Category Archives: Minister’s Minute

Pastor’s writings that appeared in the Delta Optimist.

Skyping With God

Posted on January 29, 2012 | Comments Off on Skyping With God

Fellow readers, I am proud to say I am a new uncle. My sister had a healthy baby boy last week named Finn Jackson.

My sister and her family all live in North Carolina, so seeing Finn Jackson was not something I could just hop over and do, but with the blessing of technology, I was able to Skype (video chat) with both mother and child within an hour of his birth. The amazing thing is that even just a few years ago this would not have been possible.

When telling a friend about the recent Skype session, I said how neat it would be to be able to have a spiritual Skype with God. My friend then reminded me, we do. It’s called prayer!

Prayer is that time when we can go to God our Father and speak to Him about all that is weighing on our hearts and minds. We can also share our joys and blessings with Him. The beauty of prayer is that we do not need any fancy piece of technology; we can simply talk to him anywhere and anytime.

We can hear God speaking back to us through His Word, the Bible, and God tells us over and over again, “Lo, I am with you even until the end of the age.” (Matt 28: 20).

What a true blessing we have been given.

Pastor Steve Naylor

Published in Delta Optimist Jan 29 2012

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Posted in Minister's Minute, Prayer

A Simple Message

Posted on December 3, 2011 | Comments Off on A Simple Message

I write this article in the wake of another “Black Friday,” and while watching the videos and news about the mayhem, it made me realize how complex we have made the simple message of Christmas.

It would seem the modern “Spirit of Christmas,” namely that of peace and giving, has become one of greed and pepper spray. Christmas is becoming more and more complex and hazardous every year.

It has become that of the perfect dinner, the perfect presents (bigger and more expensive) and the perfect “deal” for those perfect presents. Everything has to be perfect, because if it is not, then we have obviously failed as a parent, grandparent, relative or friend.

Thankfully, many of us keep the receipts!

Christmas is actually very simple. When we put aside the dinners, the presents and everything that seems to be wrapped up in the season away, it comes down to one simple, yet perfect gift. The gift was the Christ who was born in a stable, grew up and died upon a cross to take away the sins of the world so we may live in a paradise called heaven forever.

Christmas still revolves around peace and giving, but not from us, from God.

So as we race for the best deals, and cook the best turkey or ham, may we never forget how simple that first Christmas gift really is.   Merry Christmas.

Pastor Steve Naylor

Published in Delta Optimist Dec 2 2011
[Image courtesy of MSNBC]

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Posted in Christmas, Minister's Minute