Pastor's Corner

learning a Lesson

2010-05-17T15:29:00.001-05:00

Some lessons are easier to learn than others. To learn from another’s mistake is a better path to take than to go through the trouble of making your own. More often than not though, we have to learn lessons the hard way. Also, lessons learned the hard way usually involve swallowing your pride mixed with a good dose of humility.

A teachable spirit can take correction, and does not stiffen in the face of reproof (Proverbs 9:8, 15:12). Those who are prideful and refuse correction fail to learn (Proverbs 5:12-14), but those who can swallow their pride can benefit from reproof. It seems their is a direct correlation between pride and stupidity, and humility and wisdom (Proverbs 12:1).

The Bible speaks of discipline as a blessing; even a mark of God’s love (Job 5:17; Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-11; Revelation 3:19). Scripture reproves us for our good (2 Timothy 4:2; Titus 2:15). In fact, the very essence of conversion involves repentance (2 Corinthians 7:10). We have to humble ourselves before God. Only then can he lift us up (James 4:10; 1 Peter 5:6).

Though it is no fun, we should be grateful for discipline. It means that God is working on us for our good (Hebrews 12:11). If we reject God’s discipline we fail to benefit from it. We are not willing to be corrected, and fail to learn our lesson. To continue down that path is disaster (1 Corinthians 11:32). We can be glad that God is a patient teacher. May we be humble and teachable under his hand. As good students, may we learn our lessons well.

Time & Again

2010-05-10T16:31:00.001-05:00

What is history, but the present turning into the past all stacked up. What we look back on was at one time an unwritten future. Men and women have done great things in the face of uncertainty on the basis of principle and conviction. Standing on principle, men have broken alliances and formed treaties. Reluctant leaders have been thrust into position on the basis of conviction. Things too important to lay aside have caused men and women to choose sides, mark boundaries, and set the course of history. It is a poor society that holds nothing dear enough to fight or die for.

I recently reflected on the strength of belief that causes one to lay down one’s life. The signers of The Declaration of Independence pledged to each other their Lives, their Fortunes, and their sacred Honor based upon their belief in the contents of that document. It is interesting to note that this document makes theological assertions concerning the rights afforded mankind by God above, and on the basis of these rights, they stood for freedom and liberty at their own peril and expense. There are those moments in history defined by theological convictions that men and women would lay down their life rather than compromise.

Martyrs and heroes alike share this in common; When standing on the side of God, there is no room for retreat and no danger of defeat. Both stand on principle that they are convinced will be vindicated in the end. They are convinced that to do anything else would spell ruin. There is a greater allegiance, a nobler cause, a higher calling than any other source can muster. Only when society rests on these greater things can security be found. As soon as it begins to devalue them strength and security fades. Conviction lightly held is a contradiction in terms.

Jesus calls us to this kind of conviction. We must be so convinced and committed to our faith that we are willing to lay down our life for our beliefs. Jesus said that if we are to follow Him, we must take up our cross and follow Him (Matthew 10:38, 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23) Those who turn back from that conviction are not fit for the kingdom of God (Luke 9:62). Time and again, it has been men and women committed to the greater cause and who have heard a higher call who have made their mark in history. Having stood the test of time, they have entered eternity (1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 2:7)

The writer of Hebrews names a the names of individuals in a veritable hall of fame; heroes who have demonstrated the strength of their convictions and who have made a mark on history. As he draws the list to a close the names begin to blur until it becomes a “great cloud of witnesses” meant to encourage us and include us in the final tally. In order to be included in this great company of Christian witnesses, we must never back down on our convictions, but stand strong upon them time and time again (Hebrews 12:1).

Get Away

2010-02-09T21:16:00.001-05:00

The name Snoasis embodies our winter youth retreat. It is a combination of the words snow, and oasis. This year, we had our get away at Penn-York campground in Ulysses, PA. While we had our retreat, much of the rest of the state was being punished by heavy snow squalls. Unlike other years, it snowed very little at the campground. There was enough snow, however, to enjoy the tubing hill. We got away from the snow, but we had a great retreat. The theme for Snoasis was "whiteout." Youth were challenged to be distinct from the rest of the world by refusing to compromise the truth of the gospel and to live as morally transformed people in an immoral society. It was nice to see the kids have fun and to get away for awhile. Hopefully, the getaway served to strengthen the youth to face their peers and stand as a beacon in a stormy world.

The Core of Christmas

2009-11-30T19:13:00.001-05:00

Peripheral vision is important in driving. We need to be aware to what is going on around us. Tunnel vision can cause accidents. In celebrating Christmas, we need to know what is going on around us, but too often, the peripheral items steal our focus away from the true meaning of Christmas. We lose sight of the reason we celebrate as the celebrations themselves along with all the trappings get the attention. There is nothing wrong with fun times, good food, and gifts. The problem is that they have become the focus of the season and the reason we share these things becomes peripheral. Jesus Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas, but many times he becomes only an excuse to party.

