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Quiet

Posted on Aug 31, 2022 in "Reed" This, BLOG |

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Quiet

I noticed a car tag the other day that read “BEQUIET”. It was on a fully electric car, and I thought it was only a little bit comical. We probably all heard at one time someone saying, “Be quiet.” Maybe a parent, a teacher, a sibling, a friend, or even a stranger who was so bold to say it to you. We understand the need to be quiet while in certain places such as a classroom or a sanctuary, and while attending events when someone is speaking and you want to hear what is being said. But, there is another quiet. It’s the quiet that surrounds us sometimes.

Walking out the doors of the church here on Marsh’s Edge Lane, there is quiet. Yes, you can hear the cicadas because of the heat, birds that may be calling, and the occasional times when the kids are at recess and playing outside at the school through the woods. But what you don’t hear is the heavy traffic and the planes taking off or landing like you would at our old building on Frederica Road. Here, it is quiet, peaceful, and relaxing. Now, there is still a lot going on and a lot of activity around the church, even on weekdays, but there’s still a place to find quiet.

Some people long for it to be quiet. Parents of young children love the quiet that comes during naptime. Parents of some teenagers love the quiet that comes when headphones are plugged in. Those who work in the busyness of an office love the quiet when they can shut their office door and put their phones on silence. Yet, others hear the quiet all the time and it is rarely disturbed because they live alone. The quiet may be welcomed, but at times it can be haunting and difficult to endure. That’s when a trip to the grocery store might be needed.

The quiet is good. When it is quiet, we can think more clearly. When it is quiet, we can stay more focused on a task. When it is quiet, we can hear things that we might miss when there are noisy distractions. When it is quiet, we can hear the still, small voice of God speaking to us, and we are able to better discern what He is telling us. When I was younger, I remember being told by ministers that I needed to have a quiet time with God each day. It was a time to set aside in my daily schedule to sit down, read from the Bible, and spend time praying. It was to be a quiet time. We all need those times every day. But, I don’t believe we should restrict ourselves to only once a day. I need more quiet time with God than that. In fact, I need quiet time with God all the time. I’m not talking about sitting down by myself in a room all day. I don’t want to be a monk. I’m talking about in the quiet of my heart and being in touch with God all the time. That’s part of what I believe the Apostle Paul is saying in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” We are to always be in a conversation with God. Always listening to Him and being sensitive to His Spirit. We can still be loud in our praise even when we are quiet with the Lord. And even when things are loud and noisy around us, we can be quiet in our spirit while communing with the Lord.

We need to be sure to have those quiet times in our daily lives. Our times of devotion, personal Bible study and prayer, alone time with God, or whatever you want to call it is vital to our relationship with Him. Make sure you make that time for the Lord. Then through the rest of your day, even when things are busy and loud, be quiet in your spirit and do as the psalmist writes in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God!”

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

When Do We Live?

Posted on Aug 24, 2022 in BLOG, Letters from Pastor Mike |

When Do We Live?

Dear Friends,

Do you remember the 1980s? Big hair, loud clothing, Ronald Reagan, Cabbage Patch dolls, Boom Boxes, velour jogging suits, leg warmers, and cheesy movies all defined the 80s. Another thing about that decade was that churches were typically part of mainstream culture, accepted in most places, even embraced in some. That is not the culture of today. 9 out of 10 churches in America are either declining or they are growing so slowly that they are not keeping up with the growth rate of the community in which they are located. Thom Rainer, former president and CEO of Lifeway Resources and current CEO of Church Answers says that 90 percent of American churches are declining and many of them will close.

In his work, Rainer has consulted with thousands of churches across the country and he says one of the main reasons for this decline is that churches are still acting like it’s the 1980s. The world has passed them by and they are deemed irrelevant by members of their communities, frozen in a time warp and unable to adapt to the rapidly changing culture around them. Here are some of the symptoms that he sees of this phenomenon:

Congregations use their church as a place to shelter themselves from their culture. Our culture no longer happily embraces the church and its teachings so we run to our buildings as a place to getaway and hide from the realities of society that we don’t want to face. Obviously, some societies in our country present a harsher environment to church goers than others but in general the overall societal view of religion has become antagonistic. Church has become a place where we shut our doors to the world outside and pretend that the opposition doesn’t exist.

