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Hamlin New Testament Church

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Hamlin New Testament Church

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Welcome to the Hamlin New Testament Church page!

You can find our live service stream and past videos at:

- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1bykDRRsISxDaUggYeknmg/videos

10/29/2026

I feel kind of sad about the things that are said about meteorologists sometimes, like, “How can anyone keep a job when they're only right half the time?”

Truth be told, I can't imagine how difficult that job actually is. But I got to pondering this morning: With all the things they report on, why not have a ranking system for upcoming sunrises and sunsets? As you can see, yesterday morning's view was simply beautiful. I'd give it a 7.5! 😊

Something I've realized over the years is that sunrises and sunsets never get old. Many times, I just sit and stare. I'm amazed at how God uses atmospheric conditions to create such beautiful strokes of color against an already amazing background.

Truth is, if I ever need a shot of hope, I can find it in an early morning sunrise. Hopefully, we can all agree on that!

Here are a few reminders that sunrises bring to mind, things that can help us trust God as we face each new day:

God is always holding all things together. . .

God is always faithful. . .

God's glory is on display today. . .

God wants us to look to Him. . .

Psalm 19:1 tells us, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

What a beautiful picture this gives us!

Think about it. The sun rises each and every day. But sometimes, clouds prevent us from seeing all that beauty. The sun is still there, even when we can't see it. And that's when we need to trust God!

Truth be told, we all have sunny days and cloudy days in our lives. Some days, we can clearly see God's hand at work. Other days, the clouds of disappointment, worry, or uncertainty seem to hide His presence.

But just because we can't see Him working doesn't mean He isn't working!

The clouds won't last forever, and in time, we may begin to see things more clearly again. Even when the clouds linger longer than we'd like, we can trust that God is still faithful and still at work in our lives.

Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

So, the next time you see a beautiful sunrise, take a moment to pause. Thank God for the beauty He's placed before you, and remember that the same God who paints the morning sky is holding you in His hands.

Friends, no matter what kind of clouds you're facing today, don't lose hope. God is still on the throne, He's still faithful, and He's not finished working in your life! Amen?

10/28/2026

I was reading 1 John this morning when verses 11 and 12 popped out at me. “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” There's a whole lot of truth packed into those two verses!

John goes on in verses 13-15: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.”

"This is the confidence we have. . " caused me to ponder a bit. I mean, how confident are we that God actually hears us? What gives us confidence in our lives? Is it our experiences? Our knowledge? Our faith in something or someone? If we think about it for a moment, it might have something to do with all of these.

Most of us are pretty confident about making a simple breakfast. We're also pretty confident about using our cell phones. Why? Because we've gained experience and knowledge along the way.

But what about our prayers? Are we confident that God hears us and answers us?

I've said it before: communicating with God is so much more than giving Him our laundry list of prayer requests. He loves to hear us simply talk to Him, thank Him for His tender mercies, and acknowledge who He is in our lives.

He also loves to provide for our needs and even bless us with some of our wants! He knows what's best for us, and He provides according to His wisdom and perfect timing. Sometimes, that answer comes at the 11th hour. And sometimes, the answer looks different from what we expected. That's where trust comes in!

One of the challenges we often face is keeping our focus on God when we pray. It's easy to become so focused on what we're asking for that we forget the One we're asking. When we keep our eyes on Him, our prayer lives can become richer, deeper, and more meaningful. And before long, we'll find ourselves wanting to spend even more time in His presence.

Friends, these verses are so powerful. And in some ways, they're almost too simple!

Because of Jesus, we can approach God with confidence. We don't have to earn His attention or find just the right words. We can come to Him as His children, knowing that He hears us when we pray according to His will.

Truth is, our confidence isn't in our ability to pray the perfect prayer. It's in the God who hears us!

So today, let's spend a little less time worrying about whether we're saying the right things and a little more time simply enjoying time with our Heavenly Father. Or as my friend Jim calls Him, "Papa". He hears us. He loves us. And we can trust Him with the answers! Amen?

10/26/2026

How sweet it was to have lunch with a friend yesterday! We used to work together at RWC. Oppps, I mean RWU! It's tough getting used to that. 😊 He was one of our amazing tech guys, and still is! He now lives in Maryland with his beautiful wife and two sons. It was great to catch up and hear how God is doing great things in their lives.

Truth is, jobs will come and go, but friendships can last a lifetime. I'm so thankful for this friend and for ALL of my friends. Actually, they're more than friends. They're family! Our "CLC Family," as we like to call them.

I also love that friends from "back in the day" can still connect and, in many cases, pick right up where we left off almost 50 years ago. How cool is that? And how thankful I am!

I recently read these insights from Max Lucado: "The grateful heart is like a magnet sweeping over the day, collecting reasons for gratitude." He goes on to remind us of the incredible blessings we often take for granted: our eyesight, our ability to think, every breath we take, and the beating of our hearts.

