Kevin's Kolumn as seen in our weekly bulletins.

Kevin Lough

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5/11/08

Pictures of Grace

We’ve all heard the horror stories of how married men suffer grief from the oppressive mother-in-law; how they incur swift reproof, unwarranted innuendos and are critiqued at every bend in the road. Allow me, if you would, to share with you how I picture my mother-in-law. I see her as a picture of grace; a lady who shaped, molded and instilled within my bride the desire to be a godly mother, wife, and helper. Without fail, when I would visit the home my wife was raised in, my mother-in-law was diligent to provide for her household. She would constantly have her hand to the grind, be it in the kitchen, in the sewing room or handling the dirty laundry. Although I’m sure she did, I never heard her complain about the tasks God had given her to perform. Diligence was her middle name. When gospel meetings were held at the Tenmile Church of Christ, it was my in laws who took in the preacher, fed him, housed him and made him feel as welcome as any preacher could feel (being out of town and away from his family). There were even times when the preacher’s entire family would come (kid’s included!)…mom never complained; she simply switched to ‘high gear’ to accommodate her guests. Did she ever tire? Did she ever get weary? Of course she did! As a matter of fact, she has a poem attached to the wall in her kitchen that I wish to share with you in this insert. Moms, pay heed. This is a great poem to attach to the side of your fridge!
Slow me down, Lord Slow me down, Lord. Ease the pounding of my heart by quieting my mind. Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time. Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills. Break the tension of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory. Help me to know the magical, restoring power of sleep. Teach me the art of taking minute vacations—of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to read a few lines from a good book. Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values, that I may grow toward the stars of my greater destiny.
To all the moms with us today, I give a hearty “Thank you” for all you do and may God continue to shed His grace on your oft busy lives.

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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5/4/08

Is Salvation only having our sins remitted?

Often when considering the word ‘salvation’ our thoughts immediately switch to having our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ (the sinless, spotless Lamb of God). Salvation does indeed constitute having our sins washed away by acknowledging our own inadequacies of removing sins, and Jesus’ willingness to do so in His sacrificial death, but is this all salvation means? Think about the life of Jesus as He lived on the earth. His ministry played out in perfect harmony with emphasis on Old Testament justice. Throughout the O.T. God’s oppressed people would cry out to Jehovah God as they longed to be delivered. Notice the words of the Savior recorded by Luke as Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah in Luke 4: 18f “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” If you think about it, Jesus’ mission was to set free those of who dealt with personal oppression. Jesus’ mission was the same as what God’s was throughout the O.T; to hear the call of the oppressed and to save His people from that oppression. Interestingly enough, Luke uses the word ‘saved’ to imply more than what we’ve normally equated the word with. The way we consider being saved is the forgiveness of our sins and going to heaven. While this is certainly one dimension of salvation, it doesn’t really give us the entire story of what God means when he mentions the word ‘salvation’. Jesus’ primary concern was with the poor, destitute, and oppressed people. Notice the wording found in Luke 7: 3 “When he heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders asking Him to come and save the life of his slave.” And, what about the woman who came to anoint the feet of Jesus? Notice the wording in Luke 7:46-50. Jesus spoke to Simon and said, “You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. "For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little." Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Remember Jesus’ encounter with Zacchaeus? Luke 19: 9, “Today salvation has come to this house!” Is Jesus about saving people from their sins? Yes, absolutely! But He’s so much more! He’s all about lifting the burden of oppression off of us and saving us from grief, torment, and corruption. What is salvation? It’s a life offered to us by Christ Jesus which brings life, forgiveness, and healing that we can receive from no other source!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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4/27/08

Giving Out of Need

When we were in elementary school, we learned how to subtract. The concept was relatively simple: begin with a specific number, take away some of that original number and you have less than what you started with. Contrary to the laws of mathematics, however, God tells us that when we give, we will receive even more in return. “Give and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” (Luke 6:38).
God’s design for giving requires that we depend on His promises/assurances more than we do our reason. Logic would check the bank account before deciding how much is available to give to God. The Bible, however, states that all wealth belongs to the Lord and we are to give back to Him the first fruits of our labor (Deuteronomy 10:14; 18:4-5). When we obey, we trust Him to take care of us—which sometimes means choosing to ignore what makes sense, humanly speaking. God doesn’t always provide for us in the manner we may have expected or even hoped. Instead, He satisfies our needs and blesses in the way He knows will truly be best for us.
Most of us have faced difficult financial situations in this life. When facing hard financial circumstances, we can be tempted to justify hoarding our resources because of our own insecurities. But God, who understands the situation perfectly, requires that we give not simply out of our surplus, but out of our need. “Give out of our NEED?” Whatever could the Lord mean? The best example of giving out of our need would have to be the Macedonian church made mention of in 2 Cor. 8. The Macedonian church gave generously even while experiencing affliction. This pleased the Lord because they were giving in faith. This poor church; destitute of many of the things we believe are needs today forsook many basic privileges in order to help their fellow brothers and sisters make ends meet in spite of their own destitute situation. Their devotion to God is an example to us even today! Indeed, little is MUCH when placed in the Master’s hand!   Ask God what He would like you to give. Pray for the courage to obey. Then eagerly await His blessings.

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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4/20/08

I really didn’t know what to expect…

As is my custom, I include some thoughts I’ve had this previous week in the bulletin. Today is no different. I’ll be sharing some thoughts with you in regard to this special day, our Friend Day. It may be that before darkening the threshold of the front door you didn’t know what to expect in visiting us. If I may, allow me to ease your concerns. The people you’ll see today are made up of pretty much the same kind of folks you’ll find in any group of people. We’ve got our friendly, happy, and loving folks and we have some who may not seem as friendly, happy or loving. We’re a diverse group, coming from varied backgrounds that are at different stages of knowledge and spiritual growth. We readily admit that we don’t know everything; that we don’t always do things right…that we don’t always treat each other as we should; that we haven’t arrived—but that we’re simply on the journey (together). We aren’t brought here by any illusion of our perfection or righteousness. We were brought together by our recognition that we are sinners in need of the cleansing blood of Jesus. That’s the reason we can worship together, stick together, and with God’s help, accomplish some things that make a difference. You won’t have to look very far to find failures, but the bottom line is that you will find people who love Jesus, who are dedicated to His Word, and who do their level best to adhere to His teachings. Thanks for sharing this special day with us. It means SO MUCH to have you worship our Creator alongside us! Stick around after the conclusion of the services today. Join us in our new fellowship hall. Break bread with us. The only thing you’re required to bring is yourself and an appetite! We love having you here, and we want to express our appreciation by sharing ourselves with you. Until we meet face to face, may the grace of God give you the peace of God to instill within you the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!

Kevin

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4/13/08

Can God really forgive me?

It happens all the time…someone messes up; does something to bring shame, reproach and even pain on themselves, their family, or even the Lord’s church. Because guilt, pain, and debilitating grief invade us, we may even work to convince those around us that they shouldn’t forgive us until penitence is justly served. What ends up happening some times is that those of whom we thought would stand close to us end up forsaking us, and we start buying into the lie that God could never forgive us for what we’ve done. As a matter of fact, because we may be led to believe we’ve lost support from those of whom we care about the most, Satan comes alongside us and works overtime to convince us that God surely can NEVER forgive us for the harm we’ve caused. To find wholeness, a person must start by receiving Jesus Christ as Savior—the sin that stands between him and God has to be removed. But repentance doesn’t end there. We need to be reminded that the Holy Spirit’s has always been there! We may have grieved Him with our sin, but that doesn’t mean that God is in the business of abandoning us at our most difficult times! The Holy Spirit endues us with strength so that we will be able to find the courage to confront past disappointments, hurts, and sins that may have contributed to our feelings of unworthiness of the Lord’s love.   When forgiveness does come, it’s NOT our “job” as Christians to keep bringing the sin up to make the person feel guilty for the rest of their lives so as to mete out OUR justice; it’s up to us to FORGIVE! (Matt. 18: 21-22) Once repentance has achieved its desired result in God’s eyes, He restores us to wholeness. Someone with a sense of wholeness feels satisfied with life. He knows he is loved, which leads to a good self-image and the ability to love others. In contrast, someone who feels fragmented or empty often has the opposite experience. They may look okay on the outside while on the inside they are being torn apart by the continual pressures of guilt Satan has strapped them with. It’s then time to forgive ourselves! Remind yourself; we serve the One who has power of sin, death, the devil and all the things that come along with feelings of guilt, inadequacy, and shame.

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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4/6/08

Are we there yet?

