A NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH!

This month our church was given an opportunity to be a New Testament Church. I can't express how overjoyed I am and how proud I am of our congregation. There are many churches today that fall short of the New Testament example for expressing love and forgiveness but the Matthews Church of God has come through with flying colors. Our congregation was given the opportunity to forgive and restore someone who had fallen into sin. Everyone that was in that particular service said they had never seen anything like it. The tears and expressions of love, tenderness and concern filled the sanctuary. The church was at its best as it sought to restore rather than condemn.

Then once again there was an opportunity to practice what we preach when a couple in the church were faced with a heavy financial burden. The congregation responded with more than double the amount that was asked for.

I believe that God is about to bless the Matthews Church of God in ways it has never dreamed. When the church operates like the New Testament Church operated then it will experience signs and wonders once again.

Today I am a very proud pastor!

NO PLACE LIKE HOME!

Well, we just got back from the Church of God General Assembly in Indianapolis, Indiana. We had a wonderful trip and a great time. It is such a blessing to be able to be a part of the decision making processes of our denomination. It is so enlightening to sit in on the discussions concerning the business of the church and to hear the various viewpoints. I really enjoy being able to see brothers and sisters in Christ from all around the world coming together in one place. It is so nice to go to restaurants, the mall, and to walk down the street and see church people everywhere. It's going to be wonderful when we all get to heaven and have fellowship forever more. I am forever grateful to our wonderful congregation for allowing my wife and I to attend these meetings.

It was relatively cool in Indiana but boy we came home to some heat!!! It feels like an oven outside with the heat index soaring over a hundred. But inspite of the heat its good to be back home and to see our wonderful congregation. I never cease to be amazed at how blessed I am to serve at such a great church. I love the Matthews Church of God dearly! We have laughed together and we have cried together. We have seen miracles and we have experienced difficulties but through it all we are closer together as a congregation than we have ever been before.

I am expecting God to bless our church even greater than He already has. The enemy never lets up and he continues to fight us from within in and from without. The longer I pastor the more I'm learning to love people with the love of God, to be longsuffering and compassionate.

Then again why shouldn't I since God has been all of that to me.