Personality

Good Morning,

Years ago, I had a dentist that I loved to visit.  He had the personality of a doorknob (absolutely none at all), but the guy was punctual, financially reasonable, and made my teeth better.  I do not visit the dentist office looking for a friend, I want my teeth to work and I do not want to wait forever to get in the office.  He retired, and I have yet to find his equal.  My current dentist will ask over and over if he is hurting me; and I admit, I like that, but most dentists can shoot enough novocaine into my gums to stop the pain.  Can the dentist be a good steward of my time, which is short? I am amazed how many people cannot keep appointments.  My dull dentist was amazingly punctual, and I loved it.

Before I offend this delicate generation, allow me say that I think being nice is good, and I think being polite is proper, but this generation has made "nice" the "priority."  One of our young men who played tackle football would smile and help the other guys up (after crushing them on the field), and I am not against that, but I want him to take the opponent to the ground with passion. Winning the game and having character to do right in a difficult situation is the priority!!  Nice?  Take it or leave it.  It is called football - not "niceball!"

John the Baptist called people vipers and whited sepulchers. Paul called out Peter publicly and often named people who were trouble makers in the church.  Elijah made fun of the gods of the prophets and mocked them publicly.  (Then cut them to pieces; he was not nice.)

Luke 3:7 “Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?”

John 8:44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.”

Acts 13:10 “And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?”

Galatians 2:14 “But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all,”

Verses like these are all through your Bible.  (Another reason boys need dads is because moms tend to elevate nice.)

We allowed the media to get people to resent Trump's temperament while the nation prospered like never in my lifetime. I do not want a nice doctor, I want one that can get me well.  I do not care if the president says, "I just love our Chinese neighbors" or  "Speak softly and carry a big stick,” I want our nation free and safe.  I am not looking for a pastor in the White House or Congress.  I am looking for political leaders who will protect my freedom, the freedom of others, and keep our nation functioning economically.

Stupid Americans or crooked people took away the most prosperous time Americans have had in generations, and the only real complaint was, "He is not nice.” Those people would not have liked Jesus, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Micah, or any other man of God in the Bible; neither would they have liked Patton, MacArthur, or Bobby Knight (who won 902 college games).

Pastor

Angry At God

Good Morning,

Job lost ten children and all his wealth, and he handled it okay. Another attack of Satan brought about the loss of health. Job’s answer to his wife was still one of faith, "Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord and not evil also."  It was not those things that brought Job to the precipice of wrong.  Job had some friends who were innocent and broken for their friend, but it was at that point the hole in Job’s armor was discovered.  While his friends attacked his personal righteousness, accused his children, and slandered his character, Job began to bathe in self-pity and turn in frustration toward God.  

When we are pressed, I mean pressed until the weak spot is discovered in our spirit, mankind sometimes has the idea that he can be angry at God, at the church, or at people the Lord placed in their lives.  People may go through life almost ignoring the existence of Deity, but when hurt comes, someone needs to bear the brunt of their anguish.  Even the faithful Christian may, as Job, find himself so deep in sorrow that he begins to cast verbal or heartfelt wrath at the loving Lord Who gave His Son for our sins.  

Many a backslidden Christian sits home bitter at the former church or pastor over failures of their own children or their own marriage.  Many people blame God for their trouble, and perhaps it really is the plan of God, but we had better be wise enough not to become angry at the One Who holds the world in His hand.  

Ezra 10:3 “...those that tremble at the commandment of our God;”

Job 38:2 “Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?”

vs. 35 “Canst thou send lightnings, that they may go, and say unto thee, Here we are?”

God railed on Job for a long time and Job gave the right answer.

Job 40:4 “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.”

vs. 5 “Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.”

God ignored his humble submission and continued to rebuke him. This man, made by God for the glory of God, who had no power or wisdom, dared to challenge and to accuse God.  Job was reminded that he ought to fall before God and tremble.  

Psalm 99:1 “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble.”

God asked this question:

Jeremiah 5:22 “Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence…"

When circumstances of life go hard against our dreams and goals, and when suffering enters our life, may we weep, cry out to God, pour out our hearts, and lay broken before Him, but may we not foolishly accuse Him.

Job 1:22 “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”


Do we think God is hurt that we are angry at Him?

Do we suppose God is a grade-school friend whose feelings will get hurt when we do not treat Him kindly?

Do we suppose that God even cares that we disagree with His eternal will?  

Understand that this God, against Whom man is foolishly angry, has no problem sending multitudes of people to an eternal Hell.  The God towards Whom some spew vicious words allows cities to crumble under earthquakes, villages to be buried under mud slides, and sends hurricanes and tornados to shred communities.  Yet man, who cannot tell right from wrong much of the time, sits bitter and angry at the God Who holds all in His hands. 

God makes this observation clear in Solomon's writings;

Ecclesiastes 6:12 “For who knoweth what is good for man in this life…"

What makes mankind think they know what is best or right?  We do not know what tomorrow holds.  We do not know the length of life or the course of nations.  We can sit and weep before God.  We can sit submissively broken over our loss, but how vain and frail is man to harbor bitterness towards the Almighty.  


David wisely said, "LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39:4)

Yet some bask in the useless spectator's seat in a church where nothing eternal happens, preaching is guarded so as to never offend, ministry never touches sacrifice, and sin is never named or condemned.  As they sit there, they growl at God for the hurt they faced in life and condemn God never to be the leader or Lord of their behavior.  

Do not be angry at God!  It is better to curse the police or have a child scream at his parents than for man to be angry at his Creator.  

On the other side, do not be too hard on people; heavy burdens enter into our lives.  If you sense someone is bitter at God, just love them and allow God to bring them around. (It is probably not your place to correct their thinking.)   We know there is no reason to be bitter at the Lord, but we also know there is an enemy who is vicious as well as experienced at manipulating the emotions of men.

Whatever it is you are facing, remember anger toward God is too risky.

Pastor

Purpose For Life

Good Morning,

Many times, God is busy working, yet men have no concept that He is.  Consider the situations surrounding one's salvation or the great success of a business. These situations often seem random, but we understand that God works exactly where He sees fit.


Such was the case when Israel was in captivity and Satan had set out to destroy the people of God.  Haman (as other satanic men throughout history have done) sought to kill the Jews.  Esther had providentially found herself in the palace of the king, but the information that she was a Jewess was still not known.  Mordecai asked Esther to approach the king, but that could only be done at great risk to her life.  Mordecai said the choice was hers to make, but God would save Israel one way or another.  Esther had a chance to be a part of something God was going to do; the choice was hers.

Esther 4:14 “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Notice several truths from this passage.

1. The choice to speak up or not is ours to make.

"For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time..."  This might refer to soul winning, speaking a word of praise or encouragement, or perhaps teaching a class at your church.  There will be times placed specifically before us when we have an opportunity to be involved in the work of God.  


