Oakland Church of God

Oakland Church of God Oakland Church of God located on 433 Kanawha Ave. in Smithers, WV. Everyone is welcome! We do not own the rights to lyrics or songs used on our videos.

All music is strictly intended for praise and worship during our services only and not for profit or gain.

11/03/2024

Good Sunday morning to you my sister and brothers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This morning I am sharing a post I received from a dear friend and mentor of mine. Brother Ronnie Tucker posted this a couple of weeks
ago and I felt its timely message deserved sharing with all of you!

“What if God has, indeed, blessed America for His last time?
What if we have carried on with our snooty attitudes, nasty ways, and gluttonous mannerisms with our earth to God's breaking point?
What if we have gone on without sufficient Christian living one year too many?
What if we have thought too little about sufficient prayers for guidance?
Maybe we have lived without bowing sufficiently to His will just one more year too many?
Perhaps we have passed just one more piece of damning, sinful legislation beyond Gods tolerance level?
Oh my, could we have simply winked towards The Bible, forgetting it is HIS WORD...and rebuild a golden calf?”

“The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. So the Lord was sorry he had ever made them and put them on the earth. It broke his heart.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭6‬:‭5‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“WHAT IF WE HAVE BROKEN GOD'S HEART IS BEYOND WHAT HE IS WILLING TO SUFFER?!?

THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY FAIR QUESTIONS.
THESE WOULD MAKE VERY FAIR ASSUMPTIONS.
ALL I HAVE WRITTEN FOR THIS POST SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS QUITE POSSIBLE.
EVEN PROBABLE.
IF YOU ARENT EQUIPPED TO MEET GOD FACE TO FACE TONIGHT/TODAY, I IMPLORE YOU TO GET YOUR HEART AND SOUL IN ORDER.”

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior and you would like to, it’s not to late please send me a message so we can talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends and I promise we can change the world!

Thank you Brother Ronnie for your wise words! I added the scripture from Genesis to give Biblical reference to my readers!

10/27/2024

Good Sunday Morning to you my dear sisters and brothers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This month in churches around the world we are celebrating our church leaders with Pastor appreciation month. I thought about trying to list all of the saints I owe a debt of gratitude too. I say all the time when I stand in the pulpit I stand there on the shoulders of those who preached to me and taught me! Those who took their time to to be me more than a preacher or a teacher, they became my friends!

“Let me say first that I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith in him is being talked about all over the world. God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by spreading the Good News about his Son. One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I realized there were so many I truly could not list them all here. Besides so many of them have went on to their heavenly reward they have already received their blessings! To those that are still here, you know who my Inner Circle is and you already know how much I love and appreciate you!
My admiration mostly goes to the Lord for always being there for me, for teaching me, for correcting me and for loving me through out my life. You have blessed me beyond measure and I praise you everyday for it!

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile. This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I’m sure there is someone in your life that you appreciate, someone who taught you, someone who touch your heart, cared for and loved you. Reach out and let them know. They will appreciate hearing from you and it will be such a blessing to them. Who knows you might get a blessing yourself!

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior and you would like to know what kind of plan He has for you, please send me a message so we can talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends. Be a blessing today and tell someone how much you appreciate them!

10/13/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus. This is a day that the Lord has let us rejoice and be glad in it!

You know, God doesn’t command us to do anything!
He presents us with opportunities!
It is up to us to follow His will or not.
This goes back to our free will… God gives you an opportunity to be a blessing, to share your testimony or to introduce someone to Christ! It is now up to you!
Will you seize the opportunity or will you get your excuse list out and chose a prepared excuse for why you cannot or if we telling the truth why we don’t want to do what God has asked of us!

“My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation. Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We have an obligation to the Lord or at least we should have! I mean after all He did go to the cross an innocent man and died for our sins to become our Savior!

“Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If we expect to prosper and grow as Christians we have to listen to and follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. I hear people say All the time, “Well I really don’t feel comfortable talking to people”. Yet you’ll see them in full blown conversations about the big game yesterday or their favorite NASCAR driver. Here is what you’ve got think about… just how comfortable do you think Christ felt hanging on that rough cut wooden cross with those rust iron nails driven through His hands and feet along with a crown made from thorny vine pierce into his scalp.
Get out of your comfort zone and stand in the gap for your friends and family! Like I said the choice is yours, it’s only their eternal soul in the balance!

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus as your personal Savior and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends!

Please pray for all the families and small business owners that lost so much in the aftermath of this flood in the areas around Asheville, NC. Helena brought hell with her and these folks need our help desperately! Donate if you are able. They still need to know that we, the Christian community are with them!

10/06/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brothers in Christ Jesus.
Do you consider yourself to be a “Good and Faithful” person?

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You see your faith is the most crucial part of the Christian experience. We must be all in with our faith!
You can’t say, “Yes I believe in Jesus!” Then question some of the miracles that are attributed to Him. Like the virgin birth, changing water into wine, raising someone from death or the crucifixion. We must believe the entirety of Jesus’ life, ministry and the miracles He performed! Jesus said we must have the faith of a child. l believe this to be true. There is no room for doubt or speculation!
When our faith is strong and true, there is nothing we cannot do.

