Hey Church family!
Pastor Ben here with a little update on what’s happening with my health situation. I’ve been through several days of being sick with the Covid symptoms. None of them were real serious and I think I’m on the back side of this with the exception of being very tired & no energy. I am officially off quarantine, however, the health department has asked me to not be around people for a few more days for my safety. I am not contagious anymore but because of the situation with the tumor in my lung they recommend that I stay away from other people until January 5, so I am going to be down for 1 more Sunday. Ben Hargis will preach this Sunday and then I will be back in the saddle again. Torrie still hasn’t tested positive for this. Keep her in your prayers so she will not.
As far as the situation with the tumor in my lung, it looks like I am going to need surgery to take care of this tumor. I am going to have 1 more scan on February 23 and then we will set a date for surgery, probably in the first week of March or soon after. I’m not looking forward to the surgery, but I feel really confident that this will take care of the problem.
Thank you to all who have expressed their love & prayers for us during this time. Just continue to uphold us in your thoughts & prayers. God’s got this!
Let me share with you a little introduction to a devotional series that I’m gonna share with you starting January 1. God bless & Happy New Year!

Time With Jesus

Hey Everyone!
This next year, 2021, Jesus is inviting you to spend some time with Him; spend time with Him reflecting on His unchanging love and faithfulness. Every day this coming year, I will be sharing a devotional that will encourage you to embrace Jesus’ love, lay down your worries and be filled with joy and focus on Him as Redeemer, Friend, and Faithful One. After this past year, we need to be able to look forward to 2021 with a hopeful attitude.
Each daily devotional will include a Scripture verse, a reflection on Jesus’ words, and a “faith step” that will inspire and challenge you in your daily walk of living a Christ-like life. In just a couple minutes a day, “Time With Jesus” will help you experience a closer relationship with Jesus. I hope it will also supply you with inspiring and lasting motivation and spiritual nourishment that will fill you with hope and direction.
It starts tomorrow, right here. See you then! God Bless!

Pastor Ben

The Promise of Christmas
There is a popular song by Bill & Gloria Gaither entitled “The King Is Coming.” The King IS coming and when He comes, sin will be eliminated. Tears will be wiped from every eye. Disease shall be no more and even death will be eliminated from the human scene. This is the promise of Christmas. This is our hope. This is the Christmas star that lights our darkness. This is the assurance that a new day is coming, through the Messiah, whose name is called by Isaiah the prophet, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Christmas should be a time of renewed hope — not hope in the status quo, not hope in a particular concept, but hope in Jesus Christ. Hope that God is still in the shadow of history, hope that despite our bungling and disobedience, God will bring order out of chaos.
Today, our imaginations go back 2000 years to that first Christmas when the world experienced 3 phenomena. First, there was a star. There were many stars in the sky, but none like this. This one shone with the aura and brilliance of another world. It was as though god had taken a lamp from the ceiling of heaven and hung it in the dark sky over a troubled world.
Second, there was a new song in the air. A world that had lost its song learned to sing again. With the coming of God in the flesh, hope sprang in the heart of man, and led by angelic beings, the whole world took up the refrain, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
And third, there was good news — the good news that, at last, a Savior had come to save people from sin. Jesus was the central theme of that first Christmas. The star, the song, the gifts, the joy, the hope, the excitement — all were because of Him.
 This is God’s gift of Christmas:

                    * The cradle — His Son;
                    * The Cross — His life;
                    * The crown — His coming eternal Kingdom.
                    But . . . A gift, to be complete, must be received!

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His Name,
He gave the right to become children of God.”
                                            (John 1:12)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Fear Not
In the midst of the pessimism, gloom, and frustration that going on in our world at this time, we are not to worry or wring our hands. The angel said to the frightened shepherds, “Fear not” (Luke 2:10). Jesus says, “Fear not. I go and prepare a place for you and I will come again” (John 14:1-3).
The cradle, the Cross, and the crown are but 3 Acts in God’s grand cosmic plan of the ages. Act 1 was that first Christmas when God entered history in a new way in Jesus Christ. In Act 2, at the Cross, God solved the sin problem through Jesus Christ when He shed his blood for our sins. In Act 3, which is yet to come, God will bring the world the peace we yearn for — through Jesus Christ.

