Christmas - Year 1862

The historian for the Union Army's 116th Pennsylvania regiment wrote,

"Christmas day (1862) was celebrated in the camp; many boxes of good things from home received, and shared by the recipients with comrades less fortunate. Some of the boys were a little homesick, to be sure, but enough were sufficiently light of heart to drive dull care away. A large Christmas tree was erected in the center of the camp and peals of laughter and much merriment greeted the unique decorations, tin cups, hardtack, pieces of pork, and other odd articles being hung on the branches. At night the camp fire roared and blazed, the stars shone above the tall pines, and canteen passed around, and care banished for the hour."

Some Christians have the ability to make something good out of a bad situation. The soldiers of the 116th Pennsylvania regiment were determined to have a good Christmas in spite of the fact that they were separated from family and home. That's the kind of spirit that characterizes the true Christian hero. To continue to serve in the face of less than desirable circumstances is the mark of a mature Christian.

The question I have for you is, if all the decorations, gifts, and yuletide celebrations were stripped away from Christmas, could you still celebrate the birth of Christ with joy?

A Dark Cloud over America?

The following is an article written by Donald E. Wildmon, founder and chairman emeritus of the American Family Association. This article was written eleven years ago. Can you see any difference from today?

A dark cloud has descended on America. Once the land of freedom and responsibility, once a culture guided by a Judeo-Christian heritage, once a land where righteousness was exalted, America has been shrouded by a dark cloud. This cloud has left us unable to tell right from wrong. Indeed it has caused us to call wrong, right. In pursuit of that which is politically correct, tolerant and diverse, we have not only tolerated, but promoted a way of life which, should we continue to follow it, will ultimately destroy this grand experiment we call America. We have lost sight of who we are, from whence we came and where we are headed. Our leaders - both secular and religious - define morality only in corporate terms, not in individual terms. Only society can do wrong, not the individual. Unless, of course, the individual happens to follow the teachings of Holy Writ. Then he is condemned and radicalized. This dark cloud has left us stumbling to and fro, hunting for a way through the darkness without falling. But falling we are. A seven year old boy kills an innocent six year old girl at his school. The media blames the object - a gun - while admitting his home life was a mockery, but never connecting the quality of his home life to his actions, nor mentioning the need for a solid, stable family with a loving and present father and mother. Because of this dark cloud, our children are being murdered in Columbine, Pearl, Edinboro, Paducah, Jonesboro and Springfield. They are being dragged into a life of hopeless despair on the streets of our cities where crime flourishes and drugs flow. Our response is to take more money from the homes where it is needed, where a real difference could be made, and send it to Washington where someone seeking votes wants to use it to replace real love. So many of our churches are seeking success as defined by society - bigger being better. They have so often forgotten that Christianity is, at its core, one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread to feed his hunger. So many positions of influence are pushing for society to abandon those values that have lifted and guided western civilization for the past two thousand years. They seek to redefine right and wrong, remove God from society and thus make sin obsolete. They are the blind leading the blind, and many are blindly following. There is a way to lift this cloud of darkness - there is a Light to show us the way. "I am the Light of the world", He said. "He who follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life." Whether the cloud of darkness will be lifted, I do not know. One thing however, I do know. For individuals who choose, there is a Light to lead us out of the darkness. We need to do the best we can in following that Light and sharing Him with others.

Is Witnessing Worth the Trouble?

Have you ever asked yourself whether or not witnessing and evangelism of any kind is worth the trouble? After all, if the gospel is hard to accept (we've talked about that before) and if God chooses His people anyway, why should you put yourself out? If you looked at the world and judged God's power by the way men respond to it, you would give up trying to share the Word of God with anybody.

I've poured my heart out to people. I've preached from God's word. I've talked to people about the saving grace of God. I've even shown them proof from Scripture that the Messiah came, died and rose again. And yet they chose to not believe because they said the message was too hard. But that's all right, because all that the Father gives to Christ are going to come home. That's what Jesus said: "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me" (John 6:37).

I'm not responsible for who gets saved, and neither are you. I refuse that responsibility. Then who IS responsible? Jesus said, "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day." (John 6:44) God has that responsibility, not us. Therefore, I can look over the multitude and say, as Jesus said, "Most of you won't believe." But some will believe, brought to faith through reading the Bible, talking with a friend, or hearing a preacher. Then, instead of being unbelievable and foolish, these words that are so hard to believe become the only guide through the narrow gate that leads to eternal life. It becomes the only truth rich enough, complete enough, and holy enough to save a soul from eternal fire.

