I saw this video on Youtube and immediately thought, "This is a picture of what the church is, or what it should be." I found it very inspiring. Let me know what you think.

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving 2009 is here already. Time just seems go more quickly every year. This year, I will be driving to Atlanta for Thanksgiving with my family. It takes about 12 hours to drive all the way down, I find the drive relaxing and it gives me time to think and change the pace of life a bit. I also have some stops planned along the way to meet old friends from days gone by. These planned “coffee stops” are always great ways to pay a quick visit to great friends. This year when I arrive in Atlanta, I am planning to have lunch with some high school friends. One of them I haven’t seen in 20 years! Unbelievable. I am thankful for the opportunity.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for family and friends. I remember the ministry of those who witnessed to me and prayed for before I was saved. I am grateful for the love, prayers, support and patience shown to me by the people of God. I am grateful to the people of God who endured so much bad preaching while I practiced and grew. I appreciate those who put up with my immaturity and ignorance.

I am thankful for my church family. When you read the book of Philippians, you will notice that Paul had mostly positive things to say about that church. The only negative comment Paul makes is in 4:2, where he encourages to women to walk together in Christian unity. Everything else Paul has to say to this church is positive in nature.

Was the church in Philippi a perfect church? Absolutely not! It was the same as any other church made up of redeemed sinners. There were gossips there. There were troublemakers there. There were people who said the wrong things at the wrong time. There were people who did the wrong things. There were people with bad attitudes. There were people there of every kind and description.

If these people were imperfect and prone to failure, why is there no mention of their negatives? When Paul wrote to this church he did not write to focus on the negative things he knew about them. He wrote to emphasize the positives among the people of God.

These people were praying for Paul. They were witnessing and sharing the Gospel. They were working, they were giving sacrificially. They many, many good things that they were doing and Paul chose to see those good things and he refused to focus on the negative things!

It’s real easy to be negative isn’t it? I think we fail to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect church and that there is not church thing as a perfect Christian. It is so easy to focus in on what others say and do. It is so easy to see the negatives, but it is so hard to see the positives. Did you know that true love always sees the best in others, 1 Corinthians 13:5, 7, 8?

When I love you like I should, I will not zero in on your negatives. I will remember that I have many issues in my life too. If I really love you like I ought to, I will pray for you when I see something I don’t like, but I won’t criticize you. I won’t talk about you. I won’t put you down or look down on you. When I love you like I should, I will be able to look past the negatives in your life to see the positives. (Proverbs 10:12; 17:9)

What do you see when you look at your church family? Are you prone to see just the things you don’t like? Do you focus in on the negative? Are you one of those people who rarely have a good word to say about anything or anyone? Are you one of those folks who is always finding fault? If that is you, there is a problem in your life! A person who is consistently that way has one of two problems.

1. They are not controlled by the Holy Spirit but the flesh. (The things I mentioned: bitterness, resentfulness, holding grudges, etc. are all works of the flesh and not the Spirit – Gal. 5:19-24)

2. They have never been saved!

Or, are you the kind of person who seems to be able to find the good in others? They do wrong, but you forgive them and give them the benefit of the doubt. They say things that hurt, but you let it roll on off. They don’t do it like you would do it, but you allow them to be the person the Lord wired them up to be. If you are that kind of a person, you are walking in love!

Please don’t misunderstand; love never turns a blind eye to sin! Jesus dealt with sin in the lives of believers and unbelievers and called it what it was. The difference between us and Jesus is that He perfectly loved those He was forced to rebuke. We tend to have a problem doing that! He reacted in love; we tend to react in anger.

The sad truth is many wrong relationships flourish in our churches today. There are people who will not forgive others for their past words and deeds. There are always little groups that gather to grumble and find fault with what the church is doing. There usually seems to always be some person or persons who are out of sorts with the rest of the local assembly. As a result of this state of affairs, the church is powerless! As a result of our lack of genuine love and forgiveness, souls are not saved and real revival never comes. We need to learn to love properly!

Paul does something here that is much needed in our churches today. He takes the time to say “Thank you” to those people who had been a blessing to him.

I find that we are not too good at doing that! We need to express our love, our thanks and our appreciation to those who have been a blessing to us. Maybe you need to go to someone and say “Thank you. You have been a blessing to me.” You might need to write a letter, make a phone call or send an E-mail and tell someone what a blessing they have been in your life. Thanksgiving is a great opportunity for this!

What do you remember this Thanksgiving?

No matter how hard I try to keep from getting a bad cold, it seems to happen every year. This year, I didn't think it would happen so quick! I was so careful to wash my hands and try not to be around people who were sneezing and coughing. Well, it didn't work. I got a cold, known as the common cold, caused from a Rhinovirus. Whenever I hear the word Rhinovirus, I immediately think of a Rhinoceros -- the animal. The Rhinovirus actually comes from the Greek word "rhin" which means nose (John McCaw will appreciate the Greek usage). There are 110 known types of this virus that can make us sick. You can get it from the air, touching a door knob, and a myriad other ways. And of course everyone has their own home remedy. I'm willing to try all of them, I just want to feel better!

