“The LORD Who Made You”

“Thus says the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, do not fear…” Isaiah 44:2

I am writing this article on Tuesday, November 15 and the memories of this day 12 years ago are as fresh as if they happened yesterday.  So please allow me to indulge myself in sharing this story.

I had been at a Church Conference in Phoenix AZ for 5 days prior to November 15, 2004.  I had flown back in on Saturday the 13th and planned to attend Terry’s (my wife) appointment with her doctor before going to work on Monday the 15th.  She was 34 weeks pregnant at that time and there had been some concern of our child’s size in development during her pregnancy.  Terry had had two miscarriages prior to this pregnancy and we knew that there was a risk of problems with this pregnancy also.  Early on in the pregnancy, as she had in past the months that the prior miscarriages occurred, our doctor suggested that we have a Amnio test done to make sure the baby was OK, so we could have the option to abort if needed.  We both looked at him and said about the same time NO!  There is no need to do that.  We would not abort regardless of what the test would show.  We were not going to be a part of the 3,000 + abortions that take place daily in the USA.  God had formed her.  She was alive!

A few weeks prior to November 15, 2004 during one of Terry’s appointments, our doctor said, “I would like to give you a hormone shot that will help to develop the lungs of the baby.  I am just not sure you will carry her to your due date, which by the way was our oldest sons birthday, December 31st.  They felt Terry may be able to go as far as 38 of the 40 weeks.  So we agreed.  Man, did that turn out the be the right call!!!

Back to our appointment on Monday, November 15th.  We arrived and were waiting, talking about the things we needed to do that day and the rest of the week.  Thanksgiving was coming and plans for Christmas, knowing the baby would be arriving around that time.  We were called back to the examination room where there was an Ultrasound machine for the doctor to take a look at the development of the baby since our last visit.  The doctor came in and started the exam, the minute she put the wand on Terry’s abdomen, she said, “We need to get you to the hospital immediately.  The baby is in stress.”  Tears welled up in both of our eyes.  The doctor said she would call ahead and let them know we were coming and for us to go straight up to the OB floor.  I don’t even remember driving over.  We both were in shock.  Once we were checked in and were waiting for the “on call” doctor to come in, I remember we prayed.  “Father, you have brought us this far, this baby is in your hands.  Please Father, let her live.”  

Things began to move very quickly by then and not long after that Terry was in the OR prepping for a C-Section.  I was dressed in OR clothes so I could be with her.  And at 2 PM, Monday, November 15th Emma Grace Duffell was born at 34 weeks.  She weighed 2.7 lbs. and within hours dropped to 2.5 lbs.  We were immediately cautioned of all the possibilities.  The Nic Unit doctor made that very clear.  But here is the thing, Emma Grace never had to have any intervention.  No breathing tubes, nothing.!  They told us that their requirement was for a premature baby to be 4.5 to 5 lbs before going home.  Emma Grace was doing so well they let her come home at 3.5 lbs.  The NICU doctor told us as we were leaving that he would see us back in the unit over the winter months.  To that Terry said, “No you will not.  God’s got this little one.”  And He did!  Every time the doctors have told us she will develop slower, be behind all her peers, they have been wrong.  She is, in our eyes, a miracle baby.  

Isaiah tells Israel, “… the LORD who made you and formed you from the womb…” reminds me that every child is a gift of God.  Yes, I know our story is not everyones story as far as the outcome.  I understand that.  But each of these babies are His creation and we don’t understand why some live and some die.  We don’t understand why some are lost to miscarriages.  And as far as Terry and I, we do not understand how anyone can abort these precious babies.  What we do know is that each child is knitted in their mothers womb by a gracious and loving God and all are in His hands.  God is creator, not only of the universe, but of all of us.  So do not fear, as the prophet says, for we know that God is Emmanuel - God with us!   Folks, that is with the “born” and the “un-born.”  Terry and I experienced His presence that day in a special way and are so ever grateful to Him!

I am thankful that God has allowed us to enjoy His daughter, our daughter, Emma Grace.  Happy 12th birthday sweetheart.  We love you!

Blessings,                                                                                                 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"The Church In Your House"

“…the church in your house…” / Philemon 2

This past weekend the HOPE Session spent some time at the beach on retreat.  Our MO (Mode of Operation) for our retreats over the past years has been to reflect on the past and plan for the future.  But these past two years we have visioned more on where we are going in God’s will for HOPE EPC than where we have been.  

