Until we meet again Barry!

Tomorrow we will pay our respects to the family, remember his life, and preach the funeral of Barry Clutter. I have known Barry for a long time as we went to church together in Vandalia prior to coming to Camden.To the world  his name may not be recognizable, but to his family, those that knew him, those who took care of him,our church, and most importantly the Lord, we will be burying a soldier.

1. He was a soldier of the cross, a Christian, and because of that, according to the Word of God He is in the presence of the Lord. Amen!
2 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV) ¹  You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
²  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
³  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
⁴  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 
Barry was the one who began a Children's Church service for us many years ago.
2. He was a soldier for his family.  While MS may have crippled him it did not take away his love for Linda, the kids, and grand kids. Their undying support and unconditional love for each other is a testimony to what a family should and can be. Proverbs 20:7 (NKJV) ⁷ 
 The righteous man walks in his integrity; His children are blessed after him.
3. He was a soldier in his fight with MS. One thing that will forever be remembered by me is that Barry did not complain.  He tried whatever was suggested, praying, hoping, pleading with God to use it to help or cure him. He never gave up, he fought because of love. Barry taught us that complaining doesn't change things, but that prayer does.  Here is a poem, I heard George Younce of the Cathedrals share many years ago by Red Foley and it reminds me of the lessons Barry has taught us.

FORGIVE ME WHEN I WHINE

Today upon a bus, I saw A lovely maid with golden hair; I envied her - she seemed so gay - And oh, I wished I were so fair. When suddenly she rose to leave, I saw her hobble down the aisle, She had one foot and wore a crutch, But as she passed, a smile. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two feet - the world is mine. And when I stopped to buy some sweets, The lad who served me had such charm; He seemed to radiate good cheer, His manner was so kind and warm. I said, "It's nice to deal with you, Such courtesy I seldom find." He turned and said, "Oh, thank you, sir!" And I saw that he was blind. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two eyes - the world is mine. Then, when walking down the street, I saw a child with eyes of blue. He stood and watched the others play; It seemed he knew not what to do, I stopped a moment, then I said: "Why don't you join the others, dear?" He looked ahead without a word, And then I knew; He could not hear. Oh, God, forgive me when I whine; I have two ears - the world is mine. With feet to take me where I'd go, With eyes to see the sunset's glow, With ears to hear what I should know: I'm blessed indeed, The world is mine; Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

Fairest Lord Jesus

This old hymn spoke to me today in my study.  Do I cherish  and honor the Lord with my life?  Lord may you be my soul's glory, joy, and crown.

Fairest Lord Jesus, Ruler of all nature,

O Thou of God and man the Son,

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,

Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,

Robed in the blooming garb of spring;

Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,

Who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,

And all the twinkling starry host;

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

Than all the angels heaven can boast.

All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly,

Wondrously, Jesus, is found in Thee;

None can be nearer, fairer or dearer,

Than Thou, my Savior, art to me.

Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

Now and forever more be Thine.

1873 translation by Joseph A. Seiss ^[5]

Merry Christmas!

Having just finished our Christmas Program this past weekend "The Song of Christmas" today I want to reflect and thank God for all of the effort and time put into what was witnessed. The Choir has never sounded better, the lighting and sound, the graphics were  top notch, the Drama Ministry surprised us all, and we discovered that we have some great actors and actresses.  With great crowds and an opportunity to share the Gospel what a weekend!

This Christmas here are a few lessons I continue to learn and have been reminded of several important truths.

1.  Nothing done with excellence is ever easy.  God is worthy of our best and honors our hearts and talents when we give them to Him. This program took place after months, and many late night practices and rehearsals.

2. Thank God that we have and He continues to send us gifted people. I am grateful for you all.  You may say, "I don't feel like I am gifted."  My response is 1 Corinthians 12:11-12 (NKJV) 
¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. ¹²  For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

3. Camden, and Preble County deserves our best. They expect it!  God has placed us here for His glory, not ours. whether someone say thank you, good job, or recognized me for anything, God deserves my best.

4. We must be on guard! He will attack! The Devil is not happy with a Church going forward for the Gospel of Christ.  Whatever he can do to create disharmony is one of the Liar's greatest tools. If He can get our hearts distracted and our eyes off of the Gospel he will.  Stand firm.

5. I want to close out 2014 and start 2015 with a clean slate.  Is there anyone I need to forgive, or ask forgiveness from? Do I really want peace on earth?  Do it today?

On behalf of Renee, Drew and Ashley, Aiden , and Eli, Stacy and Kyle and Koby,
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and look forward to serving the Lord in 2015 or until He comes!  Bro. Greg

Am I Always Thankful?

Recently Renee picked up a plaque for the house that reads, “ What if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday?” I must confess, there would be some days that I don’t have much due to taking so many things for granted.  God help me to understand that I am the richest man in the world in every aspect of life.
 