Think about that for a minute. So many gifts, every single day, and we don't even give them a second thought!

Here's the thing, gratitude helps us get through the hard stuff. When we reflect on our blessings, we recognize God's goodness at work in our lives. And as we recognize His goodness, we begin to see more of His heart. We discover that it's not just about the gifts He's given us, but about the Good Giver Himself!

Gratitude shifts our focus from our worries to the One who holds us in His hands. It does to anxiety what the morning sun does to the valley mist. It dissipates it! (picture taken by my sister, Carol, in Ecuador!)

So today, let's look for those blessings, both big and small. The old friends who still feel like family. The loved ones who walk beside us. The breath in our lungs. And, most importantly, the God who loves us and faithfully cares for us through it all.

"Give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Eph. 5:20)

Friends, there's always something to be thankful for when we take time to look for God's goodness. Amen?

10/25/2026

We all have good days, and we all have not-so-good days, right? Well, yesterday was one of the good ones. We got to celebrate the incredible life of an amazing friend and colleague from RWU, saw a lot of great folks we hadn't seen in a long time, said goodbye to Little Red (our car), and enjoyed a beautiful evening together.

But this morning, I got to pondering a conversation Lee Lee and I had a few weeks ago after church. She said to me, “Your voice was a little rough today.” Ouch, right? It was an assessment I had to agree with, and I think I handled it pretty well. I knew she was speaking out of love, and I certainly trust her.

So let's think for a moment about those times when someone has criticized us and we haven't handled it quite so well. Sound familiar?

Truth is, while we might not like criticism, there's often something we can learn from it. In my case, maybe I should practice singing a little more during the week. That might help on Sunday mornings! 😂

I read this recently in an article: “That’s why we’re wise to pay attention when people judge us negatively. Invited or not, criticism gives us an opportunity to examine ourselves, take notice of weak areas, and avoid unnecessary mistakes.”

There's a simple verse in Proverbs 15:31 that says, “He whose ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.”

Friends, criticism is going to happen. Sometimes, we need to treat it like water off a duck's back. Don't take every comment to heart. Sometimes, the wisest response is to let it go and move on.

But when criticism comes from someone who loves us, or when the Lord uses it to show us an area where we need to grow, we need to be willing to listen.

And here's the important part: We don't have to be perfect to be loved by God. His grace meets us right where we are, even as He continues to shape us into the people He's called us to be.

So let's be careful not to let pride keep us from learning, and let's be gracious when others point out our shortcomings. After all, we're all still a work in progress!

Remember, God is perfect, and we're not! Amen?

10/24/2026

Another beautiful, crisp morning! The temperatures are supposed to break the 60-degree mark today, and maybe even 70 tomorrow! In years gone by, we called this time of year Indian summer without a second thought, but it seems like some of the terminology we grew up with has changed over the years.

Columbus Day was renamed in many places, but I haven't seen much about changing the term Indian summer yet. So I did a little research and discovered that the Brits and Europeans sometimes call this time of year St. Martin's summer. Others call it Second Summer. Interesting, huh?

But all this got me pondering how, over the past several years, political correctness seems to have become a bigger part of our culture.

Now, we certainly don't want to carelessly judge or offend others. We should always have understanding and compassion in our hearts, looking for ways to point people toward Jesus.

It reminds me of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 9, where he talks about his freedom in Christ. In verse 22, he says, "I have become all things to all people."

But let's not take that verse out of context. Here's the rest of the story, from verses 19–23. Paul explains how he willingly set aside his own rights and preferences to reach others with the Gospel. He adapted to the people around him, meeting them where they were, so that he might win some to Christ.

Here's the thing, friends. Becoming all things to all people doesn't mean agreeing with everyone or compromising God's truth. It means loving people enough to listen, understand, and meet them where they are. It's about putting our preferences aside when necessary so others can see Jesus in us.

And that requires more than simply being politically correct. It requires a heart surrendered to God.

Friends, here's the question of the day: Are we more concerned about being politically correct or Godly correct?

As we seek to align our hearts and minds with God's, He'll help us know when to speak, when to listen, when to stand firm, and when to extend grace. And isn't that what we're called to do? To share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet, even when we don't see eye to eye?

As Paul reminds us, we do it all for the sake of the Gospel, "that by all possible means I might save some." May our words and actions point people toward Jesus, not push them away from Him. Amen?

10/23/2026

I was downstairs yesterday, getting something from the music room, when I paused for a minute and looked at some of my guitars hanging on the wall. My original 1965 Hagstrom II electric caught my eye. I remember buying that guitar and a 1968 Fender Bandmaster amp back in 1970 for a whopping $200 for both! Today? Their combined value is over $3,000!