Pre-packaged programs have become our teachers. The vast majority of churches in the 1980s were program driven. If there was a perceived need, the pastor would order a resource that best solved that need. There were (and still are) many pastors and teachers who make an excellent living developing and packaging slick programs to cover the needs found in a church. Unfortunately, today’s culture no longer sees black and white, right or wrong. Our culture and those raised in it view life as a multifaceted mosaic of grays. One size fits all programs often fall far short of addressing the real-life questions of those we are trying to reach with the gospel.

Church growth is harder or non-existent. If you remember, in the 80s we really didn’t have to put in much effort to attract visitors. Going to church was still something people just did. Even if, as a young adult, we drifted away, once children were born it was time to get back in church. Because of that, church members did not need to make sacrifices to reach their communities. The church member and their needs and preferences became the central focus of the programming. Evangelism was no longer something everyone was supposed to do but became the responsibility of the pastor or paid staff. This attitude continues to persist with members who are more concerned about worship style and personal preferences rather than lost people who need to hear the gospel.

Change is seen as an evil to fight against. In the 80s change was more incremental. Churches did not have to worry about the rapid pace of change that we see in our culture today. The last few years alone have born witness to massive upheavals of change in the world. No longer suppressed by what they see as old-fashioned ideals and morality, today’s society sees themselves as modern day abolitionists fighting against social injustice in whatever form is presented. While the church must hold firm on Biblical teaching, we must also strive to provide a place of safe and respectful dialog centering on Jesus and His Kingdom. Holding on to extra-Biblical rituals and traditions can be just as detrimental as compromising clear Biblical commands.

My friends, I am not passing judgement on our church. Nor am I suggesting that we should embrace haphazard change just for the sake of relatability. My desire is simply to open our eyes to the pitfalls of trying to ignore the world around us. We no longer live in the 80s. We live in a time of open warfare for the eternal souls of those around us. We live in a time when we will have to sacrifice many of our comfort preferences in order to make the gospel more available to the lost of this culture. We live in a time when we cannot hide, when we cannot shy away from difficult conversations, when we cannot wait for the lost to find their own way. We live in the time for which Jesus has called us to be His witnesses, not inside our walls but out there in this culture at this time.

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Crick in My Neck

Posted on Aug 17, 2022 in "Reed" This, BLOG |

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Crick in My Neck

I am truly enjoying my new office. One of the biggest enjoyments is being able to look outside through the double glass doors. Many have asked why I have them in my office, so I explain that when a new sanctuary, Phase 2, is built, my office will become a hallway to the new building and there will be a new office for me in the music suite that will be included in it. Until then, the doors serve as a big window. However, there are times when people treat it as a hallway now and will simply walk through to get out on that side of the building, but it’s mainly just workers as they are still finishing some final tasks. Most of the time, it is simply my office space with a lot of natural light.

My desk is set so that when I am on my computer the glass doors are to my right. I have found that I will turn my head to look out through the glass as I am thinking and typing, much as I am doing right now. For some reason I find that seeing the grass and trees and sky helps me collect my thoughts. I don’t really focus on any one thing, but just gaze into the scenery. After typing several different things through the day such as articles, Bible studies, and devotions, I start to feel a catch in my neck. Realizing this, I will then turn my head all the way to the left and look at an empty wall. The color is very nice, but it doesn’t give me the inspiration that God’s creation does. Yet, it does help relieve the catch on the right side, keeping me from getting a crick in my neck there.

Many things can inspire me in my writing, but I find simply looking out thru the glass doors is very relaxing and helpful. I didn’t realize I was doing that until I noticed I had a catch in my neck after being in this office for a couple of weeks. I thought about moving my desk so that I would just face that way, but then my back would be to the main door and that wouldn’t work. So, I have decided to keep it like it is and just make sure I switch to the left enough times through the day.

