A Letter from Pastor Kerry

*A Letter from Pastor Kerry

*

While God never changes, we know that change is a very real part of life. We wanted to tell you about a change ahead for us as a family and as a church. I have accepted a call to pastor a sister Ev. Free Ch. outside of Pittsburgh (Christ Community Fellowship in Sarver, PA).

After months of prayer and seeking God’s will for the next step in our ministry journey, we feel confident God is leading us to serve there. As we have researched, prayed and visited there, it seems like it would be a good fit and a timely change. Lord willing, I will serve the rest of March at Grace Bible and then will start there in mid-April.

Your commitment to God, His word and each other is a joy to us. You have been kind, generous and patient with me. We are greatly in your debt. We are thankful that even in times of change we can all entrust ourselves to Him. Allow me to remind us to:

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. (Proverbs 3:5, 6 - ESV)

Our godly Elders have already been meeting and praying about “what’s next”. Feel free to contact them as well with questions or concerns.

With unchanged love and appreciation for you,

Kerry & Robin & the Krew

Re: And we have seen and testify that

> > *"Can I get a witness?" you say? * > An eyewitness, that is, to these Jesus stories? > Why yes, you can. Here is one of many: > > "And we have seen and testify that > the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." > 1 John 4:14 > > He - John the beloved - literally saw Jesus: > The Miracle worker, lover of sinners, Pharisee-fighting Jesus. > John and others watched & heard evidence that He was God's sent Son - the > savior. > They observed this Son die - God's sacrifice for their sin & ours. > They encountered this slaughtered One alive again. Raised! > Many saw the Christ ascend into heaven, promising to return > Jesus then sent His promised Spirit to apply His adoption and empower them > - us - to be His witnesses > > John wrote an entire gospel of his eyewitness accounts and those of others. > So did Matthew. > Luke & Mark told the accounts they heard and painstakingly investigated > from many other firsthand accounts. > > John starts his first letter (1 John) on this same important theme. > Mull over the confident claims of 1 John 1:1-3 > > "That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have > seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, > concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen > it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with > the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and > heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; > and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ." > > > John testifies: we heard, saw & watched Him carefully. > We even touched & handled Him - the word of life. > The Father, John continues, made Him visible, audible and knowable to us. > > Knowable! > > Jesus was made known so we can have fellowship with Him and the Father. > Community and communion with the Christ is available - to us, to you. > You can take it on the basis of many reliable witnesses. > He lived, died for our sins & is alive again. > > I urge you to not just examine the evidence, > but act upon it, know Him. >

Baby Jesus Grows Up, Let's Follow Suit!

*Baby Jesus Grows Up, Let's Follow Suit! * Kerry S. Doyal

Are you still growing? Growing old is not the same as growing up. Few things are more tragic than immature Senior Citizens, petty people who added only years to their dossier and derriere. (That there is French for resume and rump: neither is to be padded.)

Advanced age is no excuse for childishness, it is instead an argument against it. As long as we are able, we are to keep maturing in all the ways we can. Twice, Dr. Luke in his gospel of Jesus tells us about Jesus growing up. After His birth, circumcision and presentation at the temple (Luke 2), the good Doctor tells us:

"When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him" (Luke 2:39, 40 - NIV).

After Jesus' parents got lost and left Him in the Temple when He was twelve, we read: "Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:51& 52).

Matthew tells us His toddler years included a trip to Africa - fleeing madman Herod's sword (Matthew 2:13-23). When Jesus' family repatriated to Roman-occupied Israel, they lived in Nazareth.

As much as we would like to speculate about Jesus as a boy, all we are left to mull over is that he was obedient to his parents and that He grew up. Mind you, these are no small matters. Even in childhood, Jesus is THE example for us.

"He grew" we read. This is an umbrella description that seems bland unless you consider its opposite. New parents watch to make sure their child is growing. If they stop progressing in any realm, they head to the Doctor.

Our Heavenly Father is monitoring our growth as well. In fact, the letters to the churches in the New Testament are properly obsessed with matters of maturity (see 2 Peter 1:5-11; 3:18; 1 Peter 2:1-3; Jude 20-25; Hebrews 2-4). Are you growing up? Have you changed much in the past years - for the good?

Getting more specific, we read that Jesus "became strong... grew in stature." Our love for God is to include our heart soul, mind and strength. Learning carpentry - which included woodwork and masonry - Jesus was a man's man. Forget those pictures of a pasty pansy in your old children's Bible.

Our bodies are even called - dramatic pause - His temple (1 Corinthians 6:12-20; 9:27)! We are to glorify God with our body. Is His temple in disrepair? How do you treat your body: getting enough sleep, eating too much?

Jesus grew, as we also must, in wisdom. He was not just a divine data depository, smart. He was "filled with wisdom." We see this when He stayed at the Temple at age 12, a pivotal year when Jewish boys transition into manhood.

He sat listening to the teachers, asking them questions - ones that astonished all who heard Him. His questions revealed such insight that they were motivated to ask His take on Scripture. Are you learning the Bible, moving past VBS-level insights? Does any one look to you for godly insight?

The mental sloppiness of God's people is criminal! What passes for teaching on much of Christian radio and TV [and pulpits] is amazing. Where is the discernment, some sane, Biblical discretion?

Spiritual counterfeits will continue to freely fleece the flock with their folly as long as believers stay ignorant and immature. Are you growing in true wisdom (see Colossians 1:15-29). A thought: read a chapter of Proverbs every day.

"God's grace was upon Him," we learn next from Luke. He grew "in favor with God." Jesus, as a human, spiritually matured. Here is a phrase for you: "He learned obedience through the things that He suffered" (Hebrews 5:8). Chew on that one. Jesus learned obedience.

We learn to obey through disobedience, God's discipline, forgiveness and restoration. Christ learned it through life's trials, being tempted by the Devil and rejected by His own people. In the Garden, He honestly states His preference to not be crucified. Yet, in the face of torture and humiliation, we hear: "Not My will but Thine."

As we live in the realm of obedience, we are in the place where God can favor, not discipline us (Hebrews 12:1-12; 1 John 2-4). He cannot love us more than He has or does (see Romans 5:1-11; 8:1, 31-39). However, we can live in such a way that He can bless His good kids (John 14:19-15:27).

Last of all, we discover that Jesus grew in favor with man. Common ones received Him gladly. Sometimes the crowds around Jesus swelled as they hoped for another free lunch and miracle show (John 6). Yet, we also know social outcasts and serious sinners felt at home in His presence. Children loved Him and they are often a great test of character.

One of the descriptions of an Elder, spiritual exemplars for the church, is that they would have a good reputation with outsiders (1 Timothy 3:7). If you often make waiters and cashiers mad, drive like a loony and regularly tick off people, you might want to look into this area of growth.

Having favor with man does not mean you are compromising truth, snuggling up to the world. What we often call persecution and rejection of Jesus by people we witness to is often the sensible reaction of hurt people whom we treat like trash (see 1 Corinthians 5:9-13; 9:19-23).

It is time to grow up, to keep pressing on (Philippians 3). As we face a still young year, repent of any stagnation in the past year. With God's help, commit to further growth in Him.

In honor of Dr. Luke, may I prescribe 2 Peter 1:5-11? If the baby Jesus grew up, so must we (1 John 2:6)!

Not "Know it Alls", but "Know Some things"

**A coffee cup and a T-shirt snagged my imagination recently. My sister had on the shirt. The cup was from that chic coffee franchise we'll call "Stellar-dollars."

The T-shirt said on the front: "I know that I know that I know that I know." With this being my sister,* I didn't know* where that shirt was going. Did I dare ask?

Reading her back (the shirt, not a tattoo) I saw what she knew. It was a quote from a Nicole C. Mullins song: "...that my redeemer lives. I talked to Him this morning." A great song which quotes in part from Job.

I never doubted you Kara. Thanks for the reminder! Hallelujah, we can know our risen Savior lives - even if we neglected to talk with Him this morning. Even if we never talk to Him - He lives.

So that was the shirt. Now, the coffee cup was immediate preacher fodder (i.e. sermon supplement). I drained the cup Saturday PM (decaf, mind you) and used it Sunday AM. For the record: not that I was desperate for material - this time. It genuinely fit my sermon.

