Kevin's Kolumn as seen in our weekly bulletins.

Kevin Lough - Minister

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2/12/12

Owning the Relationship we share with our Father

In Old Testament times, “Father” was not a term which would have been used to describe God. As a matter of fact, it would have been considered irreverent to refer to Him as such. Today, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, we have the privilege of calling him “Abba, Daddy, Father”. Each term denotes an affinity toward the Divine: kinship, family, endearment, and parental care. It’s far too easy to claim a select set of scriptures we can whip out as proof text for HOW we believe, but relationship isn’t something we worship. Relationship is some ONE we worship. It is possible to fill our lives with spiritual information and activities—all of which are good—but fail to develop a close relationship with the Lord. Take a quick inventory to see if this might be true of you: Do you attend church only out of a sense of duty? Do you pray with lofty or repetitive words rather than speaking to God from your heart? Is the service you render to Him solely out of obligation? God’s Word reveals to us many people whose personal encounter with the Lord was energizing and life-changing. Think about Abraham, Gideon, Moses, and Paul. These were but a few who spoke with Him one-on-one (Genesis 7:4; Judges 6:12, 14; Exodus 3:2; Acts 9:3-6). Typically, we don’t expect dramatic “burning bush” experiences today, yet all believers should still have precious, intimate times with God. Whenever we open His Word and invite the Holy Spirit to illuminate its meaning, we can hear Him coming to us loud and clear. If you wary of religion and long to be plugged in to the One who made you, open His Word. Drink freely from the only living source which provides nourishment; not just for today, but for each day He gives us till Jesus comes again.

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

Kevin

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2/5/12

The Righteousness of our God

The next time you have some quiet time, read Ephesians 2: 1-10. After you have read it, read it again and again. Pray and then read it once more. There’s a picture in these short ten verses that paints a vivid picture of whom we are and who our God is, and we certainly pale in comparison! The only way we are who we are is because of our Gracious God. God is so pure and holy that He is totally separated from all sin and cannot look upon it with any favor or approval. Christ Jesus had to come to make restitution for what we chose to do in our sinful nature. Everything He does is appropriate and beneficial; by comparison, even mankind's righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isa. 64:6). Yet even though we have nothing of value to offer Him, the Lord wants us for His own and has done everything necessary to draw us close. Those of us who have placed faith in Jesus Christ have been made spiritually alive in Him, and all our sins have been forgiven through immersion into His Son. There's a striking contrast between what we were and who we now are in the Lord. But this change has nothing to do with how good we've been. Even the faith with which we respond to the Savior comes from God. We can never make ourselves righteous; it's all a gift from Him. And once He declares us justified, as we walk in the light just as He is in the light, we will never be declared guilty again, as a matter of fact He glorifies us after our justification. (Romans 8: 29). God has said that in the ages to come, He wants to show the "surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us" (Eph. 2:7). For all eternity, we will be showered with this awesome demonstration of His love. As great as our blessings are now, they'll pale in comparison to what awaits us once we see Him face to face. Are you ready should that meeting take place today?

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

Kevin

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1/29/12

Feelings of helplessness

I would imagine each and every one of us has experienced feelings of helplessness. Try as we might, we sometimes just cannot seem to shake the utter helpless situations we find ourselves in. Disappointments should be no surprise to us. Even Jesus told His disciples that we would have tribulation in this life (John 16:33). And truly, people do disappoint us, circumstances cause pain, and our own limitations lead to frustration. Many Bible stories attest to this truth: Think about Hannah who was unable to conceive. The longer her yearning for a child went unfulfilled, the more hope dwindled. Sorrow and bitterness took hold of her. (1 Sam. 1:6-10). Remember the text which shows us Paul when he was caught in a violent storm? Against his advice, the ship had set sail, endangering him and all the others on board. After futile efforts to save the ship, everybody had to swim ashore to survive (Acts 27:11, 20) Kind of reminds me of what my grandmother used to say, “Hardheads that don’t listen have to feel!” Yet another instance in scripture was when jealous Saul pursued David throughout the land, trying to kill him. In Psalm 13:1, David wondered if the Lord had forgotten him. How did these people find their way through such negative emotions? The answer is important to each of us! All three spent time in prayer. Hannah cried out to God, confessed her misery, and asked Him to provide her with a son. When she left the temple, her face was no longer downcast. Her hope returned because she trusted Him with her future. Following prayer, Paul witnessed to the hopeless sailors. He told them to have courage because the Lord had promised to deliver them. David turned his attention away from his circumstances and focused on God’s unfailing love. (Ps. 13: 5-6). Mark it down, church! Communion with God can combat hopelessness!! Prayer moves our attention to the Father's deep love for us, the Son's sacrifice on our behalf, and the Spirit's reassuring presence. If we confess ungodly thoughts and become willing to surrender personal desires, forgiveness and peace will be ours.

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

Kevin

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1/22/12

This is the day the Lord hath made…

We will REJOICE and be glad in it! Early this past week I caught myself looking out at what I considered a ‘dismal’ day. While it was true the gray clouds overhead moved past my office door at a snail’s pace and the tree branches danced in eerie silhouette with the wind, I had to pause long enough to remind myself that God gave me this day to do with it what I desired. I could get caught up in the doldrums of monotony, feel sorry for myself and cover my head hoping it would all go away, or I could remind myself that this day…the day HE made was made with me in mind! The dark landscape reminded me that everywhere we turn, or so it seems, the world promises us contentment and happiness. We quickly come to learn, however, that the contentment the world offers is fleeting and incomplete. We try to engage in activities which will relieve us of thinking too dark (and to engage is such activities isn’t bad in and of themselves) but the attitude we end up displaying sometimes is anything but encouraging. Remind yourself, Christian…happiness depends less upon our circumstances than upon our thoughts! When we turn our thoughts to God, to His gifts, and to His glorious creation, we experience the joy that God intends for His children to possess. But, when we focus on the negative aspects of life—or we disobey God’s commandments—we cause ourselves needless suffering. Do you sincerely want to be a contented Christian? If so, set your mind and your heart upon God’s love and His grace. Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and then spend time focusing on the salvation which has been made available to you through a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. Once your mind has shifted from external circumstances, you can then claim joy, contentment and spiritual abundance the Shepherd offers His sheep. Stop allowing yourself to get caught up in the “poor me, dismal day” trap. Instead, allow the Spirit of God “light you up” from the inside out! The happiness for which our souls ache is one undisturbed by success, failure, weather, mood or even illness. Our souls ache for something rooted so deeply inside us that nothing can disrupt the harmony which exists between His Spirit and our own. That kind of happiness stands in need of no outward stimulus!

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

Kevin

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1/15/12

Do not fear for I am with you…

One of the most terrifying instances experienced by the apostles happened on the Sea of Galilee. Matt 8:23-27 When He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being covered with the waves; but Jesus Himself was asleep. And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. The men were amazed, and said, "What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?" Jesus asked a question: “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Could He not ask us the same question from time to time? Even after witnessing miracle after miracle the disciples still feared for their lives. They turned to Jesus to squelch their fears and He calmed the waters and wind. The next time you find yourself facing a fear-provoking situation, remember that the One who calmed the wind and the waves is also your personal Savior. Then ask yourself which is stronger: your faith or your fear? The answer should be obvious. So, when the storm clouds form overhead and you find yourself being tossed on the stormy seas of life, remember this: Wherever you are, God is there too. And, because he cares for you, you are protected. Bill Bright once said, “The Lord Jesus by His Holy Spirit is with me, and the knowledge of His presence dispels the darkness and allays any fears”. Christian, when we meditate on God and remember the promises He has given us in His Word, our faith grows and our fears dissolve. While it’s true that every one of us faces obstacles, the importance is not to overestimate the size of ours!