Last year I presented the Worship, Grow, Serve theme and we spent time looking at how scripturally that fits into the Who and What God was calling us to be as a church.  This year we moved from a more inward focus to a more outward focus.  God is calling us to go and serve, so what does that look like.  The questions now are Who, How, & When as we live into Worship, Grow, Serve.  For our HOPE family, I will be sharing more about this at our Annual Meeting of the Congregation on November 20th.

Yesterday morning as I was reading my devotions (one of them always is the Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon), the words jumped out at me in relation to the focus of our weekend at the beach.  Spurgeon ask the question, “Is there a Church in this house?”  So I want to share his words with you in the rest of this article and I want you to especially take notice of the last paragraph.  I would ask you all reading this, not just the HOPE EPC family, how does Spurgeon’s call to be the Church live out in your life?  

(Tuesday, November 1, 2016 - Morning and Evening by Charles Haddon Spurgeon)

“Is there a Church in this house? Are parents, children, friends, servants, all members of it? or are some still unconverted? Let us pause here and let the question go round--Am I a member of the Church in this house? How would father's heart leap for joy, and mother's eyes fill with holy tears if from the eldest to the youngest all were saved! Let us pray for this great mercy until the Lord shall grant it to us. Probably it had been the dearest object of Philemon's desires to have all his household saved; but it was not at first granted him in its fulness. He had a wicked servant, Onesimus, who, having wronged him, ran away from his service. His master's prayers followed him, and at last, as God would have it, Onesimus was led to hear Paul preach; his heart

was touched, and he returned to Philemon, not only to be a faithful servant, but a brother beloved, adding another member to the Church in Philemon’s house. 

Is there an unconverted servant or child absent this morning? Make special supplication that such may, on their return to their home, gladden all hearts with good news of what grace has done! Is there one present? Let him partake in the same earnest entreaty.

If there be such a Church in our house, let us order it well, and let all act as in the sight of God. Let us move in the common affairs of life with studied holiness, diligence, kindness, and integrity. More is expected of a Church than of an ordinary household; family worship must, in such a case, be more devout and hearty; internal love must be more warm and unbroken, and external conduct must be more sanctified and Christlike. We need not fear that the smallness of our number will put us out of the list of Churches, for the Holy Spirit has here enrolled a family-church in the inspired book of remembrance.  As a Church let us now draw nigh to the great head of the one Church

universal, and let us beseech him to give us grace to shine before men to the glory of his name.”

Man!  Now that is something to ponder!

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"Keep Your Eyes On Him!"

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

Many of you know that I am an avid sports fan.  There are very few sporting events that I don’t enjoy watching.  When someone ask me what I do to have fun or as a hobby, I usually say, “Watch Sports.”  Yes, I know for some of you reading this you are saying, “What a waste of your time.”  But for me, it is truly relaxing.  It’s like when many of you sit down to read a book and get enjoyment, that is the way I feel.

I was watching the first inning of the 6th game of the NLCS (National League Championship Series) and watched the outfielder drop a routine fly ball.  In my opinion, that play started what was end for the LA Dodgers and a win for the Cubs that sent them to the World Series.  Oh, by the way, for those that don’t follow sports, I’m talking about a baseball game.  That fly ball was a hit that this guy or any outfielder in Major League Baseball would catch 99.9% of the time.  But if you watch the replay, you can see that he took his eyes off the ball in the air and looked around him.  In a prior game this same player who was running back towards the outfield wall to catch a fly ball, took his eyes off the ball to look at the wall and missed it too.  In baseball, as with many other sports, if you take your eye off the ball for a split second, you are done.  It is over.  That play will be off the mark.  There is a very narrow window for success and success will not happen when you look elsewhere when the ball is heading your way.

Folks, life is that way also.  Jesus begins His ministry, as recorded in Matthew’s gospel, with the Sermon on the Mount.  During His preaching Jesus gives us the verses above about how narrow the way is that leads to eternal life.  He states, “…the way is broad that leads to destruction…”  On the other hand, “…the way is narrow that leads to life…”

Jesus says that many will travel the broad way and few will travel the narrow way.  Why?  Because many take their eyes off the prize, eternal life, to look all around them.  They want to experience the ways of the world and all that the world has to offer.  They want to see and experience what others are doing, take a glance in this direction and that direction to see if that way looks better out in the world.  But Jesus says to stay focused on the way that leads to eternal life and that way is very narrow.  You have to stay focused on this journey with Christ or Satan will derail you and turn your eyes off of Jesus and the gift of eternal life.

It doesn't take much.  Like the Dodger outfielder who, just for a split second, took his eyes off the ball heading to his glove and missed it.  It only takes a moment when Satan gets our attention and says, “Click on this website and you will enjoy.  Turn to this channel and watch this movie and enjoy.  Look at that young lady or young man and enjoy.”  Satan says, “Enjoy my world!  You don’t need to read the Bible, you know enough.  You don’t need to worry about social issues any longer, things have changed.”  Satan says,  “Women who get pregnant really aren’t pregnant, so abortion is fine.”  Satan wants you to take your eyes off Christ and the prize He offers, eternal life, and focus on the world around you.  DON”T DO IT!!

The Apostle Paul does a twist on the seen and unseen.  He states: “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:18

Paul is reminding us that though we have not seen Jesus face to face, He is real, He is alive and well and keeping our eyes on Him is eternal.  Everything else, all the world and Satan has to offer is only temporary and will fade away.

Do Not take your eyes off of Him!!!  It’s worth it!

Blessings my friends, 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“Remembering”     

September 11th was this past Sunday and across the USA there were services of “Remembering” the events of that day 15 years ago.  Each year since 9/11 many, not all, but many across America have stopped to remember what happened that day.  Many can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing the moment they heard the news.  I know I can remember that day very clearly.  What a somber day.

     There are other events in the past 75 years that we, as Americans, remember.  Some we have memorialized like 9/11, but others come and go with more of a sense of “Hey, I get a day off” than actually remembering what happened.

     December 7th of 1941 is a day many remember.  But 75 years later (as of this year), 12/7 will come and go and there will NOT be many remembering that day.  For me, I cannot help but remember because my dad was there in the harbor on duty when the Japanese planes flew in at 7:48 a.m.

     Other dates in history have impacted America in many different ways and we say, “Oh, I remember that.”  Events like: the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 8/6 & 8/9 in 1945 that ended WWII.  Or like November 22, 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated.  I personally remember that day.  And then two days later, 11/24/63 Jack Ruby fatally shot Lee Harvey Oswald who was believed to have killed Kennedy.  I watched that on TV as it happened.  Do you remember where you were around 6 p.m. on April 4, 1968?  In Memphis Tennessee, on his second story hotel balcony Martin Luther King, Jr was fatally shot.  Another date many still today remember is August 16, 1977.  On that day the rock legend and actor Elvis Presley died.  

     I was in the military on November 4, 1979 when this event happened.  Most of you are saying what event?  We went on 24 hour shifts for months.  I even lost a few buddies in the rescue effort when our C130 when down in the desert sand storm.  That was the date the 52 American diplomats were captured and held hostage in Iran.

     On January 28, 1986 I was standing in the store I managed watching the Space Shuttle Challenger take off and in just a minute after take off watched it explode.  That is a day I will remember.  On November 9, 1989 we watched as East Germans and West Germans climbed a wall that had separated them for decades.  The “Wall” that separated them began to come down.  What a celebration to witness.

     I remember October 12, 2000?  Any one else?  The USS Cole was in harbor in Yemen and suffered a terrorist attack.  17 American soldiers were killed and 39 injured.  Then you can fast forward 11 months exactly to September 11, 2001 and we are back to 9/11.  

     Some of you reading this will say, but there are other events of similar or greater importance I remember that you did not mention.  Yes, I agree.  But I wanted to share a few that came to my mind to spark this thought.  We remember some dates and events in history very well.  Others, certainly some I’ve mentioned, come and go and are forgotten or are nothing more than a holiday off work.

     As much as many of these events have shaped the world in which we live, there is truly, and I mean truly, only one event in the history of this world that changed EVERYTHING.  Some celebrate it and some don’t.  Many remember on its specific day, but forget its impact the rest of the year.  It is truly an event that changed the landscape of time ever since it happened.  By now many of you know what I’m talking about.  Passover of AD 30 (some say AD 33) Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for the sins of the world.  He did something no one else could do.  Three days later He arose to life, so that, those who believe could have eternal life.  

     Do you remember?  “No Marty, I wasn’t there.” 

 No, folks, do you remember?  On the night of His arrest as Jesus celebrated Passover, He said, “Remember.”  Remember my body broken, my blood shed for the sins of the world.  Remembering!

