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

Hamlin New Testament Church, 2179 Lake Road, Hamlin, NY (2026)

09/08/2026

As we pulled into Fair Haven Beach State Park and made our way toward our campsite, I found myself taking in the beautiful beach along the way. The sand was filled with people, and every parking lot seemed to be full. There was hardly an open spot anywhere!

I thought to myself that people must be trying to enjoy one last beautiful day at the beach before school starts and the cooler weather begins to settle in. It was one of those scenes that reminded me how quickly the seasons change - and how important it is to enjoy the moments God gives us.

Then, this morning, as I was reading Psalm 139:17-18, my mind went right back to that beach and all that sand. I read these words:

"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."

This Psalm is attributed to David as the author, and it makes me wonder where he was and what he was thinking as he penned these words. Did he wake up near a beach one morning and look out at the sand? What cares and concerns were on his heart that caused him to think about the precious thoughts of God?

David also wrote in Psalm 119:91, "Your regulations remain true to this day, for everything serves Your plans."

Truth be told, we all need to cast our cares on God. This is something we need to do daily. Sometimes, we may even need to do it hourly because we have a tendency to give something to God - and then take it right back!

There are times in our lives when we have to keep coming to the Lord again and again, depending on what we're facing in that particular moment. It's as if God is saying, "Let Me help you with that. Let Me carry that thing you're carrying. Give it to Me."

So, friends, what do we need to do next? We need to give it to Him - and leave it with Him.

He is faithful and just, and His thoughts toward us are good and not evil. Just think about that for a moment. His thoughts toward us are more numerous than the grains of sand.

And remember: "How precious are His thoughts toward us." That, in itself, is pretty amazing! Amen?

09/07/2026

This morning, as usual, I was sitting in the hot tub, trying to have some quiet time with the Lord. I had intentionally gone outside on this crisp, sunny morning to spend a few peaceful moments with Him - to pray, reflect, and simply enjoy His presence. But then my mind started wandering.

I began thinking about our trip to Fair Haven today. Before I knew it, I was mentally mapping out the route we would take, thinking about where we would turn and how long it might take us to get there. And suddenly, there I was - sitting in the hot tub, supposedly having quiet time with the Lord, while my mind was completely occupied with everything except the reason I had come outside in the first place!

I had to stop and smile when I realized what I was doing. Isn't it amazing how easily our minds can wander? Even when we intentionally set aside time to be still, distractions have a way of finding us - or perhaps more accurately, we have a way of finding them!

Thankfully, I was able to recognize it and get back to what mattered most. . .

Truth be told, we endure many distractions every day. Like the crying kid in the next aisle at the store who won't take Mommy's "no" for an answer. Or the person at the doctor's office who talks on their phone like there's no one else around. And how about when we're right in the middle of something and get one of those calls that says, "Potential Spam"? Distractions are everywhere!

It reminds me of the story of Mary and Martha. Think about the scenario for a minute - JESUS IS COMING TO VISIT!!

What if He was coming to our house today? I know at our home, there would be a whirlwind of cleaning and uncluttering taking place in a hurry! Then, of course, there would be all the food preparations as well.

We read the account in Luke 10. Let's pick it up in verse 40: "But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!'"

But Jesus gives her such a powerful response in verses 41-42: "But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

Friends, money, work, school, friends, and family are all good and necessary parts of life. But if we allow those things - even good things - to take priority over our relationship with the Lord, are we truly loving Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds?

Mary found the "one thing." She chose to sit at the feet of Jesus. She chose His presence over the distractions. She chose time with Him.

Maybe that's the reminder some of us need today. In the middle of all the noise, the responsibilities, the plans, and the interruptions, let's not forget the one thing that matters most.

Sit at His feet. Listen to His voice. Spend time with Him - undistracted. May that be our focus today. . .and every day! Amen?

09/06/2026

We have some very dear friends who are moving from their large country home into a beautiful, much smaller in-law suite. While this should be a wonderful move for them, we remember how hard it was when we downsized after living in our big home for so many years.

They are going through that same process right now.

Think about it for a moment. We all have stuff, right? And sometimes, even the thought of getting rid of things we see as valuable or important can be very difficult.

It got me pondering the story of the rich young ruler in Luke 18. He came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life.

It seems he thought there was something he could do to earn it. Maybe he believed eternal life could somehow be bought or deserved. In today's world, it might be like someone thinking that giving a large sum of money to a church is enough to guarantee a place in heaven.

But that's not how it works.

The man also thought that because he had lived a good life and kept the commandments, he had done enough. But Jesus knew his heart. In Luke 18:22-23, Jesus said: "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. When the man heard this, he became very sad because he was very wealthy."

