Dear Beachside Family and Friends,

One of my favorite movies of all time was released by Walt Disney in 1969. Starring Dean Jones and Michele Lee, it is a classic family flick. Unlike the live-action remake of another classic animared "DISNEY" film to be released later this month, the Love Bug contains no gay storylines or character, and does not push an unbiblical cultural agenda. It tells the tale of a Volkswagen Beetle come to life, who helps a defeated and dejected race driver find victory both on the track and in love.

In one scene, Herbie, the Volkswagen, takes control of things and drives the male and female leads against their will to a drive in restaurant. When the feisty Bug parks next to a Hot Rod with a hippie at the wheel, Michele Lee begins to beat on the passenger window and tell the driver she is trapped and a prisoner. Without hesitation,  the sage hippie responds "We all prisoners chickee baby, we all locked in."

While expressed in common vernacular, the drivers statement is true. All human beings are prisoners, and are locked into prisons of their own making by the choices they make in life. It should not surprise us when people live lives contrary to God's Word and Will, they are prisoners of what they have chosen to believe. The cultural upheaval we see on college campuses and the streets of our nation is one example, the lies and distortions of the media and politicians are another. We have come to a place in our nation where feelings equal reality, and truth is the casualty. Jesus said in Matthew 6:23 "...if the light you think you have is actually darkness, how deep that darkness is!" People have imprisoned themselves in darkness, and do not see the light of the truth. Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews "And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil." (John 3:19)

There is yet hope for those who walk in darkness and believe it is the light. Paul wrote in Galatians 3:22 "But the Scriptures declare that we are all prisoners of sin, so we receive God’s promise of freedom only by believing in Jesus Christ." Jesus is the light of the world, and brings release from deception and darkness to all who believe on Him, accept His Words as truth, and live by them. Jesus frees prisoners on every level. There are those who walk the corridors of penitentiaries, who because they have chosen Jesus, are truly free. There are also those who walk the streets openly, yet are the prisoners of darkness. 

Paul, who for a time was a prisoner in Rome, understood this. He wrote  "For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear." (Phil 1:13-14) Paul knew that even though he was bound physically, he was free in Jesus. Having this attitude, he inspired others to proclaim the truth. The Gospel cannot be hindered: the truth will always prevail.

Michele Lee's character was liberated from the Volkswagen and found peace and joy in life. No one has to live a life "locked in" to a darkness of their own choosing. Jesus is the key that unlocks the prison door of darkness in our lives. I'm so happy to say " We all free chickee  baby, we all been set free!"

Pastor Ramon

Dear Beachside Family and Friends,

There's an old adage that asks the question "How do you eat an elephant?"  Few of us have ever contemplated an elephant steak dinner, and fewer still have actually consumed a plate of pachyderm. Even if enamored by the flavor and texture of elephant meat, would it be possible to eat an entire elephant? The sensible answer is of course, no. Elephants are much too large and stomachs too small for any one person to eat an whole elephant. Since this is the case, what is the purpose of the question, and what is the answer?

The purpose of the question is not contemplating an elephant feast, but to evaluate ways to do what is impossible. The correct answer is "one bite at a time." Every single one of us will face impossible situations in life, circumstances that are larger than our ability to change them. Things that are impossible are certain to arise, and our response to them will determine the success or failure of our lives. No matter what difficulties we may face, the only way to deal effectively with them is to take one step at a time. 

When considering an impossible situation, the disciples questioned Jesus. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) God asks us all to do the impossible. He never asks us to do  what is possible, for what is possible does not require his assistance. Since all things are possible with God, we must be willing to believe and act: to believe what He says in His W ord, and to act accordingly. Paul wrote "for we walk by faith, not by sight:" (2 Cor 5:7) Living by faith and doing the impossible is not accomplished in one giant leap: it is realized by simply walking step by step towards our goals and dreams. 

Is there an elephant in the room of your life? Are you facing an impossible situation? If you are, then take heart. If it is impossible for you to do it, then it must be possible for God to do it. He will do it in and through you when you take one step at a time, walking by faith. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. How do you do the impossible? One step at a time. "...If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23)

Pastor Ramon