Pastor’s Message November 2018

October was a busy month for us at Weedsport First Baptist.  Carol and I took some time off to go down to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where we saw the “Live” Production of “Jesus” at the Sight and Sound Theater.  It really stirred our hearts and I would highly recommend anyone who hasn’t seen it, to take a trip down there to see it, you will not be disappointed.  It would take many sheets of paper for me to describe how powerful this production is, but if you’re interested come see me.  This production goes until January 1st then they are bringing back “Moses.”

While we were on vacation, the church held their Fall Rummage Sale.  There were over 33 tables of many different items.  This sale was very well attended and successful.  Thank you to Liz Breeze and any one that assisted her in any way along with everyone that donated items for this sale.  A lot of hard work and many hours were spent to prepare for this, and in the end, it was very successful.  We wouldn’t have been as successful if you weren’t involved in some way. 

On Saturday, October 13th, we celebrated the wedding of Dan & Cindy Greene at our church. 

Our Prayer Warriors continue to draw names the second Sunday of each month from our Prayer Hat, you give generously to our general fund, deacon fund, missions, bringing pennies for the Heifer Project, non-perishable food item(s) for the food pantry, and come to the Lord’s Table for communion each month.  We began a Bible Study on October 14th, Sunday Nights and October 18th, Thursday Mornings entitled “Grace is Greater” by Kyle Idleman.  We have 19 enrolled in this study.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

On October 15th We hosted a Roast Beef dinner for the Old Brutus Historical Society Museum Members in the Fellowship Hall.  Thank you to everyone that assisted in any way.

On Sunday Night, October 21st, we attended the Hymn Sing at the Meridian First Baptist Church. It was a good night of singing hymns and having fellowship with one another.

I also want to thank Mr. Louie McIntyre for filling in at the organ / piano on October 28th while Jenn Cerio was away.

As we go into the month of November, we’re brought face to face with many of the paradoxes that keep life wonderful, mysterious, painful, uncertainty and reminds us of continuous cycles that have been created in our lives, cultures, spiritual lives, and even in our national life. Our landscapes become a blaze with all the brilliance of the season, only to shed that brilliance and settle into what often seems a bareness of winter hues.  This serves as a reminder of the cycles of life and death built into the scheme of creation.  We reflect on seasons of our lives, and pause to ponder the changes they bring.

October gives way to November, as we pause on November the 11th to remember and honor those men and women that have served our nation in various branches of military service.  For many, those remembrances are painful for many we are touched by memories of those who have paid the ultimate price for their service.  Many of our yearly observances and celebrations are tempered by realities of the cost of freedom and safety, rightly so.

On Thanksgiving Day, we “Give Thanks To God” for everything He has done and provided for us, and just after Thanksgiving, we’re assaulted by harbingers of the Christmas Season, usually put forth by the retail establishment seeking to remove us from a significant portion of our financial assets.  However, before that happens we’re called to make political choices for our municipalities, and nation.  We become bombarded with ads, slogans, debates, posters, flyers, and signs that makes the Christmas onslaught seem like a walk in the park!  As with the Christmas Season, the election season is a time when truth is often overshadowed by glitter, legends, misinformation, greed, and private agendas.  Social Media, the newspapers, TV, and Radio, etc., refers to it as a “mean season” to put it mildly. For many Americans, the incredible privilege of participating in the electoral process brings with it a passion that gives way to an ugliness of spirit, which produces attacks on other people, not policies; intentional mistruths, and half-truths, designed to deceive not convince; disagreements on political agendas, that lead to hatred and disrespect; loss of ability to work out disagreements to the attitude of “my way or no way.”   It indeed can be a mean season.  As Christians, such seasons challenge our own attitudes, conduct, and call to be loving, even toward those whom we might disagree. We’re called to participate in earthly living with a view of the kingdom as our foundation.  We’re reminded that faith can’t be legislated, and no political party has a monopoly on God’s agenda for our people.  Also, God’s righteous purposes are never attained through hatred, personal attacks, deceptions, and the like.

Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, remember there are deeply committed lovers of Jesus that stand at various other points of the spectrum.  In this so called “mean season” the gospel of the Prince of Peace calls on believers to set and follow heavenly standards of love, communication, and tolerance for varying points of view.  It’s my prayer that we’ll be above all peacemakers, allowing God’s spirit to shine in all conversations and attitudes.  If your candidates win, rejoice!  If the opposition wins, handle it with in ways suited to child of the King.  The Apostle Paul told this to the Colossians: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as one body you were called to peace.”  Colossians 3:15 (NIV).  From our hearts may the peace of Jesus Christ extend to our minds, be offered from our lips, and be seen through our actions.  PRAY for our Nation, NOT your agenda for our Nation, but for those that are chosen to lead at various levels of public service.  Be sure to Vote on November 6th.   Remember we remain ONE NATION UNDER GOD!

Keep inviting others to attend church with you. 

God Bless You and have a Safe and Enjoyable Thanksgiving with your family and friends.

In His Service

Pastor Doug

Pastor’s Message October 2018

Fall has arrived, and we feel the coolness in the air.  This change feels good after the hot summer we had. The beautiful creation and colors of fall that God created will soon be visible as the leaves change to their beautiful colors.  The famers will begin harvesting the crops they planted in the spring.  Apple picking has begun, Sweet cider being made.  Children looking forward to going to the pumpkin patch to pick that one special pumpkin to take home to carve for Halloween, then off to the store to find a good costume to wear on Halloween night.  The fall sports are in full swing.  The Nascar and Dirt racing season is winding down. How fast time seems to go by and still so much to do.  However, our schedules continue to be pretty full.  Let me ask you this question about your schedule: “Are you on schedule to become who you want to be?”  Most of us put into our weekly schedules various meetings, appointments, tasks, sporting events, and the list could go on and on.  These are things we need to get done for our jobs, church responsibilities, and family activities etc.

But how many of us put into our schedules what we need to do in order to become who we want to become?    Bill Hybels said to schedule your life according to who or what you want to become, and he gives the following example: One day when his daughter was about three or four years old, she very innocently asked, “Daddy, are you going to be at church again tonight?”  A perfectly innocent question became the catalyst for some serious soul-searching.  Bill grew up with a father who was gone too much.  He was determined not to repeat that pattern.  He wanted to be a great dad, not just a good dad, but a great dad. So he asked himself this question:  If I want to become a great dad, how many nights a week will I need to schedule to be at home to spend time with my family?  His answer was four nights a week at home.  Up until that time, he would schedule meetings and other things he needed to get done to fulfill his church responsibilities, and then his family would get the “leftovers.”  He changed his schedule in order to become who he wanted to become.  He began to schedule four nights a week at home with his family.  He would actually write into his weekly schedule “home” four nights a week (when he was in town).  Four is not a magic number for every man.  But here’s the point:  We don’t become who we want to become by accident.  We don’t become who we want to become by committing the “leftovers’ to that goal.   

So I ask again, “Are you on schedule to become who you want to become?”  Do you want to enjoy good health, fitness and energy when you’re in your 40s,50’s,60s,70s?  Physical fitness doesn’t just happen, you have to schedule exercise and workouts into your daily and weekly schedule.  Putting in 30 minutes of exercise three – five times a week can change your life.  Good relationships and marriages also take work.  That may not sound too exciting, but it’s essential in order for it to last for many years and will grow deeper over time.  Spiritual fitness and spiritual maturity don’t just happen either.  Most Christians that love the Lord would like to become more like Christ, but it just doesn’t happen.  Even with good intentions and a good heart, it doesn’t just happen.  There’s more to growing in Christ-like than scheduling certain spiritual disciplines and good habits into your schedule, but there’s not less than that.  There are certain habits and disciplines that are essential to becoming spiritually mature and more Christ-like. So many people today think of the spiritual disciplines (Bible meditation, prayer, personal worship and daily quiet time, fasting, , solitude, simplicity, submission, etc.) as spiritual activities that we must do in a highly disciplined and structured manner in order to reach God and grow stronger spiritually.  While that’s not entirely wrong, I would propose a healthier and perhaps more accurate way of looking at the spiritual disciplines.  What if we regarded the spiritual disciplines as means God has provided for us to become more Christ-like?  God’s ultimate purpose for our lives is to conform us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus.  In order to act like Jesus outwardly, we must become like Jesus inwardly.  We can’t simply ask “What would Jesus do?” in a particular situation and then go out and do it consistently any more than we can imitate a Michael Phelps, David Beckham, LeBron James or others without practicing.

In His Service,

Pastor Doug

Pastor’s Message September 2018

September quickly approaching. Summer is winding down, vacations are ending, colleges are back in session, elementary and high schools will be back in session in within the next two weeks. The church officers, and committees will be holding their monthly meetings, as well as our choir will be back singing. We’ll begin to feel the chill in the air as we approach the fall season on September 23rd . The baseball season is winding down as the football season is kicking up. Soon grass will slow down its growing and leaves on the trees will change into their Technicolor dream coats, preparing for a winter’s rest. Our church marches on for the Glory of God!

We want to thank Lou McIntyre, Elinor Fults, and Barbara Ward for filling in at the piano and organ during the month of August while our organist Jenn Cerio took some well-deserved time off. I also want to thank everyone for their faithfulness to our church during these past summer months.

As you know, we have talked about Prayer, Waiting for God to answer and Studying God’s Word. Our Prayer Warriors have been faithful in praying for the parishioners attending this church. We’ve had many petitions for prayer and many prayers answered. Praise the Lord! As I was pondering what to write, the question came to me “Who is your source of power?” Here’s my answer: My sources of power is Jesus Christ and God’s Word. It’s my prayer it’s yours as well. Prayer and studying God’s Word are meant to encourage you in your daily living. Ask God in prayer for the wisdom and discernment to teach you how he wants you to pray and what he wants you to pray for. I believe the strongest way of communication with God is through prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) says “ 6  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7  And the peace of God, which transcends all

understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. As Christians we’re to “pray without ceasing.” There are times when I receive a prayer request by text or email, I’m lead by the Holy Spirit to write out a prayer and send it back to the one that sent me the request. These are prayers for any situation or need one has at the time. Writing out a prayer is like sending God a letter but then taking it to him in prayer. Sometimes it hard to know what to say to God and you may find your prayer life is enhanced by writing out your prayer for those in need. You could compose prayers for healing, stewardship, spreading the Gospel message, praying for the needy, and praying to seek a deeper knowledge of God. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray so he taught them the “Lord’s Prayer.” It’s a model prayer He gave us to teach us how to pray. There are times when answers don’t always come easy to prayer.

So, let me ask you a question: If you could give any particular gift to the people of this church, what would it be? Take time to think about this. What do you suppose is needed here? If we we were all together right now I’m sure we would receive very many good answers. What would my answer be? That’s a tough question. There are many things I thought about. If I had it to give to everyone in the church, I would give the gift of a deep desire to pray. I don’t mean just to pray a little bit, or to pray for one particular thing. I really mean to have a daily, deep period of time spent with God and only God, waiting on God’s presence to become real, waiting to know that you are loved, forgiven, gifted and wanted in God’s Kingdom. Luke 11:1-4 (NIV) says “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.” His prayer life wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t because of a crisis, it wasn’t because the camel stopped at a traffic light and he had a brief moment. Mark 1:35 (NIV) says “Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray.” Jesus prayer life was regular, planned and solitary. Look what happened after Jesus times of prayer in the Bible: Mark 1:35-38 Jesus prayed before going out to preach, and then he knew where to go. Luke 4:1-13 After Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit; Luke 5:1-1. He knew whom to call as his disciples. Luke 22:39-46 Before his arrest, Jesus goes into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. Luke 23:33-34. Knowing where to go, with whom to go, forgiving his enemies, these things followed Jesus purposeful, regularly times of solitary prayer.

What would happen to us and in us if we all prayed as Jesus prayed in purposeful, solitary times with God? I think the same things as resulted from Jesus prayer time. We would know more clearly what to do, with whom to minister, and we would be filled with more forgiveness towards others. Good things happen following prayer time!

We don’t talk much with others about our deep prayer time. Maybe it’s because it’s private, or we just don’t want to talk about and not because most of us have not found the time and place to meet God daily in prayer. If purposeful, regular, solitary time spent with God is missing, and if I could I would give the gift of discovering joy reward that comes through this kind of prayer life.

God Bless You! Take Time to Pray and Study God’s Word. You will be Amazed What God Will Do!

