THE WIDE PATH OR THE NARROW?

My wife and I talked with a dear Friend today about a brand new grandson who’s not born yet. We were updated the young parents were informed by the Doctor there are some complications, and the baby will need surgery right after it’s born. We all agreed that God is in this and He already knows this baby’s name and helped in knitting this baby  together in its mother’s womb, so sayth the Word of God! Many people look at this situation and right away think; “Why are they not aborting the baby instead of having it and then performing surgery on it right after it’s born? It’s a fair question for today’s young parents to be. The cost is high to bring a child into this world today, and many couples can ill afford the cost even after the insurance pays their part. Some births can put young parents in debt the rest of their lives. So they have to rethink about keeping an unborn child who has major complications or aborting it. These options are offered frequently right at the Doctors office and in the Hospitals today. I know a couple who went through this. The ending was sad, as the baby passed not to long after being born. But it was born alive, heart beating, lungs breathing and limbs moving. The child was given a chance to survive by the parents. This decision was a brave one, and a very hard one to make, but afterward they realized both of them had made the right decision not to abort what God had given them. You see many people don’t believe in miracles, nor even believe in God for that matter! So when hard choices need to be made they will most likely be swayed to take the easiest way out and not the tough way. The couple I know wanted to talk to me about this in private. We did and thank God they made the right decision. God had me give them the whole picture and not just the easy parts. It was a very painful ordeal and they are still morning for the child and have been for 6 or more years. They honor the death of their child every year by doing something special in his name. The mother shares some very beautiful things on Face book as well, in hopes of encouraging others who have to make this kind of decision in their lives. The point I want to make is this, before we are born the Word of God says he already knows our names. Jer 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." NIV Granted, not every baby is appointed a prophet prior to being born, but the precedent here has been set by the hand of God; He forms us, He knows us, and He appoints our future for us. The first two issues, we have nothing to say about. God just does it and that’s it, the end of the matter. However the third part of this is really up to us as we grow up with more understanding of God and his plans he has for each of us. Jesus said wide is the path which leads to destruction (“it’s easy to make easy decisions that only benefit us individually.”)  “But narrow is the path that leads to righteousness.” (It’s hard to make the right decisions.”) God also said in Isa 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls (Problems) are ever before me.  NIV   Myself, according to God’s Word, I don’t believe in abortion. I know the pains it causes are deeper than men know and women. It’s not over, even after it’s been performed. Someone very dear to me took the easy way, and she’s living that pain today, and has been for 40 years or more. She weeps when telling the story and prays for forgiveness from God. Though she has received the Lord as her Savior she still weeps and hurts inside for taking the life of her baby. Christians need to stand and love those who are going through this kind of pain and having to make these decisions. The easy way is not really always easy, it’s a ploy from the devil to destroy the lives of those involved for years to come. We as Christians must never condemn those who’ve aborted a baby, we just need to love them back to Jesus! We need to pray for them for divine healing to come into their lives along with comfort and peace. We need to remind them they are still loved by us and God. Which path would you take? I pray you'd take the path Jesus said leads to righteousness, its the way we need to go for the sake and saving of our souls. God Bless you! Pastor Dan Community Fellowship Church, Of Petersburg Il.

JESUS NEVER FAILS

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

"Both nations and individuals have tried Christianity and abandoned it, because it has been found too difficult; but no man has ever gone through the crisis of deliberately making Jesus Lord and found Him to be a failure. The Love of God—The Making of a Christian, 680 R"

This jumped out at me this great sunny beautiful day the Lord has made for all of us!

Matt 11:29  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. nice

The direct result of yoking yourself up under the teachings and precepts of His yoke for life, is you allow Him to handle all your frets, worries, and troubles so that our souls find and experience His divine rest. In this understanding our hearts and souls are strengthened and the result is a deeper and more meaningful relationship with our Father who art in Heaven and with the Son of Man. So don't just cope with the mundane things today! Yoke up with Jesus! And joy will come and the blues and blahs will be overcome by His glorious presence! You can be assured all His promises are Yes! Rest will come and your struggles will fade! Praise His holy name!!! Amen!

God Bless you! Love you all!

Jesus Has Died On The Cross And Has Risen For You!

March 27^th 2016

Jesus Has Died On The Cross And Has Risen For You!

What a great sign statement we have on our Community Fellowship Church (CFC) sign outside this week! I want to thank my oldest Grandson for coming up with it! He and I were at the church prior to Easter Service this week, and we accomplished what we came to do, change the statement on the church sign! It reads “JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS AND HAS RISEN FOR YOU!” Speaking of statements and signs, Jesus stated many important things during His last week and hours on this earth, plus He did miracles, and performed sign’s, causing people who watched him to wonder in total amazement, “Who is this man? In telling and showing his disciples who He was, He performed things normal humans cannot do! Just a short time before He entered Jerusalem He raised Lazarus from the dead! When it was over with it was said many who witnessed this became His followers! His church was growing so rapidly the Pharisees and Sadducees were getting worried about losing their positions in the church hierarchy. As we know they were so worried they started scheming to kill him just hours after He entered the city gates. We know that they succeeded, but was it them that schemed who were victorious? Well in fact no they were not the ones who could claim victory over killing someone who was totally innocent according to Pontius Pilot, who had just ruled he could not find anything this man had done wrong, but they cried out crucify him, crucify him and give us Barabbas! So they took him out of the city and nailed him to an old rugged cross. He was beaten so much he was hardly recognizable. His beard pulled out in patches, stripes across his back, with wide cuts from the metal shards in the ends of the whips used. Barely alive still they made him carry his own cross to Skull Hill or Calvary, as known and softened for the Christian folks of today. Through it all He said not a harsh word against his enemies. Instead He prayed for them. He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do!” His mission to build a bridge for sinners to be saved was almost over and so He prayed and said “Father In to thy hands I commit my Spirit.” And as soon as He prayed, the Word of God and said, “It is Finished”, the Breath of God departed from His body, (Temporarily). On the third day, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early in the morning to finish the burial ceremony and an Angel said to her, “Why do you look for dead amongst the living? He is not here He has risen!” She ran back to tell the others and they thought she was crazy! What do you think about the resurrection? Did it really happen? If you think not, then you need to check the historical facts. On the other hand, if you believe in the Word of God and you access this is totally true and it did happen so we have Hope in being saved and going to heaven,  then you need to take an immediate decision and ask Jesus into your life and forgive you of your sins. If you do you will be saved and when you walk out of the Church building, you need not ever worry about going to heaven! Just believe by faith, read and study your bible, and you’ll know for certain you are saved and your headed home where Jesus has prepared a room for you. Your name is now written in the Lambs Book of Life! Yes, Jesus finished his mission, but His gift of Eternal Salvation is ongoing for all who call on His name, until He returns to get His children! God Bless you all! I pray you discover the real reason why Christians celebrate Easter!  God can light up your life with the love, mercy and the grace of Christ our Lord when you ask him to come into your heart! God Bless you all! Pastor Dan

IT'S ONE CHURCH, SO WHY CAN"T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

