Southside's Blog

Here’s another quiz; see how you do on this one. Think of three people you enjoy spending time with. Name ten people who’ve taught you something worthwhile. Name five friends who’ve helped you in a difficult time. List a few teachers who’ve aided your journey through high school. Easier? It was for me, too. The lesson? The people who make a difference are not the ones with credentials, but the ones with the concern.

Mike: Now take the test from the last paragraph but how many people have you made a difference for?

The big choice, God leaves to us.  The critical decision is ours.  What are you doing with God’s invitation?  What are you doing with his personal request that you live with him forever?

From Mike: Emphasis mine

You see, God is the King who invites us to come.  Who prepares the palace and sets the table and invites his subjects to come in. His invitation for you, however, is not just for a meal – it’s for life!

From Mike: You read a devotional like Max has written and it appears it should be easy to love God and reject Satan and his temptations.. God has given us so much because He loves us. Satan has only given us pain. He cares nothing about us except that his desire is for us is to join him in hell. Our sinful desires and our humanism seem more attractive, That's why God us Jesus! Thank you God!

God has a peculiar passion for the forgotten. Have you noticed? See his hand on the skin of the leper? See the face of the prostitute cupped in Jesus’s hands? See him with his arm around little Zacchaeus? God wants us to get the message: what society puts out, God puts in. What the world writes off, God picks up. Why did he pick you? He wanted to. After all, you are his. And he made you. No matter how long you’ve waited or how much time you’ve wasted, you are his. And he has a place for you.

“Believing prayer ushers in God’s peace. Not a random, nebulous, earthly peace, but his peace, imported from heaven. The same tranquility that marks the throne room, God offers to you. Do you think he battles anxiety? You suppose he ever wrings his hands or asks for antacids? Of course not. A problem is no more a challenge to God than a twig is to an elephant. God enjoys perfect peace because God enjoys perfect power. And he offers his peace to you. A peace that will “guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7 NLT).”

“The Philippians, living in a garrison town, were accustomed to the Roman sentries maintaining their watch. God oversees your world. He monitors your life. Listen carefully and you will hear him say, “Everything is secure. You can rest now.”

From Mike:

From the Internet: The term "peace" is used in the New Testament in at least five different ways: (1) peace as the absence of war or chaos, (2) peace as a right relationship with God or with Christ; (3) peace as a good relationship among people; (4) peace as an individual virtue or state, that is, tranquility or serenity; and (5) peace….

Dictionary: freedom from disturbance; or tranquility; a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended.

These are the general descriptions most of us will use when asked about peace. Where we are in the stages of life will have a lot to do with each individual’s answer on peace. Young, newly married, married with children, stages in careers, health and age all affect our peace. It seems that the most important answer on peace is described in Philippians 4:7.

Thanks

Mike  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart,  and do not lean on your own understanding.

 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths.

Psalms 28:7

“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways.”

Max Lucado

“God is God. He knows what He is doing. When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.”

“Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.”

“You’ll get through this. It won’t be painless. It won’t be quick. But God will use this mess for good. In the meantime don’t be foolish or naïve. But don’t despair either. With God’s help you will get through this.” Various books from online quotations – used by permission

Allen Jackson

“God has always been faithful to me, but I’ll admit that I’ve questioned Him about His timing, especially when it seemed He was allowing a challenging situation to continue rather than change it. I have to remind myself that’s God’s perspective is infinitely bigger than mine as He looks across the span of the ages to see people and circumstances and events that I cannot see. If you’re unhappy with God right now because of His sense of timing, I would encourage you to trust Him. God has a plan for your life and mine, and He will do what needs done—when it needs to be done—to accomplish His plan and purposes for those of who wait for Him.” From Standing Firm- Allen Jackson -2018 - Intend Publishing – used by permission

From Mike: I believe everything written above but still struggle. God is all powerful and can do anything and everything that is asked of Him. But, why doesn’t grant my prayers? I’m writing about the prayers for someone else. My sister passed away in 2002. She was diagnosed with breast cancer. The doctor told her that with a double mastectomy there was only a 5% chance it would come back. Two years later she died with cancer in many parts of her body.  My parents provided her hospice care for the final three months of her life in the front bedroom of their home. No parent should have to do that.

An 11/12 year old boy in Memphis is dying from cancer. His parents are watching him on his death bed in the hospital. He let’s go but his mom cries out “no” and he summons barely enough strength to take one  more breath but his dad lays his hand on his son to tell him it’s ok to go!

You pray for your marriage or your child’s but divorce still happens.

There are numerous examples of these types of events happening. There was prayer upon prayer. All of us can tell a tale where God did not grant our request. Why, God? At times it’s very difficult to trust that all will be OK in time. Just remember reread verse mentioned and hang on.

