Monday, March 23, 2020

Dear Church Family, 

 As we enter week two of the virus crisis, anxiety continues to build across our country. It is causing healthy eaters to binge on chips and Oreos instead of kale and quinoa. Many have found solace in multiple scoops of their favorite ice cream. The phrase ‘comfort food’ takes on a deeper reality as meat loaf, mashed potatoes and gravy serve as a safe haven in the midst of fear. Before you head to the frig, let me remind you of a better source of security.  

 In our worship we occasionally use the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism as our Statement of Faith. It asks, “What is your only comfort in life and in death?” Note the qualifying word “ONLY” forces us to narrow all choices to just one.  Now chew over all this ‘comfort food’ for a minute or two: 

ANSWER:
That I am not my own, but belong – body and soul, in life and in death - to
my faithful Savior Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood
and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. He also watches over me in such a
way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven:
in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to Him,
Christ, by His Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me
wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for Him.

Sorry to interrupt the feast you have been chewing on. Feel free to chew and chew and chew. What great comfort we enjoy because we belong to Jesus and not ourselves! 1 Peter 1:18-19 teach us, “It was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.” The Lamb of God laid down His life for His sheep and He knows us by name. Jesus has a vested interest in His people because He died for them. Therefore, simple logic would lead us to believe He cares for us. 

Even better than logic are the words of the Bible that repeatedly remind us of His eternal care. In the Upper Room Discourse Jesus told His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)  Paul calls us to holiness with words of comfort at the end of 1 Corinthians 6. “You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore, honor God with you body.” 

As God’s holy people we enjoy the riches of His grace. One of those priceless gifts is the comfort only Jesus can give and has given to us forever. May we live holy lives as we rest in the comfort that is better than any food can provide.  

Pastor Gillikin

Friday, March 20, 2020

Dear Church Family, 

 God has given us many gifts. Music ranks fairly high on a lot people’s list of gifts they enjoy. Many of you sing with gusto as we worship. With little prodding if asked to name your Top Ten hymns, you could come in a just a few minutes with many more than ten. It would not surprise anyone if you listed such classics as “Amazing Grace,” “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “A Mighty Fortress.” 

 You may have picked up over the last 15 years that I like to sing. I would list those three in the first paragraph and about fifty more to fill my Top Ten list. Many Getty-written hymns would be there as they sing of great truths of the Christian faith. We could sing “In Christ Alone” every Sunday for a year and never get the full meaning of the eternal themes in it. Sarah has shared on the ‘Music Ministry Blog’ the powerful impact a song with Biblical truth made in her life this week. 

 I had an encounter with such a song while in seminary. Life was okay, but the load of the class work seemed to get heavier. One Sunday the second hymn in the worship service was one I had never heard before. The tune was catchy. The words struck deep in my soul. When the hymn ended, I did something I had never done before. I kept the hymnal open and kept reading the words. Even during the sermon, the hymnal sat between by eyes and my open Bible. The first stanza goes like this: 

Trembling soul, beset by fears, Thy God reigneth!
Look above, and dry thy tears: Thy God reigneth!
Though thy foes with power assail, naught against thee shall prevail;
Trust in Him—He’ll never fail: Thy God reigneth, Thy God reigneth!

 Since I was involved in ministry at that church, I was in the sanctuary for the second worship service. I could not wait to get to that second hymn. The pastor noticed the conviction with which I sang. I told him that it was the best hymn I had ever sung. It was a great proclamation of the rule of God over everything in heaven and earth. I went as far as to say we should sing it every Sunday. This hymn is not in many hymn books. I commend it to you. You can find the right of the lyrics at this website https://hymnary.org/text/trembling_soul_beset_by_fears 

The words of the other four stanzas are just as incredible! If you click on ‘Recording’ near the top you can hear the tune played. Sing along and rejoice that your God reigns over all things.

Pastor Gillikin 

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Dear Church Family, 

 I have good news for you. The headline on the satirical website “The Babylon Bee” declares:

Latest Numbers On Coronavirus: 100% Of World Still Under God's Control

“The latest data on the spread of the coronavirus has come in, and the results are clear: 100% of the earth
is still under God's dominion. We've analyzed the numbers, and the one pattern that's emerging here is
that 100% of human beings are still in the loving hands of their Creator," said a spokesperson for
the CDC. "Christ created the world and holds the universe together by the power of His will.
In Him all things hold together. The evidence is undeniable at this point." 

While the headline and the paragraph included are satire, there are many spiritual lessons for us to learn during the virus crisis. This one should be near the top of the list! This virus is not an accident. God remains fully in control of ALL THINGS (yes, your mild-mannered pastor yelled). A quick reflection on Joseph’s experience with his brothers gives us hope as we reflect on how God’s sovereign work is seen. Joseph tells his brothers who had sold him into slavery in Genesis 50:29, “You intended it to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” Yes, there is another “but God” moment is sacred Scripture. He takes what looks bad and uses it as part of fulfilling His covenant promises. Jesus was of the tribe of Jacob just as Joseph was. Romans 1:20 taught us just a month ago that “God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen.” God’s control over all things is not a one time deal. It is eternal! 

