Waiting on the Authority!

Waiting on the Authority!

Psalm 27:14 ESV. Wait  for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!

Nine years ago I was a youth pastor in Northwest Illinois when our youth conducted a live nativity portrayal on a very frigid December night. As our youth stood outside in a manger scene bundled up underneath their costumes, many of them including myself were still shivering in the cold of night.

Yes, it was difficult for the kids to be patient between replacement breaks in which hot cocoa and warm shelter awaited their arrival. But that night something magnificent occurred in the arrival of an unexpected visitor.

As our kids stood outside portraying the Christmas story, a police car drove past our location. When this occurred our shepherds and even Joseph and Mary waved and made their presence known to the police officer.

The next thing that happened was a police car pulling into the parking lot of the live nativity. The youth thought they were in trouble and awaited the officers coming to speak to them. When the officer arrived, to their astonishment he supported them and praised them for standing outside on such a cold night.

With this the officer picked up one the the Magi gifts and stood with our youth in the cold as they portrayed the coming of our Messiah. For me the moral of this story is that it is often hard to wait for good things to occur, but those that are faithful will be comforted by God in His time and when we least expect it.

Brothers and Sisters my prayer for you this day is that you take courage this season of Advent and know that God is faithful and that the Messiah will come, and God's plan for His world will be put in place.

We saw courage and faithfulness in the form of a police officer on a very cold winters night in Northwestern Illinois eight years ago, and we will see our faith and courage be rewarded with the arrival of God's precious gift of the Messiah very soon. So be patient and wait in the hope of God's promised arrival.


This is the day that the Lord has made.

Tim's Topics: Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!

Tim's Topics: Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!: Matthew 6:25-33 25  ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, *  or about your...

Don't Worry. You Are The Body of Christ!

Matthew 6:25-33

25 ‘Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink,^* or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?^* 28 And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor was spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory not clothed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?” or “What will we drink?” or “What will we wear?” ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But strive first for the kingdom of God^* and his^* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Beloved, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this week and we gather with our families to feast in abundance, let us truly thank our Heavenly Father for the provisions that he has given us this year. At this time of year the need is truly the greatest for those that have lack of food, shelter, clothing and even fellowship. Many of those that are without this Thanksgiving may be parents that are wondering how to feed their children and supply them with the most basic of needs.

There may be those that are alone that are worried and depressed that they will be alone this Thanksgiving. The scripture from Matthew tells us not to worry about these things, for the Lord will supply them.  As a Pastor and fellow Follower of Christ I am sure that God will provide for the needs of many, but this is where you and me come in.

As the Body of Christ, we are those that can physically stop the worry, the need, and the loneliness this Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our call as followers of Christ, those that were created in God’s image, is to reach out to those in need, and those that are in loneliness and depression. Yes, God will supply the needs of the many and it is up to us to answer His call and to feed His sheep and to tend to His flock.

 ³² For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But strive first for the kingdom of God^* and his^* righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

How will you be the Body of Christ, this Thanksgiving and Christmas? God is calling, how will we respond? You truly have the gift and the call to stop others from worrying.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Making Room at the Table.

1 Corinthians 10:17 ESV

Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

As we will soon be approaching the time of Thanksgiving, the narrative that most Americans will gather around is that of the Thanksgiving Table of Bounty. Many of us also understand that there will be others whose tables will be sparse or even empty of this bounty that we celebrate. Many of us will work with local ministries and charities to feed the needy and often the forgotten this Thanksgiving. What would the world be like if all of the world was invited to a bountiful table every day and that hunger no longer existed?

One of my prized pictures that hangs in our home is that of Polish Artist Bohdan Piesecki’s titled “Last Supper”. This painting of the Last Supper by includes 6 women and 2 children, as well as Christ and His 12 apostles. Most classic paintings of the Last Supper (like Leonardo DaVinci’s Masterpiece) only show Christ and His 12 male apostles. But we know from scripture that Christ’s women disciples and His mother Mary had followed Him from Galilee up to Jerusalem, and the next day it was the women who were at the foot of the cross when the men ran away. This painting also shows a traditional Jewish Passover meal, with all the men wearing prayer shawls, eating with their right hands and reclining around a low table on cushions and rugs. In the front of the painting can be seen the basin and a towel from the washing of the feet.

