Good Morning,

As we begin a new year, we would be wise to create a plan of action on how to better a specific area in our lives.  

In the world, economic trends shape countless lives.  For example, from November to January, we are surrounded by food.  Every store, magazine, commercial, etc. promotes holiday food; when walking into Costco, we see specialty foods at the end of every aisle. My guess is that when you walk in now, you will find diet and exercise items. 

These trends in marketing move us.  Last week, marketing said, “Eat, drink, and be merry.”  This week, marketing says, “You are overweight and eat like you are a garbage can.”

Philippians 1:20 “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." 


We should not only exalt Christ with feelings or emotions, but we also ought to exalt Christ in every word, in every deed, and in every plan for our families.  


One way to lift up Christ is to exalt His Word.  Notice what David writes about how God treats the Bible. Psalm 138:2  “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”


“...for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.”


God lifts up the Bible higher than His Own Name.  God wants His Word lifted up.  When I was in college, I did baby and family photography to pay my college bill.  In one home, the father insisted that the Koran be in every picture, and always right in front.  Although he was misled, he sought to magnify the Koran. I wonder how many of us have ever had the Bible in a family picture.  I would rather live it than display it, but there is a point in showing what we love. 


When someone walks into our homes, can they see a Bible or written Scripture anywhere?  When we travel,  can a Bible be found in our bags?  I am not a t-shirt wearing guy (unless we are camping or somewhere very casual), but I like Bible slogans on shirts; I have a couple of them.  If we advertise anything on our car with bumper stickers, is the Bible a part of it?  


God magnifies His Word above His Name.  How do we treat the Book?  (That is what Bible means, THE BOOK.)

Let us begin our year by seeking to exalt THE BOOK.  Read it every day; memorize it and carry it.  Put down the phone or tablet in church and carry a Bible.  Make sure your children treat the Bible with extra care, more so than any other book.  Read the Bible to your children, not just a Bible storybook. Ladies, I know you like to decorate your home just right, but is there a Bible in sight anywhere in your home?   Remember the days when there was a family Bible on the living room table?  Maybe not, most of you are too young, but for many years, it was a common place for God’s Word in the homes of early Americans.  


Talk about the Bible as much as you talk about your favorite sports team.  More importantly, seek to live It’s truths daily.  May our speech and actions reflect the Word of God in every way.  May our actions never betray the instructions in our Bible.  


Did you ever see a hat that says, “Proud to be a Marine” or something like that?  Hmm, how about a hat that reflects the wonder of the Bible?  We have some guys in church who compete and banter about the Army versus the Marines.  People like their basketball or football teams or their branch of the military.  I am in favor of fun, but let us talk about the Bible and lift It up in casual conversation, for there is no book like The Book.  

Psalm 56:4 “In God I will praise his word..”.

Psalm 56:10 “In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word.” 

Isaiah 42:21 “The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.” 

If we hope to magnify Christ this year, it will begin with magnifying His Word.  This will not happen unless we plan. Carry It; read It; love It; care for It; talk of It and teach it.


Pastor

The Curse of Pride

Good Morning,


With widespread media, an influx of worldly thinking is prevalent in our society today; one trait has especially raised its ungodly head – personal arrogance.  From athletes to actors and musicians, we are surrounded by arrogant overconfidence.  Sadly, there are Bible principles that condemn this kind of thinking. 

1 Peter 5:5 “... God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.”

James 4:6 “... God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

God will resist the proud and push away the arrogant and self-sufficient, and He makes promises to the contrary as well.


Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” 

God dwells with the humble and contrite.  God will be near to those who have a broken heart and a humble heart.

Isaiah 66:2 "...but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word." 

God will look to the humble and contrite and to those who tremble at His Word. I want God looking after me.  I want God hovering near, watching out for me, and guarding me as I pass through life.  When I spend time around someone who is a big talker, I tremble for the wall of separation that they are creating between themselves and Almighty God. 

Any confidence I have is founded in the Bible or in the instruction of older, godly men who have taught me.  There is no good in me, and I dread the thought of God looking at my self-righteousness and stepping away to leave me alone. 


Whether it be an athlete or a know-it-all Christian, I tremble for those who live on God’s earth, breathe His air, and seem to lift themselves above all others.   I have heard Christian men boast themselves of possessing knowledge and wisdom who do not teach a Sunday school class, have never preached a sermon, and have not won a soul to Christ in months or years, and I feel their arrogance overflowing.  


Even wicked Manasseh found that humility and supplication bring mercy and help from Heaven.


2 Chronicles 33:12 “And when he was in affliction, he besought the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers,”

vs. 13 “And prayed unto him: and he was intreated of him, and heard his supplication.”


I may be right, but I do not have to prove it.  I may know more on a given subject, but I do not need to exhibit my expertise.  I may have wisdom in some special area, but it does not have to be shared unless sought.  


The pride that causes me to vaunt myself over another is not only unwise, but it will also cause me to lose the hand of God in my life.  A distaste for arrogance ought to be developed; like a child and spinach, we ought to turn our heads and feel disgust.  Humility can hardly be trained into our spirit while we devour hours of television and rarely read our Bibles.  


Pride and self-sufficiency will curse the child of God, but humility and submission to the Bible will bring blessing.

Pastor

Contend for the Faith - Part 2

Good Morning,

For the sake of those who missed yesterday’s post, this morning I will repeat the first few paragraphs from yesterday about protecting sound doctrine.

As we begin 2024 (an amazing thought in itself),  I am concerned about keeping our ministry and faith based upon sound doctrine.   For the last three decades, we have stood for the truth of the Scriptures; but never doubt that Satan's hatred for the church is undaunted by our steadfastness. He will attack and seek to move people out of the soul winning, Bible-believing church through one means or another.

Paul, Timothy, and Titus spoke of sound doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

Titus 2:1”But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”

Now to new material.

At church, I have been talking much about prayer and fasting.  To be honest, these two doctrines are very unpopular.  To some Christians, simply attending church is okay.

Hebrews 10:13 “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.”

Some Christians are content to attend church, but reading the Bible is difficult. Some people will simply not do it; they prefer a pastor/teacher who will only teach the Bible so they can ignore their Bibles throughout the week.  

Some people do not mind if the pastor prays in church or at a wedding or funeral, but do not ask them to pray on their own.  You see, these things make a man feel small, inadequate, and lacking self-reliance - and, yes,  all that is true.  These believers do not like the feeling of inadequacy, so many of them will simply live without Bible study, prayer, or fasting because these practices are not what they WANT to do.  

