“My mother was the most beautiful woman I ever saw. All I am I owe to my mother. I attribute all my success in life to the moral, intellectual and physical education I received from her.”
– George Washington (1732-1799)

“I remember my mother’s prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life.”
– Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

“You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother.”
– Albert Einstein

“My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.”
– Mark Twain

The Holy Scriptures has much to say about the regards that should be given to mothers. Exodus 20:12 “Honour thy father and thy mother that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God hath giveth thee.” Exodus 20:12

For respect to be shown to one’s mother the Word claims “honour” should be given. Defined, “honour” means “to get oneself glory” according to Strong’s Concordance and Webster defines honour as “ a good name or public esteem: reputation a showing of usually merited respect.”

It is quite obvious God requires “honour” for mother, so why?

“Mothers all want their sons to grow up to be president, but they don’t want them to become politicians in the process.”
– John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Why honor mothers?

-First, mothers are God’s precious influence over children. What mothers say, do, pray, and plan all impact their offspring presently and in the future. Seeing the huge influence there is no wonder the Apostle Paul led of the Holy Spirit penned, Ephesians 6:2 “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” supporting the principle. When we growing up we lived on the lake. Well the sun did a number to my mom’s beautiful red hair, so we went to the pharmacy to get some tint to put the red back in the sun bleached hair. As we went into the store my mom asked, “Tim, does the neighbor boy work in this store?” “Oh, no mom he works at the other place.” I was wrong he did work there and I learned the value of protecting the secret of the hairdresser. When the clerk turned out to be the neighbor boy my mother said to him that the hair product was for me. When we got out side of the store she said she was sorry for embarrassing me by saying that but that she didn’t want the neighbor to know it was for her. The next day she saw the clerk next door and announced the hair color was for her and that she was sorry for making the joke that it was for me. I remember her relief that she had that truth made clear. Kids really listen to what is said. She set the example that there is no such thing as a white lie (or in that hair dye story a red one).

-Secondly, mothers are God’s promise line for “…long upon the land…” (Honor mom and dad to be blessed by God). The first commandment with promise has been explained by Pastor John Gill as meaning, “…meaning either that the commandments, and keeping of them, may be the means of prolonging the days of obedient children, according to the divine promise; or that they, their father and mother, whom they harbour and obey, might, by their prayers for them, be the means of obtaining long life for them; or else that they, Father, Son, and Spirit, may do it, though man’s days, strictly speaking, cannot be shortened or lengthened beyond the purpose of God…” You don’t just find obedient children; they are molded through constant training such as Proverbs 22:6 states “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” My wife illustrated this in a creative way. When our sons were growing up we enjoyed lots of things but the memorable one to me was the devotion and book reading time that my wife would invest in. After the Bible reading time she would break open some adventure book and read aloud one episode that had some moral told in it. One particular book she found and read that I especially enjoyed was about a pastor’s son struggling with cancer. The principal character always did some mischievous thing in church anonymously to keep the congregation interested. My wife’s enthusiasm to share with the boys endeared her to our sons and gained their respect that mom could have great fun and continue to still be “mom”.

-Thirdly, mothers are God’s protective love for children. Matthew 20:21 “And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom.” This dear mom wanted the most and best for her sons. Best love message i’ve ever heard..”I BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT”…Because I’VE BEEN LOVING MY MOTHER SINCE I OPENED MY EYES….”

- Unknown Isn’t it just like a mom to want the best for her child? Yes, it is! That kind of dedication to her sons builds a trust between mom and child. M-O-T-H-E-R
”M” is for the million things she gave me,
”O” means only that she’s growing old,
”T” is for the tears she shed to save me,
”H” is for her heart of purest gold;
”E” is for her eyes, with love-light shining,
”R” means right, and right she’ll always be,
Put them all together, they spell “MOTHER,”
A word that means the world to me.- Howard Johnson There isn’t a thing wrong with wanting to protect your children nor is there anything wrong with having a desire for them to have better than you. Mrs. Zebedee was promoting her sons. She was praying for her son to be part of Jesus future kingdom. Can you think of a more loving way to look out for your children? She prayed fervently for her sons the Scriptures use the word “worshipped him”. Would prayer be a part of your discipline for your loved ones? It should be if you want the favor of the Lord. The fastest way to advance your family is by going to your knees in loving prayer to the Lord for their needs! It must have been a thoughtful child who wrote, “Mothers hold their children’s hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.”