Despite my "cool-because-she's-college-aged" daughter's teasing, I feel very hip in getting such a great quote from Stellar-dollars. They are an international company that celebrates multiculturalism (all cultures and their "truths" are equal) and total tolerance (again, all truths are equal). Later, go Google "postmodernism."

The cup read in part: "This is what we know to be true: We opened our very first store in (insert city and state), in (insert year). We still roast our coffee ourselves... We served the best cup of coffee 37 years ago... "

Did you see what got me juiced? Read their simple, wonderful assertion again: "This is what we know to be true." Wow! Truth that can be known, verified, legally, historically documented and even printed on a 10% post-consumer recycled fiber cup!

They know that they know that they know. And they want us to know what can be known with certainty as well. They point us to a place, a time, a process, a history. They even tell us they make the best coffee - daring us to taste and see that they are good.

It thrills me to see in a day of doubt which questions all truth claims that someone still uses such language. Alas, some sensible sanity! Verifiable data and historical reliability exists!

They rightfully expect that most cup-readers will understand this narrative of their origins is a clear, sensible, provable statement. No deconstruction or cultural reinterpretation needed.

This perky little cup holds its truth claims to be more than self-evident. It gives us enough facts to investigate and see if it will stand-up under scrutiny.

Were we to research this truth claim without bias - say, a preference for someone else's coffee - we could prove or disprove their truth claims. We too could say: This is what WE now know to be true! We too would know that what they know that they know.

Assuming their claims are valid, they are true even if I do not believe them. It does not need my faith to make it true. It can hold it own truth-grounds even if we did not drink a cup this morning.

The Bible gives us truth-claims about our living Redeemer. It asks - almost dares us - to verify them. The Apostle Paul set forth 500 eyewitnesses to Jesus' resurrection. The Corinthians were invited to investigate if these multitudes had in fact seen Jesus alive again (1 Corinthians 15).

Dr. Luke tells us he investigated thoroughly what he wrote in his gospel account (see Luke 1:1-4, Acts 1). He spoke with eyewitnesses who heard Jesus teach, saw Him perform miracles, watched Him die a hideous death and then come back alive. Luke gives us names, places, times.

The Apostle John tells us he too was an eyewitness. He writes of what he heard, saw, touched and carefully observed (1 John 1). In an historical place, in a specific time, Jesus lived, died, rose again, ascended back to heaven and now offers salvation to all who obey Him by believing (John 1:1-18; 3:14-17; 21:24, 25).

Don't kid yourself: seeing ain't always believing. Many saw and did not believe. They had - as we do - heart issues, not intellectual difficulties.

Jesus graciously let Doubting Thomas see Him after His resurrection. He then blessed those who do not see yet still believe (John 20:24-31). Jesus left behind enough witnesses for us to be held responsible for making the right faith-choice concerning Him (John 1:12; 3:36; 5:24).

Jesus equates belief with obedience, not brain-deadness. We do not believe despite lacking facts. We believe because it is true, He is truth and the evidence is more than sufficient, reliable and compelling. Disbelief is disobedience.

Why will we take at face value what a hot beverage cup says? Simple: it makes no moral demands on my life, other than to recycle. Jesus, the Creator of the stars, is not one you should buck. You can talk to Him any part of the day. He lives and shall once again take His stand on the earth.

Some books for further investigation. First, the Bible! Then, mull over The Reason for God by Timothy Keller, currently on the New York Times bestseller list. Also just out is Choosing Your Faith by Mark Mittelberg, a unique approach that helps you see why you believe what you believe and if your faith-choice is solid.

I also recommended two classics by Josh McDowell: More than a Carpenter and Evidence that Demands a Verdict. Most importantly, I commend you to Jesus, who invites us to taste and see that He is good - Truth that you can know.

*Kerry S. Doyal* - Pastor *Grace Bible Church (an EFCA)* *Kingsport, TN*

Wanted: Carpenter Apprentices

We all know a couple that we love one of the two and we - shall we say - struggle with the not-better half. I am sure I have been that half for some people. That’s okay, they have some friends struggling with their spouses’ choice too.

