This past week I celebrated my birthday. Over the years, I have become an avid reader. Growing up, my Dad emphasized the importance of reading to my brother and I. As a kid, I viewed reading as a chore. As I got older, I looked at the reading not necessarily for fun or as a hobby, but as a necessity. I find myself reading more because I have a desire to learn. Each year I strive to learn more. While reading, I gain knowledge, gain confidence in my understanding as well as my ability to elaborate ideas and concepts to others. An area of focus for myself in recent years in my reading endeavors has been reading the Bible. I have always understood certain things from the Bible, but recently I am interested in learning more. For me, I want to have as much knowledge about my beliefs as possible.

As Christians, are we continuously looking to learn more from the Bible? God’s Word should be studied as much as possible. It is the foundation we should look to for answers. Jesus focused on this in Matthew 7. He compared hearing His Word to a man who builds his house on the rock. In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus says, “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

It takes time to learn God’s Word. This action should be a priority. It is something I am learning as the years go on, especially after each birthday.

Do not forget to entertain Strangers, By doing so, some people have entertained Angels, without knowing it!  Heb. 13:2

Have you ever entertained an Angel?  I believe you have! I believe many of our number have gone out of their way to help someone in need! Recently I had a conversation with one of our members, and they shared some things that was on their heart, a very kind heart.  They can usually be found sitting with mostly older people, because they will try to make that person feel special.  On many occasions, this person shared with me, they have given money to the person in need, including taking people to the gas station to fill their gas tanks, because they didn’t have the money to get them home.

And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.    Matt. 10:42

Many times, at Summit we will have a need and it is taken care of right away.  With the Covid-19 we have needed food because the pantry was very low.  In a couple of days, we had enough food to feed an army. I know people have needed rides to the doctor or to the grocery store and they have always been taken care of.  How many times have we had our prayers answered?  All the time!

Our kindness and respect and love for one another, for all of God’s people, is even more important during the trying times we live in. Be that person who goes the extra mile and does a little more for that person God puts in your life.

Brothers and Sisters, my prayer is that Summit will always have the same love and care for each other that Jesus had for his followers.  My prayer is that the Lord will continue to bless each and every one at Summit and keep the Covid-19 away from Summit.  I pray that we will always be willing to sacrifice of our money and time to take care of the less fortunate and the needy.  Let us always be ready to entertain an Angel!

Whatever you did for one of the least of these my brother, You DID IT TO ME!  Matt 25:40

A few weeks ago, I was in my brother’s business (Buck Buchanan BBQ) and a client started to talk to me like we were old friends. At first, I could not understand it – I was enjoying the conversation too much.

Then it dawned on me:
• I have a hat on identical to my brother’s.
• We both have the same accent.
• And I have a protective mask on that is hiding my face.

So, my “new friend” believed he was conversing with my brother.

Two thousand years ago Jesus did something similar. He left the thrown of God and emptied himself by taking on human form, (Philippians 2:6–7). And something strange began to happen, we started to talk to him like he was our new best friend – and we have not stopped.

Last night I was privileged to introduce Jesus Christ to his newest friend as Elijah Gray took on Jesus in baptism.

Friend, are you walking with your new best friend in newness of life?

“Let love be genuine.  Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection.  Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.”  Romans 12:9-11

There is so much going on in the world.  We’re reliving the flu pandemic of 1918, the stock market collapse of 1929 or 2008, and the civil unrest of 1968 all during a presidential election year.  There are so many problems, and so many opinions.  It’s hard to know what to do. 

The issues and the culture divisions can seem so overwhelming and it makes us feel like there is nothing we can do.  We might feel like the old song lyrics that say, “I’d love to change the world but I don’t know what to do.”  What’s a Christian to do?

We have to know that we cannot do everything but we can do something!  It reminds me of the old story about the little boy who is walking along the beach.  Hundreds of starfish had washed up on the beach overnight and the little boy was picking them up and throwing them into the ocean, one by one.  A man walked by and said, ‘What are you doing? There are hundreds of these starfish, there is no way you can throw them all back in, you’re never going to make a difference.’  The little boy looked at him, picked up a starfish and threw it in the ocean and said, “I made a difference to that one!”

We can all make a difference.  One by one.  Each interaction.  Each next right choice. We all have a circle of influence.  To the world we may be one person but to one person we might be the world. Let love be genuine. Love with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 

In these last days there has come times of difficulty. How do we regain a healthy civilization? A good place to start is 2 Timothy 3.

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…

· Lovers of self leads to loving money to keep up the image. Instead of posting our “brilliant opinions” we should again, in humility, share God’s Word.

· Trashing parents is constantly piped in over social media into the hearts of our developing children. Parents take back what you allow into your homes.

· Right and wrong (law and order) are being marginalized. With kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness, and uplifting speech we should strive to build up all (Eph.4:29).

