Pastor Brown is on vacation. His blog will return next week.

Good morning on this Saturday morning, the 24th of January. I'm writing this blog from my mother-in-law's home in central Florida. There is an old saying, "Success is relative; when you are successful, the relatives will come." For many years Barb and I have visited her mother in January. Each year is more special because of her advanced years (she's 94) and the fact that we've almost lost her on three recent occasions with cardiac arrest. Not only is success relative, but so is people's reaction to the weather. When we arrived in Florida, a cold front followed us and stayed for several days with temperatures below freezing. It is the longest cold spell Florida has experienced in two decades. Floridians have bitterly complained about how cold it is here and I chuckle to myself when I think, 27 degrees above is nothing compared to the 27 degrees below zero we've recently experienced at home. It is all relative, but to see people down here bundled up with these temperatures similar to the way that people dress when it is excessively cold at home is quite a site. Since we can't change the weather, it is a good idea to make the best of it and go on. To her many friends at Edgewood, Barb's mother sends a warm hello. Pastor Craig Stevenson, our Youth Pastor will be speaking tomorrow. You won't want to miss it. Lord willing, I'll be attending my nephew's church. Have a wonderful Lord's day.
Pastor Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, the 17th of January. Beyond dispute we are having an old fashioned, button-up, bone-chilling winter in the mid-west. By some measures the mercury reached -29 (that's 29 degrees BELOW ZERO) yesterday. Chicago reached two milestones so far this winter, the longest string of consecutive days of measurable snowfall (nine days) and the coldest winter in a decade. Obviously the Quad Cities is sharing equally in the pain the winter weather has wrought this year. Other parts of the country have it much worse with Alaska enduring temps of -70 degrees and Spokane six feet of snow on the ground, although that is cold comfort when your teeth are chattering here. Now is the time to apply a Biblical principle found in the Book of Ecclesiastes, the principle of counteraction thinking. It says, In the day of prosperity, be joyful; but in the day of adversity, consider: God also has set the one over against the other (Ecclesiastes 7:14a). This harsh winter weather should make us both anticipate and appreciate the joys of warmer weather. I know that I will rejoice in those sun-kissed days and balmy evenings even more because of the extreme cold we have endured this winter. So when trudging along on these frigid days, consider that when the warm breezes come, we will relish them even more because of their contrast to the extreme cold as we experience the fruits of the counteraction principle.
Tomorrow's sermon is Making The Most Of Your Money - Part 3. Please make sure to pick up the notes which are chocked full of money-saving tips and applications of Biblical financial principles at the Information Desk in the main foyer. I hope to see you in church tomorrow.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this the second Saturday of 2009. Now that the holidays are over and I have written about the joys of being with family and the many blessings associated with the celebrations of Christmas and New Year, it is important to remember that for some the holidays are a time of sadness and depression, especially their aftermath. In fact more people seek the help of professional counselors in the period after the Christmas holidays than any other time of the year. Why is this true, you may ask? There are several reasons. (1) For some there is conflict and unhappiness when people who don't get along are forced to spend extra time together because of the holiday get-togethers. This causes personal and interpersonal stress and strain. (2) For some there is financial pressure because of spending money they don't have, then struggling with the guilt and stress caused by the overspending. The added financial burden can be crippling. (3) For some the holidays are a let down because they have spent much of them alone and while so many around them were rejoicing, they have been alone and lonely. (4) For some who have lost a loved one or gone through a crisis during a previous Christmas, there is suffering from "Anniversary Illness" or a cycling of the blues brought on by the unhappy associations and memories of the previous painful episode during the holidays.
These are a few of the many reasons for post-holiday blues; there are many more. As believers we should be aware that some people are having a difficult time now and practice Biblical exhortation or the encouragement of those who need it (Hebrews 10:25) and when one of us hurts, we are to feel their pain (Romans 12:15). In so doing we will bear one another's burdens (Gal. 6:2). Do you know any such prospects you should pray for and call or visit now? Then let's put feet to our prayers and be doers of the word not merely hearers.
Tomorrow's sermon is the second part on Making The Most Of Your Money. I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Pastor Mel Brown

Good morning on this first Saturday of 2009. It is important to practice the spiritual habits which will produce spiritual growth during the rest of this new year. The following suggestions should prove to be helpful in doing so.
(1) If you read five chapters of the Bible each day you will easily read the Bible through this year. By reading four chapters of the Old Testament and one of the New Testament you will add variety to your Bible reading. Even only reading one chapter of the New Testament every day will enable you to read the New Testament through several times this year.
(2) Use a good study Bible for your reading so you can read the accompanying explanatory notes and chapter headings to add clarity, understanding, and meaning to your time in Scripture. The Life Application Bible is my personal favorite.
(3) Make a personal prayer list and include on it the following:
A. List your personal requests for which you will regularly pray and update it as often as needed.
B. List others for whom you will regularly pray. Family members, friends, the sick, the bereaved, people who need Christ or are away from the Lord, servicemen and women, spiritual leaders, world leaders, and missionaries are some of those who should be on your list. Divide them up and pray for them on a revolving basis as well as all at once as circumstances dictate and time permits.
(4) When God convicts you for wrongdoing, immediately ask forgiveness and ask for strength to overcome the offense in the future. This is called "keeping a short sin list."
(5) Spend time praising God for who and what He is each day. The list of 365 names of God provided at the church's information desk in the main foyer is a good resource as is the entire book of Psalms. Focus on at least one of God's praiseworthy attributes throughout the day and take time to count your blessings and offer God thanks for those blessings on a regular basis.
(6) Think of folks you can invite to church, share your testimony with, and influence for Christ with the gospel. Reach out to others and be soul conscious, looking for opportunities to represent Christ to others.
(7) Strive to live your life this year so as to do something each day which will count for eternity and carry on beyond your life.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Making The Most Of Your Money, and will be one of three sermons which will help you stretch your dollars and live better on what you have by teaching Biblical principles regarding money.
I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown