Walnut Hill Baptist Church - 125 years

Looking back at our history can be challenging. In our current generation we like to remember those individuals, events and places we can remember and have connected with. Most often we reflect on the history we know and the history we like. After. all who passes down history that is not favorable? If you are smiling after reading the last comment then I am going to say we are on the same page. Our make-up, as a people, is a real mix. Here in the land of the Cumberland Gap our area has been influenced by the Scottish, German's, English and let's not forget the original residents of this area, the Shawnee Indians. The land surrounding the Cumberland Gap and the development of this region was aided by those traveling on foot, horseback and wagon, not to mention the cattle, pigs, and goats used for trading. The Southwestern corner of the Commonwealth of Virginia has been a neighbor and friend to Kentuckians and Tennesseans since long before either of these two became a member of the Union. The travels of these settlers who crossed the Cumberland Gap established homes, communities, churches and cities as they cut away the brush extending the Wilderness Road not only to Barbourville but beyond. The Walnut Hill Baptist Church, Ewing, Virginia is located along side the Wilderness Road east of the Cumberland Gap. The church is located in what must have been clearly an area filled with walnut trees. The congregation of Walnut Hill is nestled in between Martin's Stations and the Gap. Church meetings began in the year 1891 and have continued with the purpose of helping folks discover the love God has and plan God has for our lives. One of the joys of ministry is serving a congregation and being a part of their unique history as a church records their actions to tell the story of Jesus. Celebrating 125 years of church history congratulations are in order as the people gather this Sunday for worship. Remembering their past, reviewing their history and evaluating where they are today will be a great guide to the leadership of the Holy Spirit in their work and ministry for the next 125 years or at least until His return. Until then.

Easter....bunny?

Recently traveling in my automobile I noticed a slogan on a store marquee that read: "Sorry Bunny, Easter is for Jesus". Upon reading I immediately smiled. There was something speaking to my brain saying this is funny and this is correct too. It was funny because the slogan was cleaver and crafty. The most successful advertisement campaigns are those that cause us to think and this signs message accomplished that quickly. It is not only possible but highly probable that others might see the same sign and be wondering what It means. Easter is a familiar term often expressed in conversation around this time of the year but the meaning no doubt has a lost understanding for many, if not possible a majority or more of those we share society with. When my siblings and I were being born in the 1950's, 60's Easter was a big deal not only in our family but in society. When was the last time you experienced a clothing retailer advertising the sale of Easter clothing so you children would look 'picture perfect' for church on Easter Sunday morning? That's what I thought, you can't remember. The loss meaning of Easter in society is not the fault of a bunny or any rabbit. The loss is because the importance of honoring God or the practice of publicly demonstrating our faith with such practices has fallen from the priority list of Christians. Wearing new clothing or dressing up for church will not make you a Christian just as going to church does not make you a Christian. Dressing up could be a reminder that He deserves our best. After all, Easter represents that time of the year that Jesus Christ gave His best and His all for us on a Cross at Calvary. Forgiveness is a universal need. We can practice forgiving one another for hurts or misunderstandings, but only Jesus can forgive sin in the heart and this is the real meaning of Easter. Until then

Happy 'springtime' Happy Jesus time too!

In the phrase "springtime" I automatically hear great weather, flowers and baseball. It is amazing what we hear when we are really listening and even more so when we know what we want to hear. I confess my disposition for great weather is in an always status and I am man enough to say I love flowers, landscaping and even yard statues. As for baseball being a part of my "springtime" mindset allow me to write my baseball thoughts as ice cream and apple pie! Growing-up I remember flying a kite in March because this month is always windy. Spring weather includes a wide array of weather related possibilities including floods, tornados, and dreaded lightening bolts from the sky. Two direct opposite weather experiences all in the same month not to mention the possibility of hearing one thing and two different people have two entirely different thoughts from hearing the exact same words. Christianity is a word that can strike just as many different thoughts in an individual's mind too. My first thoughts are love and plan. I have no doubts or questions regarding God's love because I believe the scripture John 3:16. Plan comes to my mind because there are only two plans in life and each is clearly defined in John 10:10 in the Bible....another scripture that I totally believe and have based my life of faith upon. With the arrival of "springtime" and the windy every changing weather of March it is difficult to predict what exactly will be ones weather experience. With respect to weather there is no real variable to predict any particular weather to occur with regularity but with respect to faith there is plenty that can be predicted. The fact that Jesus is a friend that sticks by closer than a brother is well worth clinging to no matter the storms that will blow in and out of our lives. Happy "springtime" and happy Jesus time too! Until then

