Nursery or Not?

As a Church body grows it changes. Some changes are easier than others. One that has seemed to present a challenge to us is that of establishing a Nursery for the benefit of our members and guests. I am not sure why we have struggled to get this off the ground. I do believe it will serve us well.

The entire situation was brought to mind again today when I read an excellent article on this very topic.

Here is a paragraph from the article:

"While I believe that the Scriptures teach that children should be in Public Worship, there are certain cultural realities which make pastoral faithfulness in this area a complicated balancing act. If a church is to be out-reaching, a worshiping community where believers are built up in the Gospel and non--Christians can come to hear the Gospel, then we must acknowledge that the Biblical ideal for children does not readily mesh with our 21 Century American culture. First, there are very few communities outside of the church which expect young children to sit still and quietly for long periods of time. So when our unchurched neighbors do accept that invitation to come to church, their children have no practice or training for sitting still and being quiet. They almost inevitably will become a distraction to many, including their own parents. In turn, the visiting parents, out of fear or embarrassment, spend their time tending to their children in their foreign setting instead of sitting attentively under the means of grace. This dynamic usually ends up extremely uncomfortable and embarrassing for the visiting parents who then do not return. Would it not have been better for all involved for the children to have been in a worship training class outside of the service?"

I believe you will find the entire article to be insightful and helpful. Who knows, perhaps it will serve as a catalyst to launch our Nursery for the sake of those who would benefit from this important ministry to families and children. After you read the article, you may have some questions, comments, insights or suggestions that you may want to share with me - I wholeheartedly invite you to do so.

So click HERE to read the complete article.

For the sake of the younger children and their families,

Pastor Mike

The Great Need for Fathers

It is Father's Day morning as I write this post. I am preparing for the Worship service we will experience together in just a few hours. I believe we will enjoy a great day of worship together. I am excited about the service that is planned, the songs that will be sung, the special music we will hear, the dedication service we will participate in and the message that will be proclaimed.

As I checked the news and a few other Blogs this morning I came across a very well written article entitled: "Everyone Say it Loudly: We Need Men." It is a well written article and it will be worth your time to read it.

Here are the opening paragraphs:

"My father gave me what too many girls nowadays ruin themselves for lacking: A strong, loving, steady masculine presence. It’s inconceivable what I would be like without him. So, before I explain why my dad’s story is bigger than us, let me brag on him a little. It’s Father’s Day weekend, after all.

Dad’s presence in my life kept me safe from many things my girlfriends put themselves through in frantic search of a man’s love. And my dad’s love was tangible, more acted out than spoken. He didn’t just say he loved us. His life repeatedly proved it. I never worried where my next meal would come from, because my father woke in the wee hours of many mornings to toil in sandy Wisconsin fields and breathe asthma-inducing corn dust as he fixed and re-fixed the grain bins. I’ve been lucky enough to marry the first man I’ve ever kissed (although not the first I dated). I didn’t feel much pressure to let guys touch me, or even date around before I was ready, because my dad not only gave boys those guard-dog looks and those looks let me know he considered me too precious to give out easily. He didn’t have to say it. He just had to look it. Maturity has opened my eyes to see that dad’s steady, loving pressure saved me from so many kinds of confusion and pain in romantic relationships. That’s what dads are supposed to do, of course, but it’s the exceptional man who fulfills his duty."

Read the complete article HERE.

Praying for the Father's in our Church Family to be the men we need,
Pastor Mike

Noah in the Theater is not the Noah in the Bible

Wow, I came across an excellent blog post dealing with some very interesting facts regarding the Noah movie that is in the theaters at this time. I have a link following the quote below. It will be well worth your time to read the article.

The world of Aronofsky’s Noah is a thoroughly Gnostic one: a graded universe of “higher” and “lower.” The “spiritual” is good, and way, way, way “up there” where the ineffable, unspeaking god dwells, and the “material” is bad, and way, way down here where our spirits are encased in material flesh. This is not only true of the fallen sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, but of fallen angels, who are explicitly depicted as being spirits trapped inside a material “body” of cooled molten lava.

Admittedly, they make pretty nifty movie characters, but they’re also notorious in Gnostic speculation. Gnostics call them Archons, lesser divine beings or angels who aid “The Creator” in forming the visible universe. And Kabbalah has a pantheon of angelic beings of its own all up and down the ladder of “divine being.” And fallen angels are never totally fallen in this brand of mysticism. To quote the Zohar again, a central Kabbalah text: “All things of which this world consists, the spirit as well as the body, will return to the principle and the root from which they came.” Funny. That’s exactly what happens to Aronofsky’s Lava Monsters. They redeem themselves, shed their outer material skin, and fly back to the heavens. Incidentally, I noticed that in the film, as the family is traveling through a desolate wasteland, Shem asks his father: “Is this a Zohar mine?” Yep. That’s the name of Kabbalah’s sacred text. 

You can read the complete article HERE.

I am grateful for theologians who equip us to be discerning concerning our culture,
Pastor Mike

Priority Check

You may recall from Sunday's message that Jonah apparently had his priorities out of order. It is evident that he had more care and compassion for a plant than he did for people. May his wrong priorities challenge us to evaluate our priorities.

Here is another quote from "Surprised by Grace" that reminds us how easily we can make lesser things into main things.

"...in God's city, the inhabitants love people and walk on gold, while in man's city, the inhabitants love gold and walk on people."

God's deepest affections are reserved for people. In God's economy, people come before projects, not projects before people. God proves this not only in his reprieve for Nineveh but in continually pursuing Jonah."