2.  God will get His work done one way or another.

"...then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place..."  God has plans to accomplish, and He will find a way to fulfill those plans.  God will be sure to accomplish His plans, with or without us.  I am not saying everything will turn out great even if we fail to do our duty.  The children God gave us will not turn out the same if we do not do our Scriptural duty.  A marriage will not be the same if we do not each treat our spouse in a biblical manner. Missionaries will not have the same provision they might have had if we do not give financially.  In all these situations, God will help folks survive, and somehow they will get along, but the end result will not be what it could have been.  Life will be more difficult.  Struggles will be greater, and trials will be more fierce. God will find a "Plan B" and folks will continue to go on through life; the solution will just have to come from somewhere else.  

3. We will lose if we do not jump in and do what God has led us to do.  

"...but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed..." We do not know all that would have happened if Esther had not stood up for her people, but it appears that her family would have suffered for her failure.  

Consider the story of Esther and what Haman might have accomplished if Esther had not stood for God and right. Haman was an evil man, a man who was thoughtless of life and an enemy of God and decency.  Without a doubt, Haman was a tool in the hands of Satan.  What evil might have been accomplished in future years if Esther had not stepped out of her comfort zone? Man cannot force events. We may be able to see little inklings of what might be or not be, but only God can see the potential of a given hour.  For this reason, He asks us to live by faith and to trust Him.

When I started Faith Baptist, if I had not been willing to do what I had never done before (go without financial resources and live a different life), there is no telling what would have happened in thousands of situations:  More than a dozen churches might never have been started, thousands of people might never have been saved, and tens of thousands of people might never have heard the Gospel. People may not have been fed, the lonely may not have felt loved, the hurting may not have been helped, the broken may not have been given hope, and countless unknown good things may not have been accomplished if my wife had not been willing to live on a shoestring.

4. What evil was suppressed by our presence?

What evil was suppressed by your proper behavior that may have run rampant without your decision to stand for God and right?  We might see the hurt and suffering in our lives and wish we had not been there or done that, but how much more terrible might it have been without the good that you brought into that world? Too much good has been accomplished for me to despair about the wrong around me. Enormous good has been accomplished by the people of God who stepped out to serve Him.  The wrong that Satan has slipped into our world would only have been greater without us. Would Jesus have wished not to come to earth because he knew Judas would betray Him? Would Peter have regretted following Christ and preaching Pentecost because he went to prison unjustly? Would Paul have looked from Heaven and regretted his decision to follow the Lord, having known all of the sufferings he would face, but also knowing the Bible books that would be written by his hand?  I think each of these people would do what they did again and a thousand times more if the chance was given to them.  

5. There is a reason (a reason unique to me) that I am here.

 Esther 4:14 “...who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"

Mother, your children will grow up with or without a Bible-reading mom, but life will be easier and more honoring to God if you do walk with God.  God will receive much more glory and you will have fewer sorrows from a situation lived properly – but the choice is up to you. You can either miss out or glean the blessing of being the grateful participant in the eternal work of God in the hearts of eternal souls.   Dad, you can choose to be the father who sits in church with his family and teaches them the importance of loving God, the Bible, and the house of God. But if those children care, God will find a way to get His work done without you; you will simply miss out on the blessing of doing something spectacular and eternal.  Dad, in the long run, you will suffer loss for your failure to perform the duties God outlined in the Scriptures.   Whether God has you on this earth to work a Sunday school class or sing in the choir, He has designed specific jobs for you to perform – and no one can do them just like you can do them.  

Giving to your church will help you more than it will help the church.  Supporting missionaries financially will help the giver more than the recipient.  We have the opportunity to be a part of the work of God, and we have been invited to partake in heavenly plans. We will be eternally rewarded for serving the Master and His ministry.  

I am here on earth for a reason.  There is a reason for my background, my physical and emotional makeup, and my education – for “…such a time as this."  (Esther 4:14)

If we quit on our church and go back to our old lives,  God will find a way to continue His ministry, but it is we who will "suffer loss."  (1 Corinthians 3:15) We might sit in church doing nothing, yet know we can participate in the bus ministry, a rest home service, or a Sunday school class. Service is our choice; God will accomplish His goals one way or another, but we are the ones who will suffer the loss.  No one is more perfectly fitted for a job than we are; we are each exactly what God needs for a specific situation.  

At one point, I found myself directing the choir at our church, and I loved it, but I was probably not the one God had specifically trained for the job. I was simply a willing substitute.

I might move to another city for money. In so doing, I may pull my children away from a key influence in their lives. With that move, my children may be directed to a different college, have different friends and teachers in school and church, and may, perhaps, find a different spouse. Who knows what hardship my children will face because of my desire for worldly prosperity.  I will suffer loss as I and my family fail to participate in key events that God specifically designed for us to accomplish for His eternal glory.

Some people might feel that one path might be more difficult than another, but how difficult was the path Esther traveled? She suffered the loss of her family and her nation, and she was married to a heathen king – but she was exactly where God wanted her - "for such a time as this." She has been recorded in the eternal Bible to encourage all of us to do our duty to God and men.  

How much better might our lives had been had choices been made for God and eternity rather than convenience and money?  John warns about some who will be ashamed at the appearing of Christ.

1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming." 

May we be prayerful, careful, diligent, and spiritual in all the things we do or do not do.  "That no man take thy crown."  (Revelation 3:11)

Pastor

King James

Good Morning,

I asked a Bible teacher, "Do you believe the King James is the Word of God?"  He answered, “Yes,” and then as I asked followup questions. I received many varied answers regarding the Bible. He finally agreed that without Hebrew and Greek one cannot really know what the King James Bible says. He admitted that there is no English Bible that is accurate, word for word.

This idea is not new; it is actually common in the academic world.  In the middle of writing these words, I walked over to witness to a lady sitting in her car. She said, “With all of the different Bibles written by men, I simply have to trust what I feel God thinks.”  That is one of the reasons the devil has encouraged so many different versions – but that is not the big issue.  The varied editions and versions of the Bible take out vital doctrines: the deity of Christ, the reality of hell, the blood atonement, the second coming, and much more.  

Either we have a Bible or we do not!  The academic pastor or teacher would love to have people rally around him to hear what he thinks God said.  Saying things like, “What this word really means” or “This word should have been translated as...” should (in all honesty) alarm us and prompt each one of us to “study to show ourselves approved.” Paul reminded Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 

I will not attempt to explain manuscript evidence or establish versions and their authenticity in this article, but I will simply state that either we have a Bible or we do not.  Either God‘s Word has been preserved for us, or we have no idea where God‘s Word is.  In Matthew 4:4, Jesus did say, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  I believe that God knows what He is saying and that He did preserve His Word so that we might live by every word as Jesus said. 

