Pastor’s Notes
THE TRUE CHURCH (2/16/2025)
In 2008, I traveled to Brazil for a summer internship. It is a very beautiful country with a rather large Catholic influence. I remember traveling one day with a youth mission group to a city known for its shopping and Catholic churches. In fact, one church building had statues inside lined with gold. On that particular day, for people to actually see inside it, they had to pay a fee. Needless to say, I stayed outside.
Around 55 AD, Paul wrote to Christians dwelling in Rome, “so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.” (Romans 12:5/ESV) Just a few years after Paul’s epistle, Peter wrote to believers who, in the face of persecution, had been dispersed throughout the regions of Asia Minor, declaring, “you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:5/ESV)
Both letters ministered to different believers, who lived in different places and at different times. Yet, both revealed the same truth regarding the church: The Church is not a physical building but a spiritual body. Indeed, every believer is part of the body of Christ. The church is not a religious structure but living stones, being built up as a holy temple unto the Lord. We must not lose sight of this, focusing too much on the external and not the eternal. What makes heaven rejoice is not stained glass windows but souls washed in the precious blood of Christ! In light of this, I want to simply share a poem I wrote years ago, regarding this very subject:
The Church
Look at the stunning steeple, it is grand and high.
But even greater still, the rugged cross where He died.
Look at the bright and beautiful stained glass windows,
But even more wonderful, the cleansing blood that ever flows.
Look at the large instruments, Lovely music they convey.
But even more important, the humble soul that never ceases to praise.
Look at the pews, the altar, the pulpit, and the many lights.
But remember what lasts forever, the true Church: believers part of the body of Christ.
SLOW DOWN (2/23/2025)
Most of us, at some point, have driven past a caution sign that reads, “Slow: Children at Play.” Obviously, it serves as a reminder to stay alert and vigilant, as children may be playing near the road. While the sign is posted for their safety, I also believe it carries a deeper message—not just to slow down on the road, but to slow down in life.
This past week, I took my kids to Westgate Park to play and enjoy the nice weather. I told them that after they were done playing, I would take them to the library. Not too long ago, they could have spent hours at the park, but as they’ve grown older, that has changed. Monkey bars lose their appeal when your feet can touch the ground and sliding down a slide only slightly taller than yourself is no longer as thrilling as it once was.
The reality is that we must take those words to heart: Slow. Children at Play. We need to slow down in our busy lives, recognize that our children will only be “at play” for a short time, and be present for them during these formative years. It’s not just about ensuring their safety—it’s about making sure they know they are loved.
Scripture instructs us to nurture and guide our children in Christian discipline. Ephesians 6:4 urges parents to bring up their children “in the training and instruction of the Lord.” Psalm 127:3-4 states, “Children are an inheritance from the LORD. They are a reward from Him. The children born to a man when he is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior” (GWT). Paul also wrote to Titus, instructing older Christian women to teach younger women to be loving wives and mothers and to care for their families (Titus 2:3-5). Time and again, the Bible emphasizes the importance of nurturing and guiding one’s household—beyond just providing physical nourishment and financial stability.
A child, as the Psalmist depicts, is a precious heirloom from the Lord, meant to be cherished, and a pliable arrow to be directed toward a greater purpose. We have only one opportunity to aim them in the right direction. If we focus solely on feeding them and showering them with material possessions, have we truly prepared them for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14)?
Be there for them. Listen to them. Love them. Seek to lead them in the way of understanding (Proverbs 9:6). And above all, learn to slow down—because for only a short time, your children are at play.
ALWAYS RIGHT (3/9/2025)
Oddly enough, March 15th marks the made-up holiday Everything You Think Is Wrong Day. No one knows exactly how it originated, but the day is intended to remind people that they are not always right. Even more intriguing is Everything You Do Is Right Day, which is observed on March 16th! Similarly, the origins of this celebration remain unclear, though I suspect it was created solely as a counterbalance to Everything You Think Is Wrong Day. Given the choice between the two, it’s obvious that most—if not all—would prefer Everything You Do Is Right Day.
