14 Feb

wfelmlee Posted in Sermon Recap Posts No comments

The descent to hell is easy

As our church continues her series in the book of Jonah, I was once again challenged in the depth of this book as I consider the attributes of our covenant keeping God. Our passage this week led once again to God’s sovereign rule over all creation and we are beginning to get a glimpse of God’s mercy. When God sets His mind and purpose on something, He will go to all lengths to accomplish it. Disobedient Jonah has said ‘no, I will not go and preach to pagans’ contrary to God’s desire and will for him. God now intervenes supernaturally in circumstances to bring about His purpose in and through Jonah’s life. As we read the first 16 verses of the book of Jonah, it becomes apparent that God was determined to use Jonah, either as an obedient child or as a disobedient servant. It isn’t directly stated in the passage, but logical deduction tells us that Jonah didn’t enter into his disobedience quickly or immediately. No, his disdain for the Ninevites was rooted deeply. His rationale of God being merciful and gracious was a learned truth. His choice to turn west to Tarshish instead of east toward Nineveh began with one and two and three steps. He searched out a ship in a port city going as far from Nineveh as possible and decided to pay his own fare to further his disobedience. Then content in his rebellion against God, he falls asleep in the lower deck of the ship. Jonah’s sin took thought, planning and time. But just as Jonah’s disobedience didn’t instantly appear, neither did God’s judgment appear instantly in it’s fullest toward Jonah. Our God is a merciful God, slow to anger and judgment. He wants Jonah’s repentance and humility and sets His purpose to that end. He turns the storm up in intensity as the sailors row harder and throw out the cargo, examples of our human efforts to thwart God’s purpose. The tempest is raging. But God is so committed to His purpose of Jonah preaching to the pagans of Nineveh, he brings a ship full of ‘innocent’ sailors to the brink of a watery grave instead of allowing His erring child to continue on his disobedient journey. It is the same for His church today. God will bring the gentle nudge toward obedience, then the push and finally the knock down should we resist in His will. He is like that, He is merciful. He wants to save us from our sin and He will go to any length to do that. James Boice expanded on the philosopher Virgil’s statement, ‘The descent to hell is easy’. I quote ‘When we disobey God, he does not rearrange the stars of heaven to say, “Stop, do not go farther.” He let’s us go. At first he does not put great obstacles in our path. If we choose to stop reading our Bibles, he does not send a prophet to get us reading them. If we stop praying, he does not send a disaster into our lives to make us turn to him. Not at first!! He simply allows us to go downhill and to pay for our own foolish choices. However, when we persist in our disobedience, he gets tougher. He begins gently, just as we gently disobey. But in the end he sends a tempest.” How is it with you today? Has God called you to something specific and yet you have gently started to disobey. You cannot thwart His will. He is sovereign and will accomplish what He plans. He is also merciful and will not allow His children to continue in their disobedience but may very well wield all the forces of the omnipotent to produce an obedient child. Study Jonah and find a deeper and greater assurance in a purposeful, merciful God, willing to save. soli deo gloria

07 Feb

wfelmlee Posted in Sermon Recap Posts No comments

Here am I, send….him…or him…or him

We at Center Hill begin a short 5 or 6 week series on the book of Jonah during our Sunday Morning worship. My intention, as Pastor, was to continue in our series from the pastoral Epistles after the break we took to study biblical ordination. However, the Lord has brought the prophet Jonah to my mind on numerous occasions during the past month or so and I have become aware of the rich doctrine taught in the book named for him. The doctrines of God’s sovereignty, mercy and love. We began this past Sunday with an overview of the book and I posed a question to our folks during the message and then later in our adult Sunday School class. Do you believe in the sovereign rule of God over all matters? We say we do even if we only have the most rudimentary understanding of the gospel. It is actually the very foundation of our hope. We hold to the truth that even during the worst of life’s calamities, there sits on the throne of the universe an omnipotent, good God in control working all things for His glory and our good. It is the very bedrock of our hope in times of trouble. But do we really believe in God’s sovereign rule when His will comes into conflict with the obstinate disobedient human will? You’ve heard it said from the young lady considering marriage, “I now he doesn’t claim Christ, but we love each other. I know what God’s word says, that I’m not to marry him, but I don’t care. It will work out”. What about God’s sovereign rule in that case? Or what about “I know I should apologize and ask for their forgiveness but I just can’t, I just can’t. I was wrong and I know God’s word says I should make this right but I just can’t talk with him, I won’t”. What about God’s sovereign rule in that case? It seems that man’s will trumped God’s, right? Jonah is told by God to go east to Nineveh because He had a purpose for him there but instead Jonah said ‘no, I’m going west’. And so he does and even pays his own fare for this disobedience, amazing. But turn loose the Hound of Heaven and watch stubborn grace at work. Watch as a sovereign God controls the forces of nature, appoints fish, a plant and a worm, and changes the hearts of a vicious murderous people from haters of God to lovers of God. His will will not be frustrated. Join us for this series as we look deeper into the attributes of God and see His merciful, loving control over His creation to bring about His perfect will of redeeming a people for Himself in spite of His disobedient children, unbelieving bystanders and pagan idolaters. soli deo gloria