Here are a few verses to support this thought: 

Proverbs 30:5-6 “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” 

If we are not to add to HIS WORDS, and we are to believe that EVERY WORD OF GOD IS PURE, then logically, we need to have God’s Word.  

When Paul was writing to Timothy, Paul reminded him that he had known the Scriptures since childhood and that the Scriptures were given by inspiration of God.

2 Timothy 3:15 “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 

vs. 16 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”

I have been told that Timothy and the average person in that era spoke Aramaic, and that the Old Testament Scriptures were, for the most part, written in Hebrew.  If Timothy spoke Aramaic, then he probably had a translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into that language.  Whatever language he spoke, Timothy had Scriptures in that language so he could KNOW it from childhood.  The Scriptures that Timothy had were given by inspiration.  Therefore, there were and must be today, SCRIPTURES that were given by INSPIRATION or we would not be able to obey these verses. 

Matthew 21:42 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures…"

Matthew 22:29 “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” 

John 5:39 “Search the scriptures…"

Since no one claims that any version of the Bible is inspired except for our KJV, and since the KJV has been responsible for every revival and great movement of God in modern history, I will simply believe my Bible to be inspired and preserved – It is the only Book I need to know the will of God for my life. 

Do not allow anyone to rob you of your Bible by silly intellectual debate about which language or which version is best.  With dozens of books on the subject and countless hours of research and study, I can assure you that our Bible is perfect and from God.  In simpler terms, when Jesus said we should live by EVERY WORD OF GOD (Matthew 4:4), He did not lie and He did not give you a command that you cannot obey.  It is only logical to assume that if He commanded us to live by every word then He would give us what we need to accomplish the assignment.  


Pastor 

Holiday Hints

HOLIDAY HINTS

Dear Friends,



Here are a few thoughts I have mentioned in the past; perhaps they will help lend some sanity to your holidays:



1. Budget - Create some kind of a budget for spending, either a total amount for the holidays or a per person budget plan.



2. Schedule - Schedule your shopping so that you do not wear out your family by staying out all night.



3. Keep Shopping Lists - Parents should have lists that record what was purchased for whom, especially those who are early shoppers.  Sometimes a gift is purchased early in the year and we forget that it was purchased and we end up repeating the purchase.



4. Forget the "I Have To" - You do not “have to” go to someone's house; you do not “have to” spend money; and you do not “have to” drink booze because others do.



5. Stay Spiritual During the Holidays - Stay in church; keep reading your Bible; and make a plan to keep your family close to God.



6. Remember Those Who Are Hurting During the Holidays - The poor, lonely, widows, and those who could be depressed or discouraged are in need of your encouragement during the holidays.



7. Keep Yourself Alive With A Vision — If you face some discouraging hours, write down things you plan to do in the new year. 



8. Have Fun - Do not get so focused on the holiday that you forget to smile, play, goof off with your family etc…



9. Keep Your Expectations Simple - Do not allow yourself to expect "things" or expect a "reaction" in response to things you give.

10. Remember Jesus - Take time with Him; it is His birth we are celebrating.

Pastor

Enjoy

Good Morning,

With holidays consuming our bodies and souls, I would like to encourage each one of you hard-working, passionate men and women to stop and enjoy your labors.  Sometimes we can get so busy working that it is difficult to stop, to relax, and to watch the grandchildren play.  

God says it is fine to enjoy the fruit of our labors.

Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.”

Ecclesiastes 3:13 “And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.”

Ecclesiastes 5:18 “Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion.”

You have worked; and you have worked long hours.  Stop and spend some time doing nothing, watch Muppets Christmas Carol or Mr. Smith goes to Washington.  Enjoy a walk with children to the park, or go on a bike ride.  If you are anything like me, the work is never all done, nor will it ever be. 


I could get up on Christmas morning and work eight or ten hours just like any other day.  Notice what God wrote:

Ecclesiastes 2:24 “There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”

“Nothing better” than to enjoy the good of your labor.  Take a cruise; go camping; and if you like guns, go shoot them. 

Do not miss the end of the verse (especially you high-pressure, non-stop people):

2:24 “…that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour.”

3:13 “... it is the gift of God."

Make yourself enjoy the good gift of God.  Force yourself to stop, play, and relax. Honestly, it will not hurt. 

Pastor

Prayer

Good Morning,

We have moved quickly through the year, and I hope we have all kept some spiritual “resolutions” — to resolve to read our Bibles, pray, be faithful to church, to break the ties of certain besetting sins — all of which are good to improve upon.

Though I would like to suggest something upon which to focus — prayer.

Even though we reach the point at which we read our Bibles daily, we still tend to miss the quiet moments of talking with God.  There is more power with God in prayer than any of us understand.

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Here is a simple order from our Saviour:  ALWAYS PRAY!  Prayer ought to be a part of our lives all day long.  We ought to seek God’s insight at every turn, learning to “walk in the Spirit.”

Prayer helps us avoid trouble.

Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Prayer helps us avoid temptation.

Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

Luke 22:46 “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

In those verses, God gives us two incredible reasons to pray: to avoid temptation and trouble.  PRAY!

Read the parable in Luke 18, and you will see the entire story.  We are to consider prayer as our bothering God.  Persistent, non-stop prayer is the way to get things we desire -- for others.

Luke 11:8 “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

Prayer ought to go on often throughout the day.

Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is the pathway to peace in troubled times.

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 “Peace of God” — what a precious possession to have in this world of sin and hurt -- that passes all understanding.  It comes to us partly through committing everything to God in prayer.

Pastor

Busy

Good Morning,

Most of us understand that life is busy, although, some people think they are busy because they cannot sleep when they want, play when they want, and watch television when they want.

I do not know much, but I do know this:  if you want something good, then it will take time.  A good home requires tireless work.  Good children, a good marriage, and an orderly and well-cared-for house all require an enormous amount of time.  Even keeping your body good takes time.  Time is necessary to plan good meals, to get exercise, and to assemble a well-planned wardrobe.

I can personally say that my life includes almost no relaxing time.  The desire to minister to people requires lots and lots of time.  Rearing good children took every moment I could squeeze out of life.  Of course, to stay married and like it requires me to draw from the last few moments from every day.

We cannot do what we feel like doing.  If we relax all day and exert ourselves only when it involves some personal pleasure, we should not expect anything good to come from our lives — this is the recipe for failure. 

I have watched successful college-age young people (those who have worked their way through school, served in ministries, and worked to do right), and in watching them, I can tell you, they were tired — they had no extra time.  When I was in college, I worked six blocks from the Sears Tower in Chicago and never once got to go inside the building.  The first time I ever entered the doors of the Sears Tower was after I was already in the ministry and took a group of young people with me.   When I was in college, I had no time to play; but I never missed my bus route, never slept through a class, and never dreamed of missing a church service (except for Wednesdays when I had to work nights to pay my college bill).   (Student loans are the government’s way to get you indoctrinated in their globalism, secularism, and immoral mentality.)