Many men are uncomfortable with the spiritual world, embracing a Spirit, or talking to a Person they cannot see or touch.  We are dead men, living with a newly-born Living One (John 3:3).  The old dead man does not want to talk to a spiritual person or to miss meals while seeking favor of the Divine Person - he finds these things very uncomfortable.  Fasting for a blood test is more than acceptable, but fasting for a closeness to God causes one to enter the realm of discomfort. Often, people think the solution is to find a pastor who will teach the Bible but not talk about personal prayer or fasting.  We read it earlier:

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"

Many people will search for a pastor or teacher who tries to say what the audience wants to hear. These ministers never dreamed of practicing what Paul commanded Timothy:

2 Timothy 4:2 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

What would happen if I turned our church service into a prayer meeting for half the time and preaching for the other half?  We would lose much of our congregation. 

Saying, “No,” to the flesh and resisting the carnal, dead world around us is uncomfortable - this is how to cause the “old man” to die.  Living a crucified life and surrendering to the spiritual life is obtained by saying, “Yes,” to the new man.

Even the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (not to learn to preach).  Prayer is vital.  Prayer is urgent.  Prayer is the life blood of the church.

Luke 11:1 "And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”

Think about numbers in the crowd.  Many people attend church or a school ball game, but a much smaller number will attend Wednesday Bible study, and fewer still will attend soul winning.  Now count those who attend prayer meetings - this number is the lowest spiritual denominator.  The more spiritual the activity and the more humbling the event, the fewer will show up to join. 

We must contend for the faith and labor to maintain "sound doctrine." 

Pastor

Contend For The Faith

Good Morning,

As we begin 2024 (an amazing thought in itself),  I am concerned about keeping our ministry and faith based upon sound doctrine.   For the last four decades, we have stood for the truth of the Scriptures, but never doubted that Satan's hatred for the church is undaunted by our steadfastness. He will attack and seek to move people out of the soul winning, Bible-believing church through one means or another.

Paul, Timothy, and Titus spoke of sound doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;”

Titus 1:9 “Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.”

Titus 2:1”But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:”

Notice what Paul says to Timothy.  People, will get to the place in their Christian lives where they do not like or want to hear sound doctrine.  We think only a lost person would do such a thing, but there is no indication in the passage that Paul was referring to lost people.  Religious people who choose their spiritual teacher will find themselves not liking certain doctrines, and will simply find other preachers/teachers who will give them a message they desire.  Reverends “for rent” have always existed.  

The strict Calvinist teaches that all mankind is predestined to go to Heaven or hell.  They teach that before birth, God ordains who will be saved and who will be lost.  This wrong doctrine, like all error, will negatively affect one's Christian living.  Some feel so strongly about this that they will not give invitations at church for fear someone will come forward and accept Christ who was ordained for Hell.  This doctrine is comfortable; for there is no need to go soul winning or preach to the lost because those who will get saved cannot help but do so, and those who are ordained for Hell cannot get saved if they wanted to.  Hence, the Christian can feel no guilt about not witnessing, running bus routes, or being involved in other types of evangelism.  

Matthew 28:19 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:”

Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

For the Calvinist, several problems exist.  For instance, they must determine if some babies are ordained for Hell.  Will unborn little ones go to Hell if they are not one of the elect?  Some Calvinists say no.  If some adults are ordained for Hell and others are ordained for Heaven, when does the change take place?  If all babies are saved, then at some point in the little one's life they moved from ordained to Heaven to being ordained to Hell.  What theological confusion!  Little is different to the Catholic who believes an infant is born with original sin and must be baptized by the Catholic church in order to get to Heaven.  According to this belief, a child cannot go to Heaven if he dies prior to the First Communion.   This teaching seemed to be too harsh to many Catholics, so they invented limbo - a place where unbaptized babies go because Hell is too cruel and Heaven is beyond their reach.  This is no problem to Catholics because they already invented Purgatory, so why not invent another imaginary, unscriptural place?  (In case you wonder, many Baptists and others religious people are drifting towards a Calvinistic theological view of Scripture.) 

Grasping the fact that God loves all humanity and that all have sinned (Romans 3:23) is not difficult - but "sin is not imputed where there is no law." (Romans 5:13) If the child is unable to grasp the law and the difference between right and wrong, that child has no "imputed sin."  This doctrine covers the mentally handicapped, the infants, and others in this category.  Of older children and adults, we read, “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)  

For this reason, it is the duty of believers to tell folks about Christ and salvation, and yes, to clearly explain the free gift (Romans 6:23) and forgiveness (John 3:16) so they will understand enough to believe and trust the Lord to save them.  The problem is the pressure this places on the believer to TELL - they are looking for a way out of this command.  


We must keep our doctrine SOUND.   We also must guard ourselves against those who could influence our pulpits to compromise through their money or prestige.  The truth must be so dear to us that we are willing to contend to keep it and cling to it.

Jude 3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

Pastor

Grow

Good Morning,

Since beginning these Morning Moment emails, many years have passed and our culture has changed.  A few good changes included my Morning Moment videos during the onset of COVID. Another good change is the availability of podcasts for those who like to listen to messages all day.


Not knowing the email reception, I am considering shifting all my resources to podcasts and video.  If these emails are significant to you, I would appreciate if you would send a text or email to me.  Many people have shifted from one to another, and as this lesson says, we are to grow in grace.   

One ought to have growth in Christian grace.

2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”


We begin this growth by simple changes. We should ask ourselves if we care enough or have enough character to read our Bibles daily?



The young believer needs to learn to converse with the Lord and form a relationship (we call this prayer) just as we would with a person we recently met.  The next step of growth is in the area of separation. Stages of separation will change with time, and some areas will be revealed revealed in order to grow.  The list of things we will be "led" to do or to stop doing is individualized according to each person and the areas in which God sees the need to develop. 

I remember a man who got saved who overcame his cocaine habit but still smoked.  His wife was frustrated, but I assured her that he was growing and that she needed to let him do so at his own pace. 

As we grow, we will find more difficult lessons to learn, one of which is how to respond in different situations; just as an ambulance driver has to be ready to deal with any situation when arriving to the scene of an accident.


A believer needs to learn to forgive, to cast down wrong thoughts, to resist temptation, and to deal with many more temptations that are far more difficult than the stopping of drinking alcohol or smoking. 

In all of these situations, a procedure has been put in place to know what to do and how to act.  Although, we may be caught off guard, we usually know what we should have said or done, even if we drop the ball and are caught by surprise.  Every situation usually has a right and a wrong reaction.