Endeavoring to love people more than plants, programs, plans or personal agendas,
Pastor Mike

Not all movies based on a Biblical Character are Biblically Sound

While we can be grateful for films with a Christian worldview or with a Biblical theme we must also be discerning in regards to our entertainment choices.

Here is a quote concerning the film "Noah"

"Noah's director Darren Aronofsky, a self-described atheist who made the Oscar-nominated hit The Black Swan, has described the movie as is "the least biblical biblical film ever made" and called Noah "the first environmentalist". According to one early review, the name "God" is not actually spoken at any stage."

Those are the words of a movie reviewer. You can read the entire review HERE.

Another reviewer has written: (Click HERE for the complete review)

Darren Aronofsky wrestles one of scripture's most primal stories to the ground and extracts something vital and audacious, while also pushing some aggressive environmentalism, in Noah. Whereas for a century most Hollywood filmmakers have tread carefully and respectfully when tackling biblical topics in big-budget epics aimed at a mass audience, Aronofsky has been daring, digging deep to develop a bold interpretation of a tale which, in the original, offers a lot of room for speculation and invention.

I think I will skip this movie and just read Genesis 6-8 for the best account of what happened in the life of Noah.

By the way, you will find the title "Lord" or "God" twenty three times in Genesis 6-8, that is twenty three more times than you will hear the "Lord" or "God" referenced in a movie that is supposedly based upon the story of Noah.

I think I will stick with the Holy version over the Hollywood version,
Pastor Mike

A Grumpy Prophet and a Gracious God

We concluded our series on Jonah yesterday. I don't know about you but I felt like we had a great day of worship. Our singing, giving, praying, special music and message all led us in heartfelt worship of our gracious God.

While we have good reason to tag Jonah with the title of "Grumpy" we also need to remember that he at least aired his concerns with God in prayer. I am grateful the Bible says; "he was angry. And he prayed to the Lord" (Jonah 1:1-2). His prayer is a quote from Exodus 34:6-7, which also reminds us that this grumpy prophet had a working understanding of God's Word.

Here is the basis of his prayer from Exodus:

⁶ The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
⁷ keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."

Jonah said: "You are a gracious God." I love that! I want to remind myself of that. We would all be wise to repeat that truth to ourselves frequently throughout the day.

One quote I left out of the message is:

"There is no place where you might be now, or where you might have been in the past, or where you might go in the future that will ever be beyond the reach of God's grace - nowhere." (Tullian Tchividjian, Surprised by Grace, p. 149)

May we always be surprised by grace,
Pastor Mike

Four Minutes that Will Impact You

Do you have 4 minutes to spare?

Click HERE to watch a video that will only last three minutes and twenty-five seconds, so in about 4 minutes you will be done with checking out today's blog entry.

Your heart will be filled with wonder, there will be a smile on your face, you will have big thoughts to ponder, and you will be filled with gratitude.

That's not bad for a four minute investment.

If you like it, pass it along to your friends.

Rejoicing in "Something More"
Pastor Mike

Anytime, Anywhere, Anything

Yesterday we continued our sermon series in the book of Jonah. Chapter two records Jonah's prayer from inside "the belly of the fish," (Jonah 2:1). Of all the times Jonah could have prayed, it wasn't until he was thrown overboard and swallowed by the fish that he "prayed to the Lord his God". He could have prayed when the Lord SPOKE to him or he certainly could have prayed in the midst of the STORM; but he didn't. He also failed to pray when the SAILORS asked him to. Being tossed into the SEA would have been a good time to pray. None of these events served to rouse him to pray. But when he was swallowed by the fish he "called out to the Lord, out of my distress," (Jonah 2:2). Distressing times can be a call to prayer. Jonah teaches us that we can pray to God anytime and anywhere!

Are you in a distressing situation? Do your problems seem to engulf you? Do you feel as if your trials and troubles are about to pull you under? Then...PRAY!

Like Jonah you too can pray to the God who is SOVEREIGN. He controls the wind, the waves and the great fish. He is control of the circumstances you are in at this moment and He is the one you can call out to and He will hear your voice (Jonah 2:2). He is also the STRONG one. He can do far more than you can ask or think. Above all else He is the SAVING one. I sense a confident assurance in the voice of Jonah as he declares, "Salvation belongs to the Lord!" (Jonah 2:9). Salvation still belongs to the Lord and He alone can save you if you will but call out to Him.

We also learn from Jonah, as we consider "how" he prayed. First, his prayer was BIBLICAL. Look at the many quotes from the Psalms in Jonah 2. His prayer was filled with God's Word. We would be wise to do the same when we pray. I also believe his prayer was very PERSONAL. He called out to "the Lord his God" and Scripture records "he answered me". You get the idea that God and Jonah knew each other. How well do you know the God to whom you pray? Thankfully we can and should know Him well. HOPEFUL is another word that describes how Jonah prayed. He had the confident assurance that God heard him and that he would "again look upon your holy temple" (Jonah 2:4). Being hopeful is not a "cross your fingers" and hope this works out attitude. No, it is a calm and confident assurance in the power, ability and might of God to hear and respond to our prayers. Finally, we sense that even in the belly of the fish Jonah was GRATEFUL. He said "But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you;" It is as if Jonah was thanking God for the deliverance even before the deliverance came. That is praying in faith and trusting God to accomplish His will for His glory and our good.

Take a few minutes today to thoughtfully read over Jonah chapter two. As you do, you too will discover that no matter how deep you are or how distant you may feel from God that gap can be bridged by a simple prayer. It is true you can pray Anytime, Anywhere and about Anything. And you don't have to be in the belly of a big fish to learn that. You can learn from Jonah.

