ALL THINGS TO ALL MEN
It was the Apostle Paul who gave us this idea. He knew how to talk with kings and walk with poor people. Today some people have called that kind of versatility hypocrisy. Sometimes God just has to give us a visual object lesson to understand His ways.
I received a wonderful lesson this week while traveling from place to place to conduct meetings. The lesson is California. I have come to the conclusion that if you want to see every state in the U.S, just travel California. It has it all. The deserts of Arizona, the farm land of Illinois, the hills of the Dakotas, the palms and beaches of Florida and Hawaii, the snow capped mountains of Colorado, the rolling hills of Tennessee and more.
Versatility and flexibility are evident in every creative work of God’s hands. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. This is not some liberally minded promotion of a tolerance doctrine that accepts every behavior as acceptable to God. What I am seeing in both God’s nature and Paul’s admonition to become all things to all men, is a sensitivity to see others that are different and still find a way to show the love of Christ in a way they can comprehend.
Now, back to California. The old song, “California Here I Come” ends with the lyric, “Open your Golden Gate, I’m coming home to you”. Perhaps God would have us be so approachable and compatible with those different from us that we could say, “Here, we open our golden arms, you can feel at home here, you can feel love here and you will find God here.” Whether they are king or pauper, Christ will help us be what they need where they are.
Pastor Sam Pawlak
by Pastor Sam on March 4, 2010
Reflection on Weekend for God
What a wonderful Weekend for God we celebrated this year. It was the 5th year that we have taken the first weekend after the New Year to dedicate ourselves to the Lord for the rest of the year. Our guests this year were Darryl and Sherri Beebe from the state of Washington. The combination of their powerful personal story and sound teaching on forgiveness opened our hearts to a level of trust and faith in God that we so need in this present day. Many have shared that they were able to build bridges of forgiveness and received both emotional and in many cases, physical healing. If there was any one truth that we brought from those four services and two breakfast meetings it was that “God often withholds his hand of immediate relief so that he can fulfill a greater purpose that we won’t see at the time.” The statement that hit us the most was “ God had to withhold his hand of rescue while His own Son was suffering on the cross so that he could TIP THE SCALES in our favor and provide eternal salvation for all who would receive Him. I trust we can remember this year when suffering comes our way and it appears God does not jump to our rescue immediately, that He may be withholding our instant relief so he can tip the scales in favor of a purpose greater than ourselves. My dad used to say, “He does not always come in a hurry but He always comes in time.” We all, like the apostle Paul, want to know him in His glory but we also must be willing to enter the fellowship of His suffering especially when He has a purpose beyond us. Be encouraged this year. Rejoice with every victory and when necessary suffer like a good soldier and know beyond any shadow of doubt God will see us through and we still win with Him.
by Pastor Sam on January 20, 2010
Christmas…When the season for others becomes a lifestyle
This is the time of the year when we gather from our family those Christmas lists. I would like to give you my Christmas list for this year but with a little different approach.
Instead of what I would like for myself I want to list a few things I would like for you to have this year.
The true knowledge that no matter what you are going through, God has your situation in His hand even if you can only see the back side of the quilt He is creating for you and your family.
That you would be able to see, from your heart more than your eyes, that you are so loved by so many.
That a shelter over your head, a bed to sleep in and a table to eat from places you in a more wealthy state than half of the world’s population.
That you have been given ears to hear, eyes to see and a heart to receive every message God is sending you through His word and your friends.
That your family be more a comfort than an aggravation in your life.
That your church be more a blessing than an obligation you feel.
That your pastor be more a shepherd than a general.
Above all, that Christ will be there with you for that first morning coffee. I ask that each day of the new year you will find time to meet up with him at lunch, that He will be the unseen guest each evening for dinner and that you feel His warm blanket cover you and His gentle kiss on your forehead as you retire each night knowing He loves you like you were His only child.
My you know and display the greatest truth of this season:
JOY TO THE WORLD THE LORD HAS COME!
by Pastor Sam on December 11, 2009
WHEN I’VE MADE MY LAST MOVE
I lived in the same house for the first 10 years of my life. I have now lived in 43 different dwellings in the last 51 years. Sometimes the ministry is not so different than a career in the military. My wife and I have just moved into our latest place of residency. Moving is never easy on backs, schedule or relationships. I would say here that my wife and I have made this move in the most wonderful love and harmony ever. Maybe the next 43 will be even easier. With that said, if I were a divorce lawyer I would just follow U-Haul trucks around on Saturday. Plenty of potential clientele when couples are moving. If you want a good argument, just move something together.
Now after 11 trips to the Goodwill store, parting with the past and 7 trips to the toxic waste drop-off, because you can’t just throw that stuff in the garbage anymore, the truck has been loaded and emptied and we’re moved.
