North Syracuse Christian Church

05/30/2026

NOT S.O.S. BUT RATHER, S.O.C.
By: Associate Pastor Derrick Tuper
Sunday, May 31, 2026

On Memorial Day weekend in 2020, we spent some time in Alex Bay. We stayed in a hotel along the water. Once we settled in, Shaun and I went down to the water's edge. We had taken our shoes off and were sitting on the rocks. Then, I hear Shaun say, "Dad, look". I see him pointing to one of his Crocs floating in the bay. I didn't panic; I prayed. Psalm 5:1-3, "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

I tried to get it with a stick but it wasn't long enough. The water was too cold to jump in. I told Shaun we'll have to wait for some boats to go by and see if the waves they create will push it back in. But, as Murphy's law would have it, there were boats galore before the croc set sail but now the only thing to go past us was a lone jet-skier. "Alright, just be patient" I told myself. Shaun was doing pretty well in that department himself. The croc was staying pretty stationary for a couple of minutes but then I noticed it was starting to move to the left.

"Oh, no, the current is taking it away." I needed to put
Phil. 4:6-7 in practice. "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

I had succumbed to the idea that if the croc was lost, I will accept it and not let it ruin our trip. We had brought a spare set of shoes so it would be okay. Then, a little fishing boat came by with a man and a woman. They locked eyes with me and I pointed to the croc. They turned around, retrieved it and tossed it close to shore and I brought it in the rest of the way with the stick. I told them they were a God-send and they smiled and went on their way. This was an important lesson for Shaun and a reminder for me about the necessity of prayer (even for the 'little' things), the ability of God and the example and benefit of not being anxious.

Thank you Jesus for saving our Croc!

-Derrick

05/23/2026

WHAT IS GOD'S WILL FOR ME?
By: Associate Pastor Derrick Tuper
May 17, 2026

This is a common question Christians ask. It's a good question to ask. I've been asked this and I think in some ways we can find help. We can go to the Lord in prayer about it. We can have a conversation with the person to see what thoughts they have and ask pertinent questions. We can investigate their gifts, abilities and passions to see how they've served in ministry and what fruit has been borne as a result.

I heard a sermon by Adrian Rogers recently that touched on this subject. And he had a take on it that I've used in ministering to those who ask this question. I like to have them answer a different question. How are they doing at obeying God's general will? We want to know God's specific plan for our lives but how well are we operating in the common will of God for His people? Before we seek a revelation about what is unclear, we should evaluate how we're doing at obeying what is already clear?
God has a purpose for all mankind--that they would be born-again (1 Tim. 2:3-4). Then, God has a purpose for all Christians--that they would be conformed to the likeness of Jesus. Romans 8:28 states that God works all things for the good of those that love Him; who are called according to His purpose. What is that purpose? Verse 29 tells us. Rom. 8:29, "For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers." God's predetermined plan for those He knew would come to Him for salvation is to be like Jesus.
We have the Sermon On The Mount in Matt. 5-7 that shows us how to be like Jesus. We have all of Jesus' recorded words and acts in the gospels that show us how to be like Him. We have the Acts of the Apostles that show us how to be like Jesus. We have the letters of Paul that tells us how to be like Jesus. Galatians 5:16-25 tells us. Ephesians 4-6 tells us. Colossians 3 tells us. Not that we have to do all this perfectly in order to have the will of God for our lives revealed to us, but before God will unfold His specific calling on your life, one needs to be focused on being obedient to His general will explained in Scripture. And it makes sense. It would not be wise to give something to someone who's not ready for it.

The more we're committed to the general will of God, the more He will reveal His specific will for us as individuals. "What is God's will for my life?" Read and obey His Word to find out~

Derrick

05/23/2026

"REMEMBER ME"
By: Associate Pastor Derrick Tuper
Sunday, May 24, 2026

Webster's defines memorial as, "something designed to keep remembrance alive". Memorial Day commemorates those who gave their lives in serving their country. It can also be a day to commemorate the one who gave His life in serving mankind. Memorial Day can prompt us to reflect on a few things. Sacrifice.
Memorial Day helps us to remember the men and women of the armed forces who have sacrificed their lives serving the USA. It prompts us to reflect on the love they had in being willing to give their all for their fellow man. This kind of sacrifice involves self-denial and an undying commitment to the cause. It involves a willingness to face dangerous situations and press on despite fear. These are the attributes of Jesus. His life was one of self-denial and sacrifice. He had an undying commitment to the cause of saving mankind from their sins. Jesus' purpose was to give his life as a ransom. Matt. 20:28, "just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
Freedom. Memorial Day allows us to remember the freedom we've received from the sacrifice of the valiant soldier. There's a poem that reads, in part, 'It is the soldier, not the reporter, who has given us freedom of the press. It is the soldier, not the poet, who has given us freedom of speech. It is the soldier, not the clergy, who has given us freedom of religion. It is the soldier, not the campus organizer who has given us the freedom to demonstrate. It is the soldier who salutes the flag, serves beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag.' If not for the bravery of those in battle, we would not be a free nation.
Without the unmatched valor of Jesus, we wouldn't have the possibility to become free from sin's tyranny. If not for Jesus' willingness to die for freedom's sake, we would still be in bo***ge to sin's power and subject to sin's penalty-death.
Never forget. Memorial Day is in place so we don't forget the depth of service and sacrifice of our nation's fallen heroes. As we're called on to remember the soldier's sacrifice, we are also called on to remember Jesus' sacrifice. The Lord's Supper is a reminder for those who have been set free to remember the One Who gave us life. I close with a poem:

I watched the flag pass by one day, it fluttered in the breeze;
A young Marine saluted it, and then he stood at ease.
I looked at him in uniform, so young, so tall, so proud;
with hair cut square and eyes alert, he'd stand out in any crowd.
I thought, how many men like him had fallen through the years?
How many died on foreign soil, how many Mother's tears?
How many pilot's planes shot down above the deep blue sea?
How many foxholes were soldier's graves, no, freedom isn't free.
I heard the sound of taps one night, when everything was still;
I listened to the bugler play, and felt a sudden chill.
I wondered just how many times, that Taps had meant, 'Amen';
when a flag had draped a coffin, of a brother or a friend.
I thought of all the children, of the Mothers and the wives;
of Fathers sons and husbands, with interrupted lives.
I thought about a graveyard at the bottom of the sea;
of unmarked graves at Arlington, no freedom isn't free.

Derrick

05/20/2026

Today, Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Drive Through Fresh Food Give Away
Everyone Welcome

2:30-4:00pm

NO parking on street.

No entrance until after 2:30pm

North Syracuse Christian Church
911 Church St
North Syracuse, NY 13212
315-458-8808

05/16/2026

"I Miss You, Mom"
By: Pastor Monte Smith
Sunday, May 10, 2026
Mother's Day

This year is the first time ever that I can’t wish my mom a Happy Mother’s Day. I know there are many of you that have a similar experience of missing your moms because they are not with us anymore. The last conversation I had with my mom was in her little apartment in the back of my sister’s home in Oklahoma. She was watching reruns of one of her shows from long ago. I just snuck in beside her and joined her watching it. I was going to leave later on that day, so I wanted to spend a little time with her. Neither one of us said much. We just quietly sat watching the show together.
Of course, neither one of us knew that would be the last time we would see each other. She seemed to be on-the-mend from some earlier health issues from the previous weeks. Her mind was good. She was snacking on a sandwich. And all-in-all she seemed very healthy for a 90-year-old. But as I look back on that day, I wish I had told her just how much I loved her and appreciated all her support and love over my lifetime. I wish I had reminisced through the years and shared some memories that I had floating through my brain for a long time of all the ways that I could see her very intentional love to me and to my sisters.
We never really know when or if we will have one last chance to say things to our loved ones that would be the kind of things that would add joy and confirm value to them. We may even wonder if they passed on to whatever is next for them, if they even knew how much we valued them.
My encouragement to you all, especially if your mom is still here, share with her the things that you do value about her, and start today.
Happy Mother’s Day to all moms, grandmoms, stepmoms, foster moms, and future moms.

Love Ya’ll, Monte

05/02/2026

"The Gift of Discernment"
By: Pastor Monte Smith
Sunday, May 3, 2026

I wish I had a better gift of discernment. I wish I could read people better or at least feel their true nature and protect myself and others from them. I have known some people who have such a keen sense of discernment that they can walk into a room full of people and immediately feel the presence of evil and know exactly who it’s coming from, or for that matter, the presence of God, too. They can meet someone for the first time and have a sense about whether they can be trusted or not.

I, on the other hand, am not that way most of the time. My default mechanism is to see the best in people until they prove otherwise, and they often do. I really only become suspicious when it almost too late. I’m usually only good at discernment long after it becomes evident to everyone else.

For me, this is a handicap. I have a natural posture that wants to lean toward trusting people. I don’t really like to go around with a constant attitude of mistrust and suspicion. And then when I find out the truth that I never should have trusted that person in the first place, it slaps me in the face like a razor strap.

"Dear Lord, give us all more discernment and more immediate discernment, as You protect us and our children."

Love Ya’ll,
Monte

04/08/2026

Reminder; Wednesday Night Nourishment is breaking for a couple of months!

We're gearing up for a great summer program !

See you Sunday or at the ladies or men's meetings!

04/08/2026

I am convinced that it is not the will of God for His people to grow old the way the world grows old. I do not mean that there will not be any change produced by advancing in age, but that aging does not need to be a time of failure, misery, and sickness.

04/05/2026

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said." Matthew 28:6

Happy Easter!

02/07/2026

"Love is Easy"
By: Pastor Monte Smith
Sunday, February 8, 2026

Some people say that “love is hard”. But I say, “it’s a lot easier than hate”. I know it sounds hard to do what Jesus said, “to love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”. In fact, usually our default reactions are to hate our enemies and strike back at our persecutors. The practical starting point of every negative action of someone who has made us an enemy is this: "Never take your own revenge but leave room for the wrath of God.” It’s kind of like a mom saying to her kids, “Just wait till your father gets home.” Just try to remember, “God’s got this too.” If someone really deserves to be paid back for what they’ve done to you, God can do a much better job than you can.
Our prisons are full of both men and women who didn’t understand this principle. They felt insulted or offended and they impulsively took their own revenge. I don’t know for sure, but I can imagine that almost all of the gun violence in our city, and the knife attacks, all start from this premise: “Taking one’s own revenge.”
Underneath the principle of the ‘love-your-enemy’ command is the idea that it’s easier to love everyone than it is to figure out exactly who is worthy of your love and who is not worthy. I know the command doesn’t mean we’ll be besties with everyone. But it does mean that we reset our default reactions from vengeance to something kinder. Maybe a meal or a drink of water would turn an enemy into a friend, or at least a better neighbor.
We all remember this from Romans 12: Rom 12:17-"Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. Rom 12:18- If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Rom 12:19 -Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. Rom 12:20-"BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD." Rom 12:21 -Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Happy Valentines Day,
~ Love Ya, Monte

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