October 2019 – Tri-Valley Baptist Church

“If they’re breathing-they need Jesus!”

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Oct 272019

PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “If they’re breathing-they need Jesus!” By: Ron Woodrum

One of the most interesting and convicting authors I have ever read is Mark Cahill. He has only written two books. One is the book One Heartbeat Away: Your Journey into Eternity. It is a disturbing account of how we live with death every second of our lives, and must be prepared for eternity. His follow up book is on witnessing, titled One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven. In the latter book, in a chapter entitled “If They’re Breathing They Need Jesus!” He tells about a couple witnessing encounters he had with two very famous people. Mark Cahill went to college and played basketball with Charles Barkley. He even roomed with Barkley while the team traveled. They became very good friends, and are still friends today. On one occasion, after their college days, he was speaking at a Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, where Barkley lives. Upon arriving in town, he called Charles to see if they could get together, after the conference that night. Charles said, “absolutely, we’re hanging out tonight at”, (and he mentioned a famous club). Mark asked him who the “we” was. He said, “Quin Buckner, Alex Rodriguez, and Michael Jordan”. He of course accepted. How could he miss an opportunity like that! When Charles introduced Mark to Jordan, he told him, “Michael this is my good friend from college I was telling you about!” All night they talked about basketball, baseball, golf, and occasionally religion, due to input from Mark. As they were leaving, they headed out to the limousine that would take they all to their various destinations. As we walked together toward the car, I said, “Michael, I am speaking in town this week, and I would like to ask you a question”. Michael said, “Ok, shoot!” I asked, “Michael, when you die, what do you think is on the other side? What do you think is out there when we leave here?” Cahill said that a very serious look came over him, he started nodding his head, and was silent for about ten seconds. Then he responded, “I think there are those pearly gates, when we die”. I knew I didn’t have much time; the others were catching up with us. So, I got right to the point, and asked, “Michael have you ever committed your life to Jesus Christ?” Quicker than he leaves the floor for one of his famous jump shots, he shot back “yes I have” and quickly asked, “Have to talked to Barkley about this?” Cahill assured him that he had done that several times. Michael shook his head as he walked away to the limo. He later found out that Jordan used to discuss Jesus a lot with Horace Grant when they played together on the Bulls, but after his father was murdered, he just clammed up about his faith, and refused to talk about it any longer! Even NBA stars need Jesus.

On another occasion, Mark was invited to come to Charles mother’s home in Leeds, Alabama for the holidays. While there he had the opportunity to meet Charles’ family. He really hit it off with Charles brother Daryl. Daryl told Mark, “I recently had a heart attack”. He went on to tell Mark that after the heart attack that he had a near death experience. He said that while in the operating room his spirit rose up out of his body, he saw the doctors and nurses working with his body on the operating table. He said he went on a journey where he saw burning trees, burning grounds all around the base of the trees, then a lake of fire with people in it screaming for help. With terror in his eyes he said, “I saw hell! Then I came back!” Mark asked, “Daryl, if you would have remained dead where would you have gone?” Daryl replied, “I would have gone to hell!” Mark asked, “Do you want to go to hell?” Immediately he answered, “No, I want to go to heaven!” “Do you know what you need to do to go to heaven?” Mark asked. “Yes, committing my heart and life to Jesus Christ”, Daryl affirmed. “Have you done that now?”, Mark inquired. “No-I love the things of the world too much to do that right now!” Mark warned him, that with a bad heart, he was playing Russian Roulette with his soul. Daryl acknowledged the risk he was taking. A few years later, Daryl had another heart attack that took his life. It was March 20, 2009. He died young, at the age of 42. What about his destiny? If you look up Daryl Shawn Barkley…you see his grave which says, “Deacon Daryl Shawn Barkley”…Did he embrace the faith that his mother taught him, and serve his Lord in his final days? If so, that near death wake up call changed his eternity. That is a vision that would be good for all of us to wake up to. We will never be the same for time and eternity. What a difference it could make in the lives we touch for Jesus, while there is still time.

On a grave in a cemetery near Jackson, California are the following words:

Remember me as you pass by,

As you are now, so once was I

As I am now, you soon will be

Prepare for death, and follow me.

Someone wrote below those words in marker:

To follow you, I am not content

Until I know-which way you went!