After all, who enjoys being reminded of their mistakes? Most people would rather embrace a sugar-coated lie than confront a bitter truth. When charging Timothy with faithfully preaching the gospel, Paul wrote, “A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3 GWT). It might come as a surprise to some, but church services are not meant to make us feel “comfortable.” People often seek to have their egos stroked, when they should instead have their toes stepped on.
This raises an important question: how often do we shut our ears to constructive criticism while eagerly tuning in when someone sings our praises? Solomon wisely declared, “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise” (Proverbs 12:15). He further stated in Proverbs 21:2, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.” The reality is that we should all be willing to learn from our mistakes and accept the helpful admonitions of others. This requires regular self-examination, done honestly and daily, by looking into the mirror of God’s Word (James 1:13–27). We should seek God’s help in chipping away at hidden sin and pride within us, longing for Him to mold us into the image of Christ (Psalms 139:23–24).
Pastor’s Notes
How can the same people who witnessed God’s glorious power in parting the Red Sea still question whether He could provide something for them to eat?! They became so familiar with divine favor that they took the Lord’s blessings for granted and sought to appease their fleshly and foolish desires. The sad fact, however, is that none of us would have been any better. If you are saved, you have received something far greater than physical deliverance; you have received spiritual life. Peter said that the believer has been given “exceeding great and precious promises.” (2 Peter 1:4) Paul said that God has “…blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) So how is it that we can so easily overlook the graces of God, which are abundant in our own lives? Hopefully, we will never be blinded to, forget, or disregard the abundant mercies of God, but will “…offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually…” (Hebrews 13:15a)
THE FINAL MOVE (2/2/2025)
This past week, my wife and I finally closed on a home and began moving in all of our family’s belongings. We are grateful for everyone who helped us through our first move to the church offices, our second move to temporary housing, and this third and final move to what we hope will be our home for many years to come.
Every believer should have this kind of joyful anticipation. Sadly, it is easy to become so entangled in the troubles and trivialities of life that the joy of heaven fades from our hearts. When I unloaded the last box in my new home—just a short distance from the church—I breathed a deep sigh of relief. One day, I will experience an even greater sigh of relief when I leave behind the burdens of this world and find my eternal home in the presence of my Savior.
The late actor and performer Will Rogers once said, “If ‘pro’ is the opposite of ‘con,’ what is the opposite of Congress?” The fact is that the government is rarely known for being efficient and creative. It is often the exact opposite: wasteful and destructive. Not long ago, the Congressional Budget Office found that Congress provided $516 billion in appropriations for programs that had already expired. Over $300 billion was set aside for activities that expired decades ago, with the oldest having expired in 1980. Another report revealed that federal agencies were only using 12% of the space in their headquarters buildings, costing millions to maintain and furnish these mostly empty spaces.
In Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus told a parable about a master who entrusted his servants with different amounts of money. All of the servants, except one, doubled the money they received. One servant, however, did absolutely nothing with what he was given. When this was found out, the slothful servant was not only chastised for his laziness and negligence, but he lost all that had been given to him, and in the end, received eternal punishment. This parable has often been interpreted that Jesus was teaching about the importance of a believer growing in faith, being a faithful steward of the gospel, and being diligent in building up the kingdom of Christ.
In today’s society, to say that you are a Christian carries little weight. It has become a quaint token and nothing more. The reality is that a true Christian is a servant of Christ! They have been called to be faithful stewards in their lives. The Apostle Paul once wrote, “Him [Jesus] we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this, I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Colossians 1:28-29 ESV) As a Christian, I have been given something far greater than financial wealth. I have the indwelling of the very Spirit of Christ. It is by the gifts and power of His Spirit that I can shine the gospel light in this dark world. If you read the final parable about the sheep and the goats, which Jesus gave in Matthew 25, you will see how much it complements the parable of the talents and how it hits home to what a true Christian should be doing. The question is simple: Are we being faithful to what has been entrusted to us?