The View From My Window Pastor's Weekly Blog



September 12, 2021

If you have little kids or grandkids, especially if they are boys, you are likely familiar with their propensity to wrestle with you. Even though they lose every match they keep coming back for more. I had a friend who used to hold his boys down until they said “mercy” but they were so young it came out “merthy”. They would cry for mercy yet as soon as their dad let them up, they’d jump on him again.

Security ought to be a word that describes our families. We feel safe in the arms of those who are stronger than us. In fact, we rely on their strength. Even when we are competing with them or have made them angry, we count on the fact that their strength will be kept under control and not be used to harm us. When you are the one entrusted with the muscle, be sure the rest of the family knows you stand with, for, and behind them all the way.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

September 5, 2021

Every husband knows when his wife is not in the mood for a hug or a kiss simply by the way she is standing. If her arms are crossed or her hands are on her hips, her feet are slightly apart and squarely planted, her eyes are narrow, her jaw is set he’d be better off cuddling with a cactus. Even if we’re having a tough day we should “soften” whenever our mate approaches us. Like Captain Kirk commanding the Enterprise we need to lower our shields, disengage our weapon systems, and prepare a welcoming party. Have you ever seen an engaged couple that wasn’t down right giddy to see one another? Take a cue from your dog and be happy to see your partner.

How we approach, how we receive our “better half” will go a long way toward how the rest of the day will go. Stop treating one another like the complaint department and more like the prince or princess you married. Does your stance toward your partner need to change?

-Pastor Joel Everhart

August 29, 2021

Pastor Ray will once again be filling in for me as I take a Sunday off. It is our sincere desire to get out of town for a little while and visit some family. The strong probability is that it will be another stay-cation due to the increase of miseries Barb has been enduring lately. Please keep praying for her as we pray for you. My being home with her adds a small measure of comfort to her struggle to stay positive and hopeful. She is a missionary to those who suffer chronic illness and pain. It’s sad that she never gets to “come home on furlough” and enjoy a break from her own difficulties. Yet, her ministry has born good fruit as she has encouraged others to trust in the Lord through every challenge of life. Don’t forget to maintain contact with your loved ones who may be suffering from illness or age. All too often we keep running with the healthy and leave the hurting to fend for themselves. Remember Jesus’ admonition that when we visit those in prison or feed those who are hungry, or help those who are sick, we are ministering directly to Him.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

August 22, 2021

People are very sensitive these days as to being treated like anything less than an equal even if it’s by a boss, a supervisor, or an elected official. We don’t mind honoring others unless they come across as expecting to be treated better than anyone else. Biblical submission isn’t a front we put on in order to fool others into thinking we’re more humble than we actually are; it’s a genuine expression of our understanding that we need to esteem others as better than ourselves. Nowhere is that more vital than in our homes!

Why is it we have an easier time submitting to strangers than to the members of our own household? Trusting God to be the fair and honest judge, we are free to submit to one another in love.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

August 15, 2021

Doug & Jackee Raught are missionaries we’ve supported for decades. They started out in IMM (International Media Ministries) but soon transitioned to leading the “Fire Choir” in Belgium. The Fire Choir invites people from a very non-churched culture to join a community choir where they learn and perform Black Gospel Music. In the course of learning the songs and interacting with the missionaries a number of them have become followers of Jesus! An invitation to receive Christ was also issued in each of their concerts. It was a very unique way of taking Jesus to a nation uninterested in going to church.

Recently, the Raught’s have transitioned once again, this time from leading the Fire Choir back to IMM. With a strong background in graphic design and media their goal is to share the gospel via every available technological outlet. It came as quite a surprise to me personally when they made this latest change because of how vested they’ve been for so long in their ministry in Belgium. Not only did they change ministries they changed countries! Their new assignment is in Spain.

Why make the leap from choir director to program producer/director? When they checked in with the Lord, He wanted to reassign them. By “Checking Coordinates” they were as shocked as anyone that they’d be making such a drastic move. Have you checked in with the Lord lately? Maybe He’s preparing to redirect your life too!

