Keys to the Kingdom

When our children were young, I’d have fun playing hide-and-seek with them in the house. Every time Mariam or Aaron was “it,” they could never find me. I always hid in the bathtub behind the shower curtain; they never thought to look for me there. The kids were in the same room, just a few inches from me, but they never found me because their “seeking” was superficial. They eventually got old enough that we stopped playing this game, and that’s when I told them my secret hiding place.

Do you ever get the feeling God is hiding from you? If you do, it’s probably because you’re focusing on the cares and frustrations of life instead of looking for God in your daily routine. I assure you that God’s not hiding. The Bible tells us that, “I will find the Lord when I seek Him with all my heart and with all my soul” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV).

Feelings are fickle — you can’t trust them. You or someone you know may have said, “Nobody loves or cares about me. I just feel rejected and worthless.” That’s an example of feelings. You may feel that way, but it’s a lie from the devil. Reject the feeling and accept the truth. God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. Is that a new concept to you? It might be new to you, but it’s as old as Jesus’ prayer for believers in the Garden of Gethsemane: “…I am in them and You are in Me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me and that You love them as much as You love Me” (John 17:23 NLT).

God isn’t hiding, He’s right out in the open all the time. Believers who seek Him will find Him. Evidently, this is a daily process and not just something we do once. Jesus said He would not abandon us as orphans, He (Holy Spirit) will come to us. We need to make sure we’re not acting like unbelievers who aren’t even looking for Him and don’t recognize Him when they do see Him.

There’s great reward for seeking God. “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and He will give you everything you need” (Luke 12:29-31 NLT).

Stuart Hamblen composed a song in 1959 and the lyrics of the refrain are: “How big is God, how big and wide His vast domain; To try and tell, these lips can only start. He‘s big enough to rule His mighty universe; Yet small enough to live within my heart.” On a dark night, we can look up and see the stars and find God. Why? Because the scripture tells us that God has given all the countless stars names (Isaiah 40:26). You can find God every time you comb your hair. Why? Because God has numbered the hairs on your head (Luke 12:7).

The Key: Seek [look for, search, pursue, find] God everyday as if your life depended on it…because it does.

As scientists are scampering to find a vaccine for Covid-19, I can only imagine the gratification of discovering its cure. Or cancer’s. Or A.L.S’s. Or any of the other, horrific disease that plagues us. And yes, I do spend far too much time imagining unattainable accomplishments…

Like bringing the Democrats and Republicans together as a team, where name-calling and lies cease to exist.

Like ending world hunger or domestic abuse or genocide or corruption.

Like solving a Cold Case file and bringing a criminal to justice or using DNA to release an imprisoned inmate.

Or, more selfishly, like being a winning jockey in the Kentucky Derby or the #1 driver in the Indianapolis 500 or capturing the gold after tumbling across the mat in the Olympics.

My imaginations will never become a reality, of course, because I’m not smart enough, not courageous enough, not young enough and not talented enough. But that’s okay, because I have been blessed with another gift: I love to celebrate the success of those who have been given gifts by God to do what I can only imagine, knowing that others can complement my weaknesses without threatening who I am.

My gift is edification. I get excited for others’ successes and don’t feel slighted when others have what I don’t. I enjoy telling a pastor that he has delivered a thought-provoking sermon, or a waitress that she has done an exceptional job tending to my table, or a trash collector that he’s dependable and pleasant and his boss is lucky to have him. I love praising talents or kindness that others exhibit, knowing that everyone has something that can be praised. EVERYONE!

Long ago, I realized that envying what someone else has or what they do diminishes what God wants to do in me. Regrettably, I have a couple of friends whose vocabularies lack compliments. I remember showing both of them a spectacular home, only to have one comment, “Boy! You’d be nuts to want to clean that thing,” while the other said nothing.

I don’t understand it. My uncomplimentary friends love to receive compliments, so why do they find it so hard to celebrate others’ blessings? Psychologists would call them insecure, but they who need validation themselves fail to realize that true satisfaction comes from building up others.

