Denise Whitfield
Director of Christion Education

Lay Down Your Life

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 

¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command.”   John 15:12-14

I think that often we read Scripture and fail to mine deeply enough to uncover from its pages all the treasure in meaning and application that is there for us.  The above verse is an example.  I think we can read this verse and make only the simple application that relates to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross—where He gave “his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  We remember, as we should, the full expression of the Father’s love in the giving of His Only Begotten Son so that we who believe have sins forgiven and a guaranteed home in heaven (John 3:16).  Our contemporary application of this verse comes as we honor, on days like Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day, those who Abraham Lincoln described as the ones who “gave their last measure of devotion.”

But I think this verse may call us to a laying down of our lives in ways that I think are almost more difficult for us than physical death.  Please know, I mean no disrespect to those who have fought and died for my freedom.  I would not minimize their sacrifice . . . I have a great sense of indebtedness to and gratitude for them because of it.  But if we only think about this verse as it applies to our physical lives, then most of us can easily escape conviction. Most of us can be pretty certain we are not going to be called upon to risk our very lives for the benefit of another.  And so we pass over and read on.

But this verse is for all of us.  Christ says our obedience to the call to lay down our lives is evidence of our friendship with Him.  Paul reaffirms it in His words found in Romans 12, describing the calling on our lives in these terms—to be living sacrifices.  To lay down our lives for another probably won’t require us to die, but it may mean:  laying down our careers to parent our own children, laying down our political agenda to listen to another perspective, laying down our retirement travel plans to serve in ministry, laying down our material desires to meet another’s material need, laying down our schedules to attend to and care for another, laying down our right to equitable compensation to be free to humbly serve, laying down our reputations to provide friendship to someone broken. It is a singular, high calling with many expressions. 

Living and loving sacrificially is more challenging for all of us than the idea of giving up our physical lives because the truth is, there is no avoiding this call to action and obedience. If we call ourselves followers of Christ, we have experienced and now are called to “greater love.”     

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children ² and walk in the way of love,

just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  Ephesians 5:1-2

Doug Lyon 
Senior Pastor 

IMMUNIZATION NOT ISOLATION 

Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD), also known as Saint Augustine, was a theologian, philosopher, and the bishop of Hippo Regius in Numidia, Roman North Africa.  His writings influenced the development of Western philosophy and Western Christianity, and he is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period.  His many important works include The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, and Confessions. 

Augustine offers this advice:  “You say the times are evil.  Live nobly and you will change the times.” 

We are living in evil times, but the Church has always lived in evil times.  John reminds us that “the whole world is under the control of the evil one” (1 John 5:19), and Paul commands us to make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).  

During COVID-19, we’ve been practicing social isolation.  However, we shouldn’t be practicing spiritual isolation.  The New Testament teaches immunization from the world—not isolation.  Therefore, we must seek to be immunized by reading, studying, meditating, and memorizing the Word of God (Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Corinthians 3:18) as we live in a culture that is dominated by the evil one. 

Bob Lehman
Executive Pastor

Love and Selflessness

“I do not understand what is going on in the world.  I do not know what to think.  I do not know who to trust?”  Even if these thoughts have not come out of your mouth. I bet they have been in your head. 

Coved has force into social isolation.  Isolation is hell, or maybe hell is isolation.  If you think about it what could be more eternally painful then complete isolation, separation from God and the people you love.

Racial tension has forced us into a state of chaos.  Self-centeredness, a lack of unity, a lack of love. Once again this sounds a bit like how I invasion hell.

Political injustice has brought us to the place where we find it hard to trust anyone and is causing us to want to lash out.

Over the last three months I have seen people coming to me.  Some are angry and need a sounding board.  Some are lonely and need to talk. Some are depressed and need to be encouraged.   Some are on the verge of rebellion and are looking for recruits.

Who can guide us through these confusing and chaotic times?  The answer to this question is obvious to many of you who are reading this.  The answer is God.  How does He provide this guidance?  Through the Spirit speaking to us in prayer, quiet times, time spent in the Word and through people He brings into our lives every day. 