02 Feb

wfelmlee Posted in Blog Posts One comment

It’s all about Him

With the gathering of our own church family, friends from nearby and our immediate family from across the state, Center Hill Community Church was a packed house on January 23rd. We had come together not simply to ordain the Pastor unto the ministry but to glorify God. My greatest fear for the day was that it would become about the person being ordained, me, and not about the God who had called and enabled me. Center Hill didn’t confuse the issues. Even though kind things were said about me (kinder than I deserved) and the examination of my call completed, the over arching message was that God was center and it was His ministry that was to be furthered. From the board and congregation’s examination, the preparation of the meal, the planning and presentation of music, the preaching of the Word by Rocky Hammond and Jeff Burkett, and the moderation of the services by Jim Titler, the people of Center Hill came to a deeper understanding of “Soli Deo Gloria”, God’s glory only. If I used this space to thank each and everyone who had a part in the success of the day, I would surely leave someone out and worse yet deflect the glory of the day from our Lord. In recent months as I had prepared for the ordination, I came across a recurring theme in the Word of God, humility. I can’t remember who said, ‘if a man claims to be humble in the slightest, it is a sure sign he is not’ but it has stayed with me. I am not claiming to be humble but instead say that I was humbled by the day. Micah 6:8 has been more and more impressed upon my heart that what is required of me is ‘to walk humbly with my God’. I am humbled to think that God being so sovereignly in control of the very dust motes floating in the air of my study and each snow flake falling outside the window has at the same time called me to His ministry. I trust I never lose the weightiness of that thought. Thank you Center Hill for honoring our Lord and allowing the moment to reflect His glory. soli deo gloria

14 Jan

wfelmlee Posted in Blog Posts No comments

“Set apart for me…”

Center Hill Community Church is about to ordain, ‘set apart’, their Pastor unto the ministry of our Lord. The church in the New Testament followed the example set in the Old Testament of ‘setting apart’ their sacrifices, ‘setting apart’ their priests, and ‘setting apart’ there leaders unto the specific use and administration of God. Examples of this in the New Testament are found in Acts 6 in which the church ‘set apart’ the seven for specific ministry and in Acts 13 when Barnabas and Saul are called by God and ‘set apart’ by the church to God’s work. I am most intrigued and humbled by the words of the Holy Spirit in Acts 13 ‘set apart for Me, Barnabas and Saul…’ Wow, to think that God had chosen specifically these two men for a specific task He had for them. The God of creation, the great I AM had, for His pleasure and glory, chose two humble servants to minister in His name. What an awesome, overwhelming responsibility and privilege. So it is for those God has called into the ministry of His word today. We call them Pastors, Elders, Deacons, Missionaries, Evangelists, etc. Nevertheless, the responsibility and privilege is the same as it was for the first century church leaders and servants. They …we… have been set apart for “Jehovah’s” purposes. It’s not because we’re special in some way, holier, wiser, or possess more redeeming qualities than others. No, God for His pleasure and glory has set apart certain of His servants for reasons known only to Him. But when I consider this from a personal perspective, what a humbling proposition this becomes. With Christ as the standard, I am not blameless, I am not a lover of good, I am not hospitable and to a degree I am violent and greedy. All of which would preclude me from being ‘set apart for God’ to the ministry. As I stated, it is a humbling proposition. What then makes a man worthy of ‘the call’? Grace, pure and simple. It is by God’s grace I have been saved and it is by God’s grace I live. And it is by grace that I have been called and enabled in the ministry. It must become my commitment to the church which sets me apart and to My Lord who calls me to serve each moment at the point of God’s grace, humbly submitted to His enabling power and the standard of Christ likeness. It then is not my ability to minister, my ability to preach and teach or my ability to live blamelessly but Christ who lives through me. Pray for us and join our congregation on January 23rd as we exercise our God given privilege and responsibility to set apart one for His service. Pray for me, that I submit to our Lord’s teaching and His Spirit’s conviction in matters of leadership and personal holiness. It’s all about grace, it’s all about Him. soli deo gloria

03 Jan

wfelmlee Posted in Blog Posts One comment

Dance, even when others won’t

16 Dec

wfelmlee Posted in People Posts No comments

Looking forward to this Sunday

A lot of things are happening at Center Hill this weekend. This Sunday we will be finishing our short series from John 1:1-14, with our fourth Advent message, ‘And the Word became flesh.’ Following the mornings services, we will have our annual Christmas party/luncheon. A lot of laughs, music are in store. We are especially privileged to have Dr. Steve Austin, noted “Senior Research Scientist” with Institute for Creation Research with us for the morning Sunday School hour. Steve will be presenting his lecture Mount St Helens: Explosive Evidence for Creation. We are looking forward to this informative, Biblically based presentation. For further information on Dr. Austin refer to his bio. Check out Dr. Austin’s video entitled “Where Darwin went wrong”. It will be an exciting Sunday at Center Hill this week. Looking forward to seeing you there. soli deo gloria