Thanks

What are your thoughts? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All the words written in Scripture have a purpose and value, but some are certainly more applicable to daily living. For instance, when I was translating from the Book of Numbers in my Hebrew Reading class several years ago, I was literally translating numbers. The chief of this tribe brought this many silver bowls, and many other items, and one after another they brought the same number. When I began to translate some of the Psalms, however, there was a sense of awe and reverence that came over me. The language is different. While all words have meaning, some have more practical meaning for life than others.

So, when I read Matthew 22:36-40 and see Jesus answer a profound question; I pay even closer attention than I did to the number of silver bowls. One is a fact; the other is a foundational principle for living.

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:36-40, NASB)

When Jesus speaks, everyone should listen. Here he tells us plainly that all of the commandments, and by extension the entire Bible up to this point, hang on these two commandments. They can be summed up as Love God and Love People. So, how do we live out these commandments?

This is not an exhaustive commentary on how to live out these commandments, but the three basic principles I am suggesting will supply a pathway for growth in living out the commandments to love God and love people.

1. Solitude. While corporate worship is vital to spiritual health, so is individual time with the Lord. There are several examples in Scripture of Jesus being in solitude with the Father. The same goes for Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, John, Peter, Paul, and on and on. If Jesus and these spiritual giants needed to be alone with God, then why am I not setting aside regular time for it? Just 15 minutes of undistracted time alone with God each day can make a big difference in your relationship with God, and with other people. Longer periods regularly will be transformative.

2. Sacred Reading. Reading the Bible for the sake of gaining knowledge and insight is important, very important. I have read through the entire Bible from cover to cover multiple times. I love to do it, and it has been vital to my growth. At the same time, I have spent a week on a short Psalm or in the Beatitudes or some other short passage. I have meditated on them, prayed over them, and used them as guides to prayer. When I do this, I am not seeking head knowledge I am looking to be transformed more into the likeness of Jesus Christ. When I read short passages and savor every word to be changed from the inside out, I approach Scripture in a more sacred way. The Bible is not an ordinary book for pleasure alone or to prepare for an assessment. The Bible is written for our transformation, and we must approach every moment with it as sacred. Sacred reading will help us to love God and love people.

3. Service. If you haven’t spent time in John 13 lately, you may have forgotten a vital example Jesus set for us. This is where He washes His disciples’ feet, including a man who would betray Him to His death. In the passage, he sets the example and always says very directly that serving others is part of serving God. Some people aren’t easy to serve. Some people annoy us, mistreat us, talk down to us, and even betray us, but we must look to serve those most of all. We can serve in small ways, like putting our shopping cart away or picking up litter in the bathroom. We can serve in big ways, like aiding after natural disasters or caring for the sick. The bottom line is service is a way to show that we love God and love people. It should be what we do all day long. There is no shortage of opportunities to serve; we just need to open our eyes.

To recap, we can better live out the greatest commands to love God and love people by pursuing these 3 things consistently: solitude with God, sacred reading of Scripture, and serving our fellow human beings. 

Blessings,

Tim

*You can reach me to discuss this post, or anything else, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..*

The path to peace is paved with prayer. Less consternation, more supplication. Fewer anxious thoughts, more prayer-filled thoughts. And as you pray, the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. And in the end, what could be better?

It is challenging at best, and sometimes nearly impossible, to understand the grace and love of God that is embodied in Jesus's death, burial, resurrection, and exaltation. We are used to dealing with human beings often as equals who have something to offer each other, but we are not equal to God. Though some might deny it and even hate the idea of God being superior and having no equal, it does not negate the truth. This further complicates the understanding of God's grace and love administered in Jesus. 

In physical and temporal terms, we love someone at first (other than our children and grandchildren :)) because of something that appeals to us about them. Yet, we have nothing to offer Jesus in this regard. 

Christopher Watkin (Biblical Critical Theory, 415) says it this way:

Christ's love for us is not in view of the qualities we currently possess but in view of those we will possess through his love: 'Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy...and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless' (Eph 5:25-27). This figure of love engenders a long-term commitment to the beloved, fostering a relationship not of consumer and product but of one who, through and despite everything, will ceaselessly seek the best interests of the beloved.

You and I will never find love like the love of Jesus in any other relationship on earth. There is no love to compare it to but itself. The best news is that He loves us beyond our ability to love Him back in the same way.

**If you want to talk about the love of Jesus, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you noticed the title and thought this was going to be an expose of my sins, you are going to be very disappointed! Besides, your sins are worse than mine! No one expresses that thought but I believe many people rationalize that thought. What is the basis of that thinking? Human nature encouraged by Satan.

Most of us possess an outstanding ability to rationalize. If I have a bad day then a piece of Kay’s coconut cream pie helps lift my spirits and conversely on a good day a piece helps me celebrate! Meanwhile my weight continues to go up. Rationalization is a powerful tool. Unfortunately, it’s often not based on fact or the truth. It’s a crutch.

