General Assembly
of the Church of God
in Michigan

December 28, 2020

Rebuild

We have just come through the most unusual of all Christmas seasons. Never before have we had to navigate a global pandemic while walking through the rhythms and celebrations of Jesus's birth. I trust that you were inspired by God with creativity, flexibility, and (most of all) a sense of hope as you led your congregations in the past month.

We are entering 2021 with a great deal of hope - specifically, hope that the covid-19 vaccines will prove to be as effective in the total population as they have been in their clinical trials. Along with leaders in all other areas of society, we have a lot of work to do to encourage as many people as possible to get a covid-19 vaccine. The next few months are predicted to be dark and difficult, with large numbers of infections, sicknesses, and deaths. But these new vaccines are lights on the horizon. We will make it through this pandemic.

I have been thinking a lot about what happens next in our congregations. Once enough people have received a covid-19 vaccine, once in-person gatherings become safe and acceptable, once we finally put away our face masks for good, what will church life look like?

The easy thing for us to do will be to go back to the way things always used to be. We can hold our Sunday morning services, our mid-week Bible studies, and so forth, just like we always have. It's what we are comfortable with. It's what we know. It's what we have experience doing.

But I think we would miss a huge opportunity if we just turned back the clock to early 2019 and kept going.

We have a choice. We have a choice unlike any other opportunity in our lifetimes. We have a choice about how to rebuild our congregations' lives in a post-pandemic world. We should be intentional and deliberate about what we choose to include and what we choose to leave behind.

Jesus said at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27)

I don't have specific suggestions for how you should lead your congregation, because you know your context better than I do. The one suggestion I will make, though, is that we all choose to rebuild our congregational lives on the foundation of Jesus and his teachings. Let's take Jesus seriously. Let's study his life and ministry, his parables and commands, his practices of giving life and of rebuking hypocrisy. And let's allow those principles to guide us as we begin to rebuild in 2021 and beyond.

For example, here is what we are doing at Mt. Haley Church of God. We are emphasizing three primary goals for the coming year: (1) mentoring relationships, (2) small group gatherings, and (3) acts of service in Jesus's name. All three of these goals come right out of the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as the broader sweep of scripture. Yes, we will continue to have Sunday morning worship services, but my goal is to de-emphasize those gatherings (as important as they are) in favor of these three new goals.

We have an opportunity to rebuild church life from the ground up. Let's not pass on that opportunity. Let's be intentional about following Jesus in everything we do.

Rev. Dr. David Aukerman, Pastor, Mount Haley Church of God, Midland, Michigan

December 21, 2020

Where are you Christmas?

"Fear not; I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people,
Unto you is born this day...a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11

Have you heard this lately? "It doesn't seem like Christmas." Which leads me to the song- "Where are you Christmas?" Following are just a few of the lyrics-(feel free to look it up and sing along). "Where are you Christmas, why can't I find you. Why have you gone away. Where is the laughter you used to bring me, why can't I hear the music play. My world is changing... Does that mean Christmas changes too. Where are you Christmas..."

There has always been - a Herod, Grinch, Scrooge, a COVID, a bah humbug, who has tried to steal the heart and spirit of Christmas. But let's be reminded. Christmas wants to be found! And Nothing and No one could or can, keep Christmas from coming. Into a world that was searching and despairing of hope; Christmas was born into a humble manger, with the most powerful, life changing message of "good news of great joy" the world has ever known!

Spoiler alert: The end of the aforementioned song lyrics - "Christmas is here, everywhere, oh Christmas is here if you care...if there is love in your heart and mind you will feel like Christmas all the time. I feel you Christmas, I know I've found you... The joy of Christmas stays here inside us, fills each and every heart with love..."

Indeed, Christmas is here; and wants to be found! Not in the presents you receive or placed under the tree...but in the presence of the life and love of Jesus Christ! Now that's good news...for everyone!

Merry Christmas ...and pass the eggnog please.

By Rev. Jim Horn, Northeastern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

December 14, 2020

"For the love of money ..."

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." - Malachi 3:10

"Money, money, money, money...Money!" Many of you sang the echo, am I right?

The mighty O'Jays sang this great tune back in 1974 - "For the love of money." Hey, money is big. So big, Jesus spoke about it a lot. The Bible has many verses showing us how to deal with money.

Yet I know many of our leaders are reluctant to speak to the church about money. May I give some advice here?

Three words: educate, equip, and challenge your congregation about money.

Educate: "My people perish for a lack of knowledge..." Hosea 4:1. Do a series on Biblical views on Money. Back in the Old days = Stewardship teaching. There is rich material all through the Bible on this. Need help or ideas? Give us a call, be happy to help.

Great illustrations to help your folks - The "French Fry story," the "can someone give me a $50.00 bill?" and figuring out "What if everyone tithed on one Sunday, how much would that be and what could we do to bless others with that kind of church income?"

Equip: Drowning people won't swim laps up and down the pool. People struggling with money issues find it hard to give to the church. People need help in planning and organizing a personal budget. They need help and hope in dealing with debt. Tools like Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" are great for this. Works great in small group settings, practical and life changing. Make this a part of your ministry.

Challenge: I have offered a Tithe Challenge for 30 years. I teach and challenge on Malachi 3:10.

A tithe is 10% of your income, given to your local church, and is proportional to your income. A tithe is a faith adventure with God - you are trusting Him to bless you if you tithe. I ask them to try for a trial period and give this guarantee = your money refunded cheerfully and confidentially if God doesn't bless you.

Most every year new givers are gained. Many testimonies of how people grew in their faith in seeing God work in such a tangible way in their life. They say the Bible is true and God does bless! Amazing!

Friends, pray and think about plugging into your congregations some pieces on Biblical Money Education, Equipping for Money Management and on Tithe Challenge.

Your people will thank you and you will be richly blessed!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

December 7, 2020

Christmas 2020 - Polarized Expressions

"²⁸ It seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us..."
- Acts 15:28

Christmas time is usually when we think about the "Polar Express"; but this year 2020 we are arguing about the "Polarized Expressions" of Covid-19 responses in our congregations.

(Did you see the play on words of "Polar" vs "Polarized?" Just trying to help you catch some of these nuances - some of you seem to miss them, and you know who you are.)

In this corner, are those who are fearful compliant, who believe everything that the government, the vacillating "experts" and that someone on the Internet has posted about this plague, and that we cannot meet in person again until Jesus comes (but only if you wear a mask)...

And in this corner are the zealots who cry "where is your faith?" Who believe this is all a conspiracy and a lie and we don't need no stinkin' rules or regulations or masks or social distancing - let's meet and act like we did before or I'm leaving!

And while we argue and threaten each other, the Devil laughs!
And the world has one more reason to ignore us.

