In the Book of Matthew (chapter 23) we find Jesus admonishing the religious leaders of that time. The Pharisees and Sadducees are satisfied with only looking the part. Jesus refers to them as being spiritually blind. As He speaks to the church leaders, Jesus uses the example of a bowl and cup that look clean or spotless on the outside. But the inside is much different. Their inside is filthy, only appearing to be clean. It is similar to looking for a new home when the

The Bible speaks in detail about who we will be in heaven. Our earthly bodies are patterned after that of the first man (Adam); while our heavenly bodies will resemble the resurrected body of Jesus. The Apostle Paul speaks of this in two of his letter to churches. The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:47). Who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working

As we look forward to celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus, it is important to understand the events that transpired. Certainly, we can see clearly that prophecy was fulfilled with Jesus' crucifixion, burial, resurrection and ascension to sit at the right hand of the Father. But within each of these crucial aspects of our faith, it is important to dig deeper to better understand not only what Jesus did, but why. For instance, the shedding of His blood on the cros

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope ( Jeremiah 29:11). God’s plan for us is very simple. We sometimes over complicate things when we pick and choose only parts of His plan. We need to remind ourselves all of God’s plan fits together just like His word (Bible). Scores of people today, even in many of our churches, walk around aimless. They work their jobs and take care of their fam

Our days are filled with tasks, appointments, schedules and calendars. We need reminder notes to remind us not to forget and passwords (that we forget) to log into our own information. As I continue this journey of life, I have come to the conclusion I suffer from memory overload more than memory loss . Our brains were created with a capacity and I feel mine has been reached! Still, it is incredible the memories of life I remember. Thoughts of a childhood filled with lov

Webster’s Dictionary defines confidence as: firm belief or trust, boldness to have assurance. As Christians, we have confidence in a much greater Authority. This assurance of God being in control allows us to enjoy prosperous times and endure challenging moments. A boldness that comes from being filled with the Holy Spirit. 2 Timothy 1:7 encourages us with these words, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. In the Book of

Growing up, I can remember my mom reminding me to constantly "stand up straight". I am sure she was worried about my posture more than anything. But I think there was (and is) more to it than that. As a child, my parents also encouraged me to be proud of who I was. Not in a conceited way, but more so to never hang my head or be ashamed of my last name and whose I was. And just like someone with bad posture, the weight of the world can often times feel like we are buckling

Used in more marriage ceremonies and anniversary celebrations, the thirteenth chapter in Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth is considered by many to be the "love" chapter in the Bible. In this passage, Paul speaks to the power, place and purpose of love. As Christians, we have its' preeminence through the power of the Holy Spirit. Love can and has truly conquered all. The love of God to create us and the love of Jesus to save us. However, unlike the world, we

Throughout the Bible, believers are referred to as a peculiar people. In Deuteronomy (14:2), Moses says the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself . 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light". To the world, Christians may seem different or strange. And that is exactly what we s

As a pastor, part of my responsibility is to make sure I am connected with members of our congregation. This can be accomplished through prayer, fellowship, listening and the willingness to allow Christ to speak to my mind and heart. The Bible speaks very clearly about the expectations God has for those He calls to preach His Word and shepherd His people. I can tell you that the Holy Spirit's presence is strong in our church, but so is the devil. That may offend or confus

For many of us, it has been and continues to be extremely cold. The large snow that fell almost two weeks ago is still very much present. While recognizing the beauty and need for snow as a part of God's creation, I must confess I am beyond ready for it to go away. While we look forward to warmer temperatures, I am sure that the high humidity of summer may have some of us wishing otherwise. Perhaps we need a change in climate? Many times, our faith can be like a thermomete

All of us, from time to time, have experienced a bad day. Whether it was full of frustrations, stress, pain or all three, each of us have wondered if that particular day was ever going to end. It is a natural reaction to focus on the storms of life when we are in the middle of them. And just like an actual (weather) storm, it is hard to see past the day(s) that are filled with dark skies. I write this to you while experiencing a day such as this. Today, has seemed like a

The belief, practice and interpretation of baptism have been, at times, a source of confusion, disagreement and even separation from the church for many. As with any other subject, we should always look to God's Word for clarity. Before we dive in (no pun intended), let us first differentiate between the act of being baptized and the baptism of a believer by and through the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us in the Book of Acts (1:5) John truly baptized with water; but ye shall b

Most of us would agree our world is in need of some serious help. Trials, tribulations, and suffering all seem to be on the rise. It can quickly become overwhelming when we try to incorporate all the pain we see and feel into our prayer life. At times, it can almost seem hopeless. Many, who set out with good intentions, can ultimately feel like what is even the point of trying to help. Those frustrations grow when the help we do offer to those in need seems to fall on dea

Over the holidays, you may have found yourself gathered with friends and family around a large table. Or, as my family does several small tables pushed together! Regardless of the arrangement(s), it is always an interesting dynamic finding your seat. Whether it is assigned seating or a free-for-all, a place at the (family) table says, you belong. For many families, it is understood where you are supposed to sit; maybe it is at the head of the table, closest to the kitchen

In the past, I have shared passages in the bible that have stood out to me on my journey. One such passage is Psalm 23. Well-known and far reaching, this verse has provided both courage and comfort to thousands. For some, it has been spoken in defiance to the evil of this world. While others have whispered it in time of great despair. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my

Hopefully you begin, experience and end every day thanking God for the numerous blessings in life. Even during the hard times, there are many things we can still be thankful for. In fact, it is this mindset that can carry us through the darkest hours of our lives. 1Thessalonians 5:18 tells us this is the will of God. When you spend time in prayers of thanksgiving, you will be amazed at how your overall outlook changes for the better. One of the many wonders of God is how

We have experienced three days of a new year and many of us are already exhausted. Maybe it is a carry over from last year, the holidays, our schedules or a combination of all three. Whatever the cause, it is hard to remember a time when we did not feel worn out. As we collectively return to our our jobs, routines, busy homes and life in general, perhaps there is a shared feeling of dread and preconceived exhaustion. Similar to someone squatting (or lifting) weights, sink

Have you ever wondered why Jesus places such importance on prayer life? His Word is filled with references, encouragement, examples (Sermon on the Mount) and the importance of prayer. Certainly, prayer is vital to the overall well-being of a believer and their relationship with Christ. It is our direct communication with God. A daily conversation that can take on many shapes and forms: forgiveness, joy, confusion, gratitude, protection, and the list goes on. Our prayers

As we continue to prepare for and celebrate the arrival of Christmas many churches, like Otsego First Baptist, make Advent a part of services. But what is Advent? Why do Christians celebrate it? Is it even found in the Bible? Although the word advent is not found in the Bible, the practice of Advent is filled with biblical themes and spiritual preparations for Christmas. In addition to the lighting of candles during the four weeks leading up to Christmas, many of our othe