From the Pastor’s Heart
12-21-08
When you think about the spiritual consequences of the sin of Adam and Eve, you cannot come to any other conclusion than the ultimate course of our existence is spiritual death (Genesis 2:17). We also know that the only way that we will ever be right with God and have a relationship with Him is to have that curse removed. It is the only way that the penalty of sin could ever be paid.
What an amazing thing that we celebrate – not only at Christmas, but every day of our lives as believers. Jesus Christ became a man. Hebrews 2:9 says, “We… see Him who has been made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” He tasted death for each of us. He came to die for us because in His dying, He conquered spiritual death.
But remember that even though He was born to die… that death would have been useless without His resurrection. Physical death and spiritual death had no mastery over Emmanuel (God with us!)
When you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior… when you ask for forgiveness and understand and accept His provision for something you could not undo… when all of that happens, you are identified with the babe in the manger; the pre-teen talking to the Jewish leadership; the healer; the provider; the sustainer; the Savior; the Redeemer.
Christ was born to taste death… so that we might have life. What a reason to celebrate.
May you have a Blessed Christmas.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
From The Pastor’s Heart…
11/2/08
While it is impossible for me to endorse a candidate from the pulpit for this year’s election and remain within the laws of our country, I am able to provide handouts for you so that you can be better informed as to the candidates’ stands on the issues that should be very important to we who are believers – issues like Abortion, the Supreme Court, Traditional Marriage, Cloning and Parental and Family Rights.
Because of this, I would like to make available to you three tools:
1. A voter’s guide is available to you as you leave this morning that will outline the exact positions of the candidates with regards to many issues that should be vitally important to us.
2. A duplicated letter from James Dobson, Founder and President of Focus on the Family. This letter outlines the reason this election is one of the most important in our nation’s history.
3. A time of prayer. Tomorrow night, November 3rd the sanctuary will be open from 5:00 pm through 8:30 pm for prayer. Even though there will be a ladies fellowship meeting and an Elders meeting, the sanctuary will be free for you to come and pray for this important event in the life of our country.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
From The Pastor’s Heart…
10/19/08
Last Sunday we looked at 1 Corinthians 6 and saw that we as believers should not think that the wisdom of this world outweighs the wisdom found in the Word of God. Nor should we think that the wisdom of this world is greater than what the Spirit of God can do in our lives.
Of course, the key to that understanding is that we find ourselves sifting everything through God’s Word and we commit ourselves to obedience. There are a lot of things that a true servant of Christ is: Humble, Repentant, Receptive to God’s Word, a Servant, Patient, Gentle, etc. We could go on and on with the list of how the Spirit has changed us and that we are no longer the same in redemption and reformation as we were prior to coming to Christ. One of the most important characteristics that we can commit to in our walk with Christ as a disciple (which is a ‘learner,’ not a ‘master’) is obedience. It is the heart of servanthood.
Let your mind dwell on these important scriptures:
“By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. The one who says, I have come to know Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected” 1 John 2:3-5
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” John 14:15
Your ability to understand the Word is a priceless gift. Take advantage of it daily by expanding your Bible knowledge and increasing your obedience. As you read, thank God for the truth and ask Him to open your mind to the truth. Commit yourself to discovering at least one additional truth from Scripture every day.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
From the Pastor’s Heart…
9/28/08
ARE YOU READY TO VOTE?
If you would like to register so that you will be able to vote on November 4th, you need to do so by October 6th. It is a civic obligation that we should not deny.
You may register to vote online (see website below), but be sure that you download a printout of the form, sign it, and send it to the County Bureau of Elections where you reside.
All voter registrations need to be postmarked by October 6th.
I would encourage you to exercise one of the most important privileges and responsibilities we have, voting. It is incumbent on us as Christians to be salt and light in our civic duties (Proverbs 29:2).
As November 4th approaches, I will have a handout as to where the candidates stand on important issues.
Pastor Art
Voter information website:
http://www.votespa.com/RegistertoVote/tabid/68/language/en-US/Default.aspx
From the Pastor’s Heart…
9/14/08
John MacArthur tells the story of two men going opposite directions on a mountain trail. They meet each other head on with a steep cliff on one side and sheer rock on the other. They were completely unable to pass. The harder they tried, the more frustrated they became. Finally, without saying a word, one man simply laid down and let the other man walk on top of him. MacArthur says that that illustrates kindness – that one doesn’t mind getting walked on if it benefits someone else.
