Dale Carnegie made this observation, “One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living.  We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon instead of enjoying the roses that are blooming outside our windows today.”

William Wallace of Braveheart fame is quoted as saying, “Every man dies, not every man really lives.”

He was right.  People seem to go one of two wrong directions.  First, they live in the past – tied to the good-ole-days which in reality were not all that good, or to the mistakes and failures of yesterday.  Second, they live in the future – wishing their lives away, dreaming of what might be somewhere over the rainbow where skies are blue.

Of course, there is a place for remembering just as there is a place for dreaming.  But to live in the past or the future is foolish according to the Bible.  Instead, we are admonished to live today! 

One reason is that today is all we have.  Yesterday is a canceled-check.  Tomorrow is a promissory note.  Only today is legal tender.  In light of that we must handle it carefully and spend it wisely.

And then today is all that we can manage.  We must live life on the installment plan because we can only manage one day at a time.  Some try to live yesterday and today at the same time.  Others seek to live today and tomorrow at the same time.  The results are always disastrous.  We must live one day at a time because that is all we were designed to handle.

Finally, today is all we need.  How do you live the Christian life?  One day at a time.  God’s will for my life is to serve Him today.  You see, it’s what you do with today that counts.  So live for Jesus today.  Obey Him today.  This is the day the Lord has made.  Today is God’s gift to you.  So rejoice and be glad in it!


Pastor Todd Weston

Choices – life is full of them.  Consider the choices you have made in just the last twenty-four hours.  Last night I chose to eat a second slice of meatloaf (Sheri makes great meatloaf).  This morning I chose to exercise (because of the extra slice of meatloaf!).  This afternoon I chose to write an article on “choices.”  You have apparently chosen to read this article.

Every day we live we are faced with choices.  Some are small and relatively insignificant.  Others are just the opposite.  They are major life choices that carry great impact.  We may mess up occasionally on the smaller decisions of life; but we better get the big ones right.

Of course, the greatest choice of all concerns what we are going to do with Jesus Christ.  Will we accept Him or reject Him?  Will we believe in Him or not believe in Him?  The Bible places all of humanity in one of two camps:  the choosing, and the chosen. 

The prophet Joel had a vision in which he saw “multitudes in the valley of decision” (Joel 3:14).  Picture what the prophet saw: an entire valley full of people swinging between Heaven and Hell contemplating the same decision faced by Pilate, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” (Matthew 27:22). 

Obviously, the wise thing to do is to choose Jesus.  Everyone who chooses Jesus moves from the camp of the choosing to that of the chosen (Ephesians 1:4).  The chosen are the ones who have chosen!  Have you done that?  If not, now is the time (2 Corinthians 6:2).  And once you make the initial decision for Jesus, then choose to serve Him every moment of every day (Joshua 24:15).

Pastor Todd Weston

  

What kids say about their dads:

• At 4 years old – My dad can do anything!
• At 7 years old – My dad knows more than your dad!
• At 10 years old – Well, he doesn’t know everything.
• At 12 years old – No, dad wouldn’t know anything about that.
• At 14 years old – Help me with my homework?  Are you kidding?
• At 16 years old – Actually, he’s kind of old-fashioned.
•  At 18 years old – Did I say old-fashioned?  He’s completely out of it!
  
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• At 21 years old – Dad knows a little bit about it, but not much.
  
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• At 25 years old – Well, maybe dad would understand this.
  
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• At 30 years old – I think I’ll ask dad and see what he thinks.
  
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• At 35 years old – I’m going to talk to dad before I decide.
  
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• At 50 years old – I wonder what dad would have done.
  
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• At 60 years old – Boy, my dad sure was smart.
  
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• At 70 years old – I wish I could talk it over with dad once more.
  

My dad has been a best friend to me now for fifty-two years.  Reading through the list above makes me appreciate him even more.  I will be sure to remember dad this Father’s Day.

As a father, I am reminded of the incredible privilege and responsibility I have been given.  I have often wondered what my three children will remember about me when I am gone.  I know they will not remember me as a perfect father because, like all fathers, I’ve made my share of mistakes.  My goal is that they will remember me as a faithful father – a man faithful to his wife, faithful to his children, and faithful to his God.

If you are blessed as I am to still have your father with you, then be sure to remember him this Father’s Day.  And to every dad:  live your life in such a way that you can leave this legacy to your children – the memory of a faithful dad.

Pastor Todd Weston

The early chapters of 2 Kings record some of the amazing miracles performed by the prophet Elisha.  2 Kings 5 records the miracle of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, and his spectacular healing after dipping seven times in the Jordan River.  Coming up out of the water the seventh time, the leprosy was gone and his flesh was like that of a little child.

Then we turn to 2 Kings 6 and read the very interesting narrative of the floating ax head.  A nameless student from the Bible College was chopping wood with a borrowed ax when suddenly he felt the handle go light in his hands.  The iron ax head had flown off the handle and had fallen into the Jordan River sinking straight to the bottom.  Elisha had the young man show him the place where the ax head had fallen in.  Cutting down a branch from a nearby tree, Elisha threw it into the water and the iron ax head miraculously rose to the surface.

Note the contrast here.  In c5 we read about Naaman who was a big time man and his healing of leprosy which was a big time miracle.  And then in c6 we read about a nameless Bible College student who lost a borrowed ax head.

Some may wonder why this particular miracle is even recorded in the Bible.  I believe it’s there because God wants us to know that He cares about the everyday problems of everyday people. God cares about the extraordinary and the ordinary.  He cares about the needs of a young college student just as much as those of an important government official.  Furthermore, the first miracle tells us there is nothing too big for God.  The second tells us there is nothing too small! 

So what needs do you have today?  Whatever they are, follow the advice of Peter and cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you! (1 Peter 5:7)  He is the God of the big and small.

Pastor Todd Weston