JULY 2007
On July 4th each year we Americans are encouraged to celebrate our declaration of independence from
For many, our Independence Day celebrations are just another festival day where good food, fire works, and community or family gatherings are but an end in themselves. There is little knowledge or remembrance of the great sacrifices made by the men and women who risked everything they had to gain their freedom from a tyrannical government that unjustly ruled the land from far across the ocean. Few today can name the heroes who designed and enacted our then unique form of government, led our rag-tag army and state militias, or negotiated the eventual peace.
Many countries since then have likewise gained their independence from colonial powers, many in the 1960’s; only to fall into civil wars, anarchy, and eventual dictatorships. Even the French Revolution, which occurred just a few years after our struggle for freedom ended, devolved into widespread bloodshed and anarchy. Some citizens of those countries have openly expressed a desire for the return of the colonial powers, if only to restore order and peace.
Last July I declared my intention to marry Dana and forge a new union of interdependence with her. Unlike the British of old, she accepted the terms of my declaration immediately. In September we ratified that union during our wedding. Since then we have been establishing a new household based on our ancient constitution, the Holy Bible.
As Christians, we all are called to live under God’s Constitution, the Holy Bible.
We are first and foremost citizens of His everlasting kingdom. Most of us were born as citizens of these
Each citizen of God’s eternal kingdom is one because He chose us; He gave us the second birth through the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Not only are we citizens, we are His family! He gave us the power/authority to become children of God through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s kingdom is eternal, but our place in it was bought with a great price. It wasn’t the death of hundreds of thousands that won and preserved our freedom. It was the death of God’s one and only Son on a cross in far away Judea 2000 years ago. No one has since had to die to preserve God’s kingdom; it is unshakable. In Christ we are blessed with dependence on the will, power, grace, mercy, and love of God Almighty that secured our salvation and ensures our eternal life with Him.
AUGUST, 2007
There is a lyric in my head this morning from a song I heard back in my youth. The song told of a man “on the run” from the law. He had fled into a dangerous section of a nearby swamp. In the song he is warned of the perils that await him there, with words like, “if the skeeters don’t get ya than the gators will”. There can be times in our lives where every place we go holds a serious threat of temptation, fear, and/or confusion.
In II Timothy 2:22-26 we are told what to avoid and what to pursue. We should avoid the wayward impulses of youth; and foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they breed quarrels (
Caring about people can be painful. Caring for people can be risky. Engaging other people for righteousness’ sake can be perilous. One writer compared it to trying to clip the toe nails on a 6-ton elephant at a zoo. For some reason captive pachyderms are more prone to foot infections; they could even be fatal.
Nevertheless they need such care, but cannot take care of it themselves in human confines. The zookeepers need to find ingenious ways to meet this need, just as we need to look for ways to meet needs and challenges that arise in caring for our brothers and sisters in the Lord.
When we find ourselves, or see others in precarious circumstances; ones that can jeopardize our faith walk/witness we need to be careful that the direction we go in to escape it does not lead into a greater danger.
As Paul warned Timothy of risks he might face in leading God’s people, so we are better off giving and receiving godly wisdom grounded in God’s revealed word to avoid or deal with the pitfalls.
Earlier in the second chapter Paul tells Timothy to teach others to avoid empty and worldly chatter, for it can lead others (or ourselves) into godless courses. Such diversions from the path God calls us to follow (the straight and narrow way) take us out of view or sound of God’s truth and wisdom.
Remember, as Paul wrote, “God has laid a foundation, and it stands firm…”
(2:19).
I have hunted on the edges of swamps back in
Be helpful to others, but don’t fall in the mire with them. Pastor John
SEPTEMBER, A.D. 2007
“The beginning of a second year together awaits Dana and me on September 30th. On that day we will celebrate our first wedding anniversary. We plan to get away for a couple of days, away from the regular flow of our daily lives to a special little someplace. Through this first year we have gotten to know each other much better. We understand more fully how each other thinks about, reacts to, relates to, and remembers people, places, things, and events in our collective and individual lives. We have had opportunities to interact with each other’s extended circle of family and friends, getting to know them better too We have traveled to places together that one or the other has never or seldom been to. Some of those places left us with a keen desire to return. Others… have not.
We have had the opportunity to get to know and appreciate each other’s skills and talents at home, on the job, and in the community.
September brings the end of summer and the beginning of fall as the seasons change, as they always do, one more time in our life cycles. Some people live in regions of the world where season change is a technicality since their weather patterns remain pretty constant. There may be some temperature variation, but there is no changing of the leaves, or falling of the snow, or disappearance of the snow for that matter.
Some animals, like deer and elk experience seasonal changes as they grow out their antlers through the fall, only to see them drop off in the spring and then grow back later in the year. Fruit trees and bushes experience annual renewal and growth as they produce and then shed their fruit. For these and other creatures and plants life is indeed cyclical.
For others, including humanity, life is more linear. We are born, grow to adolescence, into adulthood, and continue aging until we reach the end of our days. The Bible tells us “it is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment.” There is no recycling of the soul. We live once and then are subject to the Lord of heaven and earth for the disposition of our eternal being. For those who have trusted in Jesus Christ alone for their salvation there is the sure and certain promise of eternal life in heaven with the holy triune God, King of the universe. God’s judgment of our sins was atoned for on the cross at
OCTOBER, A.D. 2007
Recently, observant Jews observed (not celebrated) Yom Kippur. It is the annual Day of Atonement when they fast and confess their sins, praying for forgiveness for the sins of the past year. The ten days prior to this special Day they celebrated Rosh Hashanah or New Year’s Day in their lunar calendar. Those ten days were also a time to make amends and right their wrongs lest their names be removed from the “Book of Life” in heaven. Some orthodox Jews will even kill a chicken and hope that its blood will cover their sins for the year. Unlike many of their religion they still have some understanding that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins (Lev.17:11), but the bird they sacrifice is not what the Lord commanded them through Moses. The high priest would offer a sacrifice of a bull for his own sins and the sins of his family, and then he offered a goat sacrifice for the people of
from the Holy of Holies. When Christ Jesus, the last and perfect High Priest shed His blood on the cross at
The final ‘proof’ that the sacrificial system was obsolete was the total destruction of the
As we observe the falling of the leaves and the death-like dormancy of the trees and shrubs around us let us be aware that fallen humanity is truly, spiritually dead apart from Christ, even though we continue to “bloom” in the world throughout the year. May the lives we live, the love we share, and the faith we declare provide evidence to those we meet that the Lord of all dwells in us and sustains us in every season of the year and of life. For we have the promise that our names will never be blotted out of the Lamb’s Book of Life! Enjoy the changes of the seasons as you joyfully reflect on the unchanging nature of our Savior, who is “the same, yesterday today and forever”. Pastor John
NOVEMBER, A.D. 2007
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” I Thess. 5:18. “I exhort therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” I Tim. 2:1. “O give thanks to the LORD; for He is good: because His mercy endureth forever.” Psalm 118:1. “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.” Psalm 105:1. “Giving thanks to the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.” Col.1:12.
The Holy Bible says a lot about being thankful to God. It also speaks of being thankful for one another. I am thankful to God for who He is, for what he has done in my life, for what he has done for me, for what he has done through me to help others, for what he has revealed to me through His Holy Bible, and for the family, friends and associates He has brought into my life over the years.
I willingly thank God for all this. I am not reluctant. I try to consciously express gratitude to others for gifts, or even kindnesses done, and as soon as possible.
Have you ever been forced to write a thank you note, or call a relative or friend and thank them for a gift? Most children tend to balk at this, and have to be reminded to do so. Many adults seem to be this way also.