Angels appeared to the shepherds announcing "glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:8-11). A special star appeared in the sky, leading wise men to Jesus(Matthew 2:1-2). They came bearing gifts for the King of Kings who was the savior of the World (Matthew 2:10-12). Our Christmas celebrations recall the nativity story with stars on our trees, shepherds and wise men, gifts, and evergreen branches signifying eternal life. The icons are still there telling the story. Star spangled wrapping is ripped off of gifts with no thought to what they represent. Wise men are icons of the season, but few give thought to what the wise men were searching for, or what they found. Angels have a prominent place, but they are silent sentinels instead of messengers bringing news of salvation to all mankind. In so many homes, the core of Christmas, which is Christ, has become peripheral to the celebrations of the season. When the story comes into focus, Christ will be seen at the center, and only then can we celebrate properly, for then our celebrations are inspired with the reason they exist in the first place. We do not celebrate for sake of celebration, but we celebrate for Christ's Sake.

Logos 4 Bible Software

2009-11-02T07:03:00.001-05:00

I have spent the last six weeks testing a new Bible software program. With the official release of Logos 4 today, I am free to share some highlights from what I consider to be the best Bible software on the market. Searches are fast and the results are ranked so you can quickly find items of interest. English and original language resources cooperate with each other in links and underlying data. the program is user friendly, yet sophisticated. You can just type in a passage and click "GO" or you can do detailed and deep study using the tools that are built into the software.

I have been using Bible software for years. I bought several programs, and downloaded some free ones, but no single program seemed to have all I was looking for. Some provided good search capabilities, but lacked in resources. Some were strong in original languages, but had little to offer by way of devotional, or popular authors. Some programs were over technical and hard to learn, while others have been simplistic and less than ideal when trying to do complex searches. I was searching for one program that would do it all. Logos 4 has ended my search.

The passage guide provides links to commentaries, cross references, media, and other resources that relate to particular Bible references. The Exegetical Guide allows you to bring original language resources to bear on a particular reference. Word studies reveal how a word is used in original and English language contexts. Passage Analysis can be done that compares version against version. Morphology can be seen graphically in the Morph River function. Biblical people are shown in relationship with one another and events that occurred in their life. Biblical places provides important geographical and topical information, as well as media resources. Reading lists and plans can be used to read through books or do focused research on particular interests. Highlighting and notes can personalize and retain important study results, and clippings from articles of interest can be stored and retrieved later for research purposes. These and many more study options are available for the Software user.

Though some of these study tools are new to Logos, some are in software packages made available by other software vendors, but Logos has incorporated them in one software package and have invited user feedback to make them better.This approach has allowed them to be innovative. Criticism has not been dismissed, but used to make a better product. As a result, those who actually use the product on a daily basis have taken and active part in its design and development. Loyalty to the software is won out of a true desire to make the software what the user really wants. With this kind of interaction between company and consumer, Logos has accomplished its goal "to be the worldwide leader in electronic tools and resources for multilingual Bible study." They have certainly won me over! There is no other Bible software that even comes close to Logos 4.

Eyes and Ears

2009-10-12T12:01:00.001-05:00

Sometimes we hear with eagerness, and other times we hear reluctantly. Our eyes may be open but fail to see. The tendency is to hear what we want to hear, and to see what want or expect to see. Something can be right in front of us and we can't see it.

Our eyes and ears are constantly bombarded with information, and we are forced to be selective in how we process that information. Selective sight and sound reception is nothing new. Communication between husbands and wives, parents and children, falls short due to selective reception. A man may become accustomed to tuning out the voice of his wife. Children hear parents when it suits them, but no longer hear when it becomes inconvenient or undesirable. We tune out noisy kids to focus in on a conversation. We may, at one and the same time, see and mentally reject what we see.

Men have often responded to God with selective hearing. God charges Israel with tuning Him out (Isa. 42:20). Jesus asks the disciples why they have eyes but cannot see, and ears, that do not hear (Mk. 8:17-18). The Apostle Paul charges the Judaizers of his day with having a spirit of stupor (Rom. 11:8). Men have often tuned out God. We do well to learn from their mistakes. The writer of Hebrews warns us that we will suffer dire consequences if we repeat their mistake (Heb. 3:7-11). May we have not hardened hearts, but humble hearts, that we may truly see God's truth, and eagerly hear God's Word to us.

Age and Faith

2009-10-05T19:23:00.001-05:00

It is very interesting that the Bible records people of faith from a wide spectrum of age groups. God does not discriminate according to age. John the Baptist leaps within his mother's womb as a Mary enters the room pregnant with Jesus (Luke 1:41). A boy named Samuel, just weaned from his mother, serves God with an old priest (1 Samuel 2:11). God causes a young boy with a coat of many colors to dream a future for the nation of Israel (Genesis 37:5-11). Abraham and Sarah give birth to a child of promise in their old age (Genesis 21:2). A young maiden is chosen to be the Mother of our Lord (Luke 1:30-31).

