In His Hands

Not Quite The New Year I Was Expecting

2012-01-27T12:50:00.001-06:00

Well, its here, and its not going anywhere anytime fast. 2012 is here, and it's not quite what I was hoping for...at least not yet.

This was going to be the year, that I was totally going to give it over to God, and release my fears and worries over to Him.Anyone else try this recently? Its EXTREMELY hard. Almost to the point for myself to be impossible...I know, I know. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD, and through Him I can do all things. But when nothing seems to go right...its hard to trust.

I wish I could go back in time and be there at Job's side during his time of testing and trial. Sometimes in fact I compare myself to Job, but let's be honest! I haven't lost any children, my home hasn't been blown over, my wife isn't telling me to curse God and die, and so far none of my friends have told me that life is going this direction because I've sinned. :)

But as life's pressures which we all face, continue to mount against me it seems like I've come to an impasse. Either love the Lord, or live for myself. My heart urges me with divine strength to stand strong for the Lord, but my eyes wander about and cause me to want to live for myself. I think this is something we all often times struggle with.

We know it is better to serve the Lord, but when other men seemingly are "better off" its easy for our eyes to become focused and attracted to the things of this world.

As a pastor I've preached on worry, I've preached on sanctification, I've preached on God's provision, I've preached on God's protection, I've preached on the temporal and the eternal, I've preached on the judgement, I've preached on the rewards and disappointments... yet...I hate to admit it, that even still I get scared in this world and often times consumed with finances.

The Bible says that a man that does not provide for his family is a sluggard, I don't want to be a sluggard! I want to provide for my family! But when finances are not enough, and another job cannot be found, what must one do? I trust in God to meet our needs, I truly do, but when medical bills, utility bills, insurance bills, school loan bills, car repair bills, and others start to stack, the finances with which God has provided are not able to cover them.

It feels as if I am betwixt a rock and a hard place being squeezed and squished ever more tightly. I know what I need to do, its just having the strength and faith to do it.

Would you pray? I'd be really appreciative of it. :)
Meanwhile...I'm going to do my best and "Practice what I preach" :)
"Be still and know that I am God..." - Psalm 46:10

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuXB1a3NBCw -Constant reminder. :)

Happy New Year!

2011-12-27T22:47:00.002-06:00

We stand just a few short days away from the threshold of a brand new year. But the question always arises...what will the new year hold for us? Some predict the end of the world, others another year of economic woes and hardships. For others they predict a world record breaking year of Olympics and others groaning over another year of elections and politics. With a brand new year, we often set forth new resolutions. Things that we wish to accomplish in the new year...but what would happen if we realized that we may not have a complete year to live out? Are we even promised tomorrow? The Bible tells us that we truly don't know if we have another day to live or not. The Bible tells a parable (Luke 12) about a wealthy man, who had everything that he absolutely needed, and chose to set up larger barns and live happily off of his hard work and earnings. The day that he had planned to build his large barns he was told by God, that that day his life would be required of him, and that he would not be enjoying the bounty which he had worked so hard to accomplish. The moral of the story is the fact, that truthfully we don't know if we will have a day tomorrow to live or not. What we should say, the parable informs us, is that we should live our life out with the idea of saying, "If the Lord wills..." then we may accomplish our desires. We go through life, often saying we will accomplish tomorrow what cannot be accomplished today, but so often we waste our days away so that what COULD be done today does not get done today, because we are not accurately using the time that God has given to us. Are there times needed for recreation and entertainment? I believe so very much, but when those times take over our lives, and cause us to leave to tomorrow the things that ought to be done today, then our priorities are not in correct order. Let us vow this next year, nay this very day, that we will never again take each heartbeat, or breath for granted, but use every moment that God has given to us as a gift from him, so that we might bring him the glory due to his name. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Philippians 2:9-11

Who Are You Out To Please?

2011-06-09T13:11:00.002-05:00

As human beings we do it all the time. We try to make other people happy.

Have you ever watched a young child? "Look mommy! Look what I can do!"

They do it not so that the mother just looks, but so that they might hear the mother say, "Good job!" or "Look how fast you can run!" For the child, everything is about praise. They love to hear how good they are doing, and let's be honest...we as adults do it as well.

In our places of employment we work hard to get the raise and bonuses. We work hard to get our managers/bosses/CEO's whomever to notice us.

Have you seen the recent United States Postal Service commercial with the flat rate boxes and the man sitting at the desk? The USPS man is trying to convince the man sitting at the receptions desk that if he were to use the flat rate boxes, that the would be saving the company lots of money, and the man says, "This isn't my company! Why would I care?!" As he's saying this his boss steps out of an office next to his desk. The postal service hinting to the receptionist that his boss was right there said, "You mean, Why would I care NOT to save the company some money?"

The man's whole perspective changed when he realized who was there!

So often we forget as we serve the Lord, that He is there, regardless of whether we see him or not. Its so easy often times to try to please man, rather than God.

Today I was reading preparing for Sunday and I came across a verse in Galatians 1:10.
"For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ."

