Author Archives: Pastor Jud

Below is the link for a message I recently preached on Overcoming Disappointments.  It doesn’t really matter what your social, economic, cultural, or relational status is, everyone experiences disappointment from time to time.  Jesus attended a wedding in Cana where He turned the water into wine.  By that miracle, He helped those present to overcome disappointment. Of course I have some things to say about marriage and alcohol in the message as well. But the main point is that Jesus Can Help You Overcome Disappointment by Turning Them into Blessings.

http://www.dalevillebc.org/Sermons2012/02-05-12_OvercomingDisappointment.mp3

My wife, Donna, and I have been taking youth and children to Summer Camps since around 1994.  Mostly we have used the Lifeway Fuge Camps.  We have considered others, even attended others, but always come back to Fuge.  Whether it is Centrifuge, Missionfuge, or CentriKid we have always found them to be well staffed and doctrinally sound.  The all inclusive price is appealing as well.  We don’t have to reserve hotel rooms or plan meals or entertainment.

Every once in a while I am questioned about the value of such camps, whether or not the return is worth the cost, time, and effort.  I always respond with a resounding yes.  These summer camps are worth every penny, every hour spent raising funds, and they are worth the energy spent by the adults that invest in the lives of the students.  Yes, it is worth it and so much more.  To see a child or a teenager come out of their comfort zone and encounter Christ through worship, games, recreation, missions, etc. is worth it all.  To see a child grow in confidence as they try new things and make new friends is worth it all.  To see a student pray repenting of their sin and calling on Jesus to save them is worth it all.  I guess there will always be those that just don’t see the need or the importance of camps like these, but they are usually the ones who have never been to a camp like these.

One more thing, my wife was born again at a Summer camp when she was a teenager.  So there you go, I believe camp is worth the cost, because I believe students and children are worth our time, energy, and investment.  We can never go wrong seeking to make  a differene in young lives.

While writing this post, I received word confirming the dates for CentriKid 2012.  Now both youth and children camps are on the calendar.

As Americans we enjoy many freedoms, such as; freedom of assembly, worship, and speech, among many others.  Regardless if we agree with the group that is assembling on the court house steps, or the religious group that is worshiping down the street, or the article or commentary given by a journalist or reporter.  We all have the same freedoms.  In my personal opinion, many people push the envelope in these areas and may even cross the line on occasion in abusing some of these freedoms.

As a Christian, however, I am free only in the sense that I have been liberated from the penalty and power of sin.  I have bee redeemed and now I am a slave, or a servant, of my new Master, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, I cannot just do whatever I want or say what I want, because I am now held to a different standard and rule, the Bible, God’s Word.  The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6.12 “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful…”  In other words, in America there may be a freedom to assemble and burn religious books, but is it helpful?  And to whom is it helpful?  Will it cause a few people in Gainesville feel better about themselves?  Will it serve to increase the violence against Americans around the world?

I certainly hope and pray that Rev. Terry Jones and the Dove World Outreach Church will reconsider using their freedom to carry out the burning of the Koran.  I also pray and ask everyone to join with me in praying that God will use believers and missionaries around the world to reach out to Muslims with the power of the love of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

God Bless

How far are we from seeing a generation in America that doesn’t know God nor the things He has done?

I am currently teaching through the book of Judges on Wednesday evenings at the church I pastor.  At the beginning of this fascinating book there is the report of the Israelites taking possession of their inheritance in the Promised Land, also known as Canaan.  They were instructed by God to completely cast out the nations that lived in Canaan and to take their land.  Instead the children of Israel disobeyed God’s command and moved in with the people of the land.  They began to marry them, live like them, and even began to worship their gods.  Soon after we read the words of Judges 2.10 “..another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work He had done for Israel.”  Just a few generations away from God’s miraculous deliverance of His people from Egypt and His protection and provision in the wilderness and there were those who didn’t know God?  God had given them the tabernacle and many festivals and pictures of His presence and activity among them.  The priests were working and sacrifices were being made, but it seems that none of them were taking seriously their responsibility to teach their children about the One who had saved them and given them a homeland of their own.