     But I remember at Easter time that event, many will say.  Great!  In fact, many only on Easter fill our churches.  Easter is one of the largest attendance days of the year for churches around the world.  But Jesus asked us to remember and I don’t believe that was once a year.  Folks, this event changed the world.  This gift of eternal life meant that if you believe, you would not experience the second death, which is eternal separation from God.  I cannot even fathom that.  

     So as these events through history, or even throughout your life have meaning, are special, should be remembered or celebrated, PLEASE remember the most important event in all the world, that of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  At least for me, all others pale in comparison.  

     Maybe today would be a good time to stop, remember, and say, “I’m His because of His actions.  I have eternal life because of His sacrifice.”  There will be many more significant events in our lifetime, provided Christ does return first.  But as Romans 8:39 reminds us nothing, “… will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Nothing!  Now that is something worth “Remembering.”

Blessings my friends, 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“The Temporal and Eternal”

"1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, 3 inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. 4 For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.  6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

You cannot sit in a hospital ER or patient floor without thinking about this earthly body.  Well, let me re-phrase that.  You cannot be a Christian and sit in the ER or a hospital room without thinking about this temporal body.  

Over the past 5 days I’ve seen and heard many cries for help.  I’ve looked upon those who are hurting severely in this earthly body.  And yes, even heard the called for a “Code Blue” over the intercom system.  That really gets your attention.

I’ve watched my own wife suffer greatly with pain and wonder what was causing that pain.  Where was it coming from?  What was causing it?  Of course it brings it even closer to home when it is your own loved one suffering.  You want to do something to help them, but can’t.

But in my prayers for my wife and her relief of pain and healing, I was reminded that all of this is temporal, not eternal.  Paul states it so clearly in Second Corinthians 5 when he says, “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens” (5:1).  Now be sure you know, I want to live a long time and want everyone else to do the same.  But, as I said in Bible study a few weeks ago, I am not afraid to die nor for Christ to come back.  I know who holds my future.  I take great pleasure knowing that to be absent from this earthly body is to be home with the LORD.

What about you believer?  Do you dwell on the temporal allowing it to govern your thoughts and emotions for this fallen world?  Or, do you dwell on the eternal, knowing there is more waiting for you beyond this temporal life?  One can bring heartache and pain while  the other brings peace and comfort.  If you have ever dealt with someone dying who does not know the Lord, or their families following that death, the despair is enormous.  No hope is found!  But when ministering to someone dying or families who have lost a loved who was a believer, while sad for their passing, they celebrate their loved ones life for they are home with the LORD!!!

Whether a believer or not, one day folks the eternal will come into play and the apostle Paul’s great announcement will come to pass: Philippians 2:10-11 (NASB) 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I have to tell you, these past 5 days have reminded me of the temporal and eternal once again.  Just thought it might be good to remind you, that is, if you haven’t thought about for a while.

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty          

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“The Compartmentalizing Question”

This past weekend brought about the end of the 31st Olympic Games in Rio.  For the past two weeks plus, these Summer games have dominated the television schedule on multiple channels.  It has been the talk on major news programming, sport talk radio, and just about any multi-media outlet you would browse.  And every four years when the Summer games pop up, it becomes, for many Americans, a dominate topic of our conversations and our time.  Even my 11 year old daughter asked on Monday night of this week, “What’s on the Olympic’s tonight?”  As I responded, “Last night was the closing Ceremony,” she said, “Oh no.  I don’t want them to be over.  Now I have to want four more years!”  She is right, four more years, 2020, and we’ll be watching the games from Tokyo, Japan.

I can only relate as an American, but it seems to me we have a way of compartmentalizing everything.  We certainly use calendar dates of days, weeks, months, years to track our lives.  We use hours, even minutes, to track our time to order our life.  And it seems to me as I watch our activities of life, as we compartmentalize everything, certain things will certainly bump out other things as to its importance, and in some cases, rightfully so.  Other times, its just what we choose as important to fill that time and space in our lives.  The past two weeks I have enjoyed watching the American athletes compete and win in many of the 42 sports of these games.  I made time, pushing other things out of the way.

As my daughter said, “Oh no… Now I have to wait four more years,” I realized that these games had occupied much of our time at home.  In some ways that was good, for our family watched them together.  But in other ways, not so good.  Late night watching overshadowed giving time to praying together before bedtime.  Oh, I would say, “Kids, don’t forget to say your prayers,” but that is not our normal family routine.  We allowed something to move out to make room for something else.  And in this case, it was not more important.  Our compartment, that of family prayer time, was pushed aside, and filled with something else.

