In Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie, the main characters represent his family.
On opening night at the Chicago Civic Theatre in 1944, after the final curtain, Edwina Williams went backstage to congratulate her son and the actors. Laurette Taylor, who had played the mother, spotted her and quipped, "How did you like you'self, Miz Williams?" The playwright's mother registered shock; she had no idea that Amanda Wingfield was supposed to be her.
Worse yet was the alcoholic Mr. Williams. He snorted that he failed to see how the character of the father, who had abandoned the family years before the action of the play begins, was supposed to represent him. After all, he had not run off; he was still around. He, of course, missed the whole point: physically present but emotionally absent, he had sorely wounded the entire family.
Yet, let us not be too hard on Mr. and Mrs. Williams.
I sometimes wonder what God, the Master Playwright of the Universe, thinks when we read His "script", or, more accurately, "Scripture". He puts us in every line, exposing our faults, revealing our sin, all in His desire to make us recognize our sinful portrait (Ecc. 7:20; Rom. 3:10,23) and to serve as a catalyst to get us to turn to Him for forgiveness and redemption. And what do we do? We see our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, or our enemies on every page; we see everyone but ourselves (2 Cor. 10:12).
Let me ask you, have you been doing some accusing lately? I have a suggestion; write down everything that you have against any one else, spare no feelings and pour on the adjectives. Then read it through, standing in front of the nearest mirror, and very carefully listen as the Holy Spirit asks, "How did you like you'self?" (John 16:8). Then plead the blood of Jesus Christ to cleanse the record before the final curtain falls (I John 1:7,9).
Break A Leg,
Pastor David Blevins
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Carpe Diem
It is quite possible that down through the years the institutionalized church has become so much like its counterparts in the secular world that we have over-programmed and over-managed a very simple process. After carefully reading Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger's clarion call to get "back to the basics" in their book Simple Church one of the commitments that I have made for 2012 is to give leadership toward the involvement of our lay people here at CHBC. This church belongs to Jesus Christ; He is to be the head, not anyone else (Eph. 5:32). We are the Body of Christ which is made up of individual members; all of us are given spiritual gifts and opportunities to exercise those gifts within the Body (I Cor. 12).
I am committed to the reality that the Pastor does not solely exist for the purpose of organizing new programs and then attempting to breathe new life into them (Acts 6:4; Eph. 4:11,12; 2 Tim. 4: 2-5). But rather I am committed to the spiritual truths that all of us in this church are members of the body of Jesus Christ and that all of us need to be working together to reach people with the Gospel, to minister to people, and to impact the lives of people for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! If some structure and organization can be a help and assistance in helping us to achieve those things, then we must organize and develop the necessary structures. However, the structure and organization should never come between ourselves and the ministry to which God has called us. Wasn't it Nike that had the advertising slogan a few years ago, "Just Do It"?
Success, victory, and conquest is, in this life, tentative at best. Future developments always have the potential to mangle our greatest triumphs. So I thank you now for being part of the victory in 2011 and for being part of the opportunity for victory in 2012, BUT STAY ON DUTY! I think that it was C.S. Lewis, or perhaps Yogi Berra, who said, "It ain't over till it's over."
In fact, learning to give genuine, heart-felt thanks to God during our entire Christian walk is so important. As the rest of this new year hunkers menacingly on the horizon, we do well to remember that the Apostle Paul, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us to give thanks "for all things" (Eph.5:20; I Thess. 5:18). Why is that? Well, if we waited until the circumstances warrant a full confidence and thanks, it would seem (at least in this life) that we would always be waiting for things to work out and never get around to praising God! Worship is a little like housework: the laundry "is never finished" and our adoring hearts' praise to the Lord God Almighty should never finish either!
