Pastor's Blog

Written by Pastor Gardner Friday, 09 July 2010 23:28

One of my favorite books is a little book called “done.” In this book, the author makes the shocking statement that there are only two religions in the world. After grabbing everyone's attention with that unconventional statement, the author goes on to say that the two religions he is referring to are actually systems of religions. There are DO religions and there is a DONE religion.

Written by Pastor Gardner Saturday, 12 September 2009 14:50

Like most people, I will never forget where I was when I first heard of the tragic events of 9/11. I was sitting at my desk at the CLA law office in Florida talking to a private investigator on the telephone when he told me that it had just come across the TV that a plane had flown into one of the buildings of the World Trade Center.

Written by Pastor Gardner Tuesday, 03 July 2007 00:00

Judas Iscariot is sometimes referred to as an example that a believer who has trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior can lose his salvation. When people make this claim, they typically rely on John 17:12, "While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled." We will examine this verse later, but before doing so, let's first look at other verses that speak to Judas Iscariot's spiritual state.

John 6:64-71 - "But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve."

This passage of Scripture clearly shows that Judas Iscariot was not a true believer in Jesus Christ and was not converted.

Written by Pastor Gardner Thursday, 12 October 2006 00:00

Many people that I have talked to over the years tell me they think that they will go to Heaven when they die because they are a good person. They will usually go on to explain how “good” they have been. Typically, it goes something like this: “I’ve tried to live a good life. I’ve never hurt anyone. I’ve provided for my family. I’ve raised my children the best that I know how. I think I’ve lived a good life.”

This type of statement always raises questions in my mind. What is a good life? What do they mean that they've never hurt anyone? Haven't we all hurt someone - if not with our fists, at least with our words? How good is good enough?

Written by Pastor Gardner Wednesday, 24 May 2006 00:00

During a recent conversation I had with a man who had visited our church, I asked him if he knew for sure that he was going to heaven when he died. He said that he thought that he would, but didn’t seem to know for sure. When I asked him what he was basing his hope of heaven upon, he said that anytime he became aware that he had sinned, he stopped and prayed to ask God to forgive him of his sin. He said that he did this on a regular basis and that he knew that Jesus’ death on the cross was the only way that his sins could be forgiven. This conversation led into a discussion about “saving faith” – the kind of faith that a person must exercise in order to receive the gift of eternal life.