The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.6

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Blessings to you, loved ones.  It’s a little late, but here’s your weekly update.

It was good to have Priscilla back doing her thing for Sunday school.  She spoke from her heart about how we need to be about God’s work.  I enjoyed sharing what God was showing me about the spirit that he has given to us.  It is not one of fear but of power, love and discipline.  I hope we were all encouraged to choose to conquer our fears in His service.  He will always be with us.  You can listen to both messages from the podcast.

Priscilla also read for us something that I think she found online presenting several cases where one might choose abortion and then telling us who we would have killed.  They included John Wesley, Beethoven, Ethel Waters, and Jesus.  In light of the national conversations now taking place, I thought it would be good to take up this topic.

The things now openly being discussed in our society are heartbreaking.  Until recently, such ideas were heard only in ivory towers, spoken by godless ethicists who know nothing of their chosen subject.  Now we are having open conversations about killing babies right up to and even after birth.

How did we get here?  Where else could we go when we’ve decided that some lives are worth more than others?  I don’t believe anyone likely to be listening to me tomorrow needs convincing that abortion is wrong.  However, I would like to provide you with some facts and scriptural support that may help as you discuss the issue with others.  I also feel an urgency on this topic because God is very serious about the shedding of innocent blood.  He judged His own people harshly for it.  Not only our own nation, but much of the world stands condemned for this evil.  An estimated 41 million babies were murder in 2018 world wide.  It’s hard for us to understand numbers that large, so here’s some perspective.  The latest figures put the state of California at 39 million people, making it the most populous state in the U.S.  If we continue apace, we will be murdering enough people to depopulate California and then some every year!

In His mercy He has held back thus far, but how much loner will he wait?  For this alone I take those more seriously than i might otherwise have who say the end is near.  We ask God’s blessing on ourselves and on our country.  I think it likely that He would reply with these words from Isaiah 1:15-18.

15 “So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. 16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, 17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow. 18 Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. (New American Standard Bible)

It is not a fun subject, but I hope that you will leave better informed and encouraged to defend the innocent and pray for the salvation of our land.

In other news, Priscilla told me that Lisa will be going into hospice care.  Linda and I spoke with Lisa on Thursday.  The cancer has spread throughout her system and there is nothing else they can do.  Please pray for her and those around her.  Respond as the Lord moves you.

I love you all and look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.5

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Joy to you, loved ones. You are a joy to me. Stay tuned for the BBT news.

We had a good time together last Sunday. I liked what happened with Sunday school. The subject wasn’t fun, but we were able to do something that should be part of the ministry of any church. It was very personal for our membership so I did not post a podcast episode for it. The message is up though if you missed it.

Priscilla was not with us because she was with family gathered around David’s sister’s husband Bill, who had been in a serious car accident. Bill passed away this week. Please keep the family in your prayers.

I had a hard time coming up with a topic for our next meeting, so I opened my journal and started writing down my thoughts. I write in the form of a letter to the Lord, and I find that He often uses the process to guide me.

My question in short was, “What do You want me to say?” I went through our seemingly ever growing catalog of needs and disappointments. I thought about so many of you, what you’re going through and what I should or should not be doing to help.

I often speak of love and the value of relationships, but I’m actually not that good at them. “Lord, you really want me to be a pastor?” People kind of scare me. That is when He dropped these verses into my mind. If He had used words, they’d have been something like this, taken right from His word. “I did not give you a spirit of timidity! Go and do what I have given you to do!”

This is a message for all of us. We have all been given talents and personalities that uniquely prepare us for the mission He has in mind. It may be a little scary, but as His child, you have the Spirit of the almighty God living in you! He has no fear!

We will read from 2 Timothy 1:5-12. Come, be encouraged, and go out to conquer your fear! Accomplish God’s purpose for your life!

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.4

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Hello loved ones.  Here’s your weekly update.

It was a small group last week with several people out sick.  I did speak with Cindy today and they are all better and planning to be with us tomorrow.  Priscilla told me they got the bus transported to the repair shop this week.  We don’t have a time commitment for when it will be done, but at least it is in process.  Kelvin calls the church several times a week to check on the progress, so he was glad to hear that.

