The Door

One Door

One door, and only one

And yet its sides are two,

Inside and outside,

On which side are you?

One Door, and only one,

And yet its sides are two,

I'm on the inside,

On which side are you?

One Lord, and only one

And yet the ways are two,

Right way and wrong way

on which way are you?

One Lord, and only one

And yet its ways are two

I'm on the right way,

on which way are you?

One Book, and only one

Which tells of places two

Good place or bad place

on which place choose you?

One Book and only one

which tells the place is true

I choose the good place,

and which place choose you?

Faith That Transform Your Mind

Virtuous Thinking

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Why Finally Matters

In Philippians 4:8, the Holy Ghost of God closes this letter with a powerful exhortation: “It is the gathering together of everything the Apostle Paul has been teaching throughout his letter. After speaking of humility, steadfastness, rejoicing in the Lord, prayer instead of anxiety, and the peace of God that guards the heart and mind, he arrives at this concluding charge—which  is not passive reflection but an active, deliberate choice: think on these things.

Noble Thinking

The Holy Ghost of Jesus Christ then lays out a portrait of holy attention. He strings together several qualities, and each one sharpens what “thinking” mean:

• “Whatsoever things are true”: not just what feels true. Truth steadies you when emotions are loud.
• “Whatsoever things are honest”: integrity rather than performance; sincerity rather than manipulation.
• “Whatsoever things are just”: fair and rightness.
• “Whatsoever things are pure”: spiritually clean; a heart kept from what disfigures it.
• “Whatsoever things are lovely”: goodness that attracts; beauty of character, winsomeness.
• “Whatsoever things are of good report”: actions and conversations that can bear good fruit of righteousness.

Filter For Thinking

Then Paul adds, “if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” This is a comprehensive filter: anything excellent, anything that draws you toward God and righteousness, meditate on it, dwell on it, let it shape your inner world. The point is not that life is always bright; it is that your mind does not have to be governed by darkness, rumor, cynicism, or greed. You are invited to curate your thoughts with what aligns with God’s character.

Finally, Salvation By Faith

When the noise of the world threatens to drown out peace, and fear attempts to claim the quiet places of your heart, remember where ultimate Truth resides. Jesus Christ is truth without deception, purity without stain, justice without compromise, loveliness without measure, and goodness beyond all praise. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ, turn to Him today by faith. Jesus Christ is able to save you completely, to forgive every sin, and to give you eternal life. Your salvation is not secured by mastering your mindset first, it comes through trusting Jesus, who makes you new from the inside out.

A Sinner's Reflection

Pride Vs. Humility

Luke 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner

Two Men Go To Pray

Jesus paints a sharp, unforgettable contrast between two men who go up to the temple to pray: a respected, highly religious man, pious, zealous, legalistic and he is present with a despised, outcast, dishonest, Roman collaborator. By "standing afar off" and refusing to "lift up his eyes," he acknowledges a spiritual truth: in the presence of a holy God, the sinner is acutely aware of their own inadequacy. He does not attempt to bridge the gap with excuses or a list of good deeds. Instead, his act of "smiting his breast" is a manifestation of contrition; a heart broken by the weight of its own failings. He recognizes that there is no leverage he can use to negotiate with the God the Father.

The Plea for Mercy

The core of the passage lies in the phrase, "God be merciful to me a sinner." This is not a request for justice, for justice would result in condemnation. It is a plea for mercy; the decision to withhold a deserved punishment and instead provide an undeserved blessing.

The publican understands that God’s mercy is not a reward for the righteous, but a rescue for the ruined. While the Pharisee in the preceding verses praised himself for his adherence to the law, the publican offers nothing but his need. In doing so, he creates the only space in which mercy can operate. God’s mercy is most powerfully activated not when we present our achievements, but when we present our emptiness.

Unlike the Pharisee, who presents a ledger of his own achievements, the publican brings absolutely nothing to the table except his desperate need. He does not point to any good works, family lineage, or religious rituals. He strips away all pretense and appeals strictly to the character of God. In doing so, he reveals the beautiful truth of the gospel: God’s mercy is not earned; it is a gift freely given to those who recognize their bankruptcy before Him.

The Response

The beauty of this passage is that the publican’s honesty becomes his justification. God does not overlook the sin, but He responds to the humility. The mercy requested is granted because the sinner has stopped pretending to be holy. By admitting he is "a sinner," the publican ceases his war against God and accepts his total dependence on Him. This demonstrates that the doorway to salvation is not a ladder of moral ascent, but a valley of obedience and humility.

Honesty About Sin

You might believe that your mistakes have exhausted the patience of Heaven or that you are the one exception to the rule of grace. But look again at the publican. He didn't need to find the right words, climb a mountain, or scrub his soul clean before he approached God; he only had to be honest about his sin.

Your sin is not a barrier to God's mercy; it is the very thing that makes His mercy necessary and available to you. Right now, in the midst of your shame, there is a love that does not recoil from your scars or judge your failures. Salvation isn't a trophy for the perfect; it is a lifeline thrown to the drowning. You don't have to earn your way back. You cannot outrun your failures, nor can you build a high enough tower of good deeds to reach a holy God. Jesus has already paid what you could never pay, suffered what you could never endure, and risen so that your guilt can be gone and your soul made new. 

Today, mercy is waiting for you; won’t you accept the free gift of salvation today…

Standing Between Two Futures

A Call You Cannot Ignore:  Repent, Believe, and Live

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Standing At the Crossroad

Imagine standing at the crossroads of life, where the path of ignorance leads to a dark and uncertain future, while the path of repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ opens up to a horizon of hope and everlasting peace. The passage from Acts 17:30 is a clarion call, a wake-up call to you, urging us to shed the shroud of ignorance and embrace the light of salvation. It is a plea to you to recognize that the time for excuses is over, and the time for action is now. You should never be found wanting when the call to repentance echoes through the corridors of our hearts…softly and tenderly Jesus is calling. Rise above your ignorance, seek the path of righteousness, and live.

• In your past condition—when you were ignorant the Lord was gracious and tolerated your ignorance; however, today there is a present demand for accountability. The Lord overlooked your failings born of ignorance. That allowance was conditional and temporary.
• Today, "but now commandeth" shifts tone from patience to urgency. The passive allowance has ended; an active summons replaces it. The command is universal—"all men every where"—leaving no geographical, cultural, or personal exception. Ignorance no longer mitigates responsibility.

Delayed Obedience

There comes a moment when silence becomes refusal, and delay becomes defiance. God’s mercy is longsuffering and you can hear it clearly. The age of ignorance has passed; the time of decision is now. To remain unmoved now is not a lack of knowledge—it is a rejection of truth.

The light has come.
The call has been issued.
And the question is no longer “Did you know?”
The question is “What will you do now that you know?”

The Lord once winked at ignorance, but now the Lord calls—urgently, lovingly, decisively—for repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. If you have questions about eternity or questions about salvation or the bible don’t hesitate to ask. Leave a note in the message.