Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Hebrews 13:16 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “Do good and bless others”   As we draw near to the end of our month-long pursuit of fresh wind in our sails and fresh fire in our souls, I want to return to a subject I’ve been repeatedly emphasizing over the four months that our nation has been in the grip of the pandemic, the economic collapse, and the social unrest. It is the subject of doing good and blessing others. One of the best things a person can do to help him or herself through this, is to take their eyes off of themselves and focus instead on being a blessing to others. Few things will lift us up and be as big an encouragement to ourselves than the knowledge that we were able to make life a little better for someone else.   Recently I read an account told by an old man who had served as a soldier in post-World War Two in London. Throughout the war England had been bombed without mercy by the Nazis. There had also been a naval blockade, and obstructions to land routes, that both served to inhibit trade and make resources scarce all throughout the war. Now that the war was over, the city of London was heavily damaged. There was rubble everywhere, the economy was depressed, people were homeless and hungry, and despair was heavy and pervasive.   The solider told of how one day he was driving his jeep down a rubble-strewn London street when he saw a dirty young boy in rags staring into the window of a bakery. Captured by the sight, the solider stopped his jeep to get a closer look. On the other side of the window the baker was taking fresh pastries out of the oven. The boy was fixated on the sight of the pastries and his mouth was watering so much that saliva was dripping down his chin. The soldier’s heart just broke at the sight and he asked the boy, “Son, would you like to have some of those pastries?” Wide-eyed and startled the boy said, “Oh, yes sir, I really would.” With that the soldier went into the bakery, purchased a bag of the fresh pastries, and handed them to the boy. The boy was stunned, and as the soldier turned to walk away the boy tugged on the edge of his jacket and asked him, “Mister … are you God?”   He wasn’t, but He was following God’s example. The soldier drove away from that encounter humbled by the knowledge that such a small act on his part could be so meaningful to someone else.   We are never more like God than when we intentionally bless others. And also, we will never experience a greater sense of having been blessed ourselves than when we have had the privilege of blessing someone else in Jesus’ name. I encourage all of us to take our eyes off of ourselves and intentionally look for opportunities to bless others. It will be good for them, but it will be good for you too.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Matthew 5:9 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Be the peacemaker”   The other day I was speaking with a member of our church who has lived in our town for a long time and who knows a lot of people who attend other churches. Recently she has been checking with some of them to see how their churches are doing during these difficult times we live in. She told me she was surprised and alarmed to hear of how many churches are struggling with a wide variety of issues arising as a result of the pandemic. Of course, attendance is way down in all the churches. But beyond that, many churches are experiencing internal strife resulting from disagreements about best practices for handling the situation. My friend said to me, “Not only is Satan using all of this to divide our country, he is using it to divide our churches.”   And she is right. I’m hearing that too. On the one hand, we live in difficult times. The situations we face are dangerous and confusing. Nobody has all the answers. We’re all figuring this out as best we can as we continue to push through it. There are some practices and guidelines that simply have to be implemented in all churches based upon the best advice from the most reliable sources. There are also Biblical principles which govern our conduct in situations like this and which must be adhered to. There are health and safety concerns that have to be considered. And then there are legal liability issues as well (legally we have to do “due diligence” in our efforts to handle this correctly and we have to be able to prove it).   But once those parts of it have been addressed and implemented, we need to give each other as much room and grace in dealing with the rest of this as we can. Church is the place where we can escape the storms of life for a while. It’s a place of sanctuary and respite for all of us. So, we do the things we have to do in order to take care of each other during these challenging times, and then we go over and above in our efforts to make our time together as much of an encouraging and uplifting experience as we can.   None of us will agree on everything. Therefore, there will be difficult conversations that will have to take place. We should all be grateful for mature Christians who are willing to step into the middle of difficult situations to be calm voices of reason. I encourage all of us to be the peacemakers. Satan is already dividing our land; don’t let him divide our churches too.