The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog

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

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

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

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

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

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

My brother was a collector. He collected the most unusual things. Visiting his house after his funeral I found all of his old Royal Ranger stripes, badges & awards. Several toys from his childhood were in excellent condition. He had tickets from great events he’d been to, an odd collection of jewelry, baseball cards, etc. John often talked about opening a little trading shop but we all knew he’d never part with his treasures. Not much of what he had was valuable to anyone else. Each held a memory he would savor when he held it. If the memory could be transferred to the new owner, how expensive that would be!

What was your favorite Christmas gift of all time? Do you still have it? This morning we’re going to draw a line between the 1^st Christmas ever and one that is soon to come. If you enjoy the story of that initial revelation of Jesus, you’re in for a wonderful surprise when He comes again.

-Pastor Joel Everhart