February 2015 Newsletter

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death” (I John 3:14).

We display God’s transforming work through Christ by how we as Christians love each other in a gospel community. The evidence the Apostle John wants us to see played out in our life is “love the brethren;” that is, love the church. Love is not a mere feeling or words to say. In short, love works its way into the life of the church by honoring and living in harmony with one another (Romans 12:10-16), instructing one another (Romans 15:14), having equal concern for one another (ICorinthians 12:25), serving one another (Galatians 5:13), carrying each other’s burdens (Galatians 6:2), forgiving each other (Ephesians 4:32), singing praises to God with one another (Ephesians 5:19), encouraging one another daily (Hebrews3:13), gathering regularly for worship (Hebrews 10:25), confessing sins to one another (James 5:16), praying with one another (James 5:16), and having each other in our homes regularly (I Peter 4:9). This is not even half of the commands of love in the local church, but this gives us a glimpse of how love plays out in the lives of followers of Jesus.

Does this sound like you? Do you want to love and be loved like this? Jesus told us, “By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:35). Are you a disciple of Jesus? Have you left death into life and express love in the church? Love is dirty and it gets into everybody’s business and everybody’s in yours. But God’s love forgives and transforms. God did not save you to face this world as a lone ranger. The Christian life cannot be lived solo, but is played out in the life of a loving gospel community.

Church, let us love one another. Let us be forgiving, confessing sins, praying, instructing, encouraging, building each other up, and live as a loving gospel community for the good of the brethren to the glory of God.

A little note to my flock

After a long couple of days at the State Convention of Baptists in Ohio Annual Meeting, I looked forward to today (Friday) to spend time visiting many of you (Allison Avenue Baptist Church) at your homes. I seemed to have contracted a cold, however, and instead of sharing it with everyone, I've come to be alone in my office.

I've printed out Sunday's sermon notes, read some, written emails, and ate a very spicy Hunan beef. Now, I'm listening to worship music on Pandora. I glanced over to my calendar when a piece of paper with a long list of names written on it catches my eyes. They are your names, my beloved flock.

With each name I read, the Lord recalls to my memory joyous fellowship I ponder in my heart. I cannot thank the Lord enough for each of you. The love and kindness you have shown my family and I have been a warm blessing. When I read your name, I pray for you.

So, I thought I would send you guys a note today. What a tremendous honor and privilege I have to be your shepherd and to gather with you to worship our Good Shepherd together. Let us together praise the Lord for His goodness toward us and His grace to save us.

Please pray for me to not only recover from this cold but also ahead of Sunday's sermons. I pray to be found faithful to the Lord and to preach not only in word but also in power. Please pray for my family. We need Him. Please pray for our church to be faithful to the Great Commission of our Lord. Please pray for the lost in our community to know Christ and for laborers to work in the field in and around Hamilton.

May the grace, peace, and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ bless you, my dear flock.

October 2014 Newsletter

“See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand” (Galatians 6:11).

In the history of God’s creation, we live in an amazing time of technology. Never before have we been so instantly connected by things like cell phones and social media. Yet, it seems that the instant access and connection has made life seem more and more impersonal.

The Apostle Paul had people write as he spoke aloud letters, but at the end of his letter to the church in Galatia, he wrote with his own large handwriting, which is his way of making a personal mark to his letter. Paul had so many personal touches to his writing. In Philippians, Paul expresses his joy in remembering the Philippian church in prayer (1:3) and even longs for all of them with the affection of Christ Jesus (1:8). 

Being a church, or a group of transformed and transforming sinners by the grace of Jesus Christ, we are commanded to love one another (John 13:34).  Express your love and care for others in the church. For example, a simple text of encouragement, a letter of gratitude, or even meeting face to face to share concerns and cares for each other.

No matter how advanced technology gets or how busy our lives are, we as redeemed disciples of Jesus are called to be closer and more loving than any worldly relationships. We remain personable, for our God became flesh and dwelt among us. Let us strive for such loving relationships for joy in the church and for the glory of our gracious God and Savior Christ Jesus the Lord.

August 2014 Newsletter

School is starting up again. Thinking, studying, and learning are important. We are commanded by God to worship Him with our minds (Matthew 22:37) and to glorify God in whatever we are doing, even school stuff (I Corinthians 10:31). Without the honoring worship of God with our minds, our minds will become darkened and our thinking will become meaningless (Romans 1:18-21, 28).

So, what are we as parents of school aged children to do to keep Christ at the center of our lives, even through the chaos of school time? We ask the Lord to “teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12). That is, we must know we are here for such a short time (James 4:14). Even though the urgent things call for you to keep busy and never rest, the importance of Christ is to keep at the center. We are to rest, pray, and worship Christ, not in isolation, but with our spouse and our children.

Pick a time and day each week to sit down with your family, read Scripture aloud, pray for each other with each other, and rest in Christ together. God is worthy of the worship of your family. Keep this time sacred. With Joshua, I call you to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve…for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

I pray to our God that you and your family are blessed by His grace and peace in Christ Jesus. Amen.

First Newsletter Article

The past few months have been a time of praying for the Lord’s guidance to place my family where He wants to use us for His glory. Hamilton is the place the Lord has willed for my family to dig in our roots. I am overjoyed by the Lord’s blessing to shepherd the saints at Allison Avenue Baptist Church! Praise the Lord who answers our prayers.

When Joshua succeeded Moses and prepared God’s chosen people to enter the Promised Land, the Lord said, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it” (Joshua 1:8). The assembly devoted to Joshua’s leadership by saying, “Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you, as He was with Moses” (Joshua1:17). Abiding in God’s Word is how we are to move Kingdom bound. The Word of God will be my staff, and Christ will be with us.

Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me” (John 15:4). Let us be a church who abides in Christ to bear fruit to the glory of God.