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.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)

William Gladstone once said that “The ravages of drink are greater than those of war, pestilence, and famine combined.” As we come to a new year let us take a moment to ponder that no person who became an alcoholic ever truly planned on becoming one or truly wanted to be one. They did not start out with the thoughts of hurts it would cause to family, the harm it would bring to their health, or even the humiliation it would bring to themselves. They just tried one drink or drank one night. Soon it became more than just one drink or one night of drinking. A Horrible habit had been formed that would last and become a snare to them for the rest of their lives. I have seen the horrors of what happens when people become visibly ruined by the alcoholic. I have also seen the horrors of those who thought they had it under control and that nobody knew. But the distrust from loved ones and the wreck and ruin that followed proved that the Bible is correct: “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1) So on this New Year I challenge you to be wise do not be deceived by the lies of bottle. It does not bring happiness; it will only bring horror, harm, hurt, humiliation, and loss of health to you your family and all your friends. Someone once sent the following words about his experience with alcohol to a newspaper columnist I hope it helps you choose righteousness and the true way of gladness following God instead of the alcohol.

Source: Bits and Pieces, May 1990

We drank for happiness and became unhappy.
We drank for joy and became miserable.
We drank for sociability and became argumentative.
We drank for sophistication and became obnoxious.
We drank for friendship and made enemies.
We drank for sleep and awakened without rest.
We drank for strength and felt weak.
We drank “medicinally” and acquired health problems.
We drank for relaxation and got the shakes.
We drank for bravery and became afraid.
We drank for confidence and became doubtful.
We drank to make conversation easier and slurred our speech.
We drank to forget and were forever haunted.
We drank for freedom and became slaves.
We drank to erase problems and saw them multiply.
We drank to cope with life and invited death.

Asst. Pastor Joe Jackson

Community Baptist Church

November 13, 2011

Pastor Timothy Jackson

Notes from the Evening service

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:4-5).

Our mission is to honor the Lord in all we do, that includes having a thankful heart. The Psalms are full of instruction to how to be thankful to the Lord.

Thankfulness is a conscious act of the believer confessing gratefulness: you do so with your actions, reactions, voice, song, finances, stuff as you offer it to God and others in a humble spirit.

“Thanksgiving” – is mentioned 30 times in the Bible!

No One was more thankful than Jesus! Although the Old Testament was filled with thanksgiving in Psalms it seems as if the Lord’s church doesn’t get it until they see it in the New Testament. Jesus, Himself left fingerprints all over “thankfulness” in the Holy Scriptures.

1. Jesus gave thanks before a meal with thousands Mark 8:6

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks , and brake , and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

a. “Giving thanks is not a small prayer you chant before receiving a meal, it is the way you live.”-writer penned

b. Want to see miracle? Give thanks for God’s ability and name daily.

Illustration: Praying with a family about the victory through Christ over the power of alcohol, it only happens when one submits to the Lord’s Spirit.

2. Jesus gave thanks before the tomb of His dead friend Lazarus John 11:41

“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid . And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said , Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.”

a. Jesus wants the sick well for God’s glory and the dead alive for God’s glory.

b. Jesus himself allowed the sick to die to do the work of God.

3. Jesus gave thanks before the Last Supper with His disciples Mark 14:23

And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks , he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

4. Jesus gave thanks before the Disciples Supper Luke 24:30

And it came to pass , as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake , and gave to them.

Community Baptist Church

September 25, 2011

( A sermon challenging Pastor Joe and future bride Kyla!) 

God has given to you the best manual for His relationship between a man and a woman, The Bible. I am convinced that the relationship of marriage is not a priority today. You can see the greatest government in the world, has minimized marriage. You can see that churches and religions have minimized marriage. You can see that individuals have minimized marriage. God hasn’t changed His position on marriage.

Kyla and Pastor Joe I challenge you before your home church, community Baptist church. All couples could glean as Ruth gleaned from Boaz fields, from this Sermon to this couple. This is a preaching for your future.

In the 1980’s someone gave me a book on marriage that rocketed to the most popular Christian manual, the author was a physician who years after becoming a physician became a Christian, and then brought Christianity into his marriage. It took him two years to slowly adapt his married life into a Christian married life and the physician led his wife and two daughters to Christ as he put the principles of the Bible into practice. “Obedience took on the bright colors of joy!”-Dr. Wheat Biblical truth will work in any marriage; if one person in the relationship will apply the Word of God you can see the marriage succeed to God’s glory. I believe in God’s Word applied to the marriage.

The acronym for this concept is: B E S T

I am promoting the Bible way to grow a relationship not a textbook or someone’s personal experience.

1. B in best stands for Blessing

As Jesus told the believers to bless those that curse you, so must the mate to their spouse.

A. Blessing-eulogia=eu meaning “well” and logos meaning “word” Luke 6:28  (King James Version)
Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

B. Blessing to be a wife in Prov. 31:28

Her children arise up , and call her blessed ; her husband also, and he praiseth her. A daily part of your marriage should be in praising blessing your wife. Any man who tears down his wife in public or private has a spiritual problem with the Lord.

C. Blessing to be a husband Ephesians 5:33 KJV Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Practical application:

Bless your mate, bride or groom and your marriage in these four ways:

“1. through your good and loving words spoken to him and about him

2. through your practical behavior, which show loving kindness toward him in actions large and small

3. through conveying your attitude of thankfulness and appreciation for him.

4. through your prayer to God on his behalf. Good words…kind actions…thankful appreciation…and intercessory prayer for your partner.”-Ed Wheat

1. B-bless

2. E-edifying

Why do you keep using Bible terms? The Bible is your manual that is why! Edifying means to building up ,

 1 Timothy 1:4

Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

A. Edify

EDIFICATION; EDIFY ed-i-fi-ka’-shun, ed’-i-fi: The Greek words oikodomeo, “to build,” oikodome, “the act of building,”

B. Edify-not preach to them, one writer wrote edify is to “Make thy love larger to inlarge my worth” –E. B. Browning

C. Edify-root meaning of the work English goes back to Latin “aedes” which meant a hearth or fireplace

 Romans 14:19 “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

1. B-bless

2. E-edfying

3. S-sharing

Acts 4:32 KJV

“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”

A. Sharing-should touch all areas of life, your time, your activities, interests and concerns.

B. Sharing-is adventurous voyage of discovery together new territory in each other through the experience of sharing on successively deeper levels.

C. Sharing means “becoming one flesh” leave, your parents/family; cleave, to your mate; weave, a new family together. I don’t buy into the idea that others paint, if isn’t Bible let us not add to it! Marriage, love is complicated enough, why add people’s rules to them?

 B-best; E-edfying; S-sharing

4. T-Touching

God created us with hundreds of thousands of microsopic nerve endings in our skin designed to sense and benefit from a loving touch.

A. Touching-why do you need to teach couples to touch if is so basic, so beneficial? Teaching of the world has warped touching: women think they are not obligated to touch their husband, or allow husband to touch them. Men think touching for half hearted hand shake, sports/hard hitting or sexual touch. But the Bible says different. Luke 8:47 KJV

And when the woman saw that she was not hid , she came trembling , and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

B. Touching-nothing shows a relationship is right like touching the mate. No touching no strong relationship: touching like: holding hands; arm around shoulder; gentle pat on hand, shoulder, arm; caressing cheek; back of the neck;

C. Touching with Scripture-Hebrews 4:15 KJV

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

This last week while out telling people about Jesus, I heard this heart wrenching crying of a poor animal. I could not tell where it was coming from, but I kept walking hoping to find it or that its owner would help it. For almost hour and a half I heard a moaning that would break the hardest of souls and bring those with a soft heart to tears. However, I just could not seem to find the hurting animal. As I turned down a little side road I could hear the cries a little louder. Joy sprung up in my heart, (if you know me you would know I have a deep love for animals) I began walking down the street knocking on doors as I went, but as I would talk to people at their homes, they seemed un-phased by the cries. As I reached the second to last house on the street I saw what was crying. There he sat at the last house on the block, an adorable and extremely cute little dog. He was not even 5 lbs. from the looks of him. He was sitting just outside the front door of his house crying out. He was obviously not hurt, but also obviously crying out for something.

I knocked on the neighbor’s door and a very nice lady answered the door. She was a church going lady, who thanked me for coming to visit her. Before I left I asked the lady about the poor dog next door. I said “Ma’am I have to ask is that dog ok?” She looked at her neighbor’s house and saw the dog crying at the front door. She replied, “He does that every day, His master is at school and from the moment he leaves till he gets home he cries for his boy to come home who will be in just a few minutes.” I thanked the lady and walked over to the house with dog. He was really fine, but as I knocked on the door praying that someone would be home he stared crying again. There are no words that could describe this sound. My heart hurts now as I think of it. It was literally the saddest noise I have ever heard in my life.  After a few minutes of waiting I had to continue on to my next visit. As I walked way the dog continued his sad cries missing his master; missing his friend. However just as I turned the corner I saw a boy happily walking down the street! And soon there were not more cries of sadness! Joy was back the master was there!

As I thought on this story all night and this morning, I thought back to Mary in the Bible(Luke 10:38-42); and the joy she found in being at Jesus feet! She could find no greater pleasure, no true lasting joy unless it was at the feet of her master!  I began to wonder, do I cry out in despair when my master is not near? Does my heart break when I am not near my Jesus? Do we feel an earnest longing to be in church and hear the teaching of my Lord?  Or do we sometimes just go through the motions?

I fear greatly for our generation. It seems more and more that church is a pastime and God is just good luck charm rather than a Great Lord and Creator! What would this world be like if people longed for their God and Savoir as much as that little dog longed for his master? How much would it change our hearts and attitudes towards church, God, and fellow man?  I challenged you to think on this search your heart and see what your attitude towards God and worshiping Him.

Until He Comes,
Asst. Pastor Joe Jackson

Psalm 84

King James Version
1<> How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 3Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.4Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah.

Luke 10:38-42 38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The intent of these upcoming lessons is to help anyone who is dealing with a life dominating problem, has dealt with life dominating problems; or knows someone who is dealing with one and wants to help that person, but is uncertain how to do so!

It is our prayer that you will come to this 13 week Sunday School Bible Study. There will study question, memory verses, and checklist found throughout the free booklet given to ever person in attendance. The old saying is true, “How much you put into something will have direct results in your return benefit.” So if you have a Life-Dominating Problem or know someone who does come and join us as we see God’s answers to our daily problems.

This Bible study starts this Sunday at 9:45AM. Don’t miss out!

 The Staff of
Community Baptist Church

One cannot even begin to describe the joy that a heart feels after seeing dozens of Children sing the song Jesus Loves Me!

Last month our church had the wonderful blessing of having our 21^st Vacation Bible School and our fourth year of having it as Family Vacation Bible School. Every year like clockwork during our FVBS you will see that wonderful song being sang. We will have many other fun games, crafts, prizes, and so much more; however the reason for it all is because of one very simple truth that we cannot ever forget. The greatest truth that the world needs to hear is Jesus loves me! Our theme verse was Eph 6: 19 “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,” That song truly tells the greatest mystery of all that Jesus would Love me. So today I hope to encourage you that First of all Jesus loves you.No matter what you’re going through our God cares about you.

Secondly He also wants you to tell others that He loves them for “How shall they hear without a preacher?” Thirdly we should live loving others as Jesus loved us. Care for others, believe in others, and forgive others! Because if there were no other reason than Jesus Loves me to do all of these things about, that would still be enough…

Asst. Pastor Joe Jackson

Jesus Loves Me – by William B. Bradbury 

“Jesus loves me! This I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak, but He is strong.

Refrain:

“Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so.