July 26, 2015
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23
Dying is no easy thing. And dying to ourselves and to our own will may even be harder than physical death itself. When my grandpa died, it was sudden and unexpected, and he was not given any warning, let alone a choice in the matter. The writer of Hebrews declares plainly that “it is appointed for men to die,” and this death is without negotiation.
This is in stark contrast with the words of Jesus who calls all who would follow Him to deny their own will and daily take up the cross of God’s plan and faithfully follow the Master wherever He might lead. This is a call to a choice. And this choice is difficult for many Christians and always has been.
Jerry Osborne once reminded his own church that “There are many Christians, but few disciples.” It is the disciple who answers the call of death, who prays the Spirit’s power to overcome his will with that of the Father, just as Jesus prayed “Not my will but Yours!”
This is what the Dead Days are all about. It’s simply a time when we remind ourselves that Jesus is calling us to follow Him all the way. I urge you to prepare your heart for this special time of spiritual renewal.
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
July 26, 2015
“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1
Preaching from his pulpit one Sunday, Pastor Jerry Osborne exclaimed: “Listen, ‘He only lives who lives to God, and all are dead beside;' and that is the true explanation of sin not felt, and sermons not believed, and good advice not followed, and the gospel not embraced, and the world not forsaken, and the cross not taken up, and evil habits not laid aside, and the Bible seldom read, and the knee never bent... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
March 29, 2015
Jesus didn’t look like much of a King, especially sitting upon a donkey and riding into a city where His fame was controversial at best. Indeed, He was a man of the people, yet He had failed to gain the approval of most of the influential and powerful. This, however, did not prevent many from shouting their adoration and showing their great love and respect for Him by casting their garments beneath His feet. Jesus was King over some that first Palm Sunday, but certainly not King to all. A... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
March 15, 2015
A recent article claimed 75% of America’s Christians skip church on any given Sunday. Another recent survey found that only 17% of our American population even attends church. These numbers are certainly not surprising to me, since most of those who call my church their home-church don’t bother to darken the door for any of our services let alone on Sunday morning. It’s no wonder over 4,000 churches shut their doors for good every single year. According to a scathing article in the Hu... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
March 8, 2015
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God” 1 Timothy 3:15
Is it not proper for God’s people to be in His House when the call to worship is sounded forth? Is it not a certain and most reasonable act of worship to simply come to church? To be there on-time and engaged in the service, is this not a fundamental and basic notion of Christian conduct?
During His life Jesus made it a priority to be in His F... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
March 1, 2015
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God” 1 Tim 3:15
The scripture has much to say concerning our conduct, not only in the world in which we live, but also in the Church where we serve. It exhorts believers in an array of various concerns, from admonishing us not to interrupt a sermon to encouraging us to sing with grace in our hearts during congregational worship. The scripture is sure to ground us in t... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
February 22, 2015
“I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God.” 1 Timothy 3:15
Wanda Osborne often took the time to spout a reprimand to her grandchildren for our conduct in the House of the Lord; thus we were raised with great reverence for God’s House. “Don’t run in the Church” she’d shout while we she was doing her weekly cleaning in the auditorium.
By example, her and Grandpa faithfully laid out their tithe c... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
February 15, 2015
As I look back on the lives of my grandparents, one thing is undeniable: Their testimony for Christ was paramount! What they said, what they did, where they went, how they lived, every aspect of their lives was judged through the lens of their Christian testimony. They were a couple who struggled to make ends meet, raising their children on tight budgets with hand-me-down clothes and pawnshop purchases. Grandpa drove a bus for the school district when he wasn’t working at his little cou... Continue reading...
Posted by Michael La Framboise.
