Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Getting through tough times”

Our Bible verse for today: “The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “God has something to say.”

I thank God for Christian authors. Heck, I am one. But sometimes we writers become a little too focused on our own words and not focused enough on God’s words. While the thoughts and insights we have to share may be of some value, they pale in comparison to what God has to say.

When it comes to the subject of God helping us through the tough times, I’m sure He greatly appreciates my efforts to help Him explain Himself (or not), but maybe it would be good to simply let Him speak for Himself on the issue. Psalm 91 is an excellent example of God offering words of comfort and assurance to His struggling people. So without further delay, here He is in His own words:

“The one who lives under the protection of the Most High dwells in the shadow of the

Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’

He Himself will deliver you from the hunter’s net, from the destructive plague.

He will cover you with His feathers; you will take refuge under His wings. His faithfulness will be a protective shield. You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, the plague that stalks in the darkness, or the pestilence that ravages at noon.

Though a thousand fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, the pestilence will not reach you. You will only see it with your eyes and witness the punishment of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord – my refuge, the Most High – your dwelling place, no harm will come to you; no plague will come near your tent. For He will give His angels orders concerning you, to protect you, to protect you in all your ways. They will support you with their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the young lion and the serpent.

Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. I will satisfy him with long life and show him My salvation.”

Thus saith the Lord.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Getting through tough times”

Our Bible verse for today: “Because he is lovingly devoted to Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him because he knows My name. When he calls out to Me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will rescue him and give him honor. I will satisfy him with long life and show him My salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “God will get you through this”

I’m not sure when or where I first heard it, but legend has it that a Pastor once challenged the members of his congregation to share a verse of Scripture that was particularly reassuring to them. The story goes that one wise old man stood up and said his favorite verse is, “And it came to pass …” which appears first in Genesis 4:14 and is then used multiple times all throughout the Bible.

It’s an old story but a great truth. The fact is that sooner or later everything comes to pass. Nothing lasts forever. That includes good things, but also bad things. Whatever your current situation is, the day will come when it will have passed. In might take a while but still, it will pass.

I love a statement that Max Lucado makes in his book “You’ll get through this”. It goes like this, “You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With God’s help you will get through this.”

Sometimes the situation will get worse before it gets better. But you will get through it. Often you will fear that you won’t get through it, but you will. There will be times when the pain and anxiety will seem like more than you can endure, but it will pass and you will get through it.

Do you doubt this? Don’t. In the Bible God has given us way too many promises regarding this issue for it not to be true. He will get you through it. Tomorrow we’ll take a look at another of the many passages in the Bible where God speaks to us about this issue of getting through tough times.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Getting through tough times”

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: “We need wise friends to help us through tough times.”

Some of our worst decisions are made during times of trial and tribulation. As was noted yesterday, when our circumstances are difficult our thinking becomes fuzzy. It’s during the tough times when we need wisdom the most, but that’s also the time we’re least likely to have it.

The solution? Seek out wise people who will help you through your tough times. However, make sure they are not only truly wise, but also wise in the ways that matter. Your friend might be a Yoda-like sage when it comes to making decisions about financial investments but if that person has never been married, they’re probably not a good choice to help you think through your marriage problems.

How can we determine if a person is appropriately wise enough to help us through our tough times? First, the person should be a mature Christian who is capable of viewing your circumstances from a Biblical worldview.

Second, the individual should have the habit of seeking God’s guidance from the Bible. The Bible is our primary source of wisdom because it comes to us from God; it provides us with God’s thinking about our issues.

Third, it needs to be someone who has an understanding of the issues you’re dealing with. A person who has successfully dealt with something similar in their own life is a good choice. Be careful about this, there’s nothing worse in these situations (or potentially more damaging) than to take advice from someone who fancies themselves an expert but who actually knows little or nothing about how to deal with your situation.

Another good way to “walk with the wise” is through books. Through their writing, Christian authors share deep insights with us on particular topics. Throughout this month I will draw heavily from Max Lucado’s wonderful little book “You’ll get through this”. In that book Max uses the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis to teach some powerful lessons about faith, perseverance, and victory during tough times.

God will use wise friends to help us through our tough times. But we must be wise enough to seek their help. Don’t try to go it alone.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Getting through tough times”

Our Bible verse for today: “Without guidance, people fall, but with many counselors there is deliverance.” Proverbs 11:14 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Get the advice of good counselors to help you through the tough times.”