Graduate course Christian growth comes next.  When we face situations in which no "what to do" procedure is in place, we need to "stand still, fear not, and see the salvation of the Lord."  We will face times when God trains us by hanging us over the cliff with no ability, no training, and no strength to handle the situation.  

Abraham was asked to leave home, family, and security to follow God.  Years later, he was asked to bring his son to the mountain as a sacrifice; and again, no clear solution to the problem existed except to obey and wait on God.  

How do you act, when you do not know how to act?  What do you do when there is no direction, no instruction, no slight leading from God as to your next move?   When a child is sick, a spouse dies, or evil creeps into your world via government or criminal behavior, how do you respond?  

In all this, we are to continue to grow.  The ultimate goal of the Lord is for us to become more and more Christlike from each situation.  

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

vs. 29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

Conforming to the image of Christ is the real goal in God’s dealings with His children. This is a life-long journey that will only end when we see Christ in person.  Until then, we simply, or not so simply, need to continue to grow.  

Pastor

Story of Grace

Good Morning,

Jeremiah brings us a wonderful story of grace. For a long time, Jeremiah had warned about impending doom.  It was truly, “repent or perish” preaching, and no one wanted to hear it.  They threatened him, criticized him, jailed him, and more.  At one point, he was dumped into a sewer/dungeon and only lived because of a slave that rescued him.  In the end, judgment came and tragic suffering followed.  

In Jeremiah 39-40 there is a great “end of the story.”

A slave is set free.  The man who stood up for Jeremiah and God was promised freedom and safety.  (Jeremiah 39:17-18)

A king became a captive. The king who refused to obey the preaching and repent became a captive.  (Jeremiah 39:7)

A preacher was rewarded. The preacher who was mocked and dishonored was given the most wonderful opportunities. (Jeremiah 39:11; 40:5)

A heathen spoke for God.  A heathen commander for the army of Babylon was the one God used to pronounce the judgment of God and deliverance of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 40:3)

Never doubt the mercy of God. Although it may not be on our time table, He is good and faithful, and He rewards mankind.  There is an end; there is a judgment; there is a time when God will make right the wrongs that were inflicted.  Sometimes, we see it on earth, as with Job, but be sure, we will all see it in the end. 

Keep doing right, and leave the results to God.

Pastor

God Gave Them Up

Good Morning,

We all enjoy the thoughts about the love and mercy of God.  He is love, and He is certainly merciful, but the nature of God is vastly more than a sugar-coated grandpa out in space. 

In his sermon against the leadership of Israel, Stephen reminded them of their history, and at one point, brings up a tragic time in history when God gave up the people.  

Acts 7:41 “And they made a calf in those days, and offered sacrifice unto the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands.”

vs. 42 “Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?”

Israel had so resisted the things that God asked of them, that He simply said (in our terms) “Go on, do what you want.” God gave them up to worship stars and idols.

One simple thought I would like to mention is that I want God pulling on me, drawing me, urging me, and helping me towards right.  I do not want God to let me alone to my own folly.  I do not want God to abandon me to my shame.  I do want the Spirit’s conviction. 

Another passage more familiar, yet states the same truth is in Romans 1:

vs. 24 “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:” 

vs. 26  “For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:”

vs. 28 “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;”

The book of Romans tells a vile story of moral depravity which we are living among today, and our situation is not getting better but worse.   The reason was because God GAVE THEM UP.  They did not like to think about God, give God glory, or thank Him; God said they could go their own filthy way unrestrained.  

There is a line that can be crossed where God ceases to help, draw, convict, and nudge us toward right and away from wrong.  We do not want to find ourselves in that place. 

Of the Holy Spirit working in our lives, we read that He will help us. 

John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” 

John 16:8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:"

The Holy Spirit is given to the believer to teach, comfort, correct, and help.  Sadly, walking away from His guidance creates a risk that God will let us go our own way.  We need the Lord every hour; we need His guidance and His instruction to remind us of things we have read but might fail to recall. 

Do not risk losing all a close relationship with God because of selfishness.  I am not speaking of losing salvation, I do not believe that is possible, but we can so grieve the Spirit that we end up on our own, and that is no place to be.

Ephesians 4:30 “And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” 

Pastor

Never-Changing Agenda

Good Morning,

It is not difficult to see the parallels between Mao, Stalin, Hitler, and our modern liberal politicians. The dumbing down of our educational system is only one of countless parallels.  Tyrants do not want a skilled, thinking populous that is too difficult to rule. (Make no mistake about this – these kinds of people want to RULE.) 

When Israel was conquered by Babylon, the first group taken away captive or killed was the skilled laborer and those with leadership qualities.  The willingness to plan, organize and rebel had to be eliminated first. 

The development of the low, uneducated, poor laborer while lifting up the government is another parallel of tyrants.  Those who wish to rule love uneducated, thoughtless laborers.  People who will grovel at the feet of benevolent dictators are in great demand.  Those who wish for the liberty to try, succeed, or even fail are too difficult to rule and to keep in subjection. 

Another parallel with ruling governments is the lowering of the importance of the home and making fathers insignificant.  Nebuchadnezzar did not bring potential fathers into his arena; Daniel and countless others were under the care of the “prince of the eunuchs.” The danger of fathers and those opposing government was well known. The ones that take care of the family (the solid, thoughtful fathers who lead the home) are a danger to small men who desire power and authority.  These examples are all indisputable historical repetitions from one demagogue to the next.  Ancient conquerors burnt libraries, put scholars into the fields as laborers, killed potential rulers, and broke up families.  

Acts 8:3 “As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.” 

The great desire of the government to disarm the citizenry lines up exactly with every tyrant throughout history. Every dictator told the people the same story; they stated, “We’re doing this to keep you safe.”  Foolish people keep believing these ridiculous lies.  The question no one seems to have enough sense to ask is, “Who will keep us safe from the government?” These kinds of historical parallels can go on and on.

1 Samuel 13:19 “Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears:”

vs. 20 “But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock.”

Consider to movements to remove the freedom of speech and the freedom of the press, this gesture is not new. The censorship of ideas that are not in agreement with the government is as old as the printed page itself. These are not spiritual and biblical opinions, these are historical facts.  For this reason, our founders gave us the First Amendment to protect the right of the common man to denounce, to criticize, and to speak against the government both in word and on printed page. Notice how that freedom is also being pulled away from citizens today! 

