II Samuel 9.1:  "And David said, Is there yet any that is left of the house of Saul, that I may shew him kindness for Jonathan's sake?"

Kindness seems to be a lost attribute in our day.  It is looked upon as weak, wimpy, uncool, and many other negative ways.  Kindness IS NOT  a sign of weakness.  Anyone can lash out in anger, it takes no strength, no self control to do so.  But, it takes sobriety, control, patience and true strength to restrain yourself and respond in kindness.  Ephesians 4.32 says, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  We have an example to follow in this thing of kindness...our the Lord.  As God for Christ's sake has forgiveness us, we are to forgive one another.  We have an old testament picture of God's forgiveness in our verse.  Saul was the enemy of God, yet Saul's son Jonathan was kind to David.  When David came in to power, he sought someone of the household of Saul that he might show kindness.  He was not interested in showing revenge for Saul's evil.  But, for Jonathan's sake he wanted to show kindness.  We deserve God's wrath and God's judgment, but because of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us on the cross, the Lord shows kindness and forgiveness to us.  We don't deserve it..we didn't earn it.  It is bestowed on us solely for Christ's sake.  I have no other grounds of salvation.  No price could I offer to secure salvation.  It is only for His sake that I am saved!

Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.

Brother Bret M. Pallotta

Revelation 21.4:  "And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and their shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."

I don't know if it just coincidence or what, but it sure seems as if there has been quite a bit of sickness around our church lately.  Several surgeries, severe illnesses, diagnoses of cancer, and lots of aches and pains.  Today, my father-in-law is having surgery for bladder cancer.   He is a godly man that has been faithful to the Lord for many years.  He has served the church where he is now for over 30 years.  He has been a deacon, song leader, he almost singlehandedly built the sanctuary, mowed the yard, and for the last several years has served as pastor.  I do wish you would remember him in prayer today.  It seems as though everyone you talk to has sickness or a heavy heart about someone they love who is sick.  We, who are saved, know that suffering is a part of this life.  Man that is born of a woman is of a few days and full of troubles.  Sin has brought a terrible curse upon this earth.  But, thanks be to the Lord, that our Lord Jesus Christ bore our sin and shame, that we might have eternal LIFE!!!  One day, we are going to a place with no tears.  There will be a new day dawning.  There will be no sorrow nor any pain. 

I am enjoying the journey down here, God is so good to me, but what a day that will be when we reach our final destination.  If you are not saved, won't you come along with us?  The Lord Jesus paid the fare on the cross!  You can get your ticket by way of the cross!  It's a great trip, but the best is yet to come!

Bro. Bret M. Pallotta

It's what is beneath the surface that counts.

I Kings 17.3-4: "Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.  And it shall be, that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed the there."

Some of the greatest works of God are done beneath the surface.  Hid from the rest of the world, God will do miraculous works of grace in your life.  The people who are truly great christians, their depth, their power, their strength, the work that made them strong in public, was mostly accomplished in secret.  In prayer, in reading and meditating on God's word, and in exhibiting character and faith when no one is around.  God did a work in them and through them when nobody was watching.  These hidden experiences made them spiritually strong to the public.  I believe that the greatest rewards will be granted at the Judgment Seat of Christ for the hidden things.  It is not in public life that we gain strength, it is in our hidden life that we find strength of our public life.  God hid Elijah away, before he God did his greatest works and miracles through him in public.

Bro. Bret M. Pallotta

Psalm 118.24:  "This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will be glad and rejoice in it."

Today's verse is a primarily a prophetic verse that looks forward to the when "The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner".  It is a reference to the time that Christ would be rejected of mankind, but his work received of God.  And truly, for us, that is a day to be glad and rejoice in! 

However, there is no problem at all theologically applying this to everyday!  Each day is a new day that the Lord has created.  Each day is a brand new page, new challenges, new opportunities, new day to use our strength, mind, and voice to praise the Lord and do his will.  A new day to smile and laugh.  A new day to be molded and shaped by the Master potter. 

I must confess, that Fall is my favorite time of year.  The weather, the changing leaves,  the crispness to the air - there are so many things I love about Fall.  The Lord sure has put on a wonderful "show" for us this year.  Beautiful weather, plenty of food for the wildlife, high pressure, low humidity.  Just great days!  But, everyday is great - when the Lord is the center of that day!  He is the One that makes days bright and sunny.  He is the reason that I rejoice and am glad.  It truly is a beautiful day, when the Lord is the center of your day!

Pastor Bret Pallotta

Isaiah 43.1-3:  "...Fear not:  for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou are mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee...For I am the LORD thy God..."

