Yelm Church of the Nazarene

04/01/2026

10/07/2025

The walk of life

I don’t know if you feel the same, but this world is a busy world. We wake up, have a quick breakfast, run our errands, go to work or do our chores… Then at the end of the day we have supper, take a shower and fall in bed exhausted. Or for those of us that are retired we fill in the time we used to work with other activities. But how much time do we spend in being with God?

Let me illustrate what I am getting at. Some of you walk, others travel by bus or car. While you’re traveling you see things around you. You see trees, fields, mountains, people, buildings etc. You see them, but don’t study them. Until your eye catches something interesting and you stop to take a closer look. But you don’t have much time, so you move on. Until someone stops you and engages you into a conversation. And you make time and maybe you make an appointment to meet again.

In our walk of life many things pass by us, important things and things of lesser importance. All these things draw our attention and often we gladly give our attention:

Look there: a pretty woman!
and there: what a strong man!
Oh yeah, I was going to read my bible, I’ll do that later…
Oh, there is a new store, I need to check it out!
Wait, there is a football game on, I need to watch it.
Oh yes, I needed to pray for my family, after the game I’ll do it.
I haven’t seen the news yet and haven’t checked my Facebook.
What was I going to do again, but I’m too tired now.

Sounds familiar?
You know Jesus had many distractions when He walked here on earth. Large crowds followed Him continually, He was followed by and questioned by the Pharisees, He saw the money changers in the temple and He saw the pretty women. Yet He took time frequently to be with His Father:

Mar 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
Luk 5:15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.
Luk 5:16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
Mat 14:23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray.
We all want to follow in Jesus’s footsteps, don’t we? But how many of you struggle with this? How much are we distracted with things of lesser importance and forget to pray and read our bibles? How deep is our relationship with God?
Are we passers by?
Do we stop and see?
Or do we take time out of our journey to spend with Him? To sit at His feet? To get to know Him better?

From childhood on Jesus had made it His mission to go about His Father’s business. It is not too late for us to choose to go about His business as well. If only we would get our priorities straight. Jesus taught:

Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Seek ye FIRST! Jesus rose up very early in the morning, while it was still dark to pray. Do you do that? Will you make that commitment? Will you travel the walk of life alone, wherever it leads you? Or will you seek Jesus’s companionship on that journey?
It is a total lie from the devil that you don’t have time to spend with God. Also the “later” argument is false: “later” usually doesn’t come. Only when you stop and make time for God you will get to know Him. Passersby don’t know Him, only those who step out and answer His invitation to sit with Him.

If tithing is still a thing you want to adhere to, let’s tithe our time. 10% out of 24 hours means 2 hours and 24 minutes with God. That’s a lot! How much time can you afford? If you have decided to surrender your life to Jesus and you want to know Him better, you’ll have to invest and sacrifice. Are you willing? Are you ready?

06/25/2025

❤️💯✝️

05/27/2025

The Story behind the Song

"I have decided to follow Jesus"

In 1904 a Welshman ventured halfway across the world to India and he trekked up the mountains towards a remote village in the east.

He was told, "Go back! The tribe in that village are famously
violent" but the Welshman ignored the warnings because even these savage headhunters should have the opportunity to hear about the mercy of God.

One Garo tribesman from the tribe Meghalaya named 'Nokseng' and his family heard the Gospel and received Jesus as their Savior. The good news was too good to keep to themselves and they shared the Gospel with others in the tribe.

The chief was very angry and he had the tribesman and his family dragged before the village.

"Stop following Jesus!" the chief demanded.

The tribesman replied "No I have decided to follow Jesus I am not turning back"

The chief was furious and killed the tribes man's children.

"Stop following Jesus!" the chief insisted.

The tribesman replied "Though none go with me
I still will follow no turning back."

The chief showed no mercy and he killed the tribes man's wife.

"Now you will stop following this Jesus!" the chief said.