This week I am going to talk from a passage that I have given a lot of thought to over the years.  So much so that I am sure I have mentioned it more than once.  I looked to see if I had actually used it as a text.  Apparently back in May of 2009 I did, but based on the notes I found, you all showed me a lot of grace letting me speak again after that.  Mercifully there is no recording, though I had begun to make them by then.

It concerns how and why we deal with sin within the church.  If you’ve been involved as long as most of us have, you’ve heard someone make mention of the proper procedure for dealing with someone who has wronged you drawn from Matthew 18.  It is of course a sound approach, but it takes on much more gravity when we consider the context in which Jesus gave it to us.  The most important thing to know about it is that its purpose is redemptive.  The goal, stated simply in verse 15, is to “have gained your brother.”

As we begin to rebuild, I want to shore up our foundation by bringing to mind some basic principles that should inform the choices we make, particularly with regard to sinful behavior and the conflicts that inevitably arise among us imperfect people.  We’ll read Matthew 18:15-20, but it will be helpful to have read the entire chapter.  It all fits together.

I’m looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow.

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.3

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Blessings to you, church family and friends.  It’s cold outside but our hearts are warm as we bring you this update.

It was good to see a few more back with us last week, though we missed the ones who were out sick.  I did talk to Ruth today and she is feeling much better.  I’ve been fighting a cold the last few days, but I’m turning the corner and I’ll be there.

Priscilla encouraged us to keep up the challenge she set before us the week before.  She and Kimi shared their experiences as they endeavored to meet the goal of blessing someone else every day.  That’s a great example for the rest of us.

I spoke from the book of Ezekiel about our responsibility to share what God has given us.  We are accountable for the word we have from God.  This week I want to continue the theme by exploring the message that we proclaim.  Over the years there has been much controversy over how we should present the Gospel.  Is a message of fire and damnation appropriate?  Is a message focusing only on the love of God any more appropriate?  The answer is probably yes to both, depending on the circumstance. But overall how should we approach the process of explaining who God is and what He wants from us to those who do not believe?

It is not a question of whether we focus on His love or His judgment.  The message is instead that His judgment is part of His love.  He does not take pleasure in death, but in life!  I will read from Ezekiel 33:10-11.  This is part of a passage very similar to the one we read last week, but a couple of differences help explain more completely what God is saying.

I hope you’ll join us.  In Sunday school, Linda will be teaching on a related subject that most of us will be able to identify with and I know you will be blessed.  Keep each other in your prayers and pray for our church.  Encourage each other throughout the week.  Let’s all brave the cold tomorrow and heat that place up!

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.2

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Blessings to you, loved ones.  Here’s what’s happening.

It was good to see most of our folks back last week.  Even Teresa made it.  Until we get the bus fixed we’ll still be missing a few, so pray for a quick turnaround on that.  We enjoyed Priscilla’s humble encouragement and I hope we took up her challenge.  She took Pastor David’s exhortation to do something good for someone that he always gave at the end of the service and multiplied it 7 times.  She told us to do something good for someone every day!  I spoke from Proverbs 3:5-6. 2018 was maybe the toughest hear we’ve had, certainly since I have been here.  The message I have is just the one that has sustained me.  We cannot understand fulling what God is doing, but we know what kind of god He is.  So in this new year we will do what we know, and we will choose to trust Him in what we don’t.

This week, my heart has been heavy for a different reason.  I was thinking about someone I know of who recently passed away.  Only God knows the state of their heart, but I had reason to suspect that they really didn’t know the Lord.  I did not know they were going to die, but I knew it was a possibility.  I made no effort to find out where they stood.

That led me to the verses that will be the basis for this week’s message,  They are from Ezekiel 3:17-21.  Here Yahweh continues His instruction to the prophet Ezekiel with a sobering warning.  He must speak the words that are given to him to warn both the wicked and the righteous away from wickedness.  If he does not do so, anyone who dies unrepentant because they did not hear the message that he was to deliver, God will charge to Ezekiel.

