Good morning on this 29th day of September. Fall is in the air with the cooler morning temperatures, shorter daylight hours and leaves beginning to change their colors. Often when people move to warm-weather climates they mention that they miss the changing of the seasons, particularly the spring and fall with all their beautiful magnificence. God has some interesting things to say about the seasons. After the flood in Genesis 8:22, He promises that the seasons will continue as long as the earth remains, While the earth remains, Seed time and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease. In Ecclesiastes 3:1-11, Solomon reminds us that there is a season for every purpose and proceeds to list those times and purposes. He concludes in verse 11 by telling us that God will make everything beautiful in its time, He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. But today I would like to focus on the seasons as they relate to Biblical prophecy. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, after discussing our being caught up to meet the Lord in the air at the rapture (the coming of the Lord in the air for His own as compared with His later coming when He comes to earth with His own), Paul mentions that He did not need to teach them again about the prophetic times and seasons, but that in the light of the prophetic seasons, we should be watchful, sober, and full of faith, hope and love because Christ will come as a thief in the night and as children of light we should be ready, But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night (1 Thessalonians 5:1-2). So as the seasons change around us, we should be reminded of these great prophetic truths and live in the light of His coming. Remember, perhaps today will be the day!
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Avoiding An About Face About Faith.
I 'll look forward to seeing you in church tomorrow.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, the 22nd day of September. I updated you on my recent doctor's visits and lab results last week. If you missed it, please see last week's blog. Today I thought I would focus on the Psalmist's practical resolution in Psalm 108. He determinately states, O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Now that is an attitude of heart that we all need to emulate. He has a fixed attitude of heart that he will give praise to God. There are always and will always be things for which to praise God regardless of our circumstances; these are the enduring fruits of our relationship with the Lord which are included in this Psalm: mercy, truth, deliverance, prayer, and help. His mercy endures forever, His truth is everlasting, our deliverance is eternal, He is always a prayer away and He is an ever-present help when we need Him. No wonder the Psalmist said his inner man was so securely determined to praise the Lord. He knew these qualities were always his possessions and that he could have joy because he could always count on them and their benefits. Though there are so many other things for which we may praise the Lord, these should be both the basics and basis of all of our praise. Let's do that regularly in our lives.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, How God's Grace Turns Our Weaknesses into Strength. I hope I'll see you there.
Pastor Brown
P.S. Don't forget Friend Day at Edgewood will be Sunday, October 7th and is only two weeks away.

Good morning on this beautiful sunny Saturday, September 15th. This week I had two doctor's appointments, one with my family doctor and the other with my oncologist. Both examined me and ran some lab work. Both indicated that I'm doing well in my recovery with the various lab tests coming back normal. The recovery from my severe case of shingles continues to ever so gradually move forward with a slight change for the better every month. For the favorable reports, I am very grateful and exclaim a hearty "Praise the Lord!" Your prayers have made a great difference - please keep up the good work. Truly, The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:16)
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Our Weaknesses Can Produce Great Strength. Also, tomorrow evening at 6:00 P.M. We'll have our "Old Fashion" service with the old songs, an old timer's sermon, an amen, hallelujah. praise the Lord offering and refreshments to follow. I hope to see you there.
Pastor Brown

Good morning, it is Saturday September 8th. I returned home on Labor Day from my vacation which took me to Maryland to visit my two brothers for ten days, then to Chicago to visit my daughter, Cheryl for several days. Both trips were thoroughly enjoyable. One year ago I couldn't have even thought of making the trips because I was so weak, but I thank God my strength has gradually increased and my neuropathy is slowly improving as well. Thanks be to God that He heals and gives strength to the weary. The Psalmist recited a long list of God's benefits to us in Psalm 103 and provides this admonition, "Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits" (Psalm 103:1-2). So today I ask you to join me in blessing the Lord and His name with all that is within us in the depths of our souls (mind, emotions and will) and forgetting not His many benefits listed by the psalmist: forgiveness, healing, redemption, loving kindness, tender mercies, satisfaction, good things, renewed strength, righteousness, judgment, making known His ways, mercifulness, graciousness, slowness to anger, plentiousness, not dealing with us after our sins or rewarding us according to our iniquities, removing our transgressions, pity, remembering that we are weak, preparing His throne in the heavens and that His kingdom rules over all. Now that gives us a heartful of praise doesn't it?
Tomorrow's sermon is about the one thing we are to continually do to succeed in the Christian life and is entitled, Going for the Gold: Your Past, Present and Future; also we will be observing communion. I hope to see you there.