One of the most traumatic things any of us will ever experience is the loss of a spouse. When you lose your husband or wife your whole world is turned upside down. That’s why one of the first pieces of advice a counselor will give a new widow or widower is “Don’t make any important decisions for a year.” That means don’t sell the house, don’t move, don’t change jobs, don’t make major investment decisions.”

The reason for that restraint and caution is because when we’re going through a difficult time, especially one that is emotionally draining, it’s almost impossible to see things clearly. We simply cannot think straight and therefore important decisions made in that mental state will often turn out to have been wrong – sometimes terribly wrong.

Therefore another piece of advice we counselors give to people going through tough times is, “Make sure you have a few close and trusted advisors to talk to who will help you to think things through.” It’s crucial for us to have people whose insight and judgment we trust, and who will help us to make good decisions during tough times.

Those principles apply not just to the loss of a spouse, but to any difficult circumstances. Because our own thinking will be clouded by stress, emotions, and perhaps even depression, we need the advice of others who can help us to see things clearly.

However a word of caution is in order here too. Not everyone can be trusted to give sound advice and not everyone can be trusted with sensitive personal information. Choose your counselors wisely. Make sure you tell them you consider this to be sensitive personal information and you’re counting on them to keep it confidential.

Getting through tough times is hard; it takes time and it requires good decision-making. A few trusted counselors can make all the difference. But choose them wisely.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Getting through the tough times”

Our Bible verse for today: “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “God will get you through it.”

I once saw a bumper sticker that read, “Life stinks … and then you die.” Sometimes life can feel that way. Sometimes it can seem as if every day is a burden, every issue is a problem, every person is an adversary, the trials never seem to end … and then you die. King Solomon felt that way. In fact, he wrote an entire book of the Bible about it. He even started it in Ecclesiastes 1:2 by writing, “Absolute futility, says the Teacher. Absolute futility. Everything is futile.”

But then, if you read to the end, you find that Solomon also discovered an answer for the seeming futility of the never-ending trials and tribulations of life – the answer was God.

Whatever it is you’re faced with, God will get you through it. Not only that, He will enable you to get through it victoriously and He will even show you how to find joy in the middle of it.

Joy in the middle of pain? Happiness as I’m harassed? Fear and uncertainty that leads to fulfillment and peace? Yes. And also spiritual growth, stronger faith, a greater ability to help others going through similar trials, and much more.  Not only does God get us through the tough times, but He redeems them and uses them for our ultimate good.

It has been said that storms in life are so common that you have either just come through one, you are currently going through one, or you’re about to enter one. That being the case, we need to learn how to survive and even thrive in those times.

All this month we will explore the topic of “Getting through the tough times.” As we will learn, God has many ways in which He helps us get through those times and to do so victoriously. He uses the Bible, other Christian literature, sermons, miraculous answers to prayer, Christian counselors, and the help and encouragement of other Christians, just to name a few. I look forward to learning and growing with you as we explore this important and very common theme which is a big part of all of our lives.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “First things first”

Our Bible verse for today: “Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the Lord requires of you; to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “It’s not that complicated”

Sometimes when I think of our church I just sit back and chuckle. We’re really a unique bunch. If you’ve seen the first Star Wars movie you might remember the scene where Hans Solo and Chewbacca go into an inter-planetary bar. The place was filled with odd looking creatures from every corner of the galaxy, all with peculiar habits and unusual mannerisms.

Yup, that’s us. I laugh and think, “Man we’re a mess. But we’re a happy mess!”

And that’s the key – we’re happy. There is love and laughter, kindness and caring. We might not be as slick and polished as some churches, but our folks focus on the things that really matter (like loving God and loving others). And we don’t get too caught-up in the religious entertainment industry which has come to characterize much of what passes for church life today.

This is the point the prophet Micah was trying to get across to the Jews of his day. The practice of their faith had become overly-structured and highly ritualized. There were volumes of rules and regulations; there were complicated procedures and all sorts of processes; there were standards to meet and boxes to check. Micah was essentially saying to them, “Wait a minute folks it’s not supposed to be that complicated. All you need to do is love God, love people, and be faithful.”

I think that describes Oak Hill Baptist pretty well. If you’re looking for a church that has million dollar facilities, a musical program that resembles a Christian concert, and a preacher with big hair and a television ministry, then you won’t like it here. But if you just want to be with a bunch of people who love God and each other, and who joyfully minister in the name of Jesus, then come and visit with us.

