Beacon Hill Baptist

09/08/2026

Thoughts and a cup of coffee: foundations

On Sunday, I mentioned Luke 6 and the passage about where we choose to build. What foundation do we use? The agenda of the passage is to remind us to build on the teachings of Jesus. As literally anything else will fail in the day of trouble and trials.
Most of us know that this is true and have generally built the Scripture into our lives so that we are ready for trials and tribulations. So, why do we still have momentary issues? Could it be that while we know the right path and the correct response, we fail to apply them?
It is not enough to know the correct response; it is actually necessary to apply that response to the situation in order for it to be of value. Hence the rub. Applying scripture to our lives in the moment of need. Doing good to those whom you do not like or feel generous toward is a part of those teachings. And often a difficult one to apply.
Following Jesus has at its core one real factor that tends to make it difficult: self-sacrifice. The very heart of Jesus was to love others, and that takes placing others above yourself, which can be vastly difficult at times. To recognize the need to elevate others and encourage them. This goes against every teaching of the world. The only time it teaches us to advance another is when it benefits us more than if we did not help them. Jesus’ continual teaching on “love your neighbor” goes against the world’s position.
But back to sand or rock. Upon which do I want to stand? Which do I want to build up upon? Rock is a much better foundation, but as I mentioned, it is much harder to establish. Rock is a far sturdier place to stand, but I must remember to apply it.
To know the truth and to apply the truth are not the same. Which might be the reason Chapter 6 exists.
Blessings.

09/07/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3wISlS-6e4

Luke 6

09/01/2026

Thoughts and a cup of coffee: Guilty?

I remember hearing a question when I was a teenager. It went something like this. If you went to trial and had to prove you were a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? I do not remember the reason the question was asked or even where, but this question, this thought has come back to my mind every so often. Would there be enough evidence to prove I belonged to God?
I recognize this could be used to promote legalism and manipulate people into a work-based lifestyle. And I might even have thought of it that way at times. But the question still returns every so often. As a disciple of Christ, does it show? I know that scripture defines the evidence of salvation as a lifestyle of love and acts of compassion. But just what would it take to convince a court?
We know that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Do they see the evidence they would need to say Yes, he is a Christian? Now again, I do not remember the point of the person who asked the question; I do not even remember when, but I do remember the question. This question, after all this time, is not about legalism, guilt, or even conviction; it is about reflection. It is about returning to the idea that if I am going to call myself a servant of God, perhaps there should be something in my life that reflects that.
Throughout our lives we can claim to be many things. But for many of these claims there has to be proof. It is not enough to only say I belong. I claim to be the most important thing on this planet, a representative of God. This is a rather arrogant claim if there is nothing to back it up.
May your day be sweet and your week amazing.
Blessings.

08/31/2026

https://youtu.be/FZm2eQgNgJA?si=2oMS_46py0vYFg7L

08/25/2026

Thoughts and a cup of coffee: Looking for the hand of God

Sometimes seeing the hand of God move is easier in someone else. For example, watching God set up Joshua’s trip to China was quite interesting. It appears to have started last year when he applied for a job. This application moved forward to a second interview. In order to attend the second interview, he first needed a passport. While I am not sure about you, I never needed a passport for a job interview. The next rather interesting intervention was when Joshua was transferred to a different tanker. The new tanker was on rotation ahead of the old one, which is not all that groundbreaking, but being ahead on rotation permitted Joshua to be available to leave for the trip, whereas if he had remained on the old tanker he would still have been deployed to the fires in Spokane. These are but two moments where God intervened to ensure that Joshua was ready and able to accept the invitation to go to China. There are a couple of others that are curious, but these are enough to make my point.
My point being that God is continually moving in and around us, guiding us to be available and prepared to follow Him. These constant assists and gentle moves can be easy to miss if we are not attentive to looking for them. So, when another person notices one, there is a chance they are correct, as it can be easier to see them in others.
Are we looking? Honestly. Are we looking to see the hand of God move around us to prepare us to be available and ready to join Him in ministry or anything else for that matter? Has watching for God to move become part of our lifestyle? Believing that God has good works for us to join Him in takes faith. And that faith can be encouraged when we watch for God to reveal Himself in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. It can even take looking back to see what, at the time, seemed curious or out of the ordinary.
When was the last time you did something that was out of the normal simply because you thought it was appropriate? What was the result? God is always moving. But it can take a watchful eye to see Him sometimes. Are we looking? No judgment, no condemnation, only a question. Are we (am I) in the habit of looking for the hand of God to move?
That habit might be a rather exciting habit to have.
Blessings.

