Sometimes we’re tempted to say, “I really want to follow Jesus, but I’m just not feeling it right now.” To make such an important decision one mustn’t use feelings as a master to follow, one must use decision. We decide to follow Jesus; not because of confidence in ourselves but because of our confidence in Jesus. In Psalm 132: 3­5, David made a decision. He couldn’t see himself doing anything without first making God the center of his life: “I will not enter my house or get into my bed, I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, until I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” Discipleship of this magnitude calls for obedience. I’ve heard folks exclaim: “The bible is just too difficult to understand.” For the disobedient, the bible isn’t simply too difficult to understand, it’s practically impossible to understand because the unbeliever knows that to take God at His word is to relinquish control over his/her own life. Cheap grace says, “God has forgiven me so I can live any which way I choose.” Grace that comes from the sacrifice God made to the world through His Son reminds me that as beautiful as this life can be, nothing is more important than my relationship to Jesus Christ. Grace is free, but it’s anything but cheap.

​Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

It was with shock and sadness that I received two calls last week about the passing of both Jerry Kerns & Joann Matheny. Jerry was a person I considered a close friend. We chatted over a variety of issues more than once. Jo was one of the sweetest ladies I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing. There are certain people one looks forward to visiting because of how you feel once you leave their presence. Jo was one of those people. Although my schedule allowed me to officiate Jerry’s service, it saddened me that I was unable to preside over Jo’s funeral. The passing of these two people brings to mind an inevitable truth: not one of us will get out of this world alive! Death comes to us all: young, old, middle‐aged; everyone… it stands to reason, then, that we should want to do everything in our power to make sure our standing with our God is what it ought to be. Although Jerry “knew the score”, I don’t imagine Jo woke up last week and thought, “well, today I’ll go be with the Lord.” Her passing was a shock; not only to Lynn & Elsie but to each one of us who received word that she was gone. The writer of Hebrew reminds us that it’s appointed unto man to die and after that comes the Judgment. All of us need to be reminded from time to time of the inevitability of death. It comes to us all. Are you ready to meet your Lord face to face should He come today? Would you stand before Him in confidence if (for some unknown reason) you died tonight? The relationship we share with our God is one we should never neglect. If things aren’t right with Him, make them right: TODAY!

​Have a blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin