When God spoke to Moses about the passover lamb in Exodus 12, Moses was to instruct the people to "take ... a ... lamb ..." There were, of course, qualifications for this lamb. One of the most significant was that it must be without spot or blemish. The lamb was sovereignly chosen by the head of the household and his only mission in life was that he was born to die.

Let's move ahead in time to the New Testament era. John the Baptist was baptizing and suddenly on the scene a figure appears. John declares, "Behold, THE Lamb!" John's declaration was to distinguish the Christ from those who were imposters.

The significance of this Lamb for us is that He was "wounded for OUR transgressions, he was bruised for OUR iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes WE are healed." (Isaiah 53.5) When He cried from the cross, "It is finished!" the price of redemption was paid and Christ yielded His Spirit to His Father and they took Him down and buried Him. On the morning of the first day of the week, women came to the sepulchre to see about the body. They found, not His body, but His empty tomb, and an angel who told them: "He is not here, he is risen as he said."

The Apostle Paul, in Philippians 3.20 declared: "That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death."

Do you know Him? Are you living in the power of His resurrection? May this Easter season bring you peace, contentment, and a passion to joyfully serve the risen Christ.
 
 
We just finished a series of small group classes on Sunday night. Carol and I facilitated a class entitled "Dealing with Grief." The last session Carol gave some practical ideas for dealing with special days during the first year after losing a loved one. They were great ideas and very practical.

Following her presentation I began to go over some scripture passages that helped me deal with my own grief in the past. I asked the class to turn to Acts 27.14-25. This is the account of Paul aboard a ship that is bound for Rome. The ship has been 14 days without the ability to navigate because they could not see the stars. V. 20 closes with these words: "... and all hope that we should be saved was taken away." At this point Paul relates to those on board that he had a heavenly visitor. Let your mind go for a moment and think about a conversation in heaven. God the Father calls the angel to his side and says, "See that speck of wood bobbing in the storm-tossed Mediterranean sea? One of my children is on there and the sailors have given up hope. I want you to go down there and tell Paul, 'I know where you are. I know what you are going through. I am going to get you to the place that I want you to go.' Now, go and give him that message." The next morning Paul stands before these men and says, "Be of good cheer (v. 22) ... there stood by me this night an angel of God, whose I am and whom I serve (v. 23) ... saying 'Fear not Paul ...' (v. 24) ... wherefore sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me (v. 25)."

In those moments when the darkness prevails, I find comfort in knowing this. I don't have to know where I am going or how I will get there. The important thing is that My Father knows. That makes the darkness bearable because I am learning this simple truth: I must never doubt in the dark what I know to be true in the light (Isaiah 50.10-11).

Just my thoughts ...
Jerry
 
 

Yesterday we celebrated the anniversary of our great nation in our morning service. This Saturday we celebrate 233 years as an independent nation. Our choir sang "America, Come Home." This is a powerful piece. I am moved every time we sing it. My message was entitled "One Nation Under God, Indivisible!" I think every believer wants America to turn back to God. In Proverbs 14.34 Solomon reminds us that "righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people." In light of that verse, it is the responsibility of God's people to live lives that are characterized by righteousness. That requires us to give conscious thought to decisions and actions. If it is true that my life is not about me, but it is all about Him, then I must consciously make my every choice a choice that will glorify Him. If we, as Christians, want America to come back to God, then we must LEAD THE PARADE!

 
 

Yesterday my wife and I were privileged to be part of our community Memorial Day observance. a large crowd gathered at the Rittman Cemetery at 11 A. M. to pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice and to the families left behind. As i walked around looking at grave stones and watching the flags flying, I was reminded of something that a pastor friend wrote about last week ... how many of those who died in service to our country died without a knowledge of Christ as personal savior? The freedoms that we enjoy in America have come at a price that many have willingly paid so that we are still free.

As Christians, I believe we have a greater responsibility to diligently, with purpose and intent, share Christ with all those with whom we cross paths. Please allow me to challenge you, as I am challenging myself, to give diligence to the lost around us. D. L. Moody once remarked, "Count no man cheap for whom Christ died!"