I worked with a lady years ago who was the queen of gossip. She loved to talk about other peoples’ problems. When she was asked about it, her reply was that she was not lying. Rationalization kept her going. Those that were willing to listen claimed innocence because they were just listening. Listening to gossip is being a party to gossip.

Judgement day arrives. You are standing before God. There will be no others that you can divert His attention towards. He’s waiting for your account and God does not care to hear your rationalization. If He doesn’t want to hear how your sins are not as bad as someone else’s nor your rationalization on judgement day then why would He want to hear that today?

Give God what He wants to hear, heartfelt and true confessions expressed in true sorrow!

Thanks

Mike    This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

"The word race is from the Greek word agon, from which we get the word agony. The Christian’s race is not a jog but rather a demanding and grueling, and sometimes agonizing race. It takes a massive effort to finish strong."

"Likely you’ve noticed that many don’t. There are many on the side of the trail. They may come to church, but their hearts aren’t in the race. And unless something changes, their best work will have been their first work, and they will finish with a whimper."

"By contrast Jesus’ best work was his final work, and his strongest step was his last step. Our Master is the classic example of one who endured. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus “held on while wicked people were doing evil things to him” (Hebrews 12:3 NCV). Jesus could have quit the race, but he didn’t. Let’s stay in the race, shall we? And let’s finish strong."

From Mike: For a number of years I was a runner. Runner is not really a accurate description. Plodding is a better description. My first race was a 10K, 6.2 miles. I was only half way through when the winner finished!! I was in agony!

Running is no longer a test for me. I was plodding in 2015 when the stroke hit. Any endurance I ever had for plodding is gone. I'm still plodding in my Christian life however and Satan is constantly urging me to quit trying. He cares nothing about me. He only wants me join him in Hell some day. This is not a race that any of us can give up on.

God Bless!

Mike

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:30-31

Our Vacation Bible School this week has centered around the 7 miracles of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John that He performed before His death, burial, and resurrection. They are meant to help everyone who reads his book to come to faith in Jesus. I can tell you on a very personal level that reading through John's Gospel multiple times has deepened my faith in Jesus and my love for Him. Here is a list of the miracles that John describes and where they can be found:

1. Water into wine -- John 2:1-11
2. Healing of the official's son -- John 4:46-52
3. Healing of the man crippled for 38 years -- John 5:1-13
4. The feeding of 5000 people -- John 6:1-14
5. Walking on Water -- John 6:16-21
6. Healing of a man born blind -- John 9:1-12
7. The raising of Lazarus from the dead -- John 11:38-44

I hope you will read these passages that detail these miracles. What I really hope is that you will read through 1 chapter a day in the Gospel of John for the next few weeks, and then do it again. I have no doubt that you will be drawn closer to Jesus and want to know even more about Him.

Please email me if I can pray for you or help you learn more about Jesus. 

Blessings,

Tim 

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Ah, Summer! For some folks, it means a break from school or work. For some folks, it might mean more work. If you like warmer weather, it is great for you. If you like cooler weather, not so much. No matter your circumstances or your thoughts about Summer, it passes quicker than we imagine. So, the question is "Do you know what you'll do this Summer?"

If you check out our church's home page, you will see that we have some wonderful Summertime activities for you to be involved in and we welcome you to join in with us. These are opportunities to grow in your knowledge of Jesus Christ and to learn more about how to follow Him.

Here are a few more suggestions for how to spend the Summer:

• Read the New Testament all the way through at least once.
• Read the Gospel of John every week.
• Start a prayer journal with four headings: Adoration, Confession, Supplication (asking God to supply your needs), and Thanksgiving.
• Spend 15 minutes alone with God every day by yourself (and put that phone away).
• Make a short visit to someone who needs encouragement.
• Write those notes of encouragement to people that you have been waiting to have time to do.
• Go through your stuff and give away the good things that someone else can use that you never use yourself.
• Make your own list of suggestions.

Thank you for reading! We would love to have you come to see us at Southside this Summer!

This past Sunday at Southside we celebrated our high school graduates. We gave them gifts and honored them with a meal. They are outstanding young people.

