This week I was talking about February being Black History month and reflecting about how things have changed in the US over the fast 5 decades when talking about racial discrimination. I know we still have a long way to go as a nation in seeing every one equal - no mater the color of their skin. But wow lets look at how far we have come! I was talking to some folks the other day about the Civil Rights days in America and how if effected Barbour County West Virginia. They were telling me that they remember at least two restaurants in Philippi and one in Belington that served “Whites Only.” It is hard to believe that just 50 years ago there was so much public hatred right here in our County. So how far have we came? Well very far in a lot of cases and Not so far in other areas.
Publicly we may not sell folks from the court house lawn, or have public beatings, or we don’t see crosses burning on lawns. But how about in private, is the hatred still alive behind closed doors? Recently a gentleman was talking to me about Black History month and started his argument with this statement, “I’m not a racist but…” I am always cautious when folks start to defend themselves before they speak. Today in my Faith Column I want to address this Racial Hatred.
To dislike someone, to hate someone, or to come against someone because they have a different color skin tone than you; has to be the most ridicules kind of hate! The Bible paints a Clear Picture that God created all in His Likeness. ALL – White, Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, Dark and Pail… we are all created in God’s Image. Jesus preached a message of acceptance to all regardless of their skin color or social standing!!! How can we say we love God and hate His creation? I think it is time for Barbour County to take a lead nationally and take a Stand against Racism once and for all. We are All God’s Children, amen?
I challenge you to take this month and reflect back on times of the past and how far we have come. And search your heart and if you find racial Hatred there root it up and bury it – deep!!! You can also research and read about the giant steps against racism taken by Men of God like Dr Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Rev. Vernon Johns… During the Month of February let’s purposely make a difference in our region.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
2010
“2010”
Wow, can you believe that a decade ago we were all talking about Y2K and the things the new millennium would bring. And here we are now 10 years into it… Many folks entered into this millennium with new hope for their future, others entered with fear or uncertainties. As we recap the past 10-years we see Historical things like the 911-terror attack, the War on Terror with 2-fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, destructive natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean massive tsunami, and we also saw the first African American President in the USA…
During the decade we have also seen the nation turn to God and Faith during these events and again fall away as quickly as they turned. We have seen our leaders of our Faith Communities rise and fall during the years, and so called “movements of God” have sprung up and faded away throughout the nation. So now here we are 10-years later - 2010.
Our nation is still fighting a war on 2-fronts that seems to have no end in sight; our economy has plummeted to an all time low in modern history; unemployment is rising and the job market is falling; trust in our Political leaders from the Capital, to the White House, to the Supreme Court is at and All time LOW; and our Religious leaders are “having church as usually!”
Face it, these are uncertain times and very difficult times for many! But I also believe that this is a time of great opportunity for Post Modern Church in America! We have something that money can’t buy, the government can’t legislate, and the Media can’t produce… Faith and Hope!!! Through our Faith in God through Jesus Christ we can stand firm, during the largest of storms, on truths in God’s Word… The same God that has kept us, sustained us through trials, blessed us, and protected us over the past hundreds of years is still on the Throne – alive and well! We as a Nation need to turn our hearts back to our FAITH and fall on our knees again. When we do God will be faithful to us. Remember “if God is for us who can stand against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
Let me end with a Promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) “if My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Be blessed in 2010 in Jesus’ Name… Amen
Wow, can you believe that a decade ago we were all talking about Y2K and the things the new millennium would bring. And here we are now 10 years into it… Many folks entered into this millennium with new hope for their future, others entered with fear or uncertainties. As we recap the past 10-years we see Historical things like the 911-terror attack, the War on Terror with 2-fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, destructive natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean massive tsunami, and we also saw the first African American President in the USA…
During the decade we have also seen the nation turn to God and Faith during these events and again fall away as quickly as they turned. We have seen our leaders of our Faith Communities rise and fall during the years, and so called “movements of God” have sprung up and faded away throughout the nation. So now here we are 10-years later - 2010.
Our nation is still fighting a war on 2-fronts that seems to have no end in sight; our economy has plummeted to an all time low in modern history; unemployment is rising and the job market is falling; trust in our Political leaders from the Capital, to the White House, to the Supreme Court is at and All time LOW; and our Religious leaders are “having church as usually!”
Face it, these are uncertain times and very difficult times for many! But I also believe that this is a time of great opportunity for Post Modern Church in America! We have something that money can’t buy, the government can’t legislate, and the Media can’t produce… Faith and Hope!!! Through our Faith in God through Jesus Christ we can stand firm, during the largest of storms, on truths in God’s Word… The same God that has kept us, sustained us through trials, blessed us, and protected us over the past hundreds of years is still on the Throne – alive and well! We as a Nation need to turn our hearts back to our FAITH and fall on our knees again. When we do God will be faithful to us. Remember “if God is for us who can stand against us?” (Rom. 8:31)
Let me end with a Promise found in 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) “if My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” Be blessed in 2010 in Jesus’ Name… Amen
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Grace & Works
Grace verses Works, wow… I hope by now we all know that salvation is a FREE gift from God, right? Many times one side of the Religious coin says that we must some how earn salvation and the other side says we can live like hell and still live for God. Well both sides are off center. I believe there is a balance in God’s Kingdom.
The other day a lady told me, “God doesn’t want us walking up to Him with Spiritual Things that we have done for His Kingdom.” She made a reference that bringing these things to God was a type of works. It is true that our salvation is not based on our works; we could Never earn the gift of salvation! But saying that God doesn’t want us bringing Spiritual things to Him or God doesn’t want us doing Good Works is just short of being foolish. I believe, when we bring to God our offerings He is pleased. Again offering is not limited to money but also our time, energy, and our Good Works. Watch this; it was Christ’s nature to do Good Works right? Then is it fair to say that if we have Christ’s Spirit within us that we will also do Good Works? Good Works is Christ’s Nature and if we truly are Born Again then we have His Nature within us; the nature to do good works!
Now some will say “I try to do good works for the Lord.” Well the problem is you’re trying; Good Works is not about you trying to do good but its Jesus’ good working inside of you and manifesting in the form of Good Works!Grace is not meant to give us an excuse not to bare Good Works. Many Christians sit back and do nothing for God’s Kingdom and use Grace as an excuse for their own Spiritual laziness. James 2:20 says, "... faith without works is dead." So what does that mean? It means if I’m hungry and you have faith - I am still hungry. It is only through your good works in feeding me that Faith truly becomes a witness to me.
If you truly have Jesus in your heart then you will do good works like feed the hungry. Jesus Himself said in -Matthew 25:35-36, "I was hungry and you fed me, I way thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Sounds like Good Works to me. So as believers let’s thank God for His amazing Grace and go and do good works that His Kingdom may be exalted!
Pastor Howard Swick
The other day a lady told me, “God doesn’t want us walking up to Him with Spiritual Things that we have done for His Kingdom.” She made a reference that bringing these things to God was a type of works. It is true that our salvation is not based on our works; we could Never earn the gift of salvation! But saying that God doesn’t want us bringing Spiritual things to Him or God doesn’t want us doing Good Works is just short of being foolish. I believe, when we bring to God our offerings He is pleased. Again offering is not limited to money but also our time, energy, and our Good Works. Watch this; it was Christ’s nature to do Good Works right? Then is it fair to say that if we have Christ’s Spirit within us that we will also do Good Works? Good Works is Christ’s Nature and if we truly are Born Again then we have His Nature within us; the nature to do good works!
Now some will say “I try to do good works for the Lord.” Well the problem is you’re trying; Good Works is not about you trying to do good but its Jesus’ good working inside of you and manifesting in the form of Good Works!Grace is not meant to give us an excuse not to bare Good Works. Many Christians sit back and do nothing for God’s Kingdom and use Grace as an excuse for their own Spiritual laziness. James 2:20 says, "... faith without works is dead." So what does that mean? It means if I’m hungry and you have faith - I am still hungry. It is only through your good works in feeding me that Faith truly becomes a witness to me.
If you truly have Jesus in your heart then you will do good works like feed the hungry. Jesus Himself said in -Matthew 25:35-36, "I was hungry and you fed me, I way thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you took me in, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." Sounds like Good Works to me. So as believers let’s thank God for His amazing Grace and go and do good works that His Kingdom may be exalted!
Pastor Howard Swick
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
“Divided we fall / United we Stand”
As I read the New Testament and how the early church was formed, one word keeps jumping out at me; “Unity!!!” Jesus spent so much time trying to unite, bring together, and connect His Disciples one to another forming one Body or One Unit – The Church! Jesus warned His Disciples about division, in the Book of Matthew chapter-12 verse-25 Jesus said, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.” (NKJV) That word desolation means; unhappiness, misery, despair, sadness, and depression. Think about it, division births all of these negative afflictions. We’ve heard of the Fruits of the Spirit, but it’s like these are the rotten fruits of the evil spirit of division.
As we look at the postmodern world that we live in, we can see the Church divided against herself! I used to pray that the Pentecostals would learn to fellowship with their Baptist brothers and sisters, but now I would just love to see the Pentecostals learn to get along with other Pentecostals, let alone other Denominations! In our culture we have so many churches forming for the simple fact that Christian folks just can’t get along. What will we do if we get the Heaven? To spite popular opinions Heaven will not be sectioned off! No, there will not be a Pentecostal Heaven, a Baptist heaven, a Catholic Heaven, a Methodist Heaven etc… There will only be ONE Heaven, and we will all be together in one place, worshiping God for eternity with One Voice! The denomination name tags we wear so proudly here on earth will do us no good on the other side, regardless where you go! Think about it, if you go down the denomination name tags will burn off and if you go up the denomination name tags will fall off!
