The Non-Glamorized Valentines Day Message

Last night as I was trying to sleep with the sounds of my C-Pap machine, and Lynne snoring. While the dog was curled up next to my legs and the cat was resting on Lynne, I began to think about the true sense of Valentines day. Often while restlessly trying to sleep, ideas will come into my head that I wished I would have written down, because they tend to disappear when I fully awaken. Well to my amazement my thoughts from the night were still with me this morning, and I wanted to share them with you while they were still fresh in my mind.

               Song of Solomon 8:7

                   Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Love cannot be drowned

    by oceans or floods;

it cannot be bought,

    no matter what is offered.

As you and I exist in this commercialized, glamorous and glitzy world of Valentines day, what does it truly mean in reality? When we watch commercials we see that love is about the kisses and the happiness and joy in relationship! We see the stories that tell us: "With this gorgeous piece of jewelry she will love you forever"!  Well my sleep deprived take on Valentines Day is not to bash the romantic part of Valentines Day, but to rather lift up the real world Valentines Day message of love endurance.

The newness of one's marriage or relationship is often filled with newness in the hugs, kisses and discovery of one another. The newness of relationship and discovery can be counted as infatuation, but is it truly love? What defines love in relationship and marriage?

The true love of Valentines Day is the feeling of love that you feel for that person with the bad breath that you wake up next to every morning. The true love of Valentines Day is defined by not liking the other person at times, but the fact that you never stop loving them. The true love of Valentines Day is through sharing life changing experiences in which the relationship survives. The true Valentines Day is when that other person is holding your hand as you bury a loved one, or with you when the world comes tumbling down around you. The true Valentines Day is when the other person knows that you must love God more than them, if you are going to truly love them correctly.

Yes, Valentines Day is meant to be romantic and emotional  in regards to ones relationship with another. But as Valentines Day fades, the relationship must endure, and true love can only be found in its strength in crisis and true emotional distress. Love can endure happiness and pleasure, but it is in times of babies crying, job losses, and financial issues is it truly tested for strength and endurance.

So as I journey in this day of sermon writing with little sleep, may you all have a fantastic Valentines Day. Give cards, kisses, hugs a plenty, but understand that tomorrow is another day and only a true love and relationship that is nurtured will survive until the next Valentines Day. True love takes work and commitment to one another, so remember to hug, kiss and hold while knowing that true love endures in both happiness and sadness, anger and glee. I pray that you lift your Valentine up to God today, and that you allow God to strengthen and guide you to a love that is stronger than Valentines Day.

For Lynne: "We have been through good and bad, glee and sorrow, but I wouldn't trade a minute". Thanks for my two best Valentines presents (Sean and Ben).

Also don't forget her chocolate today!
Pastor Tim

Followers of the Cross

Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 (ESV)

Beginning this Wednesday with Ash Wednesday the Christian season of Lent begins, in which we will all  begin a journey. For the next forty days of Lent I will be discussing what it means to be a cross follower, and how this journey speaks to the inward journey of our souls.

Cross - bearing and following speaks to discipleship and our everyday walk of following the cross in identification of what Christ's actions mean for humanity. By our following the cross we must consider our own lives and daily actions in relationship and acknowledgement of Christ's life giving gift for saving of the lives of humanity. 

Brothers and Sisters, each day of Lent will draw us closer and closer to the cross and thus closer and closer to Christ. As we follow the cross of Christ we will truly begin to understand what it means to be a Christ follower.

As we draw closer to the cross each and everyone of us will truly be able to see what Jesus Christ has done for us. Being a follower of the cross is to understand that Jesus Christ has liberated us and given us the choice to freely follow him.

May our journey this Lent be a discerning one in which we contemplate what it means to be a follower of the cross of Christ.

A Follower on the Journey With You!
Pastor Tim

We extend an invitation to you to worship with us this Wednesday night at our Ash Wednesday service at 6:30 PM at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Benton Kentucky. 2515 South Main Street Benton, Ky

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Letting The Truth Set Us Free!

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Letting The Truth Set Us Free!: Often people need to hear the truth, even preachers. There was a story of a preacher and his wife that were driving home after the servic...

Letting The Truth Set Us Free!

Often people need to hear the truth, even preachers. There was a story of a preacher and his wife that were driving home after the service, and the preacher was feeling pretty good about the message that he had just given. The preacher asked his wife the following question: "How many great preachers do you think are preaching today?" The preachers wife replied: "One less than you think".  Yes, even preachers need to hear the truth, and I can relate to the story in the fact that every Sunday when we arrive home I ask my wife to critique my message and to be "Brutally Honest!"  Sometimes she states the message was good, but other times she is honest enough to tell me that I was long winded! 
How often do we ask to hear the truth, but really are not ready or even willing to grasp with the answer that we may get?  
2 Corinthians 3:15-16, 15 Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. ¹⁶ But when one^[a] turns to the Lord, the veil is removed . 
Brothers and Sisters one of the most difficult things that humanity can do is to face the truth about themselves, whether it is hearing someone else speak it or coming to the realization ourselves. Those of us that trust in the Lord understand that the truth can and does set us free in our lives. When we go through life unable to come to terms with the truth about ourselves or our actions, we truly cast a veil of lies over our relationship with Christ Jesus. Only by turning to the Lord in self understanding and truthfulness can this veil be removed and our sight made clear instead of being obscured. 