I’ve heard it said that home is where the heart is and after the events that unfolded for the Tulsa crew this year, I believe it! Our trip TO Oklahoma was certainly “un-eventful”, other than having to peel Jerry’s fingers away from the fuselage of the plane during boarding J but the trip home was anything but un-eventful! A little mouse told me that you all laughed when you heard of our plight and I expect to see each and every person who took liberties at our miseries on the front pew today! J It all started when we arrived at the airport on Sunday for our return flight after attending church services at the Memorial Drive congregation. We thought it strange that it took 3 airline employees 35 minutes to wait on one customer…we deduced that he must be extra special; FBI, Special Forces, Sky Marshall, or something of the sort. As we anxiously awaited our turn, nervously glancing at our wrist watches and watching the screen to verify our flight time, I heard Jerry say, “Aw, we’ll be fine, we’ve still got 65 minutes to board”. (He had come such a long way in such a short period of time and we were so very proud of his progress…) We finally made our way to the check in counter only to hear the dreaded news; your flight has been cancelled due to extreme weather in Memphis. Joan McDaniel and P.J. Oates to the rescue: Joan started working with the airline representative as P.J. began checking motels in Houston TX. I slowly began having a greater appreciation for Lewis and Clark on their westward expedition through the Rocky Mountains. I noticed Becky and Edwina clicking their heels together as they whispered, ‘There’s no place like home…there’s no place like home.” Security risks were at an all time high and we had to be checked out thoroughly at the security check-in station after setting off bells and whistles in the metal detectors. (It was probably because of all the electric synapse activity going off in our brains as we contemplated how we were going to re-arrange our weekly schedules. We were also suspecting Joan of being a terrorist)…Anyway, after a 6 hour stay in the airport as Jerry reminded us of the biblical text of Jesus saying “LOW, I am with you always”, a crowded flight to Houston, an overnight stay in cheap hotel (use your imagination), waking at 5:00 am to catch an over-crowded van to the airport, flying to Detroit and then to Pittsburgh, we made our way to the church van only to discover that the battery had died. (Jerry was now smiling because this is one machine HE had control over) After a jump start from airport personnel, we all arrived home safe and sound, 24 hours and one flight extra added to our literary. Thanks to all the prayers on our behalf! Next year’s trip will probably be made on the ground, unless gas prices double from now until then… wait; on second thought, we’ll still drive!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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3/30/08

Yes, but when?

If I heard that question once this past Monday evening, I heard it at least ten times…we’ve got these ministries, now when are we going to bring the congregation on board to do these ministries? Have you been asking the same question? (If not, God will forgive you! J) If you have, I’m glad, because I have tentative dates after our last Elders/Deacons’ meeting this past Monday evening. Brethren, you need to know something; the area in which we live is THE fastest growing area in north-central West Virginia. Where are these folks going to go to church? The Whitehall church of Christ is sitting on a goldmine of opportunities as far as souls are concerned. Do we want these people to end up in denominationalism? Do we wish for them to get swallowed up in religious organizations that compromise the truth of the gospel by offering a ‘circus’ atmosphere instead of engaging in the message of Jesus’ gospel? Of course not! Because there are new people moving into this area all the time, we’ve got to get our ducks in a row and fast! You need to know something; after three hours of deliberation, the leaders of the Whitehall church have formulated a tentative schedule as to when the various ministries (I made mention of in the bulletin insert a few weeks ago) are going to be implemented. By Wednesday, April 9th, the elders/deacons hope to have assigned people responsible for chairing and leading all of our ministries, which include, but are not limited to (worship, benevolence, LIFE groups, teens, evangelism and outreach, building maintenance, fellowship/activities, etc. and so on). On Sunday, April 13th, the elders and deacons will be meeting with these various ministry leaders to ‘hash out’ the particulars of each area of ministry. On Monday, April 28th, the elders and deacons will meet to make sure everything is in place for the May 4th (congregational address) meeting. On Sunday, May 4th, the elders, deacons, and various ministry leaders selected before April 9th will address the congregation in regard to these various ministries in a question/answer information session. On Sunday, May 25th, Harry Summers will be sharing with us the fruit of his/our labors in India. In other words, church, you no longer have to ask, “Yes, but when” but rather, you need to be asking: “Ok, where do you need me?!” We want to leave that decision up to you, and we know you aren’t going to be able to make a viable decision if you don’t have all the facts. That’s what all these meetings are about. The leadership of the Whitehall church needs committee members to work in each and every one of these ministries outlined above. Have you been praying as to where you know God needs you the most? You may want to start. Because the time is NOW!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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3/23/08

Because HE LIVES!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very heart of Christianity. In 1 Corinthians 15 St. Paul reasoned, "If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. . . .We are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead." In that same chapter he says "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen sleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." It’s at this point, however, that Paul triumphantly declares, "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Cor. 15:14-20). Did the strategy of the chief priests and Pharisees succeed? No! Despite their best efforts to quell His life, Jesus rose from the dead. Remember how Jesus had said to Martha, "I am the resurrection and the life"? During his ministry on earth, Jesus brought a number of people to life from the dead, including Martha's brother Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11). But the resurrection of Jesus Christ was different. It was not just resuscitation, as was the case with Lazarus, who later died again. On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead with a transformed body that was clothed with immortality and glory. His resurrection body could appear and disappear, go through material objects, and ascend to and descend from heaven. Think of the possibilities which await us!! (1 John 3: 1-3) Because of the miracle of Christ's resurrection, and the outpouring of His Spirit, Jesus' depressed and disappointed disciples were instantly transformed. They began to preach the gospel with power, and the resurrection of Jesus was at the heart of their preaching. Why? Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. These disciples of Jesus willingly suffered martyrdom for their faith. The enemies of the gospel were totally unable to refute this central claim of the gospel. They could not produce the body of Jesus Christ and put a stop to Christianity. The Jewish believers, meanwhile, were so impressed by this miracle that they began to worship on the day of Christ's resurrection, Sunday, rather than on Saturday, as their custom had been. What does all this mean to us today? It means: today, Sunday, the Lord’s Day is the day we have gathered to assemble and celebrate the fact that the last enemy we have to face (death) has been DEFEATED! Praise God for His indescribable gift!!

Have an incredibly blessed day, and remember the One who made it possible for you to enjoy it!

Kevin

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3/2/08

The hive is alive

One of natures’ greatest lessons I learned as a child was coming to the realization that yellow jackets have the ability to burrow their nests into the ground and thereby surprise un-expecting boys running around without any shoes on! J Why did I mention yellow jackets? That’s what came to mind after attending the elders/deacons meeting this past Monday evening. With all the excitement buzzing through the room, you would have thought God Himself scraped the roof of the building with His big toe! God is good! (Yes, indeed, all the time). The shepherds posted ministries needing men to head them up and (yes, you guessed it) every single man in attendance selected the ministry they believed would best suit their individual tastes. I won’t be sharing those names with you just yet because we still need to touch base with those who weren’t able to make it to the meeting because of work obligations and such. What we as leaders of the WH church ask of the membership is to prayerfully begin thinking about what ministry you’d like to attach yourself to. The ministry areas outlined Monday night included, but are NOT limited to: benevolence, education, building and grounds, LIFE groups, teen ministries, fellowship activities, evangelism & outreach, and worship ministries. Are there other areas of ministry that the WH church of Christ needs to be focusing on? Let us know! The areas we’ve mentioned are starting points. They’re areas which we’re currently addressing which need volunteers to faithfully rise up and tell the elders/deacons, “I would be willing to help in this particular area!” Phil 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (All the time, God is good!)

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!!

Kevin

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2/24/08

When folks let us down

I know you’ve experienced situations such as the one I’m about to describe: You’re in a difficult situation; you may have done something you wish you could reverse, but are unable to. Maybe you stood for what is right and found yourself standing alone. Regardless the situation, you watch as one by one, friends walk away. Now the pain is worse because you’re suffering alone.  Why did these people desert you? There are many possible reasons. For example, they might have left because they felt inadequate. Or maybe they couldn’t stand to watch you suffer. Perhaps, though, some had their own best interests in mind and feared falling into similar trouble or being associated with a socially unacceptable situation. It happens, right? You might wonder how to respond to them. Whatever the reason was for their untimely desertion, there is only one appropriate biblical response— forgiveness. It doesn’t make any difference what a person does to us; we never have the right to withhold forgiveness. After being left alone during his Roman imprisonment, Paul wrote this about those who had abandoned him: “May it not be counted against them” (2 Timothy 4:16). In other words, he forgave them at a time when things seemed most bleak. Could it be that Paul remembered what happened when Stephen was stoned? Paul had been present as one of the persecutors, and he heard the dying man cry out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them” (Acts 7:60).  Possible, but it could have been that Paul may have had an even greater act of forgiveness in mind: Maybe Paul remembered Christ’s atoning death and His attitude toward the crucifiers. Jesus had prayed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).  We don’t have a right to withhold forgiveness from anyone, and that certainly includes our friends. Is there someone you need to forgive? Is there someone who has said or done something you struggle to let go? Just as I tell myself in such a situation, you’re hurting yourself by not forgiving even more than the one who’s wronged you. Give it a try and see just how God shows up to help those of whom He loves!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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2/17/08

Changed from the Inside Out

When you believe in Christ, Christ works a miracle in you. You are permanently purified and empowered by God himself. The message of Jesus to the religious person is simple: It’s not what you do. It’s what I do. I have moved in. And in time you can say with Paul, “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). A question we might be tempted to ask would be: If I’m born again, why do I fall so often? If that’s your dilemma, ask yourself: “Why did we fall so often after we were first physically born?” Did we exit our mother’s womb wearing cross-trainers? Did we do the two-step on the day of our delivery? Of course not. And when we started to walk, we fell more than we stood. Should we expect anything different from our spiritual walk? But I fall so often, I question my salvation. Again, we return to your first birth. Didn’t you stumble as you were learning to walk? And when you stumbled, did you question the validity of your physical birth? Did you, as a one-year-old, shake your head and think, I have fallen again. I must not be human? Of course not. The stumbling of a child doesn’t invalidate the act of physical birth. And the stumbles of a Christian do not annul his spiritual birth. Do we truly understand what God has done? He has deposited a Christ seed in us. As it grows, we will change! It’s not that sin has no more presence in your life, but rather that sin has no more power over your life. Temptation will pester you, but temptation will not master you if you so choose to resist it! Church, it’s not up to you! Within you is a budding power. Trust him! “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6.) God has the ability to change us from the inside out. The real question remains: ‘Will we allow Him the opportunity?

