The last few days have been days of reflection and preparation for 2009.  On Saturday, Terrie and I celebrated our twenty-eighth wedding anniversary.  It was a little different this year, with three married children and our youngest son away on a trip.  We enjoyed the time of reflecting on God’s blessings and looking forward to our continued service for Him.

The combined service at Lancaster Baptist Church at 11:00 yesterday morning was a real joy!   It is always exciting to get the whole church family together and lift up the name of Christ.  Out text from Hebrews 12 took us to the beginning of 2008.  Our theme Consider Christ has been predominant in every message throughout this year.

Hebrews 12 reminds us that the Christian life is a race, with Jesus Christ as our goal.  The following thoughts are gleaned from the Scriptures and may be of help to you in your New Year.

I.      The Preparation for the Race.

A. Remove the hindrances or weights
.

B. Repent from sin.

NOTE:  We must make up our minds today to lay aside the weights and sin.  “If you don’t make up your mind, your unmade mind will unmake you.”

Psalm 18:23 says, “I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity.”
II.     The Pace of the Race

A. It is a set pace.

NOTE:  Everyone has his own course to run for the Lord.

B. It is a steady race.

NOTE:  We are to run with patience the race that is set before us.
III.    The Pursuit of Our Race

A. We are pursuing a Person—Jesus

NOTE:  We are to be looking to Him. “Success is a moving target, but leadership is a fixed goal.”  Make Jesus Christ your goal!

B. We are pursuing a pattern. (verse 3)

NOTE:  We must consider Christ as our example in this race.

“It belongs to my Christian profession to be vilified, slandered, reproached, and reviled.  And since all this is nothing but that, as God and my conscience testify, I rejoice in being reproached for Christ’s sake.” —John Bunyan, 1658, Bedford, England

May God bless you as you set your goals and direction for 2009!

Merry Christmas!  It is my prayer that God has blessed you, your family, and church family with a wonderful, Christ-centered day!

Perhaps you heard that certain portions of California received a good snow storm a few days ago.  Needless to say, it caused everything to stop for a few days here in Lancaster.  I thought I would send you a few pictures of our neighborhood and some of the local area here in Lancaster.

As we think about this Christmas day, we are reminded that Christ was delivered to the world as God’s gift to man.  Luke 2:6 says, “And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.” Not only was Christ delivered to the world, but the Scriptures teach He was delivered to minister to the world.  Acts 2:22 says, “He was delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” His ministry was powerful and personal in our midst.  I am thankful that He was willing to “make himself of no reputation” and took upon Himself the form of a servant, and was willing to be “…made in the likeness of men.”

Finally, He was not only delivered to the world and delivered to minister in this world, but He was ultimately delivered to the Cross for our sins.  The Bible says in Luke 18:32–33, “For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 33 And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again.”

There was never a more “special delivery” than when Jesus came to this world and ultimately died for our sins.  We certainly have much for which to be thankful today!

As we look forward to the New Year, we realize that there are many challenges facing God’s people today.  We see uncertainty in the economic world, compromise in the Christian world, and corruption in the political world.  Yet, God’s Word speaks to every issue we will face in the days ahead.  It is my prayer that the updates from Lancaster Baptist Church or the comments on current events you will receive through this daily blog might be a blessing and an encouragement to you.  Thank you for your steadfastness for our Saviour.  Have a wonderful day and a Christ-honoring New Year!

Thank you,
Pastor

It’s been a bizarre yet enjoyable week here in Lancaster! On Wednesday, we experienced an extremely unusual amount of snowfall – up to a foot of snow in some areas. The Mojave Desert was a beautiful sight as it was covered in a thick blanket of snow. This was the most snowfall I have personally seen in over twenty years in Lancaster.

Despite the inclement weather conditions, our midweek services went forward as planned. Although hundreds of our members were stranded due to road closures, the Lord gave us a wonderful time in His word.

Thursday morning, after the storm had cleared, my wife and I spent some time driving around town, admiring the scenery. We enjoyed taking a few pictures and pausing to thank the Lord for the snow that had fallen during the Christmas season.

As I thanked the Lord for the beauty of the desert in the winter, I began to think of the references to snow in the Bible. My heart was drawn to the following verses:

Isaiah 55:10-11
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Just as snow falls from heaven and does not return, God promises that His Word will also not return void. He promises that it will accomplish what He pleases.

This Christmas season, may you claim that promise and may you take the time to share God’s Word with those who will listen. Whether it is a lost loved one or a stranger out Christmas shopping, make it a priority to spread the Gospel this Christmas season. And if you are able to experience a little snowfall along the way, may it be a reminder of God’s promise to bless and prosper His Word as it is shared with those who need to hear.

Yesterday was one of the most joyous days in our lives as Terrie and I had the privilege of seeing our daughter Kristine become the wife of a godly young man, Jon Sisson.

Jon is a missionaries’ son from the Philippines. He and Kristi met and fell in love here at West Coast Baptist College a few years ago. We were honored last evening by the presence of our church family, pastor friends, and relatives from across the nation.

We are thankful to the Lord for His grace upon Jon and Kristine. Their testimony as a dating couple has honored the Lord and their parents. Joining me in the ceremony were Dr. David Gibbs, Jr. and Dr. Don Sisk. Their mentoring in my life and their love for our children has been a precious treasure.

As Terrie and I woke this morning, our hearts were filled with mixed emotions. We were sad to think of how quickly time has gone by, yet thrilled to know that Jon and Kristi are following their Saviour. We look forward to seeing their lives bring honor and glory to Christ. The Bible says in 3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Although weary from an emotional few days with the wedding, I look forward to sharing the Gospel in a few hours at our Saturday evening musical presentation, “The Majesty of Christmas.” It is a joy to serve the King of Kings!

Last week Newsweek magazine came out with a cover article entitled “The Religious Case for Gay Marriage.” The author of the article attempts to use the Bible to defend gay marriage.

In one of the worst examples of modern day journalism I have ever seen, I could only be reminded of the Scripture in 2 Timothy 3:3-5 describing the last days, “Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” The increasing attacks on the veracity of the Scriptures and the sanctity of marriage will not stop until the Lord Jesus returns.

The author of the Newsweek article said, among other things, “While the Bible and Jesus say many important things about love and the family, neither explicitly defines marriage as between one man and one woman.” This is categorically untrue. Genesis 2:24-25 reveals marriage to be—by God’s plan—a union between one man and one woman.

The author further states, “To argue that something is so because it is in the Bible is more than intellectually bankrupt.” This type of an attack on the Word of God stems from a heart of unbelief and shows that when people choose to follow a path opposite of the Scriptures, they will place themselves above the Bible, and considering themselves to be wise, they become fools.

Gay rights activists are on the march and constantly calling for boycotts of companies who don’t support their cause. Now they are trying to tell us that the Bible changes with history.

I thank God that His Word stands like a rock undaunted in times like these. May we continue to speak the truth in love during this needy hour.