Carpe Diem,
Pastor David Blevins
I am committed to the reality that the Pastor does not solely exist for the purpose of organizing new programs and then attempting to breathe new life into them (Acts 6:4; Eph. 4:11,12; 2 Tim. 4: 2-5). But rather I am committed to the spiritual truths that all of us in this church are members of the body of Jesus Christ and that all of us need to be working together to reach people with the Gospel, to minister to people, and to impact the lives of people for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ! If some structure and organization can be a help and assistance in helping us to achieve those things, then we must organize and develop the necessary structures. However, the structure and organization should never come between ourselves and the ministry to which God has called us. Wasn't it Nike that had the advertising slogan a few years ago, "Just Do It"?
Success, victory, and conquest is, in this life, tentative at best. Future developments always have the potential to mangle our greatest triumphs. So I thank you now for being part of the victory in 2011 and for being part of the opportunity for victory in 2012, BUT STAY ON DUTY! I think that it was C.S. Lewis, or perhaps Yogi Berra, who said, "It ain't over till it's over."
In fact, learning to give genuine, heart-felt thanks to God during our entire Christian walk is so important. As the rest of this new year hunkers menacingly on the horizon, we do well to remember that the Apostle Paul, who wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us to give thanks "for all things" (Eph.5:20; I Thess. 5:18). Why is that? Well, if we waited until the circumstances warrant a full confidence and thanks, it would seem (at least in this life) that we would always be waiting for things to work out and never get around to praising God! Worship is a little like housework: the laundry "is never finished" and our adoring hearts' praise to the Lord God Almighty should never finish either!
Carpe Diem,
Pastor David Blevins
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Check It Out
January is usually inventory month in the business world. Just as taking inventory in the business world is an absolute necessity, it is also needful and essential in the spiritual realm!
Let me share with you some questions that you and I need to ask ourselves frequently, and honestly answer them so that we can make a good spiritual inventory of our Christian lives.
1. Am I known as a Christian where I work and live?
2. Is Jesus Christ loved and respected or despised and rejected because of the way that I live in front of others?
3. Do those who know me best believe in me the most?
4. Do people know me as a person whose salvation experience made a change for the better in my life?
5. Is it possible that I claim to be a Christian but I harbor an unforgiving spirit toward others and I nurse a grudge toward someone else?
6. Do I try to find time every day for Bible study and unhurried prayer?
7. Am I able to work with other people? Can other people work with me? Am I hard to get along with?
8. Do I criticize the Pastor, the church and other Christians in front of my children, spouse, and my friends?
9. Do I have a secret longing to be the first to be recognized and praised? Or can I truly say that it does not matter who is second, third or fourth, so long as Jesus Christ is always first and gets all the glory, honor and praise?
10. What can I do now that I could not accomplish two or three years ago? Am I able to lead another person to Christ? Am I able to distinguish Holy Spirit guidence from my own desires? Am I consistently using opportunities to excerise my spiritual gifts for the glory of God?
11. Do I really enjoy an extended time of prayer and Bible study or do I resent the extra time it takes away from other things?
Dear friend, stop and prayerfully take time right now to do a Holy Spirit led, soul-searching spiritual inventory.
Now, as we look forward to 2012, I pray and trust the Lord that it will be a great year for us invidually and for us as a church body! We have many things that we want to accomplish in 2012 and we invite you to get involved and be a part of this work, for the glory of God!
We would like to win more souls to Christ than last year, we would like to baptize more people than last year, we want to increase our prayer and financial support to missions, we want to see all of our people enjoy a closer walk with the Lord and, among other things, we have several projects we need to do to improve our church facilities. Let's all do more for the Lord, grow more in the Lord and make this the greatest year in our lives so far for the Lord's Kingdom work!
Check It Out,
Pastor David Blevins
Let me share with you some questions that you and I need to ask ourselves frequently, and honestly answer them so that we can make a good spiritual inventory of our Christian lives.
1. Am I known as a Christian where I work and live?
2. Is Jesus Christ loved and respected or despised and rejected because of the way that I live in front of others?
3. Do those who know me best believe in me the most?
4. Do people know me as a person whose salvation experience made a change for the better in my life?
5. Is it possible that I claim to be a Christian but I harbor an unforgiving spirit toward others and I nurse a grudge toward someone else?
6. Do I try to find time every day for Bible study and unhurried prayer?
7. Am I able to work with other people? Can other people work with me? Am I hard to get along with?
8. Do I criticize the Pastor, the church and other Christians in front of my children, spouse, and my friends?
9. Do I have a secret longing to be the first to be recognized and praised? Or can I truly say that it does not matter who is second, third or fourth, so long as Jesus Christ is always first and gets all the glory, honor and praise?
10. What can I do now that I could not accomplish two or three years ago? Am I able to lead another person to Christ? Am I able to distinguish Holy Spirit guidence from my own desires? Am I consistently using opportunities to excerise my spiritual gifts for the glory of God?
11. Do I really enjoy an extended time of prayer and Bible study or do I resent the extra time it takes away from other things?
Dear friend, stop and prayerfully take time right now to do a Holy Spirit led, soul-searching spiritual inventory.
Now, as we look forward to 2012, I pray and trust the Lord that it will be a great year for us invidually and for us as a church body! We have many things that we want to accomplish in 2012 and we invite you to get involved and be a part of this work, for the glory of God!
We would like to win more souls to Christ than last year, we would like to baptize more people than last year, we want to increase our prayer and financial support to missions, we want to see all of our people enjoy a closer walk with the Lord and, among other things, we have several projects we need to do to improve our church facilities. Let's all do more for the Lord, grow more in the Lord and make this the greatest year in our lives so far for the Lord's Kingdom work!
Check It Out,
Pastor David Blevins
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Pressed By The Mark
Welcome to 2012! While the New Year is fresh, we need to hear the testimony of the psalmist who said,"One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after..." (Psalm 27:4). There are way too many Christians whom are like the cowboy that was described by his five-year-old son this way, "He jumped on his horse and rode off in all directions!"
We need to focus in one direction for the new year! Hugh Allen of the Knoxville News Sentinel once stated, "The man who doesn't know where he is going can look forward to a long, exhausting trip." Sound, godly advice from the Apostle Paul will help us to determine our direction for this new year, if we will heed what he said in Philippians 3:13,14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The J.B. Phillips New Testament translation of Philippians 3:12-14 states," Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have "arrived", spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal-my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ."
The "one thing" that we all need for 2012 is for us to all grow to be more like Jesus Christ!
Praise God for the Apostle Paul's honesty and spiritual transparency! Paul is telling us, "I am not where I want to be in my spiritual life. I have not yet obtained the goal. But I refuse to let the past drag me down, and I am straining to reach my goal of knowing...really knowing Jesus Christ through His power, suffering, and His death" (Blevins paraphrase).
Will you join me in being a "one-thinger" in 2012 and dedicate the 527,040 minutes of 2012 (it is a leap year, so don't forget we will have 366 days instead of 365) to really knowing Jesus Christ and becoming more like Him?!
Pressed By The Mark,
Pastor David Blevins
We need to focus in one direction for the new year! Hugh Allen of the Knoxville News Sentinel once stated, "The man who doesn't know where he is going can look forward to a long, exhausting trip." Sound, godly advice from the Apostle Paul will help us to determine our direction for this new year, if we will heed what he said in Philippians 3:13,14, "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind , and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." The J.B. Phillips New Testament translation of Philippians 3:12-14 states," Yet, my brothers, I do not consider myself to have "arrived", spiritually, nor do I consider myself already perfect. But I keep going on, grasping ever more firmly that purpose for which Christ grasped me. My brothers, I do not consider myself to have fully grasped it even now. But I do concentrate on this: I leave the past behind and with hands outstretched to whatever lies ahead I go straight for the goal-my reward the honour of being called by God in Christ."