One day I will make my last move. All the little prizes I’ve gathered will be left (you will never see a hearse pulling a u-haul trailer); the toxins and dangerous elements (that is called sin) will be properly disposed. The moving truck will actually be the enveloping arms of my Redeemer, the moving crew will be the Heavenly Hosts and my house will actually be the place I have been searching for all my life. John 14 says “In my fathers house are many mansions…I have prepared a place for you…I will come back for you and where I am you will be also. Someday—My last move.
by Pastor Sam on November 5, 2009
WHAT IS SO GREAT ABOUT THE GREAT COMMISSION?
These are the words of Christ, some of his last on earth. “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 NIV.
It is a great CLAIM – “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
It is a great ORDER – “Make disciples of all nations:”
It is a great FORMULA – “Baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”
It is a great CURRICULUM – “Teaching them to obey everything I have commanded.”
It is great COMPANY - “I am with you always.”
There is absolutely nothing that is greater to the heart of our Savior than reaching every person on planet earth with the knowledge that He is the one who died for their sins, He is ready to receive them as His own child and guarantee His peace for them in this life and eternal life with Him.
If that is the most important passion to our redeemer then it must become the most important cause of His church. What does that mean? It means that when October comes to SBCC and we conduct our annual Missions Convention it must be the most passionate event for every member of this church and every department. Every one who calls this fellowship of people their church will be fully involved in the missions convention October 24th and 25th. I urge you, in Christ’s love, and because it is His passion, circle these dates. Please don’t let any other family, work, or social event take precedent over this weekend. See all the details in the missions column on the back of this newsletter. It is what Christ asked us to do!
THE GREAT COMMISSION WAS NOT JUST A NICE SUGGESTION!
by Pastor Sam on October 2, 2009
Let it Go!
I recently was sent a sermon by T.V. Pastor T.D. Jakes. The subject was how to handle your emotions when people walk away from you or your vision. The latter part of the message expanded to things we need to release in our life. I just wanted to share a few of the suggestions. Hope it helps.
LET THEM GO!
If you are holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to…LET IT GO!
If you are holding on to past hurts and pains…LET IT GO!
If someone can’t treat you right, love you back, and
see your worth…LET IT GO!
If someone has angered you,
LET IT GO!
If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge…LET IT GO!
If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction…LET IT GO!
If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents…
LET IT GO!
If you have a bad attitude…LET IT GO!
If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better…LET IT GO!
If you’re stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him…LET IT GO!
If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship…LET IT GO!
If you keep trying to help someone who won’t even try to help themself…LET IT GO!
If you’re feeling depressed and stressed …LET IT GO!
If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying “take your hands off of it,” then you need to…LET IT GO!
Let the past be the past. Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2009!!!
by Pastor Sam on June 25, 2009
Summer, work time or play time?
It is the month of June. Summer is finally here. I remember the last day of school. We skipped all the way home singing the old rhyme, “Schools out, schools out, teacher let the monkeys out”. No more homework, no more school bells, no more exams, no more reports, no more school. Well it is different today with year round classes, on tract and off tract sessions and summer school.
Summer always is associated with pleasure times, long days to enjoy fun and some release of monotonous responsibilities. Vacations are planned most often in the summer. Who cannot feel the freedom of Nat King Cole’s old classic hit, “Roll out those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer, those days of soda and pretzels and beer” oops! I’m sure he meant Pepsi. There has never been a more laid-back summer feel than the Broadway smash hit of Porgy and Bess when they sing, “Summer time and the livin is easy, fish are jumpin and the cotton is high”. For me the height of summer love is that beautiful San Bernardino summer evening at the baseball park, “buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks and I don’t care if I ever get back”.
I trust you have a memory-making summer. Enjoy the cookouts and long evenings. Chase some firefly after sundown, enjoy the beach and pool, get a good tan and take time for a great vacation. But being the watchman of your soul I also must warn you to be on guard for some summer dangers.
Proverb 6:8 says, “Go to the ant you sluggard, consider her ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in the summer and gathers its food at harvest.” The idea is people will be too busy enjoying the fun of summer to be concerned about the health of the church and their own spiritual progress in the summer.
My prayer is that in the summer of 2009 we will change all the words: let it now be sung,
Summer time and the livin is holy The spirit’s movin’ and church attendance is high.
Or
Roll out those praising, healing, shouting days of summer
Those days of worship and loving and cheer
Or
Give me some worship and lots of praise.
This is the best way to spend summer days.
Let this summer be made even more wonderful by your faithfulness to God and His faithfulness to you.
by Pastor Sam on June 4, 2009