“But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”
                                                        (Hebrews 2:9)

“The mystic star dispensed its light, a blind man moved about in sleep and dreamed that he had sight.

  That night when shepherds heard the song of hosts angelic chairing near,
  A deaf man moved in slumber’s spell and dreamed that he could hear.

  That night when in the cattle stall slept child and mother, cheek by jowl,
  A crippled moved his twisted limbs and dreamed that he was whole.

  That night when over the newborn Babe the tender Mary rose to lean,
  A leper smiled in sleep and dreamed that he was clean.

  That night when to the mother’s breast the little King was held secure,
  A harlot slept a happy sleep and dreamed that she was pure.

  That night when in the manger lay the Sanctified who came to save,
  A man moved in the sleep of death and dreamed there was no grave.”
                                            -Susie M. Best-

Holy Commander-In-Chief

At the cradle, He was in the stall of an animal. At the Cross, He wore a crown of thorns. But when He comes again, it will be as commander-in-chief of the armies of Heaven. He will bring the permanent peace that we strive and long for. Many people wonder why it’s taken so long, since He came the first time over 2000 years ago, for all of this to be fulfilled. Why didn’t He do it the first time? Well, first, something had to be done about our sins, so He died for our sins the first time. Why has it taken 2000 additional years of war and trouble and trials and difficulties and death and suffering and sorrow for this peace to come?
You may remember in World War II there D-Day. And then there was V-Day. And in between, there were many long months and thousands of casualties before the final victory was won. Well, the Cross was god’s D-Day when the back of the enemy, namely sin and the devil, was broken. V-Day is when He returns in glory to take us home with Him.
In the intervening period, we have much work and much fighting to do. We must do our best to make His Name known to all the world. We must do our best to keep the peace of the world. We must do our best to make better social conditions. The fact that we know that He is coming again, does not mean that we just sit on our “blessed assurance” and sing hymns. He said, “Blessed is the servant who, when his master comes, is found working.”

“Lay them quietly at His feet one by one; each desire, however sweet, just begun;
  Dreams still hazy, growing bright; hope just poised, winged for flight;
  All your longing, each delight — every one.
  At His feet and leave them there, never fear; every heartache, crushing care — trembling tear;
  You will find Him always true, men may fail you, friends be few,
  He will prove Himself to you far more dear.”
                                        -From Ruth Bell Graham’s Collected Poems-

“For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
                                                    (Matthew 24:27)

A New Day Is Coming

This hope that was given to those shepherds on that first Christmas morning is available only to those who believe. To know the pardon, joy, peace, and power that come through Christ, we must personally receive Him by faith. We must humble ourselves and admit our sin and our moral failure. And then by faith we must turn to Him as Savior and Lord.
From two momentous events, the birth and death of Jesus, God says to us, “I love you.” He also says, “I can forgive you.”
Queen Victoria once heard a preacher preach on that subject. And she said, “I wish He would come in my lifetime, so I could lay my crown at His feet.” Over 150 years ago, a French chemist named Pierre Bercheit said, “Within 100 years of physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is my belief that when science reaches this stage, God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys and will say to humanity, “Gentlemen, it is closing time.” The Bible teaches that there will be a close to history as we know it. Man will have his last battle, but when it seems that humanity is about to destroy itself, God will intervene. Christ will return.

“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! It’s rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest.”                        (Revelation 6:2)

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His Gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother and in His Name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise His holy Name!
Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever! His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!

The King of Kings

From His very birth, Christ was recognized as King. Something about Him inspired allegiance, loyalty, and homage. Wise men brought Him gifts. Shepherds fell down and worshiped Him. Herod, realizing that thee is never room for two thrones in one kingdom, sought His life.