Pastor Doug

Pastor’s Message August 2018

We’re coming to the end of the month of August with September quickly approaching.  Summer is winding down, vacations are ending, colleges are back in session, elementary and high schools will be back in session in within the next two weeks.  The church officers, and committees will be holding their monthly meetings, as well as our choir will be back singing.  We’ll begin to feel the chill in the air as we approach the fall season on September 23rd.  The baseball season is winding down as the football season is kicking up.  Soon grass will slow down its growing and leaves on the trees will change into their Technicolor dream coats, preparing for a winter’s rest. Our church marches on for the Glory of God!   

We want to thank Lou McIntyre, Elinor Fults, and Barbara Ward for filling in at the piano and organ during the month of August while our organist Jenn Cerio took some well-deserved time off.  I also want to thank everyone for their faithfulness to our church during these past summer months.

As you know, we have talked about Prayer, Waiting for God to answer and Studying God’s Word.  Our Prayer Warriors have been faithful in praying for the parishioners attending this church.  We’ve had many petitions for prayer and many prayers answered.  Praise the Lord!  As I was pondering what to write, the question came to me “Who is your source of power?”  Here’s my answer: My sources of power is Jesus Christ and God’s Word. It’s my prayer it’s yours as well.  Prayer and Studying God’s Word are meant to encourage you in your daily living.  Ask God in prayer for the wisdom and discernment to teach you how he wants you to pray and what he wants you to pray for.  I believe the strongest way of communication with God is through prayer.  Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  As Christians we’re to “pray without ceasing.”  There are times when I receive a prayer request by text or email, I’m lead by the Holy Spirit to write out a prayer and send it back to the one that sent me the request.  These are prayers for any situation or need one has at the time.  Writing out a prayer is like sending God a letter but then taking it to him in prayer.  Sometimes it hard to know what to say to God and you may find your prayer life is enhanced by writing out your prayer for those in need.   You could compose prayers for healing, stewardship, spreading the Gospel message, praying for the needy, and praying to seek a deeper knowledge of God.  The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray so he taught them the “Lord’s Prayer.”  It’s a model prayer He gave us to teach us how to pray.  There are times when answers don’t always come easy to prayer. 

So, let me ask you a question:  If you could give any particular gift to the people of this church, what would it be?  Take time to think about this.  What do you suppose is needed here?  If we were all together right now I’m sure we would receive very many good answers.              

What would my answer be?  That’s a tough question.  There are many things I thought about.  If I had it to give to everyone in the church, I would give the gift of a deep desire to pray.  I don’t mean just to pray a little bit, or to pray for one particular thing.  I really mean to have a daily, deep period of time spent with God and only God, waiting on God’s presence to become real, waiting to know that you are loved, forgiven, gifted and wanted in God’s Kingdom. 

Luke 11:1-4 (NIV) says “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place.”  His prayer life wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t because of a crisis, it wasn’t because the camel stopped at a traffic light and he had a brief moment. Mark 1:35 (NIV) says “Jesus went off to a solitary place to pray.”   Jesus prayer life was regular, planned and solitary.  Look what happened after Jesus times of prayer in the Bible:  Mark 1:35-38   Jesus prayed before going out to preach, and then he knew where to go.  Luke 4:1-13 After Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness full of the Holy Spirit; Luke 5:1-1.  He knew whom to call as his disciples.  Luke 22:39-46   Before his arrest, Jesus goes into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  Luke 23:33-34.  Knowing where to go, with whom to go, forgiving his enemies, these things followed Jesus purposeful, regularly times of solitary prayer. 

What would happen to us and in us if we all prayed as Jesus prayed in purposeful, solitary times with God? I think the same things as resulted from Jesus prayer time.  We would know more clearly what to do, with whom to minister, and we would be filled with more forgiveness towards others.  Good things happen following prayer time!

We don’t talk much with others about our deep prayer time.  Maybe it’s because it’s private, or we just don’t want to talk about and not because most of us have not found the time and place to meet God daily in prayer.  If purposeful, regular, solitary time spent with God is missing, and if I could I would give the gift of discovering joy reward that comes through this kind of prayer life. 

God Bless You!  Take Time to Pray and Study God’s Word. You will be Amazed What God Will Do!

Pastor Doug