WHAT DID MARY KNOW?

What Did Mary Know? Mary did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water? Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters? Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new? This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you. Mary did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man? Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand? Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod? And when your kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God. Oh Mary, did you know? The Scriptures tell us that in the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, Gabriel came and announced Christ’s birth to a virgin girl that was engaged to be married to a carpenter, named Joseph. It is clear by Mary’s response that she was not expecting a visit of this sort. She was “troubled” by the greeting from the angel. Gabriel said, “Rejoice highly favored one, the Lord is with you.” The more literal translation is, “Rejoice one full of grace, the Lord is with you.” This kind of greeting was used for all believers and portrayed Mary as a recipient of grace, one needing God’s grace. This kind of greeting troubled Mary, therefore, Gabriel told her the same things he told Zacharias in Luke 1: “Do not be afraid.” I don’t know about you but I probably would still have been a little cautious even with this admonition not to be afraid. What Gabriel said next probably calmed and excited Mary. He announced to her that she had found favor with God and she would give birth to the Son of God. So what did Mary know at this time? 1. She would conceive and give birth to a Son. 2. She would call Him Jesus. 3. Her Son would be great. 4. He would be called the Son of the Highest. 5. The Lord God would give Him the throne of David. 6. And He would reign forever. She was not told all the details of Jesus life. She was not aware of all the miracles He would do. She was not aware that one day He would be killed, and then rise again. She was simply aware that God had chosen her to give birth to His Son and that her Son would be great. If she would have known all the details, she may have been less likely to agree to the job. So what did I know when God came to me and drew me to Himself when I was six years old? I knew God loved me. I knew He died for me. I knew he wanted me to accept His forgiveness. I knew many things about God, but I did not know all the details of who God is. By faith I simply said, as Mary did, “Let it be to me according to Your Word.” I simply let go of my will and let God through Jesus take over my life. It was the best decision I have ever made. I thank God for the example that Mary set of obedience and surrender. May we always obey with reckless abandon. Aaron Hodges

GOD IS IN CONTROL

God is in Control I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. Psalm 121 We must not rely upon men and means, instruments and second causes. Shall I depend upon the strength of the hills or upon princes and great men? No; my confidence is in God only. We must lift up our eyes above the hills; we must look to God who makes all earthly things to us what they are. We must see all our help in God; from him we must expect it, in his own way and time. Psalm 121 teaches us to comfort ourselves in the Lord, when difficulties and dangers are greatest. It is almighty wisdom that contrives, and almighty power that works the safety of us that put ourselves under God's protection. He is a wakeful, watchful Keeper; He is never weary; He not only does not sleep, but He does not so much as slumber. Under this shade we may sit with delight and assurance. He is always near His people for their protection and refreshment. The right hand is the working hand; simply turn to our duty, and find God ready to give us success. He will take care that His people shall not fall. We will not be hurt, neither by the open assaults, nor by the secret attempts of our enemies. The Lord shall prevent the evil we fear, and sanctify, remove, or lighten the evil we feel. He will preserve the soul, that it be not defiled by sin, and disturbed by affliction; he will preserve it from perishing eternally. He will keep us in life and death; going out to our labor in the morning, and coming home to rest when the evening of old age calls us in. It is a protection for life. The Spirit, who is our Preserver and Comforter, shall abide with us forever. Let us be found in our work, assured that the blessings promised in this psalm are ours. (Matthew Henry Commentary) This is no time for fear. This is the time for faith and determination. Don't lose the vision here carried away by the motion. Hold on to all that you hide in your heart. There is one thing that has always been true--holds the world together. History marches on. There is a bottom line drawn across the ages. Culture can make its plan oh, but the line never changes. No matter how the deception may fly. There is one thing that has always been true. It will be true forever! God is in control! We believe that His children will not be forsaken, God is in control! We will choose to remember and never be shaken. There is no power above or beside Him, we know. Oh, God is in control, oh God is in control! Twila Paris – God is In Control God Is and Always will be in Control! Praise be to God! Aaron Hodges

ISRAEL....God's Chosen

Israel…God’s Chosen The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Genesis 12:1-3 Right now we have a decision to make as a nation and as Christians. The other night when I was watching the final debate, I was looking for what the candidates’ positions were on the Nation of Israel. I strongly believe that the Bible is clear on what we as Christians and U.S. Citizens should feel about Israel. When God says, “I will bless those who bless you and whoever curses you I will curse,” I believe Him. We may not all agree on the economy or education, but we all need to agree on this issue: Israel as a nation and as a people was and still is God’s chosen. We need to pray for the Israeli people to turn to Christ and recognize Him as the Messiah. We need to protect Israel as a nation and we need to pray for Israel’s enemies around the globe. Vote November 6th! Aaron Hodges