Whether or not people like it, there is a parallel of the lowering of the importance of a woman. In the ring of tyrants, the woman is put in the fields as slave labor or in uniform to fight, or if attractive enough, much worse situations. The role of mother is diminished incredibly, elevating jobs and pushing government day cares. Likewise, the sacred relationship between husband and wife is slowly eradicated, and the wonder of homes is degraded by licentious living and perverted entertainment.  The socialist mantra is “life is work, obey, submit to government – and dare not resist.” 

Satan needs no new ideas; he just keeps recirculating the old ones.

Erasing the heroes of the past, and defaming those that cannot be erased is likewise necessary if someone is to reform society, or as President Obama put it, “to fundamentally transform the United States.” No one can read the writings of Thomas Jefferson and not glory in the principles of freedom, independence, capitalism, and limited government. If a tyrant is to eventually rule in America, the slow process will have to pass through the erasure of the writings of our framers and founders. If writings cannot be eliminated, they will be so maligned that no one will consider reading them. 

For this reason we need to read and to remember from where we came.  We need to know our Bible and our American history, as well as our Baptist history.  Isaiah asks the people to remember where God brought them from. 

Isaiah 51:5 “Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.” 

We must not forget where God brought us from!   The very simple rules of civility by George Washington, if  re-inserted into our educational system, would totally change self-respect, as well as respect for others.

May we be prudent in study, in remembering, and in teaching while resisting the communist, socialist, and tyrannical leaders being pushed upon us. 

Pastor

Peace on Earth

Good Morning,

Matthew 11:28 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

vs. 29 “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

Rest and peace are frequent promises in the Scripture; and for all of my ministry, I have preached that the Holy Spirit is our Helper to find rest and quiet in a difficult world.  One reason Americans use so many sleep and anxiety medications is because we fail to use the Scriptural recipes that God offers. 

Children who live endless hours before screens are clearly being affected in their brains, their sleep, and their ability to function in other areas of life. Obviously, there are physical situations like arthritis that make sleep difficult, especially in adults, but there is far too much “unrest” and anxiety in our world.

A peaceful, secure home is one of the best tools to help quiet and calm our hearts and minds.  Our entertainment is filled with tension, anger, violence, fear, and piled with emotions that affect the viewer.  When fighting parents, out of control siblings, pre-adolescent dating, and broken marriages are added to the recipe, a peaceful home is nearly impossible to cultivate. 

Our schools bring endless anxiety to children. 

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

When a child faces math, English, or other academic subjects, pressure forms in the heart of the youth. For the last fifty years, our society has added more sexuality, confusion of identity, blame, victimhood, and many more subjects to the teaching agenda that are far from academic (or biblical). Schools do not offer stability and security; they offer confusion. The passage above shows that peace is not found in a world of confusion.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

The Word of God was given to help us find peace; yet in our culture, each generation that passes robs the Bible from our children and families more and more.  Less church means less Bible, even in our private homes.  It is simply rare to find a family that reads the Bible frequently but does not attend church.  Church attendance, Sunday school and Vacation Bible School were common in American communities for decades, but now, they are less and less a part of our culture.  

Without church and church-related activities where the Bible is present, less and less peace can be found.

Children are experiencing more mental pressure, yet being given less Divine support; anxiety, sleeplessness, and even suicide are tragic but logical results. The number of children being given sleep aides and behavioral medicine is ever increasing.  The number of depressed and hopeless adults is staggering.

Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” 

Notice that the Child Whose birth we celebrate each December is named “The Prince of Peace.”

As we have pulled church and Bible from our lives, we have also allowed an endless list of sinful behaviors to be treated as acceptable.  God promises that the lack of righteous living robs us of peace.

Isaiah 57:21 “There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” 

Consider these passages and remind yourself that God has the perfect plan.

Isaiah 26:3 “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” 

Psalm 85:8 “I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.” 

John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” 

Philippians 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

vs. 7 “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

The angelic announcement of “peace on earth” in Bethlehem was an offer, not an absolute.  The One Who brings peace had arrived, and He invites you to know Him and learn of Him, but without Him, there is no peace.  

Pastor

The Land Belongs to Israel

Good Morning,

The history of the land surrounding Israel is confusing because various nations have fought for control of that sacred piece of dirt.  Ownership of Israel is not confusing, it was clearly a promised covenant with Abraham, and specifically NOT with Ishmael (the founder of the Arab race).

To be brief, let us consider the promises of God to Abraham:

Genesis 17:2 “And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly. “

The first promise deals with many children. 

The covenant adds all Abraham’s children, forever! 

vs. 7 “And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee."

The next part of the covenant has to do with LAND.  

vs. 8 “And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Notice the statement “an everlasting possession.”  That means forever, right down to today.  

As God clearly states, that land belongs to the Jews:

vs. 19  “And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed; and thou shalt call his name Isaac: and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him.”

vs. 20 “And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.”

vs. 21 “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac…” 

The covenant is made with Isaac and his seed, not with Ishmael!  God would bless Ishmael, and God would prosper Ishmael, but the land belongs to the seed of Isaac!  

vs. 21 “But my covenant will I establish with Isaac…” 

The description of the land is elsewhere in Scripture. At this moment in the story in Abraham’s life, it seems more localized, but trust me until you can look it up yourself that the land promised to Abraham and Isaac and their seed stretches from Egypt and the Mediterranean to the Euphrates. 

No Palestinian, Arab, or other people of any kind, except the Jews, have a covenant relationship with God promising the land to them. You can be sure that the Jews will get their land. Because of the rebellion of Israel, God has seen fit to allow many to occupy the land, but the day is coming when God will throw everyone out except the Jews.  The land is theirs by a convent, an eternal covenant that God promised He will never break.  

Judges 2:1 “And an angel of the LORD came up from Gilgal to Bochim, and said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you.”

Pastor

Respect

Good Morning,

As we approach Christmas, I want to encourage everyone to have a grateful spirit and a thoughtful response to the world around you.  We do not need to live angry, bitter, vengeful, and so selfishly that we forget to rejoice and be glad for all the good we have every day.  

With that being said, let me mention a Bible principle that is too neglected in our culture.  First, let us take a look at the story.  David had just met with Abner, an enemy general who stood with the son of former king Saul, dividing the nation in half with David.  Abner had offered to help David unify the north and south of Israel.  Joab, David’s general, returned from battle to hear of the peace talks.  Joab had a brother, Asahel, who was killed by Abner in battle, and that certainly added to the difficulty of the situation. 