Our society-wide sense of entitlement has displaced our sense of gratitude. As children we were often overjoyed with the reception of gifts, or treats, or opportunities to enjoy ourselves. At the same time we often did not think of the giver; or of the sacrifices made by him or her to give us our gift. I have seen children tear open cards to see what was in them, hoping to find money, without even pausing to read the card and any special sentiment the giver may have included. There was joy in the receiving of the gift, but little or no connection with, or acknowledgement of the gift giver. Asking children to say “thank you” is often like telling them to say they are sorry when they have been in the wrong. They will utter the words, under duress, with little or no sincerity.
It is a joy to live with a thankful heart. It is important to model such gratitude toward God and others before our family, friends, and neighbors. In this season of thanksgiving I look forward to thanking God as I count my many blessings, naming them one by one. And they are many. As the old hymn says, “For life and health and all that’s good we give Thee thanks, O Lord.”
For life and my wife, for children and chores, for work and play, for job and joy, for health and hearth, for labor and love, for friends and food, for wisdom and wonder, for sensations and salvation, for cats and comedy, for worship and Christ’s Lordship, for all of this and more I give Thee thanks O Lord.
I am very grateful for you, the congregation, and for your prayerful support over the years. If you are in the area, come and join us in a service of Thanksgiving on that special day later this month. But also look to God with grateful hearts each and every day, since he is bestowing His blessings day and night throughout the year.
Pastor John
DECEMBER, A.D. 2007
“Fear not, for behold I bring you glad tidings of great joy! For unto you is born this day in the city of
What wonderful, wondrous good news was received by the shepherds outside
When the Maccabees and their followers finally won their independence that lasted almost 100 years many Jews had hopes that this would lead to the revived Davidic kingdom. Instead it led to civil war and the intervention of, and occupation by, the Roman legions of that vast empire.
Once again the people pined for their conquering Messiah that would sweep away all of
In the fullness of time God did send His only begotten Son, born miraculously of a virgin/woman under the law; not to establish a mere earthly kingdom, but to reveal the kingdom of God throughout the whole world. Christ our king rules over a kingdom that encompasses all of the world, though there are still many ‘provinces’ in rebellion. Since the birth of the Savior of the world almost 2000 years ago numerous kingdoms and empires have risen and fallen while His kingdom continues to encompass the hearts and minds of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation; with numbers of believers added every day.
This King of kings came humbly into the world. Our heavenly Father chose not to have Him born into high society or powerful circles. He chose to have Him raised in an unassuming carpenter’s family. His birth in
This month there will be many occasions to gather and celebrate not only the anniversary of Christ’s birth, but also celebrate the new birth that Christ has given to all who believe in Him and have received Him as Savior and Lord.
As many anticipate giving and receiving gifts among family, friends, and colleagues, let us not miss those opportunities to give gifts of kindness and love to those who may not be able to reciprocate. It may be buying an Angel Tree gift for a child with a parent in prison, or it may be going with us to sing Christmas carols for our elderly and shut-in members and friends, or sending e-cards to our missionaries. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come; let earth receive her King!” Pastor John
JANUARY, A.D. 2008!
Another winter has come upon us. Most leaves have fallen. Grasses have withered and turned brown, leaving a bleak landscape, in the minds of most people. Colder temperatures cause us to bundle up when we go out, and wear sweaters while we are inside. Around here there is a chance of snow or sleet that is more certain in areas north of here. There is more hot tea and hot chocolate consumed than cold drinks this time of year.
The rush of the holidays has passed, leaving a bleakness of the soul for many who get so involved in the activities of the season. It is a season of dormancy for much of the earth; from trees and plants to hibernating bears.
And yet we know that in the fullness of time spring will come again. This climatic cycle of dormancy is part of God’s divine plan for renewal of the earth.
Plants are preparing to re-emerge, displaying the life which now seems hidden from us. Bears will emerge in the spring with the cubs that were born in the winter.
As we reckon time, a new year has begun in the midst of this bleakness. Other cultures have dated their years from the spring planting season or the fall harvest season. We declare newness even as winter tightens its grip on much of the northern hemisphere.
During this cold and blustery season farmers are make preparations for the coming spring planting season. They stock up on supplies and have been preparing the soil to receive the new seed in a few months.
In Revelation 21 John records the passing of the old earth and heaven, and the emergence of the new heaven and earth sent from God. He sees the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven, adorned like a bride. Then in verse 5 John quotes the One who sat on the throne of heaven saying, “Behold, I am making all things new.”
Our church has been in something of a dormant period in the last year. Some of our members have been “hibernating” in their homes; some ‘leaves’ have fallen away. Yet we are also seeing signs of renewal, as God has been leading others to participate in the life of our church.
I believe God is preparing the soil of our souls, individually and collectively, to sprout forth in the coming months as He leads us into the New Year. Even as farmers sometimes rotate their crops from season to season to get the most from their soil, it seems that God sometimes rotates the membership of a church to restore the vitality of the congregation.
With improved equipment and techniques farmers are able to produce a more abundant crop. The same size plot of land can produce much more when cared for properly. May the Lord show us how to use what He has given us to build up His church in this place, and advance His kingdom in this community. May we be fully renewed in this season to be ready to sprout anew, and grow strong, in the
Pastor John
FEBRUARY, A.D. 2008
We’re still in a season of the year when weather patterns change from day to day, from bleak wintry conditions to spring like pleasantness. A paralyzing ice storm can be followed within a day or two with balmy temperatures that can trick trees and plants into early budding. February is the shortest month of the year, but this year the first week of the month holds the day we Christians know as Ash Wednesday. It is the day that ushers in the 7 week season of Lent. On this day Christians are encouraged to begin a period of spiritual reflection as we focus on the sacrificial love of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Our Savior came to restore our relationship with our Creator through His atoning death on the cross, but He also came to restore/establish our relationships with one another.
There is certainly an individualistic aspect of our relationship with the Lord, but we are also commanded by God to pursue our place in the community of the faithful. We are to strive to fulfill both great commandments; Love the LORD your God…. and love your neighbor as yourself. Many people find it easier to work on their relationship with the LORD, but find it more difficult to establish/restore a positive relationship with the saints around them.
As a pastor it grieves me to see people who profess to be Christians, to follow the Lord Jesus; yet who bristle at the sight of a fellow Christian as they enter God’s House. There have been times over the years when I have tried to bridge the chasm between church members, only to be rebuffed because someone harbors so much anger, hurt, pride, or an unforgiving spirit be reconciled. But it is this very ministry of reconciliation, given us by the LORD Himself that is meant to be a major indicator distinguishing us from the world. Paul addresses this issue both directly and generally in his epistles. In Romans 12 Paul exhorts church members to present themselves as a living sacrifice to the LORD, to love one another sincerely, and then “If it is possible, AS FAR AS IT DEPENDS ON YOU, live at peace with everyone. This can occur when we are being “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” To live at peace with anyone means more than tolerating their presence. It is being able to relate to them with God’s agape love; forgiving (if not forgetting) the past, and following the Lord’s example to forgive and restore, as He did with Simon Peter.
In Philippians 4:2-3 Paul “names names” as he pleads with two church members to “agree with each other in the Lord”, and asks for the help of other church members to bring this about. Over the years I have seen disputes between congregational members alienate them from each other, and from the church family. All that accomplishes is a weakening of the body and an opportunity for the world to say, “those Christians aren’t really so different from us.”
It is my prayer that each of us will prayerfully consider our relationship with the LORD, and with His church during this year’s Lenten season. If you feel alienated/estranged from anyone in this or another church please seek the Lord’s help to do what it takes, “as much as it depends on you” to reconcile and help restore people to fellowship and worship. I commend I John 4:7-12, and vv.19-21, especially v.20. Pastor John
MARCH, A.D. 2008
There’s been a lot of activity around our new bird feeder on the back patio the last few weeks. A wide variety of birds, large and small and different colors have availed themselves of the food we have put out for them. When I was picking out the first bag of seeds to put in the feeder I read closely to see what kinds of birds would be attracted to the feeder by them. We have used a couple of different combinations of seeds, but the same wide variety of birds keeps coming to feed on what is available.