In 1 John, the apostle, writing to newbie Christians, shares his excitement about walking with Jesus. He is eager to pass on to his readers the difference Christ will make in their lives, but I love what he wrote in Verse 4: Our motive for writing is simply this: We want you to enjoy this too. Your joy will double our joy. (MSG) In other words, seeing you as the beneficiary of something special makes us double-happy.

And that’s good news. Encouraging or praising or edifying someone is itself a blessing. I may not be able to cure a disease or end corruption or win a horse race, but I sure can make someone double-happy with a simple, sincere compliment. This morning I prayed for such an opportunity.

Stay tuned next week when I share how God answered my prayer.

Keys to the Kingdom

By Carolyn Tucker

Recently, I was at Sutherlands standing in the checkout line, along with other people, when the clerk got on the intercom and announced, “I’ve got a customer who wants to buy a Bad Boy.“ The lady behind me asked, “You can buy those?” Even though she was wearing a mask, I could detect a twinkle in her eyes and a big grin. Her response made us laugh; in times like these it’s good to join our hearts in laughter!

Later, I started thinking about what money could buy. No doubt about it, money buys a lot of things. We need a home, a vehicle, food, clothing, etc. But there are many crucial things we need that money absolutely cannot buy. We can’t buy love, peace of mind, health, grace, contentment, joy, fulfillment, hope, or salvation in Christ Jesus. These vital sources of life can’t be bought, but thank God they are free!

In John 10:10 NKJV, Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” An abundant life only comes through our Redeemer and Savior. You can’t buy it, but it’s free, and there’s no limit! It can be disappointing to go to a store that’s running a sale and discover they’re sold out; but that never happens with God. “Whosoever will” may come and find all of life’s resources readily available for the asking and receiving.

In John 14:6 NLT, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.” Jesus is the key for what you need. His way, His truth, and the life you need to experience is found only in Him.

I have a piano sitting in my living room where I have taught students to play for over 25 years. There are 52 white keys and 36 black keys. If the pianist doesn’t play the correct keys together, the musical piece will be “out of tune” or have “sour notes.“ That’s exactly the way our lives are when we try to live it without Jesus. He is the key to abundant living. Life can be harsh in tough times, but life with Jesus is not hopeless.

In 1834, Edward Mote penned the lyrics to a hymn we still sing (because it’s still true): “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness… On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” As long as you’ve got King Jesus, you’ve got a song in the key of hope. If you don’t have Jesus, read the New Testament book of John and you’ll find Him. He is the key to unlocking the door to receiving all the vital sources of life that your heart is longing for.

In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul wrote: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13 NLT).

The Key: You can’t buy the truly vital things in life. However, they’re free to you when you receive Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

When cellphones first came out, I vowed never to own such a contraption. For one, they were the size of a toaster and had antennas that could double as plungers, and two, I couldn’t imagine spending my time away from a phone on a phone. Besides, that’s what gas stations were for.

Times changed, I gave in, and now my cellphone is a constant companion. Even watering the yard, I am not absent this multi-tasking device. Yesterday, however, when Dave and I were headed to Kansas City and I realized that I had left it at home, there was a sense of relief, probably because I knew I could live without it.

Or could I?

Well, let’s just say it was hard. The list of calls I planned to make while my husband drove, the graduation and birthday gifts I would order on line, and the texts that needed answering all would have to wait.

Dave and I decided to eat sushi from our favorite restaurant in Overland Park. Recently sold, its name and menu had changed. I would call ahead to see what kind of service it offered, in light of the Covid-19 regulations. No problem, except the new name and our choice of favorite rolls were in the notes of my phone. Plan B, a hamburger place, would have to do.

Costco was next, but that was a problem. My extensive grocery list was in my notes, as were the lists of two of my girlfriends who needed us to pick up a few items. Pictures on my cell phone showed a shrimp dish our neighbor recommended, and surely, I just knew, my friends were texting, adding other items as the afternoon progressed. (They were.)