These kinds of examples should cause us to think twice about how we treat people of various age groups. To many, infants are not considered a part of the kingdom of God until they grow up and confess faith for themselves. Old people are retired from service long before God is done with them. Young children are called the "church of tomorrow," as though they are not really the church of today; not full fledged citizens of the kingdom. May God help us see his hand upon the young and the old alike. May we not be guilty of discrimination against the very ones God may be using to advance His kingdom.

The Work of the Ministry

2009-09-28T20:15:00.001-05:00

To often the work of the ministry is seen as the vocation of pastors. Though pastors are to minister to others, they are not the only ones who are ministers. Ephesians 4:12 indicates that a central role of the pastor is to equip others for ministry. Ministry is to be conducted by the saints as well as the pastor. It is interesting that in Acts 6:1-6 the Apostles appointed others to minister at tables so they could devote themselves to prayer and the ministry of the Word of God.

When the Apostle Paul writes to a young pastor in Ephesus, his charge to him is to preach the Word of God. Paul himself saw even baptism as secondary to his role of preaching (1 Cor. 1:17). The primary focus of Paul's ministry was to preach the Word of God. The church is given apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers (pastors and teachers are sometimes seen as referring to the same office) to equip the saints for the work of ministry.

When the pastor is seen as the "minister" of the congregation and the saints pull back from ministering to each other the pastor is not able to devote himself to the ministry of the Word as much as he ought to. Many pastors fill their days with calls to the sick, visiting shut-ins, committee meetings, counseling sessions, and many other things which are imposed upon them from a demanding congregation. If the saints saddle the pastor with all of the obligations of ministry he has little time left for the ministry of the Word. We all have a part to play in the body of Christ. No person is to fill all the roles of ministry (1 Cor. 12:14-20), but when we all do our part the body of Christ can grow to the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13).

Serving Spaghetti

2009-03-23T09:53:00.001-05:00

With the help of ladies in the church, our youth group held a spaghetti dinner fundraiser. The ladies baked cakes for dessert, supplied rolls, applesauce, and cooked in the kitchen, while the youth were charged with serving guests and waiting tables. The dinner not only raised funds for the youth group, it also provided an opportunity for the kids to practice servanthood. They were not simply serving spaghetti, they were serving people. The kids did a great job. they were eager to please the guests and were quick to respond to requests for coffee, rolls, and dessert. The way they pitched in and worked to satisfy others showed maturity and a care and concern for others that many adults would do well to copy.

Those who are great in the world's eyes are served by others. They are honored above others and put on a pedestal to admire. They do not seek to serve, but seek to be served. This is exactly opposite of the Bible's picture of true greatness(Matt. 23:12). In the Bible the ladder of greatness goes down, not up. The greatest example of servanthood is Jesus and whoever wants to be great in the kingdom of God must follow his example (Matt. 20:28; Mk. 10:43-45; Jn. 13:12-15). We are told that we are to make the most of opportunities to serve others, especially those of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10).

As I saw the ladies step up to the plate (pardon the pun) it was great, and my estimation of them was not diminished, but enhanced. Though the dinner was to benefit the youth, their attitude of service was an inspiration. It may have only been a spaghetti dinner, but it was a chance to see servanthood put into practice.

Radiant

2009-02-22T22:48:00.001-05:00

What does a radiant life look like? When we shine for Jesus what kind of illumination is it that others see? Moses spent time in the presence of God and his face was radiant (Exodus 34:29). The outer luminescent quality was visibly evident to others. Is that how we are to appear to others if we shine for Jesus? The Bible speaks of a radiance that comes from looking on the face of God (Psalm 34:5), and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like stars (Dan. 12:3).

If the Bible meant that Christians are to shine with the visible radiance that Moses had, we would have to conclude that true Christians are rare indeed, for not many people in this world literally radiate spiritual light. On the other hand, the spiritual reality of Christ within is evident in the lives of many Christians. When someone turns to the Lord in faith, they begin to reflect the glory of the Lord. The glory of the lord is reflected in our lives as we are transformed into his likeness (2 Cor. 3:16-18). God shines in our hearts to give us the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6). Christ within becomes evident to others as we shine in contrast to those who do not have Christ (Phil. 2:15). When they begin to see us shine, they will recognize it as evidence of God's goodness (Matt. 5:16). Therefore, do not cover your light, but let it shine (Matt. 5:15). That way, those who do not know Christ may wake up and Christ will shine on them too (Eph. 5:14).