We all need inspiration at times in the things we do. Music may inspire you. Reading may inspire you. Seeing someone else’s creativity may inspire you. No matter what we are listening to or looking at for inspiration, as long as we are aware of Who is the greatest inspirer in all of it, we can find what needs to be written, said, or done. When we are trying to accomplish or create something, the Creator is the best place to go. This entire universe and everything in it is His design. It is His creativeness. There is no one that can do better. When we need help, when we need direction, it is always best to look to Him as we seek for guidance and inspiration. It may take some time and it may take some work, but in His time, He will finally give you the inspiration you need. That’s one of the most wonderful things about God. When you seek Him, He can be found. In Jeremiah 29:12-14a He says, “’You will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord.” The God of the universe loves us so much that He gave us His Son to die for our sins so that we could have a relationship with Him. And He cares for us so much that He will reveal Himself to us when we seek Him. And as He reveals Himself, He reveals His wisdom and His ways to us and for us.

My neck is feeling that catch again, so I need to turn to the left. I will still look to the Lord and seek what He wants to share through me no matter which way my head faces. But, if I have to keep looking to my right, a crick in my neck is not so bad.

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Worship Giving

Posted on Aug 10, 2022 in BLOG, Letters from Pastor Mike |

Worship Giving

Dear Friends,

We often associate the term “worship” with praise and singing. There is the Praise and Worship Movement, as well as worship concerts and radio stations dedicated solely to playing worship music. But worship includes so much more than just our singing. Worship includes our whole being, in which we worship in spirit (with our hearts) and in truth (with our minds). “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (John 4:23-24 NIV)

One of the ways we are called to worship God is through the giving of our tithes and offerings. We worship when we give our hearts back to God through singing His praises, we surrender our will to God’s ultimate design for our lives through prayer, and when we offer our tithes to Him for His glory through giving. Through financial giving we praise God for the blessings of having the financial resources to give back to Him what He has already given us.

Think about the relationship this has to singing praises. God has given us voices that, when utilized through spirit and truth, we offer our praise back to Him through the voices that He has already bestowed upon us. In the same vein, God has already blessed us with stewardship over certain financial resources. We are called to use those resources to live our lives and to put them to work on behalf of God’s Kingdom. When we return a mere ten percent through giving to His church or making offering to other Kingdom endeavors, we are praising God in an act of worship. The emphasis is not on the money. The emphasis is on our hearts.

Perhaps the most powerful text in the Old Testament concerning giving can be found in Malachi 3:8-10 (CSB), where God accused the Israelites of robbing Him. God’s chosen people questioned this claim and asked, “How do we rob You?” God’s response was, “By not making the payments of the tenth and the contributions.” God then went on to make a powerful challenge: “Test Me in this way. … See if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out a blessing for you without measure.” That is a powerful promise from our gracious, giving Heavenly Father!

When it comes to the New Testament, the actual word tithe is no longer mentioned. However, that does not mean that the call to giving to God’s house no longer applies. Nothing could be further from the truth! In light of what Christ has done for us on the cross and the amazing grace we receive, our giving should be a reflection of what our heart treasures.

Jesus told us in Matthew 6:21 (NIV), “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” What a convicting statement from our Savior! If we were to examine our hearts based on giving financially to the church, what would we find? Ask yourself, do you feel joy, excitement, greed, self-centeredness, anxiety, fear, or something else when you give back to the Lord? Rather than focusing on what you are giving up, focus on your giving as an act of worship. Through our giving, God not only utilizes our financial contributions, but He works in our hearts and blesses our worship to transform each of us, more and more, into the image of Christ.

Our giving should be viewed as a part of our worship to the Lord. If we are just giving for tax purposes, to get our name on a plaque or to receive some other earthly recognition then we are merely involved in donating to charity and we are missing out on the great joy of being a cheerful giver. We miss out on a chance to worship the One who gave everything for us!

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Driving

Posted on Aug 3, 2022 in "Reed" This, BLOG |

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Driving

I recently had the opportunity to travel back to my hometown in Arkansas. The purpose was to bury the cremains of my mother next to my father, who had passed thirty-five years ago. The route I chose was straight across the entire breadth of southern Georgia, then across Alabama and Mississippi, almost entirely across the northern part of Louisiana before turning north to skirt just inside of northeast Texas for only a few miles until coming into southwest Arkansas. After a little over an hour inside Arkansas, I came to a stop in the town where I was born and raised, about six miles from the Oklahoma line, and almost a thousand miles from where I had started the day before. That’s a lot of miles and a good bit of time to be behind the wheel of a vehicle. As I looked out through the windshield along the way, I saw familiar places as they passed and was reminded of some things I had forgotten. A few new turns allowed me to see new things and they were added to my many experiences I have had from making this drive multiple times before. Several stops were necessary for food, fuel, rest, and use of the facilities. But the most of two days was consumed with driving – sitting in the driver’s seat, maintaining proper speed, keeping the vehicle between the lines, and watching the miles of scenery go by.

