Pastor’s Corner

Trivia:

Good job everyone on your guess of the name of the first indoor bowling alley. I will admit I guessed Lucky Strikes for two reasons, that’s was a popular brand of cigarette during that period of time and it seemed to envision the intent of bowling. But, I was wrong, the first alley was Knickerbocker Alleys, great job Brenda. Just a few facts about this alley were, 1) Instead of woods alleys they used compressed clay for the lane, 2) by 1850 there were more than 400 bowling establishments 3) There are 6,164 active bowling alleys in the U.S.A. today.

What candy bar is famously called “The great American chocalate bar”? Kit Kat; Milky Way; The Hershey Bar; Snickers?

Challenge:

Psalm 114:1-8 “When the Israelites escaped from Egypt-when the family of Jacob left that foreign land- 2 The land of Judah became God’s sanctury, and Israel became His kingdom. 3 The Red Sea saw them coming and hurried out of their way! The water of the Jordan River turned away. 4 The mountains skipped like rams, the hill like lambs! 5 What’s wrong, Red Sea, that made you hurry out of their way? What happened, Jordan River that you turned away? 6 Why, mountains, did you skip like rams? Why, hills like lambs? 7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob. 8 He turned the rock into a pool of water; yes a spring of water flowed from solid rock.”

This Psalm reminds us of the relationship that Israel had to God and reflects on that very same relationship we are able to enjoy with God and Savior. Just think, every element of the earth is at His command and He provides each of these elements into tools that He desires to bring into being the needed instruments that bring blessings into ours and others lives.

The name Judah means “Praise”. Because “The Lord inhabits the praises of His people”. (Psalm 22:3)

When we gather together in worship and praise to our Lord we experience an inexplainable combination of a desire to submit to God and a deep expression of praise to Him. By the way “Israel” means governed by God. Therefore, as we place ourselves in the position of allowing God’s Spirit to control our lives, then we become the embodiment of Him in our world.

When the nation of Israel followed God’s direction, whether it was by crossing large bodies of water, or desert, mountain, or hills, the people of the world trembled at their presence. Not because they were powerful, but because they were visibly seen as being centered in His presence. He the Almighty was in control of all of these forces that they knew to be over them and was then seen in His full influence.

SO GO WITH GOD and never forget that as we surrender our will to His Spirit, it will then be recognized by those people around us and they will in turn become desirous of knowing our God.

When Israel camped in the land and worshipped and obeyed His leadership, the peoples of the surrounding cities wanted to know more about this God that they served. They even placed themselves in close vicinity of them in order to experience the meaning and purpose that Israel enjoyed. Many times they offered to become citizens of the Kigdom of God, even to the point of becoming servants of the Jews.

Today we see the extent that jealousy has brought to the Islamic people, due to their union with the enemy (Satan). Rather than recognize and join forces with the Jewish people, and their God, they rather seek to destroy every vestige of their recognition of God, and His desire to love them. They even change the name and the god they serve, and we see the tremendous hatred that has transpired. Rather than choosing life, meaning, purpose and peace they chose hatred, jealousy, death and destruction. Satan has deceived them!

If we In the way of choosing honor and surrender of our lives to Him each day and look to Him for guidance, those who are around us, will also begin to yearn to learn of the eternal meaning that we enjoy each day. We must be careful to not allow our spiritual lives to be lived out in silence. But rather to seek to render praise to our God in every visible way possible. How we dress, speak, pray, praise, and most of all care for others who come into our life pathway.

When we live in this way, those who are directed into our life will be drawn to know more of our Wonderful Lord and Savior.