Oak Hill Baptist Church

Parents as mentors

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The influence of a mentor”

Our Bible verse for today: “Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NLT)

Our thought for today: “Parents as mentors”

There’s a commercial on television from an insurance company which revolves around the idea of “young homeowners who become their parents”. It’s a series of funny skits about young adults who, once they own their own homes, slowly turn into finicky fussbudgets who start acting a lot like their parents. There’s an older gentleman featured in the scenes, sort of a mentor/life-coach, who tries to help the young homeowners avoid some of the worst parent-like tendencies. The spots are funny but also fitting – there’s a good bit of truth to them.

It’s amazing how much we inherit from our parents. I don’t just mean genetically, although that is huge. I’m talking about in terms of behaviors, mannerisms, and personality traits. We often hear it said, “He is his father’s son”, or, “She’s her mother’s daughter”. For instance, many people are amazed at how much Franklin Graham looks, sounds, and acts like his father Billy Graham.

Children pick up a lot from their parents over their years of growing up. In adulthood children often display many of the same character and personality traits they learned from their parents, unless the adult child is intentional about not doing so. As depicted in that television commercial, those tendencies will naturally come out unless they are intercepted and dealt with.

Parents are our first and most influential mentors. That can be good or bad, depending on the parent. The influence of a parent penetrates deep into the psyche of a child and it forms that child’s personality and self-image. For many children that’s a good thing and will bear fruit for life. For others, it’s an awful experience and that person may spend the rest of his or her life trying to get over their childhood.

It’s impossible to overstate the deep and profound influence a parent has on a child and therefore, it’s essential for parents to remember that their children are a gift to them from God (Psalm 127:3). God has entrusted those precious souls into our care and it’s up to us to raise them well.

Tomorrow we’ll think a little more about the parent/child mentor/influencing relationship. But for today, if you have children in the home, I encourage you to go hug them and tell them how much you love them and how special they are.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

We are influenced by our heritage

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The influence of a mentor”

Our Bible verse for today: “Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; Look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth.” Isaiah 51:1-2 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “We are influenced by our heritage”

I remember when I was a teenager, quite a stir was created in our extended family (grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and out-laws), when we were all contacted by a man named George Whitney Mercereau, from California. He explained that he was part of the vast clan of Mercereau / Mersereau family, spread across America and Canada, and he was something of an amateur genealogist.

In his retirement years he researched the Mercereau / Mersereau family tree as far back as he could, and through as many branches down through the generations as he could. He traced our family all the way back to La Rochelle, France in the early 1600s, to a sea captain named John Mercereau. Captain John was a Huguenot and he and his family fled France because of religious persecution.

They came to the New World (America), settled in what would become New York, and proceeded to populate a large portion of the New York Metropolitan area. Our family ended up with business owners, judges, professors, five brothers who were spies for George Washington, and many other colorful characters. As a result of his work, I can trace my direct line of descent back ten generations to Captain John Mercereau, born in 1627 in France.

I’m not a Buddhist, but I did come across a compelling image created in a word picture by Vietnamese Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh about ancestors. He wrote, “If you look deeply into the palm of your hand, you will see your parents and all generations of your ancestors. All of them are alive in this moment. Each is present in your body. You are the continuation of each of these people.”

Family plays a big role in who we are as a person. That’s especially true early in life through the influence of parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. All of them can be and are mentors and examples, to varying degrees. That being the case, we will now turn our attention to the important mentoring / influencing role parents and grandparents play in the lives of children.

For this morning though, I encourage you to give some prayerful thought to your family heritage and to how it may be influencing you, for good or for bad, right up to this very day.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Cast a big shadow

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The influence of a mentor”

Our Bible verse for today: “As a result, they would carry the sick out into the streets and lay them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on some of them.” Acts 5:15 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Cast a big shadow”

In Acts chapter five we’re reading about the newly anointed Peter, with the power of the Holy Spirit emanating out of him to such a degree that even if his shadow fell on someone he passed by, that person would be healed. Therefore, the bigger the shadow he cast, the more people who were positively impacted by it.

