Dear Church Family,

I enjoy reading and wanted to share with you an excerpt from a book I enjoyed:

Whatever happened to the core truth of the Protestant Reformation, namely, that we do not earn our way with God but rather receive his grace by faith? Like the Galatians, we have walked away from something vital. No wonder the apostle Paul sent them a stern letter that said, "Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Galatians 3:3).
True Christianity is, rather, to know Jesus and trust in him, to rely on him, to admit that all of our strength comes from him. That kind of faith is not only what pleases God, but is also the only channel through which the power of God flows into our lives so we can live victoriously for him. It is what Paul meant when he wrote, "I can do everything through him [Christ] who gives me strength" (Philippians 4:13).

My coauthor, Dean Merrill, was at a wedding recently in which the bride and groom's responses to the vows were not just the traditional "I do" but rather "I will, with the help of God." The minister who wrote the ceremony knew that human effort alone might not carry the young couple in today's world "until death do you part." He therefore called on them to implore the help of God in building their marriage.

This declaration was very much in keeping with what Solomon said at the dedication of the Temple: "May the LORD our God be with us as he was with our fathers; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in all his ways and to keep the commands, decrees and regulations he gave our fathers" (1 Kings 8: 57-58). In that sentence Solomon showed great insight into the fact that God himself must turn our hearts toward him, or else we will stray.

When most people break down in their Christian life they simply "try harder," Lots of luck! Try harder with what? I've looked inside of me and stopped looking. There's nothing in there that's good or usable. On the other hand, if I turn the other way and begin "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2 KJV), I find everything I need.

Written by: Jim Cymbala in "Fresh Faith"

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane

Dear Church Family,

It’s time for …

Mid-Summer Random Thoughts by Pastor Lane

He who is slow to anger has great understanding. Proverbs 14:29

We had triple digits in Sunday School this past Sunday – in the middle of July! I can’t help but believe God is up to something!

The Braves are the best team in baseball right now! Which, as odd as it sounds, actually concerns me a little bit come postseason.

If a man says something in the middle of the forest, and his wife is not there to hear him, is he still wrong?

A saint is a person whose life makes it easier to believe in God. Who do you know like that?

Why is forgiveness so difficult? What are people afraid of if they actually forgive?

I used to have a handle on life, but then it broke.

I wonder if Savannah is the weed capitol of the world. Yard weeds, I mean. Not marij….. nevermind.

Now to God our Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:20

Beverly Purcell is a real workhorse for IBC. I’m thankful for her.

If you can buy a person’s friendship, it’s not worth it.

I miss my dad. If you have a dad, call him today.

When we worry, we believe more in our problems than in God’s promises.

I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather….. not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.

What did Jonah think about those 3 days?

Want to send a panic wave through your pastor? Start a sentence off with, “Hey preacher, I have a Bible question for you …”

We in the church sure have watered down what it means to be an “active” church member, if we believe at all in God’s Word (Hebrews 10:25).

I was wondering why the frisbee kept getting bigger and bigger, and then it hit me….

Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you will also be like him. Proverbs 26:4

See you Sunday!
Pastor Lane