The Church since Pentecost has had disagreements like this and the Bible has some answers. Let's look at some biblical guidelines:

• James 1:5 - If you truly lived by faith alone, you'd throw out all your glasses, inhalers, hearing aids, pills, etc. and cancel all medical appointments. Faith and wisdom go hand in hand. We ask for wisdom and God gives it. Thank you, Lord.
• Acts 15:28 - We come together as a group and it is a group process to make decisions - it is not a "one man" show. Harold Nation, wonderful servant of the Lord, once told me, "If you get your way once in the church, be happy - that's enough."
• Romans 13:1 - We live in a world of rules, authorities and public perceptions - whether we like them or not. We must have really strong reasons not to submit or we risk harming our witness.
• Galatians 5:13-14 - True freedom is in Christ and the expression of that freedom is loving our neighbor. "What is the most loving witness we can make to our neighbor in this time?," should be our guide.

An artist friend once taught me that if you want to make something in your painting really stand out, place it against a dark background. God has set up the world canvas with this dark pandemic and if we act right, our little light will pop and shine bright for Jesus!

If, as Jesus said in John 13:35 -

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Shine on, my brothers and my sisters, shine on!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

November 30, 2020

Redeeming this Lockdown

"Live life, then, with a due sense of responsibility, not as men who do not know the meaning and purpose of life but as those who do. Make the best use of your time, despite all the difficulties of these days. Don't be vague but firmly grasp what you know to be the will of God."
~ Ephesians 5:15-16 - J.B. Phillips

If there was a world championship of "whining" - I could be a contender! This past week with the uptick of the virus in our community and with the new Governor restrictions, a lot of plans for church holiday outreach and programs went right out the window. What was going to be a busy season now there is a lot of "free time."

That is when my "whining" started.

And then after "whining" comes "wasting" - binge watching, snack eating, and annoying family and friends with sending them memes they didn't ask for... wait a minute, they love my memes!

Yet this scripture speaks to me that we have a great opportunity in the midst of this lockdown. Hope it speaks to you, too. Let us redeem this unplanned time with some good things for the Lord!

Our goal should be this:
I can fine tune my life, my ministry, and come out of this a better servant of the Lord!

Here are some "redeem the time" ideas:

• Clean, sort, and reorganize in my office...hey, miracles can still happen!
• Study ahead, for teaching and preaching series.
• Catch up on communication and reach out to folks you need to.
• Evaluate on several levels:
  • my spiritual life and disciplines
  • my ministry look at what to add or drop or improve
• The congregation I serve - programs, facilities, long range planning.

Hey friends, let us set some goals, with measurable achievement steps. Then make a schedule to follow. And then let us do it!

"Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future
Time keeps on slippin', slippin', slippin'
Into the future..." - Steve Miller Band - 1976

Friends, let us not waste this lockdown time like some turkey. "do doo do doot"

Let us redeem it and fly like an eagle, let the Holy Spirit set me free!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

November 23, 2020

In Everything, Give Thanks

Edgar A. Guest made his home in Detroit, Michigan, the majority of his life. For more than 60 years he wrote for the Detroit Free Press. A prolific writer and poet, often called "the people's poet," his works reflected everyday life. This poem on Thanksgiving is from his book, "Just Folks", published in 1917.

At that time we were in World War I, an economic downturn and the beginning of the Great Flu Pandemic that swept the earth, infecting a third of the known world population and claiming over 500 million lives. In the face of all this, Guest still found reasons to be thankful in 1917.

May we have that same spirit here in 2020 as well.

Gettin' together to smile an' rejoice,
An' eatin' an' laughin' with folks of your choice;
An' kissin' the girls an' declarin' that they
Are growin' more beautiful day after day;
Chattin' an' braggin' a bit with the men,
Buildin' the old family circle again;
Livin' the wholesome an' old-fashioned cheer,
Just for awhile at the end of the year.

Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door
And under the old roof we gather once more
Just as we did when the youngsters were small;
Mother's a little bit grayer, that's all.
Father's a little bit older, but still
Ready to romp an' to laugh with a will.
Here we are back at the table again
Tellin' our stories as women an' men.

Bowed are our heads for a moment in prayer;
Oh, but we're grateful an' glad to be there.
Home from the east land an' home from the west,
Home with the folks that are dearest an' best.
Out of the sham of the cities afar
We've come for a time to be just what we are.
Here we can talk of ourselves an' be frank,
Forgettin' position an' station an' rank.

Give me the end of the year an' its fun
When most of the plannin' an' toilin' is done;
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest,
Let me sit down with the ones I love best,
Hear the old voices still ringin' with song,
See the old faces unblemished by wrong,
See the old table with all of its chairs
An' I'll put soul in my Thanksgivin' prayers.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

November 16, 2020

Acts 16 and Christmas 2020

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." ~ Acts 16:25

I am the proud father of three good men. All three love and serve the Lord Jesus Christ. Two are pastors in the CHOG. Jeannie and I are forever grateful to God for this!

My son Aaron (South Creek Church, Kokomo) called me back in September of 2020 and said, "What are you going to do as a congregation for Christmas during the Covid?" Wow, let me get back to you on that, I responded.

So here is my take for congregational witness during this Covid 2020. I hope it will inspire all y'all (southern plural for "everybody") pastors and church leaders here in the CHOG in Michigan.

Look at Paul and Silas in Acts 16:25. It was the second missionary journey for Paul. They were in Philippi. Their witness had created a storm and they were arrested and locked down.

Hey, in 2020, we are in a storm of Covid and we are in lockdown. We can't do a lot of visiting or going out as we have in the past. But let us follow Paul and Silas example.

They sang about their faith. They gave witness to those who crossed their path. They showed kindness to folks who didn't expect it. The result of their "lockdown" show of faith?

Many were saved -oh, yes, Lord, we want to see that in this day, too.

How about this Christmas 2020, get creative on Singing/Caroling:

• Sing, even if it means standing outside singing to folks on the inside.
• Use the Internet - Zoom, livestream, etc. to send Christmas joy to those who long to hear it.

Witness:

• If ever there was a year to do quality presentations, this is the one! People are hungry and searching after all they have gone thru this 2020. My prediction = big Christmas Eve attendance.
• Pray and prepare you and your people to share the Gospel of Jesus in clear powerful ways this Christmas.

Acts of Kindness:

• Challenge groups, classes, and the congregation to put goodie baskets together to give away.
• Target first responders, police, fire stations, ER's, care facilities, and schools (teachers and staff are stressed like you wouldn't believe this year!)

Depression and anxiety are a terrible by product of this virus. We as the Church have a gift to share with everyone that the Lord has come to us! Don't just sit there in lockdown. Get creative this Christmas season. Sing it, share it, give it away!

Joy to the world!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

November 9, 2020

An Ancient Prayer
For This Present Day

Clement was a follower of Christ at the end of the first century and the beginning of the second century. Clement was a disciple of Peter, and was recognized as a leader of the Church of Rome. Clement has since been noted for being one of the three Apostolic Fathers; the others being Polycarp and Ignatius of Antioch.

It was a turbulent time to stand up for Christ. It was a time of political unrest, of religious persecution, and of state sanctioned violence against the Church. Clement was imprisoned by the Roman Emperor to the country of Crimea to work as slave labor in a stone quarry. His compassion for fellow slaves and answers to his prayers for water led to many conversions. Eventually Clement was martyred by being drowned as he was cast from a ship with an anchor tied around his neck.

