september 2010
i will give you rest

The Lord replied, "My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest" Exodus 33:14

Back to school. Not everyone is excited about that reality, but the time has come. Young people will wrestle with the intricacies of algebra and personal pronouns. School teachers will wrestle with the delicate nuances of discipline and instruction.

For some of us who are older, back to school means the renewal of acquaintances, but Facebook and text messages have largely eliminated the separation of summer. The face-to-face time in school will be just a continuation of endless conversations still made primarily through cell towers and DSL lines.

Finishing school was something that most of us looked so much forward to. Those 12 years of public school humiliation finally done and perhaps four more years of college where new possibilities sometimes brightened into new hopes for the future. But always the looking forward to the time when there were no more papers and no more equations.

Only to find that adult life is a continuous back to school. Every day, some challenge to be conquered, some new lesson to be learned. Work, romance, married life, children, illness, mortgage, an endless stream of lessons constantly arriving at my door. Once I think I have mastered one, two more lessons arrive, with no guidebooks or Cliff notes or highly-trained educator to guide me toward the solution. And the only grades are the success and failure of real life.

Even religion so often appears to us as a new lesson to be mastered. God and heaven are presented to us as another challenge to conquer. In this world of lessons to learn, Jesus calls us to give up struggling to make ourselves worthy of grace.

Over the cry of all the relgioius voices calling out to you with the perfect plan for you to follow, I hope you can hear the voice of Jesus calling out, "Come to me all who labor and are carrying heavy loads and I will give your rest."

august 2010
recommitment to faithfulness

But be sure to fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24

Every August here at Rocky River, we celebrate our annual Homecoming with a special preacher and "dinner on the grounds." This year, we will celebrate Homecoming on Sunday, August 8, and our guest preacher will be Gordon West, Director of Missions for the Sandy Creek Baptist Association.

Homecoming is a time when I am reminded of all those blessed saints who have passed on and left a legacy of faithfulness here. I think about Ed Clapp and P.D. Short and their quiet faithfulness. I think of the sweetness of Dorothy Johnson and the feisty spirit of Mary Joyce Wright. I remember the wit of Herbert Buckner, the energy of Willie Duncan, the smooth baritone voice of J. Warren Brewer. I remember watching Mary Edith Teague make the cross from the organ to the piano through all those years of service. I could name so many others.

"Oh may all who come behind us find us faithful…" These words appeared recently on a local church sign. They are from an old favorite gospel song that mirrors my sentiment exactly. I pray that when I leave Rocky River, my legacy will be one that our youth and children will remember as faithful to God and to the people here.

Many of you are building on this legacy right now. As we celebrate this Homecoming, let us renew our commitment to be a faithful church by renewing our individual commitment to be faithful people.

july 2010
recommitment to giving

Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Like many other churches and organizations, Rocky River Baptist has been affected by the current recession. In some respects, we are in very good shape. We still have some surplus funds for emergencies, and our general receipts are ahead of our expenditures for the year so far. We are quite a bit behind on meeting our budget, but we have tried to be frugal with spending.

The finance committee has begun to meet and is working to lower our budget for the new church year. In the office, Amy and I will continue to try and keep spending down as well.

I understand that we are facing a tough economy. Because of your faithfulness to give in these tough times, we are still paying our bills and meeting our needs and giving generously to the missions of Christ through the Southern Baptist Convention, the State Baptist Convention of North Carolina and the Sandy Creek Association.

But there is an area in which we need you to consider renewed giving. Each month we make a payment of over $3,000 on the loan for our new fellowship building. When we began making these payments, we asked each family to consider giving an extra $10 per week to cover that payment. When we started this campaign, you responded well and we had enough coming in each month to cover the monthly payment. That is no longer the case. The building fund giving has dropped in this church year so that we are not collecting nearly enough each month to make our payment.

For those who have continued to contribute to this effort, I say thank you. Some of you committed from the beginning to give even more than the extra $10 per week. Please consider at this time committing once again to give at least an extra $10 per week if you can. If you can give more, we need your help. We have enjoyed the new building so much. It is a valuable addition to the ministry we do here at Rocky River. We are all using it for many events. Let's support it with our contributions.

june 2010
why get married?

Therefore what God has joined together let man not separate. Matthew 19:6

Why get married? This is the question I find myself asking repeatedly lately.

Most of us have heard the often-repeated assertion that in the United States about 50 perent of marriages will end in divorce. These statistics are challenged by some researchers, with the actual number ranging from 33 percent to somewhere between 40 and 50 percent. Divorce rates have dropped slightly since the highest rates we experienced in the 1980s. A part of the reason for this drop might be that more couples are living together and opting out of marriage, although the biggest majority of American adults will be married at some point in their lives.