I believe we are living in desperate times! These are times of Great Opportunity for the Local church, Every Denomination, to come together on common ground. That God is God and He is the Only Living God, Jesus Is His Son who died for our sins, through Jesus we can be saved, and through Jesus we can receive God’s power through His Holy Spirit! Can we put our worship styles and church doctrines aside for a while, and seek God’s Glory and salvation for our nation? Jesus Prayed in John chapter-17 verse-11, “that they may be one as We are.” (NKJV)
Last week a Pastor from a Church in Junior (New Convent Church) closed his doors for their Wednesday night church service and brought his congregation over to Haven of Hope to join our Revival service! What a testimony of God’s Heart for His Church! I end this column today with a challenge to the rest of Barbour County Pastors: take this Brother’s lead and let’s join together in Christ and watch God’s Revival Fire ignite Barbour County! Remember the old proverb, “Divided we fall / United we Stand!”
As we look at the postmodern world that we live in, we can see the Church divided against herself! I used to pray that the Pentecostals would learn to fellowship with their Baptist brothers and sisters, but now I would just love to see the Pentecostals learn to get along with other Pentecostals, let alone other Denominations! In our culture we have so many churches forming for the simple fact that Christian folks just can’t get along. What will we do if we get the Heaven? To spite popular opinions Heaven will not be sectioned off! No, there will not be a Pentecostal Heaven, a Baptist heaven, a Catholic Heaven, a Methodist Heaven etc… There will only be ONE Heaven, and we will all be together in one place, worshiping God for eternity with One Voice! The denomination name tags we wear so proudly here on earth will do us no good on the other side, regardless where you go! Think about it, if you go down the denomination name tags will burn off and if you go up the denomination name tags will fall off!
I believe we are living in desperate times! These are times of Great Opportunity for the Local church, Every Denomination, to come together on common ground. That God is God and He is the Only Living God, Jesus Is His Son who died for our sins, through Jesus we can be saved, and through Jesus we can receive God’s power through His Holy Spirit! Can we put our worship styles and church doctrines aside for a while, and seek God’s Glory and salvation for our nation? Jesus Prayed in John chapter-17 verse-11, “that they may be one as We are.” (NKJV)
Last week a Pastor from a Church in Junior (New Convent Church) closed his doors for their Wednesday night church service and brought his congregation over to Haven of Hope to join our Revival service! What a testimony of God’s Heart for His Church! I end this column today with a challenge to the rest of Barbour County Pastors: take this Brother’s lead and let’s join together in Christ and watch God’s Revival Fire ignite Barbour County! Remember the old proverb, “Divided we fall / United we Stand!”
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Mothers
The modern Mother's Day holiday was created by Anna Jarvis from Taylor County WV, as a day for each family to honor its mother. In 1912, she trademarked the phrases "second Sunday in May" and "Mother's Day", and created the Mother's Day International Association. The day is designed for each family to honor their mother before God. Ironically it was about Nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become and spent all her inheritance and the rest of her life fighting what she saw as an abuse of the celebration. Later commercial and other exploitations of the use of Mother's Day infuriated Anna and she made her criticisms known throughout her time.
Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day to give special Honor to our Mothers, whom so deserve! When thinking about Mother’s Day and looking at the Bible we can see that God commands us to give honor to our Mothers;
12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12 KJV)
In the New Testament Jesus Himself Honored His Earthly Mother with Very High Respect! We know that when a person is dying, it’s the most important things in their lives that they dwell on. In the same light, it was on Jesus’ Cross, moments before He died, that he thought of His Mother! And one of the seven phrases He said from the cross was addressing His Earthly Mother;
26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26-27 KJV)
This Mother’s Day Sunday I challenge you to obey God’s Word and Do as Jesus did; Give Honor to Your Mother!!! I pray that God would Bless All of our Mothers this week and through the weekend in a special way! Amen.
Anna Jarvis created Mother’s Day to give special Honor to our Mothers, whom so deserve! When thinking about Mother’s Day and looking at the Bible we can see that God commands us to give honor to our Mothers;
12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. (Exodus 20:12 KJV)
In the New Testament Jesus Himself Honored His Earthly Mother with Very High Respect! We know that when a person is dying, it’s the most important things in their lives that they dwell on. In the same light, it was on Jesus’ Cross, moments before He died, that he thought of His Mother! And one of the seven phrases He said from the cross was addressing His Earthly Mother;
26When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!
27Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother! And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home. (John 19:26-27 KJV)
This Mother’s Day Sunday I challenge you to obey God’s Word and Do as Jesus did; Give Honor to Your Mother!!! I pray that God would Bless All of our Mothers this week and through the weekend in a special way! Amen.
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