Clement knew the power of prayer. He saw God aid His people many times during their troubles.

Here is a part of one of his prayers called "Prayer for all needs." May this speak to us today in our troubled times:

We beg you, Lord,
to help and defend us.
Deliver the oppressed,
pity the insignificant,
raise the fallen,
show yourself to the needy,
heal the sick,
bring back those of your people who have gone astray,
feed the hungry,
lift up the weak,
take off the prisoners' chains.
May every nation come to know
that you alone are God,
that Jesus Christ is your Child,
that we are your people, the sheep that you pasture.

You alone have the means to do this for us,
this and more than this.
We thank you for it through Jesus Christ,
the High Priest, our souls' Protector.
Glory and splendor be yours through him,
now at this moment,
in every generation,
age after age. Amen.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

November 2, 2020

Jesus went...so should we!

"“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.”
~ Matthew 9:35 - NIV

This January of 2021 will be the 40th year of pastoral ministry for me. I agree with what John Newton said about ministry over 200 years ago:

"The Christian ministry is the worst of all trades but the best of all professions."

One of the dangers of pastoral ministry is the "bubble." We are called to study, read, pray, and write. Pastors attend meetings of the church, and with other ministers. We go to seminars and listen to podcasts. If we are not careful, we can spend days and weeks within our little Christian "bubble." And within that "bubble" we have our own little church culture and lingo and ways. Our church “bubble” is a silo insulated from the outside world.

"Jesus went..." To fisherman and tax collectors – blue collar and white collar. To the "churched" folks and especially to unchurched people. To the rich and the powerful and to the poor and the downtrodden. Jesus went out into the world of His time. He listened, He learned and then He was able to relate in ways His hearers understood. All because Jesus left His "bubble" to go into the real world.

Some of the best moments of my ministry were times I went to the workplaces of my congregational members. Factory floors. Offices. Worksites. Schools. Restaurants. Shops. Station houses. Courthouses.

To see, to hear and to understand the place where my folks lived in all week before they plopped down to hear me on Sundays. To get a feel for their stresses, their joys and their frustrations. To be in their environment, which often was so vastly different than my little Christian silo "bubble."

Those times became wonderful bonding moments in our friendship and in our partnership in serving the Church. It helped me get over my "Woe is me, ministry is hard" blues, knowing there were much harder jobs out there. I became more empathetic in what my flock went through day in and day out.

Some of my pastoral colleagues have not worked outside of the church for years, if ever. That kind of isolation can hurt your ability to communicate to your flock.

Hey pastor, do yourself a favor - why don't you see if you can tag along to work with some of your folks. Go, listen, and learn. This will greatly help you in your ministry to bring Jesus to others. I guarantee.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

October 26, 2020

Bugler, sound the call!

"Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
    Raise your voice like a trumpet."
~ Isaiah 58:1 - NIV

In the Bible, the word "trumpet" is used more than 60 times. The trumpet or bugle, is a curved horn made usually of brass that military leaders for thousands of years have used for communicating to their troops.

When the bugle is blown, the loud sound could be heard for long distances and over great noises. The bugle could catch the troop's attention, give them direction as to what to do and could be used to rally them and to keep them unified as a unit.

Many of us are familiar with the bugle call of "Charge!" We are deeply moved by the melancholy strains of the bugle sounding "Taps" that is part of the graveside service for a military funeral.

It was scriptural passages on the "trumpet call of God" found in Isaiah 27:13 and Zechariah 9:14 that inspired a young Holiness preacher Daniel Sydney Warner back in the early 1880's. D.S. Warner used that imagery to bear the title of his publication, "The Gospel Trumpet." That paper helped to call the Church of God Reformation Movement into existence. For years it was the primary means of communicating direction and teaching for this fledging church group.

Growing up many of us in times past listened to preachers who spoke like "trumpets" - loud, confident, and certain.

It seems that in our more modern world, we have given way to softer muted tones. I am not just referring to volume but also mainly convictions and attitude.

Could it be that we as preachers and leaders are sounding more like an uncertain kazoo than the clear bold cry of the "Gospel Trumpet?"

• Do we really believe that Jesus is Lord of all?
• Do we really believe that "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved." - Acts 4:12?
• Is our attitude still that of 1 John 4:4 - "greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world?"

We ought to reflect and refocus our message. Our people are looking to us for direction. People are hungry for leaders who are willing to stand and point the way of the Lord.

We need to pray for conviction and to clearly communicate the call of God for our congregations for this day. Now is the time to raise our voice like a trumpet.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

October 19, 2020

Until it's all over, this is our mission

"¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
~ Matt. 28:18-20 NIV

Every now and then, someone will say to me, "Well, after the election on November 3, 2020, all these troubling things will all be over."

Now, I am a Christian and a pastor and I try, I mean I really do try to be nicewell, most of the time, to most people.

But when they say this, I politely say to them:

"Pardon me for a moment"..."HAW HAW HA HA, WHOO WHOO, HEE HEE HEE!!!"

Cough, cough, Gasp, wheeze, wipe my eyes... "Whoa, do you really believe that?"

Since the beginning of civilization, there has been a struggle between individual freedoms versus collective rule. This struggle will go on no matter who wins or loses on November 3rd.

For those of us who are followers of Jesus, the results of this or any election should not change what we are called to do each and every day the Lord gives us.

We have a mission from God:

To go to all of this world, to all peoples, no matter what their color or culture or even their political affiliation, in order to share Jesus with them.

To make disciples of Jesus, baptizing these followers in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - Our Great Trinity God.

And then teach them to obey the way of Jesus, for all of their life and for all of their days.

The amazing promise from God is this: Jesus will be with us through it all.

Jesus will even be with us after whoever wins or loses on November 3rd, 2020 - Praise His Name!

Our life-time mission is not dependent on a human political election. Now, friends, let us go on fulfilling our mission from God.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

October 12, 2020

"In these perilous times..."

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:" ~ 2 Timothy 3:1 NKJV

The following thoughts were inspired from a devotional my friend Pastor Richard Jolliff of Amazing Grace Church in Wheeler, Michigan shared with our local ministerial group last week. Rich is a great pastor and a wonderful brother in Christ.

"But understand this, that in the last days dangerous times [of great stress and trouble] will come [difficult days that will be hard to bear]." ~ 2 Timothy 3:1 -Amplified Bible

Let's not focus on whether this year of 2020 is the End of Times;

But can we agree 2020 is a "perilous time?" Filled with "stress and trouble" and "hard to bear" times? The "ayes" have it, motion passed. Look at the good advice for: "perilous times:"

So what can we do? Look at 2 Timothy 3 for some good advice for "perilous times:"

Resist the temptation to turn inward - "lovers of ourselves." We can begin to rationalize bad behavior and selfish urges because we are "stressed." We allow our passions to drive us rather than letting Jesus lead us.

