Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up, but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “We are stronger and better together.”

 

I’ve always liked the story told in 2 Samuel chapter twenty-three where King David’s “Mighty Men” are listed. These were a group of men David had gathered around himself who were essentially his partners in ministry. They were mighty warriors; they were trusted advisers; they were fellow musicians; and they were his friends. David could not have accomplished all that he did without them.

 

In chapter three of the Old Testament book of Daniel we read the story of the three Hebrew boys Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. While the rest of Babylon was obediently following the capricious order of King Nebuchadnezzar and bowing before a gold statue in worship, these three refused. Instead they determined to remain faithful to the One True God and they would not bow in worship to a false idol.

 

If they would not obey the king’s order, those young men faced the threat of an excruciating death being burned alive in a furnace. But still, they refused. Maybe each of them would have been as strong and as faithful if they had faced that trial individually, but together they supported and encouraged and strengthened one another.

 

It’s a common Biblical theme. David had his mighty men. The Hebrew boys had each other. Jesus had the Apostles. Paul had his partners. Here in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Solomon encourages his readers to have those kinds of friends in their own lives.

 

Do you have “mighty men” or “mighty women” in your life? People who encourage and inspire you; people who support you and encourage you; people who make you better and stronger? If you don’t, I encourage you to ask God to help you develop those relationships, because we are stronger and better together than we are alone.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “When I say to the wicked, “O wicked man, you will surely die,” and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.” Ezekiel 33:8-9 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “If you see something, say something.”

 

Many years ago, as my career as a Navy officer was nearing its end, I was near the top of the chain-of-command on the ship I was assigned to. There were two officers higher than me, the Commanding Officer and the Executive Officer, but I was close to the top.

 

At one point I became aware of a serious problem taking place on that ship that needed to be corrected. I attempted to work with my superiors to correct it but got nowhere. I should have then brought the issue to the attention of higher authorities, but I didn’t.

 

Later, after the issue had persisted and eventually became an even more serious problem, the Commodore (my boss’s boss) had to conduct an investigation to determine what happened and why. During my interview with the Commodore I explained the things I had been aware of and the steps I had taken to try to deal with the situation. I’ll never forget what he said next. He said, “Jim, since you knew there was a serious problem, and you knew that despite your best efforts it was not being corrected, why didn’t you go around your boss and bring the issue directly to me? If you had, we wouldn’t be in this situation today.”

 

And he was absolutely right. In my situation on that ship, I had a responsibility to speak-up, and to keep speaking-up, until that serious situation was dealt with. Unfortunately I stopped speaking-up when I should have persisted.

 

Speaking-up like that is Biblical. As the people of God we are required by God to say the things that need to be said, and to keep saying them until corrective action is taken. That’s the lesson God was teaching the prophet Ezekiel in 33:8-9, and it’s a lesson God repeats over and over again all throughout the Bible. Moses was required by God to speak-up to the Jews and to the Pharaoh. All of the Old Testament prophets were required to speak-up, and then to keep speaking-up, whether the people wanted to hear it or not. In Galatians chapter two the Apostle Paul told of the time he needed to publically confront Peter to correct him.

 

There are too many other Biblical examples than I have time to address here this morning but the point is clear, we have a responsibility to speak-up when we see things that aren’t right.

 

The philosopher Edmund Burke once famously wrote, “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” We could amend that to say, “All that is necessary for error to persist is for others to remain silent.”

 

When we see something that is wrong we have a responsibility to the Christian community and to the society at large to speak-up about it. And if the issue is serious enough, we need to keep speaking-up about it until it gets corrected.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to your Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:9-10 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “A lot can be accomplished when we work together.”

 

Ezra and Nehemiah were partners in God’s work. Nehemiah was an organizer, administrator, and worksite boss. He led the Jews in rebuilding the city of Jerusalem. Ezra was a religious leader – a priest and a scribe. While Nehemiah organized and supervised the workers, Ezra’s primary responsibility was for the spiritual health of the people. Working together, Ezra and Nehemiah were able to accomplish great things for the sake of God’s people.