The "one thing" that we all need for 2012 is for us to all grow to be more like Jesus Christ!
Praise God for the Apostle Paul's honesty and spiritual transparency! Paul is telling us, "I am not where I want to be in my spiritual life. I have not yet obtained the goal. But I refuse to let the past drag me down, and I am straining to reach my goal of knowing...really knowing Jesus Christ through His power, suffering, and His death" (Blevins paraphrase).
Will you join me in being a "one-thinger" in 2012 and dedicate the 527,040 minutes of 2012 (it is a leap year, so don't forget we will have 366 days instead of 365) to really knowing Jesus Christ and becoming more like Him?!
Pressed By The Mark,
Pastor David Blevins
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
'Tis The Seasoning
I was in the grocery store the other day and I got to contemplating the top of the little tin which held the black spice known as pepper. I discovered it had three openings and that I could select any one of them, depending on the amount of powder I wanted to dispense. They were labeled, "Lift to Sift," "Lift to Spoon," and "Lift to Pour."
Continuing my investigation, I pried open the first to reveal a dozen or so tiny perforations which would permit a fine sprinkling of pepper to escape. The second flap covered a hole just barely large enough for about a quarter-teaspoon scoop. under the third cover, however, I found a gaping mouth from which the pepper would pour like Niagra Falls!
And I thought of 2 Kings 13:14-20.
No, really! In that chapter of the Bible, Elisha the prophet is about to die. King Joash of Israel comes to see him, and the seer tells the sovereign to take some arrows and "smite" the ground (when you are the King, I suppose you don't just "hit" or "beat" things). It seems like an odd request, but his majesty takes three smacks at the floor just to humor the old guy. But it isn't humerous to Elisha. He becomes "wroth" (which is King James English for really ticked off) and Elisha tells King Joash that each smack with the arrows gained a victory over the Syrians, Israel's chief enemy. Because Joash only hit the arrows against the ground three times, instead of wiping Syria out, God's people would now win only three battles.
Poor dumb Joash. When he really needed "Lift to Pour," he settled for "Lift to Sift."
I wonder what setting ("Lift to Sift," "Lift to Spoon," or "Lift to Pour") is on our own Christian walk? Are we "Lift to Sift" Christians, happy with a powder-puff victory now and then, or are we "Lift to Pour" Saints who want to bury ourselves in the blessings of our Heavenly Father? We know His desire for us and we only need to surrender our will and desires to Him to have the best (Psalm 84:11; Romans 12:1,2)! Let's open the spout where God's blessings come out and learn to live in the zest of a well-spiced Christian walk!
'Tis The Seasoning,
Pastor David Blevins
Continuing my investigation, I pried open the first to reveal a dozen or so tiny perforations which would permit a fine sprinkling of pepper to escape. The second flap covered a hole just barely large enough for about a quarter-teaspoon scoop. under the third cover, however, I found a gaping mouth from which the pepper would pour like Niagra Falls!
And I thought of 2 Kings 13:14-20.
No, really! In that chapter of the Bible, Elisha the prophet is about to die. King Joash of Israel comes to see him, and the seer tells the sovereign to take some arrows and "smite" the ground (when you are the King, I suppose you don't just "hit" or "beat" things). It seems like an odd request, but his majesty takes three smacks at the floor just to humor the old guy. But it isn't humerous to Elisha. He becomes "wroth" (which is King James English for really ticked off) and Elisha tells King Joash that each smack with the arrows gained a victory over the Syrians, Israel's chief enemy. Because Joash only hit the arrows against the ground three times, instead of wiping Syria out, God's people would now win only three battles.
Poor dumb Joash. When he really needed "Lift to Pour," he settled for "Lift to Sift."