It’s an apt metaphor for the influence of a good mentor. Good mentors cast a big shadow, and those who fall under that shadow are impacted by it in a good and positive way. I would go so far as to say that the impact of a person’s life can be measured (especially in retrospect after their death), by the size of the shadow they cast and the impact they made on the lives of those who fell under their shadow.

In his great devotional book about the senior years of life, Richard Morgan quotes the Greek philosopher Pericles who once wisely observed, “What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Yes, that’s our true legacy – the influence we had on others. Benjamin Franklin said essentially the same thing, but in his typical whimsical way:

“If you would not be forgotten
As soon as you are dead and rotten,
Either write things worth reading,
Or do things worth the writing.”

In other words, live a life worth being remembered by others. As Morgan wrote in his book, “Our lives cast shadows as long as we live. These are the marks we leave on the earth by our passing. These are the memories of us in the minds and hearts of those we have loved and who have loved us. They are the legacy we leave for future generations.”

Usually, the first and most important mentoring relationship any of us are exposed to is the one we have with our parents. We will begin considering that relationship tomorrow. In the meantime, I encourage you to prayerfully consider who your shadow is falling on as you pass through life.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Have a mentor, be a mentor

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “The influence of a mentor”

Our Bible verse for today: “The things which you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things …” Philippians 4:9 (Amplified Bible)

Our thought for today: “Have a mentor, be a mentor”

Decades ago, at a Promise Keepers conference, I heard Professor Howard Hendricks preach a sermon that has stuck with me and which has influenced me ever since. I don’t remember the actual title of the sermon but I do remember the lesson. It was all about the influence of mentors and the importance of not just having a mentor, but of being a mentor.

I’m paraphrasing but essentially he said, “Every man needs three key relationships in his life: He needs a Paul, he needs a Barnabas, and he needs a Timothy. He needs a Paul – someone who is older and wiser and who will build into his life. He needs a Barnabas – someone who is his equal – a brother who loves him but who is not overly impressed by him. Someone who will speak straight truth to him. And he needs a Timothy – a younger man into whose life he can build.” Paul, was the Apostle Paul. Barnabas was his traveling companion and partner in ministry. And Timothy was a young man whom Paul trained for the ministry.

I believe Professor Hendricks was right. We all need a mentor, and we all need to be a mentor. And, we also need someone in the middle to keep us straight. This is Biblical and it’s an important part of living the Christian life well.

There are many variations of mentoring relationships in life, beginning with parents to children; grandparents to grandchildren; an older man or woman to a younger man or woman; teachers to students; pastors to congregants; and more. Those mentoring relationships take place in families, churches, schools, neighborhoods, work places, youth and children’s programs, and in many other settings.

All this month we will explore the value and importance of the full range of mentoring relationships. We’ll also think about many different ways in which a mentoring relationship can be carried on. Although sometimes those relationships are conducted in formal counseling sessions, the best mentoring and accountability relationships tend to be those that are relaxed and casual – usually carried on in social and recreational settings, and over long periods of time. We will consider all of that.

For now, let me ask you to prayerfully consider whether you have a Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy in your life, and also, if you are a Paul, Barnabas, and Timothy to someone else.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

It’s your life; it’s your responsibility

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” 2 Corinthians 5:10 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “It’s your life, it’s your responsibility”

When it comes to the subject of personal responsibility, there seem to be two negative and destructive mindsets which are becoming more and more widespread throughout our society. One is a sense of entitlement and the other is a victim mentality.

Many people feel entitled to being cared for and to have things provided for them – especially from the government. This is why socialism is becoming increasingly popular. The promise of welfare, food stamps, free money in the form of government stimulus checks, free healthcare, extended unemployment checks, student loan debt forgiveness, more free money, and on it goes. Many people feel like society and the government owe them a living. They feel entitled.

