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Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

Let me turn to a somber subject to speak on, pornography. Pornography is rampant in our society and is easily accessible to anyone, no matter their age, through the internet and personal electronic devices. I recently read an article by Pastor Jay Dennis from First Baptist Church at the Mall in Lakeland, Florida where he writes, “Churches are facing a spiritual battle against a hidden plague that is keeping many believers from fulfilling their part of God’s mission.” Pastor Dennis goes on to say in the article that, “pornography is such a pervasive issue and it can be a difficult and serious issue for various reasons. Men in our churches want the tools to help themselves and fellow brothers in Christ who are struggling with pornography.” My hope is that we can begin to address this issue with more of a “what can we do to help” attitude than one of condemnation. The men that I know who are involved with pornography do not desire to stay bound by this destructive behavior. Through Pastor Dennis and the resources that he has developed, I hope to introduce a way to successfully deal with this addiction for those men who might want to be released from this difficult trap they have found themselves in.

“When Paul addressed sexual sin in Corinth, the problem was more than the existence of sexual sin and how word of the problem was spreading. The greater problem was that the church took no action to correct the immorality. The church’s problem was arrogance (1 Corinthians 5:2). Arrogance blinds the heart and mind and prevents one from seeing his own spiritual condition or the spiritual condition of his brother or sister. The Corinthian brand of spirituality produces insensitivity to sin. This insensitivity to sin diminishes the consequences of sexual sin in the minds of those who have a life in the Spirit.” Dr. Harry W. Schaumburg
This is a statement of one man who has been involved with pornography: “I am a faithful church member, but porn had wrecked my marriage, and my life.”
I would invite you to go to Pastor Jay Dennis’ website at www.join1millionmen.org to see what I am talking about. May the Lord bless each of us as we seek to follow the Lord in holiness and righteousness.

Pastor Bill

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

The month of May bring thoughts of mothers.  Where would we be without our mothers…literally where would we be???  I loved my mom much like many of you loved or love yours.  My mom loved me most, I was the baby and of course she loved me more than those older two siblings!  Sorry about that Tom and Lorees.  Here are a few thoughts on this special day.

*A cartoon shows a three year-old, freckle-faced boy in a hallway.  His pajamas are unsnapped, his diaper’s bagging, and he’s got a little teddy bear, dangling in his hand.  He’s standing in front of his mother and father’s bedroom door, which is shut.  On the door is a little sign written by a weary mother: “Closed for Business.  Motherhood Out of Order.”  (Charles R. Swindoll, Laugh Again)

*I smile as I remember the Mother’s Day card I saw that was really cute.  It was a great big card written in little child’s  printing – little first-grade printing.  On the front was a little boy with untied sneakers.  He had a wagon, and toys were everywhere.  He had a little cut on his face and there were smudges all over this card.  It read, “Mom, I remember that little prayer you used to say for me every day,” Inside, “God help you if you ever do that again.” (Charles Swindoll)

Grandmothers are mothers too.

*Usually grandmothers are fat, but not too fat to tie your shoes.  They wear glasses and funny underwear.  They can take their teeth and gums out!

*Grandmothers don’t have to be smart, only answer questions like, “Why isn’t God married?” and “How come dogs chase cats?”

*Grandmothers don’t talk baby talk like visitors do, because it is hard to understand. When they read to us they don’t skip or mind if it is the same story over again.

*Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don’t have television, because they are the only grown-ups who have time. (James Dobson)

This last story from Chuck Swindoll is wonderful. A good friend of mine, who was raised by a godly pastor’s wife, tells me that when he was rocked to sleep at night by his mother, she didn’t sing to him just little ditties and lullabies, she sang to him the hymns of the faith. When he was in the crib, he remembers her leaning over and singing to  him “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”; “And Can It Be?”; “More Love To Thee, O Christ”; “My Jesus, I Love Thee”; “Come, Thou Fount Of Every Blessing?”  She sang the deep songs.  And he says, “I remember, I remember those hymns.  In fact,” he says, “when I got into church, I had heard and learned most of the hymns,” a contribution in that young man’s life that he’ll never forget.

May God bless you this month as you honor your mother and if she is alive you wrap your arms around her neck and give her a big kiss and tell her that you love her.  If she is no longer alive honor her memory in some special way.

Pastor Bill

The Lighthouse, May 2013 Issue: pdf | html

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.