Among the reasons that marriages are not working so well anymore, I believe that the most prominent may be an attitude that is growing throughout our society. Increasingly, we are a society of people who are focused on our own individual happiness with no tolerance for seeking the good of others. Many parents in previous generations saw their whole purpose in life as making a better life for their children. Now, so many indulge themselves with no thought for their children's future.

This sin is as old as humanity — selfishness. Since love has been redefined as something that makes you "feel" good, it is inevitable that getting married and having a family is going to fail a lot of the time. But if we remember that the real definition of love, God's definition in the Bible, is serving others, then we begin to see that marriage is an opportunity for spiritual growth.

When I say I love my wife, I am not saying that being with her always makes me feel good (although in my case it does, sweetheart!). I am saying that I want to serve her, be with her, and take care of her. In good marriages, this works both ways, so that as you look after each other, you both feel and know love.

In this short space I cannot address this entire topic thoroughly. Some people have abused this biblical notion of love and used it to heap abuse upon their spouses. That is not love and such marriages are already in default. But without a sense that I am in marriage to serve my spouse, I will be disappointed with what marriage can really contribute to my life.

may 2010
the place of "rest"

At that time Jesus said, …"Come to me, all you who are weary and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29

I have a quotation that I keep on my bulletin board in my study. This quotation is from an old dead guy named St. Augustine. Well, "saint" is not really part of his name, but they call him that now. Professors in college refer to him as a "Doctor of the church." He was not a medical doctor. In the funny ways that professors talk, "doctor" means "teacher."

The quotation is a prayer from the first chapter of Augustine's most famous book, his autobiography, called "The Confessions." The quotation is "You excite us to praise You, because You made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You."

Augustine thought, and taught, (he was a doctor!) that God created us to be in a relationship with Him. If we are not in a good relationship with God then our hearts will be restless. But Augustine also believed that if we surrender ourselves to Jesus (read that phrase again and think about it — surrender ourselves!) then we will find the rest that our hearts want so desperately.

Some people have believed in God all of their lives but have never known "rest" for their hearts. But it is available. We look for the answer to our restlessness in so many places, but there is only one place that it can come. "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in You."

april 2010
be cautious of abuse, even in the church

The Lord heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3

Some days are better than others. No doubt this is true for everyone in different ways. But for many people, every day is a miserable journey toward forgetting some tragic event in their lives.

I suspect this is true for the many victims of sexual abuse by Catholic priests that we have read about so often lately. So much of this story is tragic, the betrayal of a truly sacred confidence and the shameless cover-up that allowed perpetrators to continue their abuse, the fact that the current Pope was one of the Vatican leaders who threatened local Catholics with excommunication if they made the charges public or reported them to law enforcement. Of course, the real tragedy is the disrupted lives of the young victims.

In thinking about this tragic abuse of power and position, I encourage you to take thought for your own children and grandchildren. I do not like the climate of fear that many want to encourage but the Bible never whitewashes the reality that people are sinners.

Do not assume because a person is a respected public figure, even a preacher or a priest, that they are a decent human being. Take sensible precautions. Notice your child's habits and emotions. Notice if they act differently when they are going to be alone with a particular adult. Teach your child early about inappropriate behavior. Listen to them when they talk about their lives.

And do not suppose that because you are not Catholic you do not have to be careful. In the Baptist church we do not have the same system, but we often get the same results. Because we do not have any authority over our churches, a church worker can abuse children, be dismissed and find a new job at another church without anyone having the courage to speak out about it. There are many stories like this in religious institutions all over the world.

Finally, if you have been the victim of abuse, understand that this tragedy is not God's will for you. Jesus weeps with you when you have been abused. In this season, when we meditate on the work of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection; please know that Christ knows what it is like to suffer abuse and shame. But He also has the power to raise your broken spirit back up from its silent grave.

march 2010
is it "good" because we do it for the church?

This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:6-7

Every Christian denomination agrees that a Christian should try to live a godly life. Even though we often emphasize beliefs, every church encourages its members to do good works not just believe good things. Paul encourages us to think about things that are "honorable" and "praise-worthy."

The problem with saying this is that for so many people "godly things" equals "church things." Of course, church should be one of the good things that a Christian person does. But the problem arises when we make the subtle shift from thinking that church things should be good things to seeing things as good because they benefit the church. Instead of allowing God to make us and our church a godly presence in the world, we start to assume that the only godly thing is whatever we do for the church.

