Posts with the category “pastor-leary”

The third Sunday of the month of June marks Father’s Day in the United States of America. Therefore, I thought it very timely for us to consider some Biblical truths regarding fatherhood. God is good and His Word is good! The blessed person will delight in God’s Word and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1). Part of the joy of the Christian walk is being part of the body of Christ which has been commissioned by our Lord to learn to do all that He commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). As believers in Christ, we are to have a biblical worldview in all areas of life and practice, and that includes understanding God’s Word regarding fatherhood.  Read More

In the world, it is not surprising that God’s view of motherhood is not promoted or proclaimed. From the world, we hear messages that teach motherhood is a choice, something to be prevented, and something that can be discarded if an unwanted pregnancy comes upon a lady. But biblically, motherhood is a gift and a blessing from God. For all of us who are reading this article, we ought to thank God for the gift of moms because without them we would not be here.  Read More

In politics what would you rather have, a candidate with the right policies or a candidate with a high approval rating? In a perfect world, the candidate with the right policies would have the highest approvals; but we don’t live in a perfect world. Today, it is possible for candidates to hold wrong policies and have a high approval rating. When that happens, not only are the candidate’s policies in error, but so are those giving their approval to those policies. In other words, approvals are not always good! Approvals simply mean that people think well of a certain subject. The Greek word translated, “approve,” is the word, “syneudokeo”. The first three letters “syn” form a preposition denoting union and it is often translated with or together. The main verb, “eudokeo,” is made up of two parts; “eu” meaning well or good, and “dokeo” meaning, to think. By definition, the word means to think well of together or to be in agreement with others.  Read More

The vast scope of the mission of the church of Jesus Christ is found in the Great Commission; “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Matthew 28:19). Consider those three words, “all the nations”. “All” is in contrast to some, or as the disciples might have been tempted to think, one nation, the nation of Israel. “The” is a definite article emphasizing the nations! “Nations” comes from the Greek word, “ethnos” and takes us back to Genesis 10-12. It was at the Tower of Babel that mankind was separated by God into nations and therefore ethnic groups. “All the nations” paints the grand scope of the Lord’s plan for His church. It is not just about one ethnic group, nor is it about some ethnic groups, but rather the scope is for the church to carry the gospel message to the entire world. This is reinforced in Acts 1:8 when the Lord commanded the apostles, “you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”  Read More

Welcome to 2023! As we begin another year it is good for us to consider time. Time is a precious commodity. For each one of us, our time is limited on this earth. And yet every day, we use our valuable time. Assuming we were not born during this last year, all of us had 8,760 hours or 525,600 minutes of time! And this year we will have the same amount of time to use. But once it is used, we cannot get it back again. We cannot save this asset, but we can redeem it. So as we enter this New Year, it is very important for us to be wise when it comes to time!   Read More

Catchy phrases with ambiguous meanings have become normal in our day! “Choose love,” “Science is real,” and “End Racism” are slogans that can be found on a football field, a bumper sticker, or a political yard sign! But what do those messages really mean? Should we join the chorus and proclaim these statements?   Read More

A distinct imperative for every Christian home is for children to be brought up “in the training of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4). It is distinct, not because children are not brought up in homes, for they certainly are brought up. Nor is it distinct because children are not taught to love and worship; for all parents are worshippers and in their training of their children they will teach their childr...  Read More

Definitions matter! Words have mean- ing! But meaningful words can fall into a meaningless pit when we attempt to define that word by itself. Teachers for years have pro- claimed that you should not define a word us- ing that same word. Yet today, there are many who attempt to define a very meaningful word, “love,” in a very meaningless way, “love is love.” A closer look at the worldview of those that are promoting “love is love,” which is of- ten times publicly displayed using a six- colored rainbow, will lead you to a worldview where good is called evil, righteousness is called intolerance, and truth is relative.   Read More

Let’s face reality; it is not every day you hear a claim that someone rose from the dead!   We would rightfully doubt a claim that a person was raised from the dead, if it involved only mere men. Mankind doesn’t have the power to cause one to rise again. We would rightfully laugh or mock if a human claimed to have that power. But there was a man who walked this earth that was not just an ordinary ...  Read More

There are two potential mistakes that can be made when we view every day based on the present. First, we can mistakenly think that the present is the key to understanding the past.    This error leads to the erroneous philosophy of uniformitarianism, which denies God’s catastrophic judgment of the world through the worldwide flood. The uniformitarianist thinks every day in the past was just like t...  Read More

There is a fascinating adjective that Paul uses to describe the city of Athens. In Acts 17:16 as he saw the city he described it with this transliterated Greek word, “kateidols.” The last five letters, “idols” point us to the main focus of this word. The word begins with the preposition, “kata” which serves as an intensifier. This one word is translated with a variety of phrases in our English translations such as, “wholly given to idolatry” or “given over to idols” or “full of idols.” When Paul saw the city of Athens, he observed an idolatrous city. What makes a community, city, or nation idolatrous? What adjective would Paul use to describe our local region? Why did he describe Athens as “kateidols”?  Read More

