Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I want to wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

While serving at a food distribution ministry, I asked who knew the very first Christmas song. Many replies came from "We Three Kings" to "Rudolph". I was able to share that the very first Christmas song came from the angels that filled the sky singing, "Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will to men." This was the song God had sung at the birth of Jesus! Much more than a "Happy Birthday" song for sure.

The first Christmas song brought glory to God and announced His plan to bring peace on the earth. This peace is only found in Jesus Christ. While I really enjoy the songs of Christmas (and wished we sang them all year long), the greatest song is found in the Bible. We do not know the tune but we do know the words. One day we will be able to sing around God's Throne the most beautiful song ever sung. A song that only the redeemed of God can sing!

I pray God has put a new song in your heart and that you will sing it all through 2018!

From the Heart,

Pastor BR

Christmas Names

Names are very important. If you have children then you know the pressure of naming your child. They will be known by that name forever. They will write it and say it millions of times. They will hear it called out in large groups of people and spoken softly one on one.

Much thought is given in considering a name. Should it be a family name? A favorite name? A funny name? Some people like their name while others can’t stand their given name. A few legally change their name.

When God had made His plan to send his Son to be the savior of the world, the name He would be given was very important. The name would not only identify him but also speak to his purpose and character. God gave us his name thousands of years before Jesus was born. Isaiah 9:6 gives us five names: Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

I will be preaching on the importance of these names during Christmas at Santuck. If you miss our service on December 17th, be sure and watch it through our website santuckbaptist.org.

I pray you will be encouraged this Christmas knowing that you have a Heavenly Father that loves you so much and has given you the greatest gift of all. And He named his gift especially for you! Praying you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

From the Heart,
Pastor BR

The Gospel

Without the Gospel, the church really doesn't have any good news!

The gospel is at the heart of everything the church does and says. The gospel is the only truly good news the world needs to hear. Everything springs from the gospel. The cross at the center of the gospel. The cross is the fullest expression of God's love for all mankind. Without the cross we have no hope!

Has the cross truly gripped your soul? The cross is not a trinket to be worn around the neck. The cross is power of God to save the soul. The cross is not an object to display but the work of God to place our faith.

When the cross grips your soul it changes everything about you. It changes why you do what you do. It changes how you see things and how you receive things. It changes our response to God from fear to faith. The cross truly changes everything! God has chosen to draw the world to Himself through those who have placed their faith in Christ. The cross is alive and powerful today through believers.

Has the cross gripped your soul? The mission of our lives spring from the cross. The purpose for which we are saved is to share the cross of Jesus Christ with others. The deeper we understand the gospel, the deeper we grow in Christ.

I want to encourage you to reconsider the cross. Let the cross grip you so deeply that you are moved to serve. The world needs the cross. Will you share it? Without the gospel, the church really does not have any good news!

The Wonder of Worship

The Gettys produced a song several years ago entitled, "Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder." The first time I heard this song I was deeply moved. The song reminds us that God is in the little things as well as the big things. When we see a spider's web it shows the wonder of God. Each and every day is filled with God's great gifts for us.
We can easily loose our wonder of worship. As we gather weekly, worship can become a calendar event or just another activity of the weekend. I've even heard some remark that if they miss church on Sunday it throws their whole week off as their calendar is messed up.
I believe one way to keep the wonder in worship is to keep our wonder of God. Remembering His greatness as well as our intimacy with Him each day keeps us amazed at Him. When we have a full wonderment of God, our worship is ignited!
I pray that the next opportunity of worship, you will take the time and renew your wonder of God. Place your focus on Him instead of all the other things surrounding worship. Sing, lift up His name from a heart of wonder.
Praying that the God of Wonder will never cease to amaze us!

From the Heart,
Pastor BR

Church Family

Recently I had surgery that caused me to be out for a few weeks. Certainly not the way I wanted to have vacation! While the recuperation time was necessary, I had a very difficult time being out of the pulpit. I'm not one to miss very often. My church family was, and is, very understanding. They are great prayer warriors that lifted me up daily. While my procedures were not life threatening, they did knock me down for a few weeks. I called on the staff to step in and they did a tremendous job!
I was reminded that being away from church can really get you down. Missing the sweet fellowship and powerful family worship experiences was depressing. I couldn't wait to return to my family of families! I know it is good to take a break from time to time for refreshment and renewal. There are times needed to re-charge the batteries. But I can't understand choosing to not be a part of a church family coming together each week to lift up the Savior and fellowship with believers. To willingly miss worship each week as a child of God is so disturbing. Have we forgotten the love of God? Have we dismissed the price He paid for our great salvation? Can we so easily dismiss lifting His name in praise because of someone or something else?
And yet, most churches find that less than half of their members actually attend on any kind of a regular basis. Churches with thousands on roll see only hundreds come. There are many reasons why this occurs but few would stand up to any scriptural test. I am sure of a few things:
           1. There is no perfect church
           2. You are not going to like everything and everyone all the time
           3. You will probably get your feelings hurt at some point
           4. You won't get your way all the time
           5. You probably aren't going to like all the staff all of the time
           6. Not every service will be to your liking
           7. You may not get visited every time you feel you should have

I am also sure that:
           1. The Lord loves you and wants you in church
           2. Jesus died so you could come
           3. The church loves you even when you don't agree
           4. Hearing biblical truth will challenge you
           5. Imperfect people in church will remain imperfect
           6. Being in church is better than disobedience
           7. You will be with church folks throughout eternity

I pray that you will be faithful to church as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have just drifted away, make a commitment to come back this Sunday. If you have been hurt, forgive and come back as this is being more like Jesus. If you don't like someone, follow scripture and pray for them and then return to worship. Don't let the devil rob you of the opportunity to worship. It is time that we honor the Lord and consider His words as the Body and Bride of Christ!

