Coming to the Still Waters

Last Wednesday we left off with Jesus speaking very plainly to the Jewish crowd.  His final words were, "I and the Father are one."   What would be the response of His hearers to this straight up declaration?   v.31 - The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus clearly claimed that He is God and the Jews understood Him to be saying and making this claim.  This is actually the third time that Jesus was facing some stone carrying Jews.  John chapter 5 and verse 18 says, For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. John chapter 8 and verse 59 says, Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple. This was a "stone-able" event.  Leviticus chapter 24 and verse 16 says, Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put

After another great Sunday morning at  Machias Valley Baptist Church  we had an evening service that featured a mission in the country of Uganda.  I am always thankful to hear about what is going on around the world in the name of Jesus Christ but also to hear from those whose hearts are so passionately tied to that area of the world. Hope and Mercy Missions  is a ministry to the community.  Make sure to click on the link and see all the ministries that are happening there.  We heard about the development of a school for the children, a school of the pastors, and evangelism to neighboring towns, churches, and other schools.  A school in Uganda is more than just classroom time.  It involves food, lodging, parental care and many times medical care.   Pastor Bob Emrich is the US Director.  He spoke of the operations in the States but also about mission trips taken each year to Uganda.  He is an alumnus of the church I am serving.  He was an associate pastor here for about 4 or 5 yea

Today's Wednesday in the Word is John chapter 10 and verses 22 through 30 which read, v.22, 23 - At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. What is the Feast of the Dedication?  It is the Feast of Lights or modernly called Hanukkah.  Jesus celebrated Hanukkah.  In 170 B.C. a Syrian leader conquered Jerusalem.  The most upsetting situation for the Jews was the desecration of the temple by setting up a pagan altar in the place of the Holy of Holies.  A revolt came from the Jews called the Maccabean Revolt and freed the temple and land from Syrian occupation.   It was 164 B.C. and on the 25th day of Chislev which is December approximately that the Jews liberated the temple.  It is celebrated by the lighting of candles to remember this great victory for the temple and the city of Jerusalem.  It was also wintertime in the Holy Land and therefore Jesus is taking shelter u

Good Monday morning after a great weekend at Machias Valley Baptist Church ! I little update is that we had 8 guys at our morning coffee this morning at Dunkin!  Sometimes I stop moderating, making sure each man is engaged, and sit back to observe what is happening when the men of a church get together.  The mixing, harmony, and love between the generations is catapulted by these gatherings. My study of Scripture has been influenced greatly by Pastor John MacArthur of the Grace Church in California.  He is also the founder and was one of the chief professors of Master's Seminary.  What I have learned from this teacher of the Word is to see the patterns that emerge from a passage or section of scripture. One pattern that is popular in the church I serve is pictured above.  It is called "Buffalo Plaid" and this is the definition found on Google.   Buffalo check is often a two- or three-color striped fabric whose pattern creates large squares of equal size in all

Before our Wednesday in the Word, let me share with you an article that caught my eye and therefore I read it through.  Here is the link:   https://lifewayvoices.com/discipleship-evangelism/3-reasons-drifting-from-the-faith-starts-with-drifting-from-the-church/ Here are the 3 main points: 1.  When we leave the church, we stop being reminded. 2.  When we leave the church, we embrace self-reliance. 3.  When we leave the church, we create a gap. I add these three corresponding  questions: 1.  What do we need to be reminded of? 2.  Does pride fit anywhere into God's plan? 3.  What are some common  "gap"  fillers? Today's Wednesday in the Word covers John chapter 10 and verses 14 through 21, which read, v.14, 15 -  "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep." Jesus continues on with the fourth "I AM"

I love foot paths.  Seeing where the dirt trail takes me becomes an obsession to keep going on over the next hill and around the far distant corner.  Sometimes something comes across your hike like a fawn I saw the other morning or a bush overladen with ripe wild blueberries calling to be picked and eaten.   Life is like a foot path and I am always amazed who God brings across my life hike.  This weekend is one of those cross passing events.  Who would have known that I would get to meet a nationally known speaker named Nancy Guthrie?  Who would have known that I would get to meet the chair of the New Testament Studies of Westminster Theological Seminary named G.K. Beale and also the author of one of my required books for my upcoming online class?   The scary and humbling fact is that they will be listening to me preach this Sunday morning.  Put on top of that, my good friend, Jim who is also a DTS grad with a focus on the Old Testament will be among the congregation with his wi

Today's Wednesday in the Word is John chapter 10 and verses 11 through 13 which read, v.11 -  "I am the good shepherd;  the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." Jesus gives us the 4th  "I AM"  statement when He says,  "I am the good shepherd;..."   A review so far is... "I AM the Bread of life."  "I AM the Light of the world."  "I AM the Door of the sheep."  "I AM the good Shepherd."   The focus of the verse is on the word  "good."   Jesus is the good shepherd and shepherds are good to their sheep.  The shepherd by nature of the position will sacrifice for his sheep.  He will risk himself to save the sheep from danger.  Think of the Biblical example of David and going up against the lion and the bear to protect his sheep. Jesus distinguishes Himself from other shepherds and the hired hands that we will learn about in the next verse, by saying He will lay down His very

Another great weekend in the great state of Maine and the picture above is some more coast line shared with the youth and young adult groups of Machias Valley Baptist Church. While our weekend was wonderful in this part of our great nation it wasn't the same in Ohio and Texas.  We spent part of our morning worship service praying for people far away who were dealing with grief that many of us couldn't even imagine. The statistics are growing as more of these mass shootings have occurred.  The internet has become a place to promote their plan but also at times to detect a possible event.  I am thankful for many situations that have been thwarted because people have been attentive to a "revealing" post. What is the solution?  There are all kinds of answers being given today on the morning talk shows but I go back to the picture above.  Part of the answer is connecting young people with Christian adults who invest in their lives with the words of our Savior.  I

Visiting the local Dunkin in Machias, Maine on my birthday today and this is a busy place around 6 a.m.  The ride on the bike was kind to me because it is mostly downhill from the house into town.  So you know what that means when I head back.  Double digits Adam will have to make sure he has some legs by the end of the day to make the climb. Speaking of our home base in Betmar Acres, (in the title) I am legal on this day.  It will be odd when we see the place again but I hear that the kumquat tree is blooming again and the lemons are ripening. We moved into the house that we will call home for the next 11 or so months.  The church has provided a very nice 3 bedroom home with a view that will increase in value as the trees start to turn colors.  There are wild blueberries right up the lane so we are all set.  Here are a few pictures of the place. Buddy is getting to experience 3 floors, more space, and a yard to explore.  We are so thankful for the Lord's provisio