Along with the worries and stress over the COVID virus, we have been facing a lot of racial strife here in America the past several weeks.  This seems to divide us as a nation even more than we’ve been.  It is easy to draw lines between the “Us” and “Them” groups.  There are those for the minorities and racial justice, and on the other side there are those for the police and law and order.  It is easy to paint one group as the “good guys” and see the other as the “bad guys”.  I think if we will take a step back and look at things more fairly and objectively we find that we’re not so different.
    The Declaration of Independence declares, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”  We all want to be able to have the freedom to simply live our lives.  That is true of everyone not just a privileged few.  And so to be in favor of addressing the inequities in our system doesn’t make someone bad or unpatriotic.  Upholding the belief that there must be order to a society makes complete sense.  We ALL need these things and desire them.  In America we are raised with a sense of fairness, of giving everyone a level playing field.  But the reality is we aren’t there yet.  So instead of an “us” against “them” mentality we need to seek, even pursue a course of action that puts us all on the same team working for a common good.
     Christians should have already known this.  Christ is the great emancipator and equalizer.  To the Galatian church the apostle Paul said we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3:26-29).  To the Ephesians Paul said that Christ himself is our peace, making the two one (Jew and Gentile) by destroying the dividing wall.  He has brought us into one body and then reconciled us to God (Eph. 2:14-18).
         If one part of your body is hurting, how does the rest of the body feel?  Do we simply ignore the injured part, treating it as if it has no place in the body or no right to hurt when the rest of the body is feeling fine?  Of course not, if anything that part of the body now receives all the attention.  The rest of the body is moved to comfort and heal that which is hurt, because until that is resolved the body as a whole has no peace.  If there are brothers and sisters in Christ who are hurting because the system we have in place has flaws then are we to turn our back on them because we aren’t experiencing the same pain?  Are we to ignore or even criticize their pain?  We all want to live free of oppression and tyranny.
       We need to pray for and support our police; they hold a position of authority over us (Romans 13:1-5).  But we also need to be willing to hold them accountable to do their job fairly, without prejudice, equally to all people.  James warns us about showing favoritism and the consequences of it (James 2:1-13).  We also need to pray for those who have and are suffering injustice.  And to simply say that all of this discord is just from the devil is to be blind to the truth.  AA teaches us that until a man stops denying his problem he can never overcome it.  The same is true for a nation.  We will never heal, or even begin healing until we are willing to accept the reality of the problem.  Then we need to do what Solomon led Israel to do – repent and pray.  Not everything is bad; we DO have the greatest nation in the world.  But it is because we have the right to criticize and point out what needs fixin’ that makes us great.  In dictatorships there is no freedom of dissent, everyone is expecting to blindly follow and think what they are told.  That is why the freedom of speech should be and is one of our greatest freedoms.
      Pray for our nation at this time, all of it.  Pray for our leaders, all of them.  Seek to listen to and understand the views of those you differ with.  What is it they are asking for, what is it they need?  I think once you really see what they are asking for you’ll find that it is something that you yourself expect to have and receive.
​
Don

   You have to go back 50 some years in American history to recall events similar to those we are seeing now and on top of that we have that little thing called a pandemic.  To hate, as many on both sides of the issues are doing, is easy.  It is human nature.  To seek to justify our view and to paint the attitudes and actions of those on the other side as misguided, unpatriotic, or just plain evil again is human nature, our nature, at its finest.  We want to highlight the sin of the other person, all the while excusing any short coming in our own behavior.  What should be the “Christian” response to all that has happened over this past week?  Righteous Anger?  Moral Outrage?  An eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth?  There is that voice in each of us that cries, “Yes and even more besides, after all they deserve it!”
   If you have been following my lessons from the Sermon on the Mount on Facebook or YouTube you may recognize the eye for an eye scripture.  Jesus references it in HIS sermon, and says that is not to be our way.  We need to turn the other cheek.  At the National Prayer Breakfast this year even President Trump acknowledged that is a tough one, but he’s working on it.  We all need to be, and no it isn’t easy.  And Jesus goes beyond just turning the other cheek, he then says we are to pray for those who hate us, to engage in acts to reach out in love to that person (read Matthew 5:38 – 48).
   So what is our response to the events of this past week?  Pray, not just for those you side with against the evil forces, pray for the evil forces.  When you look past your anger over their actions and ask yourself why they are doing this, you can then begin to pray for them and seek good for them.  Make a commitment to find a way to want to love them and to stop hating on them.  Hate never really did much good, but love covers a multitude of sins.  These are certainly hard times we are living in, but that is when Christ shines the most and now more than ever the world needs to see Christ in us.
​
   Don
 

