Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church

10/21/2024

Life begins with the breath of God (Genesis 2:7). Who is man to decide when life should end (Job 38:1-4)?
Vote no to Amendment 4

09/16/2024

But could I have a perfect grasp
On the written word
And perfect ear on which to cast
These perfect words to be heard
Only then could the love of God
That yearns to fill my heart
Be expressed to those around
Only there I could start
But the words that flow
From out my pen
Will never be so full of His love
As that which He pours into my heart
From His majesty up above.

07/28/2024

I have read, this afternoon, a statement by a pastor that said Jesus flipped tables on people in the temple, not people outside of it. He is right. What I disagree with is the fact that he was saying that Jesus was angry with His people and that those who are not children of God, are okay to do as they please basically because they know no better. In other words, Christians should not be angry about the mockery of our LORD and Saviour, but rather upset that there are Christians calling sin, well, sin. I do realize there are some "yelling" with anger at those that are part of or supporting the opening ceremony act that made a mockery of the "Last Supper." I do not support such "yelling" either. This yelling is not a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22&23). I am also aware that there are those that say that was not the intention. If you have ever looked at the painting by da Vinci and do not see the similarities, then we will probably not see eye to eye concerning this post. I have already stated that I fully know that those that mock Jesus have a great need to come to know who He is. We need to witness to them in any way God will allow us. We do not, however, condone or support, in any way, these actions. The ones that Jesus flipped the tables in the temple on were making a mockery of His house. They were not His people. Our love should be real, without dissimulation, but we are still to abhor that which is evil and cleave with all that we are to that which is good (Romans 12:9). We need to love sinners enough that we will try our very best to lead them to Jesus Christ crucified, resurrected and ascended, even at the cost of their anger toward us, but as our VBS memory verse this past week says, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." We cannot go along with the sin of this world. We must begin to mirror the holiness of Jesus. He did interact with sinners, but he changed sinners. He did not condone their continuance in their sin. He did not and does not "get" them. He changed and changes them and us. Bottom line is we must choose for ourselves how we will react to things of this world such as the opening ceremony mockery of the Truth of the Word of God and the "Last Supper." "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:15)" We, Christians, cannot take the Cross lightly. We are told to take up our cross, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). More times than not, it will mean going against the mainstream of this world. That is okay though, Jesus has already overcame this world (John 16:33).

07/17/2024

I snapped this picture from the back yard of a house I am involved in building. I love to see thunderheads, as my Grandpa called them, build. There is, however, much more than just the building cumulonimbus cloud here or the fond memory of my Grandpa pointing them out to me.
You can see the lifeless trunks of pine trees as well. These are a result of a wildfire that blew through these woods a few years ago. Numerous homes were lost in that fire. It is not that fire that comes to my mind’s eye though. Twenty-two years ago, a fire started just to the left of this picture and burned about 7 acres. It was the first time I plowed on a fire in south Walton County. That fire spotted nearly three quarters of a mile to start what would be called the Sugar Drive Fire. It would go on to burn about 90 acres before we were able to contain it. Funny how looking at a place or a picture can bring back so many memories. Like a fellow ranger (I will withhold Don’s name here just in case his wife Maria is reading) performing flawlessly and saving a house that was literally planted right in the middle of the dense pine forest and declared hopeless by the structure fire department that was tasked with triage, only to be questioned by the homeowners about him bumping the back corner of a very dilapidated boat and the possibility of repair or replacement costs. There is no doubt that a picture can be worth a thousand words, sometimes even more.
Another thing that comes to mind is the fact that God created an unconceivably enduring planet. The fire from 22 years ago devastated the forest in that area, yet when the fire that created the dead stems in the picture came through there was little to no evidence left from the fire from just 20 years earlier. To the untrained eye there was absolutely no evidence. The first chapter of Genesis tells of this awesome procreating Creation as it simply describes the seeds of propagation. The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky gives some wonderful insights into the beauty, simplicity, and complexity of Creation. If you have not been, I would encourage you to take the trip. See the Ark as well as it is in the same general area.
One last verse comes to mind here. In Genesis 8:22 God makes this promise, “While the Earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night will not cease.” His Creation, although marred by the penalty of sin, continues to renew with sustaining life no matter how hard we try to destroy it. That life renewing promise extends to us as well through the Saviour, Jesus Christ, and through that Saviour we are saved from the consuming fire that will one day bring an end to this sin scarred globe as we know it. I love renewal.

06/06/2024

06/05/2024

Even if many join together and call something good, if the Bible says it is sin, it is still sin. My prayer is that we all seek truth from the only source of truth to ever exist. The Word of God (John 1:1).

05/22/2024

This little spit of land that is completely covered with trees and brush is affectionately known as, “Shane’s Island.” It was named on the very first trip I ever made to Lake Jordan by the guy that took me there, because I caught my first fish from that lake around this little island. Although small and quite indistinguishable, it just about always gives up a fish for me. You could say that it “draws fish to it.” I always return to it.
The thought of fish being drawn to this little key, reminds me of Jesus’ words recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 12 verse 32. “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” The reasons for the fish being drawn here have much to do with this rise of land that culminates in a small dry patch being very close to deep waters, so the fish have access to both deep and shallow water without having to go very far. Water temperature, light, and food sources give need for both deep and shallow water at different times. If you study the life of the bass fish, you will find this to be the truth. This leads me to another reflection.
This island is small and obviously on its own. When we stand on the truth of the Word of God, we will often find ourselves to be like this island. Alone and set apart from the rest of the world. We will be ridiculed as small and insignificant. When we declare the Bible as the only truth, we will be told that truth is relative rather than firm. You know something? Even when the floodwaters of this world overcome the little island, once those waters recede, the island is still there. The truth stands regardless of the attempt of the flood of lies and deceit to destroy it. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).”
There has long been the desire of evil men to destroy God’s Word, but it has been to no avail, nor will it come to fruition. Make no mistake, however, evil will never stop trying to destroy the truth. The human price for its protection has been life itself many times. Even here in my beloved United State we witness the erosion of truth from a firm Biblical foundation to the soft sands of personal relevance. This erosion will eventually lead to the restriction of the Word of God, the Bible, even here in the land of the free and the home of the brave. Christians, we must pray with earnest and be bold in our faith. We must stand on the island that is truth even in the floodwaters of humanism. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).” Island life, although sometimes turbulent, is always a good life.