All of them are quite capable of making a big mess out on the patio. They manage to get seed debris scattered all over the concrete, some of it a good distance from the feeder itself. There are often more birds feeding on the ground beneath the feeder than on the device.
Some species I recognize easily from past experience; sparrows, cardinals, chickadees, blue jays, starlings, and doves. Others I’ll have to look up in our bird book. It is a joy to sit at breakfast and watch them feed, and to listen to their songs.
In Matthew 6:26f Jesus asks us to look at the birds of the air as examples of God’s generous provision. They do not sow seeds, nor reap, nor store in barns.
They live from day to day, eating what God has provided in creation, as He gives them their “daily bread”. True, some feed off the plantings of farmers. Ringed-neck pheasants love to eat soybeans in the field. Cardinals and other birds love to eat sunflower seeds. Most folks put out seed for the birds during the winter months, when natural supplies of food are limited. Others put it out year round to enjoy their beauty and songs.
The birds are also an example of trusting God and not being anxious about our circumstances. Few of you reading this letter ever have to worry about where your next meal is coming from, but some may.
On the first Sunday of each month we share the Lord’s Supper, celebrating our faith in Christ and renewing our trust in Him, as we receive the food He offers us. The physical portion is small, but the spiritual one is great.
On the second Sunday we have an opportunity to share His provision with an ample meal after worship. No one leaves hungry. On the third Sunday we are asked to bring food items to help feed the less fortunate.
Through the month I see the “sparrows” that come to the church seeking food because they do not have enough to eat. For them there is always ‘too much month left at the end of the money’.
I give them what I can, and invite them to come and share in our weekly feast on God’s word. Too few accept that offer. Many come to the medical clinic.
When some do show up they, like the birds at our feeder, can seem pretty messy. There is a lot more sweeping on our patio. Our visitors are often not familiar with our ways of doing things. They may seem disrespectful when they actually have no background in our liturgy or other protocols. Are we patient enough to tidy up after them and also offer them instruction on how we do things, and how we value the people and things of God? When we offer God’s word and way may we be open to all the birds that come to be nourished.
Pastor John
APRIL, 2008
As I look out my window and see trees budding, grass growing, and flowers blooming, I am once again in awe of God’s renewing power in the spring of the year. Out of the dormancy of winter life explodes in color and freshness. We have just celebrated the renewing, life giving power of God in the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ’s dying/death was part of God’s plan of renewal for humanity and the rest of creation.
Most of us look forward to this season of renewal. People take day trips to observe the wide variety of beautiful flowers. Even some of the weeds have pretty blooms on them.
God’s renewing power is also displayed in other, less desirable ways. The crash of thunder is the sound of lightning splitting the atmosphere rejuvenating some of the forces of creation.
In life we suffer setbacks, disappointments, tragedies, even catastrophes; but these are only parts of the overall plan of renewal in our lives and community.
Gentle rains, even thunderstorms, can be a nuisance; a flood can be a disaster.
Hurricanes Rita and Katrina caused massive relocation for many people living along our
A small church here in
They had approached a local bank to secure a loan to get the work done. The process was taking longer than expected, to the consternation of many. Then to make things worse, or so it seemed, vandals or an animal (raccoon?) got into the building and did even more damage to the ceiling, walls, and some furnishings. I’m sure some thought, “Lord, why did this have to happen too?”
But then the insurance adjuster came out to look at the damage and authorized a check that almost covered the entire cost of the renovations needed! Such events make me think of Romans 8:28, “For we know that all things work together for good for them that love the Lord, that are called according to His purpose.”
When illness strikes, or an accident happens, and the prognosis is not what we wanted to hear, it is good to remember great good can come out of it. When a job is lost or phased out it can lead to a retraining that may open the door to an even better job. Even death, for the Christian, is the next step in entering into God’s eternal glory. Then we who are being sanctified will finally be glorified, in Christ, as Paul also wrote in Romans 8. Remember that in every circumstance of life God has renewal as part of the equation for those who trust in Him. Pastor John
MAY, 2008
As I ponder the church calendar for May I see that this is a month to remember and honor various members of our society, and the God who oversees the affairs of men and nations. May literally begins this year with the National Day of Prayer. On that first Thursday we are all encouraged to pray for our nation. Many opportunities exist around our community to gather with other saints to pray for our society, its many segments and the whole. You can pray alone or with family and friends over you lunch hour, or at any other time of the day. I hope that all of you reading this pray for our nation, church, family, etc. every day of the year. Unfortunately the occasions where we are called to assemble as a nation and pray are too few, apart from Saturday or Sunday worship services. In our history Americans have been more prone to gather to pray in times of crisis (e.g. 9/11) or jubilation (e.g. V.E. Day or V.J. Day). If you don’t know the meaning of these initials please ask someone over 65 years old. They should be able to tell you where they were on those 2 days, and why we should remember them.
And that leads me to the holiday that comes at the end of May, Memorial Day.
Unlike Veterans Day, when we are encouraged to honor all who have served in our Armed Forces, Memorial Day is a time to honor the memory of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice to protect our liberties as a nation while serving in one of the branches of military service.
In the course of writing this letter I received the report that our own dear sister in the Lord, Jackie Crigler, had finally succumbed to the ravages of her disease, and has gone on to her eternal reward. Jackie and Joe have been among the few saints who are still in our church since its reorganization in 1973. She will be missed.
Jackie was a woman who was not afraid to speak her mind. You knew right where she stood on any issue you were discussing with her. She and Joe met on a “blind date” arranged by some of his fellow soldiers up in
A few weeks before she died, Dana and I went to visit her and Joe on a Sunday afternoon. Though bedridden and weak she asked how we were. When Dana mentioned that she was sad that the Mavs had beaten the Suns, Jackie suddenly pumped her frail right arm in triumph!
Her spirit was indomitable. Such dedication to the Lord, His church, her husband, and her family should be an inspiration to us all.
Pastor John
JUNE 2008
This month our presbytery will be hosting the PCA’s annual General Assembly in
General Assembly is more than just a big business meeting. It is a gathering where the work of the Church is being done on a national and even international level. It is a place of inspiring worship. It is a time to recognize and relish the connectional nature of the Church. We are congregations within presbyteries, which make up collectively the General Assembly. Unlike other Presbyterian denominations every church in the PCA has the right to send pastors and Ruling Elders as commissioners. For many it is the cost factor rather than the lack of a sense of connectionalism that keeps them from attending. It’s also a time to renew old friendships with other elders from across the nation, and receive encouragement for the work we are doing locally.
That is a factor in our involvement some years as well. This is the third time our presbytery is hosting the G.A. since I moved here in 1995. Each time we have made a point to use some of our financial resources to attend and be involved. It is a stretch for our budget, but we make the effort for 3 reasons:
1) We are part of the larger “connectional” Church. We have a role to play.
2) It’s more expensive to attend G.A. in more distant cities.
3) We are part of the host presbytery.
Please be praying fervently throughout the month for the meeting and work of the General Assembly. The meeting will end after a week, but the G.A. staff will continue working throughout the year. And we keep laboring in the Lord’s vineyard here in
Remember, the General Assembly is us… and many others. Pastor John
JULY 2008
I love a parade! I am even enthralled by the seemingly endless streams of blackbirds that fill our skies in the fall. I can watch ants marching back and forth in their linear quest for food for the colony.