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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2/10/08

God’s men

A day many of us have been waiting for is here. We know assuredly that God’s hand has directed our decision to bring forth Godly men who will join the ranks of the current eldership at the Whitehall church. Have each and every one of us really considered the incredible blessings God has been pouring out on us, church? Have we paused to reflect on the awesome responsibilities which have been entrusted to us? Do we truly recognize the magnitude of God’s charge to us as a faithful, loving, and dedicated family of believers to carry out the tasks He has given us to accomplish? What kind of message do we share with Darrell, Tim and Dale? What kind of words do we use to show our gratitude for grateful service rendered by Bert, Eddie, Jerry and Gary? Because scripture has brought us to the point of where we are today, scripture will continue to guide us from this day forward! Note what Paul had to say to the church in Thessalonica: 2 Thess 2:16-17 “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.”
Gentlemen, this day we commission each and every one of you Darrell, Gary, Tim, Dale, Jerry, Eddie, and Bert, to go forth: to be on guard for yourselves; to guard and oversee our souls; to shepherd the church which Jesus purchased with His own blood; to remain ever diligent to recognize wolves in sheep’s clothing so that we will not be devoured by the adversary; and we commission you knowing that the Word of God’s grace will sustain you, build you up, solidify you, perfect you, and sanctify you according to the promises He has thus laid forth for all of God’s people.
Today we entrust you with our very souls. We will pray for you, stand behind you, encourage you, support you, love you, and submit to your leadership. May God bless you all richly with the wisdom which only comes from our Creator and may He give you everlasting peace which none of us have words to describe.

Sincerely, your sheep

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2/3/08

The Joy of Obedience

Our lesson today centers on a man by the name of Simon Peter; an ordinary man who continued to learn extraordinary lessons by an Awesome Teacher. Although we’ll be delving into a passage of scripture in the 9th chapter of Acts, in Luke we see an ordinary day turned into a divine adventure for Simon Peter because of his willing obedience. Peter went so far as to agree to two seemingly insignificant requests, which led to blessings for himself and others.  Peter had spent his night as he usually did—fishing—but he hadn’t caught anything. (I’ve had days like that! J) After such unproductive labor, he was no doubt tired, frustrated, and ready to go home. However, Jesus asked to borrow his boat so He could preach to the crowd.
Peter knew there were other boats around, but Jesus asked for his. Wisely, he agreed. God’s requests can come at inopportune moments or when we least expect them. We may be tempted to let someone else respond, thinking that it won’t matter who answers His call. But remember that God’s plans are always for our spiritual good (Jeremiah 29:11).  Jesus’ second request—to spread the nets again—involved Peter’s livelihood. The fisherman replied, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets” (Luke 5:5).
Peter’s obedience led to nets that overflowed with fish. By saying “yes” to the Lord’s plan, he experienced both material and spiritual blessings which affected his colleagues as well as their families. The benefits far outweighed any effort or inconvenience.  Obeying God—even in the areas where we feel knowledgeable and skilled enough to handle matters ourselves— is essential to enjoying His rewards and extending them to others. What is the Lord asking of you?

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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1/27/08

Assurance for Trials

Trials affect every aspect of our life. It’s a comfort to know, however that our God sustains us in times of discouragement, distress and trial. Listen to the words of the Psalmist in Ps 121: “I will lift up my eyes to the mountains; from where shall my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. The sun will not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul. The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forever.” When we encounter unknowns, fears, or trials, our sovereign Lord will sustain us (Psalm 103:19)—even when others let us down or our own strength fails.  With billions of people in the world, it is difficult to comprehend how the Lord could possibly know every detail of our lives—or why He would care enough to number all the hairs on our heads. But God’s Word reminds us that He is alert to every aspect of our lives and attentive to our needs.  “The Lord is our keeper” In Hebrew, the word for “keep” comes from the same root as “guard” and “protect.” We use this term when a parent asks a trusted person to “keep” her child while he/she is away temporarily. The childcare provider is expected to protect and provide for needs. God promises to keep His children, which means that He will defend us, give us what we need, grow us into His likeness, and guard us from evil. Without these promises, the world could seem dangerous and lonely. But we can face unknowns and difficult times with confidence, knowing that the Lord will keep us and help us!

May God give us the gracious peace we need in every trial we encounter as we live on the earth.

Kevin

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1/20/08

Our Call to Service

From time to time I’ll read a passage of scripture that has a way of creeping back into my mind. I’m reminded of the awesome responsibility God has placed on me as His servant. No, my works don’t save me, but it certainly places my service to God in perspective! The passage I’m thinking about is Matthew 25: 14f. I’m reminded once again after reading this section of scripture that our service to God is not optional. People throw out all manner of excuses: too old, too young, too busy, too tired, too sick—and the list goes on. Every excuse is rendered void by the facts of Scripture, which says that believers are “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Our service to God isn’t dependent upon health, age, or experience. I’ve heard stories of bedridden men and women who dedicated their day to intercessory prayer. I’ve also met saints who have never attended preaching school and yet make a point of discipling new believers. The difference between these folks and those who make excuses is attitude. If we see ourselves as servants, we will be God-focused and dependent upon the Holy Spirit. But if we’re busy worrying over how, when, and at what cost we are working for the Lord, then our focus is more on self and less on Him. Someday we will stand before God, and He will require an account of how we used the talents and spiritual gifts we were given. What can we say to Him that will justify ignoring the opportunities He gave us to use those gifts? No excuse will hold up. Complete surrender to God’s will is the key to pleasing Him. The Lord has use for every single talent and ability He has bestowed, and He will continually equip us for greater service to His kingdom. When we serve Him wholeheartedly, we can look forward to hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of your Lord”

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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1/13/08

Experiencing a personal relationship with God

This past Lord’s Day, we experienced God working in the lives and hearts of folks in an incredible way! Caleb Lough responded to the invitation to receive prayers for the struggles he is dealing with on Sunday morning. That afternoon, Mary and I received a call from Mark and Linda Hawkinberry with their desire to commit their lives to Christ Jesus by taking Him on in baptism! I love to observe folks desiring to have a closer relationship with their Creator! Intimate relationships are characterized by a close connection to another person and a commitment to his or her well-being. In other words, acquaintances have superficial information about us, but true friends know our deeper emotions, thoughts, and desires. God, who is perfect and holy, has always desired such a personal relationship with man, but human sinfulness made that seem impossible. For one thing, we all have rebelled against God’s authority and deserve the death penalty (Romans 3:23; 6:23). But more than that, we were born with a corrupt sinful nature (Psalm 51:5), and neither good works nor moral values can overcome it. God alone could remedy the situation. His solution is to change our nature so we can be in His family. Regardless as to how we look at it, Divine justice must still be satisfied, and only a perfect sacrifice can pay for our sins (Deuteronomy 17:1). God requires the death of someone without a sin nature as payment for our debt. Throughout history, only One qualified: Jesus, the perfect God-man, who gave His life (Hebrews 4:15) so we could have a relationship with the Father. Our friendship with God came at a very high price to Him—the death of His beloved Son. The Father has done everything necessary for us to be in His family and experience intimacy with Him. Have you entered into a relationship with Him through the saving work of His Son? If not, make today your spiritual birthday by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Savior!

May the grace of God give you the peace of God to instill within you the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!
Kevin
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1/6/08

How to Handle Sin after Salvation

1 John 2:1-2 “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.”    One of the most nagging questions after one commits their life to Christ is: “Am I really saved if I sin?” Many new believers wonder this as they start to learn about their faith. But even long-time Christians may question whether their salvation is secure—unless they correctly understand their relationship with the Lord. Two things happen when someone receives Christ. First, Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross pays that person’s sin-debt in full—past, present, and future wrongdoing is forgiven and removed. Since sin was the barrier separating mankind from holy God, the new believer is now welcome in His presence. Second, the Father does away with the person’s original, rebellious nature and sends His Holy Spirit to indwell and guide the new Christian. By trusting in Jesus, we each become a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). Yet, since the body and mind don’t change automatically, self-serving habits developed before salvation can remain in-grained and tempting. Though we may sometimes give in, we aren’t suddenly unsaved because we sin. Once God’s grace is bestowed, it can’t be removed— salvation cannot be lost, nor can the Spirit’s power be revoked. Our relationship with God remains intact, though it does need repair in the form of confession and repentance. Being saved is not about keeping a perfect record of behavior. If we could do that, we wouldn’t need the Father’s grace! He knows we are human and prone to making selfish choices contrary to His will. When we do, Jesus Christ acts as our Advocate, because His sacrifice is what makes possible our relationship with the Father. Should we trample on God’s grace by willfully engaging in sin? God forbid! May it never be! And yet, when we do fall short, God provides the perfect Sacrifice through Jesus His Son.

May God bless you and make His grace to shine upon you!