 

This is a common scenario we see all throughout scripture. Moses and Aaron worked together; so did Moses and Joshua. David and Jonathan made a pretty good team; so did Paul and Barnabas. Billy Graham had Cliff Barrows as a partner. Towards the end of his life Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, teamed-up with a Pastor friend of mine by the name of Jack Cavanaugh to write a series of books about great Christian leaders. They are good books which teach powerful lessons about important people in Christian history.

 

The point is that God frequently brings people together into partnerships for the cause of Christ, and we all benefit from it. I think back over my own years of ministry in the three churches I’ve been the pastor of. I wonder how in the world I could have accomplished anything worthwhile had it not been for the partners in ministry God had graciously provided me with. I think of the Youth Pastors, Music Ministers, Sunday school teachers, Deacons, and other leaders who have been such a help and blessing.

 

We need each other. None of us can do it alone. The more independent and the more of a Lone Ranger you are, the less you will accomplish. If God has brought a key person, or a group of key individuals to work with you, treat them as valued partners.

 

It really is true – a lot can be accomplished when we work together. I encourage you to acknowledge your partners, thank God for them, and make sure they know how much you appreciate the contribution they make.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

 

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Because of the Lord’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies 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 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “We need friends who will speak words of hope and encouragement to us.”

 

Over the last two days we have been considering the importance of maintaining three vital levels of relationship in our lives, we’ve called them “Paul, “Barnabas” and “Timothy”. Yesterday we thought about what happens when we disregard the wise counsel we receive from our friends.

 

Today I want to address the importance of close friends speaking words of encouragement and hope into our lives during those times when we’ve messed-up or are just suffering, because lets be honest, we all mess-up and we all suffer. Therefore we all need key individuals who will be there to speak words of hope and encouragement.

 

That’s what we find Jeremiah doing in Lamentations 3:22-24. In his case the nation of Judah was finally suffering the punishment the Lord had been warning them of for many years. The Lord had warned them repeatedly that if they didn’t change their ways, there would be a price to pay. Well, they didn’t and there was. God allowed their enemies to conquer them and to take them into captivity. The city was destroyed and the people were miserable.

 

They were suffering the consequences of their own poor choices and God was allowing it to happen. Actually, God caused it to happen as a form of discipline in an effort to bring them back into a right relationship with Him. Actions have consequences.

 

However into the middle of all that pain and suffering God had Jeremiah speak words of hope. The suffering would continue only as long as needed to accomplish God’s purposes. And while it was going on, His love for them did not cease, He was still a God of mercy, and He would still be faithful to His promises to them. The people needed to hear that.

 

The same is true for us. Regardless of what you’re going through and regardless of whether you brought it on yourself or not, God still loves you, He is still faithful, His mercy is still there, and there is still hope.

 

I’m certainly not Jeremiah and you’re probably not living in the midst of rubble and devastation, but the lesson still applies and I did want you to hear it this morning. Be encouraged. God’s not done. There is hope.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month:  “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “At the end of your life, you will lament when your physical body has been consumed, and you will say, “How I hated discipline, and how my heart despised correction. I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my mentors. I am on the verge of complete ruin before the entire community.” Proverbs 5:11-14 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Listen to the people who speak words of truth to you.”

 

Yesterday we began a discussion about the importance of establishing and maintaining a trio of vital relationships in order to live the Christian life well. We thought about the importance of having in our lives a “Paul”, a “Barnabas”, and a “Timothy”. I also pointed out that most of us probably already have  a Paul and at least one Timothy, but many of us do not have that Barnabas figure – the person who has the boldness and the permission from us, to speak straight truth to us whether we want to hear it or not.

 

Today I want to address the issue of what happens when we don’t listen to the influential people God has placed into our lives. In Proverbs 5:11-14 Solomon wrote about a man at the end of his life who was reflecting back with regret about the mistakes he had made and the damage he had caused by living a life of sin and debauchery. His body was wasted away and evidently his life was in shambles, “a complete ruin before the entire community.”