​             “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”  2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
 
           We hear a lot today about a new normal (which doesn’t really feel normal at all).  Our lives have been turned upside down and then some.  Graduates are looking at screens instead of an auditorium filled with family and friends.  Businesses are scratching their heads trying to figure out how to bring in any kind of income.  Parents have become teachers and teachers find themselves trying to teach while parenting their own children.  Now when we see a TV show depicting a large crowd a voice insides us yells, “Move six feet apart!”  Even when things begin to get back to normal, will it be the same ol’ normal we were used too? 
 
As Christians we are actually called to a new normal.  Paul tells the Corinthian church that if we are in Christ (in other words if we claim to be a Christian) we are new creatures.  What was normal, or a part of the old life has passed away and it’s not coming back, the new is here.  In other words you can’t be a Christian and continue to live the old normal, there has to be a new normal.  Even when the virus has subsided we won’t look at life quite the same way.  Just going to a restaurant or out to a movie won’t be taken for granted.  And when we are sick with a cold or the flu we might be more mindful of how easy it is to make others sick.  And though we may be a little standoffish for a while, hugs will definitely not be thought of the same (I for one can’t wait. I’m way behind on the hugs needed for good mental health).
 
Taking on the nature and person of Jesus also means some changes.  I need to look at love and forgiveness in a different light, the light from a man hanging on a cross.  I need to find patience for and understanding in the things and people that drive me crazy.  After all Jesus did all that for me, and he is the one setting the normal for my life now (not me).
 
  Things will be different after the virus is dealt with, and not all for the bad.  Jesus wants to make me a new creature, one that is definitely better than the person he found when he saved me.  Here’s to the new normal.
 
Don
 

   Those of you on Facebook may have already seen Troy Woodard’s post that once all of this is over we may find that we need less things and appreciate more what we have.  And to that I give a hearty AMEN brother!  Times such as these are hard and uncertain but God hasn’t changed.  He’s still on his throne and still in charge.  It’s actually easy to forget that when we are so blessed.  Most of us aren’t worried about the roof over our head or the food on the table most the time, and to be honest we don’t give much thought to it either.  It is in times of uncertainty that we count our blessings and look to God to sustain us, not our pocket book.
   The apostle Paul knew this all too well.  He writes to the Christians in Philippi while sitting under house arrest in Rome, not sure whether he will live or die.  To make matters worse he even has to provide for himself while under arrest.  So Paul has seen not only the threat of his life from Caesar but just being able to feed himself and keep a roof over his head.  The church at Philippi had sent an offering to him and one reason for his letter is to say, “Thank you”.  Yet just after his thank you he gives this lesson on faith and contentment:
   “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:11b-13.
   Paul’s not minimizing the situation, but he is putting it into perspective.  He didn’t say it was fun to be hungry, but his contentment didn’t depend on it.  His faith and trust were in Jesus and in him all things are possible.  Wherever you find yourself right now, out of work, afraid of getting sick, feeling alone and isolated, Christ is with you and will give you strength.  So know that you aren’t alone.  Paul also knew the power of friendship and personal connections.  Even in this time of social distancing we are here.  Call, text, or communicate however you can to the church, family, and neighbors.  Even in this time we are in this together.  Be well and be safe!
​
Don
 

 
           Kyle Idleman in his book, Not A Fan, talks about how often scripture talks about being disciples compared to being believers.  Time and time again the word disciple is used far more often than the word believer.  It is important to note the difference in the terms.  A believer may believe certain things but a disciple lives what he believes.  James tells us that we show our faith by what we do, not just what we say.  Francis Chan in his book, Multiply, says that we are to be disciples, but that we are also to make disciples.  A disciple was someone willing to follow,  and to become like their teacher.  He makes the observation that many today feel like they can be a Christian without being like Christ.
 
We are in a series (which may be a long one) of looking at Jesus’ teaching and asking why it matters.  If we are to be more than just believers in Christ, if we are to follow him, we need to know what he taught and how he lived.  But then we must add to that the follow part, we must desire in our lives to be like Jesus.  In a few weeks we will spend three evenings on this topic as Paul Cocklin shares with us this idea of being disciples, not just believers.  My prayer is that you will mark your calendar, set aside time and most of all bring open ears and open hearts to those three days.
 
Don
 

    Unfortunately there have been too many headlines of shootings and a number of those have been in places of worship.  Jesus said in his day that the hucksters had made his Father’s house a den of thieves.  Today I’m afraid he would call it something else, a place of violence and death.  Even a quiet and peaceful church as ours has been rattled and so we are discussing what needs to be done and what can be done to feel safe as we worship.
 
  We have a Safety Committee, headed by Melissa Bailey, which has just been made one of our standing committees.  They have been looking at a number of issues.  This is far bigger than just considering an active shooter situation.  We have already look into our policies and practices with our nursery and who can work there.  We have taken steps to help Kim with this, but have identified steps to take such as having a stronger door and the ability with the touch of a button to summon someone from the sanctuary to immediately go over to the nursery.  We are looking into practices to help make the sanctuary safer.  We already have greeters, but will look to other options which may include locking doors during our service, using a single point of entry, and what means we have of securing the doors in case of a shooter. 
 
   More than this we need to consider what to do in a natural disaster, a fire, or if someone has a medical emergency such as a heart attack.  We will be making plans for all these possibilities.  This is where you come in.  We are not a large congregation so we need everyone to do their part.  Those who have some medical training we need your skills in case of the medical emergency.  We need people to take a responsibility of directing people to safety depending upon the need.  We need everyone’s help, with a willingness, to embrace new safer behaviors without losing what Myrle used to call our hominess.   The committee is looking to sit down with Sheriff Kevin Lake and discuss what churches can do for safety.  As many others are doing we may consider having an officer on hand for worship.  We certainly seek everyone’s prayers and feedback in this.
 
   Let’s not lose sight of the greatest safety feature we have, our faith.  I know some will say little good that did those people in this church or that synagogue who were killed, but if we live by faith that means living by faith.  The Apostle Paul could say with confidence, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Paul wasn’t looking to die, but he didn’t fear it either because his hope was in Christ.  He would say to be absent from this life is to be present with the Lord.  When we have that kind of faith Satan and the world cannot overcome our faith with the fear they would have us feel.  Some would have us believe that the world is a terrible, scary place that we need to hide from.  Jesus would say that it was a field ready for the harvesters to go out and receive the harvest that has been prepared.  Let us not lose sight of the fact that the church is not a fortress to hide in, but a field hospital on the battlefront saving anyone it can.

Don
 

 ​If you had to describe your walk in Jesus and you had to use one of two words, believer or disciple, which one would you choose?  We often refer to ourselves as believers, those who accept and acknowledge certain truths to be evident.  We believe that Jesus was both the Son of God and God in the flesh.  We believe that he was born of a virgin and laid in the manger.  We believe that according to the Law he lived a perfect life and then offered that perfect life as the price for my soul.  He died on the cross for us and on the third day rose again from the dead.  He then appeared to the disciples and ultimately ascended back into heaven.  Someday he will return just as he left.
 
     Is that it?  Does that describe my life, my walk in Christ?  Real faith isn’t just a mental condition.  I could say that I really believe a terrible hurricane is about to slam into my house.  But if I say all this while calmly watching my favorite movie on DVD while munching some popcorn in the living room of this house that I believe is about to be slammed into, you might question the depth of my belief (and you should).  Real faith has real consequences in our lives.  When folks came to John the Baptist and wanted this baptism for repentance John warned them to bring fruits in keeping with their claim.  In other words prove it by how you live.  James challenges us to not just tell people we believe but show it to them by how we live.
 
     A disciple is someone who takes the next step and lives what it is they say they believe.  A disciple didn’t just listen to a teacher and say, “Well that sounds mighty fine.”  A disciple got up and followed that teacher, to learn more and to live like him.  That will be the point of the new sermon series for 2020, “Why Jesus’ Teaching Matters”.   We need to not just hear what Jesus had to say, but we need to be willing to be changed by it, to believe enough that we follow.
 
     So join us in the New Year for the challenge and encouragement to follow Christ into the New Year.
 