The Great Physician

2009-02-14T15:48:00.001-05:00

Health is something we often take for granted until it is withdrawn. When we are healthy and strong we feel self-reliant. When we are sick we become weak and helpless. Physical illness brings our limitations and dependence into focus. This can be a good thing because we are reminded that our sufficiency rests in God. When we are sick, it is God who sustains us (Psalm 41:3; Isa. 38:16). We feel the need of him more than ever before. Even so, the truth is that even when we are healthy and strong it is still God who sustains us (Psalm 3:5; Heb. 1:3).Though many seek wellness from the hand of doctors, it ultimately comes from God (2 Chron. 16:12;). Doctors are not always able to heal (Mark 5:25-26), but when God heals it is done (Jer. 17:14).

Our spiritual heath is much the same as our physical health. Others can give us help along the way, but it is ultimately only God who can give us spiritual soundness. If we truly turn to God from sin we can be restored (2 Chron. 7:14), but if we refuse to hear God's call to repentance and health we suffer spiritual sickness (Isa. 6:10) and ultimate death (Jas. 1:15). Death is the end all of diseases. Physically, we seek to treat the body to keep alive and well in a physical sense. The problem is, apart from Christ there is no cure for death. Though we treat the body, death is inevitable in a physical sense (Heb. 9:27), but spiritual death is not unavoidable. Life in Christ as the answer to both physical and spiritual death (Rom. 6:23). Jesus is the great physician. Only he can answer death with life (Jn. 11:25). He is the ultimate healer (Isa. 53:5).

Snoasis

2009-02-09T12:45:00.001-05:00

There were ninety-five people who attended the winter youth retreat at Penn-York camp sponsored by the Eastern Conference of The Evangelical Church. Our theme was "Faces of Faith." Roy Gearhart and his wife Janice ministered to us with Bible teaching, drama, and music. Activities included basketball, volleyball, tubing, pool, games, and socializing. The buzz of excitement grew as more and more youth arrived. It did not take long before the gym resounded with the bounce of basketballs and the game room clattered with the sound of the pool tables. Some joined together around a guitar and enjoyed choruses of praise, while others laughed and talked standing around the fireplace. It was after midnight before sleep arrived as a welcome friend and the first night came to a close.

Saturday began with devotions and a delicious breakfast, followed by spiritually focused morning sessions. The Biblical character of Peter and how he met Jesus was dramatically portrayed for us the first session, and the second session was filled with instruction on what it means to be connected and in sync with God. The kids spent the afternoon enjoying all the activities camp had to offer, and came back together for the evening session.

As "the rest of the story" of Peter was portrayed, youth and adults alike followed Peter and Jesus down the path of miraculous demonstration, denial, crucifixion, bitter regret, resurrection and restoration. It was exciting to see Peter's story replayed in the lives of individuals as they began to see Peter's life as their own. Peter's witness to Jesus as a miracle worker opened the door of possibility. Jesus can do anything. Peter's confession of Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, vibrated chords of faith, and tears of repentance were reflected on the faces of many as they identified with Peter's godly sorrow. Drama met real life as young people identified with Peter and came forward for spiritual restoration.

Some people look at the youth of today and can only shake their head. Though there is much to lament, there is also much to celebrate. Every year, Snoasis explores the hope and potential in our youth and seeks to accentuate the positive. Our young people need all the encouragement they can get, but the truth is, when we begin to see God working in our youth it is we who are encouraged. I know I came away from Snoasis seeing great hope for the church. The spirituality of our youth is not to be despised. Instead, when their faith and spiritual energy are strong, they can set the tone for the rest of the church to be revived (Job 32:9; 1 Tim. 4:12). As we packed up and left Sunday morning I was very tired, but very glad for snoasis. Its ministry to the youth is as vital as their ministry is to the church. Both carry the vision of great hope and possibility. Unless we invest in the youth of today, there is not much hope for the church of tomorrow.

United in Purpose

2009-02-05T21:50:00.001-05:00

We were blessed to have missionaries stay with us this last weekend. Our church had a weekend mission focus. I was saddened by the turnout we had on Saturday for our cultural awareness luncheon. Though the event was announced well in advance, when the time came, most begged off with one excuse or another. It was similar to the parable of The Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-23). Everyone had an excuse not to come. Sunday morning we had good attendance and the missions offering was good, but again, Sunday night was sparse. It must be disheartening travel hours to share the mission work God has laid upon your heart and find little interest.

Our missionaries were kind and took it all in stride. They shared with those who were there and were gracious guests in our home. It was evident that their passion was strong. Their lives are dedicated to God in total submission.

If we call Jesus master, and believe the Bible to be our rule of life, we too should have more than a passing interest in missions. Jesus commissioned us to teach others about Him (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). The love of Christ compelled Paul to give his life to spread the Word of God (2 Cor. 5:14-15). The book of Acts is a missionary document. The very purpose of Christ coming to earth is a missions statement (Luke 19:10).

When we see mission work as the purpose of God for each one of us and not just for a select few, we are on our way to joining the united purpose of God. And when we lend our support to missionaries who are on the field we are supporting the purposes of God. God is pleased when we give our resources to support missionaries (Phil. 4:15, 18). Mission work is a joint enterprise. Those who unite their hearts and hands to missions unite themselves together in the great purpose of God. Hearts untouched by missions are untouched by the purpose of God. Each of us must ask ourselves, "Whose purpose do we really serve?"

