Summer has certainly got the best of my schedule, so I apologize for the lack of posts.  But, I’m back, and let’s go from here!

Sunday was another great day to be in the house of God.  As the summer winded down, we were able to celebrate some of the great things God has done in our children’s ministry.

This summer we studied the passage about the full armor of God found in Ephesians.  My hope was not only that they would learn the scripture, but that it would find daily application for their lives as well.  One of the challenges for Christians today, in my opinion, is for us to live out the faith and doctrine that we profess.

The belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, and the others mean nothing if we do not let the light of Christ shine thru how we live these things out.  I hope that as you listen to this message, you will be challenged to consider your faith and witness.

You can listen to my message here:  The Armor of God – Rev. Bryon LePere

Scriptures Referenced:

• Ephesians 6:10-17
• John 14:6
• 1 John 3:7
• Romans 1:16
• Hebrews 11:1
• 2 Corinthians 7:10
• Matthew 7:1
• 1 Samuel 19:4

I wanted to expound just a little more on something I shared this past Sunday morning.  Prior to my pastoral prayer, I challenged the congregation to be less like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, and more like a red-cheeked gibbon.  What does that mean?!  Glad you asked!

A T-Rex, one of the largest of the dinosaurs, had short, little stubby arms while its nose was huge.  A red-cheeked gibbon (from the ape family), however, has a short little nose and arms approximately 2.6 times the length of its body.  If that were an average human, they would have arms about 12-13 feet long!

Too often, we act like the T-Rex, sticking our nose into things when we shouldn’t.  The Big Island grapevine is infamous at times, and too often it is Christians that help it to move along.  When we do that, particularly when the issue being discussed is serious, how are we building up our community and honoring God in the process?  Where does normal conversation end, and gossip begin?

Instead, we should be more like the red-cheeked gibbon.  Why?  Because instead of sticking a big nose into the situation, we should extend our arms out and around those that are hurting in our community.  I think it is wrong for anyone to gossip or speak in an unproductive way, but when a Christian gossips, it hurts their witness, the reputation of their church, and it reflects so poorly on God!  How much better when instead of running our mouth, we just wrap our arms around the person hurting and tell them that we love them, we care for them, and we are praying for them?  What if we go a step better and call out those that are gossiping, and challenge them to spend their time more wisely?

Most of the time, we don’t even know the full story.  So instead of digging up dirt, let’s plant seeds of kindness.  See you Sunday!

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  – Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

Blessings

Pastor Bryon