In God’s timing the Stated of Faith scheduled for our worship on March 15 (when we did not meet due to the virus) was Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 11. Note carefully how it reads:

Q. What are God’s works of providence?

A. God’s works of providence are His most holy, wise and powerful preserving 
and governing all His creatures, and all their actions.

The answer gives us priceless comfort as our all-powerful God is at work governing all things. His glory will be shown and we will see His goodness per Romans 8:28. Theologian Abraham Kuyper wrote profound words that should bring words of praise to our minds and lips. Ponder this with a comforted heart, “There is not one square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” 

Pastor Gillikin

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Dear Church Family,

Yesterday was Saint Patrick’s Day. Did you celebrate? I hope so because he was a Christian hero who took the Gospel to Ireland. If you did not wear green Tuesday, you can do so next year on March 17.

So what do we celebrate today? Well, it is “National Awkward Moments Day.” I think most of us – some more than others – qualify to observe that or maybe we would rather not. If you are into food, across our great country are to pay homage to the oatmeal cookie and/or the sloppy joe! If you look at your calendar it might note that March 18 in “National Biodiesel Day.” I am not sure what kind of costume one wears for that.  

While you might not ever want to celebrate any of those things just mentioned, there is something that we should, and really, must celebrate each day. The Bible uses various words that mean celebrate’ about 50 times. All but one is found in the Old Testament. All that is celebrated there points to the finished work of Jesus as does 1 Corinthians 5:5, Christ our Passover is sacrificed, therefore, let us keep the feast!” Our esteemed Music Director sent out the following to the choir yesterday: 

Right now we have every intention of reconvening for Easter, but please know that we are still taking everything one day at a time. The health and safety of our church and community-at-large is what is most important in the current situation. And in all honesty, it really doesn't matter if we celebrate Easter in April or in August - every day is a reason to celebrate Easter and our Savior conquering the enemy and rising from the grave!

 Grab on to these insightful words. Despite the dark clouds of the crisis our country is facing we get to celebrate every day who Jesus is and what He has done! 

Pastor Gillikin

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Dear Church Family,

Happy Saint Patrick's Day! In the midst of a world that has been turned upside down, it is worth noting how much smarter you are today than you were say two months ago. You now know the term ‘coronavirus’ – under a powerful microscope it shows its crown (corona) shape. Few people had heard of Wuhan, China, a city of over eleven million (that is twice as many as Los Angeles) where the virus originated, until a few weeks ago. 

Now comes a term that is new to me and most likely to you as well – though it has been used for many years. That term is ‘Social Distancing.’ It is a way to stop the spread of infection by keeping people away from one another. Leviticus 13:46 commanded those with leprosy “must live alone.” As a result lepers lived alone or in colonies with other lepers, but apart from the majority of the population. Today, physicians strongly recommend and government leaders are mandating that we live away from others, or at least stay six feet away, to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. 

This is wise advice that we should follow, but it runs contrary to how we have been created in the image of God. God made Adam and later declared, “It is not good for man to be alone.” God formed Eve out of Adam’s rib. They enjoyed community with one another and with God. Even the fall has not taken away our need to be with others, though our sin will drive us to hide from God. The isolation now caused by the virus should cause us to ponder wonderful truths that God’s people get to enjoy. 

 First, nothing can separate us from God or His love. You can read Romans 8:28 to the end of the chapter to see how true that is. Therefore, God is with you even when isolated from others. Second, you have the opportunity to be a vessel of God’s grace to others during this time of Social Distancing. Please pick up the phone and call a fellow church member. Ask how you can pray for them, share news, tell them what God is doing in your life and see how you can help them out. Use you creativity to use this time to live to the glory of God and be used by Him in the lives of others.  

Pastor Gillikin

Monday, March 16, 2020

Dear Church Family,

 My plan is to write a daily series of ‘thoughts’ to you while we go through the restrictions that Covid-19 are causing. I must admit it was weird to preach yesterday to an I-Phone with only two other people in the sanctuary. The short-term plan is to have a sermon posted each Sunday before 11 along with the anthem from our choir. Sadly, we must limit face-to-face contact with each other for several weeks to come. It should go without saying that all of us should be extremely careful lest we become sick and/or pass on the virus to others.

I woke this morning with my mind on Psalm 56. In verses 3-4 David sings, 

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; 
I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”

  David wrote the Psalm when he was under attack by the Philistines and taken captive by Israel’s longtime enemy as detailed in 1 Samuel 21. From a human perspective David had good reason to fear. Instead, he trusts in God who would deliver him. God remains faithful and He will deliver us according to His perfect will. 

 Last week, Phil Ryken the President of Wheaton College and a PCA pastor, sent out the following: 

“This is far from the first worldwide challenge that Wheaton College has faced. Through warfare, disease, financial downturns, and other worldwide crises, our spiritual mothers and fathers remained steadfast in prayer and resolute in their mission to serve Christ and His Kingdom. Together we can trust God’s grace to help us weather this storm as well.”

These words are for us as well. May we live daily to the glory of Christ and His kingdom!

Pastor Gillikin