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

Kevin

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1/8/12

A devastating force

Have you ever tried to go to sleep at night but tossed and turned over the incredible power of fear? Even when we can rationally discount it, fear nevertheless forces its will upon us, like a relentless rising tide. It seems as if every advocacy group out there is in the business of filling our minds with propaganda to the point we fear what “the other folks” are doing to destroy “the country we all hold dear”. Folks who propagate fear know that nothing works better at making people fret, stew and shovel their money over to those “understanding the situation” than making them afraid of whatever it is Satan is convincing us of. Fear permeates life in this age. It’s what makes you go to work in the morning and lock your doors at night. It’s what makes your heart race whenever a policeman pulls up behind you. Advertisers use it, and so do friends and family when they want you to do what they think is best. And, think about what we have to fear! There’s fear of the unknown, fear of being unknown, fear of not having enough, fear of having too much, fear of getting caught, fear of never finding the right person to marry, fear of debilitating or life-threatening diseases, fear for the safety of our children, fear of what other people think of us, fear of people not thinking enough of us, fear of crime, fear of losing a loved one, fear of authority, fear we won’t get the things we desire most, fear of what others might do to us, fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of being taken advantage of, fear of being alone, fear of losing our jobs, fear of folks finding out we’re not everything we’ve claimed to be, fear something bad might happen to us, fear of not fitting in, fear of death…the list is ENDLESS! If nothing in this list ever plagued you, you’re dead. Each and every one of us has dealt with fear numerous times in our life, but we don’t have to be paralyzed by it! Don’t you find it (at least) a bit odd that the most compelling argument in our day to know God is the horror of not doing so? Personally I find no such preoccupation in the ministry of Jesus for those who followed Him. Christ Jesus never used fear to induce people to follow Him; While fear is the beginning of wisdom, Jesus used his love, His protection, His guidance and His mercy to show us who God really is. Fear Him if you are comfortable with sloppy love, but I’ll choose to love Him because He first loved us!

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

Kevin

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1/1/12

So, do we have a New Year Theme yet?

As a matter of fact we do! I really enjoy prayerfully considering what God has in store for us in the New Year. The first year I themed (2009) our focus was on Evangelism. Last year our theme was on getting back to the Word of God. In 2011 our theme has been on relationships, and what a year it has been! 22 baptisms and countless restorations. God is good…yes, ALL the time! But, we dare not become complacent in that we believe our work is done. With all the new births come new opportunities to mentor them, to help bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. We MUST understand that even though some who have put on Christ are advanced in physical years they are still babes in Christ! Consider this important truth when consulting them. What’s our 2012 theme? It’s OWNERSHIP. Ownership? What on earth does ownership have to do with our walk with Christ? It’s simple, really. You and I must claim ownership of ourselves. You and I are the CEO’s of our OWN lives, not the lives of those around us. When you and I see how important it is to bring OUR relationship with Christ under examination, there’s less of our time spent focusing on what everyone else around us is doing. Imagine a world where each man, woman and accountable child went through life doing everything they could do to display Christ in their life. Ask yourself this question: Are you the kind of role model that you would want to emulate? If so, congratulations. But, if certain aspects of your behavior could stand improvement, the best day to being your self-improvement regimen is TODAY! Can you say, as Paul did in 1 Cor. 11:1, “Imitate me as I also imitate Christ”? It’s a tall order, is it not? It just might take us longer than a year to figure this theme out. Prayerfully consider allowing God to become King of your life, and once that is accomplished, realize the role YOU play in all that…you’ve been given a gift, now use it!

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

Kevin

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12/25/11

What's all the hubbub anyhow?

Not everyone shares the thoughts of this time of year as being a time of celebration regarding the birth of the Christ child. Some even go so far to say that to use this time as a celebration hinges on apostasy. Theological debates ensue, brothers and sisters draw up battle lines and hearts become hardened. What does Christmas mean to us as Christians? Can we equate this time of year with Jesus’ birth? And, will God condemn me for thinking about His Son coming to us in the form of an infant at this time of year? Think of it like this: Christmas is a night to be remembered because God came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. His humble birth was the beginning of a mighty work the Father accomplished on mankind’s behalf. The first thing we notice is His incarnation. From the moment of His human birth, Jesus was at the same time fully God and fully man (Colossians 2:9). In Him, the human nature and divine nature were perfectly united—Jesus didn’t lay aside His deity at any time, nor did He exchange it for humanity. Instead, He chose to submit to His Father’s will and live as one of us. Throughout His earthly life, He remained the eternal Son of God, but simultaneously possessed a human nature unblemished by sin. Secondly it’s important to acknowledge the revelation of God. The Son came into this world so we could understand what the Father is like. Jesus said, “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me” (John 12:45). Relationally speaking, God connects with humanity through His Son. By calling Himself the Son of Man (Matthew 8:20; Mark 10:33, 45), Jesus was fully identifying Himself with us. He walked among us and learned first-hand the suffering and death that take place in human experience. During the crucifixion, He knew the consequences of sin, as He took all our iniquities upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus’ perfect life qualified Him to die in our place and pay our sin debt in full. As wonderful as the birth of a baby is, what occurred when Christ was born was far greater. God became man and dwelt among us so we might become reconciled to Him. Now, whether you wish to celebrate this time of year as Jesus’ birth is up to you. (Romans 14: 4-6) Personally, I have no problem with you celebrating today as Jesus’ birthday. As a matter of fact, the very thought of God coming to earth in form of an infant is an incredibly sobering thought; one worthy of praise, adoration and celebration each and every day.

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

Kevin

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12/18/11

Living the Life

Jesus calls us to be those who will gladly share the story that has changed our lives. When some Christians hear they are called to carry the good news to those who’ve not heard it, they worry that they need exceptional skill or charisma in order to share it with others. Yet to share God’s Word is not to merely speak of the "plan of salvation" to someone. The word literally means to see, hear, or know by personal presence and perception; to testify; bear witness to; give or afford evidence of. When John wrote that he was sharing what he had experienced first-hand, he was saying, "I am full of joy because of the experience of knowing Jesus, and I want to invite you to share in that joy!” When you're in love with someone, you are excited about the relationship and time spent together. Likewise, when you're in love with Jesus, you can't keep to yourself the joy that comes from knowing Him—it just spills over, bearing witness and strengthening other believers. In fact, as you give testimony of who God is and how He's working in your life, it makes no difference whether you speak quietly or with great exuberance: in their spirit, Christians will pick up on the deep, genuine gladness in your heart that goes beyond natural happiness. And people who don't yet know the Lord will find themselves hungering for the relationship you have. In that way, they will be drawn to His Spirit in you. Listen, Christian…sharing the good news is not a matter of eloquence or talent. It's an overflow of the personal relationship with Jesus Christ that is conforming you to His image. As you allow the Holy Spirit to increasingly express His life and power through you, contagious joy will be “fruit” of His indwelling presence.