As I walk down the stairs of our home, this picture is strategically placed at the bottom of the stairs, there is no way to go any direction without seeing it. This picture centers me and helps me to understand that with Jesus Christ comes bounty, yet in this world we still see many who hunger for the nourishment of Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual food.

Beloved, through the Lord’s Table, we gather as a united people in one bread and one cup which represents the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ. In my tradition, all are welcome at the Table of the Lord. Jesus calls all who hunger and thirst, those that hunger for a relationship with Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, to come to His table.

My prayer is that this Thanksgiving (and every day) we will feed the hungry and invite them to our tables with open arms, open hearts and the blessings of God’s bountiful table and bountiful relationship.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹³ For I, the Lord your God,
    hold your right hand;
it is I who say to you, “Fear not,
    I am the one who helps you.”

Recently when praying the closing prayer of our worship service, our small group gathered and held hands as to pray our closing prayer together. As we began to pray a small child’s voice spoke and said:

“Mommy you aren’t holding a hand.”

The child’s mother was holding a hand, but her other hand was not holding another’s hand as to close the prayer circle. Needless to say, small laughs started as we heard this precious child request that a complete prayer circle be made. Our group made a complete circle of held hands as we prayed the closing prayer together.

The scripture from Isaiah tells us that His holding of our right hand can also be read as “will strengthen you”. This verse speaks to the fact that when in prayer we are forming an alliance with God as to enable us to do the things that we request in His name.

The same can be said about holding hands when praying and even when forming a circle of hand held prayer. As we approach the Father in relationship and gain strength from this relationship, we gather in community as a conjoined alliance seeking out the Strength and Support of God.

It is this unity of faith that comes from these moments of group prayer that strengthens our faith and commitment to God, while being with people of like faith in prayer relationship.

This can also supply the answer that some have in asking: “Why do I need to go to church, I can worship God anywhere”? Beloved, it is the support and alliance with like minded people that reminds us that we are the family of God, and together we form the Body of Christ.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is a personal relationship. But when we gather to worship as a group and when we hold hands and embrace one another in Christian love, we are truly holding and embracing each other with the hands and arms of Christ.

It only took a small child to remind us of this.

Matthew 19: 13-14

Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Connecting Growing and Serving

2 Corinthians 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

The message the Apostle Paul is communicating is that the people of God are to be committed to His ministry.

The grace that we take with us is the fact that we minister with the full power and full energy that God has bestowed upon us. We that call ourselves the Body of Christ continue on in this year 2015 with God's message that we represent Him to the ends of the earth. 

We that we are called to be the bearers of God's providence to a suffering world, must be prepared to go out in full power and praise of the one who sent us.

Beloved, my prayer for you this week is that you will feel the energy that God has placed in you, as to be His disciples. May we take this moment and this opportunity to 

·                     Connect with others

·                     Grow in Christ

·                     Serve others.

God has called and God has instructed. May we use this God given energy to touch others with the love and spirit of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.




This is the day that the Lord has made.

Tim's Topics: Tuffy Snuggles

Tim's Topics: Tuffy Snuggles: Zephaniah 3:17English Standard Version (ESV) 17  The  Lord  your God is in your midst,     a mighty one who will save; he will re...

Tuffy Snuggles

Zephaniah 3:17English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

Many of us find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, especially when the warmth and comfort of the bed are just right. Our family has a dog named “Tuffy”, and Tuffy loves to jump in bed with his human parents (Lynne and Myself).

Tuffy will tuck himself in behind our back or legs and curl himself into a snuggle ball. I guarantee that this ball of fur makes it difficult for one to get out of bed because of his comfort and also not wanting to stir him from his loving trust of us.

