What a great resurrection celebration!  The gathering for our Good Friday service was the largest we’ve had.  Thank you Russell for all your work on that service.  If you missed it, you can view it on either our church website or youtube channel.  Then we topped it off with a wonderful service on Resurrection Day.  It was good to see the worship center full and so many visitors.  Thanks to all of you for making this a special weekend.

I just want to take care of a few housekeeping items this week.  We have a church workday scheduled for Saturday, April 18.  We have several items that we will be working on.  Our Building and Grounds Committee is working on the details, we will have more on that next week.  Vacation Bible School is going to be here before you know it, so begin praying about that and be prepared to say, “Yes!” when approached for helping.  Also, pray for Good News Club we just have a couple of weeks left for the semester.  Pray for those who are working with the mentoring program at Webster as they are nearing the end of the school year.  I’m so thankful for the opportunity to invest in our community and thankfu for those who serve so faithfully.

As you know, we have a mission team preparing for a trip to Nicaragua in June.  Nathan and Maryem Smith are heading up that team.  They will be returning to the Emmanuel Home of Protection and working on various projects.  They will also lead a two-day camp for youth from churches in the area.  They are expecting around 100 participants in the camp (youth and workers).  We are seeking to raise the money for the camp and the various projects.  The money will provide supplies, translators, Bibles, teaching materials, food, crafts and other exspences.  We’ve set a goal of $6500.  Would you prayerfully consider what you can give to help make this work possible?  You can begin giving now for this offering.  Just make sure you mark your envelope, “Nicaragua 2026,” so that it gets directed appropriately.  Thank you, in advance, for your faithfulness in giving.

We will return to our series from Acts as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week and I will see you Sunday.

Rod

It was Passover week.  There was always excitement this time of year.  Faithful Jews made the pilgirmage to the holy city to celebrate God’s deliverence of His people.  Year after year they gathered.  Remembering the lamb slain, the blood applied and God’s deliverence.  The city was crowded, there was a festive mood.  This year was a bit different.  There was a lot of talk about an itinerate rabbi from Galilee.  Miraculous things have been done.  His teaching was unlike any they had heard.  Some wondered if this might be the Messiah.  Suddenly there was a noise.  It sounds like singing and/or shouting.  Where is it coming from?  It’s coming from the direction of Bethany.  Upon examination we find it’s a parade!  But what kind of parade is this?  A man seated on a donkey covered with old clothes.  People are placing their clothes on the street before him, others are waving palm branches.  There are shouts of, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”  The whole city is stirred as the word stread, “It is the prophet Jesus from Nazaeth in Galilee.”  Thus began the week that changed the world.

By Friday, this adoring crowd had become an angry mob crying, “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  In between was a whirlwind.  Their were acts of divine sovereignty, of love and compassion, of bitterness and betrayal.  The Lord of glory was handed over to Roman authorities for execution.  How?  Why?  It was not because of the corrupt, unrighteous acts of a power-hungry religious establishment nor the result of cruel betrayal by one of His own.  It was because it was the eternal plan and program of our Sovereign God.  This was the fulfillment of a divine covenant made in eternity past, before the world began, as God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit determined to redeem a people.  Strange, we know He came to die.  We know that He willingly submitted, for with a word, He could have forbidden it.  Something so significant, so important and essential to God’s plan is told in such a stark way.  “And there they crucified Him.”  After three hours of suffering, His lifeless body was removed and placed in a borrowed grave.  For those three hours darkness covered the land.  But now, there seemed a greater darkness.  The light of their existene had gone out.  Hope was lost.  Fear and doubt now reigned.  But that’s not the end of the story.  After the Sabbath, early on the moring of the first day of the week.  Some women made their way to the tomb.  Heart-broken, weary they came.  They had hoped to further anoint his body.  They came to grieve.  But on arrival, they found an empty grave and an angelic messenger, “He is not here.  He has risen just as He said!”  The sorrow of crucifixion had been swallowed up by the joy of resurrection!

Sin’s debt had been paid.  The grave had been conquored.  The way home had been secured.  This week we gather to remember and to celebrate.  On Friday, we will gather to look back to the lamb slain for our redemption.  At 7:00 pm we will gather to sing, hear the Scripture read and celebrate the Lord’s Table.  Then, Sunday mornning we will gather to rejoice, for He is risen, He is risen indeed!

Take some time this week to read through the Gospel account of that week.  Then join us to remember and rejoice.  Have a blessed week.

Rod

What a privilege to gather every week for worship.  Think of it.  Every week we enter the presence of the true and living God to sing His praise, to set before Him our prayers and petitions, to hear His word and commit ourselves to live for His glory.  The God we gather to worship, spoke and a universe came into being.  By His word came everything from nothing.  It isn’t that He rearranged what was there.  It’s not that He fashioned from existing materials, what we now enjoy.  There was nothing, “no thing,” other than the triune God.  He was complete, in himself.  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit in perfect love, harmony and fellowship needed nothing.  He didn’t need to be completed.  He didn’t need someone or something to love.  He chose to create to display His glory, to share His love.  Majestic, different, transcendant and yet, loving, gracious, merciful and approachable.  Do you see what a privilege it is to enter His presence?  Do you understand the wonder of such condescension?  Does any of this enter your mind as we gather for worship?  To think about these things is to guard against trivializing worship.  If you think about this God, if you realize He is present, you cannot be casual in your attitude.  You are not settling into your seat for a concert.  You are not anticipating the openning kickoff, you have an audience with the King of Glory, the Creator of heaven and earth.  Such a thing should not be taken lightly.

If you were granted an audience with the mayor, the governor, or the president would there be a sense of, “This is kind of a big deal?”  Would you wonder if there is a protocol?  “What’s expected of me?  Do I shake their hand?  Do I bow?  What is appropriate for such an ocassion?”  Would you give some thought to that meeting?  Would you rehearse what you might say?  I think all of those things would happen, and I think that’s appropriate.  So, why is it we give little or no thought to worship?  Why don’t we “prepare” for worship?  The problem is we are too comfortable with the sacred.  We’ve grown accustomed to the holy.  Been there, done that.  I want to encourage you to give thought to worship.  For a few weeks, we’ve been including in the email of the service folder a worship planning guide to help you prepare.  The goal is for you to get ready for worship.  When does worship begin?  The answer is not 10:50 am on Sunday.  Worship begins long before we gather.  Worship begins as you anticipate our gathering.  Worship begins as you prepare your heart and mind.  I encourage you to use the planning guide to read over the passage to be preached.  Read/sing the hymns.  Ask questions about the text, about the songs.  Come to worship having already given thought to the themes and elements of worship.  Give thought to your needs, the needs of your family and those who will be with you in worship.  Give thought to the greatness of God, His kindness and mercies extended to you during the week.  Come expecting God to speak to your needs, your hurts, your weaknesses and failings.  Coming knowing He is here and He is not silent.  Maybe the music won’t be to your liking.  Perhaps the sermon will leave you flat but He will never fail you.  He will meet you and being in His presence with the people of God will be enough.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Well, we had several out this past Sunday due to spring break but we still had a good crowd, and wonderful worship.  I’m enjoying our study of the book of Acts, as we consider the on-going work of the Lord Jesus through His Church.  This week we considered the need for boldness in evangelism.  Next Sunday, we will consider the origns of the office of deacon from Acts chapter 6.  On Sunday evening, we will continue to “think about the church,” as we consider what it means to be the church.  This Sunday we will consider our ministry and our motivtion.  I hope that you will join us.

Please continue praying for our team in preparation for our mission trip to Nicaragua June 9-16.  There is still time to sign up if you would like to be part of the team.  That deadline is April 1, so if you are interested talk to Nathan or Maryem and they can give you all the details.  Also, continue to pray for our church study group as they continue to work through our constitution and by laws.  That works is moving along and I appreciate the men who are prayerfully working through our documents.  We are having some good discussions and I believe you will be pleased with the finished product.  Also our building and grounds committee has a work day coming up (more details to follow on that).  They have noted various things that need to be done around the church.  Pray for them as they evaluate and be watching for the opportunity to join them in the work to be done.  Good News Club is having a good year.  Continue to pray for Karen and the team as they take the gospel into Robertson Elementary each week.  Pray for open minds and hearts to receive the message of Christ and for opportunities to minister to the families of the kids in GNC, and faculty and staff at Robertson.  Vacation Bible School is not that far off.  Further, it is never too soon to pray for those who will be attending and those who will be working VBS this summer.

Easter is just around the corner.  You will be hearing, in the weeks to come about our Good Friday service and our celebration of the resurrection of our Lord.  We’ve had a number of folks dealing with sickness over the last month as well as those who have experienced loss.  I would encourage you to send an email, text message, card or note of encouragement to those whom the Lord brings to mind.

Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Sunday morning we looked at Acts 5 and the story about God’s judgment on Ananias and Sapphira.  There is a part of me that still struggles with that judgment.  I want to think, “that’s overkill,” pun intended.  It seems harsh, but is it?  Too often we fail to take sin seriously.  Oh, we know sin is not good, but we’re all sinners.  It is part of the human condition going back to Adam.  To err is human.  True enough, but God is holy.  In fact, He is absolutely, perfectly holy.  He is, as Isaiah said, “Holy, holy, holy.”  That means sin, any sin, is an afront to His character and dignity.  Our sin, even the most innocuous, is deserving of His most severe judgment.  I mentioned Sunday God’s judgment of the sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10) and His judgment of Uzzah (2 Samuel 6).  Each of these cause us to wonder if it was justified.  We are shocked by such judgments, but the true wonder is that we do not find more of these.  If we understand the true nature of God’s holiness and the depth of our sin, we start to wonder why the earth is not littered with the evidence of God’s judgment!  Our God would have been perfectly justified in ending this whole experiement of humanity when Adam chose rebellion in the garden.  He would have been perfectly just if He chose to wipe out Israel and start over with Moses, as He threatened in Dueteronomy 12:9-14.  Why didn’t He?  Because He is merciful, kind, loving and gracious.  Because He is faithful even when we are faithless.  He remembers His covenant, even when we do not.

Often in my Bible reading, I think to myself, “Israel was so foolish, so fickle, so faithless – how could they act this way after all God had done for them?”  That’s usually when I feel the prick of conviction.  “Uh, you want to talk about foolish, fickled and faithless?  Why don’t you look in the mirror?”  I don’t want to do that because I already know what’s going to happen.  I’m going to hear the voice of Nathan, “Thou art the man!”  My point is, though I often warn of the danger of presuming upon God’s grac rather than resting in God’ grace, my actions often presume upon His grace.  This morning I spent some time considering, contemplating and glorying in the depth and wonder of God’s grace.  It is the goodness of God that drives us to repentance.  Considering the grace of God causes me to flee to Him in response to my failure.  Considering His grace spurs me on toward holiness.  Considering His grace keeps ever before me, my dependence on Him.  Apart from Him, I can do nothing.  Understanding that is not discouraging, it is freeing.  To know my dependence empowers me to live as He had called me to live.  It reminds me that I have died with Christ and the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  It is no long I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  That is a glorious thing.


Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

I’m grateful for the honesty of the Word of God.  One of the strongest proofs of Scripture being “God-breathed” is the way its heroes are portrayed.  Abraham, the “Father of the Faith,” was a flawed man who had his wife lie about their relationship to protect him from possible harm by foreign kings.  “Tell them you are my sister, lest they kill me in order to have you for their own.”  That happened more than once.  Jacob, of course, consitently lived up to his name.  Moses, though the friend of God, the man to whom God spoke face to face – righteous, yet flawed.  His temper kept him from the Land of Promise.  We could go on, but you get the picture.  I was reading this morning and found encouragement from old “foot-in-mouth,” Peter the apostle.  Peter, impetuous, fearless, well-meaning, was all over the map.  At one moment, sterling in his insight – “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” and then, “I tell you, I don’t know the man!”  At times as I read the Scripture I find myself saying, “If God can use Peter surely He can use me.”  In my daily reading, I’m in Mark’s Gospel.  A couple of things stand out over the last few days.  In Mark 9 and the Transfiguration, it was an overwhelming experience.  Mark tells us that Peter, James and John, “did not know what to say, for they were terrified.”  So of course, Peter spoke!  “Lord, it’s good that we were here.  Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  The voice from heaven thundered, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”  Peter don’t speak, listen.  Later in the chapter the disiples were arguing about who among them was the greatest.  I have no doubt Peter was in the middle of that discussion.  In chapter 10 following the encounter with the Rich Young Man, our Lord said, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a neddle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  The response was, “Who then can be saved?”  Our Lord responds, “With mere men it is impossible, but not with God.  For all things are possible with God.”  Peter says, “Well, what about us?  We’ve left everything to follow you.”  Really?  In the context of all that is going on – all you can do is think about yourself?  Peter, model of missing the point!

As I read this morning, my thought was, “Well, there is hope for you pastor, with your stupid blunders, inconsistent walk, and untimely comments.”  Why is it I get the feeling that my Lord is consistently saying, “I know Father, but he’s one of mine.”  I’m grateful He ever-lives to intercede on my behalf.  I’m grateful for great grace extended to this great sinner.

Don’t forget to “Spring forward” this weekend.  I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Well…that was an interesting day!  It was a Sunday like any other Sunday until it wasn’t.  I’m happy to say both Keith and Janese are fine, though that was a scary moment.  I can’t believe Janese up-staged Monty’s prayer of prasie like that.  No, contrary to rumor, no one was “slayed in the Spirit.”  If you don’t know what I’m talking about…watch the recording of Sunday morning’s service.  I’m glad we can laugh about it.  Then Sunday afternoon/evening, I was in my office getting ready for the service when I received a text informing me that Rheadon had been taken urgent care.  Two days later, multiple tests and a cardioversion, she left the hospital Tuesday about noon.  I’m here in the office again trying to decide where I am and where to go from here!  I’m grateful for all the prayers, calls and concern expressed, thank you.  Also thank you Russell and Megan for stepping up and taking care of the meeting I was to host for pastors and staff in Tulsa Metro Baptist Network in Monday morning.

It’s at times like this, I’m grateful we serve a sovereign God.  My world can be turned upside down in a heartbeat, but He is never caught off guard, never surprised or ambushed by life’s troubles.  My life is a mess, and I cry out to Him and He says, “Calm down.  I’ve got this.”  The all-powerful, all-sufficient One is firmly seated on His throne.  His plans cannot be thwarted; history is on time and on target.  Thus, He laughs as rulers plot in vain.  He speaks and the storm is silenced.  By His word kingdoms rise or fall, sickness and disease vanish.  He can be trusted.  Rest in Him.  This is the comfort of Bible doctrine.  They are not grand truths to be pulled out and admired, they are everyday truths to be lived.  The last couple of days has been a great reminder, an object lesson in truth and I am grateful.

Don’t forget, we’ve rescheduled our Souper Bowl Challenge for this coming Sunday evening.  A night of food, fun and fellowship.  I know we don’t have a game to watch, but we could always watch last Sunday’s service.  Too soon?  We will think of something.

I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Back in 2004, Josh Harris wrote a book entitled, “Stop Dating the Church.”  It’s an interesting book.  He tells the following parable, Jack and Grace met through a mutual friend.  From day one they seemed to be the perfect match.  Grace was everything Jack had always wanted.  She was beautiful, outgoing, and caring – always there when Jack needed her.  For the first five months they were inseparable.  Jack could hardly think of anything but Grace.  He didn’t need to look further, he told friends.  “She’s the one.”  Now three years have passed.  Jack still enjoys the comfort and familiarity of being with Grace, but the spark is gone.  Grace’s flaws seem more obvious.  He’s not sure he finds her as attractive as he once did.  And he’s beginning to resent all the time she wants to spend with him.  Clearly Jack is not ready for commitment…the thing is, Grace is not a girl, Grace is a church.

It hits a little too close to home for some of us.  Is your relationship with the church like marriage or it is more casual – like a dating relationship?  Is the church something you cannot do without, or do you need your “space?”  It’s important but don’t crowd me, don’t expect too much from me?  It’s an important question and your response matters.  Of course, the church is not perfect.  Likely, in your life, there are church members who have hurt you.  Churches and pastors have disappointed you and failed you.  But the church is the place where imperfect people learn to love one another.  The church is the place where we learn to work through our differences and allow the Lord to refine and purify us.  It is in the church we demonstrate to the world the power of God to transform lives.  Don’t let past failures define the church for you.  Don’t let past hurts keep you from the work of God’s grace through His church.  Groucho Marx was asked once about a country club that would not allow him into membership.  Groucho said, “I’m not sure I want to be a member of a club that accepts the likes of me!”  Sometimes, that’s how I feel about the church.  The church, the body of Christ is for dirty, rotten scoundrels – well sign me up!  I’ve sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and what I deserve is death and eternal separation from the love of God, but the gift of God is eternal life through the Lord Jesus.  The church isn’t for perfect people it is for sinners who are in the process of being made righteous through the work of God’s grace in the person of the Holy Spirit.

Has the church failed you?  Give us another chance.  I can’t promise you that you will never be hurt again.  I can promise you the church will not be what it could be apart from you.  And, you cannot be all you could be, apart from the church.  What do you say?  Together, let’s show the world the power of the Gospel.

I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

What a crazy week!  As you know, we postponed our annual “Souper-Bowl Chili Challenge” due to so many being sick.  We had a number of people out Sunday due to sickness and many who were here Sunday morning who said they were not coming Sunday evening because of sickness.  So, in a couple of weeks we will reschedule an evening of fun, food and fellowship.

