In this morning’s¹ chapter, Matthew 16, we have both Peter’s remarkable confession and his misstep in trying to keep Jesus from the cross.  The transition verse² really caught my eye this morning and reminded me of Hebrews 12:   

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.   You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;  (Hebrew 12:1-4, Emphasis added)

Exhausted?  Discouraged? Pained?  As Christ is our example – press on! 

Pastor Scott

Fight one more round. When your arms are so tired that you can hardly lift your hands to come on guard, fight one more round. When your nose is bleeding and your eyes are black and you are so tired that you wish your opponent would crack you one on the jaw and put you to sleep, fight one more round – remembering that the man who always fights one more round is never whipped.

― James (Gentleman Jim)  J. Corbett

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On!’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

― Calvin Coolidge

1. Writing on Wednesday Jan 22 ↩︎
2. Matthew 16:21 – “ From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day’ ↩︎

So the NIV (and many other new translations) translate Psalm 23:1 –  “The Lord is my Shepherd, I will have everything I need.”  I am sure that I once knew that, but Saturday I heard it as a song lyric and it really struck me.  Because I follow Jesus, I don’t need anything!  Of course that doesn’t mean I don’t have to work at all; even in the context of Psalm 23, the majority of the sheep walk all day until they reach the green pasture and quiet water.  BUT because they follow a shepherd, who is both knowledgeable about the path ahead and watching closely the stress the journey puts on each sheep, they get everything they NEED.

A very natural follow-up question might be, “So is this just an Old Testament promise?”  

Actually it’s supported in the very first New Testament book.  Remember when Jesus said in Matthew 6, stop worrying about  your food or clothes or even your life? Just seek first His Kingdom and all these things will be added to you? Or when He said, ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.   For My yoke is easy and My burden is light”?

Hard work isn’t proscribed by the Bible – worry is.  So let’s work and, even plan, hard – but let’s leave our tomorrows to Him!

Pastor Scott

During this time of Busyness, don’t neglect to pause and consider just Whose Birthday this is!

Merry Christ from WOGF a DBA of BRBC 🙂

I was out of town the week of the election, so I didn’t get to pontificate in real time; and by this point, I don’t think there is much I can add, except maybe a smile…

A surgeon, an engineer, and a politician were debating which of their professions was the oldest.  The surgeon said, “Eve was made from Adam’s rib, and that, of course, was a surgical procedure.  Obviously surgery is the oldest profession.”

The engineer countered with, “Yes, but before that, order was created out of chaos, and that most certainly was an engineering job.”

The politician smiled and said triumphantly, “Aha! And just who do you think created the chaos?”

I must admit I chuckled, but it makes a great point.  If your guy won.  Don’t be surprised when he – or a member of his administration missteps.  If your gal had won, she or a member of her team would also have eventually misstepped.  Or even if they perform (or would have performed) flawlessly, some other country or crisis would impact us because the earth is going to groan until her Master and Maker sits on His glorious throne (Matt 25:31).
It’s our responsibility as a church and as individuals to remember God’s instruction to us:  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”  (Titus 2:11-14 Emphasis added)

Lyrics and Music: Seth and Bessie Sykes

The Evangelists Seth & Bessie Sykes were well-known in Springburn, the U.K, and even in the United States. In 1929 Seth, who was a tram conductor, resigned in 1929, and both of them traveled to mission churches throughout the length and breadth of Britain with a barrel organ, singing, preaching the gospel. and retelling stories from the Bible with lantern slides.

This is a favorite hymn amongst residents of Ju Eng Home Singapore. It reminds us to be thankful to our God and Creator who provides and sustains our lives. 

Some thank the Lord for friends and home
For mercies sure and sweet
But I would praise Him for his grace
In prayer I would repeat

Refrain:
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free

Some thank Him for the flow’rs that grow
Some for the stars that shine
My heart is filled with joy and praise
Because I know He’s mine

I trust in Him from day to day
I prove His saving grace
I’ll sing this song of praise to Him
Until I see His face

Once again, I was asked the almost annual question, “Should a Christian celebrate Halloween?” 

There isn’t really a singular answer, but I can give you two questions that you need to settle in your mind before you carve a pumpkin or put a costume on your child.

1. Are you fully convinced in your own mind? Can you give thanks? (Romans 14:5-6)

1. https://blogs.loc.gov/headlinesandheroes/2021/10/the-origins-of-halloween-traditions/
2. Vs. the picture above 🙂

     2) Who else is on the bandwagon with you?  Ephesians 5:1-21, (emphasis on v7) says: “Therefore do not be partakers with them”,  speaking of the sons of disobedience.  For me this has meant a trunk-or-treat event or a harvest festival at church has been acceptable before God.  Trick-or-treating seems like it’s kind of neighborhood or even family dependent, see point one.  🙂 

God’s Word Rules,

Pastor Scott