The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog

A month ago I preached on James’ admonition to stop bragging & to stop thinking we are something special or that we have done anything by our own strength. Every good thing we have is a gift from God, even the ability to get out of bed in the morning & walk across the floor.

It was one of those sermons that stepped on our toes, pulled us up short, called for a change of heart, attitude, & actions. What impressed me was the number of people who went out of their way to express their gratitude for the message. I’ve found that the people of God love the discipline of God. We appreciate the help of the Word to trim our flesh & feed our spirit. That’s a sure sign of maturity: when we see correction as one of the richest blessings of all.

In today’s message ICE (In Case of Emergency) we look at a few of the benefits of realizing that God, not us, is responsible for causing everything to work together for good. He is our ICE contact, our ever present help in the time of trouble.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

Mark Lowery was in a motorcycle accident. Paramedics quickly came to his aid. As he lay there on the street they cut his pants off in order to tend to his wounds. He looked down as they worked & his 1^st thought was, “Momma was right! Always make sure you wear clean underwear in case you are ever in an accident.”

In today’s text James tells us what he feels is the most important thing for us to keep in mind “or you will be condemned”! That sounds like valuable information. There is a principle involved that each of us needs to adapt to our particular calling in life. No more going along with the industry standard of telling a customer what you want them to know; tell them what you would want to know if you were that customer. Police officers, pharmacists, real estate agents, factory workers & any other thing we do to make a living must come under the higher standards of God.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

My 3-year-old grandson was riding along with me to MeMaw’s house. He wasn’t in a very agreeable mood. To cheer him up I told him we were having pot roast for dinner (that’s one of his favorites). He said he didn’t want pot roast he wanted chicken, rice & corn. I asked him if he would rather I pull the car over & ask the people in the next house if they were having chicken for dinner. He could eat with those people rather than MeMaw & me. He said, “Yes.” When I passed the house he told me to turn around.

Plan B: I said he could eat with MeMaw’s friend Shirley that lived across the street from us. He also liked that idea & kept asking if we were at Shirley’s house yet. When we finally got home Shirley was sitting out on her porch but he didn’t want to eat with her after all.

I think that 3-year-old was calling my bluff. What I’m I going to do when he’s 5? In today’s text James warns us against grumbling. God doesn’t bluff He disciplines.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

My dad likes to collect change in various containers. My mom enjoys giving it away, container & all. Piggy banks, old milk jugs, fancy tins, I’ve seen them all come & go. Dad would like to have a little money stashed away for a rainy day. Mom is always looking for someone that can use a little more money today.

I wonder which one will get credit for all that generosity: the one that saved it or the one that gave it away? It could never have been given if it hadn’t been collected. What if every time you touched money it hurt? James says that for some people their gold will cling to them & burn their flesh! Don’t be that guy. Follow the Scripture’s advice on how to handle your money & avoid getting burned with your finances.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

Remember the Super Bowl? The Falcons were building a sizeable lead. One of their players intercepted a pass, ran it back to the 10 yard line then took his good old time waltzing into the end zone, celebrating each step. Have you ever heard the saying, “He who laughs last laughs best?”

The commentators said that a 25-point lead like the Falcons held had never been overcome in a Super Bowl. That is no longer true. The Patriots sit on top of the football world because of their meticulous planning. They spend very little time boasting, in fact, it’s against their team policy! Their coach is famous for how little he says to the media. They don’t brag, they work.

In today’s sermon James warns us to live, not boast. Count your days, submit them to God, then do your best.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

I overheard a conversation in a place of business one morning. The people talking were in the back room & didn’t know I or anyone else was out front. Surely if they had realized how far their voices carried they wouldn’t have been talking so freely — at least, I hope not.

One employee was going on about her bitterness toward another employee. She can’t even stand to look at this person let alone be in the same room with her for any period of time. Her reason: “Anytime she talks to me her attitude & words are full of disgust for me.” At least the feelings are mutual.