I think that this is the reason that each of the Christian denominations has sometimes found itself involved in evil things like the Crusades or the Inquisition or racial discrimination. We start to think that anything we do to benefit the church is the godly thing to do. But the Bible is full of warnings like those that Jesus gave to the Pharisees. "You strain out a gnat, but swallow a camel." (Matthew 23:24) or "You make the word of God meaningless through your traditions!" (Mark 7:13)

I hope in your Christian life you are helping to make the church where you attend a place of God's grace and love and holiness. I hope you are willing to give up your own traditions and sacred cows so that the church can be a place where God is proclaimed honestly in words and in actions.

No church is a perfect place and those outside the church often criticize us unjustly, but their criticisms sometimes are true. May God help us to do what is right, not just what our traditions say is good.

february 2010
traditions and the good news

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with all the saints to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge .... Ephesians 3: 17-19

Modern philosophers debate the meaning of abstract words as a regular part of their work, but most people see no need to go to all that trouble. We do not need to think much about it.

However, the meaning of words does matter. Words articulate our thoughts and help to shape our thoughts. So when we read in the Bible that we should "love" or that "God is love" or that "love never fails," we realize that it matters what the word "love" means.

I once helped a man find his way to Christ, but he struggled greatly with a lot of what we practiced in the church. He asked me one day why we always talked about love. It seemed an odd question to me, and I never fully understood his problem with the word. But this incident did show me that people understand these terms differently. Therefore we need to try and carefully define them.

It seems that almost everyone is willing to say that "love" is the most important part of religion. Anyone who believes in God or some supreme power wants to connect that idea of God with love.

Now in the defining of the word "love" we Christians have something very concrete to which we can point. The essence of love is the cross. Whatever "love" means for other people it must always mean that for us. "God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son…" and "No greater love can a person have than to lay down his life for his friends."

For Christians. the word "love" means the self-sacrifice that comes for the good of others. That "love" is perfectly expressed in Jesus. And only in Jesus can we know such love.

january 2010
traditions and the good news

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone .... Galatians 6:9-10

2009 will be a year long remembered. Some people will remember it as the first year in the presidency of the first African-American president. Some will remember it as the year of escalation in a series of wars that seem to have no end in sight. Perhaps most will remember it as the year of the Great Recession.

Good news is hard to come by in this most volatile of years. Everybody is looking for some good news, but most people are not looking in church to find it. While almost everyone still claims to admire Jesus and his teachings, almost everyone is turning away from church as you and I have known it most of our lives.

It is not hard to understand why many people are not looking in church to find answers to their problems. Everywhere they look churches are arguing over seemingly insignificant issues. Church people are desperately holding onto traditions and ideas that most of the world finds ridiculous.

We are not really sure which traditions and ideas we should keep and which we should reexamine. Many church leaders are preaching loudly that we must refuse any compromise with what is modern. Others are declaring with the same intensity that we should update everything.

There is a growing movement of people who have decided to abandon the traditional church. Many churches will insist on protecting themselves and their traditions. They will one day die. But every genuine act of service done for Christ will live forever.

In this new year, let us grow in our determination and faith that we will not allow the bad news of this world to crush the spirit of the good news we know in Jesus. Let us open our hearts more each day to serve others out of the overflowing love God shows to us. The world grows cynical, but we will not lose hope when our hope rests in Christ.

december 2009
immanuel

The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him, “Immanuel” which means, “God with us.” Matthew 1:23

Bethlehem is a famous town. If you go there today, you can take a tour and see a home typical of what a home might have looked like in the time of Jesus. In spite of the constant conflict in Israel and the West Bank, Bethlehem remains a popular pilgrimage spot for Christians from all over the world.

But it was not such a famous place 2,000 years ago, when Mary and Joseph made their visit in response to a demand from the emperor. Some pious Jews may have revered it as the “city of David,” but to most of the world it was not an important town. Yet here is where God became man. When that most famous baby was laid in that well-known manger, Bethlehem was the most important place in the world. No person on earth except for Mary and Joseph had any idea what was taking place in that little town. Yet it was the most important event in human history.

The significance of most things is hidden to us. The tone of voice with which a parent imparts some wisdom to a son or daughter may ring in that child's ear for a lifetime. The angel told Joseph that the baby would be called “Immanuel” and that means “God is with us.” Even then, Joseph could not have known how true that was.

In Christ, the presence of God is with us. He is not confined to a church sanctuary, or a mission pew. As you gather around your Christmas tree with your family, He is there. As you weep at the gravesite of your mother who will not be with you on this Christmas, God is there. As you revel in your children's delight, as you sing carols for your neighbors, as you pray in desperation for guidance and help, God is there.