-05-09-2012 Dr. Timothy W. Jackson, Pastor

Community Baptist Church Lansing, MI

The Great Commission is a wonderful opportunity to please the Lord with our prayers, pursuance and persistence for souls. Did you know that most Christians have slipped in following the Lord with witnessing? All believers are to be missionaries where we live, work and play. The reason why many churches struggle with attrition is because the Great Commission is not implemented. Let us break down that sentence into bite size portions.

1. The Great Commission is God’s plan to see the world come to know Jesus, and I benefited from it! The Lord became my Savior because a church was planted, the teachers were trained, my parents were disciples and when I was convicted of my sin by the Holy Spirit I was led to Christ by those new disciples. Seeing that the Great Commission had such an impact on my life how much more should I desire to practice it in my life? Much more! The Great Commission is found in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. If you are not following the Lord with distributing His message of love, forgiveness and salvation you are missing out on the blessing of seeing others come to the Lord with the Great Commission.

2. Attrition defined according to the dictionary is: “: a reduction in numbers usually as a result of resignation, retirement, or death” that is part of any business, even the Lord’s business, the Church! People are moving from the status they are presently to other places to live, sometimes they drift away from the Lord (apathy, doctrinal heresy, sin allowed into their lives) and some pass away. However, God has a plan to fill the ranks, to help with the “attrition” vacuum that is left: New Converts! The conversion of a soul is a great moment in Heaven and on earth too! With the guarantee of eternal salvation according to 1 John 5:11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”  there comes a natural opportunity for service through the local church which will be enhanced through discipleship training.

3. As you well know it is the Lord that builds and grows His Church through His own power. The Christians have the honor to take His Word to the unbelievers and trust God for the Lord to work in their heart to be converted to salvation through Christ. To help the new convert follow the Lord through the assembly of the local Bible teaching/preaching church is not only a blessing but it is essential for their progress. I personally have benefited by believers teaching Bible lessons and preachers expounding on the Word of God. There will be no shortage of people in God’s House when God’s children follow God’s Word and method of reaching out to others through the power of the Holy Spirit.

]]> http://www.communitybaptistlansing.com/2012/04/missions-an-acts-2020-perspective/feed/ 1 http://www.communitybaptistlansing.com/2012/04/car-show-for-christ-2012/ http://www.communitybaptistlansing.com/2012/04/car-show-for-christ-2012/#comments Tue, 17 Apr 2012 12:52:10 +0000 Pastor Joe Jackson http://www.communitybaptistlansing.com/?p=850  

May 24 at 6:30PM

The Carshow for Christ is a great part of the Community Week at the Community Baptist Church. This event has become a great draw for so many who like all good Americans love God, family, and country. This Thursday night event features Cars, trucks, Motorcycles, of all ages, makes and models. The Church also provides a free classic American meal to go with this great event; however the greatest highlight of the night is when our guest speaker takes a few moments to remind us about what is really important in life… with themes of God, family, and a love of Heaven this special time warms every heart who hears it!

We have included the Poem the kid’s club preformed for our church below.

Kids and Easter

Asst. Pastor Joe Jackson

I know to some this may sound funny

But Easter is not all about a bunny

Don’t get us wrong or misunderstand

We will gladly take all of the goodies out of your hand

We all love Chocolate eggs or bunnies even

Jelly beans and rainbows we believe in!

But what makes Easter so special is not the bunnies hunts or games

It is the true story that in the Bible remains

For in the Bible Matthew John Luke and Mark

You will find these true remarks

About a Savior who loves you and me

He would have to die upon a tree

To save us all from deaths rage

He would have to pay sin wage

A perfect sacrifice for us he would die

An in a cave for three days his body would lie

He was perfect he never did sin

And because of that our souls he could win

Heaven can be our eternal home

And in the darkness we will never more roam

So here is the story so simple to say

Easter is about Jesus death and how he did not stay that way

Jesus rose so we do not have to die

So Thanks to Jesus I will be in heaven in the sweet bye and bye

Thirty pieces of silver offering for Easter

Almost two thousand years ago the Lord Jesus Christ was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver by Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:15), it was a tragedy. Can you imagine selling someone for silver, what was in his heart? With all our hearts, our desire should be to “buy into” the Lord’s way not sell Him out! Now it is not possible to have the favor of the Lord with gifts however, the Scriptures claims “where your treasure is there will your heart be also.” With that right heart attitude in mind, I am inviting you to join Wendy and me in giving a gift of thirty pieces of silver, this year at Easter. How much is thirty pieces of silver? Well, I researched it, thirty pieces of silver was the price, the lowest price you could pay for a slave according to the Old Testament (Exodus 21:32). Therefore, the least that the Temple Priests paid for the Lord Jesus Christ was paid to Judas Iscariot, can you believe that?