Avoid extreme people - this is not a good time to go on a "rant" or jump on a political bandwagon for this cause or that one. Resist manipulating others; these are signs that our hearts are out of tune with our Lord Jesus.

Be careful of the desire of having knowledge without devotion. "Always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." ~ 2 Timothy 3:7 NIV. The temptation is our desire to impress others by our "smartness." That is a phony fake front. Jesus wants our heart and our sincere daily devotion.

Ask God to help you to grow in this time... for good and new things for your life and your ministry that can come out of this year of 2020!

Follow your spiritual mentors. Look to godly leaders and learn from them. Call, visit, talk, and listen to them. They have been through tough times and they can help you make it through this time, too.

Turn to the Word of God. It is able to help you grow strong in these times. Answers you are seeking can be found through study of this amazing gift from God. Embrace Bible study with a new passion.

Know that God has placed you here for such a time as this. The Lord believes in you and your ministry! Be encouraged! Commit yourself anew to serve the Lord with joy and passion in 2020!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

October 5, 2020

"Turning Deserts into Gardens"

"The Lord will surely comfort Zion
    and will look with compassion on all her ruins;
he will make her deserts like Eden,
    her wastelands like the garden of the LORD.
Joy and gladness will be found in her,
    thanksgiving and the sound of singing."
~ Isaiah 51:3

When you think of a way to describe the year 2020, what picture or description do you come up with?

Probably not a "happy" or "peaceful" image, huh?

This summer of 2020, I began to re-think my attitude about 2020. This scripture in Isaiah 51:3 helped.

God's promise to restore, to redeem a bad situation: In my life, God has done this multiple times. I love the picture of God's promise of "turning a desert into a garden."

Deserts are hard places to live in. Hot during day, freezing at night. It is a struggle to find food, water, and shelter. God promised Isaiah that He would transform their "desert" - a people left destitute by enemy invaders - into a "garden."

A Garden is a place of beauty and life. Filled with flowers, plants, trees, and water. An explosion of colors, fragrances and fruit and food. A garden is a place that can sustain life and restore one's soul.

In 1985 I stood at the overlook for the Mt. St. Helen's volcano. This once beautiful snow cone shaped mountain surrounded by an amazing forest full of critters and rivers full of life, was now a desolate moonscape. For miles trees more than 100 feet tall were laying around like blown over matchsticks. Grey mud covered almost everything. Volcanic ash had covered hundreds of miles all around the region.

On that day I was between jobs with no certain prospects. We had just lost a baby during pregnancy and had no insurance for the medical bills. Life seemed like a miserable "2020" to me at that time.

Then God had me "refocus" on the Mt. St. Helen's scene before me. There were saplings growing among the fallen trees. New streams were coming down from the summit of the mountain. Clumps of brilliant wildflowers were blooming here and there. And there were tracks in the mud...herds of elk and other creatures were going about their business. New life was coming out of the old!

Friends, the challenge is to "refocus" here in 2020. God is redeeming this year. New life is coming and doing well. Can you see it? Can you celebrate it?

Trust God to transform your "desert into a garden" this year of our Lord 2020.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

September 28, 2020

Romans 14 - A Matter of Opinion

The following is for mature audiences only. The expressed opinions are not necessarily the views of all persons...nor does it seek support from any political, denominational, or ethnic persuasion. Please do not call the ASPCA, as no real animal was hurt during the actual events reflected upon. "Cookie, the dog" however was real and is buried on the "back 40" of the original homesite in Missouri.

Am I wrong...or did a law get passed that everyone must have a dog these days? Growing up we had a dog! Cute little Beagle. No, we didn't dress her up like a doll or push her around in a stroller. She was a dog, not one of the children. She had a fur coat that kept her warm, and a nice little dog house to curl up and sleep in. She enjoyed living, walking/running in the great outdoors. A great life! She lived for 18 long years. Always happy to see us, her tail wagging and running to you... she gave us unconditional love. Do cats do that? I don't think so.

Independent/finicky.Primping and licking themselves and coughing it up in little soggy fur balls around the house. Running from one end of the house to the other at 3 in the morning. "Sure, sit on the keyboard while I'm working." You come home and they act like..."so, what are you doing here?" A dog looks at us and thinks...you pet me, feed me, shelter me, love me...you must be god. Dogs love us. A cat looks at us and thinks... you pet me, feed me, shelter me, love me...I must be god! Cats just put up with us. However, I did save a cats life once... yep, after 2 failed flushes, I pulled Fluffy back out of the toilet. (Well, it was my sisters favorite stuffed animal.)

Stop it! ...I know what you're thinking! "You would have done the very same thing..." (not the save your life thing) but... hey moving on! By the way did you know that dogs are mentioned in the Bible but not cats...hmmm?

So what does this all have to do with our faith walk? Whether it's dogs or cats, politics, music, guns, Covid, dancing...??? Let's be real...Yes, we all have opinions that have the potential to divide us...and they will...IF we let them. The early Church struggled with several Jewish/Gentile issues, including a "Kosher diet" and those who had no problem eating pork chops. The Apostle Paul dealt with such specific issues throughout his writings...and particularly in Romans 14 - reminding them to "accept others without passing judgement on disputable matters... for the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Paul also goes on to tell us that some of our opinions just need to be kept to ourselves - vs. 22

STOP! DO NOT quarrel over opinions! In a world so easily divided...we recognize there will be differences. But the question is not, what you or I think... but, what does love do! Yes, I believe Paul and certainly Jesus, are more concerned about us being in right relationship with one another, than what we think about any particular subject... including dogs...and...well, you know.

AMEN! Bow Wow! and Meow!

Rev. Jim Horn, Northeastern Regional Pastor

September 21, 2020

Keep On The Sunny Side

"There's a dark and a troubled side of life
There's a bright and a sunny side too
Though we meet with the darkness and strife
The sunny side we also may view

Keep on the sunny side always on the sunny side
Keep on the sunny side of life
It will help us every day it will brighten all our way
If we keep on the sunny side of life

Oh the storm and its fury broke today
Crushing hopes that we cherish so dear
The clouds and storm will in time pass away
The sun again will shine bright and clear

Let us greet with a song of hope each day
Though the moment be cloudy or fair
Let us trust in our Savior always
To keep us every one in His care"

Back in the 1890's, Ada Blenkhorn had a disabled nephew in a wheelchair, who when he went down the street, always wanted to be "on the sunny side." Ada took this phrase to create the above poem, which in turn became a song. The legendary Carter Family of the Grand Ole Opry made it their theme song in the 1920's. This same song was a hit for the White Family in the 2000 movie, "O, brother, where art thou?."

It is a good song to reflect on for 2020. There has been much frustration and disappointment with the Covid 19 virus upsetting so many plans and activities. People are stressed out and angry. Perhaps most difficult of all, there is seemingly no end in sight to all the change and disruption. And as followers of Jesus, should we join in the whining depressed chorus all around us?

The apostle Paul was an old man, in jail, awaiting a sentence of death. In the midst of pain, suffering and uncertainty, you would think him a defeated person. Nay, Nay!