May we with Jonah declare "I called out to the Lord...and he answered me;"
Pastor Mike

Powerful Words for any Leader

7 Billion People... How to Comprehend it

One of the blogs I like to read is Callies Dot Com. A few days ago he had a link to another web site that sought to make the complexity of 7 billion people on earth a little more easy to understand.

Here is the opening paragraph from that site:

"Earth’s population recently surpassed 7 billion people and that number is still growing. To comprehend the composition of our species 100people.org sought to help people, “better understand the complex issues facing our planet and the resources we share by framing the global population as 100 people”.

I think you will find the information presented there to be interesting. Click HERE to see it. According to their statistics, if the earth's population were reduced to 100 people; thirty-three of them would be Christians, twenty-two would be Muslims, Hindu's would be fourteen in number and there would be seven Buddhists. Twelve would practice other religions and twelve more would not be affiliated with any religion.

Do you wonder how the 33 are doing in sharing the good news of the Gospel with the other 67? It seems we should think about that. There are billions of people who need to hear that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Jesus came to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10). May we do the same.

A redeemed one out of 7 billion,
Pastor Mike

Let Us Pray

There is certainly much which calls us to pray. As I study Jonah chapter 2 in preparation for Sunday I have been reminded that we can pray anywhere and at anytime. Speaking of Sunday; I pray that you will be with us as the Church gathers to worship. The Lord has a message for each of us in Jonah 2.

Tonight, several of us with gather for a time of corporate prayer. You are welcome to join us. Here is the prayer printed for today in the book "Prayers Ancient and Modern."

"Infinite and holy One, whom we know as our Father and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we devoutly thank Thee for the mercy that created us from the dust, and for the greater mercy that has created us anew by a heavenly adoption as thy children. For the undying yearnings, which thou hast implanted in us, after things unseen, - for their satisfaction in Thyself, we thank Thee; and we rejoice that Thou hast been willing to encourage our frail and mortal spirits, by revealing to us something of the perfection of Thy nature, and calling us to follow after Thee. Grant, we pray, that thy loving-kindness may be followed by our obedience. And do Thou so confirm our best purposes by renewing our sense of Thy presence, that we may both imitate Thy nature, and accept Thy dealings with us in the spirit of childlike trust, and by the help of Thy dear Son, Jesus Christ our Lord - Amen."

You can read another powerful prayer in Jonah 2 and you will be both learning and preparing your heart to receive the Word on Sunday.

Praying with you and for you,
Pastor Mike

The Fish that Caught a Man

Some supposed "theologians" struggle with the veracity of the book of Jonah because they struggle with accepting the fact that a "great fish" could swallow a man. Of course they could simply accept the testimony of Scripture and believe it happened because the Bible says it happened. They could also accept the evidence that tells us that a great fish can indeed swallow a man.

I found the following two illustrations in the book "Explore The Book" by J. Sidlow Baxter (published 1960)

"In the Daily Mail of December 14th, 1928, Mr. G. H. Henn, a resident of Birmingham, gave the following testimony.

"My own experience was in Birmingham about twenty-five years ago, when the carcase of a whale was displayed for a week on vacant land in Navigation Street, outside New Street station.

I was one of twelve men, who went into its mouth, passed through its throat, and moved about in what was equivalent to a fair-sized room. Its throat was large enough to serve as a door. Obviously it would be quite easy for a whale of this kind to swallow a man." (Explore the Book, p. 152)

Here is another amazing story from the same book.

"In February 1891, the whale-ship Star of the East was in the vicinity of the Falkland Islands, and the look-out sighted a large sperm whale three miles away. Two boats were lowered, and in a short time one of the harpooners was enabled to spear the fish. The second boat attacked the whale, but was upset by the lash of its tail, and the men thrown into the sea, one being drowned, and another, James Bartley, having disappeared, could not be found. The whale was killed, and in a few hours the great body was lying by the ship's side, and the crew was busy with the axes and spades removing the blubber. Yhey worked all day and part of the night. Next day they attached some tackle to the stomach, which was hoisted on deck. The sailors were startled by spasmodic signs of life, and inside was found the missing sailor, doubled up and unconscious. He was laid on the deck and treated to a bath of sea-water which soon revived him; but his mind was not clear, and he was placed in the captain's quarters, where he remained two weeks a raving lunatic. He was kindly and carefully treated by the captain, and by the officers of the ship, and gradually gained possession of his senses. At the end of the third week he had entirely recovered from the shock, and resumed his duties.

"During his sojourn in the whale's stomach Bartley's skin, where exposed to the action of the gastric juice, underwent a striking change. His face, neck, and hands were bleached to a deadly whiteness, and took on the appearance of parchment. Bartley affirms that he would probably have lived inside his house of flesh until he starved, for he lost his senses through fright and not from lack of air." (p. 153)

So, it appears that a great fish can catch a man and he can live to tell about it!

I believe in Jonah 1:17,
Pastor Mike

When God said "Go" and the Prophet said "No"

Pastor Ray Stedman wrote that the book of Jonah was probably the best known and least understood book in the Bible. I pray that we will come to understand the message contained in its 48 verses. It is a message that will change us!

Yesterday we focused on the message of chapter one. There are several key truths packed into those 17 verses. Here are some highlights from the message.

1. God has a MESSAGE for people.
"Now the Word of the Lord came to Jonah...saying, Arise go to Nineveh," God was well aware of the wickedness of Nineveh and he had a message for Jonah to deliver to them. He hasn't changed and in His Word He has a message for us today. Along with His message He needed a messenger to deliver it. Is there a message God has for you? Is there a message He has for you to share with someone you know?