Kevin

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12/30/07

As we begin again…

Tomorrow evening brings anticipated thoughts of beginning yet another new year. There have been times in our past that Mary and I have determined how ‘good’ the past year had been to us by focusing on our health or our wealth. We would consider the passing year a blessing if our children excelled in their education or if they achieved an honor of notable recognition. We would pause and consider our relationship to our Creator and pray for better understanding on what we could do to bring Him greater honor and glory. And, while all these things bring us to a greater appreciation of God’s temporal blessings, as well as moving us forward to becoming better people, they don’t completely define who God wishes for us to be. Years we would have soon liked to forget were those which brought grief, despair, or even outright discouragement to the Lough household, and yet these times of pain lived out in our lives led us to understand more about ourselves, as well as our God, than what we ever could have by simply going through life unscathed by its stark realities. It’s true…the tougher the journey, the sweeter the finish line. It may be that you’re dealing with a period of discouragement or grief in your life at the time of this reading. You may well find yourself thinking God’s inability to capitalize on you because of your past, or that He isn’t willing to use you because of actions you’d just as soon forget. (The following was emailed to me recently): The next time you feel that God can’t use you, just remember…Abraham was too old; Isaac was a dreamer; Jacob was a liar; Samson was a womanizer; Moses had a stuttering problem; Peter denied Christ; Rahab was a prostitute; Job went bankrupt; Joseph was abused ; Gideon was afraid; Leah was ugly; The Samaritan woman was divorced – more than once; Jeremiah and Timothy were too young; The disciples fell asleep while praying; Martha worried about everything; Zaccheaus was too small; Paul was too religious; David had an affair and was a murderer; Elijah was suicidal; Jonah ran away from God; And Lazarus was dead! So no more excuses! God can use you to your full potential. Stop kicking yourself because of past regrets, mistakes, and, or poor decisions! Recognize that throughout history God has used ordinary folks just like you and me to make extraordinary strides in the kingdom of God!

In this New Year, may the grace of God instill within you the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God which results in us experiencing the peace of God.
Kevin

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12/23/07

“The Picture of a Father’s Love”

Ah, yes, the season is upon us; mistletoe, presents, holly, cheer, and of course eggnog. Christmas brings numerous thoughts to our mind; be it giving or receiving and yet there remains the greatest gift of all: Christ Jesus. By His very definition, Christ Jesus IS love. Heb 10:15-16 “And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us; for after saying, THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE." Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.” I don’t know whether you realize it or not, but the Lord Jesus binds [hasaq] himself to his people.” Hasaq speaks of a tethered love, a love attached to something or someone. Automatically, it brings to mind a mom connected to a child by a harness to her rambunctious five-year-old as the two of them walk through the market. (I once thought the leashes were cruel; then I became a dad.) The strap serves two functions, yanking and claiming. You yank your kid out of trouble and in doing so, you proclaim, “Yes, he is as wild as a banshee. But he’s mine.” In this case, God chained himself to Israel. Why? Because the people were lovable? Don’t kid yourself. No. “GOD wasn’t attracted to you and didn’t choose you because you were big and important—the fact is, there was almost nothing to you. He did it out of sheer love, keeping the promise he made to your ancestors” Deut. 7:7–8. God loves Israel and the rest of us because he chooses to. Do any of us deserve it? No, but this doesn’t change the Father’s love for us…it amplifies it! In the season that defines what God is really all about, I proclaim to you: “See the beauty in His pain; understand that what God has done, He has done for the benefit of YOU. Why? It’s simple; He loves you with a love that can NOT be measured.

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it you!
Kevin

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12/16/07

Signs of the Times?

I know you’ve heard it all before. The reason I know this to be true is because I know how many times people have said it to me…“Christ must be coming back soon…things can’t get much worse!” What does the Bible have to say about Christ’s return? The ‘last days’ didn’t begin at the turn at the century as some have been led to believe. The ‘last days’ everyone speaks about began shortly after Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. It’s also interesting to note that the second coming of Christ many speak of is based on figurative language taken from Matthew 24 and Luke 21. However, if we were to take a closer look at these chapters, we would see that the ‘signs’ he was talking about referred specifically to the destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred in 70 AD). Neither writer was making reference to the 2nd coming of Christ! Furthermore, after Jesus spoke about the coming destruction of Jerusalem, He noted that there would be ‘NO signs’ for the 2nd coming of the Lord, but that He would come as a thief in the night and to, therefore, be ready! In Matthew 24: 36 He says, “Of that day and hour no one knows...and that as it happened in the days of Noah, so it will be when the Son of Man comes again…” 2 Peter 3: 10 says, “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night…” He goes on to say in vs. 11 & 14 that since it will be sudden and that it will be the end that we should be ready for that day, whenever God so chooses for it to be! This is the entire point! We don’t have to know WHEN this day will come, but we ought to be ready should it be today, tomorrow, or even after we’ve drawn our last breath here on earth. Man continually looks at world events throughout history as being ‘signs of the time’ as they make reference to Christ’s 2nd coming, but unfortunately, millions have died without making ready for whenever this day will come. Which leads to the most important question: “Are you ready should He come today?”
(Partial excerpt taken from James C. Guy)
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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12/09/07

The Roles of the Holy Spirit

John 16:7-15 “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; [Jesus says] for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. "And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged. "I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. "But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.” We may be tempted to ask, “What exactly is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives?” As the divine helper and instructor, the Holy Spirit guides believers into all truth. Throughout our Christian walk, He reveals God’s thoughts and purpose for our lives. The Spirit’s overall goal is to transform our lives. He accomplishes this through three roles. The first function of the Holy Spirit is evangelistic. In other words, He wants us to recognize our sinfulness and need for a Savior. His desire is that we comprehend how our sin separates us from the Lord. Then, as we become aware of the gap between ourselves and the heavenly Father, the Spirit of God enables understanding of the Cross and brings us to salvation when we commit ourselves to God in baptism combined with His promise to indwell us. (Acts 2: 38) Next is a discipleship role—the Holy Spirit teaches us how to walk in dependence upon Him and relate to each other. He also directs us to areas of effective service for God. The Spirit also works in a missionary role. The Father wants everyone to come to know Jesus as Savior, and salvation through Christ provides believers with an opportunity to share their faith with others. This missionary work is accomplished through more than just our words—our character and conduct can also “speak” clearly. The Holy Spirit has a three-fold purpose for every single believer: evangelism, discipleship, and missions. As our faith matures, we will see Him operate in all of these roles. And as a result, we’ll have a fuller picture of who God is, how He operates in our lives, and the ways we can participate in His work.
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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12/2/07

Grace-Filled Speech

The Bible is full of passages of scripture making reference to the words we use. If you have opportunity, check out the following passages of scripture: Col. 4:6; James 3: 2-10; Titus 2: 7-8; 1 Tim. 4:12; and Col. 3:8. Listen to the instruction given in Proverbs 16: 24: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Words are powerful. Harsh remarks can cause a destructive chain reaction, like a match in the forest during a drought. Kind comments, on the other hand, feel like a light summer rain that brings relief from the heat of day.  We can know our words are the refreshing kind—seasoned with grace—when... our tone and manner reflect the way we want others to speak to us. Talking pleasantly should not depend on whether others are kind with their words. Grace-filled speech consistently uses a gentle voice and positive body language.  What we say about others is similar to what we would want said of us. All of us hope to hear our weaknesses minimized and our strengths emphasized—and to be given the benefit of the doubt in confusing situations. We speak only words we know to be true. Gossip and lies have no place in a Christian’s conversation. The Lord opposes lying tongues and false witnesses (Proverbs 6:16-19). Our speech should always be edifying. Speaking fairly and positively of others is part of godly speech.  Transforming our conversation begins on the inside with the right heart attitude. As we saturate our minds with the Word of God, our hearts will soften, and we’ll begin to respond differently. Through the Holy Spirit, we will be convicted of times when our speech is inappropriate. He will teach us to be more aware of what we say and to stop ourselves before we speak amiss.  God will be glorified and others will be blessed when we practice grace-filled speech. I close with the words found in James 3:8-10: “…The tongue it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.”
May the grace of God season our speech in such a way as to honor our fellow man and show them the same kindness we extend to our Father in heaven!
Kevin

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11/25/07

Our Labor of Love

            The moment that we place our trust in Jesus Christ and take Him on in baptism to have our sins remitted, we become new creations. This is an act of love by the heavenly Father—He gives us new life and adopts us into His family. He also has a custom-designed plan for every believer, with specific work for each one to accomplish.  Once we’re saved, the rest of our days are to be spent fulfilling God’s purposes for our lives. We are called to be Jesus’ disciples—acting on His behalf and working zealously for God, as the Savior did. The world is hungry for the good news, which we are to deliver!  Redemption is God’s gift, offered to us free of charge (Ephesians 2:8-9). Salvation is by grace, not by grace-plus-works. Once we are saved, however, works are God’s will for us—the Holy Spirit carries out Jesus’ agenda on earth through His followers.  God has committed Himself to guide and equip believers to act as His servants. No matter what He calls us to do, He’ll provide the necessary abilities and resources. His Holy Spirit will teach us whatever we need to know—such as effective ways to relate, to pour ourselves out on behalf of others, and to share our faith. He expects us to make serving Him a priority, and to surrender our time, talent, and treasure to His use. Age does not disqualify us from His service, and there is never a time for retirement.  While we are living on earth, our lifestyle is to be one of enthusiastic, committed service in the cause of Christ. Let your work for God be a genuine labor of love. Our lesson this morning hinges on us understanding the importance of addressing ever-changing needs in the Lord’s church. Growth begets problems, and problems beget those willing to rise up and meet the challenges of these problems. Let’s be a part of the solution by doing what God has instilled within us to do!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