 

Please don’t miss the point that God had obviously placed into his life people who spoke words of truth and offered correction and guidance but he had rejected it, “I hated discipline … I didn’t obey my teachers or listen closely to my mentors.”

 

As I write this I’m thinking of a man I know who fits this description. He has been a drug addict and petty criminal since his teenage years. He has spent years in and out of jail for minor offenses, and there was one serious prison term as well. He is now approaching the age of fifty; his body is breaking down with multiple health issues; his first marriage ended in divorce and his second is hanging by a thread; he doesn’t work; and he is still using drugs. Oh, and his young son is following in his footsteps.

 

Like the man in Solomon’s proverb, God has repeatedly brought into this man’s life people who love and care about him and who have spoken words of truth to him over and over again. They have offered him lots of love and support and they have done what they could to help him turn his life around. But he still persists in his destructive ways and his life is ending badly. What a shame. What a senseless tragedy. Also, he’s not the only one being hurt by his actions. Those close to him, those who love him, have suffered, and continue to suffer, because of his destructive lifestyle.

 

It doesn’t have to be that way – in his life or in yours. God has placed people into your life who have the boldness to speak words of truth to you. Listen to them! Accept their help! Change your ways! If you don’t, then Proverbs 5:11-14 just might describe the final chapter of your life too.

 

Listen to the people who speak words of truth to you.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” Acts 11: 25-26 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “We all need a Barnabas to help us grow.”

 

I first heard about the Paul / Barnabas / Timothy trio of vital relationships at a Promise Keepers conference in the early 1990s. The speaker said, “Every man needs three relationships in his life. He needs a Paul – an older man who is more spiritually mature and who will build into his life. He needs a Barnabas – a man who is on an equal footing with him spiritually, and who will speak to him directly and boldly as the situation requires. And he needs a Timothy – a younger man into whose life he will build.”

 

As I listened to that teaching I was struck by the wisdom of it and I resolved to develop those relationships in my own life. To this day I remain convinced that such relationships are important for living a healthy Christian life. Man or woman, we all need those three vital relationships – we each need a Paul, a Barnabas, and a Timothy.

 

Do you have people like that in your life? Such relationships seldom happen by chance. We have to be intentional about seeking, maintaining, and nurturing them. It takes effort. I encourage you to make it a matter of prayer. Ask God to help you bring those three key people into your life – especially a Barnabas.

 

Most of us probably already have a Paul figure – someone older and more mature in the faith, a person we look up to and are willing to learn from. And we probably have a Timothy or two as well – younger Christians who we seem to connect with and into whose lives we are building. But Barnabas is a tougher relationship. This is the person who loves us but is not overly impressed by us. This is the person who will speak straight truth to us, and who will say the things that need to be said even if we don’t want to hear them.

 

The truth is that most of us tend to resist having a Barnabas in our life because we don’t want to hear the kind of things they might say to us. Therefore he or she is the one person we need most.

 

If you’re a committed and growing Christian then chances are you already have a Paul and a Timothy. But I’m willing to bet you don’t have a Barnabas. I encourage you to ask God to bring you one. And then, once that person is in your life, listen to them. (More on this subject of listening to your Barnabas tomorrow).

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “A wise man will listen and increase his learning, and a discerning man will obtain guidance … The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Proverbs 1:5; 7 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “We should help each other to be lifelong learners.”

 

“Leaders are learners.” I’ve had that precept drummed into my brain from my earliest days in the military. Even at the lowest ranks of the military there is a heavy emphasis on study, training, learning, and growing. And the more you advance up the ladder of leadership, the more you are expected to continue learning and growing. Why? Because leaders are learners. In order to be an effective leader you must never stop learning. We were taught that the greatest leaders of all-time aggressively pursued knowledge their entire lives.

 

To my surprise that same refrain was repeated over and over again in seminary. Learning and growing was not to stop on the day you received your diploma. Learning for a Pastor needs to be a lifelong pursuit.

