Barry Church of Christ

05/31/2026

The Heavenly Court Scene

I don’t care how many John Grisham novels are written or how many “Law & Order” seasons are released, they don’t fool me. The novel or script written can act like an American courtroom scene is high drama, but I have been in too many courtrooms to fall for that. The waiting room at a local doctor’s office has more tension filled moments.

However, in Psalm 82; Asaph changes speeds on us. Like seeing a 97 mph fastball after an 83 mph change of pace, he zips one right past us. He writes about the heavenly court room, “God presides over heaven’s court; he pronounces judgment on the heavenly beings:” (Psalm 82:1 NLT). Well, isn’t that interesting? Courts in heaven with heavenly beings? Wouldn’t you have thought they had it all figured out?

“How long will you hand out unjust decisions by favoring the wicked?” (Psalm 82:2 NLT). Sounds like these heavenly beings are favoring the powerful, even though the powerful are wicked. Sound familiar? In America, wealthy people and large corporations can hire a team of lawyers to be a wall of defense. So what does God want? “Give justice to the poor and the orphan, uphold the rights of the oppressed and destitute. Rescue the poor and helpless, deliver them from the grasp of evil people.” (Psalm 82:3,4 NLT). In essence, help those who cannot help themselves.

Our human courts should follow the lead of God’s plan for the heavenly courts. Stand up for justice for those who cannot stand for themselves. Yet far too often the court system is like a point guard on the basketball court, dishing out assists to those already rich and powerful. We’ve seen all the reports, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. So what can you and I do?

As much as it depends on us, we should follow God’s lead and stand up for those who are oppressed. We should also be clear to those who serve through leadership in courts, here is the type of justice we want in our courts. It would be a breath of fresh air, and may not line the pockets of fiction writers, but God would be happy.

Jimmy Hodges

05/16/2026

Singing about God

Do you like singing? If you do that’s great. God likes it when we sing to him. And thankfully he is not too picky about the quality of our singing. “Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. Say to God, ‘How are some are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.’” (Psalm 66:1-4 NLT). God has done awesome things. We should shout and sing his praises. The Psalmist goes on to recount some of God’s great deeds.

Let’s pick up our reading here, “You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. Then you put a leader over us. We went through fire and flood, but you brought us to a place of abundance.” (Psalm 66:12 NLT). The people of Israel had been through a lot. The Lord brought them out of Egypt by his power after the ten plagues. They went through it all. We may not have gone through a flood or a fire. But we have been through some tough times as well. The people of Israel reached the promised land and it was a place of abundance. When we reflect upon our lives, hopefully we see the abundance the Lord has blessed us with and give him thanks.

Here is how he concludes the song, “Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would have not listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw his unfailing love from me.” Are you in trouble? Cry out to the Lord for help. He helped Israel through the fire and flood and this Psalmist as well bringing them to a place of abundance. He has done the same for me, and many others. He will do the same for you. Have you given your life over to him in baptism? If not, I hope you will. Are you living your life for him? I hope you are. He’s the best guide through the fires and floods of this life.

Jimmy Hodges

05/09/2026

The Sons of Korah

I wouldn’t recommend beginning a song by stating how smart you are. But what do I know about writing a song? “Listen to this all you people! Pay attention, everyone in the world! … For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.” (Psalm 49:1,3 NLT). The more I read the Psalms written by the sons of Korah, I realized they are some smart dudes. So what wise words do they share in this Psalm?

“Why should I fear when trouble comes, when enemies surround me?” (Psalm 49:5 NLT). Other people trust in their riches, but the sons of Korah know this is a waste of time. They put their trust in the Lord. Also, they realize the facts. No one is getting out of here alive! “Those who are wise must finally die, just like the foolish and senseless leaving all their wealth behind.” (Psalm 49:10 NLT). A person can be young or old, rich or poor, black or white, male or female. The standard size grave is still the same. And either way, you can’t take any of it with you when you go.

Some become despondent when that news sinks in. So how are the sons of Korah able to cope? “But as for me, God will redeem my life. He will sn**ch me from the power of the grave.” (Psalm 49:15 NLT). The sons of Korah have confidence in God to redeem them from the grave. Do you have the same confidence?

All good songs say the same things repeatedly and creatively. “In this life they consider themselves fortunate and are applauded by their success. But they will die like all before them and never again see the light of day. People who boast of their wealth don’t understand; they will die, just like animals.” (Psalm 49:18-20 NLT). Do you get it? We’re all going to die. Do you trust the Lord? He will redeem your life from the grave. He is the only one who can save. And you can’t take it with you. Pretty good tips brought to you in Psalms 49 by the sons of Korah.