Sometimes you are the people that God brings into my life and the lives of others.  As I bring my thoughts to a close, I want to leave you with two practical pieces of advice from God’s Word that hopefully will encourage you and allow you to encourage other.

1. Lead with Love.

 1 Corinthians 13   And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

• Be sensitive to the needs of others and put their needs before your own. 

               Philippians 2:3-4   Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value    others   above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of    the others.

God may want to use you to encourage someone today.  Do not miss the opportunity and remember, lead with love and put the needs of others before your own.

Bob Lehman 
Executive Pastor 

How in The World Are You? 

To borrow a phrase from Robert Cook of Walking with the King Ministries, let me ask you, “How in the world are you”?  With all that is going on in the world sometimes it is hard to stay focused on what we need to stay focused on.  But a world filled with trouble is nothing new.  Christ knew this all to well.  As He was preparing His disciples for what they would experience after He was no longer with them, He said to them  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ²⁷Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 16:33).   

There will always be trouble in this world.  Sometimes trouble seems far away and at other times it seems very close to home, but in this world, there is always trouble.  But take heart, for Christ has overcome the world.  It has been said that when you focus on the problem it is hard to see God, but when you focus on God you tend to see the problem differently.  

So how do we focus on God?  The answer to that question is twofold. First, we must spend time in the Word. Being in the Word every day allows God to speak to us and it will give us a Godly perspective as we go about living in an ungodly world.  (Matthew 4:4), Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.   (2Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.  Secondly, we must spend time in prayer.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-70). 

So, let me ask you again, “How in the world are you?”  If the answer is not so good, maybe I need to ask another question.  Where is your focus?   

Denise Whitfield
Director of Christian Education

Word Power

There is, in these days, an avalanche of words like we have never seen or read before.  We can text, blog, tweet, email, FaceTime, Snapchat, DM, and call.  Television provides running commentary 24/7 on every event.  Words pour forth carelessly—untested, unproven, uncensored, unhelpful.  Present day modes of communication exceed what some of us saw in the futuristic, imaginative portrayals in the movies, TV shows, and comics of our youth.  What was once considered fantastic, has become reality.   It wasn’t all that long ago that progress was experienced in party phone lines, telegrams, and a single family radio. The sheer volume of the use of words should be enough to cause us to pause because the Word of God tells us: “When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). Today, more people are speaking . . .more are listening . . . more are not wise. 

The breadth of our potential listening audience has increased to include the whole globe.  News travels faster and farther than ever before.  It is estimated about 4.6 billion people, or a little over half of the world’s population, is online.    Internet usage in the United States is at 81%.   Seventy-nine percent of Americans use Facebook.  Twitter has grown to the point that 145 million use the service on a daily basis, yet users spend only an average 3.39 minutes per session on the social networking platform.  Within moments of having a thought, many are quick to catapult those thoughts into words and throw them into cyberspace.  A better option would have been to have taken those thoughts “captive to the obedience of Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).  

The power of our words is one manner in which we bear God’s image.  While our words lack the power to instantly create galaxies within a universe, the Word tells us clearly that “death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21).  Our words can create or destroy.

Today’s national experiences and political climate present followers of Jesus with many opportunities to use our words in contrast with the world’s thoughtless approach.  Instead of reckless verbal thrusts that pierce like a sword, we ought to communicate with careful manipulation of our language, like a doctor with a scalpel performing surgery.  Our words can be a tool for harm or for healing.  We can choose to be more interested in understanding than being understood, in listening than being listened to, and in reconciliation than reprisal.  

“The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
    but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”  Proverbs 12:18

“The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge,

but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.”  Proverbs 26:4

“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt,

so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”  Colossians 4:6

Brandon Glenn
Director of Youth Ministries

Give Us a Sign!

Christian, are you hearing the message of our brothers and sisters of color? They are crying out! God hears them. He’s listening. Are we?

This past Sunday, Christian Education Director, Denise Whitfield, talked with our children about Jonah. Her lesson focused on how Jonah whined, pouted, and was genuinely upset about giving God’s message to the Ninevites, even after they had accepted the message, repented from their sin and turned to God!