GOD'S GREATEST ENEMIES

God’s Greatest Enemies Recently, I have been convicted about what Brian preached about on Sunday. He preached on pursuing God with everything you have. I live a good life. I take care of my family. I don’t drink. I don’t do drugs. I work hard. I do my best at treating people as Christ would have me treat them. There is nothing really big that I am doing to draw me away from God. But, am I pursuing God? Do I have a hunger for the things of God? Do I live an abundant life for Him? I can honestly say that I struggle with this. Most believers are struggling with the same issue. God wants us to hunger for Him and pursue Him with everything. He wants to be the center of our lives. He promises us that if we pursue Him, we will find Him. “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).” That promise is conditional though. God said that we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. So what things distract us from seeking God with “all our heart”? I propose that some of the things that keep us from pursuing God with all our hearts are the simple, good things in life. It’s not poison but steak. “It is not the banquet hall of the wicked that dulls our appetite for heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world.”1 A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet he sent his servants to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. (Luke 14:18-20) The greatest adversaries of God are sometimes not His enemies but instead His gifts to us. Jesus said in Luke 8:14 that some people hear the Word of God, and a desire of God is wakened in them, but then “as they go on their way they are choked out with worries and riches and pleasures of this life.” Jesus is not teaching us that the pleasures of this life and the desire to want these things is intrinsically bad, but anything that takes the place of our hunger for God can become a poisonous substitute for God. Hungry, I come to You, for I know You satisfy I am empty, but I know Your love does not run dry So I wait for You. So I wait for You. I’m falling on my knees, Offering all of me. Jesus, You’re all this heart is living for. Aaron Hodges 1. Piper, John. A Hunger for God. Pages 14-15.

GOD'S MAJESTY AND LOVE

God’s Majesty and Love Psalm 145 1 I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. 2 Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. 3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. 4 One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. 5 They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty— and I will meditate on your wonderful works. 6 They tell of the power of your awesome works— and I will proclaim your great deeds. 7 They celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. 8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. 9 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 10 All your works praise you, LORD; your faithful people extol you. 11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, 12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. 14 The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. 17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does. 18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. 19 He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them. 20 The LORD watches over all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy. 21 My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING

The Most Important Thing in this Life A true mountain top experience is what I had last week. Right there in the Andes Mountains, I realized once again what the most important thing in this life is. God reminded me that the things of this world will one day pass away but the Word of God remains. As I look back on my experience last week and review what God showed me, I am overwhelmed. The people in Cachora and the surrounding areas are some of the nicest people I have ever met while at the same time they are some of the poorest people I have met. When I came in contact with a believer in Peru, I realized that they truly understood what was important in this life. They had nothing but Jesus and that was enough. I was convicted by this and got to thinking about all the “stuff” we think we need to make us happy. I am not saying that the “stuff” we have is bad but I am saying that when we base our happiness on “stuff”, then we are way off-base. We in the USA are blessed beyond measure with possessions and conveniences while at the same time we are the most selfish and ungrateful nation. We have forgotten that our joy is based on those things that are not of this world. Our joy should be based on Jesus and His love for us. I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Matthew 19:24 I was astounded by the reception we received when we went to hand out tracts. When the people of Peru received the tracts from us, they actually took the time to read it and not simply throw it down on the ground to be trampled and destroyed. They saw the value in what we were handing out. We in this country have become so hardened to the things of God that we do not see value in the Word of God, but we see value in earthly things. So how do we change this mentality? Repent! Pray! Repent! Pray! Repent! Pray! We need to repent from our wordly view of value and pray that the Lord will once again restore in us the joy of our salvation. Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 Jesus is true. Jesus is noble. Jesus is right. Jesus is pure. Jesus is lovely. Jesus is admirable. Jesus is excellent. Jesus is praiseworthy. Think on Jesus! Aaron Hodges

HE'S UP

He’s Up! This morning, as I was delivering my oldest son to school, I received a text message from a friend of mine. He was asking for prayer because he was facing two interviews today at work in order to keep his job. He had been up most of the night praying and was not feeling very settled. I shot him back a message including the passage in Philippians 4:7 which says, "May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." My friend was having a hard time finding peace in his situation. When I arrived at work today, I opened up my email and found an email entitled “GIVE YOUR TROUBLES TO GOD; HE WILL BE UP ALL NIGHT ANYWAY.” What a timely message. So many times we have difficulty simply laying our concerns at the feet of the Savior. We try so hard to solve our issues by ourselves and forget that there is One who desires more than anything to take our cares on Himself. Cast all your anxiety on him, because He cares for you.I Peter 5:7 Did we hear that? Cast ALL your anxiety on Jesus, because He cares for you. But Peter reminds us that there is one thing we need to do even before we cast our cares on Jesus. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. I Peter 5:6 Humility is defined as the state or quality of being humble, or the absence of pride. Humility in reference to God is the act of laying aside our desires and wants in exchange for what God wants and desires. Our goal should be that God’s desires become our desires. Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 What a promise! I think that these two passages fit together like hand in glove. Look at it this way: If we humble ourselves before God and delight in Him, then He will lift us up in due time and give us the desires of our heart. God loves us so much that He does not want us to be burdened by all the problems in life. He wants us living an abundant life, a life that includes all the desires of our heart. The next time we go to bed with our concerns weighing on our hearts, remember to humble ourselves before the Lord and give those concerns over to the One that created the Heavens and Earth. He, not we, is the only one who can solve our problems. We need to pray for one another every day that we will not let Satan continue to beat us down with discouragement and that God’s peace will flood our lives. Aaron Hodges