"Rejoice in the Lord always.
Again I will say, rejoice!"
~ Philippians 4:4 NKJV

As Christians, we are not limited by our circumstances. This virus and the results of it cannot stop our Lord or His purposes. Some things have changed, some things have stopped, but good is still there. Look for where Jesus is working and rejoice in that!

We serve the Risen Lord! We can rise above the pain and frustration to find good, to find joy, and to offer hope to others who see the world as cursed.

Look for the "sunny side" and let us together start to turn this gloom into a bloom of joy!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

September 14, 2020

Rethinking Our Origin Story

Last month, Pastor Mark emailed out some notes from a presentation by Len Sweet on "Trends and Trajectories for Church Planting and Multiplication." Those notes include these ideas:

Everything needs to be re-thought. Return to origins. Know your origin story (Genesis). Cannot navigate the future without re-thinking the origin story. Back to beginning. Need to live out of this originating story.

This summer, I felt compelled to preach from the book of Genesis. My series of sermons was titled "Good News From Genesis." Over ten weeks, we listened carefully to ten stories ranging from Genesis 18 to Genesis 45 – stories about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Jacob. My commitment in each sermon was to listen for ways in which the Good News of Genesis is really the Good News of Jesus. And I wasn't disappointed.

For far too long, many Christians have reduced their understanding of Genesis to a few stories: creation, the fall, the flood, perhaps Sodom and Gomorrah, maybe even the Tower of Babel. But I am convinced that the whole book of Genesis is one long origin story, designed to explain how the Israelites became a nation and wound up as slaves in Egypt. The first eleven chapters of Genesis speed through the centuries in order to arrive at the book’s four key generations: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Jacob.

This origin story sets the stage for the rest of scripture, and it foreshadows the arrival of Jesus in many ways. That's what I found in this summer’s sermon series. From Abraham's near-sacrifice of his beloved son Isaac, to Jacob's dream of a stairway reaching into heaven, to Joseph's reconciliation with his long-estranged brothers, each passage points the way to a more perfect, more complete, more abundant way of life as demonstrated and taught by Jesus.

What if our origin story were less about our overwrought battle between creationism and evolution, and more about the biblical narrative of how God formed a people and pointed forward to the coming Messiah? What if we lived out of the biblical conviction that God is present with God's people even in the midst of hardship? What if we truly believed and practiced a faith grounded in the ministry of reconciliation?

The Israelites spent four hundred years in Egyptian slavery, during which they shared their origin stories, some of which we now find contained the book of Genesis. Those stories helped them to remember their identity as God's people and to move with God into the future. Those same stories can help us in the same ways, especially if we listen for the good news of Jesus while we read them.

Rev. Dr. David Aukerman, Pastor, Mount Haley Church of God, Midland, Michigan

August 31, 2020

F.A.T. FOLK

I was thinking the other day...between bites of my double cheeseburger, and French fries; as I washed them down with a chocolate malted... "The world could sure use some FAT folk these days!"

Was talking to a good friend a few days ago when he said, "you know, we really have been through thick and thin together." He then looked at me, with a sly smile and said... "you do remember thin, don't you?" (Reminder to self: Unfriend this friend)

Honestly, sometimes in high school, I used to wear two t-shirts under my regular shirt just to bulk up. I think I just looked more wrinkled though. By the way, I don't need the t-shirts anymore! Too many Twinkies I guess. And then there was the time someone tricked me into a class where I thought there was going to be lots of food. So I showed up and found it was a class on health and exercise.

F - FAITHFUL. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2. As servants of Christ we have been entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. 1 Timothy 1:12 - The Apostle Paul said God considered him a faithful servant...steadfast, dependable and loyal. Writing to the Ephesians, he refers to them as "the faithful in Christ." God has never dismissed this trait in his followers.

A - AVAILABLE. Defined as "suitable and ready for use?" It has been said that our greatest ability is our availability. God has certainly called us and equipped us with all that is necessary to minister and fulfill our opportunities in this life.
2 Timothy 3:16-17. However we must be available to do so. Are you?

T - TEACHABLE. "Ancora imparo" - "Still I am learning!" A quote attributed to Michelangelo in his 80's. At the heart of a disciple of Jesus Christ is one who is a life long learner. A person who has a willingness to listen, learn, and apply. And at times, to be confronted and corrected, as we consider and allow the truth of God's Word to shape our lives.
Proverbs 5:12-13. Proverbs 9:9-10. Proverbs 26:12.

There's only so much room in these weekly writings...and this one is not only to encourage... but to challenge you. There's a message or three if you flesh these thoughts out a little deeper. Now let me leave you with this...

Some years back when ties were still fashionable (Ask someone older than 50).

I was admiring one of my congregants ties, albeit it was a little short. He said, "Pastor, this is one of my Dunlap ties." Say what??? "Yep, it done-lapped over my belly." Well, do take heart my friends. I always believed if your bubbles in the middle...you must be on the level!

Remember: God loves FAT folk! That'll preach! Now, will you please pass the poutine fries!

Still smiling!

Rev. Jim Horn, Northeastern Regional Pastor

August 24, 2020

"That dreaded phrase..."

"But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry."

2 Timothy 4:5 NIV

"Pastor, we are leaving..." It is the dreaded phrase that as a pastor, you hate to hear. It creates emotional stress, strains relationships within the church family and it can lead to loss of ministry or finances.

How do you deal with this as a pastor/church leader? May I share some thoughts:

Why does this happen?: there are several reasons for people leaving, some are good and some are not;

• Job change/retirement: understandable but still stings
• Relational issues:one person left as I came to escape a controlling parent. Their controlling parent then left and blamed me for their kids leaving!
• Personality issues: A friend that had attended the same church I had growing up left our congregation because "Our old pastor was skinny and that means more spiritual to me and you are not skinny..." My spiritual side showed him mercy, but my carnal side was ready to send him directly to Jesus in Heaven! The moral of the story  he did not like my personal style compared to the style of our old pastor from long ago.
• Conflict in the church: people run from conflict. They come to church seeking peace and help, not more stress.
• Doctrinal issues: I have had people leave because they were looking for a theology that we don't hold. I explain our CHOG positions and if they will not change their mind, help them find a church. Keep them in the Kingdom. It's about Jesus, not just me or my congregation.
• Style issues: Your music style, your messaging and brand style, use of technology, the size of congregation, and the median age of the congregation. These issues matter and if you want to reach folks, look at these issues to help connect to them.
• Majoring in minors: Some of you who do a lot of political stuff on social media and in the pulpit, remember the USA is spilt about even for each major party and you can lose about that many or more if you major on politics more than Jesus.
• Bells and whistles: the church down the road has more "bells and whistles" - ministries that we don't have. God bless those who stay and start new ministries rather than cut and run.

Listen to them: you can learn from this. Good changes come from painful experiences.

Love them: I have had throughout the years people leave and then come back. That can happen if you show grace and love.

Lead on: 2 Tim. 4:5 - Steady demeanor, focused forward, endure patiently, and continue to elevate Jesus. Fulfill your calling, and keep doing ministry until the Lord says you are done!