2. MISSIONS has always been on the heart of God.
The prophets of old were used of God to primarily deliver messages to the nation of Israel. Jonah was different. He was called of God to deliver a message to a Gentile nation. Israel was called to be a blessing to the "nations of the earth" (Gen. 22:18). They had failed in their calling. The Assyrians were cruel and evil and God called Jonah to deliver a message of impending judgement (Jonah 3:4). Jonah knew that such a message could serve to call the people to repentance (Jonah 4:2). He would have rather seen them judged that to have seen them repent. In the book of Jonah, we are reminded of God's concern for the nations. Do we have His heart for those in our community, county and country? How missions minded are we?

3. The MAGNITUDE of disobedience.
No man sins alone. The sin of one can have an impact in the lives of others. Jonah's words should cause all of us to think. He said: "I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you." (Jonah 1:12). Jonah's disobedience to the call of God affected....

A. The Sea. God hurled a great wind that stirred up a tempest on the sea (v. 4)
B. The Ship. The storm was so fierce the ship was about to break apart (v. 4)
C. The Sailors. These experienced mariners "were afraid" (v. 5 and 10)
D. The Stuff on board. Rather than deliver their freight they were pitching it overboard to lighten their load. That's not good for business. (v. 5)
E. The Stamina of Jonah. He was "fast asleep" in the inner part of the ship. How could he sleep through such a violent storm? Most of us sleep to be refreshed, some sleep to be removed from the troubles and trials of life. I think Jonah's spiritual perception and physical health was numbed because he was running from God.
F. The Strength of the sailors. "the men rowed HARD to get back to dry land, but they could not," (v. 13). The storm was too much for these men.

All of this because one man had chosen disobedience. We would be wise to evaluate our own lives and see if their is disobedience in our lives that may be affecting others.

It would be bad if we had to stop now. Thankfully the book of Jonah is a record of God's MERCY!

4. The MERCY of God.
This is a great theme throughout the book. We see God's mercy to the people of Nineveh, as they repented. We see His mercy in the life of Jonah in the second chance he received to deliver the message to Nineveh. The sailors experienced his mercy when He immediately calmed the sea and in their realization that He was the one true God. The mercy of God is a vibrant message in the four chapters of Jonah.

5. The MIGHT of God.
We also are reminded of the great MIGHT of God. He controls the winds and the waves. He appoints the great fish to swallow the wayward prophet. He answers the prayers of those who turn to Him in repentance. He is with us in our deepest and darkest times. He has the power to change the hearts of men. He controls plants, worms and scorching winds to fulfill his plans. What a mighty God we serve!

 Can you say "No" when God says "Go"? Ask Jonah. Is it worth it? I believe it would be better to say...

"I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,
O'er mountain, or plain, or sea;
I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord,
I'll be what You want me to be."

Let's decide now that we will not say "No" when God says "Go."
Pastor Mike

Fantastic February Family Fellowship!

The title of this post could be a tongue twister or an example of alliteration gone bad. Actually it is a simple description of a great wrap up to our family emphasis month. Yesterday we concluded our Marriage Matters series with a message on “The Minions of Marriage.” We considered some Biblical realities that impact our parenting.

The four truths highlighted were:

1. The TREASURE of our children.
Psalm 127:3 tells us that “Children are a heritage from the Lord” and that “the fruit of the womb is his reward.”
One important truth about a treasure is that is typically takes time and effort to unearth it. The same is true with our children. Yes, they are a treasure from the Lord and YES it will take time, effort and hard work to “unearth” the treasure that lies within the lives of those young ones God has entrusted to our care.

2. The TROUBLE of our children.
It is sometimes easy to lose sight of the fact that there is a degree of trouble that goes along with rearing children. The testimony of Scripture is clear that parenting can be troublesome; just ask Adam and Eve, or Eli the priest, or King David. Their parenting was filled with times of trouble and heartache. This reality doesn’t depress us, but rather serves to remind us that troubles shouldn’t shock us – it’s part of the experience. The Bible is clear in telling us that every child is “brought forth in iniquity” (Psa. 51:5). All children are born sinners and all sinners will experience varying degrees of trouble.

3. The TRAINING of our children.
The fact that troubles come does not lessen our responsibility to train our children. Proverbs 22:6 tells us we are to “Train up a child in the way he should go;” Psalm 78:5-7 and Deuteronomy 6:4-9 give us practical advice on how to train our children. Sharing the reality of a living relationship with the Lord should flow naturally out of our knowing the Lord and loving Him with all our heart, soul, and strength. Training takes effort but it is what God expects of us and it is what our children need.

4. The TRANSFORMATION of our children.

The good news is that God can CHANGE the heart of our children. We should endeavor to parent faithfully and prayerfully and in confidence that God can and will transform our children’s heart in His time and in His way. Once their heart has been transformed they can then be used by God to be an agent of transformation in the lives of others. We are raising this generation to reach the next generation. What an awesome opportunity and responsibility that is and one that God can accomplish in us and through us as we surrender to Him.

Well, that is a brief review of the morning message.

Sunday night was an awesome experience for us all. We estimate that close to 120 showed up for our Family Fellowship Supper. Our students did an EXCELLENT job of serving at the event. They were there to set-up, serve and clean up afterwards. Our children’s choir (with the help from a few of our students) provided special music. I counted 24 young people on the platform – that was a WONDERFUL blessing. The food and fellowship was enjoyed by everyone present.

