The Pen of Pastor

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. (James 4:14 NASB) James writes a rather intriguing passage here that everyday becomes a little more real to me. Working in a funeral home I have learned rather quickly that death has no guidelines, sometimes it is a rather long process and others almost instant. Often times the pain and agony of dying is very real and evident while others seem to be at such peace while they leave here. And then of course there is the age factor, death doesn't care if you are 100+ years old or a new born baby or anyone in between; and we find here that James told us that as he wrote the words God spoke to him.  It boils down to this, you and I really are not promised tomorrow. In fact we're not promised our next breath, so why don't we make the best of every moment. Live like today is your last day on earth and serve God will all of your heart. He has plans f

 "What's Your Ugly?" Was the title of the message I preached last night to my home church and wow have I been challenged by it, so I wanted to share it here to.  Mark 3:1-6, NASB: He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there whose hand was withered. They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. He said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and come forward!" And He said to them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?" But they kept silent. After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Him, as to how they might destroy Him.  This man had a withered hand and it was something ugly compared to the world but Jesus had plans to resto