Call us at the State Office if we can be of help. We are pulling for you pastors and church leaders!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

August 17, 2020

Our battle is not the Fear without...

Numbers 13

Was looking at the story in Numbers 13 of the 12 spies sent to scout out the Promised Land. This land was their inheritance, promised to Abraham and his descendants. The Hebrew people had just been delivered from slavery by God, working thru His servant Moses. Ten plaques were forecast by Moses and then came about as had been told. Each plague showed the power of God over the Egyptian gods. These freed slaves left with the treasure of Egypt and then again saw the miracle of the sea parting and the Egyptian army being destroyed by God their Deliverer.

But now they hesitated because ten guys said, "We look like bugs and they look like giants...we can't do it." Only Joshua and Caleb believed that the God who brought them this far could take them the rest of the way.

It begs the question: "Who is bigger?" - God or my fear?

The battle to win begins within. Our real battle is the fear within us.

I wonder, "what if they had at least tried?" It makes me think of the Edgar Guest poem "It couldn't be done."

Somebody said that it couldn't be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That maybe it couldn't, but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it!

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you'll never do that;
At least no one ever has done it;"
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That cannot be done, and you'll do it.

Hey friends, let us not be of the "Ten faithless it cannot be done" tribe.

Let us be a people who believe our God is more than able and we will give our all for His sake and for His Kingdom!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

August 10, 2020

The core of our faith

1 Corinthians 15

My wife has a tradition in the summer called “Nanna week” with the grandkids. They come to our place and stay with us for 4-5 days of fun, adventure and being completely spoiled. The grand kids love it!

I call it "Survivor Week" –I pray for strength just to live another day. I love my grandkids but oh, man, do they wear me out! Can I get a witness?

We had three 4 year old grandsons riding with us. Gabe, spying a particular fixture on a building, informed his two cousins, Gideon and David:

"That is a church, 'cause it has a cross on it, and that’s where Jesus died!" David Robert quickly responded;

"He not dead! He a live!" ... Nanna week this year was a theological symposium.

Young David Robert was right on - the resurrection of Jesus is the core of our Gospel. The apostle Paul certainly thought so, too. Read again 1 Corinthians 15 and look at the points Paul raises.

The Gospel of Jesus is what saves us. The resurrection story passed on by each believer is that Christ died for our sins according to scripture, rose on the third day, and appeared to over 500 following.

And if He was not raised from the dead, then our faith, our preaching, our gatherings and programs are all for nothing. We would be the most pitied fools ever, if the resurrection were not true.

But Jesus has been raised from the grave! The resurrection is sign of His power over sin and death. By His resurrection He reigns over all peoples and all things. It this resurrection power that grants to us the hope of an immortal body, of a place called Heaven and it gives us hope and motivation to serve in the Lord Jesus in this life.

I remember Dr. Gil Stafford teaching on this, and his rising voice quivering with excitement as he taught this compelling truth of the “kerygma” (our proclamation) of the Church:

- This is what we proclaim and live by! It is what makes it all worthwhile!

May this core truth of Jesus' resurrection give you hope and clarity in the times we are in!

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

July 27, 2020

What Lens Do You Look Through?

¹⁶  Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. ~ 2 Cor. 5:16 NKJV

³ For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. ⁴ For the weapons of our warfare are  carnal (or of the flesh) but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, ⁵ casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. ~ 2 Cor. 10:3-5 NKJV

This spring I went for my annual eye exam at Dr. Martin's practice. She is a great optometrist and even better person. She asked if I had any new issues with my sight. I replied, "I cannot keep my right eyeglass lens clean, it is always blurry." After running some tests, she said, "It is not your eyeglass lens, you have a cataract." Seizing the opportunity for a “Dad joke”, I said, “It can’t be a cataract...I only drive Hondas!" - Ba-boom-ta-tishhhh!

If you read 2 Corinthians, there are some themes that run thru it. One is about the 'Flesh' – Greek sarx – meaning more than just our bodily passions, it also can mean our human ways of thinking / thought systems.

As I have been reading and reflecting on this, I recalled Dr. Martin and my cataract. This cataract is a filter, a lens through which I see everything and it affects how I process my world. That is true about our life experiences as well. How we were raised, what color we are, our education, our economic status, and the culture we come out of; all of these are how we see and process our world.

And now in this day and age, so there are many different systems and movements that are vying to be our "lens." Many of them come out of a non-Christian and Marxist backgrounds, where the values are raw power; where manipulation of the differences among people and the use of division are justified to achieve their goals. I cringe when a see Christians hitching their wagons to these "horses" of thought.

Their agenda is so different than Jesus, who said, "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."~ John 12:32 NKJV

The Apostle Paul argued in 2 Corinthians that we no longer look at the world thru the lens of the ‘flesh’ but now we see through the eyes of Jesus. It is a new way of evaluating our world, a new way of relating to others, a means of allowing Jesus and His Word to filter what we value and how we live.

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. ~ 2 Cor. 5:17 NKJV

In Paul's day, there was similar conflict between people over race, religion, class and gender. Yet the Jesus followers began to see the world as Jesus does – and they ended up breaking down harmful barriers, uniting those who once were enemies, elevating people’s lives and helping to make the world a so much better place for all to live in.

What happened back then is still happening today. Friends, let us lift up Jesus. Look at the world through His eyes. Let us work that it is on earth as it is in Heaven! Amen? Amen!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

July 20, 2020

Weeping

⁴ Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His,
And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
⁵ For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night,
But joy comes in the morning. ~ Psalm 30:4-5 NKJV

Something we all have in common, regardless of our age, our gender, our social class, our culture, etc... We all weep. We have wept, we will weep, it is an unavoidable fact of life.

We were born on this earth weeping and when we die, hopefully, some will weep at our passing.

Dictionary.com defines weeping expressing grief, sorrow, or any overwhelming emotion by shedding tears.

In just about every book in the Bible, we read about folks weeping; saints and sinners alike.

Jesus wept! ~ John 11:35. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus let out an uncontrollable sob for the loss of his friend.

As pastors and church leaders, we are well acquainted with weeping. Paul encourages us to..."Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." ~ Romans 12:15 NKJV

When I do a funeral, I weep; if not at the service, afterwards. I am a wreck for the rest of the day.

I think of weeping as a cut and that weeping is a way to allow the pain to drain. A scar remains but the poison is let out so the wound may heal. The wound is not forgotten but we are healed enough to carry on. If we don't weep, we are asking for trouble down the road.

I am so glad that weeping is not forever. The Bible teaches us that it is of this world but not in the world to come.

I love that twice in Isaiah, in chapters 35 and 51, we are told about our Heavenly future:

"They will enter Zion with singing;
    everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them,
    and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Thomas Moore, the Irish poet, wrote these lines that became a Methodist hymn and which David Crowder uses in his 2017 song "Come as you are" the line is...

"Earth has no sorrow that Heaven can't heal."

