“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

I love to hear the stories of how our Christian songs and hymns originated. The story of how the song came about that we often sing to our children, “Jesus Loves Me,” is said to have happened this way:

Sisters Anna and Susan Warner lived on Constitution Island on the Hudson River across from the Military Academy at West Point. Their life was consumed with teaching the Bible to the cadets. In the meantime, they wrote a few books, one of which was “Say and Seal.” In the book they told of a fictional boy name Johnny Fox who was dying. His Sunday school teacher, John Linden, comforted him by taking him into his arms, rocking him, and making a little song that went like this, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so . . . “ Later, composer William Bradbury, read the words of the little song and together music for the lines and “Jesus Loves Me” was born as a children’s hymn.

The song has as strong of a foundation of faith as any other song today. It’s simple but true. Whether we are young or old, healthy or dying, prosperous or in poverty we can take assurance with fact that, “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.” 

Take fact that God loved us even before we loved him. “But God commended His love for us, that while we were yet sinners, he died for us.” Romans 5:8

Bro. Larry

P.S. Don’t forget to pray for schools returning to classes. Not all are going in person and not all at the same time. But, there are many reasons to pray for the safety of the students as well as school personnel and parents.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” John 14:6

A few years ago, my wife and I went on a food program (she doesn’t like for me to refer to it as a “diet”). The plan basically had the philosophy that if God made it, it was good but if man made it then it was bad for you. It was built on the concept that the additives in food are not usually good for you.

There are preservatives in bread and cheese to make them resistant to the growth of mold. We find food coloring in margarine to make it look more like butter, artificial sweeteners in soft drinks to make them calorie-free, and fillers in meat products to give them more volume. These seem good and well. Much of the time there comes a point where adding to something can actually subtract from it. This is true of the Gospel (the death, burial, and resurrection that brings faith in Jesus; 1st Corinthians 15:1-4).

There is a growing movement to return to natural or organic foods. There is a return to pure cane sugar and other natural sweeteners that reduce the artificial stuff. There are documents that state that butter is healthier than margarine. And on it goes.

Many want to add to their faith in Jesus Christ other ingredients like membership to a certain church of denomination, a worship style, along with many do’s and don’ts. The Bible teaches do’s and don’ts but not when it comes to the faith that brings salvation. The Bible is very clear that Jesus was and is enough. “For no other foundation can no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1st Corinthians 3:11).

• Jesus is enough to be our Savior
• Jesus is enough to be sufficient
• Jesus is enough to be our security

Have faith in Jesus. Trust Him with your heart and life. If you do not know Him as your Savior and Lord and are interested in a discussion as to how to receive salvation, call 615-672-3530.

Bro Larry

Have you ever anticipated something only to be disappointed because it was out of commission, down for repairs, or temporarily closed? When Donna and I were dating, I had told her little brother and sisters about an amusement park I went to quite often as a kid. We loaded the car and went south to Chattanooga. As we were getting close to the location of the park, I stopped at KFC to get a picnic lunch for us all to be eaten at the picnic area of the park. As I drove into the parking lot anticipating the rides and attractions, there was a closed sign. The park was closed for a year to make renovations. It was “out of commission.” My wife’s sister reminds me of the mistake of not checking ahead of time.

The above verse is what we refer to as “The Great Commission.” It is where Jesus told us to go and make disciples. You’d be hard pressed to meet a dedicated Christian who doesn’t say the greatest work on earth is evangelism. But most of us simply give lip service to evangelizing and discipling. Statistics show that while the American population has grown 9.7% from 2010-2020, nationwide church attendance has dropped by four percent. Somehow there is a disconnect between the priorities we claim to hold and the actions we take. There is little winning of souls in most churches and may have not won a soul to Christ in years. Much of the time we are distracted by good projects while overlooking the most important – winning the lost to Jesus.

It appears, that the church may be out of commission which is a result of many Church members being out of commission. We are not carrying on “The Great Commission” as intended.

Bro. Larry

“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14

If you were to look at the pictures and paintings of The Three Crosses, your attention would be drawn first to the center cross on which Jesus died. It is almost always taller than the other two which makes it stand out to be noticeable. He is the central and outstanding character because the cross is about Jesus who is also the central figure of the entire human race.

