Do you remember when you were in elementary school and you first learned what a "main idea" was. I don't know that there is much I remember from elementary school, but I do remember one of my teachers telling me that you could usually find the main idea of a paragraph in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

Well, I have learned that it is not always that easy, especially when it comes to reading the Bible. In case you did not know, though, I am going to share with you what the main idea of the Bible is. Are you ready? It is the cross of Jesus Christ. The cross is central to everything. The cross and the work that Christ did on the cross and in the resurrection is central to everything else. The cross is the one thing! The cross being central was brought very near to my heart this evening. Let me explain.

There is a couple, in the church I pastor, that is moving away. They are leaving our church. Over the past couple of years, God has allowed me to play a part in their lives and in them committing their lives to Jesus Christ. As they share with me that they were leaving, both of them cried. They thanked me for all I had done and both said that I am like a father to them. I don't feel like I have done that much. They are a little worried about moving to a far away city. I prayed for them and shared with them that they go as missionaries. I informed them that God has a plan for their lives.

I remained strong as they shared all of this with me, but later that evening when I had time to reflect, I began to weep. Truthfully, I don't want them to go. But God reminded me that the very cross they drew near to hear is the same cross that they will draw near to somewhere else. Because of the cross, I am not who I once was. Because of the cross, God used me to make a difference in their lives. And because of the cross, they are not the same couple they once were. Because of the cross, God will use someone else in their lives in another city. Because of the cross, I am guaranteed to see them again.

So, once again, I am reminded that the cross is central!

I am not! Are you? Are you the main character in this story? You are probably thinking that I am a little crazy and you may be right. But go with me on this one. I like to think that I am the main character. I act like I am the main character. I am always thinking about how things are affecting me. How I am reacting to every little thing that affects my life. I am happy on some days, down on some days. I want people to see things my way. Do you get the drift? You are probably the same way. I act as though this entire story is about me. The reality, however, is that I am not the main character of the story. Guess what? You are not the main character in the story either. There is only One who can say "I AM" when it comes to the main character of the story.

He created the story. He selected many characters to participate in this story, but it is all about Him. Make no mistake about it, though, this is His story and you are just one character of millions. I forget sometimes that this is His story and I act like it is all about me, but it is not. I have been trying something new in my life. The first thing that I say when I wake up of the morning is "I am not, but You Are! This is Your story, so use me in whatever way that will bring You the greatest glory in Your story." It helps me remember that I am not the main character in this story.

In a sense, the answer to this question is "yes." But I want to answer this question with a question: "But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things which you are now ashamed" (Romans 6:21). This verse was Paul's answer to his own rhetorical question, "What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace?" (Romans 6:15).

God's love is unconditional, and for the Christian, there is nothing we can ever do to cause Him to love us any more or any less. This is called justification. Christians have been justified before God based upon the righteousness of Christ. We, as Christians, rely on the work of Jesus Christ.

There is a process, however, that does involve our obedience or disobedience, as it may be. This process is called sanctification. Sanctification involves our own choices and behavior. The process itself is where Christians become more Christ-like--growing in holiness. Our choices affect the process of sanctification. Paul's question, in Romans 6:21, is a legitimate one. Why would a Christian, who has turned from sin, return to it and live a life contrary to Christ? You lived that way once before and what was your reward? Death! And if you return to that sort of lifestyle once you are saved, you will experience death in your life on this side of eternity.

Let me explain. Christians have peace with God because of the work of Jesus Christ, but Jesus came to give more than just life. He came to give life to its fullest. What is that? Peace, love, joy, patience...the fruits of the spirit. Return to a lifestyle of sin and it is these things that you will not experience in your life.

So, are you free to do as you please? Yes, but what you choose to do will have either consequences or rewards, blessings or judgment. I, for one, choose to be obedient. Not because obedience earns God's love; I am obedient as one who is in debt to the One who gives me the greatest joy in life!

Absolutely nothing! What can you do to make God love you less? Absolutely nothing! Are you one of those people who find it hard to spend time with God when you know there is some sort of sin you have committed? If so, then it is time you remember that God does not love you based upon your performance. He loved you based on His own performance through Jesus Christ! Romans 8:1 states "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Did you hear that? If you are a Christ follower then you are not condemned. God does not love you more when you are good and less when you are bad. His love for you is unconditional and His acceptance of you is based upon the sinless life of Christ.

Obedience honors God; it glorifies God, but it will not cause God to love you more or less. Does this give you a license to sin? Absolutely not! You and I deserve to be condemned. We deserve for God to love us less, but we praise God that He does not love us based upon our performance. So, right now take just a moment and confess what the apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:16: "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." In other words, say to God "I am a sinner. I deserve to be condemned. I am the worst sinner I know and I confess this to You, O God, but I praise You for coming to save the worst of sinners. I rejoice that You have forgiven me and so to you, my God, be honor and glory."

Two years ago, my son and I ventured out to all the electronics store in hopes of buying a bigger TV. The TV we had worked fine. It is a 26" RCA floor model. We have had it since 1992. It still works great. Anyhow, we went to all the stores and had finally decided on the TV we wanted. Then a discussion between my, then 14 year old son, began. We talked about how instead of giving money for a TV we could keep what we have and give the money toward the land that our church purchased. Don't get me wrong. It was a tough decision, because we wanted that TV, but we decided to keep what we had.

Now, fast forward two years later. A family in our church asked me to help move a big TV. I obliged and told them we could use my truck to move it. What I did not know is that the flat screen 36" TV and stand was making its way to my house! This family shared how they remembered the story of us not buying the TV, so they decided to give me there TV! I was speechless! I immediately had glory bumps! God gave me a TV. Why? Because He can and what is even more incredible is that God used a family in our church to do it.

Now you understand why I say that God is not good; He is great!

I am on a sabbatical, which means I am not at the church I pastor. However, I am attending church at different places and every week I plan on sharing something I learned from Sunday's message.

Today, my family and I visited Bent Creek Community Church, which is a church plant of Rock Springs Church. Dr. Ron Wilcoxcon, the pastor, spoke from 1 Peter 5:1-5. The message was entitled "Follow the Leader." Dr. Ron said "God appoints leaders to either bless us or judge us." I agree that the Bible teaches this, which begs the question: Is our country being blessed or judged? I have been thinking about that comment all day.

Finally, do you want to know what the key to following a leader is? Make sure the leader is following God. Find someone who is following God and you have found a good leader. How do you know if they are following God? Simple, make sure they are obedient to God's word.

And that is it for lessons learned on this Sunday.

If you are a Christian, you should be praying for California. Sure, there are several things to pray about, but one in particular should catch your attention. On November 4, 2008 there will be a vote on Proposition 8, which is a proposed constitutional amendment that would protect traditional marriage. This decision will affect the other 49 states in this country. Dr. Donald Wildmon, founder of the American Family Association, said "If the homosexuals are able to defeat the marriage amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, then...secularism will replace Christianity as the foundation of our society."

I have heard it said that "what is tolerated in one generation, will be the norm in the next generation." If we have a generation of children that are taught that marriage is a relationship entered into by two consenting people, regardless of sex, then the next generation will soon not realize that marriage is supposed to be between a man and a woman. For the sake of your God, your children and your grandchildren you should be praying for California.

My youngest son was in the fourth grade. He came home from school one afternoon and handed me a brochure that he had received at school that day. He informed me that someone had talked to them about this brochure. The brochure was all about sex education. Did anyone ask me, before they talked to my child about this information? Of course not. In fact, my son was able to receive this information because off-campus organizations can distribute literature so long as it is during non-instructional times. So, why is it wrong for the Gideons to hand out New Testaments to students in Missouri? It is wrong because the ACLU says it is wrong. In a recent ruling, a Missouri judge said "the ACLU must be able to have the-say-so over whether religious literature can be distributed..."

We all know the ACLU will ensure that any literature pertaining to God's word or to Christianity will never be allowed. Infuriating? Yes, but it is even more infuriating to know that a judge has stated that a private, third party, especially the ACLU, has been given veto power over private religious speech.

Words are not enough when it comes to explaining who God is. Have you ever tried it? Have you ever tried to explain, in words, who God is to someone who does not have a relationship with God? It is almost impossible. Our vocabulary is not enough to describe how incredible God is. Yet, this is exactly what Isaiah tried to do in Isaiah 6. Isaiah sees a vision of God and to the best of his ability he tries to put into words what He sees. Isaiah uses such words as "singing, smoke, trembling." The best words he uses though are these: "Woe is me!" Isaiah realized that his words were simply not enough. Isaiah realized that his condition was woeful in comparison to the indescribable God.

I pray that I don't ever forget how big God is. It happens. I do forget sometimes and then something happens that reminds be of just how big my God is and then I am equally reminded of how insignificant I am compared to him. Yet, He loves me and chose to have a relationship with me. I stand in awe and sit in silence realizing that words are not enough.

A new survey of 35,000 adults has found that 57% of evangelical church attenders believe there are many ways to eternal life. Only 14% cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking. This is very disturbing-- not surprising, but disturbing.

In John 14:6 Jesus said..., “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Jesus could not be any clearer. He is the way; He is the truth; and He is the life. He is the only way to God! Sure, people want to argue that we should be more tolerant or "how could you believe that your religion is the only way." Simple! I believe in scripture as my authority and Jesus said in scripture He is the only way.

If I want to rely on my own thinking then I probably would believe there are many ways. Thinking this way is very convenient, but it is also very wrong. This does not surprise me, though. Why? In light of what I just shared with you, listen to the instruction that Paul gave to Timothy.

3:1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 6 For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, 7 always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men. (2 Timothy 4:1-9)

There is no mistake about it and as the pastor of Rock Springs Church, let me be very clear: Jesus is the only way to have eternal life. You must turn from your sins, believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, and confess Him as Lord and Savior of your life. If you have never done that, I want to encourage you to do that right now.