I am looking forward to the annual Independence Day parade that our community enjoys each year. For the first time in a long time it will actually be on the 4th, although the community band patriotic concert and accompanying sky-filling, ear pounding fire works at the junior college will still be on the evening of the 3rd. The music is always uplifting, especially when the play the various military service songs and invite the veterans present to stand and be acknowledged. When they play the national anthem, and the crowd (well, most of them) stands with hats removed and hands over hearts, singing the Star Spangled Banner it can move one to tears, more so in such troubled times as these.
Dana and I have a favorite spot to sit at during the community parade. We arrive early and set up our lawn chairs and a cooler with drinks and snacks and settle in for the approaching procession. By the time the last vehicle drives past us we can walk over from
and watch it all over again if we want to. Such is one of the benefits of living in a small town. It’s fun to recognize friends and neighbors riding in their antique cars, or snazzy sports cars, or on various floats. My heart is stirred by the passing of our nation’s flag, carried by military personnel, or scouts, or high school bands. I eagerly watch as the antique tractors rumble past, hoping to see the old Minneapolis Moline tractor that my grandfather may have actually helped build back in the 40’s or 50’s.
I appreciate all the people that give up their day to participate in the parade for our enjoyment. They are probably not told “thank you” enough. And the same goes for all those who help organize the events each year. And each year there seems to be some moment, some encounter, or experience that fixes itself in my mind.
We are blessed to live in a community that still remembers, at least in part, what it is all about. We are celebrating the beginning and continuing success (232 years) of the greatest political experiment in human history. We are still willing to acknowledge, as our forefathers did, the absolute necessity of Almighty God’s guiding ‘hand’ that secured our temporal liberty, and continues to sustain it today. How else do you explain the success of a relatively ragtag group of men who fought, resisted, and defeated the strongest and best disciplined army in the world of their day? Indeed, any success or blessing we enjoy as a nation comes from God’s gracious and merciful will and power. That is true of any nation that looks to Him, the author and finisher of our faith. He is our source, our anchor, our purpose, our destination, the wind in our sails, the sure and certain hope in our hearts, and the author if liberty.
“
Pastor John
AUGUST 2008
This summer I have learned a few simple things about gardening. I already knew that crops need to be out in the sun and be sustained in the growing process. The soil must be exposed to the nurturing power of the sun. The crops also need an adequate amount of water to help with germination, growth, and maturity. That water may come from rain or irrigation, but it is still the same water. It cannot be salt water; there are too many other elements that are counterproductive, even damaging, for fresh water plants. All living things on this planet need some measure of water to sustain it. Some plants and animals actually grow and thrive without the sun, but they all need water.
What I learned was that it makes a big difference whether you use the hose to shower some water directly on the plants, leaf and all, in an inadequate amount, or if you lay the hose on the ground and let the water spread across the ground and soak into it in adequate quantity. The insufficient, superficial amount of water showered on the plants may actually damage the leaves and hinder the plant’s growth. It’s interesting to watch the water flow over the surface of the ground and catch it seeping into cracks that I had not noticed previously. Beneath the surface there are pockets of space that deep drying has caused. This undermines the integrity of the top soil, which can indicate the deeper problem by the cracks and fissures that open up in the topsoil.
Humans and the animals around us need to stay properly hydrated, or risk serious health issues. Like fresh water plants we cannot sustain ourselves with salt water. Think of people who wind up adrift at sea and die because they drank salt water, which actually advanced their dehydration.
In Psalm 42:1 we read, “As a deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
It seems that each day when I check on our garden most of the plants are sagging from the afternoon heat, but when I set the hose on the ground to send water gently flowing along the parched ground it only takes a few minutes for the plants to revive and stand upright, as if lifting their limbs and leaves in praise to the living God who nurtures them and sustains them. It makes me think of verse 5 of that same psalm, “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” It is as if the sunlight of God’s holiness and righteousness pours down upon the whole world. It takes the water of His redeeming grace and love to cause His children to grow and flourish, instead of withering in the unrelenting light and accompanying heat. The one who delights in the law of the LORD is described in Psalm one thusly, “He will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf shall not wither.” The one who trusts in Jesus Christ has an even more secure source of refreshment from God. In Revelation 7:16,17 we read, “They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.” May our souls thirst for the living God, and find lasting refreshment in Jesus Christ.
Pastor John
SEPTEMBER, 2008
For months I have been looking at the lower limbs for the budding and development of pecans on our trees, and on the ones at the church. I was not surprised to see no such growth after last year’s abundant harvest. Just recently though I have actually been finding undeveloped, but growing, pecans scattered sparsely around our back yard. There have been a few in the church yard as well. They have been developing high up, out of my normal area of observation, perhaps obscured by the leafy growth on the trees. Experience tells me that such a small amount of nuts will quickly and prematurely be tried and discarded by the local squirrels. Still, it is amazing to see nuts well along the path of development where none had been obvious to me before.
As Dana and I go poking around our pepper plants in our little garden we are joyfully surprised when we find that a fully developed plump jalapeño or bright red cayenne pepper were hidden beneath a leaf or two that blocked our view of it. We pick them and bring them in to add to our delicious little collection.
I mention these things to illustrate the joy I have when someone whose spiritual development has seemed sparse or infrequent, and then suddenly manifests itself in soul-stirring and life changing ways. The years of cultivating someone’s mind and heart with God’s word and love can seem fruitless at times, and then suddenly they do or say something that shows they understand what I have been trying to teach them. The fruit of the Spirit begins to blossom in their heart and mind, and they begin to live more in accord with God’s revealed will.
We planted other good things in our garden this spring; cucumbers, yellow squash, different varieties of tomatoes. These plants did not achieve the fruitful yield we had hoped for, but the fruit produced has been very tasty and enjoyable.
My labor here over the years has not produced the quantity of fruit in people’s lives that I had hoped for. Yet there are those in whom the Spirit has produced the sweet fruit of faith, and discipleship, and transformation. And then there are those whose hearts and minds were cultivated here, only to be grafted, blossom, and flourish in another part of God’s kingdom where others could be blessed by the fruit of the Spirit growing in them.
There is still work to be done in God’s garden here in
God’s word can be planted successfully year-round. It can be cultivated and then harvested as God brings the work of His Spirit to fruition in another life; young or old. Some “ground” around here had been lying fallow for 20 years; some more and some less. May each one of us become and remain eager to develop our section of the garden, using the tools God has equipped us with, so that the fruits of salvation, sanctification, and discipleship may bud and flourish among us, even as the conditions around us move on to other seasons.
Remember that God’s work among us may not always be obvious to us, but it continues nevertheless. Ask Him to reveal His work to you/us so that we may act to ‘bring in the harvest’. May that harvest be more expected, and less of a surprise as we trust in God to build up His church in this place.
Keep watching for the fruit developing all around you! Pastor John
OCTOBER, 2008
In this season of harvest and plenty we are keenly aware of the devastation and need across our land, and even locally. Floods and hurricanes have wreaked havoc on our coasts and in the upper
From time to time we have been asked to collect special offerings to provide disaster relief for our brothers and sisters in other parts of the country. We did so again in September. I recently heard a news commentator refer to “donor fatigue”, a situation where people have been asked so often to give for the needs of others that they run out of resources, or responsiveness, and giving drops off substantially. Part of that condition may be that people reach a point where they are no longer giving just from their surplus, but actually have to consider giving sacrificially. They may have to do without a few things so that others may have a little of something.