No doubt you are aware of the controversy surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show.  I did not watch it nor the alternative show provided on streaming services.  I only mention it because it is reflective of the ever-widening gap in our culture.  Lines of division are becoming increasingly clear.  Those lines are increasingly thick and dark.  Everyone is being forced to choose a side.  I knew, before the game was ever played, what the reviews were going to be and who would be saying what.  I knew those who would be praising it and those who would despise it.  We are a polarized people.  This has always been true to an extent.  There is, and always has been, right and wrong, truth and error.  The problem is a complete lax of civility, restraint and respect.  We’ve lost the ability to agree to disagree.  This is true in culture, in politics, and in the church.  No, I’m setting things up to call for a “Rodney King” moment and cry, “Can’t we all just get along?”  I’m not suggesting these things do not matter.  I’m not calling on anyone to keep their opinions to themselves.  I’m certainly not saying Christians should stay out of such things and just preach the gospel.  For one thing, to preach the biblical gospel in this culture is to invite hostile fire!  No, I simply want to remind you that as we speak to the issues of our day, and to the truth of eternity, we are to speak the truth in love.  We are to be filled with both truth and grace.  Whenever we focus on one to the exclusion of the other, we demage the cause of Christ and betray the truth of the gospel.  Truth and grace matter.  Truth and grace are essential.  Our king demands that we speak truth to our culture.  That means, at times, we must speak that which is offensive to the culture, contradicts the spirit of the age, and and tears down sacred cows.  But, we are to be marked by grace.  We speak those truths with humility and compassion, often through tears.  The same Lord who flipped over those tables and drove the money changers out of the temple with a whip, cried from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”  By all means speak up and speak out.  By all means stand for the truth.  But maybe, before you post – take a breathe, say a prayer and then respond.  It’s worth thinking about.

I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

It is the most covetted culinary prize, “Chili Champion” in the annual Trinity Souper Bowl Challenge.  Okay, maybe that’s an exageration but it is fun.  This Sunday evening, February 8, we will gather in our Fellowship Building for an evening of food, fellowship and fun.  There will be two categories in the competion.  You may enter the chili or soup competion, or both.  Prizes will be awarded in each for first, second and third place.  If you are not entering the competion, you may bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert.  We will start gathering around 5:00 pm, judging will be at 5:30 pm.  There may be a couple of other things going on as well, corn hole perhaps?  I hope you will join us, it’s always fun and yes, the game will be on the screen if you want to watch but we know why we are really there.

I also want to remind you of the brunch on Saturaday February 14 for widows and widowers sponsored by our youth.  A wonderful meal is being prepared for you.  Make sure you let us know you are coming.  You can speak to Kylie Harris or you can call the church office.  We need to know by the 8th so that we make sure we are adequately prepared.  

Please continue to pray for our study group as they continue to work through our church documents as we seek to make membership meaningful by making sure we are accountable to and for one another.  Our goal is to take seriously our responsibility to love one another well.  Also, pray for our Good News Club at Robertson Elementary meeting on Mondays after school.  Of course, we also that you continue to pray for the mission trip to Nicaragua coming in June.  The deadline for sign up is April 1.  Pray for Nathan and Maryem as they are currently putting plans in place for this year’s trip.  We will share details as they are available.  

Meanwhile, keeping working on those recipies as I look forward to gathering with you this coming Lord’s Day.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Well, this has been an interesting time.  I pray all are warm and safe.  I’m in the office today (Tuesday), I got out of the house yesterday for the first time since Friday, boy, I’m I can old man or what?  Sunday is the first Sunday of February, which means we will celebrate the Lord’s Table in worship and have a “First Sunday Lunch!”  Of course, that’s if we don’t have another weekend like last weekend!  Just a reminder, check the website and church app for weather-related information regarding services.  That seems to be the easiest and most effective way to communicate.  The plan, for now, is we will have our First Sunday Lunch on February 1.  

Then on Sunday, February 8, we will have our regular activities on Sunday morning but Sunday evening will be our annual Souper Bowl Challenge.  We will have a soup and chili cookoff and prizes for both categories.  I trust you are tweaking those recipes as I’m typing.  It will be a great evening of fun, fellowship and food…oh, and I think there is a game of some sort that evening as well.

Don’t forget the mission trip to Nicaragua June 9-16.  We will be serving the girls at the Home of Protection, providing a two-day youth camp for area children and engage in some evangelistic outreach.  Has the Lord placed this on your heart?  If you have any interests at all, I would encourage you to talk with Maryem or Nathan.  The Lord has opened a door for us to build a long-term relationship with Nicaragua and given us two great leaders for this work.  If you can’t go yourself, you can give so that others may go.  There will also be an opportunity to give to meet the needs of the work there.  You will be hearing more in the days and weeks to come.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue our study of the book of Acts.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

Brace yourself, I’m about to reveal something shocking.  Something that has probably escaped your notice but I are a college and seminary graduate, I’ve spent 30 plus years working with the police, I’m a trained observer.  So, here it is…our world is a mess!  Our world is confused, twisted and perverted.  Up is down, down is up, right is wrong and wrong is right.  Even within the Church there is confusion.  So many who claim the name of our Lord believe and act is ways that are unacceptable.  It seems even a basic understanding of God is lacking, let alone there being sound theological reasoning and understanding.  I hear some claims from “Christian experts” and I’m left wondering if we are reading the same book.  I certainly do not understand what often passes for worship in our churches.  Interest in God, and the things of God, range from casual curiosity to absolute devotion, from indifference to open hostility.  What is to be our attitude towards God?  If God is God, how are we to respond?  I think Psalm 111 gives us some insight.  It is a song of praise to the goodness of God and the glory of His works.  The Psalm is an accrostic poen with each verse beginning with the successive leters of the Hebrew alphabet.  You could say it speaks to the glory of God from A to Z!  What is clear is that, the only proper response to a genuine understanding of our God is a life of worship, wonder and fear.  The psalmist opens with, “I will give thanks to  the LORD with my whole heart.”  I will give thanks with the whole of my being.  This is not a token acknowledgement but a full-throated, full life devotion.  An intentional act, a giving of one’s self to God in worship.  Then in verses 2-9 the psalmist is filled with the wonders of God, “Great are the works of the LORD…”  The Psalm ends with the acknowldgement that the “fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,” and the declaration that His praise endures forever.  This is to be the heart, the attitude of the people of God.  A heart/life of worship, wonder and fear.  I can’t control what the world does, but I can determine my response.  He is worthy.