Don
 

​   By now all the magazines at the check-out are giving us advice on how to have the best Christmas ever.  Better Homes and Gardens will be sharing home decorating ideas that even the amateur can pull off.  Southern Living will show us the best Southern recipes and traditions to share with family and friends this holiday.  GQ and Vogue will try to make us look good for the holidays or Men’s Health will stress how to work off all the holiday calories you added on from all those great new recipes.  The travel magazines will show us beautiful snow filled destinations to travel off too for some time away with scenes guaranteed to give us lasting memories of Christmas 2019.
 
    Ultimately Christmas isn’t something we find in a magazine or even in the perfect recipe or destination.  As Dorothy found on her trip to Oz, the best places are the ones you keep with you in your heart.  So how are we to prepare for the perfect Christmas this year?  First you need to know why you are celebrating, and don’t just say it’s for Jesus.  Why is it for Jesus, what is the purpose of Christmas in the first place?  Paul would put it this way, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst.  But for this very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”  I Timothy 1:15, 16
 
    The real reason for Christmas has nothing to do with 99% of what the magazines or our society will tell you.  If you have Christ in your heart then Christmas has come to you and that is what you need to celebrate.  How do we celebrate that?  When I say that I give gifts because God gave me his son, well, that’s nice but what in my gift giving praises God.  Will the person receiving my gift know that this is part of my saying thank you to God for his only begotten son?  How can my celebration be an inspiration to others? 
 
   Another thing that can make this the best Christmas ever is penitence.  Now wait a minute you may say, the holidays are supposed to be joyful, what’s all this about repentance?   I’ll repent of all the food I ate and how I spent too much in January.   But when you look at scripture, the kinds of gifts that please God aren’t the ones you can wrap and put under the Christmas tree. 
 
           “You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in
burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.”   Psalm 51:16, 17
 
     So how do you prepare for the best Christmas ever?  You begin with your heart and the question is, “Does Jesus have it?”
Don
 

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.  Give thanks to Him;  Bless His name.”    Psalm 100:4
 
           In America we have a way of taking any holiday and making it about food and fun.  Now I have nothing against food and fun, especially if you throw in some family, but there is more to most holidays than that.  We are coming up on Thanksgiving this month and we may give lip service to the idea of being thankful but how many of us will really give any serious thought or time to actually being thankful?
So with that in mind I thought I would share some inspiring quotes on the topic and just maybe you will get inspired to take some time over the next few weeks to actually be thankful.
 
"If the only prayer you said in your life was 'Thank you,' that would suffice." - Meister Eckhart
 
"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present." - Bil Keane
 
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."    - John Fitzgerald Kennedy
 
"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily."     - Gerald Good
 
"Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life."      - Omar Khayyam
 
"If you really are thankful, what do you do? You share."     - W. Clement Stone
 
"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart."    - Helen Keller
 
"Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it." - William Arthur Ward
 
"Not what we say about our blessing, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." - W.T. Purkiser
 
Have a blessed and thankful Thanksgiving!        
             Don
 

​   We’ve all seen the T-shirts, “Stay Calm and Keep On _____”.   For teachers it says keep on teaching, for nurses keep on nursing, well, you get the idea.  For the most part it’s pretty good advice.  Panic and anxiety usually don’t make things any better and often makes them worse.  But as humans we usually want to know why or how.  Why should I stay calm or how can I stay calm?  For Christians both answers are found in our relationship to God.  Why stay calm, because God is in control.  How can I stay calm - by trusting that he is in control. 
 
   When Paul was talking to the smart people in Athens at the statue to the Unknown God he wanted to tell them about this God that to them was unknown, but he knew very well. You can read about it in Acts 17.  Paul made the point that this God couldn’t simply live in a temple or need people to do things for him.  He is the one who made everything and everyone.  It is in him and through him that we live and move and have our being.  This Unknown God was in reality the only God and we owed everything to him.  Paul over and over in his life demonstrated what it meant to stay calm and keep on.   For Paul that usually meant keep on preaching the gospel.  Since God was greater than any difficulty he would face it just made sense to keep on keeping on.

   Worry and anxiety rob us of calm, but they also zap our strength and take away our resolve.  Trusting God is not just about not worrying, it’s also about pressing on.   Don’t let life get in the way of what God has in store for you.  Satan wants nothing more than for God’s people to be sidelined and discouraged, that leads to us being ineffective and at worst to be a reason for others to doubt God.  That’s not to say I have to walk around with a silly smile on my face all the time.  But in the midst of the trial or storm I can stay calm and keep on believing.

   So stay calm and keep on believing!

                                                                                                                                              Don