In the early 90s I was part of a church family that gave out an excellence award. It was called the ARETĒ award from the Greek word for excellence (ἀρετῇ).

This fine attribute was first mentioned in Daniel. Daniel 6:3 (ESV) — ³ Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an EXCELLENT spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.

Paul requested excellence for the church at Philippi. Philippians 1:9–10 (ESV) — ⁹ And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰ so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

Helping our children reach their full potential can be a daunting task, but also an incredibly rewarding one. From instilling discipline and constructive habits such as having a healthy work-play balance to encouraging independence and creativity while providing guidance and support, there are many elements that can contribute to helping our children become excellent. This means having sensible expectations, listening to our children’s interests, and working together with them to find achievable goals they are passionate about – this could be something related to school or finding an extracurricular activity that lets them use their talents in a new way. It is also important to remember that although it can be exciting when children excel, the most important thing is for them to feel fulfilled and enjoy the journey too.

Kids learn best by observing. So, do we put out a mediocre effort or do we strive for excellence in all that we do?

I anticipate that 2023 will be the busiest and most difficult year of my life. I am in the process of studying for my three comprehensive exams for my PhD (if I fail one of them, I am out of the program). In addition, I am teaching a Hebrew class at Freed-Hardeman (online) this semester. And, of course, I have my responsibilities to my family and to you all.

I do not write this to boast about my busy schedule or to invoke pity. I chose this life, and I could quit most of it if I really wanted. Instead, I write this because I want to share the best part of my day:

Though I must read, study, and translate over 100 pages of dense academic literature in 6 different languages each day, I find the most immense joy, delight, and peace when I read God’s word. Though my mind grows dull and cold from the weariness of prolonged study, reading and studying the Bible stoke the flames of my heart and soul. Scripture is itself a rest and rejuvenation from the vain labor in which I toil on this earth. I also find great peace in prayer to God throughout the day. I become pleasantly distracted thinking about my church family, how wonderful they are, how I can help them, when I can speak to them next. I become overwhelmed with joy contemplating my awesome God and the life he has given me and the wonderful people he placed on this earth to be my spiritual family.

Again, I share this with you, not to boast, but because I want you to experience this. We are all busy, and many of you experience more stress and are busier than myself. I beg you to seek tranquility in Jesus Christ. He is our rest and our sabbath. The gospel message, the good news, is that his yoke is easy and his burden is light. He is our refuge from all the vanity that is under the sun. If you feel burned out and weary, cling to him, rest in him. Prayer and the scriptures are not a burden to bear, but a joy to be experienced, for through the scriptures we encounter the Word of God and through prayer God transforms our hearts to become more like his own.

A couple of weeks ago, on a Saturday morning, your Elders, Deacons and Ministers met for a day to plan and to dream about Summit for the next year, five years, and beyond.  The theme was “Vision.”                  

Where There Is No Vision, The People Fall.  Prov29:18  Of all the reasons churches decline or thrive, one reason stands out consistently; churches grow with vision or fail without it.

· Vision feeds the members to belong to something significant.

· Vision provides focus and prevents distraction.

· Vision keeps the “Main things” the main things.

· Vision saves a church from merely doing “Good things” by directing them to the “Best things.”

Helen Keller said, “The greatest tragedy in life is people who have sight but no Vision.”  Everywhere in scripture we see God giving his people vision.  Think of Abraham without God’s challenge to go to a land I will show you (Vision). There was the Israelite nation in bondage going to a land flowing with milk and honey (Vision). Think of us when Jesus said I go to prepare a place for us (Vision). But I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you, and to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Brothers and Sisters, the future of the Lord’s Church at Summit is very promising! We see Summit growing more and more like Jesus! Providing for this area’s physical, emotional and spiritual needs!

Our goal will always be to glorify God.  Eph 3:21.