I’ve been reading a book, MISSING FROM ACTION, VANISHING MANHOOD IN
“I can remember my sister and I riding in the back seat of dad’s 1940
One of the things that have historically set the Church apart from the rest of the world is the generous spirit of God’s people in the face of crisis; in their community or somewhere else in the world. The Church has taken seriously the words of Jesus from Matthew 25:34-40,
“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You…? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to me.” (NKJV)
The disastrous events of this year may have ebbed for now, but the resulting devastation remains. The economy is more than shaky and uncertain for all of us to one degree or another. But our Sovereign Lord continues to reign over all of creation, to work out His good and perfect will, and to call us to trust Him for protection and provision even as he calls us to help our neighbors in need; near or far. We cannot do it all, but what we can do, let us do well for His glory, and for the benefit of our neighbors. Pastor John
NOVEMBER, 2008
As I write this Dana and I planning a late October visit to
There will be another “homecoming” of sorts for me. On this trip a gathering of Kelley relatives is planned, including some cousins and an aunt I have not seen in about 25 years. In this gathering there is potential for some reconciliation with one cousin with whom I had a major difference some 17 years ago, and that was through the mail. We are both still ”sticking to our guns” on the issue involved, but our valuing of familial love, the passing of years, and the death of several aunts and uncles has helped build a bridge for us to cross closer to one another. I am excited about this even more than the meeting with classmates.
I have been glad to see that several classmates who have not come back for previous reunions are coming to this one. It is always interesting to see the course each life took. One fellow, the typical 90-pound weakling in high school, wound up having a career in the U.S. Marines! Another gal had a marriage and career that took to the
One gal became an architect. Our classmates have settled across this great land from coast to coast and border to border.
As I talked with members of the reunion planning committee I was pleased to hear several of them express themselves in the language of the Christian faith.
I grew up in an area with more racial/ethnic, religious, and cultural diversity than one may experience here in northeast
So 40 years ago we were thinking of college, the dating scene, the rising tide of “sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll”, and moving out and away from our parents’ direct supervision. We were going to be “free birds! Now most of us are parents and many are grandparents! We have had to guide our own offspring through the rough shoals of “self-discovery”. We have been brought to our knees more than once, seeking God’s wisdom and help as parents.
It will be great so meet old friends, and see if time and experience has continued to knock down the walls of high school cliques based on neighborhoods, interests, and socio-economic standings. It will be more interesting to see how people’s love for Jesus Christ has contributed to a new openness in relationships.
Pastor John
DECEMBER, 2008
“O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant! Come ye, O come
ye to
O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us
adore Him, Christ the Lord.”
These are some of the most stirring words of the holy season for me. It is a summons for you and me as believers to come, in body and spirit, to the place and time of long ago. There we are to see with our hearts the miraculously born child, the incarnate Son of God, the vulnerable baby boy born of a virgin as long ago foretold.
What does this verse say to us, about us? We are the faithful ones. We have trusted in Jesus Christ for our salvation. We have trusted Him for the everyday circumstances of our lives. We are faithful because He has bestowed faith upon us. After the rich man turned away from Jesus because he had great wealth, and cherished it more than he did Jesus, His disciples asked Him, “Then who can be saved?”. His answer hit me like a bolt of lightning today when I read again these words, “With man it is impossible, but nothing is impossible for God.” We cannot save ourselves, under any circumstances! It is impossible to choose to follow Christ on our own. But with God all things are possible. “By grace are you saved, through faith, and not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, and not of works, lest any man should boast.” God gives us faith, and then enables us to be faithful. When times get tough, when crises arise, when everyone and everything seems to be against us, being faithful enables us to endure and overcome. The faithful are “more than conquerors” through Christ!
If that reality does not make us joyful, I’m not sure what will. “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king.” Our king has conquered death and hell. He has overthrown the principalities and powers of this world. He has established His dominion over all the earth. He came to us humble and vulnerable. He suffered greatly for us. He was humiliated for us. But He was not defeated! All that He endured was for us, according to the plan of God laid down before the foundation of the world, in the secret counsels of the Divine.
Jesus came forth from the tomb, triumphant. He ascended into heaven to resume His place at the right hand of the Father, ever interceding for us.
The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to indwell us, and direct us through this life.
And the Lord will come again, in triumph at His second and final advent.
Therefore, in this season of Advent, come let us adore Him. He is Christ the Lord. He is our Savior, or Redeemer, our protector, our intercessor, our friend.
If we had nothing else to look forward to at this time of year, we can find joy in the greatest gift ever given or received. It is Jesus Christ, only begotten Son of God, born of a woman under the Law, born to set His people free. The shepherds heard it, saw the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and they believed and rejoiced. The magi followed the star to the child and rejoiced.
Let us remember their story, and our participation in it, and rejoice!!
Pastor John
JANUARY, A.D. 2009
As we mark another beginning of a new year we are reminded of different things. For many it is the end of a difficult year; either financially, relationally, or some other way. For some it is a time to renew their covenant with the LORD in the new year; to rededicate themselves to walk more closely with Him, to more eagerly serve Him, to more passionately tell others about Him and how to know Him personally too.
In the January 1st reading of OUR DAILY BREAD David McCasland quotes Ezekiel 33:32 and ties it in with Matthew 7:24f., and then writes of applying God’s word to our daily lives. In Ezekiel 33:32 we read, “Indeed you are to them as a lovely song of one who has a pleasant voice and can play well on an instrument; for they hear your words, but they do not listen to them.” (NKJV). I went back to read the verse in its context.
Ezekiel was further instructed to write in v.31, “So they come to you as a people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart pursues their own gain”.” (NKJV)
It is one thing to listen to the words of the LORD. It is another thing to acknowledge them and even praise them. It is still another thing to actually seek to apply them to one’s life.
In Matthew 7:24f Jesus gives us a clear indication of how important it is for us to seek to apply His teachings in our lives. He compares the person who hears His words and does them to a wise man who built his home on a foundation of the solid rock. The rock is Christ, so the foundation would be His words. Just as governments establish and enforce building safety codes to ensure a sound structure, if the codes are followed, so the Lord has established sound “building codes” for His people to follow to build a life in accord with His will.
As Mr. McCasland wrote, “Regular intake of God’s Word is a worthy practice, but it’s not an end in itself.” If our only purpose in eating is to enjoy the aromas, flavors, and textures of the food there is the risk of growing fat and/or lazy. If we understand that our bodies were designed by God to be nourished by the food so that we will have the strength to do that which He has called us to do we will be more inclined to actually do it. I heard someone recently say that when presented with a task there are various stages leading up to its accomplishment. First we hear of it, then we consider it, then we decide to do it, then we actually do it.
During January many people express more intentionality to make positive changes in their lives. This is prompted by their awareness that they/their circumstances could be “better”. So they “resolve” to attempt improvements. Some actually attempt to make those improvements. Those who persevere are more likely to succeed.
May each of us desire to covenant with God to be more diligent in personal devotions, and attendance at worship and Bibles study services; and then to seek ways to apply what we learn in ways that glorify God, and point others to Him.
Pastor John
FEBRUARY, 2009
As I ponder the relative barrenness of winter I am struck by the clarity of what I can see. Without leaves on the limbs of trees and bushes I can see deeper into the area around our house and deep into the woods where I go to hunt. Winter is a time of rest for much of God’s creation. Several plants go dormant, but do not die. They are preparing for the next growing season. Their vitality remains, waiting to be awakened at the right time, in the right circumstances.
That is the way God designed them.
Our lives sometimes seem to go in cycles of activity and relative dormancy. Many people tend to get more sluggish in the winter, and then their activities pick up again in the spring. While our activities may decrease during these times it does not mean we are not about our business. Sometimes we need to concentrate on the infrastructure of our lives before we set about extending ourselves. Moses stayed busy with his shepherding duties while God prepared him for the next phase of his life, leading the people of
Churches can also go through stages of development that include some relative dormancy as God works to prepare His flock for the next phase of their service to Him. It is my hope that in the New Year we will awaken from our slumber and eagerly seek the ways the Lord would have us serve Him within our congregation and in the community.