I want to remind you that we are putting together a team for Nicaragua for June 9-16.  We will be serving the girls at the Home of Protection, providing a two-day youth camp for area children and engage in some evangelistic outreach.  Has the Lord placed this on your heart?  If you have any interests at all, I would encourage you to talk with Maryem or Nathan.  The Lord has opened a door for us to build a long-term relationship with Nicaragua and given us two great leaders for this work.  If you can’t go yourself, you can give so that others may go.  There will also be an opportunity to give to meet the needs of the work there.  You will be hearing more in the days and weeks to come.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue our study of the book of Acts.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

Thank the Lord for a great day, yesterday!  At the end of the morning service we approved our 2026 budget and Sunday evening we gathered for a “family meeting” in which we discussed our progress on our study of our church covenant, constitution and by-laws.  I appreciate all who attended and for the good discussion we had.  Thank you for your thoughful input and suggestions.  I look forward to our working together in an attempt to move toward more meaningful membership as we understand better what it means to live in covenant with one another.  As a family, we are accountable to and for one another.  Church documents are of little value unless they serve an enhance that vision or understanding of church life.  Please pray for our team as we continue this imporant work.

As I announced Sunday morning, beginning this week you will find, in your email of the Sunday worship folder, some additional material to help you prepare for worship.  When we gather on the Lord’s Day, we gather to worship the true and living God.  We gather in the presence of God, angels and a great heavenly host to sing God’s praise, lay our prayers and petitions before Him, hear and respond to His word.  Our gathering is also intended to strength, encourage and equip one another.  Such a gathering is worthy of preparation.  Rather than just show up, we should prepare our minds, our hearts and our spirits for that gathering.  We hope to provide you materials to assist you in your preparation.  And, we would appreciate your feedback.  Is it helpful?  Are there other things that would help?  Our goal is to expand the worship experience beyond that hour we are together on Sunday morning.  After all, worship is not a service we attend or participate in, it is a lifestyle to be lived.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we continue our study of the book of Acts.  I look forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this Sunday.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

Can you believe it is 2026?  I’ve caught myself everytime, so I’ve not written the wrong date on anything yet.  Many of us are getting back into the swing of things today after the awkward start and stop of the holidays happening in the middle of the week.  Things get back to our normal routine, as a church, on Wednesday with our regular schedule returning.  I want to thank our deacons for their work on the annual New Year’s Breakfast.  We had a good crowd and I know folks enjoyed getting together and the food was great.  Thanks for getting up early and getting everything ready.

On Sunday, January 11, we will vote on our proposed budget for 2026.  I appreciate the work and discussion of our financee committee putting the proposal together.  It is an increase as we have planned for some new equipment and increased salaries for staff.  Yet, the proposed budget is less than our 2025 income.  As always, the committee will keep their eyes on our income and expenses and will make any adjustments necessary during the year.  Our commitment is to be good stewards of the funds entrusted to us.  There will be a brief time for discussion on Sunday, but if you have questions or concerns you can reach out to me or any of the committee members between now and then, we will be happy to answer any questions.

Also, on Sunday evening we will gether for a family time looking at our church documents.  We will look at our constitution and by-laws and our church covenant.  Our current documents have been in place since January of 1992.  We felt it was time to reexamine our documents and see if any adjustments needed to be made.  We’ve said all along, this is not about “starting over” or making any major changes.  We just want to reinforce a few things and clarify some issues.  We voted on a study committee at our last business meeting and that committee has begun its work.  First up was to examine our church covenant.  Copies of our working draft where made available on Sunday, January 4.  This is a working draft, but we want to give you opportunity to give input and ask questions.  This is an open process.  Nothing will be changed or alter without a vote of the church.  Sunday evening will be an opportunity to ask questions and give your input.  I hope that you will join us.

Last Sunday, we began a study of the book of Acts.  I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this Sunday.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Can you believe we are days away from 2026?  I don’t see how that’s possible.  2025 has been a good year.  We’ve added some new folks to the church, some of us have added to our families, we’ve also said, “Good bye” to some we love.  That’s life.  I’m not a prophet, nor the son of a prophet, but I can tell you 2026 will bring the unexpected, the unwanted and the despised.  I know that because we live in a fallen world.  A world corrupted by sin.  Yet, we do not despair because of the Gospel, because of the love and care of our Sovereign God.  Because of Christ, our future is bright.

As we anticipate this new year, I want to encourage you to make the year count.  Determine that you will take it upon yourself to seek to do spiritual good to those around you.  Make it a point to share the gospel in word and deed.  Invest your life in one or two others.  Find someone who knows more of the gospel and about the things of God and get to know them and learn from them.  Find one or two who are not as far along as you, and build a relationship with them that you might impart some of what you have learned.  This is what it means to live in relationship, in covenant with one another.  This is life in the Church.

My prayer for you this year is that, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19).

Don’t forget our annual New Year’s Day Breakfast.  We will be serving from 8:00 – 10:30 am on the first.  Bring a friend or two or three and enjoy time together around the table.  There is no cost and you will be glad you came.

We made copies of the proposed 2026 budget available on Sunday and we will be voting on the proposed budget on Sunday morning January 11, following the morning worship service.

I’m looking forward to worshiping with you and your family, as we gather this Sunday.  Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

It all started when Joseph’s fiancée said, “We need to talk.”  She then told him this fantastic tale about an angel and a miracle baby.  Joseph was just supposed to accept, “God did this to me.”  Joseph made plans to quietly get out of the marriage.  He loved her, but her story was just beyond belief.  That’s when he had an angelic encounter of his own.  “Joseph, she’s telling you the truth.  This is God’s work.  You will have a son and you are to name him Jesus because he will save his people.”  

The next 9 months were not easy.  It’s tough to walk down the street and people snicker.  It is no fun being a punch line, but they both took it – after all God had chosen them for a great honor.  They would bring Messiah into the world.  To add insult to injury, Mary gave birth in a barn!  Hardly, seems fitting for Messiah’s arrival.

