A Lesson from my dog...

One of our dogs hasn't been feeling very well of late.  Not eating, stomach problems, lethargic, that sort of thing.  The problem is that we can't ask her what is wrong.  Was it something she ate, is she in pain, is she sad that she misplace her favorite bone?  Who knows.
The thought occured to me that many people act the same way.  They go through struggles, difficulties, and troubles without ever letting those who care about them know it.  Why do people hid their pain?  Usually it is some mixture of shame, fear, pride, or stubborness.  What will people say if they know what I've done?  What will people think if they know what I'm afraid of?  How will people look at me when they know how much I've let them down?  I don't care how much it hurts, I'm going to fix this myself.
Maybe you've had some of those thoughts, maybe you're saying something like that right now.  There are two very good reasons why you should let other people help you through tough times in your life.  The first is that we're not meant to fight those battles alone.  God created us to be social, to lean on each other, to offer mutal support.  We're designed this way.  When we try to do everything on our own, we make things much more difficult and miss out on the love that our friends, family, and church would offer if only we would let them.  The second reason why we should ask for help is because we deny those same friends, family members, and church members the chance to be Christ-like when we don't go to them for help.  As believers in Jesus Christ, we have an obligation to support and help those in need.  The only way that we will grow as Christians is by serving others.  If we all try to solve everything on our own, none of us will grow to be the mature Christians that God wants us to be.
The next time you face something difficult in life, rather than digging a moat around yourself so that nobody can get in, try instead to build a bridge so that someone can show you how much they love you.  As God's Word reminds us, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (I Peter 5:7)  Go to God, go to his people; we are his hands, his feet, here to serve each other, here to carries the burdens of those in need.

Sermon Video: Restraining Sensual Indulgence - Colossians 2:20-23

Do groups that attempt to isolate themselves from the world, like medieval monks or the Amish of today, hold the key to holiness?  What is the value of self-denial (Asceticism)?  Paul explains why this belief is misguided and ultimately fails to accomplish its goal, the restraint of sensual indulgence.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

The 4th Annual Ecumenical Sunday: Music from the choir

The King B9's choir from the Cathedral of St. Andrew (Grand Rapids)
Performing at the First Baptist Church of Palo under the direction of Tom Good

"Jesus Met the Woman at the Well"
"Here I am Lord"
and a duet by Nicole Powell and Tom Good
"And all these things will be added"

to watch the video, click on the link below:
Music Video

Sermon Video: "A Tale of Two Child Kings" - II Chronicles 33-35

The lives of these two child kings of Judah, Manasseh and Josiah illustrate the responsibility that each man and woman has before God.  Manasseh had a righteous father, Hezekiah, but turned into one of Judah's most wicked kings.  Josiah had a wicked father, Amon, but became one of the nation's most God-honoring kings.  In both cases, these men defied that "apple doesn't fall far from the tree" mentality.  In the end, we must all answer to God for what we do with the situation we find ourselves in.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

Ecumenical Sunday

We've just completed another of our annual Ecumenical Sunday services at the First Baptist Church of Palo.  What this service entails is primarily a visit from the King B9's choir (that Nicole and I sing with on Sunday night) from the Cathedral of St. Andrew (in Grand Rapids, under Tom Good's direction).  The choir sings several songs of course, but the purpose of the service is to foster fellowship between these two groups that might not otherwise have any interaction.  It may be a small step in the direction of inter-church cooperation and worship, but it is one we're glad to be part of.
There are many churches, but there is only one Church.  All those who follow Jesus Christ belong to his Church; we're just keeping the pews warm, he owns the place.

Sermon Video: "I am the Good Shepherd" - John 10:1-18

In this well known figure of speech, Jesus calls himself the "good shepherd" who cares for his sheep.  Jesus also claims to be the gate through which the sheep must enter.  In this dual role, Jesus is the way to the Father, AND the means of guiding and protecting those who have found God through him.  Jesus also warns his disciples that there are others who will try to lead the sheep astray if they don't listen carefully to their message.  In addition, Jesus offers abundant life to those who believe in him which he was able to achieve by choosing to lay down his life on our behalf and then taking it back up again.  This message of Jesus in the Gospel of John makes clear that Jesus is the exclusive path to God, all others lead to false hope.

To watch the video, click on the link below:
Sermon Video

With much Freedom, comes much responsibility

As Americans once again celbrate our independence this July 4th with all of the variety and excitement of such a free people, I was reminded of a line from the movie Spiderman.  Peter Parker's uncle Ben tells him, "with great power comes great responsibility".  The same notion holds true for each and every American.  We have been given, by Almighty God and the sacrifices of those who fought for this country, a measure of freedom that would have been beyond the imagining of the writers of the New Testament.  They lived in a world where constraints upon each person's choices were commonplace.  People couldn't live where they wanted to, they couldn't choose the occupation they desired, and they certainly didn't enjoy much in the way of religious, speech, or political rights.  Slavery was commonplace in our world until recent history.  Participation in the political process was reserved for only a select powerful few.
All of this began to change with the American Revolution, and just as important, the Bill of Rights.  It was not an easy road; we too have prejudice and denial of rights in our nation's history, but the end result is a nation in which each man and woman enjoys immense freedom.  The question then becomes, what do we do with this freedom?  How do we live as free men and women?  The Apostle Paul wrote to the Churches in Galitia about the new freedom that Christian enjoyed to live according to the dictates of their conscience.  He reminded them that, "You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love." (Galatians 5:13)  Freedom is the birthplace of service to others.  It is when we are the most free that we must choose to set aside our own indulgences to serve others.  This is the great responsibility that comes with freedom.
As men and women created by God, we will all stand before the throne of God and answer for how we served others.  As Americans, we will also answer for how we used this extraordinary gift of freedom.  Did we use our freedom to indulge in selfish pursuits, or did we show gratitude to our Maker by using our gift of freedom to help others? 
Today is our independence today.  Celebrate the freedom that we enjoy with joy and passion, but also remember that as Jesus said, "from everyone who has been given much, much will be required" (Luke 12:48)