Today’s message should encourage us to encourage everyone to know which way you are going while there is still time!

The Church’s Last and Lasting Promise

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Oct 202019

PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: The Church’s Last and Lasting Promise by: Ron Woodrum

The names Saipan, Iwo Jima, Samoa, Guadalcanal, Bataan, Corregidor to name just a few, meant very little to Americans in the early 1940’s. They were just some God-forsaken pieces of real estate somewhere in the South Pacific! But they would soon become household names all across the free world. We were having the time of our lives in this God-blessed America. The Depression was over. We were enjoying all that the world had to offer in this new age of electronic gadgetry. We had new automatic washers and dryers; new toasters; new Sunbeam Mixmaster’s we used to mix our margarine, after dropping in the orange food coloring ball to give it it’s yellow color, and make It look like butter. We had new automobiles that looked like boats on wheels, with huge long fenders, and men were on the street corners saying, “If the fenders get any longer one of these days, they are going to be one great big fender! I’ll go as far as to say, one of these days they are going to take those running-boards clean off!” We didn’t care about Europe; Germany; or a man named Hitler. We didn’t care about Italy or a guy named Mussolini; We didn’t care about Japan, and a guy named Hirohito. We still had vivid memories of the “War to End All Wars”, and we did not intend to get involved in any new global conflicts!

We watched as the Netherlands fell; we watched as Poland fell; We watched as Neville Chamberlain and the Allies signed Treaty after Treaty with Hitler, and He broke Treaty after Treaty! Chamberlain made so many concessions with Hitler that his name became a synonym with “concession”. When he invaded France, we watched with worried eyes fearing that sooner or later we would become involved, but we were definitely opting for “later”. But December 7,1941, a day FDR said “would live on in infamy” elements of the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked our Naval Base at Pearl Harbor destroying 15 ships, killing 2,402 Americans, and wounding 1,282, while simultaneously attacking the Philippines, Malaya, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Attacking us and the Philippines they “kicked the sleeping giant” and our President declared war immediately! Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower was made the Commander and Chief over our forces in the European theater, while Gen. Douglas MacArthur was placed over the forces in the Asian theater. The Japanese proved themselves strong as our forces met defeat on the Island of Bataan. Bataan fell and we moved to Corregidor, that Island nicknamed “the Crimson Island” due to the 1,000’s of gallons of American blood spilled on it. When things did not go any better on Corregidor MacArthur, at the command of Roosevelt, decided to go to Australia to regroup so that he could come back and win the war in “American fashion” in a day and age when we fought wars to win wars! But it was a sad, sad day when we left the Philippines! The Filipinos watched as we prepared to leave. Their eyes were fixed on that Great Benefactor, who represented everything that was good, from that Utopia called America. Surrounded by terrified Filipino soldiers, who feared the worst, and would not be disappointed, MacArthur stepped up on the ladder of that DC3 plane, turned and spoke the words that would become “household words” all over the free world. He told them- “I WILL RETURN!” The day he left was March 11, 1942.

After we left the Filipinos suffered greatly at the hands of the Japanese over the next two- and one-half years. They were imprisoned. They were tortured. They were made to march the Bataan death march where over 60,000 died. They kept watching day after day. Waiting day after day for the promise to be fulfilled. One day off in the distance, they heard the rumbling sound of thunder. The skies grew dark. It was the rising crescendo of deliverance. The sun was blotted out with the planes that filled the sky. Those planes had the red stars and blue stripes! Suddenly the skies filled with paratroopers over the islands of the S.Pacific. Soon they heard the words of that great General-“I HAVE RETURNED!” The day was October 22, 1944. Their deliverer had kept his promise and returned in victory.

