"Strive to enter in at the straight gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."  Words spoken by Jesus.  (Luke 13:24)  This was in response to someone in the crowd asking him if there are few that would be saved.  Now, Pastor Josh is a coach.  And, just naturally coaches know what a reverse play is in football.  For those of us not quite in the know, it's a play that is set up to throw the other team into thinking the ball is going one way when it's going the other.  This may not be a totally accurate definition but it's understandable.
     The text of the sermon was taken from Luke 13:25-30.  It's a sad passage about what will happen to those who will try to get into the Master's house once the door is shut.  Our pastor pointed out that society has pulled a reversal on us.  Present-day morals has been turned on its' head and what was wholesome and good is seen as evil and bad.  "Good and evil still exist.  There is a very real devil and a very real God.  It doesn't matter what society says is good or bad, stand for what is right." said Pastor Josh.
     Noah preached for one hundred years that the world was going to be destroyed.  The drought went on.  Preachers today are pleading with people that they should repent and believe.  "But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." (Matthew 24:37)  Pastor Josh continued, "Hell is going to burn hot for those who don't believe."
     The day finally came and the Ark was complete.  All mankind needed to do was get on the boat.  They would be saved.  All they had to do was believe Noah's message.  They would be saved.  God shut Noah in. (Genesis 7:16)  The rain started.  Then people realized Noah's truth.  But it was too late.  The door was shut.
     Jesus warns the people in Luke 13:25-30.  There's a day coming when Christ will shut the door.  God will judge the world.  He will not let wrong be right and right be wrong. ​

​     Pastor Josh, he sees the heavenly message in the trials of life.  His sermons are littered with places he's been, things he's listened to, and his personal experiences.  This Sunday sermon was no exception.  The sermon opened with his recent trip to St. Louis.
    "If any of you have been to St. Louis, you'll understand what I'm talking about." the pastor begins.  "There's seven lanes of traffic going the same way.  Count them.  Seven.  Just trying to make sure you're in the right lane is a real challenge.  And, what if you're not?  How would you ever get into the right lane?  If you're in the far right lane and need to be in the far left lane, how're you ever going to get over there to turn?  Not only that, there are seven lanes going your direction and seven going the other direction.  That means that you have to do the same thing all over again when you leave St. Louis."
     The text for the sermon was Luke 13:23-24.  It's a short discourse Jesus has with someone who asked him if there would be few that would be saved.  Jesus told him to "strive to enter in at the straight gate."  Striving could mean trying to get into the right lane.  First of all, you have to know where you're going.  It's the same way in our spiritual life.  The world that you're trying to raise your kid in: there are many, many lanes in life to choose from.  But, there's only one lane that will get us to our destination.  Get into the right lane--the one to heaven.  God's not interested in anything but whether you're in the right lane.
     God made a way we can get into the right lane.  The road to heaven, it's an uneasy journey of life.  Fair has nothing to do with it.  Don't try other ways, it won't work.  "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 14:12)  Do the opposite of what the flesh wants to do.  Thomas asked Jesus, "Lord, we know not whether thou goest; and how can we know the way?  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way..." (John 14:5-6)  Jesus is the way.  Strive to make heaven your home.  

​     It's that time of year again.  School is out for the summer and Camp Joy is getting revved up and ready to go.  The first group gathers on July 8, the second on July 15 and the third on July 21.  The age groups are 7-9, 10-12, and 13-19.
     Van Kelly, who is the director of Camp Joy, visits our church and reports on how things are going there.  It's always a pleasure to see him again and interesting to hear what he has to say.  Van has a heart for this ministry and it shows through all that he does.  
     We saw a slide presentation of the camp from last year.  But, before he did the slide presentation, he talked to us about scars and used I Corinthians 6:20 as the verse for his talk.  But even before he began that, he told us a little story about Noah's Ark.  Some of you probably already know it but it was new to some of us and it may be to you, too.  Below is what Van told us about the Noah's Ark lesson.    
     "There's some things I learned from Noah's Ark and as I was driving over here this morning I thought it might be appropriate with all the rain we've been getting.  First of all, don't miss the boat and don't forget that we're all in the same boat.  Amen. 
     And plan ahead because it wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.  And, also, stay fit because when you're 650-some years old someone might ask you to do something really big.  You never know.  Don't listen to critics.  Just get on with what has to be done.  Think about that.  If Noah had listened to the critics, all those people making fun of him.  If he had listened to them, he might have never finished the boat.  
     For safety's sake travel in pairs and two heads are better than one.  Right?  Also, build your future on high ground.  Speed isn't always an advantage.  After all, the snails were on there the same time the cheetahs were.  When you're stressed, float awhile.
     Remember that the Ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals and we all know how that worked.  Last of all, remember that the woodpeckers were a larger threat inside than the storm was on the outside."