If you can imagine the love and comfort that a pet family member brings to their humans, can you imagine the love and comfort that our Father God supplies us.

Zephaniah uses some powerful words to describe this love:

• ·         Is in our Midst (He is always among us)
• ·         Rejoices over us (Takes delight at being with us)
• ·         Quiets us (Frees us from disturbance, places us at peace)
• ·         Exults over us with His love (Rejoices with us)

Beloved, even on difficult days when we are so comfortable that we don’t want to go out into the world, take hope that God’s is surrounding you with his love and presence. God, is much more than that family pet that supplies you with warm cuddles on a cold morning. God supplies this feeling to us whether we are in bed, at work, or at play.

God is present and rejoicing over us as to quiet us and comfort us when we are in places of discomfort. God quiets the world and showers His love over us in the snuggling love and bear hug love that only a Father can provide. So, don’t be afraid to kick the dog out of the bed and start your day, for the Father is holding and loving you this day and through eternity.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Pastor Tim.

A Cool Astrological Phenomenon or Christ's Return?

• Revelation 6:12-14 ESV. He opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
• Joel 2:31 ESV. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
• Matthew 24:29 ESV. “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Tonight is the night of the 4^th Blood Moon between April 2014 and September 28, 2015. Some say that these blood moons throughout history have been around the times of significant event in and around Israel. Some theologians have stated that tonight’s blood moon could be the sign of Christ’s return and the end of the earth as we know it.

My blog does not try to dispute these theologians and their prophecies, what this blog hopefully communicates that we as flowers of Christ need not worry about it. 

God’s Holy Word does not tell us the time and the day of these events, but communicates the fact that we must be ready, and we must make others ready.

Whether the end times come with the blood moons or whether they come an instant or a year from now, I am ready and I celebrate God’s plan for His people and His world that will be brought forth by the second coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So my prayer and hope for you today is that whether we wake up with Jesus in the morning or not, go forth proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ and that He is coming, when God says. 

Go out and enjoy life by proclaiming to all the Gospel of Jesus Christ and God’s plan for all of us. Just to be on the safe side, I will still be working on my sermon for Sunday.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim

The Pope. The Third Great Awakening?

Ephesians 5:14 ESV

For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

As I watched the television this morning and saw the exuberance of the people as they welcomed Pope Francis to America, it reminded me of another Great Awakening in America. The Second Great Awakening of 1801 is where 20,000 people arrived at the Cane Ridge Meeting House in Cane Ridge Kentucky. It is said that many fell to ground in prayer when preachers presented the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is said that many stayed at Cain Ridge for almost a week, many having walked or came by wagon to hear and to have their spirits awakened.

As we watch the Pope travel to America and as we see Americans cheer and shout His name, we sense an excitement and an exuberance that has not been seen in a long time. Pope Francis is called the “Peoples Pope” or the “Servant Ministry Pope”, but hopefully the attention will be focused on America’s Great Awakening for Christ Jesus and taking care of the less fortunate.

Whatever your views on the Pope’s theology, getting people to focus on God is always a good thing, and if it takes the Pope to bring about a Great Awakening, so be it and thanks be to God.

My prayer for you all and for America is that as you watch the Pope in America your thoughts be taken to the first “Suffering Servant” Jesus Christ and that it sets forth an awakening in America that focuses on helping our fellow humans and doing so in the name of Jesus Christ.

It is about time that Americans fell to the ground and worshiped God, and we know that a blessed America is only blessed when it blesses God as Ruler, Creator and Lord of all.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Tim's Topics: Hope Over Heroin Prayer Walk Carrollton Kentucky

Tim's Topics: Hope Over Heroin Prayer Walk Carrollton Kentucky: https://www.facebook.com/HOHMadison

Hope Over Heroin Prayer Walk Carrollton Kentucky

https://www.facebook.com/HOHMadison

Tim's Topics: Give 'Em the Pickle!