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

Kevin

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12/11/11

Light it up!

Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world,” (John 8:12). He also said of His followers—which includes modern believers—“You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Both statements are true because Christians act as lanterns for Christ. While we ourselves are not the light, we are holders of the light! People who are stumbling in the darkness of sin and despair can look at believers and see hope. From within us glows the truth of Jesus Christ—the gospel message of salvation through forgiveness of sins. We allow Him to shine forth when we model His ways in our conversation, conduct, and character. A righteous lifestyle gets attention because it is so different from the selfish, unsatisfying ways typical of the world. Many who see our light will want Jesus for themselves. Reflecting Him to the world is the believer’s God-given job, so we must keep our flame bright! That means protecting our relationship with the Lord by spending time praying and reading His Word. Otherwise, we’ll make unwise decisions, our fervor for God will begin to lessen, and unbelievers won’t be able to see contentment or joy in us. We must also keep our lantern spotless by resisting temptation. Sin soils the believer’s testimony. However, when we do sin, our “slate” is wiped clean through confession and repentance. Christian, you have been given a great honor to reflect Jesus Christ to the world!! Don’t allow negligence or wrongdoing to dim your flame. Someone in your sphere of influence needs your “lantern” to guide him or her toward the true light of the world.

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

Kevin

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12/4/11

I'm just askin…

Curiosity causes me to ask how it was Jesus dealt so well with His impending demise and we often times can’t seem to even cope with day to day stressors. It’s an obvious truth that in order to ‘end’ well we have to ‘live’ well, so what was it that helped Jesus remain so successful in living such an incredible life? What was it that brought Him through times of difficulty, betrayal and loss? Could it be His focus is different than ours? When our final days here come to a close what will be most important to us? When you are in the final days of your life, what is it that you will want more than anything? Will you hug that college degree in the walnut frame? Will you ask to be carried to the garage so you can sit in your car? Will you find comfort in rereading your financial statement? Of course not!! What will matter then will be people. If relationships will matter most then, shouldn't they matter most now? If God’s most precious command is to love Him to the exclusion of everything else, why do we spend more time securing our creature comforts than we do learning how to love Him more? If God’s second command is to love those around us more than we do ourselves, why is it we spend more time focusing on manipulating people to suit our own tastes? When did the Maker of the universe make it a point to crown me king of other people’s destiny? The point is He never did. I can’t even fix me, how on earth can I ‘fix’ anyone else? Only God can do that! Max Lucado once said, “If today were your last, would you do what you’re doing? Or would you love more, give more, forgive more? Then do so! Forgive and give as if it were your last opportunity. Love like there’s no tomorrow, and if tomorrow comes, love again.” During this holiday season, let’s set our priorities in line…Jesus, Others, Yourself.

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

Kevin

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11/27/11

Blessings too numerous to count

Is it really fitting to set aside only one day out of an entire year to thank God for all He’s done for us? Our nation celebrates Thanksgiving with football, turkey, friends, family and pumpkin pie but, what has our God truly blessed us with? Just like Israel, we sometimes forget just how many blessings God wishes to lavish on His children. And, in our forgetfulness our thanks sometimes becomes overwhelmed with expectation. Deut 8:6a-10 “Keep the commandments of the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. "For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you will eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. "When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” Did you notice what God expected Israel to do in turn for recognizing all the blessings they received from God? They were to bless HIM in return! How do we bless God? We’re more than willing to take what He has in store for us, but how do we return the favor? Jesus gives us a clue in John 17. It’s in this passage that Jesus asks to receive glory from His Father so He could return the favor. When God blesses us, He honors our presence; He pours out His favor (not because we deserve it) but because of whom He is. In turn, we live our lives in such a way that shows others where our strength, our hope, and our joy come from. It’s reciprocal in nature. We cannot hope to know how to do what we need to do without receiving the power, direction & guidance from Him. To bless is to show favor toward…it means to promote or contribute to one’s happiness. So…church, how have you made God smile today? How have you promoted or contributed to the happiness of God? The more we recognize what He’s given us, the easier it is to return the favor.

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

Kevin

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11/20/11

Receiving the goodness of God

Read carefully this message Moses delivers to God’s people of old and think about how richly our God has blessed us. Deut 8:7-18 “For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land of flowing streams and pools of water, with springs that gush forth in the valleys and hills. It is a land of wheat and barley, of grapevines, fig trees, pomegranates, olives, and honey. It is a land where food is plentiful and nothing is lacking. It is a land where iron is as common as stone, and copper is abundant in the hills. When you have eaten your fill, praise the LORD your God for the good land he has given you. "But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the LORD your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and laws. For when you have become full and prosperous and have built fine homes to live in, and when your flocks and herds have become very large and your silver and gold have multiplied along with everything else; that is the time to be careful. Do not become proud at that time and forget the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt. Do not forget that he led you through the great and terrifying wilderness with poisonous snakes and scorpions, where it was so hot and dry. He gave you water from the rock! He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did it so you would never think that it was your own strength and energy that made you wealthy.” NLT This application still rings true for us today. When God pours out His extravagant blessings, be careful not to become proud, arrogant and boastful that the things we possess came from our hand. When we become ‘full’, prosperous and have built fine homes to live in we sometimes lose sight of who’s behind it all. At this time of the year; a time of thanksgiving, pause to remember just how precious all of God’s blessings to us truly are. When we count our blessings our woes, worries and difficulties seem to pale in comparison.

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

Kevin

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11/13/11

Misunderstood Motivations

How easy it is to be misunderstood! It’s difficult for us to accept how others feel about a certain issue if we feel passionately about something to the point we fail to hear what others have to say. When we believe our way is the best way to do things, we sometimes try to run roughshod over others in our attempt to bring about change. Those who have dedicated their life to serving the Lord want with all their heart to make the world a better place to live. The best way I’ve found to make the world a better place to live is by practicing what we’ve called ‘the Golden rule’. Is the golden rule your rule? In Matthew 7: 12, Jesus makes Himself perfectly clear; He instructs us to treat other people the same way we wish to be treated. Sometimes, especially when we’re feeling pressures of everyday living, obeying the golden rule can seem like an impossible task—but it’s not. If you want to know how to treat other people, ask the person you see every time you look into the mirror. The answer you receive will tell you exactly what to do. Martin Luther once said, “Faith never asks whether good works are to be done, but has done them before there is time to ask the question.” When we become a living, breathing example of the golden rule in action, other people will take notice and the results will be better than gold! Of a truth, God cannot build character without our cooperation. If we resist Him, He will chasten us into submission. But, if we submit to Him, He can accomplish the work He wishes to see materialize in our lives. A disciplined lifestyle gives us more control. The more disciplined we become, the more we can take control over our own lives and when we’re honest with ourselves…OUR lives are the only ones we can truly control.

