Christway Church

Isaac Golding May 31st, 2008

I Believe…
That just because two people argue,
it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other.
And just because they don’t argue,
it doesn’t mean they do love each other.

I Believe…
That we don’t have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.

I Believe…
That no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt
you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I Believe…
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I Believe…
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.

I Believe…
That it’s taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

I Believe..
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I Believe…
That you can keep going long after you think you can’t.

I Believe…
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.

I Believe…
That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I ! Believe …
That heroes are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I Believe…
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I Believe…
That my best friend and I, can do anything, or nothing and have the best time.

I Believe…
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
when you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I Believe…
That sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.

I Believe…
That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do
with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.

I Believe…
That it isn’t always enough, to be forgiven by others.
sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe..
That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.

I Believe…
That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are,
but, we are responsible for who we become.

I Believe…
That you shouldn’t be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.

I Believe…
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.

I Believe…
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don’t even know you.

I Believe…
That even when you think you have no more to give, when
a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I Believe…
That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe…
That the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

I Believe…
The happiest of people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything.

And most important

I Believe…

Jesus saves.

Author unknown

• From the heart
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Pastor Kevin George May 15th, 2008

Thought 1

Recently the Pope came to America and addressed the nation. He challenged everyone to base their decision making on moralistic principles, now of course that is great and if people listened, then America would be in a lot better shape than it is now. My curious wonder is this, what did he hope to accomplish by saying that? Pastors in churches everywhere encourage people to live there life like that and a large majority of America does not listen.

Thought 2

I have been to churches and have spoken with large numbers of people and a lot of them seem to be good people. On Sundays and Wednesdays they are always in church, they always offer up words of encouragement and say wonderful things. My curious wonder is this, the Bible tells us that we are the body of Christ, but sadly enough, we are a very dysfunctional one. Someone walks into the church but won’t sit next to someone because they hold a grudge and won’t offer forgiveness, yet they walk around claiming to be a Christian. Doesn’t the bible tell us to forgive one another, even in the Lords prayer; it says “forgive me of my sins AS I forgive those who have sinned against me. Another curious wonder is helping to support those in need or just tithing. When the offering plate comes around, the only thing that some can pull out is a George Washington, come on, give me a break! Yet you can rest assure that the George Washington giver will be at a restaurant later spending a good amount on his/her Sunday meal, or will be heading to the store to buy a new release DVD or video game ranging anywhere from 20 - 50 dollars or they will be buying the latest gaming device (X-Box 360, Playstation 3 or Nintendo) spending an easy 300-400. WOW! That’s all I can say. Thanks for giving that dollar as the offering plate passed.

Thought 3

Public schools have become war zones, never mind the war in Iraq, just look to your public school if it’s a fight you’re looking for. The school system is looking for a way to bring crime levels down in the schools and to make it safer for children to learn. The thought: How ignorant are the school board members? Let’s try looking at things for a minute, when did violence and teenage pregnancy really start getting out of control? Well for the history majors, we will step back to the year 1963 I believe. The headline of one of the news articles read, all bible reading and prayer to be removed from public school. Well if you pull out you little charts school board members, you will see that crime rates and pregnancies started increasing more and more afterwards. It seems to me that if you ask Jesus to come back to the school, things might start changing. I can’t believe that people haven’t figured this out, and they want to teach our children.

Thought 4

What is a Christian? I’m curious if it’s a term I want to be referred to as now a day “Christians” are making excuses and exceptions for everything. Some of the things I’ve heard other say are things such as, Watching Rated R movies don’t affect them so it’s okay. Well doesn’t the Bible say we should guard our minds? When you plug yourself into a movie where everyone is killing, cussing, and having sex, I think guarding your mind, is out the window, you have just let all that stuff in. Certain people that think abortion is okay. Well now, have you read you Bible lately? Thou shall not murder! Does that little commandment ring a bell? From the time fertilization takes place, a human life starts to form, or did they remove that from the biology books to justify themselves? Gay marriage, YES ITS WRONG!!! Read Lev. 18:22 or if your one of those who likes to say, well that’s Old Testament, then read 1 Corn. 6:9, THAT NEW TESTAMENT! So let me get this straight, they call themselves Christian but they say gay marriage is okay, abortion is okay, unforgiveness is okay , submitting ones mind to all the media filth is okay. Well if that’s modern day Christianity, please leave me out. I am a servant of Christ. I’m not Evangelical, Protestant, Catholic, Jehovah Witness or Mormon. I’m a servant of Christ and I’m doing my best to live my life the way he has instructed. I’m no saint I have flaws, I ask for forgiveness when I do wrong and I try my best to do what is right, according to the Bible.

Well that does it on my thoughts and concerns, feel free to comment, if you got offended, oh well.

• From the heart , Pastor Kevin's Corner
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Pastor Kennis P. Smith April 13th, 2008

When I was a child growing up, I enjoyed what seemed to me the very best that God Almighty has to offer on this earth. I had the great privilege of being brought up on the Sabine River bottom. There were amazing endless days of swimming in the summer. I can still remember how the cold river water felt when I would jump in from a high bluff. Laughing and swimming to the nearest sand bar. Enjoying the feel of the warm sand on my young body, chilled from the swim, that had been heated by the summer sun. Catching bass, catfish and perch then running for cover at the sound of approaching evening thunder storms that brought a welcome reprieve from the hot summer afternoons.

Then summer would give way to fall. Hunting squirrel, rabbit and buck deer with an old single shot twelve gauge shotgun that had been handed down from previous generations. Excited at what each new day would bring to the hardwood bottoms.

Then winter, firewood had to be cut and split. I can still see my Mom standing by the old wood stove and the smell of bacon and biscuits that would soon be devoured by eight hungry kids. The leaves were all gone from the oak and ironwood trees. The landscape took on a gray and what seemed a lifeless color. The winter rains would set in and the roads would become a muddy rutted mess that became a challenge for even the most daring of school bus drivers. We did not have electricity so video games and television did not consume our young minds. Looking back now I am very grateful for that because I may have missed out on those long rides on my Dads old stud horse named Cocklebur. Many times I would think that the winter season would never end. But like all winters before they eventually gave way to spring. In what seemed like an instant the river bottom would break loose from the strangle hold of dreary and literally burst into color. Over night the trees became alive again. The smell of honey suckle would fill the air, the blooms of dew berries and pear trees could be seen every where. The birds would sing in harmony at the newness of the land.

Many years have passed and I am definitely not in my youth any longer but I am still amazed at the brilliance of Gods creation. Every spring an explosion of new life comes to the earth! How appropriate it is that we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus in the spring.

Romans 1:19-20 says; because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…

Without excuse, wow! You see I think that we live in a nation where the vast majority of people live close to the cross. You see the cross every where hanging around the necks of movie stars, and recording artist. On business cards and of course in our churches the cross is displayed for all to see. While many are close to the cross I feel few are close to the blood. Jesus came and endured the cross so that we could receive salvation. A new beginning, just as when winter has to loose its hold and give way to the newness of spring. So does sin and death have to give way to the new life of Christ. The resurrection of Jesus turned the spiritual landscape from dark and dreary to fresh and alive. Take advantage of the wonderful opportunity that has been given. Because my friend you are without excuse!

• From the heart , Kennis' Corner
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