Got me thinking about Bob Dylan and his Fender Stratocaster. At the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, Dylan shocked the folk music world by coming out and playing an electric guitar. What?? How could he do that? Well, that guitar sold for almost a million dollars!

And then there's Jimi Hendrix's Fender Stratocaster, the one he famously set on fire at the Monterey Pop Festival. That one sold in 2008 for around $350,000! Quite the price for a burnt-up old guitar, right?

But here's something to ponder. The value of these instruments wasn't just in the guitars themselves. A big part of their value came from who played them!

And that got me thinking about our walk with the Lord.

God doesn't call us to follow Him because we're so great, talented, or worthy. We're not! Our value comes from the One who created us, loves us, and calls us His own. It's not about how great we are, but about how great He is working in and through us!

2 Corinthians 4:7 says: "We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves."

Maybe you're going through a season right now when you're feeling a little useless, overlooked, or wondering how much you really matter.

Let me remind you of something. Your value isn't determined by what you can do, what you've accomplished, or what others think of you. And it certainly isn't determined by how well you think you're doing as a Christian!

Our value rests in Jesus and what He has done for us. We don't have to prove ourselves worthy of His love. In Christ, we're forgiven, loved, and made righteous through Him. And as we walk with Him, His greatness shines through our ordinary, imperfect lives.

We're no greater than anyone else, but we're no less valuable either. We're all people in need of God's grace, and what a gift it is that He chooses to work through us!

So, friends, the next time you're tempted to think you don't matter much, remember that the treasure inside the clay jar is far more valuable than the jar itself! It's not about us. It's all about Jesus!
Amen?

10/22/2026

The weather was beautiful the other day, with not a cloud in the sky, so Lee Lee and I took a little jaunt to Hamlin Beach to check out the fall foliage and enjoy a nice walk along the beach together. What an awesome time we had!

On our way home, we drove down North Hamlin Road to check out an eagle’s nest that’s been in a tree alongside the road for years. Sure enough, there was an eagle in the nest! (See pic.)

Every once in a while, we’ll see an eagle soaring over our home. If you’ve ever seen one in flight, you know what an amazing sight it is. Such beauty, such grace, such power!

And that got me pondering this morning about the Scripture that talks about “soaring high on wings like eagles.” It’s from Isaiah 40:31:
“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”

So, wings like eagles! Fun fact: the average bald eagle has a wingspan of over six feet, and some can reach eight feet. Those are some pretty impressive wings! It’s no wonder Isaiah uses the eagle as a picture of God’s strength, renewal, and the ability to rise above life’s challenges.

Billy Graham put it this way: “Just as the eagle is known for its remarkable vigor and vitality, God promises to restore physical and spiritual energy to the weary.”

Think about that for a moment, friends. As we put our trust in God, He promises to renew our strength! What an encouragement that is!

Eagles are also famous for riding wind currents and updrafts, allowing them to soar with very little effort. Rather than fighting every current, they use those winds to lift them higher.

And isn’t there a lesson for us in that? When life gets difficult, we don’t have to rely on our own strength or fight every battle on our own. We can trust the Lord to carry us through. He may not immediately change our circumstances, but He can renew our strength, give us His peace, and help us keep moving forward.

Friends, we might not see an eagle every day, but we can be reminded every day that our strength comes from the Lord! Whatever you’re facing today, you don’t have to face it alone. Trust Him to renew your strength and help you soar above the circumstances you’re going through. Amen?

10/21/2026

There are a lot of hurting folks out there right now. We’ve received many prayer requests recently, and it seems like there’s a lot of spiritual warfare happening in people’s lives. And our country could certainly use a whole lot of prayer, too!

One thing I try to do when I receive a prayer request is to stop and pray right then and there. Because, let’s face it, with all the busyness of life, it’s easy to forget those requests as the day goes on. Have you ever done that?

So, thinking about spiritual warfare, how do we fight the battles we face?

Ephesians 6 tells us about the various pieces of armor God has provided for believers. But before Paul describes a single piece of that armor, he gives us these words: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” (Eph. 6:10)

His might, friends - not ours!

I know I’m weak, but I also know that my God is great and powerful! I cannot win spiritual battles in my own strength. Jesus made that pretty clear when He said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

We need to understand the incredible resources God has made available to us as His children. Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would come to understand all that God had done for them.

In Ephesians 1:16 -18, he speaks of continually praying for them, asking God to give them wisdom and revelation in knowing Him, and that the eyes of their understanding would be enlightened so they could grasp the hope of His calling and the riches of His glorious inheritance.

Pondering that this morning, I’m reminded that our strength doesn’t come from trying harder, but from trusting Him more!

Friends, here’s something we need to remember when we face the battles of life: We don’t fight for victory. We fight from victory!

Let that sink in for a minute.