Thank you Lord for allowing us to experience “how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” Truly it is “there the Lord has commanded the blessing,” (Psalm 133)

Grateful for the Families and Children of Everett Springs,

Pastor Mike

My Pastor Friends

Today I will have the great blessing of gathering together with several of my pastor friends. Every two weeks we meet together for fellowship, discussion, equipping each other, prayer and a meal. It is so refreshing to be with these brothers in Christ. I know that they feel the same way. It is also a blessing to know that we are not in competition with each other; we are on the same team, serve the same King, have the same goals and yet are all different men, in different churches, with different ministries.

We are reading through Pastoral Ministry by Dr. John MacArthur and the Master's Seminary Faculty. The content is rich, challenging and soul-stirring. Here is a powerful section that is quoted from Richard Baxter's book The Reformed Pastor.

"Take heed to yourselves, lest your example contradict your doctrine, and lest you lay such stumbling-blocks before the blind, as may be the occasion of their ruin; lest you unsay with your lives, what you say with your tongues; and be the greatest hinderers of the success of your own labours. It much hindereth our work, when other men are all the week long contradicting to poor people in private, that which we have been speaking to the from the Word of God in public, because we cannot be at hand to expose their folly; but it will much more hinder your work, if you contradict yourselves, and if your actions give your tongue the lie, and if you build up an hour or two with your mouths, and all the week after pull down with your hands! This is the way to make men think  that the Word of God is but an idle tale, and to make preaching seem no better than prating. He that means as he speaks, will surely do as he speaks. One proud, surly, lordy word, one needless contention, one covetous action, may cut the throat of many a sermon, and blast the fruit of all that  you have been doing..." (Pastoral Ministry, p. 19-20)

 That is great advice for pastors and for all who profess to know the Lord. We all are to take heed to ourselves. Our example should reflect our doctrine. The words of our lips should be supported by the ways of our life.

Pray for me and my pastor brothers that we will continue to live and learn and grow in our walk and work to which the Lord has called us.

Grateful for the call AND companions in the pastorate,
Pastor Mike

Let Us Pray

Many churches have a mid week prayer service. Ours is no exception. We typically receive various requests from our church members and then call on one member to lead in prayer. I trust that we are all in a spirit of prayer and that we each pray about the needs the Lord has impressed upon our hearts through the sharing of our petitions. I hope we will carry with us and to the Lord throughout the coming days the requests that we will hear tonight.

"Prayers Ancient and Modern" is a book I have that was published in 1897. I enjoy reading the prayers that are written in that book.

Here is the prayer for today:

"Heavenly Father, Who watchest always over Thy faithful people, and mightily defendest them, so that they may be harmless preserved, I most heartily thank Thee, that it hath pleased Thy fatherly goodness to take care of me this night past. I most entirely beseech Thee, O merciful Father, to show the like kindness toward me this day, in preserving my body and soul; that I may neither think, breathe, speak, or do anything that may be displeasing to Thy fatherly goodness, dangerous to myself, or hurtful to my neighbor; but that all my doings may be agreeable to Thy most blessed will, which is always good; that they may advance Thy glory, answer to my vocation, and profit my neighbor, whom I ought to love as myself; that, whensoever Thou callest me hence, I may be found the child not of darkness but of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord - Amen."
Thomas Becon (1511-1570)

What a prayer! I read that and think how frail, shallow, and weak are my prayers. I read it and think; "Father may my prayer life deepen as I grow in my relationship with you."

May we live according to the teaching of Jesus who taught us that we "ought always to pray and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1)

Let's Pray,
Pastor Mike

From My Library

I am reading an excellent book entitled: "Counseling the Hard Cases." I downloaded the e-book and I have benefited from the case studies and principles covered in this book. I am also enjoying it knowing that my daughter was able to sit under the teaching of one of the editors of the book. She enjoyed all the classes that Dr. Heath Lambert taught her at Boyce College.

Chapter three addresses the issue of "Obsessive Compulsive Disorder," it was written by Dr. Steve Viars. I have had the privilege of hearing him speak several times at various counseling conferences I have attended. Pastor Viars shares the following quote from the book "Counsel from the Cross"

"Most of us have never really understood that Christianity is not a self-help religion meant to enable moral people to become more moral. We don't need a self-help book; we need a Savior. We don't need to get our collective act together; we need death and resurrection and the life-transforming truth of the gospel. And we don't just need them once, at the beginning of our Christian life; we need them every moment of every day."

That is powerful! It is also empowering to know that our goal is not to become more moral. Our aim is to appropriate the truth and power of the resurrection into our daily lives. It is not what we undertake to do that changes us it is what we understand that has been done that truly transforms our lives.

What "issue" do you struggle with? We all have one or more trying situations or problems that seem to discourage or dishearten us. Wouldn't it be wonderful to find relief from that difficulty? You can! In fact, I would be honored to listen to your concerns and lead you into finding the solution in God's Word. Give me a call or send me an e-mail or fill out a "Connection Card" at church and let me know that you would like to get together to discuss and discover how you can apply the truth of the Gospel to your unique situation.

Trusting in the power of the Savior not the promise of self-help,
Pastor Mike

What a Day!

Three words...packed with meaning. "What a day!" If you were with us at Church yesterday you know what I mean. Wow, we experienced some ups and downs and the Lord carried us through them all.

