FBC Westhoff

02/14/2025

First Baptist Westhoff where family friends and Faith meet

10/25/2024

It's your right. It's your privilege. It's your duty. I did what I could - I voted, now it's your turn! Get out and vote!

09/11/2024

I will never forget the day the towers fell. I will never forget that it was ideologically driven hate which led a few people to think that flying planes into buildings was an honorable and right thing.

But I will also never forget the American spirit which shines brightest in such times of testing. The bravery and selflessness of first responders who ran into those towers and other structures to help their fellow man. The courage of boys who became men that day, donning the uniform of military service and determining to be a part of a force to set things right.

But time HAS numbed us in our vigilence and we HAVE forgotten a lot concerning 9/11. There is a concerted movement to blur the facts of that day ---the reason for it---there is danger in forgetting and in failing to learn from it

We have also forgotten the God we turned to in the days and weeks after 9/11. We sought His peace and His comfort in those days until the shock started to wear off. He is worthy of honor in good times and bad.

Never forget the day the towers fell. Never forget why the towers fell. Never forget the hero's who shone the day the towers fell. Never forget the victims from the day the towers fell and don't forget that the God we turned to when the towers fell is still a present help in times of trouble and always worthy of the praise of men.

06/26/2024

I have had beautiful people in my life that have left it for an eternal future ahead of me. I grieved and still grieve the loss of these people often. My mother and precious members of the congregation I last served are at the top of that list. But the grief I have experienced for Sophie, my four-legged companion wherever I went walking has been no less profound. Every time I see her picture, I remember the last time I looked into her eyes. It was the day that, at my request, her life was taken from her in an act of mercy. She was sick and aging and tired. But I saw the life leave her eyes...I was with her to the end.

Mercy never hurt so much...except for the mercy God poured out for me as He watched His Son breath His last on the cross because of mankinds otherwise incurable sickness of heart. God gave His Son for my sake and yours and He watched and saw the anguish of His Son on the cross. I have no doubt that His grief was more profound than that which any of us have ever known.

Small wonder then, since the price of His mercy was so great, that His wrath at the end of time will be so intense - those who will reject Jesus and the gift of forgiveness and restoration that came by His death and resurrection minimize the value of the life which was given for their sakes.

By God's grace, maybe I'll see my girl Sophie again, but by His grace and my faith in the risen Son of God, I will for sure see Him who died for me! Won't you join me on the journey?

Jesus died and rose again to give you new life too.

03/31/2024

Hallelujah!!!

03/29/2024

02/01/2023

When I was in my teens, I loved to walk alone. It didn't matter where I walked, but My favorite places were along quiet roads, in the woods, or along the railroad tracks.

I recall many instances of getting onto the tracks near my grandparents house in Tonawanda NY and walking as far as I wanted either southwest towards Buffalo or north towards Wheatfield. My favorite times for these walks was in the dead of winter: Gray skies, snow covered ground, a slight wind blowing the cold air into my face.

I loved the solitude of those walks when all that I could hear was the song of the Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, and other winter-tough song birds along with the crunch of the snow with each step I took. I cannot recall all that went through my mind in those days. What I do recall is a certain fearlessness. It never crossed my mind that it might be dangerous to walk alone in those places, to be frank, it rarely crosses my mind today when I take an opportunity presented by my location at the time, to go for a walk.

It may seem silly to the reader but my favorite walks were (and still are) taken on very cold days when I had to bundle up to stay warm. The reason for this may be stated by one word - home. Whether my walk began at my childhood home in Getzville, my grandparents house in Tonawanda, or my home today it always ended at a place where I was welcomed and loved, where it was warm and safe, and where I felt secure and at peace.

In a way, my whole life has been one great journey from home and to home. My life began as all life does, God brought me into this world by way of my parents. And while I didn't really know it during those days, I was never really alone as I walked - never really alone; I would not be here today otherwise. While in those days my roaming may have been aimless wanderings, today I HAVE a destination: home. Not to Altair drive but nevertheless, a place where I am welcome and loved, a place of comfort and safety and a place of perfect peace and rest beside my Savior.

One day my journey will end and what a day that will be! I extend my hand to you....do you want join me? Care to go for a walk? By faith in Him, His home, my home can be your home too.

06/07/2022

June 5, 2022, Sermon: "Living Water" John 2: 1-11
Jesus was always focused on the personal needs of humanity. Today we find Him identifying Himself as God, the sovereign Redeemer, to His disciples and mother at a wedding. There He blessed the wedding party, and host. Proving to everyone that marriage is God's Idea, not man's.
Jewish weddings have two phases. First the betrothal: a signed binding covenant between a coupe, from two different families. During this betrothed, the couple is considered married, husband and wife. And phase two was marriage consummation, and wedding feast. The groom with his party of friends would go to the home of the bride, and receive her, then take her to their new home.
Then the wedding feast would begin, a festival, and it lasted up to a week. During which the bride and groom received royal treatment as they were a king and queen. At this wedding fest, in Cana of Galilee, about four miles from Nazareth; Mary requested Jesus' help, the host ran out of wine. I read this with spiritual eyes. Mary was friends both families and gathered with them to rejoice over the marriage.