I have been rechecking the membership forms of people who have joined our church over the last 14 years. I want to see what gifts, talents each of you has brought into the mix of our family at Faith. Some of you predate me, and I do not have a form from you.
We have also been asking everyone to voluntarily pick the yellow “Spiritual Gifts Inventory”, take it home, fill it out, and maybe get a better idea of what areas of spiritual service God has equipped you for in the church. You see, if you read Ephesians 4 and I Corinthians 12 you will find out that the Holy Spirit has equipped each saint with a gift to edify the church. What is your gift? You may have more than one. Next we have to ask ourselves what the church is called to do in the world to honor the Lord, and are we doing it? Are we a congregation that has a clear vision of what the Lord would have us do? If so, are we willing to attempt it for His glory?
I know that I am reflecting personally on whether or not I am using my gifts and talents to do all that the Lord would expect of me as your pastor. If you have clearly seen some gift for ministry in me that I don’t seem to use much please let me know. One way we show our love for one another is by serving one another. As the years go by our abilities may be altered or diminished, but there is always something we can find to do to honor the Lord and minister to others. Let us not become just a caretaker church where people come to be served. Let us diligently seek the Lord’s direction, that we might be an outgoing and outpouring church for the glory of God! Pastor John
MARCH 2009
We have scheduled a “Spring Cleaning” day for the church on March 7th. You are all invited to come and help “spruce up” the church building and grounds.
We will be raking, mowing, weeding, picking up trash and limbs, and maybe touching up some paint work outside. Inside we will be washing and cleaning walls and doors, and maybe some windows. There is plenty for everyone to do. There may be some cleaning out of storage rooms too. I’ve noticed things in there that we have never made use of since I have been here. There could be some “treasures” to be discovered in those rooms.
Daylight Savings time will come earlier this year too, on the 8th. That’s great for evening outdoor activities, but rough on the folks who get out early; waiting for a school bus, etc.
In both cases we, as human beings, are attempting to manipulate our environment to suit our needs. We clean up places to improve the aesthetics and health conditions. We alter our keeping of time to “add” to our evening outdoor hours of light, though we cannot actually increase hours of light.
This year’s season of Lent began just at the end of February, on Ash Wednesday. It is meant to be a season of “spring cleaning” for the soul, and to refresh relationships in the church.
Our efforts to clean up the church, inside and out, are motivated in part by the accumulation of dirt, trash, dead limbs, and weeds all over the grounds. The same is true of the dust and grime that have built up on the inside.
Lent is a time to look inward to our soul and see what worldly things have cluttered our hearts and minds, and to look outward and see what “trash’ has accumulated in our relationships with the Lord, and the people around us.
King David addressed this in his confessional Psalm 51, especially verses 10-12 where he wrote,
“Create in me a clean heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence,
and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,
and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.” (KJV)
During Lent we are encouraged to stop and check our compass, look carefully at the map of God’s Word, and clean the lenses of our soul, so that we can see more clearly where we are, and where the LORD is leading us. This is not so much to see if we are off course, as how far. We all need some course correction now and then.
We want to be good stewards of all that the LORD has entrusted to us; the church building and its contents, the church grounds, our bodies, minds and souls. The cleaning we do around here lets visitors know that we value what God has entrusted to us. The cleaning we do within ourselves lets God know we value the life He has given us, and preserves in us for His glory.
Pastor John
APRIL, 2009
An author once wrote in a novel something like, “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times”.
Some people also relate this to the events of Holy Week, especially late that Thursday night, Good Friday, and that glorious Easter morning.
They think of the horrible agony of Christ in the
“Surely this was the worst of times” might be the thoughts of many who read of these events once again. I suggest that what Christ endured in those hours from Thursday evening until His death on Friday afternoon were the birth pangs of our redemption. The misery and suffering of Christ was intense, as is the relative suffering of a woman giving birth (naturally). Just as a woman can choose not to take medications to ease her pain during childbirth, for the health of the child being born, so Jesus refused the wine he was offered to dull His pain.
Even a healthy birthing process can be filled with many hours of pain for the mother. When complications develop (breech birth, umbilical cord problems for the baby, etc.) fear and anxiety can complicate the situation for the mother.
For Jesus there were no complications. Everything went according to God’s divine plan for our redemption. Jesus knew what was coming. Read His words in Luke 9:21 and Matthew 26:36-46.
I understand that a woman who is ‘with child’ for the first time hears many different accounts of what to expect during her pregnancy and delivery from many other woman in her life. Their experiences vary to some degree, but none can fully prepare a woman for what she will experience physically and emotionally during the birthing process. Christ Jesus knew what was coming, and His agony began in the Garden the night before. His suffering was intense, but so was His resolve. He understood that He must endure this tribulation successfully and completely to achieve our salvation. All this expressed the love of God for us, and God’s plan to reconcile us to Him. And He did all this while we were yet sinners and His enemies in our fallen nature.
No, it was not the worst of times. The Church calls that day “Good Friday” because of the good the Godhead accomplished for us through Christ’s willing sacrifice of Himself on our behalf. Thanks be to God!
Pastor John
MAY 2009
“I was walking through the park one day, in the merry merry month of May…”, so go the lyrics of an upbeat song from what seems ages ago. I believe the lyrics go on to say, “I was taken by surprise by a pair of lovely eyes…” It is a song written in a simpler, morally purer time. It was a time of parasols and straw hats, when men, women, and children generally lived a more wholesome lifestyle. People treated each other with respect, and most deserved it. There was respect for parents, for elders, for those in authority, for the Church and her leadership, and what our nation then stood for. This was certainly true for the “heartland”, where the vestiges of such values may still be found today, if you look hard enough. Most people had a clear understanding of good and evil, right and wrong. The Church (leaders and laity) addressed sin boldly, and yet helped multitudes escape from sin’s grip through loving efforts. Today the church that strives to be true to God’s word and faithful to God’s standards of purity and holiness draws responses of anger, contempt, ridicule, disbelief, and abandonment; sometimes by members. Church leaders that strive to lead men and women to repentance and reconciliation with God are labeled as judgmental, uncaring, or narrow minded. Many people in the Church often overlay and elevate their understanding of secular “civil liberties” on or above God’s clear teaching re: how to live in accordance with His divine will. “Civil Religion”,
JUNE 2009
Memorial Day weekend is once again behind us. It’s time for vacation site rates to go up and for people concerned about fashion to start wearing white for the summer. It’s the time of the year where many of us will do some extended traveling across the country, if not around the world. Of course the rise in oil costs and subsequent gas price hikes may curtail some travel plans.
Travel ordinarily increases when school is out for our children. We often plan the use of our limited vacation time accordingly.
Besides the well known secular places for “family entertainment” (targeting families with smaller children) around the country, youth from many churches are planning a different use of their summer break. So are the several adults that will accompany them. These young folks will be traveling with groups from their churches and denominations, or with organizations like Y.M.I., that take these youth to distant lands to do ministry with/for local Christians. They may be conducting
Joy Cooper is one of the young women who play the piano for our church during the services on Sunday mornings. In June she is going with a group to
Such trips can be truly eye opening when our children, who have grown up “rich” compared to most people around the world, experience life in second and third-world countries. They have grown up with so many resources, rights, and privileges at their finger tips and yet have little idea how blessed they have been until they go and live even a couple of weeks with people who have almost nothing of this world. Yet many of these people who are fellow Christians seem to express more joy than we are used to. When they pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” it is an earnest plea for needed provision, and not just part of a rote memory exercise.
Pray with me as Joy and countless other Christian youth embark on their summer of service in Christ’s name that God will protect them, instruct them, inspire them, and help them to discover what the real priorities of life are for all who seek the face of God as Christ Jesus has revealed Him. And pray that when they return we will listen to them, and learn from them, and be inspired by them as we seek the Lord’s leading in the months ahead.