When the day comes, we go from being a child to an adult and step out into the world to make it on our own, we witness something, it's not as it seems to be when we were growing up. As I've grown to the age of 65, I've came to a conclusion about UNITY, across cultures and nations around the world. I've learned there are sparks and glimmers of unity here and there, but never total unity anywhere! I've been privy to living in unity when I was in the military. Our uniforms in each of our Branches of Service are the same, yet different, from each other, only in the uniforms worn. They have Battle Uniforms and they have regular work and dress uniforms. They protect the public from harms way. They maintain and offer a balance of peace. Are not these things what Christians have and isn't this what Christians try to share with everyone? You remember the verse? "Put on the whole armor of Christ?"   I also  learned a new language called "military language." Its is not in unity with civilian language. But mostly I learned that each branch of military has a special kind of unity, civilians seldom get to feel. I have very dear military friends who are closer to me than my immediate family, and that is a special kind of unity fostered within each branch of military. I admit even after being retired for 25 years, I still feel that deep sense of military unity. Two years before I retired a new type of unity developed in my life. This unity is deeper than my military unity. I now have a Spiritual unity with millions of Christians around the world! I thank God and Jesus Christ my Savior for this unity even more so than the unity developed in me during my short 20 years in the USAF. My perspective of unity is now greater and more sincere and compassionate than ever before! When Christ became my Savior, I became a part of the Body of Christ! This body of people expands around the world! This body of people are loving, forgiving, compassionate, honest, and not ashamed to tell you they love Jesus! This is a unity beyond what I can express. I'm only speaking of those who truly love the their God with all their hearts, minds, and souls. They know him and they listen to his voice and follow him with great obedience. Jesus said "In this world there are many troubles, but fear not for I have overcome the world, so let not your hearts be troubled." He also said "John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." I have believed this type of unity is what mankind needs to strive for! It's eternal! So with this wonderful picture of this innocent child asking the question, millions of others have asked and bringing Unity to our attention, with this simple question, the answer I respectfully leave with each person is this.  Unity is within each human heart, worldly unity is temporal at best, but Godly unity of the Body of Christ is eternal and is held together with great grace, mercy, and love through the salvation of Jesus Christ. And let me just leave it at that.

HE’S SENDING ANGELS TO ENCAMP AROUND YOU DAILY!

 Happy Valentines Day! God Loves You, To The Moon and Back!

Psalms 91

1He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High  will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.  4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,  6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.  8 You will only observe with your eyes  and see the punishment of the wicked.  9 If you make the Most High your dwelling--even the LORD, who is my refuge— 10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;  12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.  13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.  14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." NIV  Please take a moment of your time to set down and read this with God today, He wants to talk with you about your protection. No need to worry! He’s got you covered, by the Blood of Jesus, and He’s sending Angels to encamp around you daily! Bless You! Pastor Dan

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

I know at first sight this title gets your attention! As I’ve stated many times before; “Sometimes the Word of God is hard for us to hear, especially when it steps on our toes!" We know in our hearts that Gods Word, when ministered in the power of the Holy Ghost, will cause our minds to think about what He's saying to us individually about our sin status on any given day. What’s funny is, some people really believe the Preacher follows them around through the week so they can metal in your personal life on Sundays, and hurt your feelings, by telling you how to get your life right with God! I have two words to describe this. “Not Happening!” If you ever do discover your preacher is following you more than once through the week, don’t go back to that church! Call the police, because he’s most likely a stocker! We have stocker's today just like they did during the times of Jesus life on earth.  In the scripture below, the reason Paul is where he is at this point in time, is because he was being followed by many stocker's!  The Religious hierarchy didn’t agree with his new found beliefs in the “Way” of Christ. They followed him, and listened to him preach, and teach about what they concluded to be heresies’ regarding Jesus being the Messiah! Savior! They brought charges against him to have him killed! This is what happens when God’s Word is preached in truth by the anointing of the Holy Ghost! His Word will bring charges against your sin status. When you’re at church and the Preachers preaching Gods Word and all of a sudden you start feeling like mud on a popsicle stick, God is speaking to you and trying to get your attention about issues you need to turn over to Him by simply asking him for his forgiveness.  He says He will wash away our sins and make that darkness we once had in there as white as snow! He takes all your sins and hurls them into infinity, never to be remembered by Him anymore! Take a moment to read this  scripture. Paul is speaking to King Agrippa, and he says in Acts 26:27-29  27 King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do." 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"  29 Paul replied, "Short time or long-I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."  NIV  Paul did not say the word "Christian" to Agrippa. Um? So where did Agrippa hear of this new religious sect? He heard it way before this meeting with Paul, and Paul knew his Royal Uncle, Herod the Great!  It is believed in history this was the King that ordered all the firstborn sons in Bethlehem to be killed by the sword, after he found out the Wise men were not coming back through his kingdom. What’s Agrippa do? He pleads the 5^th Amendment! He says, while under conviction of the Holy Ghost, “You think you can persuade me to be a Christian in such a short time?" I underlined the words Paul said to him, "I Know You do." Let me explain right here about these four words Paul said. Here is some truth being spoken loud and clear by God today, " I know you do. You have heard many times in the past and even today about, the Gospel Message of Salvation! Its been revealed to you from your own family members, and including many other media resources available to everyone in this high tech age in which you are living in today! God was using Paul to offer Eternal Hope to this King, by letting him know, "I know you do!" I know you've heard of my Son who was nailed to a cross, beat almost to death before he got to the place of the crosses. He was stoned, spit on, mocked and ridiculed by hoards of people, including the righteous one's who proclaimed to know it all! When I read this passage, I wonder how many times this has been said in God's hearing around the world from many who are using this lame excuse King Agrippa used? "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"  The four words are a loud divine recorded message God uses repeatedly to convey about his love and compassion He's extending freely to every human being made in His image, and He will continue to afford you every opportunity to not only hear this simple message, but also to take the action of  accepting Jesus into your life today. My Prayer for all who tread here for a short time, is you will hear this wonderful Gospel Message about Jesus and will accept him as your Savior and Lord right now. I pray you too, will become as I am today, a Child of God who's chains of sin have been loosed and hurled into infinity, as far as the east is from the west, so says the Lord! God bless you for walking with me a while here. Leave a note or just say hi to let me know you stopped by. 