This year our church will collect a “thirty pieces of silver” offering for the church needs. All the offering will be designated to pay for the church building needs ($1300 for Drain Fee and $500 for a new window to be installed in our nursery).

Your offering can be any amount the Lord places on your heart, we are inviting you to follow the Lord’s leading. Treasure the Lord, Who was the obedient Servant on the Cross for our souls!

Thank you for giving to the Lord,

Dr. Timothy W. Jackson, Pastor

Question: What does peanut butter; apple sauce and canned ham have in common?

Answer: They are all items collected for the “Feed the Need Food Drive” this past weekend!

“Feed the Need” was the theme of the food drive sponsored by our church for a special promotion to help the needy of our community. During our church’s new pictorial member directory we had a monumental food drive to help feed the physical need of those in our community! We saw the true hearts of our church members as they gave so that others could have their physical needs met! One of the outreaches of this local church is to help others and we do so often with a sack of groceries that was donated by our congregation! As we hand out groceries we offer free financial counsel to help each person get through the crisis they are experiencing.

There are many who have needs in our world today: some need food, some need a good paying job, some are in need of security, some need someone just to care about them. However, there is no doubt that what everyone in this world needs is God as preeminence, not just a priority or person they call to in their time of need. What every man needs is a personal relationship with the God who created them. So we are challenged by the wonderful thought that in this day we can feed the need of the physical. Now every day we strive to meet the need of the soul. The solution to the hurting heart is faith in God! The Lord Jesus Christ will meet the spiritual need by filling the void with forgiveness from God.

If you know of someone in need of groceries make sure to tell them that our church is here to try to help them with that essential physical need. As the Lord provides through our congregation we make the food available to the needy. God’s promises are true and His resources are endless. With that precious Message of forgiveness from God, we are able to help men, women and children with more than their physical needs; we can help them become born again. Man’s greatest need is forgiveness from God and God’s greatest gift is Jesus Christ the Savior for the World.

Thankful for God’s Goodness,

Pastor Jackson & Pastor Joe Jackson
Mark 11:22

That is the title of an article I read on  Monday December 12, 2011 from the USA Today Newspaper. The writer Laura Vanderkam, author of the forthcoming All The Money in the World of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors had some interesting observations in her article. Consider some of her points as quoted below:

1. Churches see an upside to people loading down the collection plate but new insights from happiness research suggest that tithing could benefit the giver too…

2. While 10% sounds like a lot, tithing advocates note that it’s only a lot in the context of giving. In the context of, say housing, 10% sounds cheap.

3. This idea of framing giving in terms of the blessing one receives from it sounds strange, but some people take that idea literally-that if you tithe, God will give back to you. The most clear-cut benefit is a boosted mood.

4. Tithing helps build the ultimate social network: a thriving community of people who will care for you, pray for you and help you in tough times.

5. People who have close-knit networks are happier and healthier than others, too. Breast cancer patients, for instance, are less likely to die or suffer a relapse if they have strong social ties.

6. Most tithers don’t cite “happiness” as a reason for their generosity.

Vanderkam’s conclusion: If a tithe comes with a high likelihood of actually purchasing that elusive state [happiness] it start to sound pretty cheap.

Here is why I choose to tithe and give proportionately (Faith Promise Missions, love offerings, helping the needy through our Food pantry at the church, building programs, & support of our Assistant Pastor) to the Lord through my local church:

A. God commands it. Even though I don’t live under the Old Testament Law the principle of honoring God first is one that the Scripture promotes even in this period of grace that we now live in. Malachi 3:10  Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

B. God commissions and blesses it in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul was used of God to communicate to the Corinth church in I Corinthians 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come. 

C. God would have me be joyful in my giving, “cheerful” and there is no better way to be so then to honor Him faithfully as recorded in 2 Corinthians 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Personal note: after serving in the pastorate for more than thirty years I have documented the most content people are those who have learned stewardship-giving God their time, talents, treasures and testimony. The most dysfunctional people are those who are “Christians” but are operating without being good stewards, they tend to be bitter, argumentative, anti-social and unattached to a local assembly. The “renegade” spirit is a disguise in this humble parson’s opinion, for disobedience to the Lord and to put it bluntly, they are selfish. As an umpire once said to me after I was called out on the third pitch, “I call it as I see it, son!”

Dr. Timothy W. Jackson 01-24-2012

Pastor Community Baptist Church of Lansing

Pastor@communitybaptistlansing.com

As we start the new year I thought I would share some of my resolutions and hope that they might be an encouragement.