The children of Israel were very well acquainted with the analogy the LORD had given them here.  On two different occasions their forefathers had encountered a river that kept them from the place God wanted them to be.  Both times, the LORD cared for them and carried them safely across.  The first was the Red Sea when Pharaoh and his armies had the Israelites trapped and God parted the Red Sea and they went across on dry ground.  The second time was when Joshua and the Israelites were heading into the Promised Land and the Jordan River stood before them.  Again, God parted the river and they walked across.  In Isaiah 43, the LORD now promises Israel that He will be with them when they encounter raging rivers in their life!  The LORD tells us here that when we pass through waters, He will be with us!  As was the journey of the Israelites out of Egypt and into Canaan, so is our journey through life.  There will be times when we will face unsurmountable situations.  Trials, obstacles, difficulties that seem to be impossible.  Fear, discouragement and doubt will flood our souls and we will be tempted to give up and give out!  It is during those times, the LORD will be with us!  He never promises to remove the rivers or even to part them, but He will be with us to carry us safely through those times.

When our Savior came walking toward the disciples upon the Sea of Galilee, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water himself.  However, when he looked around at the waves and the storm, Peter began to sink.  But, the Lord was not going to let one of his children drown - He pulled Peter out of the water, and brought him safely to the ship!  The Lord will not let you drown!  He will be with you and when He is with you and rely on Him - He will bring you safely through. 

The boat can't sink when Jesus is on board!

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta

Revelation 13.16-18:  "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in the right hand, or in their foreheads:  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.  Here is wisdom.  Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred three score and six."

The writing under the image reads, "PHOTO ANTICS...An ant carries a 1mm microchip in its mandibles in a promotional photograph released by Huddersfield Precision Technology Centre.  The Centre says its the first in Britian to calibrate measurements and instruments of 1/10,000ths of a millimeter."  This is quoted from Reuters. 

I don't know when the Lord is coming back, but I am confident it is soon.  While many people give the idea of the Lord coming back little thought, everything is lining up around the world in fulfillment of the signs the Bible said would precede His return.  The Lord's Second Coming is in two stages: 

1.  He comes as a thief in the night for church.  He comes into the atmospheric realm of planet earth and takes his bride, the church, away before the beginning of the 7 year tribulation.  (I Thes. 4.13-5.11)

2.  At least 7 years after this event, the Lord Jesus returns bodily to the planet as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  (Revelation 19..11-16). 

As I said, I do not claim to know the exact time of the Lord's return, but we look around and see all the signs that were left for us.  We living in the days of Noah and the days of Lot.  Denominations that once stood for the truths of the Bible are now bastions of liberalism and apostasy.  The resurrection of Israel from the graveyards of the nations is one of the greatest signs of the nearness of the Lord's return.  We also have things coming to fruition that no doubt will lead ultimately to the fulfillment of Bible prophecy.  In our scripture verses for today, the Bible tells us of a time when the Beast, the satanic world leader of the tribulation, will cause basic economics to be controlled through one central authority.  This way all who would be involved in buying or selling merchandise, medicine, services, etc would only be allowed to do so by the authority of this global despot.  We are seeing the makings of this in our day.  The markets are becoming increasingly global.  There is continued centralization of the economies of the world.  Couple that with a society that is increasingly cashless.  Then, we continue to see increasing strides made in the field of microchip technology.  As in the picture above, some microchips are so small an ant can carry them in their mandibles.  Everything is in place for "chip" to be implanted which will allow a person to buy and sell with simply the swipe of the hand or forehead.  All your financial information, medical information, personal history stored on a microchip.  We already see companies offering microchip implants for pets and children for the purpose of tracking them should they become lost or abducted.  When you look at the events around the world with a Biblical perspective, it is like looking at a chess board, with all the pieces in place.  God is about to declare "checkmate" on this world!  Are you ready for the return of our Lord?

Listen, I am not looking for the Antichrist...I am looking for THE Christ!  If you are saved, you don't have to worry about all these awful things coming upon the earth - we have a ticket out of here before all that occurs!  That ticket was paid in full by our Savior at Calvary!  But, if have never been born again, you had better get saved now.  To be left behind means unimaginable suffering and then separated from God forever and ever in torment!  Come to Christ now!  Be saved today while you still have the chance!

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta

Joshua 1.5:  "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life:  as I was with Moses, so  I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."

Moses, Joshua's leader, mentor and friend, has just passed away leaving Joshua with a tremendous responsibility.  Millions of people to lead, nations to conquer in battle, a mighty river to cross, walled cities to tear down, and many more incomprehensible tasks.  It is no wonder Joshua is told over and over to "be strong and of a good courage".  The responsibility had to be crushing.  Do you ever feel this way?  The responsibilities of life are crushing you?  They are smothering the life out of you?  You feel there is no way you can accomplish the things that are set out before you?  That is how Joshua felt.  But, the Lord said, "I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee."  The same one who was with Joshua is with you today.  Matter of fact, He said in Hebrews 13.5-6, "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper...".  With a helper like that - if you trust and depend on Him - how can you fail?

By the way, the last part of Hebrews 13.5 means the same thing if you say it backwards or forwards "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  Thee forsake, nor thee leave never will I.   I guess you could say - He is with with you coming or going!  Trust Him believer, look to Him for strength when tasks seem overwhelming.  Take time to talk with Him.  Following Him, you will not fail!