We’re also becoming a society of victims. Increasing numbers of people go through life feeling like every problem they face is someone else’s fault. Nothing is ever their own fault. (It’s so much easier to blame others for our situations than it is to accept responsibility for the consequences of our own actions.) They have a victim mentality.

As we conclude our two-month devotional study about “personal responsibility” let’s remember that we are each 100% responsible for our own lives. For one thing, we are each responsible for taking care of ourselves and our families to the greatest extent possible. This is Biblical. There are no free rides in life. We are “entitled” to nothing we haven’t earned.

And with respect to clinging to a sense of being a victim, while it’s true that we can’t always control all the things that happen to us in life, we can always control how we deal with the things that happen to us. We can choose to handle our situations with faith, courage, strength, and dignity. We don’t have to assume the manner of a helpless victim. Instead, we can be strong men and women of faith and courage; men and women who go boldly forward in life, doing the best we can under the circumstances as they are, and refusing to give up. We hold up rather than fold up.

In 2 Corinthians 5:10 the Apostle Paul reminded us that we are each responsible for our own lives, and we will one day have to answer to the Lord for all of it. So, to sum up these entire two months of devotionals I would say: It’s your life. It’s your responsibility. Own it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

There is a great falling away happening

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “Let no one deceive you by any means: for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition.” 2 Thessalonians 2:3 (NKJV)

Our thought for today: “There is a great falling away happening”

In multiple sermons, Bible studies, and daily devotionals over the last year, I’ve addressed the fact that there is a great falling away occurring in the Christian church in the USA. Fewer and fewer Americans are self-identifying as Christians; Biblical values and principles have less influence than ever before in our history; and church attendance has been in steady decline for many years. Even among those who do continue to attend church on a regular basis, many of them attend a church that teaches a form of “Christianity-light” which is superficial and often unbiblical in doctrine and practice.

And all of that was before the COVID 19 pandemic. During the pandemic many churches across the land were closed for long periods of time. Some closed their doors forever. And now that we’re entering the post-pandemic era, few churches have regained their pre-pandemic numbers, vitality, or scope of ministry. Most churches are at 50-70% of what they were pre-pandemic. Beyond that, many members who fell away during the pandemic may not return to the church at all.

All of this is consistent with what Paul was describing in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 regarding what it will be like as we approach the End Times and the stage is set for the appearance of the Antichrist. There will have been a great falling away from the faith and from the church, with entire societies across the globe rejecting Biblical truth. That will pave the way for an easy entrance for the Antichrist onto the world stage.

So, what are we to do? How do faithful Christ-followers live in the midst of this great falling away? First, we redouble our personal determination and commitment to be faithful. We make extra effort to strengthen our own relationship with the Lord so that we will not be drawn away and slip into the easy-believism of Christianity-light. Then, we do our part to strengthen our churches. We faithfully attend the gatherings, we participate in ministry activities, we give generously, and we trust the Lord to bless and multiply our efforts.

In recent years we have experienced a great falling away in this country, and it is continuing. Perhaps it’s a sign of the rapid approach of the End Times; or maybe it’s just the continuing deterioration of society in the USA; or it could be the residual impact of the pandemic. Whatever the cause, the falling away is a reality. But as individuals we don’t have to be a part of it and we don’t have to accept it. We can each resolve to be strong Christians, and we can each do our part to keep our own churches healthy, vibrant, and thriving.

I strongly encourage you to be present at the gathering of your church this Sunday. You need to be there for yourself, and you need to be there for your church.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Let’s cancel cancel-culture

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “Many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another.” Matthew 24:10 (NKJV)

Our thought for today: “Let’s cancel cancel-culture”

In chapter seven of his great book, “Where Do We Go from Here?” David Jeremiah addresses the issue of cancel culture. He points out how pervasive it has become and how it could be an indication that we are rapidly approaching the End Times. In the introduction to that chapter he writes, “It is one of the great ironies of our age that while we are living during a time when almost any behavior is celebrated no matter how sinful, we are simultaneously living in a time where any small misstep, public or private, could be the catalyst of our own social and financial ruin.”