 Today the Lord blessed me to pop in on one of our shut ins, Barry Clutter, who is recovering from surgery at Sycamore Hospital.  For those who may not know, Barry has battled MS for many years, I believe he shared over twenty years.  I remember when Barry played softball, golf and was very active.  Many of us have called upon his computer genius in some form or fashion.  He has been confined to a wheelchair many years, and now has nearly no use of his hands and arms.  Despite, these challenges, he and Linda have remained encouragers to those of us that know them.

 I noticed that Barry’s meal had been delivered and ask if I could help him, with his lunch.  He whispered that would be great.  As I fed him and listened carefully to his instructions, his patience and gratitude for the smallest things were so refreshing and convicting to me. Things like moving the sheet off of his hands and adjusting pillows.  As I held his bowl as he ate his tomato soup through a straw, he smiled and looked my way responding, “That is delicious.” I was the one who was ministered to today.

 Dear Lord, give me the heart of Barry Clutter.  Keep me grateful and thankful more than ever for the simple things of life. Even a bowl of tomato soup.

Would you take some time and pray for Barry and Linda Clutter this Thanksgiving?

 Have a great day tomorrow.  Bro. Greg

Slow Death

Renee and I just returned from a Smoky Mountain Vacation that included three days of Southern Gospel Music at the Smoky Mountain Praisefest. Some of my earliest and fond memories growing up on Canary Ct. in Dayton involved Southern Gospel music. A quartet that featured four parts, a piano, and a bass guitar to me was all you needed.  We really did enjoy the Praisefest, yet I recognized a hard truth.  Most of the nearly two thousand in attendance for each session were in their golden years, Senior Saints, Classics, Fifty Uppers, whatever term we can come up with, an older audience.

I mean here I am now fifty three and love this style of music it, yet there were very few  younger than me.  I overheard a group member sharing with a man and he indicated that when this generation of fans pass on there will not be anyone to sing too.  For some reason folks who have not grown up with southern gospel music don't seem to appreciate or follow it. things have changed.  Let me go on record.  I love it and will sing and listen to it until the Lord comes or calls me home!

This picture of this music genre is a little bit like a church.  We have to take a hard look at times and look at our congregations.  Do we have young people, young families, middle agers coming, serving, leading, giving, or are we really depending on those who are in front of us when it comes to years to carry the load?  When we are at that point here is the sad news, once those in front of us are gone, what will the Church landscape look like when it is up to us.

Unlike music styles, the gospel of Christ does not change.  We are living in a day where it seems that Bible preaching has taken a back seat to non offensive feel good messages to keep a crowd. It can sometimes feel like convenience is now more important than commitment.  Schedules more sacred than worship. More time can be spent on Facebook than in the Word of God.

God help us. Now is the time, today is the day for us to step up for Christ and serve Him with everything. Christ is about life, he paid for it with His death.  Thank you Lord.

"Thirteen Years Ago Today"

When September 11, 2001 is mentioned, my generation, those older and those younger who could understand will never get over it. It is etched in our minds and we will never forget it. We know where we were , what we were doing, and who we were with when we saw or heard the news that the World Trade Centers in New York had been hit by planes, soon identified as terrorist attacks on America.

As today's calendar marks the anniversary of this horrific event, we don't celebrate the thousands who lost their lives to this senseless act, nor do we celebrate with the families who were left behind.  What we do is we pray for those affected.  Whose lives were changed forever.

I remember going to the Preble Shawnee football game that Friday, as we played Dixie in New Lebanon.  One of the first public events post 9/11.  Pastor Jim Wharton offered a sweet prayer over the public address microphone as the band prepared to play the National Anthem.  As we stood there, a large plane was making it's way into the Dayton airport.  It was a surreal moment, as if time nearly stood still.

Isn't it amazing that prayer has been labeled a threat to America by many, even by
many in leadership, yet when we have a crisis in our community, our state, or in this case our nation, we recognize that there is only one place to turn, and that is to the Lord.

God forgive us for what we take for granted.  Help us to pray for those serving to protect our freedom.  Help us to pray for our President and those under his command.  Today on 9/11, thirteen years later, we remember those who were lost in this attack and the families that still remain to pick up the pieces.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
¹⁴  if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 

First Prize = Blue Ribbon

This week marks another anticipated time of fun.  The Preble County Fair! I have always wanted to enter some produce just to see how I might do, but it never happens.  I just don't get around to it.  One cause for my delay to enter may simply be, "What if I don't win?"

That is the mentality that I believe some folks have when it comes to surrendering their lives to Christ. "What if I do this thing and then mess up?" Good question, and I have liberating news!  The truth of God's Word is that we are not saved because we don't mess up.  We are all sinners, separated from a Holy God.  Romans 3:23  It is the Lord's death, burial, and resurrection that has purchased our forgiveness.  We will mess up, and as the Holy Spirit convicts us, we don't lose what we had received, we confess and repent and are forgiven based on the the finished work of our Lord and Savior.

I am glad that my reward is not based on what someone else thinks, but based on what God knows.
We are winners in Christ.  Don't ever let the Devil make you think otherwise.

Philippians 3:13-14 (NKJV)
¹³  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
¹⁴  I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.