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus said if we had the faith of wee little mustard seed, we could move mountains! What mountains need moving in your life? Do you have the faith to start moving some dirt?

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends!

Please pray for all the families and small business owners that lost so much in the aftermath of this flood in the areas around Asheville, NC. Helena brought hell with her and these folks need our help desperately! Donate if you are able. We need them to know that we, the Christian community are with them!

09/29/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brother in Christ Jesus. When you feel you have come to the end of the rope,
sometimes you just have to stand on your faith and let God work out the details.

Exodus‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again.”
‭‭Exodus‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you need rescued today!
So many are being held captive by worry and fear. We can’t see the our way clear of our own mind!

We are easily strewn about by the news head lines of the day.

Russian at war with Ukraine. The continued bombing in the Middle East. Our economy is tanking!
The cost of living is sky rocketing.

That’s just the headlines on the front page of this mornings paper!

Psalms‬ ‭37:1-11‬ ‭NLT

“Don’t worry about the wicked or envy those who do wrong. For like grass, they soon fade away. Like spring flowers, they soon wither. Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun. Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes. Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm. For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the Lord will possess the land. Soon the wicked will disappear. Though you look for them, they will be gone. The lowly will possess the land and will live in peace and prosperity.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭37:1-11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God can and will help us through these times…

If we call on Him and have faith in Him to do so!

Psalms‬ ‭91:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭91:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Do you you trust in the Lord today!

I want you to really think about this..,

As I have suffered through this illness and all it did to me physically and mentally, I also went through a spiritual battle!

I had to depend on the Lord to bring me back from a pretty dark place.

I got so depressed.

I was like come on man what else am I going to have to go through!

You know what I had to do…?

I had to turn off the TV and the news and I had to get into the word!

It’s amazing what God will say to when you ready to listen!

Psalms‬ ‭27:1-6‬ ‭NLT

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident. The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:1-6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Lord expects us
to lean on Him as we face the circumstances and situations of our daily lives.

Whether or not we realize it, we all lean on or depend on —something: physical strength, intelligence, beauty, wealth, achievements, family, friends, and so on.

All of these are gifts from God, to be enjoyed with gratitude.

However, relying on any of these things is risky because every one of them can let you down.

When our circumstances are challenging and we are feeling weak, we tend to obsess about how we are going to make it through the day.

This wastes a lot of time and energy; it also distracts us from the Lord.

Whenever this happens, we need to ask God to open our eyes so we can find Him in the moment.

“my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭27:7-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“See” Him… Visualize in you mind Jesus standing nearby, with His strong arms extended toward you —offering you His help.

Don’t try to pretend that you have it all together or that you’re stronger than you really are.

Instead, lean hard on the Lord, letting Him bear most of your weight and help you with your problems.

• Rejoice in the Lord —He is our Strength—and worship while leaning on Him.

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.—Proverbs 18:24

Do you have any friends like this?

But I will sing of Your strength, in the morning I will sing of Your love; for You are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. O my Strength, I sing praise to You; You, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. —Psalm 59:16-17

When anxiety is great within you, turn to God for consolation.

Other words for “consolation” are comfort, compassion, empathy, help, encouragement, reassurance, and relief.

The Lord gladly provides all of this —and much more —for His children.

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends! Please pray for me and each other and I’ll be praying for you!

09/22/2024

Good morning my dear sisters and brothers in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Do you feel under appreciated for the things that you do? Do you think you don’t get the respect you deserve?

“"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

People like to throw Matthew 7:1 around but they rarely quote 7:2. These scriptures are in red in my Bible because they are the words of Jesus. He is saying that however you judge others, you will be held to that same judgement! It’s the very same for how you feel about others showing appreciation and respect. How many people are you showing respect and appreciation to? This scripture goes on to say;

“Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. "Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:3-6‬ ‭ESV

If you desire the appreciation and respect of others stand up and show them that same admiration!

“"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

It’s so simple folks! Sadly there are so many out there now that want so much but are willing to give so little! Be the bigger person and show your appreciation for those around you. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at how fast you become the recipient of the same!

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends! Please pray for me and each other and I’ll be praying for you! Love your neighbor as yourself and watch what God can do!

Vickie and I are in Montgomery Hospital taking our physical therapy together! We are both recovering well. Thank you all for all kind thoughts and much appreciated prayers! She comes to my room after breakfast in her wheelchair and spends the day… of course always still trying to care of me! 👼🏻Love that girl❣️

09/15/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brother in Christ Jesus.

I lay today victorious! God made a way for me to begin my physical recovery. I feel somehow redeemed through His blessings on me!

“This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus. I am writing to God’s holy people in Ephesus, who are faithful followers of Christ Jesus. May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Lord has had a plan for me since before my portrayal of baby Jesus in the Hughes Creek Church of God’s 1965 Christmas cantata. Although it took me until Easter 1993 to start to work the plan on my end! God has been working His plan all along! I honestly believe he gave me this time to reflect back on my life and ministry and see how He has had His hand over me my entire life!