Two thousand years ago, another General stood on the Mt. of Olives. He too was leaving. His troops, the disciples were surrounding Him. They too feared the worst and they too would not be disappointed. They would suffer at the hands of a Nero-led Roman world. They would be crucified. They would be beheaded. They would be set-afire as candles to light the gardens and racetracks as Nero would race his chariots. They would be boiled-to-death in hot oil. They would be chained together and forced to walk into the Mediterranean to their death for their faith. He looked into their terrified eyes and spoke the words, “Let not your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, Believe also in me. In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go away, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UP UNTO MYSELF, THAT WHERE I AM YOU SHALL BE ALSO”. (John 14:1-3). Over the years we too have suffered. The Church has been persecuted and prospered. But the hope of every generation, as our eyes watch the skies, and we wait with great anticipation has been for our Deliverer who promised us that Blessed Hope of returning to keep His promise for us. The verses are many. The Scripture says, “In a little while He that shall come, will come” (Heb. 10:37). “The Lord shall descend from Heaven with a sound of a trumpet, and the voice of the archangel, and the dead in Christ shall rises first, and we who are alive and remain shall be caught up to meet Him in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (I Thes. 4:12-18). It says that, “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in the twinkling of an eye, when this mortal shall put on immortality” (I Cor. 15:51). It says we are “citizens of Heaven, from which we look for our Savior who shall transform our lowly bodies, and fashion them like unto glorious body” (Philippians 3:20). We wait for that “Blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of our Great God and Savior the Lord Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). That next event on the prophetic calendar is what we are waiting for. When Jesus the Bridegroom left us here, He promised, as all espoused grooms of His day did, to go to the Father’s house-prepare the place-when ready come back and claim her to Himself! That event is called the Rapture. That is what our subject is today. It is closer than we can imagine. As we watch all of the events that will be actualized during the tribulation and precede His second coming with HIs Saints, we cannot help but realize that at least 7 years prior to that He will come for His saints, (the Church). Jesus said, “when you begin to see these things come to pass lift up your heads for your redemption draweth night and watch and pray that you might be counted worthy to escape ALL these things that shall come upon the earth and stand before the Son of Man”. (Luke 21:28 & 36)

Even the French Scientist Pierre Berchelt, over 150 years ago, recognized the signs of the times when he said, in his book Re-Entry,” In side of one hundred years of physical and chemical science, man will know what the atom is. It is my belief, that when science reaches that stage, God will come down to earth with His big ring of keys, and say to humanity, ‘Gentlemen, it’s closing time!'” Before that time comes the Church, who was told by Jesus, their groom, to “occupy til I come” i.e. “carry out business, needs to heed the words of Vance Havner, “It does no good to revel among the clouds of prophetic truth if it stir us not to practice it on the cobblestones questing for souls…prophetic truth , like all other truth, should be fuel for the fires of evangelism…It is not enough to lament the apostasy so vividly described in the book of Jude. It is not enough to build ourselves up in the faith; it is not enough to pray in the Holy Ghost; to keep ourselves in the love of God; to look for the mercy of the Lord. There is further duty-“and of some have compassion, making a difference…saving them with fear, pulling them out of the fire…hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 23).

“The Right Side of the Cross”

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Oct 132019

PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “The Right Side of the Cross”. By: Ron Woodrum

As you read the New Testament narratives that describe the Cross of Jesus Christ you follow his footsteps along the Via Dolorosa-The way of suffering. On this crosswalk there were various Divine appointments that Jesus had with certain individuals as this cross walk intersected with the lives of these individuals. Their lives were changed forever-some for the better some for the worse! Pilate’s life was changed for the worse, which eventually ended in his suicide. Simon of Cyrene was changed for the better, and the lives of his wife and children Alexander and Rufus. There were two individuals that died with Jesus. They were two thieves that died on opposite sides of His center cross. Jesus, and His cross, not only divides history, but the people of history. All the gospels record the fact that Jesus died between two criminals, one on the left and one on the right. Matthew calls them “robbers” (lestai). Mark uses the same term, quoting it as the fulfillment of Isaiah 53:12. Luke says that they “were two criminals” (kakourgougoi). What is the difference? According to Josephus neither of those words were the common word for thief. He says the common word for “thief” was-“kleptos”- (kleptomaniac?)-The word “lestai”-was used of those who “robbed as an activity in insurrection and revolution”. In other words, they were a part of Barabbas band of revolutionary robbers that terrorized the Roman soldiers and citizens. The term that Luke uses is a compound word that is very expressive. Kakos-“evil”-Ourgos-“workers”. He puts the emphasis on their evil character that was bent toward evil and criminal activity. John simply states that Jesus died with two others…with “Jesus in the center”. What a picture! Jesus the divider of men! On the left side of the cross is an evil doer-a robber…a revolutionary. He is dying for his own sins. He remains unrepentant and blasphemes the Son of God. He is, as the Book of Hebrews says, “trampling under foot the Son of God”. In the center is Jesus, the Sinless Son of God. He is not dying for His own sin for He had none. The Bible says, “He who knew no sin became sin for us”. Pilate said, “I find no fault in Him”. The other thief, an evil doer also, says-“We are dying for our own crimes, but this man hath done nothing amiss!” The Centurion will say, “Surely this was the Son of God”. Max Lucado says, “there sits God, in silence, while the sins of the world is placed upon Him. Was it right? No! Was it fair? No! Was it love? Absolutely! In a world of injustice, God once-for-all tipped the scales in favor of hope!” The thief, on the right side of the cross stops in mid sentence, after hearing Jesus pray for His executioners, and realizes that he too needs that forgiveness, and is included in that prayer request that Jesus addresses to His Father. He in turn requests of Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom”. What did he mean by that?

John Drury quotes the ancient Sicilian historian Diodorus Siculus about a Sicilian slave named Eunus, who kept telling other he would one day be free, and would rule as the King of Sicily. His master’s friends mocked him and taunted him by saying, “Remember us when you come into your kingdom”. How are we to understand this thief on the right side of the cross? Were his words a taunt? Irony? More railing, like the words of the thief on the left side? I don’t think so! The great Southern Baptist Scholar, E. Earle Ellis, in his book Christ and the Future in New Testament History, is more accurate concerning the meaning of this criminal’s plea. Dr. Ellis verifies that the words “Remember Me” were common inscriptions on several graves in Palestine in the first century. Many who died in that day, had evidence on their tombstones that they had a hope, a desire, a concern about being remembered as one worthy of resurrection and heaven. This thief simply shares his heart concern with Jesus, before his family will have opportunity to write it on his tomb! Jesus answered, not with a vague reference to future resurrection and bliss. He gives him the assurance of eternal life will be his possession this very day, as he accompanies Jesus into the very “paradise of God”, the recipient of a gift and passport to paradise because he was on the “right side of the cross”-i.e. “the believing side of the cross!”

John Piper has a beautiful poem entitled “Justified” that expresses this great truth so beautifully. Let me share it with you:

Justified

It was as though a thousand layers

Of fraud, and murder, and affairs

Each wrapped around his shrinking heart,

And hard as steel, had come apart

He hung there silent, numb, and hoarse

And filthy language of his soul

Dried scarlet on the splintered pole

No strength remained to comprehend

How these few quiet words, could rend

The wicked wineskins of his life

Where every other moral knife

Had snapped like twigs against the rock

The Lord, and joined them at the first

He saw Him keep His peace, and thirst,

And with this tongue he whipped and sliced

The folly of this feeble Christ

And then by some strange providence

Of grace, above his impudence

He heard the word of Life-not preached

But whispered low, and that it reached

His ear above the blasphemy

Of his own lips was gift, as free

As gifts could ever be

He heard above the mockery, the Word

“Oh Father, please forgive, I beg of you

Forgive, they know not what they do”

A curse half-formed beneath his teeth,

Fell silent to the ground beneath,

Like slaving ropes and prison chains,

Like fears and rage and guilt and pains

But now his vicious mouth was still

And something deep within his will

Begotten by the quiet prayer

Of this reputed King was there

And firm from his lips there came a word

That no one else had ever heard

He turned his head so he could see.

“Jesus is there any hope for me?”

At first he feared the Lord was dead

But then He lifted up His head

“Today with me in paradise,

You’ll reign beside this Risen Christ!”

And do we not this time of year

Repeat these words with Godly fear

And stand in awe of Sovereign Grace.

That put our God in the sinner’s place

And turned His head to hear our plea!

Who is a pardoning God like Thee?

The awesome truth of Candle Three:

A sinner justified and free!

“The Burden of Living in All Three Tenses-at One Time!”