Those hard words become precious and welcome and treasured. "All that the Father gives to Christ, they will come." They will come. Our job, our responsibility, our calling, is to reach them with the truth.

Faith Without Works is Dead

(James 2:14-18)  What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?  Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?  Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.  But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works."   Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.


There are some who feel there is a conflict between faith and works.  Actually the two go together like inhaling and exhaling.  Faith is taking the gospel in; works is taking the gospel out.  The book of James balances off this matter of faith and works, and reminds us that the Christian must have both.  True, we are not saved by works, but James reminds us also that we are not saved if good works do not follow.  There is a short story of a Christian man that might help illustrate how faith and works go together.  This man worked each day transporting tourists across a lake.  On occasion he would present the gospel and its implications for life in a most unusual way.  He had painted the word "Faith" on one of the oars of his rowboat and "Works" on the other.  When they got out away from the shore, he would stop, and then begin to row with only one oar marked "Faith".  The boat would then go in circles to the left.  Reversing the process, he would pull on the other oar marked "Works".  The boat would circle in the opposite direction.  By this time the bewildered passengers were waiting for an explanation.  He answered by telling his passengers, "You see, neither faith nor works stand alone.  They are twins that cannot be separated!"

(James 2:20)  Faith without works is dead.

August 2011 Message from Bill

Robert Munger wrote a book entitled, "My Heart - Christ's Home".  In the book he uses the analogy of a home to describe the human heart.  He takes Christ, who has come into our heart and compares it with Christ doing a brief and self-conscious walk-through of our home.  He takes Him through the study, where our mind resides.  He takes Him into the dining room, where our appetites and desires dine.  He takes Him into the living room, where our relationship with Christ is to be deepened and cultivated.  He takes Him into the workroom where our talents and skills find their outlet.  He takes Him into the recreation room, where certain questionable associations and activities are entertained.

Room by room, Jesus beautifully transforms the home.  But one day, Jesus notices a stench coming from the hall closet.  We've taken some rotting remnant of our old life and hidden it there.  It's something you're ashamed of but don't want to part with.

Is your heart Christ's home?  Have you given Him the keys to every room and handed Him the title deed?  Or are there certain places that are off limits and restricted from the prying eyes of nosy guests?

As shameful as it might be, let Jesus clean it up.  Let His sunshine and fresh air take away the smell.  And give the King a castle that is worthy of His presence.

Sermons on line

At the pesent time, the Sunday sermons can be heard at WWW.3PSwitness.com

June 2011 Message

If you are a Christian and you are going through a difficult time or trial, I urge you to remember what brought you to Christ in the first place.  Remember His grace when He brought you into the family.

Colossians 2:6 says, "as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him."  Could this difficult time that you are going through be a wake-up call to return to the Lord?  Though you walk by faith and you love the Lord and Christ lives in you, there may be some sin that is dragging you down.  If you've come to the place where you recognize that you're slipping away from the Lord, you need to have another crisis.  You need to have your chords of commitment tightened.  You need to again get your heart attached to His.

Don't just cope with this difficult time as if it will eventually go away.  Return to the Lord.  Don't try to sneak back and pretend you never left.  Instead, run hard back to Him in repentance and joy.  He knows where you have been.  He knows where you are.  And He wants your heart back with His.

God puts a lot of challenges in front of us.  And we attribute those challenges to our circumstance.  Sometimes we blame other people, an area of conflict, a hardship that's been dropped on our home or our marriage.  In reality, those challenges are God coming to you as He is trying to advance your relationship with Him.  If it was left up to us we would hide or dodge those difficult times and we would end up going nowhere good in our faith except in a downward spiral.

I encourage you to see those difficult circumstances in your life as God coming to you to get you to advance His purpose for your life.  "What is it that you want to show me, Lord?

Doubt can become faith.  Discouragement can become joy.  Despair can become purpose and fulfillment.  Defeat can become victory.  How can that happen in your life?  Get your heart back in line with His.

Nusery facilities/Cry room

Our nursery is available during Sunday service for ages infant through 4 years, it is staffed by persons approved by our church leadership.
A cry room is also available at the rear of the sanctuary, with changing table and crib and comfortable seating.

