Oak Hill Baptist Church

Don’t give in and don’t give up

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “We are afflicted in every way but not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; we are persecuted but not abandoned; we are struck down but not destroyed.” 2 Corinthians 4:8 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Don’t give in and don’t give up”

Do you remember our discussion from earlier in the month regarding steel and velvet? In that devotional I made the case that men and women of strong character and solid integrity are made of steel and velvet. They have an inner core of steel in that they have unshakable convictions based upon Biblical principles that they will not deviate from. Their moral and ethical conduct, and their determination to honor God by how they live, is non-negotiable.

But that inner core of steel is wrapped in an outer covering of velvet. Such a person is kind, compassionate, and loving, they’re quick to show mercy and eager to extend grace. People see Jesus in them. I’m inspired by people like that.

And also, because of that inner core of steel, they are people who do not give up despite the difficulty of their circumstances. That’s the kind of person Paul was describing in 2 Corinthians 4:8 (above). Listen to what else Paul had to say about that person in verses 16-18, “Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

I have a dear brother in Christ who is facing a huge medical challenge right now. Tests are still being conducted but it has the potential to be life-threatening. But my friend is tough, and he is one cool customer. He’s a retired law enforcement officer who had an entire career filled with challenges and dangers. He has had guns pointed at him and he has been shot at. Once, he had to shoot someone else. He has dealt with many very bad people and many dangerous situations. He has also battled and defeated cancer five times. Now, as he faces this challenge, he is doing so with calmness and confidence. He said to me, “Pastor, I’m going to do my part in this. I will take care of myself, I will get the tests and treatments they tell me to get, I will pray about it, I will have my family and friends and church pray about it, and then it will be whatever it is going to be. I’m not going to worry about it.” Did I mention that he’s tough and he’s one very cool customer? He’s also a great man of faith – steel and velvet.

People like my friend don’t give in or give up just because things get a little tough. One of my favorite personal sayings, and one that I try to live by is, “Nothing is over until you give up.” So, that’s my word of encouragement for all of us today. Don’t give in and don’t give up.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Choose your church carefully

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies (dedicating all of yourselves, set apart) as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical and intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world (any longer with its superficial values and customs), but be transformed and progressively changed (as you mature spiritually) by the renewing of your mind (focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes), so that you may prove (for yourselves) what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (in His plan and purpose for you.)” Romans 12:1-2 (Amplified Bible)

Our thought for today: “Choose your church carefully”

This morning I want to return to our discussion from yesterday regarding the fact that we are living in an increasingly post-Christian society. Ours is a society where the majority of the population is not active in a church, and Biblical values are having a smaller impact on our culture than ever before in our history. How do committed Christians protect themselves and their families from being swept up and carried along with those bad cultural influences?

The Apostle Paul answers that for us in Romans 12:1-2 (above). I’ve quoted that passage from the Amplified Bible because this translation uses all the English words necessary to capture Paul’s full meaning as originally expressed in Biblical Greek. A truly committed Christian man or woman of character and integrity will be fully surrendered to God, seeing their life as a living sacrifice offered up to God; living a holy life that honors and pleases Him is our ongoing act of worshipping Him; and to do that, we do not conform to the influences of the culture we live in, but we stand firm on Biblical principle, modeling godly values and ethical behaviors.

But many Christians today do not live that way. And many churches today do not teach sound Biblical doctrine. Instead, it’s the cotton-candy gospel that is popular. It is light and fluffy and sweet to the taste, but it has no substance and no nutritional value. In such churches the teaching is all happy, happy, joy, joy, and hot-button social issues are studiously avoided. In other churches the Word of God is twisted and perverted to more readily conform to what is culturally acceptable. Entire denominations have given in to the pressures of the culture and have tailored their teaching and the practice of their faith to more easily fit in with cultural expectations. Theirs is a deeply flawed theology and some key doctrines are twisted and perverted.

Christian men and women who are determined to maintain godly character and strong integrity will choose their church carefully. No cotton-candy preaching and teaching; no flawed theology and perverted doctrine; no path-of-least-resistance faith practices. In the Bible God said exactly what He meant, and His Word applies to all people, in all places, at all times, without exception.

I encourage you to attend church this Sunday. But choose your church carefully. Make sure you are in a church that is fully committed to Biblical truth – without compromise.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Can your church count on you?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Can your church count on you?”

Can your church count on you to be there when the church meets for Bible study, worship, prayer, or special events? Can they count on you to faithfully serve in the church in some way? Can they count on you to sacrificially give financial gifts to help support the work of the church? Can your church count on you?

Sadly, more and more these days the answer to that question is “no”, the church can no longer count on people to be there, to participate, and to support financially. We’re living today in what is being called “a post-Christian society”. In other words, a majority of the population no longer attends church on a regular basis, and Biblical values are having less influence on cultural thinking than in the past.

Consequently, our churches are struggling in many ways. In addition to the overall societal loss of interest in Christianity and in Biblical values, and the corresponding decrease in attendance and participation from that, most churches have also never fully recovered from the impact of the pandemic. The average church in the USA today is still at about 70% of pre-pandemic levels in terms of attendance and participation in ministry activities.

All of this adds up to churches across the land that are struggling. Therefore, it’s more important than ever for those who still value church life and who conform to Biblical values to be even more faithful. It’s essential for the remaining 70% to prioritize church life and to double-down on their resolve and their commitment to support the work of their church. Now more than ever our society needs the churches in their communities to be strong and to be faithful.

An increasingly important measure of godly character and integrity in our day is the resolve a person has to be there for their church. Can your church count on you? I encourage you to prove it by being there.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

You will be known by your fruit

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, neither can a bad tree produce good fruit … So you will recognize them by their fruit.” Matthew 7:18;20 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You will be known by your fruit”

Integrity is everything. Character and integrity together combine to form your reputation. Your reputation is what people have come to believe to be true about you, and it is based upon what they have observed in you over the long-term. Over time, people will come to know you by what you do and by how you live. This is the truth Jesus was teaching in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:18;20 (above). It’s the fruit you produce which will ultimately tell the real story of your life, and it is the fruit you produce that will eventually form your reputation.

Do you remember our discussion from a couple of weeks ago about the principle of the righteous lie? People who abuse that principle by playing fast and loose with the truth come to be known as people who sometimes lie. Others come to know that this person cannot be relied upon to always tell the truth. They know that there are at least some times when this person will tell a lie and conclude that it was okay to do so because in their personal opinion, it was a righteous lie.

With such a person we soon realize that we can never be sure when they are telling the truth and when they are not, because it’s hard to know what fits into their category of being a righteous lie. That person then becomes known by their fruit of sometimes telling lies.

Likewise, if we have the habit of making promises that we then do not honor and fulfill, over time we will come to be known as a person who does not keep his or her word and who therefore cannot be depended upon. That will be the fruit people see produced from our actions, and that’s how they will come to know us.

Integrity is too valuable a character trait to be played with. It is too important a part of our reputation to be squandered. And no matter how clever we think we are being, over time what’s really true about us will become obvious by the fruit we produce. Jesus said so.

I encourage all of us to live in such a way that the fruit we produce is consistent with the faith we profess.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Do the right thing because it is the right thing

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “And he said, ‘I will be with you; that shall be your sign that it was I who sent you. And when you have freed the people from Egypt, you shall worship God at this mountain.” Exodus 3:12 (New Jerusalem Publication Society Bible)

Our thought for today: “Do it because it’s the right thing to do”

Recently, in my personal quiet time, I’ve been reading through Dr. Dennis Prager’s commentary on Exodus from his series of commentaries called “The Rational Bible”. In chapter three Moses has his encounter with God at the burning bush. There God informs him that he is to return to the land of Egypt (the very place he fled from in fear for his life), and he is to serve as God’s instrument to bring about the deliverance of the nation of Israel from slavery.

Needless to say, Moses was skeptical. More, he was convinced that he was not the man for the job. And, he probably had no desire to leave his nice, quiet, safe, and comfortable life in the desert. So, he argued with God and questioned Him repeatedly, looking for a way out of this. But in verse 12 God told Moses that if he was obedient and if he did this thing, when it was over he would find himself worshipping God and giving Him thanks for their successful deliverance.

Obeying God and doing the right thing is an act of faith. It requires us to go forward in obedience and to trust God for the outcome. We do the right thing because it is the right thing to do, and we trust God for the rest. And, like Moses, it’s only when we look back at the event afterwards that we can see how God ultimately worked it out.

Dr. Prager observed, “Perhaps this is one meaning of the biblical verse that we can only see God from the back (Exodus 33:23) – only after an event happens can we see God’s hand in it.”

Men and women of character and integrity do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do. They trust God for the outcome, understanding that it will only be after they have gone forward in faith and obedience that they will be able to look back and see how God used that righteous act and worked things out according to His will.

I encourage you to resolve to do the right thing simply because it is the right thing to do, and then just trust the outcome to God.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

You are responsible for your happiness

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.” Psalm 144:15 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Your happiness is your responsibility”

One of my favorite books regarding personal responsibility is “The Traveler’s Gift” by Andy Andrews. It’s a fictional story about a man named David Ponder who is at the lowest point of his life. Everything has gone wrong. His life is a trainwreck and he can see no way out of his mess.