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11/18/07

Works vs. Grace

As with any other subject discussed in Christianity, the debate of works versus grace has been one of high intensity. As followers of Jesus Christ, we’re to be living examples of His life. In other words, we’re to be people through whom the Holy Spirit carries out the Lord’s work. Our assignment in life as Christians is to do whatever God asks of us. We should be ready to answer His call to aid others. There’s a natural desire to limit our circle to people like us. But we must fight against this tendency. God asks that we reach out to offer help wherever there’s a need. Whether it’s for strangers or for individuals we know. Strengthening our relationship with the Lord will help us recognize and act on the opportunities He’s placed before us. Christians should motivate one another to good deeds. We should encourage each other to choose godliness and service over worldly pleasure and self-centeredness. Believers are to encourage each other in attitudes of gratefulness for what He’s done and confidence about what He’ll do in and through their lives. Throughout this whole process, however, it must be noted that good works are not the means of salvation. But they do affect eternal rewards. At the judgment seat of Christ, believers will be evaluated for what they did on earth. Deeds done without direction from God will be burned up. First Corinthians 3:15 says those accomplished in obedience to the Spirit’s call will be noted. Paul gives us the best picture of what is being discussed here, when in Eph 2:8-10 he says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Paul doesn’t conclude his thought here, like we so often do…note what he now says…) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Do works save us? Of course not. The blood of Jesus Christ does. But, rest assured that the deeds done in this life will show God just how much we love Him and how willing we are to be inconvenienced for the good of His kingdom both now as well as in eternity!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

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11/11/07

They Did Their Share

On Veteran’s Day we honor
Soldiers who protect our nation.
For their service as our warriors,
They deserve our admiration.
Some of them were drafted;
Some were volunteers;
For some it was just yesterday;
For some it’s been many years;
In the jungle or the desert,
On land or on the sea,
They did whatever was assigned
To produce a victory.
Some came back; some didn’t.
They defended us everywhere.
Some saw combat; some rode a desk;
All of them did their share.
No matter what the duty,
For low pay and little glory,
These soldiers gave up normal lives,
For duties mundane and gory.
Let every veteran be honored;
Don’t let politics get in the way.
Without them, freedom would have died;
What they did, we can’t repay.
We owe so much to them,
Who kept us safe from terror,
So when we see a uniform,
Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.

By Joanna Fuchs

On a day our nation celebrates as Veterans Day, we remember those who have sacrificed so much for the freedoms we enjoy in this nation. If it weren’t for our veterans, we wouldn’t have the opportunity to join together in this building today and worship our God. If it weren’t for our veterans, we wouldn’t have the ability to walk down our city streets without being questioned our motives or asked our destination. We live in the greatest nation in the world, and these privileges offered to us are ‘free’ they’re never cheap. In a much more significant vein, Jesus’ sacrifice was free as well, and just like the freedom’s we enjoy are free, God’s grace is never cheap!

Have a most blessed day and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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11/4/07

Is Peace Possible in Bad Times?

Everyone experiences times of emotional chaos that make it seem impossible to sense the peace God has promised to give us. But the Lord can provide inner contentment in even the darkest and most turbulent periods of our life.  How can we have peace in any circumstance? The key is abiding in Jesus Christ, which means putting our faith in Him and trusting He will strengthen us through any hardship. As Christians, we are inseparably connected to the Lord, just as branches are attached to the vine. Notice how Jesus words it in John 15: 1-5 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. "Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” Life-giving nutrients run through the plant to every shoot. And so it is with Christ and His followers. His peace flows into us. No matter what is done to us or how life disappoints, His nourishment will not be cut off.  In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus assured His followers that He would continue to care and provide: “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). In other words, nothing can stop His peace from reaching us. If our contentment dries up, it is because we doubt God will keep His promise to watch over us.  Every person will, at some point, face hardship, but no believer has to give in to anxiety. We have an awesome God caring for us. If we trust Him to see us through our challenges, He will pour His strength, guidance, and comfort into our lives. And in Him, we will find peace that surpasses understanding. Phil 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” My prayer is that you will embellish this thought and that you will experience God’s love even in the most tumultuous of times!

Kevin

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10/28/07

“Is the Bible really a Divinely Inspired Book?”

2 Tim 3:14-17 “Continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” The Bible is the most important book in the world. Nothing else ever written, or yet to be written, can match the wisdom and inspiration of the Scriptures.  2nd Timothy 3:15 says these writings can “give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” That verse shows the power of Scripture. Through God’s Word, we understand the purpose of salvation and develop a personal relationship with the God of the Universe! How, then, did God give us this sacred text? He Himself inspired Scripture’s human authors, speaking words of truth to them as they wrote the various biblical books in their own language and style (2 Timothy 3:16). The apostle Peter adds that the writings did not result from “an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). How amazing it is that the same God who created the universe divinely inspired the men who wrote this Book. And He did so to draw us closer to Him. Our Father knew we would need to relate to the biblical writers. That’s why we read about so many of them experiencing familiar trials, temptations, hopes, and dreams. They may have lived in a different time period and culture, but they felt the same emotions we do today. Their story is our story. Just as God worked through the writers of the Bible, He can also work through us!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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10/21/07

How God Works

I’m sure you’ve heard folks say, “Where’s God is all this?!” In times of distress and dismay it might be easy for us to question God in why He does what He does. We need to remember God has been at work even before verse one of the Bible, and He is still orchestrating events involving nations, families, and individuals. God’s ultimate desire is for all people to come to saving faith, and He works day by day to conform every Christian to His Son’s image.  Transforming believers into reflections of Jesus is a long process of small changes, which means God’s work may at times seem slow to us. The Lord assured Abraham he’d be the father of nations, but he had to wait decades for the promised son (Genesis 15:1-5). Even though God was at work the entire time, Abraham must have wondered if the pledge had been forgotten. God’s patient timing lets Him coordinate every detail perfectly.  Believers like to swap stories about God’s dramatic intervention in their lives. Knowing that He provides, rescues, or heals is exciting and reassuring. But He also works in ways that seem inconsequential. Upon arriving in Egypt, Joseph was just a menial servant in Potiphar’s household—yet this was his first step toward becoming the country’s second-in-command (Genesis 39:1-4; 41:41). God has a purpose for everything that comes into our life—including friendships, jobs, and even conversations. Nothing is trivial.  If you want to experience God in action, you don’t have to wait for Him to do something big in your life. Be attentive, because every day is an opportunity to see Him at work. Get into His Word so you can understand how He has acted in others’ lives. Then watch for His involvement in your own.
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

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10/14/07

Letting Go of the Past

John Newton worked in one of the most sinister businesses of his day—slave trading. However, after being introduced to Jesus Christ later in his life, he penned the now-familiar words to “Amazing Grace”. This hymn is one of the most beloved of all the gospel songs. It’s sung and/or played at most funeral services to offer solace and comfort to the bereaving families of the deceased. Newton also penned the following lines as well: “In evil long I took delight, un-awed by shame or fear; ’til a new object met my sight and stopped my wild career.” It’s an obvious truth that faith in Christ separated John Newton from his dark past. And, just as Christ Jesus has given hope to so many in times past, the hope of a bright future is also ours if we accept God’s offer of a new beginning.  Although we find ourselves doubting this truth, no sin is so great that God will not forgive! Certainly some sins wreak havoc on our life as the consequences of those sins are played out. We will have to deal with whatever repercussions our wrong choices bring, but we do not have to live with guilt and shame. It’s imperative for us to remember that when there are repercussions, we don’t have to face them alone. First, we must accept responsibility for our sin. Confession and repentance mean we MUST drop our guilt burden at the foot of the cross. Only when we are willing to lay aside the sin and its accompanying shame can we take the second step—accepting God’s forgiveness once we take His Son on in baptism. We could never do enough to earn God’s pardon, so He freely offers mercy to anyone who will receive it. Christ’s death at Calvary bought every person a life free from the weight and wages of sin, but each individual must accept that salvation gift for themselves.  In so many instances, we squelch the beauty of God in our lives by holding on to sins that God has already forgiven even after we acknowledging those sins and give them to God to take care of for us. Our newfound liberty is maintained by taking a final step—believing we have a new life in Christ. If we will face our sin, accept forgiveness through baptism, and look toward the future, we cannot be weighed down by wrongs of the past. Take note of what the Psalmist has to say in Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”
Take comfort in that thought and relish the gift of grace God freely bestows upon those who call upon Him in repentance!
Kevin

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10/07/07

Acting on what we know to be true

Many people argue, 'I do believe in Christ. I believe in the Church, and I believe in the Bible. Isn’t that enough?' Don’t my beliefs, my knowledge and my desire carry enough weight to be found acceptable in the eyes of God? I can answer these questions with one word: No! It’s not enough for us to possess knowledge. It’s not enough for us to simply believe: (Even the demons fear God after believing He exists and tremble! James 2: 19) Desire is good, but desire in and of itself is not enough for us to inherit eternal life. Each of these aspects is good; they’re all essential and vital, but we also must RECEIVE Christ by acting upon what we know to be true! Allow me, if you would, to share an illustration. I may go to the airport. I have a reservation; I have a ticket in my pocket. The plane is on the ramp. It is a huge plane capable of carrying numerous passengers to various places all around the world. I am certain that it has the ability to take me to my destination. They call the flight three times and yet, I neglect to get on board. They close the door. The plane taxis down the runway and takes off, but I have not boarded the plane. Why? I 'believed' in the plane, I knew the plane was there; I knew the plane had the ability to get me to my destination; I had a reservation; I had every opportunity to act upon what I knew was true, but I neglected to get on board. We can believe in God, Christ, the Bible, and the Church - but if we have neglected to actually connect with Him in the waters of baptism to have our sins remitted we are still lost! If this is where you are, your belief has been an impersonal, speculative thing, and you have not entrusted yourself to Him. If this is where you are, why not take the opportunities presented to you today by giving your life to the Lord Jesus Christ? Go ahead, take that step of faith and climb aboard!