And our aim will always be to:

· To evangelize the lost.      Mark 16:15

· To edify the saved.             Acts 20:28-32

· To serve the needy.            James 1:27

How in the world did we get to a place where a child can say to a parent, “While I would never do it, I don’t think there is anything wrong with _____ (fill in the blank with smoking weed, skipping school, etc.)”. I continually hear statements like this (even from the highly educated).

There are two obvious reasons for the fast deterioration of our civilization.

First, people believe they should be the hero of every story. There is not a movie, sitcom or advertisement that does not use this hero narrative. It is all about “me”. It used to be love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.

Second, people believe they determine what is true. I heard Dr. Phil (S15E156) trying to explain to a 19-year-old that it was theft to take $130,000
without consent. She absolutely did not get it. Why? Because she said it made her happy and was not harming anyone.

Friend, show your family the hero of your story by living the two most important commandments. And, maybe like Chuck Gambill, show your family where truth can be found by carrying your Bible wherever you go.

We all know those who live in the past. Some reminisce about the 1950s, when times were simpler for most people. They grow nostalgic for a time when they could leave their doors unlocked and they could let their children roam free without fear of danger. It could be someone in their 20s or 30s always trying to remain in the “glory days” of their high school career, when they were popular and successful before they had to start at the bottom of the “grownup world.”

When we do not share the nostalgia of these persons, we often pity them. They are stuck in the past and cannot live in the present day. The past, for us, is of little importance because the present is what is real. We agree with the words of Qohelet, “Do not say, ‘Why were the former days better than these?’ For it is not from wisdom that you ask this.” (Ecc. 7:10; NRSV).

Sometimes we make the opposite mistake of forgetting the past when the past has a direct impact on how we live in the present. In Deut. 8:11–20, Moses warned the Israelites of forgetting what Yahweh had done for them in Egypt and the wilderness. He liberated them, provided for them, and conquered their enemies. Yet the comforts of the present may cause them to forget the past and grow arrogant. They would think that they had made themselves great and that they were the cause of their success.

Remembering the past can help us stay humble. We recognize all the help we received from others and know that we are not the key to our own success. Others have provided us with opportunities, and we merely took them. Like the Israelites, God has redeemed us from the house of slavery, he continues to guide us through the wilderness and provide for us, he has defeated our enemies in the past and will continue to do so. Sadly, we are also like the Israelites when we forget what God has done for us and his commandments that he has given to us. Therefore, we must remember Jesus’ sacrifice at least once a week during the Lord’s Supper. We must count our blessings every day and thank our Divine Benefactor. Forgetfulness leads to ingratitude, ingratitude to pride, and pride to sinfulness. Conversely, remembrance leads to thankfulness, thankfulness to humility, and humility to godliness.

In Luke 15 Jesus teaches us 3 parables concerning that which was lost: Sheep (1–7); Coin (8–10); Son (11–32). In placing them together Jesus gives us 3 different ways to bring back 3 different types of lost souls.

What do all 3 parables have in common? They CELEBRATE a VALUABLE lost SOUL being rescued. They also place an obligation on each of us to save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins (James 5:19-20).

The lost sheep is a person who has wandered from THE BODY. This individual knows what they have done is wrong and is simply waiting for one of us to go out and gently “snatch them in pity from sin and the grave”.

Lost coin is a person who is unaware that they are lost. Our role is to make them aware of the need that they have not acknowledged in their heart. To such a person I would say: “Have you ever wondered what that emptiness inside of you is all about.”

And finally, the prodigal son is someone who knows they are lost and do not want to come back. For such an individual you either need to wait for them to hit rock bottom or ask God to bring tragedy into their life.

Friend, will you be part of experiencing the angels rejoicing this Lord’s Day? Luke 15:10 (ESV) — ¹⁰ Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Many Christians are unconcerned with the body – that is, the physical flesh. Perhaps it is because the Bible says that it is corruptible, and we will receive a new, incorruptible body. Perhaps it is because the only thing the Bible says about physical training is that it is only of some benefit compared to spiritual training (1 Tim 4:8). I want to make a case for why Christians most of all should care for their bodies and health to a certain degree.

