ADVENT BEGINS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2

Our family will gather Thursday for Thanksgiving.  I love it!  It will be a wonderful, chaotic, noisy gathering where we laugh, enjoy each other’s company, and enjoy wonderfully prepared food.  Maybe we will watch a football game or two.  Certainly, there will be a small football game in the front yard.  What is not to love?

But then comes Friday.  Not black Friday.  I am talking happy, happy, happy Friday.  I’m talking “Noah, granddad, and grandma” Friday.  The Christmas tree goes up, and the Brown’s home gets ready for the Christmas season.  Noah and I, for several years, have taken on the task of decorating the Christmas tree.  I tell Noah about the many ornaments given to us by friends and family over the years.  We hang the hand-made crochet candles Mrs. Ruth Salley made for us when she was 100 years old.  I show him the ornaments celebrating his mother’s birth into our family.   I tell him about family members no longer with us.  Of course, we hang the ornaments from Disney World!  We relive the trips that we made together.  And then, when it is all said and done, we wait for that moment when no one is around.  We both hang a “Christ nail” on the back of the tree.  It is out of view, but it is there.  It is a reminder of the reason for the season.  Once the tree is decorated, we put the train track around the tree and grandma comes and sets up the village.  Grandma does the pretty touches and gets things ready, then Noah and I will arrange the Nativity scenes.  Really, there is an easier way to do all this, but I do not know of a better way.

We take the same loving approach with our church family.  Our team will have the church decorated for the first Sunday of Advent.  What a wonderful job they do.  Like so many of our teams, they work behind the scenes, then beginning December 2, we will focus our worship services on the coming of Christ…The Advent.  We will use candles to symbolize that Jesus is the Light of the world.  Scriptures will be read reminding us of part of the greatest story ever told.  We will do our best to help call our attention to the reason for the season.

Let this Advent season enrich your Christmas celebration.  Refuse to become a Grinch.  Go ahead and say it…   “Joy to the World the Lord is come!”  Now sing it.  Go ahead.  Sing it.  I don’t care if I go shopping or not on Friday.  What I do know is this…good Lord willing, I will be making memories with my family and teaching the joy of the Christmas season.

Happy Thanksgiving…and I can’t wait to say “Merry Christmas!”

Pastor Tom

On Celebrating Advent…or one of my favorite puns: “Advent is Coming”

I have made a commitment to not skip Thanksgiving. Even though many stores already have Christmas decorations up, I will try my best to focus on giving thanks.  I do not want to skip right over Thanksgiving.  Now, come the Friday after Thanksgiving… “It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.”  It’s on.

I have already started planning this year’s “Advent Celebration.”  Don’t let naysayers or anyone else rob you of this meaningful time of worship.  While some Baptist did not grow up observing the Advent season, we have made some of its rich traditions ours.  The word “advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus.”  It means arrival or coming.  In this case, it refers to the arrival and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas day.  This year that will be December 2.

In a season of rush and an often embarrassing commercialization of Christmas, what a great idea to have moments of reflection.  The Advent season is a call to Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love.  It is our privilege to call our church family and friends to remember the true meaning of the coming of Christ. What a wonderful opportunity to worship and to teach the greatest story ever told.  We use Advent to teach the Word of God and the Mission of God; to help families find balance in a hectic season; to encourage giving to the poor and to others with a generous and thankful heart.  The Light of the World came…it is worthy of celebrating with the Word, with candles, with prayers, with gifts, and with whatever Christmas trappings can help us celebrate His advent.

Our family joyfully celebrates the Christmas season.  We build our celebration on the traditions of Christmas from the Word of God, from believers through the centuries as well as our own family traditions.  We have created some traditions built on the personal joy of what God has done for us in sending his Son as our Savior.  It has led us to give to others because God gave to us.  We sing and listen to great Christmas music because our hearts are filled with joy.  We light Christmas Lights celebrating Jesus as the Light of the World.

As the Under-Shepherd of this church family, I will lead you to do the same.  A friend of mine told me that we should not use pink candles in the advent service.  His reasoning was that over a thousand years ago, some pope used a pink candle in some insidious way.  My response…we will not let that pope light our candle!  Pink was God’s color long before it was the color of choice of some misguided person.  Don’t get distracted by those who take joy on raining on your Christmas parade.  March on; stay faithful to God’s Word; give thanks and be joyful; give to those in need…but don’t forget Thanksgiving!

See you Sunday, Lord willing!

Pastor Tom

Only Two Sundays Away

One of the most joyful services of the year is our annual Thanksgiving Worship Celebration.  It takes place on the Sunday before Thanksgiving, November 18th.  There are many reasons this is a Sunday of Thanksgiving.  I hope each one of them leads you to express gratitude and deep appreciation for all God has done for us.