That verse hit me like a ton of bricks. As I look back at my ministry that I have had thus far, I realize sadly that much of it has been man driven. Don't want to sing those songs, because someone might get upset, but we don't want to sing those songs, because that group will get upset. Don't want to do that on that night, because this group won't be able to come, but can't do it that night either, because someone else won't be able to come. If I do this this group will complain about it, but if I don't do it this group will!

I've come to the conclusion (over and over and over again) that I cannot please everyone. Truthfully when it comes to Christ, let's be honest...the pleasing of everyone doesn't even matter unless Christ himself is pleased and magnified!

Recently I've lost sight of that.

My favorite parable in the Bible is the story of the Master with his three servants and their allotments of silver and gold that he gave each of them. No where do we have recorded for us the servants wondering what the other servants might feel like if they were to use the money in a certain way, they were only concerned with what the master would think when he returned!

Whether you are a pastor, a deacon, a husband, a wife, a child, whomever you may be, we are all called to be servants of the living God (Romans 12:1-2) and we are not to worry about what others think, as long as we only worry about what the Master thinks.

We are to work hard, and do our very best, until the day that we hear the words from our Savior, "Well done thou good and faithful servant..."

What If...

2011-05-21T16:26:00.001-05:00

Well, its now Saturday, May 21st, 2011, the so call predicted day of Judgement.

Its interesting the talk that has erupted from this prediction, but we also as born again believers who read our Bibles know the fallacy behind this false prediction.

What's interesting to me though is the responses of the masses. To have an actual "predicted" date set has caused some to turn into mockers of the rapture, others to be doomsayers, and others to be terrified of the said event.

As born again believers we don't have to be worried, but it has certainly opened many doors to share the true gospel with individuals who may or may not have ever heard it before.

As many have begun to "knock" the event, it makes me glad in a sense that the true rapture will happen as a thief in the night. At a time when no one is expecting it to happen. Imagine for a moment that suddenly thousands if not millions of believers suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth. I don't think there would be many joking about it, but for now it has turned into a laughing matter, a reason to party.

I was reading an article today about some individuals who work for "family forum radio" the radio program that has solicited this prediction. Most of the employees plan to show up for work on Monday! Some employees have at the last minute gone out and bought very expensive cars, and have taken their families on lavish vacation trips sort of as a last "Hurray!"

My question is, if you knew exactly when Christ was going to return, what would you be doing different? And if we don't know when Christ is going to return, but we believe that he could return any moment...why are we not living that way? Christ says that he would [wishes] that we were either hot or cold, not lukewarm.
How can we begin to live differently today as we await the rapture?

Just some food for thought on a day when many are confused and lost.

A Pick-Me Up

2011-05-10T11:52:00.007-05:00

Some people need caffeine, some need coffee, others just need to go for a run. What do you do when you've had "one of those days".

By "one of those days" I mean, those days where you feel that everything that can go possibly wrong has gone wrong, and ultimately will go wrong.

I'm having one of those days, and rather than complain about it, I've chosen to blog about it. I realize its been a while since I've posted, but as I always have said in the past, its one of those things that I'd like to do more often.

Already today (its currently Noon as I write this) several things have gone wrong, and before the day is over, I'm expecting a couple of more unexpected circumstance to have come my way.

As I sit here, thinking and stewing over my situation, its interesting to say the least that the Holy Spirit is doing a work on me. In the last few moments I've been trying to decide how to write this blog, but all that is currently coming to me is scripture.

"Rejoice in the Lord, always, and again I say, Rejoice." Philippians 4:4

Do you know how hard it is to rejoice when your day feels like its been shot through?

Of course you do, we all have experienced this. We would much rather complain and murmur about our situations, but again scripture shouts at us otherwise...
"Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer." I Corinthians 10:10

But my inner spirit desires to complain, it wants to murmur. But I'm then reminded... "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

When I am weak, that is when he allows me to be the most strong. My strength is perfected in the times of my weaknesses. It is during that time that he pours out his grace upon my life, and I am able to be lifted up at the necessary times.

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:" I Peter 5:6

But in order to be exalted I must first humble myself. I must first realize that my needs are not permanent, but temporary. I need to realize that my wants, my desires, my fears are not important, but what is important is that Christ has the ability to live through me.

"He must increase, but I must decrease." John 3:30
"Let your light so shine among men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16

My life is not about my life, but its about being a living sacrifice.

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

As I shun my own lifestyle, and put on the life of Christ, I have no need to fear, I have no need to worry, besides, can worry and fear get me anywhere in life? Can I do anything about my worry or fear?

"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" Matthew 6:25-27

As my day wears on, may I realize that this is the day that the Lord has made! May I rejoice and be glad in it! May I realize that every situation that comes into my life today, has only come into my life, because it has been first sifted through my Father's hand and he has seen fit to increase my faith through this time of trial and tribulation. May I realize that as he allows these situations to come into my life, that he has only allowed them to do so through his infinite grace, mercy and wisdom.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I Corinthians 10:13

He has promised to never leave me, nor forsake me, and he has promised to always be with me.