STANDING ON THE PROMISES

STANDING ON THE PROMISES A promise is a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that guarantees that a particular thing will happen. How many promises have you made in your life or been given in your life that have totally not been fulfilled? As a parent, one of the worst things I can do to my kids is to make promises I do not keep. I know that when I promise my girls something special and keep my word, they are overjoyed. On the other hand, when I fail to keep a promise, I can see the disappointment in their faces. We are not perfect and we often fail, but there is One who never fails on His promises. He is the One we can trust. I am so glad that God’s promises to us are so much more dependable than our promises to Him. He has promised us that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9).” That is a promise He has never faltered on and never will. We sing the song “Standing on the Promises”, yet, do we really stand on them? This song reminds me that when we stand on the promises of God, we can rest in our Savior. Does anyone need rest? Standing on the promises I cannot fall Listening every moment to the Savior’s call Resting in my Savior as my all in all Standing on the promises of God. Let me point out several promises that are found in Scripture. I pray they will encourage you today. And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 2 Peter 1:4 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:29-31 And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39 Standing on His Promises, Aaron Hodges

YOUR TURN It was a beautiful morning. It started out with much needed rain and later the sun came out. The morning was like any other Tuesday morning, really. I slowly woke up at 6:15, made lunches, helped get the kids get off to school, and went back to bed for a while. Shortly thereafter I got up and went to work. Work was also typical at the start of the day. I arrived a few minutes before staff prayer time and staff meeting. I got my things together for the meeting and headed to the Pastor’s office. Although most people know that staff meeting is at 9 o’clock and that I cannot take calls during that time, my phone started ringing at ten minutes past nine. The thought crossed my mind, “Do I take the call or do I let it go to voicemail?” I glanced over at my phone and saw that it was my wife. It was at that moment that I had multiple scenarios shoot through my mind. Was somebody hurt? Who was sick now? Was the house burning down? What was broken now? With all that going through my mind, I decided to answer the phone. I answered and very quietly reminded my wife that I was in staff meeting and that I had only a moment to talk. She told me about someone in the hospital that was not doing well and near death. I learned that Dr. Michael Anderson’s dad was in Kennestone Hospital after having a massive stroke and was not expected to survive through the day. From that moment my day was far from routine. I left immediately to go and serve the Andersons. When I arrived at the hospital I found Dr. Anderson’s father, Bill Knox, in the ICU. I was greeted by Stephanie Anderson and informed that Mr. Knox did not have much time left and the rest of the family was on their way. Dr. Michael and the girls arrived about 30 minutes later. What a privilege I had to be a part of that very intimate time in their lives. At one point, Dr. Michael turned to me and asked if I would sing something. Asking me to sing something is like asking a Rottweiler to attack. I obviously said yes and sang the incredible song that everyone loves, Amazing Grace. I felt a peace in the room and I knew the Spirit of God had filled that place. A little later Dr. Michael asked me to sing another song. By this time it was just the family and me in the room. I asked God to give me the perfect song and He did. I began to sing It Is Well with My Soul. When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, “It is well, it is well with my soul". It is well with my soul, it is well, it is well with my soul. As soon as I cut off the last note of the song, Bill Knox immediately went to be with the Lord. It was his turn to leave this world and be called into the very throne room of Christ. What an incredible moment for the family and for me! Later that day, I got to thinking about what happened. God knew from the beginning of time that at 12:45 pm on Tuesday, August 14th, He would call Bill Knox home. From the beginning of time He has known when He will call Aaron Hodges home. Bill didn’t know exactly when he would die and neither do I. But I do know that even though I cannot stop that from happening, I have an assurance that nothing can destroy. I know that because I have Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior, I can rest because my eternity is settled. When will it be your turn? Your turn is coming! Are you ready? Aaron Hodges

A NEW BEGINNING

A new beginning Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17 HCSB). This week marks the beginning of a new school year! On Monday, I sent three kids to school, and then today I sent one more. They were all excited about the new year ahead of them. They were somewhat nervous about their new classes but excited to see old friends and make new ones. With new things, there are always new challenges. The thing we must remember is that we have the presence of the Holy Spirit with us always. Each new challenge our students and teachers face this year will not be faced alone. Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him (Lamentations 3:22-24 HCSB). Because of the hope we have in Christ, we can rest in the fact that no matter what we face the Lord is faithful and we can put all of our hope in Him! As we kick-off this new year in choir, band, and orchestra, let's keep in mind why we do what we do and for Whom we do it. Thank you for your faithfulness and your willingness to serve Christ in the worship ministry of FBCC. Looking forward to a great start! Aaron Hodges

