Pastor's Heart

“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”John 13:5 My family has enjoyed watching a series of documentaries recently on marine life in the oceans surrounding Australia. It’s something the whole family can enjoy, regardless of age.…

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”2 Corinthians 5:17 The transition into the New Year has become a special time for me personally. Throughout the years, Decembers have been extremely busy due to semester, family, and church demands. I look forward…

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” John 1:16 “Grace” is the theme of the Gospel. The good news for the world, since the resurrection of Christ, is that God – infinite, eternal, unchanging, holy, just, et. al. – had devised a plan to be “both just, and the justifier of…

Dear CBC Family, Last Sunday I referred to the Great Commission, and highlighted the key phrase, “God therefore and make disciples…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you…” (Matt. 28:14).  Learning to live what Jesus commanded is the substance of discipleship.  One of the most notable things He taught us is to live before…

Dear CBC Family, It was great to worship together with you on Sunday!  We’ve been blessed at CBC with many gifted people and willing hearts who serve each week.  Every member using their gifts in the church is essential for the building up of the body! (1 Corinthians 12:4-26).  So, thank you for serving Christ…

1 Peter 5:5-7   “Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all…

Matthew 9:38 38 …therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” As the weather warms and people emerge from hibernation, I often think of fresh opportunities for evangelism.  Outdoor events, longer days, more recreation, all present greater opportunities to share the Gospel.  A couple of summers ago,…

Revelation 2:1 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.” Recently, I began reading again through the book of Revelation.  I am always amazed at the layers of symbolism and significance to this book,…

Luke 6:12 In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God.  Luke 18:1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, Jesus’ example, and His explicit instructions, teach us that…

NAU Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” ESV 2 Thessalonians 3:9 “It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.” A new year occasions the opportunity to reassess and…

Luke 2:25  25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  Luke 24:21 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel… The Christmas season is upon us. …

Thanksgiving season is upon us and Christmas is always soon to follow.  The seasonal shift always brings about extra work to accommodate the change.  Shorter days, colder nights have a certain charm, but most of us would prefer the warm sun and green of spring.  This season can be overwhelming.  If we’re honest, life can…

Recently our small group has been going through the “one anothers” in the New Testament and looking at how believers are to relate to one another. I have been struck at how much importance the NT places on the relationship of believers to one another. This is a very special bond that we enjoy as…

Genesis 4:4-5  4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and for his offering;  5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. This is the third essay on worship.  Worship is the primary reason…

ESV Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. In last month’s Pastor’s Heart, we began talking about worship.  The essence of worship is summarized in 1 Chronicles 16:29a “Ascribe to the…

1 Chronicles 16:28-29  28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength!  29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; 1 Chronicles 16 recounts an early highpoint in David’s reign. …

NAU Ephesians 6:18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, This wonderful command to pray comes at the end of Paul’s memorable passage on the Christian’s spiritual armor.  As I’ve mentioned before,…

In 1772, the faithful (though not famous) English Baptist pastor John Fawcett*, penned a well-known hymn, “The Tie that Binds.”  The first stanza reads: Blest be the tie that binds Our hearts in Christian love; The fellowship of kindred minds Is like to that above. The lines couldn’t ring truer of the wonderful reality of…

Matthew 6:33  33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. As 2023 begins, it offers a fresh start – or at least a “reset” on life in some ways.  These words of Jesus invite us to reconsider our priorities – and that’s important…

Luke 2:16-18  16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.  17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.  18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. This Christmas season…

Psalm 50 is a powerful Psalm, portraying the immanence of God throughout the world, particularly in the future judgment.  We hear God quoted directly throughout the Psalm, beginning in verse 5 and down through the end.  He speaks in judgment – first to His people, and then to the wicked starting in verse 16.  Verses…

Galatians 5:16  16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. Last time we were together, we were introduced to the next major section of Galatians.  The main theme is the role of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.  This is Paul’s…

In writing “Pastor’s Heart”, I always begin with prayerful thought about what is actually on my “heart” related to Calvary Baptist Church.  For a couple of weeks, I have been burdened to be more hospitable.  Julie and I had some CBC folks over for meals when we first arrived, but in the bustle of the…