If we were able to look back in time to see the people surrounding the foot of the cross, we would most likely be impressed by the various facial expressions and actions of the people involved in the awful crime of crucifying the Son of God. It’s the same today. People are brought before the foot of the cross in various ways (sermons, lifestyles, plain conviction, etc.). Yet it doesn’t affect everyone the same. Some are interested and pay attention to the details but walk away unchanged. Others are interested in other things more than the work Christ did on the cross for them. But some accept the sacrificial and substitutionary death of Christ and receive Him as the atonement for their sins. Much like the two thieves on the crosses to the left and right of Jesus. One was changed eternally by Christ on the middle cross and as a result experienced the joys of being present with the Lord in Paradise. The other rejected and went to the torment of hell.

Spiritually speaking, you and I were at the foot of that cross. The cross occurred because of our sins. We nailed Jesus to the cross by the very actions of our sin. Yet, we are forgiven because of the power of the cross . . . the atonement (payment made) for our sin.

Bro. Larry

P.S. Update on this coming Sunday at PGBC. We will live stream Bro. Rich’s adult S.S. lesson at 10 a.m. followed by the singing and preaching at 10:45 and then close with an encouraging word by Bro. Rory to our youth. Those who do not have internet will be taken their C.D. copies on Sunday afternoon,

“I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me.” Psalms 3:5

There are numerous Scriptures in the Bible that speak about sleeping. The above verse assures us that we are watched over by the Lord even when we sleep. It is through Christ that we exist even when asleep.

That is good news for me because some nights wear me out because of dreams. Many nights I am busy preaching sermons and doing an unbelievable amount of church work. Also, I often dream of the past, even having experiences with people who have been dead for a long time. When dreaming of my days when I was back in school, there is one frequently occurring dream that I am back in college and can’t remember the times or locations of my classes. Then, there are dreams that extend to extreme weird. I share a little of these with Donna in the mornings and she thinks I should attempt to get a job writing science fiction books.

I want to share with you three times of deep sleep in the Bible that brought positive results for us:

• In Genesis 2, God made Adam to fall into a deep sleep and God made a bride for him that brought human life to all nations of the earth.
• In Genesis 15, a second-deep sleep fell upon Abraham when God passed between the sacrificial animals establishing a new covenant with him that brought birth to a chosen nation. Both Adam and Abraham were Old Testament pictures of the coming Christ.
• Christ experienced his own deep sleep in the death on the cross. He became the last Adam and the promised seed, dying to give new life to all who would accept it by faith. He fulfilled the whole of the O.T. covenants while instituting the new covenant in his own blood.

While Adam fell into a deep sleep, a bride was born, when Abraham fell into a deep sleep, a nation was born. But when Christ slept through his death on the cross and his days in the tomb, death and hell was judged and a new birth (a spiritual birth) brought about a new creation (born again people).

Bro. Larry

P.S. As a comment on the coronavirus pandemic that has hit our local community, county and state hard, do what you have been instructed and above all pray. This past weekend when President Trump announce the extension of social distancing guidelines, one of his quotes was “I want our life back!” When I read that statement, I was reminded of, Galatians 2:20 which says, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” My life comes from Christ, it is lived with Christ in me. Amen.

“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.” Hebrews 11:7

There have been movies, books, documentaries, and numerous claims made that the site of the landing of the ark was found – even the Ark Encounter in northern Kentucky that draws 1000’s through its doors. But the best documentary on the Ark is the Bible.

Noah spent 120 years building a boat. The ark was the length of one and a half football fields. Taking the Bible’s dimensions, it was the size of approximately 570 boxcars. That amount of space would hold a large number of animals. If the average size animal was a sheep, it would hold around 125,000 animals. And remember, Noah didn’t take every animal just two of every species. Who builds an ark in the desert and hammers away on it for 120 years?

The ark was built without an instruction manual, labor unions, or a group of corporation sponsors. It was built by one man who had the call of God on his life. According to Jewish tradition, he made preparations by first planting the trees and after they were fully grown, he cut them down and built a boat out of them. That takes an unbelievable amount of time and patience.