Lock-in

2009-01-24T17:00:00.001-05:00

We had about twenty at our youth lock-in last night. After a devotional about spiritual warfare ( Eph. 6:10-17) we watched C.S. Lewis" The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe and Prince Caspian as an allegorical interpretation of the ultimate spiritual battle. Youth were also involved in playing Jenga®, Uno®,Twister®, hide-and-seek, Wii Sports®, playing ball, conversation, listening to music, and just lounging around. We consumed seven pizzas, two cases of soda-pop, four bags of chips, three dozen donuts, and a half gallon each of milk and juice. The food, fellowship, game involvement and close proximity served to help us get to know each other better, and the sleep deprivation served to push us to the limits of our endurance.

There are many influential alliances that can affect the lives of young people today. Groups and cliques form and influence youth in both positive (Matt. 5:13-16) and negative (Prov. 1:10-16; 1 Cor. 5:6-8) ways. The purpose of the lock-in was to form alliances around elements that would have a positive influence (Psa. 34:3). I pray that the event was a positive one for the youth.

Birthday Girl

2009-01-18T14:22:00.000-05:00

My daughter is nine years old today. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself during church. The giggles were bouncing off the walls as she and her friends gathered around the table for Ice Cream and Cake and the birthday girl opened her gifts. As I watched the lively bunch together, I could not help but remember the day she was born and how we nearly lost her.

Born four and three quarters pounds, diagnosed with a serious bowel infection, the doctor gave a grim prognosis and offered little hope (Jer. 8:22). We were told that the next twelve hours were critical. If she could hold on until then she would have a slim chance of recovery. My wife and I turned to God in prayer, our dependable source of hope in times past. We called all the prayer chains we knew to call and bent our knees (Psa. 34:6, 86:7) to the one who gave us this little girl and asked him to preserve her life. The atmosphere at the neonatal unit was drastically different when we returned. The grim face of the doctor was changed to perplexity. He was not a man of faith, but he had never seen such a condition turn around so quickly. He had expected our little girl to be barely hanging on at best, but now she was not only hanging on, she was thriving (Psa. 103:4). He could not explain the difference. His medical books and scientific mind predicted sickness and possible death. When told of our prayers he offered no objection. He had no alternative answer for such a quick recovery.

Nine years later I am still rejoicing over how God answered our prayers. We have had nine years of Joy and she is a testimony to God's grace. He has brought hope from despair, health out of sickness, turned sorrow to joy, and snatched life from the grip of death. Sarah is a living testimony to the power of prayer. We are truly grateful to God for our little girl (Psa. 107:8; Phil. 2:27).

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

2009-01-16T10:23:00.001-05:00

This morning it was minus 5°F when I woke up. I am glad there is plenty of wood for the furnace and the house is warm. The windows glisten like frosty kaleidoscopes. Birds are busy at the feeder or waiting their turn on a nearby bush puffing their feathers to stay warm. Hot oatmeal rests heavy and warm in my belly as the welcome smell of hot coffee rises from a steaming cup. The rattle of dishes in the kitchen and the happy play of children kept home from school bring the sound of family to my ears. Though the windows are heavy with the cold frost of winter I am snuggled in the warm embrace of a home blessed by God (Proverbs 3:33).

Truth, Faith, and Reason

2009-01-15T21:58:00.001-05:00

Reality rests on Truth. What is not true is a deception. Belief in God is faith in what is real. To question God is to cast doubt on truth. We tend to believe what we can see. Faith requires that we believe in what we do not see (Heb. 11:1). Unlike the scientific method, faith does not require tangible proof. That does not, however, mean that belief in God has no reasonable demonstration of proof. It is not unreasonable to take God's demonstrated trustworthiness through his Word as reason to believe. Has God ever lied? Has His Word ever failed?

Prophecy fulfilled, faith demonstrated and rewarded, miracles performed; All these point to the unseen God. The Bible in history is is a demonstration of the reality of God. The truth of who He is. When His word speaks history before it occurs (Lam. 3:37), the historical fact becomes testimony to the veracity and reality of God. God also vindicated the faith of individuals as he worked in their lives. Noah undertook a great building project, and God vindicated him. Abraham believed God and God vindicated his faith by fulfilling the promise of a son. The faith of Moses brought judgement upon Egypt, and lead the Hebrews out of oppression through parted waters. Miracles themselves are reasonable proofs of the reality of God. An exception in consistent laws were used of God to display his almighty power, imminent involvement, and planning. They were testimony to the reality of God (Neh. 9:17; John. 10:25; John 14:11; Heb. 2:4).