Dave dropped me off at Costco’s front door and left to put gas in our car. The plan was for him to return, have his glasses checked in the optical department and meet me when he was finished. Since I had to cover each aisle three times, knowing I had forgotten something, surely I would run into him somewhere. I didn’t. Was he outside, waiting in the car? Or were we just missing each other, he in the generator aisle and me searching for ripe avocados? Perhaps I should hang in the tool section. No, bad idea. He would be looking for me in produce. And we all know what happens the more we look. Items that were not on my list now became irresistible. This was turning into an expensive expedition.

And to think, a simple cellphone would have resolved all of this.

Ultimately, I caught up with Dave in the optical department, after, he said, he had searched high and low for me on every aisle. From then on, I clung to him like Saran Wrap.

Let’s face it. Cell phones can be life-lines. After all, they double as flashlights, tape measures, music collections, step-counters, shopping centers, communication systems, photo albums, game-players, Amber alerts, weather-watchers, research guides, and calorie-counters (to name a few). All of those come in mighty handy when the need arises, so yes, I was frustrated without my gadget.

The next morning, as I was reading my Bible, I began to wonder if I would be equally as devastated if I lost the ability to connect with Jesus. Could I go a day without his spiritual truths that comfort me and bring me peace? Would I be vulnerable without my God-connection that reminds me of what I need and warns me of dangers ahead? Is it really the “food” I require to survive and the navigation I need to keep my priorities straight? When I had managed to go days without opening my Bible, did I fret over that as much as I did my few hours without my cell phone?

Let’s just say, I’m not proud of that answer.

“Optimists see opportunity in every danger; pessimists see danger in every opportunity.”

Winston Churchill

If there were a category somewhere between “optimistic” and “delusional,” my husband would land there. Need proof?

“All I have to do is tighten the screw and the door will shut.” It did not.

“This ladder is steady.” It was not.

“I’ve found a new glue that will hold the water pipe together.” It did not.

“Duct tape and zip ties will look fine on our outdoor lights.” They did not.

“That kayak cannot tip.” It can, and it did.

“Flex-Seal will stop this hose from leaking.” It did not.

“Our boat is running well.” Except for needing a new battery, it probably was.

I tend to favor the pithy attitude of people like Walt Disney who once said, “I always like to look on the optimistic side of life, but I am realistic enough to know that life is a complex matter.” That last part has been hard for Dave to nail down (pun intended).

Personally, I lean more towards a healthy dose of realism—you know, hope for the best but plan for something short of “best” (no doubt because that’s how my life has played out). John Wooden put it this way: “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” I have to admit, Dave does that. He never gets upset; he just plods along with his next, grand, Gorilla Glue and duct-tape idea.

Now, if you’re like me, you would much rather hang with an optimist than a pessimist. I know no one who wants to spend time with a curmudgeon who sees only what’s wrong, and even if they are right, their stubborn disposition does nothing to draw others into agreement with them. When I think of pessimists, I am reminded of the man who belly-ached to his neighbor, “My hen hatched out 12 chicks, and all of them died but 11.” Have you met someone like that? Worse, are you that person?

Real-deal Christians are not pessimists. They live by Romans 8:28: And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. No matter if screws are stripped or ladders are uneven or batteries are dead. No matter what.

Optimistic people find ways to brighten other’s lives. Take, for example, major league baseball, which recently began its shortened season. Because no fans are allowed in the stands, the Los Angeles Dodgers came up with the idea of having cardboard cut-outs to replace the loyal, season-ticket holders who typically fill the seats. Then they allowed supporters to submit their pictures, pay a fee, and have their faces used. Remaining chairs hold large, stuffed animals and even celebrity cutouts. The life-size cutout of Tom Hanks—whose first job was to sell hotdogs at the Oakland A’s field—stands erect on the stairs dividing two sections behind home plate.

Before the game, the cameraman caught one of the Angels’ players walking amongst the Oakland “fans,” placing Angels’ t-shirts over the cutouts. How fun is that? They are finding good in something bad (Covid-19). We all should be doing likewise.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, Dave just headed to the garage with some wire and electrical tape. Something tells me there’s a story in what is about to unfold, and being the optimist I am, no doubt it will be a good one.

“Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:16

There is a book out called, “The Procrastination Cure: 21 Proven Tactics for Conquering Your Inner Procrastinator.” I have had it in my Amazon shopping cart for six months… I will probably order it tomorrow.

