Frankly Speaking
 
In ancient Israel, they didn't have holidays-they had feasts. Their feasts (seven of them each year) were all considered Holy Days because they were God ordained. In fact, Israel is the only nation in history that ever enjoyed the privilege of having God establish their holidays. Today at sundown Rosh HaShanah, one of the three fall Jewish feasts, begins and continues through sundown Tuesday. Rosh HaShana, literally "Head of the Year,"  is the beginning of the Jewish New Year. It is also known as the Feast of Trumpets, one of the two Holiest days of the year, and is celebrated with the blowing of the shofar to call God's people together. Although it is a solemn day of soul-searching, forgiveness, and repentance, it is also a joyful day of celebration, looking forward to God's goodness and mercy in the New Year. The Holiest day of the year, Yom Kippur begins at sunset on Tuesday, October 8, and ends at sunset the following day. Yom Kippur, also known as The Day of Atonement, is a day of repentance, prayer, and fasting. The ten days between these two Holy Days are known as the Days of Awe, or Ten Days of Repentance, during which Jews reflect upon their actions over the past year and seek forgiveness for their transgressions. They are encouraged to seek out anyone whom they may have offended and sincerely request forgiveness so that the New Year can begin with a clean slate. The common theme throughout these Holy Days becomes apparent- reflection and repentance. These actions, when done in earnest, will always get God's attention. When we draw near to Him, He promises to draw near to us.

My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world. 1John 2:1,2 NLT
                                                                    Pastor Frank Dodson
 

Frankly Speaking
I was impressed to re-release this word I wrote back in September of 2018.
 
But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to His voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. 1Samuel 15:22
 
How do we know God's will? By learning to listen to His voice. How does He speak? Never the same way. Loud & thunderous? Usually not. A still, small voice? Usually. Through others? Many times. So then, how do we know it's His voice and not that of another? We must rely on the Spirit of God that lives within us. Jesus said, "But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—He will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you." (John 14:26)  When the Spirit takes up residence within us, we then have the ability to converse with God. To converse is to "keep company; to associate; to cohabit; to hold intercourse and be intimately acquainted with." The Spirit conveys God's will to us. Being in God's will is not about following endless rules and jumping through hoops to please God-it's about a relationship. When God tells you what to do, you do it; no matter how impossible it seems, no matter how silly it looks, no matter what others think, no matter that others aren't doing it, and no matter that you may never figure out why He had you do it in the first place. It's simply hearing and obeying. God is looking for those who will listen and obey-they are the ones who truly please Him. They are the ones He uses to build His kingdom here on Earth.
 
Satan doesn't so much mind us sacrificing, but he hates it when we are obedient!
                                                                                               ​Pastor Frank Dodson
 

Frankly Speaking
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2

Have you ever wondered why some things are not so clear in the Bible - why the scriptures don't always make sense to you or answer all the questions that you may have at the moment? Why would God hide His truth from us? I don't believe that God hides things from us, He hides them for us! I believe that it gives our Father great pleasure for us to seek out and find the morsels of truth that He has hidden within His Word. You are probably asking yourself, "Why would a loving Father hide things from His kids and get pleasure from sitting back and watching them search for them?" Isn't that some sort of sick pleasure? Not at all. I believe that a person's willingness and diligence to search and dig for the "deep things of God" not only shows a desire within them for truth, but a maturity as well. Sure God could lay it all out plainly before us, but what would that accomplish? Nothing, it would cause us to forever be waiting for someone else to "spoon-feed" us like babes, never learning to feed ourselves. God wants us to grow up, and study is a form of growth.  He wants us to know His Word and be able to navigate the Bible with confidence. It is His desire for us to be fully capable and equipped adult Christians, able to discern truth from lies and to withstand the cunning ploy of the enemy to blow us off course. Holy Spirit has been made available  Being grounded in the Word is becoming more and more imperative in these perilous times of rampant deceit and debauchery in which we live. So keep digging-- those who seek will find..
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" Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ." Eph. 4:14,15 
                                                                              Pastor Frank Dodson
 

Frankly Speaking
 I ran across this 'Word from Pastor Frank' that I wrote back in 2013. I thought it was worth sharing again. Pastor Frank.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
Most of us cannot imagine what it would be like to go through life missing a limb. I remember a time, during my reckless boyhood, of having to wear a cast on my right hand. I was greatly limited in what I could do. Simple tasks such as opening a can or jar, brushing my teeth, or getting dressed became very  challenging for me.  Zach Hodskins, a high school student from Alpharetta, Ga., was born without the lower half of his left arm because of a birth defect. But Zach never let his disability hold him back from doing whatever he wanted. His love for basketball drove him to work through his disability.  He did more than just compete. He excelled at the sport. Not only has Hodskins become a star basketball player, which would be impressive in and of itself, he was offered a spot on the University of Florida basketball team. In his own words, "When I'm out on the court, I forget that my arm isn't there and just play ball. Passion and love for the sport helps me overcome all obstacles. To this day I haven't come across anything I can't do." What an inspiration for all of us who seem to make endless excuses for not doing what we were called to do. Do you have a passion and love for serving Christ? If we truly have a passion for Christ and the ones that He has called us to serve, then we should be able to lay aside anything that stands in our way as well. Always be reminded that your strength comes from the One who made you the way you are, and it is through Him that you can do all things. 
"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12: 1,2
 
                                                                                              Pastor Frank Dodson
                                                                                                                

Frankly Speaking
"Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!" John 4:35
Ruby and I just returned from a much needed visit/mini vacation in Southern California. When flying, I always try to snatch a window seat so that I can study the ground below. Of course the clouds don't always allow this, but last Thursday was a clear afternoon as we flew in on our connecting flight from Houston and I had a perfect view. One of the things that I could not help but notice were all the colorful cotton modules scattered across the landscape. In South Texas the majority of the fields are no longer white for harvest. The harvesters have picked and rolled the cotton into big round modules, wrapping them in a polyethylene film - some yellow and some pink. These modules, resembling giant easter eggs, are then grouped into fours and are left laying in the bare fields. Next they will be transported to the cotton gin where the seeds, burrs, and other foreign matter will be removed. The 'cleaned' cotton will be compressed, baled and then sent out to be used in creating products that we use every day. The cotton industry reminds me of what the function of the church should be like. We have fields full of people everywhere around us. Everyone of them is valuable to God so He sends the harvesters out to collect and bring in these precious souls to the church. Once in the church they are to be first loved, and then taught and discipled. The church should be a safe place where the lost, the broken, and the weary find rest and restoration. It should be a place where they learn to shed all the foreign matter that has held them back from becoming all they were made to be. Yes, God has a purpose for all of His creation and He has sent us, His chosen ones, out into the fields to spread the 'good news' of His plan. Jesus told His followers that the fields were "white for harvest" and He's telling us the same today. Are you ready for the harvest church?
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Gal. 6:9
                                                                                       ​Pastor Frank Dodson