Church Blog (Page 2)

Whose name meant “comfort”? Noah’s! Lamech says as much. When Noah was born, Lamech proclaimed, “This one shall give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the Lord has cursed” (Gen. 5:29). The NIV and KJV, among others, put the word “comfort” for “rest.” Lamech was optimistic that Noah would help alleviate the labor pains of farming in cursed ground. Have you stopped to think about the meaning of Noah’s…

After the flood God promised that the seasons would always continue as long as the earth remains (Gen. 8:22). That means for those of us living in the northern hemisphere we can expect springtime to come somewhere between March 19 and March 21 every year. While many people may take the seasons for granted, Christians realize they are a blessing from God. It is right for us to observe nature and to see the lessons it teaches us about the…

Our theme this year at Lehman Avenue is Living by faith. This theme is based on the words found in Romans 1:17 where Paul quotes from Habakkuk 2:4. When Paul writes, “the righteous shall live by faith,” he is saying those made right with God through the gospel should live their lives faithfully based upon that foundation. How can someone tell if we are living by faith? How can we tell? Are there any tangible signs? Here are some of…

What would it be like to live always rejoicing? Well, it is possible even in a complex world where suffering is a consequence of our actions or the acts of those around us. God in His goodness and love has left His church so that in any circumstance we can find a way to rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and wait while we understand how those situations will work together for Good (Romans 8:28). I’m sure that the church on Lehman…

Attend because you want to honor God in the special way that occurs when the church assembles to study His Word (1 Tim. 4:13) Attend because you want to encourage others and be with them every opportunity you can (1 Thess. 5:11; Rom. 15:4) Attend because you find the study of God’s Word so meaningful (Psa. 119:105) Attend because there’s so much of the Bible you have yet to master, and you want to hear what the teacher and the…

Jesus promised to build his church and he guaranteed the gates of hades would not stop him from keeping his promise (Matt. 16:18-19). When we read the book of Acts we learn of how the church started in Jerusalem and eventually spread throughout the entire Roman Empire (Acts1:8; Col. 1:23). While the first century church was not perfect they were successful in doing the things Jesus wanted them to do. We should read and study Acts for many reasons, but…

In an understatement, I am not a world traveler. I had much rather spend time at home than traveling, especially to places far from home. I’m a homebody, so traveling to unfamiliar places is not easy. Yet, I have occasionally wondered what folks in other parts of the world are like. I recently learned when I journeyed far from home. I most likely do not blend in very well. I certainly would be identified as an outsider rather quickly if…

Love is one of the most misunderstood and abused words in the English language. Some of the more unloving things are done in its name. It is confused with lust, neglect, abuse, ignorance, and encouragement of evil. Even in religion, love is the banner of everything from hatred and terrorism to gross immorality and perversion. It is helpful to remind ourselves what constitutes love. LOVE DOES NOT ENABLE WEAKNESS. Pretending that a loved one does not have a sin problem…

Wouldn’t it be great to have it said of us at the end of our lives that we pleased God and even impressed him with how we lived? When we read the gospels one of the things that stands out is how often Jesus praised people for having faith in him. Whenever someone believed he could heal, forgive, or restore he made sure to applaud their faith and point it out for his disciples. Jesus never praised any one for…

I am filled with a tremendous sense of optimism that is not generated by politics, current events, the media, the economy, or any other worldly thing. Yet, I cannot shake this swelling tide of hope that fills me on a daily basis. It is a hope for what the church and its members can be in the face of the growing challenges we face in this culture and around the world. Why are these such exciting times? The darkness is…

Nannie Van Hooser, wife of Perry F. Van Hooser, was born November 26, 1873; and departed this life at her mother’s home in Jackson County, July 16, 1896. The deceased was married December 7, 1893. She obeyed the Gospel in September 1895, and lived ever afterwards a faithful, earnest Christian. Sister Nannie was a very bright and noble specimen of womanhood, and clung to life with great energy and hope, being a victim of that fell destroyer, Consumption. She was…

A little child with eyes so bright, Looks to a big day coming. Dreams big dreams with star-filled sight, Can you hear the joyous humming? Too often, the big event falls flat Of all the child dared to hope Or it quickly flies by with an eyelash’s bat, And with let downs the li’l one must cope. The grown-up marks the calendar And scrimps and saves and researches Counts down the days in wistful surrender, As the dream vacation lurches.…

Have you ever wondered about the origin of New Year’s resolutions? I have. If they are to be trusted, the folks at the History Channel denote the Babylonians, nearly 4,000 years ago, as the founder of such culture-wide determinations. It was as part of a 12-day religious festival known as Akitu. Later, at the prompting of none other than Julius Caesar, the Romans, again as a nod to a god—Janus, the two-faced god who looked backward and forward—observed the advent…

Where has time gone? We are already toward the end of another year! At Lehman Avenue, the theme for 2023 was Engaging Everyone for Eternity taken from Ephesians 4:11-16. As we reflect on the year, we see where there was a lot of engagement among our Lehman family. From our church family pulling together to bring about Equipped, the start of the Cumberland Trace building project, the tremendous spiritual growth among the members, and the involvement of so many members…

Often, during this time of year, there is an emphasis placed upon the gifts brought by the magi to Jesus—“gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh” (Mat. 2:11). They understood how Jesus was worthy of worship (2:2,11) and celebration (2:10). Their giving flowed from that recognition. The book of Hebrews turns the tables and reveals the Jesus who is the gift-giver. The same Greek word used to describe the wise men’s gifts to Jesus is used twice by the writer of…

I’m sure you’ve heard this phrase before: “He’s mailed it in.” It describes someone who delivers a performance without commitment or effort, with lackluster results. People usually “mail it in” when they give their two-week notice on a job or when the sports game is nearly over and there’s no chance of winning. An individual or group that has mailed it in may not quit outright, but they are just going through the motions and have already surrendered internally. As…

We struggle and strain to carry our load We buckle as it gets heavier on our backs We fall and hurt on this rough, rocky road The weight makes us stop in our tracks Looking around with a face full of pleading We wonder who is observing our pain We’re wounded, weary, broken and bleeding Set to surrender from the stress and strain Tears flow freely, we have been here before We know how the journey seems endless Certain we…

Philippians 4:6 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Today the world is in turmoil. There is so much uncertainty about what the future holds, and it is affecting lives like never before. Jesus and the New Testament writers have clearly spelled out that we can have control over our emotions (Jn 14:1). Paul deals with the problems of anxiety or worry that we perceive…

Sometimes a person wants so desperately to do something that they rationalize their decision to do so by crediting God with “sending a sign” or by concluding that “it’s meant to be.” In an age where God communicates to man, not by voice or directly through His Spirit but by His Word, this can prove dangerous thinking. The dilemma often is when we pray for something having multiple choices or outcomes, and then we have to make a decision. Most…

There are many ways that we could describe Christianity. We could focus on the truth of Christianity or the holistic nature of the faith that touches every aspect of our lives (1 Thess. 5:23). However, one thing we should also remember is that Christianity is a religion of beauty. Christianity is beautiful in the sense that the truths, concepts, and doctrines it espouses thrill the souls of its adherents and provides hope for the world. Christianity is not based on…

The late country music singer Joe Diffie had a hit song back in 1993 entitled “Prop Me Up Beside the Jukebox (If I Die)”. The song expresses the sentiment of a good ole boy who, should he kick the bucket, have his lifeless body posed in the honky tonk that he dearly loves. Even though the song is tongue-in-cheek and supposed to funny, it’s anything but humorous. One line in the chorus goes, “Lord I wanna go to Heaven, but…

Each of us is blessed with talents, although some are five talent people and others maybe a two or one talent person. I tend to believe we each have more talents than we might think. In the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14-30, the master gave his servants varying talents. To one he gave five, to another he gave two and to another he gave one. Each of us is no different than the servants aforementioned. They, just as…

As you look at the contents of most church bulletins, you’ll find a list of people who need prayer. Most of the time these folks are sick, battling a serious disease, they are shut-in and unable to leave home or in nursing facilities. Some may need prayers of encouragement as they go through a difficult time. The prayer list can be quite long, with some names staying on the list for many months. Sadly, we may become accustomed to the…

All people in the world are watching our words and deeds. Jesus teaches, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). Jesus is calling for a “walking confession,” a life which is an open book. aven” (Matt. 5:16). Jesus is calling for a “walking confession,” a life which is an open book. The Christian’s life is a manual, revealing what a Christian talks and…

The Bible emphasizes the importance of hard work as a part of humanity’s responsibility to God (Gen. 2:15, 3:19). However, for all that God teaches about the nobility of work he also emphasizes the need for humans to rest. Rest is not for the weak and fragile, rest is for the finite. Here are a few things to consider in regard to what the Bible teaches us about our need for rest. At the conclusion of creation God rested (Gen.…