Most of us are not important people to the world; we do not live in an important place. Yet, God is with us.

november 2009
giving thanks

What a blessing it is to have served with you these thirteen years. The time has gone by so quickly! Your continued generosity to me and my family is a constant source of blessing for me. Thank you for all the many prayers and gifts and words of affirmation you continue to bestow. I cannot begin to say “thank you” to each individual person who works to make Rocky River what it is, but there are a few specific words of gratitude I would like to share with you.

For over a year now Charity Dixon, Bobby Gales, Charlie and Julie Teague have been working with our youth in Sunday night meetings and recreation events. I know next to a relationship with Christ, the most important thing a young person can have is the influence of godly adults. These four are providing that for our young people. I am very grateful.

You have heard me say many times that we are very blessed with a number of musicians who help us out with our worship services. I am so grateful to Dawn Allred, Kelley Moody, Alice Sue Teague and Bonnie Moon for their willingness to play for us and especially for their sweet spirits in doing so. Gayle Black continues to bless us with her conscientious direction of our choir. Chip Price and Angie Burke are leading and teaching our children in music. Helen Nunn has stepped up to keep the hand bell choir active. For each of you I am so grateful to God.

Too often we take our Sunday School teachers for granted. Increasingly in this day and age people do not want to take on this responsibility. So we all say a big “thank you” to each of you who takes the time to prepare and teach Sunday School each week.

There are so many more I could list. I am grateful for everyone who works to make this a wonderful church family. I invite you to take the time this week to write a note or make a call and tell someone that you appreciate what they do.

october 2009
celebrating halloween and freedom

Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 1 Corinthians 8:9

On Saturday, October 24, we will share together at the church in our annual fall festival, where our children (and some brave adults) will dress up in costumes and “trunk-or-treat.” We have a lot of fun every year at this event. All of us enjoy seeing our children dressed up in their costumes.

Even though we do not refer to this as a Halloween festival, we all understand that we are doing this as a part of the Halloween season. Many churches avoid anything that could be considered a celebration or acknowledgment of Halloween because of its association with witchcraft, Satanism and the increasingly-graphic depictions of gore. Our church chooses to take a moderate position between two extremes: We discourage the use of violent horror images or any acceptance of occult practices, yet we also celebrate with costumes and candy.

The name "Halloween" is a conflation of the name, as used in the historical Christian calendar. November 1st is actually the Christian holy day All Hallows Day or more often called All Saints Day, in present terms.

The Roman Catholic Church uses this day to recognize all saints and martyrs. Some protestant churches recognize the members of their church who have passed away. For a number of reasons, All Hallows Eve became associated with increased demonic activity and some New Age pagan groups have adopted it as an important time of celebration.

The New Testament attests to the reality of spiritual evil. We should not take this lightly. Christians should avoid getting involved with occult practices, even if they appear to be only play. Tarot and Ouija board readings or séances to some are only innocent games, but the spiritual dangers are real to persons who are vulnerable and gullible. You may be able to participate and walk away, but you may be encouraging someone else to get involved in activity that will draw them to the occult.

I believe that dressing up at Halloween, passing out candy, even watching a horror movie can be innocent fun for Christians. In Christ we are free. But, as Paul advises, we should never use our freedom as a license to indulge ourselves when we may be hurting others. And we should beware — because sometimes real dangers lurk beneath innocent-looking faces.

september 2009
answer the call to ministry

…renew a steadfast spirit within me… Psalm 51:10

A new church year! Another summer come and gone. Fall is just around the corner. I want to begin this new church year by saying thank you to everyone who has faithfully continued to support Rocky River over these past few months.

Like most churches, our attendance drops during the summer, understandably as members take vacations and weekends at the beach and the lake. But we have continued to remain strong during the summer months because some of you have remained faithful with your time and money. Thank you.

I also want to say thank you to each of you who has agreed to serve in some official capacity in the church. We are blessed to have many of you willing to be teachers and leaders or to serve on committees. Thank you for your willingness and for the faithful service you will give to the church this year.

Since we are starting a new church year, this is a time of recommitment and renewal for each of us. The blessings which God has given us have come because some of you and others before you were willing to give of their time and money to support the church. The burden is always lighter when each of us takes our share.

The church is a place of worship, fellowship, education and service. You have something to give that someone in this church, someone in this community, needs. Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” But as many have noted before, you cannot give any flavor if you don't get out of the saltshaker.

God is calling you to ministry and giving of yourself in His service. You are the perfect person for that calling. Listen and answer. We need what you have to give.