​I voted today.  I was among the millions of Floridians who participated in early voting.  Upon careful examination of the ballot, I could not find one perfect candidate.  Not one!  So I accepted that reality and remembered what Jesus said about those without sin casting the first stone.  I also remembered that there were times in the Bible when God Himself would use an imperfect leader to stop a greater evil.

Another realization occurred to me there in the voting booth.  I could not find a single candidate whose positions lined up perfectly with the Bible.  I was faced with a choice.  I could tear up the ballot in disgust and walk out.  Or, I could find the candidate whose stance on issues best aligns with the Bible.  I chose the second option and voted accordingly.

Election 2016 is upon us.  In just a few days, Americans will be going to the polls to elect the 45th President of the United States.  Never in my lifetime has a single election held such potential impact for our nation.  Supreme Court Justices.  National Security.  Religious Liberties.  These and many other significant issues are at stake.

Moved by the unprecedented importance of this election, the Peninsular Florida District Council of the Assemblies of God has called all Assemblies of God churches to designate a special time of prayer on Wednesday, November 2nd.  In light of that call, we will be setting aside time for prayer prior to RLA CONNECT.  Please join us in the sanctuary from 6:45 - 7:00 PM as we pray for the upcoming elections.  Let’s not worry about the election.  Let’s pray about it!

I know that many believers have been distraught as they consider the potential outcomes of this election.  While visiting my Facebook page I came across something posted by a member of our RLA family.  It’s a quote from David Wilkerson.  While the statement is several years old, the truths stated are very timely.  “I refuse to be caught up in the present political rage.  I will cast my ballot, not according to my feelings but on the basis of biblical truth.  I will vote calmly, without losing my peace or my love for lost humanity.”

Do not go to the ballot box looking for the perfect candidate.  Having just voted, I can tell you that person does not exist.  Instead, study the positions of the candidates in light of the Bible.  Pray.  Then go and cast your vote with confidence.  And whatever the outcome may be, remember that our main mission is to reach the lost with the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:6-7 NIV).

Pastor Todd Weston

This past Sunday night was a special time for our family.  First, let me tell you that we have always honored Sunday as the Lord’s day - morning and evening.  That’s what we do in the Weston household.  At RLA we have two Sunday morning services (9:30 & 11:00am), and an early-evening Prayer Meeting that I wouldn’t miss for the world!  We scheduled the evening service early enough (5:00 - 6:00pm) so people could attend and still have ample time left for family or other activities.

Following most Sunday evening services, our entire family gathers at our house.  We eat, play games, and just hang out together.  Last Sunday night was especially fun because my parents were there.  After a delicious Mexican dinner, we pulled out old photo albums dating back some thirty years.  For about two hours, four generations of Weston’s sat around the dining room table looking at pictures.  There was laughter as we relived old times.  There were a few “moments” as we saw pictures of loved ones who are now in heaven.  All in all, it was a great evening.

This morning I sat with about a dozen men from our church at our Monday morning men’s prayer and share.  We talked about the book we are reading together.  We talked about Sunday’s message.  We talked about worship, raising kids, our need for spiritual mentors, faith families, and the blessings of intergenerational ministry.  We shared together, laughed together, and prayed together.  All in all, it was a great morning.

Sunday night I sat around the table with my biological family.  Monday morning I sat around the table with members of my church family.  I  need both.  I am thankful for both.  I wouldn’t want to do life without either.

I know there are those who go through life in anonymity.  These are people who attend a church, and yet they never become part of the church family.  That’s no way to live.  We believe in family.  The benefits are too numerous to name.  River of Life Assembly is a family of believers who choose to do life together.  We invite you to be a part.  We want you to be a part.

There are a multitude of opportunities to connect with your RLA family.  I highly recommend faithful commitment to the Sunday services - morning and evening.  I also recommend one or more of the following:  

• Men’s Prayer and Share (Mondays at 6:30am)
• Berean Study Center (Mondays & Thursdays at 7:00pm starting in January)
• Intercessory Prayer Meeting (Tuesdays at 9:30am)
• Women’s Bible Study (Tuesdays at 10:30am)
• RLA Connect (Wednesdays at 6:45pm)
• Rosemary Outreach (2nd Sunday night of each month)
• And other specially scheduled activities

There is a ministry at RLA for everyone.  So come on and join in.  We welcome you home to family.

Pastor Todd Weston

​The story appears in the 12th chapter of John's Gospel.  The location was the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had just raised from the dead in the previous chapter.  It was the final week of Jesus' ministry.  In just a few days Jesus would be betrayed, arrested, condemned, and crucified.  That is the context of the story.

As Jesus sat at the table with Lazarus and His disciples, Mary (the sister of Lazarus) entered the room carrying a small container of expensive perfume.  This was a precious ointment called spikenard.  Matthew and Mark tell us the perfume was held in a sealed alabaster box (jar).  Alabaster is a stone commonly found in Israel that resembles white marble.  It was one of the precious stones used in decorating Solomon's Temple.  Not only was the alabaster box expensive, so was the perfume it contained.  It was worth one year's wages.

Everyone watched in silence as Mary knelt before Jesus.  Breaking the seal of the alabaster box, Mary began anointing Jesus' head (Mark 14:3) and feet (John 12:3) with the precious ointment.   She then wiped Jesus' feet with her hair.  So powerful was the fragrance that the aroma filled the room.

What a beautiful picture!  What an illustration of extravagant worship!  And yet, someone found fault. It was Judas who filed the complaint, "“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages" (John 12:5).  John was quick to point out that this was a sanctimonious statement, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it" (John 12:6).

Jesus was quick to defend Mary.  Looking at Judas He said, "Leave her alone...It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial" (John 12:7).  Some believe that as Jesus endured the sufferings that would come later in the week, the aroma of the precious perfume lingered as He offered Himself as sacrifice for sin.

What is your response to extravagant worship?  Are you drawn to it, or turned off by it?  Judas was turned off by it because his heart was not right with the Lord.  He was disgusted by Mary's display of extravagant worship.  On the other hand, Jesus was impressed!  He even said, “wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her” (Mark 14:9).

We can learn from Mary - the woman who worshiped extravagantly and was commended by Jesus for it.  We learn that extravagant worship is costly.  Mary held nothing back.  She didn't pour out just a little perfume; only a few drops.  She emptied the container.  When you come to worship, give it your all.  Hold nothing back.

We also learn that extravagant worship involves humility.  Mary knelt before Jesus.  She even wiped his feet with her hair.  When you worship extravagantly, there will always be those who misunderstand.  There will be critics.  But Mary never responded to Judas' criticism.  She was completely focused on Jesus.  In worship, keep your eyes on Jesus and leave the critics to Him.

And then we see that extravagant worship involves a person's entire being.  Mary's act of worship was spiritual.  It was emotional.  It was physical.  It was even financial.  Like the psalm writer, Mary blessed the Lord with all that was within her (Psalm 103:1).
And finally, extravagant worship creates an atmosphere.  When Mary opened the alabaster box, the aroma of worship filled the house (John 12:3).  Psalm 96:9 talks about worshipping God in the beauty of holiness.  Extravagant worship is a beautiful thing in God's sight.  Let's not spoil it by holding back (Hebrews 10:38), or by assuming the role of a critic. 

I pray that River of Life Assembly of God will be filled with the beautiful aroma of worship, and that we will carry the fragrance with us all week long.  When it's time to worship, hold nothing back.  The saying in sports is to leave it all on the field.  Let's leave it all on the altar.  Let's be a church of extravagant worship.

Pastor Todd Weston