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.

Tim's Topics: The Language of Understanding

Tim's Topics: The Language of Understanding

Independence, Freedom, and Accountability

1 Peter 2:16 ESV

Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God.

As we gather next weekend to celebrate the 4^th of July and America’s independence, we will gather with friends and family as to celebrate the adoption of the United States Declaration of Independence. We will attend parades and fireworks, as well as many cookouts as to celebrate the fact that as citizens of this great country we are free from oppression. But this question of freedom and independence, what does it mean for people of faith?

Does this freedom mean that followers of Christ do not have responsibilities? Does it mean that we are not allowed to do certain things with this freedom? As those that profess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we are not free to partake of the things that the world has to offer that go against God’s wishes for His people. We are not free to sin, we are not free to live in contempt of God, and we are not free to break the laws of a civil society.

As followers of Christ we were given eternal freedom and eternal life because of Christ’s death on the cross and his overcoming death three days later. We are not to treat others as our servants but we are to truly understand that we are “servants”, servants of God!

As we celebrate our earthly freedom, let us make sure that we as servants of God follow and submit ourselves to the will of God. This freedom was given to us by the love of God, whom  we are accountable.

Beloved have a great Independence Day and as you go out in celebration of your earthly freedom, never forget the freedom of access that God has given us, to Him. With our God given freedom comes responsibilities and accountability

This is the Freedom That God Has Made.

Proclaimer or Complainer?

Ephesians 2:20-22 ESV

Built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

1 Corinthians 3:9 ESV

For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

If you look close enough you will see many articles written and many pastors preaching about the demise of the church. We will hear of low attendance numbers and those that drift away from the church.

Do these problems exist? Yes they do, but as much as we talk about decline, we must talk about how Christ is working within His church and His great message that they are proclaiming to the world.

Beloved, churches are feeding the hungry, and clothing the naked, and housing the homeless, and healing the sick. Yes, the church has had better days. Yes, the church has had better attendance in the past. But, God is still present and still at work, these are the things that we need to be proclaiming to the world.

Our obligation and our call is to uplift the name of Christ, the Savior of the universe, the Savior of you and me. My prayer and my call for you this week is that you lift up the Church that you proclaim what God’s church is still doing.

The church is not the building but rather the souls that sit in the pews. Our call is not to preach depression, but rather optimism. We are called to proclaim the “Good News” and let the world deal with the bad news that will be with it always.

This is the Day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim.