Defining or Being Defined by the Culture

 

This week, as a society, we experienced an unprecedented announcement by our president that he is in support of homosexuals being afforded the same opportunity to marry as men and women have.

This announcement, while it is not shocking to say the least, does ratchet up the departure of our culture from the truths of the Bible.  As a believer, what is our responsibility?  Just a couple of thoughts….

1) We are Stewards of Truth, not the creators of it.   It would be funny if it was not so tragic, that the world is spending all this time trying to re-define an idea that was not ours to begin with.   God instituted marriage, not us… and God defined marriage as the joining together of a man & a woman.   As believers, our job is to defend and stand for what God has already defined.

Paul called the local church “… the pillar and ground of the truth”..   Every NT church has two primary responsibilities…  defend the truth and advance the truth.   Not try to recreate or re-define it.

2) Light shines its brightest in darkness.   As the culture deteriorates, I am convinced that people are still drawn to Bible truth, when it is mixed with sincerity and compassion.     When in debates about the culture, keep your opinions to a minimum, and promote bible truths.

Why am I against “gay marriage”, because God and my bible are against it.  If I do not stand on that truth, then I can not stand on any truth.

 

Your comments are always welcome….

Pastor

 

 

 

 

 

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What Anniversary’s Teach Me

As we prepare to celebrate our 7th Anniversary of the Tri-State Baptist Church, I am reflecting upon the goodness of God in my life… and it has reminded me of some things that I want to share with you.

 

#1) The Gospel still works... when I got saved at 31 years old in 1993, I was the last person I would have ever thought God could use as a pastor.

#2) God uses People in your life.…    I am thankful for the people that God put into my life life to help me mature spiritually and to stay on the right course.  I pray I can be the same for someone else.

#3) The encouragement of my wife and daughters made a huge difference in what God could do through my life.  They always had faith in my leadership.

#4) I am thankful that we responded to the call of ministry and the burden to start a church in Thompson, CT… the Lord is building a great group of believers that are making an impact around the world.

#5) I am thankful for what I have learned about prayer.

#6) I have learned that the Christian life is a constant journey of faith… I am thankful that we never stop being challenged to take that next step in our faith in Christ.

#7) I have learned that God has much better plans for us than we have for ourselves, if we follow Him.

#8) There is always hope for the future with God…

I am grateful to the Lord, and to my wife and family and to all those who call me “Pastor” for laboring with me at the Tri-State Baptist Church

 

Pastor

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Preparation Through Seasons

I am reflecting this morning after experiencing another wonderful weekend in which I sensed the Lord’s working in our church.   We had a wonderful Seniors Fellowship on Saturday, and an amazing Sunday service.

I am trying to choose my words carefully here because no matter how I word this, it will not be sufficient.

Our church is currently experiencing a season in which the hand of God is very visible…   we are seeing fruit from our soul-winning efforts and outreach… we have seen of late people making professions of faith on a weekly basis, we are seeing fruit in the area of growth in numbers, where this past Sunday was jam packed… we are seeing fuit of the surrendered life, as many folks committed to serving in one or more of our ministries… and to all those things I say “Praise the Lord”.

But it is not and was not always this way…  this season that we are enjoying followed another season that was not so enjoyable… in 2011 there were trials, there was much sickness within the church, I preached the funeral of a dear friend, I went through some personal attacks and even sensed despair a time or two at that lack of response to the gospel.

While I personally would rather just be blessed all the time… I have found that the lessons we need to learn are usually learned in the season of trials and not necessarily in the season of blessings.    So when those seasons of trials come upon us, (and they will), let’s look to those seasons with anticipation with what God may teach us.   Let me share with you what God taught me through that season (and is still teaching me)…

Dependence – I cannot minister in my own strength, I must have the power of God on my life….  this requires submission on my part to the Word of God and the promptings of the Spirit of God… now that might sound simple to you and in theory it is, but how often does our agenda overstep God’s desires in our lives.

I must remember this is the Lord’s church and not mine.  No matter how strong I want something, I must depend upon the timing of God, whether that is in a desire to see souls saved, or a building built, or a ministry started.  If it is something God has given you through faith or vision… go at with all the energy you have… but if it is your agenda I must die to it.

Forgiveness – no matter what is said or done, you must always be ready to forgive and to minister to the needs of others… I must remember that God has forgiven me of far more than I have had to forgive others of.   That thought alone brings conviction to me if un-forgiveness tries to creep in.

Faithfulness – We must stay with biblically proven methods knowing that we serve the God of faithfulness, who if we do not faint… we will reap in due season.

In the season of trials you learn that you are mere flesh… so that in the season of harvest, you don’t look out on packed pews and full altars and think that it was you… because you know that it was God.    Thank the Lord for all the seasons we are allowed to go through.

As always, I welcome your comments.

Pastor

 

 

 

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