You have to admit it is a wild story.  Miraculous birth, in a barn, angels, shepherds, mysterious wise men from the East?  God become flesh?  The infinite creator of everything that exists, the one who holds all things together by the power of his might, laying in a manger?  Yet, this is the gospel.  It is the story of how God, in love, mercy and grace, provided the means of our restoration.  The links to which God went to bring sinful humanity into right relationship with Him.  When you think about it, it is fitting.  He came to barnyard muck and filth because He comes to us as we are and not wished for rearrangements of the facts.  All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  We are rebels, determined to live according to our own desires rather than bend to His will.  We are, as the Scriptures put it, enemies of God.  Yet, because He loves us, He came to us as Immanuel, God with us, to redeem us.  God has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  This is the message of Christmas.  He came on a mission.  A mission to rescue and redeem.  A mission of love and mercy.  You cannot separate the manger from the cross.  He was born to die.  His perfect life given for our corrupt life.  His righteousness for our sin.  Miss that, and you miss it all.  Have a blessed and merry Christmas.  I hope to see you and your family as we gather Christmas Eve at 10:00 pm for our annual Christmas Eve Service.

Have a blessed week, and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

I almost wrecked the car this morning on my way to the office.  No, I wasn’t texting, the announcer on the radio said, “It’s 10 days until Christmas.”  I knew that, but I was still taken back by it.  I hope as you have attended office parties, school programs, recitals and church activities you’ve taken time to reflect on the wonder of Christ’s coming.  That you’ve given thought to the gift of God’s Son and the salvation He brings.

I know that you know the story well, but it is necessary to seriously reflect on the wonder of the story and to be reminded of what Christ has done.  We think a lot of ourselves and thus we sometime fail to see what a “step down” it was for Christ to become a man.  What it meant for the Creator to step into His creation and become part of it.  The infinite One an infant?  The One by whom and for whom all things were created became vulnerable.  An infant is fragile and dependent upon others.  The one cooing and smiling at the caress of Mary was the Eternal One.  Do not be mistaken, He was truly God and truly man.  He was not half and half or an amalgamation of divinity and humanity but two natures in one person without mixture.  Mysterious?  Yes.  Myth or legend?  Certainly not!  It is the truth revealed to us by the One who cannot lie.  His coming was the culmination of an agreement made in eternity past as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit entered into covenant to redeem a people for the glory of God.  He came on mission.  He came to die, giving His life a ransom for an unnumbered multitude.  He came to save His people from their sin.  That is why we sing.  That is why we celebrate.  The trappings and traditions associated with Christmas are fine and I enjoy many of them, but they pale in significance to the true beauty and wonder of God’s story.  By all means, enjoy this season.  Laugh and celebrate with your family and friends but not at the expense of the truth.  Don’t settle for sentiment and miss the true glory and wonder of His coming.  Unto us has been born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

We will gather for Sunday School and worship on Sunday and then we will be back at 10:00 pm Christmas Eve for an evening of carols and Scripture.  We will again meet for Sunday School and worship on the 28th.  There will be no service on Wednesday, December 31, but we will gather for our annual New Year’s Day breakfast on January 1.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

I want to thank everyone for a great job yesterday.  We had a wonderful morning service as we focused on the grace of God exhibited in Gabriel’s visit to Mary with the announcement of the coming of the Christ.  Then we celebrated the Lord’s Table together.  It is always a special time as we gather in remembrance looking back to what our Lord accomplished on the cross and we look forward to that time when we will gather around the table in glory.

Sunday evening was a special time as we rang in the Christmas season with our annual “Hanging of the Greens.”  I appreciate all the work Russell put into the service in planning the music, working with the choir, putting together the readings and coordinating with the children’s choir and other musicians.  It was a beautiful service.  Then, thanks to everyone who brought food for the fellowship after the service.  Thank you to Rheadon for organizing the fellowship, overseeing the set up and clean up.  It was a sweet time of fellowship around the tables.

We will not have another Sunday evening service until after the New Year.  We will gather on Wednesday, the 24th for our annual Christmas Eve Service.  We will not meet on Wednesday, December 31, but we will gather for New Year’s Day Breakfast on January 1!  

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

It’s official, we are in the Christmas season.  Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror, the worship center is decorated, I’ve begun an advent series and Sunday evening we will have our annual “Hanging of the Greens.”  Let me just say, “Bah humbug!”  No, I don’t mean it.  Although, we pastors are not particularly fond of this time of year.  Why would that be?  It’s a time of great pressure.  No, not from parties, get-to-gathers, and special services, the problem is with the preaching.  How many new, different, inventive and thought-provoking ways are there for presenting the Christmas story?  Maybe two?  I’m sure there are many more for those who are innovative and thought-provoking but for the rest of us, this is a difficult task.

You know the story and you know it well.  Everyone knows the story.  It’s rehearsed every year with sermons, movies, TV specials, church pageants complete with shepherds donning their father’s bath robes!  The temptation is to try to come up with something different.  Some way of getting to the story in an unexpected way, that would really drive home the point.  But let’s face it.  If there was a better way to get the story out – God would have done that.  He has given us the story in a simple, unadorned way and it is powerful.  There is no need for hype.  There is no need for innovation or flair.  The story of God’s love for sinful, fallen and corrupt humanity is beautiful in its simplicity.  He left the glory and splendor of heaven, where He was forever loved, worshiped and adored, to take on flesh.  To become one with His creation in order to do for us, what we could never do for ourselves.  The thought of the Eternal One and infant.  The Giver of life, vulnerable.  The King of heaven and earth in a feeding trough.  Wide-eyed, shepherds still trying to make sense of the angelic announcement.  Strange visitors from the East.  An enraged tyrant slaughtering the innocent.  Two aged saints, testifying to the wonder of His arrival.  The flight to Egypt.  It doesn’t need innovation.  It doesn’t need a new twist or a modern spin, it just needs to be told.  It just doesn’t get any better than the wonder of that simple announcement, “Unto you, is born this day, in the city of David, a Savior who is Christ the Lord.”  Come join us throughout the month of December as we visit again, the old, old story that never grows old.

