"Break Our Heat Lord!"

I know many of you look at the images coming out of the Houston Texas area, and it is heartbreaking.  There are times during an event like this, we can only imagine what we would do.  How would I react to this type of flooding and devastation?  

In light of the past several weeks of non-stop news and imagines of other events plaguing our nation, I have been intrigued by the imagines and reports from Houston.  While we have heard of some price gouging, $100 for a case of water.  Sam’s sells a case of 40 bottles for $3.18.  So a $100 is a little out of line.  And yes, a few reports of people taking advantage of flooded businesses where they take things that they don’t own.  Most, even the majority, of the focus has been on people helping people.  

I’ve watched the pictures and videos flood in (no pun intended) that show, whites carrying blacks in their arms, on their backs to safety through chest high water.  I’ve seen blacks carrying whites in their arms through chest high water.  I’ve seen whites and blacks rescuing Hispanics, risking their lives to bring them to safety.  I’ve seen a parade of boats from other states flow in to Texas to help with the rescues.  Blacks, whites and Hispanics riding together.  Over 13,000 people have been rescued as I write this article.  Over 30,000 are in shelters and that number is growing.  I have been so blessed to see that in this tragedy, on the heels of all the talk of division and no hope for reconciliation as many say, we are able to see a community, even a nation (somewhat) come together for the good of all people.  Isn’t that the way it should be?

We have seen this over and over again in our nation’s history.  When a catastrophic event happens, people come together to help one another, regardless of the risk or race.  We saw this as recently as September 11, 2001.  People rushing into buildings burning, ready to collapse to save others.  It was interesting to see that the Sunday following 9/11 the church attendance was the highest recorded in recent decades.  Why can’t we have this compassion always?  Why only when a tragedy hits?  Why can’t we all live into Galatians 3:28?              “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male or female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

I can answer that question.  When tragedy strikes we begin to draw on the compassionate spirit we were created with but when the tragedy ends, our fallen nature kicks back in.  Satan goes to work again.  You see, the Apostle Paul is speaking to the believers in the church in Galatia.  He was saying that there should be no division in or with believers in Jesus Christ.  We are all one in HIM.  We know scripture tells us the world does not understand that concept.  For the world, it is all about “me.”  So here in lie the answers.  If fact, it has always been the answer and always will be the answer.  That answer is: “true faith in Jesus Christ.”  True Faith!  When we surrender ourself completely, our whole heart to HIM, our view of mankind begins to change.  How we view others changes (it better or something is amiss).  We are a new creation, as Paul states.  The old has passed away!  Let it be so LORD!  Let it be so!!!

That is the very reason the LORD has called us to be His hands, feet, and mouth in a lost world.  The more who come to faith in HIM, the more will change their mindset and look at things differently.

There is a song we sing at HOPE called “Jesus, Friend of Sinners.”  There is a line in the song that states: “Jesus, break our heart for what breaks Yours.”  Until we, as believers, live into that sentence, we have not lived into being what Paul calls us to: “all one in Christ.”

Pray for Houston.  Pray for the families and the life changing situations before them.  Pray that their communities and nation will continue to respond with help, money, and aid.  But also pray for people to have an ongoing change of heart.  Don’t let it stop here or today.  May believers everywhere show compassion and love that is ongoing.  May our heart be broken for those who break our LORD’s heart.  May it be so!

Blessings,

Pastor Marty Duffell - Pastor, HOPE EPC Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

“What’s With the Rules?”

As many of you know my family was on vacation last week at the beach.  The place we where we were staying requires that you wear a colored wristband at all times while on the property and there are security guards that walk around the property hourly checking.  If they catch you without a wristband, either you go back to your room and get it and show it to them or leave the property.  This is the rule!  Not a bad rule either.

So during our stay there I noticed one particular family, a large family of 8, that never had on a wristband.  At the pool each day, walking around the property, etc. none of them ever had on a wristband.  Now I know they were not trespassing because the room balcony overlooked one of the pools where we would often swim and family members would often yell back and forth to one another from the pool area.  I thought, why don’t they have to follow the rules?  Why aren’t the security guards catching them, I’ve seen them question others.   That’s not fair!  Do I turn them in or ignore it?  Do they have special privilege?  

Then something a friend from my High School days said to me came to mind, “We don’t have to follow God’s ‘rules’ because we are under grace not His law.”  He was drawing off Romans 6:14 “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.”  I can tell you that my friend saw that verse as a sure way of not following God’s ways, God’s law, God’s “rules” for living.  “Why not enjoy life?” he would say, “Isn’t God’s grace sufficient?” he would ask me.  “Yes” I would say, but then I would remind him that the Apostle Paul did not only write one verse of scripture.  In fact, if you continue on to the next verse, Romans 6:15, you read, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace?  May it never be!”  Paul’s answer was an absolute NO!!!  Just because our sins are forgiven as believers in Jesus Christ, it does NOT give us the authority to keep sinning, doing whatever we want, ignoring God’s way of life He has called us to live.

If we sin, and we will, God’s grace is sufficient.  But because we belong to Him, because of His grace and mercy shown to us by His Son’s life, death, and resurrection, by His indwelling Spirit, we should never want to continue to live a sin filled life.  In giving our life to Him, we die to our old self, and rise to a new life.  And while we are not under the law, but grace, our inward desire should be to be more like Christ.  Paul writes in Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a flagrant aroma.”  I would encourage you to take your Bibles off the shelf or table and continue reading that chapter through verse 21 and see what it means to be imitators of God.

You see, you cannot just pull one verse of scripture out to justify your way of life.  Many do that as my friend does.  To know God, you have to read His Word, otherwise you would be ignorant of His Word.  Questioning my friend, I found out He was told that verse by his pastor.  He never read it for himself, but lived his life by way of this verse.

When I was a cop in the Air Force, I would stop people for a traffic violation and they would often say, “But officer, I didn’t know the speed limit was 35.”  Ignorance of the law does not change the fact that the law exist and for a good reason.

The family during our vacation never followed the rules.  Maybe because they didn’t want to.  Maybe because they forgot.  Even maybe because they thought, we don’t have to.  But any of those reasons never changed the rule.

We are under God’s GRACE - Thanks be to God!!!  But don’t be ignorant of God’s desired way of life for you!  He has set these “rules” for life in place for our good.  And you can know these rules by reading His Word, attending Worship, attending Bible Studies, Sunday School, and prayer time.  By doing these things your faith will grow and your desire to follow Him (even His rules for life) will grow and that desire to sin will wane.  He is SO good!

Blessings, Pastor Marty 

Worship - Grow - Serve

“Is This How We Live?”

“Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.” 

2 Corinthians 3:1 - 3 (NASB)

I want you to read this passage using the “The Message” paraphrase version of the Bible.

“Does it sound like we’re patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we’re not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives…”  

2 Corinthians 3: 1 - 3 The Message (MSG)

We just finished another Vacation Bible School at HOPE EPC Raleigh.  By all measures, I think it was deemed a success.  But what do we mean by that?  Success?  Was it well laid out, organized?  Well, Yes!  Was the story of Joseph well conveyed, taught, presented biblically?  Again, Yes!  Was there fellowship and fun along the way?  Absolutely, Yes!!!  And all that is great and should be a goal that we strive for.  But, is that really how we would measure success?

I watched as my wife, who is the Children’s Ministry Director at HOPE and directed and organized VBS, received some pats on the back this past Sunday.  While I am so happy the congregation felt she had done a great job, I saw her uncomfortableness.  Yes she, like the rest of us, like to hear things went well, that everyone enjoyed it and had a great time, but for her, she is looking for the transformation in lives from the event.  And to be honest, I am too.

In all we do at HOPE we hope to prepare everyone of us to live our faith in God in our daily lives.  Our desire is that each worship service, each Sunday school class, each Prayer Meeting, every Bible Study, VBS event, etc. prepares us in a way that “Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you.”  This is a letter “Christ Himself wrote,” and “not chiseled into stone,” but by the Holy Spirit of God, “into human lives” or hearts.  All we do, how we live everyday, is about Him and reflective of Him.  It is really not about us!!!

For example, worship is a must.  God commands it and as followers of Jesus Christ we should desire it.  Worship is about Praise, Relationship, Growing in Christ, Surrender, Fellowship both with our Savior & others.  As we worship Him, His Spirit connects to us in such a way that others cannot help but see Him in us.  His letter (Word) written in our hearts.  I read a quote the other day that said, “If parents view worship as a option then their children will view God as unnecessary.”  God should be the most “necessary” person/thing in our lives.

How are we living our lives?  Is our life each day pointing to Jesus?  Can others read HIS letter that is on our hearts?  I love that image.  What a powerful statement.  This is what God meant when He said, love God and love others.  His love needs to show daily through our lives.  When we make Him the priority in all things, people will begin to notice.  Your very life will begin to point to Him.  Others will be able to see the “love letter” of God written on your heart.

Is this how we live or has the world around us wrapped us up in “self” instead of Him?  This just may be something you want to think about.

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty - Pastor, HOPE EPC - Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

      "Freedom to Belong"

     As I write this article it is July 4, 2017 and I know many of you know the story of this day, but let me give a brief summary for this article’s purpose.  Independence Day or Fourth of July, as it is often referred, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence 241 years ago on July 4, 1776. The Continental Congress declared that the thirteen American colonies were a new nation and would be called The United States of America.  These colonies were declared no longer part of the British Empire.  The fact is, Congress actually voted to declare independence two days earlier on July 2, 1776.

     The Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia declaring the United States independence from Great Britain rule.  After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision.  The document had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the wording of the document.  The final approval came two days later on July 4, 1776.  Ironically, historians say the actual signing of the document mostly likely did not happen until August 2, 1776.  That little fact did not nor has ever changed the date of celebration which was the “approved” date of The Declaration of Independence.  

     Every year, as I read the history of the event and hear that the colonies were declared no longer a part of the British Empire, it reminds me of God’s call for the believer.  I know, you think I’m stretching, but it really does give a reminder of where I belong.

     You see, as a believer, I am in the world, but not of the world.  I am a part of the Kingdom of God, adopted into His family.  In fact, because I am a believer in Jesus Christ, the world will hate me.  This fact is growing more evident day by day.

     Just this past week I read of a University in Oklahoma that took all the Bibles, all the hymnals, all the crosses, any signs of Christianity out of their University Chapel that had been built in 1957.  They said they did not want to offend other faiths, but be inclusive and that signs of Christianity were offensive.  Really?  Me carrying my Bible in my hand in public is offensive?  Me wearing a cross around my neck is offensive?  Yes, to a lost world it is.  Jesus predicted this would happen.

Take a look at the High Priestly prayer of Jesus on the night of His arrest before His crucifixion.  

“I have given them Your Word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.  As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.”  John 17:14-16;18

     So when I read that the colonies are no longer a part of what they were before, but now a new nation, I too am no longer a part of what I was before, but a new creation in Christ Jesus my LORD!  I love that!  I have been set free.  The Apostle John puts it this way: 

“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36  It is in that freedom that I live.  So while I will continue to share my faith, preach His Word, carry my Bible, wear my cross, I know whatever I face in this world does not define me.  I belong to Him.  I am free even though I am living in a bound up world.  I am free because of Him.

     I love the USA.  I served to protect it years ago and I am proud to have done so.  I am thankful for all those who have fought and continue to fight for our freedoms.  It comes at a cost and it hurts me to see how many degrade those who protect the freedoms of those who protest.  My prayer is that believers around the world will continue to share Christ so Christ’s freedom will be known.  “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”  I am in the world, but not of the world.  I am FREE and belong to Him!

     Happy 241st Birthday to the United States of America.

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty - Pastor, HOPE Church - Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

Generation to Generation

1 O My people, listen to My instructions.

 Open your ears to what I am saying, 2  for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— 3  stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. 4 We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about His power and His mighty wonders. 5 For He issued His laws to Jacob; He gave His instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children, 6 so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. 7 So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.

Psalm 78:1 - 7

The 37th General Assembly of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church has come and gone, but the impact of this GA will stay with me forever (at least, that is my prayer).  The theme of this years GA was “Generation to Generation.”  The passage from Psalm 78 (above) issues us a challenge.  That challenge is to teaching our children the: Lessons, Stories, Truths, Wonders, and Deeds SO THAT they will in turn teach their children. That is truly Generation to Generation. The question is: How are we doing?  How are we doing individually?  How are we doing as a church?

At GA we heard from several different Generations of pastors in sermons.  Each one bringing a different and fresh perspective to presenting the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s culture.  For example, one of our new church planters, who happens to be a Millennial, preached one morning for worship.  He has planted a new church in San Francisco.  The church is named: The Table.  His invitation to San Fran is to come to “The Table.” Their Mission Statement is: “Belonging to Believe.”  This is a town, as many of you know, where anything goes.  The pastor hits the streets to develop relationships (belonging) SO THAT Jesus can begin to infiltrate their lives.  The message never changes, but we may have to change how we reach the lost of this world.  An example, when someone comes to faith at The Table, they are not interested at all in membership.  But if you use the word “Partner With” then they are all over that.  They don’t like words like “Elders” or “Deacons”, but like the word “Leadership.”  “Belonging to Believe” is working in San Francisco!!!

God is so intentional in His command to teach our children, to teach Generation to Generation and this is a must for us folks.  Until He returns, His message for us is to go and tell, go and teach SO THAT this new Generation will “set its hope anew on God, not forgetting His glorious miracles and obeying His commands.”  (Ps. 78:7)

It is God who calls!  God who saves!  This is an Absolute!!!  But it was never more apparent in the messages of this GA that HE intends to use us to share His message of the Gospel and what He has done for us!  How important is this?  Well, how well we do with our children will impact how well they do with their children.  Yes, God’s church will never cease to exist, but we are to never stop proclaiming His praise as long as we live, Generation to Generation!

Psalm 22 is considered a Messianic text telling us of Jesus Christ and His grace and mercy to come.  The last two verses read:

30 Our children will also serve Him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 31 His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything He has done.  Psalm 22: 30 - 31

If God saw the importance of including these words in the Psalm about His Son, the Suffering Servant, then how important is it for us to proclaim His message of the Gospel with all we meet.  Generation to Generation!  Let us find a way to keep it rolling!

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty - Pastor, HOPE Church - Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

"What's In A Name?"

I stopped by the bank where I have an account this week to make change. So I walked up the the teller and say, “I would like to change for these $20 bills for $10s.  I have an account here.  Do you need to see my bank card?”  I was taken back at her response.  She said, “Do you know your name?”  I said, “Well yes, I think I do!”  I really think she meant to say, “Can I have your name?” but she never realized her mistake.  Those of you who know me should realize that my mind began to race with that question, “Do you know your name?”

Yes, I know my name or at least my given name.  I was adopted when I was 2 days old.  I was born to a 13 year old unwed mother in January of 1958.  The only name I’ve ever had was the name given to me by my adoptive parents.  I’ve never known anything else.  I’ve always been Marty Egene Duffell.  Well, that’s not exactly true.  Yes, my name has never changed since I was two days old, but the State of North Carolina changed my middle name on me when I got my drivers license.  They said my middle name was Eugene.  I said, “NOPE!”  It’s Egene.  It took me carrying my birth certificate to the County Courthouse to prove it before they would change it.  

But the more I thought of the teller’s question, the more I thought about “I do know my name.”  I should have told her I’m a child of God.  God told Jeremiah as He called him to be His prophet, “I knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.”  The Psalmist says that God formed us and wove us in our mother’s womb.  The Apostle John tells us that because of what Jesus has done for us and our belief in Him, we are “called children of God.”  How cool is that?

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”  

Jeremiah 1:5

‘For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb.’  

Psalm 139:13

“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” 

1 John 3:1 - 3

Yes, I know the teller asked if I had a name.  And yes, I know she meant, Marty Duffell.  But still, that is only my given name.  I am His, His son, adopted into His family.  I am a child of God.  My name is written in the Book of Life.  My name will be called by Him one day to step up and be accounted for.  I’m ready Lord!  Until then you can call me “Pastor Marty”, “Marty”, or “Hey you.”  But this teller, whose name I don’t even know, caused me to be reminded whose I am by name.

How about you?  Thought about “whose” you are lately?  Have you realized that as a believer you are HIS child?  Have you ever thought about that?  He made you, formed you, and He knows you by name!  Does that make any difference?  I think so!

You probably won’t have someone ask you if you have a name.  But someone may dare to ask you whose you are.  And when that question comes, I pray everyone reading this will be able to say, “A Child of God.”

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty Duffell

Pastor - HOPE EPC Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve

"Let Your Light Shine!"

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” 

Matthew 5:16

As many of you know, one of our HOPE family has been in the hospital for a week waiting for heart surgery.  I sat in the ER waiting room last Tuesday afternoon with he and his family waiting to learn what the next step was in the process of replacing a valve in his heart.  This saga had started on Friday night, with all day Saturday testing, only to find out he had a bad heart valve that needed replacing.

Fast forward eight days later, it is now surgery day!  

What? you may say!  Eight days (really 11 days) in the hospital waiting for heart surgery, why so long?  Well, that is a good question.  His family and I have looked at each other over these eight days and wondered the same thing.  As far as the hospital was concerned, “This is when the doctor can schedule it.”  But after spending some time with him this morning, before they came to take him down to the O.R., I came to a different conclusion.  It really all stems from the verse above.

I told him right before they took him down that I know why he spent a week plus in that room.  It was for relationships.  He was there for the interactions between him and the nurses, nurse assistant, even workers in the hospital.  I witnessed nurse after nurse and assistants come in his room this morning telling him how much they had enjoy being his nurse and that they were praying for him.  One nurse in particular said, “This will forever be your room in my mind.  There are certain rooms here that I name by patients by the impact they left on me.  This room has never been named before, but now it has a name.”  She went on to say, “I prayed for you last night before I went to bed.”  Folks, that is impact.

God knows what He is doing.  These nurses and hospital workers needed a dose of Mr. Bruce Mack and they got it.  And listen, not for his glory, but for God’s glory.  It was truly amazing to see them come in and hug their patient good bye, praying for success in surgery.

God gives all of us who believe an opportunity to let our light shine before men and women, that they may see the Christ in us and that we are about glorifying our Father who is in heaven.  Those opportunities happen all the time.  The question is, do we see them and if so, do we do anything about it?

Let me give you a couple of examples from my own life.  A while back we were in a local restaurant eating and 7 of our 9 kids were with us.  We hold hands around the table when we pray and that does not change even when we are out eating.  So we held hands and one of the kids prayed.  We continued to talk and eat when this couple came up and said, “We just wanted to tell you how your family has impacted us today.  You holding hands and praying, seeing you interact with one another has been amazing.  Your kids are so well behaved.”  I thanked them and thought, yes we are blessed, but thankful we could glorify HIM in some way by our actions.

Another happened last week.  Terry, Emma, and I took Mary (our 15 year old daughter) to work at Chick-fil-a.  As we parked and got out of the truck, I met Mary at the back of the truck, hugged her, gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her I love her.  As she was walking away, I said, you act the way you know you should today.  Kind of normal stuff for me.  But as we were walking into the restaurant a women in the drive through stopped us and said out her window, “I told your daughter she should be thankful she had a dad like you who shows how much he loves you in public.”  May HE be glorified by my actions. 

Folks, it is so important to let your light shine.  No, not that you may be lifted up, but HE may be glorified.  God wants others to be able to see HIM in you, in your actions, in your works, and in your speech.  Stop a minute and think, how has my light been shining this week?  Has anyone been able to see the Christ that lives in me?  If your answer is No then look to make a change!  If the answer is Yes then stop and give God the praise for presenting those opportunities to glorify HIM.

I was blessed today to see that at work in Bruce Mack.  Of course he is only one example.  I see God at work in and through many of my friends, family, and my wonderful church families.  God is truly good.  Let us all let the light of Christ shine through us.  Amen!

Blessings, 

Pastor Marty Duffell

Pastor - HOPE EPC Raleigh

Worship - Grow - Serve