Tim's Topics: Give 'Em the Pickle!: Special Edition Acts 20:35   ESV In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember t...

Give 'Em the Pickle!

Special Edition

Acts 20:35 ESV

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

When I worked in the corporate world, we would go through mandatory training every year. Much of our training consisted of enhancing and re-tooling our customer service skills.

Each time we trained we knew we were going to “get the pickle”. Yes, we were again going to see the training video entitled “Give ‘Em the Pickle” by Bob Farrell. Bob was a product of the depression, even losing his father to suicide after the stock market crash of 1929.

Bob Farrell became a successful restaurant chain owner and motivational speaker. Bob starts his video speaking about a customer that wrote him a letter about being charged for extra pickles at his restaurant. The customer stated in the letter that they loved everything about his restaurant, but charging for extra pickles was too much and they would never again eat at his restaurant.

After writing the customer back and assuring them this was not how they conducted business, he used the following slogan as their customer service mantra: “Give ‘Em the Pickle”!

Well, I learned that Mr. Farrell passed away this week at the age of eighty-eight. And this led me to ask the following question: As followers of Christ how do we Give Em the Pickle?

Yes, customer service is not only needed in our work lives, it is needed in our lives as those that proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. How do we welcome others in our houses of worship, and how to we treat those who are our customers?

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beat him, and went away leaving him half dead. 31“And by chance a priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32“Likewise a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33“But a Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion, 34and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35“On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.’36“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” 37and he said, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do the same.”

Beloved, Jesus was correct. Showing Mercy and Justice to all though the love of Jesus Christ is the pickle that we give our customers, and our customers are our neighbors.  I have attached a video of Mr. Farrell to this blog and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and that it reflects that Christians are to be all about customer service.

“Give ‘Em the Pickle!”

"Therefore" Encourage One Another

1 Thessalonians 5:11 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹ Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

“Good morning, hope you are all doing well and I hope your week is just awesome!” Words of encouragement, maybe many or just a few, maybe to a few people or maybe just one. In today’s social media world of instant contact, and in today’s world of hurry, hurry, high stress areas of life, maybe just a few placed words can make the difference in someone’s day.

The Apostle Paul in his letter to the Thessalonians states in this verse a “therefore”, meaning that he is exhorting the church to encourage one another, and to build one another up. Paul is telling them that as people of Christ, as people who live with Christ in them, we are more than built and designed to lift people up.

When we bring encouragement into another persons life, we not only understand their need for encouragement, we also understand our own comprehension of how we are connected to one another. As we need encouragement, we know that others do as well.

So send someone a quick text message, send them a quick tweet, or maybe a card or phone call. It is God’s need that is designed that we communicate the good news and happiness that can only be expressed by His people of unending and eternal life.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

Christianity and Violence Don't Mix!

Proverbs 3:31 ESV 

Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways

One need only watch the news or go to social media to see the violence that is occurring in our country and around the world. Viewing these stories of senseless killing is enough to take the hope and happiness away from anyone.

What is the world coming too? Why does life seem to have less significance? Why are people around the world so willing to lash out in violence? These are questions that we have all asked ourselves on at least more than one occasion.

As people that call themselves followers of Christ, Proverbs 3:31 tells us not to envy those that take up their hands in violence. Verse 32 of the Proverbs 3 text also tells us that the Lord detests such actions at the hands of those that he created.

Beloved, as the world continues to distance itself from Jesus Christ, the more we will continue to see violence surge around the world. We that are in relationship with Christ Jesus truly understand that the things of the earth cannot truly satisfy.

What is the attraction to taking a life? Power, wealth, revenge? Beloved the kingdom of heaven has no such need for these things. The eternity that we have been promised in heaven will be our eternal refuge from the evils of this world.

My prayer for us this day is that we as people of the Risen Savior need not ever be envious of those that seem to profit from violence and fear.

Let us also pray that the world sees the failures of violence and begins to draw closer to God’s call for peace and unity in the world that He has created.

