Mask Removal Coming Soon; Let’s Make It Permanent!

As we continue to emerge from the dark shadow cast by the coronavirus, people everywhere, including here at Oak Chapel, are asking, “When can we remove our masks?”

Good question! I think all of us are ready to put our masks in a deep corner of our dresser drawer with the hopes that we will never need them again, but right now, we need to hang on, at least a little longer.

While many in our congregation have received the vaccine, some have not, and although we are told that it is upwards of 95-percent effective in preventing the virus, we still don’t know for sure, so in an effort to protect everyone, we need to continue masking. I think we have an obligation to be considerate of our friends, neighbors, and fellow congregants to continue masking, even though we are all tiring of it. We’ve made it this far; we can certainly see it through to the end.

Now, the question becomes, when is the end? Governor DeWine says the mask requirement might be lifted in early June. President Biden is suggesting that July 4^th could be our target date for a “return to normalcy.” Either way, the end is in sight.

In the meantime, perhaps we might also consider another form of masking — the things we do in life in an effort to cover up behaviors that we know would not be pleasing to the God we serve.

Right now, we can hide behind our physical masks, so that no one knows whether we are smiling, frowning, or something in between. Likewise, we often engage in masking behavior in an effort to disguise the things we do that we know we shouldn’t.

But Scripture is implicitly clear about God’s disdain for this type of deception. Verse 7 of Psalm 101 sums it up quite nicely with these words, “No one who practices deceit shall dwell in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue before my eyes.”

The only thing worse than telling a lie is getting caught in one. I’m sure we’ve all been there at one time or another, but it is clear that the Lord heralds honesty and despises deceit as we read in Proverbs 6, Verses 16-19: “There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him.” Included in this list is “a lying tongue” and “a false witness who breathes out lies.” We honor God and others by our transparency and our honesty.

We may find ourselves in situations where we feel pressured to deceive, but it only leads to further entanglement as we see in the 17^th Verse of Proverbs 20, which states: “Bread gained by deceit is sweet to a man, but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.” A deceitful past catches up to everyone sooner or later.

So maybe we can use these dwindling days of masking as a reminder that when it comes to our faith journey, spiritual de-masking through honesty and transparency is, and always will be, the best policy.

I am so thankful for the honest and forthright people at Oak Chapel who refuse to hide behind the mask of deceit and instead live a life of truth and transparency. May we honor God and each other simply by practicing honesty in all that we say and do.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Life Can Change Dramatically In an Instant

It all happened so fast, and yet it seemed to play out so slowly. On June 5^th, 1970, my Dad had just picked me up from a year-end eighth-grade party at a friend’s house. It was one of those awkward boy-girl parties when you tried to dance for the first time without looking like a fool.

 As we were heading home, we came upon an intersection that was quite familiar to us, just 75 yards from my Dad’s accounting office. Everything in Western Pennsylvania was built on a hill — thus the name of the suburb in which I lived — Penn Hills (about 10-12 miles east of Pittsburgh).

We did not have a stop sign, but the cross traffic did. On this particular night, shortly before midnight on a Friday, the headlights of a cream-colored Mustang came flying down the road to our left. I could see from my vantage point in the front passenger seat that the Mustang was not going to stop. My Dad was already into the intersection when it became clear that a violent collision was about to take place.

Bam! The Mustang hit the left front fender of my Dad’s light blue Plymouth Fury. Of course back then, we didn’t wear seat belts, and air bags were years away from conception, much less production. Fortunately, cars back then did have safety glass, which would crack but not break. This was a good thing because the top of my head hit the windshield with considerable force. I did not lose consciousness, so I was able to watch as the Mustang careened over a retaining wall and into the backyard of a house at the intersection.

Shaken, but not seriously injured, I remember running my hand through my hair and feeling tiny bits of glass fall to the ground like a bad case of dandruff. I was certain that the driver of the Mustang was badly injured, if not dead. My Dad had the presence of mind to rush down the hill and check on him. Aside from a cut on the bridge of his nose, he was okay, but he had been drinking and was obviously impaired.

 Fortunately, we all survived with little more than a few bumps and bruises, but it was an early reminder for me about the fragile nature of life. One minute, I was celebrating at a party with friends. The next minute I was in a car that was broadsided in what could have been a fatal accident.

Life is so precious, yet so fleeting. As I look back on the night, which I do from time to time, I am astonished at all that has happened in my life since that time, and how fortunate I was to come out of the accident virtually unscathed. How different my life might have been had I been seriously injured, or lost my Father on the fateful night.

What I do know, is that if I had lost my life that night, I would have found myself in the arms of Jesus because I was fortunate enough to be exposed to His Word and accept Him as my Lord and Savior, even though I probably didn’t understand all of the implications at the time.

In 2 Samuel, Chapter 14, Verse 14, we find comfort and clarity with this passage: “We must all die; we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life, and he devises means so that the banished one will not remain an outcast.”

This provides hope for all of us, but we really can’t wait until tomorrow to make our commitment to the Lord, nor can we delay in sharing our faith with others in an effort to make them aware of the Good News of salvation. There is a sense of urgency to every day. So let us take nothing for granted because life in this world could end in an instant. We want to be sure that our ticket to heaven is punched before it’s too late.