The great American poet James Weldon Johnson writes in "Go down death",

"And Jesus took his own hand and wiped away her tears,
And he smoothed the furrows from her face,
And the angels sang a little song,
And Jesus rocked her in his arms,
And kept a-saying: Take your rest,
Take your rest.
Weep not--weep not,
She is not dead;
She's resting in the bosom of Jesus."

We cry now, and it is okay to. But that Day is coming where we will weep no more! Hallelujah!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

July 13, 2020

Are you a builder or a wrecker?

Edgar A. Guest was born in England in 1881, but moved to the USA as a child, where he grew up in Detroit, Michigan.

Edgar took a job at the Detroit Free Press as a teenager. Edgar remained there as a reporter and columnist and a poet for over six decades. His poems were about everyday life. He was called the Peoples Poet, for he wrote poems that were inspirational and optimistic and about everyday life.

"I take simple everyday things that happen to me and I figure it happens to a lot of other people and I make simple rhymes out of them. (from Allpoetry.com)

Edgar A Guest lived and thrived as a Detroit man. When he died in 1959, he was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery.

"The Wreckers"
I watched them tearing a building down,
A gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell,
They swung a beam, and the side wall fell.
I asked the foreman: "Are these skilled--
And the men you'd hire if you had to build?"
He gave me a laugh and said: "No, indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do."
And I thought to myself as I went my way,
Which of these roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care
measuring life by a rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds to a well-made Plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker, who walks the town
Content with the labor of tearing down?

-- Edgar A. Guest

Hear the Word of the Lord that dovetails with this:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." ~ Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Friends, let us be builders - helping the Church grow and thrive here in Michigan!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

July 6, 2020

Are you...Ok?

A few years back, I did a funeral for a gentleman who died rather suddenly of cancer. His best friend, who happened to be his brother in law, was devastated. I asked him one day shortly after how he was doing. He said, and I quote: "honestly, not worth a damn!" Instead of being taken aback, I was surprisingly refreshed that he had not succumbed to the rather trite phrase; "I'm ok." Because it's "OK, to not be OK!"

Revisit the Psalms, perhaps Job or the Prophets such as Jeremiah, once in a while. Read their honest cries of pain, doubt, and anger. Often distressed, discouraged, anxious, depressed. No, everything wasn't "ok, just fine." And in fact, when reading a few examples: Psalm 13, 22, and 88... we might get rather uncomfortable.

Revisit the Psalms, perhaps Job or the Prophets such as Jeremiah, once in a while. Read their honest cries of pain, doubt and anger. Often distressed, discouraged, anxious, depressed. No, everything wasn’t “ok, just fine.” And in fact, when reading a few examples: Psalm 13, 22, and 88... we might get rather uncomfortable.

Remember Bobby Goldsboro? Of course you...don’t. He was a pop/ country singer in the 60’s/70’s. Anyway, Bobby wrote a number of songs that were quite successful, including “Honey” which reached number 1 on the Billboard charts in 1968. He also wrote a song - "See the Funny Little Clown," with the following lyrics - (Google the rest if you’ve forgotten and feel free to sing along). “See the funny little clown, he’s hiding behind a smile. They all think he’s laughing, but I know he’s really crying all the while. How his heart is aching, how his heart is breaking, on the inside...But he's laughing on the outside...mmm, No one knows, no one knows."

In the times we’re going through presently, it can be pretty unsettling, lonely, distressing, discouraging, worrisome...go ahead, add your own adjective to the list. But “church folk” like us, are pretty good hiding our distress, disappointment, heartaches... “hiding behind a smile.” "Who me, I’m just fine...ok." "Mmm, no one knows..." Maybe it's just me, but honestly these past few months...and other times in my life’s journey... clouds have obscured, discouraged, and kept me looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m generally pretty optimistic. My favorite word is Joy! I preach and teach it regularly! I can’t stand to be down and out, wallowing in the pit of pandemic.

But neither can I pretend that the darkness, sometimes, is not often prolonged before the dawn. Indeed, we live amongst the brokenness, distressed, negativity, loneliness, pain and sorrow of this world. Jesus said there would be trials and tribulations. He himself cried out in agony and honestly to the Father in the Garden of Gethsemane, and on the cross at Calvary.

"It's OK to not be OK!" It won't make you any less of a Christian. In fact, it might even make you stronger in your belief as you're honest before the Lord. Yes, it's OK to not be OK at times. But, we can't stay there forever.

Corrie Ten Boom, who endured the horrors of the concentration camps said this: If you look at the world, you will be distressed. If you look within, you will be depressed. If you look to God, you will find rest.

Most every time in the lives of those we read about in the Bible, they come through their "very honest" and often struggling seasons of darkness; as they recognize the goodness and steadfast love of God; who has always been their strength, their hope and joy! We can also.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross. Consider him who endured...that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-4

Keeping it Real and Living in His Joy!

Rev. Jim Horn, Northeastern Regional Pastor

June 29, 2020

Just Some Words or the Word of God?

My Uncle Bill was a skinny, dark haired Southerner. Worked in the furniture business. He had high cheek bones and when he laughed, his eyes and face would crinkle up. When he would speak to me, he would get up real close and talk rapid fire with a strong drawl. His breath smelled like whiskey and Winston's ... pretty much what he lived on. Uncle Bill then would end all of this by coughing and wheezing uncontrollably like his left lung was about to come out.

I would look to my Aunt Mary or my Cousin Carol, and ask "What'd he say?" They were Uncle Bill's interpreters. Sometimes they couldn't even tell what he said, but they would respond, "He meant well."

I felt a call to ministry in the mid 1970's and went to our premier college to study for ministry, because that's what everyone said I should do. In my Bible classes, we focused more on theories of composition of the Scripture than actual study of the Bible. Documentary hypothesis of the Pentateuch, the input of Babylonian mythology into the Jewish writings, and then into the different school of criticism; textual, literary, and redaction.

The idea of Biblical criticism is that human ideas and traditions, (that may or may not be true), created the Scripture long after the actual events happened. You need a critic/scholar to then sort through to find what is true and what it not. The measure the critic will often use is current science and trends as the qualifier of what is "true" in the Bible. It is a "Dalmatian" view of the Bible; it is only true in spots.

I remember thinking, "These educated folks look at God and the Bible much like my Uncle Bill...that this message isn't clear, but that God means well!" That is a poor way to look at God and the Bible.

Thankfully, I attended two graduate schools where the Bible was approached differently. My one professor, Dr. Butrus Abd-al-Malik said of critical scholars, "They are like men in a desert, digging a well with sewing needles...pick, pick, pick and little good comes from it."

¹⁶All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
 ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible is not just a collection of a community of human thoughts or cultural traditions and stories but it is God's timeless truth for all people for all cultures for all time. The Bible message is plain enough that illiterate people can hear and be transformed; and that same Bible is deep enough that a scholar can explore for a lifetime and not fully plumb the depths of its truth.

Bible truths nourished not just the Church, but from it sprang the Magna Carta, our ideas of law, human rights, abolition of slavery, the rights of women, children; protection and care for the ill, low functioning and elderly; hospitals and charities. Imagine a world without the Bible's influence.