“God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

The Lord chose me for His Kingdom work, just as He has chosen each one of you! Have you chosen to work His plan for your life? I and many others can testify to if you are not, He can get your attention!

“Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭1‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If you are working His plan for you wonderful! Remain faithful and stay the course! If you are not sure you’re working His plan for you… You aren’t! Seek out the Lord’s face in prayer and in study of His word, He will show you! Keep your mind, heart and eyes open.

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends! Please pray for me and each other and I’ll be praying for you!

09/08/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brother in Christ Jesus.

Laying in this bed for the past seven months has been a very unique time of learning about myself. It has also been a time of wondrous Spiritual growth for me! Through the past 2 years I have experienced times of troubles and trials. I have had times when I was by myself and felt completely alone. There were other times I was in a hospital room full of doctors and nurses and all wanted was to be alone! There were periods of excruciating pain and days when I felt nothing. The pinnacle of it all was unforgettable near death experience, when I saw my Savior! That was the most important moments of this entire journey!

“Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭94‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It happened toward the end the first two weeks of my illness when my blood was carrying staff infection through out my body.
I was so sick the doctors did not know if I would be strong enough to fight off the my life sustaining blood that was now trying to kill me. I suffered what the doctors referred to as stroke like symptoms on the entire right side of my body. I could barely move either of my extremities and my hand would not work at all.

“He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days. But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭102‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

I was in and out of continuousness. Vickie would hold my hand and we would pray. She stayed from dawn to dusk as long as they would let her be there by my side. One night I opened my eyes and there HE was! Jesus was standing in front of me light shone all around him. I could see the spender of Heaven behind him. I could make out figures of people moving about behind Him, but I could not clearly see their faces. My attention was drawn back to His face and as I held out my hands and shrugged my shoulders, I said, “So this is it?” (In my defense I had always envisioned God the father setting in the judgement seat, like a court room judges bench with that great big book in front of Him and huge gavel.)
This is when I knew what I was experiencing was real! Jesus, the Savior of the world, looked down shook His head and chuckled! Here I was standing in front of God the son and I didn’t fall to my knees, I had no words of praise and glory, I blurted out a half witted smart remark!
Then he looked up at me with a grin still on his face and said, “No, Todd” still shaking his head a little. He didn’t call me brother, He didn’t say my son, He called me “Todd” in the very same beautiful voice I heard when He called me to Him on Easter Sunday morning back in 1993! My Lord and Savior called me by my NAME!

“Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭95‬:‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Jesus then raised his arm and pointed behind me and said, “There is still so much work to be done. As I turned I felt the sorrow of so many. Families torn apart, children going hungry and the deadly scourge of drugs affecting so many! I turned back toward Him and He was gone. I took a deep breath and it was over. This life altering vision has carried me through this entire journey. We, yes I said We have much work to be done!

“O nations of the world, recognize the Lord; recognize that the Lord is glorious and strong. Give to the Lord the glory he deserves! Bring your offering and come into his courts. Worship the Lord in all his holy splendor. Let all the earth tremble before him.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭96‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

This Wednesday the 11th I go in for my first of the three surgeries I need to put me back together. God has made me whole Spiritually! Now the Doctors are making me whole physically and Jesus is watching over me because my marching orders are clear, “There is still much work to be done!”

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Pray to keep the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends! Please pray for me and each other and I’ll be praying for you!

09/01/2024

Good Sunday morning to you, my dear sisters and brother in Christ Jesus.

As you start your week. What are you concerned with. What are your plans for the week. Do all of the aforementioned revolve around you? Are your plans about things you want and like to do? Our world has become so self involved. We live in a me absorbed society. People are not friendly or cordial anymore. You would not realize what a smile and head nod or a “How ya doing?”
Does for somebody!

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.””
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Be the example! Let Jesus shine through you! Just try being nice to others in your circle of influence. Offer to get someone a cup of coffee in the office. Lend a hand to someone in your community that needs it! Help out in your church wherever you are needed. I promise it will lift your spirits and it will touch the souls of those affected by you doing what Jesus would do!

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭5‬:‭22‬-‭24‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Please begin to make a difference today and every day after. As the song goes…”Put a little love in your heart.” The life you change just may be own!

If you are reading this and don’t know Jesus and you would like too, please send me a message and we’ll talk and pray together.

Make a change, work at keeping the love, grace, mercy and forgiveness of Jesus in your hearts my dear friends! Please pray for me and each other and I’ll be praying for you!

Sorry we couldn’t be together this morning. However, Here is a sermon worth reviewing from a couple of years ago.
08/31/2024

Sorry we couldn’t be together this morning. However, Here is a sermon worth reviewing from a couple of years ago.

08/30/2024

With the recent out break of Covid in our area the Oakland Church of God leadership has decided to cancel services on Sunday September 1, 2024. Please be in prayer for all those affected by this virus and to keep others safe.
May the Lord bless and keep you until we can gather together again.

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Smithers, WV
25186

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10am - 12pm

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