"The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1

Reaching Out

2010-10-21T09:07:00.002-05:00

I apologize for taking so long to once again write on my blog...I would love to do this more often, but with life so crazy, it doesn't happen very often.

Today I wanted to just briefly mention the fact that our church is getting ready to have a "Trunk Or Treat".

What is a "Trunk Or Treat"? You might ask.

"Trunk Or Treat" is a special outreach used by our church to impact our community on October 31st, Halloween night.

Many Christians today cringe when they hear of such a thing being done on "Halloween", but truthfully, man is the one who has created the holiday, it is still nonetheless the day that the Lord has made. It is NOT an evil day, but a BLESSED day.

Also, what other day of the year can you think of where children actually come to YOUR door, instead of you having to go to them!

"Trunk Or Treat" is a special event hosted by Fair Haven Baptist Church in our church parking lot. Up until the night of our event, we are constantly accepting donated candy, soda pop, hot chocolate, hot dogs, and hot dog buns. All of these things are provided by our church members! They are the most generous givers I have ever seen!

We also invest in two bicycles or scooters to give away, gospel tracts, church information, and a "Moon Bounce House".

The event runs from 5:30-8 P.M. and we have a blast! Last year we served 250 children, and we look for that number to increase this year!

Why have such an event?

The Bible tells us that we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel. Matthew 28:19-20. What an excellent opportunity to do such a thing.

Remember Lot's Wife

2010-01-31T23:01:00.003-06:00

This is a message I preached several weeks ago. If you would like to hear it in a audio version your welcome to go to www.fairhavenbaptistchurch.org and select sermons followed then by January 17th, 2010's sermon "Remember Lot's Wife". Enjoy!

During the ministry of Jesus Christ upon the earth, he was the greatest teacher and Biblical scholar who has ever lived. The religious leaders of the day the Pharisees and Sadducees knew about him and of him, and realized that his following was to large to be just dismissed or ignored. The religious leaders of the day also couldn’t just categories him as a fanatic because of the miracles that he did and the number of people that followed him. Unfortunately though, they never understood that Christ was the Messiah, the one who had come to set them free.

In Luke 17:20-32 he gives a sermon; a discourse if you will, and he explains to the Pharisees who were demanding a sign from him as to when his “Kingdom” was coming, that horrific events were going to take place as that day grew closer.
I think three of most important words in this passage are the most distinct, and out of place words in the entire passage.

-“REMEMBER LOTS WIFE” (vs. 32)

Why was it so important for them and for us today to hear those words? After all, we don’t even know her real name! Yet obviously important enough for Christ to want us to remember her, something must have happened to her in Genesis 19.

Historical Background:
Genesis 11-12 - Abraham leaves Ur to a new land that God has shown him.
12:4 - tells us that Abraham’s brother’s son Lot (his nephew) has come along for the journey.
We don’t know if he is married, but we obviously assume that if he is then his wife is journeying with them.

Genesis 13 - Between the two men there was so much success that herdsmen began fighting for grass and water. A decision to split occurs. Lot chooses desirable Jordan valley, and Abraham is left with the desert hills of Canaan.
Genesis 19 tells us that Lot has left his tent and now dwells within the city of Sodom.
Genesis 14 - five southern kings rebel against four northern kings. Great war, and Lot, family and possessions are carried away to the North. Abraham hears word, gathers approx. 300 of his trained servants goes, fights northern kingdoms, gets Lot, family and possessions back.

Genesis 15-17 - not much about Lot in these chapters more about maturing faith of Abraham. By chapter 17 - 24 years have passed since Abraham left Haran. Approx. 20 year at least of Lot living in Sodom.

Genesis 18 - God and two angels appear to Abraham and Sarah - 2 reasons
1. To tell Sarah she’s going to have a son indeed.
2. To tell Abraham because of the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah that God was going to destroy the two cities.

THE CITY OF SODOM
The city is believed to have existed on the SE side of the Dead Sea.
Sodom was a cesspool of unspeakable immorality and abomination.
It was obviously made into an example not to be repeated.

Before we focus on Lot’s wife, let’s look at the story.

Vs 1 - Lot was a leader in the city.
Vs. 2 - Travelers usually stayed in the city square at night, but Lot urged his two visitors not to do so, but to stay with him. Obviously at night things were happening to travelers in the square.
Vs. 3 - I believe Lot feared for their safety.
Vs. 4 - Everyone was involved in the sins of the city - young and old, from every area of the city.
Vs. 5 - Their intentions were very clear. There was no reason for them to be discreet in the city, because EVERYONE was doing it.
Vs. 6-8 - Lot offers an alternative the is unimaginable. Christ wants us to Remember Lot’s Wife. He wants us to remember her mistakes and weaknesses. The key lesson about Lot’s wife has not come into the picture yet, but where is Lot’s wife during this unbelievable offer?
VS. 9-13 - Situation becomes critical.

