The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog
Sunday, February 28, 2021
Keep fasting: My flesh is squirrelly; it keeps finding ways to express itself and assert its dark ways even as I strive to follow Jesus. I can be proud of how humble I’ve become, satisfied with my spiritual growth, distracted by good works I’m involved in, none of which is good. Perhaps worst of all for me is when my appetite for sweets gets ahold of me. I’ll be doing just fine avoiding those foods that are low on nutrition and high on calories for months. I feel good. I’m satisfied. But then, for whatever reason, I “take a taste”. “Surely, I can handle a taste.” “All things in moderation.” “A little doesn’t hurt.” Although all those statements are true, they lead to my ruin. I start with a taste, perhaps a cookie. A cookie a day isn’t bad. A cookie a day becomes two that eventually leads to cake and what is cake without ice cream? My pants get tight, my shirts snug. What happened? My flesh did it to me again; it squirrelled its way back into convincing me I’m starving 24/7 and need another bite of whatever.
Oh, to be in control again! That’s one of the reasons a season of fasting is so important to me. Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. When I’m out from under self-control I know I’m not under the Spirit’s control to the degree I need to be. Looking forward to fasting is like looking forward to going to the dentist but it’s also looking forward to a new birth of freedom from my addictions. Start yearning to be free from things that hold you back: anger, bad habits, painful thoughts, etc. Then ask God to help you formulate a plan to break those chains that bind you. Let that be your fasting journey for 2021.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
Sunday, February 21, 2021
This morning we’re going to talk about the skill of self-management: the ability to adjust our reactions and responses to others and to situations so that we contribute appropriately to the narrative. Proper feedback helps to calm others down, defuse circumstances and make things better for most, if not all, involved. Are you one who generally helps to lower the temperature in the room or often “raise the roof”? Do you help others feel safe or frequently regret what you’ve said or done?
The Holy Spirit is a champion of self-management who produces all the good qualities that make us peacemakers in times of conflict, soothers in times of trauma, and encouragers when discouragement looms overhead. Allow Him to speak healing, peace and faith into your spirit today, developing those qualities that make us more like Jesus.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
Sunday, February 14, 2021
I’m starting to think we’re born messed up then acquire a few viruses in our programming even as we learn and grow. Through adulthood we try to discover what happened to us during our developmental years and repair what we can. Maybe this next mini series can help us identify some of our quirks and give us a few tools to help fix them. Here’s a road map to this series: 1) Self Awareness, 2) Self Management, 3) Social Awareness, 4) Relationship Management. As always, we’ll be using solid Biblical principals to help us navigate the waters of life. I’m really looking forward to it and hope you are too.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
February 7, 2021
There is a fine line between being encouraged and being content. When we can see measurable growth in our spiritual life it feels really good. It should spur us on to greater heights. Unfortunately, we sometimes conclude that we’ve come far enough. When following Jesus, there’s no such thing as “far enough”. He is a constantly moving leader. Jesus is never finished with us this side of Glory.
Allow the progress you’ve made to encourage you onward but don’t settle for where you’ve been; believe for more. More what? More worship, prayer, love, patience, excitement, joy, peace…more of the Lord in your life.
As we finish our study of II Corinthians, we can ask ourselves: is this book one of encouragement or warning, filled with warm greetings or harsh rebukes? The answer is, “yes”. Just like in life, there are areas where we deserve a pat on the back and there are zones where we need a swift kick in the rear. Fortunately, our God is good at both. Cherish your accomplishments and strive to overcome your weaknesses.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
Sunday, January 31, 2021
In prayer a couple weeks ago, Pastor Ray said he was very pleased with what this time in his life was like. As a younger man he never could have imagined what it would be like to be in his late 60’s but it’s better than he’d hoped. That’s a wonderful testimony, attitude, and perspective. It’s also a wonderful truth that should encourage all our younger folk. Generally speaking, if you keep following Jesus it does get better as time goes by.
Has your life been improving? Aside from temporary trials and momentary setbacks are you on the right track? God loves a good restoration project. If you’ve fallen into spiritual disrepair or even just drifted a little, the Lord loves bringing us back to Himself and reviving His joy, life & love in our soul. Ready for a tune up? The Master Mechanic is in the house today!
-Pastor Joel Everhart
January 24, 2021
The church’s boat go rocked over this past year. In some states it is mandated that churches stay closed. Conservative talk is not only being censored in many places but there are calls to suppress it all together. It’s been building for quite a while but suddenly we’re seen as public enemy #1. What will you do when it becomes illegal to identify as a Christian? Already people have lost jobs because they have posts on their social media that show themselves to be believers in Jesus Christ.
