Celebrating Five Years Together
This Sunday, June 6th, marks my fifth anniversary with Bethany. I cannot
believe it’s already been five years! I praise God for the new ministries
that we have started, the new families that He has sent our way, and for all
the wonderful relationships that have deepened over these last five years.
I look forward to the years ahead that we have together, and anticipate God
s moving and direction in our midst. He has already so richly blessed us as
a congregation, and I know that He has much more to reveal to us. Let us
hold fast to His promises, and keep in step with Him as He leads us into
other areas of ministry and service, and into a deeper relationship with
Himself.
Blessings!
Pastor Ralph
The Making of a Fool
In the first Chapter of Romans, Paul tells us that God gave over some folks
to their passions, sins and lusts. It must be understood, that these people
knew God” (Rom 1:21), but they didn’t honor Him, nor acknowledge Him as God.
In other words, they were living as fools.
I believe that is a powerful message for the church today. We don’t want to
be those that God said honor Him with their lips only. We want to be a
church/people that honors Him with our whole heart and mind. God gave these
people described in Romans 1, over to their sins because they “chose” the
passing pleasures of sin over God Himself. They exchanged the truth for a
lie he tells us in v25.
We hear a lot of what is being espoused as “gospel” from our pulpits today.
We have many who are guilty as those in the letter to the Galatians of
adding to the Gospel. They would say, “Salvation is found in Christ, but you
have to carry the right translation, or you must dress a certain way.” That
is as far out there as the health, wealth, and prosperity gospels that many
are preaching today. Be on guard! Anyone who adds man-made rules, or teaches
any other gospel than the One, True Gospel is a false teacher!
Blessings!
Pastor Ralph
The Joyous Journey
Over the past few weeks, I have been leading us in a study, which I entitled
“The Joyous Journey.” Let me ask you a question. Is there anything better
than being saved? Before you answer that too quickly, let me share with you
that that is a trick question (you all know I like to do that). Yes, there
is something better than being saved, and it is being saved and knowing that
you are saved. Having the full assurance that you are in Christ and promised
an everlasting life with Him. Is there anything better than that? Of course
there is. It’s being saved, having a full assurance about your salvation,
and knowing that you can never lose it! Nothing that I know of can bring you
greater joy in your Christian journey. Remember, life is a journey, and
Jesus came to give us life more abundant. He has so many blessings in store
for us along the way, and I know that you are like me, and don’t want to
miss out on any of them. Hope to see you all this Sunday as we continue in
our study of “The Joyous Journey.”
Blessings!
Pastor Ralph
Welcome!
Welcome to our website, and to a brand new year/decade. 2010 promises brand
new beginnings, and brand new opportunities for us at Bethany. This will be
a time of planning future growth, taking steps of faith, and seeing what God
has in store for us in the brand new decade. All around us, new
opportunities for reaching the loss and ministering in God’s love abound.
If you’re a visitor to the site, we would love to have you come and worship
with us. I promise you that you will not find a more loving, family
atmosphere than what you find at Bethany. Our purpose is to love God, love
others, and impact our world. We have lots of ministries and missions to
fulfill that purpose.
May His Blessings Abound!
Pastor Ralph