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

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9/30/07

Learning how to communicate with the Father

Does this sound familiar? At one moment you’re determined to spend more time in prayer, you come to the appointed hour, drop to your knees, open your mouth and—draw a blank. Sure, you manage a few words about what you need the Lord to do for you and your family, but you should be praying for more than that, shouldn’t you? Yes, you should. The Christian’s needs are indeed God’s concern; not even the smallest detail escapes His notice. However, He tells His people to imitate Jesus: they should “not merely look out for [their] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4 “Regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”). Selfless prayer, though, isn’t natural to us. We too easily think of God as a genie—someone to do our bidding as we live life our own way. Thankfully, God has supplied a Helper. The Holy Spirit, our willing and able partner in praying effectively, intercedes for us when we can’t “pray as we should” (Rom 8:26 “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words…”). How should we cooperate with the Spirit’s intercession for us? First, we must recognize God’s authority, holiness, and glory. Then, we need to submit our lives to His leadership. When we do, God’s will and desires become foremost in importance for us. Finally, we must submit our future to Him, trusting that He will bring great good out of negative as well as positive events in our lives. In submission to the Lord, we will discover greater peace and joy. We’ll also find new words for our prayers. Even more importantly, we will develop a deeper understanding of God’s greatness. Focus this week on spending more time in communication with your Father. You’ll be glad you did!
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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9/23/07

‘Going the distance’

Far too often our focus in the Lord’s church centers on issues that have no lasting bearing on the real issues of Christianity. What does it really mean to be a servant of the Most High God? What is it going to cost us to pledge our allegiance to the Creator of the Universe? Notice the stark language Jesus used in Luke 12:49-53, “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled! "But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished! "Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division; for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three. "They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." Would Jesus really be promoting division in light of the ‘unity’ He speaks of in John 17?
Listen carefully to what Jesus is actually saying. It’s as if Jesus reminds us that the cost of receiving His blessings is high -- high for him, high for God and high for those who follow him. Jesus left heaven, came to earth, and died a horrible death to provide these blessings. God withheld his power and allowed those He created to do such horrid things to his Son. So we must not be surprised at the powerful language Jesus uses here. His ministry calls for a decision, a radical decision, to be made. He is either God with us or he is an impostor. He is either Christ, God's Messiah and our Savior, or he is delusional. He is either Lord, King of our hearts and of all creation, or he is a liar. Making this decision is divisive. It will divide families and households. It will be politically incorrect because it doesn't allow for alternatives. As Jesus speaks to his disciples, he also speaks to us. If we decide for him, our decision will not make everyone happy and won't lead to everyone's liking us. A passionate disciple of Jesus will not be appreciated by all ... maybe not by most! The ‘cost’ of discipleship is very high. The question is: are you willing to pay the price in order to spend eternity with the One who came to redeem you from sin?

May the grace of God give you the peace of God to instill within you the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!
Kevin
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9/16/07

Making the most of our marriages

I readily admit, it’s been a while since we’ve had a marriage class at Whitehall. I know we’re past due…I’ve actually been reminded of that fact! J It’s obvious that the foundation of our church family is our married families. What can we do to make the most of the union God has ordained? What can we focus on to make the most of what God has instituted? As I tell all the couples that come to me for either pre-marital or post-marital counseling, the #1 thing all of us as couples need to take seriously is communication! Communication is absolutely vital for a marriages’ survival! Allow me, if you would to share with you six basic rules for good communication in marriage. This list was compiled by Joe Beam.

Rule #1. Allow Enough Time. Strong families don't spend all their time communicating about problems or worries. They make time to talk about other matters of interest to every family member, both trivial and important.

Rule #2. Listen. Listening strengthens the relationship between folks by conveying messages of caring and respect. Strong families increase their understanding of each other by being good, active listeners.

Rule #3. Check It Out. Unclear messages can often be clarified by saying, "I'm not sure I know what you mean by that" or "This is my understanding of what you mean...Is that correct?"

Rule #4. Get Inside the Other Person's World. We each live in our own unique world. No one sees life exactly the same way you do. The way you look at a certain situation depends on past experiences you have had, the values in which you believe, and your personality characteristics.

Rule 5. Keep The Monsters In Late-Night Movies. In his book Love Busters, Dr. Willard Harley refers to these "monsters" of criticizing, evaluating, and acting superior as "disrespectful judgment." When disrespectful judgment takes place, relationships will fail. Strong families banish such "love busters" and don't allow them to destroy all the good that they've accomplished in their homes. And lastly,

Rule 6. Keep It Honest. The communication patterns in strong families are characterized by honesty and openness. People say what they mean and mean what they say. The important principle is the idea that any disagreement, any thought, any aspect of human relationships can be expressed in a positive, nonjudgmental, non-hurtful way. Although this list is in no way exhaustive, it can be helpful in us carefully maintaining the balance which exists in the realm of marriage by focusing on our communication. Words can be harmful, they can hurt deeper than weapons can! But honest, heart-felt, open communication can be the glue that keeps couples together!
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

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9/9/07

Train up a child in the way he should go…

As our children make their way down the sidewalk to await the bus or slide into the seat of their car to begin their trek back to school, we as parents collectively hold our breath and mouth a silent prayer for their safety, wellbeing, and dedication to their Master, Jesus Christ. Permit me to share with your child 12 suggestions for a good school year. Young people:
Decide now that the coming school year will be your best ever. Enter it with a positive attitude.
Accept your teachers as talented and qualified professionals who will do their best to help you become a better student.
Be positive and caring toward your classmates. The problems they face are similar to yours.
Sit as close as you can to the front of the room and the teacher in order to avoid distractions.
Everything you can learn in every class will be needed some day. Learn all you can about as many things as you can.
Go to bed each night early enough to get all the sleep you will need to be alert and in a learning mode all day long.
Eat and exercise properly. Good nutrition, not quick bits of junk food, coupled with daily physical exercise will help you to be in good physical, mental and emotional health.
Never cheat by using another person’s answer as your own. Better to flunk than to cheat.
Life-long learning should be a determined goal. Keep learning. Deeply appreciate the many persons, especially your parents, who made all your learning opportunities possible. Education is expensive, but not nearly as much as ignorance.
If you are away from home, find a good congregation of the Lord’s church and attend it regularly each week just as you do at home.
Let your most important book, to be read each day, be the Bible. It is God’s book and is far superior to all the others (excerpts from Bill Ellis)
If we fail to keep God’s commandments in willful obedience, we will inevitably suffer the terrible consequences of our willful disobedience. The "school of experience" teaches life’s toughest lessons in an unforgettable manner, but the price of the tuition is so extremely high that none of us can afford to pay it.

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

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9/2/07

FEELING LEFT OUT?

This past Wednesday evening was the ‘kick off’ of our LIFE group ministry. I wanted to share this article with you which was in last week’s Mannington Messenger.

“When it was announced at the assembly that someone is sick, Do you: Offer to send a card or help? Organize help, if necessary? Visit them at the hospital? Get irritated at the announcements about people you don’t even know? When new souls are added to the Lord, Do you: Introduce yourself and welcome them? Visit and encourage them? Help supply any physical and spiritual needs? When you think there isn’t enough social activity, Do you: Invite some Christians into your home? Plan and carry out recreational activities for either adults or children? Offer to help in activities which others may plan? When no one seems friendly, Do you: Make it your place to greet visitors? Invite members who may be weak into your home? Have you, yourself, been friendly? When Bible classes are provided, Do you: Attend faithfully and encourage others to do so? Do you prepare your lesson? Contribute to class discussion with comments or by asking questions? Or do you sit with your mouth shut, waiting for the class to be more interesting than it was the last time? Or do you stay home – not interested at all? When a work day is planned, Do you: Arrange your plans so you can be there? Look for ways you can contribute to the upkeep and improvement of the building? Or always manage to be “too busy” because it is your only day off?”