We owe the survival of mankind to Noah because he had enough faith to take God at His word and act on it even though there were no immediate results.

What kind of boat are you building with your life? It will not be an ark to survive the flood but it will provide safety for you and others. Will you act of God’s Word and provide a safe shelter for your family? Will you be a witness for the Lord, even if it is for 120 years? Whatever call of God is on your life, grab your hammer and get busy.

Bro. Larry

P.S. Especially in the outbreak of the Coronavirus, you are building an ark of safety for you, your family, and all around you. Use the patience that Noah showed and especially your faith in God. Take the precautions needed and offer safety to others by using the wisdom God has given you.

“Come, and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” Hosea 6:1

R.S.V.P. is at the bottom of many invitations. The letters stand for a French phrase, but we simply know it means to “please reply.” One redneck guy received an invitation to a fancy dinner. Not sure what the letters stood for. He finally decided he wasn’t going because the only thing he could come up with was “roast skunk very possible.”

At the bottom of most all Scripture the Lord could have put R.S.V.P. because God’s Word deserves and demands a response. Hosea gives an invitation for response from the broken people of Israel. Israel had wandered away from God seeking after idols and personal gain (sounds much like the modern-day church). Hosea’s requested response was for God’s people to return to the Lord. The same is true for believers today. God has left the light on for us to return. The door is unlocked. A welcome sign is hung over the door. God is gracious and he longs for His people to return to Him.

Returning to the Lord is a decision each of us must make when we wander away. Do you sense the Holy Spirit calling you home? Do you realize in your heart that it’s time for change? Then R.S.V.P. today.

Bro. Larry

P.S. The President has declared a national emergency and America is in an absolute panic. I’m not quite sure why so many people have emptied the store shelves of toilet paper though. It has become so valuable that we may start using it as currency! “How much for that coffee? Will two squares of toilet paper do?” All joking aside, you can see the fear on peoples’ faces. They are alarmed and feel as though they don’t have control, because the truth is, they don’t. R.S.V.P. to the one who has control.

When I visit Facebook I see Christian posting words and photos that are a far cry from being Christ-like. This is one reason we need to be very careful about any postings we make. Others are watching and judging Christianity by what you say and do. Something you say or do and even the things you post on Facebook could possibly be a stumbling block for a lost person accepting Christ.

Another happening on Facebook is that evangelical Christians argue over beliefs and ministry methodology appearing to be enemies. I’m not talking about foundational teachings but secondary issues. I have found myself overwhelmed with sadness over the open disagreements. The constant stream of negativity, the critical tone, and the time and energy spent pointing out why one is wrong and the other is right is something I believe we may look back on and be ashamed about. It is as if we modern day Christians are boarding the Titanic and sinking it ourselves. People boarding the Titanic for that historic cruise never dreamed that disaster was awaiting them.

The world needs Jesus more than ever. We fail to focus on evangelism by being the kind of Christians that often keep others from being interested in Christianity. Let’s fuel one another, cheer and pray for one another in our evangelistic efforts.

Make each day count for the Lord by using the wisdom He gives us.

Bro. Larry

(Copied From the Introduction of “Going All In: by Mark Batterson)

“And he said to them all, ‘If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.’” Luke 9:33

A Century ago, a band of brave souls became known as one-way missionaries. They purchased single tickets to the mission field without the return half. And instead of suitcases, they packed coffins. As they sailed out of port, they waved good-bye to everyone they loved, everything they knew. They knew they’d never return.

A.W. Milne was one of those missionaries. He set sailed for the New Hebrides in the South Pacific, knowing full well that the headhunters who lived there had martyred every missionary before him. Milne did not fear for his life, because he had already died to himself. His coffin was packed. For thirty-five years, he lived among the tribe and loved them. When he died, tribe members buried him in the middle of their village and inscribed this epitaph on his tombstone:

When he came there was no light.

When he left there was no darkness.

When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort? That playing it safe is safe? That there is any greater sacrifice than sacrifice? That radical is anything but normal?

Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. He died to make us dangerous.

Faithfulness is not holding the fort. It is storming the gates of hell.

The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan.

The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal.

It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death.