03/27/2024

This Sunday is Easter. It is the greatest day observed by the world. It is the day that Jesus rose from the tomb in defeat of death, Hell, and the grave. It is the fulfillment of the promise that started even before the punishment for sin was carried out (Genesis 3:21-24). It is the reason for all those, as some would call them, boring genealogies (As your mature in your faith, I promise, the “boring” genealogies get more and more exciting.). I pray that everyone reading this will be in the presence of a Church family for this wonderful day. That leads me to my next point.
Here at Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Ponce de Leon, Florida, we have long celebrated our Homecoming on Easter Sunday. I think it was likely planned this way long ago so that anyone in the world that was once a member or even a visitor to Oak Grove would always know when to return for Homecoming. Much the same as the reason for the timing for Easter each year (you can research that one for yourselves). Certainly, the advancement of communications technologies has lessened the need for such long-range planning, but we have become quite comfortable with this arrangement, and you know how hard it is for a Baptist to change a tradition.
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all those that have called Oak Grove home through the years to come on back once again. I would also like to invite anyone searching for a church home or just somewhere to celebrate the Risen Saviour to come join us. We will start Sunday School at 10:00AM and Church services will begin at 11:00. There will be some special singing by the choir and Brother Gerald Brazile will be preaching. There will be food and fellowship following the service. I hope to see you all there. “He is not here (the tomb), but is risen (Luke 24:6).” What wonderful words of life.

02/15/2024

I had the pleasure tonight of getting to attend church services with some fellow Christians and then watching my daughter play basketball and my niece play her last high school basketball game. I am thankful I had the opportunity to do both. My church is close to the school. I will state right away that I am not happy with the decision to schedule ballgames on Wednesday nights. I am not mad, but I am grieved. I will, however, save that for another article.
The game was a very good one. The players gave their all while respecting each other. The fans cheered on their teams with great enthusiasm while remaining in control of their emotions, or at least as far as was noticeable. The coaches focused on strategy, and the referees worked hard to call a good game. To that, I say thank you to everyone. This was certainly a game that did not disappoint outside of one team’s season coming to an end. The house was packed.
I love the game of basketball and I watch games as often as I can. On most occasions I find gymnasiums filled to capacity. Tonight’s game certainly was. The picture with this article is not of that fan filled venue, however, but is of empty pews in my church building. I so often hear excuses such as, “I just don’t have the time” and, “I just can’t sit in those hard pews for very long” and, “I can’t handle all the noise”…I could go on, but I am sure you get the point. Again, I am not angered by this, but I am grieved. I long for folks to be as passionate for Jesus Christ as they are for ball. To get to church early in order to make sure they get a seat. What a wonderful thing it would be to have people lined up outside waiting for standing room only on Sunday mornings and even Wednesday nights. Passionate to hear the Word of God.
I encourage all Christians to pray for just such a scene. We are told in the Bible to ask in the name of Jesus, and it will be done (John 14:14). Start praying, with faith, for God to fill our church houses like we fill up our gyms and with as much passion. “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD (Psalm 122:1).”

01/10/2024

Unless you are completely cut off from the world and do not live in this area, you know that some pretty rough weather made its way through here this week. In the picture you see the Gulf of Mexico in a great tempest, producing wind shorn waves of considerable height for the Gulf. Not exactly swimming conditions.
The image made me think of storms I “steamed” through while in the Navy in my younger days. We encountered one storm that was producing waves large enough for a carrier to fall off of resulting in some very impressive vibrations once we landed. Many were fearful and at the least wondering if we would be soon getting to test our swimming skills in the middle of a typhoon somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. Thankfully, we only cracked the hull and managed to keep all souls on board and afloat.
There is another incident that comes to mind from studying this image captured in time. You can read about it in the Gospel of Mark among other places. Jesus and the disciples had just set out on the Sea of Galilee. In the fourth chapter verses 35 through 40 we learn of the experience. Verse 37 through 39 says, “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And He was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake Him, and say unto Him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.”
Jesus brought seas that were possibly far worse than those in the picture to a dead calm with only, “Peace, be still.” He would then ask in verse 40, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?” For those reading this that trust Jesus as their Saviour, you have nothing to fear. The Holy Spirit is literally living inside you. He may be in the “hinder part of your ship” because you are not allowing Him to be at the helm, but if you are God’s child then He is with you and He will gladly say to your storm, “Peace, be still.” Let Him. Awaken Him.
If you do not know Jesus as the “Captain” of your life, then you have every right to fear. The good news is that He is no more than an earnest prayer of faith away and ready to calm the storms of your life. Want to know how? Just ask me.
Take note that He calmed the storm. He did not take them away from the water. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me (Psalm 23:4a).” He may choose to leave us out in the water where the storm may arise again, but He will not leave us to navigate it alone, and when He chooses, He will give that command of old, “Peace, be still.”