Pastor John
JULY, 2009
The grass withering, soil shrinking, skin burning, pond and river evaporating, sleep depriving heat of summer has returned. I remember telling myself on a few of the colder days of this past winter that eventually the heat would resume and I would miss those colder temperatures. That day has come. I guess there are few places on this earth where the more temperate climates with spring and autumn-like weather exist year round. This is not one of them. If it were just the heat it might not be so bad, but our typical weather patterns also deprive us of life refreshing rain during lengthy periods of time. Crops and livestock are at greater risk. Even family pets have to be monitored more closely outside of our homes. And we are encouraged to keep a drinking water supply close at hand while we are outdoors.
Thank God we live in a land where we can turn on an outside faucet and meet our water needs in these dry hot months. Of course that convenience is also accompanied by much higher water bills during that period.
I have been in parts of the world where an abundant water source may be nearby, but it is not safe to drink, even though people do out of necessity.
It’s also interesting to me to consider how many man-made beverages are available to us that are not thirst quenching. In fact the ingredients may actually increase our thirst! Just consider being adrift on one of our oceans and having only the ocean’s salty water to drink. I believe you could actually die of thirst due to the dehydration caused by the concentration of seas salts.
The
In John 4 Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well about the living water He had to offer her and others. The well that she and the rest of her village relied on had to be revisited daily. Water had to be hauled up and then hauled home on a daily basis. Jesus spoke of living water that would well up from within, but whose source was God, that could satisfy the sin-thirsty soul.
Jesus used a common need, a common circumstance, and common people to convey His message of deliverance, hope, and salvation to the spiritually parched land of His day. That same message still speaks to the dry thirsty land of people’s hearts in our world today.
Later, on the last day of the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus spoke up saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John7:37, 38). If you are aware of a dryness of the soul within, turn to Jesus and be refreshed, reborn. Don’t let the heat of this world get you down. Pastor John
AUGUST, 2009
In Romans 12:15-17 (NKJV) we read, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble.”
In recent weeks I have ministered to people who have had loved ones die, who have had to endure painful surgery, and who have had difficulty with family relationships. I have also been with people who have celebrated a new life, or experienced great relief from pain and suffering, or had difficult issues in their lives resolved in a favorable manner.
In the midst of all this I have endured my own painful throat surgery, and learned of the death of a beloved aunt. I, who am usually in the role of comfort giver, have been on the receiving end of people’s prayers and acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. And this is probably not because I fulfill the role of pastor in this church, but because of the relationship I have developed with many of you over the years.
The apostle Paul encourages us to rejoice with one another when it is appropriate; and likewise weep or mourn with one another, when appropriate. It is not always easy to tell if a person is rejoicing or mourning because they are so guarded emotionally. I know that when I received the news of my aunt’s death and tried to talk to Dana about it the tears began to flow. She was one of two aunts I have felt especially close to over the years, (though I have loved each of them) despite the physical distance between us. What a blessing it was to have Dana here to offer words of comfort and support. And when I wrote to inform the church family of my loss many of you quickly responded with words of comfort and encouragement, and I appreciated them all.
There are various stages of engaging people who mourn or rejoice. The first is to be aware of their circumstances. We intellectually identify what they are going through. Second, we acknowledge their circumstances. Many people suffer more than they need to because they think they are the only ones dealing with such matters in their lives, or they fear how people will react to their weaknesses. Third, we recognize the emotional impact their circumstances have had on them. We can come along side of them and tell them that we are aware of their condition, and that we are “there for them”. Next we may actually share in their joy or sorrow. This may be because of our own vested interest in their circumstances, or our agape love for them compels us to express our support for them, in part, with similar emotions.
As we seek to know one another better within our church family we may become more aware of each other’s life issues. If we can lay aside the world’s measure of a person’s worth we will be better able to reach out to others, regardless of their “station in life”.
We must find the courage and/or confidence to entrust each other with our inner thoughts and feelings so that we may “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ”. I hope we can overcome our fears about people using our weaknesses against us, especially in the church! The way we do that is by being sincere and truthful with one another, not betraying others’ trust.
Pastor John
SEPTEMBER, 2009
As I ponder the state of affairs in
But then I open my Bible and read the words of Psalm 37:1-9 (NIV),
“Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do
wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants
they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell
in the land and enjoy good pasture. Delight yourself in the
LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this:
He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice
of your cause like the noonday sun.
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret
when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their
wicked schemes. Refrain from anger, and turn from wrath; do
not fret-it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but
those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”
For instance when it comes to the issue of abortion I remember hearing Molly Kelly speak at the National Rally For Life in
Most of the national news media usually try to frame every problem they report on in a ‘worst case scenario’. Those who have lived many decades or studied history can recount events that help put the current debates and concerns in a more balanced proper perspective. Those who have lived those same decades or studied the same material from a Christian/Biblical perspective have a better understanding of where things are headed and what the final outcome will be for all of us.
So let us find divinely dispensed courage and hope as we consciously learn and faithfully heed the word of God today. Let us wait upon the LORD, committing our ways to Him, trusting in Him, regardless of our personal and public circumstances. His righteousness in us will shine like the sun, and let us pray that those dwelling in spiritual darkness will be drawn to His marvelous light. As we choose to delight ourselves in the LORD the desires of our hearts will flow from His will revealed in us by His Holy Spirit. Express reverent awe before our holy God and exuberant joy before the world. Our LORD reigns! Our side wins! Our salvation is certain in Christ. Our eternal future is secure in Christ. Our reason to rejoice in every circumstance is in Christ, so “Do not fret”. Pastor John
OCTOBER, 2009
“Mercy and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed.
Truth shall spring out of the earth,
And Righteousness shall look down from heaven.
Yes, the LORD will give what is good;
And our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before Him,
And He shall make His footsteps our pathway.”
Psalm 85:10-13 (NKJV)
This psalm is known as a prayer that the LORD will restore His favor to the land. It can be seen literally as referring to God’s blessing of the
Others also see a reference to the ministry of Christ Jesus on the cross. In His sinless sacrifice the righteousness of God that condemns sin was reconciled to the mercy of God that delivers us from our due punishment, and to the peace of God that restores/establishes in us a redeemed relationship with God.
Throughout her history the Church (God’s elect throughout the ages going back to Adam and Eve) has lost sight of God’s mercy and peace and thus subjected herself to His judgment in temporal circumstances and events.
In October most Protestants acknowledge, if not celebrate, the efforts of godly men like Martin Luther, Philip Melanchthon, John Calvin, John Knox, Martin Bucer and others to call the Church back to her spiritual and historical roots.
Reformation Sunday specifically recalls the day when Dr. Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, challenging his colleagues at the university to a debate over several practices of the Church of their day that he took exception to (on biblical grounds); much of it having to do with the sale of Indulgences. This invitation to an in-house debate was copied by students who in turn had it printed and distributed far and wide, even to other lands. This is like a semi-private document or video you send to a friend or adversary that winds up on U-Tube or is sent on to all corners of the earth with lightning internet speed. Luther’s document and the subsequent debate opened the floodgates for the development and dissemination of Reformation doctrine and teaching that swept across Christendom. It was a turning point in human history that brought about needed Church renewal, as well as the devastation of armed conflict between Christian groups.
The budding of Reformation doctrine under men like John Wycliffe, John Hus, and William Tyndale eventually came to fruition among Luther, Calvin, et al across Western and
As the psalmist wrote, “Yes, the LORD will give what is good”. This is not only the bread from the earth, but also the spiritual manna that nourishes our souls through the studying of His word, and the work of His Spirit within us.