-Pastor Joel Everhart

August 8, 2021

I run so early in the morning that its always dark. The other day I ran through a large branch someone had set out by the curb without having seen it before I hit it. Thankfully, I maintained my balance and only sustained a minor scratch but it was a startling experience. Something I never saw cut me and could have done a lot more damage. That’s the problem with trying to navigate in the dark: you don’t see the obstacles until its too late. Many a stubbed toe can attest to that fact!

God gives us a choice: 1) We can walk in the light of His wisdom, obeying His ways or 2) Run with the devil in the dark. If you choose option #2 sooner or later you’re going to stumble and fall. You won’t see it coming but you will feel the pain. Sinners can’t help but sin; those who have been saved have a choice. Choose life, choose light, choose to follow Jesus and reap the rewards of God’s favor.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

August 1, 2021

If we were playing a game where we were asking others to guess who we were acting like, what things would you do &/or say to imitate me? How about Pastor Ray? President Trump? President Biden? Joe Calhoun (the weatherman)?

Now here’s one for you; Paul asks us to be imitators of God! How do we pull that one off? Create any universes lately? Part any seas? Heal anyone?

Maybe we can start by caring for others the way He cares for us or saying things like, “I will never leave you or forsake you.” Feeding enemies, being nice to strangers & blessing those who curse us also come to mind.

I don’t think anyone is going to mistake us for God but hopefully they’ll see a family resemblance.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

July 25, 2021

I heard someone complaining about someone else the other day and they could not have done a better job of describing themselves if they tried. Every complaint they had about the other person was true of themselves. Why is it that we’re so good at pointing out everyone else’s faults but are so blind to our own? The rules of godly living are as much for us as they are for anyone else.

The secret to spiritual growth is to identify our own faults, confess them, ask God to help us overcome them, then do everything we can to change our behavior. If we let others know that we know what our weaknesses are, they can help keep us accountable. “Ask not for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

-Pastor Joel Everhart

July 18, 2021

“Steady as she goes!” Progress, make some progress in your life. I’ve found what our grandparents told us to be true: “The older you get the faster time flies.” It fascinates me that an hour can feel so long while years fly by. As we age there is a temptation to drift, to coast, to allow the days just to pass. We’re not as anxious about things, not as motivated, not as concerned. But we must fight the tendency to retire into a vegetative state. Each day we’ve been given is a gift and we should use it to continue to accomplish worthwhile things that will benefit others. As Jesus said, “We must work while it is day for the night cometh when no one can work.” I find having a healthy routine helps. Scheduled time for exercise, devotions, study, writing, services, contacting others, etc. helps me stay in a productive rhythm.

Set some goals beyond your own happiness. Serve a group of people who won’t be able to return the favor. Go out in a “blaze of glory”. Get better at doing life, not bitter that it hasn’t been as good to you as you had hoped it would be. Each of us has something to offer and can do something that needs to be done. Do it.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

July 11, 2021

There are brain surgeons who don’t know how to fix a clogged sink. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t want a plumber doing surgery on my brain! The plumber may know some things the surgeon doesn’t but that doesn’t make him smarter nor does it mean either can do what the other can. Every piece of knowledge we have, every skill we’ve developed is a gift from God. Some skills come naturally to us whereas others we’ve worked hard to master. Either way, they’re a gift from God.

We spent a couple hours in prayer the other day and when we went to stand up everyone groaned and laughed as we righted ourselves. I quoted Paul in saying, “Having done all to stand, stand!” Then I added, “The older I get the more challenging that command becomes.” Although we’ve been standing all our lives there will come a time when we cannot stand anymore. That will be a sad day. The same can be said for every other skill we’ve mastered. Therefore, don’t take all these gifts, little and big, for granted. Be thankful for them and use them to glorify God and help others.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

July 4, 2021

An interesting phenomenon has developed due to the lack of workers. I’ve noticed that everyone has become a recruiter for their company. People who never cared much about the welfare of the business they work for are out looking for new hires. Why? First of all, they’re probably having to work mondo overtime which will only get better once more workers sign on. Second, the future of the company could well be in jeopardy which would put them back out on the street. Employees buying in to the needs of the company while the business itself steps up its efforts to meet the needs of its workers in order to secure their continued help sounds like a really good result.

What motivates you to work harder? What motivates you to live better? What does it mean to “live worthy” as Paul tells us to do in today’s text? That’s what we’ll be talking about today.

-Pastor Joel Everhart

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