Bargain

 

Our church and school are struggling recovering from the flood.  The lower books in the school library were soaked and the shelving (Ikea quality) was destroyed.  I am making real wood shelves, but the cost of plywood is outrageous!  Maple faced, seven-ply plywood is $89 per sheet!  Yikes!  But I found four damaged sheets and negotiated a deal at Lowe’s for $39 per sheet!  Then I found five gallons of mistinted paint for $50 (a nice tan color).  I think that God was looking out for His library shelves.  But the best bargain … was when I traded my filthy sins for eternal life in heaven.  That was a real bargain!  Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Real vs. Fake

 

Years ago, I read about a man who took a backstage tour of the movie lots in Hollywood.  As he rode the open bus, a tour guide described the various sets.  The man was excited when they turned down a street to see the Cleavers house from the “Leave It to Beaver” sitcom.  After driving through the neighborhood, the tour bus turned and drove back behind the houses.  To the man’s disappointment, the houses were all fake!  They were only facades in the front but bare wood and supports in the back!  My take-away of the man’s tour?  Jesus delivers on His promises, but Satan is a fraud and a liar.  Satan never comes through with what He has promised.  Satan is a deceiver and always disappoints.  Jesus said of the hypocrites in John 8:44, Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”  But Jesus said in John 10:10, “… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  Choose carefully.  Choose life.

Old Spice

 

I remember using Old Spice deodorant when I was a teen.  It might have had something to do with their TV commercial of the young guy who couldn’t get to first base with his girl.  But then the weathered old mariner walked by with his ditty bag slung over his shoulder and tossed the kid a stick of Old Spice.  Life changed for the kid.  So, a few weeks ago, I reconnected with my Old Spice.  It felt cool going on and smelled great, but my odor returned too soon.  So I bought some Old Spice dry stick.  It felt like glue going on, but it worked!  I liked the smell and texture of the original Old Spice, but it just didn’t seem to work as well as the dry stick.  But the whole reason that I use deodorant is not for the cool feel or for the perfume smell but for the deodorizing work that it should do!  Hey, church is the same way.  I don’t go to church to enjoy the music or the fellowship (which I do); I go to church to be inspired and convicted by the Bible preaching!  I Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  Hey, don’t go to a feel-good church where the preacher tickles your ears; go to a church where the Gospel is preached with Holy Ghost power!  You need to hear the unvarnished truth so that you can leave church a better person.  And if you live in Chattanooga, visit us at Calvary.  Check us out on facebook live and then visit us in person.  I’ll save you a seat this Sunday.  I’ll be the old guy smelling of Old Spice.