Church, I know these are very difficult questions. I don’t share this bulletin article with you to guilt you into doing anything you’re not comfortable with doing, but honestly, if we don’t do what God has called us to do, who will? If we don’t allow God to use us, He’ll use someone else! Who will rise up to make new people feel welcome? Who will seek and save those who are lost? Who will go the extra mile to bring back an erring brother or sister? If you’ve not signed up to participate in one of the LIFE groups, I hope that today you’ll approach a visitor, welcome them to our congregation and ask them to fill out a visitor’s/attendance card and place it in the rack at the end of the pew. This way we can send them a letter thanking them for coming. Yes, each and every one of us at the Whitehall church can do something, even if we think it to be insignificant! J

May the grace of God give us the peace of God to instill within us the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!
Kevin

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8/26/07

While the Boss is away…

The following excerpt was taken from Chuck Swindoll’s book: “Improving your serve”. “Let’s play & pretend that you work for me. In fact, you are my executive assistant in a company that is growing rapidly. I’m the owner and I’m interested in expanding overseas. To pull this off, I make plans to travel abroad and stay there until a new branch office gets established. I make all the arrangements to take my family and move to Europe for six to eight months. And I leave you in charge of the busy stateside organization. I tell you that I will write you regularly and give you directions and instructions. I leave, and you stay. Months pass. A flow of letters are mailed from Europe and received by you at the national headquarters. I spell out all my expectations. Finally, I return. Soon after my arrival, I drive down to the office and I am stunned. Grass and weeds have grown up high. A few windows along the street are broken. I walk into the receptionist’s room. She is doing her nails, chewing gum and listening to her favorite radio station. I look around and notice the wastebaskets are overflowing. The carpet hasn’t been vacuumed for weeks, and nobody seems concerned that the owner has returned. I asked about your whereabouts and someone in the crowded lounge area points down the hall and yells, “I think he’s down there.” Disturbed, I move in that direction and bump into you as you are finishing a chess game with our sales manager. I ask you to step into my office, which has been temporarily turned into a television room for watching afternoon soap operas. “What in the world is going on, man?” “What do you mean?” you reply. “Well, look at this place! Didn’t you get any of my letters?” “Letters? Oh, yes! Sure! I got every one of them. As a matter of fact, we have had a letter study every Friday since you left. We have even divided the personnel into small groups to discuss many of the things you wrote. Some of the things were really interesting. You will be pleased to know that a few of us have actually committed to memory some of your sentences and paragraphs. One or two memorized an entire letter-or-two: Great stuff in those letters.” “OK. You got my letters. You studied them and meditated on them. But what did you DO about them? “Do? We didn’t do anything about them…” References for further study: Matt. 21: 33-41; Gal. 4: 1-7; James 2: 18-20.
May the grace of God give us the peace of God to instill within us the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!
Kevin

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8/19/07 Updates, progress, and news on LIFE groups

As we draw closer to the start date of our LIFE group ministry, I wanted to address some concerns among a few of the members at the Whitehall church. It has been mentioned to me that there’s a fear our ‘regular way’ of doing things in our worship assembly will be compromised by engaging in these various groups. As I’ve stated earlier, the primary aim of our LIFE group ministry is to involve our membership to visit members who have been absent from our assembly for some time. The worship to God we offer Him each and every day of our lives should be enhanced by such an endeavor, not stymied! We will continue to meet as we always have (just as the Shepherds have outlined and encouraged us to do, as well as the Word of God commands us to do, Acts 20:7, 1 Cor. 16:2) plus we will be getting together at our regularly appointed time each and every Wednesday evening for Bible study. The only variation to our regular schedule is that on the last Wednesday evening of each month, we will meet one and a half hour earlier to engage in a fellowship dinner and to receive assignments to visit various delinquent members for the up and coming month. While it’s true we will be meeting earlier than we normally do, 5:30 pm as opposed to 7:00 pm on the last Wednesday of each month, it will in no way disrupt the way we regularly conduct our worship assembly. The only other variation is that it has been requested we have a men’s class and a ladies class on this particular last Wednesday night of each month as opposed to our regular auditorium class setting, (something the Whitehall church has done in the past). Therefore, we will be meeting at 5:30 pm on the 29th of this month to engage in a fellowship meal (something very common to the 1st century church Acts 2: 41f) and to assign those willing to participate in such an endeavor with their group leaders. I personally wish to thank all those who have agreed to participate in such a worthy endeavor. One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is the opportunity to share in the ministry instituted by the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have decided it’s not in your best interest to participate at this time, please pray for the success of this ministry, and in all things give God the thanks for His abundant mercy and love!
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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8/12/07

What is the significance of the ‘torn temple veil’?

Matt 27:50-51 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…”Jesus’ death means so much to us. Of course it signifies the opportunity for us to escape the ‘death penalty’ because of our sins. Yes, it constitutes everything made mention of by the early writers, and it certainly fulfills each and every prophecy concerning Christ Jesus, but it’s so much more. Jesus has penetrated the veil between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place; the veil that kept God separate from His worshippers. The veil was ripped apart from the top to the bottom, indicated that this was an action done by God Himself as He eliminated the veil of division not only between us and Him, but also which separated even Jew and Gentile. Gal. 3:26-28 “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” It wasn’t UNTIL the sin problem was solved that man could be reunited with his Creator. This is the reason why any individual who has any sin to his credit on the Day of Judgment will have to be eternally separated from God. God will not accept the presence of sin in His Holy of Holies, in His Heaven. Our sins are now forgiven (pardoned) by Jesus’ atoning blood, and therefore, we have the privilege of entering into the very presence of God [something those of old could only wish for]. Perfection, by its nature to the Christian today is the fact that we (unlike Moses coming down from the mountain) are ‘unveiled’. We need not ‘veil our faces’ to show others our ‘perfection’ through Christ Jesus! No, we don’t experience a ‘physical’ presence with our Lord, but a ‘spiritual’ one. It’s up to us to remain consistently adherent to the things in which Christ Jesus has accomplished for us through His sacrifice! Our hope is set forth in constant reminder that when God makes His promise about future redemption, He will indeed keep that promise! The real question is: Will we?

Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin
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8/5/07

Reaching out to those outside

Please pay heed to the following story written by Ray Fulenwider: “Several years ago I had opportunity to preach in a congregation of the Lord’s church close to the Pacific Ocean. At the beginning of service, I noticed two ‘beach bums’ sitting in the audience. I also noticed that no one sat within 10 feet where they were. I was reminded of how the lepers of the 1st century must have felt throughout their mundane daily existence. These two men had been reached by an outreach ministry sponsored by the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth Tx. It was interesting to note that they had done more evangelistic work reaching their fellow ‘beach bums’ than the entire congregation in this region had done in the past several years. On one occasion, a young college student responded to the invitation. He had long hair which reached all the way to his knees. He definitely did not look like the rest of the people in the audience, and yet, he desired to become a child of God. As I took the young man to the baptistery where he confessed that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, I had an irate deacon waiting for me in my office. He was so upset he had not even watched the baptism! He asked me what I did with the young man and I said that I just pushed him a little further down into the water. I gave this answer because I knew he was referring to the young man’s long hair. He couldn’t believe that I had baptized this young man without first demanding he get a haircut. As it was, this young man became a leader in our college program. He reached people at Texas Tech that no one else was reaching. Within three months he had led several dozen college students to Christ Jesus.” [emphasis mine]. It’s important for us to understand in our evangelistic quest that we remind ourselves that the folks we bring to Christ may not necessarily look like, dress like, smell like, and act like US. The truth remains…we need to accept people where they are and lead them to where God wants them to be. The old adage remains true: “We catch em’, it’s up to God to clean em’.
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin
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7/29/07>

Moving forward in our evangelistic quest

I wish to express my utmost appreciation for everyone who has filled out the LIFE group surveys located on the back table. As many of you now know, we are moving ahead in our desires to contact those who have been absent from our midst over the last several weeks, months, even years. To date, we have received approximately 60 forms back from the original 175 sent out. If you’ve not had opportunity to participate in this survey, please pick up and fill out a copy of the LIFE group congregational survey today. Also, do not feel obligated to participate in this effort if you don’t believe it would be in your or your family’s best interest at this time. Good, effective evangelism is never motivated by guilt, but by a desire and willingness to serve our fellow brothers and sisters out of sheer gratitude for what Christ Jesus has done for us! In regard to the ‘kick-off’ of our fellowship dinner, the first scheduled date will be August 29th at 5:30 pm here at the building. We had originally wanted to begin the last Wednesday of this month, but my schedule would not allow me to get everything together so soon. Joan McDaniel will be ‘heading up’ the covered-dish fellowship dinners, therefore if you would like to participate in this effort, please contact Joan. Also, I wanted to let you know who our group leaders will be: Lynn & Melissa Clelland, Ken & Barb Cottrell, Rod & Tammy Hayhurst, and Dale & Ramola Lee. Once I have had opportunity to peruse the surveys, it will allow me to pair folks up with these couples. On the 29th of August, we will be distributing assignments for the month of September. As stated earlier, each participant will have most of September to make their visit, send a card, or letter of encouragement to those we wish to contact. Even if you don’t believe you will be able to participate at this time, please, please, please pray for the efforts of all those who wish to address the needs of those we’ve not seen in while. And in all things, may we give our God thanks for allowing us the opportunity to seek the greater good of all.

May the grace of God instill within us the power of God to exhibit the mercy of God to bring others to the throne of God!
Kevin
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7/22/07

This past week, P.J. Oates and I had the privilege of teaching 11-14 year old boys at church camp. The subject matter we presented to them was taken from the book of James. If there’s one thing that continually reoccurs in James’ letter to those suffering persecution it would have to be that our actions are true pictures of our faith. Notice the ‘action’ phrases of this great book in the first chapter alone: James 1:2 “Consider it all joy when confronted with trials…” James 1:6 “Ask in faith without any doubting…” James 1:19 “Be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; James 1:27 “Pure religion is…visiting orphans and widows in their distress, and keeping oneself unstained by the world.” The entire message James shares with those scattered because of persecution was loaded with ‘action’ verbs. The application for us today is just as strong! James goes so far as to say, “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:26 The premise for this statement comes from James making reference to the fact that faith is worthless if our belief system is shrouded only in word and not deed. He uses an example in v. 15f that if a brother or sister is destitute and in need of something and our response to that situation is simply to say, “Go in peace, be warm and be filled…” but then do nothing to remedy the situation he says, “What use is that?” In other words, what good is it if the only thing we do is talk the talk without walking the walk? What about ‘spiritual’ food? What good does it do to preach a message about loving our neighbor as ourselves if we do nothing to show our love for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? How can we do this? By opening ourselves up to them…by visiting them…by praying for them…by sending them a card of encouragement or by doing a task which would benefit them in some way. Do our works save us? No, Jesus Christ saves us, and because He saves us it should propel us forward in our desires to serve Him to the utmost!