“Procrastination.” Just seeing the word makes me want to put off saying anything else.

All through my life, I start to procrastinate, then I decide to put it off.

My wife, Amanda, thinks I am a terrible procrastinator. But I will prove her wrong someday. Just wait and see. Besides, I am going to get things done. Amanda doesn’t need to keep reminding me every six months.

Truthfully, I am under conviction. Procrastination is a form of disobedience. When God tells us to do something and we don’t do it, we can make jokes, but the truth is, it’s sin.

Each day gives you 1,440 minutes. Days are passing and time can’t be stopped. You can’t call a “time out” in life.

When I was a kid, there was a popular song by Jim Croce titled “Time in a Bottle.” The song began, “If I could save time in a bottle…” But honestly, time can’t be stored like money in the bank. The only thing you can do with time is use it or lose it.

Sadly, the time has come for me and my family to leave Fort Scott. We can’t put it off any longer. This will be my final column.

We are grateful to the community for making us feel so welcomed. We are very grateful to the congregation at First Southern Baptist for their years of love and support. Fort Scott will always have a special place in our hearts.

I only hope that our time here has made a lasting impact. I am painfully aware that more could have been done to grow God’s kingdom in this community, but it is now too late for me. However, it is not too late for you.

The point is: Make the most of the time God gives you. The oldest of all the Psalms, written by Moses, says, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Someone once wrote, “Lost: One golden hour, studded with sixty diamond minutes. No reward offered, for it is lost forever.”

The Bible also cautions us in Ephesians 5:16, “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

These are truly evil times.

Make every minute count.

Tell someone about Jesus today.

Tomorrow may be too late.

You can follow James Collins on Twitter @collins_point, Facebook James Collins “The Point Is,” or through the website thepointis.net.

When I was in elementary school and the nun asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up, most of the boys said a policeman; we girls were divided between nurses and nuns. (To my knowledge, only one of us followed through on our professional declarations.)

At this writing, following the police bashing on the Brooklyn Bridge, I am listening to the televised broadcast of New York’s mayor Bill DeBlasio who just said, “… anyone, anywhere—whether in protest or anything else who assaults a police officer–is unacceptable and they will suffer the consequences.” (Yes, the grammar is flawed, but you get the point.)

I question where Mr. DeBlasio was a few months ago when a group of trouble-makers threw buckets of water on policemen/ women on patrol in one of the tougher parts of town. I wonder what God thought while watching the celebration of the offenders who cheered, videoed, laughed and danced while trying to humiliate the officers who did nothing—absolutely nothing—in response. That evening, one of the news reporters predicted that if the New York mayor or governor failed to send a message that this behavior would not be tolerated, the disrespect for police officers would grow exponentially. A prophetic statement, for sure!

So, what has happened since then? Now, if you disrupt a peaceful, religious protest led by Hispanic and black leaders by taking a steel pipe to officers’ heads, you will be out of jail—with no bail– with plenty of time to buy your celebratory water-soakers (or guns) before the stores close. So, what message does this no-penalty-release send to our nations’ finest? In my opinion, the same one as decreasing the officers’ budget by a billion dollars. (“You don’t matter.”)

Re-read Mr. DeBlasio’s quote. Where are these “consequences” to which he refers? The only ones suffering any consequences right now are the officers. We, the majority of Americans who still respect our first-responders–those whose lives are risked every day so we can live a few more, those who repeatedly knock on doors of the same abused caller who, yet again, refuses to press charges, those who give up holidays and weekends and nights when duty calls, those who come home smiling when they have correctly completed the paperwork to expedite a pedophile and cry into their pillows when a toddler is shot—are scratching our heads and wondering from where Mr. DeBlasio’s vitriol for his city’s protectors comes.

Do I sound dramatic? I think not.

We are a country of law and order…well, some places are. Many of us still believe that our Declaration of Independence means what it says: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Surely “all men” includes police officers, right? Crushing my skull with a pipe does nothing to assure me of life or happiness, not to mention, my liberties which will be tossed aside if I choose to retaliate.