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

Kevin

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11/6/11

Bring down the walls

One of the most tragic situations surrounding us as believers in the risen Lord is allowing ourselves to shield others from who we really are. True, there are those who take comfort in being more private than others, but it’s quite possible that the reason we become more reclusive is because of sin in our lives. One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to make believers aware of attitudes and actions that are contrary to God’s will. If we decide to resist conviction, we will naturally try to quiet the Spirit’s voice—which often means giving the Lord less of our time or none at all. It’s unfortunate that we work so hard at convincing those around us that we’ve got it all together if indeed we don’t. If we allow sin to progress, James tells us it eventually leads to death; spiritual death. Sin usually feels good in some way, at least for a while. For example, we can feel justified in our bitterness when another person has wronged us. Sometimes we want to hold on to resentment and prolong our sense of validation. But as believers, we cannot run our lives by emotion. We must consider God’s truth: the Bible says that if we refuse to confess and repent, sin will enslave our hearts and destroy the ability we have to tell others about what Christ is doing in our lives. Sin that is pleasing to us is much easier to justify than sin which repulses us…but, understand SIN is what put Christ Jesus on the cross regardless as to how ‘justified’ we make it in our minds. The only way we can truly find joy is in pursuing a relationship with Christ Jesus. By its very definition eternal life is relationship with the Father (John 17:3). Are you developing that relationship, Christian? If you’re not you don’t have eternal life.

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

Kevin

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10/30/11

The God of all Comfort and Grace

2 Sam 22:3-7 “My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, You save me from violence. "I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. "For the waves of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; the cords of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me. "In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; and from His temple He heard my voice and my cry for help came into His ears.” When Paul was suffering from a “thorn in the flesh,” the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In other words, God was saying, “Paul…I’m going to take care of you.” During our most trying moments—when we have nothing left to sustain ourselves; we can find strength in God. He doesn’t set aside a reserve of grace and assistance to help us six months from now. We get exactly what we need when we need it. He has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you” (Hebrews 13:5 NLT). And our Father has no intention of breaking that promise. Although it may seem hard, it’s possible that God removes everything around us so we rest squarely upon Him. One of the hardest things for us to do is to understand exactly what God is doing in times of distress, heartache and loneliness. It’s possible He’s telling us, “Lean on Me…My yoke is easy and My burden is light”. Learn from Paul…Lean on Him, child of God. Lean on Him.

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

Kevin

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10/23/11

Removing Strongholds

One of the greatest difficulties we face is learning how to love as God loves. There is a variety of reasons why it’s hard to love. One reason is because we’ve allowed ‘idols’ to get in our way. If you still see idols as being objects of wood, stone or metal worshiped by ancient civilizations, you’re missing the point. The bible teaches that idolatry involves allowing anything or anyone to stand in the place of God. It may have been an object of wood, bronze or gold that primitive people put in place of God, but sometimes we place things much more valuable in our way. We may have even been led to believe that idolatry is simply coveting our possessions to the point of not loving those around us, and this is true. However, there are other ‘strongholds’ in our lives that have a tendency to cloud our vision just as easily. What about anger? Has your volatile disposition alienated others from you? Do you have a tendency to push others away so as to not allow them to see the chinks in your armor? Does disappointment stand in your way of loving those around you? Is loneliness preventing you from opening yourself up to sharing love with those who need it most? Seems ironic, doesn’t it…that we would allow loneliness to stand in our way of loving those around us. It may be that we choose to be lonely because we don’t want to spend our time opening up to those around us. What about the idol of not forgiving another person? Genuine love is an exercise in forgiveness. The only way to build lasting relationships is to learn how to forgive. We are capable of doing so when we recognize that our loved ones are just as imperfect as we are. Simply put, an idol is anything we place on God’s throne once we remove Him from the throne. Spend time in prayer today. Ask God to remove any strongholds that stand in the way of connecting with Him and with others. When we use defensive mechanisms to keep others at bay, we’re not giving God’s Spirit the room to do what He does best.

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

Kevin

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10/16/11

God's Undying Love

Throughout the New Testament, we see God’s universal call to salvation repeated a number of times (John 1:12; 3:16; 6:40; Acts 2: 38, Acts 8: 26-30; 2 Peter 3:9). But each one of us must make a personal decision about answering Him. Our connection with God is RELATIONAL, not mechanical. We don’t go through “steps” to ensure our relationship with Him, we go through transformation. Why does God want mankind saved? First, He loves us (Ephesians 2:4). It’s important to realize that divine love isn’t based on any worthiness in us; rather, care for His creation is part of God’s nature. Another reason is that as His followers, we come alongside Him because He has sanctified us from the world (Ephesians 2:5-7). Believers were once rebellious beings, whom God transformed into obedient servants—that’s a change He wants to celebrate for eternity. Finally, our good works glorify the Lord (Matthew 5:16). Everything we do in His name increases other people’s awareness of Him. Jesus’ glory consisted of not only all He did while in the flesh but included His brutal death, burial and resurrection. Salvation is possible only through Christ, who reconciles sinful people to holy God. Isaiah 53:6 teaches that every one of us is a sinner, and Romans 6:23 adds, “The wages of sin is death.” Without a divine solution, we’d be indebted and hopeless. But the Savior’s death on the cross paid the penalty for all humanity so anyone who wants a relationship with the Father can have one. Believing Jesus died for our sins and submitting to the Lord’s will for our immersion into Him are all that’s necessary for us to enter into eternal fellowship with Him. God loves us and wants to be with us forever. The only thing that can separate us from Him is a decision to reject His invitation. Once we are His, no human action or character flaw is able to sever the love He has for us. Have you committed your life to Him? Isn’t it time?

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

Kevin

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10/9/11

The Windshield and the Rearview Mirror

I’ve always found the analogy of the windshield and the rearview mirror as being adequate to describe how we are to view life. As the adage goes: because the rearview mirror is proportionately smaller than the windshield, so too must the driver pay more heed to what lies ahead as opposed to what was behind. The celebration we’ve had privilege to participate in this weekend is by no means something we wish to take lightly. 150 years of existence is nothing to glibly overlook! 50 years worshipping in this building and 40 years of dedicated service rendered through our Nursery School are both truly phenomenal feats. However, our God reminds us through His servant Paul to spend less time looking back than what we do looking forward. “We press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil. 3:14.
We’ve enjoyed many wonderful opportunities to serve the Lord at Whitehall! God has blessed His people here in ways we may never even be able to fully realize. But, to spend more time gazing through the rearview mirror at our past accomplishments invites disaster on the road before us!
Recognizing how faithful God has been in times past should only resolve us to continually look forward with unabashed resolve to fulfill our Lord’s commission. It is today we applaud the efforts of the faithful who have gone on before us; to acknowledge their dedicated service to preserving the sanctity of the kingdom of God here at Whitehall.
But, we dare not stop there. We press on to the ‘high calling’ to which our God has called us. Relish the “glory days”, but keep in mind the greatest glory yet to behold…standing face to face with our Creator, Sustainer & Friend as we all gather round the throne to make proclamation: “Holy, Holy, Holy is the One who was and who is and who is to come”.