08/24/2026

https://youtu.be/ArLGPgqC9bQ?si=95uJmPrSyPMdQHB3

08/19/2026

https://youtu.be/gQSMpJh_aR8?si=P4bWW5o7VDiccYHo

08/18/2026

Thoughts and a cup of coffee: A passionate performance

What are you passionate about? What would cause you to get out of bed early? Many people who fish, I see, leave while it is still dark, so I guess fishing fits this bill, as would hunting. But what about you personally? Or perhaps myself, as I neither fish nor hunt. What are we passionate about?
Music, painting, exercise, a field of study? What causes you to argue easily? Nowadays that can be politics, but I do not believe for most it is actually the policies that they are passionate about. It appears that for the most part people are simply reacting in anger as they have been told to. Are there any questions that keep you up at night?
Passion is a real tool that can produce amazing results when we use it. It can drive us to achieve when we would rather stop. It can encourage us to struggle for more instead of simply saying good enough. In my opinion, passion should not just be encouraged but developed.
Passion, like drive, is truly the most modern-day superpower I have seen. It takes the everyday individual and produces through them the most amazing results. It takes people from where they are to heights far beyond their imagination simply because they decided to strive and not give up. They found something they enjoyed doing and simply stayed with it, pushing themselves to do better.
Whatever you choose to put your hand to, do it with all your might.

08/11/2026

Thoughts and a cup of coffee: The Motive of Sacrifice

I have been pondering this idea of sacrifice. Well, not specifically sacrifice, but the idea of giving to God. What can we give to God that He did not first give to us? We say we give Him our lives, but He gives us every breath. We claim to give Him our time, but what time do we have that did not come from Him?
In the Old Testament, a sacrifice was sheep, goats, cattle, w**e, and grains. Each of these was a return from what God had blessed them with. A recognition of the grace and blessings God had poured out on them. Hebrews 13:15 directs us to offer a sacrifice of praise, lips that continually confess His name.
But the real question I have is not perhaps what we sacrifice but why? God truly needs nothing. We add nothing to Him. Our sacrifice improves Him in no way. He is not added to by us. The lesser does not bless the greater. Is He worthy? Absolutely! Is He needy? No.
Which leads me to only one conclusion. Sacrifice is for us. Sacrifice is to improve us. The sacrifice of sheep, goat, cow, w**e, grain, time, money, or praise is to benefit us. To elevate us. So, do we sacrifice because we have to? Or perhaps much more importantly, because we get to. By getting to, I mean having the privilege of doing so. We recognize the truth that we have an opportunity that is unprecedented.
Sacrifice is given so we might recognize that God is truly our God. It demonstrates to all who witness that we serve Him. We do not give so we can get back from Him. He is not a vending machine. We do not sacrifice money to get health. We do not sacrifice time to earn rewards. We sacrifice so that we remember and recognize that God is worthy; He is the one we have placed first. Sacrifice is not about giving something up; it is about placing Him as preeminent.
Are we rewarded for our sacrifice? Absolutely. But is that the motivation? It shouldn’t be. That motivation records the gift and compares it to the return. It treats God as a vending machine or a merchant. It does not recognize God as the one who is worthy of all, and we are simply recognizing that truth. Sacrifice is about yielding everything at the feet of Jesus and letting Him be God. It is about a broken and contrite heart truly humbled by the gift of salvation.
Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.
Blessings.

08/10/2026

https://youtu.be/uJWG30i78mg?si=Sa8e3AXX2JIjvRgE