In a dream God takes David on a trip through time. In each era of history David encounters an historical figure who teaches him a vital lesson regarding the personal responsibility each person has to make their own life successful. Out of those encounters David formulates a list of seven decisions that determine personal success. It’s an inspiring story and the lessons it teaches will be helpful for any person.

Decision number five on that list was learned from David’s encounter with the young Jewish girl Anne Frank. It was during World War II and Anne and her family were in an extended period of hiding from the Nazis. But despite her perilous situation, Anne left behind a diary which has become famous for its wise insights and its irrepressible joy and happiness. The lesson about personal responsibility that David learned from that encounter is that despite our circumstances, each of us is responsible for our attitude and our happiness. The way he phrased it on his list of seven resolutions is, “Today I will choose to be happy. I am the possessor of a grateful spirit.”

As we learned in yesterday’s devotional, an upbeat and joyful disposition is a matter of choice. We can choose to embrace every day as a gift from God, and we can choose to rejoice and be glad in it. I will go so far as to say that your happiness is your responsibility.

Godly men and women of character and integrity understand that rejoicing in the Lord and being grateful for our blessings is an essential attitude that must be chosen and cultivated. If we wait for life to give us happiness, we will be waiting a long time and we will spend most of our time dissatisfied and unhappy.

I encourage you to choose to be happy. You are personally responsible for your attitude and for your own happiness. Embrace it. Choose joy. Do it for yourself, and do it for those who have to live with you.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

It’s Monday. Rejoice and be glad!

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “It’s Monday. Rejoice and be glad!”

Welcome to Monday! Are you happy? Are you glad? Are you singing with the Psalmist, “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it”? Or, are you a Monday hater?

Monday often gets a bad rap because for most people it’s the beginning of the work week, and many of them hate their jobs. I once had a retiree say to me, “Retirement consists of six Saturdays and a Sunday, but I still hate Monday.” He had spent his entire working life hating Mondays and now in retirement he couldn’t break the habit.

I contend that men and women who are spiritually mature and who have developed godly character and integrity have learned to appreciate every day, every moment, and every breath of life as a gift from God – and they find reasons to rejoice in it. Being upbeat, positive, and enthusiastic about life is a trait shared by the spiritually mature. In my opinion being habitually negative (the glass-half-empty person), indicates a lack of spiritual growth. And not only does it make you miserable, but your negative attitude has a bad impact on the people who have to live with you, work with you, or encounter you in the world.

Do you know Eeyore? Eeyore is the donkey from the Winnie the Poo stories. He is Donnie Downer. He is an expert at finding a negative to go with every positive. If you say it’s a beautiful day, he will tell you there’s a chance for rain. If you say life is good, he’ll tell you that something bad is bound to happen. People like Eeyore tend to be so focused on themselves and their perceived woes and problems that they miss many of the opportunities for joy in life – and they rain on everyone else’s parade in the process.

My friends, don’t be Eeyore. God has filled each day with many reasons to rejoice and to be glad. And since rejoicing and being glad is an attitude based on a decision, you can therefore control it. The Psalmist proclaimed this to be so when he wrote “I will” rejoice and be glad in it. He had made up his mind to rejoice and be glad, and then he proceeded to do it. It was an attitude born out of a decision.

Men and women of character and integrity tend to be positive and upbeat because it’s Biblical to view life that way. We’ll think more about this tomorrow. In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful Monday!

God bless,
Pastor Jim

We become like those we associate with

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character.” 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “We become like those we associate with”

I would like to take Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 15:33 and turn it around from a negative to a positive. If it’s true that bad company corrupts good character, then it’s also true that good company can reform bad character. Or, good company can take my flawed character and help me to become a better man than I am.

It’s a basic truism of human nature that overtime we become like those we associate with. That’s what Paul was referring to. So, if you hang around with people who curse like drunken sailors, pretty soon profanity will probably be coming out of your mouth too. If you spend your evenings in a drug house with drug addicts who are shooting up heroin, before long you’ll have a needle in your arm too.

But on the positive side, if your friends are all soccer moms driving mini-vans and working the concession stands, chances are you’ll be doing those things too. And if your companions are mostly Christians who love Jesus and who are active in church, there’s a pretty good chance that will be true of you as well.

Men and women of godly character and integrity get and stay that way by associating with others who value and practice those character traits as well. This is what Solomon was referring to in Proverbs 27:17 when he wrote, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” And this is why it’s so important not to skip the gatherings of your church family. As the writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing …” Hebrews 10:24-25

As was noted in yesterday’s devotional, this Sunday at Oak Hill Baptist Church we will celebrate our annual Homecoming Day. It will be a time of celebrating the church family God has formed at Oak Hill, and it will be a time of encouragement and strengthening each other. We invite you to join us (see yesterday’s devotional for the details).

It’s true that we become like those we associate with. I can’t think of any group of people I would like to be more like than the members of Oak Hill Baptist and so, I very much look forward to being with them. I hope you plan to be with a group like that as well.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

We need a band of brothers and sisters

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

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 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “We need a band of brothers and sisters”

The term “A band of brothers” has been around a long time and has been used in many contexts. It has been the subject of books, movies, plays, and stories. It has been used in fiction, myth, legend, and real life. The term refers to a group of people who are dedicated and loyal to each other, despite the difficulties and dangers they face. It is most often used with respect to military combat units, but it applies just as well to groups of all kinds.

A church family can be considered to be a band of brothers and sisters. A good church family is essential to living the Christian life well, and godly men and women of character and integrity know this to be true. This world is not our home – we’re simply passing through on our way to our real home in heaven, but the journey is long and difficult and often dangerous. So, God has given us brothers and sisters to make the journey with us. We are to do this together. Our church family is a band of brothers and sisters and we do look out for each other, we care for each other, and, when necessary, we carry each other.

This is the concept Solomon was using in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (above). Companions are essential. Pity the fool who tries to live this life alone. We need others who have our back and who will be there to lift us up when we fall, comfort us when we’re down, and help us when we are weak.

This Sunday (September 18^th) at Oak Hill Baptist Church we will celebrate our annual Homecoming Day. Summer is over, vacations are done, school has started, and the new church year has begun. Now it’s time to gather the church family, round up those who have strayed, invite friends, and enjoy a special day celebrating the band of brothers and sisters which God has formed in this church. There will be special music from the Perryman Sisters; a Homecoming message from Reverend Kirk Casey, the Director of Missions for the Cumberland Plateau Baptist Association; and there will be a catered lunch, along with fun and games afterwards.

It all starts at 9:00 with Sunday school, followed at 10:00 with the Homecoming celebration. Lunch will be served around 11:30. If you are anywhere near Cumberland County, Tennessee please join us. Or, if not, then join us live online on the Oak Hill Baptist Church Facebook page, or on the church website at oakhillbaptist.net.

Christian companionship is an essential element for living the Christian life well. Men and women of character and integrity know this. We need a good band of brothers and sisters.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

Leverage what God has given you

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Character and integrity”

Our Bible verse for today: “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.” Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Leverage what the Lord has given you”

Many years ago, when I was serving as a pastor in another part of the country, I had a friend who was a successful businessman in our town. Richard had started out as a young man working for someone else. But when he was ready, he launched his own business, and he did very well.

It was a small business but successful, and as a result Richard was well off financially. He was a strong Christian who donated generously to many Christian causes. At one point he asked me to bring the pastors in our town together each month for a free lunch at a nice restaurant. There was to be no agenda and no presentations of any sort. The pastors would not be asked to do anything, go anywhere, or support anything. It was simply a time for food and fellowship. And when it was over, Richard quietly and anonymously paid the bill. Everyone month. Hundreds of dollars.

I had another friend in the same town who was the superintendent of county schools. Jim was a strong Christian and a member of our church. He had started out as a school teacher. He then continued going to graduate school at night, eventually earning his doctorate degree. While he was doing that, he continued to earn promotions within the school system. Eventually our county had a strong Christian man leading the schools, and we were all blessed because of it.

I know of another man who started out as a low-level worker in a manufacturing facility. It was a difficult work environment where the workers were treated poorly. But my friend just focused on working hard and doing his job well. As the years passed, he gained one promotion after another until finally, he was the supervisor in his section of the factory. He then used his position to change the organizational climate into one where the workers were respected and treated fairly.

In each of those cases, the individuals were strong Christians who worked hard and well. They achieved as much success as they could, and they then used their positions to be a blessing to others and to honor the Lord.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18 is just one of the many passages in both the Old and New Testaments which attest to the fact that God Himself empowers us to be successful in life. Over and over again we read of how God gives people skills, abilities, talents, and spiritual gifts which we are then to use to be successful.

I encourage you to discover your skills, talents, and abilities. Develop them. Leverage them. Then bless others and honor God through the success you have achieved. This is character and integrity making a meaningful difference in the real world.

God bless,
Pastor Jim