Here's the thing: I don't think the man understood what Jesus was really offering him. His possessions had such a hold on him that he couldn't let go and simply follow the One who could give him what money could never buy.

It reminds me of when my brother Rick gave his heart to the Lord many years ago. For a long time, he said he wasn't ready. He felt he needed to clean himself up and take care of some things before he could ever think about following Jesus.

But the truth is, that's not how it works either.

It was such an honor to be able to pray with him as he gave his heart to the Lord that day. He finally realized that it didn't matter what he had or what he had done. Jesus took him just as he was.

And isn't that the beautiful truth of the Gospel? We don't have to earn His love. We don't have to clean ourselves up before coming to Him. We don't have to give enough, do enough, or be good enough. We simply come to Jesus and follow Him.

Bottom line friends, there is absolutely nothing on this earth more valuable than having a real, personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen?

09/05/2026

Emotions can be crazy stuff sometimes.

I'm still sad about my cousin, but at the same time, I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of family at the funeral home. And there are a few family things on my heart as well. But this morning, I'm especially thankful for the sweet time of, as Stacy put it, “patio worship” last evening. God knows exactly what we need, and His timing is always perfect!

I'm also looking forward to this Sunday at HNTC. We'll have a full worship team on the platform, including a drummer! It's been a while. . . but it's always great to be together, worshiping the Lord!

I was reminded of a conversation we had not long ago about online church. While it's convenient and still very popular, one of the things that can get lost is fellowship - the closeness and connection that comes from actually being together.

Of course, some people truly can't be with us in person, like friends who live out of state or even out of the country. And we're thankful for the opportunity to stay connected online. But when we can be there, I believe we should.

Paul writes in Ephesians 2:19, “You belong in God’s household with every other Christian.” And Jesus reminds us in John 13:35, “Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.”

The truth is, there's a special kind of love we experience when we gather together in the Lord's house. There's also a unique encouragement that comes from being around other believers.

And it's not just about what we receive. It's also about what we give. A word of encouragement. A smile. A handshake. Or maybe even a hug.

I’ll never forget a friend once telling me, after I gave them a hug, “That was the first hug I’ve had in three weeks.”

Wow.

Imagine if I hadn't been there to offer it.

So, I know it's Saturday, but Sunday's coming! Let's make the choice today to be in church this weekend. Spiritual growth isn't something we were meant to fully develop on our own. We need the Word, we need worship, and yes - we need each other.

Someone may need the encouragement you bring. Someone may need your smile. Someone may simply need to know they're not alone.

And who knows? Maybe you need a little encouragement too.

So go ahead, friends - put it on your calendar now. Make the decision before the busyness of tomorrow tries to get in the way. Sunday's coming. Let's gather together, worship the Lord, encourage one another, and see what God has in store. Amen?

09/04/2026

A lot of memories of my cousins and the things our families used to do “back in the day” have been running through my mind over the last few days. It got me pondering how going out to dinner back then used to be such a huge treat, instead of something a lot of folks do now almost every day of the week.

I remember some of the Dunn family outings in the 1960s to that prestigious restaurant named Carrol's. The old 15-cent burgers, triple-thick shakes, and crispy French fries! And who remembers the “Club Burger”? Back then, you could feed a family of six for around five bucks. For us kids, it was a huge treat!

Thinking about that also made me think about our camping gang and how much food we seem to consume on our trips. We usually go out to a local restaurant at least once during each trip, and that brought back a memory from a place we visited a few years ago.

Our server that day had just gone through a major crisis in her life. As she shared a little of her story with us, we were able to gather around and pray with her, something for which she was very thankful.

But the blessing didn't stop there.

As we went to pay our bills, some of our friends ended up leaving some very generous tips to help her out. It was such a blessing to watch, and I'm sure that server was completely blown away.

But isn't that what we, as believers, are called to do? To help those in need? To be a blessing when God gives us the opportunity?

I really like the phrase, “Holding Our Blessings with an Open Hand.”

The concept is pretty simple. Bottom line - you can't outgive God.

Luke 6:38 says: “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

The Message puts it this way: “Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back - given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

We also read in 1 Timothy 6:6-7: “But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.”

Maybe that's something we all need to remember from time to time. Everything we have is ultimately a blessing from God. We don't really own it forever - we are simply entrusted with it for a little while.

So let's hold our blessings with an open hand.

And when God gives us an opportunity to bless someone, encourage someone, help someone, or simply show the love of Jesus in a practical way. . .let's not miss it.

Friends - final thought: When we bless others, I believe God is blessed as well. Amen?

09/03/2026

This morning, during my time in God's Word, I found myself reading Colossians 3. As I started reading, the heading of the chapter in my Bible caught my attention: “Living as Those Made Alive in Christ.”

I thought, Wow, that's really what we're trying to do every day, isn't it? Not just go to church, read our Bible, or say we believe - but actually live each day in a way that reflects who we are because of Jesus.

The first 11 verses talk about practical Christian living and urge us, as believers, to align our daily conduct with our new identity in Christ. But then verses 12-15 really jumped out at me:

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. . . and be thankful.”

There's a lot to unpack here, for sure. But in a lot of ways, these verses are a great reminder of how we should handle life itself.

Having compassion for others. Being kind, humble, and gentle. And having patience.

It’s kind of sad that there seems to be a major shortage of patience these days. Just pull into a parking lot or go into a store. People seem to be on edge in these times we're going through. But as followers of Jesus, maybe we are called to respond differently.

It also talks about forgiveness. That can be in short supply as well. But not forgiving someone can be extremely detrimental to us. Holding grudges and hanging on to anger over what someone has done to us can eat us up inside.

Forgive as God has forgiven us.

And then Paul says, “Beyond all these things put on love!”

To me, this is where the rubber meets the road. Whatever we do, we should do it in love. And when we allow the peace of Christ to rule in our hearts, we are better able to show that love to others - even when it's difficult.

Here's the thing, God has called each of us to show His love to the world. Being kind, gentle, humble, patient, and having compassion for the people we meet may be the very thing that allows someone to see Jesus in us.

So, as we enter a new season and approach Fall, whether we're in the marketplace, workplace, school, parking lot, or wherever life takes us, let's remember these things.

Put on compassion. Put on kindness. Put on humility. Put on gentleness. Put on patience. Forgive freely. And above all, put on love.

Friends - the world has enough anger, division, and impatience. Let's be people who bring the peace and love of Christ wherever we go. Amen?

08/31/2026

"I want you to stop here and look at this road,” said our tour guide as we stood among the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. “This is the road that historians and Bible scholars believe the Apostle Paul walked on as he arrived in this city.”
That was probably the biggest “WOW!” moment for me as we traveled through Italy, Greece, and Turkey a few months ago. It really impacted me to think that we were actually walking on the same road that Paul walked on almost 2,000 years ago.
Think about all the amazing things God did through Paul - and all the missionary journeys he went on. It’s estimated that he traveled more than 10,000 miles during his four journeys. That’s a lot of miles! And back then, much of it was on foot.
So I got to pondering. . . Paul must have had a lot of time to spend with God as he walked all those miles. And that got me pondering a bit about the time we spend with God.
We all know how busy life can get. Our calendars fill up, challenges happen, unexpected things come our way, and before we know it, the day is over. And sometimes we think, “I’ll have more time with God tomorrow.” But here’s the thing - is any of that a surprise to God? Easy answer: No.
He knows how busy our lives can become. He knows when we get distracted and lose our focus a little. And He knows that sometimes, in the busyness of life, we simply forget to stop and spend time with Him.
But here’s the good news: God hasn’t forgotten about us. Even when we forget about Him from time to time, He is still there.
We can stop in the middle of a busy day - even for just a moment - and pray the words of Psalm 31:14-15: “I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hands.”
My times are in Your hands. I love that. And then there’s Psalm 121:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip - he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”
And it continues: “The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand. . . The Lord will keep you from all harm - he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”
Friends, that’s a place we all want to be. To know that the God who watched over Paul on those long journeys is the same God who watches over us today.
And here’s the really good news: we don’t have to travel 10,000 miles to find Him. We don’t have to be on an ancient road in Ephesus. We don’t have to be sitting in a church pew. We don’t even have to have a quiet morning with a cup of coffee.
We can simply stop. Look up. And seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 tells us:
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” So wherever you are today, take a moment. Put down the busyness. Take a breath. Turn your heart toward God.
Seek His presence today. And when you do, I think you’ll discover something pretty amazing: He’s been right there all along! Amen?

08/30/2026

It sure was a beautiful morning out there! Still in the mid 60's with no wind. I guess if summer is coming to a close, I like the way it's going so far!

It was very peaceful too - just a car or two in the distance, with a calm that seemed to set the tone for the day. I thought afterward, “I should have brought my coffee out for my prayer soak!” Oh well. . . maybe tomorrow.

But as I sat there, nothing but the presence of the Lord really seemed to matter. And, of course, the song running through my brain was Israel Houghton’s Jesus at the Center. Some of the lyrics say:

“Nothing else matters, nothing in this world will do. Jesus, You’re the center, and everything revolves around You.”

That’s so true - everything should revolve around Jesus. But if we’re honest, that can be a pretty big challenge at times.

The good news? There’s still hope!

I recently read an article that compared life to an old wagon wheel. Strange concept at first - but stay with me!

Picture it: our life is that wheel, with all the spokes representing our relationships, family, career, goals, finances, dreams, and everything else that makes up our lives. And at the heart of it all is that old hub.

And whatever we place at the hub becomes the thing that holds everything else together. For some, it’s a career. For others, it’s money, success, relationships, or even family. But the real question is: What’s at the center of ours?

One way to find out is to ask ourselves: What do I think about the most? What occupies my heart and my mind? Because what drives our thoughts often reveals what’s really sitting on the throne of our lives.

The hub matters. A lot!

It’s what gives the wheel stability, balance, and strength. And when the hub is faulty or broken, the whole wheel is affected. The same is true in our lives. When we put something other than God in that center position, eventually things start to wobble. We may feel like our lives are “coming unglued.”

But here’s the amazing part: when we make Jesus the hub, He provides the stability, direction, strength, and power we need.

Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your other needs will be met as well.”

Seek first. Not second. Not when everything else is taken care of. Not when we have a little extra time. First.

Truth is, when Jesus is at the center, every other part of life - our families, our careers, our dreams, our struggles, and even our uncertainties - can find its proper place and balance in Him.

He directs us.
He influences us.
He empowers us.
He sustains us.

The spokes of our lives may look different from one another, but they all work best when they are connected to the right hub. So maybe the question for us this morning isn’t, “Is Jesus somewhere in my life?” It’s this: Is Jesus at the center of my life?

Because when He is, everything else can begin to revolve around Him. And that, my friends, is the kind of life worth building.

Friends, Jesus at the center. Everything else finds its place. Amen?

08/29/2026

“Anticipation.” That’s the word in my brain this morning.

And, of course, it takes me back to ’71 and the song by Carly Simon. But the reason I think the Lord put that word in my brain is the fact that I’ll be preaching @ HNTC tomorrow. If you’re not doing anything at 10 am tomorrow, I’d love to see you there!

But getting back to Carly, the lyrics that caught my attention were from the third verse, where she talks about nature’s ways.

I guess she was referring to none other than Cat Stevens when she wrote this song. But the line that really stuck out to me was the one about not being a prophet and not knowing “nature’s ways.”

Truth is, the Creator of nature is God. And knowing the Creator of the heavens and the earth is who we should all strive to know more and more each and every day.

We read in Psalm 96:11-12: “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”

We see here that all of creation - ALL creation - praises the Lord. That includes all of His children.

And then there’s Jeremiah 17:8: “He [the one who trusts in the Lord] will be like a tree planted by water. It sends its roots out toward a stream. It doesn’t fear when heat comes, and its foliage remains green. It will not worry in a year of drought or cease producing fruit.”

I love that picture. A tree planted by water doesn’t have to worry about where its nourishment is coming from. Its roots are reaching toward the source.

Here's the thing, spending time with God each day, and spending time in praise and worship to Him, will change our lives in the most amazing ways.

The more time we spend with the Creator, the more we will know Him. And the more we know Him, the more we begin to understand His ways - including nature’s ways.

Friends, maybe that’s what “Anticipation” is all about this morning.

Anticipating what God is going to do. Anticipating what He is going to teach us. Anticipating how He is going to use us.

And anticipating the day when we will see Him face to face. Amen?

08/28/2026

Please pray for the people of Nepal. Pray that God would protect the survivors, heal those who need healing, and comfort those who are hurting and have lost loved ones.

Why did this horrible tragedy happen? Scientists and geologists might have some answers, but it’s one of those things I might have to ask God when I see Him someday. But I’m thankful that He is there - in the midst of all the ruins, the heartbreak and the uncertainty - to help restore each person.

And here’s the thing: whatever we are going through, if we are His, He is right there with us. He has already designed the answer to whatever is happening in each of our challenging times. But sometimes, we can get to the point of no return in our minds. Our crisis - or someone else’s crisis - can seem impossible to resolve. At least, that’s the way we see it.

I can’t help but go back to the story of the people of Israel. They had their backs to the Red Sea, with the Egyptian army bearing down on them.

Impossible situation, right? Well, they thought it was.

But God…

Moses answered the people: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and God did what only God could do. The waters were divided, and the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.
(Exodus 14:13-14, 21-22)

Now, our challenges may not be quite the magnitude of what the Israelites faced that day. But God can still do the impossible. We need to stand firm, because He can make a way when everything seems out of reach.

Isaiah 43:18-19 encourages us: “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Truth is, there are times when things that have happened simply don't make a whole lot of sense. There are questions we may never have answers to this side of heaven.

But friends, wherever we are, whatever we're going through, let's trust that God will make a way when there seems to be no way. And today, let’s especially pray that for the people of Nepal. Amen?

Hamlin New Testament Church

09/08/2026

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