Vs. 14 - Lot’s family didn’t take Lot seriously. Why? Because most likely he had never mentioned his faith to his children before. Perhaps Lot’s words were of no reputation, for his family wasn’t used to him denouncing sin and wickedness in the city.

At this point in the text though, we are starting to see clearer pictures in this story. It’s very clear that the sins of the city were out of control and rampant. Everyone was involved in them, and there was nothing that anyone could do about it. In this city not even 10 righteous men could be found to spare the city.

I think we can now start to look at Lot’s wife.

Lesson #1 - IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT WHO YOU ASSOCIATE WITH. (vs. 15-16)
How many righteous people lived in Sodom?
Do you think that Lot’s wife’s friends were good influences on her? Lot and his family had to be basically dragged out of the city. Why?
Perhaps 20 years of hanging around with worldly people have weakened her faith. Maybe she didn’t believe all this was happening.
The crowd you keep is who you become like.
Notice this goes beyond just human beings though. It extends into your television viewing, your leisurely reading, your websites that you regularly look at, your favorite pass time. You become what you enjoy.
Thursday night some of our teenagers were saying that they enjoyed watching a television show that constantly has swearing, drugs, homosexuality, sex, and other things involved. Teenagers I warn you, just as I warn the adults. You find that interesting and funny? Your going in the wrong direction. The people and things you associate with are the people and things that you force the Holy Spirit who is within you to also look at and associate with. You will become what you associate with.
Illustration: You are what you eat. You become like those you associate with.
This is why its so important to have a church family.
While we are outside the doors of this building our defenses ought to be up! We ought to be ready to deflect a piercing fiery dart at any moment, but instead what happens? Its often in church that we have to put up our shields. Defending ourselves against what others might find the be the true lives that we live.

Lesson #2 - IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY
No matter how unimportant or trivial one thinks a command from God is, we have to take God seriously. (vs. 17)
We know how the story ends here (and well get to that later), but Lot’s wife will disobey God and look back. We could speculate as to why, but bottom line is God specifically said, “DON’T DO IT!” God has been very specific about how we live our lives.

Is God serious about our worship? (Heb. 10:25)
Is God serious about prayer? (I Thess. 5:17)
Is God serious about our priorities? (Matthew 6:33)
Is God serious about evangelism? (Mark 16:15)
Is God serious about our disposition? (I Tim. 2:22-25)

What did Christ say? "REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE!"
Perhaps the most obvious thing we see when we remember Lot’s wife is that she didn’t take what God said seriously! Even our children who have learned this story can recognize the point to it! We have to take God seriously. In fact God is also serious about how we get to heaven!

He’s serious about belief (Mk. 16:16)
He’s serious about repentance (Acts 2:38)
He’s serious about confession (Romans 10:9-10)
He’s serious about baptism (I Peter 3:21)

Lesson #3 - IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THE WORLD’S DEATH GRIP. (vs. 18-26)
Notice where Lot’s wife was when she looked back.
Our English translation says she was behind him. The word behind is translated from the Hebrew word “Achar” meaning away from, back, it suggests some distance.
Lot’s wife not only had to be pulled from the city, but she lingered behind the fleeing party. Why?
-perhaps she was concerned about her friends.
-perhaps she hated to leave her home.
-perhaps her heart was in Sodom.

Simply put the world had a death grip on her heart. She loved the things of the world, rather than the things of God.

There are many things in the world today that get our hearts and hold onto them.
-drugs
-alcohol
-pornography
-addictions
-money
-ball games
-golf
-fishing and hunting
-sleep
-depression
-lukewarmness and complacency
List goes on and on. For Adam and Eve it was a piece of fruit.

BACK TO THE STORY (vs. 25-30)

Lesson #4 - IT REALLY IS IMPORTANT TO REALIZE THAT YOUR LIFE AFFECTS OTHERS (vs. 31-38)
Your actions, your lifestyle can and will affect others. Especially those closest to you. Your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, your co-workers, your neighbors, everyone.
It is hard for us to understand and even comprehend such an act. Why would these young ladies from what seems to be a “christian home” devise such a plan?
I believe it was a direct reflection of the lifestyle their parents had been living. We don’t know much about the life of Lot and his wife, but let’s give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s say that they were not participating in the immorality of the city. I suggest to you that by just living there they subtly condoned it. By just living in such a godless environment their children were thus exposed to it, and allowed to see the disgusting acts that took place day and night.

Notice with me that if we put God first in our lives…that means reading His word, praying, attending church, serving in the church, being active in the church, living for the Lord, encouraging other believers, applying the Word of God to our lives, by example we lead Godly lives and in so doing, perhaps our children will as well.
When we expose them to the correct environments they will be exposed to potentially become the individual that God wants them to be. For me, I’ve never understood why a parent would ground a child from church. If the child needs to be punished for something that they did, church is the first place they need to be at so they learn why they shouldn’t have done what they did do!

CONCLUSION:
What did Christ say? "REMEMBER LOT’S WIFE."
Why? Because who we associate with we become.
Because unlike Lot’s wife’s example we need to take God seriously.
We need to realize that through Christ the world ought not have any hold on us!
We need to understand that our lives are not our own to live, but they are to be examples to those around us who are constantly watching and learning from us.