Just my thoughts ...!

 
 

For many people who call themselves Christians, loving God is perceived as an option. For the life of me I can't see it that way. When I think of how I got where I am, I am reminded of the story about the turtle on the post. Someone said once, "If you are driving down the road and you see a turtle on a fence post, one thing you know for sure, he didn't get there by himself." That may not be an exact quote, but you get the gist of the thought. One thing of which I am certain is this, I did not get to this point in my life by myself. I lost my mother at age 10 yrs. in a car accident. I remember hearing her pray when she didn't know I was around, "Lord, let my son be a preacher." Seven years passed and at age 17, at a youth camp at Lake St. Marys, OH I sensed the call of God on my life to become a preacher. I went off to Baptist Bible College in Springfield, MO and prepared for ministry. I left in 1960 to serve as music and youth director at a church in Arlington, TX. After 5 years of ministry there my family and I moved to Lima, OH where I served for 10 years in many various capacities. I then returned to Springfield, MO to serve for 4 years on staff of one of the larger churches there.

in 1979 I moved my family to Rittman, OH to fulfill my mother's prayer. I became pastor of Calvary Baptist Church. You want to know something ... I didn't get here by myself. And in the midst of the times when I was struggling with decisions that were life changing, God, in His wisdom, revealed Himself in such ways that I could not mistake His leadership.

In 2005 my wife of 46 years slipped out into eternity and for the next two years I walked a path of lonliness without knowing what God had in store. During that time there was never once that I did not know or feel that God loved me. But there were times when my love for Him was tested. I am still learning how to love God. I am thankful that He brought a new person into my life to join me in ministry and provide companionship in my life.

So, ask yourself ... "Do I really love God or do I just love the things He does for me?" How tough can it be to turn the focus of your life on a God who has said, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love"? (Jeremiah 31.3).

These are just my thoughts ...

 
 

As one looks back across the archives of history, a number of events have been significant enough to impact the course of history.
     If we look at the brief history of the United States of America, the landing of the pilgrims was an event that significantly changed the course of history on this continent.
     If we look at the events that surround the beginning of this democracy and its break from England, the Revolutionary War significantly changed the course of history for the free world with the beginning of a new nation.
     If we consider the Civil War that divided this nation so deeply, those events significantly changed the course of history for this nation.
   In our own lifetime, we have had repeated events that have significantly impacted this nation: the stock market crash of 1929, Pearl Harbor, the assassination of a president, and in 2001 we experienced an act of terrorism on our soil that rocked this nation and significantly impacted the way we live today.
     Each one of these events has significantly impacted life as it unfolds in time. However, only one event has significantly impacted life as it unfolds in eternity - the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
     Every other event of major significance has impacted someone's life and with some of the ones I have mentioned, lives have been lost and families have been broken up. That touches many lives this side of eternity. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the bridge that enables us to enter eternity and be in the presence of God when this life is over. No other event, if it had not occurred, would impact this world as much as the failure of Jesus Christ to raise Himself from the dead.
     While some may take the position that they do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, that does not change the fact of the resurrection any more than saying that I don't believe in gravity causes gravity to be non-existent.
     When the women went to the empty tomb of Jesus on the morning of the first day of the week, the angel said: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen ..." (Luke 24.5, 6).  That is significant!

 
 

Although I have read the story of Triumphal Entry of Christ in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday hundreds of times, I am still amazed by the ambiguity of the crowd who met Him that day. With one breath they welcome Him as the King of the Jews and in a few hours they are calling for His crucifixion.

But in retrospect I should not be surprised. In like manner today many who are professing Christians find themselves praising God one day and the next day they are living like practicing athiests (you know ... living as though God doesn't exist).

With the certainty of death facing each one of us, it would be a revolutionary level of commitment on the part of you and me as Christians to say to God: "Lord, I know I have messed up in the past. And for that I am sorry. From this day forward I want to serve you with reckless abandon. I take seriously my responsibility to live my faith in such a way that those who watch will come to understand that there is no reason for my behavior except that YOU are living through me." I don't know about you, but that seems like a pretty gutsy move. Are you up to it? Join me ... let's do it together!