We have a member at HOPE Church that often reminds us that whatever takes priority over your life it your idol.  We all have little idols, but priority over your life, now that’s a huge deal.  

So the question, or The Compartmentalizing Question is this; what have you allowed to push out worship, prayer time, reading the Bible, devotion time, ministry time, service to God time in your life that should be permanently set aside for God?  As a believer, God’s expectation is that we will place Him first.  There is no debate in that.  This expectation is the first of the Ten Commandments and Jesus calls for it first as He gives the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:35-40; Mark 12:28-32; Luke 10:27).  We all know that as we push Christ out other things take that place.

But Marty, you are pastor and that is your life 24/7.  You might say, I have other responsibilities you don’t have.  Really?  I have a life too.  Children in school, two of our kids have jobs we have to schedule around, sports they are involved in, homework, two in college, etc.  Life is busy for us all.  So are you saying, nothing else, but Christ 24/7?  No!  We all need to enjoy life and life’s opportunities.  We live in a great awesome country.  We have families to enjoy, events to attend, work to do, fellowship to participate in.  Time for vacations are great and much needed.  Nothing wrong with that.  Just a thought though for you to consider.  While on vacation, what do you do if it happens to fall on a Sunday?  Do you attend worship?

I’m just trying to get us ALL, that includes me, to think about our days, weeks, months, even our hours of the day and realize that we compartmentalize our lives in such a way that unless we are intentional to place God and time for Him in our lives, regardless of your profession or stage in life, something else will fill that time.  

We all need to set time aside for Him.  And while Sunday worship should be one of those non-negotiable times, there should be daily time set aside too.  When He becomes our priority, the compartmentalization question will be answered.  So for me, I say, “OK Lord, I’m convicted!  I will do better!”

Blessings, Pastor Marty          

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"Know Him"

As some of your know, 6 of our nine kids have attended Sandhills Classical Christian School.  Yesterday was the first day of the 2016-2017 school year.  The High School grades opened the school year with a day called “Opening Academy.”  This is a day when the Principal of the Rhetoric brings in outside speakers to talk to the students on different topics.  At the end of the last school year the Principal asked me if I would be willing to come in and talk on one of the aspects of bullying.  My topic was on Bullying from a “Spiritual” perspective.  I said yes.  So yesterday, Tuesday, August 2nd I was up.

I have thought much about this topic over the past few months.  I’ve seen report after report of those who have been bullied and taken their life.  Bullying comes today in so many forms.  When I was in school it was mostly verbal and physical, but today you have to add social and cyberspace.  It is unreal the cruelty many kids unleash on other kids.  Here is the things though, the more I thought about it, it comes back to “Spirituality.”

Before I spoke a Pediatric MD spoke about these four types of bullying I mentioned above and did some role play with the kids on how to handle different situations that they may face.  She gave some really good advice.  But again I was sitting there thinking it’s “Spiritual.”

I won't go through the entire talk, but I wanted to share a few points and scriptures with you that I shared with the students.  I opened with two questions.  First I asked, “Please raise your hands if you have heard of Jesus of Nazareth?”  The second question I asked was, “I don’t want you to raise you hands on this question, but answer it in your mind with yes or no.  No other answer will work.  Your answer has to be Yes or No to this question.  Do you know Jesus of Nazareth?  Really know him?”  If you answered yes to the question then you need to know what the scriptures say about one who believes.

First, John 14:16-18 tells us that those who believe will have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, two characteristics of this person of God deals with us on this topic.  Those being “Guidance” and “Conviction.”  We cannot have Jesus Christ in us and think it is OK to bully someone.

Second, Matthew 22:34-39 (as well as Mark 12:29-31) states, “And He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great and foremost commandment.  The second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

So here is the deal, to love God with all your being, and to love your neighbor cannot include bullying.  So the answer to my second question is so important.

1st John 2:9 “The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness…”  You cannot say you know Jesus and treat your brother with hatred.  So again the answer to my second question was so important.

Then I shared this question, “What if you find yourself in a bullying situation?”  The good doctor had given some good advice, as I said, but Jesus gives great advice as well from a “Spiritual” perspective.  Matthew 18:15-17 gives us the biblical process of handling conflict with others.  I talked a little about that with the students.  If you are unfamiliar with this passage, I would encourage you to read through it today!

