King David’s well-known Psalm 51 is a prayer of confession that came after some terrible, sinful actions on his part. This prayer stands as an example of the spiritual value of confession in our lives. Why do we confess sin? How do we go about it? Pastor David helps us think about these issues by preaching on this psalm:
Prayer Changes Us: Adoration
In this first of a series of four messages on the topic of prayer, Pastor David walks us through what Psalm 139 says about the nature of God. These attributes of God are praiseworthy and can transform how we go about praying. How should our prayer lives be oriented? Listen in to yesterday’s message by clicking this link. (Please note: Pastor David was fighting off a stomach bug during the service, so this message is shorter and “lower-key” compared to normal.)
Green Beans and Scripture
It’s that time of year again: the time when our garden’s green beans are in full swing. Those of you who grow (or have grown) green beans know that once they start producing, you are going to be swimming in beans for a little while. Tara and I are enjoying our second harvest season here at the church parsonage, and believe me, we love green beans. We love them so much that we planted twice as many as we did last year! “Swimming” in beans might not be the right term for what we are experiencing right now. It’s more like a green bean flood.
The amazing thing about picking green beans is that it seems there are always more to pick. Just when you think you have moved every leaf and branch, another few beans catch your eye as they dangle secretly behind another hidden branch. You can pick all the beans you can see, but if you move a foot away – or look at the plant from the opposite side – you will see many more beans to pick. And of course if you manage to find all the full-grown beans in one picking, just come back in another day or two and you’ll have that many more to harvest.
In much the same way, there is something to be said for continual Bible study. If we read a portion of scripture once, we cannot hope to have gleaned all of its meaning. It takes continual effort, time, and different life perspectives for us to benefit fully from the Word of God speaking into our lives. In fact, while I work on each week’s sermon, I read and re-read the sermon text several times – many times out loud – so I have many opportunities to see the passage from many different angles. Just like a cluster of green bean plants, there is always something more to find.
Psalm 119 is the longest psalm in scripture: at 176 verses in length, it is quite the work of poetry! The theme of this massive psalm is the love we have for scripture, for God’s word, for God’s law. Each of the psalm’s 22 sections (one for each letter of the Hebrew alphabet) repeats the theme: scripture is worth our love and attention. Read the next-to-last section, verses 161-168:
Rulers persecute me without cause, but my heart trembles at your word. I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil. I hate and abhor falsehood but I love your law. Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly. I obey your precepts and your statutes, for all my ways are known to you. (Psalm 119:161-168 NIV)
By the way, whatever you love you will spend a great deal of time studying, thinking about, remembering, practicing, and working toward. We find it easy to do these things for people whom we love. I find it easy to pick green beans, because I love the harvest. What is your attitude toward the Word of God?
A Life of Sacrifice
The book of Hebrews concludes with a series of exhortations, calling the church to conduct itself in specific ways. Each of these encourages believers to give up something else of value: a sacrifice in the truest sense of the term. How does Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 connect to our everyday lives – and to our memory of faithful Christians who have run the race before us? Listen to Pastor David’s message by clicking this link:
Going to Town
Over the past few years, I have learned the art of “going to town” – that is, combining errands into one trip so that we don’t drive 40 minutes round-trip simply to get eggs and a gallon of milk. You see, life in Indianapolis was much different for us: we could get to a grocery store, the bank, or the post office in only five minutes. Living here in the country, in the neighborhood of the church, has changed our approach to life, at least in that regard.
“Going to town” is something we plan for, something we do intentionally, with wisdom, and with purpose. This attitude is heightened when it involves catching a plane in Flint or a show in Toledo.
How much more should we be careful, intentional, and excited about going the city of God!