Jimmy Hodges

05/02/2026

The Good Ol’ Days

We’ve all heard stories about the good ol’ days, whether it was from a grandparent or that quirky uncle or aunt. Sometimes, you get the idea the sun shined brighter, the sky was bluer, and the wind was gentler way back when. The sons of Korah were feeling that way hundreds of years ago, “O God, we have heard it with our ears - our ancestors have told us all you did in their day, in days long ago.” (Psalm 44:1 NLT). The sons of Korah heard all the stories from Grandpa Eli, or Grandma Naomi, or even that crazy Uncle Matthias.

Then the question is turned around. But what about us? What about right now? “But now you have tossed us aside in dishonor. You no longer lead us out into battle. You make us retreat from our enemies.” (Psalm 44:9 NLT). Times are tough for the sons of Korah. Seems like things aren’t as good as they were when Grandma was a little girl or that crazy Uncle was growing up.

Let me throw out an idea for your consideration. Maybe the good ol’ days were not as good as what we remembered? The mind can play tricks on us. For instance, as a parent I can easily fall for the whimsical thought, “I wish they were babies again!” Yet, I can still recall the tiredness of changing a diaper in the middle of the night and falling back to sleep myself while holding a little one who resisted going back to sleep. That’s just one of many examples where we tend to polish up the good, and tend to forget about the hardships of the past.

Then, I will flip the question the other way. Do you realize today is the good ol’ days for our young people? The 1970’s have a special place in my mind because I was a boy then. Yet the decade had Watergate, the Vietnam War, and the Iranian hostage crisis. And the list could go on. Rather than being such a downer, I need to recognize the 2020’s are the good ol’ days for the young people. Hopefully, we are teaching today’s youth to trust in the Lord. “O God, we give the glory to you all day long, and constantly praise your name.” (Psalm 44:8 NLT).

Jimmy Hodges

04/25/2026

Worry About Yourself

Most of us have seen the video of a toddler in a car seat. The parent offers help, but the child replies, “No thank you! Worry about yourself!” It’s humorous on many levels. One angle is that very likely the child had been told the phrase often by parents previously. She’s not the only one who can stick her nose into someone else’s business.

“Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires.” (Psalm 37:1-4 NLT).

So what about you? Have you ever worried about the wicked? Why do the good guys struggle so much in this life? And the bad guys seem to keep on getting ahead? With our innate sense of fairness, this easily gets us bent out of shape. But what does God say about it? In essence he says, “No thank you! Worry about yourself!” Let God take care of it. It’s his situation to deal with, and not ours.

God also tells us what we need to do. “Stop being angry! Turn from your rage. Do not lose your temper - it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land.” (Psalm 37:8,9 NLT). Here’s the problem with anger. It eats up. Sometimes, the anger eats at the one angering us. Oftentimes, it’s one’s inner self that gets eaten up. Then, there are those times where innocent bystanders are eaten up by our anger.

In recent years I have heard teenagers talk about what’s right, and the wrongs they see, and how it should be rectified immediately. Those talks call prompt flashbacks from nearly 40 years ago - when the same ideas flowed through me. Yet some of those things I was so worked up about then have been resolved now. Other issues, I’ve long since forgotten. I call that to mind when I get similar feelings today. That’s what God is saying in Psalm 37. Or as that toddler succinctly states, “No thank you! Worry about yourself!”

Jimmy Hodges

04/18/2026

Gospel Meetings

I’ve been attending gospel meetings since before I can remember. One day at Grandma Richardson’s she was playing a sermon in the kitchen while she worked. She rewound the tape to the point where Jimmy Allen said, “I enjoy hearing the Richardson baby cry.” Well, that was me crying and he thought my grandparents were my parents. They were only in their 40’s at the time. So there are some meetings I don’t remember from early childhood, but many that I do.

Dennis Loyd impressed me. He was also an English teacher and I appreciated how he could connect Bible teaching both positively and negatively to themes in books I was reading in school at the time. My reading vision since that gospel meeting has been influenced by him. Steve Flatt shared this application that courage is faith in action in spite of fears. I’ve often told myself, “Yes, I have fears. I can’t let them hold me back. I must put my faith into action,” numerous times.