What is truth? What is real? Faith says God is real, not simply by the force of belief, as if wishing makes it so, but on the basis of reasonable evidence (Acts 26:25; 1 Peter 3:15). God has given us reason to believe in Him. If we still reject his testimony we judge him as untrue. We sit in judgement of His Word. It is this Word that will judge us in the end (John 12:48). When the truthfulness of God is found trustworthy, faith has found a resting place. We can trust the Word of God who cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Canceled

2009-01-11T11:29:00.001-05:00

Church was canceled today due to icy roads. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I do not want anyone to get injured trying to get to church. On the other hand, people brave the weather to make it to work. Is church optional where work is necessary? Which is more important? Is it a bad thing to cancel church?

School is often canceled when weather poses a risk. Kids eagerly watch for school to close at the first sign of snow. When it is closed, they often put on their snow clothes and play out in the snow. They look for an excuse to miss school in order to do something else.

We could have had church and left the decision to travel up to the individual. The problem is that there are those who are so committed they will put themselves at risk in order to come to church. Others would go because they do not want to look unspiritual, but are looking for an excuse not to go to church and to save face at the same time. The one loves to be in the house of worship. The other really does not want to go to church in the first place. Either way, the issue of safety remains.

Though the motive to cancel may be safety, the way it is received is mixed. Like the kids at school, some people are glad church is canceled and watch hopefully for snow. Others would go no matter how bad it gets and are disappointed when church is canceled. In the end, we can make the call for safety, but we can't control how it is received. Hopefully people are disappointed when church is canceled and eagerly await the next worship service (Hebrews 10:25).

No Exceptions

2009-01-09T15:28:00.001-05:00

I am always amazed at what draws people away from the Lord. For some people, it is a hobby that consumes their time. For others, it is a job. Some are overcome by desire. Whatever it is, if it draws us away from the Lord, it is wrong. Instead of allowing ourselves to be drawn away from the Lord, we should allow the Lord to direct all our energies. The Bible tells us that we should do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17). If we enjoy a hobby, listen to music, fulfill a desire, do a job, or otherwise spend time doing anything, it all must be done without any dishonor or offense to Christ. Everything we do must come under review and meet with his approval. If it cannot, then it will drive us away from Christ. We are told to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and not to focus on how to gratify our sinful desires (Romans 13:14). Christ must be Lord of all or he is not Lord at all. We are warned not to try to serve two masters. We can not serve Christ and serve our own desires (Matthew 6:24; Luke 16:13). Christ must be master of our life in all areas. No exceptions.

Voting Priorities

2008-10-31T19:32:00.001-05:00

It seems that the issue that is driving the election is the wallet. Each candidates promotes their economic policy to the neglect of all others. Taxes, jobs, trade, and healthcare are issues that are driven by monetary concern. Bailouts and Wall Street hit the headlines. Redistribution of wealth, congressional earmarks and costly wardrobes are brought up as attack issues to sway voters away from opponents.

Unlike many who see money as the primary issue, I consider it a secondary issue in much the same way I consider embezzlement secondary to homicide. When the issue of abortion is brought into the picture, monetary issues pale in comparison. For me, where a candidate stands on the issue of abortion is much more important to me than how much money they can put in my wallet. Of course, the ideal would be to have a candidate who can protect the life of the unborn and to keep me out of the poor house at the same time. But, if push comes to shove, I must pull the lever for the unborn child. To cast aside the issue of abortion in favor of economics is to put a price on each life lost to abortion.

As a Christian, my vote should match my faith. The fact that humankind is made in God's image (Genesis 1:27) should be reason enough to vote against abortion. Psalm 139:13-14 speaks of the beauty of the baby not yet born. In contrast, to place to much importance of money leads to wickedness (1 Timothy 6:10). To make the economy the overriding factor in an election is to give it sway over God's creative choice. We are warned that we can not serve God and money (Luke 16:13). Choose life. God did.

Scoffers

2008-10-02T19:20:00.001-05:00

People of faith have often been the subjects of ridicule and are frequently viewed as ignorant and unsophisticated. The Bible tells us that scoffers will come (2 Peter 3:3; Jude 18), so we should not be surprised. Scoffing at the faith of another does not alter the object of that faith one bit. Let God be true and every man a liar (Romans 3:4). What is challenged is not the object of faith (God), but the subjects of faith (believers). No one likes to be made to look ridiculous. Peer pressure is applied with force, believers are forced into a posture of defense, confidence is shaken, and discouragement sets in. Perhaps that is why we are so often urged to encourage one another (Romans 12:8; 1 Corinthians 14:3; 1 Thessalonians 4:18; Hebrews 3:12-13, 10:25; Jude 20). Our best defense against the scoffers who seek to divide and conquer (Jude 19) is mutual encouragement.