In Matthew 16, Jesus mentions Jonah. The Pharisees were up to their normal schemes of trying to trick Jesus. They said “show us a sign from heaven!” Jesus replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times.  A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” (Matthew 16:2-4, NIV).

What is the sign of Jonah? When Jesus speaks, there are so many layers, but I believe one of the signs of Jonah that Jesus is talking about is Jonah’s resistance to the message that God wanted him to bring to a people he didn’t like. Jonah was willing to die instead of taking God’s message to Nineveh. Even after they accepted God’s message, Jonah wished he were dead (Jonah 4:9).

Here’s the point: God’s redemptive plan has always been and will always be inclusion and empowerment. I encourage you to participate; not just spectate! Join the conversation. Be part of the solution! Don’t stop. Author and speaker, Danielle Strickland recently said, “we need a long walk in the right direction.”

Not sure where to start? Here are some resources I found helpful as we educate ourselves (note that these resources are not recommended for all ages):

• Read: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
• Watch: Ted Talk “We Need to Talk About Injustice” by Bryan Stevenson
• Watch: Just Mercy free right now on Amazon Prime
• Watch: 13^th on Netflix

We have the gospel message that transcends all races, classes, genders. We have the hope for the hopeless. Let’s take a long walk in the right direction.

Denise Whitfield

Director of Cristian Education

Worship Through It

We have all kinds of natural responses to unexpected, unpleasant, and unwanted circumstances.  No one has to teach us what to feel when we experience disillusionment, hurt and betrayal.  When our daughter, Rebecca, was about 3 years old, she had to have blood drawn.  The experienced, pediatric healthcare workers in the lab instructed me to hold her firmly on my lap.  Rebecca was facing forward as I had my arms wrapped around her upper body in what I will describe as a “hug hold” (somewhat resembling a straight-jacket).   One nurse squatted down in front, facing Rebecca and me.  She placed her hands on Rebecca’s knees, holding her legs still.  A second nurse was holding the arm where they planned to draw the blood, and a phlebotomist was ready to do the dastardly deed.  When the mission was accomplished and all the adults released their grip . . . Rebecca started swinging and kicking.  I am sure in her little 3-year-old spirit she felt sabotaged.  No one had to teach her that what she had just experienced was hurtful, and no one had trained her to want to hurt someone in response.  It came to her naturally.

The sufferings and conflicts endured here on a cursed earth among only naturally sinful people create the perfect set-up for unbridled, fleshly reactions.  It is easy to immediately react with anger towards another, especially if that anger has been fueled through the years by burning resentment.  In some situations, we might withdraw, hoping to avoid any further pain caused by continued vulnerability.  If the difficulty we face is unrelenting and there seems little hope for change, our hearts can become as stone–lifeless.  Life is hard—it is natural to react to it. 

So as Jesus followers, what are we to do in the face of the ongoing troubles of this world?  We respond with ardent worship.  We do ourselves a tremendous disservice if we only think of worship as a specific, moment-in-time, church led activity.  Worship should be our go-to antidote for earthly living.  We worship God through the pain because the Scriptures tell us there are some very extraordinary results born out of our worship.  Today I focus on two catalytic movements within the spiritual realm that occur when we worship: God inhabits our praise—our Heavenly Father draws ever nearer (Psalm 22:3, James 4:8a).  And Satan flees.  He has no desire to hang around and hear the sincere praise of God (Psalm 8:2, John 3:20).  We all naturally understand that superior power and a neutralized enemy is a winning combination.  It is the practice of praise that we must make our trouble default setting.  It’s not natural.  But it works.  When troubles come—worship the Lord!

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
² I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”  Psalm 9:1-2

“I will praise the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”  Psalm 146:2

“the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh

but have divine power to destroy strongholds.”    2 Corinthians 10:4

By Maureen Wildt

Do Not Get Bogged Down

     During this time of staying home, I notice that I have had more time to reflect on scriptures and how they relate to our current situation.

     Since I do not get out often, I find myself often looking out my window to enjoy nature; especially since the beauty of Spring arrived.  I have come to the realization that all this beauty is actually God’s presence, not only with me, but all around me. 

