Tim's Topics: Praising the Pastors Spouse

Tim's Topics: Praising the Pastors Spouse: English Standard Version But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, an...

Praising the Pastors Spouse

English Standard Version
But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

• ·    She was supportive the day I told her I was leaving a full-time job and part-time ministry to finish my bachelor’s degree and enter the seminary for my master’s degree.
• ·    She was supportive when I asked her to leave the only home that she had ever known, and to go with me to a different state as to pastor a church.
• ·    She is supportive of me when her pastor husband has had a bad day, especially in the times when those that profess to be Christians can be the harshest.
• ·    She is supportive when I joy, but also honest when a sermon did not strike a chord in her.
• ·    She chooses to use her God given talents for our congregation.

Yes, the pastor’s spouse is a special type of person. The type of person that often gives away their family time, their privacy time, their ability to always be financially stable, and their ability to know that their location roots will be long term.

Today I speak to the pastor’s spouse and think of them in the Book of Ruth Text in which Ruth could have gone back to her own land and her own people, but she chose to stay with Naomi and follow her to an unknown land and what would await them. She decided to leave following pagan gods as to follow the God of Israel, the God of all and for all.

Often we think of the pastor’s spouse in regards to the wife, but pastor’s spouse are husbands as well that make the same sacrifices for the sake, for the benefit of their spouse’s ministry. Yes, they follow us to unknown lands, and often embrace themselves in the ministry of their spouse while trying to follow their own paths that God calls them to.

Today, let us lift up the pastor’s spouse in our prayers and let them know that they are a valued ministry partner, whose identity need not be wrapped around the ministry and identity of their spouse. Let our spouses know that they are not hired by the church and everything that they do for the church is of their choice, and their own feeling of ministry call. Let us thank them for all that they give in support and ministry to the congregations to which their spouses are called.

Thank you Lynne for being my partner in life, partner in ministry and my partner in love.

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Tim's Topics: The Communication of Bleeps and Delays!

Tim's Topics: The Communication of Bleeps and Delays!: Ephesians 5:4   ESV Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be...

The Communication of Bleeps and Delays!

Ephesians 5:4 ESV

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

One day while watching Good Morning America and their report from last night’s Golden Globe Awards, they reported that last night’s show was show that had the foulest language and the most bleeps and use of the audio delay feature.

In these days in which our children are no longer taught how to write in the cursive writing style and in these days where communication exists more via devices than the spoken word, what does it say for our society when the best examples of communication involve words that contain expletives coming from the mouths of those that society deems as popular?

We learn from the Ephesians text that the use of this type of language is not befitting of one that considers themselves to be of the Blood of the Lamb (Jesus Christ). This type of unseemly conversation does not befit our tongues that God made for nobler uses.

Neither filthy or foolish language can never replace the words of love, and grace that God requires of us to shower among His people. Instead of using this type of language out of ease and convenience, let us speak words that build up, let us speak words of thanksgiving for all the blessings that we were given because Christ sacrificed himself for our sins.

As people drift farther away from the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Word of God (such as on award shows), we see this type of language used that is not only demeaning to God but disrespectful to those whom God calls us to love.

This year let us pledge that as we deepen our relationship with Father God, let us lessen the disrespectful words we use and lift up language that builds up and builds a true feeling of thanksgiving.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim 

Tim's Topics: The Epiphany of Our Lord January 6, 2016

Tim's Topics: The Epiphany of Our Lord January 6, 2016: Matthew 2:1-12   1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came...

The Epiphany of Our Lord January 6, 2016

Matthew 2:1-12 
¹Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, ²saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." ³When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵So they said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ⁶' But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.'" ⁷Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. ⁸And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also." ⁹When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. ¹⁰When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. ¹¹And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹²Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way. -- NKJV

As we celebrate the Epiphany of Our Lord today, we celebrate the arrival of the wise men that followed the star that led to the Messiah. Some things that we can take from this are things that lead us not only to the Christ child, but to reason that this child came to live and dwell among us. When we look at the gifts that the wise men gave to the child, we see the gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

·         The gold was given as to denote Jesus as king.

·         Frankincense and myrrh, were sweet smelling resins used as offerings, but also used at burials to preserve and perfume the body.

These gifts were presented for a child who had come not as a general on a battlefield, but rather a child who had been born to become our suffering servant. The Messiah had come as a king who through his life and ministry has come to die.  This Messiah King came to suffer and die for our sins, so that we may have eternal life. A king who would die for his people. Yes, Jesus is the king who gives life, and restores the light off life to those that have only known darkness.

Another interesting feature of this narrative is the fact that they had a dream to leave the country via another route instead of returning to Herod. This dream told them that returning to Herod would place the Messiah in danger, because Herod felt Jesus as a threat to his power.

Beloved, what is the world trying to sell you today? Where is the world trying to lead you astray? Whether it comes to you in a dream or a prayer, my prayer for you today is that you will take the path that Jesus destines for your lives. The path that the world attempts to lead us on is full of potholes that contain pain, sorrow and death, while the path of Christ will always lead us to the love of our eternal home and our eternal life and relationship with God.

May you celebrate today and avoid the paths of darkness, and sway into the path that is well lit and will always bring you home.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.

The Love of God and the Tuffy Snuggle

Exodus 33:14

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Whether I am on the couch our laying in our bed, our Dog Tuffy always wants to crawl in near us. Knowing that this small dog gains comfort from being close to us is a good feeling.

The text from the Book of Exodus shows God telling the Israelite's (through Moses) fleeing bondage in Egypt, that He will be with them every step of the way as they journey to the promise land, and that in this land they will find rest.

Knowing that our dog is comforted by our warmth and presence, brings us satisfaction, but knowing that this small dog loves and trusts us enough to snuggle with us brings us the knowledge that he trusts us to take care of him.

Likewise, when we let God into our lives, when we let him get close to us, we feel the comfort and love that only a relationship with God the Father can provide. Beloved, know that God (Yahweh) just as He promised to be with the fleeing Israelite's, promises to be with us at every step and point of our lives.

My prayer for you today is that you enjoy your animal children and let them feel your love and presence in their lives. Likewise, let God enter your lives through Jesus Christ and let the warm and loving presence of the Father snuggle with you this day and every day.

This is the day that the Lord has made.