After closing with a personal story from my grade school, I had to go back to address that second question again.  “Do you know Jesus of Nazareth personally?  If you answered ‘Yes,’ that was great.  But if you answered ‘No,’ I want you to think about that answer.” Then I said, “The answer to this question is the most important answer you will ever make in your life.  Every other question pales to this one.  Answering ‘Yes’ to this question will affect everyday of your life.  It will affect how you relate to others and how you glorify God.  By answering ‘Yes’ to this question you are to glorify God in all you do.  You will experience a peace like never before.  Your  love of God and love of neighbor will lift up your witness of Christ where bullying will degrade it and getting that positive witness back will take a long time.” 

I asked those that did not answer “Yes” to this question to talk to a teacher, pastor, parents, or the Principal or me if they would like to know how to answer that question “Yes.”

Folks, if you have read this far, I want you to know, how we live our life in this fallen world is dependent on whether we know, really know Jesus of Nazareth, the very Son of God.  Know Him, honor Him, let your witness Glorify Him and then you will marvel at who His is and what He’ll do through you.

As for the students, my hope is that I planted a seed in each whether they answered “Yes” or “No.”  God’s Word is so great and true that my prayer is that it will dwell in their hearts and minds.  My desire is that they all know Him.

Blessings,                                                                 

Pastor Marty               

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"Resting Much?"

As many of you know, my family just got back off of vacation.  Vacation at Atlantic Beach, North Carolina is always a great time of rest, relaxation and fun.  This was our sixth year going down in July to the Sand’s Villas.  

Now to be honest with you, I did do some church work while there.  I won’t tell you how much, but it was less than my wife did for her job (had to get that in).  But we all do that right?  We go away for vacation, time away where we are supposed to forget about work, the day to day routines, the grind of daily schedules, etc, for the fun in the sun. Yet we can’t leave the cell phone in the condo, not check emails, or think about the next deadline.  I was at the pool one day last week and this guy was on the phone with work while standing in 5 feet of water.  He was trying to tell someone on the other end of the phone where to find something in the shop.  He finely said, “If I were there I’d find it for you, BUT I’M ON VACATION (the caps are here because he yelled that phase into the phone).

So you know I’m going somewhere with all of this, right?  

Why is it so hard to leave work behind for many of us for just a week or even a day?  I often think of the verses that speak of rest.

Exodus 20:9

“Six days you shall labor and do all your work,”

Exodus 20:11

“For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”

Exodus 23:12

“Six days you are to do your work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor so that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your female slave, as well as your stranger, may refresh themselves.”

Did God need to rest after working on creation for six days?  I think not!!!  He showed us the proper work ethic.  He set the example that we should follow.  And folks, it is for our own good.  REST!!!

What do we do on that day of rest?  Well, for most of us we see what we can fill it up with.  You know I”m right.  I’ve heard people say, that day is my day to do what I want.  Really?  All about you?  

Don’t get me wrong here, I like to have fun on my seventh day too, but it has to be more than about me.  When we make it about Him you will find that the “me time” is less important to us, yet there.  It’s funny how that works.

As Sandra Pierce mentioned in her sermon last Sunday, Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.”  When we set our minds (not just one day a week, but daily) on things above, the things on earth seem to go more smoothly, seem to be less hectic.  It seems to me that things go better with God’s plan.

You know I’m going to end in a question.  How’s our “Rest?”  Yes, our!  I have to include me.  Remember, I worked on my vacation, taking some of that “rest time.”  So let us all consider “a rest” from our labors to focus on Him more and get refreshed through Him for the next step head of us.

Food for thought folks.  Just saying!!!!

Blessings,                                                                 

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“Am I Measuring My Life by This Standard or 

by Something Less?”

Sometimes the LORD speaks to us through others and says, “Do you see what I’m trying to tell you?”  Often we pass it off and then others times it resonants and we get it.  I get it this time LORD.

I asked my wife Monday night, “Do you have a topic I can write my article on this week?  I’m still praying and think about it.”  Answer: “No.”  Then Tuesday morning as I was getting out of the shower she said, “Got it.  I know what you should write on this week.”  Then she shared her devotion that morning with me and said you need to read it.  Well, before I could read it, after doing my devotion, I opened up Facebook, and the very first post I saw was from Bill Enns who had posted that morning the very same devotion that my wife had said I needed to read.  OK LORD!!!  I get it.  I just love how the Lord works like that.  Truly amazing!!!