By “the city of God,” I don’t just mean heaven. Yes, we should be careful about going there, of course. But I believe “the city of God” refers to the way God helps us settle in his presence – beginning even in this life, and continuing into eternity. Read these words, which we read in worship on separate weeks earlier this month:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this– those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things. … Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord. (Psalm 107:1-9, 43 NIV)
“How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? … My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God, and not man– the Holy One among you. I will not come in wrath. They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord. (Hosea 11:8-11 NIV)
Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:16 NIV)
Be intentional about following God on the journey. Cry out to God when you are lost, and give thanks when the way is made clear for you. And remember: God is in the business of expressing his love for us by providing places, physical and spiritual, in which we can settle.
–Pastor David
September Youth Update
What a SUMMER! The Mt. Haley Youth Ministry has had a summer to remember! We just returned yesterday from a camping trip to Mio for camping, tubing, a cook-out with the Mio Youth, Sunday morning service with the Mio Church of God, fun, food and lots of conversation, teasing and bonding. It was a great weekend! Thank you Jo & Lawrence Adams and Darren Allen for helping to host the weekend. We shared this month in the Midland County Fair, Michigan Adventure, and the St. Louis Camp Meeting while Connie & I even sneaked in a trip to Atlanta, Georgia to visit our son & wife. As you are reading this, Labor Day Weekend is approaching or you have celebrated it already. We are excited because our kids are coming home for the weekend. We hope you have a great weekend!
School & the Mt. Haley Rally Day are coming up quickly. On Sunday, September 8 after the morning service we will be gathering at the parsonage for food, excitement, games, a softball game, volleyball and lots of fun together. WE INVITE EVERYONE TO COME! (It will be in the Fellowship Hall if raining.)
On Sunday, September 15, 2013, the new youth year begins with our first weekly 6:00pm meeting. We will be having youth for 6th & 7th grade boys every Tuesday with the same arrangements as last year. We will begin the year with a four-week study called “The Circle Makers.” Youth is EVERY Sunday evening unless otherwise noted. One week we will tentatively NOT have youth will be Sunday, November 10th because Connie & I will be attending the baptism of one of our granddaughters. We will continue our Bible Study every Sunday morning @ 10:00am with “The Parables of Jesus.” We always encourage you and our students to attend our Morning Worship Service @ 11:00am on Sundays. All families should have received the new 2013-2014 Permission Slip in the mail and we hope to have those turned in ASAP.
We are having a MUM sale on Saturday and Sunday, September 7th & 8th from 3:00 – 5:00pm (Saturday) and until 4:00pm on Sunday. There will be 75 plants of various colors delivered to Mt. Haley and on a first come, first served basis, plants may be purchased for $9 each, or 3 for $25. Students may take pre-orders for the mums and earn $4 per plant for their youth accounts, or you may designate purchases for individual students. We thank you in advance for your support of the youth. There will be other projects coming up such as doing yard work, sponsoring a meal at the church’s business meeting in October, plus working other fundraisers.
On Wednesday, September 25, 2013, the annual “See You At The Pole” event will be held at our local high schools & middle schools. SYATP is an opportunity for our students to gather around their school flagpole and pray for their school, their friends, their families and anything else that could be a matter of prayer. Watch for more details as the day becomes closer. Join in with the students and pray for them that early morning! Prayer Makes a Difference!
In the last week of September (day to be determined) there will be a parent & student meeting about attending the International Youth Convention in July of next summer in Nashville, TN. A $115 Early Bonus Bird Registration is due by December 12, 2013. We will need to discuss purpose, missions, fundraising and other important details. We hope you will come and hear about this wonderful opportunity for your kids.
We have had an information meeting about Guatemala and the $100 Registration for the mission trip is due by Sunday, September 8th. This is generally for adults but we have had older youth participate also. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
As the new school year begins, we know that the students are involved in many activities after school and on weekends. One of my favorite things to do is attending & providing encouragement and support for your son or daughter as well as joining you in the stands. If your student runs cross country, cheers, plays in the band, acts in a play, whatever it is, PLEASE let me know – I try to follow schedules, but it really helps when I am informed of events. Thanks for your help.