First, I had stepped into my study and then came back into the sanctuary around 10 minutes till 11:00. At the front door of the Church I saw my parents, brother in law, niece and nephew. That was a surprise! They live in Winder and it is about a 2 1/2 hour drive for them to come visit with us. But, I didn't know they were coming to visit. Then, I saw my sister! That was an unbelievable sight!
Unbelievable because she has been away for 19 months as a result of poor choices. God has been good to her and her family and she has experienced God's work in her life through this time. She was released five months ahead of schedule from the women's transitional center where she has been the past several months. She is home, happy, thankful for God's grace and was eager to surprise me AND she DID!  Our church family had prayed for her and her family and they shared in our joy. Wow, what a day!

We also had two families visiting our Church. Along with our members and other guests we were around 80 in attendance. The congregation and choir sang heartily. The music was God honoring and uplifting. I had just begun to make announcements when we experienced a medical emergency. One of our members fainted. Our people responded quickly and graciously. Two nurses along with family members immediately began to minister to his needs. Another contacted 911. Some of our ladies quickly led the children out of the service. We prayed as a church family. The paramedics arrived and by that time the individual had regained consciousness. We are most grateful for the Lord's goodness and grace to us and to his family during this most unusual circumstance. He is at the hospital and we should continue to pray for the doctors to discover the reason for the fainting episodes he had both at church and again at the hospital. I know I can count on the folks at Everett Springs to pray for and minister to the needs of this dear family. Wow, what a day!

Marilyn and I enjoyed lunch, in Rome, with my family. We picked up a few items at the grocery store for our Student Ministry meeting, stopped by the hospital to check on Bill and then headed home to get ready for our Sunday Evening ministry activities. Seven children and four adults were present for our Children's Choir Ministry. Twelve students and eight adults were present for our "Sunday Night Live" Student ministry, PLUS we had a family visiting with us for our Sunday evening ministries. We had a "Winter Olympic" night with Broom Hockey and a "Redneck Luge" race (you had to be there). We had some great refreshments and Chris C. shared his testimony with the students. They were very attentive as they heard his life story and of God's work in his life. Wow, what a day!

I concluded yesterday's post saying: "You know where you can see me tomorrow," and even though the day was filled with ups and downs and proved to be a most unusual day; I am so grateful to have shared in the joys and burdens of my brothers and sisters in Christ at Everett Springs Baptist Church.

Wow, What a Day!
Pastor Mike

Update on Bill D.

Saw Bill around 2:50 today. He will stay overnight. No diagnosis as of yet. Vitals are stable and he was doing well when we saw him. Keep him and his family in your prayers.

Pastor Mike

Can a True Believer really say: "Church is not for me"?

A Pastor's desire is to shepherd the flock that God has entrusted to his care (1 Peter 5:2). But what about the "sheep" who don't want to be with the rest of the flock? Are they really sheep? If so, why would they knowingly wander from the safety and security of the rest of the flock? Why would any believer neglect the fellowship and food that is necessary to their growth and maturity?

It seems we live in a day when some think they can worship when and where and how they want to regardless of the clear teaching of Scripture. "I don't need a preacher, don't like sitting with hypocrites, and feel just fine worshiping God at a place and time of my own choosing." While a professed believer may not say what they think with such clarity; they demonstrate what they think with their continued absence from the gathered body of believers.

Pastor Jared Wilson has written about this same issue. I found the introduction to his article to be a little hard to follow. A few paragraphs in and he was laser focused in addressing the attitude that proclaims "Church is not for me."

Here is some of what he has written...

"...I think we ought to see the talk about agency and enjoying the church outside formality and institutions and the traditions of singing songs and listening to monologue teaching for what it really is: self-worship. A self-indulgent love of our own voices and preferring of them above all others. In church, after all, no one can hear you tweet.

Certainly one can be self-centered inside a church gathering, but the church gathering is nevertheless where all the sinners ought to be at the appointed time, smack-dab in the middle of a congregational experience specifically organized against the idolatry of personal preference. Not just because God says to do it — although that’s reason enough — but because it is good for us to have our singular voice lost in the sea of corporate praise and it is good for us to shut our social-media-motor-mouths for a bit and hear “Thus saith the Lord.” We should go to church — not mainly, but nevertheless — because it confronts and stunts our spiritual autonomy and individualism. We should go lest we become Cainites, saying “I’m not my brother’s keeper.” Or reverse Cainites, “My brothers aren’t my keepers.”

Of course most of us prefer to worship at the First Church of Hanging Out With My Friends at The Coffee Shop. Of course the more elite of us prefer to worship at My Own Speaking Engagements Community Church. Because, we believe, we “learn better” when we’re the ones doing the talking.

But something happens when you stop submitting to the communal listening of congregational worship and start filling the air with your own free range spiritual rhetoric. Your talk of God starts to sound less like God. He starts sounding like an idea, a theory, a concept. He stops sounding like the God of the Bible, the God who commands and demands, the God who is love but also holy, gracious but also just, et cetera. He begins to sound less like the God “who is who he is” and more like the God who is as you like him." (Read the complete article HERE)

Well, that's pretty straight up! I agree with him. Church attendance is not optional for a growing believer nor for a mature saint. Gathering together with other believers is God's plan for His people and you will find me in Church on Sunday. Yea, but you are the preacher, you are paid to be there. No, I am a Christian and it is my joy, delight and blessing to gather together with brother's and sister's in Christ to worship, sing, give, pray, and hear the Word proclaimed each and every Sunday.

You Know where you can see me tomorrow,
Pastor Mike

You Were Single Before You Were Married

The title of this post is the title of the message for this Sunday. Today and tomorrow I will finish up the message and I pray that you will be blessed and encouraged by what you will hear on Sunday.