Do not envy the world, envy the promise of Jesus Christ. He promises eternal life and not earthly death.

This is the day that the Lord has made.
Pastor Tim

Needing More Bread in Our Lives

Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of 

life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. John 6:35

Over the last few weeks in many different sanctuaries of many different congregations and denominations, we have heard pastors giving messages on bread. Whether it was Jesus feeding of the 5,000, or God supplying the Israelite's fleeing Egypt with Moses, bread (Manna) from above.

 This week we see Jesus saying “I Am the Bread of Life.”  

So why do we keep hearing stories about bread? Many physically partake of bread (food) as to maintain our physical bodies. Today we See Jesus concerned with our eternal souls and that they are maintained and kept healthy as to provide for eternal salvation.

Jesus knew that his time on earth in flesh was coming to an end, but the promise of resurrection was at hand. With the resurrection of Jesus, our eternal souls were rescued and made eternal. Thus when one comes to Jesus, when one is baptized, they have partaken of the bread of life.

When we as followers of Christ continue to stay in relationship with Him, we are continuing to keep our souls healthy via the bread of life (Christ Jesus).

My prayer for you this day is that you stay in relationship with Christ and that you keep your bodily temples Physically, Emotionally and Spiritually healthy.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Tim's Topics: God's Gift of Shining Light

Tim's Topics: God's Gift of Shining Light: J ames 1:17English Standard Version (ESV) 17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father...

God's Gift of Shining Light

James 1:17English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Over this last weekend I had the opportunity to watch the opening ceremonies for the Worldwide Special Olympics Games, in which special needs athletes from all over the world came to compete in different athletic competitions.

As the father of a special Olympic athlete, I see the pride in my athlete and his teammates as they are given a venue to celebrate their differences. These phenomenal athletes compete and focus on their abilities rather than their disabilities. Our son was able to do bowling, track, and basketball with his Special Olympics team.

Our son is given the ability to shine and to enjoy many things in which society in the past had only offered to what society considered to be normal. When our special needs athletes succeed we truly see the gifts that God has placed in them, as they participate in areas that used to be off limits to them.

Beloved, the case for today’s text from James is to remind us that everything that God creates has value and worth. Everything created by God is made perfect, as to shine the light of His love upon the world. My prayer for you today is that you will watch and support these amazing athletes here in Carroll County, and all over the world.

My friends, we each have gifts in us and each of us has the light of Christ in us for all the world to see. Go out today and support others and let your light shine as well.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Tim's Topics: Teamwork and Knowing Who Our Neighbors Are!

Tim's Topics: Teamwork and Knowing Who Our Neighbors Are!: Ecclesiastes 4:9-12   ESV Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift ...

Teamwork and Knowing Who Our Neighbors Are!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

a few years ago I had the blessing of visiting Johnson County Kentucky during the aftermath of flooding and storm destruction.  We might ask ourselves: “how can a trip to a devastated area be a blessing”?

The answer is easy: Teamwork

1.     It took our community coming together to collect items of need for Johnson County KY. During this collection drive we saw individuals, families, businesses, and an entire city come together to answer the question that was asked to Jesus: “Who is my Neighbor”?  In fact so much was collected that it will take at least two trips to deliver the items collected.

2.     When I arrived at the collection point with our first delivery, I witnessed an operation of clockwork precision. Churches, civic leaders, businesses, adults and children coming together as a team to help their neighbors. I was unloaded in five minutes and given a bible verse by one of the nicest teenagers that you will ever meet.

3.     Churches have begun to host meal locations to feed the victims and the aid workers in the area. And may I say anyone that was just wanting a warm meal.

Beloved, when God’s people come together in His name, magnificent things happen.  Yes, I was blessed to witness the work of God’s people in action. I was blessed to see that good people still exist and people still know who their neighbors are.

My prayer for you today is that you will get out of your comfort zone and feel God’s blessings that occur when God’s people team up as the Body of Christ.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.