Mark 1:10 “And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him:”

Mark 1:18 “And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.”

Mark 1:20 “And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

Mark 1:21”And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.”

Nineteen times in the book of Mark, the word "straightway" is used. This word is only used eight times in the book of Matthew (a book almost twice as long), four times in the book of Luke, once in the book of John, four times in the book of Acts, and once in the book of James.  “Straightway” does not appear in any other New Testament book.   Why was this particular word used so often in the book of Mark?  It is the book that portrays Christ as the servant; and a servant has no time to waste. 

Do you want great children?  Training children will take every free moment — none to waste.  Do you want a great marriage?  No free time is available to the couple wanting a great relationship; a couple must work constantly at making marriage better.  Do you want a great church?  Having a great church requires your getting off the golf course, shutting off the ball games, quitting sitting around eating with friends, and getting to work!   A millionaire once said, “You make a living from 8-5, but you make a success between 5 and 8.”   I know pastors who have been in the ministry for several years who do not run any children's or teen’s activities.   That is why they have no young people; they simply do not care to work at it.   We ran our first teen activity with two teens, and the activity was held only two weeks after starting the church.  Since the first day of our ministry, we have had bike races, ball games, and countless children’s and teen activities — it takes work, but it also pleases God.  I may be accused rightly of being unorganized and terrible with numbers and schedule, but no one will accuse me of being lazy.  In case you have not noticed, God blesses work!!

I am in favor of leisure if it involves walking with my wife or fishing with my son.  I am for leisure if it includes a board game with children or reading a story at bedtime.  Ladies, sleeping in for half the day is a recipe for a messy home, an unhappy husband, and sorry children.  Get up and get to work!!  

"Work" and doing it  "straightway" is one great key to success.

Genesis 5:29 “And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.”

Exodus 20:9 “Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:”

Exodus 23:12 “Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest”

Exodus 31:15 “Six days may work be done;”

Exodus 34:21 “Six days thou shalt work”

Exodus 35:2 “Six days shall work be done”

Leviticus 23:3 “Six days shall work be done”

Deuteronomy 5:13 “Six days thou shalt labour, and do all thy work:”

So how many days are we supposed to work?

Do you spend your time playing Pokemon, spending hours on video games, or sleeping in half the day?  When do you have time to train your children to work when you are sleeping all the time?    Watching television every night is hardly fellowship, nor is it a part of child training.  I walked in on my daughter-in-law the other day, and she had her eight-year-old carrying a small vacuum up the stairs to clean the carpets; and the next thing I knew, she was using two rags to dust all the wood along the stairs.  My sons were mowing the lawn long before they were as tall as the mower handle.  What is wrong with children cleaning their rooms, or washing and vacuuming the car inside and out?  The big issue is that it takes work to teach children to work, and most parents are too lazy to teach their children.

The average parents would rather toss their child into a public school and let the state tell the child he is free to choose his gender.  Allowing heathen people to train your children to think that the government owes them a living and that there is no God is being a lazy parent.   

To make a living for the family, to teach a Sunday school class, or to run a bus route for God and the eternal souls of men takes WORK.  Some churches would rather have a rock concert and entertain people rather than work at changing lives.

Do you want your children to attend the Christian school?  Your children could attend the Christian school if cans were collected all summer or sign twirling was done one day a week.  One of our men was out of work, and as a father of four, he walked house-to-house with a lawnmower and tools to wash cars — he paid his bills that way for several weeks until a job came along.  This dedication involves humble, hard work!  Work long hours; work till you drop; work two full-time jobs if necessary.  With hard work, anything can be accomplished!

Work!  Labor!  A few years ago, I talked to a single lady, whose story was not unusual.  She worked twenty to thirty hours a week and could not pay her bills and wanted my help.  I felt like making her follow my wife around for three days and see what the word WORK meant.  A single person could work eighty hours a week and still have eighty hours a week to do the rest of their duties.  I know Christian school teachers who teach full-time and work another twenty to thirty hours a week to pay bills because they want to serve God. 

We live in a cursed world.  If we want to make anything a success, work and toil is our lot.  Rest will come when we enter Heaven.  I have to say, if there is any fear in my life (with the exception of sin), it would be the day when I can no longer work long hours and make a difference — to sit unable to work would kill me.

Pastors, read, study, write, visit, and run activities for young people!

Pastor

Prayer

Good Morning,

As we have moved quickly through the new year, I hope we have all kept some spiritual “resolutions” — to resolve to read our Bibles, pray, be faithful to church, to break the ties of certain besetting sins — all of which are good to improve upon.

Though I would like to suggest something upon which to focus — prayer.

Even though we reach the point at which we read our Bibles daily, we still tend to miss the quiet moments of talking with God.  There is more power with God in prayer than any of us understand.

Luke 18:1 “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”

Here is a simple order from our Saviour:  ALWAYS PRAY!  Prayer ought to be a part of our lives all day long.  We ought to seek God’s insight at every turn, learning to “walk in the Spirit.”

Prayer helps us avoid trouble.

Luke 21:36 “Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.”

Prayer helps us avoid temptation.

Mark 14:38 “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.”

Luke 22:46 “And said unto them, Why sleep ye? rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.”

In those verses, God gives us two incredible reasons to pray: to avoid temptation and trouble.  PRAY!

Read the parable in Luke 18, and you will see the entire story.  We are to consider prayer as our bothering God.  Persistent, non-stop prayer is the way to get things we desire -- for others.

Luke 11:8 “I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”

Prayer ought to go on often throughout the day.

Psalm 55:16 “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me.”

Psalm 55:17 “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Prayer is the pathway to peace in troubled times.

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 “Peace of God” — what a precious possession to have in this world of sin and hurt -- that passes all understanding.  It comes to us partly through committing everything to God in prayer.

Pastor

Discourage

Good Morning,

Discouragement: dis means away, like in the word distance; courage refers to spirit.

Discouragement is to have our spirit, our daring, and our willingness to try driven away, leaving us with no willingness to go on.

It is not a sin or grievous failure to be discouraged.  The finest people in history faced their moments of discouragement.


Charles Spurgeon had times of terrible depression.  Abraham Lincoln was said to have been often dark and depressed. Of his troubled times, Paul the Apostle said, “For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life." (2 Corinthians 1:8)  One might consider this a description of discouragement.

Consider David after being chased as an animal in the wilderness.  It seems David was wearing down.

1 Samuel 27:1 “And David said in his heart, I shall now perish one day by the hand of Saul: there is nothing better for me than that I should speedily escape into the land of the Philistines.”