Being Faithful

2008-10-02T14:24:00.001-05:00

I love to see God do great things. I get excited when I see him touch lives and drastic transformation takes place. Unfortunately, the work of God is not always apparent. The work of God in some people's lives is quiet and unobservable. Often, people are slowly and silently affected by God through his Word and His Spirit. The change is not seen by others until some challenge is faced or a crisis comes. Often, during these times, one who is seen as stagnant and unchanged suddenly display the grace of God in their lives. Where there was little evidence of outward spiritual energy, God shows that He was working inwardly all along. Sometimes God's work is not outwardly manifest until a person is tested.

It energizes us to see the hand of God at work. It takes patience and perseverance when God works invisibly. For those in ministry, the times of quiet invisibility are hard to take. James 5:7 lifts up the farmer as an example to us. We are to be patient like the farmer who waits for the land to yield its valuable crop.

The time of waiting is not easy. It can be discouraging. The difficulty comes in trying to balance hopeful expectation with patient endurance. Perhaps that is why Psalm 27:14 tells us to take heart as we wait for the Lord. I love to see God at work. I thank him for the times I see His hand at work in the lives of His people. I hear His encouraging call to be faithful during the days and months between obvious manifestations of His grace. It is my prayer that as He works in me in invisible ways, encouraging me and calling me to be faithful and trust Him, that His work in me will become evident to others, that they would be encouraged. I trust His Invisible hand to be at work in the lives of others, partly because I know that same hand is at work in my life, though not always evident to others. We must all be faithful and submit to God as He works in our lives. We must be patient with one another as God works in unseen ways.

Family Bible Camp

2008-10-02T14:18:00.001-05:00

Another Family Bible Camp is over and everything is packed up and put away. There may still be a little mud between the toes here and there and some are still probably cookied out. I think every church in our conference sent about twelve dozen cookies to camp, and of course the kitchen crew felt obligated not to waste them. I probably will not eat another cookie for quite a while.

Security was kept pretty busy nights with campers trying to sneak out of the dorms and ring the bell next to the speaker's cottage. The youth seemed to enjoy the many activities. The mud pit seemed to be the favorite, though most seemed to enjoy the slip and slide baseball as well. Junior campers got in on the action with the water slip-n-slide. There was something for everyone, and the "Family" aspect of camp seemed to shine through this year.

The spiritual component of camp was centered around the "whatevers" of the Bible (i.e. Philippians 4:8) and campers of all ages were challenged with messages of commitment and the altar was pressed into service as campers were presented with many opportunities of grace.

Kevin and Lisa Hoffman served as our missionary couple and they were a joy to have with us. It was refreshing to see such youthful enthusiasm coupled with spiritual maturity.

Volunteers were an inspiration, as many of them spent their vacations to be at camp and to give their time and energy to serve others.

I am thankful for our Eastern Conference Family Bible Camp and hope God continues to use it to draw families and churches together in fun and fellowship, encouraging each other and growing together. I am already looking forward to next year.

A Heart for God

2008-10-02T14:11:00.001-05:00

There are all kinds of people in the Kingdom of God. We are both united and divided along Various theological interpretations, political viewpoints, ecclesiastical paradigms, geographic, cultural and socio-economic differences. Our vocabulary is filled with labels to identify denominations, churches and believer's affiliations. With such a variety of believers in the Kingdom of God, one has to wonder if there is a constant. A common identifier that crosses all boundaries. As I read the Bible, there seems to be one thing God looks for in all people, whatever their identifier might be. In Luke 16:15 we are told that what elevates people in men's eyes is not what God is concerned with. What concerns God is not the boundaries that separate us from each other, but the one thing that unites us to Him, and thus unites us together. It is an undivided heart for God (Ezek. 11:19; 1 Cor. 7:35). Only then can we truly be His people, and He our God (Jer. 24:7, 31:33). An undivided heart devoted to a singular God is a unifying factor that transcends manmade boundaries (1 Cor. 6:17). We are united to Him and in becoming united to Him we are united together (Jn. 17:23). What pleases God is not the absence of distinction (1 Cor. 14:7), but presence of Unity (Eph. 4:13).

Fire and Ice

2007-02-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

My speedometer hovered between 35 and 45 MPH as my eyes strained to see the road ahead through the blustery snow. The dark wintery landscape was punctuated by flashing lights as police and rescue crews helped accident victims. I was traveling West on Interstate 80 in a fifteen passenger van filled with Youth from my church, headed to "Snoasis," our conference's midwinter youth retreat. I began to wonder if I would ever make it to Whitehall Camp where our retreat was to be held. I had contemplated turning back, but we were well over halfway there.

When we had started out, the sun was shining and the roads were clear. I was surprised to receive a call from one of the other churches saying the fuel lines were frozen in their vehicle and road conditions forced them to cancel. It was fairly warm and our roads were clear. We were traveling along nicely. When I reached the Interstate that all changed. The worse things got, the more I prayed. "Lord, protect us. Help us to be safe."