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

Kevin

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10/2/11

Complete Obedience toward God

Our lesson this morning hinges on God speaking through the prophet Malachi in regard to Israel’s lack of obedience toward God. There are instances in our lives as Christians that we might find ourselves questioning God’s position on a specific topic. Just because we don’t understand why God might request something we see as odd doesn’t negate our responsibility for completing His tasks! Peter was a professional fisherman. He knew how to gauge weather conditions, where to find the best places to fish, and when to end an unproductive night. Because of his expertise, he may have silently questioned the reasonableness of Jesus’ instruction. Why let down the nets when an experienced team of fishermen hadn’t caught anything all night? Sometimes God asks His children to act in ways that appear unreasonable. His request might involve leaving a job or ministry that He provided only recently, taking on more responsibility when life already feels overloaded, or accepting an assignment that seems better suited for someone with a different skill set. Perhaps God’s plan makes no sense in view of age, financial situation, or health condition. Yet, because of the One who asks, it will absolutely be the right thing to do. We have to decide whether to do what is sensible by human standards or by God’s standards. The Bible talks about many people who had to make such a choice. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his son Isaac. Noah was told to build an ark on dry land because a flood was coming. Joshua was given a military strategy of marching around Jericho instead of attacking it (Joshua 6:2-5). Gideon, the inexperienced fighter, was told to send most of his warriors home before the battle (Judges 7:2-3). Each and every person mentioned obeyed and experienced God’s power released on their behalf. I’m sure some (if not all) wondered why God was commanding they to do certain things, but it never stopped them from completing their assigned task. Don’t let human logic dictate whether you follow God’s plan. Trust in Him as Peter and these other faithful believers did and watch what God can do through your decision to follow Him regardless the logic.

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

Kevin

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9/25/11

How the family functions

Forced relationships rarely have a chance of survival. When we place ourselves in situations that challenge our desire to love, we sometimes fall short of the goal we aim for. When we create standards and motivate others to conform to them, these standards only encourage people to pretend to be something they aren’t, or to act like they know more than they really do. Questions and doubts are discouraged and people can’t deal with the things they are hiding. Thus their relationships become superficial or even false because they only let people see the shadow they want them to see, not who they really are. Feeling isolated, they only become more focused on their own needs and what others aren’t doing to meet them. It’s a vicious cycle…one that promotes hard feelings, resentment and remorse and it certainly doesn’t endorse how God wishes for us to live. Programs are good, ministries have their place, but if they are forced on others it makes them feel obligated and not privileged to participate. What we’re aiming for at Whitehall is a safe haven…a place where folks can come to discover real community, real issues and even real hurts. When we share with each other our lot as failed human beings as well as the journey of being transformed by Jesus working on us, we stop being so judgmental of each other and simply thank God for allowing us to be a part of HIS community. Your prayers on behalf of me and my family are coveted treasures. I thank God upon my every remembrance of you all and I’m so thankful God saw fit to bring me here as your minister. You all have shown me just how precious God’s people truly are…a community of believers who don’t have everything figured out, but who recognize each other’s failures and at the same time celebrate the balm our God becomes to us through His grace, His mercy and His love.

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

Kevin

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9/18/11

No minor achievement

As many of you have already made note, next month the Whitehall congregation intends to celebrate 150 years as a congregation of the Lord’s people in the Fairmont area. We have many exciting things planned for the weekend of October 7th-9th! Friday night will begin with a Song Service at 7:00 pm which will conclude at 9:00 pm. Because our anniversary theme is “Living Between the Trees”, Saturday afternoon (Oct. 8th) will begin at 2:00 pm with a message from Joe Spivy on the subject: “God makes us, but He doesn’t make us”.
Harry Summers will be our second speaker. His subject: “God with us—Divine communion between God and man”. Bryant Myers will wrap up our activities Saturday with his talk on: “God for us—Provisions/protection to preserve God’s people”.
Joel will be speaking during our Sunday morning bible class time (Oct. 9th) on the subject: “God reclaims us—Glimpses of eternity through the Son”. Children’s classes will resume as normal during Joel’s presentation. I will conclude the weekend with the subject: “God renews us—the reconnected state of the fallen.”
Sunday afternoon will also consist of us gathering downstairs in the lower fellowship hall for a covered-dish luncheon. The acappella group: “Lost and Found” will be performing for us at the conclusion of our luncheon upstairs in the auditorium. Do your part to spread the word about this incredible weekend and make sure you’ve made plans to attend each and every event!

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

Kevin

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9/11/11

"Who wants it more?”

As I was watching a sporting event one time, I heard an announcer make a statement that has had a lasting impact on me. Both teams were laying everything they had on the line to claim victory. It was obvious to all that both teams desperately desired to take the win. It was at this juncture the announcer said, “I guess we’re really going to find out who wants it more”. Talent is needed. Conditioning is mandatory. But, there are some things talent & conditioning cannot teach. One being: HEART. When athletes expend everything they have for victory, the universities they represent acknowledge the effort and endear themselves to the grid-iron warriors all the more. In Mark 10 we find an interesting story. Mark 10:17-22 “As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. "You know the commandments, 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, honor your father and mother. '"And he said to Him, "Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up." Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, "One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. "But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.” It wasn’t that Jesus was asking the rich young ruler to do an impossible thing: Jesus was simply asking the man to love Him more than money. Jesus placed the bar so high that it was almost impossible for him to do what Jesus asked. Why would Jesus do that? I believe He did it so the man would see the futility of chasing after temporary blessings so he could lay it all down at Jesus’ feet and worship Him completely! And, where was his focus? His focus rested on what HE was capable of doing; not on what JESUS was capable of doing for him! Mark it down: The sooner we yield, the quicker the rewards. Where does your faith reside, Christian? In your abilities, your works, your faith, your belief system & your desired result? Lose it...Lose it so as to learn how to really live.

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

Kevin

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9/4/11

God's way of reaping a bountiful harvest

John 15:1-3 “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.” A story was told one time about a preacher stopping to visit one of his congregants who was an apple grower. The preacher pulled up to the house, got out of his car and knocked on the front door. The man’s wife came to the front door and told the preacher her husband was out back, in the orchard. The preacher walked out back to find him mercilessly cutting branches from one of the trees. Without thinking, the preacher said, "You're going to kill that tree!" The apple grower turned around and said, "You stick to preaching, and leave the pruning to me." From that experience the preacher went on to say, “It was from him that I learned about the pruning process. In order to produce an abundant crop of the best fruit, he had to cut as he did. It might look as if the tree was going to die, but new growth would spring from the wounds.” Its illustrations such as these which help me to understand why the Lord sometimes acts as a pruning force in people's lives. To get a plentiful crop of spiritual fruit, our heavenly Father must remove anything that distracts or deters us from serving Him. The process is often painful. I know in times past I've cried out, "More, Lord?" when He has taken the "knife" to me. But the result is always satisfying—I am a better, more accurate reflection of Jesus Christ after God cuts away a fleshly habit or worldly attitude. Being loved by God does not mean we will be coddled—our comfort is not His primary interest. A grower must prune an apple tree to get a bountiful harvest. In the same way, God must sometimes let us feel pain so He can bring forth greater growth and more spiritual fruit.

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

Kevin

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8/28/11

What is it, Christian?