The average cold lasts from 2 - 10 days. Well, tomorrow is day 10 for me (I am above average), and I am guessing that it will take a few more days to get rid of. So, whats the spiritual application? When I get to heaven there will be no more colds!

A common expression says that we should “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” Ecclesiastes 3:8 declares that there is “A time to love and a time to hate.” Many people think the Bible advocates loving everything and never hating anything. If Christians speak against any form of sin, some people seem to think this is a violation of the Bible teaching about love. They may say, “God is too loving to send people to hell” or “Preaching against sin will drive people away. What you need is more of the love of Christ.” But the Bible teaches there is “a time to hate” Hatred is not always contrary to the Bible. In fact there are things we are commanded to hate, and some things are sinful to love (1 Timothy 6:10). So what do we love and what do we hate? There are three points to consider.

First, we should love all people, including sinners and enemies. “Love” re-fers to concern for the well-being of others. We should not want to harm or destroy them, but see them receive what is best for them. With this in mind, let us consider all whom we should love. We should love our families (Ephesians 5:25-29; Titus 2:4; 1 John 3:11-12). We should love other Christians (John 13:34-35; 2 Corinthians 12:20; 1 Thessalonians 3:12). We should love our neighbors (Matthew 22:36-39; Luke 10:25-27). We should love people of other races and social classes (Luke 10:25-37; John 4:9; Acts10:24-25, 28). Finally, we should love even sinners and enemies (Luke 6:27-28, 31-33; 23:34; Romans 5:6-9).So “love the sinner” is a valid Bible principle, but it does not mean, as some believe, that we must approve their sinful conduct. It means we do not want to destroy them or harm them, but we want them to receive what is best. We want them especially to repent and be saved (Luke 13:3, 5; Acts 2:38; 17:30-31). Second, we should also hate and oppose all sin. We do not seek the destruction of the sinner, but we do seek the destruction and elimination of all sin. God hates evil but loves righteousness (Proverbs 6:16-19; 11:20; 15:9;Hebrews 1:9). The idea that God loves everything, so we should love everything, is simply false. It is extremely dangerous because it leads people to think God will ignore sin, so people can continue to sin without suffering eternal consequences. Furthermore, love for God requires us to hate evil (Deuteronomy 7:25-27; Psalm 97:10; Proverbs 8:13; Matthew 6:24; 1 John2:15-17).

So the issue is not whether we love or hate, but what we love and what we hate. Because of the things we love, there are things we must hate. It is impossible to love everything, because some things are direct opposites. If you love one, you must hate its opposite. The more you love one, the more you hate its opposite. The more you love God, the more you hate evil, because God and evil are opposites. The less you hate evil, the less you love God. When your hatred and opposition to evil grows weak, you need to realize that this is because your love for God has grown weak! Love for truth and righteousness also requires us to hate evil (Psalm 36:1-4,119:104, 127-128, 163; Romans 12:9). Often the reason people do not want God and His people to hate evil is that those people themselves are practicing evil. They have not found where God’s word says it is wrong to oppose evil, but they themselves are evil and they do not want their evil to be rebuked. But righteous people, who understand God’s will, do not object to sin being hated. They see evil it in its proper form: ungodliness. Third, love for sinners and hatred of evil should cause us to rebuke and discipline sin. Love for sinners is not a reason to keep quiet about sin. Instead it is a reason we should speak out against it! It is amazing that so many people are against the rebuke of sin, but there are so many passages which advocate the practice (Leviticus 19:17-18; Proverbs 17:15; Mark 10:21-22; Luke 17:3; Ephesians 4:15; 5:11; 2 Timothy 2:24-26; 4:2-4; Titus 1:9-14; James 5:19-20; Revelation 3:19).

We speak out against sin, not because we are mean and hateful, but because God gives us no choice. If we keep quiet, God will condemn us! Opposition to sin is often not appreciated and is even mistaken for hatred. Our liberal society rebels against all forms of opposition to evil. They try to make Christians appear to be wrong if we speak against sin. They call us “hate-mongers” and “antis” and “bashers.” This is nothing new for the scriptures mention animosity towards truth many times (1 Kings 22:8; Proverbs 9:8; Amos 5:5, 10; John 7:7; Galatians 4:16). The issue is truly a matter of love. If people accuse us of lacking love, we should not avoid the issue of love. Instead we should show that the real issue is what we should love and what constitutes proper love.