I preached a sermon directed at them primarily, but as I told the congregation, it was meant for all of us and the things I discussed should be modeled by all of us. I will list them again here:

1. Consistent Silence and Solitude with God. Just as Jesus did, we need to spend time with God alone. Even 15 undistracted minutes a day to sit with God in peace and stillness, or take a walk in nature to take in some of the sights, smells, etc. He has created will help calm the bombardment of our senses from the things around us.
2. Contemplative Bible Reading. Reading the Bible every day is absolutely crucial for our spiritual health, but also for our emotional, mental, and physical health. It also helps us to clearly discern right from wrong, teaches us how to treat other people, and how to live righteous lives that bring glory and honor to God. Reading the Bible not just for knowledge but for transformation by meditating on what God says is vital for our continued growth.
3. Conversational Prayer.  Jesus' disciples listened to the formal prayers of the Scribes and Pharisees which were more presentations than conversations. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray. Jesus modeled for them and us, in all of His recorded prayers, a conversational tone with the Father. God wants us to talk with Him and not make presentations to Him. 
4. Challenging Relationships with Mature Christians.  We were not meant to live life alone without any companions. Jesus sent His disciples out 2 by 2 to preach and teach because He knew discouragement and doubt arise when we feel alone. I have experienced it personally, and you may have too. Scripture is very clear that we must have an ongoing connection to the Church through relationships with folks who have a mature and growing faith in Jesus. These relationships should be with Christians our own age, but also with those who are much older and wiser than us.

I hope you will join with me to follow these daily practices so you will grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, and make a difference in the world for Him!

Some people think God only wants to punish them when they do wrong. People outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ do not learn from the Bible that God wants to send them to hell and punish them. In fact, the opposite is true. God loves everyone and wants everyone to be saved from their sins and have a lasting friendship with Him.

This is what Jesus says in John 3:16-17:

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."

God is not interested in judgment and condemnation as much as He is in salvation. People matter to God!

We see in John 4 in the story of the woman at the well in Samaria that Jesus is interested in people who have made life-altering choices and find themselves in situations that seem beyond hope of salvation. When His disciples returned and saw Him talking to this woman who was an outcast in her own village He was not concerned with what anyone thought of Him. His concern was for this lonely woman who was caught up in sin.

In Matthew 9:9-13, Jesus is criticized by the Scribes and Pharisees (who were the religious leaders of the time) for eating with sinful people. His response when he heard this criticism was:  "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire compassion, and not sacrifice,' for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners". 

• Jesus went to sinners.
• Jesus dined with sinners.
• Jesus humbled himself.

The apostle Paul writes these words in Romans 5:6-8:

"For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for a good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

You matter to God. He loves you and He wants a forever friendship with you. 

Please contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to talk about it. I would love to have a conversation with you.

Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11, NASB 1995)

1. Jesus Christ is Divine (He is God).

• John 1:14, 18
• John 10:30
• Hebrews 1:1-3

2. Jesus Christ Became a Man.

• John 1:14
• 1 John 1:1
• Hebrews 4:15
• Matthew 4:4

3. Jesus Christ Became Sin for Us.

• 1 John 2:2
• 2 Corinthians 5:21

Jesus left heaven, came to earth to live like us, and He went to His death on a cruel Roman cross, and He was raised 3 days later. He is worthy of our worship and worthy of our lives!

It has been several years since our family had a yard sale, but as we prepare to move to Shelbyville in the next few months, we decided to clear out some things that we do not need so others could use them.

Like coming to worship at church, people approach coming to a yard sale in different ways. Some folks come for a bargain and do not know what they are looking for in particular. Some people come to find something to resell themselves and they limit the conversation. Some folks are looking for a specific item or type of items like tools or baby clothes. There are some who see it as a recreational outing. (Not all of these are exactly like going to church, but I think you understand the point.)

What struck me the most about our yard sale was the number of very lengthy and personal conversations that I had with a few people. Two specific observations I made are: some folks are desperate to just talk and visit with someone, and some people are hurting, and they are looking (perhaps without knowing it) for someone to just listen to them talk about what is dominating their life.

We should be good listeners, taking the time to let people talk, whether it is simply to connect with another human being or to give someone an ear to vent their burdens. This is one way we can follow Jesus.

Galatians 6:2 -- "Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ."

I attended an FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) International Day at my daughter's high school this morning. The Bible was read in English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. A song was sung in English, French, German, and Spanish. There was a speaker from the UK and a speaker from Benin (West Africa). The primary passage that was read in the different languages was Psalm 117:

"Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great toward us, And the truth of the Lord is everlasting. Praise the Lord!"

The 40 to 50 young people who got up extra early to attend this meeting this morning understand the meaning of this Psalm, and the words of Jesus in the Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20. All people matter to Jesus. No matter our ethnicity or nationality, Jesus gave His life for all of us.

In the early centuries after the Church was established, it was a common practice for the followers of Jesus to greet one another to affirm the core event of Christianity. It would go something like this: "He is Risen" with the response being, "He is risen indeed."

Why such a greeting and such a response? I do not know all of the reasons or the details, but I do believe it was to affirm Jesus' Resurrection and to connect with each other through Jesus' conquering death. Many of these early Christians faced persecution that led to death and this was a way to encourage each other to face the uncertain future with the certainty that Jesus had conquered death!

So much of our lives as Christians are based on the truth that Jesus is risen, that He is risen indeed! Let us embrace this truth and help the world to know how much Jesus has done for us.