Let us all seek anew the reformation and renewal of our hearts and minds as we endeavor to know and live according to His revealed will. Pastor John
NOVEMBER, A.D. 2009
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:16-8 (NKJV)
Paul wrote these inspired words to an impoverished church that was rich in their love for God a long time ago. I think Paul was encouraging them to ‘ramp up’ their level of devotion for and trust in the Lord. Paul began this first epistle to the Thessalonians with a blessing and words of encouragement. In 1:2-3 Paul wrote,
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,”
Paul knew the struggles they faced in their community because of their faith in Jesus Christ. He wrote them to give them more knowledge of God and His will for them, and to encourage them to stand faithfully with the Lord.
As we consider our lives through this past year do we see reasons to rejoice in the Lord? In view of the opening verse of this article, is that a fair question?
Are we not to rejoice always? Are we not to give thanks in everything? Let me note here that we are to give thanks IN everything, not FOR everything! Yet we claim to believe that we know that “all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (
I have to admit that I was not rejoicing, nor giving thanks when I fell and dislocated my shoulder a month ago, nor when it fell out of place and required another visit to the emergency room and some very vigorous treatment the very next day! But I could give thanks that it happened in a space of time that allowed me to recover enough to still attend an uplifting small church conference and make a family trip a few weeks later.
It has been a rough year across
Yet in everything we are to give thanks and rejoice! That is because the Lord is always with us. We who are believers never face any of these challenges alone. The Lord has promised to be with us always, and to see us through every challenge or hardship we might face. Therefore, give thanks! Pastor John
DECEMBER, 2009
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare Him room; and heaven and nature sing…”
“Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ…”
This great old hymn by Isaac Watts is a favorite at Christmas time. Not only is it a lively tune, but the message is heavy with biblical truth. Verse three reminds us of Christ’s restoring, reconciling work in the world.
“He comes to make His blessings flow; Far as the curse is found…”
And then verse four speaks to us of His sovereign glory and power,
“He rules the world with truth and grace, And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love…”
For many it has been a year with difficulties; whether financial, physical, relational, or spiritual. Maybe it’s been a combination of these challenges. Some have had to make changes based on their job, or loss of it, their health problems (acute or chronic), a change of residence (even community), or estrangement in life long relationships.
Yet through it all we are reminded that God remains sovereign in all things, His love for us is undiminished, and evidence of His grace abounds, if we will only open our eyes to see it.
Our Lord Jesus Christ came in history through the womb of Mary to be our Savior. His grace is greater than all our sin, as the old hymn declares. His blessings flow as far as the curse of sin and death is found, and beyond, encompassing us for all eternity.
He is Lord over all the earth, yet hearts and nations remain in rebellion against His authority. His truth comforts His own and smashes the fallacies and hearts of those who reject Him. Time and again we make choices; individually, collectively, even nationally, that bring hardship and despair. Then our Lord acts to exhibit His righteousness in the affairs of men, and manifests His love for us through His Church and others.
As I pondered the Christmas story anew this year I was struck by the conversation the archangel Gabriel had with Mary, bringing the announcement of the imminent birth of the Savior, Christ the Lord. He and the whole angelic host witnessed the fall of humanity in the garden. They heard the promise made to Eve, regarding the eventual appearance of a deliverer who would destroy the powers of hell and death, and all who pursue them. They have been participants in the conflicts on earth between the heavenly host and the demons of this world. You can read about this in Daniel 12, and Revelation 19 and 20. The birth of Jesus brought us all one step closer to the destruction of the devil and his servants. This is something Peter wrote that the angels longed to see. So when they sang on that first Christmas night, they were singing for themselves as well! Joy to the world!!! Pastor John
JANUARY, Anno Domini, 2010
A year of diverse challenges and trials has come to a close. In our church family we have experienced or heard of relational, economic, ecclesiastical, and physical problems or crises. Negative changes in employment, housing, relationships, and health conditions have weighed heavily on the hearts and minds of many in our small body of believers. And the New Year begins with continuing, if not growing, uncertainty about our country’s direction and resolve.
Concerns over the housing and job markets, the cost and availability of health care, the growing influence of government in our daily lives, etc. have many people worried about their future and that of the nation. At times like these it is good to remember the inspired words in Proverbs 3:5,6:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.”
When the apostle Paul wrote to Timothy near the end of his ministry he was in prison and awaiting execution. Many had deserted him. He was cold and lonely, yet he was able to write in Second Timothy 1:12,
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not
ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him until that day.”
Someone, thinking of the verse quoted above, coined the phrase, “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow.” In other words we can trust in God’s sovereignty over and involvement in our lives, no matter what our circumstances. We can trust the LORD to watch over us and see us through whatever befalls us each day of our lives.
For some reason God has not chosen to keep us “safe and secure from all alarm”, as another song says. He uses such difficult experiences to enable us to grow in our faith in Him.
Whatever you are dealing with in your life now, you are not alone. The LORD is directing your steps. He is fulfilling His great overarching purpose in/for your life and for His glory. He is also working through His Church to express His love and care to His own.
The questions for this New Year are then: Are we trusting the LORD in all our circumstances? Are we loving our neighbor as ourselves? Is that trust or love evident to those we interact with in the church and community? Do we trust the LORD to provide for us even as we are asked to share our limited, if not dwindling, resources with those who have even less than we do? Have we, as the song says, “proved Him o’er and o’er.”
Let us diligently strive to take continuing steps, and leaps, of faith as we seek to be part of the work of Christ’s Church here in Paris, and beyond.
Pastor John
FEBRUARY, A.D. 2010
On most calendars this month there are days set aside to honor a rodent, our presidents, and amour/love. These are holidays that people of diverse backgrounds and beliefs can and do participate in. Groundhog Day (2/2) is supposed to be a day that will tell us how much longer winter weather will last, based on the behavior of that pampered rodent in Pennsylvania. Presidents’ Day (third Monday) is a day to honor all the men who have served our country in that unique and powerful role throughout our nation’s history. Many of us remember when only Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays were celebrated nationally, and both were actually born in February. St. Valentine’s Day was originally a Church holy day, and still is for many Christians, that honored a bishop in what is now Turkey who was martyred (2/14) in the late 3rd century. His crime was performing marriages for Roman soldiers who were forbidden to do so by the emperor, who encouraged them to just live promiscuous lifestyles. Valentine defended the full expression of love within the confines of marriage, as God’s word commands. This day has been co-opted by the secular world and turned into a day to celebrate eros-love, physical sensual love, instead of the agape love that St. Valentine taught and defended.
There is another date on the February calendar that floats from year to year, but it is always on a Wednesday. It is the gateway to another season of the year on the Church calendar, Lent. On this day. Ash Wednesday, many believers attend church to worship the LORD and to receive ashes on their forehead, as a reminder that we all came from the dust and will return to the dust. It initiates a season of reflection for Christians about how greatly God loves us, and how unworthy we are to receive that love. The two greatest commandments, according to Jesus, are “Love the LORD your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength”, and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” In the Ten commandments given through Moses (in Exodus 20) the first four state how we can express our love for God, and the in the last six we see how we can love our neighbors. Ash Wednesday initiates a seasons of self-denial for many folks. They choose to give up some thing or some practice as a way of demonstrating that their relationship with the Lord is more important to them, at least for 7 weeks each year. Some make the “sacrifice” without any understanding of the purpose of the season. At best the most intentional ’sacrifice’ made during this time is a token gesture compared to the incomparable sacrifice God made for us and for our salvation. “God commended His love for us in that while were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), and “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). “God made Him who knew no sin to become sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “Amazing love! How can it be, that Thou my God should die for me?” (“Amazing Love”)
So let me encourage you to have some fun on Groundhog Day, remember the men who served as leaders of our nation on Presidents’ Day, but really focus on your relationship with our loving, forgiving, holy Heavenly Father on Ash Wednesday and throughout the Lenten season. Pastor John