If there really was a worldwide catastrophic flood, what would you expect to find today? Genesis 6-8 describes a year-long event that not only had a catastrophic impact on the earth, but also on the life on the earth. Regarding the catastrophic impact on the earth, we read that the fountains of the deep were broken up and the windows of heaven were opened (Genesis 7:11). The waters increased great...  Read More

If you made a list of the most important dates in the history of the world, what dates would be included on that list? One date that should make everyone’s list is the seventeenth day of the second month of the 1,656th year from the creation of the world. The significant events of that day are recorded in God’s history book in Genesis 7:11-16. Genesis 1-9 gives us the history of the first 1,657 ye...  Read More

History records that the early church faced intense pressure to obey man instead of obeying God. The religious leaders of the Jews were filled with indignation as the Apostles were preaching the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins in Jesus’ name throughout all of Jerusalem. These leaders had the apostles threatened, beaten, and thrown into prison in an attempt to stop the spread of the g...  Read More

“The lawless one” is the description that God uses to describe the coming Anti-Christ in 2 Thessalonians 2:8. He will be lawless because he will have no regard for the laws of God. He will live in open rebellion against his Creator. Just like the serpent of old (Genesis 3) had no regard for the commandment not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, so too the Anti-Christ will have...  Read More

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Wow! The potential to bring life or death is wrapped up in the use of our words. Solomon, in the great wisdom that he received from the LORD, knew the power of the tongue. And that is why so many proverbs deal with our tongue. When we recognize the power of the tongue, we will desire God’s wisdom for our words. It is good and right ...  Read More

On Palm Sunday, the followers of Christ cried out, “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The word, hosanna, is a command that means “cause us to be saved now.” Those who cast the palm branches along the road as Jesus traveled to Jerusalem desired Jesus to save them now. Specifically, they wanted the Son of David, the rightful heir to the throne of David, to save them immediately. The salvation that they ...  Read More

One year ago, most of us were just beginning to hear about the COVID-19 virus. And for the last twelve months staying safe from the virus has dominated the news. Varying strategies attempting to keep us safe have been debated and employed, from lockdowns, to masks, to herd immunity, to vaccinations. Today, we are aware of unintended consequences that have arisen from some of these strategies as th...  Read More

Have you ever been at a place where the pressures of life, the anxieties of your mind, or the burdens on your heart become overwhelming? For the Psalmist it wasn’t a matter of “if” he had been there or will be there, but “when” he would be there. Psalm 61:2b states, “when my heart is overwhelmed.” David, the human author of this God-inspired psalm rightly recognizes that as we live life in this fa...  Read More

What do you believe about God? It has been said that what a person believes about God is the most important thing about a person. Now, if God never revealed Himself to us we would all be in trouble. But the good news is God has made Himself known to us. And a primary way to know what to believe about God is through His Word. The most times the term, “God,” is used in a chapter of Scripture or in a...  Read More

What happens when our expectations are high, but then they are not realized? Consider a child who has high hopes to receive a certain gift, only to be disappointed when the gift is opened. When you look at the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the coming of Jesus Christ, one would rightfully expect a King who would rule the nations. For example, Isaiah 9:6-7 declares, “For unto us a Child ...  Read More

As the Israelites were rebuilding Jerusalem, they needed a place for the entire congregation to gather to hear the Word of the Lord. Now, unlike Western New York, the climate in Jerusalem did not necessitate an enclosed building for their meeting, but it did require a large space and the building of a platform. Nehemiah 8:4 describes this occasion, “So Ezra, the scribe, stood on a platform of wood...  Read More

“Who Am I?” Approximately 6,000 years ago, I came into existence! I was a criteria used by God for forming the nations! I am used as a description of the church of Jesus Christ! I was designed by God, created by God, and have been used by God since day six of the creation week. I have been and continued to be under attack by Satan and this world’s system. People have tried to minimize and marginal...  Read More

I know what you might be thinking, “Pastor, we are not suppose to talk about politics.” But the reality is the Scriptures talk a great deal about politics. There is even an entire book in the Bible written by a king to prepare his sons to govern a nation; the book of Proverbs. Certainly, Proverbs is written so that every person can gain wisdom from God, but the specific context of the book is King...  Read More

Have you ever tried to write out your family tree? It is a noble exercise to learn the roots of your family’s history. Over the years, we have received many phone calls in the church office from people asking if we have records of their family members in our church records, as they seek to accurately recount their family tree. One person shared that she had traced her family tree all the way back ...  Read More