My prayer for us all this week is that we be truthful with ourselves and our feelings, while being able to speak the truth while hearing the truth. Yes, the truth sets us free and clears all obstacles in our life and especially in our relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Often we find it easy to tell others about their faults and failings, but we find it offensive or embarrassing when someone points out something that we need to know about ourselves. As I speak about telling the truth and being honest with one another this week, I must impart the following: As we speak the truth to set people free, let us make sure that we are speaking the truth in love and that our motives are as pure as the truth and information that we are trying to impart.

I conclude with the following story: A preacher had just concluded a vigorous sermon, a very thoughtful sermon. As the preacher stood at the door while the congregation exited the building a lady approached the preacher and stated the following: "Preacher, every sermon that you preach  is better than the next one!" 

Brothers and Sisters, always speak the truth in love, let it set you free and let the veil uncover your hearts as to reveal the trust, faithfulness and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Hoping that this message isn't better than the next one =)
Pastor Tim

Claiming the Ultimate Victory

Many people will gather next Sunday to watch the Superbowl, and we will root for our favorite teams and most assuredly eat way to much junk food. Watching the Superbowl is a fifty/fifty proposition at best, because half will see their team lose and another half will see their team win. Yes, some fans will walk away having victory bragging rights for the next year, while the other half will mourn the loss of their favorite team. 

Isn't it funny that we find it easier to go around speaking of an NFL victory that in the end brings us nothing, and yet most of us find it difficult to go around speaking of the victory of Jesus Christ that brings us eternal rewards!

Brothers and Sisters often life is that way, in the fact that we live our lives vicariously through the victories of others. We think to ourselves: "Wow, what must it be like to be a winner"? What the world must discover is the fact that we already are the benefactors of the ultimate victory because of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:14 tells us: I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  

The marks of a Superbowl champion may be rings, trophies, and money! The marks of victory that we as Christians identify with are the nail holes and pierced side of our Savior Jesus Christ! While those that win championships here on earth claim title to the riches of the world, we that are victors through Christ receive the riches and abundance of an eternity with God in heaven. 

• Are you looking to claim the ultimate victory in your life? 
• Are you wanting to be a champion (for Christ)? 
• Are you wanting a hundred percent chance of victory? 

Romans 10:9-10 tells us how to claim victory in our lives: ⁹ because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Yes, brothers and sisters we are all winners of the ultimate victory through Christ's sacrifice for you and I on the cross and his overcoming of death. My prayer for you this week is that if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, that you invite him into your heart this week. If you know of somebody that does not know Christ, please pray for God to enter their hearts with ultimate victory.

Enjoy the Superbowl and root for your favorite team, but remember that only Christ Jesus has ever won the ultimate victory. 

Now pass the chips and lets watch the game!
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Rediscovering God's Word

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Rediscovering God's Word: As I work from home today, I am led to the fact of the importance of words and how they began. Yesterday many gathered in their respectiv...

Rediscovering God's Word

As I work from home today, I am led to the fact of the importance of words and how they began. Yesterday many gathered in their respective churches and at sometime during the service a preacher got up and gave a message to their flock.

I'm reminded of another pastoral message that took place long ago, in which Ezra helped the people to understand God's call for them. In the Book of Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10 , we see a sermon taking place in the fact that Ezra read from the law of Moses. This was done to relay, and communicate the divine words of God for the people to hear them and to rediscover them.

Ezra's Plan for Rediscovery

1. To publicly speak and expound God's Word to the people.
2. For the people to understand the Laws of God.
3. For he People to be comforted.
4. For the people to take care of the poor.

Likewise we will be given another message today in the form of an inauguration message. Many people may vary on the support of the person giving the message, but it is an important time for all to rediscover the message that faith and God's Word still have a place in our past, present and future.

The Past in the fact the the words: "So help me God" were first spoken by President George Washington.

The Present in the fact that the words: "So help me God" are still spoken today. 

The response "So help me God" is not a constitutional mandate to be read, but a personal choice of the faithful to recognize the fact that God has the primary role in our success or failures.

The Past in the fact that the Oath of Office is done with the oath takers hand on the Bible

The Present in the fact that the Oath of Office will be taken with the oath takers hand on the Bible.

Yes, whether you agree our disagree with the speaker, this is our opportunity to be like those that listened to Ezra and rediscover the fact that success or failure rest on the Word of God and the Presence of God in everything that we do.

My prayer for all of us is that we publicly speak the Word of God, understand the Word of God, be comforted by the Word of God, and understand that the Word of God mandates that we take care of those in need.

Let us pledge to hear and rediscover God's Divine Word for us all!

"So Help Us God"!

Pastor Tim