When sin is rebuked because we love truth and love the souls of those who sin, we have proper love. The person who objects is the one who has misplaced love. We should always act out of love according to God’s word (Jude 20-23). If we fail then truly God is not pleased (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). But when we love the sinner and we love truth, we will have mercy on the lost and try to snatch them from the fire, hating the stains of the flesh. This is what it means to “hate the sin, but love the sinner.” We have so much love for the soul of the one who did wrong that we want him to repent and do right, so we must oppose his sin. When we do this, there will always be people who object. But the reason they object is either because they have misunderstood the Bible teaching or because they themselves are sinners who want to continue their sins without the embarrassment of being reproved. In either case, they are the ones who do not have a proper concept of Bible love.

Our church had the great honor to host memorial services for Sergeant Nicholas A. Casey this past weekend. Sergeant Casey is a 2004 graduate of Timken High School, and has served his country faithfully. Here is an article from the Associated press:

By 10th grade, Nicholas A. Casey was starting to listen to service recruiters. Because of a lack of jobs in the area, Casey started to see the military as a way of life.

“That’s what he wanted to do,” said his father, Samuel. “He didn’t never give up on nothing that he started.”

Casey, 22, of Canton, Ohio, died Oct. 28 in Baghlan province, Afghanistan, of wounds from a suicide bomb attack. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

In high school, he played baseball and football. His son was no more than an average athlete, Samuel Casey said, but he played the games the best he could.

“When he was young, he was always in his own little world,” his father said. “He was a happy kid. We had a broken marriage, but whether he was at his mother’s or father’s, he was happy.”

He also is survived by his wife, Rachelle, and two sons, Nicholas II, 3, and Curtis, 2.

His grandmother, Audrey Wendling, said the boys dressed up as soldiers for Halloween.

“It was the cutest thing, and we were so proud of the two boys,” she said. “Their father was their hero, and he died a hero.

“Nick will always be their hero. Nothing can ever change that.”

Canton Baptist Temple send their deepest heart-felt sympathy to his family. We will be praying for his family during this difficult time.

We received word that protesters from Westboro “Baptist Church” in Topeka, Kansas will be protesting the funeral service. Fred Phelps is the “Pastor” of this “church.”

Westboro Baptist is a nutty little church in Topeka, Kansas, the same place that spawned the Pentecostal movement in 1901 when Agnes Ozman began to speak and write in strange unscriptural mutterings and scratchings at Charles Parham’s Bible School. Westboro Baptist is pastored by Fred Phelps, who rejoices when American soldiers die in Iraq and claims that God hates homosexuals. The church’s prayer meetings are ridiculous, too. They pray for more tornadoes and hurricanes. Bring on the judgment, God! Instead of going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature like Jesus commanded, Westboro Baptist Church members picket military funerals carrying signs saying “Thank God for Maimed Soldiers” and “Fags die, God laughs” and other such stupidity.

The church is extreme predestinarian, believing that God has predestinated a few to be saved and the rest to be damned. They are not preaching the gospel that Jesus Christ preached: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16).

They are not warning sinners to turn from their sin and believe in Christ and be saved, because they don’t believe the non-elect can do this. They are simply pronouncing judgment. It is their duty, they believe, to let it be known that God hates you and that you’re going to hell. They are right about the fact that America is a wicked nation and they are right that God hates sin, but they are wrong about God’s heart and they are wrong about the message that we are to proclaim today. God is holy and just and will certainly punish sin, but His heart is a heart of love toward fallen sinners and He wants to save them. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4). “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). Mr. Phelps, who is so self-deceived that he believes he is 100% correct, is just as confused as the “prophet” Charles Parham was when he started a Bible School in Topeka in 1900 and proclaimed that God always heals the believer’s sickness and disease and that tongues-speaking is for today. Parham’s disciple, William Seymour, pastored the famous Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles.

Canton Baptist Temple (a real Baptist church) condemns the actions of Westboro and Fred Phelps. CBT is not affiliated in any way with Westboro and in fact considers them to be neither Baptist nor a Church. In order to be Baptist, one must be born again by repenting of the fact that they are a sinner and receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This is the only way to heaven. When a person receives Christ, He changes them from the inside –out through the power of the Holy Spirit. Clearly the actions of those at Westboro prove that there is no change, therefore they probably are not saved and cannot be Baptist.

Westboro is not a church either. A church by definition is a “called out assembly of believers.” I don’t know what Westboro believes, but it is not the God of the Bible. Therefore, they are not a church either.

I wish that Westboro would have enough intestinal fortitude to remove Baptist and Church from their name. Other Baptists have removed their Baptist label because of organizations like Westboro. I refuse to allow them to hi-jack the Baptist name for their evil purposes.

May they see the error of their ways. Let this be a lesson to us all – when you depart from Scripture – you too could become as mean-spirited and off track as these people. God help us all!