Whenever we read scripture, we should be careful not to take it out of context.  What we read here is a specific commission to a specific person for a specific reason.  However, it does tell us something about our responsibility before God with what He has given to us.  It shows us what justice looks like to Him.  We may not receive real-time dictation from on high, though that is not out of the question, but there are certain truths that we all know.  If we see danger coming and do nothing at all to warn those in its path, how can we stand before a holy God?  How would we feel about someone in the natural world allowing a disaster to happen that they could have prevented?  Nothing here compares to eternal destruction!  Were it not for His mercy and willingness to forgive, I suspect we’d all have blood on our hands that wouldn’t wash away.  Let us all resolve to be faithful with the truth we know and be certain that we have done all that we can do to help save those headed for destruction.

Keep praying, keep trusting, and come worship with us this Sunday.

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2019.1

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Happy New Year!  Let’s make it a good one.  Read on to stay up to date with all that’s happening at BBT.

We had a small crowd last Sunday with so many out sick, but it was good to be there.  Sometimes it would seem easier just to stay home, but I’m glad we didn’t.  Those doors should be open as often as we can open them.  We did have a couple of visitors.  In her Sunday school lesson, Linda reminded us that even though it as been a difficult year, the Lord’s love for us has never failed.  I shared from Luke’s account of Jesus’ early life while here and why it might be that this brief story was included in scripture.  I left my digital recorder at church again so the podcasts are not up, but the video of the sermon is on our Facebook page.

2018 was a tough year.  We’re still feeling its affects and always will.  We lost our beloved pastor.  Tim had the stroke.  Linda’s condition worsened significantly.  Ruth and Don have also faced declining health.  We’ve had to scale back or eliminate activities that have been traditional at our church for years. It seemed we kept getting kicked right up to the end.  In the last few days we learned that Lisa’s cancer had returned.  Priscilla hurt herself again and she and Kimi continue to fight illness.  The parked church van was hit from behind and will require repair.

What are we to think?  Has God canceled our charter, kicked over our candlestick?  Are we hiding some deep secret that has brought on His judgment?  Perfect we know we’re not, but I don’t think so.  Is this a test?  Yes, in that anything that happens to us reveals our character in the way that we respond.  Is it a test from God?  That’s a different question that requires a very careful answer if one should be given at all.  Some things we do know for certain.  God was not surprised.  God is still in control.  He is still working for our ultimate good.  We now have a choice.  Will we continue to trust Him?  I will speak this Sunday from a passage that most of us know well.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Prov 3:5-6)

We hope and pray for a better 2019.  We have reason for that hope.  We serve a good God.  But I think the message for this time is simply this, “Lord, we choose to trust You,.”  We can’t trust Him to do what we think He should do.  He is not our servant.  We can trust Him to be faithful to His word.  We can’t always trust our understanding of it, but we can trust that it is the truth.  It tells us that we serve an all-powerful, all-knowing, just, and loving God.  Hold on to Him, choose to trust, and He will carry you through to an eternity beyond your wildest imagination.

What is true for us as individuals is also true for us as a church.  If we will trust in Yahweh, looking to him first instead of our own understanding, then He will show us the way forward.  Let us reflect upon the good things He has done for us throughout the years.  We will grieve our losses, but we will also rejoice in His goodness.  We choose to trust Him.

Love to you all,

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2018.17

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Blessings to you, loved ones.  I hope you have all enjoyed the Christmas holidays and got a little time to rest as well.  Linda and I enjoyed seeing family on Monday and then spending a nice quiet Christmas together.

Last Sunday, Priscilla taught on the wonder of Christ’s birth and I got to share the message I had planned for the week before with a little more detail than we would have had time for the week of the party.  By making Jesus Lord of our lives we can be assure of peace and good will.

It was good to have Richard and Barbara back with us.  Keep Dede and especially Lisa in your prayers.  Dede is ok but likely to be staying where she is for some time.  Lisa’s cancer has returned and spread.  I think she was to learn more details this week but I do not have an update.

This Sunday is a fifth, but we’re all partied out, so we will not have a fifth Sunday fellowship dinner.  We shall feast on the Word instead as Linda brings a lesson for Sunday school and I share with you from Luke 2:41-52.  This is all we have on Jesus’ life between the events surrounding His birth and the beginning of His public ministry.  It’s a lot less than we might expect today about the most famous person who ever lived.  But writing was a lot more work back then than it is now, so that which is preserved for us must be there for a reason.  Why did Luke think it important to give us this short account of one event in Jesus’ early life?  Let’s see what we can learn!

