Pastor’s Ponderings

“Summer”

Texas Summer. Those two words strike fear into almost everyone. I lived through the 1980 summer with 42 straight days of 100° temperatures. That summer also had the hottest two days in the history of DFW, 113°, on June 26 and 27, 1980. Many churches talk of a “summer slump.” It’s vacation time and many head out for a week or two. Others become “disinterested” in church because the Wednesday program is not occuring. Some find other, more “important” things to do. Let’s be in every service this summer! I heard recently of a church’s motto: “Three to thrive!” Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night are the three times Calvary assembles together as a body of believers. Let’s thrive this summer! _{********************} In my ongoing series, I present two more reasons Thom Rainer gives for “Why I Attend Church.”

_{********************} Wednesday nights we are preaching through Hebrews 11. While most of the stories are very familiar, it is still striking what incredible faith the Old Testament saints had. Their faith was marked by action. Scripture repeats the phrase: “By faith.” By faith Abel offered. By faith Noah prepared an ark. By faith Abraham obeyed. By faith Abraham offered up Isaac. By faith Isaac blessed. By faith Jacob gave commandment. By faith Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. By faith Israel passed through the Red Sea. While this is not the entire list of heroes, it demonstrates that faith caused these men and women to perform great deeds for God. Any faith that does not become action is not true faith. I want to challenge your faith. Is it only in your heart and mind or is it shown by your actions? This is the thought in James 2 when he says that “faith without works is dead.” _{********************} This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. The average age of the American G.I. in that battle was 21. They had to be moved across the English Channel as secretly as possible. Fake radio broadcasts were made to divert German attention. Double agents were fed false information. The allies even built a “fake” invasion company out of wood that was visible from the skies. They needed clear skies, but high winds and rain caused a delay from June 5 to June 6. Amazingly, only about 5,000 allied soldiers were killed. A foothold was gained in continental Europe, and within a year Germany surrendered. I have mentioned before that my grandfather fought in World War 1, my uncle fought in World War 2, and my father fought in the Korean War. As a nation we are all in debt to our military, past and present. _{********************} Sunday morning we are moving through a series entitled “The Walk.” Each week we look at a different Bible verse that has the word “walk” in it. We have seen the need to “walk in love.” The greatest of all is love! It is the way that people know we are Jesus’ disciples. We also saw the need to “walk in truth.” Some say truth is relative. Others say we make our own truth by the way we live. But Scripture is absolute truth that “will make you free.” We also know to “walk circumspectly.” We must be watchful because our adversary wants to devour us. Join us Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11:00 for “The Walk.” _{********************} I have asked from the beginning for you to pray for me and my family in five areas. Thank you for doing so, and please continue to plead with God that I would have: 1) Courage 2) Wisdom 3) Strength 4) Victory 5) Vision