YOUR FIRST LOVE

Your First Love A young wife writes, “I walk through the crowded corridors of Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. I pass by the faces I’ve never seen before. I push through the crowds towards the Swiss Air gate. I do not dwell on the faces around me. Only one face matters-that of the one who is waiting at my destination, a continent, an ocean, and twenty hours away. I feel the thrust of giant engines as they pull us into the atmosphere. As our flight proceeds, I watch the large video screen where the red arrow charts our progress on a projected map. The arrow moves ever so slowly. Crossing the Atlantic will take forever, I think, as I try to settle in for the night with blanket and pillow. I close my eyes and try to remember his face, his voice, his movements. Sunrise has meaning when it is the day of reunion. All other moments are simply to be endured. At last we land and I head directly to the ticket counter to buy my train pass to Romanshorn. There is but one agenda today. I watch the Swiss landscape. I look at my watch and count the moments. Ten minutes more and I will be with Jon. My heart beats so loudly I’m sure the passenger across from me can hear it. What will Jon be wearing? What will he say? Again and again I picture the moment of reunion, even as the train rushes toward it. Jon is running towards me, arms outstretched, a welcoming bouquet in his hand. There is no longer time to spare or space or distance. The two of us are together.” Such is the love of a young wife and the desire to be with the love of her life. Her story should be our story as Christians. It should describe our love for Christ and our desire to be near to the One who is the supreme love of our life. Or has our love for Christ grown cold? Has the flame died down? When we sing, “No sweeter name but the name of Jesus,” do we still sing from our hearts? Or do we find ourselves merely mouthing the words? Revelation 2:1-7 speaks to us about the church that left her first love. It tells us that it is possible to maintain a commitment to Christian truth and work, while at the same time leaving our first love. I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don't tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. But I have this complaint against you. You don't love me or each other as you did at first! Can our Lord Jesus make this same charge against us? Have we left our first love? The love that is dearest to your heart, the love that should occupy the preeminent place in your soul above all other loves, should be for your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We should desire Christ as the young bride in the story above. If we do not, there is a dangerous consequence. The Lord could remove our effectiveness and testimony to a lost world. Let us not be like the church at Ephesus, but in contrast may we repent and turn our hearts back to our first love! Aaron Hodges

ARE YOU READY?

ARE YOU READY? This week I have been reminded how precious and fragile life is. That seems so obvious but we too often live in a way that does not proclaim that truth. I know that I am not the only one, but much of the time, I live in a way that says I am indestructible. I see the pain that others are feeling and I think to myself “that can’t happen to me.” But that is really far from the truth. There is an old statement that I remember hearing a lot growing up. When I would think that I am indestructible, I would hear someone say, “There, but by the grace of God, go I.” On Monday, I saw this play out. In one moment Mark Nienow was arriving home from vacation, in the next he was headed to the hospital, and just like that, Mark was with our Savior. Like many of you, I was in utter shock when I got the news. Why do things like this happen? Why does God take a godly righteous man away so early in his life? Why? Why? Why? …Why not? The Bible does not promise us a specific number of years to live on earth or a life without pain. It does promise us a life filled with joy. At first that seems like a contradiction. How can a life filled with pain still possess joy? Happiness is determined by my circumstances, but joy is determined by my position in Christ. What does the Bible say about this topic? All flesh is like grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; Surely the people are grass, the grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. Isaiah 40:6-8 Isaiah elaborated on how transitory humanity is: here today, gone tomorrow. People pass away like plants under the hot breath of a withering wind. In 1 Peter 1:24-25, Peter uses this passage to illustrate the passing nature of everything related to humanity. In those verses, Peter is not only pointing out the temporary nature of our earthly lives; but he is also pointing us to the eternal nature of the Christian’s life. All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of the Lord stands forever. And this is the Word that was preached to you. 1 Peter 1:24-25 So what is the Word that Peter and Isaiah refer to? It is the good news of Jesus Christ. That good news is the difference-maker. It is what exchanges our painful experiences for joy. The good news is Jesus Christ. For those of us, like Mark, who have accepted the forgiveness of our Savior, we have a promise of joy everlasting. We may have to endure pain while on this earth but one day (and maybe soon) we will see Jesus face to face. “He will wipe every tear from our eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away (Revelation 21:4) Are You Ready? Aaron Hodges