Although I’m sure the apostles didn’t understand, Jesus reminded them that it was to their advantage He was about to go away. (John 16:7) Jesus impressed upon His followers the importance of looking forward to the coming Holy Spirit. It wasn’t that the Spirit didn’t exist until then; as a matter of fact He was present as God laid the world’s foundation. (Genesis 1:2) It’s also imperative we understand that God’s Spirit IS God and because God always IS, so too is the Spirit. It is unfortunate that we have the presence of God’s Spirit dwelling inside us, but still fail to use His power to overcome satanic advances. Isn’t it odd that the early church knew less about the Holy Spirit than most of us in the church today, but that they knew Him intimately and powerfully as He worked through their lives? Why is it that we fail to see the incredible power which exists in us? Why is it that we fail to ‘pull the trigger’ on God’s Spirit? One of the saddest statements I’ve ever heard made is folks saying they fail to see a difference from folks IN church in comparison to those OUTSIDE the church. When those outside the church see no difference in our lives, they begin to question our integrity, our sanity, or even worse, our God. Stop trying hard to ‘prove’ your attachment to God. Stop trying to ‘earn’ grace. It cannot be done! Surrender will do what willpower cannot. The key is in ABIDING. Jesus reminds us, “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.” (John 15:4) Ask yourself: Do you have any need that requires more power than omnipotence? Are you facing a decision that requires more knowledge than omniscience? Nothing we encounter is bigger than the omnipresent One who lives within us. Be calm and confident. No matter what challenges you face, He can help.

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

Kevin

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8/21/11

New Perspective

The following excerpt was written by Paul Ciniraj and Mike Benson, editors of the Glad Tidings newsletter submitted by the Jacksonville Church of Christ. You place a basketball in my hand and we can play a pickup game of basketball. You place a basketball in Michael Jordan’s had and you get six NBA championship rings. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place a football in my hand and I can toss it to my son. You place a football in Peyton Manning’s hand and you get a $19 million dollar contract. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place a mathematical formula in my hand and you get confusion. You place a mathematical formula in Albert Einstein’s hand and you get the laws of relativity. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place a rod in my hand and I can beat an angry dog away from me. You place a rod in Moses’ hand and he will part the Red Sea. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place a stone and a slingshot in my hand and you get a kid’s toy. You place a stone and a slingshot in David’s hand and you slay a giant. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place two fish and five loaves of bread in my hand, and you get a couple of sandwiches. You place them in Jesus’ hand and 5,000 men are fed. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. You place some nails in my hand and you might get a birdhouse. You place nails in Jesus’ hands and you get the forgiveness of sins. It just depends on whose hand it’s in. Adding to this line of reasoning: You put a child in a loving God-fearing parent’s hand, and you get a child who learns to understand who God is. You place a child into the care of the Universe and he is watched over 24/7…it all depends on whose hand he’s in. We as parents sometimes forget that our children are on loan to us from God. Because of Nicholas’ decision to go back to Doddridge County to live with his mother, Mary and I (once again) have to learn that the best hands we can place him in are the ones who created him. Nick will come visit us from time to time, but the encouragement he could receive from you all would speak volumes to him. His address is as follows: Nicholas Lough HC 67 Box 119E West Union WV 26456.

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

Kevin

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8/14/11

Message from Joel

Kevin is back...

Kevin is back this weekend and will be sharing our message with us this Sunday morning and Sunday night. I am glad he got a chance to have some vacation days away! I (Joel) have only been here a few weeks but I would like to say thanks to Kevin and Mary for all that they do in the service of our Lord’s Church at White Hall. Galatians 6:6 Paul says, (NLT) “Those who are taught the word of God should provide for their teachers, sharing all good things with them.” If you get the chance this week, tell Kevin and Mary how much you appreciate them. The one thing that drew me to White Hall to work with the White Hall congregation was there love for each other and that the leadership along with Kevin and his wife Mary are done to earth real people living the Christian life and being an example by the way they live. I am truly thankful daily for the hospitality that the Lough’s and this congregation show’s my wife and I. Talking about hospitality, also we have our Church picnic at the Holbert’s Farm this Saturday August 13th, at 4pm should be lots of fun and activities, hope to see you all there. Hope you all had a blessed week in the Lord and look forward to worship this Sunday!
Joel Boggess
Youth and Family Life Associate Minister

Reminder: Sunset International Bible Institute begins its fall classes...

I look forward to seeing how God transforms our lives as we open our hearts and minds and study his word together… Hope to see you there…
Sunset International Bible Institute begins its fall classes Thursday night (6:30-8:30), August 18th marks our first night together for the 2011-2012 semesters. If you find yourself being intimidated by the thought of taking ‘college-level’ bible classes, please allow me to put your mind at ease. You are not obligated to memorize scripture, write papers or take midterm & final exams; that is unless you want to. The only cost will be your study guide (usually $8-10). The first two classes being offered are “Apologetics” as taught by Ted Stewart and “The Life of Christ” as taught by Richard Rogers. Apologetics is a study of giving a defense for the gospel when asked about the reason of hope and promise which lies within us. (1 Peter 3: 15). I hope you’ll do what you can to clear your schedule fr Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30 pm) beginning on August 18th. Please join in the fun of learning more about Jesus and how to defend the Gospel message of love that he gave his life for you and me. Even your new Associate minister Joel Boggess will be joining in the fun. Hope to see you all there.

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8/7/11

from Joel Boggess

Your New Associate Minister would like to Thank You...

Summer and I would like to thank the Congregation at White Hall for the way that you have welcomed us to be apart of your family. Summer and I prayed for a long time about where God wanted us to be and I can see his hand as he guided us here to work with your family here at White Hall. I feel that God has truly blessed me with more than just a minister job, he has blessed me with a family of brothers and sisters who desire to know us and serve with us. Thank you so much for having us be apart of your team and we look forward to the coming months and years as we continue see what God has in store for the White Hall Church of Christ! Thank you once again for the welcoming gifts and for you all going above and beyond to make us feel welcome, it means a lot to us.

Reminder: Sunset International Bible Institute begins its fall classes...

Sunset International Bible Institute begins its fall classes Thursday night (6:30-8:30), August 18th marks our first night together for the 2011-2012 semesters. If you find yourself being intimidated by the thought of taking ‘college-level’ bible classes, please allow me to put your mind at ease. You are not obligated to memorize scripture, write papers or take midterm & final exams; that is unless you want to. The only cost will be your study guide (usually $8-10). The first two classes being offered are “Apologetics” as taught by Ted Stewart and “The Life of Christ” as taught by Richard Rogers. Apologetics is a study of giving a defense for the gospel when asked about the reason of hope and promise which lies within us. (1 Peter 3: 15). I hope you’ll do what you can to clear your schedule fr Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30 pm) beginning on August 18th. Please join in the fun of learning more about Jesus and how to defend the Gospel message of love that he gave his life for you and me. Even your new Associate minister Joel Boggess will be joining in the fun. Hope to see you all there.

