From the Pastor for July 27, 2008

This picture is of our pastor hiking which is one of his favorite things to do.

From the Pastor:
Psalm 42:9 “Why go I mourning?”
Can you answer this question, oh child of God? Or has the question no application to your life and experience. I have never met a man or woman who has not at some time or other in their life mourned for one reason or another. I have mourned over my own failures and sinful ways. I have mourned with those who were smitten with grief due to death or illness. It is OK and even expected under certain circumstances to mourn. The Apostle Paul spoke of a godly sorrow which works repentance to salvation. Mourning is good if the reason is good. Thus the question raised by the psalmist is a valid question. It does matter why you mourn.
When my father died I did not go mourning about as those who have no hope. My father is in heaven and of this I am confident. I am confident that I will see him again for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. I do not mourn for the loss of his influence on my life for he continues to influence me by the example he set for me while he lived. I do not mourn the loss of his company for the Lord has taken him away and I will not mourn over that circumstance which comes about to the glory of God. I place my confidence in the promise of God that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are the called according to His purpose. This confidence forbids me to go mourning. I rather rejoice that the Lord reigns and am moved to go praising rather than to go mourning.

From the Pastor for July 13, 2008

The picture is of our pastor at Pine Springs Baptist Camp taken right before he got up to preach.

From the Pastor: Luke 15:2 “This man receiveth sinners.”
Can you see in this verse the great condescension of God? This Man, who towers above all other men, holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, this Man receiveth sinners! This Man, who is none other than the eternal God, before whom angels cover their faces with their wings, this Man receiveth sinners! It needs an angel’s tongue to describe such a mighty stoop of love. That any of us should be willing to seek after the lost is nothing wonderful or marvelous because they are of our own race. But that He, the offended God, against whom the transgression has been committed, should take upon himself the form of a servant, and bear the sin of many, and should then be willing to receive the vilest of the vile, this is indeed marvelous!
“This Man receiveth sinners” not so that they may remain sinners, but he receives them that he may pardon their sins, justify them, cleanse their hearts, preserve their souls by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and enable them to serve him, to show forth his praise, and to have communion with him. None are so precious in Jesus’ sight as the sinners for whom He died. This fact is still most sure today, he is still receiving sinners. Would to God sinners would receive him.

From the Pastor

Our Pastor and his wife on His 20th birthday one week before they were engaged to be married.

From the Pastor: (2 Kings 6:25) … an ass's head was [sold] for fourscore [pieces] of silver, and the fourth part of a cab of dove's dung for five [pieces] of silver.
When men become desperate, their since of value changes. Things that are of little value during good times can become of great value when life is threatened. I was once offered a homemade tamale which had been made from the head of a hog which had been boiled for that purpose. I turned my nose up at the thought of eating such a thing. One of my Aunts offered me some tripe which she explained to me was the stomach lining of a cow. I turned my nose up at this as well. If your life depended upon eating such things you would not only accept them but might well pay a rich sum for them. The men of Samaria had been under siege and a famine prevailed. They were willing to pay more for the head of an ass than they would pay Judas for betraying our Lord, Jesus. They would pay as much for a gallon of dove’s dung as they paid for the Savior of Men. Men often come to the point of death before they see the value of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. When death is near men begin to value that which they have for years rejected. What price would you pay for eternal life if it could be bought? What value do you place on the forgiveness of sins? Is there any price you would not pay to escape everlasting punishment in Hell? Is your Savior worth more to you than anything in the world?

A baby picture of our pastor

From the Pastor:
“A cake not turned”
(Hosea 7:8) Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned.
The northern kingdom of Israel is described in this text as a cake not turned. Picture a pancake poured out on a hot griddle. Now picture not turning it over but allowing it to burn on one side and be uncooked on the other. It is not an appetizing thought is it? The picture is of inconsistency, Neither side is good of a cake not turned. Ephraim was not consistent. They were on one hand God's chosen people but on the other hand they were worshipers of Idols. They would see the power of God displayed and cry out, as they did when Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume the water soaked altar and sacrifice, “The Lord He is the God, The Lord He is the God.”
A people of faith who walk by sight are a cake not turned. They are inconsistent and not fit for the master's use. When we live wickedly like the world during the week and come to the house of God and worship as if we had done no wrong we are a cake not turned.
Jesus said “If the salt hath lost it savor wherewith shall it be salted.” He went on to say it was good for nothing. If we live before the world a life that is not consistent with the teachings of God's word we are a cake not turned. Living outside the will of God causes us to be ineffective in winning the lost to Christ.
By diligently doing all things for the glory of God, by being obedient to God's every command, we present to the world the consistency that will cause them to see our unchanging God. When God is real to us and we really fear Him we will not be a cake unturned but rather a vessel unto honor in the cause of Christ.