Our church had the great honor to host memorial services for Sergeant Nicholas A. Casey this past weekend. Sergeant Casey is a 2004 graduate of Timken High School, and has served his country faithfully. Here is an article from the Associated press:

By 10th grade, Nicholas A. Casey was starting to listen to service recruiters. Because of a lack of jobs in the area, Casey started to see the military as a way of life.

“That’s what he wanted to do,” said his father, Samuel. “He didn’t never give up on nothing that he started.”

Casey, 22, of Canton, Ohio, died Oct. 28 in Baghlan province, Afghanistan, of wounds from a suicide bomb attack. He was assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C.

In high school, he played baseball and football. His son was no more than an average athlete, Samuel Casey said, but he played the games the best he could.

“When he was young, he was always in his own little world,” his father said. “He was a happy kid. We had a broken marriage, but whether he was at his mother’s or father’s, he was happy.”

He also is survived by his wife, Rachelle, and two sons, Nicholas II, 3, and Curtis, 2.

His grandmother, Audrey Wendling, said the boys dressed up as soldiers for Halloween.

“It was the cutest thing, and we were so proud of the two boys,” she said. “Their father was their hero, and he died a hero.

“Nick will always be their hero. Nothing can ever change that.”

Canton Baptist Temple send their deepest heart-felt sympathy to his family. We will be praying for his family during this difficult time.

We received word that protesters from Westboro “Baptist Church” in Topeka, Kansas will be protesting the funeral service. Fred Phelps is the “Pastor” of this “church.”

Westboro Baptist is a nutty little church in Topeka, Kansas, the same place that spawned the Pentecostal movement in 1901 when Agnes Ozman began to speak and write in strange unscriptural mutterings and scratchings at Charles Parham’s Bible School. Westboro Baptist is pastored by Fred Phelps, who rejoices when American soldiers die in Iraq and claims that God hates homosexuals. The church’s prayer meetings are ridiculous, too. They pray for more tornadoes and hurricanes. Bring on the judgment, God! Instead of going into all the world and preaching the gospel to every creature like Jesus commanded, Westboro Baptist Church members picket military funerals carrying signs saying “Thank God for Maimed Soldiers” and “Fags die, God laughs” and other such stupidity.

The church is extreme predestinarian, believing that God has predestinated a few to be saved and the rest to be damned. They are not preaching the gospel that Jesus Christ preached: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16).

They are not warning sinners to turn from their sin and believe in Christ and be saved, because they don’t believe the non-elect can do this. They are simply pronouncing judgment. It is their duty, they believe, to let it be known that God hates you and that you’re going to hell. They are right about the fact that America is a wicked nation and they are right that God hates sin, but they are wrong about God’s heart and they are wrong about the message that we are to proclaim today. God is holy and just and will certainly punish sin, but His heart is a heart of love toward fallen sinners and He wants to save them. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3-4). “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). Mr. Phelps, who is so self-deceived that he believes he is 100% correct, is just as confused as the “prophet” Charles Parham was when he started a Bible School in Topeka in 1900 and proclaimed that God always heals the believer’s sickness and disease and that tongues-speaking is for today. Parham’s disciple, William Seymour, pastored the famous Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles.

Canton Baptist Temple (a real Baptist church) condemns the actions of Westboro and Fred Phelps. CBT is not affiliated in any way with Westboro and in fact considers them to be neither Baptist nor a Church. In order to be Baptist, one must be born again by repenting of the fact that they are a sinner and receiving Jesus Christ as their Saviour. This is the only way to heaven. When a person receives Christ, He changes them from the inside –out through the power of the Holy Spirit. Clearly the actions of those at Westboro prove that there is no change, therefore they probably are not saved and cannot be Baptist.

Westboro is not a church either. A church by definition is a “called out assembly of believers.” I don’t know what Westboro believes, but it is not the God of the Bible. Therefore, they are not a church either.

I wish that Westboro would have enough intestinal fortitude to remove Baptist and Church from their name. Other Baptists have removed their Baptist label because of organizations like Westboro. I refuse to allow them to hi-jack the Baptist name for their evil purposes.

May they see the error of their ways. Let this be a lesson to us all – when you depart from Scripture – you too could become as mean-spirited and off track as these people. God help us all!

We had a great time at the fish fry tonight! More than 50 people came to the activity and we ate over 200 pieces of fish. Hats off to Richard and Rick for cooking the fish and to the Urban’s for opening their home. Lynn did manage to sneak in some tofu, and she tried her best to manipulate me into eating it. Actually it wasn’t too bad. Thanks to the Walker's also -- for all of their help. The fries were delicious!

Thanks to Jeff Wenger for introducing us to chacha.com! Fun was had by all as we asked cha cha questions from light bulbs to culottes. Can’t wait for the next event!