Join us sundays at 8:00 & 10:30 AM

From the Pastor

January 25, 2019 by Rev. John Hartman

From the Pastor

Years ago during Billy Graham’s heyday, the number one flamboyant crime figure in America was a man by the name of Mickey Cohen. There was a rumor going around in Christian circles that Mickey Cohen, this mob kingpin, was considering becoming a Christian. There was a lot of excitement with folks thinking, “Wow! What a testimony it would be if Mickey Cohen became a Christian.” A small group of Christians began meeting with Mickey Cohen and one night they explained to him Revelation 3:20: “Behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in.” That night Mickey Cohen said he wanted to open the door. People were ecstatic. America’s greatest crime figure was now a Christian.

Yet as time went on, nothing seemed to change about Mickey Cohen’s life. He had the same contacts, the same network, and the same lifestyle. Finally, a small group of people went to see him. They said, “Mickey, when you become a Christian, there’s this thing about turning over a new leaf. You change your old ways.” It’s said that Mickey Cohen looked at them blankly and said in effect, “Wait a minute. You’ve got Christian sports heroes. You’ve got Christian politicians. Why can’t I be a Christian gangster?”

In James 1:22, he writes, “be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.” This Sunday, we are going to talk about linking our walk with our talk. Please join us for worship at either 8:00 or 10:30 A.M., as we continue our sermon series on the book of James.

Pastor John

Quote of the Week

“Here is the great secret of success. Work with all your might; but trust not in the least in your work. Pray with all your might for the blessing of God; but work, at the same time, with all diligence, with all patience, with all perseverance. Pray then, and work. Work and pray. And still again pray, and then work. And so on all the days of your life. The result will surely be, abundant blessing.” George Muller (Evangelist and missionary)

George Müller was a Christian evangelist and the director of the Ashley Down orphanage in Bristol, England.