I enjoy driving. Even a long trip like this one is very enjoyable to me. I enjoy seeing and admiring God’s creation: the animals, the sky, the trees, the fields, the rolling hills, the rivers and lakes, and even trying to figure out what those farmers are growing. I recognize the corn stalks, but the smaller plants … are those soybeans or cotton? And then seeing the little towns. As I go through them, I wonder about the history, the people, and sometimes ask, “Why would anyone ever want to live here?” Even when I’m not on a long trip, but just driving to the church or the grocery store, I enjoy driving. It can give you a sense of accomplishment that is more than just getting from point A to point B. You’re always moving forward, going somewhere, and getting things that are needed.

Driving also gives you a sense of control. As long as you have fuel and the vehicle will run, you can basically go anywhere you want to go and drive and drive to your heart’s content. The only thing that can get in your way are the restrictions of the lines and roads. It’s possible to not let that stop you, but it’s difficult to drive on ground that hasn’t been built up for vehicles. Some of the soil is too soft and cannot support the weight, thus a vehicle simply sinks into the ground and is stuck. Other soil is so hard and uneven that higher speeds are impossible without losing control as the vehicle is bounced all over the place. Other places cannot be driven through because the brush is too thick, the water is too deep, or there simply is a big tree in your way. That’s why it is best to stay on a roadway that has been properly built and maintained for vehicular traffic. The old saying, “Stay between the lines. The lines are your friends.” is definitely good advice.

God has placed each of us on our own road. He has laid out a plan for our lives (Eph. 2:10), and it is a good plan. If we stay on the road He has planned for us, we will be able to accomplish great things for Him. We will experience good things in our lives and be blessed. But if we stray outside the lines, disobey the Lord, and decide to go our own way instead, we will struggle, have trouble, and get stuck in great difficulties. “But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and You smooth out the path ahead of them. Lord, we show our trust in You by obeying Your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your name.” (Isaiah 26:7-8) God makes the road and paints the lines. He sets the boundaries for our lives to help us and enable us to experience the best life and to live our lives to the fullest. When we obey His commands and follow His ways, the road we travel will bring us joy knowing we are living with the Savior and pleasing Him.

The next time you get behind the wheel to drive, think about your spiritual life. Are you driving on the road God has laid out for you? Are you staying between the lines? We all need to be sure to let the Spirit help us as we drive.

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Good Friends

Posted on Jul 27, 2022 in BLOG, Letters from Pastor Mike |

Good Friends

Dear Friends:

I have been blessed this week to become reacquainted with my very best friend from High School. Over the last 40 years we have reconnected from time to time but it has been around 20 years since our last person to person visit. However, other than needing to catch up and overlooking a whole lot of grey hair, it’s been like hardly any time has passed at all. Good friends, really good friends, last forever.

As we travel through this human, time bound life, we must remember that God never intended us to journey alone. He created us as social beings with the ability and need to love, share and interact. God also knew that there would simply be too many obstacles and challenges to navigate without the help, comfort and company of others. Our loving Heavenly Father did not place us in a dreary, boring, monochrome world but one of color, beauty and wonder that is so much more exciting when experienced with friends.

As Christians, we talk about Fellowship all the time. The Greek word for fellowship is “koinonia.” Koinonia’s primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion.” The first occurrence of koinonia in the Bible is in the context of church in Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together in love, faith, and encouragement. Fellowship with others is one of the great blessings of this life. God Himself, is called the “Friend of Sinners.” That’s us, that’s who we are – imperfect people in need of both a savior and a friend.

God’s desire to be our friend is so strong that He was willing to die on the cross for us to make provision for the forgiveness of our sins and to restore the lost fellowship with Him that was created by our sin. That effort and cost is seen in the simple story of the gospel. God became the perfect man and died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and stands as the substitute for those who receive Him by faith. When we trust in Christ for our salvation from sin and death, we receive an abiding friendship with God.