We finally made it to our exit. It was not far from there to Whitehall Camp, where our retreat is held. What a relief. The lights of the Camp were a sight for sore eyes. As we unloaded and went to register, I learned that several churches would not make it because of the weather. The frigid temperature was carried on a gusty wind. It was almost impossible to keep it from creeping in next to the skin. Our retreat theme was "Fire and Ice." We were sure getting the ice part.

As we began our first session, Mike Anderson, our speaker connected with the youth right away. He communicated in a language and medium they could understand and appreciate. He shared God's Word in a straightforward manner, without pulling any punches. Though the icy wind continued to blow outside, things were warming up on the inside.

On Saturday night, the thaw began. As we lifted our voices in worship I began to sense the presence of God in our midst. As I looked around, I saw that I was not the only one. The Word of God was attended by the Holy Spirit and hearts began to melt. The front of the room was set aside as a sacred space and an invitation was given to surrender hearts to God. About half of the eighty-eight who attended Snoasis answered God's call to that sacred meeting place.

Some gave their hearts to Christ for the first time. Others were called to a deeper surrender. Tears flowed from many who remained in their seats. Confession was followed by testimony as the fire of the Holy Spirit warmed hearts. The love of God was manifest as groups gathered around those needing support and encouragement. There was no hurry to leave, but God continued to minister to hearts in small groups and individually. It was a precious time. Ice had made its presence known, but those exposed to God's Word had their hearts melted by the fire of the Holy Spirit. Praise be to God.

A Map to Follow

2006-05-15T21:02:00.000-05:00

Recently, President George W. Bush, during a news conference, stated that it was his job to make decisions. Who can deny that the decisions he makes have the power to impact nations and alter the course of history. Most of us, however, are not such big players on the world scene. Our decisions seem insignificant campared to the president of a super power. The little man doesn't seem to make much of an impact. But if this is the case, why is it that such big players seem so fearful of the little guy? Tomorrow is the day the little guy speaks. Decisions will be made tomorrow that have the potential of changing the balance of power and changing the course of the nation. Tomorrow is election day. For the last several months I have been flooded with mail from politicians trying to influence my decision. They are seeking my vote, courting favor, and seeking to stay or get into a position of decision making power. Whether they do or not depends on the voter. Suddenly, the little guy holds all the cards. In the end, we are the real decision makers. We are the ones who set the direction of our country.
How then, are we to weild our great power. So much depends on our vote. We dare not take it llightly. We need all the wisdom we can get. Where do we turn? For the Christian, there can only be one answer. As we look to the sacred Scriptures to guide us in making the little decisions of daily life, how much more must we depend on them to guide us in the greater decisions. As Christians, we are obligated to support those who hold morally superior credentials. We can not afford to vote our pocket book. We must vote our faith. The Bible is our map, our guide. Using it as a voters guide, we can set the tone for politics and change the landscape of our country. May God help us to vote his values.

What does it cost?

2005-01-24T05:23:00.000-05:00

I have been thinking of the concern most people have with their return on the dollar (or yen, euro, bolivar, etc.) and the ever increasing need for imediate gratification. How much bang do I get for my buck? What's it going to cost me? When am I going to see a return on my investment? Like the fast food consumer, we want it our way, we want it now, and we want change back from our dollar.
The same attitude persists in the realm of Christianity today. After many hours logged in the pew, countless (or counted and here's your receipt sir) dollars have been dropped into the collection plate, prayers have been offered, and resources have been spent and energy expended a problem arises. It may be a big problem, or it may be a little problem. It may be medical, relational, financial. Whatever the problem, the request goes out to God to solve it and the thoughts go back to the cost of following him and people expect to see a return. I'll have my miracle now please, and oh, do not forget the mayo. Let me have it my way, and let me have it now!
Whatever happened to following the Lord without counting the cost? Whatever happened to waiting upon the Lord? What ever happened to "not my will, but yours, oh Lord." These things have fallen to a religion that says you can have it all and you can have it your way, and yes, you can have it now. I reject such religion and its commercial use of God. "send me twenty dollars and your miracle is on its way." Pshaw. Such things are an offense to God. It makes God into a fast food miracle stand, and it requires the "believer" to overcome nothing, not even their own self centered preoccupation. God does not pass out miracle cures avery day. God does not promise an immediate return on our investment. Though He may graciously answer our request, we have no right to make demands.
Some may ask then if I do not believe in miracles. Sure I do. But the point of miracles is that they are not everyday occurances, but the supernatural intervention of God into normal affairs. If we were to expect miracles at every turn the they would no longer be miracles, but they would be part of the normal landscape of life.
The problem, I think, is that we have turned the financial picture upside down. It is not we who should be seeking a return on our investment, but it is God who is looking for a return on His investment. If we rightly consider the price paid for us by Christ, we should no longer count the cost of following Him, but should offer ourselves up gladly to him. We are no longer our own, but we were bought with a price. He has paid for us, and not the other way around. The consumer mentality says we paid our tithe, now give us the blessing. The Consecrated mentality says we have given you only what was already yours.