Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Planning”
Our Bible verse for today: “The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20 (HCSB)
Our thought for today: “Plan who you will associate with – and who you won’t”
The other day I found myself back in jail again. That seems to happen to me a lot. But don’t worry, I’m not leading a life of crime, I’m just a visitor in the jail not a resident. I go to the jail fairly often to meet with men who have led a life of crime – usually petty crimes associated with long term drug addiction, and all the criminal behavior which typically stems from that lifestyle.
On this day I was meeting with a young man who was raised in a home where the adults used drugs, sold drugs, and always had drug-using friends over the house. So it should come as no surprise that as a teenager and then as a young adult this young man became a drug user and drug dealer too. It’s a basic law of human nature that over time we become like those we associate with.
I explained to him that if he wanted his life to be different he would have to begin by changing the crowd of people he associates with. If you’re going to hang with drug users it’s a pretty good bet you will be a drug user too. That being the case it’s essential for him (and for all of us too), to think carefully about the kind of life we want to have and then surround ourselves with people who are already living that life. You become like those you associate with.
But changing your sphere of influence, especially one that has been established over years or decades, is hard. You have to be intentional about it. You have to have a well thought out plan for how for you’re going to go about it and then you have to be disciplined in sticking to that plan.
The best association any of us can have is to be fully involved in the life of a good church. A good church is filled with strong Christians who love Jesus and who live Biblically. Being surrounded by people like that will rub off on you and they will influence you to become a strong and faithful Christian too. You become like those you associate with.
This Sunday, September 11th, we at Oak Hill Baptist Church in Crossville will celebrate our annual “Homecoming Day”. This is a day at the beginning of the new church year when we gather-in all of our current members and attenders, many former members, friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and lots of visitors, for a special day of celebration. The service will include special music, interpretive dance, a homecoming message, and it will be followed by lunch and a relaxing afternoon of fun and fellowship.
I can’t think of a finer group of God’s people than those you will find at Oak Hill Baptist Church. They are warm and kind, caring and compassionate, loving and welcoming, and in terms of being a good influence, they sure have kept me in line! I invite you to come and experience it for yourself. Sunday school begins at 9:00 and the Worship service starts at 10:00. We would love to have you visit with us.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 