September brings the third year of serving Mt. Haley as your Youth Pastor and we are extremely excited for the opportunities, the challenges and the privileges of sharing Jesus Christ with the youth, the parents, the church and community. We have been abundantly blessed with the love, support and encouragement as the ministry has grown spiritually and in numbers. We anticipate further growth as the students spread the word and share with their friends the good news of Christ and the ministry happening at Mt. Haley. Please encourage your kids to share and bring their friends as we grow each Sunday, PLUS we want you to know you are always welcomed also. Special thanks also go to Lawrence and Jo Adams as they so generously share their lives, gifts and talents to help out with our teens. May we give all the glory to Christ our King!
Parents and Church, your prayers, support and encouragement are greatly appreciated and we look forward every week to sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with our students through interaction, study, fellowship and relationship. Thank you for sharing your son or daughter.
Love God, Love People!
Blessings, Pastor Jerry
Approach With Caution
How should God’s covenant with us affect our worship of God? Hebrews 12:18-29 contrasts the covenant scene of the Ten Commandments with our current situation in Christ. In very dramatic language, scripture calls us to approach the Lord with caution, for “our God is a consuming fire.” Listen to Pastor David’s message on this passage, which prepared the Mt. Haley congregation for the Lord’s Supper:
Good News
By now, you probably have heard the story of Antoinette Tuff, the Georgia school bookkeeper who this week helped to prevent a tragic school shooting by talking with the 20-year-old man who entered the school armed with an AK-47. Many people are talking about, writing about, and celebrating the heroic actions and bravery of this woman. Ms. Tuff kept the potential shooter talking while he decided what to do: whether to attack students and staff, injure himself, or surrender to the police. For half an hour, she kept calm and spoke wisdom to this young man until, ultimately, he laid down his gun without having injured or killed a single person.
This is a tremendous story of love and compassion in action. I want to highlight a few principles for us to consider:
- This threat was met with the love of Christ. As I listened to the recording of Ms. Tuff’s 911 call, I was amazed by how she spoke kindly to him, treated him with compassion, and even told him that she loved him. She spoke openly of pain in her past that led her to consider suicide, but she reassured him that this was not the best answer. She told him that she was proud of him for giving up without hurting anyone. The love of Christ is powerful, because even in tense and dangerous situations, this love empowers us to treat other people as human beings with real needs. “So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12 NIV).
- This threat was met with nonviolence. This story should be a powerful reminder to us that dangerous situations can be handled appropriately with nonviolence. Historically, the Church of God is a peace-loving organization. We believe that the way of Jesus is one of peace, not violence; hope, not fear; love, not anger. Jesus instructed a disciple to sheathe his sword when the Lord was arrested (Matthew 26:50-52). Jesus himself, while being beaten and ridiculed, did not fight back against his assailants (Luke 22:63-66). Even when the end result was his own death, Jesus was never violent – and his disciples carried on that tradition at his instruction.
- This threat was met with preparation. School employees undergo regular training on what to do in exactly this scenario. Ms. Tuff gave witness to that after the fact; the training helped her handle the situation with her instincts. Put differently, the training formed her into the kind of person that could appropriately handle this potential shooting. Jesus was tempted by the devil before beginning his ministry (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus invested heavily in his disciples so they would know how to behave after his death, resurrection, and ascension. Later, Paul instructed young Timothy to persist in his spiritual practices so that his life would be transformed, along with the lives of those around him (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
What would our lives look like if we were to live by the love of Christ, an attitude of nonviolence, and daily spiritual preparation? How would we – and our culture – be transformed?
–Pastor David
All or Nothing
This Sunday was a special day: three of our young people were baptized during the morning service! In this sermon, which came immediately before the baptisms, Pastor David preached on Hebrews 11:29-12:3, a passage that encourages us to remember that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Listen in to this message on how God calls us to be faithful to him in all circumstances:
Looking Forward
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 describes the nature of faith and illustrates faith through the example of Abraham. God promised Abraham both land and descendants, but Abraham never saw the fulfillment of either of those promises. And yet he looked forward to a heavenly city built by God. What does this have to do with hope in today’s world? How should we view heaven – and how should we view earth? Click here for Pastor David’s message on this passage.