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, Fresh Fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be … and pray to the Lord for it: for in its peace you will have peace.” Jeremiah 29:7 (NKJV)   Our thought for today: “Be the blessing”   Have you seen the music video “The New York Blessing”? If not, I encourage you to pause here and Google it. It’s less than five minutes long and trust me, you will be glad you took the time to watch it. I ended my sermon with it this past Sunday at Oak Hill Baptist Church and everyone was in agreement that it was a powerful, uplifting, and convicting experience.   The video is a joint effort of 100 New York area churches. They came together to sing words of blessing and peace, joy and encouragement, over their city as the people of their community continue to struggle with all the hardships emanating from the pandemic, the economic collapse, and the racial tensions all going on right now. People are hurting – they’re scared, they’re desperate, and many are angry. These 100 churches decided to rise up together to be a voice of peace and unity, reminding people that God is present and powerful and working right there in the middle of all the heartache and chaos. And, He wants to bless them. God wants people to find comfort and strength in Him. That’s what the video is about. I encourage you to watch it.   But the message isn’t just for New York City. It’s for all people in all places – in every city and town and neighborhood across our land. And that act of ministry – being the messengers of peace and reconciliation, spreading words of hope and joy – that’s not just a message for those 100 churches to share in their community. Theirs is an example the rest of us need to follow as we seek to minister to our own communities. We don’t necessarily have to get together with other churches to produce a music video, but we do have to be the messengers of peace, speaking words of hope and encouragement on behalf of our Lord to people who need to be blessed.   As you watch the video one thing that will stand out to you is that the singers and musicians are red, yellow, black, and white. They are Caucasian, African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Jewish Christians. They come from mainline churches, evangelical churches, and non-denominational churches. This was the people of God coming together in the name of God to draw people to God.   If you’re looking for a little fresh wind in your sails and some fresh fire in your soul, I encourage you to watch the video. Then go out into your community and do the same – bless people in the name of Jesus.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “Then children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, ‘Leave the children alone, and don’t try to keep them from coming to me, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ After placing his hands on them, he went on from there.” Matthew 19:13-15 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Are you too serious?”   Many years ago, I used to work with a Christian man who was a real joy to be around. He was always upbeat and positive. He laughed easily and often, and he appeared for all the world to be carefree. Of course, he wasn’t completely carefree. He had problems and challenges in life just like the rest of us. For one thing, the environment we worked in was fast-paced and stressful and sometimes a little toxic. Also, the man’s wife had health problems which occupied a good deal of his time and attention outside of work. He also had a son who as a young adult was struggling with life issues. So, the man had his share of challenges and concerns in life but still, he had a bright and sunny disposition and he was a joy to be around.   Jesus was like that. Despite what was going on around Him he didn’t get into panics, nor did He give the appearance of being especially weighed down by events. Instead, He seemed to take things in stride. Matthew 19:13-15 is a case-in-point. At that phase in His earthly ministry Jesus was nearing the end. Events were accelerating, conflicts with the Pharisees were becoming more frequent, pressure was mounting, and everything was coming to a head. He was getting closer and closer to Jerusalem and to the cross, and He knew it. But here we see Him in this scene relaxed, unperturbed, and sitting with the little children.   Oswald Chambers once wrote, “The Christianity of Jesus Christ refuses to be careworn.” In other words, the more we learn to be like Jesus the less we will allow the cares of life to weigh us down and to have a negative impact on our disposition. That doesn’t mean that we ignore the things that are going on around us or that we dismiss them as being unimportant. Jesus was very aware, and He was very engaged. But He kept it all in perspective. He lived above the fray and He didn’t let any of it bother Him too much.   Here we find one of the keys to approaching life like my friend did, and like Jesus did – take a step back from it all and refuse to let it weigh you down or to steal your joy. You can be aware and engaged without being despondent and negative.   