So folks, I know some of you have probably already read Bill Enns’ post on Facebook and even some of you use this devotional book from time to time, but this one is worth re-reading over and over again.  I am going to post here the entire devotion and then have a little commentary myself.  Surprised about that, aren’t you.  So here we go:

“…till we all come…to the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ…” Ephesians 4:13

“Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be.  This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption.  The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization.  The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively.  Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose - that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known.  We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat.  We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.

Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development?  The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ - ‘…that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10).  To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender - complete abandonment of myself to Him.  Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted.  And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.

My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,

Nor even blessings, but Himself, my God.

Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”   (My Utmost for His Highest, by Oswald Chambers, Discovery House Publishing, copyright 1992, Devotion for: July 12 titled: The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church)

This article has certainly caused me to think about that question: “Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”  And what is that standard, God Himself!!!

At HOPE Church, as we Worship, Grow, and Serve, these aspects of our lives, I believe, truly help to bring us to this point, “To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender - complete abandonment of myself to Him.”  As we worship the living LORD, we abandon self to praise Him and give Him the glory He is due.  In our attempt to grow in knowledge and understanding we need to grow in faith, not just for self, but for the work and growth of His kingdom, the body of Christ, His church.  We are called to grow in faith and then GO and serve, sharing the Good News.  This is our service to God, to go and proclaim, not for ourselves, not for our glory or uplifting, but for HIS!

In our fallenness and this fallen world, it can easily become about “self.”  Satan certainly points us that way as often as he can.  But this article by Oswald Chambers reminds us that it is ALL about Him.  Not Us!!!  Both individually and corporately, it is all about Him!  And this plan of reconciliation and redemption is perfect when we live into it by the grace and leading of God through His Holy Spirit.  Man, what a different world we would live in folks if more of us would life by this standard.

So I will ask the question again he asked: “Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?”

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"What If?'

I cannot remember the last time we traveled for the 4th of July holiday.  Our tradition has been to stay at home, grill out and invite some friends to join us.  Then early evening we ride over to Aberdeen, North Carolina to enjoy the fireworks.  Aberdeen is a hidden gem in the Sandhills when it comes to the 4th celebration.  They have souvenir vendors, food vendors, entertainment, and some of the best fireworks in NC.  People come from all around the region to attend.  Large masses of people gather in little Aberdeen.  This was what we did on Monday, join the masses.  

After we got home I turned on the TV and the Macy’s 4th Fireworks Celebration was on.  When I saw the US Air Force Band playing and singing, I decided to watch.  It was something to watch.  4 barges in the Hudson River firing off fireworks, the Air Force band playing in the background, then seeing the masses of people watching and singing along was beautiful.

As a veteran, the 4th of July holiday is one of my favorites of the year.  Monday we celebrated 240 years of independence.  It is the one day of the year it seems many set aside their differences and come together to celebrate America.  You see our National flay displayed proudly instead of spit on, trampled or burned.  People wave it, hold it, lift it up and seem to truly be proud to be an American.  I love to hear the patriotic songs sung and hear the lyrics “God bless a America, land that I love.”  It warms my heart and reminds me of my service to my country as I swore to “…protect and defend so help me God.”  The masses come out on the 4th of July and it is always a great celebration all around our nation.  I love it!!!

Having said that, I would like to draw a correlation to our walk with Christ.  Now for those that have read my writings over the years, you know that I have discussed this before, but I think it bears a reminder to us all.  And here is the question: What if the masses had the same passion for Christ?”

What if, folks, we had the same passion to gather on Sunday mornings (or other times) for worship?  What if the masses had the same passion to display their love of Jesus Christ daily?  What if the masses didn’t care who saw them wave the banner of Christ proudly?  What if the masses…?

It shouldn’t take another 9/11 to fill our churches.  It shouldn’t take a tragedy to call us to prayer for our nation and the world.  Can’t that passion rise up in us without that?  

Passion is contagious.  An invitation to join your passion is often welcomed.  What if, folks, we Christians become passionate again for the faith?  What if we become passionate in our display of the love of Christ?  What if we become passionate in inviting people to join us in worship.  PASSIONATE!!!  Passionate like we are when inviting someone to join us for a secular celebration!