A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL

A LIFE WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL Last night I was once again reminded of how important our actions are when we interact with those outside the Church. It is so easy to behave one way at church and then let our guard down and contradict our profession of faith in Christ when we leave. We need to realize that there are people watching us at all times. For that reason alone, we should be very careful how we act in the community. Now let me tell you about my encounter just last night with my new friend at the gym. As we were talking a spiritual lesson came into sharp focus. There were two ways our conversation could have gone. Over the period of time our friendship has been developing he could have observed that I act like everyone else at the gym and found nothing compelling about my faith. If that was the case, he would have been unimpressed by the Gospel of Christ if not altogether turned-off. Instead, he has seen in me a difference, which appears to be drawing him to our Lord. He told me that his biggest problem with “organized religion” is the hypocrisy. I agreed. He has become disillusioned with the Church, and in turn the gospel, because he has seen too many professing Christians acting one way at the “church house” and acting in another way in the community. Have you ever wondered how many people in Canton have been turned away from the gospel because of the way we Christians behave in public? I wonder if I have in any way participated in disillusioning my neighbors. Is it really important how we treat the cashier at the grocery store? Is it significant to the Great Commission how we respond to the people we interact with every day in the restaurant, at the ballpark, or in the front yard? Does it really make a difference how we treat our co-workers and how diligently we perform our responsibilities on job? YES, it is crucial to the Gospel! Then how are we supposed to live? “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.” (Philippians 1:27) “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Ephesians 4:1) “…Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into His Kingdom and glory.” (I Thessalonians 2:12) What does it mean to let the way you live be worthy of the gospel of Christ? Is that even possible? Isn’t the whole idea behind the gospel the truth that we are not worthy of it? Nothing we have ever done merits the Holy God’s love and mercy displayed in Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. How then are we supposed to live in a way that is worthy of the gospel of Christ? Paul goes on to describe what that might look like: humility, gentleness, patience, bearing one another with love, eager to maintain unity, standing firm in one spirit, and having one mind to name a few. Although these passages call us to what seem like impossible goals, Paul teaches us that when God saves us He transforms us, and thereby, we can be empowered daily by His Spirit to live worthy of the gospel all the while validating the reality of our faith. Hence, we have the commandment to live worthy and Christ’s blood is not wasted. My point here is this, if we are not living according to Paul’s instruction in these passages, we could cause a non-believer to think, “If that is how you’re living, what need do I have of Jesus?” What a tragedy that would be! Aaron Hodges

IF...

IF… "If therefore you have been raised with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God: have your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth; for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you will appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4) Last week in rehearsal I told you about a recent teachable moment with my son, Wade. Teachable moments come all the time if we look and listen. The premise of this specific teachable moment was people without Christ act like people without Christ. We should never be amazed and shocked when we see nonbelievers acting in ways that are obviously contrary to the Scriptures. As we look through the Bible it is obvious that there should be a distinction between the lifestyle of the lost and the lifestyle of the saved. Someone might think I am inferring that if you act saved then you are saved. Definitely not! I know many good, ethical and moral people that are as lost as a needle in a haystack. Good behavior does not make you saved. Our shock should come when people with Christ act like people without Christ. We are and should be held to a higher standard of living. Some may say, “That is not fair!” But I did not invent this higher standard, God did! In Colossians, Paul is not assuming everyone he is writing to is saved. That is why he starts out chapter 3 with a conditional phrase. He understood nobody can live a righteous life without Christ. But with Christ all things are possible. Paul tells us that as Christians we are to live in a manner distinct from the world. Even our thinking should be different. The world sets its mind on – its ambition is set on – acceptance from man, but we should be striving for acceptance from God. The world has earthy gain as its chief ambition, whereas, heavenly rewards should be the primary passion of the Christian. Too often I look around and see little difference between the actions of the lost and the actions of the saved. If we expect people outside of Christ to act according to the world’s standards, then we should also expect people who claim to love Christ to act in manner consistent with that claim. There needs to be a commitment to serving our Lord that far exceeds our commitment to the things of this world. In light of this, here are a few questions you and I can ask ourselves today: Does my love for Christ show? What things do I need to change in order for my lifestyle to be consistent with my profession of faith in Christ? Let us examine ourselves and see if there is any wicked way in us, and then repent! Aaron Hodges

NEVER BE SHAKEN

Never Be Shaken You, O Lord, you keep my lamp burning You have turned my darkness to light Set my feet high on this mountain And put my enemies to flight So I will praise you as long as I live I will praise you again and again And when I walk through the valley I will not fear For you are my strength and my shield And when everything around me is overtaken I know I will never be shaken As I evaluate songs, I look to see if what they say is Biblical and true before I sing them. This song I have quoted is “Never Be Shaken” by Jared Anderson. It a great song to sing and true based on what I read in Scripture. The last phrase of the song says, “I know I will never be shaken.” As I read this I wonder how a statement like that could be true. I don’t know about you but the adverse winds of life have swayed me to and fro many times. It’s a pretty big statement to say that I will never be shaken. My momma always told me to never say always or never. But there are some things as believers that we can confidently say never about. The idea of never being shaken comes right out of Psalm 15, but there is a prerequisite. Psalm 14 focuses on the way of the wicked and Psalm 15 focuses on the way of the righteous. In Psalm 15 the believer is described as exhibiting a certain lifestyle. Beginning in verse 1, King David goes through a question and answer process to get the point across. “Lord who may dwell in Your sanctuary, Who may live in your holy mountain?” These are questions that require an answer. The answer can be found in the succeeding verses. David begins by telling us that we must demonstrate some positive characteristics: a right lifestyle, a right walk and right talk. In verse 3, David goes on to say that we must not do certain things. We must not speak negatively to each other, we must not treat our neighbors wrongly, and we must not say ugly things about each other. He then goes on to tell us that we must despise the wicked, honor the Lord, and stay true to our word. We must not be fickle, greedy or be one who accepts bribes. After going through the litany of characteristics of godly people, he gets to the best part, “Whoever does these things will never be shaken (Ps. 15:5).” So in our daily lives let’s act the way God requires of us and watch Him grant us the endurance to survive in this world. By the way, I don’t know if I have told you this before, but I love you and I appreciate your willingness to be used by God in the worship ministry at FBC Canton. Words cannot fully express how extremely proud I was of all of you this past Sunday. Keep up the great work. We can and should make every Sunday special if we commit ourselves to serving Him with the level of enthusiasm you showed on Sunday. Aaron Hodges

