Fred

9/21/18

It’s election time and again we’re hearing warnings from both Republican and Democrat of how terrible things will be if the other side wins. It seems every election we’re told how this is the most important election in history. Political ads on both sides resort to fear to get out the vote.  As Christians we should vote – seeking out candidates that best set forth a biblical worldview.  

Someone recently told a gathering of evangelical leaders that Christians are “one election away from losing everything.”   

Really? Since when is losing everything dependent on an election? Yes, I’m concerned about our nation. No where in the NT are we told to ignore the responsibilities of our citizenship here and now. I’m thankful for the Christians involved in government seeking to be salt and light. Writing for Christianity Today, Michael Horton asks “… whether evangelical Christians [are placing] their faith more in Caesar and his kingdom than in Christ and his reign”? O dear friends, let us remember Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world.  

Yes, vote. Vote your conscience with an open Bible in front of you. But don’t confuse the gospel of Jesus with Christian nationalism. Regardless of who wins or loses in this election – may we remind ourselves of the words of Jesus himself. “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom,” Lu 12:32. That kingdom will be an eternal one where Christ rules and reigns. It’s not dependent on any election. 

9/14/18

It is my heart’s desire to see our congregation move pass the typical conversations that exist at church. Yes, we greet each other, ask how each other is doing. There’s the – “Hey, what about the Lions?” And its ok to talk about such but we must move beyond surface level speech to real spiritual talk. What am I talking about? Here are some questions to start a spiritual conversation.

How did you first come to Christ?

What’s one thing you’ve discovered recently in your devotions?

 How would you describe your walk with God lately?

What’s a passage of Scripture that has been particularly meaningful to you recently?

How has the church helped in your spiritual development?

What do you need from me to help you continue to grow in Christ?

How can I really pray for you? 

What’s a joy you’re experiencing in life right now? What particular struggle are you facing?  

Try one or two of these. Listen. Care. There’s more to Christian fellowship than talking about the weather or your latest shopping bargain.  “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,” Heb 10:24.

9/7/18

Small Groups restart next week!   You ask … 

 Why does HBC have small groups?  While we’re committed to solid theological teaching we recognize a need for the Body to implement the “one another’s” of Scripture. The church must provide healthy accountability as well as godly relationships which spur us on toward love and good deeds.    

When do small groups meet? Small groups meet the first and the third week of the month at different times. 

What goes on when a small group meets?  Our purpose is progressive sanctification – seeking to become more like Christ. A discussion centers on questions concerning the Sunday 

sermon. Prayer will also take place. No doubt socializing will occur, but this isn’t our primary purpose. Meeting time is about an hour and a half. 

What happens with children during small groups? Each small group determines how to handle child care. One can take turns watching children in another room.      

 How many are in a small group? Usually between 8-12. It’s our desire to be cross-generational. The goal is to keep our small groups small and diverse. 

 How do I join? Sign up on the bulletin board across from the restrooms. A list of hosts is posted there

8/30/18

Labor Day Sunday has traditionally included a time for testimonies. Its important we hear how God is working in each other’s lives. Such times however cause me a little concern – as to what will be said! A friend told me on vacation how as a 12-year old, he heard a testimony of a young convert telling the congregation he was pledging to tithe on all his marijuana sales! Yikes! 

Testimonies are all about Christ and how God has worked – or is working in life. This is not the mutual admiration society meeting. If you want to thank someone – do that personally or with a card, but not in a testimony. Your testimony should exalt Jesus. The Bible is filled with admonitions for us to do this – “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” is one. We’ll have a roving microphone – you don’t even need to stand up. We’ll come to you. Don’t let your nerves stop you from being a blessing.  

Remember too, keep it short. We want as many as possible to be able to share. Thanks.

This Sunday has also been a time where we focus on the Lord’s Table.  Our service has been structured around the acrostic ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. All has been designed to lead us to participating in communion. I always enjoy this type of service. May the Lord be magnified and praised today. 

8/25/18

Thanks for praying for us while on vacation. We look forward to worshiping with you next Sunday. The NT contains 30 ‘one another’ commands – not options.  Love one another, Jn 13:34;  honor one another; Rom 12:10; be kind one to another, 

Eph 4:32; submit to one another, Eph 5:21; encourage one another, 1 Thess 5:11 – and so on.  Small groups provide a vehicle for us to implement those “one anothers.” 

Our small group ministry is not about socializing. We’re not against socializing – it’s a wonderful gift but tragically many Christians have substituted it for authentic Christian fellowship. 

NT fellowship is about relationships. It is through our union with Christ that we are related to others in the family of God. Its about growth and spiritual maturity. It’s about progressive sanctification.

We were never made to live the Christian life on our own. To say that we can do it alone without the benefit of fellowship is as inaccurate as saying a body is fully functional without ears or eyes. “It takes a church to raise a Christian.” Authentic fellowship is communication for the purpose of growing in Christ and helping others grow in him. Paul would agree, Rom 15:14, “I am convinced … that you are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” If you’re involved in a small group – remain committed. If not – check out the bulletin board and sign up.  Restart is in 3 weeks. 

8/17/18

Sue and I are enjoying our traditional summer vacation. Thank you for the opportunity. Pray for us.  Last Sunday we started listing the reasons why we need to be a part of a small group. The first two reasons are: small groups promote fellowship and secondly, small groups stimulate spiritual growth. 

3. Small Groups Provide Ministry Opportunities. Our small groups provide the ideal context for us to practice our spiritual gifts.There are limits to using our gifts Sunday mornings. A small group will help.

    4. Small Groups Encourage Accountability. We must prod each other in the journey of faith. At times it  might be a word of rebuke – pointing at a specific sin, at other times it might be a word of encouragement. Small groups provide us a context to be accountable – and to help others in their pursuit of Christ-likeness too.

Far too often we say we’re too busy to be involved in a small group. No one denies the busy-ness of our day but if that’s the case we might need to readjust our priorities. Meeting twice a month outside of our regular services  isn’t that demanding.  It does involve schedules and adjustments but they are worth it. Check out the list on the bulletin board for a day and time that works with you. May we be a church – not just with small groups but a church of small groups. 

8/10/18

I believe small groups are a priority for every Christian and every church. The late John Stott wrote, “Small groups are indispensable for our growth into spiritual maturity.” I agree.   

Small groups will restart next month. If you’re involved let me refresh your mind why they are important. And if you’re not involved – why you should be?

1. Small Groups Promote Fellowship. Sunday mornings are wonderful to come together in corporate worship. But genuine NT fellowship isn’t practical in a crowd of 100+ people. How can we move beyond the superficial hi, how are you today?to genuinely caring for each other as the Bible commands? Small groups! 

2. Small Groups Stimulate Spiritual Growth.  Sunday mornings is a great time for God’s Word to be taught but where and how will the Bible be applied? Our small groups are not designed to be another Bible study – they are a vehicle to apply God’s truths in personal and practical ways.  

Discussion questions come from the sermons we hear. We must be committed to change. Truth without practice is sterile.

 Next Sunday we’ll provide several more reasons to consider being a part in a small group. Check out the list on the bulletin board for a day and time that works with you. May we be a church – not just with small groups but a church of small groups.

8/3/18

This past Friday I finished Whole 30. It’s a month-long diet program eliminating dairy, gluten and sugar from your food. You can have meat, vegetables and fruit. Basically, if God made it you can eat it but if it’s been processed – no. After 30 days you slowly re-introduce those items back into your menu and see how each affects you. It’s not for everyone – I just needed to do it for myself (Sue joined me as well as my 2 older daughters). I lost weight and my blood sugar has gone down. But I used this plan for another reason. Food had become an idol in my life. 

Food is God’s gift to us. Nothing wrong with food in and of itself. But when I spoke back in June on commandment #1 – no other gods, I said we all struggle with idolatry. Not idols of wood or stone but idols of the heart that consume our thoughts and motivate our desires. Anything can become an idol. God was convicting me then of this specific idol in my life. I decided it was time to dethrone food. I don’t pretend food is a once-for-all defeated idol. I still like it – still love preparing and cooking it. But my new plan has made me more aware of my cravings and desires. I would still covet your prayers. I have more weight to lose though I’m not currently on Whole 30 Sue and I are implementing some of its strategies in our new menu plans. I want King Jesus to rule my life. That’s a life-long process isn’t it?

7/27/18

Tomorrow begins Vacation Bible School. How thankful I am for each one who has volunteered his/her time to serve this week. Our hats go off to Amanda Wilson, VBS coordinator too. Much work and labor has already gone into making this week a success.  

Maybe you aren’t able to serve for various reasons – but we can all pray. Pray for the boys and girls who will come through our doors. Pray for God’s Spirit to make them sensitive to the gospel. Ask God to save souls this week.  May he use this week as an opportunity to reach dads and moms too. Don’t forget to pray for our own children who attend VBS. Perhaps they have already trusted Christ as their Savior, but they need to be challenged and need to grow in their Christian lives. The evil one would love to sow seeds of disharmony or disunity among our staff. Pray for hearts bent on serving and not being served. 

Weather is important this coming week – not too hot or too wet. 

From the moment children are born, they are seeking to make sense of the world around them. By teaching children God’s Word at a young age, we nurture the formation of a biblical worldview. We desire to have children know God and grow in Christ. We all must be a part of that effort – parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts – and church members too. Vacation Bible School is simply another link in the long chain of reaching and teaching kids. 

7/20/18

I read with a heavy heart, Hidden Violence, in a recent issue of World magazine. Caption under the title: “Spousal abuse is a widespread sin that many churches ignore at their – and their members’ – peril.”

According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence,  1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men have been victims of physical violence in an intimate relationship. The stats are even higher if you include emotional abuse. We are wrong and naïve if we think this doesn’t sneak into Bible believing churches. It does.

And its wrong. Most of the damage from domestic abuse is invisible: it involves repetitive behaviors that terrorize and dehumanize a spouse. Men and women keep quiet about such abuse out of fear – or pride, wanting to appear like they have it altogether. Tragically verses about male leadership are ripped out of their context. Chauvinism is alive and well in the church.

Biblical counselor, John Henderson states, “Abuse is a satanic distortion of Christ-like male leadership because it defaces the depiction of Christ’s love for his bride.” This is worsened by an unbiblical view of submission as well. 

Nothing in the true biblical model of marriage even comes close to abuse. Husbands love their wives with a sacrificial, Christ-like love and women willingly submit to their husband’s leadership as Christ does to the church. May we as men and women respect and cherish our spouse – both physically, verbally and emotionally.