He’s right. We live in a time when everything is tolerated, and at the same time, nothing is tolerated. On the one hand, the most outrageous and despicable behaviors are declared to be normal and even good, but on the other hand even the smallest indiscretion can incite an online mob of condemnation, ridicule, and ruin. People everywhere are perpetually offended, and their judgments are arbitrary and capricious. In Matthew 24:10 Jesus warned us that the closer we get to the End Times, the more the spirit of offense will reign. We’re certainly seeing that in our day.

However, Christians should not get caught-up in that (or feed into it). We should not be part of the perpetually offended cancel-culture mob mentality, nor should we engage in the silly, angry, overheated rhetoric that comes with that kind of thinking. As David Jeremiah said, “It makes me cringe to see Christians losing their tempers trying to share the truth. We can’t avoid the culture wars, but the tone of our conversation is critical. Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be gracious as well as sensible, for then you will have the right answer for everyone (TLB).”

Likewise, 1 Peter 3:15-16 instructs us, “Be ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who ask you for a reason for the hope that is in you. Yet do this with gentleness and respect.”

I’ll leave you this morning with one more thought from David Jeremiah, “That is my challenge for you as you seek to navigate the troubled waters of cancel culture. Don’t be frustrated. Don’t get angry. Don’t let yourself become caught up in the silly arguments or escalating conflicts that are increasingly common. Instead, ask God to fill you with His wisdom. Ask in faith, believing the truth of His Word. Pray for discernment, and He will give it to you.”

Let’s cancel cancel-culture by refusing to be a part of it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Is social media a blessing or a curse?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “The whole earth was amazed and followed the beast.” Revelation 13:3 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Is social media a blessing or a curse?”

As was noted in yesterday’s devotional, I’m ending our study of personal responsibility by sharing some highlights with you from Dr. David Jeremiah’s excellent book, “Where Do We Go from Here? How tomorrow’s prophecies foreshadow today’s problems.”

In the book David seeks to show how some of today’s most troubling events and trends could be a sign that we are rapidly approaching the End Times. In chapter two he addresses the issue of globalism and he reminds us that in the End Times, the Antichrist will have succeeded in uniting the world under a one-world government, or there will at least be a method for him to achieve worldwide influence to an astonishing degree.

So, could social media be the vehicle that allows for that? The answer of course is “yes”. Social media is perfectly suited for exactly that. So then, should we as Christians treat social media as a tool of Satan and should we avoid it altogether? To answer that question, David Jeremiah defers once again to Dr. Albert Mohler:

“The church, when it is faithful, always thinks in global terms. The world now thinks of globalization as a great economic, technological, and political fact. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ understands global mission as a command and as a mandate from the Lord. While the world may debate globalization in terms of economic and sociological effects, the church must see globalization as an unprecedented opportunity … The current generation of Christians has unprecedented opportunities to proclaim the name of Jesus in all of the world and to see people of all tribes, tongues, and nations bow the knee to the King.”

Is social media a blessing or a curse? It depends on who is using it and for what purpose. Perhaps it can be a tool in the hands of Satan. But it can also be used by the followers of Christ to spread the Good News of the Gospel further and faster than ever before. Social media, properly used, affords us a greater opportunity to reach the world for Jesus than any generation has ever had before us.

Social media simply “is”. In other words, it already exists and it is therefore a fact we have to deal with in the world we live in. So, what will we Christians do with it? How will we use it and what will we use it for?

Is social media a blessing or a curse? It depends on how you use it. So, let’s resolve to use it for good.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

God is not a socialist

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: “If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “God is not a socialist”

In his excellent book, “Where Do We Go from Here?”, Dr. David Jeremiah demonstrates how the creeping acceptance of socialism could be an indication we are approaching the End Times. In 2020 a poll showed that 40% of Americans had a favorable view of socialism, and that number goes up to 61% in the age group 18-24 years-old.