Until We Meet Again, Be Blessed!

How Much is Too Much?

Is it possible to overstate a fundamental Biblical truth? In other words, is it conceivable that we could focus too much on one particular aspect of our faith?

My initial reaction to that question would be, “of course not!” God’s truth is indisputable and indispensable — it never gets old or overexposed.

On the other hand, might it be wise to mix in a variety of other topics to provide a greater breadth of exposure to His Sacred Word? Of course it would!

This message hit home with me recently when someone who watches our services online suggested that my call to invite others to church was beginning to wear thin, and that perhaps I should consider moving on to another theme or topic.

I was not at all offended. In fact, I appreciated the feedback, and it reminded me of a former pastor who spoke almost every week on the topic of salvation. On the one hand, there is nothing more important than committing oneself to Christ. On the other hand, once we have made that commitment, what comes next? How can we further enhance our relationship with Him and our service to Him?

The fact of the matter is that the importance of salvation and evangelism cannot be minimized. After all, they are two of the most important tenets of our faith, and they are inexorably linked with one another.

In the 15th chapter of Romans, Paul emphasized the importance of reaching out to others when he said in verses 5-7,  “ May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”

Indeed, acceptance is the first step in bringing others to Christ. We may not know, understand, agree with, or even like our neighbor, but we are encouraged — actually commanded — to love our neighbor (and even our enemy) and to share our faith with him or her.

The next step in the process would be to invite them into fellowship with us by asking them to join us for worship one Sunday morning, especially if they do not have a church of their own. Such an invitation benefits both parties. For the individual, it is an opportunity of find a church home. For the church, it is an opportunity to grow and expand its ministry.

In the 16th chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” We don’t have to go quite that far. There are plenty of people in Jefferson, Wooster, and Wayne County who could benefit greatly from having a place to worship and fellowship, and I can’t think of a better place than Oak Chapel.

So, I probably shouldn’t stop encouraging you to invite others to our church, but I may tone it down a bit, at least for a while, because you have done great work in reaching out and letting others know that they are always welcome here. After all, God wants all of us to know Him and to make Him known.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

You Can Get There From Here

You know the old saying, “You can’t get there from here!” It usually surfaces this time of year when road construction produces a spate of orange barrels and detour signs that prevent us from taking our normal route to work, school, or anywhere else that we might be traveling.

I found myself in that situation last week as I made my way to the church. It’s a route I take every day without thinking about it, but when I reached the intersection of Bowman Street and Mechanicsburg Road, I found that I could not turn right — the road was closed because of construction. This forced me to continue straight and make a right turn at East of Chicago Pizza. It wasn’t much of a detour, just a minor inconvenience, but it made me to think about the other obstacles and detours we face, not on the roadways, but in life itself.

Detours are irritating because they interrupt our natural flow and often cause us to lose time that we could have spent in a more productive way, but we’ve come to recognize them as a part of life. As we know, doors of opportunity open and close quickly, often without any advanced notice. Likewise, crossroads and intersections lurk around every corner.

Regardless of the situation or the magnitude of the decision, it is prudent for us to spend at least a moment or two in prayer, asking God to provide guidance. His will for us is to follow the pathway to righteousness, but very often we chose to take another route, even when we know that danger may lie in wait. Other times, through no fault of our own, we have to take a different path. Sometimes the result is annoying or even unpleasant, but other times, we discover something new and different that we would not have experienced otherwise.

Life is full of surprises — some enjoyable, others distasteful. Sometimes we choose the right path; sometimes we don’t. But when it comes to our faith, specifically our salvation, the rationale for our most important decision comes from the Gospel of John, Chapter 14, Verse 6, where Jesus tells his disciples that He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” We simply cannot reach our ultimate desired destination except through Him. Regardless of the circumstances, it is always in our best interest to follow Him.

Good works, righteousness, obedience, and the like are all important aspects of our faith journey, but the only way to reach the Father’s Heavenly Kingdom is through Jesus. Scripture is very clear about that.

So as we make our way around construction sites, or as we encounter difficult decisions in our life, let us not be discouraged by the orange construction barrels and detour signs — be they literal or figurative. Instead, let us use that opportunity to take time to reflect on our faith and offer a prayer to God, asking Him to guide and protect us wherever we go. Even in the most daunting of circumstances, through Him, we can — and we will — get there from here!

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Run the Race, Talk the Talk, Walk the Walk

Track and Field has never been my strong suit. I was always pretty slow afoot and somewhat limited in terms of jumping and throwing. However, last week, as I volunteered at the annual Triway Junior High Invitational Meet, I was reminded, in a
metaphoric sense, that we all run the same race. Some are faster than others, some
jump higher, some throw greater distances, but everyone is invited to participate.

In II Timothy 4:7-8, there is that often-referenced passage, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.   Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” This iconic Scripture serves as an appropriate metaphor for the life we live, but we also know that life is more of a journey than a race. What is most important for us as Disciples of Christ, is to walk the walk (in other words live what we believe), and talk the talk (meaning that we should also share our faith with others). How fast we go is of little consequence.