2 Samuel 3:23 “When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.”

vs. 24 “Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?”

vs. 25 “Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.”

The problem in the scenario was that Joab did not agree with the decision David had made.  Of course, it is the right of every human being to disagree, but Joab proceeded to scold, correct, and challenge the king.  That was a right he did NOT have!  Joab made it clear that he felt David was wrong and was deceived by Abner, and that David completely missed the truth of the whole situation.  Joab clearly thought he knew more than the king, but more than that, he felt liberty to scold David as though he were the leader speaking to the follower.  Following the scolding, Joab murdered Abner.  

I may not agree with the decision my boss makes, but that is his decision; I am not the boss.  A child may not agree with the decisions of their parents but that is not their decision, nor is it their right to correct a parent. A policeman may give me a ticket that I feel I do not deserve, but to yell and challenge the officer is not my place; I am not his boss or his authority. The police have a boss; I have a court system (though often failing us) that I can honorably turn to when my leader (the police) needs to be challenged. 

When a wife corrects her husband (as if he were a child and she the parent), she has stepped out of the biblical realm of authority. Allow me reverse the scenario, when a husband treats his wife as if she were a child without a brain or opinion, that also violates Bible directives.  

The husband and wife are to be “one flesh,” and he is to love her “as his own body.” (Ephesians 5) Respect has been lost in our world, and respect for authority has also been forgotten.  The adult child who tries to run the decisions of their parents is equally out of line.  Subordinates are never to correct superiors.  (Well, there is a giant leap towards loosing a bunch of readers.) In the military, a subordinate who corrects a superior may get away with it in today’s society, but in the military that won wars and protected the people, that would have been treated with the utmost severity.  

Ephesians 5 says a wife should reverence her husband. Ephesians 6 says children are to honor and obey parents; the chapter continues with the directive that servants are to be obedient to their masters.  Regarding pastors: 1 Thessalonians 5:13 says members should “esteem them very highly;” and 1Timothy 5:17 tells us to count them “worthy of double honor.”

The disrespect shown toward leaders has brought about a great loss to our nation.  If we ignore the clear directions of God we will suffer for it.  A nation without respect for leadership will soon end in anarchy.  

At the very least, Joab should have lost his job; if this had been done, much harm and loss could have been avoided. 

Pastor

Slobs

Good Morning,

Ready for some “I remember when” stories?  If not, you might skip this article.  I remember when people cared about their appearance, and did not want to be slobs. Boys were told to tuck in their shirts, and girl’s combed or fixed their hair.

Traditionally, dressing up has always been obvious attire when attending events that were important: inaugurations, graduations, weddings, funerals, and, in the “olden days,” even executions. 

I have a picture of my grandpa and his brothers on a Sunday afternoon, they were wearing ties and hats, and were standing by the corn field with their shotguns heading out to hunt some birds (probably pheasant) while the ladies cooked lunch.  

Many years ago, our family watched old, black-and-white cliff hangers, and the gangsters wore suits and hats. (We often laughed because the heroes or villains could be in a fistfight yet, their hats never fell off.)  When I was a boy, we would go to the airport to pick up family from back east, and the airport was filled with men and women dressed in very sharp clothing.

Today, when you go to the airport, it looks as though people are headed to the beach – they look like slobs. My secretary of many years said that when she was a child and her family went to town, they would never dream of leaving the house without a dress and gloves.  Do you remember the old show “Happy Days?”   At least the kids combed their hair and ironed their clothing - even if it was jeans. 

Today, I am still shocked that people will go to the store in what appears to be pajamas!  Slippered feet are common, and outward clothing that allows underclothing to be revealed is everywhere.  It reminds me of the National Geographic magazines our babysitter used to have.  As children, my brother and I would gawk at heathen people who were covered with tattoos, piercings, and immodest clothing (this description sounds like any gathering in the US today.) Over time, our culture has come to accept the appearance of the “heathen people”– as well as the beat of their music.

The “dress down” fashion is everywhere, including the church.  One of the men that attended our church for a while said he wore a tie every day for work and was not about to wear one to church.  Of course, that was his choice, and I was happy to have him as a part of our church, but I did wonder that his best was worn for gold while his least was worn for God. Another good man in our church came in his retirement years and after some time said, “Preacher, you accomplished what I said would never happen.”  I asked to what he referred, and he said, “You got me back in a tie.”  He had worn one for work for decades (as well as to church).  Retiring to our area, he said he was done with ties for good – then he met us. 

Somewhere the pride of looking sharp and the desire to have an orderly appearance has slipped away.  

We seem to enjoy our cars being clean and sparkling, and we seem to want our homes sharp and admirable. Tools and garages are admired for their order and cleanliness.  Bicycles and off-road vehicles are washed and polished, yet our children leave the house looking like street urchins. Do you remember the humor decades ago as people mocked a lady leaving the house with curlers in her hair?  It was shocking!  Consider the dress of the rock and rollers of the 50s, their outfits were expensive and elegant.  Elvis Presley was said to spend $2,500 to $65,000 for a suit.  Do not tell me that looking sharp does not matter in our world.

I do not accept that dress does not matter because I watch the athletic teams with their uniforms, airline employees with their sharp professional attire, and private schools with their uniforms.  Who can deny the attraction of a military man in his dress uniform? 

The slob mentality is a danger sign of where our society is going.  When the clothing of Jesus was divided by His executioners, they wanted His outward apparel, and drew straws for His cloak. In third-world nations, you will often see the poorest of students walking to school in clean, pressed uniforms; they know it is important to look sharp.   In order to make school important, they dress the part.  Consider the various awards of this world, whether music or acting; the awards ceremony will be filled with the finest of clothing. I do not believe our society does not know the value of dressing up!  No, but we have allowed the devil to gets us to dress down in church, school, and out in public.  There is some correlation between how we look and what we think of ourselves.   No one can deny it – our first impressions do matter.

David was called “comely.” 

1 Samuel 16:18 “Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.”

Pastor

Divisions

Good Morning,

We all love unity, and, to me, that is key in successful living, whether in marriage, business, or church.  

Mark 3:25 “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” 

We also must remember that the Lord warned us that we will face trials and conflicts.  We are told that there is none righteous and that all have sinned, and as such, we will clash in small or sometimes large ways.  We cannot expect to enjoy the pleasures of unity all of the time and in every place.  Jesus and Paul scolded Peter at different times; Peter had a serious difficulty with a married couple in Acts 5.  Yet, we long for peace.

Our Lord warned us though; He did not come to bring peace! 