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Oct 062019

PASTOR’S PERSPECTIVE: “The Burden of Living in All Three Tenses-at One Time!” By: Ron Woodrum

In his book-For The Living of These Days, William M. Elliott Jr. observes, “The reason so many of us are overwrought, tense, distracted, and anxious is that we have never mastered the art of living one day at a time. Physically we do live one day at a time. We can’t quite help ourselves. But mentally we live in all three tenses at once-past, present, and future…And that will not work! The load of tomorrow, added to that of yesterday, carried today makes even the strongest falter!” Perhaps this helps us understand why the Word of God repeatedly tells us the fact that man’s time on this earth is measured in terms of days! Hear these witnesses: “Our days upon earth are a shadow” (Job 8:9); “Are thy days as the days of man? Are thy years as man’s days?” Job asks… (Job 10:5); “Man that is born of a woman is of few days” (Job 14:1); So, Moses prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). That is one lesson it seems to take a lifetime for all of us to finally learn it. I came across a story, written by a songwriter, turned newspaper column writer by the name of Billy Rose. He had a famous column years ago called “Pitching Horseshoes”. One of his stories speaks to this very issue of learning to slow down and let God give us his perspective on life and how to live it in such a way to make an impact for Him, instead of letting it go by in a hectic hurry, and coming to an end with regret and sorrow. We still have time to rewrite our story! Slow down and live it for Him…while you still have the “days” of your life.

Here is that story, from “Pitching Horseshoes”: “There was once a fellow who, with his father, farmed a little piece of land. Several times a year they would load up their ox cart with vegetables and drive to the nearest city. Except for their name and the patch of ground, father and son had little in common. The old man believed in taking it easy…and the son was the go-getter type. One morning, they loaded the cart, hitched up the ox, and set out. The young man figured that if they kept going all day and night, they’d get to the market by the next morning. He walked alongside the ox and kept prodding it with a stick. ‘Take it easy’ said the old man, ‘you’ll last longer!’ ‘If we get to the market ahead of the others’ said the son, ‘we have a better chance of getting good prices for our vegetables’. The old man pulled his hat down over his eyes and went to sleep on the seat, four miles down the road they came to a little house. ‘Here is your uncle’s place’ said the father waking up, ‘Let’s stop and say hello’. ‘We’ve lost an hour already’, complained the go-getter. ‘Then a few more minutes won’t matter!’ said the father, ‘My brother and I live so close, but we seldom see each other’. The young man fidgeted while the two old gentlemen gossiped away for an hour. On the move again, the father took his turn leading the ox. By and by, they came to a fork in the road. The old man directed the ox to the right. ‘The left is the shorter way’, said the boy. ‘I know it’, said the old man, ‘but this way is the scenic way’. ‘Have you no respect for time?’ asked the impatient son. ‘I respect it very much!’, said the father, ‘that is why I use it to take in this beautiful scenery’. The right path led through the woodlands filled with blossoming wild flowers that would take your breath away. They only irritated the young man! He was too busy watching the sinking sun. Twilight found them in what looked like one big garden. ‘Let’s sleep here’ said the old man. ‘This is the last trip I take with you! replied his son. ‘You’re more interested in flowers than in making money!’ he scolded. ‘That’s the nicest thing you said in a long time!’, replied his dad. A minute later he was asleep. A little before dawn, the young man shook his father awake, and they went on. After a mile and an hour, they came upon a farmer trying to pull his cart out of a ditch. ‘Let’s give him a hand’, said the farmer. ‘And lose more time?’, exploded the son. ‘Relax’ said the old man. ‘You might be in a ditch some time yourself”. By the time the other cart was back on the road, it was almost eight o’clock. Suddenly a great flash of lightning split the sky. Then there was thunder. Beyond the hills, the heavens grew dark. ‘Looks like a big rain in the city’, said the old man. ‘If we had been on time, we’d be sold out by now, and on our way back’, grumbled the son. ‘Take it easy’, the old man said, ‘you’ll last longer!’ It wasn’t until late afternoon that they got to the top of the hill overlooking the town. They looked down on it…for a very long time! Neither of them spoke a word. Finally, the young man who had been in such a hurry said, ‘I see what you mean now father’. They turned their cart around and headed back home…and drove away from the city that had once been the city of Hiroshima, Japan!” LORD TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS, AND LIVE IT OUT FOR YOU…ONE DAY AT A TIME. IT’S A BURDEN TO LIVE IN ALL THREE TENSES AT ONE TIME!