From Black Friday to Bright Light Wednesday

Matthew 2:1 ESV 

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem

Recently, many of us have experienced commercials on television and social media that were meant to guide us to great deals and great buying experiences on the Friday after Thanksgiving which is called "Black Friday".

Instead of leading me to great sales, I believe that black Friday is an opportunity to look for the light of God and the coming of Jesus Christ the Messiah. Yes, we have commercials and the Internet, but in the time of Christ's birth the wise men had a star to guide them to the true Christmas gift.

While many of us woke up and ventured out into the early morning darkness of black Friday shopping, wise men long ago followed a star in the darkness that guided to the bright light of God.

Brothers as Sisters as we concentrate on the approaching Christmas, my prayer for you is that follow Christ to Christmas with as much energy and zeal as you have in making your last minute great deal purchases.

The true gift of Christmas is the gift that God gave us through Jesus Christ as to leave the darkness of the world and to enter the light of eternity. May you feel a sense of calmness and peace and urgency as we approach the arrival of the Messiah, sent to remove us from bondage to freedom and from the darkness of consumerism to the light of healing, forgiveness, redemption and relationship through God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim.

The Thanksgiving of Thanksgiving Peace

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,that it may give grace to those who hear.

James 3:5-6 ESV

5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!6 And the tongue is a fire,a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body,setting on fire the entire course of life,and set on fire by hell.

On September 11, 1995, a squirrel climbed on the Metro-North Railroad power lines near New York City. This set off an electrical surge, which eventually left over 47,000 commuters stuck without a way to get home. Something as small as a squirrel can cause much damage, additionally, something as small as one's tongue can also cause significant damage.

Brothers and Sisters, as we gather with our families this Thanksgiving, let us make sure that they are happy times that build loving and positive memories. Make sure that as we celebrate God's bounty upon us, we also celebrate through communicating positive and uplifting words to those that we gather with.

My prayer for you this day is that you build memories, eat well, pray well, travel well, and build stories of happiness and not ones that involve anger and possible visits by law enforcement.

Blessings and Peace

Pastor Tim.

The Language of Understanding

A Life of Sacrifice

Patience + Praise = Thanksgiving

Patitence in the Lord, Praise in the Lord, and Thanksgivng unto the Lord is the true formula to an abundant life in Christ. This Sunday I will speak from Isaiah 12: 2-6 in reference to the P+P=T formula at First Christian Church in Benton Kentucky. Church school begins at 9:45 AM and Worship at 10:45 AM. Join us at 2515 South Main Street in Benton Kentucky (Across the street from the Priceless IGA).

One Tom, Two Don's and A Kevin

John 15:13

English Standard Version (ESV)

13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Tom was was in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict.
Don was in the Navy during the Korean Conflict.
Don was in the Army during the Korean Conflict.
Kevin was in the Marine Corps during the Cold War.

The names I just listed are of my family and their military service, whether it was driving a truck in England for the Air Force, being an electrician on an aircraft carrier, working in a library in Soul Korea writing citations, or being assigned to a Marine rifle company in Okinawa Japan the value is the same, they served!

As we celebrate this Veterans Day 2013, let us all gather and celebrate in Thanksgiving all those that have put on uniforms of the United States Armed Forces. 

Small or little, the sacrifice is the same in the fact that they bridged the gap that kept us protected and living in freedom. My prayer for you this day is that you thank a veteran and let them know how much they are valued, respected and loved.

Those that have served in the military share one word that they all have in common: Sacrifice! As we celebrate the sacrifice of our veterans today, let us never forget the ultimate sacrifice that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ made for us on the cross.

To my dad Tom, my step-dad Don and my father-in-law Don, who have all gone to be with the Lord, I say thank you. And to my brother Kevin, thank you and happy birthday to the United States Marine Corps.

 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Thank You for Your Service.

God is Watching!

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