· Self-pleasure is the current goal. Instead of “taking care of ME” we should return to being lovers of God.

But in all of this, if the end game is not, the salvation of the soul, all is for nothing. Friend, unless you repent and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins so that you might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, God cannot add you to His Church (Acts 2:38-47).

There are may barriers that can divide us from one another, age, race, intelligence, economic status, political persuasion and even theological perspective.

Ephesians 2:14-16 (ESV) “¹⁴For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.”

Fortunately, Christ has destroyed the barriers people build between themselves. By His death, Christ not only ended the angry resentment between Jews and Gentiles, but also the walls of prejudice. Because these walls have been removed, we can have real unity with people who are not like us and His cross should be the focus of our unity.

Because of Christ’s death, we are all one, and our hostility against each other has been put to death, “for he himself is our peace”.

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ~ Matthew 5:8

On this side of eternity, we must train our eyes and hearts to be able to see God.  The separation from God that sin brought to the human condition blocks us from seeing God with clarity.  Reflecting on the beatitudes that Jesus spoke to begin his sermon on the mount, you might notice that he provided spiritual glasses that help us to cut through the fog that blocks our sight of Him.

Jesus prescribes a pure heart as the solution to seeing God.  It seems that we see God with our heart while we live in an earthly body.  When the heart is squeezed by worldly attitudes and filled with anger or unforgiveness, it is impossible for us to recognize the face of God.  To see God requires a cleansing of the heart.  Christ’s blood cleanses us of our sin, but only walking daily in step with the Spirit purifies our heart.

Seeing God is worth all the effort that it takes to keep our hearts pure.  When God’s face is obscured, fear and doubt can take hold.  But, when God’s face is clear, gratitude and praise bubble up from inside.  During these days of uncertainty and isolation, make an extra effort to clean the windshield of your heart so that you don’t miss the most beautiful sight your heart will ever see.

What does it take to get and stay clean? We are all familiar with the need to have clean oil running in our cars. The old oil is let out and new oil is let in.

In the same way most humans come to the realization that they are dying. They might have all the “toys” in the world – but they do not have contentment. The “old oil” is just not working. They try to do the best they can. They might even have a list of things they do, like watch TV church, help their neighbors, and give to people in need. But still, they know something is missing.

Now, what you do with that realization can make all the difference. This week I met one such soul. All the Prozac in the world and constant mindful meditation was not going to delay that knowledge – “I feel something is missing”.

Friend, when you realize you have “old oil” running your life you know it is dead, decaying, and stinking. God makes a provision for just such an event: Romans 6:3–4 (ESV) — 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

We need to be buried with Christ – not as a sign of our outward faith (as taught by false teachers) but because we are dead.

But between oil changes, how does the oil in our car stay clean? Again, we all know the answer to this one – an oil filter.

So, what does “staying clean” look like for a Christian?

Firstly, our oil filter is constant confession. 1 John 1:9 (ESV) — 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. James 5:16 (ESV) — 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

Secondly, it is daily seeking God. Deuteronomy 4:29 (ESV) — 29 But from there you will seek the LORD your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul. Matthew 6:33 (ESV) — 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

And finally, it is finding and joining a church family that’s first love is Jesus and accurately handles the word of truth.

Revelation 2:4–5 (ESV) — 4 But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. 5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent. 2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV) — 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Recently I assisted my brother with yard work at his house. One of the projects was to remove shrubs. The difficult part of this job was extracting them from the ground. These shrubs were deeply rooted in the ground. Ultimately, the shrubs were removed successfully. The deep roots of these shrubs made this job more challenging to complete.

I want to connect this story to all of us as Christians. How deeply rooted are we in our faith? How strong are we in our faith? Are we informed about what we believe? It is essential for Christians to have a firm comprehension of the truth. Are our beliefs rooted in truth or false information? A considerable factor that could lead people astray is false teachers. We need to be able to discern false teachers. God’s Word emphasizes the effect of recognizing false teachers. 1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

There will always be false teachers who will circulate misinformation. Just like the scripture says above, we need to test them to see if they are from God. It is up to us to research what is scripturally accurate and inaccurate. When we know what is true with God’s Word, there is nothing that could take us away from God. When our beliefs are rooted in God’s Word there is nothing that could uproot us from our faith.

Jesus Christ. It is the name above all names. It keeps our focus, cleanses our hearts, and anchors our faith. And by so doing its disciples do not get derailed into the downward spirals of hatred that fill our world.

He is also the only God before which all humanity shall kneel. Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV) — 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The 11th commandment is not to get caught up in hatred (Lev.19:17-18) but to display love for one another. John 13:34–35 (ESV) — 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”

Friend, look up to the light. Do not get caught up in the world’s culture and customs because it will alter your character. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego defy hateful bullies as you walk the path of love.