There are many things that we as Americans are currently concerned about saving. Save lives, save the economy, save our liberties, save jobs, and save the sports season are just some of the many things we want to save. And in this time of crisis, many people out of fear are asking the question, what must I do to save my life from COVID-19?In Acts 16:30, a prison guard asked the question, “What mus...  Read More

We are at war with a virus! I am grateful for our federal, state and local leaders who are doing their best to protect our country during this time of war. I am thankful for those on the front lines serving in our hospitals and in the medical realm seeking to provide healing to our wounded. Our citizens are like soldiers exercising great discipline in personal hygiene and social distancing so as n...  Read More

Last month we asked the question, “did Jesus sing?” The answer was a resounding “Yes.” This month we want to ask, “Did Jesus memorize Scripture?” And again the answer is a resounding, “yes.” And like last month, we want to allow the example of Christ to encourage us in our spiritual walk.Now we might say that Jesus had an unfair advantage, because being fully God, He already knew every jot and tit...  Read More

Did Jesus sing when He lived on the earth? If He did, why and when did He sing? Furthermore, if Jesus sang, how should that impact our lives today? If Jesus, the Head of our Church, our Lord and our Savior, sang while He was on the earth and if we are to be growing in Christ-likeness, then the answer to these questions ought to impact our lives. With 100% certainty we can say that Jesus sang while...  Read More

When you run a race, you have an expectation that provides tremendous encouragement. Let me try to explain. In 2019, one of my daughters and I had the opportunity to run a half-marathon (13.1 miles). It was a hot and sunny September Saturday morning. When the gun went off and the race began, every runner had an expectation: at the 13.1 mile mark, there would be a finish line. When you start the ra...  Read More

Usually one of the last things associated with Christmas is fear and certainly not “great fear.” Yet, in The Gospel According to Luke, the author emphatically declares that on the night of Christ’s arrival, the shepherds were greatly afraid (Luke 2:9). And these shepherds were not wimps. They spent many nights in darkness fending off predators as they defended and protected their sheep. Yet, on th...  Read More

In Western New York, harvest is generally connected with the days of late Summer and early Autumn. As a church, we are looking forward to our Harvest Dinner on Sunday, November 10th at 5:00 p.m. Please feel free to invite others to join us for this wonderful meal with a celebration baptismal service to follow. Although there is no cost and tickets are not needed, we do ask that each person signs u...  Read More

No matter where you turn, it is likely you will hear someone say something about global warming or climate change. This subject has infiltrated our public education system, it has dominated political events, and itfrequently is promoted through news outlets. Some will make doomsday predictions, while others claim that the science does not support the alarming cries. How is anyone to know what to b...  Read More

Tragically, our nation’s attention has been gripped again this summer by two mass shootings. As victims’ families are still grieving, as investigators are still trying to figure out the motives, as lawmakers are searching for answers, and as citizens ask the question “why,” it is good for us to turn to the Scriptures to understand what is at the root of mass shootings.Many have accurately describe...  Read More

One of the battles that the Apostle Paul had to face was with false teachers who taught that a person was saved or justified (declared righteous by God) by their works. Galatians 2 and Acts 15:1 clearly teach that there were false brethren who taught that one must be circumcised in order to be made right with God. There is nothing new under the sun. Today, there are many people blinded to the true...  Read More

On the first day of the week, nearly 2,000 years ago the Lord Jesus Christ rose victoriously from the grave. Just a few short days ago, we at First Baptist Church of Ham-burg had a resurrection celebration as we shared a wonderful meal and then participated together in a joyful worship service. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the corner-stone of the gospel and without it everything falls apart...  Read More

Given to hospitality! That is for people who live in the South where they are known for their Southern hospitality, right? Others might look at the phrase, “given to hospitality” and think that is only for married people who own their own homes. And many times men might be guilty of thinking that hospitality is what ladies do! According to the Word of God, all Christians are to be given to hospita...  Read More

Approximately 7.5 billion people live on the earth that God created. Of those 7.5 billion people, we can really divide them into two categories. They either believe in the Lord Jesus Christ or they do not believe in the Lord Jesus Christ (John 3:36). The church, comprised of believers from around this world, has been commissioned by the Lord Jesus Christ with a two-fold task. The first task involv...  Read More

There is a war that every generation of mankind has experienced. This war will continue to impact all of human history until this earth is no more. Multitudes have been taken captive by the enemy and the casualties from this war far exceed all of the World Wars combined. This war began in heaven but quickly spread to God’s creation on earth. The battle ground for this war takes place in the hearts...  Read More

Well Done! No, this article is not about how you would like your hamburg-er cooked. It is about having the Lord Jesus Christ say those words to us be-cause of the way we live this New Year. My college soccer coach often used the phrase “well done” whenever my team or one of the players on my team did something right. As a team, we wanted to play in such a way that he would say those words to us. H...  Read More