“Imperishability”

50 “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this moral must put on immortality.”                                                                 1st Corinthians 15:50;53

If you have been reading the HOPE Connection for any length of time you know that I often use my life experiences to make application to our walk with Christ.  Today’s rendering is no different.  So bear with me.  I’ll make the correlation.  

4 Years ago I purchased a used 2005 truck with around 83,000 miles on it.  For the most part it has been a dependable truck.  But once it passed the 200,000 mile mark it seems old “Blue” (yes, my daughter names all our vehicles) decided, “I’m done.”  After putting several $1000 into it over the past 2 months, finally the transmission issues caused me to admit, it was time for “Blue” to go.  So last Monday I traded “Blue” for “Babe” (yes the name of my “new” truck) a 2008 truck with only 71,000 miles.  I’m praying this one will last 4 or 5 years too.

There is more though, that caused me to use this experience in this article.  Having just dealt with my truck issues, this past Saturday night, checking the oil in my 2006 Honda Pilot, it was not only low on oil, but it did not even show on the stick.  Even with 307,000 miles on it, yes 307,000, it has never needed oil between oil changes.  Then yesterday while I was driving the Pilot home from church, my wife was following my in my truck and when we got home she said, “Marty, you are NOT going to want to hear this, but the Pilot (which by the way is named “Bessie”) was smoking from the exhausts on the way home.”  REALLY?  GREAT!!!!  Now I’ll have to figure out how we replace this car.  I will have to say, “Bessie” has been a great car and has served us well for over 10 years.  I cannot complain with 307,000 miles.

On Sunday night I was thinking about this situation I now find myself in, and as usual, my mind drifted to God’s Word.  I know, I’m crazy, but it just seems to happen to me often.  I have just finished preaching through 1st Corinthians 15 in January and I thought, I will be sooooooo happy when the perishable puts on the imperishable.  Ok, I know Paul is talking about humans, not inanimate objects, but look folks, the longer we stay on this earth, we are perishing.  I am looking forward for many reasons to Eternity, but one of these is for this perishable body to put on imperishability.  

I don’t know about you, but even at 59 years of age, with all I’ve done in life, my body aches.  Joints with arthritis and energy levels below my expectations make me realize that I want to feel 30 again.  With the beautiful weather this past Saturday I worked all day in the yard and let me tell you when I got up Sunday morning, I could feel it.  Not good!

With the “Fall” of mankind, death entered the picture and our bodies began to fail.  But God had a plan.  It was a twofold plan to make the perishable imperishable, all through His Son, Jesus Christ.  If you come to faith in Christ, truly accept Him as Savior and Lord of your life, then if you die before His second coming, you will put on the imperishable.  Glory!!!  Oh, I’m ready to go, but hoping to have a long life.  Second, when He returns all those who remain will be caught up with Him and will put on the imperishable.  I am looking forward to that also.  So whether in death, or His second coming, we are secure in Him and will put on “IMPERISHABILITY.”  We will have a body that is perfect, a body that does not wear out, a resurrected body with no more pain.  Hallelujah!  Until then, we will live in the world of the perishable.

I will have to deal with my car situation.  Not sure how yet, but have no doubt, God will provide a way.  As far as myself, God created me, God saved me, and God will sustain me through the power of His Holy Spirit.  I’m going to claim and live into Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  But I’ll have to say, I’m looking forward to eternity!!!!

Blessings my friends,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow & Serve 

                     

“The Hallmark Affect”

Yesterday was Valentine’s Day and I hope you shared your love for your love ones.  Gentlemen, it is too late to get that special person in your life a card now.  I hope your didn’t forget.  The Hallmark affect is significant.  Only behind Christmas does Valentine’s Day Card purchases fall for holidays.  Of course the most cards sold are your daily birthday cards.  But there were, on average, 144 million Valentine Cards sold by yesterday.  

Hallmark, still a privately owned company, has the market for cards.  If you watched the Super Bowl on February 5th, you saw a Hallmark commercial celebrating the love of one for another across the different classes, races, and sexual orientations.  Here are just a few statistics taken from Hallmarks 2015 report.

Total number of Hallmark greeting cards purchased in 2015 was 4,750,000,000.  Total annual revenue for Hallmark Cards was $4,250,000,000.  Number of languages Hallmark Cards are printed in 30.  Total number of countries Hallmark cards circulate in 100.  Total number of year round design selection for Hallmark card 21,000.  Total number of Hallmark Cards made specifically for Valentines day 1,400.  Total number of worldwide full-time Hallmark employees 13,000.  Total number of new and redesigned greeting cards each year 10,000.  Total number of Hallmark products available at any one time 49,000.  Total number of Hallmark retail outlets in the U.S. 38,000.  

The Holidays ranked in order: 1. Christmas (including boxed and individual) 1.5 billion.  2. Valentine’s Day (including boxed and individual) 144 million.  3. Mother’s Day 133 million.  4. Fathers Day 94 million.  5. Easter 57 million.        6. Halloween 20 million.  7. Thanksgiving 10 million.   8. St. Patrick’s day 8 million.  These are some significant numbers both in dollars and number sold.  I would say Hallmark has a market niche and has capitalized on it.

Why is this so?  Why are we compelled to buy a Hallmark Card for someone?  I believe there is only one reason, only one!  It is our desire to show someone else our love/care for them.  There is really no other reasons to spend on average $2 to $4 for a Hallmark Card.  And Hallmark knows that and has magnificently captured that market.

Why bring this up, except for the fact we just celebrated Valentine’s Day yesterday?  Good question!  I’m glad you asked.  The “Church” should learn from this marketing genius.  We could learn from the “Hallmark Affect.”  The church, the very body of Christ, has a wonderful story of “Love” to tell.  We the church, have a story of love that pales to any other story, any other relationship, any other possible future outcome of this relationship.  We have a wonderful card, “The Bible” to share with others.  We can give it away, share it personally, lift out excerpts for almost any occasion.  If someone is down, there is a card in scripture for that.  If someone is grieving, there is a card in scripture for that.  If someone is celebrating, there is a card in scripture for that.  If someone is lost and has no direction, there is a card in scripture for that.  

Here is the thing folks, the Card for God has been written for every occasion, but unless we share the card with our love ones, our friends, those we meet, it is but a card left on the shelf.  But when we share the love that is in this card, when we share it passionately from our heart, the Hallmark Affect takes over.  You see, when we share God’s love from His special “CARD” to us and do so in love, then we just sit back and watch it work.  Oh, sometimes it is not immediate.  Sometimes it takes time, but His special Card to us has power, has a way of sticking to us as His Holy Spirit works.

Probably one of the most quoted verses in all of scripture is John 3:16.  We see it on signs at sporting events, on the side of walls in cities across America and yes even on greeting cards.  But it tells the story.  Maybe we need to re-instate the verse in our vocabulary.  It is a very powerful statement of the love God has for us.  Remember:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  

It is really very simple!  Share what God has done for you!  Share His “Love Letter” (Scripture), His Card, with those you love, for this “Card” can have eternal affects.

Just a closing question.  If we are willing to spend 4.2 Billion dollars on 4.7 Billion Hallmark Cards, then can’t the church share with those they love the one love letter/card that makes an eternal difference in a life?  Just saying!!!

Blessings friends,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow & Serve 

                     

“God’s Propensity to Detail”

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.  Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. 

(added underline)  Exodus 25:8-9

If you have ever questioned God’s propensity, his focus on detail, you need to read Exodus 25 and 26.  In these two chapters God tells Moses and the Israelites ,exactly to the inch, how and what they are to do in building HIM a Sanctuary/Tabernacle.  He details the exact size, the exact materials, the exact colors, the exact wood, even the exact construction methods.  You read these chapters and think, WOW, God has a plan and wants it to be exact.