God bless you,

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta

Please pray for my mother.  She is having surgery to have part of her intestine removed.  She has been diagnosed with diverticulitis.  I appreciate so much folks praying.  I will be at the hospital with her tomorrow.  Also, we are having a great Revival Meeting.  Bro. Allen Johnson has done some great preaching this week, we thank the Lord for it!

God bless you all,

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta

Psalm 71.9:  "Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth."

A few weeks ago, I read the book Fighting for Dear Life by attorney David Gibbs III.  It is the account of his legal defense of Terry Schiavo.  Many of you will remember the heroic effort that her family fought to keep her alive over the wishes of her husband, Michael Schiavo.  Terry was portrayed by her husband and in turn by a large part of the media as in a complete vegetative state.  The media and everyone else (except for a select few people) were banned from visiting Terry in her room.  It was very saddening to read about a legal system that had turned it's back on the most helpless of people.  Terry ended up being starved to death and died a slow, agonizing death because some thought she had no value to society.  We see this "death to the weak and helpless" movement growing in our culture more and more.  Abortion, infanticide, so-called mercy killings, euthanasia, etc. are ever increasing and becoming more and more acceptable by society.  Also, as technology increases, decisions about life and death become more complicated and families grapple with issues of life-support equipment and drugs that prolong the inevitable.  Sometimes the line between what is right and what is wrong can become so blurred it is difficult to tell.   

As society continues to devalue the life of the elderly, weak and infirmed, we witness  many cases of the elderly and weak pushed out of people's lives and forgotten about in nursing homes and institutions.  Thank God for good places like this that can care for the elderly and infirmed.  Thank the Lord for dedicated workers who help those who cannot help themselves and loving watch over the weak, and helpless.  But, many times the elderly and infirmed feel forsaken and forgotten.  Often they are viewed as unimportant and even a nuisance.  But they are not!  Listen, there may come a time in your life when YOU and I are infirmed, helpless or old.  In that time, you may feel neglected or forgotten.  I remember the old story of the Chinese family.  The dad was going to take the grandfather out and kill him, because he was old and infirmed.  The dad took his son with them for part of the journey and explained to his son, that "grandfather was old and infirmed and I am going to put him out of his misery".  The boy replied, this is good father, now I will know what to do with you when you get old and infirmed".  The dad turned around and took grandfather and his son home and cared for grandfather the rest of his days.  Again I say, the day may come when you feel forsaken by all, but know this:  The Lord will not forsake you in that time!  He will be with you - look to Him for strength and courage.  Trust in Him in that day.  I visit a few different elderly people of our church and relatives of our church family.   I have visited some that were cantankerous, complaining and sour.  These folks were not looking to the Lord.  Their old age was a misery to them.  Their life full of complaints and bitterness.  But, many of the folks I visit love the Lord.  They look to Him everyday for help and strength.  They find solace in the Lord and in His word.  When I visit with these folks, though they are infirmed and incapacitated to a large degree, yet there is joy and strength in their life and in their spirit!  It is refreshing to visit with them.  They are a well of wisdom and of joy!  In your old age and in your infirmities, trust in the Lord, He will never leave you, nor forsake you.

Let me close with this, how long has it been since you visited an elderly or infirmed person and showed them you care and told them the Lord cares?

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta

In recent days, as I meditated upon a couple of different books of the Bible, it came to my mind "what a difference" between how the book of Joshua ends and how the book of Judges ends.  These books are right next to each other in order as they are placed in the Bible.  They are also in chronological order.  The book of Joshua ends with the last charge of Joshua to Israel and his death.  You will remember, one of Joshua's last statements to his nation was "...as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."  The book of Joshua concludes with the Holy Spirit telling us that, "And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel." 

Now, fast-forward to the end of the very next book chronologically, Judges.  Chapter 21 verse 25 says, "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."  As near as I can tell, it had been approximately 300 years from the end of Joshua to the end of Judges.  In approximately 300 years, this nation had went from serving the LORD, to every man doing what was right in HIS own eyes.  In other words, they had no moral or spiritual compass.  There are a lot of things we can assign blame to for the decay of society in Israel during this time, a lack of strong leadership, complacency among the people, etc., but the thing I want you to notice is the steady moral and spiritual decay of this nation!  Judges ends with the sordid account of a Levite whose concubine "ran around" on him.  He went to get her and bring her home.  On the journey back, certain wicked men wanted to commit sodomy with the Levite, but the Levite's host begged them not to.  So, these wicked men took the man's concubine and abused her all night until she died.  The Levite cut the dead concubine in 12 pieces and sent the unto all the coasts of Israel.  The Bible says, "...There was no such deed done nor seen from the day the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day...".  How tragic that nation could fall so far, in such a relatively short period of time.  In what could amount to three lifetimes, this nation had went from it's highest plateau to it's lowest possible level.

I could expound on this for a long time - but let me just close with this:  "Do you see any modern day examples of a nation falling so far in a period of about 300 years?"

May God have mercy on us and help us to turn back to Him! 

Pastor Bret M. Pallotta