During His ministry, Jesus claims upon people’s lives were total and absolute. He allowed no divided loyalty. He demanded and received complete adoration and devotion. Mature men & women left their businesses and gave themselves in total obedience to Him. Many of them gave their lives, pouring out the last full measure of devotion.

Jesus’ words caused even His most avowed enemies to say, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” (John 7:46). And yet He was more than a poet, more than a statesman, more than a physician. We cannot understand Christ until we understand that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Like Thomas, our response must be to bow down and confess, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28).

“A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.”
                                -Psalm 45:6-

Hey Church Family!

THE CROWN

He Shall Reign Forever

There’s more to Christmas than the Cradle and the Cross. There’s also the Crown. Chiseled into the cornerstone of the United Nations building is a quotation from the Bible that has never yet been fulfilled. Taken from Isaiah 2:4. It reads, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”
That is a thrilling thought! It’s often been repeated by those who long for peace. And many of those wonder why peace doesn’t come. However, this quotation must not be taken out of context.
The passage speaks of the time when the Messiah will reign over the whole earth. This is the era about which Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven” (Matthew 6:10). This is the time when He who came as the Baby of Bethlehem shall come back as King of kings and Lord of lords.

“The crown will not be restored until he to whom it rightfully belongs shall come; to him I will give it.”                    (Ezekiel 21:27)

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.”                            (Isaiah 9:6-7)

The kingdom of this world
Is become the kingdom of our Lord,
And of His Christ, and of His Christ;
And He shall reign for ever and ever.
King of kings, and Lord and lords, . . .
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings, forever and ever,
And Lord of lords,
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

-George Frideric Handel, The Messiah-

A Mother’s Prayer

Had I been Joseph’s mother — I’d have prayed,
    protection from his brothers:
God, keep him safe; he is so young,
    so different from the others.
Mercifully she never knew’
    there would be slavery and prison, too.

Had I been Moses’ mother — I’d have wept,
    to keep my little son;
Praying she might forget the babe
    drawn from the water of the Nile,
Had I not kept him for her nursing him the while?
    Was he not mine and she but Pharoah’s daughter?

Had I been Mary — Oh, had I been she,
    I would have cried as never  a mother cried,
Anything, O God, anything but crucified!
With such prayers importunate,
    my finite wisdom would assail Infinite Wisdom;
God, how fortunate Infinite Wisdom should prevail!”

            -From Ruth Bell Graham’s Collected Poems-

“To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.                    (Revelation 1:5-6)

Our Greatest Need

I believe that America and the world stand on the threshold of divine judgment. Morally, socially, economically, politically, spiritually, we are in deep trouble. We’ve turned away from God, and every month seems to take us further away from the only One who can reverse the tide, forgive our sins, and forestall the imminent judgment. We must alter our course if we are going to see many more Christmas seasons.
We must re-order our priorities. We must re-make the unjust structures that have taken advantage of the powerless, and broken the hearts of the poor and the dispossessed. We all admit that we need more sweeping social reform, and in true repentance, we must determine to do something about it.
But even that, as good as it is, is not our greatest need. Our greatest need is a change in our hearts. That is why Jesus said in John 3:7, “You must be born again.” That’s why He said in Luke 13:3, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” The apostle Paul, in his famous sermon at Mars Hill said, “God . . .commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world” (Acts 17:30-31).
Who should repent? Everybody. That is what the Cross calls for. The heart of its message is simple: repent and be saved — now and eternally.

“Christmas is a reminder from God Himself that we are not alone.”

“O come, O come, Emmanuel — And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here — Until the Son of God appear.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free — Thine own from Satan’s tyranny,
From depths of Hell Thy people save — And give them victory over the grave.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer — Our spirits by Thine advent here,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night — And death’s dark shadows put to flight.

O come, Thou Key of David, come — And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high — And close the path to misery.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might — Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai’s height,
In ancient times did’st give the Law — In cloud, and majesty and awe.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel — Shall come to Thee, O Israel.”

                                    -Latin, 12th Century-