The Bible is powerful, when it is read and followed. It is powerless if ignored and disrespected.

My prayer is that you and I will read and believe and follow the wonderful message from our Heavenly Father.

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

June 22, 2020

Softball, Judging and Honesty

Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.
~ Matthew 7: 1-2 - The Message

Ah, Summertime! I love it! In times past it meant Church Softball League. I could still play if I wanted, after all, I am still in my prime. But they changed the rules - they moved the bases way too far apart! Man, I'm a softball player, not a cross country runner.

I remember warm nights playing softball with church family members against another church family, playing for fun and with volunteer umpires - all these good Christians joyfully, peacefully getting along with each other - uh, most of the time.

Sadly there were a few times and some individuals who would cry, "You're wrong, you're blind, you are biased..." And worse at the ump, if the call went against their team.

Then a miracle would happen! Same ump calls against the other side, "Good call ... hey quit your whining, they were out!"

Jesus, in Matthew 7, warns us about the problem of our judging and condemning each other. Why? Because we are terrible at it. Name any human endeavor: sports, politics, cars, church, etc. Our true colors shine through. How can we deal with this problem you and I have?

Know your bias: We all are biased and have prejudice on a variety of topics and ideas. Know yours. Try not to let it blind you to the other side of the story. A great concern is the concept of "selective moral outrage" - the ability to demonize one person or group but to be blind to your preferred sides' faults and failures. What is fair for one, must be fair for all.

Strive for Honesty: Billy Joel chorus was right back in 1978 -

"Honesty is such a lonely word
Everyone is so untrue
Honesty is hardly ever heard

To have others say of you, "You are honest," is a great badge of honor. May that be said of those of us who are followers of Jesus.

Be Humble: Much to my dismay, I am not infallible. Nor am I the "final word." Only God is. Someday you and I will stand before Him. The things that we argue about on earth, He will clearly settle.

Until then, be "Golden" with each other: look up Matthew 7:12 and live it.

Hey, church! Let's love each other and treat each other with respect out there! Amen? Amen!

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

June 15, 2020

Murder hornets, Cajuns and
a "can do" faith!

 I can do all things through Christ
who strengthens me. Philippians 4: 13

"I was talking to a pastor friend recently who lamented, "First, Covid 19 virus! Now flooding! What is next?"

I responded, "Murder Hornets."

They are an invasive species from Asia, right now out in the Pacific Northwest and they will be slowly making their way towards us. They are almost 2 inches long, with a quarter inch stinger and as big around as your thumb. They eat other insects and honey and they are aggressive. You will know one when you see one.

In 1970 Lynn Anderson sang, "I beg your pardon - I never promised you a rose garden - Along with the sunshine - There's gotta be a little rain some time."

Hey, life is not fair. Life is often tough. You overcome one challenge and the next one is waiting in line.

We are not the first generation to go through multiple trials. Think about the Apostle Paul:

²⁴ Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵ Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, ²⁶ I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. ²⁷ I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. ²⁸ Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. ~ 2 Cor. 11: 24-28

Paul faced trials and suffering way beyond what most of us have. The most remarkable thing is Pauls attitude towards all these. In the book of Philippians, written while he is an old man in prison, awaiting word as to whether he will live or be executed  Paul writes about Joy! Gratitude! Hope!

He sums it up in Philippians 4: 13. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Life is not fair nor easy but with Jesus, we can make it through and overcome any and all trials!

Paul had a "Cajun" attitude. The Cajuns are the descendants of French pioneers who settled in the swamps of Louisiana. Cajuns are legendary in their ability to hunt, fish, catch and eat anything in them big old bayous.

When the Cajuns heard about the Murder Hornets coming, they contacted the Louisiana Governors office.

"What is the daily catch limit?" And, "Is it best to fry 'em or boil 'em?"

(I'm wrapping mine in bacon and grilling em.)

In the power of Jesus, we can say "Laissez les bons temps rouler!"

By Rev. David Perry, Pastor at Edgewood Church of God in Ithaca and Northwestern Regional Pastor, Church of God in Michigan.

June 8, 2020

Let's K.I.S.S.!!! 2 Corinthians 11:3

At my core, I'm a pretty simple guy. I most often dress in blues, grays, and black. I found if I do throw a color in, it will work pretty much with that simple palette. I did however put away my white tennis shoes for a little bit of color razmatazzz! I can survive on burgers, pizza, turkey sandwiches, and peanut butter and jelly...with a cold glass of chocolate milk or iced tea. I believe in right and wrong. By the way, did you ever notice men's bathrooms are generally to the left...because ladies are always right! I can live without Facebook. I'm pretty good at simple math...add, subtract, multiply, and divide. But throw in algebra, geometry, x and o, and...you've lost me.

I wonder if people get lost in trying to understand the gospel. The Pharisees and other religious leaders had so many rules, regulations, and expectations if you were to be considered a Godly person. Seems every religion does. Say your prayers so many times a day, don't do this or that, don't go here, don't eat that, stay away from there. Make a pilgrimage. No tattoos, dancing, Starbucks, or Netflix. So many layers of burdensome stuff...and nonsense.

Aren't you glad however, that Jesus doesn't have a long list of things that either would let you in or keep you out. He opened the door to anyone, anywhere, at anytime with a simple invitation - Believe! Place our trust in his promise of forgiveness and grace for salvation; and receive the promise of an eternal home in heaven.

"I have noticed over years of observation that when religion gets complicated and complex, it is always a sign it is drifting from the centrality of the faith...to live in a relationship with Christ."
- Ray Stedman / Evangelical Pastor/Author

No, the gospel is not that complicated! Which is really fortunate for simple people like you and me! A simple message to all mankind of God's love and purpose for us. Not because of anything we could have done or not done ourselves. A wonderful gift, freely given to all who would simply receive it.

By the way; know one of the secrets to painting? That's right- let someone else do it! But a wise old painter once told me - It's simply keeping paint in your paintbrush. He was right!

In our ongoing search for some secret to happiness and peace; God has made simple the gospel and this wonderful walk of faith that we often complicate.

Joni Eareckson Tada, paralyzed since she was 17, yet helpful to many through her testimony and ministries said it well: "Christianity isn't all that complicated...it's Jesus!"

Secret to our faith is really no secret at all - It's not the church down the street. Not a list of do's and don'ts...or donuts. It's not Jesus and ??? It's simply Jesus! The only name under heaven by which we are saved.

People are confused enough these days. They aren't looking for a formula, opinion, or another program... they're looking for Jesus! And Jesus in you! Authentic, loving, unselfish, kind, committed, passionate !!! And until we grasp and live in that very simple, yet profound truth ... until we get it right...nothing else ever will be!

Keeping it simple...

Rev. Jim Horn, Northeastern Regional Pastor

June 1, 2020

Hate and Blindness

"Anyone who claims to live in God’s light and hates a brother or sister is still in the dark. It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God's light and doesn't block the light from others. But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn't know which end is up, blinded by the darkness."
1 John 2:9-11 The Message