I wonder what setting ("Lift to Sift," "Lift to Spoon," or "Lift to Pour") is on our own Christian walk? Are we "Lift to Sift" Christians, happy with a powder-puff victory now and then, or are we "Lift to Pour" Saints who want to bury ourselves in the blessings of our Heavenly Father? We know His desire for us and we only need to surrender our will and desires to Him to have the best (Psalm 84:11; Romans 12:1,2)! Let's open the spout where God's blessings come out and learn to live in the zest of a well-spiced Christian walk!
'Tis The Seasoning,
Pastor David Blevins
Thursday, December 22, 2011
I'm Excited About Jesus!
It seems very hard to believe that the month of December will soon be over and we will soon be starting into 2012! It does seem to me that the older I get, the quicker time flies by. As a matter of fact, today (December 22nd) is my 38th spiritual birthday! It was on December 22, 1973 that I trusted Jesus Christ as my personal Savior and Lord of my life. That was and is the greatest decision that I have ever made in my life! I have never regretted giving my heart and life to Jesus Christ and never will. It also just seems like yesterday that I began my gospel ministry for the Lord Jesus Christ when I was only 18 years old (I preached my first message in April of 1974). And now, it has been almost 37 3/4 years!
The rapid passing of time reminds me of what James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in James 4:14, "...For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." The NIV says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." My dear beloved friends, it should be our heart's desire to make every moment count for Jesus Christ! We should live with an eternal perspective, realizing that this life will soon be over and we who are saved will live in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever! What a glorious and everlasting joy that will be! I would say to you that based upon the brevity of time, if we are going to do anything for Jesus, we need to do it quickly! What a privilege to know and serve Jesus Christ, the One who saved us for time and eternity! Glory to God!
The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful Christian wife, Randi, whom I love with all of my heart. Thank you for the wonderful life we have had together, Randi! God has gifted us with two great children, Bethany and Rusty. They are the joy of their Dad's heart. I am also very proud of my new son-in-law, Brandon. He is a great Christian young man and he is soooo good to our daughter. We (Randi and I) are patiently waiting for grand-children so that we can spoil them rotten and send them home on a sugar high as revenge against our children for when they were little!
Please let me close by telling the members of Clover Hill Baptist Church that I count it a great privilege to be your Pastor. Thank you for your prayers for me (and my family) and your support of my spiritual leadership. I sincerely look forward to what the Lord Jesus Christ has in store for us in 2012!
I'm Excited About Jesus!
Pastor David Blevins
The rapid passing of time reminds me of what James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in James 4:14, "...For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." The NIV says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." My dear beloved friends, it should be our heart's desire to make every moment count for Jesus Christ! We should live with an eternal perspective, realizing that this life will soon be over and we who are saved will live in the presence of the King of kings and Lord of lords forever and ever! What a glorious and everlasting joy that will be! I would say to you that based upon the brevity of time, if we are going to do anything for Jesus, we need to do it quickly! What a privilege to know and serve Jesus Christ, the One who saved us for time and eternity! Glory to God!
The Lord has blessed me with a wonderful Christian wife, Randi, whom I love with all of my heart. Thank you for the wonderful life we have had together, Randi! God has gifted us with two great children, Bethany and Rusty. They are the joy of their Dad's heart. I am also very proud of my new son-in-law, Brandon. He is a great Christian young man and he is soooo good to our daughter. We (Randi and I) are patiently waiting for grand-children so that we can spoil them rotten and send them home on a sugar high as revenge against our children for when they were little!
Please let me close by telling the members of Clover Hill Baptist Church that I count it a great privilege to be your Pastor. Thank you for your prayers for me (and my family) and your support of my spiritual leadership. I sincerely look forward to what the Lord Jesus Christ has in store for us in 2012!
I'm Excited About Jesus!
