“All Our Hope is Found in Him!”

I have always loved the 23rd Psalm, but there is one verse in this Psalm that runs through my mind constantly in the world in which we live today.  That verse is verse 4:

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

You only have to read the Headlines each morning to realize the world we live in.  Here are only just a few:

“Women accused of stabbing boyfriend who drank her blood.”  

“The Great Smokies Burn: 100’s removed from their home as fires threaten Gatlinburg and Dollywood Resort.”  

“TRAGEDY OF HUGE PROPORTIONS:
At least 75 dead after Brazilian soccer team's plane crashes in Colombia.”  

“Mom charged for overdosing while shopping with 2-year-old daughter.”  

“Nick Cannon says Planned Parenthood engaging in 'modern day eugenics.”  

“War on ISIS: Seized documents reveal thousands of planned ISIS attacks around world.”

Those of you reading this know that just in today’s headlines, these are only the tip of the iceberg.  We are constantly bombarded with horrific things happening here in the US and around the world.  When there are good things happening those headlines are either buried on the back pages or at the very end of the newscast.  It’s kind of like, Oh, one more thing.  Here is a feel good story.

Let me ask you, did any of you see this headline on Tuesday, November 29th?  Some of you may have, but my guess is most did not and would never know.

“Underground Church movement grows in Iran despite regime's efforts.  Despite the Iranian regime’s best efforts to stop the spread of Christianity, a large underground church movement is growing.”  

You see, the positives in the midst of the negatives don’t seem to sell the news in any given cycle.

I read these headlines and verse 4 of the 23rd Psalm rang through my head.  The church of Jesus Christ is flourishing in Iran and also in China by the way, even though they are suppressed, persecuted, even killed for their faith in Jesus.  Yes, they can claim the verse: “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”  Folks, they live it everyday and their hope is ONLY found in the LORD!

We certainly live in perilous times.  The value of human life is at an all time low.  Though we have the greatest modern medicine in history, diseases are taking their toll on people.  Bodies still wear out.  Horrific accidents happen everyday.  Not a single one of us knows what today will bring.  Oh, I just gave a lot of negative headlines.  Sorry, just facts.  BUT here is the good news.  No matter how bad the bad news is, the good news is God is always with us, even to the end of the age (and that is even our age) Matthew 28:20

As we begin this celebration of the birth of Christ, let us not forget that Immanuel means “God with us.”  This baby born in Bethlehem, the Son of the Living God, Messiah, Savior of the World, came that we might have life in Him.  He came to give us HOPE, to give us PEACE, to COMFORT us, and give us LIFE, that though we die, we live because of Him.  

The Savior, Jesus the Christ, has done just that.  You can take it to the bank.  So even in this lost, demonic, Satan filled world, you are Safe, you are Kept, you are His and Nothing in all of creation can change that.   All our Hope is found in Him!

Hopefully verse 4 will stick in your head from now on too!

Blessings this Advent Season,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"The Harvest Is Ready"

Growing up on the farm, one of the joyous occasions was when the crops come in.  Now I don’t mean the crops from the field, but the crops in the garden.  Now many of you are saying, “Oh, vegetable garden.”  Well, yes and no.  Our gardens on the farm could be upwards to an acre or more.  So if you had 12 rows of pole beans 100 yards long (that is just one of the vegetables), that’s a crop in my opinion.  So, as these vegetables came in (ready to harvest) you would use some as fresh produce for the table.  You would put some up in the freezer or can them for winter use.  But my favorite thing to do was to carry some to the neighbors who didn’t have gardens.  Dad or mom would load a bushel of corn or beans in the back of the car and head over to a neighbor’s house and knock on the door and say something to the affect, “God has blessed us with an abundance again this year and we wanted to share some with you.”  Often these were folks that could really use this produce over the winter months.  The smiles were as one of the commercials state, “Priceless.”  I’ve never forgot those times.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving 2016!  The "First Thanksgiving" was celebrated by the Pilgrims after their first harvest (their crops came in) in the New World in 1621.  The feast lasted three days.  Edward Winslow, an attendee, recorded that there were 90 Native Americans and 53 Pilgrims in attendance.  The New England colonists were accustomed to regularly celebrating “thanksgivings" days of prayer thanking God for blessings such as military victory or the end of a drought.