Not only was every married person single BEFORE they were married; many will find themselves single again at some point in the future. Ultimately we will all be single in eternity (Matt. 22:30), well, we won't be "married." So, it makes sense to discover what the Bible teaches about singleness.

Did you know that there are more singles in the United States than the entire populations of France and The Netherlands combined? According to the U.S. Census, singles 18 and older make up 44.1 percent of all U. S. residents. Makes you think that we should have a better understanding of singles and what the Bible teaches about being single.

Whether you are single or married there is a place for you at Everett Springs Baptist Church. I hope to see you there on Sunday!

Pastor Mike

The Relevance of our "Marriage Matters" series

The more I read and prepare for our "Marriage Matters" series the more I see the relevance of addressing this vital topic. I am so grateful that we can turn to the pages of the Bible for an eternal perspective on such an essential issue.

On Sunday night, I came across a blog post entitled "What is Marriage?" Here is how the post begins...

"Last week I explained to my daughter that she was no longer allowed to watch the Disney television show, “Good Luck Charlie.” She understood that we love gay people and appreciate the many good things that they may contribute to society, but we don’t like how Disney is openly trying to force children to accept homosexual marriage as a normal, lifestyle choice."

Read the rest of the post HERE.

Here is a link to another page you can explore for the sake of the health and strength of you marriage.

What are you doing to demonstrate that Marriage Matters in your family?

Pastor Mike

Snow Day at Everett Springs

I took this picture yesterday afternoon.

Becky M. sent me a picture very similar to this that she took on her phone. I couldn't get it from my phone to my computer, so we drove by and took our own picture.

The snow is beautiful!

With the freezing temps and possible icy roads this evening we will not meet together for prayer meeting tonight. I would encourage each of you to set aside some time this evening to pray for our church and our ongoing outreach to the youth of our community and church.

We had a great turn out and great evening of ministry this past Sunday night and I anticipate each week being a great week of outreach and discipleship for our youth.

Looking forward to seeing you on Sunday!

Pastor Mike

From My Library

Today I thought I would share a passage with you from a book I am reading. As some of you may know, I meet with a group of Pastors every two weeks for a time of fellowship, prayer and discussion that will strengthen us in our calling. Currently we are reading "Pastoral Ministry: How to Shepherd Biblically" by John MacArthur.

The following comes from page 14 of the book and it is attributed to an anonymous writer. These words speak to the heart of a Pastor's calling.

     "Stick with your work. Do not flinch because the lion roars; do not stop to stone the devil's dogs; do not fool away your time chasing the devil's rabbits. Do your work. Let liars lie, let sectarians quarrel, let critics malign, let enemies accuse, let the devil do his worst; but see to it nothing hinders you from fulfilling with joy the work God has given you.

     He has not commanded you to be admired or esteemed. He has never bidden you defend your character. He has not set you at work to contradict falsehood (about yourself) which Satan's or God's servants may start to peddle, or to track down every rumor that threatens your reputation. If you do these things, you will do nothing else; you will be at work for yourself and not for the Lord.

     Keep at your work. Let your aim be steady as a star. You may be assaulted, wronged, insulted, slandered, wounded and rejected, misunderstood, or assigned impure motives; you may be abused by foes, forsaken by friends, and despised and rejected of men. But see to it with steadfast determination, with unfaltering zeal, that you pursue the great purpose of your life and object of your being until at last you can say, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do."

Those words energize, equip and encourage me!

I am thankful for the work God has given me to do at Everett Springs Baptist,

Pastor Mike

Marriage Matters Sunday Summary

I am writing this after a full day of ministry on Sunday; a full day AND a fulfilling day! What a blessing to gather together with the family of God to worship the Lord, fellowship with each other and serve one another in various areas of ministry.

I was blessed to hear of a good discussion held in our young adults Sunday School class. It is always a joy to see those who come out for Bible Study at 10:00am each Sunday morning. There was certainly a spirit of anticipation for our 11:00am service. Our choir was excited to have Dr. Stan Pethel leading them this morning. Our church family was blessed to have him leading our congregation in worship and providing special music for our service. I am grateful for the good feedback on the message: "How to have a Lasting, Loving, Living Marriage."

It is good to know that any marriage can last when we are willing to INVEST in that relationship. Our relationships with others teaches us that all relationships need an investment of time and energy; this is especially true of a marriage. The pattern that God has established for a marriage in Genesis 2:24  reinforces the idea that a marriage can truly be "built to last." Christ's reply to the Pharisees (Mark 10:2-9) also emphasizes His plan and desire for a marriage to go the distance.

A marriage that lasts would be rather dull without a LOVING relationship and this comes through our INVOLVEMENT with one another. You can't really love someone without being involved in their life. No matter how good or how challenging your marriage relationship may be at this time it can be a loving relationship. It should begin with our love for the Lord (Matt 22:34-40). Our love for Him impacts all other relationships. Along with loving the Lord we are to "love one another" (John 15:12). If you are feeling a bit distant from you spouse and not as loving as you think you can be or should be then you are not off the hook, because we are also told that we are to love our neighbor as ourself (Matt 22:39). So if nothing else you can love your mate even if your mate feels more like a neighbor than that person you first married. "Well, you don't know WHO I am married too; if you did, you would know that asking me to love him or her is asking for the impossible." You are right. I do not know the details of your marriage. What I do know is that God has told us that we are to love our ENEMIES (Matt. 5:44). So you can STILL love your mate. Remember God does not ask or tell us to do something that He does not enable us to do. Whatever the ups or downs, or ins and outs, or good times or bad times of your marriage you CAN love your mate. I'm not talking some emotional feeling, cold chill, or quiver in your liver - no the love of the Bible is a love that involves feelings; BUT is so much more than feelings. Biblical love is ACTIVE. Love is a VERB. Love is more than SAYING it, it is SHOWING it. So learn how to express love in a way your spouse understands. Share with them one or more of the following: 1) Words of affirmation, 2) Acts of Service, 3) Giving of Gifts, 4) Quality Time, or 5) Physical Touch. (Get more information on "The Five Love Languages" by clicking HERE.)