My Pillow has been taken off the shelves of stores like Bed, Bath & Beyond because its owner has come out in strong support of conservative values. They hope to put this American based company out of business all together.
If you’ve already been silenced by peer-pressure I don’t suppose you have anything to worry about. But what if we took the gospel seriously and practiced Biblical morality from our pulpits and even taught our kids that marriage between one man and one woman is God’s design? Even now many find the terms “man” and “woman” offensive. I’m not talking about marching in the streets to demand our rights. I’m talking about simply being a Bible believing witness to the lost around us. How far are you willing to go? Will you stop when they threaten to take your job…your savings…your house?
What will it profit a man if he should gain the whole world yet lose his soul? Jump ship now or grab an oar. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
January 17, 2021
Revival Services were very common when I was a boy. Our church would invite an evangelist in to conduct a week’s worth of services where we’d have church every evening from 7 o’clock until, sometimes, late into the night. We had our favorite evangelists and really looked forward to their visits. What made them popular was their ability to get us in touch with God.
It was difficult for new itinerant preachers to “break into the circuit”. They’d send letters of introduction filled with testimonies from churches where they’d already ministered. None of them ever led with, “When I come, I’m hoping for a wonderful breakthrough but if not I’m always ready to wage war.” In essence, that’s Paul’s message to the church in Corinth in today’s text.
DISCLAMER: I’ll be preaching out of the text this morning about the church in Corinth. A good friend of mine clued me into the fact that I shook up a few people with my preaching the last several weeks as though our church is on the verge of collapse. Thinking back over those messages I can see how someone might draw that conclusion. Let me assure you that is not the case. I am very happy to pastor her. I have one of, if not the best, boards to work with I’ve ever had, and believe our best days are just ahead. Every church has been affected by the pandemic and is connecting with many of its members online, ours is no exception. Sorry for any confusion I fostered.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
January 10, 2021
Two of my Dad’s favorite sayings when I was a child were, “You’re driving me nuts!” and “You’re making me a nervous wreck!” It wasn’t always directed at me, I had help from my brother and two sisters. That’s what families do: they irritate and unnerve each other. Sometimes we’re driven to say things we’d rather never need to say. Somehow, we end up loving one another dearly and collecting a lot of wonderful memories!
Probably no one is more responsible for helping us become who we are than the people with whom we grow up. Their good qualities set an example for us to follow and their faults help us highlight traits we need to avoid.
In the process of that developing we can often feel like they’re not really trying to help us, they’re actually trying to drive us insane. Rarely is that the case. We’re just people being people. That carries over into the church. Even with a purpose to love one another and an effort to help others develop a Christ-like character we can be somewhat irritating.
As Paul models for us in today’s text, maybe, sometimes, the right thing to do is to let others know they’re driving you loony.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
January 3, 2020
Pork & sauerkraut the traditional meal for New Year’s Day. My Mom explained to me how that came to be. In her words, “The old people would say, ‘pork & sauekraut will clean out your system so you can start the new year clean in your insides’”. That may sound a little crass for a church bulletin but it fits what we’ll be talking about today.
This morning we will wait until the end of service to participate in communion because I want the word to work down into your system. I’m praying that the message will loosen anything that’s become lodged in your spirit so that your insides will be completely clean as we enter into this new year. Of particular interest to me today is that you don’t go home with any residue of “ought”, no deposits of fear or anger or hurt stuck in your spirit concerning anyone else in the body of Christ.
If you can’t take communion this morning with a clean spirit, please don’t take it at all until you can honestly say that you have forgiven & love all of your brothers & sisters. They may never notice any difference but you will be so much better.
-Pastor Joel Everhart
December 27, 2020
My son Josh used to enjoy sliding across the wood floors in our home in his socked feet as a boy. He tells the story of doing so on our wooden back porch. Two problems: 1) the wood on the porch was a lot rougher than in the house and 2) he didn’t have any socks on at the time. The result was quite a collection of splinters! I can never think about that without cringing so hard I feel pain shoot down my thighs.
Splinters and thorns have a lot in common. Either way, our immediate response is to have them removed as quickly as possible. When that’s not possible, we hope nature will take its course and slowly push these intrusions into our body to the surface so we can pluck them out. Some thorns never surface; they just stay imbedded reminding us of their presence every time we move a certain way.
In today’s text Paul counsels us that whenever our thorn jabs us, to allow the pain to remind us of the care and blessing of the Lord that trumps the agony.
-Pastor Joel Everhart