Jeff Billingsly Comes to Marshall County on September 7, 2013

Citizens and Emergency Services Welcome Jeff

Kick the Bum Out!

 ^{13 "}But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. ¹⁴And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous." Luke 13: 13-14

He came into the large convention hall of committed Christian people and sat down looking dirty and poorly clothed, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. People made sure not to sit next to him as he tried to strike up conversations, some even notified convention hall security as to have him removed. Security came into remove this man, whose only crime was not fitting the conventional mode of those gathered in the room. As security was beginning to throw the man out of the building, the crowd was startled as the man was escorted to the stage and introduced as the keynote speaker on relationship building.

Yes, the entire assembly felt embarrassed as they were found guilty of being the farthest from what Christ desires for his followers. How many times have we tried to gain distance from someone or something that didn't fit into what we considered our friendship and relationship mold? Today's scripture from the Gospel of Luke has Jesus teaching us that we need to invite those that are not like us, those that are also children of God. 

Who is worthy to be seated next to us in the presence of the Lord? Do clothes really make the person? Does appearance and status relinquish others from sharing or receiving the good news of Jesus Christ? My prayer for all of us this day is that when we encounter someone that we feel is beneath us in status or experience, we will understand today's text in the fact that all are welcome to banquet.  The resurrection of righteousness does not come with a monetary number or club membership, it only comes through the good news of Jesus Christ that is given for all.

This Is The Day That The Lord Has Made!
Pastor Tim

The Sound of Silence

Job 29:21

English Standard Version (ESV)

 “Men listened to me and waited
    and kept silence for my counsel.

How many times have you called someone and left a message? How many times have you sent someone an e-mail or text message? How many times have you attempted to communicate with someone and you get no response, no return communication, as to complete the communication understanding loop? 

As a pastor, I often leave messages and do not get a return message and I find myself trying to understand what that lack of communication is saying? Regardless of the answer, sometimes a persons silence can speak louder than their speech or text.

To truly understand people we must get an understanding of them, not just through verbal conversation, but silence and gestures as well. Is that person not responding because they don't want to hurt you or embarrass you by their response.Is that person angry or hurt by something that you did or were responsible for? Does fence mending need to take place for complete communication and understanding to exist?

Yes, the sound of silence can speak volumes to how a person is feeling about a relationship or a situation. The book of Job 29:21 tells us of Job thinking about the good old days when things were perfect and others would wait in silence as to seek his advice and councel. 

Beloved, our goal for today is not to seek out those in anger that fail to respond to you, but rather read the silence and pray about how to best respond. My prayer for you this day is that you read peoples silence just as much as you read their verbal or written communication. Be wise, pray and seek God's councel before responding in anger or despair. Seek out their silence in wise thought, and then approach them as a listener and one who has sought God's wise councel.

Listening through the silence

Pastor Tim

It's Monday, Where Are The Toast Sticks

My dog tuffy contemplating a new day

Philippians 1:3-5 

I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Yesterday in worship I told a story of Mr. Rogers and a story that he told about a childhood memory. Mr. Rogers told of his beloved neighbor, an older lady that was kind to him while growing up. Rogers stated that this lovely lady would make toast sticks for him, that were nothing more than toast with butter and jam cut into stick pieces. Rogers would show up on her door step and she would say: "What are you doing here Freddie, are you wanting toast sticks"? As Rogers grew the older neighbor instructed Fred Rogers on how to make his own toast sticks, a memory, taste, and a feeling that he carried with him all his life.

As we begin a new week today, what are your toast stick memories and how to they guide your faith? As we begin a new week and share experiences with family, friends, and co-workers my prayer is that you build memories that are memorable. As we go about our faith life, may our memories and journey with Christ be like warm toast dripping with lots of butter and homemade jam. May we build memories that reside with us daily, until we stand before his glory for eternity in heaven.

Getting the Toaster Ready
Pastor Tim

It's not the cross we wear, it's the cross we carry.

As I was backing out of my driveway this morning, I stopped and took the cross from around the mirror and placed it around my neck. As I began to drive to the church I began to ask myself the question: "Why do I wear a cross"? As I journey around town I wear a cross to identify myself as a pastor, as God's Representative to the community, but I believe that I must go deeper than that. I wear a cross to show people who I belong to, who I worship, who I love, and who I am a servant of.

Beloved, the question must also be asked in reference to our Christian witness and identity that goes beyond a cross around our neck or a fish sticker on the back window of our cars.

What truly identifies the Christian to the world around them? 

Galatians 5:22-26 tells us that the true identity of a Christian is shown when we express the fruits of the Holy Spirit by being people that exude:

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Generosity
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness 
9. Self-Control
10. Bear one anothers burdens (Galatians 6: 2)

Yes, these things are the true witness of a follower of Jesus Christ and they speak volumes more about who we are, rather than a person with a shiny cross around their neck. Now some of the things that a Christian is not to be identified with 

1. Worldly passions and desires that supercede one's love and passion for Jesus Christ
2. Competition for church that turns into bragging or envy, that supercedes our unified spreading of the Gospel as to save souls for Christ Jesus.

Beloved, wear your crosses in pride and show the world that as much as you wear the cross you are willing to pick up the cross and follow it wherever Christ sends you. My prayer for you this day is that you take the fruits of the Spirit, as well as your baptism into the body of Christ as your true identity as a follower of God.

Have a great day

Pastor Tim

Never Giving Up!

Hebrews 12:1

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

When preparing this morning's blog I read a story about a female runner that was competing in a twenty-six mile Olympic Trials marathon. She had completed most of the race and had two hundred yards to go until the finish line and two minutes left as to qualify for the Olympics. 

At this point she stumbled and fell to ground, she stayed on the ground for twenty seconds and just had over a minute left to finish and qualify. The runner staggered to her feet and with the crowd cheering in encouragement,she staggered across the finish line with three seconds to spare. 

Brothers and Sisters there are times when we like the exhausted runner fall down in life and we may not want to get back up. My prayer for you today is to be like the runner and to be of courage and faith and get back up and complete the race that God has set before you. Go in the knowledge that God is our biggest cheerleader and just like the crowd that cheered for the runner, God cheers for us and picks us up to finish when we feel like we can't go a step further. 

Get up and finish the race
Pastor Tim

The Answer to Prayers

*This weeks blog is dedicated to my dad (Don Blauvelt) who passed away last Wednesday. 

Jeremiah 29:11

English Standard Version (ESV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

He had been ill for the last six months, they said it was a cancerous tumor in his throat and that they could treat it with radiation and chemotherapy. We prayed for his healing, we prayed for his recovery. He was even warmed by a blanket of prayer that our church had made for him.

He didn't complain, he never whined about what the treatments were doing to his body. Instead he continued with them, never fussing once. When he could no longer eat, he did not complain but instead took feedings through a feeding tube.

We prayed and we prayed for his recovery, we prayed for his healing and his return to a life of normalcy, and still he died. What happened to the prayers? Why didn't God respond and fulfill our prayer requests? 

As I sit in my office two days after dad's funeral I feel compelled to answer the "why" questions. The text from Jeremiah tells us that our prayers were answered and they were most definitely plans for my dad's welfare. God knew that dad and his body were tired, even though the cancer had been beaten, the effects of the treatments were more than dad's weakened body could tolerate. God took dad home to a new and stronger body, God took dad home rather than having him linger in pain and deterioration in a hospital room. 

Yes, God answered our prayers even though it wasn't in the way that we had asked. Brothers and Sisters, God had a plan for dad's future, for his welfare, and it is in this that I take hope. God supplied the time for dad to say goodbye to the love of his life (my mom). God supplied the time for my brother who is also a pastor, to share the good news of Jesus Christ with dad prior to his passing. 

Yes, God answers all prayers at all times in love that ensures that we have an eternal future that is full of hope. As I sit here an mourn at the loss of my father, as I sit here hurting, I do so in the confidence and assurance that our prayers were truly answered. Not for my good, or my families good, but for the welfare of my dad who now resides with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

My prayer for you this week my friends is that you continue to pray in the fact that God has our best interests in his heart, and that he keeps all promises and prayer requests, in his way, not ours.

Blessings and Peace: Pastor Tim.