Pastor David Blevins
Monday, December 19, 2011
I'll Be Home For Christmas
Christmas is really going to cost you this year, especially if you are a traditionalist. According to Jim Dunigan, managing executive for PNC Wealth Management (affiliated with Provident National Bank in Philadelphia), a person wishing to give his true love the standard "Twelve Days of Christmas" assortment (one set of each verse in the song) is looking at a total bill of $24,263! I am also sure that it will come as a huge surprise to all of the many "tekkies" out there that shopping on line will not bring you any kind of a bargain price. As a matter of fact, it will cost you almost $40,000 to buy the same gifts on line! Why is that? Because of the high cost to ship live birds.
The reason? Well, don't blame the partridge, which remains the cheapest item at $15. Maids-a-milking have a weak union, so you can still get them for minimum wage, however piping and drumming are on the rise. Behind the Christmas inflation were three factors: 1. The price of swans doubled from last year to a whopping $6,300. 2. It seems that the Philadelphia Dance Company rents its lords and ladies by the hour, so all that leaping and dancing drove the cost to a 50% increase. 3. The obvious arch-villain is the five golden rings, since the price of gold has doubled since 2008.
If all that isn't bad enough, it must be pointed out that this total is for the twelfth day only! If you figure all the repeat gifts, you end up with a bill for $101,119.84! Ho, Ho, Ho!
But if you think Christmas really costs you and me, stop for a minute to think what the first Christmas, the real Christmas, cost the Ones who really gave.
Of course, it cost the Heavenly Father His only Son. But did you ever stop to think that this was also true in reverse? Bethlehem, or Nazareth for that matter, wasn't any bargain even by earthly standards, and yet Jesus traded His seat at the right hand of the Father for it. And before you tell me that you won't be at church the Sunday's around Christmas because you want to spend the holidays with your family, consider that Jesus Christ, the reason for this season, lived on this Earth for over thirty-three years and never spent a single December 25th with His Father! That sort of puts the whole thing in perspective, doesn't it? Especially when you remember that no gifts were exchanged under a brightly lit tree during His life on Earth. If we are really celebrating the birth (day) of Jesus Christ, why are we the only ones getting the presents?
So go easy on the plastic credit cards this year, and lavishly give the same gift that God gave to us that first Christmas: "A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Be quick to tell others why Jesus really came to this world (Luke 19:10).
"I'll Be Home For Christmas",
Pastor David Blevins
The reason? Well, don't blame the partridge, which remains the cheapest item at $15. Maids-a-milking have a weak union, so you can still get them for minimum wage, however piping and drumming are on the rise. Behind the Christmas inflation were three factors: 1. The price of swans doubled from last year to a whopping $6,300. 2. It seems that the Philadelphia Dance Company rents its lords and ladies by the hour, so all that leaping and dancing drove the cost to a 50% increase. 3. The obvious arch-villain is the five golden rings, since the price of gold has doubled since 2008.
If all that isn't bad enough, it must be pointed out that this total is for the twelfth day only! If you figure all the repeat gifts, you end up with a bill for $101,119.84! Ho, Ho, Ho!
But if you think Christmas really costs you and me, stop for a minute to think what the first Christmas, the real Christmas, cost the Ones who really gave.
Of course, it cost the Heavenly Father His only Son. But did you ever stop to think that this was also true in reverse? Bethlehem, or Nazareth for that matter, wasn't any bargain even by earthly standards, and yet Jesus traded His seat at the right hand of the Father for it. And before you tell me that you won't be at church the Sunday's around Christmas because you want to spend the holidays with your family, consider that Jesus Christ, the reason for this season, lived on this Earth for over thirty-three years and never spent a single December 25th with His Father! That sort of puts the whole thing in perspective, doesn't it? Especially when you remember that no gifts were exchanged under a brightly lit tree during His life on Earth. If we are really celebrating the birth (day) of Jesus Christ, why are we the only ones getting the presents?
So go easy on the plastic credit cards this year, and lavishly give the same gift that God gave to us that first Christmas: "A Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Be quick to tell others why Jesus really came to this world (Luke 19:10).
"I'll Be Home For Christmas",
Pastor David Blevins
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)