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2018.16

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Merry Christmas, loved ones!  Jest keep reading for a joyful journal of events past, present, and future at BBT.

We had our Christmas celebration last Sunday with plenty for all thanks to the folks from the Heights Church as well as the Whitmores’ neighbor Diane Stevens who sent along the baskets of goodies again this year.  We had some visitors from the local fire station too, but that was not for such a good reason.  Lisa seemed to be very ill and we needed to be sure she was ok.  They checked her out and determined she was in no immediate danger, but as I shared in a prayer request posted earlier today Priscilla took her to the ER this morning.  Keep praying for her and for her son who is dependent on her for care.

With the time constraints and the necessary interruption I didn’t get to share my message with you and Debra did not get to sing, so we’ll do it this Sunday. I will read again from the traditional Christmas story in Luke 2:4-14.  We’ll focus on verse 14.  Depending on the version you read from, it would seem to say two or three different things.  What’s going on here and what’s the right answer?  Mine may not satisfy you, but I can show you how to banish the question to the realms of debating theologians and be assured of god’s peace and pleasure in you.

I hope to see you there as we all begin our final preparations to celebrate the first coming of our Lord with friends and family.  At this time when we commemorate His birth, know that He came for us.  the best gift you could give Him is to help bring another soul into His family, so don’t miss an opportunity to share the good news with anyone who will listen.

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2018.15

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Merry Christmas y’all!  Read on for the latest on what God is doing at BBT.

I enjoyed our time together last week.  I hope you did too if you were there.  We sure missed having Priscilla with us though.  You had to listen to a lot of me.  I did try to soften the blow.  🙂  I always enjoy opening up the floor and hearing people share from their own experiences with God.  I want you to come ready for that because we should all have something to offer.  We didn’t get too personal, but I decided it would be better not to put it online.  If you are a regular and would like the recording I will be happy to share it with you.  You will find the message on John the Baptist on our podcast page.

This week will be our Christmas celebration.  The gracious folks from The Heights will be back for another year with food and gifts.  It would be a great time to bring someone, but if you do be sure and bring something for them if you want them to be included in the gift giving.  The list of names was prepared from those who attended regularly in October.

In the interest of time we will not have a Sunday school session and I will deliver a shorter message.  I know that won’t disappoint anyone.  🙂  I will read from the traditional Christmas story in Luke 2:4-14.  We’ll focus on verse 14.  Depending on the version you read from, it would seem to say two or three different things.  What’s going on here and what’s the right answer?  Mine may not satisfy you, but I can show you how to banish the question to the realm of contentious theologians and be assured of god’s peace and pleasure in you.

Keep praying for those who are sick.  Priscilla said she is feeling better but still coughing a lot.  Kimi is having stomach trouble on top of everything else.  After church last Sunday the Terrell’s van would not start.  They got it home but I don’t know if they have it fixed yet.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.  Let us enjoy the blessings of provision and fellowship and always remember Who it is and why it is that we celebrate.  As we take this time to rejoice at His coming, let’s ask ourselves what kind of gift He might like.

Love y’all!

Larry

The Bartimaeus Blog 2018.14

Bartimaeus Baptist Temple Posted on by

Blessings to you, family and friends.  Here’s you’re weekly update.

It was good to be with you all last Sunday.  I really appreciate Priscilla’s efforts to engage everyone in the Sunday school time.  Since we have so little time together and we’re a small enough group it is good that we can use this time to share with and learn from each other.  It does mean that sometimes we will keep the sessions off the Internet, but maybe it doesn’t have to stay that way if we come up with a way to securely link in members who would like to participate with us and can’t come.

I enjoyed sharing with you from Luke chapter 1 about the right and the wrong way to question God.  I hope that it blessed you and helps you to have a Mary Christmas.  This week I am going to pick up the story at the birth of John, who we know as John the Baptist in part to distinguish him from John the disciple, but primarily because baptism is what he was known for.  We will begin from Zacharias’ prophecy in Luke 1:68-79 and explore the life of this unique an uniquely honored man of God.

Keep praying for those among us who are sick.  Priscilla and Kimi both sounded pretty bad when I talked to them at different times this week.  I appreciate how we all look out for each other here.  That’s the way God’s family should be.

Love y’all!  See you Sunday!

Larry