THE PASTOR'S HEART
I would like to extend a hearty welcome for you to come and visit with us at the Roadside Baptist Mission Church. Many people may feel like their church is only for people who live just so, wear just certain clothes, drive certain autos or are of a certain caliber of person. Contrary to some opinions, church is NOT for good, upright, perfect people. Instead, church is for the hurting, imperfect, damaged, blemished, wrong, defective as well as any one who needs the type of help that only comes from God. In short, it can be summed up in a very few words. CHURCH IS FOR EVERYONE. The Bible tells us in:
Psalms 14:3 They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Psalms 53:3 Every one of them is gone back: they are altogether become filthy; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
When Jesus went looking for people to help, He would go looking for people who needed him. He was always ready and willing to reach out to all people, in all conditions.
We here at Roadside Baptist Mission Church are just the kind of people who feel that we are included in the EVERYONE category. Come worship with us and experience the Love of God as you will always be welcome at:
THE ROADSIDE.
Pastor, Phil Lane
Who Is The Holy Ghost
Recently, I was asked, by a web site visitor, to explain the Holy Ghost. The requesting person stated that they had a friend who said they were not sure they were saved but that they believed in Jesus Christ, as well as God the Father, but did not believe in the Holy Ghost (also known by the name Holy Spirit).
The first and certainly most important thing that I must note is that you cannot be saved and have both Jesus and the Father, without the Holy Spirit. They are “A Package Deal”. It is the Holy Spirit that “draws” or invites you to come to Jesus Christ and it is also the Holy Spirit that “seals” the believer until the day that God claims their soul, either through the rapture or by the means of death.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
The trinity or God-head is like having a three member team. Each one has a different job or function, but all have the same common goal.
God the Father, is the maker and ruler of all His creation.
God the Son is the liaison between God and man.
God the Spirit, is the earthly presence of God the Father and God the Son.
In a Democratic type government you have three branches, Executive, Legislative and Judicial. This analogy can also be applied to the trinity.
Executive - God (Presides over the entire "creation")
Psalms 103:19 ¶The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Isaiah 6:1 ¶In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Legislative - Jesus (Sets the rules and guidelines for our lives)
John 1:1 ¶In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 ¶And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Judicial - Holy Spirit (Carries out the interpretation of these guidelines so we can understand them)
Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 14:15 ¶If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18 ¶I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25 ¶These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
The most glaring difference between our Democratic type of government and the God-head is that our government leaders are corrupt and the God-head is incorruptible.
3 Ways to Raise a Juvenile Delinquent
3 Ways to Raise a Juvenile Delinquent
There have been many books written by a multitude of “experts” about the raising of children. The absolute best advice on raising children comes from God’s word. The majority of written advice strives to tell you how to raise children to be influential, successful, positive thinking members of society. No matter where or from whom we seek advice on raising our children, we should weigh any information with the teachings from God’s word.
To begin with, let’s take a look at some things that God has to say about children.
Psalms 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
Proverbs 17:6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
Proverbs 20:7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.
Isaiah 3:4 And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 19:13 Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them.
14 But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
God gives us, as parents, clear instructions that we are to raise our children in the proper manner so that they will retain the received knowledge and instruction well into their own adulthood.
In this article, we will explore ways that parents who mean well, can in all actuality though unwittingly or unknowingly be raising their children to become delinquents.
Method # 1 – Failure to discipline
Proverbs
One common mistake made by parents is that, at all costs, they want their children to like them. It is okay for us to try to build a relationship with our children, so that they can feel comfortable to talk to us about issues and problems that arise, however it is more important to have our children respect us as the authority figure in their life. A good parent will not set out to become an absolute iron-fisted “ruler” but, instead they will maintain a balance of power and friendship which will let the child know that they can feel free to talk things over with the parent, but at the same time, the child will know and recognize that the parent is the authority and has the final say in life matters.
In this philosophy, parents will often withhold discipline, even at times of extreme misbehavior, in an effort to not cause their child to “not like them”. Discipline, applied correctly and at the proper time, is not only helpful in the proper shaping of children, but it is an absolute necessity in order for our children to be shaped into the proper adults that are needed in society.
Chastisement or punishment does not entail “beating”, but can include a whole myriad of things from grounding, taking away favorite items or privileges, scolding or even proper spanking, when the situation warrants it. One very important key to effective discipline is that parents must be consistent. However, regardless of the type of punishment, it must be followed with showing the child that they are loved and cared about, which brings us to our second point.
Method # 2 – Failure to show genuine love
1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
Children must be shown that their parents love them. You can tell a child that you love them as much as you wish, but that child will never really “know” that they are loved until they are shown with actions. Too many parents try to show their love by buying things for the child to have to occupy their time. Also, too many parents try to show their love to their children by allowing the child to go and do whatever they wish. A child is shown true love when you take the time to play a game, go to a sporting event or just to sit down and talk about them and their life. This is probably the most critical thing that parents fail to do, as any child who is not shown true love and does not have a deep down feeling that they are truly loved will search out things as well as people, who may or may not be positive influences, to make them feel accepted and loved. Often times this will result in a child going down the wrong road of life and many times destruction will set in before a problem is even realized.
Method # 3 – Failure to provide proper directions or limitations
Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
Children need and desire direction as well as limitations in their lives. Children, who are turned loose without any restrictions, will tend to give in to the wrong kind of peer pressure and will seek out more things to satisfy longings or cravings than those who live a structured but at the same time, a well rounded life. Additionally, children do not have the life experience to allow them to make informed, sound decisions, but instead they need guidance in their decision processes as they gain the abilities to accurately process information and make wise decisions. Today’s youth have been called the “MTV Generation” and when children are left with these influences of sex, drugs and alcohol, that is showing them everything but positive ideas and choices. If parents do not provide proper guidance, their children will seek other avenues for answers and this very easily can result in situations of misguidance and ill-advised decisions which can cause heartaches and suffering for the rest of the child’s life.