May 2011

The disciples, along with Jesus, were sitting around the table enjoying a good meal.  There was good conversation among friends.  There were probably stories being told about what they had done during the day.  There was probably some laughter as the stories were told.  The platter of meat on the table was ready to be picked over one last time.  The table was still littered with glasses of wine and scraps of bread.  They were full of a good meal.  It was turning into a good evening with good friends.  But all of a sudden Jesus spoke two little words that would stop everything.  "I'm leaving."  Didn't they know this was coming?  Hadn't Jesus warned that they would have to carry on without Him?  Hadn't He prepared them?  Yes, He had.  But they still sat there in stunned disbelief.  They were like a deer caught in the headlights.  Their jaws dropped.  Their eyes widened.  They were amazed at the news.


They should have known this was no ordinary meal.  They should have known from the moment He started washing their feet.  They should have known by the way He blessed the cup and the bread.  But they didn't.  They were hearing these words for the first time.  "I'm leaving."


When the shock finally subsided, they pleaded like scared children.  "What? You're leaving? Where You going? We don't understand."  The disciples had a question for which they had no answer.  How would they make it without Jesus by their side?  That question has challenged every believer since Jesus of Nazareth went to Calvary.  Yes, the presence of Christ is in our hearts, but our eyes long to see Him.  We, like Thomas, want to touch the wounds He received on our behalf.  But for now, we must wait for His return.  So we find ourselves asking the same question the disciples ask.  How do we continue to live while we wait?


Jesus began to share with His frightened followers the words they would need until He returned.  These words would fill the void of those other two words.  These words would guide and direct them.  These words would give assurance. These words would give them the strength to live without Him by their side.  We find those words as Jesus spoke them in the gospel of John, chapters 14-16.  They were words of comfort.  Words of warning.  Words of encouragement.  Words of caution.  Word by word, phrase by phrase, He gave them the spiritual nourishment they would need to continue on.  They were words He wants every believer to know:  Don't fear.  Stay close.  Trust me.


So, sit at the table with your Lord.  Push the plate aside and read John 14:1 through 16:16.  Drink and fill your heart with the words He offers you.

Bill says, THANKS

Easter morning inside the Sanctuary

I wanted to thank everyone who helped make Easter such a success.  It all started with the Sunrise Service.  There were over 280 in attendance.  Thank-you to Gene King, Marilyn Palmer, Jill and Ed Robards for the special music.  To Larry Runser and Jerry Waltz for the sound system.  To the Wengers, Gary Brufach and Sam Noel for the coffee and donuts, and to Scott and Jenna Field for taking care of the chairs, tables and passing out bulletins.  Next came the breakfast.  Doris Chambers and her family did a wonderful job.  It was the largest turnout to date.  And of course we cannot forget the choir and Anita Berghouse at the organ for the wonderful job they did in presenting the Easter message.  A big thank you to everyone who helped make it a very special day in the Lord.

Bill Z

Breakfast inside Fellowship Hall

Choir performing Easter Cantada

April 2011

In recent years there has been an interest in how our justice system works.  Not long ago there was some debate on whether or not live television should be allowed in the courtroom.  Today we have Court TV.  There is an entire cable network devoted to nothing but courtroom cameras and criminal justice.  Or sometimes injustice.


If having cameras in the courtroom has proved anything it's that the human criminal justice system doesn't always work.  It's been made pretty clear over the years that real justice has been rather elusive in the courts.  Those who kill infants at birth are set free.  Government bureaucrats who spend billions of dollars to protect a snail or butterfly are never prosecuted.  Our human courts have an uncanny way for turning justice completely upside down.  The wicked prosper while the righteous suffer.


Nowhere is this more evident than in the arrest, trials, and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. No victim of injustice was ever more innocent than the sinless Son of God.  And yet no one ever suffered more agony than He did.  He was executed by men who openly acknowledged that He was innocent.  At the same time, a murderous robber was set free.  It's easy to look at the cross and see that this was the worst miscarriage of human justice in the history of the world.  And it was.


It was an evil act, brought on by the hands of wicked men.  But that's not the full story.  The crucifixion of Christ was also the greatest act of divine justice ever carried out.  It was done with "the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23).  It was also done for the highest purpose.  Yours and my salvation.  It opened the way for God to forgive sin without compromising His own perfect holy standard.


Christ was not just some mere victim of injustice.  He died willingly.  He became the atonement for the sins of the very men who killed Him.  It was the greatest sacrifice ever made.  It was the purest act of love ever carried out.  It was the highest act of divine justice than all the human injustice it represented.


Every one of us who are true Christians know that Christ died for our sins.  But in the daily routine of our lives, we sometimes take the cross for granted.  We tend to think of it as just an elementary fact of our faith.  And as a result we sometimes fail to meditate on the cross.  We miss the richness of it.


Jesus didn't deserve judgement.  But He bore it on behalf of everyone of us anyway.