The tribesman looked the chief in the eyes and replied "The cross before me the world behind me no turning back."

The chief could not believe his ears and he killed the tribesman.

Jesus said if a grain of wheat dies it bears much fruit and that day many of the villagers who witnessed the persecution of that tribesman and his family also decided to follow Jesus - even the chief himself became a follower of Jesus Christ.

The tribes man's last words became the song of the village and today it is sung all around the world.

A hundred years later, you still sing this song to church.

"I have decided to follow Jesus.

No turning back, no turning back."

Do you know that you are singing the words of a dead man who lost his children, lost his wife, and eventually lost his own life for Jesus?

How many people have you lost? Some of you might have, but the fact you are reading this means you still have your own life. Why falter in faith when you lose the little things you value on this Earth? Why do you threaten yourself to stop following Jesus when hardships come? Why do you deny Christ’s Lordship over your life when your friends are around?

You can lose your job.

Lose a loved one.

Lose all your friends.

Lose an exam.

Lose a great opportunity.

Lose a romantic interest.

You can lose literally EVERYTHING here on Earth, but remember Nokseng and the words he said when he lost everything:

"The Cross before me, the world behind me. No turning back."

Friends, whether you have decided to follow Jesus this week, last month, last year, or many years ago...

Remember,

N O T U R N I N G B A C K

--
The Imperial Patriarch

05/03/2025

Most detailed image of a cell to date. Not a photograph, but an image put together from different datasets. And they say this is all a huge cosmic mistake? I see the markings of an Intelligent Designer. Looks like an aerial view of an amusement park.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.republicworld.com/amp/entertainment-news/whats-viral/view-of-amusement-park-image-of-human-cell-model-leaves-netizens-mesmerised.html

01/03/2025

Who can relate?

AMEN

12/26/2024

Wise lessons

I love this little breakdown!

12/09/2024

The pastor says they sit front and center. The gay boys. Sometimes they hold hands. And some folks have said he should address the issue. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
There is the couple who are pregnant and not married. Walks in shame as her father a “Man of God”, physically slaps her legs while she is having morning sickness and the Boyfriend who is not wanting to marry her. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the man who sneaks in the back door. Fresh off the street. After the service starts. And leaves before altar call. The people sitting close complain about how bad he smells. Of beer and smoke and sweat. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And then there’s the young mama who wears dirty clothes and lets her four children come in and eat all the donuts and drink all the watered-down juice. Some church staff say they “…eat like little pigs. Like they haven’t eaten in weeks.” While the Mama just stands there and lets them. And the elders say something must be done and said. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
And there’s the w***e sitting among the faithful. And everybody knows her. She sits with a painted-up face, cheap perfume, and a broken heart. And those who sit close, well, they all treat her for what they think she is. And at the last staff meeting, her name came up. Something must be done about her. But the pastor tells me he doesn’t know what to say.
The pastor is a good man. Holy and just. And he wants to do the “right and loving” thing. And he wants to “look like Jesus”. And he asks me if I have any thoughts on anything he could say.
Yes, sweet Pastor. I do. Start with this and say it Louder than any other words:
“Welcome to Church. This is a place of love and hope and safety and forgiveness. There will be food for the hungry. Living water for the thirsty. We are so glad you are here. You are invited. You are loved. Come on in—we’ve been waiting on you. Welcome here. We are the church.”
Say that. To the called and to the called-out. To the leaders and the greeters. To the dirty and the clean. We are all the same. We are.
May we blow the dust of religion out of our souls and choose affection instead. May our words and actions and reactions be a sanctuary for all.
Jesus broke many laws to love. So, Jesus, be our voice. Be the only words we should ever speak. I believe this with all my heart. Years ago we were kinder. Everybody looked out for one another. We need to go back to that. It takes us all. We gotta do better at looking out for each other instead of breaking each other down.
I'm going to make a bet, that out of my family and friends, less than 4 will take the time to put this on their wall.
💚Who Are My four