A Lasting marriage that is a Loving marriage will also be a LIVING marriage, a relationship that exhibits vitality! To enjoy a vibrant marriage calls for INTENTIONALITY on your part. You have to plan to keep your marriage vibrant. You have to work at it to keep the home fires burning. What can you do this week to "rejoice in the wife of your youth" (Prov. 5:18)? How can you have a relationship like the one recorded in the Song of Solomon? What practical steps can you take to nurture the life, energy and vibrancy of your marriage? How ever you answered those questions is how you can add life to your relationship. So what are you waiting for?

Plan to INVEST in your relationship, deepen your INVOLVEMENT with one another and get INTENTIONAL about your marriage and you WILL then have "A Lasting, Loving, Living marriage"!

Thankful for our Family Emphasis Month.

Pastor Mike

No Place Anywhere Near This Place

Our Church members are grateful to live and worship, in northern Floyd County, in an area known as "The Pocket." I agree with them; this is a beautiful place. If you have ever visited out here, you may think we are a bit off the beaten path. Well, we are only 12 miles from Calhoun and just 15 miles from the entrance of Berry College; so we are not really that far away from any who would like to visit with us. Consider this your invitation to come and worship with us this Sunday.

There is an old saying that sums up my thoughts about Everett Springs Baptist Church; "There is no place; any where near this place; like this place; so this must be the place." Yes! I think Everett Springs Baptist Church IS the PLACE to be on Sunday. Why?

1. Scripture exhorts us to regularly meet together (Heb 10:25)
2. Our choir will be singing under the leadership of Dr. Stan Pethel. I can assure you that you will be blessed by the special they have prepared for this Sunday!
3. You can have the joy of participating in worship through our time of singing, giving, fellowship, praying and hearing the proclamation of God's Word.
4. The message: "How to have a Lasting, Loving, Living Marriage" will encourage you and equip you.
5. You will enjoy being around others who endeavor to Love God, love others, and live accordingly.

My prayer and desire is that you will find Everett Springs Baptist Church to be "A refreshing place." So come Sunday and find out first hand why  "There is no place; any where near this place; like this place; so this must be the place."

We have a "place" saved just for you,    (Click HERE for a link to find our "place")
Pastor Mike

Why I am Excited About Our Marriage Series

I love it when I have a very clear sense of God's direction concerning the messages I preach each Sunday. In fact, it is my prayer and desire that I would ALWAYS know and sense God's leading when it comes to the preparing and preaching of messages. If He is not leading and directing then something is wrong.

For our Family Emphasis month I am preaching a series I have entitled "Marriage Matters." If you like you can scroll down the page to Tuesday's post to read a review of the message I preached on February 2nd. I am very excited about the upcoming messages and I want to encourage you to make three commitments that will benefit you.

1. Commit to praying for me each week.
See the Wednesday Blog post for an idea of what to pray

2. Commit to being present each Sunday in February.
If you don't HEAR the message it won't HELP you.

3. Commit to invite someone to attend church with you.
Imagine what would happen if your friends and family members heard a message that God used to bring about a significant change in their lives. What would it be like if marriages were strengthened, families helped and lives changed because of the work of the WORD in the lives of others. Now let's not imagine it only but lets get involved in making it happen by doing our part to be present and to be seated next to a loved one who also needs to hear from God.

Now, let me share with you where we are headed in the next three weeks.

February 9: "How to have a Lasting, Loving and Living Marriage"
You do not have to ENDURE your marriage but you can and should ENJOY it. You will find out how on this Sunday.

February 16: "You were SINGLE before you were MARRIED"
Sadly singles in a church can feel like second class citizens - this ought not to be so. Every married person in our church family was single for some time in their lives (you weren't born married). Some who attend our church are single at this point in time. At least half of those married right now will find themselves single again in the days ahead. So it makes sense to open the Bible to gain God's insight and wisdom on the single life. I am looking forward to sharing this truth with you and hope you will plan to be present with your single and married friends on Feb 16th.

February 23: "The Minions of Marriage"
Many are familiar with the "minions" from the Despicable Me movies. What about the minions in your marriage - those adorable, active, little ones you call children. Does the Bible give advice and direction for their upbringing? You better believe it and you will benefit from learning or be reminded of the clear teaching of Scripture about you and your children.

So I hope you can sense my excitement for this series. I also trust that you will do your part to be at each service for the month of February.

Plan now to be at Church for this exciting series!


Pastor Mike

A Powerful Minister's Prayer

"Lord, You know my weakness;
be my strength.

You know my ignorance,
be my wisdom.

Teach me,
that I may not be a blind leader of the blind,
but a scribe well instructed about the kingdom of God.

Oh, let not the people see me;
let them see You in Your vesture dipped in blood!

Let not the people hear me;
let them hear You in your voice of saving truth!"

- Bishop Daniel A. Payne

I came across this prayer at a blog I like to read. You can check it out HERE 

Wonder what would happen if I prayed that way AND you prayed this for me? 
There is one way to find out; let's pray this way this week and anticipate what God will do on Sunday.

Pastor Mike