I encourage you to go to our website at www.oakhillbaptist.net. Look at the pictures, read the stories, and be sure to review the Acts 1:8 model of ministry statement. That statement describes pretty well who we are and what we do. Then I encourage you to visit with us on Sunday. Sunday school for all ages is at 9:00 and the worship service begins at 10:00. We meet again for worship at 6:00, and at that time we also have children’s mission groups known as Royal Ambassadors for boys and Girls in Action for the girls.

At Oak Hill Baptist we know that being a great church really isn’t all that complicated. Just make it a point to keep first things first – worship God, love each other, and minister in the name of Jesus. We hope to see you at Oak Hill Baptist soon!

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Keeping first things first”

Our Bible verse for today: “Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the Emperor.” 1 Peter 2:17

Our thought for today: “Treat people with dignity and respect.”

I was once in a close working relationship with a man with whom I had deep and fundamental disagreements on important ethical issues. I sometimes felt as if my own integrity was at stake because of the positions he had taken and which directly affected me because we worked together.

At one point a disagreement between us became heated and in the middle of it he made an observation which stopped me in my tracks. He said, “Jim, I know you disagree with me but I think you also have disdain for me as a person.” The reason that comment brought me up short was because as he said it I realized it was true. Beyond just disagreeing with him on important and fundamental points of principle, I had come to disdain and disrespect him as a person.

In 1 Peter 2:17 Peter was giving Christians guidance about our relationships with others. In crisp, short phrases he addresses our relations with God, other Christians, government officials, and other people in general. With respect to other people in general, the Amplified Bible translates it, “Show respect for all men (treat them honorably) … “

I recently read a statement that said, “Jesus honored the dignity of every person, whether he disagreed with them or not.” I think that’s true. The only possible exception could be the way He felt about the religious leaders of His day with their arrogant hypocrisy. When they perverted religion for their own personal gain, and abused their positions of authority by using it to control people, Jesus got angry and lit into them. But in all other cases we read of Him treating everyone with dignity and respect. That was true whether He was dealing with faithful and obedient disciples, or a woman caught in adultery, or a notorious tax collector, or a Roman soldier, or even Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Him.

Treating people with dignity and respect is easy when we’re dealing with a nice person whom we like. It’s much more difficult when we find ourselves having to interact with someone we don’t like, or with whom we disagree, or a person who has done someone wrong and must now be held accountable for their actions. In situations like that it’s harder to treat them respectfully, but doing so is probably even more important then.

I see an excellent example of that every time I appear in court with one of the men I’m working with in the jails. Regardless of the offense the incarcerated man has committed, the Judge and all of the attorneys always address him with the title “Mr.” They also call him “Sir” and they ensure their tone with him is measured and calm and professional.

This is what Peter was referring to. It’s also what Jesus modeled for us and I believe it’s what we need to strive for in our relationships with others.

First things first, we must treat others with dignity and respect.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Keeping first things first”

Our Bible verse for today: “But Peter and the Apostles replied, ‘We must obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Our allegiance and obedience must be to God.”

Anyone who isn’t aware of the seismic cultural shift which has occurred in our society recently simply hasn’t been paying attention. The understanding of what is right or wrong, moral or immoral, ethical or unethical has been turned on its head. Behaviors which used to be universally recognized as wrong are now widely accepted, and those who remain faithful to long held traditional values are ridiculed as being old fashioned, intolerant, or worse.

Recently a high profile and popular candidate for President of the United States was being questioned by reporters concerning what should be done about conservative Christians who refuse to embrace the new standards of morality. This individual replied that if the faith of conservative Christians prevented them from embracing the new and enlightened understanding of sexual morality, it was time for those Christians to change their beliefs. And if they wouldn’t do so willingly, the rest of society needed to take the steps necessary to pressure them to change.

Those were chilling words from a person who aspires to the highest position of leadership in the free world. However, that is the direction our country is moving in. The time is coming, perhaps soon, when Christians who hold a Biblical worldview will be so out of step with modern cultural norms that we will be held in contempt, and we will be subject to great pressures to change our views. The opposition to our faith will come in the form of intense peer pressure and public ridicule. There will also be legal and perhaps even criminal challenges to be faced.