 

The same premise holds true for all of us, regardless of what leadership positions we do or do not hold. As children of God we are to be lifelong learners. That’s what Solomon was writing about in Proverbs 1:5-7. A wise man or woman will strive to constantly learn and grow. Listen, discern, obtain guidance, and grow – it should be a lifelong pursuit.

 

In that same passage Solomon teaches that, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” In other words, it is right thinking about God that launches us on the lifelong quest of obtaining the knowledge that matters the most – knowledge of God Himself, His ways, and the way in which He wants us to live. That kind of learning begins only once your heart is right with God.

 

We can and should help each other with this. Our churches must be places of learning about God. That may sound obvious but nowadays much of what is preached and taught in churches across the land is watered down half-truths, or feel good pop psychology, or the name-it-and-claim-it health and wealth gospel. As church members we must insist that only straight unaltered Biblical truth be taught in our churches.

 

We can also help each other in this pursuit of Biblical knowledge by enthusiastically talking to each other about what we’ve been learning recently. We can tell others about the current sermon series being preached in our church and invite them to join us for it. We can invite others to learn with us in Bible studies groups or by joining us in an annual Bible reading program. We can tell parents about the children’s and youth groups at our church and encourage them to bring their children.

 

 

Lifelong learning about the Lord and His ways, is a crucial part of the living the Christian life. We should help one another to be lifelong learners.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

 

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor; for we are God’s fellow workers.” 1 Corinthians 3:8-9 (NIV)

 

Our thought for today: “Join with others working for a meaningful cause.”

 

Carl Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and the father of modern-day analytical psychology. In the early-to-mid 1900s he did ground-breaking research which became the foundation for the science of modern psychology.

 

One of the most interesting discoveries to come out of Jung’s research was that a third of his patients suffered from no definable neurosis other than the senselessness and emptiness of their lives. He went on to state that in his opinion “meaninglessness” was the most prevalent psychological problem of the modern era. The poet Henry David Thoreau once described it as people living lives of “quiet desperation.”

 

When people don’t have a clear purpose in life which they are enthusiastic and passionate about they either shuffle through life dejected and depressed; or they fill the void with addictive substances like drugs, alcohol, and food; or they fill it with compulsive obsessions like spectator sports and video games.

 

People need purpose.

 

There is one particular group of people among whom we almost never see that lack of purpose or sense of quiet desperation. They are Christians who are actively and enthusiastically engaged in Christ’s kingdom-building work. Among them we generally witness a zest for life, a sense of enthusiasm and purpose, and an eagerness to be about their Father’s business here in this world.

 

Those are my kind of people! They’re the people I want to be around and be a part of. We certainly see that in our church, Oak Hill Baptist. This is an “Acts 1:8” church that is actively and intentionally on-mission with Jesus in our world. The people of the church are committed to taking care of each other, and we are committed to all of our many ongoing ministry projects that keep us, as a group, busily about our Father’s business outside the walls of the church building.

 

When you’re at the group gatherings of the church you can’t help but be caught-up in the joy and the enthusiasm of it all. It’s infectious.

 

It’s true – people need purpose. If you become part of a group of people who have a clear and meaningful purpose, you’ll quickly discover that you do too. There’s no room for empty, meaningless, quiet desperation in a setting like that.

 

As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:8-9, “We are God’s fellow workers.” That means that together we are actively engaged in His kingdom-building work here on earth. Nothing could be more meaningful than that!

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

 

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.” Philippians 4:11 (HCSB)

 

Our thought for today: “Truly content friends have a calming influence on us.”

 

Dallas Willard was a professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. He was especially known for his writings on Christian spiritual formation. Dallas was one of the greatest Christian thinkers and writers of our day and his work has had a profound influence on many Christian leaders over the last fifty years.

 

One of Dallas’ most firmly held personal beliefs, and one that is often repeated and quoted by others is, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry and anxiety from your life.”

 

Dallas modeled that in his own life. Despite his success, fame, and fortune, Dallas and his wife lived their entire adult lives in the same very small and very modest two bedroom home, furnished with inexpensive but cared-for furniture. They intentionally lived a simple and unhurried life, keeping their focus on the things that truly mattered in life.