Well, in truth, the biblical word ‘kind’ means ‘useful’ or ‘serving.’ It has the idea of sacrificing yourself so that you might be useful to others. Christ was the perfect example of that when He told each of us to ‘take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for My yoke is easy and My burden (load) is light’ (Matthew 11:29-30).
Paul tells us that when we taste the kindness of others it should spur us on to be kind ourselves.
Joyce and I want you as a congregation to know how very blessed we were at the ‘pastor appreciation’ dinner on Sunday night. Your gracious kindness to us through cards, letters, poems, etc. were so very much appreciated. While it is impossible to thank everyone for each individual act, or to thank everyone involved in the dinner or the ‘inspired’ program, we pray that this ‘thank you’ and our heartfelt recognition of your kindness will express to you our love for each of you.
It is a joy to be your pastor,
From The Pastor’s Heart
8/24/08
Joyce and I would like to sincerely thank you for the time of spiritual renewal that you have provided me during the sabbatical. This time allowed me to get off the treadmill for a few weeks… something that I don’t even do during vacations.
It created an opportunity for me to prayerfully recapture an even larger sense of vision. I was able to read and write without thought of the next thing I had to do, so I was nurtured. Joyce and I were able to worship together and even share in communion together. I was able to refocus some priorities, and truly reflect on the call that God has put on my life. It was a remarkable time of restful and spiritual preparation for the journey ahead… and we sincerely thank you.
Just before it was time for me to return, I was listening to a new CD that I had received. It is Steve Green’s CD called “The Letter.” In it was a song entitled “Oh, I Want To Know You More” (I will be ordering the background tape). The words to that song truly capture the biggest part of what God did in the Mott’s life over the last month.
“Just the time I feel that I’ve been caught in the mire of self… Just the time I feel my mind’s been bought by worldly wealth. That’s when the breeze begins to blow and I know the Spirit’s call. And all my worldly wanderings just melt into His love. When my daily deeds ordinarily lose life and song, my heart begins to bleed – Sensitivity to Him is gone. I’ve run the race, but set my own pace and face a shattered soul. Now the gentle arms of Jesus warm my hunger to be whole.”
Chorus: “Oh, I want to know You more. Deep within my soul I want to know You. Oh, I want to know You, to feel Your heart and know Your mind. Looking in Your eyes stirs up within me cries that say I want to know You. Oh, I want to know You more.”
Joyce and I sincerely thank you for your love, for your care, for this time… and for the remarkable words on cards and emails that we received from so many of you during this time. We love you dearly.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
From your Pastor’s Heart
7/13/08
The latest statistics reveal that pastors are leaving the ministry in epidemic proportions. If you remove retirement and death from the equation, 33% of evangelical pastors have left the pastoral ministry in the last five years. Focus on the Family research indicates that over 40% of evangelical pastors consider leaving the ministry every month.
They leave for a number of reasons. Some have left because they realize that they never had a call. Others when they are convicted that their ministry has been all about them and not God. (Hebrews 5:4 is important here with regards to a true call to the ministry. It says “No one takes the spiritual leadership to himself, but receives it when he is called by God.”) Some leave and say, “My call changed”. So they go on to another type of ministry that does not involve the pastorate. And some leave because of economic stress, marriage or family issues or catastrophic circumstances. But most leave because of internal, political strife and because of power struggles as well as a lack of understanding among the congregation with regards to the pastoral position and demands. They are forced by a congregation into survival mode and then the time bomb explodes.
Joyce and I are doubly blessed. First, we have known and endured (only by God’s grace) the devastating effects of most of what I have described above. Secondly, we have been so privileged to be a part of Niemonds for the last ten years; a church family who has a heart for its pastor, a congregation who (for the most part) tries to ‘get it’ when it comes to understanding the spiritual warfare and constant battle of the ministry that directly impacts the physical, mental and spiritual health of a pastor and his family.
We are humbled to begin a sabbatical tomorrow morning. While I would never equate myself with Moses, I am reminded of what Jethro said to him, “The things you are doing are good. But you will surely wear out, both you and these people who are with you, for the task is too heavy, you cannot do it alone.”
The very things that the apostles organized in the first church, where people of the church took responsibilities so that the apostles could devote themselves to God’s word, is true today as well.