Of course, there have been meetings in this area that have impacted me greatly as well. Dan Gulley gave a lesson years ago where he said that “I have always believed in the Resurrection, but it is more meaningful to me now than ever.“ I could hear some of his statements in my head as I prepared a recent lesson on the resurrection. Brent Newton said, “If you are not satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ, nothing else will please you.” And whether it’s my own discontentment or observing others, I’ve seen that message ring true.

Now, we have another opportunity with Jim Stauffer being here this week and sharing lessons on the theme, “God’s Plan to Bless His People”. There is much to be gained from the study of God’s word. There is also a great blessing in time together with other believers. Life is tough. We all need encouragement. May we all strengthen each other as we meet together this week.

Jimmy Hodges

04/13/2026

04/12/2026

Come & See: John 1:35-39
https://youtu.be/N-K1-a95qFA

Devotional: 4-12-26

A devotional from John 1 encouraging us to come and see what Christ has to offer us.

04/10/2026

Taste & See

My dad is a big breakfast eater. He has passed that tradition down to me. My breakfast favorites have changed through the years. I’ll give you a brief summary of what I eat daily now. First, I have a bowl of oats with a dash of cinnamon and a spoonful of honey along with some frozen berries mixed in. Next, I have a bowl with 2 poached eggs along with about 2 spoonfuls of sauerkraut and a spoonful of malt vinegar. It’s so tasty that I’m getting hungry thinking about it right now and it’s the middle of the afternoon. I always have a glass of milk, Prairie Farms preferably. And then there is copious amounts of coffee. I’ll drink any caffeinated kind, but Tim Horton’s brand is strongly preferred. I know exactly how many tablespoons to brew in my big coffee pitcher.

If you’re ever by the house, I’d be glad to make an extra bowl, and share a cup of coffee with you. I’m thankful for my breakfast and it tastes so good! Just as I am willing to share my breakfast. I’m even more willing to share the goodness of the Lord. David writes in Psalm 34:8 (NLT), “Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in him.” Surely you have tasted how good the Lord is. Every good gift you have comes from him. From the food you eat, to the house you live in, the clothes you wear and the air that you breathe. All this is from God. And that is just some of the physical blessings.

Consider the spiritual blessings. He has given you the savior you need in Jesus Christ. You have forgiveness in him. He has given you his Spirit to dwell in you. He raised Christ from the dead. Also, he will raise us from the dead. God treats us so much better than what we deserve. How would you describe the taste of God? Is he sweeter than honey? Does he taste better than a bowl full of berry oats? Is he more filling than my sauerkraut egg mixture? I’ll make the bold statement that he tastes even better than my expertly prepared batch of Tim Horton’s coffee. And that’s pretty hard to top, but thankfully our God tastes even better! Taste him and see!

Jimmy Hodges

04/05/2026

The Joy of Forgiveness

Years ago when we lived near Danville, IL; Gretchen went to the ER. Thankfully, in time that health issue was resolved. Several weeks after the visit, the bills came rolling in. We contacted the billing department. After some discussion, the worker recommended filling out a financial aid packet. A few weeks later, we received a letter in the mail telling us the debt we owed the hospital had been forgiven. That was one of the happiest pieces of mail we’ve ever opened. Reading Psalm 32 jogs that memory.

“Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record has been cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.” (Psalm 32:1,2 NLT). When we come to Christ, our sins are forgiven. Forgiveness should bring joy. Honestly, there should be more joy in forgiveness from Christ than a debt being cancelled. Because a personal loan can be paid off. However, we can never pay off our debt of sin. Also, we should not abuse or take advantage of this forgiveness God has given us.

While there is much joy in forgiveness, sins weigh us down. A Christian shared with me that years ago a co-worker had issues with migraines and had to leave work early often. Later, the company learned that this co-worker had been embezzling money from the company. Of course, there is no way to know for sure; but likely the weight of guilt was pressing in on that co-worker. Our experience may not be as severe a situation, but likely we have all had times where our sins weighed us down. “When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long. … My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.” (Psalm 32:3,4b NLT).

Recently, someone in the community had a shirt made for her dad. Here’s what it said, “If at first you don’t succeed, try what Mike said in the first place. That t-shirt connects real well with Psalm 32:5 (NLT), “Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, ‘I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.’ And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.” So rather than making it your last resort, why don’t you try doing what your Heavenly Father recommends? Confess your sins to him and receive the forgiveness you need. Experience the joy of forgiveness. - Jimmy Hodges