From The Pastor's Desk
The Book
I saw a man on the internet advertising a book for a $100.00. I have a book worth much more than that. It has transformed my life.
I have hundreds of books in my library but none of the self-help books have ever helped me overcome temptations, pray better, read better, preach better, overcome grief or draw closer to God.
Commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias and history books have helped me no doubt. Sermons have helped me but no book ever has. I read books on prayer and devotions. They are nice and sometimes encouraging, but to say a book has helped me become a better Christian would be a stretch.
Sometimes a scripture in a book has blessed, but it was the scripture and not man's wisdom.
I am sure someone reading this would say books have helped them.
I have drawn encouragement from good Christian people around me, no doubt. Don't get me wrong; I am forever in their debt for their compassion, prayers and faithfulness. I have learned so many things from other pastors in the ministry. Their prayers have helped sustain me.
However, when the chips are down, I draw my deepest inner strength, what little I have, from the Gospels, Proverbs, the Psalms, Acts, the Epistles and such.
Now people are flooding the market every day with new books. Testimonies are great and I am glad for them, and as inspirational as they might be, the Bible has been my encouragement these many years. Worth a $100? No; much, much more. You've got to be kidding. There is no price.
I am Johnie J. Logue, Pastor and fellow sojourner in this world of woe. Call me at (660) 281-4774.
Unity Of The Lakes
This Sunday 12/3/23 is the first Sunday of Advent and Unity of the Lakes is blessed to have Rev. Sandra Duncan as our guest speaker. Her service is Hope/Faith. Pleas join us as this wonderful speaker helps us enter the Advent season and assists us in experiencing greater hope and faith in anticipation of our saviors birth. Service is 11 am, dress is casual and all are welcome. Join us for fellowship and refreshments after service. We are growing in every way and would love to have you grow with us. If you haven't been to church for a while this may be the time to start. We are located 8 miles south of Warsaw on highway 65. Our physical address is 34948 Hwy 65 south. We look forward to seeing you.
Hopewell Baptist Church
In Matthew 13:1-23 Jesus shares the Parable of the Sower. A Parable is an earthly story with a Heavenly meaning. Imagine a farmer sowing seeds and the seeds go all over the place. Some on the path become bird seed; some on the rocky soil where nothing grows; others come up and the sun scorches them; some grow in the thorns and get choked out; and some fall on good ground, fertilized just enough to grow successfully.
Jesus is talking to the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Teachers of the Law, and tells them, some people are going to hear, and will understand, some will hear, and not believe in anything. Some will hear who Jesus is and see what His grace looks like, and still will not believe. Some people will see, hear, and experience, and for a moment will believe, but they don’t have faith, it never takes root. They never make faith a part of who they are. We must take our faith to heart.
Jesus goes on to say there are some people of good soil, like the disciples who left their jobs and everything to follow Him. The question wasn’t whether the seed changed, but the hearts of man. The real question is, will people take it to heart. God’s imprint, beauty and grace are on every inch of everything we see. He tells us to go out and spread the seed. Some will return void and it changes nothing, we are to keep spreading. Jesus was so mad at the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Teachers of the Law because He had spent so much time with them, and He wanted them to get charged up and become good soil. He didn’t give up on them. There are people we have a hard time with, who make it difficult, and Jesus wants them too.
Let’s keep spreading seeds. Some will understand, some will not. Let’s spend a little more time praying for the ones who drive us crazy. There is no time like now. His grace will never change, and it will never not be enough! Let’s give our hearts and lives to Jesus! He is ready and listening!
Join us Sunday mornings for Sunday School at 10 a.m. with Worship at 11 a.m., and Sunday and Wednesday Bible Study at 6 p.m. Watch us live at 11 a.m. on Hopewell Baptist Church Facebook page.
