How seriously do you take your faith? Before you answer that question without much forethought, really take a few minutes and seriously pray over what I have asked. Have you made a conscious effort to live your life for the glory of God or are you just making it through the day not dying? I am not sure about you but I know for me that there are many parts of my life that distract me from the calling that God has given for me to accomplish His will. Every day we are faced with countless opportunities to either pursue Christ with intentionality or allow the noise of this world to slowly pull our hearts away from Him. With all that is going on in the world, I believe that it is time for the church to remember its true mission. It is time for the saints of God to turn from a materialistic life, share their faith and restore focus on the value God places upon people. If our greatest ambition is comfort instead of Christ, then we have settled for something far less than the life God has called us to live. One of the hardest things about ministry for some is remembering what ministry is all about. It is about saving lost souls and encouraging the saints. Ministry is not measured by popularity, influence, or applause, but by faithful obedience to the One who called us and the lives transformed through the power of the Gospel. I love the way the sinners spent time with Jesus, as is written about in *Mark 2:16… “Why does He eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek forgiveness].”* They obviously felt comfortable with the Lord. They felt loved and accepted by Him as they were. They were attracted to His teachings. And Jesus was obviously glad to be with them. I see many people in prominent positions run from the sinners and not toward them. Jesus knew that the best way to call sinners to God is to spend time with them. By accepting one man, He could gain access to many because sinners know lots of other sinners. We cannot expect a broken world to encounter the healing power of Christ if we are unwilling to step into their lives with the same compassion and truth that He demonstrated. Jesus is a friend of sinners, but he is not a friend of sin. We come as sinners to Jesus for healing, and then He calls us to leave that sin behind. The real measure of effective ministry is transformed lives form godless pagans to godly fruitful disciples, not full pews in the building where the audience gathers for a stage show and inspirational lecture. Jesus didn’t die so that people would go to church, He died so that we would become the church and do the work God has called us to do. There are many things that I share that on the surface may be offensive, but please take a moment to pray about what I convey and the motive behind it. Charles Spurgeon said, “Every time you prefer the pleasures of this world to the joys of heaven, you spit in the face of Christ; every time when you gain in your business, you do an unrighteous thing, you are like Judas selling Him for thirty pieces of silver; every time you make a false profession of religion, you give Him a traitor’s kiss; every word you have spoken against Him, every hard thought you have had of Him, has helped to complete your complicity with the great crowd which gathered around the Cross of Calvary, to mock and jeer the Lord of life and glory.” May we never become so consumed with our own lives that we forget the eternal value of every person God places in our path. Whether young or old, rich or poor, strong in faith or struggling to believe, every soul matters to God and should matter to us with the same unwavering conviction. Let us be known not merely for attending church, but for living as the Church as the church, loving without partiality, proclaiming the truth without compromise, and faithfully carrying the Gospel until Christ returns.

My BeLoved, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen. In Christ Love, douglas. HE>i. pastord.blog

Special Note: I want to thank those who read what I write and are encouraged to support the ministry God has entrusted to me either one time or have decided to give on a monthly basis. I am encouraged to see certain verses playing out before my eyes like what is written in *Philippians 4:16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.*

To any who are interested, please feel free to reach out to me with prayer requests, questions, encouragement, or for information on how to come alongside me with financial support at pastord.blog@gmail.com or I do have a Zelle account associated with my phone number, 5202720387 last name Blaser. Thank you my Beloved for your ongoing prayers and support.