But socialism is all about control, and taking away God-given freedoms. The history of socialism proves over-and-over again that it ruins initiative, diminishes productivity, and destroys economies. All of that is unbiblical. Dr. Albert Mohler is the President of Southern Seminary and one of the most influential thought-leaders in evangelical Christianity today. About socialism he wrote:

“The Bible reveals several important economic principles. Scripture affirms the dignity of work (Ephesians 4:28) and the fact that those who refuse to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The Bible clearly affirms private property (Exodus 22:7) and condemns theft (Exodus 20:15) and covetousness (Exodus 20:17). Saving (Proverbs 13:22), thrift (Proverbs 21:20), land ownership (Acts 4:34-37), and investment (Matthew 25:27) are all honored in Scripture, and the Bible teaches that the laborer is worthy of his wages (Luke 10:7). Socialism contradicts or subverts every one of those principles.”

Socialism is unbiblical. So, as it continues to gain in popularity how should we, as Great Commission Christians on-mission with Jesus in this troubled world, confront it? First, we need to be careful that we ourselves do not fall into socialistic patterns of behavior by being takers instead of givers. We need to carry our own water, do our own work, support ourselves and our families, and not become de facto socialists ourselves by being overly reliant on government and social programs.

Second, once we are not acting like socialists in our own behaviors, we need to preach, teach, and model Biblical truth about personal responsibility in such matters to others. We must also show that Christian charity is a better answer to helping needy people than are endless and wasteful government programs. The Bible doesn’t call for the government to use authoritarian power to take from those who have and redistribute it to those who have less.

Instead, the Bible teaches and models charity based on the kindness, compassion, and generosity of God’s people. That doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t have to pay taxes, or that there shouldn’t be some basic social safety nets to provide assistance to the neediest in society (a hand up rather than a hand out). But socialism always goes far beyond that. It creeps and grows and quickly becomes a massive government intrusion and overreach.

The fact is that God is not a socialist, and therefore we shouldn’t be one either.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

This is no time to be timid

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Personal Responsibility”

Our Bible verse for today: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “This is no time to be timid”

In yesterday’s devotional I posed the question, “What do we do now?” and I answered it by quoting the words of Jesus as He gave us the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. The Great Commission is the answer to the question.

I also suggested it would be helpful to go to the Oak Hill Baptist Church website (oakhillbaptist.net) and listen to the sermon for February 20^th about the Great Commission. I ended that sermon with a quote from Dr. David Jeremiah in his book, “Where do we go from here?” That quote is, “We cannot be discouraged, not a bit! There’s no room in these days for defeated Christians.”

This is what Paul was referring to in 2 Timothy 1:7 (above). I like the way the Amplified Bible translates this verse, using all the English words necessary to capture the full meaning of the original Greek: “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but (He has given us a spirit) of power and of love and of sound discipline (abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control).

This is important because our attitude regarding how we will approach the difficult issues of our day is crucial. God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity. Instead, He has given us a spirit of courage and boldness and conviction. He has also given us the ability to interact with difficult people and difficult situations in a calm, reasoned, balanced manner, maintaining self-control and combining conviction with love. The question, of course, is how do we get that spirit? How do we put aside the fear, the doubts, the hesitancy, and live boldly and courageously on-mission with the Lord?

We intentionally cultivate it. In advance, we think about the people and situations we are going to have to interact and engage with. We pray 2 Timothy 1:7 over it and we claim the promise to be true of us. We imagine what our best response would be in that situation, we pray for that, and then we go and act that way instead of in some other way.

We live in challenging times (maybe the end times). So, this is no time for timid Christians, nor is it a time for out-of-control Christians (Christians who are not calm, reasoned, and self- controlled). Don’t miss the fact that in 2 Timothy 1:7 Paul didn’t just mention power and courage, but also love and self-discipline. We are to fearlessly love people, and this is no time to be timid about it.

God bless,
Pastor Jim