Pastor’s Blog

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Am I a product of genetic design? – 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

by Jim Jamison

There are many reasons given to attempt to explain why people do what they do. Until science discovered DNA and chromosomes, the idea of a specific gene that causes us to struggle with our sin was not widely entertained. This has lead to the theory that I can’t help what I am doing, and therefore, it is a sickness or malady that I can not control. The problem with this is that there is little or no hope that there will be any cure for this malady any time soon. People become “trapped” in their behavior, and as a result we see many acting out their behavior in an open and flagrant way. While we may have a genetic predisposition toward certain types of behavior, that does not mean that we have to live and act on that predisposition. Free will, choice, and discipline still have a great deal to do with how much these tendencies will affect a person’s actions. Sinful behavior cannot be legitimized by a quick baptism in the gene pool. Remember we are a fallen race, born in sin. We were born spiritually dead (John 3:5-6), and are all physically imperfect (1 Cor. 15:1-54), As a … READ MORE

Can I change? – Romans 7:18-24

by Jim Jamison

We all struggle with motives, actions, and thoughts. Yet, to often as Christians, we say to ourselves and others “That is just the way I am!” Sinful behavior is simply accepted in our lives because we believe that there is nothing more that we can do about it, because we don’t know why we do the things we do. Change must simply be from behavior modification without understanding. We must understand the heart reasons for our sin and work to correcting that attitude. As we understand our struggle we are able to learn to develop a proper strategy to apply Biblical principles to fight the inner struggle we have to sin. Today, make a commitment to begin to understand the foundational reasons for your sinful thoughts, motives, and actions, so that you can learn with the Power of the Holy Spirit to overcome those sins in your lives. Remember by God’s grace I will be different tomorrow than I am today, and by God’s grace I am not the person I was yesterday.… READ MORE

Sin gives us the opporunity to choose obedience – 1 John 4:19

by Jim Jamison

In John 14:15 Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my commandments!” Today we have the liberty to demonstrate our love for Him by turning from our sin and to God, that turning can manifest our gratitude to the Lord for all that He has done in providing freedom from our sin. God in His grace and mercy has provided for us through His Son as we battle against the struggle with sin in our lives. But praise be to the Lord that the victory can be ours because of His commitment to us. May we learn to live in gratitude for God’s wonderful provision.… READ MORE