1. Jesus and His Disciples [Jn 2:2]
Jesus and His four disciples were invited. Notice that Jesus here confirms God's institution of marriage: as the Father established in the garden of eden.
a. Life in Galilee was hard, but a wedding feast brought joy to the hearts of the people. It was a break from the pressures of life.
b. It fascinates me, that Jesus' ministry began with a wedding and closes His ministry with a wedding: "The marriage supper of the Lamb [Rev 19:9]."
c. The marriage of the church to Christ, will fulfill His ministry; from the beginning to the end. Weddings become the book ends of His entire ministry, and they proclaim Joy!

2. The Host Need
The wedding host had run out of wine. Its possibly more people came than were expected, because of the host hospitality, for not only was Jesus and His disciples, its very possible John the Baptizer, was present.
d. Wine, was generally served diluted with water. The rabbinical prescription was three parts water to one part wine, for weddings. Wine undiluted was 'strong drink,' which led to drunkenness and sin. But running out of wine, at a wedding feast was very humiliating for the host.
e. Mary appealed to Jesus, her son saying, 'they have no wine.' Jesus replied, "Woman, what does this have to do with Me? My hour has not come." Mary turned to the servants and said, 'do what ever He tells you,' then went back to the feast.
f. Mary had no idea Jesus would perform a miracle, she knew Him very well, for thirty years in the very ordinary life of Nazareth. There was no reason to expect a miracle. But look at her confidence! She heard what He said, and left the matter in His hands: she knew she had asked and prevailed!
g. Mary's sanctified heart believed in Jesus, and she knew His loving kind Spirit, would glorify God.

3. Jesus' Reply
Jesus said, "Woman," a polite form of address, and it wasn't harsh. But it was not the normal address of way a grown son to His mother, in the first century. Yet it revels that He was distinctly distancing Himself from Mary His mother.
a. Jesus was preparing Mary for His departure from their home. To enter into the ministry that God sent Him to do. The early phase of Jesus' life was ended when He was baptized. When the Holy Spirit identified Him as the Son of God!
b. Jesus began the second phase of His life. Looking forward His family would be composed of those who trusted Him as Messiah. When Jesus said, "Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me?" He literally meant, "Woman, why Are you involved with Me?" He was not disrespectful of Mary.
c. He said, "My hour [of honor] has not yet come." THis did not upset Mary, as the next round of wine was mixed and poured.
d. Jesus knew, the this was not God's time table. Also, once He reveled Himself, public His life would put Him on the path to the cross.
e. But Jesus, did turned water into wine. This miracle marked Him, and reveled His glory to His disciples, and they believed. He did what He had been asked by faith, from one who knew Him better tan all others! His miracle protected the hosts from embarrassment, as Jesus took His first step towards the cross.
f. Mary's words, 'do whatever He says,' revels to us, plead your case to the Lord, leave it in His hands, by faith, as Mary had confidence in Jesus, her and God's Son; She, a woman of great faith, and limited knowledge!


4 Jesus' Miracle
The six large stone jars, that contained water for ceremonial washings, of hands and ritual bathing. Were filled by Jesus' request. And rabbi's required ceremonial water be 'living water' [running Water], but in Galilee the water was collected rain water, from heaven.
a. All Jesus' miracles recalls His Father's miracle of creation: for He was in full harmony with God and nature. It's normal for water to fall from heaven as rain, then be taken up by roots of the grape vine and stored in the grapes, the fruit; when pressed, the water was wine. Jesus sped-up the process, by eliminating the use of the vine!
b. Its easy to take for granted the natural processes of creation, and not see the hand of God, Who designed and created nature, to produce wine from water by a complex process.
c. Jesus' miracle was a 'sign,' identifying Him as supernatural with the power and identity as the Messiah, the One sent by God.

5. Personally Application
I, like Mary, didn't know what or how Christ will act, when I asked Him for His help. I had to learn, that He acts according to His character and will, to solve the request I asked of Him. He answers according to by God's sovereign will!
a. I learned possess confidence in my heart, when asking the Lord for His help. "Little children 'let no one deceive you.' Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as He is righteous (cf 1Jn 3:7)." This calls for me to know, the Holy Spirit has nothing to condemn in my heart.
b. "Whatever we [I] ask, we [I] receive from Him, because we [I] keep His commandments and do what pleases Him [cf 1Jn 3:22]." This direct connection here is that I must obey God to receive the answer to my prayers.
c. When my heart condemns me, there is sin in my heart. I have to stop, own and confess that sin, and turn from it to obedience, then enter in Christ presence by pray. This has grown grew my faith, from a static faith to a living faith, "Living Water." When my heart assures me that Christ is greater than I am, I have confidence in Him, knowing He paid for my forgiveness through His atoning blood!

