Worried yet? Looking at the economy, the employment situation, the misinformation and misdirection of the campaign season (which never seems to end…I don’t know who’s actually governing our nation…it seems everybody is always in the middle of running for office, rather doing the work of their office…I digress!), reading the papers, listening to the news, North Korea, Iran, Russia, China…worried yet? I have to tell you, I’m often worried. I really hate that. I don’t like it at all. Looking at all that is going on in and around our church, there are so many good and wonderful things, so many hard things, so many answers, and yet so many questions. However in the middle of some serious worrying lately, I was reminded that God never is…worried that is! That is He is never worried about anything.

Of course not! He’s God. He knows what’s going to happen. He knows what He’s going to do and how He’s going to do it. RIGHT! Think about it. He knows all and He’s not worried! That is actually a very comforting realization. He knows all and tells those actively trusting Him not to worry! Actually He tells His children to let their worry drive them to Him in prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

I was reminded of these same truths reading one of my favorite stories in the book of II Chronicles. 2 Chronicles 14:11
“And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 15:2
“and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”

So, when, not if, we get worried again this week, we need, I need to take them all to Him. He knows all. He can do anything in harmony with His character and will. He loves us and He’s not worried! Well, see you Sunday, the Lord willing. Our text for Sunday morning is Acts 18:18-28 and for Sunday night John 6:1-14.

In Him,

P. Tim

If you know me well, you probably already know this, but I really don’t like to read. It’s sad to say, but it seems and feels like work to me. Obviously, I can read, do read, and greatly benefit from reading. However all of that being said, I still don’t like it. I do love the results. Reading God’s Word everyday purifies my sinful heart, clarifies my naturally distorted perspective, and powerfully motivates obedience and service. Without it I would be overwhelmed by my sin and dead in the water, for sure.

This past week or so, I’ve been reading 3 different books to help prepare for a graduate course I will be teaching in June. They are books I have known I should read for a while, but now this class provided sufficient motivation to get it done. For me, a book serves me well when it informs me, corrects me, encourages me, or even irritates me. It’s not that I’m looking for more irritation in life, but the fact is the irritation can really help clarify my thoughts and motivate further study. These books I’ve read have served me in all of these ways.

A quote that was included in one of the books was particularly “moving” for me. Kurt Gebhards in the book “Evangelism: How to Share the Gospel Faithfully” by John MacArthur (and others), writes about our responsibility and opportunity in sharing the gospel with our children. On page 207 he quotes J. C. Ryle as saying, “Precious, no doubt, are these little ones in your eyes; but if you love them, think often of their souls. No interest should weigh with you so much as their eternal interests. No part of them should be so dear as the part which will never die. The world, with all its glory, shall pass away; the hills shall melt; the heavens shall be wrapped together as a scroll; the sun shall cease to shine. But the spirit which dwells in those little creatures, whom you love so well, shall outlive them all, and whether in happiness or misery (to speak as a man) will depend on you.” These words encouraged me.

This coming Lord’s Day will be our next mission’s emphasis Sunday. Pastor Troy will be preaching in the morning service and showing a video about new frontiers of evangelism in Moslem countries in the evening service. It’s a day we set aside to emphasize our opportunity to invest in world evangelism through Grace Giving. So pray about what God would have you invest! See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Genesis 2:20-25
²⁰ The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. ²¹ So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. ²² And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ Then the man said, “This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” ²⁴ Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. ²⁵ And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.

While it was no real surprise, it was heartbreaking to hear our President speak out in favor of same-sex marriage. As our president, he deserves our respect as God’s appointed leader for our nation at this time. I pray for him. We all should pray for him. However, not because of political preferences or “cultural” fears, but because of the clear statement of scripture, I must respectfully, but emphatically disagree. Same-sex marriage is a repudiation of God’s creative design and purposes. The complement or helper “fit” for man was woman. It is a perversion and rebellion against God’s moral law. It is degenerative advancement in our nation’s moral decay. Homosexuality and its institutionalization in same-sex marriage is one sin among all sins that display rebellion against God, call for His judgment, yet brings from God the gracious offer of forgiveness and transformation in Christ.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

In all things God’s Word must remain our moral compass, our moral north star for navigating the whole of life.

In Him,

P. Tim

I promise not to make this a habit, but I did want to share the lyrics to another song that God has used in my heart lately. It’s a song that is spot on with the theme of our next text to study in the Book of Acts, 18:1-18, this next Sunday. The content of this song should be viewed with the understanding, within the context that sin is never minimized, overlooked, or praised…that Jesus has always hated sin, but truly loved sinners, dying to save them, transform them, and make them His bride dressed in His righteousness. While living with the healthy Biblical tension of Jesus being “separate from sinners” yet very much the “friend of sinners”, these words should move and challenge our hearts to love like He loved, like He loves. It’s not a perfect song (only the Psalms are perfect!), but it is powerful in its presentation. My prayer for me and for you is the prayer of this song, “…break our hearts for what breaks Yours.”

Jesus, Friend Of Sinners

Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away
We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to
sway
Jesus friend of sinners the truth’s become so hard to see
The world is on their way to You but they’re tripping over me
Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded
A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours


Jesus friend of sinners the one who’s writing in the sand
Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands
Help us to remember we are all the least of these
Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees

Nobody knows what we’re for only what we’re against when we
judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like
You did

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast
For the leper and the lame; they’re the reason that You came
Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast
But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet

‘Cause You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever
You are good, You are good and Your love endures forever

Oh Jesus friend of sinners
Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers
Let our hearts be led by mercy
Help us reach with open hearts and open doors
Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks Yours

Well, we’ll see you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim