Good morning on this Thanksgiving weekend. Yesterday was Black Friday and as usual people hit the stores in-mass to claim the bargains offered by the various merchants. Black Friday is so designated because it marks the point where some stores get out of the red and into the black after paying all of their year's expenses. This year many stores opened on Thursday evening rather than early on Friday morning. This week's Black Friday shopping experience again brought out the worst in some people. One California woman used pepper spray to attack other shoppers so she could get a bargain Xbox and some of the video games while other shoppers tended to their burning eyes. There was mayhem in one store over shoppers' frenzied attempt to get a $2.00 waffle maker. Some shoppers who were shopping during the midnight shift were mugged in parking lots as they returned to their cars in the dark. Women turned to violence as they punched each other over who would get one of the yoga pants during a store promotion. One man collapsed in a store shortly after midnight and callous shoppers walked around him or stepped over him as he lay dying on the store floor. In previous years people have been killed when they fell to the floor as they were pushed by the frenzied crowd and were literally trampled to death as stampeding eager shoppers stepped on them as they rushed to get to their bargain items. Black Friday has now been extended to include the day after, now called Black Saturday. Cyber Monday concludes the extended shopping weekend. All of this brings to mind a number of Scriptural warnings about an excessive appetite for further goods and food which is often linked to selfishness and lack of self-control. James 4:1-2a says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have... You fight and war." Proverbs 15:27a says, "He who is greedy for gain, troubles his own house." Proverbs 28:25 says, "He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered." Jesus added that it is what is within a man's heart that leads to his misdeeds including evil thoughts, covetousness, and foolishness. Galatians 5:23 names self-control as one of the fruits of the Spirit. If all people did their shopping under the influence of the Holy Spirit, these sordid incidents of Black Friday would be no more. Now wouldn't that be a refreshing change which would be pleasing to God and the shoppers who maintain self-control and seek to honor God in all things?
Tomorrow's sermon is another on how to get your prayers answered. I hope you will be there to hear it.
Mel Brown   

Good morning on this Saturday, November, 19th. This Thursday is Thanksgiving, the special holiday set aside to give thanks. Here are a few facts about Thanksgiving followed by some Scriptural admonitions enjoining us to constantly give thanks.
(1) By the fall of 1621, when the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in Plymouth, Massachusetts, only half of those who had sailed across the Atlantic on the Mayflower were still alive. They gave thanks for their lives as well as the harvest.
(2) The original celebration lasted three days.
(3) Their cuisine was wild turkey and venison.
(4) The Wampanoag Indians had taught the Pilgrims to cultivate the land and were invited to join them for the Thanksgiving celebration. About 90 of them joined the Pilgrims for the celebration feast.
(5) The Pilgrims had survived many hardships including disease, a harsh winter, and loss of many loved ones and friends; yet they counted their blessings and gave thanks to God.
(6) The Pilgrims had come to this country seeking religious freedom and were also known as Puritans. Although they had endured many setbacks on their road to liberty, they now were free to worship and serve the Lord as they desired. This religious freedom was an integral part of their thanksgiving.
The Bible commands us to give thanks (Psalm 50:14). Jesus regularly practiced thanksgiving (Matt. 11:25, 26:27, John 11:41). We are to give thanks in both private and public worship (Dan. 6:10, Psalm 35:18). We are admonished to give thanks before we eat (John 6:11), for the successful completion of an undertaking (Neh. 12:31, 40), always (Eph. 1:16, 5:20), and in everything (1 Thess. 5:18). Thanksgiving should be accompanied by prayer (Phil. 4:6, Col. 4:2), praise (Psm. 92:1, Heb. 13:15), and intercession for others (1 Tim. 2:1, 2 Tim. 1:3). I challenge you to search through the Scriptures, especially the Psalms, for the many things for which we are to give thanks. You will be surprised at how long the list is and will undoubtedly realize that God wants our lives to literally be filled constantly with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is not to be merely a one-day celebration, but rather a way of life practiced every day. Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Getting Your Prayers Answered. I'll look forward to seeing you there.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this Saturday, the 12th of November. If you are watching the news headlines, you are well aware of the financial crisis boiling over in Europe. Several European countries are broke, meaning they owe considerably more money than they are able to pay resulting in the threat of national bankruptcy. Greece has been the primary focus until the past week when Italy's financial problems reached full focus on the European financial radar screen. Italy is the third largest European nation economically behind Germany and France. Unlike Greece, which has a more modest budget, Italy's default would have a more massive impact upon all of the other European nations and banks. Added to the financial problems of Greece and Italy is the threat of default by Portugal and Spain which would compound Europe's financial problems and produce dire consequences. Simply speaking these nations have spent more than they have taken in for far too long and are now suffering the consequences of their irresponsible financial practices. If these nations default it would leave numbers of European banks and debt holders holding their bonds which would be worth pennies on the dollar - a financial haircut many investors want to avoid at all cost. The leaders of Germany and France have led efforts to rescue these nations from financial collapse but their efforts are becoming tiresome to their constituencies who are increasingly bulking at rewarding these nations for their irresponsible ways. Many are warning about throwing good money after bad. Some are demanding that these countries be removed from the Euro zone (nations which use the Euro as currency) and that the European Union be completely reorganized and realigned. All this means that Europe as we know it is and will be changing. That could have far-reaching consequences on the fulfillment of Biblical prophecy if it relates to the Antichrist and his future revived Roman Empire supporters. We'll keep you posted as these events unfold in Europe.
Tomorrow will be the final sermon in the My God Is Real series. The sermon will focus on remarkable answers to prayer. I'll look forward to seeing you in the services.
Mel Brown

Good morning on this first Saturday of November. Tomorrow will mark my 43rd anniversary as pastor of the Edgewood Baptist Church. When I think of the changes which have taken place at Edgewood during those 43 years, I am amazed. A complete relocation, four building programs, multiple pastoral staff, more than 70 ministries, and technological advances allowing audio-visual additions to our ministry which have greatly enhanced our presentations beyond the days of flannel graph or an overhead projector are just a few. There is a popular article making the rounds which highlights the many changes which have taken place in our world in our more recent history. Most of the items focus on inventions and developments which have so greatly affected our lives such as radio, television, computers, airplanes, home appliances, electric lighting, etc. Indeed the changes are many and have radically affected the way we live. Imagine how different our lives would be without an automobile, telephone, television, appliances, and electricity. I, for one, would not want to go back to traveling by horseback, reading by kerosene lamps, washing clothes with a washboard and bar soap or preaching without a microphone. Most of these advances have made our lives better, easier and more enjoyable. But with all of these changes in our lives, God reminds us that some things ought never change - our faith and values should remain constant. The 10 Commandments are immutable as are all of the principles given in God's Word by which we are to live. And with all of the changes taking place around us, it is comforting to remember what is said about Jesus Christ, that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews  13:8). When it comes to our faith and church, methods may change, but our message must never change! Edgewood is nearly 106 years old and the church has seen many changes over its lifespan, but its preaching of the gospel message has not changed one iota.
It is as rock solid in its message as it was in 1901 and has so remained in my 43 years as pastor. May it remain so until Jesus comes is my prayer.
Tomorrow's message is another in the My God Is Real series. I hope you will be there.
Mel Brown