Sunday, May 10, 2009

“Crazy Mike”

We enjoy the opportunities we have had to worship at Horizon Christian Fellowship in San Diego with Pastor Mike Macintosh.

One of our favorite messages by Pastor Mike was on the subject of how Christ has given us freedom from sin. His emphasis was on the danger of ignoring God’s escape from the penalty of sin... His gracious gift of love through Jesus Christ our Lord.

20For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21But then what benefit (return) did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? [None] for the end of those things is death. 22But now since you have been set free from sin and have become the slaves of God, you have your present reward in holiness and its end is eternal life. 23For the wages which sin pays is death, but the [bountiful] free gift of God is eternal life through (in union with) Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 6:20-23 [AMP]

One favorite thing about Pastor Mike’s messages is his unique sense of humor.

During this particular Sunday, Mike told a joke about a Baptist man who lived in a Catholic neighborhood. He barbecued venison in his back yard every evening.

During Lent season, this drove his neighbors crazy because they were not allowed to eat meat during Lent. This went on year after year and was a great frustration to these folks.

Finally, they called their priest and asked him to convert the Baptist man. After a few days, the man went to the Catholic church where he had his first mass. The priest sprinkled him with holy water and said, “You were born a baptist... you have lived as a baptist... but you are now a catholic.”

Later, on a Friday evening, his neighbors were eating fish when they smelled the BBQ going with venison on it. Upset, they called the priest. The priest grabbed his rosary and went to chastise the man for eating venison on a Friday.

The priest arrived in the man’s backyard and saw him sprinkling holy water on the BBQ and saying, “You were born a deer... you have lived as a deer... but today you are a catfish.”

Some people think they can just do a little “sprinkle” and continue to live the old sinful lives that they had always lived. But if we will truly give our lives to Christ and turn away from our sins, we can experience true Freedom.

Catch Pastor Mike and other great ministers at: Horizon Christian Fellowship .

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