Are police officers always cordial, fair, friendly, compassionate and unbiased? No. And neither am I. And neither are you. That’s because we all are sinners who fall short of the glory of God. But God values justice. Deut. 32:4 teaches that all God’s ways are just, and Proverbs 24:24-25 tells us this: Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent,” will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.  But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come on them.

I pray that someone will encourage Mr. DiBlasio (and others of the same mindset) to take a good, hard look at how God views justice because if things continue the way they are now, no child will be including police officers as one of his/her top professional choices.

There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand.” Proverbs 19:21

Several years ago, a severe rainstorm turned a peaceful town into a flooded disaster area. The local newspaper editor set out in a rowboat to cover the story in detail. As she paddled down a stream that had been one of the town’s residential streets, she noticed a woman sitting on the roof of a house.

The newspaper editor paddled to the edge of the roof, tied up her boat, climbed out, and sat down next to the woman. She thought that a woman sitting alone on her roof would make a great story. So, she took out a pen and paper. Before she could ask the woman a question, she saw a hat floating downstream with the current. When the hat reached the far side of the house, it made a complete u-turn and floated upstream to the other end of the house. Then the hat made another u-turn and floated downstream again until it reached the far side of the house where it turned again and floated upstream to the other end of the house. The hat did this time after time.

The reporter was bewildered. She turned to the woman and asked, “Do you have any idea what that hat is doing out there in front of your house?” She said, “Yes. That hat is on my husband’s head. He said that ‘come hell or high water’ he was going to mow the lawn today.”

The point is: Sometimes we stubbornly cling to our plans instead of letting go and letting God have control. We often ignore things that are important and continue to focus on the trivial. The flood rises to the rooftop, but we go on mowing the lawn.

You probably started 2020 with big plans. You had dreams of a year that had nothing to do with a global pandemic. Then March came and you had to change your plans.

Personally, I am very discouraged as we pass the year’s halfway mark. It seems nothing has gone right. Government bureaucrats, who can’t even fix the streets and sidewalks, have suddenly become health experts. They tell us it is healthy to gather in mass to protest, but it is unhealthy to gather in mass for church. They tell us that it is a woman’s right to choose to have an abortion, but I have no choice but to wear a mask. They let prisoners out of jail for fear of them catching COVID-19, but threaten to put Christians in jail if they sing in church. What is right is wrong and what is wrong is right. Nothing makes sense. It seems as if the world is spinning out of control.

But God is in control. The Bible says that there are many devices (or plans) in a man’s heart, but God’s purposes prevail (Proverbs 19:21). What are God’s purposes in this global havoc? Perhaps God wants us to forget about ourselves and focus on things that truly matter.

How long has it been since you… Took the time to go see someone who lives alone? Wrote an email to someone who crossed your mind? Spent more time in God’s book than on Facebook? Shared your faith? Offered forgiveness? Told someone that you loved them?

I suppose that I could stubbornly continue to be discouraged about the world situation. But instead, I think, I am going to let go and let God. Even in all this madness, I am going to look for ways to serve Him.

Come hell or high water.

James Collins is senior pastor of Fort Scott’s First Southern Baptist Church. Follow him on Twitter @collins_point, Facebook James Collins “The Point Is,” or at the website thepointis.net.

Mmmm-mmmm. Looks pretty tasty, don’t you think? Three ice cream balls coated with chopped nuts and topped with whipped cream and, of course, a juicy, red cherry. Now, I’m not a dessert eater, but when Dave and I saw this picture on a menu at a Florida restaurant, I figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. I asked the waitress if it was as good as it looked.

“We don’t have any,” she replied.

“Oh, you ran out?” I asked.

“No. We never had it. We just copied the picture off of the internet.”

It took me a few seconds to digest (excuse the pun) what she had said.

“You mean you just thought this looked appetizing and added it to your menu?”

“Yep. We get a lot of requests for it.”
I burst out laughing. “So, you just pretend? Oh my gosh, that’s hysterical!”

With that, our waitress turned on her heels, not finding it as funny as Dave and I did.