I just couldn’t help but wonder how this person thought her words weren’t creating a worse work environment for all concerned. The chances of her attitude not being communicated by one of her fellow workers to the jerk in question are zero. That will obviously throw fuel on the fire … Oh that our words would bring reconciliation & healing rather than division & bitterness!

– Pastor Joel Everhart

Isaiah Inman writes, “At dinner my 6-year-old niece turned to her dad & said, ‘Dad, when I grow up, I’m going to marry you.’ I laughed until her mom said to her, “Don’t make the same mistake I did.”

It’s all fun & games until someone gets married. They date, they go nice places, eat good food, enjoy wonderful conversation, can’t think of anyone else they’d rather spend their time with than their beloved. Sometimes, after they’re married one or both starts looking for someone else. Great pain soon follows for everyone involved.

That’s exactly what happens, James says, to believers who turn their affections to the world after having come to Christ. Jesus would like to know today, “Do you truly love Me more than [anything else]?”

– Pastor Joel Everhart

Mary Webster writes, “My husband gave me a beautiful anniversary card that had lovely art & heartfelt verses. Wiping away a tear, I said, ‘this is the sweetest card I’ve ever received.’ ‘Really?” he said, griming broadly. ‘What does it say?’” Sometimes the key to communication is knowing when to keep your mouth shut.

Be sure to express love this Valentine’s Day but keep your stupidity to yourself. You might think you are being cute or funny when in fact you are being just plain annoying. In today’s text James asks us to choose which we would rather be: a grape vine or a thorn bush. Your words will either be sweet or cutting; like grapes or thorns. Choose to refresh others with the things you say rather than tear into them.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

The wife & I were in a Target. We got to the checkout to find the young clerk trying to stem the flow of blood from a fresh wound on his finger. “Do you need a bandaid?” I asked. “Yes,” he replied. I pulled one out of my wallet & applied it to his finger. We got 15% off of our purchase.

I started out as a Cub Scout, later a Boy Scout & finally a Royal Ranger. The Boy Scout motto is Be prepared, the Ranger’s is Ready. Some of that training must have stuck because my pockets tend to be full of “just in case” stuff: pocket knife, tissues, cough drops (cold or no cold), mints, band aids, extra keys, zip drive, coupons, cell phone, wallet, paper clip, safety pin … My one true wish in life is for more pockets.

James tells us to have our spirit ready to respond to any call of God that may come our way. Its not enough to say we believe; we need to be ready to obey, ready to sacrifice, ready to do His will at a moment’s notice. Be prepared; be ready to serve.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

It was the morning after I preached on James 1 where he said we are to count it pure joy whenever we face trials of many kinds. I walked into a dark room with a hot cup of tea in one hand & my bowl of cereal in the other. I set the tea down so I could turn on a light. Unfortunately, I set the cup on top of the remote so it toppled over & landed on the dog’s dish, breaking it into pieces sending dog food, spilled tea, & shards of glass in every direction. Immediately my sermon from the day before came to mind: “count it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds.” I laughed out loud right then.

I had been wondering how I was going to get the floors clean (as I usually do on Mondays) knowing I needed to spend the morning in the office, get my wife to a doctor’s appointment that afternoon, & attend a board meeting that night. No worries … my spilled tea had me sopping, sweeping, & mopping in no time. No matter what you believe, you will be asked to back it up with an action that proves you are not all talk.

– Pastor Joel Everhart

I now have five grandchildren: four boys & one girl. I can talk your ear off about any one of them. Which is my favorite? The one I’m with at the moment. Each is unique in their abilities & talents. Each is in their own stage of development. Each is delightful in a different way.

It’s okay to have favorites but its not alright to show favoritism. Having a favorite comes naturally, not showing favoritism requires intentional effort. First, you have to own that you like some people more than others. Next, you need to fight the tendency to spend all of your time & attention on those you favor. Finally, speak love & favor into your heart concerning those you do not naturally gravitate toward. Embracing their differences will help to expand your world.

The next time you are tempted to turn away from someone, focus on them instead. Show them favor with your heart, your actions & your attention.

– Pastor Joel Everhart