cjwill

God's part is equiping me for the Journey and in so doing if I receive His instruction with and through faith (my part) I am protected through God's great Mercy.

I enjoyed reading through the posts not that I read all of them but I did read several and each one spoke to me greatly. As a youth pastor I some times (less now then early on in the ministry) do things with the attitude, "I have to" instead of "I want to". I think that reflects this idea, We are saved by grace not by works! There is nothing "I have to do" to be saved out side of receiving Jesus, it is at this point that I should have the desire, "I want to!" And if I have true faith, this will be clearly evident.

I once preached a series of messages, each one had a different element to it, for instance, the first week we removed the American flag from the Sanctuary. That week the office got tons of phone calls wondering where the flag was? The next week it was back. towards the end of the series we went through the whole service and didn't pray once, NOT tons of phone calls the next week just two, TWO! The series title was, "Choose this day, whom you will serve" I got a lot of flack for that sermon series, luckly I am only a youth pastor so when I preach on Sunday morning I can get away with alot more then the Senior Pastor. Although I didn't use anyones name, I did point out during the last message, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" the sad difference in the concern for the American flag and the lack of concern for prayer in the service.