We Will Remember
May 30, 2016
Scripture
Remember the days of long ago; think about the generations past. Ask your father, and he will inform you. Inquire of your elders, and they will tell you.
~Deuteronomy 32:7, NLT
Quote
Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time and the government when deserving. {Right now, there are not deserving}
~Mark Twain
All wars are unnecessary in the sense that someone is being extremely selfish and demanding their way. In American history, the civil war was the most costly {almost 700,000 if you include civilian casualties} and it was totally unnecessary. Slavery was doomed in the Western hemisphere; it was simply a matter of time. The war was not about slavery: that’s what they want you to believe because it gives them the moral high ground but they are being dishonest. The South did not want to be bullied. The debate on slavery could have been settled if Lincoln could have exercised some patience. With or without Lincoln, the institution of slavery was coming down. He sacrificed 700,000 lives to get it a few years sooner. Every boy that died was an American and that should have tormented Lincoln and his staff but it only strengthen their resolve to crush the South by whatever means necessary.
Some say that Viet Nam was a bad war. In my opinion, they are all bad. The atrocities committed by the Nazis in WWII are unfathomable. How can any human be so inhuman as to starve entire countries. The Nazis literally starved the Dutch. When the allies finally got to the Dutch, they were skeletons with a bit of flesh, ghostly eyes and breath. Many were still alive but barely: some we saved while others were too far gone to recover. One of the American soldiers who discovered barns and buildings where the Nazis had incarcerated men and were starving them to death said the sight was so horrible that he had never been able to erase the image from his mind.
The sad reality is: evil is real and there are times when good people have to fight. The boys, and I do mean boys, who were killed by Union troops at New Market are remembered annually at VMI. They were teenagers, students at Virginia Military Institute and they were trained by real military men like Robert E. Lee who was a man of integrity and nobility. These young men fought for honor. Robert E. Lee had more integrity in his little pinkie than the entire staff of the Union Army and that would include their commander in chief. Robert E. Lee did not attack civilians nor did he burn cities to the ground.
Either way you approach the subject, we would not be free if it were not for the sacrifices for our men and women in uniform. Politicians had little to do with our freedom. Politicians are more into enslaving than liberating. Our heroes are not in the Senate. There are some charlatans like John Kerry who pretend to be heroes but our real heroes are those who put their life on the line and certainly those who have paid the ultimate price. If Obama and the Congress had one ounce of integrity: they would stay completely out of sight today because today is not about them.
My Father on the left and June’s on the right: they came home but they never forgot about those who didn’t.
Tips From The Pharisee On Twitter
May 29, 2016
-
There is no limit to what God could do through you if it were not for your unconfessed sin.
-
God loves all but He chooses to work powerfully through those of us who are clean instruments.
-
There is no limit to what you can do if you don’t mind stealing the credit from others.
-
I always begin my testimony–I don’t want any praise, give all the glory to God.
-
Some people have a way with words; other not have way.
-
God may love you but He has a wonderful plan for my life.
-
I’m purpose driven to be a better preacher so I can get a bigger church for the glory of the LORD.
-
I use to be Arminian and then I read the KJV.
-
Pray for Baptist in China, they are not using the KJV.
-
Bullet proof vest keep you from getting killed, life vest keep you from drowning and sweater vest keep you in style.
Worship
May 29, 2016
Scripture
The one thing I ask of the LORD — the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, delighting in the LORD ’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
~Psalms 27:4, NLT
Quote
Enter His presences thanksgiving and praise and He will enter your circumstances with his power and grace.
~Image Quotes
Everyone needs a sanctuary; we all need a place to go to get away from the condemnation and critical eye of the world. David loved to go to the Tabernacle, the tent of meeting and spend time with the LORD. David went to the tabernacle to delight, to meditate on the Lord’s perfection. Worship is not about us. It is not about our sin or shortcomings. We don’t go to worship to focus on our sin, we go to focus on our sinless Savior. If Jesus was not sinless, we would have no one to worship. When we congregate, the primary objective is not to talk about what is wrong with us but what is right with Jesus.
Obviously, we will not worship unless we confess our sinfulness but that is not the focus of our worship. Psalm 27 addresses our problem of fear and we all have it. The good news is that Jesus didn’t: He was not afraid, not ever and by grace He becomes our courage. I love to meditate on Jesus courage. I try to imagine being there the day He made the whip and drove out the merchants and bankers. The Jewish Religious Establishment, made up of elite and wealthy Jews, hated Jesus with a passion and they still do. Jesus was not afraid, He marched right into their stronghold and He never flinched. Wow! What a magnificent Savior.
- Spent the day on the road visiting: didn’t get a lot done but did have some quality visits. Kathleen Anders is in DGH. She has COPD and she believes she is in the last stages. Most of you don’t know Kathleen, she is Hugh’s first cousin and a female version of the same. She’s feeling rather low. She was in the room beside Tom and we didn’t know it.
- Tom’s Celebration of Life Service will be Tuesday, First Baptist Hartselle at 2:00 and visitation will be Monday night 5:00-8:00 at Pecks. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, brother Joe Bennich, daughter Debra Anne Bennich and a son Darrell Brian Bennich. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Edith Smithson Bennich, Two SonsDewayne Bennich (Carol) of Falkville, Dan Bennich (Christy) of Hartselle, one daughter Donna Bennich Rushen (Jim) of Summerville, SC and two brothers Larry Bennich (Linda) of Decatur and Rex Bennich (Karen) of Hartselle. Pallbearers are: Barry Pearson, Mike Childers, Steve McKee, Stacy Adams, Joe David Bailey, Charles Sanford, Charles Quinn and Joe Howell.
Members of the Morgan Baptist Disaster Relief Team, First Baptist Ramp Builders and members of the Morgan South Gideons Camp will serve as Honorary Pallbearers.
Don’t Waste Your Sorrows
May 28, 2016
Scripture
Israel, you have seen so much, but what has it meant to you?
~Isaiah 42:20, GNT
Quote
Rebels never take notes.
~Ya’akov
It would make sense to make a note of what does not work and especially that which leads to destruction and disaster but Israel refused to see what was happening to them. Isaiah said, “You have eyes but you don’t see, ears but you refuse to hear. God has made you feel the force of His anger and to suffer the violence of war. Like a fire, His anger burned throughout Israel but you never knew what was happening; you learned nothing from it all.”
You may find this statistic hard to believe but 76.6% of prison inmates are repeat offenders.An unbelievable 56.7% are arrested and incarcerated within the first year of their release. If I had to do a week in prison, I guarantee you, I wouldn’t spit on side walk once I got out: the last thing I would want is to return to prison.
Some years ago, someone studies the history of Israel during the period of the Judges and came up with what we call the CYCLE OF SIN. Slavery, Israelites cry out to God {Prayer}, miraculous deliverance, peace and prosperity, sin and rebellion, apathy and indifference, oppression and persecution, then back to slavery and bondage. America is somewhere between indifference and oppression which means persecution will be next.
What do you call a person who refuses to learn from their mistakes? Dumb, stupid, hardheaded, rebellious, proud, slow, a dimwit or dipstick! One thing is for sure, he or she is not bright.
- Tom Bennich, a friend of DBC, was promoted May 27, a little after 4:00 PM. Tom hadhis bags packs and was ready to go. If ever I saw a man homesick, it was Tom. Most of us are thrilled when we wake up from a surgery: I got the feeling Tom was disappointed. I talked to him a couple of times earlier in the week and so did Joe David, we both thought he was going to make it. Mrs. Edith wanted him to pull through and so did we but the LORD and Tom had something else in mind. On the way back from the hospital June said, “Tom is going to be missed.” The first thing I thought of was LUKE 14: it will not seem right without Tom. He was the most Mission Minded man I’ve ever known: He loved his church [1st Hartselle] but he didn’t stop there, the loved DBC and many more. There is no telling how many mission trips he made or how much money he gave away–truly, only the LORD knows.
- Well, we got started on our visitation and had some great visits but didn’t get a lot of ground covered. We appreciate Rebekah and David feeding us last night. Rebekah served a delicious meal and we got to see their new house. This is twice this week that we have got to see a new house. Also had delightful visits with Vanda and Bobby, Bruce and Sandy and with Roger. Dot wasn’t home so I can’t count that one. You could help me out by giving me an appointment, especially those who work in the day time.
- One service only Sunday: 10:15 am.
MEMORIAL DAY…THIS IS WHAT IT IS ABOUT
Others
May 27, 2016
Scripture
No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.
~I Corinthians 10:24, NIV
Quote
“We can raise ourselves by lifting up others.”
~Image Quotes
The Corinthian church had a serious problem; it was filled with selfish members. The church was divided into four groups and each group insisted on having their way. This selfish ambition destroyed their unity and was hurting their fellowship. Paul’s solution to the problem was to challenge them to grow up and learn to put others first.
We are born with a self-centered tendency that demands attention and preeminence. Chloe, our youngest grandchild is four and she acts like a four year old, which is OK. She wants all the attention and everything must go her way or she gets bent out of shape. What can be cute and adorable in a four year old is annoying in a fourteen year old. It is sickening in a twenty-four year old and disgusting in a thirty-four year old. A lot of people have the ability to be parents {father or give birth to a child} but very few these days have the ability to put their children first. It is the curse of the 21st Century.