May the grace of God instill within you the power of God to exhibit the goodness of God!
Kevin
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7/15/07

Deserving of Salvation?

I ran across a story this week that I’d like to share with you this morning. It’s entitled: Enjoy! The Cookie Thief A woman was waiting at an airport one night with several long hours before her flight. She hunted for a book in the airport shop, bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop. She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see, that the man beside her, as bold as could be, grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between, which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene.
She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock, as the gutsy 'cookie thief!" diminished her stock. She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by, thinking, 'If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!" With each cookie she took, he took one, too. When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do. With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh, He took the last cookie and broke it in half.
He offered her half, as he ate the other. She snatched it from him and thought, 'Oh brother, this guy has some nerve, and he's also rude, why, he didn't even show any gratitude!" She had never known when she had been so galled; and sighed with relief when her flight was called. She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate, refusing to look back at the 'thieving ingrate." She boarded the plane and sank in her seat, then sought her book, which was almost complete. As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise. There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!
'If mine are here," she moaned with despair, 'then the others were his and he tried to share! "Too late to apologize, she realized with grief, that she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!
Source Unknown
After reading this story, I couldn’t help but wonder…how often do we ‘eat’ the “cookie” of salvation without ever giving a second thought as to where it came from? How often do we expect God to lavish His undying grace and magnificent mercy on us as we ‘munch away’ in sin and unfaithfulness? Aren’t you glad our God shares?
Have an incredible day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin
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7/8/07

Symptom or source?

Sometimes we can get the cart before the horse when instructing others on how they need to exhibit godly characteristics. The best source any of us can gain instruction from on how we must live should always stem from the word of God. An excellent reference would be Galatians 5: 22f. The fruits of the Spirit are indeed a great resource to make reference to, but an equally applicable passage can be found in 2 Peter. Listen to the inspired words of this great apostle.
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.” Did you catch that last verse? Any one who fails to exhibit these qualities has forgotten that he/she has been cleansed from their sins. One of the greatest tragedies any of us could ever face would be to lose sight of the fact that we have been purified from our former sins. Is this why so many fail to exhibit the qualities Peter outlines for us in this section of scripture? Something to consider!
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

6/24/07

Did I say that?

It was brought to my attention this past week that I was misquoted as staying that I had labeled Jesus as being a ‘coward’s coward’ in my sermon week before last. The message I shared with the congregation on this particular day centered on our ability to love because of the Holy Spirit’s presence in us as Christians. In explaining our position as Christians, I used the world as a contrast. My very words were, “In the eyes of the world, loving and forgiving are measures of weakness not strength. When abused or attacked the strong reply in kind. Vengeance, not forgiveness, is the law of life. Only the coward or the man too weak to fight fails to retaliate.”
It was at this point I stated my views on how the world in general looks at us as Christians when I said, “If forgiveness and love are the marks of a coward, (in the world’s eyes) then Jesus would have been the coward’s coward.” “When attacked, he remained silent. When blasphemed and ridiculed, he blessed and cursed not. Even in death, Jesus refused to raise his hand in resistance. He could have called ten thousand angels in angry vengeance. Instead, he cried, "Father, forgive them."
Was I saying Jesus was a coward’s coward? Certainly not! Contextually speaking, I was drawing a comparison with how the world views those of us ‘walking in the light and love of Christ’ as opposed to those of us who claim to be a Christian yet continue to engage in the world’s ways of retaliation and defamation. Brothers and sisters, if any of you have ANY questions in regard to what I have said; my door is always open for discussion.
On a side note, as per permission from our Shepherds, my family and I have departed on vacation this past Friday morning. Please keep us in your prayers as we will be traveling to the beach. We will return some time on Wednesday the fourth of July. Darrell Conaway has graciously agreed to fill the pulpit on the 24th and the 1st, and to teach my bible class on the 27th.
Until we meet again, may God bless you and keep you. May His countenance shine upon you and give you peace. We love you all.
Kevin

6/17/07

Saved to Serve

As I did last week, I wish to applaud the efforts of all those who played an active role in this year’s VBS. As always, everyone did an exceptional job! Your actions are typical of people saved by God’s grace. Just as Walling said in one of his videos, “Grace will prompt you to work, but work will never drive you to grace!” The reason this statement is true is because the Holy Spirit is the One responsible for leading us to serve others. It’s interesting to note how the world views power. In the world a man is esteemed if he no longer is forced to dirty himself with the menial tasks of life. In the world, a powerful man is to be served, not serve. Ruling, controlling, manipulating the lives of others--these are the marks of power. But, the same does not hold true for God’s people. Indeed, the power to serve those around us doesn’t come from our tendencies and desires. Just as Jeremiah said in Jer. 17:9 “The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; who can understand it?” Only a week before the Upper Room Jesus cut short an argument over his disciples’ positions in his kingdom with a startling truth, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave--just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Matt, 20:25-28). Paul encouraged this same attitude when he wrote, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:3-5). Who are the most spiritually powerful Christians today? The eloquent evangelist? The brilliant scholar? The wealthy benefactor? Perhaps, but not necessarily. The most powerful Christian may well be the lowly widow with the cup of cold water. In the kingdom, power is measured, not by prestige, or position, or wealth, but by selfless service! Thanks again, church. Job well done!
Have a blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you!
Kevin

6/10/07

As we begin our 2007 VBS…

Tonight we begin a week of fun, fellowship, learning, and growing in the Word of God. As with every year of VBS, we will have some who will grow tired and maybe even a little irritable when things don’t go exactly as planned. If this happens to you, step back, take a deep breath, and talk to the Lord to help you re-focus on the reason we’re here…to honor, glorify and praise Him as well as encourage our young people to grow closer to their Heavenly Father. It’s going to be a great week! I personally wish to thank all those who have helped make this week a reality. Thanks to all the elders, deacons, song leaders, teachers, characters, decorators, craft people, activity people, PR persons, door-knockers and their coordinators, cookie makers, cookie distributors, kitchen staff, Kool-Aid buyers, Kool-Aid makers, and all the helpers who have sacrificed your time to make this week special for our children. Remind yourself…it’s all about the children. Listen to the words of scripture in regard to our young people…Matt 18:3 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Mark 9:37 "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." Now, before you begin thinking that you aren’t a ‘little child’, think again. Note the language used by Holy Spirit inspiration to speak of ALL of God’s children: 1 John 2:1 “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” 1 John 2:12 “I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.” 1 John 2:28 “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” 1 John 4:4 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Don’t you see, church…we’re ALL God’s children regardless as to whether we’re 9 or 99. Let us glorify our Father this week by showing everyone just who it is we obey, follow, love, and adore.
Have a most blessed day, and remember the One who gave it to you! Kevin

6/3/07

What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit?

Much has been discussed in religious circles about the subject: baptism of the Spirit. It’s important for us to note that when the apostle Paul spoke of the baptism of the Holy Spirit, he used it as one of his main arguments to prove that we are all united in Christ! Some churches believe that the baptism of the Spirit is an experience different than initial salvation. They see it as a second experience that gives a person much greater spiritual power and boldness, and the ability to live a more victorious Christian life. Some groups teach that the baptism is accompanied by such signs as speaking in tongues. The Bible does not actually use the term "baptism of the Spirit" very often. John the Baptist predicted that Jesus would come and baptize with the Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:33). In Acts 1:5, Jesus recalled John's words, and told His followers that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from then. The spectacular events of the day of Pentecost ten days later seem to be the obvious fulfillment of His words (see Acts 2). The only other mention in Acts (11:16) refers back to Pentecost, explaining that Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, had an experience very similar to the Pentecost manifestations. While these passages make it clear that the believers in Acts 2 experienced a baptism of the Spirit, we do not find a clear explanation of what that baptism means. Nor do we know whether there were other works of the Spirit that were happening at the same time. The clearest explanation of the baptism appears in I Corinthians 12:13. Paul is dealing with a situation where the Corinthian church was splitting into factions over the issue of spiritual gifts. Overemphasis on certain spectacular gifts had led to the attitude that some people had the most desirable gifts, while others were deficient. In response, Paul exclaims, "We're all one! Don't divide up into cliques!" And to prove his point, he explains, "For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit" (I Corinthians 12:13). His main point? All believers share the reality of being baptized by the Spirit. What does it do? It makes us part of the body of Christ, the Church. When did it happen? If every believer has been baptized in the Spirit, then it must happen at the moment you accept Christ and become a Christian. We may use whatever words we want to describe our experiences with God. But it is most accurate to say that the Bible uses "baptism of the Spirit" to refer to one of the wonderful things that God does for us the instant we trust Christ a