Tim's Topics: That's the Size of It!

Tim's Topics: That's the Size of It!: 1 Samuel 16:7   ESV  But the  Lord  said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature,  because I ha...

That's the Size of It!

1 Samuel 16:7 ESV 

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, 

because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward 

appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

This morning while watching a morning news show, and while browsing social media comments, the daily controversy discussion was in reference to a plus size model wearing a nice bathing suit. The picture was in an advertising commercial for the Gillette company. This controversy was between people saying they were thankful for models that were not ashamed of their size, while others stated that this model was promoting unhealthy body habits.

In today’s society and lexicon, negative commenting on somebody’s body image is called “Body Shaming”. The Dictionary states that “Body Shaming” is the action or practice of humiliating someone by making mocking or critical comments about their body shape or size.

I must be the first to admit that I have been body shamed while working in the corporate world. When it was time to take promotional photos, the thin with good looks were always chosen. When it came time to take promotional photos for a uniform photo, I as the larger framed person was chosen to wear a bulky winter coat and stocking cap.

Additionally, as the father of a special needs child I have witnessed what society considers “normal”, and I have witnessed the love that special needs babies get, and how it disappears when they enter teenage and adult years.

When we address the scripture, we see Samuel being told that God looks at the heart of his people, the content of their character, and never their outward appearance. God communicated that only humanity looks at the outsides of humanity, and often judges others by appearance.

In this commercial we see a full-sized model, doing physical outside activities at the beach which require a bathing suit. Should we hide her in a winter jacket like I was? Should we hide all plus size people and treat them in society as they don’t exist? The Bible is clear on this matter, that it is what is inside that counts in the eyes of God, and it should be the same for us, especially those of us that call ourselves His followers.

In The Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King’s August 28, 1963 speech he stated the following: “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” Let us be the one who portray this dream and go in the knowledge that no matter your appearance you are of value, loved by God, and loved by people.

Let us be the people that understand that.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim. ( A larger guy, known at times to wear a bathing suit).

Keeping God's House in Order.

James 1:17 ESV 

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.

As I drove into town this morning, I observed a local church building having repairs done to its roof. Likewise, as I arrived at our church we were having a new window put in as to replace the one which had rotted with age.

What does it mean to keep God's House in order? First and foremost we must not confuse the church with a building or a certain space. We as followers of Christ understand that the Church is the people, and with that being said the church cannot be held to one certain location. The Church as the Body of Christ is and should always be mobile and at work in any location.

But.....what does that say about the condition of our worship location, that many of us refer to as "God's House." Our scripture from James tells us of God's benevolence for His people. Likewise, we as the Body of Christ are the physical distribution of this benevolence. 

I often refer to the story of the Catholic Priest that was speaking of the financial needs of the church, when he informed the congregation "The money to meet our financial needs is in your pockets, you need just pull it out." 

What we must understand is that God gave us Jesus and Jesus left us the Holy Spirit to guide us, teach, us lead us, and supply us until Christ returns for His Kingdom. Does the Holy Spirit Guide your financial decisions? Where does the ministry and upkeep of the church ministry take place in our budget decisions, and allocations? 

As we go forward in all our ministries and reap the benevolence of a gracious God, what emphasis has the Holy Spirit placed on our hearts to support and support His gracious benevolence. Often we say "God will Provide", and yes He will....but He works through His Saints to feel His call to assist in supplying that benevolence.

Can the Church of Jesus Christ say today

1. Their pastors and staff are being taken care of, as to be emotionally, physically, and spiritually healthy?
2. Are ministry teams fully funded and supported?
3. The facilities in which they worship, are safe, and efficient as to honor God's benevolence? 
4. Does your place of worship have a budget that has more red in it, than the Gospels?
5. Does the Body of Christ share their gifts as God shares His benevolence. 

Yes, if there is no variation in God's awesome benevolence, shouldn't our benevolence as the Body of Christ be as gracious. The woman with the two coins gave all she had, can many of us say the same? Churches need maintained, pastors and staff need fed, and the bills and financial obligations of the church need paid. 

This is the day that the Lord has made. 

Pastor Tim 

Knights of the Road

“And I will make them and the places all around my hill a blessing, and I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be showers of blessing.”Ezekiel 34:26Today, I would like to lift up the American Truck Driver. I salute the men and women that deliver the goods that this world desperately needs to survive. I was blessed growing up with a Father and Step-Father who were both truck drivers. You could say that I grew up around the sights and smells of diesel smoke.People like my fathers drive the interstates and back roads of this country often without the recognition that they truly deserve. These professional drivers traveling all hours of the day and night, in any weather conditions are the lifeline of the flow of goods and services in this country. What we learn from Ezekiel is that the people Ezekiel spoke of were a different breed. Yes, they were like all people, they were people of God as well....but they were a bit more. The people that Ezekiel spoke of were those of purity, those that dispensed justice.We see this in the American truck Driver as they deliver the best goods that this world can make, as they deliver them to be dispensed.  Ezekiel tells us about blessings being dispensed. Likewise, today I ask for God's continued blessing on the American Truck Driver as well as our Truck Drivers all around the world. God makes the world go round and gives us through the Body of Christ, the ability to bless others. Likewise, as God makes the world go round, He created the Truck Driver to deliver the goods to bless a world.Thank God for our Knights of the Road.Soul of a Trucker

The ever present sound of a 
diesel
Going through its gears
Is the steady beat and constant 
rhythm
He’s known for many a year
And it’s the lullaby that late at 
night
His mind still longs to hear
He still can see those highways 
With his inner eye
He can’t forget the visions 
Of those unpolluted skies
He still can feel the wind
And hear its tender sighs
Those memories stay inside 
and linger
And will until he dies
They’re part of what he’s made 
of
They’re forged into his soul
They come from years of 
trucking
And they’re what have made 
him whole 

©Annette Keller
11/1997

The Steak House vs the Waffle House

The Calling of Matthew

…10Later, as Jesus was dining at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with Him and His disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.…

In my life i have been blessed to eat and fancy high end restaurants and I occasionally dine at the more common Waffle House. Yes, the Waffle House has a reputation for people and diners from the lower end of the Socioeconomic spectrum.  But, as much as I love fine dining, I have never had a bad meal at a Waffle House. Additionally, I have had great times of fellowship and witness at the Waffle House. 

One of my favorite Jazz Artists is Gregory Porter and one of his songs is titled "Take it to the Alley". Gregory sings the fact that when Christ returns for His kingdom, you will find Him in the alley. Gregory sings the following: 

Take me to the alley

Take me to the afflicted ones

Take me to the lonely ones
That somehow lost their way

Let them hear me say
I am your friend
Come to my table
Rest here in my garden
You will have a pardon

In the Gospel of Matthew 9: 10-12, we see Jesus eating with what the rich and educated people believed to be the wrong kind of people, the poor, the unclean, those that they considered to be sinners. We read in this text that Jesus states: "It is not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick....

Beloved, where else should we as people of God be? Who should we welcome to God's Kingdom? Who should we tell about Jesus Christ? Have you ever been to the Waffle House in the middle of the night and eaten with those that are homeless, those that are spending time drinking coffee as to get out of the cold, because they have no home, no shelter? Have you spoken to those sitting in the Waffle House in the middle of the night, because they are stranded and looking to move farther down the road? 

Yes, where is the emergency room of Jesus Christ needed? In the restaurant of $50.00 -$100.00 steaks or in the all-night diner, with the coffee pot always on? Matthew is telling us that Christ is for all, and that we are His Gospel Paramedics that need to be available to calls and God's Body of Christ presence in the alley, the mission, the Waffle Houses, and the yes, the fine dining restaurants. 

Enjoy your fancy meals but go to the diner every so often. You will be glad that you did.  You will know that God exists there as well, and that He has called you for the lonely, the poor, the homeless, the addicted, and those that enjoy a good waffle and a cup of hot coffee.

This is the day that the Lord has made. Pastor Tim. 

Jogging in Bluejeans!

Ephesians 2:10 English Standard Version (ESV)

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The first time I saw the man jogging in bluejeans, and winter coat, I thought about how he was dressed for physical fitness activity. As I thought about it, I thought about writing about this observation. 

On the next day while driving into town I saw this man jogging again as he rounded the corner of Walmart. Again he was in blue jeans and what one would consider daily clothing. To me the Holy Spirit said, "Preacher this is a learning and a teaching moment!

You would think that this man would be in the latest running outfit, jacket, pants, and of course just the right running shoes. But I began to think that no matter how he is dressed, he is still reaping the rewards of physical fitness. 

Likewise, what does the follower of Christ need to be spiritually fit? Does a follower of Christ need a fancy bible, a fancy suit of clothes for worship, praise and relationship with God?

Beloved, what we must come to accept is that we go to Christ voluntarily and when we do, He takes us as we are. Our text tells us that we don't equip ourselves, rather it is God who equips us through the good works of His Son Jesus Christ. God's Word tells us that He has always been prepared to equip us for our personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

Just like the man running in bluejeans still gets the exercise, when we come to Christ, we reap the rewards no matter who we are, where we are, and how we are dressed.

This is the day that the Lord has made.

Pastor Tim

Oh, We Thought Your Were Somone Important.

First of all, this picture is not of me!

1 Peter 3:18 ESV

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Recently when entering a local restaurant, I happened to be wearing a nice shirt and tie, and dress slacks. As I approached the counter, I stated my business. The young lady who was nice as could be, stated to me: "Oh, when you entered we thought you were someone important!" 

Now I can truly understand what she meant, because maybe I was a bit over dressed for this type of restaurant and maybe the young girl thought I was some type of management.

• What does importance mean in our society, and what does it mean for us as people of Christ?

As we journey through this Advent season, we will see people encounter a poor Jewish couple, a man and his very pregnant wife. We will see King Herod (was he important), who had been told of the coming Messiah. Here we see Herod scared of this coming Messiah, but we will also see three wise men (were they important), come to visit, worship, and bring gifts to the coming Messiah.

Would this Messiah soon to come be born in lavish richness (was He important)? No, this messiah would not be wearing a suit and tie, let alone fancy robes. This Messiah would not be born in richness and splendor, instead he would be born in poor estate, in commonality.

Beloved, whatever we wear, wherever we work, and however much money we have in our pockets, the Messiah came for us all. Rich or Poor, Important or Non-Important. In the eyes of God the Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, we are all equal in importance in the Kingdom of God.

My prayer for us all is that however the world sees us, God sees us the same.

• Loved.
• Valued.
• Forgiven. 

All because of a baby boy born in Bethlehem to common people, because of heavenly importance.

"Oh we thought he was someone important!"

He was, He is, and He will always be.
In His Humble Estate, and in His suffering, He will show His importance!

But for me. "I'm not important, I was just wearing my work clothes".