A Balm in Gilead

If I were to ask if you'd like to sign up for a hospital visit and stay I am figuring your answer will be "not interested". When it comes to hospital visits many will hear the call of care and concern when our friends and neighbor's are in for a procedure, surgery or recovery period, but even then, our plans are to make the visit short, encouraging and did I write short? Quick visits to family members and friends who are hospitalized might see rude but the healthy truth is that if you are in the hospital it is for a reason and I'm confident rest is vital to a heathy recovery. While no one wants to be admitted to a hospital for any reason, unless it's to give birth to a child, the fact remains we try to avoid such institutions as much as humanly possible. There are many things that you can count on while participating in your 'patient status'. 1) Expect to receive shots, required to swallow medications, and answer a lot of questions. 2) Expect to be in a bed where getting comfortable will be totally out of the question. 3) Expect to hear good news, bad news or answers that will require additional follow-ups. As a minister often the duties or services that have been necessary required up early in the morning, out late in the evening or night and lots of explaining with a encouraging hope that God has a plan. The task is not only daunting but exhausting physically and spiritually. There are many songs about Jesus as the Master Physician and scripture speaks of a Balm in Gilead. We sing of this Balm from the African American Spiritual, "There is a Balm in Gilead". The search for healing has been a journey traveled by many, even Edgar Allan Poe. In the last stanzas of his poem The Raven: "Prophet!" Said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore. Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted - On this home by Horror haunted - tell me - tell me - I implore - "Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - Tell me - tell me, I implore!" Quoth the Raven "Nevermore" Hospital visits, hospital stays, all this not forever more but rather just until our Savior and the sweet release of the 'Balm' that does last forever more. Until then

Is life a test or an opportunity?

There are many milestone identifiers used by those evaluating and observing our lives as to our character and substance from which our lives derive both purpose and meaning. Milestones are those clearly visible moments, events, statements or actions which define us as an individual. It could be said that life and the living of life is a challenge and that every step of the journey is a test. When the words: challenge; journey; or test; are written, these could trigger an array of different reactions and or individual responses. A challenge by my definition is something that causes everything within me to get ready. Whereas a journey, I would describe as a trip that could end up landing anywhere, it has no set location goal. Along the journeys of our lives we leave markers indicating we were once here. Each of these milestones can be highlighted differently. Sometimes the achievements in our lives are bright shiny signs that leave lots of information about how our journey brought us to this point while others dictators of our travels would be best described as clues leaving those observing the responsibility of putting the puzzle pieces together. There are individuals who live life as if it is like a basketball game which provides network tv timeouts, you can call your own team time-outs, others teams can call their own time-outs and you've even got an extended break at half-time to recover, re-think and even re-evaluate your 'life' game plan. If you are the type of person that likes to be in control then living your life through the trust of faith will never be easy. Letting go, (or more clearly written so there is no misunderstanding in my meaning of 'Letting go', means you have released your grip and you no longer are maintaining any control) and you are facing every challenge and life not as a test, but all the unexpected things in life as an opportunity for you to live another day of your faith in the view of others to evaluate and observe. Until then

All the dots coming together

There are many questioning today the power of the church. Actually the question might best be understood by asking what is the relevance of the church in today's society. After all the power of the church resides in the omnipotent power of God and the church is a unique tool for the assembling, equipping and sending mechanism for followers of Jesus to go and make a difference. Surrounding the local church today is the questioning by society as to its importance, value and even relevance in our daily lives. This question has encompassed the work of the church because so often the church seems to be out of step with society, and stuck in a cycle of tradition and ritual that just doesn't have any impact or relevance. This lack of influence by the church seems to be a given especially when one considers how fast the world moves today with all her modern technology, advances in communication and fast breaking news that can happen in any remote location yet known around the world in minutes. To accept the fore written as a valid truth is easy for many because the questions surrounding, encompassing and considerations of the churches value is being asked by many of our neighbor's, co-workers and friends. Our lack of answers or relevant examples of the important work of the church that does impact and change lives seems to be, in many congregations, non-existent. Nevertheless even without a response from us God's love and plan are in play, active and alive for every individual on planet earth. The power of the church today is best witnessed when Christians are actively involved in sharing the impact of God in their lives because of the personal relationship shared with the creator of the Universe. The church with the founder Jesus Christ is the one resource that provides meaning to life, value to existence and answers to questions. And when all else seems to be void the gifts of faith and hope rule as guides in our lives with the fact of His love, the greatest gift, providing the connecting point, bring all the dots together. Until then