Questions, we all have them. Trouble is we sometimes ask the wrong questions and get the wrong answers. As you search this site, you may be full of questions; Does God really forgive everything?, What church should I join. Why join? Aren't all religions different roads to the same destination? Do those who commit suicide go to hell? The questions are endless.

May I ask you a few questions?

Are you on a quest? Are you seeking God? Let me encourage you right now to have hope! The Bible teaches and proves that if we seek Him we will find Him. We do need to seek with all our heart. We need to purpose our lives to find Him. And He promises that we will. For God seeks to show Himself in a relationship with anyone who longs for Him. As a matter of fact, your seeking answers shows that God is seeking you out now. The Bible teaches that no one seeks for God, but that God will draw people to Him. Your search for God is a response to His initiative to show Himself to you.

Its not about religion. You see, the Pharisees of Jesus day were religious. So much so their religious pursuits caused them to strain at the useless as they forgot the important and eternal. Thus, it all became worthless. God has clearly said in John 17:3 that eternal life is that we may know Christ. God desires relationship, a love relationship.

So how do we "see" God. We don't actually see God in a physical sense. But we do gain a growing faith that then develops understanding. That faith sees God's handiwork in the sunrise and in tree bark, in needs met and in good coming from failure. Faith in God blooms to joy in all circumstances and hope builds in expectation and faith in the promises of God. Prayers are answered and life is constantly changing for the better, even through storms. Faith will take us beyond experience to trust Him in God sized endeavors.

We are not a perfect church. But we do find hope and thus joy in the relationship we seek with God. God uses those imperfections to grow us to be more like Jesus. When we get offended, we learn to forgive. When tired, we press on. When misunderstood, we seek to clarify. When wronged, we give the benefit of the doubt. Granted, we have a long way to go, as the Apostle Paul said, "I (we) press on toward the goal for the prize to the upward cal of God of Christ Jesus."

In Ephesians 4:1-3 we read; Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. This is our aim as a body of believers toward one another.

We seek to be Christ's ambassadors, showing the world that yes there is hope. As Charles Wesley once said "My aim in life is to give all men a correct impression of God." We agree.

So we invite you to visit Holiday Shores Baptist and to explore our website. Feel free to drop us an e-mail. We would love to pray for you.

In love with Christ,
Pastor Wes