From the Pastor

A picture of our pastor in a field in Hill county Texas.

From the Pastor: (Gen 21:6) And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
God did for Sarah a heretofore unimaginable thing. She would, even in her barren and elderly state, have a son. God caused her to have great joy and all that would hear of her blessing would joy with her. God is a giver of joy. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights.” Joy is certainly a good and perfect gift. The apostle Peter described the joy of the believer as “unspeakable and full of glory.”
Notice that Sarah said “God hath MADE me to laugh.“ God knows what it takes to bring us real joy. Joy is not found in the things of this world but comes as a gift from God. God longs to make His children to have and express joy.
Notice that Sarah gave the purpose for which God has caused her to laugh when she said “so that...” Our joy is intended to help others to have joy as well. When the world sees the joy we have in God it will stir them to desire that joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Believer, there dwells within you the Holy Spirit of God. When you are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit you will have and express joy.
Notice that Sarah said “ALL that HEAR will laugh with me.” The joy we have and share with this world will only impact the lives of those who will hear. Sadly there are many who will not hear of the grace of God. They will not hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and will never know the joy of the Lord.
God wants to make you laugh. He wants you to share that laughter with those around you. Share your faith in Jesus Christ with everyone you know.

From the Pastor for June 15th

Our Pastor at his graduation from seminary in 2003. He is standing with his former pastor Bro. Harold Davis.

From the Pastor: “Waiting for the Bus”
2Timothy 4:6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
When I was a child I spent a lot of time waiting for the school bus. We had a general idea as to when it would arrive and knew it would not be very long. We usually spent the time playing around, throwing things or waving at the passing cars. Sometimes we would use the time productively like studying for a test or reading.
The Apostle Paul was nearing the end of his time on earth. And in this second letter to Timothy he expresses his feelings about his time here on earth. Paul spent his last days on earth in prison. His eye sight was bad and his health was failing. Even in this state he used his time to encourage young Timothy. He was waiting for the bus that would take him home to heaven. He used this waiting time productively.
Should you find yourself near the end of your days on earth with your health failing and unable to go and come as you once could, follow the example set by this beloved Apostle. Use what limited strength and freedom you have left to be a blessing to those around you. Be an example of the believer. As you wait for the bus to take you home share with those who will one day follow you all that God has done for you.
No matter what your age you do not know when the bus will come. Spend your time as if that bus was going to be arriving soon. The time of your departure may be at hand. Serve the Lord each day so that you too may be able to say “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Our Pastor 37 years ago

This picture is of our pastor 37 years ago. This is "From the Pastor" for June 8, 2008:

From the Pastor: “Their Champion”
1 Samuel 17:51 “...when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.”
The Philistines put their trust in the size, power and skill of their champion, Goliath of Gath. They knew of no one that could beat their undefeated champion. They were completely confident that their champion could defeat, destroy, and kill any foe he faced. One moment they were reveling in and cheering on their their champion and the next they see him dead. Their hope was gone and so the fled away in abject fear and were themselves overcome.
We have a champion who also died. Our champion, unlike their champion who this day lies dead in the dust of the earth, rose from the dead. Unlike their champion ours gained victory by his death. Their champion met his match, one stronger than he, but our champion has no equal and none is superior to Him. Their champion was awesome in his appearance before men but our champion was like a root out of dry ground and had no form nor comeliness and when seen there was no beauty that we should desire him. Their champion cursed his enemies and spoke blaspheme and wished harm to those who opposed him but our Champion blessed his enemies and cried “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Their champion was arrogant, conceited and proud our Champion is meek and lowly washing the feet of sinful men. Their champion let them down and put them to shame. Those who put their trust in our Champion will never be ashamed. They were disappointed by their champion but we will never be disappointed in ours. Our Champion is Jesus Christ and He wants to be your champion too.