Honesty - The Truth Teller

2010-01-21T23:52:00.006-06:00

About one year ago, we began our youth group at our church, and came up with an acronym that helped describe what we wanted our teenagers to become not only in our church, but also in society as a whole. The acronym?

HI-FHY

Hi-Fhy? You might ask. Yes. "Honesty, Integrity, and Fidelity".
Last week during our Thursday night youth group time we talked about Honesty.

So often even as adults our lives are filled with lies. Maybe not lies that are involved in the corporate world, but still lies.

For example, "Does pizza sound good for supper?" My wife might ask. Not really, but at the same time I know she's worked a long day, put up with rude people, and watched our daughter all day long too. Do I say that pizza sounds good to make her life easier, or do I tell her that what I'm really hungry for is something that will take several hours to make.
"Sure sweetheart. Pizza sounds fine." is often the answer. Then the rest of the evening under my breath I mutter. "Pizza. Seriously? Pizza?"

The perfecter of lies, Satan himself is the best liar, and he's also the best teacher of how to lie. Unfortunately though at many times our lies come out. Trying to cover one lie with another, with the results eventually most often exploding in our face.

One of the best examples of lying I could find in the Bible is found in Acts 5 the account of Ananias and Sapphira. Ananias and Sapphira a married couple in the early church wanted to be noticed for being sacrificial like other people in the early church. What was happening such as the example of Barnabas was that certain people were selling their possessions to aid in the provision of some of the Christians who were being fired from their jobs and disowned by their families all because of their new beliefs.

When Ananias and Sapphira heard and saw how others were giving and being recognized for their donations they wanted the same pride and recognition. Unfortunately the desire to have this recognition led them to do something that God would not have wanted them to do, and thus resulted in a lie, which then ended in dire consequences.

With a plan in tow, the two sold some possessions and chose to give the church some of the money from the sale. The plan though was not to give all of the money, but to keep some of it, but to sound pious to the church they were going to say that they had given all the money from the sale.

Ananias was the first to enter the church and give Peter the money. Maybe at first Peter looked at the money and was humbled at the thought that once again someone else from the church was giving all that they had, but the Bible tells us in verse 3 that Peter knew that the sum was not all that had been gained from the sale, and Peter blames Ananias for not only lying to him, but also to the Holy Spirit. There in the church he drops dead as a consequence for his sin.

A little later in walks his wife. I wonder if she came in with her head held high, or if this was part of the plan to make the pride and recognition last a little longer in the church. In she strutted with her head held high and a big smile on her face. But then Peter asks her a question. "Tell me Sapphira, is this all the money from the sale of the possession that you sold?" "Oh yes, Peter!"
"Why Sapphira, why is it you agreed together to lie to the Holy Spirit? Don't you know that the men that carried out your husband and buried him are waiting at the door to take you out as well?" And then down the ground she fell also dead.

Why would God cause two people to die just for lying? Because God wanted the early church to recognize that lying was a sin, and in God's eyes, a lie was just as bad as a murder or adultery. A lie is a lie, and a sin is a sin. Thus causing the lie to be a sin that can separate us from the presence of God for all eternity. Praise the Lord for the gift of Salvation.

Acts 5:1-10

60 Years Of Service

2010-01-03T22:18:00.002-06:00

Its hard to believe that here in the year 2010, Fair Haven Baptist Church the church that I have the privilege and honor of leading is turning 60! Beginning in 1950, Fair Haven was originally a group of people who left a church called "Ruby Avenue Baptist Church" when they began to realize that the direction the church was going was away from the Word of God, rather than growing closer to it. So after realizing the fallacies of the church, they left Ruby Avenue and began to meet in the living room of one of the charter members of the church. It was then in 1950 that the sanctuary and first floor portion of the church building were complete and the church family began to meet in the building.

Since that time there have been only a small number of pastors that have pastored the church, and God has given me the opportunity to follow in the line of pastors.

When Fair Haven Baptist Church began the church's motto which still stands today was "We Preach Christ - Buried-Risen-And Coming Again" the focus was on the life, death, burial, resurrection and coming again of our Savior, and rightly so. We are told from God's Word that we are to be ready at any time to give an account for our beliefs (I Peter 3:15), and not only that, but we are to preach the WHOLE counsel of God's Word (Acts 20:27). There are many churches in the world today that cater to people's feelings rather than the truth of God's Word. The Bible in fact has warned us that people will begin to have itching or tickling ears (2 Tim. 4:13). They want to hear funny stories, and feel good messages about how God wants us rich, or healthy and successful. Does God want us happy? Yes, but not because we are millionaires, but rather because we have learned to be content in all things.

