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Most of us live secret lives, at least we think we do. We struggle with the idea of what people would think about us if they really knew us.  Most of us are different at home than we are at work or at church. We have thought lives that would shock our friends. We suffer temptations from the darkest parts of hell. Did you ever wonder how the gospel writers knew about the details of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness or about the struggles he faced the night before his death in the garden while He was all alone? The only answer is that He shared these private moments with his disciples.  If others knew more about us would they think less of us or would our vulnerability make us more human to them and draw us closer together? If others knew more about us, would we end up knowing more about them and would we end up feeling less alone with our secret struggles and temptations? If we didn’t believe our pastors and teacher were perfect, would it make their sermons more or less powerful? If they only knew maybe our witness would be more real. If they […]

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Romans 8:29And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.Philippians 1:6 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18 These can be discouraging times. There seems to be less evidence of Jesus in the world. The Christmas season is now the holiday season. Love, at least agape love, love without expectation of something in return, is harder to find. The End seems close at hand, and we await it expectantly.  Maybe we are just looking in the wrong places. God doesn’t promise a wonderful world, at least not until He returns. Things are prophesized to get worse, so we shouldn’t be surprised when they do. Maybe we should be looking in the mirror. What God does promise is that we will be conformed to […]

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. James 3:1 Last Sunday I had the opportunity to preach at my home church. It’s not like I had never done it before. Years ago I pastored a small church and preached every week. Since then I have often done a teaching or even a teaching series.  Nonetheless, I didn’t sleep well on Saturday night. I was nervous as Sunday service time approached. When I stepped up to the pulpit the lights seemed particularly bright. I thought it would be a good idea to break the ice and calm down by introducing my family who was sitting together on one row. I couldn’t remember my daughter-in-law’s first name. Instead of calming me down, I was then afraid I would forget my wife’s or one of my grand kid’s name. Luckily, I got the rest of the names right and once I got into it my nervousness evaporated and I never even felt either my replaced or still need to be replaced knee during the entire time.  The event was a […]

Our Pastor will be out of town on Sunday and our Senior Pastor is recovering from knee replacement surgery. I have been asked to bring the message at Amana Christian Fellowship, 310 Milton Road, Maurice. Service begins at 10 a.m. Please consider joining us for the service especially if you haven’t been with us before or having been in a while. Look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Be blessed. Nick

Today is one of my favorite days of the year.  The day before Thanksgiving is so cool. The house begins to fill with very pleasant aromas.  The phone has been very busy as recipes are exchanged. Anticipation is sometimes the best part of any event. I look forward to spending time with the family. It’s a great sports time of the year: Cajun basketball tonight, football tomorrow. Of course, there is also the great food.  It’s also good to begin thinking about all the things we are thankful for. If you’re not too busy today try doing an internet search for “things I’m thankful for.” You will become even more appreciative for all  you have been given. You might even want to make your own list. I am being asked to make yet another trip to the store. Before I go, I  just want to say I’m thankful for those of you who read this blog and even occasionally give me a little feedback. Knowing someone is out there reading makes doing this worthwhile. Sorry I have been so busy and not posting every day. I am trying to get back on schedule. Your prayers are appreciated. Have a […]

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 Something in a conversation I had today reminded me of Frank Peretti’s classic written in the 1980s, This Present Darkness. This was the first Christian novel I can remember that depicted the spiritual nature of the struggle described in Ephesians. As Christians, most of us believe in the reality of that struggle but it is incredibly easy to forget. After all, flesh and blood are so in our faces. Most of us would have to admit that our spiritual awareness is not what it should be.  When small things interfere with out good intentions, it’s easy to forget it may be spiritual. Why is it so much harder on Sunday to get everyone dressed and in church by 10 a.m. when we can get the kids to school by 7 and us to work by 9 five days a week? Why can we relate the details of the last episode of The Good Wife a week later, but can’t, for the life of […]

Most days are ordinary, one foot in front of the other, nothing really special. They pile up mostly forgotten into a heap we call our lives.  Yesterday I sat for a few hours with a special friend. He is recovering from knee replacement surgery. I have had the same surgery and he sat for hours with me and my wife as I recovered. Recovery from knee surgery is no picnic, but he will do just fine.  He has become a remarkably close friend in a relatively short period of time. We sat and talked about family and friends, folks we both love, the church we greatly love. The conversation was pretty strange because he would share a few sentences then the medication would win out and his eyes would close for a while. In those quiet times I would think about the hours he spent sitting like I was at someone’s bedside, just to be there. I would think of the hours of sermon preparation and counseling. Hours that were given joyfully, whether appreciated or not.  Friends would drop in and share a gift and a few encouraging words and then head off. Most of the friends are also […]

But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Hebrews 3:13 The longer I live, the more I realize that life is really all about courage. Jesus knew that. He constantly encouraged his disciples to “fear not.” It’s not really the circumstances of our lives that form us, but our ability to act appropriately in the face of those circumstances.  It seems that all of humanity is divided into those who encourage and those who discourage. The encouragers seem to have one thing in common they view the glass as half full. They see the positive in every situation. They believe one person can make a difference. The discouragers, on the other hand, are half empty people. They see something to worry about, or fear in every situation, and seem determine to pass that fear on to you, to dis-courage. They believe nothing you do really matters. I watched a lot of football this weekend. I observed that the better teams, the winners, were those led by encouragers, positive folks who motivated their teams to greater effort and to victory.  The really […]