Eph 2:20  20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, There is a priceless and ageless tool that I keep readily available called a “plumb bob.”  It is simply a weight on the end of a string, often in the shape of a cone. …

Psalm 103:8-9 8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. Lamentations 3:31-32  31 For the Lord will not reject forever,  32 For if He causes grief, Then He will have compassion According to His…

Jim Richards was graduated to glory last week.  He was a long-time Christian brother and faithful servant here at Calvary.  In many ways, the occasion is sad, of course.  Jim was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, A/V team co-laborer, fire fighter and skilled mechanic.  In his family, community and church Jim’s life touched and blessed…

This pastor’s heart has been heavy recently in seeing people suffer physically.  There’s always a background thought of the way things “ought” to be.  We can envision the ideal solution to a problem, an ideal life to live, and ideal way to thrive.  It is humbling and disarming to be unable to “fix” things.  Discouragement…

Eph 4:32  32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. We’ve been charting a brief course on the theme of forgiveness.  Why should we forgive? Because we have been forgiven so abundantly.  How we should forgive? is summarized above, “as God in Christ has…

Eph 4:32  32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. In relational conflict, the believer is called upon to overlook another’s faults and “cover” them in love.1  Sometimes, however, it is necessary to confront in love.2  In either case, we are to be ready…

Eph 4:32  32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Last week, we considered how to respond to a relational conflict, especially with a brother or sister in the church who has wronged us.  When necessary, there is wisdom in loving, gentle confrontation.  The…

Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up strife, But love covers all transgressions. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.  I’ve been reminded recently about the power of bitterness, and the obscuring effects of holding a grudge.  It is a powerful thing!  It is…

Psalm 1:2 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 119:97  97 O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Jeremiah 15:16 16 Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me…

Psalm 91:1-4 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”  3 For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper And from the…

Hebrews 13:1-2 Let love of the brethren continue.  2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it. Last Sunday night we had a great time as a church giving thanks to God for his many blessings over the past year.  A constant refrain of thanks…

Ps. 90:14-15 “O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. Make us glad according to the days You have afflicted us, And the years we have seen evil.” Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses. This infuses the poetry with added significance.…

Acts 11:18 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” We had a great Missions Conference last weekend.  Calvary truly has been blessed, not only to have a rich history of supporting missionaries, but to have…

1 John 4:19-21  19 We love, because He first loved us.  20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.  21 And this commandment we have from Him,…

2 Timothy 2:1 “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”  Timothy had a task before him similar to that of Joshua.  He was called to continue leading the church at Ephesus on his own.  He would continue to uphold the truth of the Gospel for his generation as…

Dear CBC family, Last week we considered the supernatural strength that God supplies to His people.  Paul prays for each Christian to be “strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” (Eph. 3:16).  It’s a strength that comes from God.  But we are also commanded to “be strong” (1 Cor. 16:13, Eph. 6:10,…

Dear CBC family, This week, I was reminded of the supernatural spiritual strength that God provides to His people.  This is most pronounced when their physical strength is diminished or gone.  This was Paul’s experience often in his ministry.  He writes concerning his “thorn in the flesh” “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with…

The Apostle Paul is a central figure in the NT.  His conversion, calling and ministry make up the bulk of Acts (chps. 9, 13-25).  It was a bold evangelistic ministry to preach Christ and plant new churches.  He traveled a lot!  As he went, his ministry was marked with suffering. There were labors, imprisonments, and…

The apostle John recounts the astounding reality of God’s love for us in 1 John 3:1.  He continues in verse 2-3 to mention the “now/not yet” aspect of our identity as God’s children.  He writes, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know…

As a new follower of Christ, I was taught that personal devotional time was the main stay for my spiritual growth.  “Doing my devotions,” “having a devotional time,” or the camp version, “Time for devos!”  were all part of the lingo.  I may be wrong, but my impression is that this emphasis has waned in…

I’ve missed seeing you over the past couple of weeks!  Thank you for your calls and cards of encouragement!  I’m feeling better each day.   I’ve been mindful of some wonderful truths found in Psalm 139.  Verse 13, “For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb…” Verse 16 “Your eyes have…