Many feel this way about the church. They love Jesus, but struggle with His bride. There seems to be a glaring disconnect: how did He end up with her, what was He thinking?

The church is an easy target and does much to paint bull’s-eyes on herself. Some of the attitudes and behaviors of Jesus’ chosen spouse are astounding, inexcusable. “She said and did what? And she is married to Him?”

Pick your favorite and convenient horror story. Does it involve an abusive pastor, fickle so-called friends, gossip, closed cliques, abused pastors, “those preacher’s kids”, or wrongly judged and mistreated preacher’s kids and spouses?

Maybe your church story’s main character is a hypocritical deacon, or a Holy Joe that lived like the devil? Is money involved, or improprieties of 1000 different kinds?

GUILTY! Yes, His bride should blush and tear her wedding gown in repentance over her sinfulness. But this is not news. Most of the New Testament is written to help Christ’s Bride learn to be beautiful. The letters – epistles if you like church talk - are filled with correctives. This Fair Lady needs much learnin’ and refining.

Jesus’ earthly father handed off a trade to his boy: carpentry. This included wood and stone construction. He learned the hard, honest trade of building. According to Matthew 16:17-18, Jesus is still doing construction:

“Jesus replied, "…And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Using those who know Him, He is erecting, correcting and perfecting a spiritual house (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 2).

Among the things Jesus is doing in heaven, at the top of His list is shepherding His sheep: finding the lost ones, healing the hurt, separating those fighting, and protecting, providing for and using all of them. Have you read Psalm 23 or John 10 lately?

In our fair city literally built around churches – Church Circle – if you cannot find one church to connect with, guess who might be the issue? With over 200 to shop from – which is what we consumer Christians do – if not one suites your taste – how convenient.

Yes, I know they ask for money, dress and talk funny, have hard pews, boring sermons and imperfect leaders (come visit my church if you need Exhibit A). Also agreed is that not everyone there is as sincere as you are (“hypocrites” is such a tired excuse). True too that some people use it as a social club.

Your point? Can the church “do church” better? No doubt. So? If Jesus says He is in love with His bride – He did die for her – then who are we to demand perfection this side of heaven? That is one of the promises of heaven – a pure, spotless, wrinkle-free Bride (Ephesians 5:25-33).

Yes, you got hurt one time, or several times. Tell it to Jesus who let his future bride nail Him to a cross.

Yes, speak prophetically to her of her sins, but not merely pathetically of her in your bitterness.

Do football fans give up because a few fans behave poorly? Some act like morons every week without fail. As one wit said: did you give up eating because Mom once burned the biscuits? Can you say potluck casseroles? But I digress.

Here is a hot secret: If you trash talk my wife, tell me you hate her, we are going to have issues. She is mine, I am hers, we are one. To try to separate us, to get me to side with you to impress me is worse than dumb, that may prove painful.

Ask a policeman the most dangerous calls they receive: domestics. If they get between sparring spouses, they risk creating a powerful tag team. Ask Jesus if you can disrespect and dismiss His bride? Don’t get Him started.

Which church or pastor do you owe a thank you note for providing you with a cheap excuse to give up on church?

Jesus the Carpenter is still building: creating, enlarging and putting finishing touches on His church. Rumors of His bride’s death are greatly exaggerated. Hell’s gates may look stronger and seem more daunting, but not to Him.

Christ has not given up on His church and neither must we. It is not an option. To stay outside the church is in some real ways to stay away from Jesus. Selective accountability is a dangerous place to be. All pride is (1 Peter 5).

Jesus is forming and fortifying Himself a people. He is using and empowering those who know Him – confess Him in truth. Build with Him! (Matt. 16:13-23; Ephesians 4:11-16; Hebrews 10:24, 25; Acts 2:42). If I dare: Any old jackass can kick down a barn.

Get on His winning team! Christ’s church – His called-out ones - cannot be stopped (1 Peter 2:4-8; Romans 8). When we keep Christ as the chief cornerstone, building on Him, look out, hell.

*Kerry S. Doyal* - Pastor *Grace Bible Church (an EFCA)** *