NOW AVAILABLE!
IT'S HARD to do good
Part of being a follower of Christ is to do good, even if it’s hard. This book teaches us, from the scriptures and by personal experience, how we can be a more effective “do gooder.”
The book is now available on Amazon, barnesandnoble.com and bookstore databases worldwide.
about Pastor Ken
Kenneth McGaffic, along with his wife Linda, are residents of Beaver County, a suburb of Pittsburgh, PA. Ken serves as Associate Pastor of Wildwood Chapel, Aliquippa, a non-denominational full gospel church. He is also President of McGaffic Advertising, an advertising agency. With his wife Linda, they are the promoters of Old-Fashioned Christmas in the Woods. In 2020, this festival was ranked as the number one Contemporary Craft Show in the country by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
Ken and Linda are parents to two beautiful daughters and are blessed to have two marvelous sons-in-law, and three precious grandsons. Ken and his wife are pickleball enthusiasts and can be found on the court as often as they can.
The ROMANS ROAD
Every journey begins someplace. For those seeking salvation, the Romans Road is a type of road map (it’s the original GPS) that uses scripture verses out of the book of Romans to present the good news of the gospel. Why not check out the mile markers and begin your own journey?
Mile Marker #1 - EVERY PERSON IS A SINNER...BEING GOOD ISN’T ENOUGH
Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 3:10 - As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Whether you were raised in a Christian home, a preacher or a prostitute, before God were all sinners in need of forgiveness. One of the first steps to salvation is simply recognizing, yes, I’m a sinner. I’ve done things displeasing God.
Mile Marker #2 - THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN
Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death;
Not just a physical death, but an eternal death. It’s obvious no one gets out of this world alive. You can eat all the health food you want, take the vitamins and exercise, you’ll still have a date with the undertaker. It’s part of living in this broken and sinful world. But after we die a physical death...what then?
Mile Marker #3 - THERE IS HOPE
Romans 6:23 - ... but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:8 - But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
No good judge would let the guilty go free. The Bible says God is love. He realized our broken state all the way back in the Garden of Eden and prepared a way of escape for us. Jesus paid the price for our sins by taking them on himself to the cross. He died for us when we didn’t deserve it. Not only did He die, but also resurrected to prove the penalty of sin has been paid.
Mile Marker #4 - WHAT IS OUR PART?
Romans 10:9-10 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Good works won’t earn you salvation, its repenting of your sins (change one’s mind or go in a different direction) and confessing and surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Here’s a simple salvation prayer, say it in your own words (why not get down on your knees?) and say it our loud:
“Dear God, I know I’m a sinner. I know any sin deserves to be punished. I believe Christ is the Son of God, who died for me and rose from the grave. I want to turn from my sin and trust Jesus Christ alone as my Savior. Thank You for the forgiveness and everlasting life I can now have through faith in Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen”
Mile Marker #5 - HOW DO I KNOW THAT GOD HEARD ME?
Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
God accepts all that come to Him. You may wonder but I really did some terrible things. Believe me, God has seen it all and still accepts us through the sacrifice of his dear Son.
Isaiah 1:18 - Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Psalms 103:12 - As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Mile Marker #6 - WHERE DO I GO FROM HERE?
Romans 10:17 - So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
You need to start reading God’s Word, the Bible, to build your faith. A good place to start is the Gospel of John.
IICorinthians 5:17 - Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The Bible tells us after receiving Christ, we’re a new person. The enemy of our soul, Satan, will tell us in our minds nothing really happened. That’s when we need to say just the opposite by quoting God’s Word.
BUILDING A HEALTHY SPIRITUAL LIFE
Here’s something to consider. A physical person needs 4 things to live a healthy life on planet Earth.
Food - Rest - Exercise - Companionship
Your spiritual man (the born again person) needs that as well.
FOOD
Matthew 4:4 - But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
If you don’t eat in the natural, you become weak. Same thing in the spiritual, we need to eat God’s Word by reading it daily. It’s nourishment for our soul.
REST
IPeter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
We need to rest by casting our cares on the Lord through prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God, not saying prayers, but speaking to Him as a friend and quietly waiting for Him to speak to your heart. You can pray anytime at any place. It’s amazing the creator of the universe wants us to talk with us.
EXERCISE
Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
James 1:22 - But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
You need to put into practice what we learn form the scriptures. A good place to start is by sharing with others about your commitment to Christ. It’s a sure way to build your spiritual muscles.
COMPANIONSHIP
Hebrews 10:25 - Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
You’ve heard the old saying “Birds of a feather flock together.” Find a church that preaches God’s Word, prays and worships God through praise. Some believers have the attitude its just me and Jesus, I don’t need a church. That’s a selfish attitude. Maybe someone in the church needs what you have to offer. Consider this, take a hot coal of fire and place it by itself, gets cold real fast.