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7/31/11

As another school year begins…

Just as another school year is around the corner, so too will the Sunset International Bible Institute soon begin its fall classes. Thursday, August 18th marks our first night together for the 2011-2012 semesters. If you find yourself being intimidated by the thought of taking ‘college-level’ bible classes, please allow me to put your mind at ease. You are not obligated to memorize scripture, write papers or take midterm & final exams; that is unless you want to. The only cost will be your study guide (usually $8-10). The first two classes being offered are “Apologetics” as taught by Ted Stewart and “The Life of Christ” as taught by Richard Rogers. Apologetics is a study of giving a defense for the gospel when asked about the reason of hope and promise which lies within us. (1 Peter 3: 15). As I’ve often said, if others don’t see the reason of hope and promise welling up from within us, they’re not going to bother asking about why we act the way we do and what our actions have to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The second class gives us glimpses of the life our Savior lived in the flesh. Richard Rogers does a phenomenal job of showing us the life Christ lived when walking the dusty roads of Judea, Galilee and surrounding areas. Of all the classes I had during my enrollment at Sunset, this had to be my favorite. I hope you’ll do what you can to clear your schedule for Thursday evenings (6:30-8:30 pm) beginning on August 18th. I can assure you…you will not be disappointed at the wealth of knowledge to be gained by dropping your plow a little deeper so Biblical truths can be un-earthed before you thus allowing you to soar to new heights in your relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Make plans NOW to be a part of our Sunset school! Also, if you are aware of anyone who is desirous of gaining a greater understanding of scripture, make sure to invite them to join us as well. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.

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

Kevin

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07/24/11

The Long Flight Home

Ramola Lee sent me the following story via email. What an accurate account of how our faith should be even in the midst of trials. Enjoy. A preacher had been on a long flight between church conferences…The first warning of the approaching problems came when the sign on the airplane flashed on: Fasten Your Seat-Belts. Then, after a while, a calm voice said, "We shall not be serving the beverages at this time as we are expecting a little turbulence. Please be sure your seat belt is fastened." As the preacher looked around the aircraft, it became obvious that many of the passengers were becoming apprehensive. Later, the voice on the intercom said, "We are so sorry that we are unable to serve the meal at this time. The turbulence is still ahead of us…" And then the storm broke... The ominous cracks of thunder could be heard even above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the darkening skies, and within moments that great plane was like a cork tossed around on a celestial ocean. One moment the airplane was lifted on terrific currents of air; the next, it dropped as if it were about to crash. The preacher confessed that he shared the discomfort and fear of those around him. He said, "As I looked around the plane, I could see that nearly all the passengers were upset and alarmed. Some were praying. The future seemed ominous and many were wondering if they would make it through the storm. "Then, I suddenly saw a little girl. Apparently the storm meant nothing to her. She had tucked her feet beneath her as she sat on her seat; she was reading a book and everything within her small world was calm and orderly. "Sometimes she closed her eyes, then she would read again; then she would straighten her legs, but worry and fear were not in her world. When the plane was being buffeted by the terrible storm when it lurched this way and that, as it rose and fell with frightening severity, when all the adults were scared half to death, that marvelous child was completely composed and unafraid." The minister could hardly believe his eyes. It was not surprising therefore, that when the plane finally reached its destination and all the passengers were hurrying to disembark, our preacher lingered to speak to the girl whom he had watched for such a long time. Having commented about the storm and the behavior of the plane, he asked why she had not been afraid. The child replied, "Cause my Daddy's the pilot, and he's taking me home." There are many kinds of storms that buffet us. Physical, mental, financial, domestic, and many other storms can easily and quickly darken our skies and throw our plane into apparently uncontrollable movement. We have all known such times, and let us be honest and confess, it is much easier to be at rest when our feet are on the ground than when we are being tossed about a darkened sky. Let us remember: Our Father is the Pilot. He is in control and taking us home. Don't worry!

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

Kevin

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7/17/11

I've learned to be content in all circumstances…

Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Too often we let our circumstances determine our attitude. If life is going smoothly, then we feel good about ourselves; when it gets hard, our mood drops. But we don't have to live this way. Like the apostle Paul, we can learn and practice the secret of being content. Contentment means accepting things the way they are—in other words, not wanting anything more or different. This requires developing an "I can through Christ" attitude. It means learning to bring God's power into our weakness so we can accept and adapt to changing circumstances. When we respond to life with that kind of thinking, we move beyond feelings to living by faith. We must incorporate submission and trust to develop such a lifestyle. First, we must surrender our will to God's: in every situation, we are to yield what we want and accept whatever He allows. Our desire to control events is replaced by reliance on Him. This option becomes more appealing when we realize that the alternative—fighting against our circumstances—brings anxiety and distress. The second step is to actively trust God to oversee our specific situation. If we believe God is working out His perfect plan for us, then we will experience the joy that comes from trusting Him. Contentment will be ours. Paul submitted his life to God and trusted Him. He faced insults, rejection, and many difficult trials but was still content. When we surrender control to the Lord and believe He has our best interest at heart, we will experience contentment too. Who’s in charge of your life?

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

Kevin

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7/10/11

Spiritual Disciplines

1 Cor 9:24-27 “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win. All athletes practice strict self-control. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.” I found an excerpt on an individual who was in training to become a boxer. He notes that at the end of a grueling workout the boxing coach would make each person stand in line. He states, “It was always the last thing we did in the gymnasium, when we were so tired we could barely remain upright. We stood with our feet together, looked at a spot on the wall, and then rotated our head in as wide a circle as we could, over and over, all the while concentrating on that one spot on the wall. At first we all became dizzy and lost our balance. Gradually we were able to keep standing and keep looking at that spot in front of us, regardless of our dizziness. We were boxers in training. The coach told us that the point of the exercise was to have us trained to keep looking at our opponent instinctively after we had been staggered by a blow and the lights were going out and we were dizzy. "This little exercise will keep you alive one day", he told us, "and you will thank me that I insisted you do it." He was proved right. The day came for all of us -- and came more than once -- when the training we had undergone kept us looking at our opponent after we’d been hit and the ring was reeling and we had to get through the round. Boxers aren’t the only ones who get “rocked” are they? Training in righteousness is essential in regard to “keeping us alive”. Focus on these series’ of sermons. Although not always pleasant, spiritual disciplines are critical for our spiritual survival. Some day we will be thankful for the training we receive at a time of temptation, weakness or even pain.

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

Kevin

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7/3/11

Spent time in mediation lately?

Josh 1:6-8 “Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. "Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success wherever you go. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.”
One of the most vital aspects of our relationship with God is time we spend meditating on His Word, His ways, His Son & His Spirit. I find it interesting in God’s instruction given to the Israelites after Moses’ passing, God advices them to meditate on the book of the law both day and night so they would know the direction most profitable for them. Meditation is still crucial for believers today. In our culture, we are inundated by worldly values and godless priorities. Unless we guard our hearts, we will slowly begin to accept these unrighteous standards. We should discipline ourselves to meditate daily upon God's Word, focusing our attention on His character and His ways. This involves prayerfully reading Scripture, being silent before the Lord so we can hear from Him, and applying biblical truth to our lives. Of course, these things don't just happen. Distractions take away from our ability to focus, so it is necessary to set aside a time when we can be still and listen. Consider the benefits of doing so. Meditation quiets our spirit, provides an avenue for God to purify our hearts, develops a hunger for His word so we can gain a much deeper understanding of Christ, improves our discernment about direction for our lives, and sharpens our awareness of His presence. Meditation may involve a small sacrifice of rising earlier or giving up free time during the day. But living a Christ-centered life filled with peace and joy depends upon our commitment to focus our minds and hearts on Him regularly. Are you willing to discipline yourself to set aside time each day?