BUT THE GREATEST IS LOVE

But the Greatest is Love

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. I Corinthians 13:1-13

I love one particular scene in the movie, “Crocodile Dundee.” A folk hero from the outback country of Australia, Crocodile Dundee visits New York City for the first time. While accompanied by a female newspaper writer, he finds himself cornered by a gang of young thugs. When Dundee does not immediately hand over his wallet, one young hoodlum pulls out a switchblade and threatens him. With absolutely no sign of being intimidated, Dundee says, “Now that’s not a knife,” and coolly reaches behind his back and pulls out the largest knife I have ever seen and says, “This is a knife!” Quickly disarmed, the hoodlums run away.

As I read the thirteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians, I see Paul somewhat like Crocodile Dundee. His words seem to say, “Now that’s not love … this is love!” I find it difficult, if not impossible, to believe the Corinthians deliberately chose to abandon Christian love. I believe they were all so caught up in acquiring the upfront “spotlight” spiritual gifts that they had unconsciously abandoned true love. Perhaps, they were something like Samson after Delilah cut his hair. At the moment of ambush Samson leapt to his feet, fully expecting to be able to overpower the Philistines, not knowing that God’s power had departed (see Judges 16:18-21). The Corinthian church, like the church at Ephesus, had lost its love (Revelation 2:1-7), and perhaps without knowing so.

I thank the Lord everyday that when I look at FBC Canton I see a church that is fully engaged in loving each other and loving the world. Are we a perfect church? No, not at all! But we are a church that is striving to show our love in the way God has asked us to in I Corinthians 13. There is always room for improvement. As we consistently show genuine love, it will spread and we will begin to see God do amazing things in our church, our city, our state, our country, and our world!

Aaron Hodges

A REMINDER ABOUT UNITY

A Reminder about Unity

The other night I was having a conversation with a friend and we were both heartbroken by some of the issues that the Church today wrestles with. As we were talking, it dawned on us that we should not be surprised. Instead, we realized that the Church has been dealing with these same issues since its inception. One of the biggest problems in the Church today is disunity. The Bible is very clear to say disunity is a sin. The church in Corinth dealt with it and the church in America deals with it as well. The main issue in Corinth was that people were claiming allegiance to different leaders. The issues that plague the Church in our day are the same but we have added many more things to be divided over. Any way you look at it, disunity is still a sin.

What is the main reason for the Church’s existence? Is it for everyone to push and shove to get their own way? No, our purpose is the proclamation of the Gospel. The Corinthian believers had lost their focus on the main thing and so have we. I could expound on this; but instead, I will let Scripture speak for itself:

10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Are we doing things day-to-day that encourage unity or are we a cause of disunity? May we keep our focus on the main thing and see what God will do with our obedience.

Looking forward to all the great things God will do with our unity,
Aaron Hodges

Crucifixion...Fulfillment

Crucifixion…Fulfillment

This Sunday, we start a week of remembering the sacrifice Jesus has made for each of us. Palm Sunday starts with the triumphal entry of Jesus and ends with His triumphal resurrection from the dead. Even though we start and end the week in celebration, there was much sorrow in between. This sorrow, although tough to read about, was needed in order to fulfill the Scriptures. When I look back at this week in Scripture, I am always in awe of the Omniscience of God. When the Old Testament was written, God already knew what was going to happen in the New Testament. He had the authors write it down to help us see how incredible He is.

The passage we will be examining is John 19:28 and following. As we pick up in verse 28, Jesus has been betrayed by Judas, arrested by His enemies, denied by Peter, found guilty by Pilate, and nailed to the Cross by Roman soldiers.

“Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that
Scripture would be fulfilled; Jesus said “I’m thirsty.” John 19:28

The events of the Cross fulfilled Scripture as Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Psalm 69:21 was fulfilled in this act. When vinegar was given to Jesus, He said, “It is finished,” and He died. “It is finished.” The debt is paid! This statement alone should give us comfort and assurance. The work that brings salvation is finished! We can neither add to it nor take anything away from it. The saving work of the Cross is finished. PRAISE THE LORD!

“But when they came to Jesus and found that He was already dead,
they did not break His legs.” John 19: 33

This event fulfilled Word of God in Exodus, Numbers and Psalms. They pierced His side fulfilling what was prophesied in Zachariah 12:10.

The fulfillment of prophecy truly amazes me. The God of the universe is a God of the details. This gives me great hope in knowing that if God were so detail-oriented with the crucifixion of Christ, then I can rest assured that He cares about every detail in my life. As we remember the sacrifice of Christ, let us take time to thank Him for the love and concern He has for all of us!