How can that be?  Somewhere along the way the message of God’s grace and love for His people was lost.  There was activity, but no purpose.  There was teaching, but no substance.  There arose a generation that didn’t know God nor the things He had done.

All of this causes me to wonder and ask, How far are we in America from seeing a generation that doesn’t know God nor the things He has done?  I’ve asked several people that question and their reply was a resounding “soon”.  In the Bible Belt there are churches on every corner, but yet so few seem to be actively seeking to reach teens and young adults.  They may see the need, but don’t want to spend the money or time that it will take to do so.  In fact most local churches are small and have a congregation that is aging and perhaps unable to do much, or offer much, that would draw a younger generation.  There are some exeptions of course, as there are churches that are reaching young adults and teens, but they seem to be few and far between.

What can we do today to avoid this spiritual catastrophe?  I believe we must recapture the sense of purpose God intends us to have as individual Christians and as the church;  the purpose of reaching people.  I heard someone say once, “The local church exists for the people that aren’t here yet.”  I don’t know who said that, but it is true.  We, as the local church, exists to reach those who aren’t in our congregations.  Therefore we must diligently seek to reach the people in our communities.  As overwhelming as that may seem to some, it is not too big for God if we will simply allow Him to empower us to do so. 

Many would say that the purpose of the church is to bring glory and honor to God.  I would say to them that nothing we can do will  bring more glory and honor to God than to reach men and women and boys and girls for the Kingdom.

I don’t know about you, but in a way I see the church today behaving much like the religious leadership in the days of the Judges.  The priests were about their duties, but they weren’t making a difference in the lives of the people.  Today it seems that so many churches are going through the motions of religious activity while not impacting the lives of those who attend, much less the lives of those who don’t.  I am tired of business as usual.  I believe God is as well.  What we need, and what He wants to do is to display His power and to live through us to reach the millions that don’t know Him.  He wants to save people.  He wants to send a great revival.  He doesn’t want to see another generation arise that doesn’t know Him nor the things He has done.

It is my prayer that we will soon see a Great Awakening in America and not a generation that doesn’t know God.

God Bless

What is the proof of salvation in a person’s life.  Often people will speak of the time they “walked an aisle”, “prayed a prayer with the pastor”, or were baptized as the proof of their salvation.   Certainly these all have their merit and are special events and times for us, but they can only mark the beginning of our personal relationship with Jesus.  They, in and of themselves, are not “proofs” of salvation. 

As I have studied the Kingdom parables of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, it is clear that Jesus was speaking of people sprinkled among the genuine believers who were not genuinely saved, or born again.  He spoke of tares among the wheat, which looked just like wheat until it was time for the harvest and the tares bore no fruit while the wheat did.  Then the ten bridesmaids that waited the arrival of the bridegroom.  All ten looked the part and there was no outward difference between them at all, until the bridegroom arrived and only five had oil for their torches while the other five were not prepared.  Even today in the church there are those who are not genuinely saved, though they may look the part and even act the part, when the bridegroom comes they will not be ready.  They may have walked the aisle, prayed a prayer, and were even baptized, but are not genuine. 

As I preach through the first letter of John I find that he is providing for the church several tests, or proofs, of the genuiness of a person’s salvation.  Among them you will not find, “walking an aisle”, “praying a prayer”, or even baptism.  What you will find is that the genuine, born again believer will keep the commandments of God, will keep the word of God, will abide in Christ, will love their brother, will love God only, not live in continual sin, etc. 

If you are holding to a childhood confession, a prayer prayed years ago, baptism,  or even church membership as the only proof of your salvation, you may be surprised when the bridegroom comes and you find yourself unprepared.   

The proof of a person’s salvation is an intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Do you have one?

Here is a link the a sermon I preached on this subject.  Take a listen.  God Bless.

http://www.dalevillebc.org/sermons2010/07-11-10_WhatToDoWithSIN.mp3