Sometimes I want to pick them up an shake them and scream in their face–“It is not about you…it is time for you to get over you…grow up, be a man [woman]…put your children’s needs first…no, I really don’t care if you are happy…It is not about you…don’t you get it…it is not about you!” Senior Adults can be guilty also: we have had our opportunities, it is time to encourage those who are younger to lead. Unfortunately, the older we get, the more we are prone to acting like the four year old. We must resist this temptation and put others first.
- God is good all the time. We had another great visit with Hope last night. You would not believe the difference; I can’t believe it myself–Thank YOU Jesus! Eddie and Sue were on their way in from Orange Beach, they joined us for the worship celebration and visited with Hope for what little time we had after the service. We are blessed to have such good friends. Hope continues to get cards. I think she got seven yesterday including one from Vellene and Cousin Melanie. Thank you so much: we are endebted to you for a life time.
- As we move toward Memorial Day, keep in mind the changes for SUNDAY–One service at 10:15. Coffee, donuts and biscuits at 9:30 in the parlor.
- Everyone on the beach hollow I. Just kidding! Hope you guys have a good time. Poor old Big Mama and I are brokenhearted, home alone! Chloe loves the beach but wants to come home at night to sleep in her bed.
I am pumped about MEMORIAL DAY!
The Amen
May 26, 2016
Scripture
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.
~2 Corinthians 1:20, NIV
Quote
The Old Testament is a book of prophecies and promises but a part from Christ, these promises are worthless.
~Ya’akov
Paul said in Ephesians 1:4, “Every spiritual blessing comes through Christ.” You cannot name one exception. Forgiveness, peace, purpose, privilege of prayer, justification…you name it, they all come through Christ. This is why so many Jews hate Jesus. Although Jews have been privileged as the chosen people, it gives them no advantage unless they repent of their sins and turn to Christ, which they refuse to do. Jews cannot secure the spiritual blessings of God without coming to Christ and neither can anyone else.
- Good crowd at church last night: I was pleasantly surprised. Thank You Jesus.
- Revised schedule for Sunday: Donuts and biscuits at 9:30, and worship at 10:15. No Deacons meeting, No LCBS and no PM services.
- Election June 5,12: Pastor Search Team. Business meeting June 12 after am worship.
VBS June 12-17
Exhaustion
May 25, 2016
Scripture
He strengthens those who are tired.
~Isaiah 40:29, CEV
Quote
The key to success is the discipline to do what you need to do even when you don’t feel like doing it.
~Anonymous
All humans are subject to fatigue. I was so exhausted yesterday evening that I went home and took a nap before going to the hospital, then graduation, then the party and then the clean up. I got home last night at 10:41. Had I not went home at 3:30 and took a nap, I would not have made it. Isaiah said, “Even those who are young grow weak: young people fall exhausted.” I was talking to the parents of a 4 year old son the other night and I said, “What I would give for his energy.” His dad smiled and said, “He will crash about ten tonight: He going wide open one minute and laying asleep on the couch the next.”
Does the name Sławomir Rawicz ring a bell? Probably not: Rawicz was a Polish man sentenced to 20 years hard labor in Siberia. There the men worked in mines of salt, lead, silver and gold. The conditions were deplorable and it was not uncommon for men to fall exhausted on the frozen ground and never get up again. They became so tired and exhausted, they gave up. Rawicz lead six others to escape including one American and one Russian. They navigated two mountain ranges and one desert before finding asylum in India. A young Russian girl joined them once that got out of Siberia but she was too weak to make it across the desert, she and four of the men died from exhaustion. They simply got so tired that they refused to get back up.
If you like survival movies, the title is THE WAY BACK staring Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris. It did remind me that fatigue can be a problem for all ages. Isaiah said, “Those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”
Eagles are like humans in that they tire but a weary eagle looks for a thermal, a pocket of warm air that is rising. When the bird gets into the thermal, the warm air under its wings lifts it higher and higher to a cruising altitude where it can soar. Jesus is the wind beneath our wings.
- We have a lot of workers who are going to be gone Sunday. We are considering a worship service only with the DEBT RETIREMENT OFFERING still in play. I’ve been talking to our leaders and workers, we will make a decision today. It is not going to be a great time for the Debt Retirement offering but we don’t have a choice, it has to be on the 5th Sunday.
- We had another load leave for the beach last night: Landon and Mylee leave tomorrow for Smoky Mountains. That’s going to leave June, Seth, Joe David’s crew and me.
