church

Our Sunday Best

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Perhaps the younger generation has missed out on the experience of Sunday best, so I’ll recap briefly. Even when I was just seven or eight I had to put on dress pants, a shirt and tie and last but not least : black leather shoes. I say last because the Sunday morning ritual given me meant shining those shoes until they gleamed brightly enough to pass my stepfather’s inspection. I’m pretty sure that none of this made us any holier than folks who troop into church with shorts and T-shirts but it did speak volumes about how special the day was to us.

The Bible also lays out a Sunday going to meeting outfit for us to wear. In The third chapter of Colossians Paul tells us to put on compassion, kindness, patience and love. That inspired me this morning to share a little verse. If you are getting dressed for church it is full of fashion advice that just might help coordinate your outfit.

Getting dressed for church on Sunday
There's some clothing we must choose
And an outfit we must pick out
Before slipping on our shoes

Now the Bible points out kindness
And forgiveness are in fashion
And gentleness and patience
Should be worn with God's compassion

But designer jeans of selfish pride
And envy just don't make it
And bitterness should not be put on
Nor the golden chains of gossip

Then over all our Sunday best
What brings it all together
Is the wedding gown of God's own love
That He gives to wear forever!

Wearing Our Sunday Best
by Peter Caligiuri
Copyright 2021
All rights reserved

Why is There a Cross – On Top of the Steeple?

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And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. John 12:32 KJV

Have you ever wondered why most churches have a cross at the top of their steeples, or that hundreds of millions of Christians wear crosses around their necks? It certainly isn’t stated anywhere in the Bible that we are supposed to do this – and yet we do.

In fact, when we think about the events of the gospel it might seem more appropriate to have an empty tomb on the roof showing the victory of Jesus over death or a throne showing that He is King of the universe. But there is something about the cross that attracts us to Jesus. But maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Jesus told us that when He was lifted up that He would draw people to himself. Jesus healed lepers, multiplied bread, and walked on water but the lepers went home, the bread eaters stopped following and even Peter who had walked on water with Him, denied knowing Him. But on the cross things began to happen no could have imagined. At the cross, a thief believed and was promised paradise, and a Roman soldier cried out that He was the Son of God. Nicodemus came and boldly requested to give Jesus a proper burial and even His enemies remembered His claim of resurrection and asked for the tomb to be guarded and sealed. Repentance and faith, remembering His words and watching the tomb all began at the cross. The cross calls for us to take a stand and gives a place where we can see and believe that Jesus is God’s Son. So keep putting the cross where everyone can see because He has promised that when He is lifted up that He will draw all men to Him!

The Loneliest Job In America: Being the Pastor’s Wife — The Light Breaks Through

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Pastor’s wives often have unrealistic expectations placed on them, leading to even more loneliness.

The Loneliest Job In America: Being the Pastor’s Wife — The Light Breaks Through

I stumbled across this post by Pastor Keith Haney by accident but as Gibbs tells us on NCIS “There’s no such thing as and accident!” My wife and I got a few real laughs reading it together because it is such a real struggle. It reminds me of an evening many years ago in the church we attended. The service was drawing to a close and the pastor gave an altar call but no one came. So he extended the call a second time saying, “I just feel someone really needs a touch from God tonight.” Then to everyone’s surprise the lone person who walked up to the altar was his wife. As the ladies gathered around to pray for her she suddenly collapsed and an ambulance was called. Panic set in as the emergency workers carted poor Brenda off to the hospital. Once there they hooked her up to an IV and did an intensive exam, only to discover that she had simply fainted from exhaustion! This is a true story and one that taught us all the value of our pastor’s wife. She had been running so hard to keep up with all of our expectations that she needed that altar call more than any of us. I am happy to report that she received much more support, understanding and admiration once she returned home. Please never take that sweet lady who God has called in your church to be the pastor’s wife!