     Flowers bloomed, trees budded, then leafed out, young red squirrels were born and are now scurrying around our garden in a game of tag, birds were building nests, and raising their chicks.  Fawns are beginning to appear, and the list could go on and on.

     In all these things, I see God’s hand every day, and I think back to Genesis 1:31 which says: “God saw everything that he had made, and, behold it was very good” (KJV).  The virus hasn’t stopped God’s creation, which He set into motion, and is still actively involved in.  Creation was good and is still good.

      Another thing that I have noticed is that I used to give little thought to when or how I would go somewhere.  Now I give it quite a lot of thought.  I thought that going somewhere was up to me!   However, the virus situation has impressed upon me the scripture found in James 4:15 which says you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” (NIV) Furthermore, we are told by Jesus in John 15:5b “without me ye can do nothing.” (KJV)

      The virus situation need not bog us down.  We need to remember Romans 8:39 which says that “neither death, nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV)

       In scripture it says, “God is love;” and “he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16c (KJV).   Having Christ indwell us, I think, is God’s presence in us and it is this indwelling of Christ which gives us joy, and in John 16:33b, Jesus tells us:  “In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (KJV)

        This is great news because it is telling us that although we have the tribulation of the Corona virus, we can be of good cheer because Jesus has already overcome it!

         We can live confidently because Jesus says: “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” John 16:22a (KJV)

Brandon Glenn
Director of Youth Ministries

Love with Action and Truth

Most of us know that the greatest commandment, according to Jesus, is to love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. And the second greatest commandment is like this one: Love your neighbor as yourself. But HOW do we show our love for our neighbors? The Apostle John tells us in his first letter:

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18, NIV).

At Shiloh, we have a great opportunity to share our material possessions with our neighbors this week! We are hosting a food giveaway Friday, June 5 from 2-4 PM. In between now and then, we are taking non-perishable food donations in the YAC (the list of items needed can be found on the Shiloh website). We have noticed many of the local food giveaways are overwhelmed and some have run out of food. Many families in our area have been impacted financially by the Pandemic. If you have material possessions and see a brother or sister in need, we should share love with actions. I am encouraged to see the amount of food donations coming in already!

We should also share love in truth! In each grocery bag handed out, the board of outreach and evangelism will be including a business card with the QR code that links to a video of Pastor Lyon sharing the gospel (link at the bottom of this devotional). If we notice children in the vehicle, we will ask them if they would like a children’s DVD and/or a craft bag if any are leftover.

Who do you know that may be in need? How can you help them? Look for ways to share love, not only with words or speech, but with actions and in truth.

Here is the link to Shiloh’s gospel message:https://shilohbiblechurchbloomsburg.org/jesus/

Doug Lyon
Senior Pastor

CHRIST ALONE

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.  For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.  ~Galatians 1:9–10

If you’re like most of us, you’ve probably been watching a lot more TV during this time of COVID-19 than you normally do!  One show that I saw recently appears on Netflix.  It’s a spiritual documentary entitled American Gospel: Christ Alone.  “From expert interviews to biblical references, this documentary offers a critical critique of the prosperity gospel and its influence on Christianity.”  It’s well worth the 2 hour and 19 minute investment of your time. (Or you can view a 1-hour version on http://www.americangospelfilm.com/.)

The importance of the true gospel cannot be overstated.  Man is separated from God because of our sin against Him.  None of our good works or religious rituals can remove our sins and make us right with God.  However, Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves.  He willingly became our substitute, dying on a cross for our sins.  The full punishment that we deserve because of our disobedience to God was placed on Jesus.  Therefore, He offers us complete forgiveness of sin and eternal life if we place our faith alone in Him alone for it. 

Be careful not to embrace another gospel.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.”   ~John 3:16-18

Denise Whitfield

Director of Christian Education

Family Portraits

The events recorded in the Scriptures put humanity on display honestly and accurately.  We should find that tremendously reassuring.  How would we ever find common ground with the characters found in the Scriptures if they mostly resembled Marvel comic book characters—if all we read in the recorded events of the Bible were stories of spiritual Caped Crusaders and Super Heroes.  How could we possibly identify with followers of God who were always victorious, always faithful, always wise, always perfect.  