Elijah had wonderful victories and obvious blessings from God as he prayed down fire from Heaven (1Kings 18:38), but just a short time later, he asked God to kill him.

1 Kings 19:4 “But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers."

Clearly, people get weary, discouraged, depressed, and whatever other words you might chose to explain the "lost and hopeless" feeling that can overcome the best of us.  That is the time when our spirit is away from us.

Suicide is a selfish way out of discouragement. The depressed one forgets everyone else and takes the easiest way out for himself. He neglects the life-long memories of the innocent people around him, and forces them to deal with the tragic consequence.

Even Paul said, "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:" (Philippians 1:23) Paul was looking forward to getting out of this messed up world.

If you are in a time of depression or discouragement, you are not a failure, not a looser, or forsaken by God, you are a normal human facing perilous times.   The question is, "What do you do now?” If you want the long answer, get a copy of my book, Surviving the Tsunami in which I address the issue in over seventy chapters.  The short answer is, "Believe God!"  Just determine that God is worthy of our trust, no matter how circumstances appear.  

My point is that you are not alone when you get discouraged; the best of the people of God have been there.  You are a normal, average person who is facing a difficult time, do not allow the devil to make you feel that you are hopeless.   Do not give up!

Pastor

…On a side note, while driving by a local elementary school, I see a flashing sign in giant letters saying, "Girls Rule."  That phrase is not good for the boys.  Who would put their sons in that school? No one would tolerate the sign saying "Guys Rule!"  More on that another day.

Booze

Good Morning,

Please allow me to hit a "sacred cow" this morning.  We have a society that loves booze.  Period! No debate!  Have you ever noticed how much advertising there is against smoking compared to how much is against alcohol?  There are almost no anti-liquor advertisements.

Some pastors teach entire lessons on why liquor is okay.  Some will teach the benefits of liquor, or they go through the Bible finding verses to twist and teach to promote booze.  With all that in mind, let me make some of my own personal observations.

Never has anything good come from strong drink. I know our society tries to make it acceptable, but we all know better. No alcohol has any benefit (unless it is NyQuil)!   I have had Christians tell me their glass of wine at the end of the day is beneficial to them; I am not going to say they are wrong, but I will say that the one who said that has a spouse and kids who battle with addictions.  Who fights to justify the thing that is ruining their marriage, their spouse, and their children?  They are missing the idea that perhaps they are causing their own family to stumble. Look what Paul wrote about our “justified” actions hurting another:

Romans 14:21 “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.”

Paul referred to the idea earlier in verse 13: “Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”

If my actions cause another to stumble or to be weak, I am wrong!  Unless it is something God commands me to do, my life is supposed to be focused upon the glory of God and the benefit of mankind, NOT ON MY OWN COMFORT, DESIRES, AND PLEASURES!  

Liquor ruins our driving skills and corrupts our temper, and erodes our morals.  Liquor blurs the eyes, perverts the tongue, deadens the conscience, and fills the heart with folly.

Proverbs 23 deals extensively with liquor:

vs. 29 “Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?”

vs. 30 “They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine.”

vs. 31 “Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright.”

vs. 32 “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”

vs. “Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.”

vs. 34 “Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.”

vs. 35 “They have stricken me, shalt thou say, and I was not sick; they have beaten me, and I felt it not: when shall I awake? I will seek it yet again.”

I do not need to go through those verses; you may read them on your own and see the obvious instruction.  Booze makes you immoral, stupid, and causes you to suffer physically.  Booze will hurt your marriage, your children, and your testimony for Christ.  This is the point at which some carnal Christian says that this is why one should only drink in moderation.  For that person, I refer to what was written earlier in Romans 14:13 & 21 – read it again.  Those answers are not compatible with what the Bible says!  

Drinking liquor makes men daring (stupid) and leads them to moral depravity. We often talk about “First Mention” in Bible interpretation, and the first time wine is mentioned, it refers to Noah getting drunk; illicit, immoral behavior followed.  That is the defining moment in the Scripture regarding liquor.

Lot got drunk, and through incest, ruined countless lives.

Genesis 19:32 “Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.”

We know he did not end up in a mountain cave “discovering wine;” he had to have brought it with him.

1 Samuel 1:16 “Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.”

This passage in the book of Samuel tells how Hannah defended herself from being accused of being a daughter of Belial (the devil); for she had not been drunk.  

2 Samuel 11:13 “And when David had called him, he did eat and drink before him; and he made him drunk…”

In this passage, we read how David thought he could lower the “resolve” of Uriah through drink. Everyone knows booze will lessen our ability to stand true to our ideals.  In this case, Uriah was more of a man than David thought (most men are not).  

The stories of broken homes, abuse, car accidents, and endless suffering can all be found rooted in liquor.  Yes, some seem to be able to drink and not hurt others.  Just as some are able to use drugs and not end up in the morgue or conversing with cracks in the sidewalk, but they are simply the false advertisment to draw the vulnerable into a life of ruin.

Someone said Charles Spurgeon smoked cigars until one day his picture was used to promote smoking.  He wanted, as the story goes, his life to promote nothing but Christ and he stopped smoking right then.

After a tragic story from a wife about her drunk husband, she continued to explain how she could go out with the family, drink booze, and not over drink; but her husband had this trouble. I was so shocked that she did not have enough hatred for the bottle to stop it herself.

Some years ago, there was a "nature lover" in northern California.  He was sure he could live at peace with dangerous things and began collecting rattlesnakes.  After not being seen for some days or weeks, someone called the authorities. They looked through he window of his house and found hundreds of rattlers all over; he lay dead in the middle.  

Proverbs 23:32 “At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”

Not at first, but "at the last." 

I saw a poster that says it well, "Forecast for tonight: Alcohol, low standards, and poor decisions."  (That was on the wall of a secular store!)  They know, and they are not ashamed.  Another sign I saw in a drinking man's garage: "I don't have a drinking problem; I drink, I fall down, no problem." 

I hate liquor; and any decent, loving Christian (or non-Christian) feels the same way.  

Pastor

Church & Pastor

Good Morning,

Ephesians 4:11 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;”

vs. 12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:”

The job of the pastor, teacher, or evangelist is to perfect the saints for the work of the ministry.  

Paul did not say that the work of the pastor was to give everyone Bibles and have them study on their own. To be properly equipped for the work of the ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, one needs an instructor.  It is unpopular to think that way, but it is biblical.

Revelation 1 pronounces a blessing on him that readeth and they that hear. Notice someone is reading and others are hearing and keeping.

Revelation 1:3 “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.”

In the book of Hebrews chapter thirteen, in verses seven and seventeen, the Bible teaches the importance of considering the instruction that one receives from the pastor.

Paul told Timothy to take the things that he had been told by Paul and to pass them on to faithful men. The people learn the truths he had been told through him (or through the evangelist or elder) not through any written source; that truth was provided to pass along.