In those days we will need to respond in the same way that faithful Christians have always responded to such challenges – regardless of the age of history they lived in, regardless of the country they were citizens of, and regardless of what the issues were. The answer is always, “We must obey God rather than men.”

Although Christians are Biblically compelled to be the best citizens in whatever society they live in, our higher allegiance is to the Kingdom of God and to His laws. We are to obey the civil laws of our government as long as they don’t conflict with the laws of God. But when they do we must be firm in our obedience to God, even if doing so brings us into conflict with our government.

First and foremost (keeping first things first) we must obey God rather than men.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Keeping first things first”

Our Bible verse for today: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone.” Philippians 4:4-5 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “How we conduct ourselves matters.”

In his book, “Disappointment with God” author Philip Yancey makes an interesting observation about how Christians should live in this world. He writes, “The people of God are not merely to mark time, waiting for God to step in and set right all that is wrong. Rather, they are to model the new heaven and the new earth, and by so doing awaken longings for what God will someday bring to pass.”

Yancey’s point is that despite all the problems and challenges we face, there is much about life on earth that is not only good, but which is a reflection of heaven. This current world gives us glimpses of heaven in things like beauty and splendor, but also in things like godliness, peace, and joy. We, the people of God, should model heaven in the way that we live here on earth. We should call people’s attention to the glory and majesty of God as seen in the things of earth, and we should model Godly virtues by the way in which we conduct ourselves. Doing so will draw others to God.

In Philippians chapter four the Apostle Paul provides some instructions on how to do exactly that. In verse 4 he tells us to be intentional about rejoicing always, and he also says we should make sure our gracious attitude is evident to everyone. He goes on in verses 6 and 7 and tells us to live lives of prayer so that we will then have a great sense of the presence and peace of God. That peace will be seen in our demeanor.

In verse 8 he tells us to be disciplined in our thinking, keeping our mind focused on pure and honorable things. This too will directly affect our character and personality and will be evident to everyone. In verse 11 he writes about the virtue of contentment, and the obvious implication is that we must learn to be content. And in verse 13 he tells us the great secret of living such a life: “I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me.”

How we conduct ourselves in this world matters a lot. People are watching. They do notice. If we are thoughtful and intentional about it, they will see glimpses of heaven as a result of the things we say and do. That then will awaken in them a longing for that better world which the Lord has waiting for those who belong to Him. The problems and challenges we face in this life are not insignificant and they do matter, but how we handle them matters even more.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim

Good Morning Everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Keeping first things first”

Our Bible verse for today: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10 (HCSB)

Our thought for today: “Being a chose people comes with a cost.”

Peter wrote the letter we call 1 Peter to Christians. In 2:9-10 he explained to his Christian readers that they (we) are a people chosen by God for a specific purpose. This is reminiscent of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 when he asked, “Don’t you know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body.”

Peter and Paul were expressing the same truth. We are not our own. We were chosen by God for a purpose; purchased by Jesus, on the cross, by His blood.  What is that purpose for which we were chosen and purchased? Paul expressed it as glorifying God with our bodies. Peter said it was so we can proclaim His praises. Either way, we belong to God and we have been tasked by Him to further His purposes in this world.

It’s a wonderful thing to have been chosen by God, to be part of His family (1 Peter 2:9). And to be a walking, talking, mobile temple of His Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)? Well how can you put a price on that? It’s priceless. But with the blessing comes responsibility. The privilege is given for a purpose. From the book of Acts on, the entire New Testament is the story of God’s chosen people on a mission in this world to carry out His agenda for the human race.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ then your primary purpose in life should be to represent Him in this world and to further the spread of God’s kingdom. As you make decisions about how you are going to use your time and resources your first thoughts should be for your primary mission. That doesn’t mean we ignore other important things like family and work. It only means that our first concern is for the things of God. Everything else has a lower priority.

It may seem to you that such thinking would be inconvenient and that living that way will probably require sacrifice and maybe hardship. Well, yes. But being chosen by God for His purposes comes with a cost. There are great rewards, now and in eternity, but there are responsibilities and expectations that come with it. God has given us much – forgiveness of sins; the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts now; and an eternity in paradise. But with the blessing comes responsibility. We have been chosen by Him for the purpose of furthering His kingdom in this world. I encourage you to do your part. Tell somebody about Jesus today. Show them His love by the way that you treat them. Help to build the kingdom. It is your primary purpose here on earth.

God Bless,

Pastor Jim