Happy Easter! Jesus is Risen!
Aaron Hodges

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy place,
that the cloud filled the house of the LORD,
so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud:
for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD.
1 Kings 8:10-11

The Presence of God

Last Wednesday morning, I was at FCA at Cherokee Charter Academy where 3 of my kids go to school. The Wednesday morning routine includes getting up really early, heading to the school to be there by 6:50 am, and setting up for a 7:00 am start to FCA. The kids have a little breakfast first and at 7:10, Payton Hodges introduces the speaker and the worship leader. That is the norm, but last week was a little different. At 7:10 when Payton was to get up and introduce everyone, he instead asked the group a very pointed question. The question involved their reason for being at FCA. Was their reason the food? Was their reason the fellowship? Was their reason the music or Bible study? Many great answers were given, but they sounded a bit too much like “Sunday School” answers. Then Payton asked a second time, where he was able to get down to the real reasons. I was amazed at the depth of some of the answers coming out of 4th, 5th , 6th and 7th graders.

So what is your reason for serving in worship ministry? Really think about this before you answer. Some of you may say it is because of connections and friends you have made in the ministry. While others may answer it is because they love to sing or play an instrument. Some may even be here because of the
performance element of the ministry on Sundays. None of these answers are really that bad; but, there is a reason that I think we all should have. We should be involved in the worship ministry mainly because we long to be in the presence of God. The worship ministry should be a ministry that does not focus on making everyone happy, but instead it should be focused on welcoming the very presence of God. This goal is not a self gratifying goal. Instead, it is a sacrificial goal. It is a process of laying down our wants and desires and leaving them at the feet of our Savior in reckless abandon, pleading with God to be in our presence. For when we truly come into the presence of Almighty God, then we can say we have entered into the Holy of Holies.

We have come in to His house and gathered in His name to worship Christ the Lord.
Let’s forget about ourselves and magnify the Lord and worship Him.
Worship Him, Jesus Christ Our Lord

So: WHY ARE YOU HERE? Examine your heart today to see if there is any self serving reason and ask the Lord to remove that desire. Replace it a holy hunger for God’s presence.
Aaron Hodges

A FINE EXAMPLE

A Fine Example

The other day I was browsing Facebook and came upon a video that was posted of glorybound singing at one of our concerts. At that concert, I was wearing one of my dad’s sport coats that my mom gave me after he went to be with our Lord. Surprisingly, it fits me perfectly. (Although currently, it may be on the tight side.) I noticed in the video how much I favor my dad. My mannerisms were so much like my dad that it was scary! The more that I thought about it after seeing that video; the more I realized that I want to favor my dad in many ways. I want to favor him in his love for Christ. I want to favor him in his work ethic. I want to favor him in his love for his family. I want to favor him in his love for the church. I want to favor him in his love for music, and so much more. In the future I hope my children when they remember me will want to favor their dad. It is true, we are called to be godly examples to our families, our co-workers, our friends outside and inside the church, and everyone we come in contact with. But here’s a deeper question: are we to merely strive to be examples of our elders? No! We are called to look further and follow an even greater example, Jesus Christ.

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in His very nature, God, did not consider equality with God
something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made Himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself
by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:5-11

As we follow the example of Christ, then Christ will use our example to draw all men and women to Himself! Be the example that the world so desperately needs.

Aaron Hodges

Timing is everything

Timing is everything.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Ecclesiastes 3:1

You have probably heard this phrase many times. There is a great deal of truth in that statement. The difference between a good joke and a bad one is a person’s sense of timing. An appropriate pause makes a joke successful…an inappropriate pause can kill the same joke. Timing is essential when dealing with people. You don’t ask for a raise when business is not going well or when things are tense around the office. You don’t try to correct someone who feels threatened by you. You don’t ask for a favor when someone is under a lot of stress or is angry. Timing is important in cooking. The juicy hamburger on the grill is raw meat if cooked for too little time and a clump of charcoal if it is cooked too long. Timing is important in medicine. If you catch a problem early you will be able to treat it more effectively. Your timing is important in taking medication. If you take your medicine as directed, it will be helpful. If you skip doses, it loses its effectiveness. If you take extra doses, it can be deadly. Timing is important in finance. When you invest in a particular stock and when you sell the same stock will be the difference between making a profit or taking a loss.

Timing is important in your spiritual life as well. It is critical to live your life with an acute awareness of God’s timing. In Eccl 3:1-8, Solomon tells us that life is really a matter of timing, for timing is everything. This should be evident to us. You and I probably have a dozen clocks and four or five calendars in our homes. Many of us carry a timepiece attached to our wrist. Time indicators are built into our cell phones and computer screens.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace

Timing is everything. If timing is everything, how then should we live? Live every moment for the glory of God. Don’t waste a single minute in serving the Lord.

Living every moment for Christ!
Aaron Hodges

Blessed...simply blessed

Blessed…simply blessed!