This year marking our 60th anniversary though, I'm contemplating on adding something to our motto. Maybe it will last beyond my time as pastor here at Fair Haven and maybe not, but I think the additive would be helpful and correct as well. I have considered changing the motto to "Fair Haven Baptist Church...Preaching Christ and Answering the Call." What do I mean by "answering the call?" I mean a variety of things. Realizing that we are commanded to evangelize the world (Matthew 28:19-20), realizing the our lives have been commanded to be living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-2) realizing that we are a chosen priesthood a chosen generation (I Peter 2:9), realizing that we are called to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart soul and mind, and your neighbor as yourselves." (Mark 12:30-31) and so on. I believe that we are to preach Christ, and I believe that with all my heart, but there is more to this Christian life than just preaching Christ. We are also called to live like Christ. Ephesians 5:1 encourages us to be "imitators of Christ as dear children". We imitate by mimicking.

My 15 month old daughter is starting to mimic my wife and I. Often when my wife or I drop something on the ground we will say, "Uh-Oh." Well our daughter has caught on to that,and has also learned the short phrase of "Uh-Oh". In fact, just yesterday she was using it, maybe not in the way it was meant to be used...but she was correct in what she said. :) Sitting in her high chair with her pacifier she would take it out of her mouth, look at it, throw it on the floor, and then stair over the edge of her chair at the pacifier on the floor. She would then look at my wife and I and say, "Uh-Oh." She was mimicking my wife and I! Just as dear children mimic their parents and others they see, we as Christians ought to mimic and imitate Jesus Christ.

To answer the call means to live out the life that God has called us to live out. The Christian life is not just about "Preaching Christ" which is very important, but we are also instructed to be disciples, and be constantly learning and growing and living out the commands of our Savior. May it be true of Fair Haven Baptist Church in 2010 that we are "Preaching Christ and answering the call".

The New Year Resolutions

2009-12-31T23:19:00.001-06:00

Here we are with less than 40 minutes left in the year 2009. So much happened in 2009 and it was certainly a year that was characterized as a year of change. What will 2010 hold for us in the near future?

As I've thought over what changes I would like to make in my own life in 2010 I believe that my prayer life needs to be considered. As a pastor of a church I realize that I ought to be on my knees much more than I am currently. Also I need to learn to pray for my enemies. In recent days I have become very irritated with those that oppose my beliefs from God's Word. Why I'm irritated I don't understand because God's Word already tells me that world hates my Savior. So I ought to be proud to be one that is considered "arrogant and bigoted" in this world as I stand up for my Savior.

Lord, teach me to pray for those that stand against me. I'm reminded of the passage in Luke where as your Son Jesus Christ hung upon the cross he said, "Father, forgive them for them know not what they do." Although we are the enemies of the cross, Christ chose to ask God to forgive us. What an act of mercy and grace from the cross over 2,000 years ago. If he was willing to pray for me, may I be bold and willing to pray for my enemies as well.

Becoming Flesh

2009-12-09T01:07:00.005-06:00

What an amazing and yet most humbling thing that our Savior did that night over 2,000 years ago. It is during the Christmas season, that we remember all that Jesus Christ did specifically for us, and for the entire world that night so long ago. How does one describe the awesomeness of our God who came to earth and took on flesh so that he might be our personal Savior?

With what do we have to rejoice and praise him with, in gratitude and exaltation in return? He has done so much for us, and yet we the recipients of his everlasting and unconditional love treat his many blessings with the same attitude that we have when we receive a birthday card without any money inside! Why do we take his love for granted? We don't take the love of our children or spouses for granted? We are constantly working on those relationships, but when was the last time that we can say that we worked on our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ? As a familiar old southern gospel song asks, "When was the last time you spent the night on your knees?"

Why is it that often times our Bibles become coffee table decorations, and dust collectors? If any book ever needed to have a dust jacket made for it, it should be our Bibles! God's Word the Bible is a love letter from God himself to all of humanity, and within its pages are verses and passages that describe this love that he has for us. John 3:16, John 15:13, and 1 John 4:10 are just several excellent examples, but often times we reduce the wonderful gospel of Christ down to a list of do nots, consequences and punishments if we fail to not uphold God's Word. Rather than focus on the negatives, let us this Christmas season look upon the blessings and love of God's Word! God gives us Hope, God gives us Love, God gives us Joy, and he is the giver of peace! Why not chose to focus on the blessings, which we will reap for all eternity, rather than the consequences which we will only have for a season? The Lord chastises those he loves.

I John 4:19 "We love Him, because He first loved us."

The Eyes Of God

2009-09-28T11:37:00.002-05:00

The Bible tells us that the eyes of God go "to and fro" (2 Chronicles 16:9) throughout the earth, and I am so thankful that even though his eyes go "to and fro" that he still watches out for me. Just as his eye is on the Sparrow, I know he's watching me.

Imagine a world where our God said that he wasn't watching us. Imagine a world where he never promised to "...never leave us nor forsake us". Imagine if everything in this world was up to pure luck, where evolution was the source of our creation, where there is no afterlife, where there is no promise of provision, etc... What type of world would that be where we would be living without purpose, without reason for being"? I'm so thankful that those things are all wrong, and that we do have a God loves us and has promised us provision (Phil 4:19) , his presence (Heb. 13:5), his protection (Psalm 62), his providence (Matthew 26:42), and eternal presences (Matthew 28:20).