I resolve to be Kind

I have never caught myself saying; “Wow, I wish I would not have been kinder to that person.” I have however caught myself many times saying sorry that was not very nice of me. Or even thought later wow I wish I had not said that, so this year I resolve to be Kind. Eph 4: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. 

I resolve to be Faithful

“Be a man of your word, if you said you were going to do then, Bless the Lord you should do it!” I can still hear my Grandpa saying that. He was a great example of being faithful. Luke 16:10  ¹⁰ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. I can truly say it is always my goal to have others say that I was a good friend I remember the words written by Shakespeare “He was my friend, faithful and just to me!” I believe that in our world of many changes, success and technological advancement we have forgotten to be faithful! Faithful to others. People count on us to be faithful! They depend on us to be people of our word. If we say it; we should do it. Be careful to not promise that which you cannot deliver. We need to be Faithful to our God. How much does the Lord of all the creation deserve your loyal faithful heart?  Are you faithful and just to God? Do you make his church a priority or just a place? Is your life centered on the thoughts of what can I do to make my Lord and King proud of my service; or has His service become problematic and lacking sincerity? We should make faithfulness to God a  consistent everyday goal! Read a portion of Scripture daily, meditate on it throughout the day, stay in the mode of prayer all day in every moment of the day. This does not mean you need to stop the line at the local Walmart and get down on bended knee and pray. But you can pray while standing in line or sitting in traffic or even eating your Fruit Loops! Just make certain you are faithful to the one who has His name inscribed as the faithful and true! Rev19:11¹¹ And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True,

I resolve to be Loving

Loving real men are lovers of God! The Bible describes people who are not lovers of God and it is not complementary (2Tim 3). We must strive to loving, and not just to the loveable. In my case it is really easy to love my cute nephews. They are adorable and so pure. However the Bible gives us a command to love everyone as Jesus loved. (John13:34) We should love people with the same love that God loved us with. Because we were loved before we were worthy of love. So let us love one another with a Christ like love.

I resolve to be encouraging

I saved this one for last because I believe it to be so important and a needed necessity for our world today! I do not ever see Jesus joking around, making fun, or just kidding. I do see Jesus having a sense of humor, I can even see in my mind’s eye he must have been fun or kids would not have loved him! However, I believe that Jesus  was careful with His words there is a fine line between have fun with others and making fun others. Beware! be careful for I know I have danced on this line way too many times in my own life! The Bible tells us in Mark 12:34 “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” The Bible also tells us what we should let our heart dwell on!   Phil 4:8 ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things Yet to many of us spend so much time dwelling on others faults, let us provoke each other to Love and Good works, not to wrath! Let us be men of encouragement, and ladies of grace. That statement our Mom’s taught us is still true, if you don’t have something nice to say then don’t say anything at all! Bless people be a blessing! I hope that when I die people will say Pastor Joe was a consistent encouragement who showed the Love God through every part of his life, He shared the gospel to every person he met through being faithful in his singing, preaching  and his living! Be an encourager there are enough critics in the world. Remember what has been said it true “A statue has never been erected in honor of a critic.” Be a person of encouragement!

Mark 11:22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, have faith in God.

Spiritual Goals

1. Revival in the hearts of the church family.

2. Reading of the Bible by 100% of church family daily.

3. Cottage prayer meetings established with Bible studies to foster spiritual growth.

4. Soul winning involvement by all members and families regularly.

5. Fifty-two people following the Lord in baptism and added to the church.

6. Add three additional teachers to the church staff to share the Word.

7. All families having daily devotions together.

8. Church family attending all services each week unless providentially hindered.

9. Develop a sweet spirit of Christ in the church family.

10. Discipleship work with all new converts.

Missions Goals

1. Reach three new families through transportation ministry.

2. Minister to inmates through RU Jail outreach and see three baptized.

3. Support all missionaries faithfully.

4. Add the Comstocks to our missionary families supported full time.

5. Add auxiliary vehicle to our transportation ministry to help bring them in.

6. Help start another church in Michigan with Missionary Rowland of BCP.

Physical Plant Goals

1. Develop classrooms for teaching.

2. Parking lot and drive recoated with asphalt.

3. Acquire property surrounding church facility.

4. Add a window to the nursery.

5. Install attic storage access ladder.

Ministry Goals

1. Hospitality teams developed.

2. Prayer chain put in place for special needs of church family.

3. Partner with missionaries in sending more workers to the field.

4. Train two more men for deacon ministry.

5. Develop assistance in sound booth, ushering, nursery, jail and transportation ministry.

6. Visitation by teachers and workers stepped up to see all absentee visited weekly.