Actually, the Bible provides a colorful recording of the real experiences of real people with real issues.  In fact, a close look at a few of them can actually make you feel pretty good about yourself.  Consider Lot or Samson.  And, you almost have to feel somewhat sorry for God that His Hebrews 11 “Hall of Faith” includes the likes of the lying Abraham, Sarah the scoffer, Jacob the deceiver, murdering Moses, a harlot and an adulterer (also a murderer).  But it is these, and us as well, whom He has redeemed and with whom He has chosen to work.  And I don’t know if I am filled more with wonder or thanksgiving because of it.  

In His Word we see people, just like us, struggling to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” (Colossians 1:10)   The Bible reveals that some days they were not very good at it.  Even Paul, who everyone considers a hero of the faith, uttered these honest and revealing words so relatable to us all: “for the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish.” (Romans 7:19)

I smile when I think of it—the motley crew that God covenanted to call His own.  Picture a snapshot taken at the reunion of a large multigenerational family—each family member with their distinct appearance, though all are related.  Do you see them with their varying degrees of attentiveness to the photographer?  Some getting along?  Some bothersome to others?   But here we are—God’s family–blessed beyond measure despite our inability to measure up.  Being fully known, fully accepted, fully loved—and remarkably, fully used by our Heavenly Father.  And according to the Scriptures, because of His great love, He’s been doing it for years.      

Doug Lyon

Senior Pastor

AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE

Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 ~1 Thessalonians 5:18

Thomas Jefferson was an American statesman, diplomat, lawyer, architect, philosopher, and Founding Father who served as the third president of the United States from 1801 to 1809. He was the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.  Jefferson understood that the new nation was a fortunate people.  “How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, and which no other people on earth enjoy.”

Over the last few months, most Americans have been inconvenienced by COVID-19.  The coronavirus has disrupted our normal activities, but we still enjoy material possessions and pleasures that many people in the world do not, including brothers and sisters in the Lord that are marginalized or suffering for their faith in oppressive countries that are hostile to the gospel of Christ.    

Voice of the Martyrs magazine reports that: “The world is becoming increasingly dangerous for people who place their faith in Jesus Christ.  Figures cited recently by a human rights representative … show that 105,000 Christians are killed each year solely because of their faith.  That translates into one Christian every five minutes.”

Be sure to thank God today for His goodness to you and to pray for fellow Christians around the world that are facing persecution for their faith in Christ.

Samantha Glenn

We Have More to Offer…

“We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps ‘em standin’

He doesn’t need us, but He lets us put our hands in

So we can see His love is bigger than you and me.”

~Cademon’s Call (Two Weeks in Africa)

Our community—not to mention our nation and world—is filled with vulnerable, hurting people. We ourselves are vulnerable, hurting, needy people, but Jesus came to heal and meet these needs. Christ’s gift of salvation may be our ultimate need, but let’s not ignore His example. What if we looked at “making disciples,” as more than just the words we speak and the stories we share. Scripture can only change our life if we apply it!

Matthew 15: 29-38

In this passage we see Jesus walking beside the sea of Galilee. He finds a seat on the mountain and great crowds begin to come to him asking for healing. He doesn’t turn them away. He doesn’t give them the stipulation of hearing a sermon before or after meeting their needs. After all this He calls to His disciples and says, “I have compassion on the crowd because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat. And I am unwilling to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” Following these words, Jesus performs the miracle of feeding thousands from seven loaves and a few small fish.

Jesus met our biggest need (salvation from sin) but still has compassion for our daily struggles. We often separate meeting physical needs from sharing the gospel, but that isn’t the example we see in the life of Christ. We are each gifted uniquely by God and these gifts are for the benefit of others. What if we, the Church, stepped up right now? What if we feed the hungry, help the sick, the depressed, the hurting and lonely? What if we give the world a picture of what Jesus is really like. His earthly example was more than words—His truth also came by His actions.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as the Messiah also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.