Can you imagine being so gutsy? Surely our waitress wasn’t supposed to tell us the truth. Surely she was to simply explain that they had run out of that particular dessert that particular day. Whatever the motive, I wondered what would happen if the restaurant got caught…you know, by the actual creator of those treats. What possible good could come from such pretense?

Then again, they aren’t the only ones who pretend. We all are guilty. It might not be as blatant as this menu, but I see it all the time, especially in Christian circles. We act peaceful. Non-judgmental. Loving. Giving. Maybe even Holy.

Oh, if such pretense could be our reality!

I love how Socrates put it: “The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” What would it be like not to pretend just a little… like when I encounter telemarketers or slow drivers or people who don’t keep a six-foot distance and manage to bite my lip instead of biting off their heads?

Today I made a call to “Janet,” a Covid survivor and one I wanted to question about some political issues. I began by asking how she was feeling. She shared that she was surprised to hear from me (probably since we last talked 18 months ago and weren’t close friends), that she was doing great and had just made a four-state trip with her husband. Since Janet had not been anywhere due to the virus AND this woman’s voice sounded nothing like my friend, I realized that I had dialed the wrong Janet.

As it turned out, in our hour-long conversation, this Janet soon was sharing her spiritual struggles, and I was the ear she needed. When it was time to hang up, she said, “I cannot believe how God used you to call me out of the clear blue. How I needed to talk to you!” This was my chance to tell her the truth and not pretend, and that’s what I did…well, sort of.

“Neither can I, Janet. Neither can I.”

“And upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18b

“Why didn’t you wear a tie to church today, you pinheaded nitwit?” Lois asked me with a frown on her face. Lois Steam (not her real name) is a woman in our church who complains about everything. Two weeks ago, Lois stomped up to me after church and I could tell she was upset. She continued, “I absolutely hated that song we sang today. What’s with all the handclapping? This is a church, not a disco.” This is a worship service, not a funeral, I thought.

As Lois continued her verbal assault, I never said a word. But I thought things that weren’t very pastor-like. Pray for me.

“Why don’t we go back to singing more from the red hymnals? If Jesus sang from the red hymnal, why can’t we?”

I think you’re wrong. Everybody knows that Jesus sang from the blue hymnal.

“Why didn’t you come check on me after my surgery last week?”

I’m not sure if having an ingrown toenail removed is a surgery worthy of a pastoral visit.

“You need to change your voice. I can’t stand your accent.”

Yes ma’am. I will try to have that done by next Sunday.

“This church isn’t meeting my needs. I might just move my membership.”

Don’t let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you.

At some point, you have probably felt like Lois. You feel unhappy at your church and think that you should leave. As a public service, I have put together a list of reasons to leave your church.

1. Your gifts and talents are not celebrated. If you are asked to help in the nursery when you clearly belong on stage, then you need to leave.
2. Your pet issues are not being addressed from the pulpit. If your pastor isn’t constantly addressing an issue that you saw on Facebook and got all worked up over, then you need to leave.
3. You are annoyed with the people. Overly friendly greeters. Young hipsters. Crotchety seniors. Confused Millennials. Noisy children. Lost sinners. People who want…help. Surely God wouldn’t want you to stick it out with people like that. If you have those kinds of people, your church is probably beyond hope. Time to move on. Your next church, I’m sure will be perfect…

Of course, I am speaking with my tongue in my cheek. Church is not about you. It’s all about Jesus and sharing His message and love. A great church is built on these four things.

The Book – the inspired, infallible, inerrant Word of God.

The Blood – the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Birth – the new birth.

The Blessed Hope – the coming again of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The point is: If you are looking for a church, find out what stand they take on the Book, the Blood, the Birth, and the Blessed Hope. Or if they take any stand at all. If they don’t believe in these four foundations, saturate that place with your absence. Then find a church that does.

Remember, it’s not about you. It’s all about Jesus.

He will build His church, with all kinds of people.

People like you.

People like me.

Even people like Lois.

James Collins is the pastor of First Southern Baptist Church. Follow him on Twitter @collins_point, Facebook James Collins “The Point Is,” or at the website thepointis.net.