Good morning on this Saturday, the last day of July. One of the methods I use when studying the Bible is to ask and answer a series of questions about the passage I'm examining. This method is particularly helpful in making practical applications of the Scripture to my everyday life. I'm providing an example of this process in today's blog. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
(1) What does it mean to SEEK God's kingdom? What is God's kingdom?
(2) What are the specific things I need to do to show I am seeking His kingdom?
(3) What does it mean to SEEK His righteousness? What is His righteousness?
(4) What are the specific things I need to do to show I am seeking His righteousness?
(5) How can I put God first in my life? In my attitudes? In my actions?
(6) If I give God first place in my life, how will that manifest itself in my home? In my work? In my time? In my finances? In my values? In my leisure? In all of my priorities?
(7) If I seek His kingdom and righteousness first in my life what will be the benefits? What are "all these things" that will be given to me according to Matthew 6?
(8) What is the main thing I will do to seek His kingdom and righteousness first in my life TODAY?
When you thoughtfully seek and find the answers to these questions about this verse, you will be better equipped to understand and put into practice the teaching of this verse. Give it a try and see for yourself.
Tomorrow's message is entitled, The Means Of Worship. I hope I'll have the pleasure of seeing you there.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, July 24th. Here is a potpourri of events from recent news articles which could have prophetic significance.
(1) The United States successfully used laser technology to shoot down two mechanical drones. The testing of lasers as weaponry has been proceeding in recent days as we continue the pursuit of "star wars" capabilities.
(2) North Korea is making threats to use NUKES in an effort to counter U.S. and South Korean responses to its recent attack on a ship in its region.
(3) China is more actively pursuing its threat to stop recognizing the U.S. dollar as the preferred currency for international commerce and benchmark for other nation's currencies.
(4) More and more nations are continuing their pursuit of nuclear technology in an effort to become a dominant force when it comes to armaments. Many of these nations have unstable or rogue governments which could serve as the cause of a "tinderbox" situation.
(5) The recent revelation of the serious debt and financial malaise in so many European countries is playing out into an increased division of the "haves" and "have nots" in Europe. The "have nots" are increasingly looking to the "haves" for assistance, setting up an important dynamic of dependence and possible domination.
(6) The Palestinian/Arab and Israeli conflicts in the Middle East continue to fester without abatement.
We'll keep monitoring these events for possible major future implications.
Tomorrow's sermon is another in the series on worship and is entitled, Coming To Genuine Worship. I hope you won't want to miss it.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, July 17th. There's an old adage, "Denial is not just a river in Egypt (de Nile). That saying is often used when someone is refusing to own up to a mistake, irresponsibility, bad decision or sinful act. It frequently is part of the excuse/accuse process where someone excuses their behavior and passes the blame on to someone else. It first appears in the early chapters of Genesis after Adam and Eve had sinned and the Lord approached them in the Garden of Eden. Adam denied his disobedience and blamed it on Eve, and Eve in turn denied her disobedience and blamed the serpent. You see it reenacted constantly in the interactions of people. Recently during congressional hearings with the heads of the various companies involved in the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, each denied his company's responsibility and pointed the finger of blame at the other guy. The book of Proverbs says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13). When it comes to our relationship with God, acknowledgement (confession) is the first step towards forgiveness and is essential in the path leading to correction and future prevention. No one can become an overcomer of any serious addiction, habit, problem, or sin without first facing up to and acknowledging that they have a serious problem - that is an all important first step. Then when we realize our weakness and turn to God for help, we will surely find Him waiting, willing, and able. That is the tried and true formula!
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, The Heart IN Worship. I hope you can be there.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, July 10th. Earlier this week was Independence Day. I was enjoying a time with my family at the Wisconsin Dells during the day, and as I traveled to my daughter's home in the Chicago area that evening, I was greeted with a constant assortment of fireworks while driving through the various municipalities. It was like having one continuous display of polytechnics all the way there. What a site as the skies exploded in a magnificent sea of colors and range of sounds all around me. As I look back over the various 4th of July activities I enjoyed throughout the day, I was reminded that behind all of the hoopla was an most important purpose - the commemoration and celebration of our independence as a nation and as individuals. In spite of America's problems and flaws, it is such a privilege to live in the "land of the free and the home of the brave." This holiday is about remembering that and being grateful for that entitlement. Our country was founded upon the principle of religious freedom and our forefathers sought to create a land where they could worship God as they chose without interference from the government. Long may we cherish and defend that right for ourselves and others, and may we never forget God's promise" Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord." May we fully exercise our freedoms to worship God individually and together and do all we can to exercise the freedom of telling others about our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ and His saving grace.
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, The Heart of Worship. I'll look forward to your exercising your right to freely worship by being in church tomorrow.
Mel Brown

Pastor Brown's blog will resume next Saturday.