Our block party in October is going to need ALL of us to be involved - let's be intentional and do our part and see what God does when His people are faithful.  Pray now to be involved!  

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Another part of my vacation was helping my mom move back to Arizona to live with us until she can find a job (Any one have a good lead on part time work?).  As we packed up her house I stood in the middle of the house on that Saturday we left with tears in my eyes (even now).  Realizing that my mom would never be back to that house again where she had spent many years with my step dad who just recently died. She was giving up everything her home, her job, her husband her friends her church etc... Pretty scary for anyone let alone being 65 and having to start completly over.  

Well that's where God comes in... Our God is a God of New Beginnings - he once told Abraham to go out his front door and start over.  Abraham did exactly what God told him to do and he was blessed.  Many of us just like my mom are starting over, actually everyday is a new day to begin all over again.  In whom or where do you put your trust... The psalminist once said that some will put their trust in horses and some in chariots - As for me I will put my trust in the name of Lord MY God.  So if your starting over today, put your trust in the right place place, squarley on the shoulders of Jesus Christ... As far as I am concerned... who better?

This series is a great way to kick off the summer here in Yuma – We will be gathering different kinds of fruit each Sunday to take to different organizations around Yuma.  For example this Sunday June 5^th we are collecting Apples for the talk that has been called the “Apple of Love.”  On Monday Morning we will be taking those apples to the Boys and Girls Club of Yuma to minister to that organization.  So can you help me by bringing a bag of apples to church on Sunday?  We will have a “Basket” in the auditorium for all our apples to go around – so anytime prior or after the service drop your apples off and we will take care of it from there.

Thank you for being a church that wants to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community.  We have several events coming up this summer so stay tuned to our website/bulletin/small group/ and of course this blog and I will keep you updated.

By the way congrats to all the… let me see Kindergarten, 6^th grade, 8^th grade, seniors and college grads – WAY TO GO!

See you Sunday!

First obvious statements, if a person commits suicide as an unbeliever, (Listen to Sunday’s message to hear what an unbeliever is) then they do not go to heaven based on their names not being written down in the Book of Life in the first place.

What about a believer who commits suicide... The key word is believer... and only God knows that... But for our sake lets say they are believers.  The general argument is that they broke the commandment of thou shall not commit murder so they must go to hell right?  Well wrong!  The commandments are not a basis for salvation... Have you lied then you broke another have you stole oops there is another one.  Christ died on a cross for the forgiveness of sin once and for all that we might be FREE from sin as believers.  The argument is that one who commits suicide never is able to repent so then they could not be in heaven.  Faulty thinking they are already forgiven or we would all have to wonder if I was "repented up" before we died.  I hope that makes sense.   

Suicide is not an option for a believer or it should not be an option.  This means we or someone else is in control of our life and not God which is sin, but not a basis for heaven and hell.  Then again you don’t have to commit suicide to be in control right... This is that same battle of the flesh and the spirit...

I had a question on Sunday what if I have already tried but was not successful will I go to hell... The answer are you a born again believer?  If the answer is yes then rest in the promise of scripture that nothing can take you out of the hand of God.  Confess you attempt before God - Get some good help if you are still having those thoughts - come talk with me or others who can point you in the right direction.  If you not a believer then ask God to reveal himself to you - come in and we can talk about "Knowing Jesus!"

Suicide is not the unpardonable sin... Not according to the scriptures I understand!  Hope this helps... tough question I know.    

Cremation has become popular in the United States and throughout Western society, yet cremation remains an issue over which many Christians have disagreement and confusion today. Cremation has its roots in ancient pagan cultural practices, but the question for us should be:

'IS IT RIGHT FOR A CHRISTIAN?' What does the Bible say?
There is no Bible record of any Christian willfully being cremated after death, although fire was used to torture believers and followers of the Lord while they still lived.

Let us look at the Biblical Example:
1. The Lord Jesus was buried, not cremated.
2. Great Biblical people who served the LORD in the Bible were buried: Abraham, Moses, Gideon, King David, Joseph, Rachel, Lazarus, etc.

Let us hear the Biblical Command Forbidding Cremation:
1.
2.
3.
Why is there nothing written in my answer? Because the Bible makes no reference to whether it is right or wrong for believers to be cremated or to have our loved ones cremated.

Is then Cremation a SIN?
According to Biblical commands, cremation of your body or a loved one's body after death would NOT be a sin or contrary to God's commands.

IT WILL NOT AFFECT OUR RESURRECTION
Cremated or not, God will have no problem whatsoever in resurrecting any body from the ashes of cremation when Christ returns. No doubt hundreds of thousands of saved people have died in terrible fires over the thousands of years since creation. Through accidents and war, bodies have been obliterated in many ways. But we know that as far as the resurrection from the dead is concerned, God can do anything! When Jesus comes again all bodies of all the saved will be raised up and transformed into an eternal body from where ever their molecules have been scattered.
See I Corinthians 15:42-57 and I Thessalonians 4:14-18.

What then is the best way for a Christian, to be buried or cremated?
This is a personal decision that should be made by each individual for himself. In making a decision for ourselves on this matter about how his mortal body will be disposed of, every Christian should remember that we will not attend either our own funeral or our burial. We will be in Heaven.
The choice then should be,'what is best for our Loved ones, and what would best honor the Lord?"

IT WILL NOT AFFECT OUR DESTINY
It does not affect the Christian's future:
Those who have been saved from their sins by the Lord Jesus Christ do not have to fear death. When we die we are immediately taken to Him in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5.8; Philippians 1.23).
Cremation does not affect the future of the Lost:
The teaching of Christ and the Bible is clear: Those who have died without Christ will not go to Heaven. This is a sad fact. John 14:6 tells us plainly that Jesus is the only way to the Heavenly Father and to the place Christ is preparing for those who trust in Him. *John 14:1-6
In Luke 16 we read of a rich man who had died, but to his eternal regret, he had died without the Saviour. He had died in his sins. Jesus said this man went right away to Hell. He did not have a long wait. Sadly, many will refuse God's love and grace and scorn the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us upon the cross. When life here on earth is over, and their soul and spirit leaves their body, they will know at once that God's way was best. Yet, cremation of their bodies will not add to their pain nor help to purify them in anyway whatsoever.

WHAT THEN IS THE TYPE FUNERAL WE SHOULD HAVE?
Consider the following verse:
The Lord Jesus Christ tells us: "I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance. (Luke 15.7)
Accordingly, you will bring joy to your loved ones who are already in Heaven by making sure that the Gospel is preached at any funeral.
When people attend a funeral, they always think deeply about their own future appointments with death and eternity. Thus, a Christian funeral offers a wonderful opportunity to present the Gospel to the people who attend.
The best and most beautiful funeral is one that proclaims the name of Jesus Christ, His redemption plan for all who will come to Him and of Christ's own resurrection from the dead and what this means to all people. Every funeral should have a time of sharing God's love and that God does indeed have a plan for us all.
A funeral and burial that honors Jesus will bring great honor, joy, and peace to your loved ones who know the Lord here and to those who are in Heaven.

In the final analysis, you might want to ask God, your Pastor, your loved ones and yourself, the following question:
"What will be most pleasing and honorable in the eyes of God- a Christian burial or to cremation?" 



Sincerely, David Ralston    

S  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

O  Chapter 18 has a reoccurring theme – the lips and mouth.  We have the ability to lift up and praise and we have the ability to tear down and destroy.  And it is all centered by what we say.  There are consequences to what we say – Sometimes those consequences can be for a lifetime – We need to remember what said has been said so be careful about what is said and how it is said.  

A  Oh how I wish I would think long before I speak, especially when you know you are getting upset.  I have said some of the most hurtful things on the verge of being upset.  And you can do all the NICE things to try to make up for it and yet it can be so difficult to overcome one stupid moment of saying something you will regret.  We all know the moral – Think before you speak… Hmmm sounds like the meaning of Proverbs 18.

P  Father simply said help me to watch what I say and how it is said.  This is an ongoing battle and will be as long as I don’t let you control my thoughts and my speech.       

S  but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

O John writes my favorite Gospel and he closes it with this verse.  He was an eye witness to what he wrote.  I wonder when he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that he would be writing to us so many years later and what he wrote would still be true.  Those who believe in Jesus Christ still have life in Him.  Of course you know that it is more than believing – it is trusting in Him to be who He said He was and living our lives for Him.

A  Not much application other than living my life for Him… Wait isn’t that application enough!                                                                       

P  Father thank you for using the Apostle John to testify of Jesus… Thank his gospel has meant so much to me over the years.  Thank you for allowing me to believe in Jesus and having life because of Him.  I praise you!

S   For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

O  Aptly titled this section is called our goal for life.  There is nothing that can take away that promise – my eternity is with the Lord Jesus.  That should give us great hope.  It also reminds us that this earth is not our home.  2 weeks ago I specifically talked about this on a Sunday talk.

A  It is easy to get caught up in the trappings of this earth only to forget that it too will fade away.  My resting place is eternal with my Savior too what more can I ask for.

P  Father what a great promise that I can rest easy about.  Thank you Lord!