The Lord knows the value in earthly friendships and in fellowship. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 emphasizes this value, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” Humans simply work better together rather than alone.

This is why it is so important to be a part of a growing, vibrant church family. In a good church, like ours, we will find the kind of friends that will be there for us as we navigate the blessings and difficulties of life. We will find friends who will stand beside us in the good and bad times, during our triumphs and trials. We will find friends who, in love, will tell us things we need to hear, not just the things we want to hear. A real friend isn’t just a companion but someone who helps us become better people. That is the kind of friend Jesus wants to be for us, the kind of friend He wants us to be for each other.

Only by Grace,

Pastor Mike

Incredible Contributions

Posted on Jul 13, 2022 in BLOG, Letters from Pastor Mike |

Incredible Contributions

Dear Friends,

As I am sitting in my new office in our new building, I am reminded of all the work and sacrifice that so many of you contributed on behalf of the vision that the Lord gave. To be honest, it would be impossible (and probably foolish) to try and name every contribution of time, talent and money that went into making this building, this campus, a reality. I am, in many ways, humbled by the faith displayed to see this project through. In truth, this is one of the things that initially impressed me about Frederica Baptist Church as a candidate for the pastoral opening.

There is still much to be done to fully complete our new home but those things are being worked out. Rick Shelnutt has done an incredible job supervising the entire project. There is simply no telling where we would be without his constant vigilance. We owe him, as a body, an incredible debt of thanks and appreciation. In fact, there are many members of the building team who have and continue to contribute mightily. This building will be a lasting monument to their hard work and dedication.

The Furnishings Team has also done an amazing job picking out and placing new furniture and accents to integrate and complement our existing furnishings and to really make our public areas pop with a beautiful coastal feel. I know that if I was the one making these décor decisions it would have probably looked like a warehouse! Thank you for taking so much of your time to search for and select the right pieces and colors for our new home. Believe me, I doubt anyone realizes the amount of time, effort and meetings it took to get everything just right.

I would also be remiss if I did not mention the Finance Committee for their amazing work of navigating the intricacies of loans and mortgages and sales and interest rates and so forth! This group has had so many decisions to make it’s a wonder they’re still sane. (One or two are still questionable but for the most part they all made it through…) Remember, they didn’t just have the building and church budgets to deal with, they had to do it all while navigating the unprecedented challenges of an economy effected by a global pandemic!

Finally, let me toss a bone to my compatriots here on the church staff. These guys (Paul, Cameron and Karen) have stepped up and met every challenge and difficulty thrown their way. No complaints, no moans and groans, no looking for greener pastures! I am so proud of each of them for the grace in which they have handled every adversity and how they have been willing to be flexible in thought and practice. I truly feel that God has immeasurably blessed me with their comradery, friendship, wisdom and work ethic!

If I have not mentioned you in this very brief and incomplete list, please don’t feel slighted. I know that there are very many unsung heroes who have contributed in both general and specific ways to our new home. Whoever you are, you are greatly appreciated!

Frederica Baptist Church, it is my honor and joy to be your pastor!

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike

Little Things Matter

Posted on Jul 13, 2022 in "Reed" This, BLOG |

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Little Things Matter

Last night as I was driving home, I came to a light that was red, so I pulled up to the line and stopped. Even though I’d been driving for about twenty minutes it wasn’t until then that I noticed smoke coming up through the sides of the hood of my truck. I quickly looked to the temperature gauge on my display and saw that the needle was past hot. I immediately began to pray, “Lord, please let me just make it home.” I was about two to three miles away and thought once I began to move and airflow was restored, my temperature should come down some. The light turned green and I was moving once again, only the temperature stayed pegged as high as it could go. I knew that driving while the engine was that hot was not the smartest thing to do, but I had to get home. Stopping on the side of the road would do me no good. Thankfully, I pulled into my driveway and came to a stop. I quickly turned off the motor and began to thank the Lord for getting me home. I opened the hood and looked into the engine compartment knowing what the problem was. You see, a few days before, I got out of the truck and heard a hissing noise. I also smelled hot engine coolant. I opened the hood and found that a small hose underneath the intake manifold was leaking coolant out onto the top of the motor. The clamp was no longer in place at the end and had moved, or been moved, down about two inches from where it should have been. So, this morning, I knew I needed to get that clamp back in place and refill my radiator before I could drive my truck again. That hose placement was almost impossible to get to, of course, and that clamp would not cooperate at all. I worked for almost an hour trying to move it back into place, but it wouldn’t budge. I decided to just fill up the radiator and the reservoir with water, go in and take a shower, then try to make it to the mechanic.