Many of us today are a little too serious for our own good. We’ve had to deal with too many tough issues all at once, and it has gone on for too long. I encourage you to consider if perhaps you have become just a little too serious, a little too preoccupied with events. We would all probably benefit from a little time sitting in a mud puddle with a toddler making mud pies. If Jesus could relax a little and take it all in stride, we probably should too.     God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13   Our thought for today: “Police lives matter”   There is probably no group of professionals who are more stressed and maligned during these difficult days in which we live than are law enforcement professionals. (Healthcare professionals are stressed also, but for different reasons). Many of our law enforcement professionals need some fresh wind in their sails. In other words, they need to be encouraged; they need to know they are appreciated; and they need our support.   This morning’s devotional is an adaptation of a short essay I wrote last year entitled “Blue Lives Matter”, and which appeared in my last book “Your Life Matters”. Currently in our society the slogan we see and hear everywhere is, “Black Lives Matter”. That is certainly a true statement. Black lives do matter. Unfortunately, sometimes the slogan “Black Lives Matters” is met with the response “All Lives Matter”. Again, a 100% true statement. But one that is often not well received.   I understand why responding with “All Lives Matters” could be problematic. If I were to say to you, “Breast cancer is an awful disease and we need to find a cure for it”, and you responded, “All cancer is awful and we need to find a cure for all of it”, you would be making a true statement, but it would be an inappropriate response to what I said. All cancer is bad, but this particular conversation is about breast cancer, and perhaps the reason I said it is because someone I love has it.   Likewise, if I were to say to you, “The wildfire in the Smoky Mountains is a terrible tragedy”, and you responded “Most wildfires are a terrible tragedy”, again that would be a true statement, but it wouldn’t be a very kind or compassionate response to what I said. It’s true that most wildfires are tragic, but this conversation is about the wildfire in the Smoky Mountains which destroyed the home of a friend of mine. So, saying “Black Lives Matter” doesn’t mean that other lives don’t matter, it only means that this particular conversation is about black lives.   But that logic works both ways. For instance, the title of my book “Your Life Matters” in no way takes away from or diminishes the truth that black lives matter. It simply means that in this particular instance the life that matters and which is being referred to, is that of the reader of my book. Likewise, the title of this devotional “Police Lives Matter”, in no way takes away from the truth that black lives matter. It only means that this particular conversation is about police lives. Black lives matter; police lives matter; all lives matter; and we can have individual conversations about each of them in turn.   If you are a law enforcement professional, I want you to know that the overwhelming majority of the American people support you. We appreciate what you do for us – and we most certainly do not want police departments defunded. If anything, you deserve a big fat raise, a longer vacation, better equipment, and all the advanced training you need in order to be able to continue doing the job we all depend on you to do.     For all my readers, I encourage you to go out of your way to thank and encourage a law enforcement professional. If you see them in a restaurant, consider paying for their meal; or just offer them a word of thanks and tell them you’re praying for their safety; or send a “thank you” card to the police station; or in some other way express your support and appreciation.     Police lives matter. They matter very much. We love you and we appreciate you. Thank you for all you do.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Being on-mission with Jesus gives us fresh wind and fresh fire.”   There’s much I love about being the Pastor of Oak Hill Baptist Church, but without question one of the things I love most is the full-on commitment this church has to being on-mission with Jesus. The church takes Acts 1:8 seriously. We are eagerly and joyfully on-mission with the Lord, out in the world – in our Jerusalem (Cumberland County), in our Judea (Tennessee), in our Samaria (Kentucky), and to the ends of the earth (Peru, Haiti, Liberia, and Southeast Asia).   We have ministry partners in all of those areas and there’s never a time in our church life when we’re not in the process of preparing for at least one or two upcoming mission projects. The Acts 1:8 model of ministry is the heartbeat of our church life.   Today two other men from the church and myself will be delivering a load of new backpacks, school supplies, and clothes to our partners in the coal-mining region of eastern Kentucky. The people of Oak Hill Baptist have spent the last two months raising money, purchasing school supplies, gathering clothes and shoes, and preparing everything for this mission trip. The purpose is to assist our partner church in that area as they minister to the neediest families in their community. Personally, I’ve always found it energizing to be used by God to be the conduit through which His resources flow to people in need. Today we get to do it again.   In Acts 1:8 Jesus told us that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon us, and it would be for the purpose of being on-mission with Him out in the world. Would you like some fresh wind in your sails and some fresh fire in your soul? Well visualize if you will, being lifted up and carried along by the power of the Holy Spirit! How much more wind and fire are you looking for? There’s nothing in life more exhilarating, energizing, or renewing as going off into the world on a new adventure with Jesus.   Being on-mission with Jesus will put fresh wind in your sails and fresh fire in your soul. I encourage you to get involved in mission projects and help to make a difference in this world for the cause of Christ.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others.” Philippians 2:3-4 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Let’s be willing to sacrifice in order to help others.”   The other night I spoke with a relative in another state whom I hadn’t spoken with in a little while. He and his wife are in their senior years, they both have health problems, and they live on a small fixed income. The wife has only recently been released from the hospital and is recovering at home. The husband is her primary caregiver.   As we spoke, I was surprised to learn how desperate their situation had become financially. They were just barely getting by in terms of food and supplies. Also, their one vehicle had broken down and they couldn’t afford to get it fixed. But there’s a neighborhood group in that section of their community which was formed during the pandemic, with the goal of watching out for each other, pooling resources, and providing assistance to those in need. This group heard about my relative’s situation and responded. Someone arranged for a mobile auto mechanic to repair their car right there in the parking lot. Others began showing up at their door with food and supplies and offers of assistance. My relatives were overwhelmed with the care and compassion shown to them in their time of need.   What a great example of people taking care of people! And what a great example of something good (care and compassion) coming out of something bad (the pandemic). I love the unselfish attitude displayed by the neighbors, and their willingness to sacrifice a little for the sake of the needy and vulnerable.   In a similar vein, the other day I had lunch with a friend. We were talking about some actions we have had to take recently at church in an effort to make the environment as safe as it can be, especially for the most vulnerable among us. With respect to one of those actions he said, “I don’t particularly like doing this thing, and I’m not sure how helpful it actually is, but that doesn’t matter. If there’s even a slight chance that just one member of my church family might benefit even a little from me doing this simple thing, then that’s all the reason I need to do it.”   In Philippians 2:3-4 the Apostle Paul urged us to look out for others and to be willing to put the needs of others above our own needs or desires. Doing so is a blessing to them, and it benefits us as well. Sacrificing for the sake of others, putting their interests above our own, puts us in a servant frame of mind and it makes us more like Jesus.   Would you like some fresh wind in your sails and some fresh fire in your soul? I encourage you go above and beyond and to do something special and sacrificial for someone in need.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, ‘The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.” Lamentations 3:22-24 (CSB)   Our thought for today: “Choose hope and joy”   I’m a morning person. I especially love the early morning, before the dawn. It’s quiet and peaceful and serene. Yesterday morning I had an encounter with the Lord during which He reminded me of an important truth that was helpful for me, and which I believe will be helpful for some of you as well. I was standing at the front door of our house as the dawn was breaking, holding one of our little dogs (she loves the early morning too), and looking outside. We were just standing there, gazing out into the peaceful early morning. It had rained the night before. The air was cool, the birds were singing, the neighborhood was still, and it was … peaceful … and calming.   As I stood there soaking it in, I started to think about how all the events in our nation of recent months had been weighing heavily on me. The pandemic; the economy; the politics; the racial tensions; concerns for sick family members; disagreements in the church regarding policies and procedures for the pandemic; my responsibility as a pastor to help our people through these tough times; and more; all on top of regular life. Then, as my sissy-dog and I stood there enjoying the early morning, I realized I was starting to give-in to that sense of heaviness again.   Just then, the Lord reminded me of Lamentations 3:22-24. “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for his mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness! I say, ‘The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in him.”   