Fast forward from 1621 and the fourth Thursday in November in the United States which has been set aside as the public holiday known as Thanksgiving Day.  It originated as a harvest festival. Thanksgiving has been celebrated nationally on and off since 1789, after a proclamation by George Washington. It has been celebrated as a federal holiday every year since 1863, when, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens," to be celebrated on the last Thursday in November.  Old Abe, I believe, had it right.  Thanks and Praise to our Heavenly Father is the right course of action for His abundance of grace, mercy, and blessings.

A song that runs through my mind during the Thanksgiving week is one written by Henry Smith titled: “Give Thanks.”  The words are very simple, but so true.

“Give thanks with a grateful heart, 

Give thanks to the Holy One; 

Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son.” 

(That repeats)   

“And now let the weak say, I am strong, 

Let the poor say, I am rich 

Because of what the Lord has done for us.”

(That repeats)

“Give Thanks, Give Thanks, Give Thanks”

There is something about giving that warms the heart.  I’ve seen giving break down barriers between enemies, between disagreements, between couples, and bring ones far apart back together again.  In most cases (not all) giving just a simple hug to someone bridges a gap between us that often goes without explanation.  

Oh, wait a minute.  There is an explanation after all!  This is exactly what God calls us to do.  As He has given His Son out of love for us, so too, we are to do likewise and out of love give to one another.

What would the world look like if everyone would do this?  Yes, that is the correct answer!  Heaven!  And one day we will get there, but until then, it is going to take one person at a time giving of oneself to some else that will make the difference.  If God has blessed you in the harvest, how about sharing out of thanksgiving to, as Abe said, “our beneficent Father.”  There are so many ways to give, for the harvest is white and ready!

Folks, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.” (Matthew 9:37)  How about this Thanksgiving season us all look for ways to “give” since the harvest is ready!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to you all.  May the Lord’s blessings fall greatly on each of you for His glory!

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

“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                      

"Fear God"

There are a couple of meanings the dictionary has for the word “Fear.”  First it says:

A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.  The second meaning is where I want to go today and that definition says: reverential awe, especially toward God.

It appears to me that we, and when I say we I mean the church, believers, have lost their fear of God.  No, I’m not saying we have lost our belief or our salvation, or our desire to serve Him, but it seems to me we have lost our reverence for Him.  We have lost our awe of the creator God, the God of the universe, the One and only True God.  The Apostle Paul tells the Romans that:  

 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”       Romans 3:18

I know this has been prevalent for centuries, but it seems that the lack of the fear of God has permeated the church more than ever.  Why has this happened?  Because we have lifted one of the great attributes of God and left the other by the wayside.  

What does the church lift up?  God is a God of love.  He loves us and a loving God would never be a judgmental God.  A God of love would never be a God of justice.  Many churches, pastors, leaders, and congregates have dropped the God of justice.  When we do that, the fear, the reverence for God stops.  

God is a God of love and His desire is for all to be saved.  But as scripture tells us, there will be those who are not saved, never coming into a relationship with Him and will be judged to eternal damnation, hell.  We can leave those verses out of our teaching, but it does not change the facts.  

“And he said with a loud voice, ‘Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.’”                Revelation 14:7

I believe the church has to be more intentional in the teaching of “Fearing God.”  We have dumbed down our Christianity to the point that God becomes our sugar daddy.  Let’s go to Him when we need something or when something is not going right or we find ourselves in a health crisis and want Him to fix it.  The world, along with many in the church, has lost its fear of God.  We need to be teaching our children and adults to have reverence, awe, fear for God.  Why?

Here is why.  The “fear of God” changes our attitude towards Him.  When we revere Him we view Him as He really is.  He becomes the LORD of the universe and the LORD of our lives.  We realize that nothing else will do.  There is NO one else that can fill that void in our life but Him.  When we “fear God” our worship changes.  When we “fear God” our obedience changes.  When we “fear God” everything changes.  Not only should we “fear God,” but He commands it.

“You shall fear only the Lord your God; and you shall worship Him and swear by His name”.  Deuteronomy 6:13

“Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.”  Deuteronomy 8:6

 “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy; for all the nations will come and worship before You, for Your righteous acts have been revealed.” Revelation 15:4

Church, let’s “fear God” and glorify His name for He is worthy of our praise.  Let us teach our children what it means to “fear God.”  Bringing the “fear of God” back into our church vocabulary, I believe, could be a good thing.  Again, something for us to think about!

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve                      

"Lyin' Eyes"

If you grew up in my era (70’s High School) in 1975 the Eagles released a new song that rose up the song charts very fast.  The song title:  Lyin' Eyes.  By now, after some of you have only heard the title, the chorus to this song is playing in your head.  I can remember friends at my High School during breaks between classes in the smoking area, (and yes, my rural NC High School had a smoking area for students) singing this chorus.

You can’t hide your lyin’ eyes

And your smile is a thin disguise

I thought by now you’d realize

There ain’t no way to hide your lyin' eyes

Why bring up this topic?  Well, I’m glad you asked.  As I am writing this article (the day after the 2016 Presidential Debate) I can’t help but see a common theme, “She’s a liar” or “He’s a liar.”  Nothing new, right?  This has been the mode of operation for our election cycle for decades.  That is true, but I’m not sure that it has been so blatant in past cycles as it has been in 2016.  It appears to me that our politicians really don’t mind telling a lie if they feel it will benefit them in someway.  AND, there are only a few that will ever check out whether they have lied or not.  I had someone say to me the other day, “So what, all politicians do it.  We know they do it.  What’s the big deal?”  I said, “It is a big deal for me.  I don’t know about you, but I do not like to be lied to.”  Response, “But these are politicians.  It’s what they do to get ahead.”  My response, “Exactly!  And that is wrong.”

Lying is nothing new.  It started in the Garden of Eden as recorded in Chapter 3 of Genesis.  Since then, lying has been a part of the fabric of the human soul.  It still doesn’t make it right to lie.  But Marty, little white lies are OK, right?  We all have the proclivity to lie.  Let’s say my wife walks out of the bedroom and says, “Honey, how do you like my new dress?”  I say, “It’s look great!”  BUT, in my head I might be thinking, “Oh, Babe, it makes you look like a _______ fill in the blank, a elephant, a zebra, a clown, etc.  I tell the lie to spare her feelings, right?  I’ve heard it said that we would never want an entirely truthful society.  When it comes though to lies that degrade, tear down, or malign a person, some say, that’s where we should draw the line.  What does the Bible say about lying?  Let me just share a few.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” Exodus 20:16 (the 9^th Commandment)

“He who conceals hatred has lying lips, and he who spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who tells lies will perish.” Proverbs 19:9

“What is desirable in a man is his kindness, and it is better to be a poor man than a liar.” Proverbs 19:22

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6

Jesus was talking to the Pharisees about their blindness and not being able to see or speak the truth and says to them: “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44

Here in lies the problem, without Christ and His indwelling Holy Spirit, the father of all lies speaks.  But there should be a change in the believer.  The Apostle Paul states: “Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices” Colossians 3:9.  When we lay aside our old self and become a new creation in Jesus Christ, our lives, our out look on life, the way we deal with others, respect others should change.  There is no question about it!

In light of the recent chaos in Charlotte NC, one of the NFL players from the Baltimore Ravens had this to say.  “Obama can’t save us.  Mrs. Clinton can’t save us. Mr. Trump can’t save us.  The only one who can change the heart of man is the Lord.”  Benjamin Watson.  Mr. Watson is correct.  The LORD God is the only one that changes out hearts.  

I don’t know if a quote John Calvin said by him centuries ago is in play today or not when he said, “When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.” But I do believe that now we have become such a lying society, though you can’t hide your “Lyin Eyes,” that many just don’t care.

Believers,  we are to speak the truth, always, and in everything, speak the truth!  Because as the Eagles sing, “There ain’t no way to hide your lyin eyes.  Others that hear you or me lie say, “See, you hypocrite.”  You can’t hide.  When we lie, we hurt our witness.  We hurt the cause of Christ for the Kingdom.  We have fallen into the ways of the world.  We are better than that Believer!  Christ’s Holy Spirit has made us better than that.  Thanks be to God!

Something to think about my friends.

Blessings,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow, & Serve