From the Heart,
Pastor BR

Announcements

Announcements get our attention. Vital information is about to be shared so we listen up. I worked for many years as a professional sports announcer. I saw more baseball games, basketball games, and even rodeo events than I can ever remember. I loved them all. My job was to inform, entertain, and describe the action. It was a lot of fun most of the time. It was really great when the game or event was exciting and came down to the last pitch or the last second!
The scriptures are full of great announcemts from Genesis to Revelation. God announcing creation, the flood, the commandments, and His birth just recall a few. Jesus announced on the cross, "It is Finished!" There is another announcement that moves me each time I read it in the scriptures. In Matthew 28:5-7 , we read of the angel announcing the greatest news of all, "He is not here, He is risen!" This announcement changed everything about us! Jesus conquered death for us. We can have eternal life because of this great victory!
This Easter Sunday I will be preaching on this great announcement. I hope you will be able to be in church this Easter to celebrate the greatest announcement ever made! "He is Risen!"

Family Tree

I have not done an in depth research of my family tree but I do believe that your family tree is important. I know of a few generations of my predecessors but not extensively. I think I'm maybe a little bit scared of what I might find!
We have a spiritual family tree that goes all the way back to the cross. It is filled with interesting characters, unbelievable miracles, and even martyrs for the faith. The Bible records for us the beginning of our family tree which is Jesus. Now that is an exciting family tree!
I am preparing a sermon from 2 Corinthians 2:17-3:3 that is a reminder that we should invest our lives in people. The apostle Paul states that our greatest letter of recommendation is the changed lives of people around us. People can look good on paper and very poor in person. Resumes are written to tell how wonderful a person is, and mostly to get a job. Resumes can be misleading but changed lives are indelible. This begs the question as to what are the people around you like? Are they gossipers? Distorters of the truth? Rumor participants? People who hurt the church? Complainers? If so, then check yourself and your influence. Are the people around you committed to the Word of God? Church builders? Servants in the church? Builders of people? Disciples of Christ? If this is the case, praise the Lord for your letters of recommendation!
I pray you will be a builder of the Kingdom of God. change the hearts around you to reflect the heart of Christ.  We must always remember that expectations do not yield results, obedience does!

From the Heart,
Pastor BR

God is Moving

What an interesting title, "God is Moving." This phrase can be read in many different ways such as suggesting that God is relocating. It could be understood as God is changing His mind. Neither of these are what I want to talk about but the fact that His presence is "moving" among us. As in chapter two of Acts, God moved as a mighty rushing wind. The Holy Spirit came once and for all to reside in the hearts of His followers. God moved in to stay.
God's presence is so real when we are lifting up our voices together in praise and centering on the preaching of God's Word. God is moving in and through His people. When God moves His followers have a choice. They can run away from His presence. They can stand by and watch. But the best response is to join in obedience and respond to His call. Joining Him in His work is the greatest call on our lives.
I want to encourage you to join God in what He is doing. Our world desperately needs His powerful presence in the lives of His followers. Now is not the time to be absent. Now is the time to be fully engaged in the Great Commission with the heart of the Great Commandment.
I encourage you to be faithful to your church in every way and bring the lost to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Nothing else in this life is greater than following Jesus fully.

From the Heart,
Pastor BR

Amazing Times

We live in an amazing time for Christianity! We are on the edge of the Great Commission being fulfilled in our generation. Right now in the United States we celebrate a government that is tolerant to our Christian values and views. Many laws that have stood in the way of biblical morality may be changed very soon. The doors are opening wide for the church to stand tall and impact our nation and the world for the cause of Christ!
Rhetoric will not do the job.  Active obedience of going into the world and sharing the gospel is required. The church is the only institution that God has given His Word and the command to be His hands and feet as well as voice. We now have no excuse for not getting the job done! International change begins with individual change. Church as usual will not get the job done. Preaching and teaching "heart warming" sermons will not work. There is a call to preach the truth of the whole gospel. Sin must be dealt with, people must be loved, and the fellowship must be strengthened.
These are exciting days as we see the hand of God moving and stirring among His people. The great news is that every true believer can be used to live out the truth. You are valuable and equally important to God. Never doubt how God may use you.
This is also a call to prayer. The church must be on it's knees before it goes into the world. Nothing is done without first bathing it in prayer. We are strongest when we begin each day on our knees.
May we see much more of God's work being done because His followers are faithful!
From the Heart,
Pastor BR