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

Many, many times God uses the words of sacred music to speak His truth to my heart. He does it in my life through old gospel songs, timeless hymns, southern /bluegrass gospel, and certain new songs. One such song that God has used frequently and powerfully in my heart recently is the song “Already There.” At times worry and fear can begin to consume me, mainly because I’m looking at life’s challenges and curve balls through my own eyes. Viewing all things through His eyes is obviously a completely different “view” of things. The truth in this song has been an effective blessing in my life. When I think about the next day, the next meeting, the next conflict, the next question for which I have no answer, the next week, month, year, or stage of life, He’s “Already There.” To Him “my future is a memory.” Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

From where I’m standing
Lord it’s so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You’re leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can’t control

When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

From where You’re standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan
When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there

One day I’ll stand before You
And look back on the life I’ve lived
I can’t wait to enjoy the view
And see how all the pieces fit [x2]

One day I’ll stand before You
And look back on the life I’ve lived
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
When I’m lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You’re already there
You’re already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You’re already there
You’re already there
You are already there

This coming Sunday morning we studying Acts 17:16-34 watching and listening in on Paul presenting to gospel to the “open minded” intellectuals and religious pluralists. Sunday evening we will be receiving new members and studying Psalm 145: 1-7, focusing on the truth, “One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts.” See you there, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Wasn’t Easter Sunday just glorious! God really blessed our fellowship last Sunday, beginning with the sunrise service with our men and culminating in our morning service. The variety and blend of the music was outstanding. The congregational singing, choir, men’s/ladies’ group, and the solo, “I Know My Redeemer Lives” were beyond outstanding. Powerful biblical texts put to great music and sung with excellence, enthusiasm, and humble dependence of God’ Spirit…what a combination! If you can’t tell yet, it all blew me away. It made it “great fun” to preach the gospel and rejoice in God’s great forgiveness of our “terminal condition” of sin. It was a great day.

This coming Sunday we will get back on track with our study of Acts, our text being 17:1-9 describing the birth of the church of Thessalonica. The evening service message will take an additional look at that same church from I Thessalonians 2:13-16, exploring the powerful impact of God’s Word on their lives. Please remember that we need you to be there Sunday evening for a short administrative meeting. Nick will bring a short financial report, then we need to vote on licensing our own Alex Tandon for gospel ministry in a limited access region of the world. Our team of members serving there already is eager and excited about Alex and Bethany joining them. So, please make the extra effort to be there.

Well, see you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Over the past two weeks, since I’ve communicated with the church family through three church-wide emails, I decided to postpone the blogging until now. So here we are on Good Friday, looking out at a beautiful cool sunny Spring day, eagerly anticipating celebrating the Lord’s Supper tonight and the resurrection on Sunday. I’m sure every pastor would confess to an annual struggle with just exactly what to preach on such special holidays, especially as these holidays focus on such specific truths. In one sense there are only so many ways you can tell the story of the cross and the resurrection. If it wasn’t for the eternal grandeur of these indescribably glorious truths, if it wasn’t for their absolutely and ultimately essential nature for time and eternity, it might be difficult to get excited about it. So, that’s why I still “love to tell the story”.

One familiar resurrection truth in I Corinthians 15 that has remained on my mind this season is found in vs. 19. I deferred from preaching on it this year for the sake of variety, but it has come to mind often. “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” This last phrase is translated a few different ways in various translations, such as…KJV, “we are of all men most miserable.” …NIV, “we are to be pitied more than all men.” …and the NLT, “we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” The words vary a bit, but the meaning is the same…without the resurrection all is lost, all is empty, there is no purpose, there is no hope, none for anyone, anytime, anywhere. How glorious then is vs. 20, “But in fact Christ has been raised form the dead,”. So, there really is living confident hope. There is real, divine, invincible purpose…because He lives.

See you tonight and Sunday, Lord willing,

In Him,

P. Tim

Second to the Fall/Autumn, the Spring is my “next” favorite time of year…except for the lawn mowing season starting up again. This past weekend Pastor Troy, Pastor Tim II, and I were down in Washington DC to attend a pastors’ training event. It lasted from Thursday evening until Monday morning…so that’s why we weren’t here on Sunday. It was a great time of fellowship for the three of us, a great time of learning, thinking, planning, and worshipping together. The Lord really used this time in my own life to help clarify and motivate progress in living out the New Testament more and more in the life of our church. We all got back safe and sound Monday at noon.

I got back to great reports about services here last Sunday, hearing very positive comments about Pastor Brian’s preaching and Sunday evening CBI. When I walked into the building yesterday, I did catch the end of a pastors’ seminar/fellowship here in our fellowship hall, sponsored by our seminary. There was a great crowd of pastors there enjoying a lot of fellowship…that’s code for a bunch of food and lively conversation. It was great to see and hear.