VBS June 12-17
The Ways Of The Wicked
May 24, 2016
Scripture
The wicked are too proud to turn to YOU or even think about YOU.
~Psalms 10:4
Quote
The worse wickedness is that we refuse to acknowledge the passionate evil that is in us.
~David H. Lawrence
Years ago I visited a young man and did something I don’t normally do on a first visit, I shared the gospel presentation known as FOUR SPIRITUAL LAWS. I thought the guy was showing interest although he expressed no desire to repent of his sins or ask Christ for salvation. I went back a month or so later to follow up and this time, he was in a totally different mood. I could sense that he was not glad to see me. You know me, I can’t leave well enough alone so I asked him, “Have you thought about what we talked about on our last visit?” “Nope,” he said, “It hasn’t crossed my mind.”
At first I thought it was a ploy to get rid of me but now I’m not sure. I think Psalms 10:4 may be in play…“The wicked are too proud to turn to God or even think about Him.” Jesus tells us about such a man in Luke 12. The man was a very successful farmer but never gave one thought to God or others. Can any human being be this narcissistic? My answer would be “Yes.”
Wickedness is its own punishment: like a cancer, it consumes from the inside out.
- June and I graduated two more last night: three down and six to go. It was 10:41 when we go home from the party which is late for me.
- Everybody and their brother are going out of town: we have some headed for the beach and some for the mountains. June and I are stuck at home: I really hate that, not!
PRAY FOR VBS JUNE 12-17
Thank You LORD
May 23, 2016
I haven’t been doing a Sunday night blog but I am going to make an exception. The Lord is gracious and merciful and I am thankful to be a part of His great kingdom. We had over 1200 in church today and I am not exaggerating. We had a little less than 300 for the communion service which was good. We were thrilled to welcome Jesse, Ginger and Jake into the fellowship of our church. Then at 2:00 we had over 400 for Wee Care Graduation and the Lord was there to help us share the gospel. Then Baccalaureate was a record; I am guessing 500 plus. They parked in the grass. We had 92 of the 101 graduates present. This is over 90% and is unprecedented in the 29 years these kids have been doing Baccalaureate. In the early years, school officials not only refused to support it, they forbade the Senior class sponsor from helping. This changed a few years back. Gilmer supported it during his tenure. I tried to get the Decatur Daily to do an article on the Danville kids and they refused, said it was not news worthy. In spite of all the discouragement, these kids keep doing it year after year. When they come, they know they are going to hear the gospel and they come anyway. Tonight I had an entire family thank me for our part in this endeavor. I am especially proud of Bethany Beavers. Her presentation of the gospel was humble and moving. I felt for Joe David. I was afraid he would have nothing to add but he did and of course I am proud of him. We want to thank our trustees and deacons who came to help: we had to bring in 30 chairs or so just for the seniors. Holy and her team did pretty good on the reception. Yeah, I am proud of Holly too, she does very good to be the baby. I also want to thank the crew from Athens who went to check on Hope for us. All in all, it was a good day and we are thankful.
Hope In Christ
May 22, 2016
Scripture
And this hope will not lead to disappointment.
~Romans 5:5, NLT
Quote
Life is filled with disappointments.
~Nayola Bailey
A woman called the police chief complaining about the fallibility of his policemen. I will never forget his response, “Lady, there is one problem, we recruit from the human race.” Nobody is perfect. I wish I could say that I’ve never disappointed anyone but I can’t and neither can you. Disappointment and heartbreak are inevitable. If your heart has never been broken, don’t boast, you aren’t through living yet.
I’ve been coaching my Granddaughters. It is probably not sinking in but I have tried. I keep telling them to lower their expectations. I have accepted the fact that humans are human, just like kids are kids. Some people expect kids to be mature but they are children. Where you mature when you were a child?
The best advice is put all your eggs in one basket, put your hope, your faith, confidence in Jesus. Put HIM on a pedestal and no one else. This includes your wife, your children, your grandchildren and especially your pastor.
Bottom line: we don’t stop loving someone because they failed. This is the great thing about agapē, it is an undeserved love. A love you cannot earn. Thank YOU Jesus!
- Big day ahead: Deacons Meeting, LCBS, SENIOR DAY, Communion, WEE Care Graduation and Baccalaureate. I may as well stay at church.
- Tom Bennich is remarkably better: I’d say, the LORD has done a miracle.
- Ruth Livingston did not get to come home. They are making her stay two extra days for being mean to her pastor. Just kidding, Ruth was good to me when I saw her Thursday. She is going to be transferred to Summerford.
- Vote on PASTOR’S SEARCH TEAM June 5,12. Business Meeting June 12.
- Senior 1996 and 2016
Jack's Blog 