Pastor Dan Boyer,

Community Fellowship Church of Petersburg, IL

Hear God Speak to You Today

During my small number of years of ministering, some wonderful folks have approached me and said; “I just don’t hear God speaking to me in an audible voice”.  Well, that’s OK, because God speaks in many ways to each of us. Just as we speak daily in many ways to each other. For instance, our facial expressions say lots without ever saying any words! I just recently forwarded a Self-e of my new hairdo on FB. I falsely accused a cousin of mine of doing my hair, as a joke to lighten her day with some laughter. She runs a Hair Salon in Tenn. Believe me the hairdo I had that morning I arose from my soft Sleep Number bed, in Illinois even shocked me! God uses the heavens to declare his Glory to mankind! God used a mule to speak to the Prophet Balaam! And then there’s that Small Still Voice many hear that’s spoken of in the Bible. So far as I know at this point in time, God doesn’t use a rolling pin or a frying pan to the back side of our heads to get our attention, though I do some folks who would love to help us hear better through pain and agony. But if we are to win them over to Christ we are not supposed to beat them, we are told by the Lord to feed them! Through much study I’ve learned people (myself included) have serious hearing problems. This actually extends from within our own selves. And let me make this clear to everyone, even those who are deaf can hear God speaking to them.  Anyone can so long as you have a wanting and wiling heart to listen to the Master Creator, and except His salvation through Christ Jesus. Let’s look at a scripture God gave me one day to use with helping others to hear him speak to them. These words were read by Jesus from the book of Isaiah.  Luke 4:18-21 18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me,  because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."  20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, 21 and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  NIV   I love this scripture! By faith, like a child this will literally unplug your spiritual ears! Remember what Jesus said about coming to him as a little child (See Matt 18:2-4). Don’t miss this important instruction from Christ, or your listening will still be dull of hearing, or you may not hear Him at all. Lastly read this scripture, and afterwards pray God will fill you with more of Him and saturate your heart and mind in His Word. Rom 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. NIV Jesus is still saying; “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” If you really want to hear Him, Opem your heart to Jesus, and read your bible! It is the Word of God. He will perfect your hearing. God Bless you all! Love ya’ll Pastor Dan

"I Serve A Risen Savior! He's In The World Today! I Know that He is Living, Whatever Men May Say!"