I spent this morning studying, finishing Sunday morning’s message (which I’d like to preach right now if I could) and taking care of daily correspondence. It would be a great idea for you to read through Acts 16 to prepare your hearts and minds for the preaching on Sunday. Tonight and Friday night I will be meeting with families in the church in different “neighborhoods”, talking about what God is doing here and answering questions. If you would be interested in hosting one of these neighborhood conversations, you could let Ray Chiang know, since he’s doing the organizational stuff…I’m just the pretty face…sort of.

Well, I pray that you are planning to be here with us Sunday. Please remember that we have a special sacrificial emphasis in our giving this week, giving over and above our normal giving to move us from a deficit to a surplus position in our financial and ministry plans. We can certainly do this together. We certainly can’t do this alone. See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Wow, what a difference a day can make! Last week at this time I was finishing up a “ten pounds in a five pound bag” kind of week. I got to spend Friday evening at home, got to the office early Saturday morning, met with a group of men from 7am until 10, and headed home for a bit before planning on going to the gym. I sat down to cool my heels for a while and the phone rang. It was one of those calls.

Hearing from my niece, Jenny, that her mom/my sister had died in her sleep sometime that morning, sent us all scurrying, calling, planning, praying, and trying to get a grasp of things. As always God gives grace, strength, puts “next steps” right in front of you, and brings clarity, little by little. My brother Tommy and I went to tell our mom. He stayed with her and I headed up to the mountains where Dean was and Jenny was heading. I did have the “pleasure” of meeting one of Pennsylvania State Police’s finest on the way up. After a warning, that was well earned, I made the rest of the trip to be with family up there.

Anyway, without going into endless details…God was, is, and always will be good to us. God’s people have been loving, kind, and very helpful. Thank you all for your prayers, your cards, and many expressions of love. God blessed yesterday with everything in and around the funeral and memorial service, from safety in travel to a sunny 70 degree day in March! He gave strength. He gave words. He was, is, and always will be great.

See you Sunday, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Each time over the past few days that I sat down to do this blog, one or two lines in…the phone would ring, there would be a knock at my door, and my day immediately went in a different direction. God will do that from time to time. His modifications of our plans are rarely anticipated, they can “mess” with you a bit, but ultimately they display His superior wisdom and steadfast love. So, here I am today, giving it another shot.

A number of times this past week, God reminded me of this superior wisdom and steadfast love of His, frequently through sacred music. While driving and wrestling with the more challenging side of “the news” or modifications to my plans, a song would come up next on the CD that powerfully reminded me of His love and care. It was uncanny and encouraging. Then again on Sunday morning He did the same through songs we sang and of course through the special music sung by the ladies group along with Jackie and then Jon Bright. The transition in Jackie’s song from “I know the plans I have for you” into “Why should I be discouraged?” was particularly powerful in my life.

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV ¹¹ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 NASB ¹¹ ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

You know, no matter which translation you read…it’s all good news, great news! So good news is good news. I’m looking forward to this Lord’s Day as we observe the Lord’s Supper together, baptize believers, and welcome new members into our church family. We also start our winter Calvary Bible Institute weeks on Sunday evening, with a bit of a new twist. Rather that several classes, Pastor Troy has planned to have 2 series of lessons, one for all of the ladies and the other for the men, concentrating the application of scripture on our particular needs. It should be a great time. See you Sunday, the Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim

Once again, it’s been a bit too long since my last post. Late January into Early March is “conference season” in the church and seminary world. While there seems to be an endless supply, I typically attend very few each year. Sometimes I’m there to preach or teach, other times just to reconnect with friends and recharge my heart and mind. Last week I was at Heart Conference at Northland International University, actually to do all of those things.

On the longer than expected travel day, I had the chance to read an excellent book titled “Off Script” that chronicles a pastor personal struggle with God taking his life completely “off script” to deal with cancer. It is an excellent read. I had the opportunity to preach at the conference and best of all to reconnect with ministry friends, friends that God regularly uses in my life to challenge my heart and mind. Two passages that come to mind in this vein of thought are…

Proverbs 27:5-6
^“Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.”

Proverbs 27:17
^“As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

So, who are the real friends in your life? We all need them. We all need to “be” them.

I’m looking forward to our study in Acts this Sunday. We will be studying chapter 15, in which the church and its leaders fight courageously both for the purity of the gospel and the unity of believers. It should be a very interesting and compelling study…unless of course I mess it up. Well, see you then, Lord willing.

In Him,

P. Tim