Paul made it clear that he was not a lord over God's heritage (1 Peter 5:3),  but he also talked about instructors. (1 Corinthians 4:15)

Every man who has a Bible is instructed to read and to study It.  Every saved person also has access to the Holy Spirit and to His instruction, but the Lord clearly provides men who are teachers, men with more time or spiritual anointing to teach the Bible and to "perfect" the saints. 

Notice the requirements for pastor: "apt to teach" (1 Timothy 3:2) and one who labors in the Word and doctrine. (1 Timothy 5:17)  The farmer does not have that kind of time any more than the pastor can grow the food he eats and fix the car he drives; God uses us to serve one another.  One time, the New Testament speaks of the believer’s need to study (study to show himself approved), but depending on how strict you want to be about that passage, that instruction was actually directed to a pastor, Timothy, so he might instruct his members, most of whom had no access to a Bible.

I was out soul winning and met the nicest family.  They were saved, a pleasure to talk to, and seemed to have a sincere love for the Lord.  When I asked them what church they attended, they said they had church in their home.  I am for family Bible and parents instructing their children, but a church is more than dad and mom teaching the Bible and praying with their children.  A Bible church has a pastor, preaching, supports missionaries, and does the work of evangelism and church planting.  A Bible church has a burden for the neighborhood, brings visitors to the church, baptizes converts and trains others in the Word of God.  To sit around enjoying the Bible, prayer, and a good family without going farther condemns the world to Hell.

In the book of Psalms, we are told to meditate on the Word and to delight in the Word; Deuteronomy tells us that we are to talk about the Word of God, especially to our children.

Those who could make the Word plain and clear were very important to the ministry.

Leviticus 10:11 “And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.” 

On the other hand, I am in favor of godly, proven Bible teachers and preachers; but I also say that even the pastor should be careful to whom he listens. Many heresies and church errors arise because pastors are listening to the wrong people. When we talk about having a pastor or teacher, we ought be very careful because they can surely cause us to stray – that pertains to pastors as much as any church member.

The book of Proverbs says with good advice make war; we certainly are at war with the wicked one, so we must secure GOOD ADVICE. Read much Bible, pray often, and listen to preaching; for (Romans 10:17) faith cometh by hearing… It does not say by reading but by hearing. May we be found sitting at the feet of wise and prudent Bible teachers, and be an active part of a New Testament church.

Pastor

Do Not Join The Wrong Side

Good Morning,

Absalom had some problems with his dad.  We are not about to say David was perfect, but he was not only the father, but the king.  David had led the nation to prosperity, peace, and stability spiritually, as well as socially.  

ONE BITTER PERSON, Absalom, plotted and labored until he created a split among the people. No one had any complaints; no one was suffering or doing without.  There was no reason for their unrest; they were simply listening to a critic and perhaps focusing on their own difficulties now and then. No one always agrees with leadership, but there had been no better life than they had enjoyed under David.

You can read the slow corrupt dealings of Absalom, but I will focus on the end.  

2 Samuel 18:7 “Where the people of Israel were slain before the servants of David, and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men.”

Among the tragic loss of life was the leader himself, hanging in a tree (probably by his long hair), visited by Joab and his men.

2 Samuel 18:15 “And ten young men that bare Joab's armour compassed about and smote Absalom, and slew him."

Twenty thousand men were killed in that battle all because they followed a bitter critic.  

I would not share the names and events of the past decades, but I certainly could.  One bitter, jealous, or envious person got an idea, and for whatever reason, folks joined in their cause.  I could take you to the drug-using children, the broken marriages, babies born out of wedlock,  the families out of church, and the unsaved grandchildren with no one teaching them the things of God.  Oh, the sorrow is great when one jumps on the train of bitter and envious people.  

"... and there was there a great slaughter that day of twenty thousand men."

We speak often of the young people who need to be careful which friends they choose, but I can assure you that the choices of parents’ friends can be far more devastating.

The book of Hebrews says that bitterness defiles many. Bitterness is not simply a personal vice, it affects others also.

Many frustrated couples kept trying until a third person came along and a marriage died.   Many a church member would have continued serving in their church for years, but then a critic came along and their service ended.  

Absalom’s story is not dead, but has been multiplied over and over on job sites, in churches, and in homes.  Honestly, there is no way to eliminate these critics of the blessed. The decision of who you will follow and where you will end up must be made by each individual.


Pastor

Consider Jesus

Good Morning,

As we travel through life, we find that misunderstandings and wrongdoings are endless. The worst of which is probably when we have done nothing to provoke ill-treatment, and we do not know why the harm has been aimed at us.  The treatment may be compounded by the ugly behavior coming from a friend or even from one we love.  


I will not begin to try to explain this form of pressure, but I do know the best of people have faced this in one form or another.  As Christians, we have the opportunity to seek the Scriptures to find the manner in which to deal with such wrong.   We should consider Jesus, for no one was ever mistreated like He was.  Remember the prefix “mis” means unjustified or inappropriate; our Lord never deserved any of the shameful treatment that was poured out on Him.  


The prophet Isaiah described part of Jesus’ situation: 

Isaiah 53:3 “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not."

vs. 4 “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Isaiah 50:6 “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting." 


We are urged to consider Jesus and to think on His life and suffering; He was terribly misused.  Remembering Jesus will help us not to quit when life becomes difficult.  We are wise to ponder and to think about those words and the situations in which Christ found Himself: despised, rejected, smitten of God.  As we consider Him, we will find strength. 


Hebrews 12:3 "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.” 

Jesus was unjustly hurt, and people spoke evil of Him. He suffered; and in every case, the abuse was unjustified.  Jesus knows our suffering and so much more. When we look to Heaven with tear-filled eyes, He is already familiar with the feelings we have, and He knows the same hurt that we do.  


Hebrews 4:15 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” 


The example refers to when Christ was misused; His reaction was always perfect, and He never responded wrongly.  


The book of Hebrews also brings us close to our Lord by explaining that Jesus not only died for our sins, but He also suffered so that He would be able to help us in our suffering.  

Hebrews 2:18 “For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” 


Jesus could have died for our sins by a quick less-painful death, but He chose to be misused, unjustly tried, mocked, slandered, and abandoned by those who should have been His faithful friends.  He endured all of this so we would understand that Jesus KNOWS how we feel and that He can help.  Jesus is able to “succor” or help those who have been hurt. 


While Jesus was teaching, critical people “derided Him,”  “laughed Him to scorn,” and He was “set at nought,” or treated as if He knew nothing. 


If you want to frustrate your spouse or child, act as if their thoughts and ideas are meaningless to you.  This response happens all the time, often by accident, but other times seriously.  We cannot control the “ignorance of foolish men,” so we must focus upon our biblical reaction to their behavior.  I cannot keep people from being socially crippled to the point that they do not understand how important it is to look at someone and listen.  However, I can control my heart and my thoughts when it happens.  I can consider Jesus and how He dealt with trouble.  


Hebrews 12:2 “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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” 

vs. 3 “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

Pastor 

Election Results

Good Morning,

Psalms 33:12 “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…"

With elections over, I have noticed some finger pointing, blaming, and basically refusals to admit, "It is our fault."  

I am one who believes the counts have been tampered with, that dead people vote, unelected people get elected, and that we are fast-losing our honor as a nation – BUT THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM!  

1. Public Education. I think it is time to blame ourselves for five decades of placing our children in public schools that teach anything but patriotism and true American history.  Our government schools have failed greatly, but regarding our elections, the classes on government, history, civics, and morality are the primary issues to blame.  

2. We have done our best to place our children in secular colleges and universities that stand violently against the most basic principles our families and nation have traditionally stood for. We have paid people to deceive and pervert our children’s minds, and that is our own fault.  The non-college educated Americas hated to accept handouts and wanted to work for what they received.  The college-educated America of today wants handouts from parents, state, and federal government. The non-college-educated America wanted to make a good name for themselves.  College-educated Americans demand rights and privileges that they never did anything to gain. 

3.  I believe elections turned out less than conservative because we have failed to take a stand for righteousness in our homes, churches, and neighborhoods.  We have surrendered to perversion on television, allowed limitless access to media on tablets and phones, and accepted a "Me First" culture.  Conservatives have allowed their families to grow up thinking "feeling good" was more important that "doing good."  When you combine those qualities, it yields liberal voters.  American conservatives have created a generation of liberals!  It is not the fault of social media or the result of "Big Tech" influences.  

American Conservative Christian parents have allowed their children to be educated by liberals for decades, and now we have a serious philosophical problem in our nation. May we not blame others, but ourselves.  

One more thought many people will not care to hear.

As Christians, we should put God in the equation.  If we want God to bless America, we need to get back to Bible reading and prayer in our homes and church attendance on Sunday!   


Election results?  We have created this problem with decisions of compromise and godless living.  Yes, there is evil, corruption and injustice, but the blame is on the one we look at in the mirror.  

Pastor  

Serving Others

Good Morning,


When news came to Jesus that John the Baptist was beheaded, our Lord went away, we assume to grieve. 


Matthew 14:13  “When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart...”


Jesus spoke wonderfully of John. Jesus gave John great compliments and said there was no greater man born to a woman than him.  A closeness also existed between them –  they were cousins, and they were very close.  John was the first one to recognize Jesus and respond to His presence (Luke 1:41).  The news of John’s unjust death touched our Saviour’s heart.  He went to grieve, and people followed Him.  What happened next?  Great sorrow had entered the world of our Saviour. What should the perfect Son of God do now?  Notice the rest of verse 13: 


“...and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.”

vs. 14 “And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.”


Jesus grieved, but His heart was touched with compassion for others who were also hurting; He turned from His own grief to care for the suffering of others.  


No doubt, sorrow is present in the lives of most people. A time will come when we sit back and absorb the shock and the hurt, and then ask the questions, “Why did this happen?” and “How did this happen?” (among other questions). What we do next is the big issue. How do we respond?  Jesus turned His eyes on the hurting of His world and started ministering to their hurt, leaving His own behind.  


The doctors who lose a patient to death must have some sorrow in their hearts, but those same doctors probably have another patient immediately needing their skills; the doctors must deal with the grief and go on to help someone else who needs them.  


The policemen who deal with tragic situations feel pain inside for the mess they deal with; yet, when another call comes requiring immediate action (regardless of where those policemen were hours or days before), they must focus their concern and attention on the new situation. 


Early in my ministry, I made a foolish statement while conversing with a widow: I said, “It takes a long time to get over losing your spouse doesn’t it?” She corrected me and said, “You don’t get over it!” Right then, I learned that we may not get over our grief, but we can get through it as that dear widow did.  After a time, we can gain strength and begin to serve others again.  


Jesus went aside for a time after hearing of the unjust demise of His cousin and friend, John, but the needs of the multitudes pressed on His heart, and He had to lay aside His grief to help people.  


May we also see the hurting world around us, and as God gives grace, serve them as our ability allows us to.


Pastor

Simple Things

Good Morning,

The famous Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, grew to amazing size and productivity with souls saved, and this ministry was probably was the most successful missionary-sending church in America.  Dr. Lee Roberson was the pastor there for approximately forty-five years and built his ministry on simple things.  His sermons were basic, and his ministry simple. 

“Never vary” was one of the key phrases of his ministry.  Do not change.

Another phrase heard often was “Three To Thrive.”  Get to church three times a week, and you will thrive.

“The Crucified Life” was often the subject of his preaching.  “Die To Self” was the key to getting along at home and in the community -- not spectacular acts, just simple Christian living.

His counseling was unique as well.  If you went to him for advice, he would almost always tell you the same thing:  Go to church three times a week, read your Bible every day, and when you have done that for thirty days straight, come see me again.  That took care of a lot of counseling.

As a pastor,  Bro. Roberson told me he built his ministry on twelve visits a day.  Whether it was a hospital call or knocking on a door, five days a week, making twelve visits a day was the way he built the church.

We love new things, bright unusual ideas, catchy styles, or miracle foods:  the “eat all you want and lose weight” diets.  In reality, greatness is found in doing the simple things over and over and doing them right. 

In hopes of finding a new, easy way to get things done, do not chase the spectacular; do not ignore the simple, accepted things that work.  Just do right; love God; live holy; serve others; read the Bible; go to church three times a week, and your Christian life will do just fine.

Simplicity, sincerity, consistency!

Pastor

Needy

Good Morning,

As our government leaders allow evil to radically dismember our nation, I find more and more poor people and more people struggling to find jobs, or jobs decent enough to care for the needs of their families.

God says much about the poor:

Deuteronomy 15:11 “For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.”

Matthew 26:11 “For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.”

Our Lord says that since there will ALWAYS be poor people, then we are to open our hands to them.  That is about as simple and clear as we can get.

We need to be reminded that the Lord directs circumstances, and at times, He has a plan and purpose for poverty as well as wealth.  Of course, we all want to be a part of the WORK of being wealthy, but most are not.  Many of the poor people are exactly where God wants them in His will.  Do not look down on them; do not scorn them as though by our own goodness and wisdom we are more successful.

1 Samuel 2:7 “The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.”

Job 30:25 “Did not I weep for him that was in trouble? was not my soul grieved for the poor?”

According to God, Job was a man who was perfect and even wept over the poor.  How do we feel when we see poor people?

God then directs us to defend the poor, not malign them.

Psalm 82:3 “Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.”