Matthew 10:34 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

vs. 35 “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

vs. 36 “And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.”

When we regard our homes and our faith, we need to accept that there may be divisions.  In fact, there may be serious divisions and, as the Lord said, “variance.” No one likes divisions or tension; no sane person enjoys divisive words or behavior, yet our Lord assures us that it will happen. We may clash over food or decorating for Christmas, child discipline or relationship to in-laws, but there will be conflict.  Churches may have conflict over finance, remodeling, or any number of reasons.  

Personally, I cannot imagine picking my children above right.  I heard a parent say they had to “back their child” in a situation where the child was clearly, going against the Bible.  I disagree!  An adult child has the right to choose their own path, but I do not have to act as if it is right.  When my children were little, they were taught to do right; I did not condone improper behavior because they were my children. Right was right, and still is right.  If I need to, I will separate from an adult child before I will separate from right.  That is what Jesus said would happen at times.   Remember what Jesus said, “I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother.”  Notice the I AM COME, our Lord came knowing He would set one against another. 

Luke 21:16 “And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.” 

Matthew 24:10 “And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.” 

Family divisions will happen when we insert faith and a consecrated life into a casual worldly home.  Even those sincerely serving God may struggle at times, just as Paul and Barnabas did over John Mark, which eventually split their ministry and they went separate ways.  

I have known family members to get angry when someone got saved and quit drinking booze.  Others were unhappy that their spouse or family member stopped doing drugs with them.  When Christ enters into a life, and that life begins to change, friction in the relationship will naturally occur.  The extent of the conflict will be determined by the people.  

Remember the sad end of Absalom?  A good-looking leader, hung dead by his hair in the woods.  David’s first words were, “Is the young man, Absalom, safe?”  David was soon scolded by Joab.  Joab pointed out that David would rather have had this rebel son live and his army die than have his enemy killed.  David’s response began to dissolve the unity and strength of the people who risked their lives for him. (2 Kings 19)

Right is vastly more important than a friend or even a family member. 

Paul writes that some people will bring divisions in doctrine and instructs us to avoid them.

Romans 16:17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.”

Jesus assured us that offenses will come; it is a part of life, and we will assuredly face it while living among sinful men.  He also pronounced a warning on those who cause the division.  

Matthew 18:7 “Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!”

Pastor

Silly Bible Teachers

Good Morning,

I recently heard a guy online being interviewed; I will not say he is a preacher or a Bible teacher, although he might use those terms to describe himself.  He was asked by a gal looking like a '60s hippie, "What does the Bible say about women preachers?”

He jokingly said, “Isn't it about time for the interview to end?”  She assured him there were a few minutes left.  Here was his general response: 

In one place in the Bible, Paul made a comment to Timothy regarding this subject.  It was in a time when the goddess Diana was worshiped and the ladies of the church were bringing their worship of this deity into the church with strange doctrines.   He continued...

Paul was not saying that an underground church in 2023 in China could not have a lady preacher, but rather that, IN THAT ONE TIME, IN THAT ONE CITY, IN THAT ONE CHURCH, Timothy needed to tell the ladies to stop.

Allow me to address the ridiculous statements he made. I assume he made these statements in order to fit our culture and current political issues. (By the way, we are to change culture to match the Bible, not the other way around.)

First, the book of Timothy is not the only passage that addresses lady preachers; Timothy records this:

1 Timothy 2:11 “Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.”

vs. 12 “But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.”

Corinthians also states a similar truth:

1 Corinthians 14:34 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.”

In 1 Corinthians 14, he speaks of the misuse of the gift of tongues and prophecy (preaching).  Ladies are to be silent in these things. The instruction is not just for that city and that era of time.  

(This misrepresentation of these verses is one reason why I urge you to be very guarded as to whom you hear online.)

Paul gave his reason for saying this and it had nothing to do with some Ephesian deity of that time, or that city, or that church, but rather because of an age-old situation.  The very next verse (if the "Bible teacher" cared to read it) was this: "For Adam was first formed, then Eve.  And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression."  (1 Timothy 2:13-14)

The reason for the lady not preaching or having authority over the man was because Eve was created second, as well as the fact that she listened to the devil and ate the forbidden fruit.  God answered the "WHY" of women not preaching.  It is amazing how we can answer Bible questions if we just read the verses around the passage in question.

Be careful not to dismiss a truth just because it is not found dozens of times in Scriptures. Two times, we find these instructions to two different churches in the New Testament.  That is more than enough.   As I often say, John 3:16 amazes me.  Why would He so love this world?  

Pastor

Following Feelings

Good Morning,


Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”


We are creating a nation that lives on feelings and denies the obvious facts.


• Feelings turn folks into bank robbers.

• Feelings turn people into murderers.  

• Feelings make people overeat. 

• Feelings make people slap stupid people. 

• Feelings cause adultery. 

• Feelings make kids cheat on tests at school.

Should we go on? 

Proverbs 28:26 “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.”

I do not care how you feel. Truth is truth, and if you enter my house because you feel like taking something that is mine, you will do so at great peril. 


People may feel as though they deserve more pay or should get government support, but the reality is one’s pay is determined by how the employer values him. If you do not produce any profits, then you deserve no pay.


My little granddaughter came into the room one day saying that she was not Kimmy, but that she was a princess.  That is great! Pretend and enjoy your imaginary world, you are a child, but when you are done playing, you still are Kimmy.  Likewise, your gender is determined by biological fact, not by feeling.  You may feel like a giraffe, but you are still a human.  Your child may want to be a puppy, but he is still a little boy or girl – wise people live by facts.  


How many times have your children not felt like getting up to go to school, yet you, the good parent, made them get up and go anyway. How often have you not felt like going to work? Following your feelings is a sure recipe for ruin. 


If we allow our feelings to be in control, they will destroy our life, marriage, and family; and feelings can surely destroy the nation as well.


Ask anyone in boot camp if they feel like continuing. Ask any athlete during training if they feel like getting in shape. Of course they feel like quitting, but their desire to succeed causes their character to overrule their feelings, thus providing a chance for success.


I can feel like speeding or parking in a red zone, but in both situations, I will be told that my feelings do not justify my behavior. 


If I go to the bank and say I want to withdraw a million dollars, and they say I have no money, can I simply say that I feel like I do?  


Do you see how stupid this culture is?  


God says to control yourself and not allow your feelings to control you. 