First, there is only one worship service on Sunday, November 18th.  We will all combine for a united day of thanksgiving.  The 8:30am group and the Chinese Fellowship will join us at the 11am service.  This is one of the few times during the year that we combine our worship services.  The Chinese Church is planning to sing two songs during the service.  This is always a favorite.

Second, we will celebrate the two ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  If you are waiting for baptism or are interested, please call the church office at #762-0244.  It is always a moving part of worship to welcome new believers and new members into the family of God here at James Island Baptist.  We will also celebrate the Lord’s Supper as Eucharist…thanksgiving.  Reflect on what God has done for us in sending His only begotten Son.  Remember the ultimate love Jesus showed in being obedient even to the point of death on a cross.  Hallelujah, what a Savior.

Third, we will have the recognition of all new members since last Thanksgiving.  One of the blessings we are most thankful for are the new members God has brought into our church family.  If you have joined JIBC, one of our connection groups, Sunday School,...etc, we would like to welcome you and give God thanks and glory.  Janie and I, after the Celebration of Communion, will invite all of our new members to come and join us.  We will have a prayer of praise and thanksgiving.  It really can be a moving moment to see how the Lord has blessed.

Fourth, we will have a church wide Thanksgiving Meal.  Our fabulous Kitchen Krew is preparing food for the entire church family.  It is not necessary for you to bring anything.  If you would like to, why not bring a dessert or one of your favorite dishes.  Just take it back to the Fellowship Hall, and they will put it out for everyone to enjoy.  Trust me; it will be a feast and great fellowship.

Last, if you have any strength left, the annual James Island Community Thanksgiving Service.  This year, the service will be hosted at St. James Presbyterian Church located at 1314 Seccessionville Road.  You are invited to bring a canned goods and a financial offering for the James Island Outreach.  This is always a great gathering of the family of God here on James Island.

Give thanks; this is the will of God for your life!  See you Sunday, good Lord willing.

Pastor Tom

Update on Celebrate Recovery

“Anyone can curse the darkness…let’s be the ones who light a candle.”  That is especially true when we are followers of Jesus, the Light of the world.  I am thankful to God for the JIBC family that supports two outstanding ministries fighting for freedom for those struggling with addictions.  We have two very intensive, very focused ministries aimed at helping men and women experience freedom in Christ.

The first one is Celebrate Recovery:  a Christ centered 12 Step program.  It is recovery ministry using the 12 Steps and the 8 Principles found in the Beatitudes.  There is no mistaking that Jesus Christ is The Higher Power.  When we read the 12 Steps we also share their biblical basis.  For Bill W., the “founder” of AA, there was no question about the 12 Steps being based on the Bible and that the Higher Power was Jesus Christ.  We are gratefully continuing his inspired approach.  A typical meeting goes like this:  gather for a shared meal at 6:00; brief worship set at 6:30; we use the chip system to mark time and celebrate; we read the 12 steps and/or the 8 Principles from the Beatitudes; we have a lesson on one of the steps; then we divide into men and women’s groups.  The entire program is over at 8 p.m.

By the way, did you know that The Charleston Crab House, Kickin’ Chicken, and the Stono Café each graciously provide a meal one Sunday out of the month?  Please tell John, David, and Barry thanks when you see them.  Then our team cooks or provides pizza on the fourth Sunday.  What a blessing!  We have a strong team leading this ministry.  I am pleased when I can participate with them.  Just a reminder that we all are recovering from something.  It is not just about alcohol and drugs.  It is about codependency, bad choices, traumatic experiences, abuses of all kinds, eating disorders, etc.  This past Sunday night we had 35 in attendance;  about half from the Charleston Center and half from our church and community.

The second mission outreach is the Transition House: The 180 Ministry.  It took so long for us to get this off the ground.  Marsha Cline came in as the administrator and got the ball rolling and served as the first “house mother.”  When she returned to Indianapolis, she had a stroke.  She is doing better and still needs our prayers.  The Transition House was in such good shape and order, that we tried a new approach.  We now have two residents, and two itty bitty babies, living there.  We are getting ready for our third resident.  These are women who, primarily, come to us through the Charleston Center.  We did make an exception for one of the ladies who was in need when the house was empty.  There is only one other ministry like this in the Charleston area that we know.  The Ruth House just opened.  It is a ministry of The Mount Moriah Church in North Charleston.  So we have a sister ministry to compare notes.  Thank you Jesus!

And thank you JIBC for being a church family willing to take on the giants.  Anyone can curse the darkness…you chose to light a candle of hope that they might find Jesus.

Pastor Tom

I almost made it!

             You know I love my calling, my job, our church family and Charleston.  I feel extremely honored to have the privilege of teaching God’s Word, leading this family.   Even so, there are times, just like with anyone, my emotions can get overwhelmed.

                 A week or so ago, our daughter Erin and Trey, announced they were expecting.  They announced early knowing the need for prayer.  They have already lost two babies in the second trimester.  Pretty sure they had this one figured out, they joyfully announced and immediately asked family and friends for prayer.  They were wonderfully overwhelmed with support.

