“A Perspective on Ancient Messages - Thoughts on Modern Technology”

I love to reach church message signs. Mike Brogan, pastor of England First Assembly of God, is quite creative with his church sign and sermon titles. Sometimes I wish I could go hear the sermon just based on the title he posts. I guess my way to post messages is though this column. As the comedian likes to say, "Here's your sign."

It's not a church sign ... but there's an interesting sign in the neighborhood where we live.

It is interesting, a bit ironic, and it makes a good sermon illustration.

It's in the yard of one of our neighbors.

They had an "invisible fence" installed ... the kind that zaps the pets with special collars when they cross the line.

Not only is there the bigger sign from the fence company announcing the invisible fence, but there are numerous little white flags with the words "Invisible Fence" on them along the property lines.

I know the little flags will soon disappear. They are for training purposes ... the dogs are supposed to avoid the "zap" by learning not to cross the line of flags.

And therein lies a scriptural life application.

The Bible reminds us that we have an invisible fence around us.

One reason is to protect us:
Job 1:8-12 from The New International Version tells us: Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?"

God's "hedge" around us keeps us safe just as that invisible fence keeps our neighbor's pets safe. Just as there's a large sign that reads "Invisible Fence," God has a large sign that should remind us of His care ... it's called the Bible.

Another reason is to warn us:
Hebrews 12:5-11 from the NIV reminds us: And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. ... God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Just as God's "hedge" around us protects us, his "discipline" upon us keeps us safe, too ... like those smaller flags that warn the pets. God has flags to warn us ... flags like the Ten Commandments, the Golden Rule, and many others.

A closing word about the invisible fence "zapper" ... the special external collars the pets wear. Christians have an internal alarm ... He's called the Holy Spirit. He reminds us to stay in God's grace and convicts us when we stray. "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you ..." (John 16:13).

Thank God for His "invisible fence" around us. Try not to get "zapped" this week. Let His Word and His Spirit guide you.

This is just one pastor's (and neighbor's) perspective.

" A PERSPECTIVE ON THE EASTER HOLIDAY - THOUGHTS ABOUT EASTER EGGS"

I like holidays. Christmas and presents. Easter and decorated eggs. Yes, I know that the most important thing about Christmas is the birth of Jesus and the most important thing about Easter is His death and His resurrection. However, we who are Christians can use the secular aspects of the holidays to illustrate sacred principles.

Although the origin of “Easter” and it’s traditions is debated (see wikipedia.com), we accept the practice as part of our Easter traditions. May I make a spiritual application?

Think about Easter eggs for a moment. They come in all kinds - hard boiled, candied, chocolate, peanut butter, and even plastic. The plastic kind come empty. Hmm ... and empty egg. An empty shell. An empty container. An empty tomb. One of my Easter traditions is to give the kids at our church two plastic Easter eggs - one empty and one filled with candy. I ask them to share the candy with someone else and tell that person the story of the empty tomb. But, before I do give them the eggs, I hold up a traditional Easter egg - one that has been dyed and hard-boiled. But, unknown to the kids, it’s not hard-boiled but only a real eggshell with the egg removed. (It’s not hard to do. Simply poke small holes in the top and bottom of a raw egg and blow out the contents.) I explain that this egg is a 100% real, honest-to-goodness, Bible Easter egg because (and as I crack the egg on one of the kid’s head) - IT’S EMPTY! Just like the tomb that first Easter morning. The look on the kids’ (and the adults) faces is always great.

As you celebrate Easter and eat too many Easter eggs this week, think about empty plastic Easter eggs ... and the empty tomb.

Holidays ... I love them. This is just one pastor’s perspective.

Listen on-line and/or download by clicking on the blue microphone at englandfbc.org.

"A PERSPECTIVE ON OUR COMMUNITY - THOUGHTS ABOUT NEW CITY SERVICES, INDUSTRIES, BUSINESSES, AND CHURCHES"

Small town life is great. Although I grew up a "city boy" in the heart of St. Louis, Missouri (Go, Cardinals!), I have been in small towns in Arkansas since the age of 13. (First in Paragould, then Walnut Ridge, Arkadelphia, Sparkman, Murfreesboro, Malvern, and now England.) I tell people that I am "a Missourian by birth but and Arkansawyer by the grace of God." (I've become such a lover of "The Natural State" that I even prefer the term "Arkansawyer" to "Arkansan." However, there are few drawbacks about small town life ... the most discouraging is that of decline ... population, businesses, industries, and churches. Our town is not what is what fifty years ago. Once filled storefronts are vacant. Shells of factories are in decay. Church attendance is not what it used to be. England is one of those towns "too close" to the Little Rock / North Little Rock metro area. Natives in our town drive to LR/NLR to work, shop, eat, and, yes, to go to church. Very few people have moved into England while many have left. (In my six years, over twenty families have moved away from our community and our church. Not nearly that many have joined in that time.) We haven't experienced the growth that towns west and north of LR/NLR have - Conway, Cabot, Bryant, Benton. We are closer to LR/NLR than those cities. England is only 20 miles from the LR airport. There's only about 18 miles of good two-lane highway with extra-wide paved shoulders (for the farm equipment). The rest of the road is interstate. Our town is one of the most overlooked communities in central Arkansas. Why? Here's the reality check: Yes, we lack a Wal-Mart. And yes, our school system is small (but good). And, yes, the scenery is flat and the mosquitos can be pesky. But here's the optimistic check: The wide open spaces, friendly folks, and closeness to the LR/NLR metro area make up for any negatives.

Enough of the negatives. The good news is ... our community is growing! Our new community recreation center is going up not too far from our home (pictures 1, 2, and 2a below). Recently, I attended the dedication of our newest industry, "England Oil Field Service," that is now hiring (pictures 3 and 3a below). Last year, our new community fishing pond was dedicated (picture 4 below). And, even our church is sprucing up ... last year we built and dedicated our new foyer addition of Bride's Room, Church Library, and restrooms (picture 5 below). It's the first step of a three-part long range building plan. Many in our church believe that England does has a future.

Some people believe that our town and our church will never "be what it used to be." I don't want either of them to be "what they used to be" ... I want both to be better than ever. We can either sigh for the past or plan for the future. Either way, it affects how we live in the present. I choose to plan and hope instead of wish and regret. I choose to not only live in England, but to support it's businesses and institutions as well. To paraphrase a popular song ... "You may say that I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one; I hope someday you'll join us And we will be as one." Let's support England!

Eventually, the urban sprawl will come our way. It may still be a generation away ... but it will come. One builder is planning to erect a gated community. The future may get here sooner that we think.

This is just one pastor's perspective. I hope that our church members and our town citizens share it.