1 Corinthians 9:27 “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.”

Pastor

Natural

Good Morning,

I can just picture myself trying to explain to my parents that I was simply “born this way.” For me to say, “It is so unnatural for me to clean my room.  The fact is I am very uncomfortable when I am told to clean my room, it makes me feel strange and awkward,”  would not go over well. My perspective would not last long before I found myself doing what I was told no matter how I “felt.”  

We make too many excuses for our actions, such as: “I was born with a biological issue that makes me susceptible to booze, and therefore, I am a drunk.  I cannot help myself even if I wanted to, I was born this way!”   If I were to be picked up by the police for shoplifting, I would never get away giving the excuse,  “But officer, I was born a thief, and I cannot help myself.” We all know that those ideas are stupid; they are excuses rather than valid explanations.  

Ephesians 4:19 “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

Sinful habits control us because we have surrendered or yielded our members to them. Our lives can become controlled by sin whether that sin is shameful morals, drugs, laziness, or being a slob.

Romans 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

One’s first drink of booze is not pleasant, it is not so for anyone.  No one savors their first cigarette; it is unpleasant. After a while, and enough smoking or drinking, the act becomes pleasant, coveted, and craved — a habit that becomes difficult to overcome.  Instead of naming deeds as wrong and telling people to confess them as sin, they are told these vices are okay, and they are allowed to make excuses for their behavior. Slavery and bondage will follow!

The explanation, “My dad beat my mother” is no excuse for bad behavior.  The fact that someone is born lazy and careless (sinful in nature) does not excuse him from Bible commands to be diligent.  Right is still right no matter what weaknesses one may possess.  We all know that some people are more athletic than others and some people naturally write more smoothly and attractively than others.  My penmanship may not be as nice as another’s, but we can all write legibly!!  

Ephesians 4:17 “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,”

vs. 18 “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:”

vs. 19 “Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.”

vs. 20 “But ye have not so learned Christ;”

vs. 21 “ If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:”

The passage continues and explains how to beat these terrible habits:

vs. 22 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;”

vs. 23 “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;”

vs. 24 “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The Bible says we should “put off” these deeds, stop doing them.  We need to label the wrong and acknowledge those deeds as corrupt.

We need to fill our mind with good, meditate upon holy and righteous ideals, and fix our thinking.    Finally, we need to put on the new man; start doing right on purpose.  We should begin to develop new habits and routines.  Of course, we need the Lord to help us do this; these changes cannot be made without the help of God.


Bible, prayer, and humility will draw divine help and surely make the difference in defeat or victory. May we not make excuses for our behavior or the behavior of our children; and may we repent of our shameful ways and walk with God. 

Pastor

Sacrifice

Good Morning,

The Bible teaches a great deal about sacrifices. The first sacrifice began with God’s sacrifice of a lamb (we suppose) to make robes for Adam and Eve.  Throughout the Old Testament, many sacrifices were made, and each sacrifice has a special meaning to God.  Though, the sacrifices did not end with the coming of our Lord; rather, the spiritual application of those sacrifices began with Christ, "The Lamb of God."

In our lives, as spiritual priests, we are to offer up acceptable sacrifices to God.  We understand that a sacrifice costs something to the one who offers it.  A penny given to a child is no sacrifice to a working adult.  A sacrifice must include a cost.  Notice these few examples of New Testament sacrifices:

Our Bodies

Romans 12:1  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

Our Praise and Thanksgiving

Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."

Our Financial Gifts to the Ministry and to the Poor

Hebrews 13:16 “But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” (The word communicate is a financial term in this verse.)

Philippians 4:18 “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.”

Service of Others

Philippians 2:17 “Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.”

As I said at the beginning, a sacrifice cost us, and in many cases, it hurts.  

When we are suffering or sick, it is difficult to offer praise and thanksgiving to God, yet it is right and pleasing to Him. We are to praise God because He is good not because our lives are good. 

Offering our bodies to the Lord's will perhaps include attending church when we are tired, moving to a mission field, or avoiding certain activities to please God. It may be that in so doing we may lose friends, but this sacrifice also pleases the Lord.

Serving others to the point of hurting is not wrong; it is a sacrifice. That is what Paul was talking about when he penned, “…offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith…” (Philippians 2:17)   The bus worker who misses many weekend activities to visit the bus route or pick up people for church or the choir member who shows up early for practice (but could show up just in time for church) both forfeit their time to make the church service more pleasing to others. These sacrifices are pleasing to God. 

In the area of finances, our giving can also be a sacrifice and pleasing to God.  Do not fret if your financial support of the ministry costs you or even hurts you.  Did the sheep only offer wool (a painless, soon replaced gift to others)?  No, countless sheep were sacrificed in the Old testament, and their blood was pleasing to God.  

Sacrifices please God.  To offer something to the Lord that is expensive or painful to give honors God and pleases Him greatly.  

Pastor

Contentment

Good Morning,

There is no end of evil in our world, no end of the pain inflicted upon one another, and no end of the ways Satan moves mankind to do ill to their own.  We read a b statement in 1 Timothy 6:10 that is very familiar, yet unheeded:  "For the love of money is the root of all evil…”

Look at the context of this passage.  

First, the exhortation to be content.  If we have food and clothing, we need to intentionally develop a contentment with the bare necessities. The opposite of being the "root of all evil" is that contentment is "great gain."

1 Timothy 6:6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”

vs. 7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

vs. 8 “And having food and raiment let us be therewith content."

Paul proceeds to warn about the dangers of greed, covetousness, and the desire for more.

vs. 9 “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

Look at the list of terrible things one can fall into: temptation, a snare, foolish and hurtful lusts, destruction, and perdition. Verse ten adds “erred from the faith” and “many sorrows” to the list.

That list ought to instill fear in anyone with even half a brain, but in fact, most do not believe this anymore than they believe "it is better to give than to receive."

Paul goes on to state the famous quote about all evil.

vs. 10 “For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Solomon writes about the wretched end of those who love money enough to do wrong to get it: "So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain..."  Mark 4:18-19 says that the love of money chokes the word of God out of our lives. Joshua 7:24 tells the sad story of Achan and how his love for money cost the lives of his entire family.  Judas went to Hell over thirty pieces silver.  Acts 5:5 tells how Ananias and his wife died over covetousness.

In our world, much of the legal activity is over twisted words and circumstances in hopes of gain. The Bible warns of the dangers of bribes or allowing gain to move us to utilize a different perspective than truth would call for.

"Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” (Deuteronomy 16:19)

Businesses are ruined; friends break relationships; family members tear each other apart in hopes of gaining an inheritance; employees slander and attack employers over little matters turned into significant events: all of these are done in hopes of gain – let us remember Paul quote’s: “For the love of money is the root of all evil."