What is the secret to a blessed life? I meet people all the time that when I ask them how they are doing they answer with, “Blessed.” I take a moment each time and wonder what makes them say that. Are they really blessed or are they saying that to convince themselves? What is it when we are challenged in life that makes us say that we are blessed? How can we be blessed while at the same time endure so many burdens in life? Is being blessed based on my circumstances or is it based on God’s promises? What does the Bible say?

“Blessed are those who do not walk in step with the wicked or
stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but delight in the law of the Lord and meditate in His law day and night.”
Psalm 1:1-2

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to Him.”
Psalm 128:1

“Blessed are those whom God corrects: so do not despise the discipline of the Lord.”
Job 5:17

“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”
Psalm 2:12

You will enjoy these passages as well: Psalm 32:1-2; Psalm 33:12; Psalm 34:8;
Psalm 40:4; Psalm 41:1; Psalm 65:4; Psalm 84:4-5, and Psalm 84:12.

In all these passages it is very clear that our blessedness is not based on our circumstances; but instead, it is founded upon our dependence on God. We are blessed when we seek Him first, when we trust Him only, when we walk in His truth, when we meditate on His Word, and so much more. We can be blessed even when our bank account is empty. We can be blessed when we are struggling at work. We can be blessed even in the midst of family chaos. God made us even more blessed when He provided a way for us to be reconciled with Him through Christ. Praise be to the God who cares for us and makes us a blessed people!

Blessed way more that I deserve,
Aaron Hodges

Quit Making Excuses!

Quit Making Excuses!

We all have our moments when we say dumb things and speak before we think. Each of us from time to time will type the same way and hit SEND without thinking through our words. Take a look at some funny statements found on resumes showing that people often do not think before they speak, or print.

"Please call after 5:30 p.m. because I am self-employed and my employer does
not know I am looking for another job."
"I am very conscientions and accurite."
"I am also a notary republic."
“The firm currently employs 20 odd people."
"My consideration will be given to relocation anywhere in the English-speaking
world and/or Washington, D.C."
Under physical disabilities: "Minor allergies to house cats and Mongolian sheep."
And reasons given for leaving the last job: "The Company made me a
scapegoat—just like my previous three employers did."

Have you ever heard someone publicly lie in a way that was as dumb as it was obvious? “Did he just say that out loud?” Sometimes we hear such intellectually-challenged lies in an effort to make excuses to cover up sin. All you have to do is turn on the news on any given day and see people with poker faces offering conspicuous and dumb lies in an effort to make excuses for their sin. When we make those excuses we often don’t think before we speak.

Take for example the pathetic and deceitful excuse for sin given by Aaron in Exodus 32. When Moses went up on Mt. Sinai to seek the face of God, the children of God turned to idolatry in the valley below. Moses was instructed by God to go down off the mountain. When he arrived back at camp, he found the people behaving badly.

But when Moses confronted Aaron and the people with their sin, Aaron gave the most ridiculous excuse ever recorded in the Bible. Obviously, he did not think before he spoke. Take a look at Aaron’s brain-damaged response.

Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!” (Ex.32:22-24).

Wow! I have no response to that. In that very moment, there must have been a massive hemorrhage in the speech center of Aaron’s brain, a complete synaptic collapse. If not, we have the most amazing moment of sheer stupidity in the Bible recorded here in Exodus 32. COME ON MAN! Own up to your sin!

We are really quick to judge Aaron for his sin but how many times do we do the same thing? When we, like Aaron, seek to justify or side-step our sin, we only magnify our guilt. From now on, let’s commit together to call sin what it really is, that is, confess it and accept the forgiveness that God offers.

Aaron

THE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION

The Ministry of Reconciliation

Lately I have seen a scene played out over and over again. At times this scene has been played out Biblically and at other times it has not been played out according to God’s design.
Scenario 1:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to confront the offender. You decide to discuss the issue with the one that has offended you.
3. The problem is addressed and a solution is found. Everyone goes away pleased at the outcome.
Scenario 2:
1. A problem occurs between two believers. Something is said or done to offend you or someone else.
2. A decision is made to avoid the problem and move on. The problem is you can’t move past the hurt. Therefore you harbor ill feelings toward the one who offended you.
3. The problem is not addressed and you go away mad and hurt.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
Matthew 18:15-17

What does this passage teach us? How do we reach reconciliation with a believer when we are wronged? Very simply put: if a professed Christian is wronged by another, he ought not to complain of it to others, as is often is done, but he should go to the offender privately, explain the matter kindly, and point out the offense. IF we actually followed the guidelines given in the Bible, we would most of the time get the desired outcome. Then the parties would be reconciled. We often choose the easier less productive path and just push away any idea of conflict resolution. In 100% of the occasions that we do not resolve conflict, anger and hurt and bitterness grow. Actually, the act of conflict resolution is solely for reconciliation between two believers. We should always be seeking to offer forgiveness simply because we were forgiven by God for much greater offenses.

I pray that we will begin a lifestyle of seeking to resolve issues in order that God may be glorified in our relationships. When the world sees this process played out Biblically, they are drawn to Christ. When we do not follow this sure-fire solution plan, the world is turned away from Christ.

With Christ’s help we can conquer all disagreements!
Aaron