I love reading about King David bringing the Ark of the Covenant back into the city and the celebration that took place.  Dancing and singing to God was everywhere.  I love reading about Nehemiah and the people gathering on top of the re-constructed wall around Jerusalem and singing and dancing in celebration to God.  Even on Passover week in Jerusalem on the weekend of our Savior’s crucifixion, hundreds of thousands gathered in the city to celebration the Passover.  Their passion for God was on display.  The Hebrew writer says:

“Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our LORD, equip you in every good thing to do HIs will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.  But I urge you, brethren, lift up this word of exhortation…”  Hebrews 13:20-22

What if we celebrated Christ with the passion we do other events in our lives, lifting up the WORD of exhortation of the LORD?  Folks, He is worthy of our Praise!!!  What if?

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow, Serve                      

“Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

As many of you know, I was in Detroit last week for the 36th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.  The GA was wonderfully up lifting, with inspirational preaching and teaching.  I wish all of you could one day experience the EPC General Assembly.  Having said that, I did have some difficulties with the Detroit area and thought I would share a little of those escapades.

During my arrival at Detroit and my departure, I felt like one of those Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah 9:16:

“For those who guide this people are leading them astray; And those who are guided by them are brought to confusion.”

Once securing a rental car, I pulled out my GPS to put in the address of hotel.  The GPS said, no such address.  So I put in the address of Ward Church where GA was being held.  No such address popped up again.  So I tried several times with the same result.  I called the hotel and the desk clerk said, “Your GPS must be possessed.”  I think she was serious, but regardless, she offered no help on getting me from the airport to the hotel.  I thought, I have a smart phone and can use google maps.  Yeah!!!  Plugged in the address and here we go.  One problem, it gave me a route, but not whether to go east or west on I-94.  Seeing signs, one to Detroit and the other to Toledo, I choose Detroit.  Seemed logical to me.  Long story short, I got to see downtown Detroit, Ford Field, the Ford Dearborn plant and the east side of Detroit.  Once I decided I went the wrong way, I pulled off of an exit to turn around and go in the other direction.  At the stop light two cars pulled up and the gentlemen in the cars starred at me and had to be thinking, “What is this old white boy doing in our neighborhood?” Heading in the right direction now, an hour later I found the hotel.  Oh, by the way, I had the honor of passing by the airport again on the way.  Yeah, I arrived at my home for the week.  

Now comes Sunday morning, 5:45 a.m. and time to head to the airport to fly home to Raleigh.  We were told that south I-275 was closed for several miles and we would have to find an alternant route to the airport, but the church gave us no directions.  There was no signage giving detours to I-275 south.  There was nothings but “South bound Closed.”  So I decided to go on google maps again and find another route.  Hagherty Road looked to be the best route.  Sunday morning I left the hotel and picked up Hagherty Rd south.  Went 3 miles south as google maps said, but NO ramp to I-275.  Drove in a circle for 15 minutes trying to find a ramp.  I got back on Hagherty Rd and drove another 7 miles south and finally found a ramp to I-275 South.  Needless to say, I was frustrated with Detroit’s DOT.  I did finally arrive at the airport.

As I sat waiting to board my plane home, I thought about my escapades in my arrival and departure from Detroit.  I realize how much I depend on my GPS to guide me in places unknown.  We used to use paper maps, but now rely on satellites to guides us.  GPS (usually) gives you the route to guide you to your destination.  

So here is my question, if your destination is heaven, where are you getting your guidance (directions) from?  From the world?  From the culture of the day?  From secular writings?  From your schooling?  Where?  If heaven is your destination, then your guide must be the LORD and HIS Word.  There is no other source that will get you there.  Here are just a few passages that remind us of that.  Psalm 31:3: “For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name’s sake You will lead me and guide me.”  Psalm 73:24: “With Your counsel You will guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.”  Psalm 78:52: “But He led forth His own people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock;…”  Revelation 7:17: “…for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.”

I am so thankful for our LORD’S guidance in our walk with Him.  One of the hymns I love to sing is “Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah.”  The second verse ends this way:              

Lead me all my journey through

Strong Deliverer strong Deliverer

Be Thou still my strength and shield

Be Thou still my strength and shield  

Here’s the deal folks, without the LORD and His guidance, we will find ourselves lost and traveling in life in the wrong direction.  Seek the LORD and be guided by His Holy Spirit.  That is the only true way.

Let our cry be: Guide me, O Thou Great Jehovah!!! And He will!

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow, Serve