The Hands of God ("Retouching")

2008-09-27T02:35:00.000-05:00

I just finished reading a small phamplet study book by Radio Bible Class called "The Genesis Account Of Creation: Defusing The Controversy" (http://www.rbc.org/bible-study/discovery-series/bookletDetail.aspx?id=55904). For the most part the book was an excellent read, but unfortunately it also had a bit that I disagreed with. As I read the phamplet it discussed different controversy's that stand out in our world today on the issue of Creation. One of the biggest "pushes" that was included in the phamplet though was the difference that many Christians have today about the age of the earth. Granted in the area of "theology" to some this really doesn't play an important role, but in all actuality the way that we read Genesis chapter 1 is one of the firm bases of our theology!

In keeping in touch with our short study on Anthropromorphisms I wanted to go back and retouch on the Hands of God. Again remember God really doesn't have hands, but the Bible ascribes Him as having hands to help those of us with finite minds to be able to better comprehend Him in our human minds. In Psalm 19:1 we find the psalmist writing, "The heaven's declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork." Handiwork meaning work done by hands. If I were a carpenter (which I'm not) and I made a beautiful shelf, that would be an example of my handiwork. The ability that I had to make something. The earth upon which we stand daily, and upon which our eyes settle was created by a Holy Awesome Creator, which is our God.

In the phamplet spoken of above, the topic focuses as I mentioned upon the age of the earth. Some Christians today subscribe to the idea that the world is millions/billions years old. Others believe in what is called a "young earth". Personally I believe the world to be somewhere in the range of 10,000-6,000 years old. Ken Ham a Christian who has studied the book of Genesis (www.answersingenesis.com) has helped "nail" down an approx. time line of the creation of the world. One reason that 6,000 years old is chosen, is simply because the oldest trees alive on earth today are 6,000 years old. Something before that date apparently destroyed the trees that were alive before that time. Something such as a massive global flood would fit that scenario perfectly. :)

Some have sat down with the genealogies of the Bible and done an approx. timeline of the age of the earth up until the time of Christ which we already know thanks to our Gregorian calendars was approx. 2,000 years ago. ANYWAYS...

Back the phamplet again, the topic towards the end of the book, seemed to focus on the need that we have not to argue about the age of the earth, but to focus on the just agreeing with what we know to be true. Now, I'm all for agreeing on what we know to be true, but the actual attention was placed more on not bickering about what we don't know.

Below is an excerpt from the phamplet, so you understand what I mean. Page 26.

"Shouldn't the Genesis account of creation be read literally? A significant feature of the controversy over the age of the earth as it is understood from the first chapter of Genesis is the principle of historical grammatical interpretation that is so foundational to historical orthodoxy. The aim of the historical-grammatical method is to discover the meaning of the passage as the original author would have intended, and what the original hearers would have understood. (AMEN! - emphasis added) Those who hold to a young-earth view say they are reading the account "literally" and are therefore more in line with belief in biblical reliability, a cardinal conviction of evangelical Christianity. Because they read the Genesis 1 creation account as describing events that took place over a period of 6 successive 24-hour days, they see any attempt to read more time into the process as opposing the Word of God."

Forgive me for being a "Literal Interpreter", but when I read a book, or a document, etc...I don't try to "read into it" more than what the original author intended. That is one reason our government is so messed up today! Its because they tried to take the Constitution of this great nation and they tried to "read into" the author's meanings. I had a professor in Bible College who used to say something to the effect, "When the text makes sense, leave it alone!" Okay, so I really slaughtered his saying, but the idea was, if what you are reading makes complete sense don't read anymore into it! For example, if I said, "The Banana is yellow." Nobody questions what color the Banana is! Why? Because its yellow! But if I wrote, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." for some reason that gives everyone the right to begin to try and decide what heavens, and what earth were created, how they were created, when they were created, etc...but what is ironic is that in the following verses after Genesis 1:1 we have recorded for us exactly what happened! Nobody questions whether or not Jesus hung on a cross, why? Because it says he did, but for some reason they question whether or not he was really dead when he was put in the tomb! Why? Again for the same reason, they feel that they have the ability to decide what really happened versus what God's Word actually says.

I enjoyed the last highlighted quote that can be found on page 32 of the booklet. "What we know and agree on is far more important than what we don't know or fully understand." Had Martin Luther just "agreed" with what the Catholic church was doing there would have never been a Reformation. Had Paul, Peter and the other disciples never taught the gospel of Jesus Christ, but rather kept to the "Law" of the Old Testament for the sake of agreement we wouldn't have the New Testament. Agreeing to agree is the new push among "evangelical christians" today. Why are there so many "non-denomination" churches today? Its because people can't decide what they truly believe so its better to "get along" rather than hurt people's feelings.

I know I need to close this blog page, but as I write other ideas come to mind. For example, I think of the time that Paul apologized in one of his letters. He upset the people he had written to previously as he pointed out there sins, and when he writes back he basically says, "I'm sorry that I upset you, but I'm not sorry that I pointed out your problems." If we are just apathetic to sit back and agree with others just for the sake of agreement, I find it hard to say that we would be following through with the cause of Christ.

If we can't stand up and say that God's Word tells us that the World was created in six 24 hour days, how then can we believe the other truths of the Bible? How can we believe that He will always be with us, how can we believe that he will always meet our needs? How can we believe that Jesus Christ is truly the Savior of the world. Was he really born of a virgin? Is he really coming back? If we can't LITERALLY interpret God's Word, please then do tell me, what exactly can we do?

The Eyes Of God

2008-07-26T22:39:00.000-05:00

As we continue our short study of the anthropromorphisms of God we come across the fact that the Bible describes God with a pair of eyes. As we have already seen, God does not have physical characteristics such as hands, legs, feet and arms, but rather as we have seen God is a "Spirit". A spirit has no limitations such as space or reaches of ability. A "spirit" cannot be contained in a certain space or confined to a certain limitation. Therefore God is said to have eyes, such as in the verse from 2 Chronicles 16:9.

2Chronicles 16:9 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars."

In this verse we see that God's "eyes" go "to and fro". An easier way to say this is that they go "back and forth". Just as if you were preparing to cross a street one would look first one direction then the other to make sure that no traffic was coming, and that it would be safe to cross. In this passage, "God's eyes are looking back and forth across the expanse of the surface of the earth looking at nations and people groups to look for those that are following him." When he finds them, he shows himself strong to them by blessing them, watching over them, and caring for them. Those that have refused God then are found to be engulfed in wars. Not nescessarily nation against nation, but also against personal wars of pride and greed, or just general success.

Notice first of all, God does not have to "find" us. Yes, he is "watching" us, but we have not become lost so that he has to come looking for us. We are always under his watch. Yet, not only does God see those that are faithful to him, but he also sees those that reject and refuse him. Ultimately they will meet their doom because of their decision to reject God. Meanwhile those that are faithful and have accepted God's free gift of Salvation through his Son Jesus Christ's work upon the cross of Calvary we are constantly being watched and protected.

"Be not dismayed whate'er betide,
God will take care of you;
beneath his wings of love abide,
God will take care of you."

-Hymn "God Will Take Care Of You" (Civilla Martin 1904)

The Finger of God

2008-04-09T22:26:00.000-05:00

Last week as we discussed the Hand of God, I wanted to stay a bit with the same theme and discuss the fingers of God. There are only four times in God's Word where we read about the finger of God. Now remember, God is a spirit and really does not possess hands, but the term is used to help us comprehend God. The first time we read about the finger of God is during the plagues God is sending upon Egypt during the plagues of Moses. After God sends lice upon the land of Egypt the magicians of Egypt who have been able up until this time to also summon the plagues exclaim that the plague of lice was the workings of the "Finger of God".
Exodus 8:19 "Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God: and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the LORD had said." Imagine the power of the finger of God. It was just with his voice that he created the heavens and the earth, imagine the power of his fingers!
Another time that we read about the finger of God is while Moses is standing on Mount Sinai and he is receiving the Ten Commandments from God. The stone tablets are written upon by the finger of God. God is writing the commandments out on the stone so that Moses and the Children of Israel might have a permenant copy of the covenant made between them and God. The reason that God wrote the commandments was so that the Israelites might understand and realize that the covenant was a sacred thing and was meant to be kept.
Exodus 31:18 "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God." Again its recorded for us in Deuteronomy as Moses writes a personal diary record of the things that had happened.
Deuteronomy 9:10 "And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spoke with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly."
Recorded of us then in Luke is the last mention of the Finger of God. Here Jesus is speaking about the Finger of God casting out demons. Not only does the "Finger of God" have the ability to write sacred commandments, and send plagues upon the land of Egypt, it also has the power to cast out demons.
Luke 11:20 "But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you." Speaking to his disciples he is explaining the with God we can do all things.
If God is for us, who can be against us? What a privelage it is to have a God that has a "finger". Remember theoretically he doesn't really have a physical finger, but he does have the power to watch over us and protect us. What a mighty God we serve!

In His Grip

2008-03-29T00:20:00.000-05:00

As you think about God's hands, we would imagine them to be very large. Yet, God's Word tells us that God's hands are not really real. God is a spirit the Bible tells us, and because He is a spirit, He does not actually have hands, nor eyes, nor a mouth, etc... We call this description of God an anthropomorphism. Anthropomorphism is the assigning of human body parts to a non-human being or object. Since God is a spirit He is all places at all times, so physically he does not actually have a body. Yet, the Bible continues to tell us, that although He doesn't have hands, we are still in his grip.
"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hands." John 10:28-29
What a blessing it is to know that not only are we in Christ's nail scarred hands, being held, but Christ's hand is then surrounded by the Father's hand, and nobody can take us out of either hand! We are secure in the hand of God, and we can never lose our salvation!

"He has heard my heart's request, In His grip of grace I rest." - Legacy Five, Roger Bennett