Detail is not only in these chapters, though some of the most detailed instructions in all the Bible, God is very detailed in most of His instructions.  Beginning with Adam and Eve, He gave explicit instructions on what they were and were not to do in the Garden of Eden.  To the Israelites explicit instructions were given on sacrifices that were to be offered to Him.  To the prophets He gave explicit orders on what and when to talk to His people.  God is even in the details.  His plan is perfect and I believe He often is seen making divine appointments.  What do I mean by that?  I believe God puts people in our path, has situations come our way at the right time and in the right way, that reveal to us (if we are looking), “I’m here, I’m working, it’s my plan!!!”

Let me give you an example of this happening on Monday.  As many of you know, HOPE Church lost one of its members this past Saturday night.  Terry came to Hope on August 21st of last year.  He was a practicing Hindu and surrendered his life to Christ.  I’m not going to go into any more details on that now.  That can be for a later date.  I visited his family this past Monday night and Terry’s sister had indicated over the phone that though they were a Hindu family, they wanted to celebrate Terry’s life as a Christian by having the HOPE family and me, as his pastor, lead a Christian service of celebration for him.  I went over to share our condolences and to pray with the family along with talking about their desires for this service.  One of Terry’s sisters said, “You won’t believe what happened today.”  Here is her story.

“My sister and I were running errands this afternoon and we had looked up a few funeral homes to visit to see which would work for us for Terry’s service.  We had narrowed it down to one we felt would be big enough and work for us.  As we were on the way to that appointment, we were on Millbrook Road and were passing another funeral home.”  She said, “I yelled to my sister, “Pull in here!  I saw that one on the internet.  Let’s check it out first.”  

Her sister had to cut across the lanes of traffic to get into the parking lot and said,  “I was so thankful that no one was in those lanes or we would have wrecked.”  The two sisters walked into the funeral home and a gentleman walking down the hallway greeted them.  One of them said, “We need to see about making arrangements for our brother’s funeral.”  He made a couple of inquiries as to their needs, and then asked their brother’s name.  They gave his proper Hindu name and the man’s response was, “Your brother is Terry.”  To that they said they broke down and cried, for they realized, “Here is someone who knew our brother.”  Here is the back story to this divine appointment as the sisters called it.

Elder Bill Joyner of HOPE Church is a Funeral Director.  I had texted him at lunch and asked if he could find out which funeral home Terry’s family was using.  He texted back and said that he could not find where they had chosen one yet.  He said he was leaving to go down to St Mary’s street from his location and he would check again later.  About an hour later I received a text from Bill saying, “Divine appointment!  I just met with Terry’s family.”  You see Bill, who knew Terry, worshiped with Terry, had a relationship with Terry, was the man who greeted Terry’s sisters.  The sisters told me the minute that Bill said Terry’s name they knew it was a divine appointment and had been orchestrated by God.  God’s propensity to details shines again.  I love how God works.

As I stated earlier, throughout the Bible, God gives us details.  One place in the New Testament, though there a many, Jesus gives detailed instructions for His disciples and ultimately for all who would believe.  In Matthew 26:26 Jesus says, “Take eat, this is My body.”  In Matthew 26:27-28 He says, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.”  In Luke 22:19b “Do this in remembrance of Me.”  Details!!!  Remember!!!

Are you seeing God in the details?  He is there.  As you read His Word and grow in knowledge of Him, as you Worship Him, as you serve Him, you will begin to see Him more clearly and yes, even in the details of your life.  He is the ever present, ever with us Father and His Holy Spirit is present in us.  Divine appointments happen!  Watch for them and then act upon them and see what God will do!  You will be amazed.

Blessings my friends, 

Pastor Marty 

Worship, Grow & Serve 

                     

"I've Got Your Back"

Our Youth from HOPE are going rock climbing this Sunday afternoon.  If you have never been rock climbing at one of these indoor places, you ought to stop in sometime and observe.  It is very interesting to watch.  

There are two ways to climb the rock walls.  One is a kind of free-style.  You are on your own.  You powder you hands so your grip won’t slip as easily.  And you can choose different walls to climb in accordance to the difficulty.  Here is the problem with this choice (in my opinion), while individually challenging, it is individually challenging.  In other words, there is no one to have your back.  If you miss a grip, well, you fall on the mats below.

The other way to rock climb walls in one of these venues is to belay.  Belay is a different way of climbing.  First, you have to have a partner.  You cannot belay alone.  Second, you have to be trained in the proper technique of belaying before you can even start.  If you have not been trained, you CANNOT climb one of the belay walls.  These walls are higher, steeper, more difficult and more dangerous.  Someone has to have your back.  Oh, by the way, belaying has to do with a rope being attached to you and your partner.  You are linked and dependent on him or her to guard or climb and protect your fall.  It is very interesting to watch.

I was reading in my devotion this week the call of Moses by God at the burning bush in Midian at Mount Horeb.  You all know the story of God’s call for Moses to deliver the Israelites from Egypt.  As God comes calling, Moses rebukes, “I cannot do it!  I’m not a leader. I’m not a speaker. No one will listen to me!”  God says, “Hey Moses, I’ve got your back.  I AM! and tell them I Am has sent you?  Furthermore, I’ll give you a partner to help you and guard you, and even protect you as you go.  Aaron, your brother will be at  your side.”  Moses took on the mission and lived into it fully, for he had partners in God and Aaron.  They had his back.

So often, in our walk, we try to go it alone like the individual style of rock climbing.  We say, “I don’t need someone else to help me.  I’ve got this by myself.”  While an admirable challenge, in life we need a partner.  In our Christian life, even more so.  Satan and this world is going to throw every challenge and road block to make you fall.  Satan’s purpose in life is to cause your failure.  When you have someone who has your back, who is there for you to help in times of need, trouble, or to steer you back onto the right path, man, what a great asset in life.

I was talking to a close friend on Sunday and we were talking about this very thing.  He said he had told someone that he had two men in his life that he could call any time of any day and say, “I need you” and they would be there without question.  I’m one of those men in his life and I know that those two would do the same for me.  They have my back.  They challenge me to walk with Christ, holding me accountable to HIM who has called me.  These two men in my life live into 1st Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.” 

Do you have someone you have partnered with, belayed with (become attached to), to have your back?  Someone who holds you accountable in your walk with Christ?  Someone who steers you the right way when you seem to take a wrong turn?  Someone who challenges you and you know will be there for you at any cost?  I hope you have that person in your life.  But know this!  Our God is always with you and will not forsake you and HE too has your back.  As a true believer, your life is secure in Him and nothing will be able to separate you from Him!  As with Moses, if He calls you, He will equip you.  How awesome is this folks, to know that God has your back!

Blessings my friends, 

Pastor Marty 

Worship, Grow & Serve 

                     

"Tell The Story"

“That day Jesus went out of the house and was sitting by the sea.  And large crowds gathered to Him, so He got into the boat and sat down, and the who crowd was standing on the beach.  And He spoke many things to them in parables, saying…” Matthew 13:1-3a

“Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying…” Matthew 22:1

Over and over again in the gospel, especially the Gospel of Matthew, we hear “Jesus spoke to them again in a parable.”  The definition of a Parable is: “a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.  A statement or comment that converts a meaning indirectly by the use of comparison, analogy, or the like.” dictionary.com 

Jesus used these stories He told them to convey a truth, religious principle, or moral lesson that would cause one to think, gain wisdom, or in some cases be confused.  Often, after telling one of these simple stories, Jesus would have to go back and explain what the story meant to bring understanding.  Still, groups like the Pharisees did not understand what he was saying because they did not KNOW Him.

The true church of Jesus Christ calls the world, “A lost world” because the world does not know Him.  How can you understand who someone is unless you know them?  To know Christ is to have a relationship with Him.  To know Christ is to study His Word?  To know Christ is to communicate with Him in prayer.  Otherwise, He is nothing more than a religious figure.  It is important to know the stories of Christ so you get to know Him.

I had the opportunity to spend some time with one of my congregational members who lost her mom this week.  During those few hours I got to know her and her mom because of the stories that were shared.  They were precious stories from the heart and such a blessing for me to hear.  Stories that shaped her, carried her, and now sustain her.  But here is the thing, because she is a follower of Jesus Christ and her mom was a follower of Jesus Christ, the stories Jesus told remind her that this is not the end.  There is more!  In fact, a reuniting one day!  Stories are important.  

Our own stories shape us into who we are.  Our understanding of HIS story and how His story impacts our lives saves us and brings us into His eternal story.  How precious!  How fantastic is that!!!

I would invite you to begin to share your story of Christ with others.  You will be surprised how many people will listen.  People love stories.  When you share your authentic story of Christ, the Holy Spirit will draw those He is working on to Him.  His desire is for us to tell the STORY and what better example do we have?

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow & Serve                      

“20/20 A Focus on Holiness”

HOPE EPC Raleigh celebrated their 8th Anniversary on January 1, 2017.  God has been gracious to HOPE and has lead us through some curves and crannies that were unexpected.  He has even taken us down some paths unknown.  But in the end, the Leadership and the church has united around His direction for HOPE even if it meant abandoning our own.

This past Sunday during our brunch together I asked if anyone would like to share a word about HOPE, maybe a memory or what HOPE means to them.  Many uplifted up testimonies to the work of the LORD in and through HOPE in their lives.  One of the most special testimonies was when one shared how they had come to Christ through work of the Holy Spirit and HOPE.  If HOPE was started just for this one soul, everything minute was worth it.

One of the things I noticed as I listened to individuals share was how often I heard, “We are a church who preaches and teaches the Word of God and I have grown so much.”  There were those who lifted up our Children and Youth ministries and how our children and youth are getting a strong foundation in Christ.  One grandmother shared that her 5 year old granddaughter, at the local playground, went around to each child there and asked if they knew Jesus.  Come on folks, how precious is that?

One of the focuses early on at HOPE was to preach the Word, to give context, history, and relationship of the text to that period of time and to us today.  I believe we have maintained that focus.  So many churches today are topical in nature and still, God is using that approach to further His kingdom.  Many of those churches are filled and have multi-services to meet the crowds.  I still feel God calling HOPE church to be Word driven in its preaching and teaching.  We are an Evangelical congregation who loves the LORD and loves to learn more about Him who has saved us.

We have been preaching through 1st Corinthians at HOPE.  We started the sermon series on September 13, 2015.  Yes that is right 2015.  Except for the seasons of Advent and Lent, 1st Corinthians has been our focus.  The sermon series is titled, “20/20 A Focus on Holiness.”  I have shared with our congregation that the Apostle Paul’s intent of the letter is for the believers of Corinth, (and forward) to have a clear vision (20/20) of who Christ is, what He has done, and how we are to live with Him as our Savior and LORD (living a Holy life).  We will finish the series the last Sunday in February before heading into Lent 2017.

Because we have focused on a life of “Holiness” over this past year and half, I have had many of the HOPE congregants tell me how they have grown in the knowledge and understanding of how to live a holy life for Christ.  How they have gained understanding of the context of the time Paul was writing to the believers in Corinth.  

Many people claim to know God today, about 80% say they believe in a higher being.  When you start to add, do you believe in Jesus Christ and have been born again, it drops to about 33%.  When you add the question, do you attend church regularly, pray and read the Bible, the percentage drops to 8%.  Listen to this, if you add “Do you have the inward character to live a holy life for Christ?” the percentages drop to about 2%. 

Folks, while our belief in Christ is central to our salvation, (and salvation is secure), God’s desire is for us to know Him more, Worship Him more, Grow in Him more, Serve Him more, and share His love and story more.  He calls us to holy living for Him.  I want to challenge everyone reading this article to a focus on Holiness in HIM during 2017 giving HIM the glory for it all!

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty   

Worship, Grow & Serve                      

“In 2017 Take Hold of the ONE Who Took Hold of You”

“This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.” 1st John 1:5

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the LORD…”  Jeremiah 29:11    

Yesterday we traveled up to Boone, NC to take our son, David, back to school.  Yes, earlier than usual because of his work schedule.  West of Winston Salem on Hwy. 421 the clouds and fog were setting down on the mountains and the visibility was low.  We have traveled this road a lot over the past couple of decades and know it well.  That helps greatly when you cannot see very far ahead of you.

Any time I travel in fog my mind goes back to August of 1977.  I had moved to Four Oaks, NC and was stationed at POPE AFB adjacent to Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, NC.  I was told there was a back way to POPE and Bragg that was shorter than going down I-95.  Traveling the back roads through Lillington and Manchester Road you can cut off 30 to 40 minutes.  That sounded great to me.

First week of traveling that way, the 4th trip to work, I left home as usual at 5 a.m.  It took me about 60 minutes to get to my Squadron Headquarters and I needed to be armed and ready for inspection at 6:30 a.m.  It was a little foggy when I left home, but by the time I reached Lillington, I could hardly see 10 feet in front of the car.  I turned onto Manchester Road, south of Lillington, hoping the fog would clear up, but it actually got worst.  I was driving too fast for the conditions because I was afraid of being late for work.  I didn’t know the roads very well because I had not traveled that way but 3 times before.  Add the fog to this, well, it was a recipe for disaster and that is exactly what happened.  

I remember looking down at the speedometer to see how fast I was going.  It read 50 miles/hour.  I looked up and could not see a foot in front of me.  It was then I felt the left tire run off the left side of the road.  Realizing I was on the left side I jerked the steering wheel to compensate and that was it.  My car began to flip and ended upside down on a bank on the right hand side of the road.  All the windows were busted out, top flatten, and the engine smoking.  I was not wearing seatbelt, but remember, it was 1977.  I crawled out the back window, cutting myself up a little, but I felt safe now that I was out of the car.  I walked around trying to get me bearings and realized I had kept straight on a right hand curve having driven off the left side and my correction caused me to flip and wreak.  What happened next is interesting also, but I’ll tell that another time.  

My point of telling the story is this, first, I did not know my way that morning, not being familiar with the roads, the path I was traveling became a liability for me.  Secondly, the conditions, in this case, the fog, hindered my ability to see what was ahead.  I was throwing caution to the wind trying to make work in time thus all the negative factors came into play.

Folks, we are about to begin a new year, 2017.  My best advice to you and me in this coming year is to be familiar with the ONE that can guide us.  Knowing the WAY is how we will stay on the road and not veer off, finding ourselves trying to correct ourselves instead of allowing HIM to lead, and cause a wreak of our lives.  HE knows the plans for us, the way for us, let Him guide our way.

We also need the Light.  Often in this world Satan is trying his best to darken our way, our path ahead, so we will be derailed.  Don’t let that happen.  Stay steady in 2017 allowing God to light our path so that we can see each step of the way.  God is Light and in Him there is NO darkness.  When we depend on Him it doesn’t mean there won’t be fog ahead, hard times, or even some valleys to go through, but it does mean He will be with us each mile, each step, each mountain peak and each valley.  That’s the God He is!

So, in 2017 take hold of the ONE that took hold of you and don’t let go,  Worship, Grow, and Serve and watch the journey that unfolds.  It’s going to be a good one!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty

Worship, Grow & Serve