05/09/2022

May 8, 2022, Sermon: "An Excellent Mother?" Proverbs 31: 10-31
Proverb thirty-one, defines what a virtuous, or excellent woman is: Just recently a person nominated to be a Supreme Court judge, was asked to define a woman, and the nominee is a woman; but she could not define a woman.
But The Lord saw to it that we can know and understand what a virtuous woman is and does. She loves her husband, nourishes her family and showers them with kindness, then shows her true virtues to others (cf Vs 10; 29-31).
Now neither history or archeology has discovered who king Lemuel was, or might be. But I believe he was Salomon writing in his pen name. He, I believe from the Holy Spirit's leading finally learned what true virtue was in women.
Bathsheba was Salomon's mother, but I do not believe she was the wise councilor, that Solomon needed. If we read the first nine verses, it tells us Solomon's 'Mother,' taught him: but Solomon's mother was the Lord Spirit.
His mother said, do not give your strength to women, nor drink wine, but learn to speak for those unable to speak, and judge righteously (cf Vs 11-13, 15, 17, 19, 21-22, 25 &27). When Solomon learned to be virtuous himself he would be lees with find a virtuous woman to love and trust; and she would bring him much joy and peace. For he would learn that he was blessed by the Lord (cf Vs 14, 16, 18, 24).
For the virtuous wife makes her home the center of her ministry, gives generously to the poor (V 20), instructs to her children and household staff with true kindness (V 26): then you and your children shall enjoy life (Vv 11-12, 23, 28-29).
The virtuous wife will set a high and lofty standard, that only the Lord can give to wife and mother: for she is ideal! The truth is, the Lord does not expect any woman to look exactly like this one, in every respect! But, when a woman allows His Spirit to fill her to overflowing she will grow towards this ideal!

I. The Virtuous Woman
Grasp, what the Lord has said in this proverb, a worthy woman, will become an excellent wife, for she is a gift from the Lord!
a. "The king's own soul declared to him, "She is worth more than rubies." They were prized more than diamonds, gold or silver, because of their reddish purple color, the color of royalty; and she would be his crown" (cf Pr 1:2:4). The Lord, first seeks men and women that love discipline, and knowledge (cf Pr 12:1).
b. If we look at Ruth we will find that she was a worthy women. This is the first truth every man of moral character will learn (cf Ruth 2:11). 'Worthy' speaks to one's character, both morally and physically: this trait come from God's Spirit.
c. Namoi, Ruths mother-in-law said, 'seek one that is blessed by the Lord, whose kindness has not forsaken the living or the dead' (cf Ruth 2:20). She was counseling Ruth, to seek kindness, as a man's base character. Therefore, if she sought kindness, she would know the man's disposition, kindness.
d. Kindness is reveled from within, to all that clearly see. A loving and kind woman only responds to kindness, and submits to the God's law of 'Love.'
e. "The man that finds a [virtuous] wife finds a blessing from the Lord" (cf Pr 18:22). This is also true for women, each woman needs to only consider 'worthy' men. Then, Her husband's heart will trust her, all the days of their life" (cf Pr 31:11,12).

II. The Virtuous Wife
A virtuous wife works hard with all her skill, at the task of making her home, a place of enjoyment, as she is fulfilled in her tasks.
a. 'She arises early' (V 15), this describes her concern for her family and those that serve her, out of her kindness.
b. She dresses herself with [spiritual) strength, making herself strong, for the ministry the Lord has given her.
c. She uses her spiritual and moral strength in service to her family. She doe not work for worldly gain: for she opens her hands to the poor, and needy (V 20)!
d. She meditates on what she can do to increase the economy of the family; and buys a field to plant and grow produce, to sell. But a shameful wife brings ruin to her husband.
e. She makes clothing for her family, and extra to sell. And her husband is publicly known through his kind industrious, excellent wife.

III. The Virtuous Mother
Her witness, is her living testimony, of supporting her husband, children, servants, and neighbors to the public, and all see it.
a. The virtuous wife makes the most out of the "cottage industry," of growing produce, sewing good quality clothing and accessories. She teaches her children by living out virtue before them, as she shares with the poor and needy.
b. She dresses her family and herself, with fine quality clothing, because of her virtues, she receives spiritual strength and honor, for her children to know true value and true virtue.
c. She speaks wisdom, through kindness, to all. And seeks the best for her household, children and the needy. And stand and 'call her blessed: and her husband praises her' (cf V 28).
d. She knows charm and beauty are deceitful, and passing away; but she fear's the Lord [reverently worshipping, obeying, serving, and trusting Him with awe-filled respect], therefore, she shall be praised.

IV. Invitation
As a virtuous Wife follows Lord's guidance by living her faith, she is illuminated, and delivered from spiritual blindness [sin]. So, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers [man's disposition] I will give some of the hidden mana, ..." (Rev 2:17)!
* 'Disposition,' is not attitude, but the principle of self governing, managing self, without God, it is sin: and defies God, His Word, and Spirit" and hates God's discipline; "Whoever loves instruction [discipline] loves knowledge, but he whoever hates correction is stupid" (Pr 12:1).