I must tell you that I have wrestled with guilt in accepting this time when I think about all of the things that have eternal significance that are waiting. The ministry task list swells weekly. But the Lord and the Elders have impressed upon me that the Messiah who desires to use me cannot use an exhausted servant. My goal is to finish well. Thank you for this time. Pray that I will come back strong and prepared for all that God has in store for us as a body of Christ. We love each of you dearly.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
From your Pastor’s Heart
5/4/08
Today we come to the end of our chapter by chapter study of Genesis. What a joyous and applicable ride this has been. For far too many believers, the Old Testament is ignored, neglected and misunderstood. That is a shame to evangelical Christianity. WE must know the ‘story’ which is the ‘whole counsel of God’ in order to formulate a proper perspective on this brief span of existence we call life; and the importance of sharing the truth with others.
I personally thank you for your faithfulness through this long, exciting study. WE have mined many of the riches, its wisdom and its prophecy that points to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that the book of beginnings has come to life during this study and that you have been (as I have been) greatly blessed, challenged and spiritually nourished.
Please pray for me as I have already begun the study of the book of 1 Corinthians which we will begin on June 8th, which is also Graduation Sunday. Your prayers that I would be led by the Spirit with regard to the expositional preaching of God’ Word are beyond value to me as your undershepherd.
It is a joy to be your Pastor.
From your Pastor’s Heart
4/6/08
In his letters, Paul often uses a metaphor of Christians being slaves. Of course, the metaphor is one that was completely understood in the culture of the day because of the overwhelming use of slavery in the Roman Empire.
But Paul, along with Peter, James, John and Jude; all use the same metaphor when they speak about their own service to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But of course, they were not the first to do this. Jesus said in Mark 10:45, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
Throughout the New Testament, the slavery metaphor uses the term ‘serve’ or the term ‘bond-servant’ to describe our relationship to Christ. “Bond Servant” is a word that means to be completely devoted to a master. Who, when even given the opportunity to depart, chooses to stay out of love, not compulsion.
What a glorious picture of we who know Christ, having been ‘freed from sin and enslaved to God’ (Romans 6:22).
Please remember as we continue here at Niemonds that a self-willed slave was of no use to his master, but a true ‘bond-servant’ will set aside his will, and his desire and his interests to accomplish the will of the master.
It is a joy to be your Pastor
From your Pastor’s Heart
3/16/08
Although many teach today that going through trials robs you of your joy, and that it is your fault for having trials because of your lack of faith; scripture teaches just the opposite. In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Peter says, “In this you greatly rejoice, even through now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Every trial we face is designed to test us and ‘grow us up’ in the faith. Scripture says that the testings are temporary, necessary and distressing but that they should never diminish our joy.
Remember that 1 Corinthians 10:13 promises that God will not allow us to undergo more than we can bear. So, my dear Saints, do not fear trials when they come; or blame our own faith when they come; but rather, welcome the opportunity to prove that your trust in our Sovereign God is real.
Ask God for grace and thank Him in advance for the joy and confidence that you have in Him, no matter what the circumstance.
It is a joy to be your pastor.
Further reading: 2 Corinthians 11.
From your Pastor’s Heart
2/17/08
Niemonds Giving.
We praise God for our church and the abilities that each of us have to minister and help as God provides.
When giving to the Lord, you may choose to give a portion of your giving to the following:
- Missions: Either to a specific missionary that Niemonds supports or to missions in general—to be divided equally among missionaries. Any gifts increases the amount that missionary receives that month.
- Youth Ministry—either to the LifeSavers or Jr. Mints.
- Vision Fund: This is a separate account that is earmarked for capital improvements i.e.: new sanctuary, landscaping, paving, etc. as opposed to general expenses. The Vision Fund weekly total is put in the bulletin each week and the grand total at the end of each month.
- Please Note that if you as still giving money toward the “Building Fund” that this money is being put in our general fund to help pay down the mortgage.
Praise God for His faithfulness.
It is a joy to be your Pastor
Pastor Art
From your Pastor’s Heart
Joyce and I want to sincerely thank you all.
Most of you know about the background in ministry that we have had. It was a background in fractured, selfish churches where we would strive to bring about a grounding in the word and a change to the attitude. Much of those 20 years were spent with little to no encouragement and a tremendous amount of criticism.
As we are in the midst of our tenth year as your Pastor, it is with tremendously humble hearts that we say thank you. We were astounded at the amount of cards and calls, gifts and encouragements that we received from all of you this year. We are truly humbled to be used of God in this place.
Our prayer is, and has always been, that we would be used to the best of our ability to minister to you in whatever ways that we can, especially in the Word of God. As that happens, and as we grow together, may it be to God’s glory completely.
It is a joy to be your Pastor (and Pastor’s wife)
We love you,
Pastor Art (and Joyce, too)