08 Nov

wfelmlee Posted in Blog Posts One comment

Awesome video

“> Turn up your volume!! “On Saturday, October 30, 2010, the Opera Company of Philadelphia brought together over 650 choristers from 28 participating organizations to perform one of the Knight Foundation’s “Random Acts of Culture” at Macy’s in Center City Philadelphia. Accompanied by the Wanamaker Organ – the world’s largest pipe organ – the OCP Chorus and throngs of singers from the community infiltrated the store as shoppers, and burst into a pop-up rendition of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel’s “Messiah” at 12 noon, to the delight of surprised shoppers.”

04 Oct

wfelmlee Posted in People Posts No comments

Paul and Gianna’s stand for Christ

We at Center Hill are drawing to a conclusion in our study through the book of Acts during our Sunday morning worship. We find ourselves looking at Paul’s arrest in Jerusalem and his subsequent hearings/trials/defenses of the false allegations against him. He has stood before riotous crowds, murderous Jewish leaders, Roman Commanders and Governors, and in next week’s message, a King. The stand out characteristic of Paul during his public speeches of defense has been his unwavering proclamation of the person and finished work of Jesus Christ, his Lord. It is Paul’s commitment of winning as many to Christ as possible, even in the midst of uncertainty for his personal safety, that has impressed me most about this Apostle. The point made in our message this week was simple, we can and should remain as faithful as Paul when faced with such great opposition and even in the daily, possibly mundane, opportunities to witness. We find ourselves asking questions such as what will people think of me, will my family and friends take me serious, will this cost me any embarrassment. It is at this moment that the issue becomes a matter of supremacy in our life. What do I value as supremely important when the cost adds up? I believe Paul valued God as most supreme in his life and thereby faced the threat of harm with assurance and boldness to proclaim the real calamity facing every man. Paul used the springboard of his situation to glorify God by declaring clearly that the situation facing him was in God’s hands and that he was simply to point the hearer to Jesus Christ as the answer to their greatest need, the need for forgiveness. The denial of his civil rights, or false accusations, or prison conditions, or the plight of the down trodden church was not foremost in Paul’s speeches. Clearly he realized that God had purpose in bringing him into suffering and that was for His glory and that the name of Jesus should be honored. Wow, what a testimony and example from historic Christianity! There are modern day examples of true witnesses for Christ which should be honored. Case in point is Gianna Jessen. Gianna is an abortion survivor. No not a mother who had a botched abortion performed on her and survived to tell her story. Gianna was the baby intended to be murdered by the abortion doctor. Her testimony is amazing. Amazing in so many ways. Her survival is simply a miracle from God and evidence of His providence. Her referring to the results of the failed procedure, cerebral palsy, as a ‘gift’ is astounding. Her zeal for life and bright outlook on tomorrow is incredible. But what is most amazing about her testimony is that it is given in front of a possible hostile crowd and yet she proclaims the name of Jesus Christ and the fact that her situation is all for God’s glory. She is a walking, talking sermon of God’s mercy and grace and is not ashamed to proclaim it in the midst of people who will undoubtedly malign her and the message. As atrocious as the sin of abortion is, it is not the central message of Gianna’s testimony. She uses her situation as a springboard to proclaim the supremacy of God in her life and the person of Jesus Christ as her sole answer to her needs. This is incredible. Watch the attached video, filmed in 2008 as she addresses a gathering of influential politicians and religious leaders in Melbourne Australia, and be encouraged to proclaim Christ and His great worth in every opportunity that God brings into your path. Let us not fall prey to the danger of simply white washing our testimony to a non-offensive tale of ‘God being our hope’, our ‘faith growing in hard times’ and ‘God sustaining us in the midst of trouble’. Truisms, yes, but they are not the gospel. The gospel must include the person and finished work of Jesus Christ as the answer to man’s greatest need, forgiveness of sins. Let the supremacy of God and His ‘Good News’ be the central message in our witnessing. Gianna Jessen from LMF CAM on Vimeo. soli deo gloria

26 Aug

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AWANA is coming, AWANA is coming!

Get ready for another year of AWANA! Wednesday, September 15 will be our registration dinner. Parents and children are both welcome on the 15th has we update everyone on what can be expected this year. A few changes and a few new leaders to be introduced. We’re excited about this new year and hope that you entrust us with your kids, to make little disciples of Christ. soli deo gloria

12 Aug

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Steve and Cathy Voke

We are excited to have Steve and Cathy Voke, supporting missionaries from France, with us this week for our morning worship and then for our Sunday School hour to follow. Please plan on visiting with us this week as we welcome the Voke’s. You can check out their new Update Letter on our Announcement Page, to see the exciting progress that has occurred in Esbly, France, especially in the “Carpenter’s Shop”. He’s advancing His kingdom! soli deo gloria