tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64185210582727010472011-07-30T15:26:21.780-05:00Pastor Ron's BlogPastor Ron's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17557813496307226252noreply@blogger.comBlogger21100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418521058272701047.post-7398169225148891982010-09-15T02:59:00.000-05:002010-09-15T02:59:32.287-05:00His hope or mine ????hope&nbsp;-&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; the other day I was reminded that the Lord's "hope"&nbsp;sometimes &nbsp;differs greatly from mine&nbsp; - and I am so grateful.<br /><br />we have "hope" for many things:<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;hope it doesn't rain during the picnic<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; hope our favorite team gets to the playoff<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; hope&nbsp;&nbsp; etc&nbsp; etc&nbsp; etc<br /><br />but sometimes our "hope"&nbsp; doesn't line up with God's "hope"<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; I was talking with a friend about&nbsp;a family&nbsp;who had recently left their church.&nbsp; They had become quite dissatisfied and disgruntled.&nbsp; And, spurred by anger and angst, they left for the wrong reasons, and they left in the wrong manner.<br />&nbsp; &nbsp;With a heavy heart, I sighed&nbsp; and said what many of us say in this situation&nbsp;, "&nbsp;I hope they find what they are looking for..."&nbsp; To that, my friend replied,&nbsp; " I disagree with you.&nbsp; I hope they realize that their struggle is with their &nbsp;obedience to God.&nbsp; I hope they return to Him and His ways."&nbsp; My friend understood&nbsp; and remembered God's greatest &nbsp;hope is for all of us - true fellowship with Him.&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We must guard against thinking and saying those&nbsp;types of &nbsp;natural responses.&nbsp;For even though&nbsp;such responses are &nbsp;heartfelt and genuine,&nbsp;they do not&nbsp;reflect God's heart, and His hope.&nbsp; And that is part of the true good news message we are all called to bring each and every day<br /><br />Pastor Ron<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6418521058272701047-739816922514889198?l=pastorronbartoo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pastor Ron's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17557813496307226252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6418521058272701047.post-18469034642778076662010-04-28T18:19:00.000-05:002010-04-28T18:19:15.948-05:00when not coming to SCBC on Sunday or Wednesday is a good/great ideaI don't mean when you are sick - have to work - away from home&nbsp; etc<br /><br />and<br /><br />I don't mean: <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; when you just don't want to,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; or you are being lazy,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; or when you often schedule things to do instead of coming to SCBC.................. <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; pursuing these do not honor God, nor help you in your time of corporate worship that He asks of&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; you - <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Jesus never missed &nbsp;the opportunity for worship with other believers and seekers. EVER!<br /><br /><br />but <br /><br />some times you may &nbsp;need to miss the worship service at SCBC&nbsp; because:<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;- you are taking someone who is un-churched to a Bible based and truth filled&nbsp;worship&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; service near their home, and live far from SCBC<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -they just might fall in love with and surrender to Jesus.<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; -imagine being used by Him - for&nbsp;&nbsp;God's glory<br /><br />&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; - saying yes to Him, saying no (albeit temporary) to your ususal &nbsp;worship home<br /><br />one of our members did that recently&nbsp;&nbsp; WOW<br /><br /><br />see you soon<br /><br />Pastor Ron<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6418521058272701047-1846903464277807666?l=pastorronbartoo.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>Pastor Ron's Bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17557813496307226252noreply@blogger.com