Last Friday something happened and they lost the baby.   The same day Erin was in the hospital, Janie and Brook were hosting a baby shower for a friend who was expecting.  In the grace of God, it reminds us:“He gives and takes away, blessed be the Name of the Lord”.  It is the ebb and flow of life.  Joyful thanksgiving followed by trusting and mourning.

Here is the reality:  life goes on, duties are carried out, ministry and missions continue, healing begins, faith is stretched and grows.  I preached Saturday night for Edgewood Baptist Church in Walterboro.  It was their homecoming weekend.  It was good to visit the place we started our ministry 37 years ago.  Then we had our Sunday services and responsibilities.  It made for a long, emotion filled weekend.

I thought I could make it…keep a stiff upper lip, press through and deal with the emotions later.  Janie and I planned to take a motorcycle ride and spend time over a cup of Starbucks.  I didn’t quite make it.   Sunday morning was a tough time for me emotionally.  Thankfully, our church family is a safe place to grieve and hurt.  It is a place of comfort and hope.  There is a ready line of brothers and sisters willing to give a hug, say a prayer and share a tear.  Put a wounded heart that is mourning in that setting and God will bring comfort.

Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.  We do believe Romans 8:28.  We absolutely believe God is good all the time and all the time God is good.  And I do believe “blessed are those who mourn, they will be comforted.”  Our family loves you and thanks you for your love and prayers.

See you Sunday, good Lord willing.

Pastor Tom

Class 101: Discovering Membership at James Island Baptist Church

Last Sunday night, I taught another Class 101: Discovering Membership at James Island Baptist Church.  We had 17 sign up and 17 show up.  It was a great night with a wonderful and varied group of people.  We have people attending from sister churches, from different denominations, different ages and stations in life, differing degrees of spiritual maturity and faith.   It is a wonderful opportunity for me to have “face time” with those I usually only say hello to in passing.  I love the wonderful variety God brings to our church family.  It is a beautiful box of crayons!

Last night, we had 17 people who allowed me to share their entire afternoon and part of their evening.  In case it has been a while, let me remind you what we cover.  First, we go over God’s plan of salvation.  We give every member an opportunity to hear me present a clear and simple plan of how to receive Christ as Savior and Lord.  We then go over the meaning of baptism and the Lord’s Supper.  Second, we review what God’s Word says about the 5 purposes of the church.  We exist to join in the mission of God by being a church that brings people into the family of God, helps them become more like Jesus, involves them in service to the family of God, equips them to live on mission and to honor God with a life of worship.  Third, we cover how we operate as a church family.  In some ways, I love this part the best.  It is what keeps us on focus and allows us to rise above selfishness and self-centeredness.  We cover why we do what we do.

So far, of this group of 17, we had 8 that joined.  Others may join at a later date. Welcome to our church family:  Tonya Broome, Wayne and Kathy Clark, Sherl Gaskins, Paul and Melinda Norris, and Fred and Frances Pooser.  We welcome you all to the family of God known as James Island Baptist, The Church at Riverland Terrace. We welcome you to become fully devoted followers of Christ seeking to love Him and serve others.

I love being a part of His work.  See you Sunday, good Lord willing.

Pastor Tom

Got Discipleship?

That was this past Sunday’s sermon title from Mark 8: 27-38.  If we asked the average person on the street “What it means to be a Christian?”, what do you think their response would be?  Now, ask the same question using a different word:  “What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?”  See the difference?  I agree there should not be a difference, but I think there would be.  Remember that words have usages, not meaning.  The way the term “Christian” is used today is often at odds with what it means to be a Christian.  But what does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?  That seems to have held its meaning through the ages.

We spent some time on what it does not mean.  It does not mean “just” believing.  I think we have come short if all we ask people to do is to “believe”…as though being a disciple of Jesus was an intellectual exercise.  After all, even the demons and the devil  believe but are not followers of Jesus.  It is also not enough to be “religious.”  The tricky thing about being religious is you can have the right “form and look” but still miss the goal.  You can be religious on the outside and be a heathen on the inside.  Religion is part of what we need to be saved from.  It is possible to be very religious and be twice as fit for hell!  And certainly we do not believe that being “Baptist” automatically makes you a Christian.  Oh, that it were true, that anyone who claimed the name of Christ and happened to be Baptist was totally sold out to be a follower of the Lamb.

Jesus summed it up pretty neatly…not easy, but certainly very clearly.  If anyone would follow me he must do this:  deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.  It is counter intuitive and even counter culture to deny yourself.  Dethroning yourself, your ego is perhaps the hardest thing you will ever do.  We are wired up by our old sin nature to preserve, protect, and look out for #1.  Jesus calls his followers to a new style of life.  Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Love your neighbor as yourself.  That requires a change…who sits on the throne, who is in control, who are you following?

Got discipleship?  Yes, I think you do!

Pastor Tom