I have listened to good people who could not find a way to save their marriage. They went from decent, honorable people to corrupt, evil workers of iniquity over the possessions they were splitting. 

Expounding on this aspect would take another article, but I will mention the marriages that have been broken because someone wanted to succeed at work more than keep their marriage. Countless hurts are caused because one or both parents sought lucrative careers and failed to "train up a child in the way he should go."   Others chose to work extra hours and failed to teach a Sunday school class or go soul winning – eternal loss also follows the love of money?  The harm caused by the love of money is beyond human description.

Contentment - that is what Paul urges us to seek.

Pastor  

Appreciate & Love Him

Good Morning,

Mark 8:31 “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.”

From 1996 to 2016, I had my own children involved in the youth department of our church.  Most of that time, one or more of them was learning to drive, or just starting to drive alone.  For around twenty-five years, I had one or more of our children in our Christian school; the boys were involved in football, both flag and tackle.  Beginning in 2004 until the present, I have had my own teens in the world of dating and searching for their future spouse and life-long careers.  Beginning in 2002, I sent my first child off to Bible college, and for many years at least one of my children has been in Bible college or headed that way.   So consider this: youth department, driving, school, football, college, dating and career choice – that basically sums up three decades of my life.  Those places and areas of influence involve four of the people whom I love more than anything else on earth besides my wife. Did I care what went on in these areas of life?  Unless you are dumb on purpose or a stranger, you know I have cared, watched, attended, participated, and became involved in every way possible (including white-knuckle experiences of teaching two blond girls to drive).  Did I do my best to have my own children in the very best places possible and surrounded by the safest and most God-honoring circumstances I could find?  Absolutely!  

In Revelation 13:8, of our Lord, we read that He was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”   Jesus' future was planned as one of sacrifice.  

As a parent, I would never intentionally have allowed my children in a place of danger.  I did my best to be sure the car was safe, friends were vetted, activities were supervised, and that the school was academically superior, the college was a place to secure the will of God, and that those they dated passed every possible check I could come up with.  My best effort as a human was frail, but my wife and I worked at it.  What idiot would place his family in an unsafe car or a dangerous situation? I might not know the car had some trouble, but I certainly tried to keep it safe. I could not possibly know everything (unlike those arrogant writers in fake news and cyberspace who are sure they know everything), but I worked hard at making circumstances right.  

Our family went to Yosemite: my children, grandkids, and my wife and I (who are now the old folks).  On some of those mountain tops, I was a little more than fearful for the kids or grandkids who ventured too close to the edge. (This grandpa’s sanity was regularly tested!)  Because of my diligent caution, I watched and saw far more of my children than I did of the scenery.  No one sits ideally by and watches those they love enter into danger without intervening to avoid tragedy. 

Anyone who thinks that any of us would place our own children, or any of those we love, into a situation in which they will be in danger is not only an idiot and a liar but also ridiculous.  We all seek the best for those we love. 

In Mark 8:31 we read, “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.” 

While God allows us the chance to guard and protect our own children, He planned a path of sorrow and suffering for His Own Son.  While God offers us liberty to do our best to ensure the best of friends, God knew His Son’s friends would abandon Him.  While God allows us to seek a stable, loving future for our children, He planned a cross and suffering for His Son.  

God planned that His dear and only begotten Son would face trials and suffering for one reason – His glory.  

Could we perhaps draw near to God in love and appreciation?  Could we say, “I love you” to God a little more often? Could we look at our children and consider how God might have felt seeing His Own Son grow up while knowing the sad future He would face.  We do not know everything, and we will fail along the way, but God could have guaranteed a perfect life for His Son. Nevertheless, He planned suffering and death for Jesus in order to secure life for you and me.  That kind of love deserves to be returned.

Psalm 31:23 “O love the LORD, all ye his saints…"

Pastor

Things We Can Lose

Good Morning,

This morning, I am addressing a subject that will probably end up in our pulpit at one point: “Things the Church or the Christian Can Lose.”  Although we cannot lose our salvation, once we have been born again, there is much we can lose. I urge Christians to be very careful not to forfeit the great possessions that come with a close walk with God.

Joy

The Psalmist wrote, “Serve the Lord with gladness;” Paul said, “Rejoice in the Lord alway;” and Jesus said to the Father, “And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17:13)

Many believers only find hallow and temporary joy in their possessions, their money, or their position; but Jesus provides true joy.

Shout

Hearing Christians shouting at a ball game is common. Hearing people shout at the television, correcting the referee or some player who made a bad decision is also funny to watch. Sadly, many Christians have lost their shout. They can listen to sermons and wonderful Christian music, and never utter an “Amen” or a “Praise the Lord!”  Something caused the Christian to lose his shout.  We can observe any secular event, whether it be music, drama, or athletics and know that an audience response is common. We think a shout is more Scriptural, perhaps than applauding, but whatever the response, do not lose the excitement of being in the house of God. God’s house ought to be filed with “Amens” and “Praise the Lord” ringing throughout the church service.

Song

Another tragic loss in many Christians is their song. David said the Lord has “…put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God…” Paul wrote to the Colossians and Ephesians about singing and exhorting one another with song. The Christian life is one that should be filled with singing and rejoicing. Show me any young person who is following a certain crowd of teenagers, and they will have songs that go with that crowd. The child of God who experiences the new birth and closeness to God will find the songs of Zion dear to his heart and near to his lips. Allow me to urge you to relax, sing out, smile, and enjoy the thrill of singing with the people of God.

Sweetness

Many a Christian has found himself with a bitter spirit. The warmth and the sweet and gracious attitude to “love your neighbor, as yourself” kind of Christian living, somehow escaped him. There was a day when he humbly bowed his head to trust in Christ, knowing they were unworthy sinners, and certainly unworthy of the mercy and forgiveness of God. Then something happened, perhaps several somethings, and a critical spirit, a bitter heart, a spirit of judgment, or something from the world came into their lives and robbed the child of God of the warm sweetness that comes from knowing they have been accepted in the beloved.

These are just four of the many things the child of God can lose. How are you doing in these areas? Has this corrupt world robbed you of the precious possessions that Jesus gave you? Perhaps, today would be a good time to seek to draw near to Him, and to get right in those areas that are wrong. God may reveal to you the need to separate from certain people, situations, or circumstance that have drained the song, the joy, the shout, or the sweetness from your Christian life.

Pastor