The body is a blessing, and it is a part of us. The beginning of our existence was with a body, and we will continue throughout eternity with a body, albeit a different body. Science has repeatedly shown the connection of the mind and the body and how they each depend on the other. Neglecting the care of your body is a lack of stewardship of an immense blessing God has given to you. It is a shame to take something so powerful and wonderful for granted, as there are many who are not blessed with a fully functioning body yet are thankful for what they can do.

There is an even greater reason to care for your body — the body is a tool you can use to help others. Our motivation to stay healthy through diet and exercise is so that we can have greater freedom to help the church and community. We are more useful if we can lift heavy objects, walk around without feeling exhausted, and are not hindered from gospel-sharing activities due to self-caused health complications and general lack of fitness. Finally, if you keep yourself healthy, you have higher chances of living longer to serve God and your brothers and sisters on this earth. You could even be active in your later years!

Lest we overcorrect, let us not be like those people who are overly concerned with the body because they are vain. We do not need a six-pack or billowing biceps or dietary snobbery to be pleasing to God or useful to others. These are often more to please our ego and vanity. Take the middle path, the path of wisdom, that seeks bodily health – even bodily excellence – for the sake of helping humanity.

We were thirty-two (32) feet under water when we entered the cave.  Once in, the natural light faded behind us until we turned the corner.  Then the only light was our searchlight.  We stopped and turned the light off.  There was total darkness.  The only noise was my breathing.  After a few minutes, my equilibrium caused me to suspect my position.  Was I horizontal, vertical, upside down?  There was nothing to help me gain a perspective of position.  I fully understood the importance of light.  Light not only helps us to see where we are but it chases away the panic caused by darkness.

God understood how important light would be for us.  Genesis 1 states: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. ³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ And God saw that the light was good. 

Light was created before the sun, moon, stars and time.  How important is light?

We know the importance of physical light.  There is another light that takes precedence over physical light.  Jesus was in the Temple teaching the people when a group of Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery.  We remember the scene and the results.   What followed were the words from Jesus that help us to maintain a balanced life.  John 8:12:

 “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

Darkness of the soul creates panic.  It causes doubt to creep into our minds, which then causes imbalanced spiritual equilibrium.  Darkness can lead to our physical imbalance as well.

Two divers were found within one hundred (100) feet from the entrance to a cave. Each had a half-a-tank of air; their regulators hanging by their side; their light busted with no backup.  Both had drowned.  Panic caused them to disregard their training and imagine the unimaginable. 

Remember what the Lord did for the Israelites when they departed Egypt?

The Lord went ahead of them. He guided them during the day with a pillar of cloud, and he provided light at night with a pillar of fire. This allowed them to travel by day or by night. (Exodus 13:21)

FOLLOW HIS LIGHT

As a young Christian I can remember singing songs like “More Like Thee”, “O To Be Like Thee”, and “More About Jesus”. But how would I go about living those songs?

First, I attended the church of Christ. I learned that I loved Jesus and that I had a wide gulf to CROSS. So, Phillip Steyn presented the Gospel to me. That made me realize that I needed to be baptized for salvation.

Second, I needed to undergo an uncomfortable change. The more I got to know Jesus the more I realized how unlike Him I was.

• I had to leave my “holy huddle” and instead start “huddling” with sinners (Lk.15:1).

• I had to get comfortable afflicting the comfortable (Mt.23:25-27) & comforting the afflicted (Mt.11:28-30).

• I had to care less about catering to the found and more about reaching the lost (Lk.5:31-32) and ministering to discarded (Js.1:27).

• I had to care less about feathering my own nest (Phil.2:5-7) and more about simplifying my life (Mt.10:9f).

Third, I needed to make sure it was never about me and always about others (Mk.10:45).

Friend, do you REALLY want to be like Jesus?