Proverbs 14:21 “He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.”

Notice the lessons God presents about the poor:

Proverbs 19:17 “He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

Proverbs 28:27 “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”

Considering these verses and the love God has for the poor, I am grateful for our bus ministry and for the big days when we can reach out to needy families.

As I see people on the street, I wonder if there is not a reason to pray for a rescue mission or a place to feed and preach to those in need.  I think of the mess in which we find our schools, morally and educationally, and I pray for God to provide a way for us to educate our young people who ride our buses.

Study the Bible verses on the poor and build your thinking around biblical principles regarding the needy.  Let us be sure that our church never loses its love for the needy of our community.  We cannot fix their problem, but we can love them, help them, and be sure to introduce them to a Saviour Who can fix their troubles for eternity.

Pastor

Holidays

Good Morning,

As we approach the holidays, I wanted to mention the unique theme of this year.

Exodus 23:14 “Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year.”

vs. 15 “Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)"

vs. 16 “And the feast of harvest, the firstfruits of thy labours, which thou hast sown in the field: and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labours out of the field."

vs. 17 “Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.”

Three times in the year, Jewish folks gathered in Jerusalem for something similar to our “Holidays.”  They were religious in nature, but all the accompanying events are similar:  lots of people, food, and some attention given to the Lord.  

Allow me to make a few observations:

Regular gatherings with our family and friends are healthy for a society.  They remind us that there is more to life than work, money, and troubles.  People and the Lord are the main object of our lives.  

“…for in it thou camest out from Egypt…” (vs. 15)  Gatherings are a good time to remind ourselves and our children where we came from, what God has done for us, and how much we owe the Lord.  Do not let this be a holiday from God, but rather a holiday with God. Consider a game or some planned situation that causes us to stop and remember how good God has been.

Notice it says, “all thy males” (vs. 17).  Men are a vital part of family, and godly men need to be visible, vocal, and influential on their family gatherings.   Do not just send the ladies and kids; men, accept the role of “godly man” and be a big part of family events.  

Not from the passage, but from my thoughts, do not allow the holidays to become a frustration, a necessity you wish to get through soon.  Do not allow the planning and production to be so frustrating that you do not enjoy eating, drinking, and playing with those who are dear to you.  

Holidays ought to be a spiritual, relaxing, enjoyable time of fellowship and memories.  Protect them and use them for good.

Pastor 

Keep Your Church Staff Encouraged

Good Morning,

This message is really for a future generation or churches other than our own.  I feel that our members do much of this, and for that reason, we probably have the church we enjoy today.  But for those who read these lessons around the country, and for those who will be future leaders in our church, I offer some quick thoughts.

2 Chronicles 31:4 “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.”

vs. 5 “And as soon as the commandment came abroad, the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly.”

This verse is about a revival headed up by King Hezekiah.  He did some serious realigning of the nation. He got people to start giving the offerings that were required by the law again, and then this passage was written:

vs. 4 “Moreover he commanded the people that dwelt in Jerusalem to give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.”

Most of the livelihood of Old Testament priests was supported by the offerings of the people.  Hezekiah commanded the people to give enough that the priests and their families would love serving the Lord.

I have heard some inner city pastors criticized for their nice cars while their members lived in poverty. I can somewhat understand the criticism, but not many of those critics would wish to minister in ghettos.  I am sure abuse of the financial situation in many ministries is present, but probably more in the mega churches and television evangelists than the pastor in a poor inner-city church.

A good pastor and his family pours their heart and soul into the ministry, and there is no end of obstacles the devil will throws at them to discourage and defeat them.  The fiery darts are emotional, financial, and physical, but also includes a lack of cooperation from their people.  

I am very close to a pastor right now who is near to leaving his church because no one will help. The bills are paid, attendance is reasonable, and some folks get saved now and then (most often the pastor's visitors).  The membership will not help with Vacation Bible School, passing out fliers or soul winning, cleaning the buildings, or anything else.  The pastor and his family do it all.  Those church people have no idea of the quality of man they are about to lose.  

When members simply stay home, it discourages the pastor.  When finances are down, it is difficult for the pastor and his wife to stay on top. Thoughtful giving even in little things helps keep the pastor and his family fighting the battle.  "... that they might be encouraged…" (31:4)

Anyone knows that a note and a gift card to a coffee shop is uplifting. That kindness works for your spouse, your teenager, your child's teacher, or your employee.  Gifts make a difference.  Keeping the bills paid is even more encouraging.  Notice the word God chose to describe the generosity of the people:

vs. 5 "...the children of Israel brought in abundance the firstfruits of corn, wine, and oil, and honey, and of all the increase of the field; and the tithe of all things brought they in abundantly."

I know a pastor, an amazing pastor, who left a church simply because the people would not accept tithing.  The bills were paid, but the point was not bills but obedience.  After moving from that little church to another smaller church, the new church grew to several thousand in attendance.  The first group missed the incredible blessing because they did not want to join the pastor and obey God.  

I know another pastor who is open to moving any time; he is a man I would trust to fill my pulpit if I retired.  He is also discouraged because the people will not join him in seeking the lost.  Whether it be the bus ministry, soul winning, or anything that has to do with reaching out to the lost, it seems his members are uninterested.  

Many churches cannot keep a good pastor because they want church to be a "spectator sport" when it is a participant-based work.  We have had lean times financially, but our people have always seemed to be interested in the Lord's WORK. Likewise, they have been good to my wife and family.  

Now, let us look at verses that too many of us drift through without thought in the book of Numbers.  

Numbers 18:9 “...and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons.”

vs. 12 “All the best of the oil, and all the best of the wine, and of the wheat, the firstfruits of them which they shall offer unto the LORD, them have I given thee.”

This verse refers to personal gifts to the staff.

Then God explains that everyone in the priest’s house shall enjoy these good things.

vs. 13 “And whatsoever is first ripe in the land, which they shall bring unto the LORD, shall be thine; every one that is clean in thine house shall eat of it.”

vs. 14 “Every thing devoted in Israel shall be thine.”

If you want to keep your pastor, you need to encourage him and his family; money is part of the equation, but joining in service is another part.  You chose him as your leader.  Unless he is doing something against the Bible, join in his vision.  Spoil the pastor's wife, and be good to the church staff, from secretaries to school teachers and coaches.  Do little things for bus drivers, nursery workers, and musicians.  It is in our hands to keep our church leaders encouraged.   If we do not care, why should the Lord care?  There is a great shortage of pastors in America, perhaps it is our own fault.

If you want a solid, stable church, be on the team, be a part of the ministry, be good to the folks doing the hardest jobs, and keep one another encouraged.  

God said it, 2 Chronicles 31:4 “...give the portion of the priests and the Levites, that they might be encouraged in the law of the LORD.”

Pastor