Sunday morning, we will celebrate the Lord’s Table in our worship service, and we will gather for a special evening of music and Scripture Sunday evening.  There will be a fellowship after the evening service so bring your favorite Christmas snack or goodies to share.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

Don’t forget the “Thanksgiving Offering.”  This will be given to Church Inside Out at Red Fork as we partner with them meeting the needs of folks here on the Westside.  They have an on-going food pantry, as well as other outreaches to folks in need.  Over that last month they provided evening meals for many affected by the government shutdown.  Your gift will go to meeting needs right her in our own community.  Thank you for your faithfulness.  Also, I’m glad to report that the money from the mission fund and special offering for Nicaragua totals $4479.00!  That money will go to support the Home of Protection in Nicaragua, as they serve young girls who are the victims of trafficking and abuse.  Thank you for giving to this worthy cause.

Our Church Study Team met this past Sunday evening for our first working meeting.  We got off to a good start.  Please pray for our team as we work through our constitution, by-laws and church covenant.  It’s time, after 30 years, to look at these documents and make sure we are clear on things.  We will be making copies of our current documents available to all who want them.  We will also have “listening sessions” where we can hear from you.  We of course, will provide regular updates so that you know where we are in the process.  Thank you for your prayers.

Hanging of the Greens will take place on Sunday evening, December 7.  We are looking for families and individuals who will help decorate during that service.  This is a wonderful beginning of the Christmas season with music, Scripture reading, and decorating.  If you are interested in participating talk to Russell or Rheadon and let them know of your interest.  There will also be a fellowship after the service, more about that later.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

Thank you for your generosity.  We announced yesterday morning an opportunity to help with a Christmas project through Sherwood Manor Nursing Home.  We had 20 “wish lists” to fill.  All were taken within just a few minutes at the end of the service!  Of course, Thanksgiving is here in just a couple of weeks, that means it is time for our annual Thanksgiving Offering.  In the past we have split that offering between John 3:16 and Meals on Wheels, this year we are teaming up with Church Inside Out (Red Fork Baptist) to help with their food pantry and the meals they are preparing each evening for folks in need in our community.  You have opportunity to give to that offering over the next 2 weeks.  Just make sure you mark the envelope, “Thanksgiving Offering.”

Our Church Study Team met briefly after service Sunday to schedule our first working meeting.  We will meet on Sunday, November 16 at 4:30 pm.  Please pray for our team as we work through our constitution, by-laws and church covenant.  It’s time after 30 years to look at these documents and make sure we are clear on things.  One of the things we will work on at this first meeting is making sure that you have opportunity to give input throughout this process.  We will be making copies available to all who want them.  We will also have “listening sessions” where we can hear from you.  We of course, will provide regular updates so that you know where we are in the process.  Thank you for your prayers.

Russell also announced yesterday, our Hanging of the Greens will take place on Sunday evening, December 7.  We are looking for families and individuals who will help decorate during that service.  This is a wonderful beginning of the Christmas season with music, Scripture reading, and decorating.  If you are interested in participating talk to Russell or Rheadon and let them know of your interest.  There will also be a fellowship after the service, more about that later.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod

I mentioned in last week’s newsletter the offering for the Home of Protection in Nicaragua.  There is still opportunity to give.  We will receive the offer through this next Sunday, November 9.  Make sure you mark the envelope “Nicaragua” so that it gets counted for that offering.  Maryem is back from her trip, and I wanted to share with you a few things she told me about her trip.  She, and those who went with her, were able to conduct a 4-day conference sharing how those attending could know peace through the character of God as Father, Shepherd and King.  They were also able to minister to pastors’ wives and encourage local workers in the ministry there.  Before heading home, she was able to spend Sunday with the girls at the Home of Protection.  Their stories are heart-breaking.  There were three new girls at the home, one of them being a 12-year-old with a 4-month-old baby.  During a question-and-answer time, questions included, “Why did God allow me to be raped?”  “Why did God put me in a family that doesn’t love me?”  “Will He forgive me of my sins?”  This home matters.  Your gifts will go to care for these girls and show them the love of God.  We will be sending another team in the summer of 2026, is God calling you to go?  I would also ask that you pray for Nathan and Maryem, they are going back December 4-7, 2025, with the president of Commissioned International (formerly BMDMI), to meet with staff and other missionaries, as they are seeking the Lord’s guidance about the possibility of moving to Nicaragua in giving themselves to this work.  These are exciting times and what a privilege that the Lord has granted us the opportunity to be a part of this work.

Meanwhile, here at home, there are needs all around us.  We have folks who have been affected by the government shutdown.  Some are impacted more directly than offers, but we want to make it clear to all, if you have needs, please to not hesitate to share that need with your church family.  There is no reason for you to be embarrassed, we want to help.  We have opportunity to join with one of our sister churches here in the community who is already reaching out.  Mobile Missions Network (Church Inside Out/Red Fork Baptist) is providing free meals to people in our community.  The meals are each evening from 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm.  You can help by donating canned goods and nonperishable items to their food pantry, you can help provide desserts for the dinners or you can give funds to help pay for the meals.  We will be contacting them to see how we can join them in this effort.  I’m also sure they would welcome any volunteers to would like to help prepare and serve the meals.  We will be talking with them to get more details.

We have finished with providing the football meals for Webster.  Thank you to all of you who gave your time to help with that work.  Thank you, Jerry Scott, for oversee that.  We’ve also provided a meal for the girl’s flag football team, thank you, Rheadon.  I’m certain there will be other opportunities with team through the remaining seasons.  Thank you, Jerry McCaskill, and Keith Cannon for volunteering to serve as Leadership Ambassadors at Webster.  And of course, thank you Good News Club team members for the work at Robertson.  Thank all of you for loving and serving our community.  Have a blessed week, and I will see you Sunday for worship!

