E-Flash From Dan - June 3, 2016

Dear E-Flash Friends;

More than 600 years before Jesus was born a prophet wrote about some of the details of His life with surprising insight and accuracy. And believe it or not what this prophet wrote is very relevant to our lives today. We are going to look at the writings I’m talking about—writings by the prophet Isaiah—this Sunday, June 5^th.

We will also be having a prayer time with the elders in between the two services. If you have a need for which you would like prayer please feel free to come. The prayer time will begin around 10:15 a.m.

I hope you can join us! I know you will be blessed. Invite a friend to come along. He or she will be blessed by the good news we read in the book of Isaiah, too!

I’m looking forward to Sunday. And I’m looking forward to seeing you!

Love and blessings,

Dan Marler

First Church of God

4600 W. 111^th Street

Oak Lawn, IL

Service times: 9am and 11am

P.S. All Wednesday evening programming—for both adults and children—is now on a summer break. We will resume again on Wednesday, August 3^rd.

P.P.S – Click on the link and check out the latest edition of the Minute And A Half of God Stuff Podcast. It is quick and inspiring!

Link…    http://visitusonline.org/scmedia.php?type=mediaplayer&loc=visitusonline.org/media/media/mediaplayer.php&id=2016060210063734F7AA

Speaking The Truth of God Can Be Unpopular

Throughout history many of the people who have spoken the truth of God forcefully, faithfully and accurately have been very unpopular, for example, Isaiah, John the Baptist and, of course, even Jesus, Himself. All three were executed. That’s what happens when you get REALLY unpopular. There have been many others, of course, these are just a few.

Even in more modern times there have been people who have spoken for God and found it was an unpopular thing to do. The Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., comes to mind.

The truth of God is often unpopular because it reminds people there is such a thing as “right” and “wrong” and the realization that we are doing something wrong is uncomfortable. Some people are unwilling to confront the fact they are doing something wrong so they become angry with the truth-teller as a way of denying the truth and coping with their discomfort.

In fact, the realization that we are doing something wrong can even make people feel threatened and fearful. When people feel threatened and fearful they can become quite dangerous to the truth-teller.

Because it can be very unpopular to speak the truth of God those of us who walk with God and take Him seriously will typically be tempted—somewhere along the way—not to speak the truth of God. I know this has been true for me on more than a few occasions.

I am writing this post to remind myself and challenge myself. Perhaps it will be a helpful and necessary reminder and challenge for you, too.

It is always best to be faithful to God. It is always right to be faithful to God. Even when it’s unpopular it is my desire—with His help—to faithfully speak the truth of God.