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

Kevin

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6/26/11

Lest we forget…

We tend not to discuss it much, but it is inevitable. It’s a day which will be like none other; a day which will give us a ‘jolt’ a hundred times the shock 9-11 did. It will be a day of joy for some, remorse for many and regret for numerous others. It will be a day of bent knees, weeping/gnashing of teeth, jeers, tears and cheers. It is a reality which will be here much sooner than we know: Judgment Day. Read the following excerpt. Envision it; live it, and then, ask yourself: “Am I in the relationship with my Heavenly Father I need to be?”
You are in your car driving home. Thoughts wander to the game you want to see or meal you want to eat, when suddenly a sound unlike any you've ever heard fills the air. The sound is high above you. A trumpet? A choir? A choir of trumpets? You don't know, but you want to know.
So you pull over, get out of your car, and look up. As you do, you see you aren't the only curious one. The roadside has become a parking lot. Car doors are open, and people are staring at the sky. Shoppers are racing out of the grocery store. The Little League baseball game across the street has come to a halt. Players and parents are searching the clouds and what they see, and what you see, has never before been seen.
As if the sky was a curtain, the drapes of the atmosphere part. A brilliant light spills onto the earth. There are no shadows. None. From every hue ever seen and a million more never seen. Riding on the flow is an endless fleet of angels. They pass through the curtains one myriad at a time, until they occupy every square inch of the sky. North. South. East. West.
Thousands of silvery wings rise and fall in unison, and over the sound of the trumpets, you can hear the cherubim and seraphim chanting, Holy, holy, holy.. The final flank of angels is followed by twenty-four silver-bearded elders and a multitude of souls who join the angels in worship…Suddenly, the heavens are quiet. All is quiet. The angels turn, you turn, the entire world turns and there He is..... Jesus.
Through waves of light you see the silhouetted figure of Christ the King. He is atop a great stallion, and the stallion is atop a billowing cloud. He opens his mouth, and you are surrounded by his declaration: I am the Alpha and the Omega. The angels bow their heads... The elders remove their crowns....And before you is a Figure so consuming that you know, instantly you know: Nothing else matters…forget stock markets and school reports.... sales meetings and football games. Nothing is newsworthy...all that mattered, matters no more... For Christ has come. What a tremendous day that will be! Are you ready should He come today?

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

Kevin

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6/19/11

Happy Father’s Day!

From time to time we need to be reminded not to take ourselves so seriously. You know what they say, “All work and no play makes a mother!” Being the dedicated humor-induced father I am, I thought I would share the following story with you. Dads, have a GREAT Father’s day. Hopefully your wife will make your favorite dish, your children will wait on you hand and foot & you have full access to the remote control. Once there was a little boy who lived in the country. They had to use an outhouse, and the little boy hated it because it was hot in the summer, cold in the winter and stank all the time. The outhouse was sitting on the bank of a creek and the boy determined that one day he would push that outhouse into the creek.
One day after a spring rain, the creek was swollen so the little boy decided today was the day to push the outhouse into the creek. So he got a large stick, used a log for a fulcrum and started pushing. Finally, the outhouse toppled into the creek and floated away.
That night his dad told him they were going to the woodshed after supper. Knowing that meant a spanking, the little boy asked why. The dad replied, “Someone pushed the outhouse into the creek today. That someone wouldn’t happen to be you, would it?” The boy answered, “Yes, father…it was”. . Then the boy thought a moment and said, “Dad, I read in school today that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree and didn’t get into trouble because he told the truth.” The dad replied, “Well, son, George Washington’s father wasn’t IN that cherry tree!”

Have a blessed Father’s Day, and remember the One who gave it to you!

Kevin

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6/12/11

It takes a village to raise a child

As you’ve been reminded over the course of the last several months, tonight begins our 2011 VBS. This year promises to be spectacular because of all the time, care and preparation folks have put into it. Thanks so much to all our volunteers who have come together to prepare the building, make the treats, set up the games and rehearse their lines. On a more personal note, Mary and I wish to thank you for all the prayers you’ve offered to God on behalf of our great nephew, Nicholas. Nick has decided to spend the summer months with his mother. He’s still kicking around the idea as to whether or not he wishes to begin the 2011-2012 school year in Doddridge county or Marion county. Although we’ve struggled with his decision, we’ve decided to let him choose where he wishes to live. Because of the care, the love, the concern and the wonderful advice each of you have given to Nicholas during his formidable years we wish to impress upon you how important it is for us to know you’re still praying for this young man’s future. Through the prayers of my wife, Mary has come to the conclusion that Nicholas will be a light wherever God so chooses to lead him…and that maybe he will have an opportunity to lead his family to Christ. To that end we desire you pray. To that end we know God will lead us. To that end we must believe. Indeed, it takes a village to raise a child. Each and every young person you see this week has a future. Make the best impression you can so as to show them the love of Christ. We cannot see what the future holds for them, but we can exhibit Christ-like characteristics which will influence them for the good. Enjoy each and every boy or girl you encounter this week and remind yourself; if they stress you out to the point of desiring to scream they are still children of the King.

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

Kevin

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6/5/11

KEVIN'S KOLUMN Just some quick notes to pass on…

As many of you know, our 2011 VBS will begin this coming Sunday! June 12th-June 16th. Times each evening will be from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. The picnic will be held at the Castle Creek Park (June 16th) from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm as well. If you would like to help out with this year’s VBS, please see me or Mary. Our door knocking campaign will be headed up by Mark & Linda Hawkinberry. Jacob will be asking the teens to help in this effort. If you can help, please see Mark. Jean Phillips, Dianne Tonkery, Michelle Sole and Heidi Sturm are taking care of publicity. Our decorating committee will consist of Edwina Summers, Janon Klug, Mark & Linda Hawkinberry, Otto & Amy Kaiser. Pre-registration table will be covered by Kelly Holbert, Marsha Sparks & Jeri Adams. Meredith Pheasant, Stephanie Tonkery, Linsey Cox & Jordan Brooks will take care of the Hyper Speed Games under the front canopy. Cinema Science Leader will be Amy Wright. Jerry & Edwina Summers will be directing Bible Blast located in the side hallway. Rob Pugh, Kyle Smallwood and I will conduct Sonic Sing in the Auditorium each evening, both opening & closing. Test tube treats will be handled by Joan McDaniel, Jean Philips, Linda Huber, Joan Perry & Nancy Tonkery. Pam Jackson, Seanna Pugh & Shelia Kisner will take care of the Wacky Works Craft & Missions. Our Spotlight Drama will be directed by Cindy Perkins. We are still in need of Crew Leaders for our Preschool children! We only have one and are in need of four all together. If you would be willing to help, see me, Mary or Brenda Grant. Darrell Conaway will be presenting an Adult Bible Study class in the Lower fellowship hall as he uses a DVD series taught by Tom Holland. This is going to be an exciting year and we pray you’ll start inviting folks to come now! Please pray for the success of this year’s 2011 Power Lab VBS. As a side note: if you did not receive a list of Adult Auditorium classes Darrell will be presenting for the Summer quarter, please see me or Kenny Cottrell & I’ll make sure you get a copy of the various topics which will be discussed in Darrell’s class, “Getting Past Guilt”.

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

Kevin

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