Rod

Praise the Lord for a great day, Sunday!  I’m enjoying our study of Malachi, I hope it has been profitable for you.  I have found my study challenging and yet fruitful for my own soul and I pray you are finding it encouraging.  I look forward to our gathering this coming Lord’s Day.  

I just need to go over a few things with you this week.  First, I’m grateful for our quarterly business meeting last Wednesday.  I’m always encouraged by the way we do business.  I’m grateful that we do business as a family.  I’m grateful for the way we react to one another.  I’m grateful for a spirit and atmosphere that allows for, and is respectful of differing opinions, and that we are committed to seeing the Lord’s will be done.  At that meeting we approved the seven members of our study team that will be reviewing our church documents.  Those members are Jerry Scott, Bevan Collins, Bobby Smith, Keith Wallace, Monty Whitten, Jerry McCaskill and Jason Stevens.  Pray for these men as they lead this study.  You will be given many opportunities to provide insight, and nothing will change without the vote of the church.  We will give you more information as the study team meets and begins this process.

We also voted in our committees and officers and our deacons for the 2025-2026 church year.  We also voted to approve and offering for the Home of Protection in Nicaragua.  This is a home for girls giving them a safe place to heal and to hear the gospel after suffering abuse.  Our mission team this past summer, worked with this home.  The home suffered financially this year and ended their year $15,000 in the hole.  We voted to send the remaining balance from last year’s trip fund (it was approved to guarantee at least $2,000) plus any offerings given in the next 3 weeks.  If you would like to give to this special offering, mark your envelope “Nicaragua.”  We will receive your offerings through Sunday, November 9.  Thank you for your generosity.

Have a blessed week, and I will see you Sunday for worship!

Rod

This Wednesday is our quarterly business meeting.  We will meet in the Fellowship Building at 6:30 pm.  Along with reporting on our finances and various reports, we will vote on committees and officers for the 2025-2026 church year.  We will also establish our study group who will we view our church documents and then recommend any changes or clarifications back to the church once their study is complete.  This is not an effort to create new documents but to clarify what was said 30 plus years ago when the documents were voted in place.  I hope to see you Wednesday.

I continue to be encouraged by our worship attendance.  We were down in Sunday School due to several folks traveling over fall break, but worship attendance was solid with several new faces showing up week after week.  I visited with one of our youth before services Sunday as she has come to profess faith and desires baptism.  I had conversations with a couple of other folks who are asking questions about membership.  I regularly get comments from people that they felt welcomed and accepted when they showed up the first time.  Thank you for your warm, welcoming spirit!  I’ve spoken to 2 different ladies, who each told me stories of meeting members of our church at a store, and in conversation, they were invited to church.  “Random” meetings, they had not met before, and the conversation turned toward church, an invitation was extended and accepted.  Don’t despise the small things.  You never know how the Lord is working and orchestrating all things.  We do know there are no “accidents” or “random meetings,” only Divine appointments.  I know of others who are making it a point to speak to others at a park in an attempt to share their faith, hand out tracks, to be a gospel witness.  I mention these because too often we think of “programs” for outreach or grand plans for evangelism.  While plans and programs can be effective, it is often far more effective when it is the natural outflow of your life.  This is the “as you go” pattern we find in Scripture.  As you visit with friends you share your story of faith, and you seek to engage in spiritual conversations.  It is a matter of naturally sharing life and what is important to you, not making it a project.  It’s a casual conversation over lunch or dinner.  It is answering the questions of your child and seeking an answer from the Scriptures.  Sometimes it is saying to that friend or coworker, “I don’t know.  Let me study that and get back to you.”  It is being there for someone who is hurting.  It is laughing with those who laugh and weeping with those who weep.  My point is, it is not a task or assignment, it is living life with others.  It is seeking to be obedient as you go.

Have a blessed week, and I will see you Sunday for worship!

Rod

I need to make you aware of a major change.  Last week I announced in this newsletter that we would have our quarterly business meeting on Wednesday, October 15.  That has been moved back a week.  We will meet on Wednesday, October 22.  This is due to an issue with our financial report.  We wanted to make sure we had a complete report and there were a couple of issue to clear up.  So, next week, October 22, will be our business meeting in which we will vote officers, teachers, committee members and establish the study team that will study our documents to see if there are any recommendations for change.  Again, the changes would be for the purpose of clarification.  We are not looking to make fundamental changes.  This is not a “rewrite” or new documents.  Four members of the seven-member team will come from the deacons, the remaining three will be determined at that meeting.  Thank you for your understanding and for your prayers.

Also Sunday, I announced a new program through Webster High School.  We have been asked to participate in a pilot program designed to provide guidance and leadership skills for students.  Volunteers will be assigned students to meet with twice a month for about 30 minutes.  The goal is to invest in their lives.  Volunteers will be encouraged to get to know the students, help them develop skill that will set them up for success in life.  If you have any interest in volunteering, I would love to hear from you!  We hope to have volunteers in place by the end of October.  Volunteers will need to fill out applications through Tulsa Public Schools, including a background check in order to meet with students.  You will not be on your own.  A handbook has been developed, there will be resources and guidance available to help you with this process.  You will not be a counselor, it will not be your job to tutor or solve their problems.  You will simply seek to befriend and encourage.  Think of it as a ministry of “tilling and planting.”  Yes, you will be free to share your faith and invite them to church.  This is not designed as an evangelism program.  This is not a preaching assignment but as you get to know the students and speak with them about life and your own experience and how you have dealt with various trials and struggles, of course you can speak about the role your faith has played in your life.  This is a great opportunity to invest in our community.  Yes, it will require commitment.  We cannot committee to be there and then no show up.  Currently, the plan is to meet with students twice a month for about 30 minutes at a time.  The plan is for the 1st and 3rd Monday from 12:30-1:00 pm.  All meetings will be at school and there will be certain guidelines in place restricting contact outside of proper channels.  There will also be times scheduled for volunteers to meeting, receive instruction and provide feedback.  I’d be happy to meet with you to answers any questions.

I will see you Sunday for worship.  Have a blessed week!

Rod