 

Dallas was a friend and mentor to Richard Foster, who wrote the classic Christian work “Celebration of Discipline”. Richard spent a lot of time with Dallas and was greatly influenced by him. Richard wrote of his friend, “He was simple, quiet, peaceful, and serene. He had a stilled and quieted soul.”

 

Richard also said that spending time with Dallas always had a calming effect on him. Being with Dallas helped Richard to relax as the cares, worries, and anxieties of life seemed to melt away.

 

Have you ever known people like that, people who seem to radiate a deep sense of contentment and a quietness of soul? Just being with them makes you more peaceful and serene.  I’ve had the good fortune to have known several people like that.

 

In the first church I was the pastor of (Bancroft Baptist), there was Dick DeGrow. Dick was a retired pastor in his 70s who served as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, and the church custodian. He was kind and gentle and never seemed to be in a hurry. I, on the other hand, was a newly retired Naval Officer trying to figure out how to be a Pastor. I was hard-charging and bull-headed, believing I was single-handedly storming the gates of hell with a water pistol. Good ole Dick would just smile and gently ask me to sit and talk for awhile. I always did and it always did me a lot of good.

 

I encourage you to find your own Dallas Willard or Dick DeGrow. Better yet, why not set a goal to become one? It happens by being with people like that and just soaking it in – allowing their peace and contentment, which just seems to radiate out of them, to wash over you and to have a calming influence on you.

 

Truly content friends can have a calming influence on us.

 

God Bless,
Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

 

Our theme for this month: “Friends and Associates”

 

Our Bible verse for today: “Wise friends will rescue you from the Temptress – that smooth-talking Seductress … So join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried and true paths.” Proverbs 2:10; 20 (The Message)

 

Our thought for today: “Good friends will hold us accountable.”

 

I’ve never been an alcoholic or drug addict, but I’ve known many people who were. Over the years of my ministry as a Pastor I’ve spent a lot of time ministering to men and women struggling with substance abuse issues. I’ve visited them in jail, worked with their families to overcome the damage, and I’ve helped many of them get into recovery programs.

 

All of the best recovery programs are based upon the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step model. A key part of the success of that model is the requirement that every participant in the program have a sponsor or accountability partner who will hold them accountable for their actions, and who will be there for them to help them through the times of struggle and temptation.

 

This is something that AA does well – much better than the church. Accountability is Biblical and it’s something that all Christians should be doing for each other. But we don’t. We’re actually pretty bad at this. When it comes to confronting wrong behavior and holding each other accountable for our actions, most of us are timid and remain silent when we should bold and we should speak up. That’s a shame and we’re all the worse for it.

 

In Proverbs 2:10; 20 Solomon addressed this issue and he noted how fortunate and blessed the person is who has an accountability partner to speak truth into their life. Such people help us to see when we’re going astray and they guide us back onto paths of righteousness and good choices. We need this. All of us do.

 

Years ago I had a friend who was a younger man and he struggled greatly with pornography. He recognized it for the problem it was and he had a genuine desire to overcome it, but he also knew it had a powerful hold on him and so he needed help.  To his credit he sought me out, confessed the sin, and asked for my help in defeating it. We agreed that we would meet once every week for lunch and the first question I would ask him is whether or not he had viewed any pornography. His commitment was that he would always answer that question honestly. I was also available to him 24/7 on the phone if he was facing a moment of weakness.

 

He did have moments of weakness and there were times when he gave in to it, but overall the accountability he had with me went a long way towards helping him break free from that pattern of sinful behavior.

Do you have people in your life you have given permission to hold you accountable? People who love you and who have the boldness to speak directly and honestly into your life? You should. In fact if you don’t, you are suffering for it. None of us can or will be the man or woman God wants us to be if we don’t have people holding us accountable in the most important areas of our lives.

 

I encourage you to make sure you have at least one friend like that. Make yourself accountable to someone.

 

God Bless,

Pastor Jim