did the one thing most important and brought their children to Jesus.  There is no more sure way to bring about the judgment of God in our home or upon our nation than to turn the hearts of children against Jesus.

Just a young teen when he first met Jesus, John was among the first to respond to Jesus, the most trusted along the way and entrusted with the greatest visions in the end (Revelation).  This young, brash young man had many lessons to learn along the way but none more important than compassion.

We are educating our children right out of their youth and bombarding them with information way beyond their ability to cope.  By providing too much too soon we are actually hindering their ability to hope and dream ideas greater than their own satisfaction.  Information today is like taking a drink from a fire hose and its overwhelming.  The message of hope in Jesus always satisfies.