It’s always little things that cause trouble. That clamp only has a diameter of half an inch, but because of the pressure on that hose and it not being in the right place, it was useless, and my engine was about to burn up. Little things seem to be insignificant, but they are still very important. Moses struck the rock instead of just speaking to it, and he was kept from going into the promised land (Numbers 20:7-11). King David should have been with his men in battle, but he chose to stay home. While looking out from his rooftop, he saw a woman bathing and wanted her. Instead of looking away, he called for her and committed adultery (2 Samuel 11). Little things, little compromises, can be or lead to sin. “Each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15) What may seem small and insignificant, can grow into something that can destroy. Moses thought instead of just speaking to the rock like God had told him, he could strike it in his anger and that would be okay. But that “little” disobedience cost him the joy of leading the children of Israel into the promised land. David, thought it would be okay to stay home that Spring, thought it was okay to look a little too long at the woman bathing, and it caused him to commit adultery, murder, and cost him the life of his child and great shame. Little things matter. Praying may seem like a little thing, but it is vitally important. Reading God’s Word every day may seem like a little thing, but it is vitally important. Spending time with God every day may seem like a little thing, but it is vitally important. Satan loves to deceive us into neglecting little things that are actually big things. He convinces us that they are insignificant, but we should know better and should listen to the Holy Spirit instead. When we have those little things in our lives, we are much more in tune with the Holy Spirit and what He is saying, so we are less likely to commit sin. And then we are ready to do the bigger things He wants us to do.

I made it to the mechanic. Turns out the end of the hose had ruptured and moving the clamp wouldn’t have fixed the problem. He let the engine cool down for about an hour so he wouldn’t burn his hands, cut off the bad end of the hose and removed the old clamp, then reconnected the hose with the slack that remained and used a new clamp in the right place to hold it tight. He once again refilled the radiator and told me to start it up. The truck started and it ran for about a minute or so with no leaks. Praise the Lord it was fixed and has run fine the rest of the day.

That little hose and clamp in the right place and working properly keeps my entire engine and truck running. Without them it would not run well or for very long. We all need to make sure the little things in our spiritual lives are in the right place so we can be working properly for the Lord.

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

Unexpected

Posted on Jul 6, 2022 in "Reed" This, BLOG |

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Unexpected

Yesterday I had the opportunity to play my trombone in a brass quintet for the July 4^th Parade on Sea Island. This was the first time for me to play in this particular parade, so I arrived a little early to make sure I was where I needed to be and ready to play. As all the participants were gathering to get into position, I noticed two other music groups were in the parade. I didn’t hear them during the parade, as there was some distance between the three music groups, but I did enjoy hearing a pipe and drum band, and a drum corps as they were warming up. Another first for me was playing my horn while riding on the back of a flatbed truck. I had played on the back of a truck while it was sitting still, but never while moving. Thankfully, there were sides that came up about a foot so I didn’t have to worry about my chair sliding off. We waited a good while before everyone was in order, fortunately in some shade, and then we were off. As we neared the area where the parade formally started, I noticed people along the sides of the route using water guns to spray those who were in the parade. I didn’t expect that. As I made comment on this I was told they usually didn’t spray the musicians. Well, we made it to the starting point and began to play. I enjoyed playing with the group and as long as I kept my foot on my music stand, it stayed put and everything was working well. I could hear the people around us and see them a little in my peripheral, but my focus was mainly on the music. As we neared the end, we were playing a piece I had not played before. Then, I realized I had the solo. I started playing it and it was going well when all of a sudden, I felt cold water hitting my back and shoulder and then some shot directly into my right ear. I’d been hit! Thankfully, I kept playing and didn’t miss a note of the solo and finished the song. I didn’t mind the cool water so much as I was hot, but the shot into my ear hurt some and is still bothering me a bit. I can hear fine, but I have a dull ache every so often.

The question that comes to my mind is why? Why did someone think it was a good idea to spray people with water as they went by in a parade? And why did other people join in and think it was a good idea as well? I’ve never been to any other parade where this is done, or even thought that it would be something to do at a parade. That entire water guns at a parade experience was unexpected.

Unexpected things happen all around us. We flip a switch and a light does not come on. We turn a faucet and the water doesn’t run. We turn the ignition key and the motor doesn’t start. All of these are unexpected. You go on vacation and run into someone from your hometown. A friend you haven’t heard from in years calls you. You finish eating at a restaurant and learn that someone else has paid for your meal. Unexpected things happen all around us. There is one thing that will be unexpected for some, but we know it’s coming. Paul writes about it in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; “Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. When people are saying, ‘Everything is peaceful and secure,’ then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.” We don’t know when it will happen so that time will be unexpected, but we know Jesus is coming soon. We need to be ready by knowing Jesus as our Savior and Lord so we can meet Him in the sky when He comes. And we need to be telling others about Jesus so they can know Him, too, and not be caught unexpectedly.

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

What’s Next?

Posted on Jul 6, 2022 in BLOG, Letters from Pastor Mike |

What’s Next?

Dear Friends,

We have certainly had a busy couple of weeks! It is so exciting to be in our new church home. I know many of you have been waiting and working towards this for a very long time. It would be so easy to now just sit back and relax. After all you did it! You answered God’s calling and you made it happen! Didn’t you? Well, you might have had a little help from the One who called you to leave your previous church(s) and to commit yourselves to a path that has now led you to this new home on Marsh’s Edge Lane. So, now that you’re here, I ask you, do you really think that God was merely interested in yet another building to add to His global real estate portfolio?

Psalm 50:8-12 (NLT)

I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer.

But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens.

For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills.

I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine.

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it.

We no longer make sacrifices of goats or bulls but the point that David is making in this psalm, under the inspiration of the Lord, remains the same. God has no needs that he requires from us. Our God is not a weak, poor God who needs anything (including money) from us. He made everything with a word. He has a limitless supply of resources. He has no needs; he’s never had one. And even if he did have one, he wouldn’t come to us with it!

I cannot stress this enough: God does not need our worship, our work or our money. So, why does He want us to worship Him, serve Him and give our money to Him?

Psalm 50:14-15 (NLT)

Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.

Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”

He continues a few verses later:

Psalm 50:23 (NLT)

But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors me. If you keep to my path, I will reveal to you the salvation of God.”

What God wants from us is an offering of thanksgiving for what He’s done for us. He wants us to sit in amazement at His salvation and then respond to Him appropriately out of our gratitude. At creation, God gave man free will. We are not forced to worship, serve, follow or support. God’s desire is to be glorified and there is no glory in compulsion only resentment.

So, back to where we stand today… Many of you have gratefully sacrificed money, time, talents and effort to make this building a reality. I believe, for most of you, those sacrifices were made out of thanksgiving to God for all that He has done and is doing for you. However, this is only phase one (and I’m not talking about the master building plan). Now, we must ask ourselves, “What does God want us to do now that we’re here?” You see, even though in light of eternity this building is only temporary, it represents an eternal investment in God’s Kingdom.

Randy Alcorn, in his book, The Treasure Principle, puts it this way: “Financial planners tell us, ‘When it comes to your money, don’t think just three months or three years ahead. Think thirty years ahead.’ Christ, the ultimate investment counselor, takes it further. He says, ‘Don’t ask how your investment will be paying off in just thirty years. Ask how it will be paying off in thirty million years.’” God’s greatest desire is to see His most loved creation, man, reconciled to Him and saved from his eternal bondage to sin. So, how can we leverage what God has had us create to make an eternal difference in accomplishing His desire?

We cannot turn in on ourselves in our nice new comfy surroundings and ignore the increasingly uncomfortable world outside our doors. It would be so easy to do that but that is not what God wants from us! God didn’t need a building but He had us build one, why? The only answer must be to glorify Himself by saving more lost souls for His kingdom! Does He need us to do that? Of course not! But He gives us the privilege of being His hands and feet, His ambassadors to deliver His message of salvation to those who are perishing around us. Our first job is to ask ourselves, how? Then we must leave this place and go out into the world around us and do it!

Only by Grace!

Pastor Mike