What a beautiful promise! Every day is new and there is hope and joy to be found in the Lord. We just have to choose to find it and focus on it. Then He reminded me of Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer.”   Real joy isn’t derived from and doesn’t depend on circumstances. Circumstances may influence your happiness in a particular moment and for a short time, but true joy comes from the Lord. It comes from the inside and works its way out, not from the outside working its way in.   My situation is not unique. We’ve all been dealing with the same things and we’re all worn out by them. But we can choose joy over despair. We can rejoice rather than brood. We can focus more on God and less on the issues and events of the day. In Romans 15:13 Paul wrote, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”   We do have a choice regarding what we will allow our minds to dwell on. I encourage you to focus on the truths of God. I encourage you to choose hope and joy.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “He has also set eternity in the hearts of men.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “Be filled with the things of God”   This morning I want to share with you a passage from my sermon from this past Sunday at Oak Hill Baptist Church. We’re studying the Gospel of Matthew on Sunday mornings and this past Sunday we were looking at Matthew 12:38-50 where Jesus teaches about the danger of an empty heart. You can listen to the full sermon at http://www.oakhillbaptist.net.    The main point of my sermon was that God created human beings with an awareness of eternity and with a natural longing to know Him and to be in right relationship with Him. That’s what Solomon was referring to in Ecclesiastes 3:11 when he wrote that God has placed eternity in our hearts. There’s an empty place in the human heart that can only be filled by God and the more we fill our heart with the things of God, the more contentment and fulfillment we will experience. This is what the Apostle Paul was trying to get across to us in Philippians 4:4-8:   First, in verses 4-7 he urges us: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”   Okay, that sounds great, so how do we get there? How do we get to the point where rejoicing in the Lord, and being aware of is constant nearness, and coming to the point where we are not worrisome but instead we pray about everything, and we live with a sense of thanksgiving, and we enjoy the peace of God, and we find that peace guarding our heart and our mind – how do we come to the point in life where those attributes describe our Christian experience? Well, now Paul brings us to verse 8:   “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable – if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy – dwell on these things.”   In other words, fill your mind and your heart with the things of God. That’s how the attributes listed in verses 4-7 become more and more a reality in the life of the Christian.   If you are seeking fresh wind in your sails and fresh fire in your soul, I would suggest you turn off the television news, log out of social media, put down the newspaper, and fill your mind and heart with the things of God instead.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.

Good Morning Everyone,   Our theme for this month: “Fresh wind, Fresh fire”   Our Bible verse for today: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. Psalm 23:1-3 (NIV)   Our thought for today: “It will be true for you too.”   Yesterday I told you the story of a time in Billy Graham’s life when he was struggling spiritually. If you’re familiar with the story then you know it had been an exceptionally busy time in his life, for an extended period of time. Not only was he struggling with spiritual issues, but he was also physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. He needed renewal.   So, Billy did the thing he knew he needed to do – he carved out some time and he got alone with God. He placed himself in a position before God whereby God could speak to him and refresh his soul. That’s what David described for us in Psalm 23:1-3. There we get a picture of the Lord as shepherd, leading one of His sheep into a time of rest. The writer of Psalm 116 paints a similar picture for us:   “For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 116:8-9   In this case it seems as if the Psalmist had been in both physical danger as well as spiritual distress. If you read the Psalm in its entirety you will see that the writer sought the Lord, cried out to Him, spent the necessary time with Him, and ultimately found deliverance.   Both of those passages portray a person who found relief and renewal by shutting down and spending time with the Lord. And then, they came out of that time with fresh wind in their sails and fresh fire in their souls. It was true for King David, it was true for the unknown writer of Psalm 116, it was true for Billy Graham, and it will be true for you too.   During this difficult time in our life as a nation, we’ve all been under increased stress and we have all had to deal with many difficult situations. I encourage you to set aside some special time with the Lord to decompress and to be renewed.   God Bless, Pastor Jim

Copyright © 2020 Oak Hill Baptist Church, All rights reserved.