Through Jesus Christ, the ultimate victory has already been won. That doesn’t mean we won’t face struggles, feel weak, or have difficult days. It means we don’t face them alone, and we don’t have to depend on our own strength. We can stand firm in what Christ has already accomplished and rely on His power every step of the way.

So today, let’s keep praying for those who are hurting, lift up our nation, encourage one another, and put on the armor God has provided. And when the battles seem overwhelming, let’s remember who is fighting alongside us!

The battle may be real, but so is our God! Let’s live in His strength and stand in His victory today. Amen?

10/20/2026

I can't remember where I read this, but thinking about it this morning made me chuckle: "I'm not so big on change, it's the dollar bills that get my attention." I know, kinda cute. . .

But I did read that I'm getting a raise at the beginning of next year. 3.6%!! Of course, the cost of buying pretty much anything has gone up a whole lot more than that!

Sorry, I digress. . . .

Getting back to change, it's something I try to do just a little bit each day. Hopefully, we all do to some extent. Maybe spending a little more time in prayer, investing more time with family and friends, reading a bit more of the Bible, or getting more involved in our ministries. It's a goal that can be attainable.

But truth is, change is not easy.

Lee Lee and I are trying to eat better this fall and winter after our summer of camping trips. Starting around 3 or 4 in the afternoon, we had appetizers, a main course, AND dessert EVERY DAY! Kind of like being on a cruise ship, right? 😂 But we're hoping this change will stick and that we'll reap some benefits along the way.

I think back to late 2019. We sold the house we built, bought a new one, and then both retired from RWU. Talk about change! And yes, a little stress. . . .

But God is calling us to grow and change each day, and it begins with spending time with Him and allowing Him to renew our minds.

Ephesians 4:23 encourages us to "Let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes." You see, renewal is closely connected to repentance. I know, we just don't like that word very much, do we?

But what is repentance? It's learning to think differently. It's like doing a mental 180! With God's help, we learn to turn away from the things that pull us away from Him and turn toward the life He has for us.

Acts 3:19 instructs us: "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."

Friends, I'm all for those times of refreshing that come from the Lord!

And here's the good news: God doesn't ask us to change in our own strength. He invites us to turn toward Him, receive His forgiveness, and let His Spirit do the renewing work in our hearts.

Turning from sin to forgiveness, from hopelessness to hope, and from death to eternal life through Jesus Christ. That's the kind of change that makes an eternal difference!

So, maybe the question for today isn't how much change we have in our pockets, but how willing we are to let God change our hearts. Amen?

10/19/2026

Lately, we've seen a lot of pictures of the fall foliage in our area on social media. I do love seeing the leaves changing colors! In fact, right now, as I'm writing, the sun is totally illuminating our neighbor's maple tree across the street. Beautiful!

But we know what's around the corner, right? Let's just say getting the snowblower ready is on the list of things to do soon. . . . 😬

I've noticed in myself and others, especially us warm-weather enthusiasts, a bit of what we might call "diminished joy" lately. Maybe it's natural when the seasons change. And then again, maybe not.

Are there things going on in our lives that are stealing our joy? And if so, how do we get it back?

Well, I went to the Bible to see what it had to say about joy. I reread the story of Sarah laughing when she heard God say she would have a child. (Genesis 18) At first, her laughter came from unbelief. We've probably all experienced that kind of nervous laughter that hides how we're really feeling.

But God didn't leave Sarah there. He faithfully fulfilled His promise and gave her a son. Can you imagine her joy? In Genesis 21:6, Sarah said, "God hath made me to laugh." This time, her laughter came from genuine joy!

King David also experienced times of discouragement. The Psalms are full of him crying out to God. Yet he understood where true joy could be found: "You will fill me with joy in your presence..." - Psalm 16:11

Joy wasn't found in David's circumstances, but in God's presence.

And joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit! It's not something we have to manufacture ourselves. As we walk with the Lord, His Spirit works in us and produces this fruit.

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." - Galatians 5:22–23

Truth is . . . sometimes life gets busy, disappointments come, and our joy fades. I know there are times when I don't let God's joy shine through me.

But here's the good news: we don't have to pretend we're happy or feel guilty when we're struggling. We can bring our hearts to the Lord and ask Him to renew our spirits. His joy doesn't depend on everything going our way!

Friends, may we ask God to restore our joy today. And if you're struggling to find it, remember that you don't have to do it alone. God meets us with His grace and remains faithful through every season of life.

Here's the thing - the leaves will fall, and the snow will come. (Sorry, fellow warm-weather enthusiasts!) But the faithfulness of our God never changes! Amen?

Address

2179 Lake Road
Hamlin, NY
14464

Opening Hours

Thursday	10am - 11:30am
Sunday	10am - 11:30am

Telephone

+15859643210

Website

http://www.hntc.org/

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