Dear Beachside Family and Friends;

There are times in life when we encounter problems that seem to have no solution. We spend hours thinking and praying, trying to figure things out. After all this effort, we may find ourselves in the same place we started from, dealing with the same challenges. In times like these, we need God and His Word more than ever!

Jehoshaphat, King of Judah was a righteous man. The Bible records that he served God with all his heart, like his ancestor David. He was prosperous in every way, and God blessed the nation of Judah because of his obedience. His success in God attracted the attention of a number of neighboring nations, who allied themselves together to attack and destroy Judah. The enemies' armies were far greater in number and power than the army of Judah, and they faced an impossible situation. In the midst of this very serious problem, they made a very important decision. Jehoshaphat, whose name means "God is my Judge", made this statement to God and the nation: "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chr 20:12)

Instead of trying to figure everything out on their own, the nation of Judah took their eyes off the problem, and turned their eyes upon God. They stopped focusing on the challenge, and focused on God and His Word. When they did so, God granted them incredible deliverance from their enemies. They didn't even have to fight. God fought for them, and all they had to do was pick up the riches their enemies left when they destroyed each other. (2 Chr 20:24-25)

The solution for any problem can always be found in God. We need to avoid the temptation to become so focused on solving our problems that we become controlled by them. Like the nation of Judah, we must focus on God and His Word. He is bigger than any problem! When our eyes are on Him, we receive the information necessary to be victorious in any situation. 

We will gather together Sunday at 9:30 AM for prayer and 10:00 AM for worship. If you are encountering challenges in life, problems that are larger than yourself, JESUS IS THE ANSWER! Join us and discover how focusing on a BIG GOD makes even the largest problems become small and powerless. As evangelist R.W. Shambach once said "You don't have any problems-all you need is faith in God!

Pastor Ramon

Dear Beachside and Family and Friends,

With each passing day, I grow more grateful for the life that God has given me. He has saved me and promised me eternal life in heaven. He has also made it possible for me to enjoy life here on the earth and experience His presence every day. Thanks to Hm, my life is not merely bearable, it is wonderful! When I think of all He has done for me, I want to fall on my face and worship Him, jump up-and-down and shout, or do both at the same time! God alone has the power to take someone like me, use me for His glory, and make my life truly meaningful. I am forever in awe of His goodness. 

God did not place us on the earth so that we may live empty and meaningless lives. He does not expect us to simply exist and stumble through unproductive and unfulfilled lives, yet there are many, including some Christians, whose existence is sad and filled with bitterness hurt, and rejection.

Some are so unhappy they despair of living another day. They wake up without hope and go to bed in want of comfort and assurance, waking only to start the cycle over again. Eventually life becomes unbearable and they seek a way out. The American Federation for Suicide Prevention informs us that last year, over 1.2 million people attempted suicide, with just over 44,000 ending their lives: lives for which God had plans, people for whom Jesus gave His life. Why does this happen when life can be happy and blessed?

Paul wrote to the Ephesians about their lives. He said "In those days you were living apart from Christ.....You lived in this world without God and without hope." (Eph 2:12) Hope that life will get better and become meaningful and fulfilling  does not come from this world. The world system cannot provide hope. Only God can supply the hope that so many so desperately need. The spirit of death, destruction, and suicide has been at work in the world since the temptation of Eve and Adam in the garden. Ephesians 2:2  says "You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God." Satan deceives men with faise hope, encouraging them to place their trust in riches, relationships, and government, knowing that when these fail  hopelessness will drive the deceived to despair and death. People cannot save us, government cannot meet our needs, and politicians will not deliver us. Hope in this world and its' system is empty and in vain. 

In spite of these things, there is Good News for those who are hopeless, seeing death as the only way out. God's Word speaks to our need for a hope that is real and lasting. 1 Peter 1:3 reads "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In God’s great mercy he has caused us to be born again into a living hope, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead." Giving our lives to Jesus brings a hope that cannot die, and before which all demons of despair must flee. Every life is important to God, your life i? important to Him, and He can and will restore you to happiness, peace and rest. Jesus says “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matt 11:28-29) 

Give your burdens, your hurts and your despair to Jesus. He loves you, accepts you as you are, and will give you rest that will change your perspective on life. Death is not the answer: death Has Been Answered by the One who triumphed over it. Jesus died and rose again to give us life that can never be defeated and cannot be overcome by the hurts and rejections that assail us. Each one of us is loved by the Father, the Son has destroyed the power of death, and the sun will shine again in our lives. We can make the choice to be happy, confident in the knowledge that God loves us, and be grateful for everything He has done. Together we can fall on our face and worship Him, then jump up and down and shout, "O happy day, O happy day, when Jesus washed my ?ins away!"

Pastor Ramon

Dear Beachside Family and Friends,

One of the most popular television shows in the 1960s was "Dragnet". Set in Los Angeles, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, officer Bill Gannon, worked the community, both enforcing the law and encouraging citizens to live better lives. When interviewing witnesses to a crime, Sergeant Friday often used the phrase he made famous "just the facts ma'm, just the facts". He recognized that the pursuit of truth could only be based upon facts.

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines "fact" as "something that has actual existence." A fact is something that has observable reality, such as "the sun is shining", or "it's raining". Both of these facts are not disputed because they can be easily verified. Even though facts should be verifiable, we live in a time where facts are no longer established by evidence, but upon the feelings of the observer. If someone thinks and feels that something must be factual, then their thoughts and feelings alone establish facts.

Proverbs 23:7  tells us "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he."  Whatever men think about and talk about becomes established fact to them. It does not matter whether or not there is evidence to support what they think and feel, it must be fact because they think it is. When what people think is fact is not supported by evidence, it becomes impossible to arrive at the truth. In today's society, Sergeant Friday would be hard-pressed to solve any crime he was working on, because "just the facts" are not "just the facts": they are manipulated and driven by thoughts and emotions, and are no longer "just", meaning righteous and true.

Paul wrote to Timothy " ...,in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!" (2 Tim 3:1-5) To see the facts of Paul's word confirmed, all that is necessary is to turn your television to CNN or other left wing media outlets and listen to what they say. 

While facts are in short supply in media reporting, there is a source of reliable fact that has been in existence for thousands of years. Society has changed, but it has not. Purveyors of the news have changed, but it has not. It is the Word of God. it will always be factual and never change because its' Author never changes. He says " For I am the Lord, I change not..." (Malachi 3:6) When the insanity of politicians and media distorts the truth, there is a source of truth, peace, and stability that is an everyday refuge for the believer. It is the BIBLE!

Bible prophecy predicted the mess we are in today, and Bible prophecy establishes that God's plan for the world will yet prevail. The facts in the Word of God establish a truth that is eternal and indisputable. As Benjamin Franklin observed "I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God Governs in the affairs of men."

Reliable facts can be found in the pages of the Bible, where no "fake news" exists. In fact, there is Good News to be found by all those who read it. 2 Timothy 1:10 reveals "And now he has made all of this plain to us by the appearing of Christ Jesus, our Savior. He broke the power of death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the Good News. If every politician and media personality discovered the Good News, they would be in possession of the most important fact:  “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) As sergeant Joe Friday could say "Now that's a fact ma'm, that IS a FACT!"

Pastor Ramon