John 14: 16  (KJV)

16 "And I will  pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter,  that he  may  abide  with  you forever."

Sunday I  turn  68.   I  would never have  dreamed the changes that have taken place in our country would have occurred in our lifetime.

The words "fundamentally change America"  send chills down my spine.   There are evil forces backing those changes and the changes are frightening!

Every day I look to the Comforter to maintain sanity and peace in the middle of the storms that are crashing against our society and the country we love so much.

It's only just begun, my friends!      Satan has much more up his evil sleeves for God's children.

The political leaders may have plans to destroy our way of life, but God has a different plan.

Let's relax in the loving arms of His Holy Spirit and take comfort in the fact that  Greater is HE that is in me than he that is in DC!

The secular world may think they're in charge; but there's a day of reckoning coming!

Jesus is preparing to take His children home .   Be of good cheer friends;  worship our Lord today and rest in the arms of the Holy Spirit.   He is our Comforter,  and He is in our midst.

There's a Healer, Savior, Comforter and Friend in the House today!

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

Well, we have celebrated our nation and our freedoms one more time as the 4th of July has come and gone. The spectrum of expressions has run the gamut from traditional cookouts and family fireworks to massive gatherings of thousands spending millions, lighting up the sky with incredible displays. The red white and blue of our country's flag have once again thrilled our hearts and challenged us to excellence in our commitments to the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

But our hearts have also experienced a terrible chill as we have seen some abuse their freedoms, paid for with the blood of the Patriots. A few shrill voices were raised in hateful criticism of the very system that gives them the right to protest. Shameful and degrading things were publicly done to the flag most of us revere. 

A battle looms on the horizon for the survival of our way of life. 

In many other countries, when opposing forces meet to decide supremacy, blood runs in the streets and no one really wins. But in this Republic, for which our flag stands, the battlefield is the polling place. 

With important elections already filling our inboxes and airwaves, it is incumbent on us as Christians and as Americans to register as voters, to assist others to register, to study the candidates and issues, and to VOTE. We have no right to complain about the direction our ship of state is heading if we have done nothing to affect its course. 

Finally;  We really need to pray for our great nation. It was birthed on its knees in agonizing prayer. It has come through many crises on its knees. And if we are to remain the strong force for good that God intends, we must remain on our knees in prayer to Him who raised us up!

In faith, believing...

Richard Orrell, Pastor

Psalm 121 NLT

¹ " I look up to the mountains, does my help come from there?

² My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

³ He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 

⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!  The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

⁶ The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon at night.

⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm  and watches over your life.

⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever. "

This admonition from the Psalms is our word of encouragement for the week.

Pastor and Linda are enjoying the great Rocky Mountains this week, but also relaxing in the Lord.  

Our prayers are that they have a wonderful time together enjoying His creation.  Pray that He will  invigorate them, and bring them home rested again soon.

Let's ALL claim this Psalm as OURS this week.    He is our peace, our comfort, our provider and Savior.  He is coming again.

Even so come Lord Jesus!

But until then thanks for covering us with your peace and protection.

Love ya,  Pastor Phil      

God will heal our land

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NLT)

^14 :Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."

The recent willful actions of our judicial and executive branches of government must  certainly crush the heart of God, as they do each of us as Christians.  However, as we celebrate this weekend the birthday of our great country let us remember God's promise quoted in the text above.

He will forgive our land, IF we turn back to Him.    If we continue to go further from God, there is a price to be paid.

Praise God, He has a remnant, that will do and stand for what is Godly.  If our country repents, it can be great again as it has been for such a long time.    

Today, July 4th,  America is 239 years old.   Happy Birthday America!  God's word says if we train our children in what is right, when they're older they will not depart from that teaching.  Certainly 239 years of age is old enough for moral clarity and Godliness to return to this nation. if we pray!

As a veteran I'm proud to have served to  protect a great America.   As a Pastor my heart is broken over what some have chosen to do to "fundamentally change" the direction for our nation. God, bring America to repentance and help your children to stand for what is right!

With our votes we have the ability to reverse the course which some have set for our nation.   We can make a difference, if we pray and repent on behalf of our nation's sins.   I'm not giving up hope.  God is bigger than  His enemies.   God Bless America again, as we humble ourselves and repent.

Love ya,  Pastor Phil