Another lesson from last week’s meet was an acknowledgement of the similarities and differences that make up who we are as Christian disciples. Each of the competitors was wearing a tank top and shorts in the colors that represented their school and their team.

Indeed, teamwork is an integral part of our faith journey, but we must insist on an all-inclusive team, regardless of color — specifically skin color — as well as ethnic origin, socio-economic standing, or any other variable that leads to separation or division. All too often, people, even Christians, select teams that inherently, or even intentionally, leave others out. Clearly, this is not part of God’s master plan, especially with regard to the church.

Finally, in Track and Field, as in life, there is a winner and a loser. The winner usually receives an award and plenty of praise from others, but in the context of our faith, we are not looking to elevate one person over another because we know that is not the case, certainly not in the eyes of God. What matters most to Him is that we all live a life of love, compassion, grace, and mercy. Those are the true champions in His eyes.

If we adhere to God’s Word and live by His commands, then where we finish won’t be nearly as important as how we finish. What matters most is that He will welcome all the faithful when they cross the finish line and enter into His Father’s kingdom.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

In and Out Might Not be Our Best Option

Quick lube oil change stations have been with us for some time now, and they
serve as just one more example of our desire to get things done quickly. We can’t seem
to take our time with anything these days. The faster the better…but to what end? What
are we doing with the time that we presumably save?

I would like to suggest that we attach a prefix to the first day of the week and call
it, “Slow-Down Sunday.” After all, that’s what God intended at the dawn of creation — a
day of rest. Unfortunately, we have made it just another day for shopping, leisure,
traveling, and, yes, even working. I don’t know exactly what God intended when he
proclaimed that we were to “Keep Holy the Sabbath,” but I’m pretty sure he didn’t
envision it to be the way it is today.

So, from here on out, I’m going to suggest that we take back the Sabbath. I have
been as guilty as anyone for using the day to “get stuff done,” but in the process, I have
realized that we have robbed ourselves of the time for rest, reflection, and relaxation
that God intended all along.

We wonder why we’re always so tired and weary. Perhaps a day of rest to
recharge our body, mind, and soul would make all the difference. Easter is over; it’s
time for a fresh start, but let’s try not to go in the same direction. Let’s try to slow the
frenetic pace we have gotten used to, which drags us down, adds to our stress, causes
perpetual fatigue, and often makes us sick — physically, mentally, emotionally, and
even spiritually.

Like so many things in life, keeping the Sabbath holy and peaceful is a choice.
Begin the day (and everyday) with reflection and prayer. Give thanks for another day of
life, and consider the opportunities we have to love and serve the Lord and one another.
Then engage in active worship at the church. Afterward, take time for fellowship with
friends and family, and maybe even sneak in a nap.

We simply cannot be at our best when we are exhausted. Let’s make a pact to
slow things down, enjoy the finer things in life, experience nature, re-engage with loved
ones, and just take it easy. Our bodies will be stronger; our minds will be sharper, our
emotions will be more balanced, and our soul will be more serene.

If we do this, we will be better off as a result, and our relationship with God and
others will grow and prosper.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Filling the Void with Active Engagement

Believe it or not, the saddest time of the week for me is just after our worship
service ends on Sunday morning and everyone has gone home. The church is empty
and dark, and the idea that it will be largely vacant for another seven days is very
disheartening.
At the same time, I am reminded that emptiness often gives way to new life. For
example, on this Good Friday, as we solemnly mark the agonizing crucifixion of our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must remember that the cross became vacant when
his body was removed. Likewise, the tomb in which he was buried, was also empty by
the time the sun rose on Easter morning, signaling a fresh new beginning for all of us.

The cross and the tomb will forever remain unoccupied because His death and
resurrection were so magnanimous that they will never have to be repeated again. He
carried the sins of the entire world on his shoulders — an unjust, unrelenting, and
unimaginable burden — so that we could be liberated. Then, his glorious resurrection
defeated permanent death and opened the gates of Heaven for those who would
choose to accept and follow Him.

What does all of this have to do with our present-day church? Everything. Let’s
face it, we’ve been dying a slow and agonizing death for many years — long before the
pandemic. Apathy, indifference, complacency, and a variety of other factors, including
the many other options available in today’s fast-paced world, have led to shrinking
church body.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that in Christ there is always hope and an
opportunity for rebirth. In fact, as the weather warms up and the pandemic fades, it is
time for us to seize the opportunity to grow in ways that we have never grown before.
Let’s make Oak Chapel so much more than a one-hour experience on Sunday
mornings. Let’s take full advantage of the wonderful facility that our ancestors built for
us. Let’s get back to some of the storied church traditions that had to be suspended
during the past year. Let’s be active in creating new opportunities for fellowship and
mission. Let’s be intentional about inviting others, particularly young people, to our
“kind, caring, compassionate church in the country.”

God will lead us, and God will bless us, but we have to fight the inertia that has
set in, not only during the past 13 months, but for many years prior. It’s time to shake of
the ill effects of inactivity and make our church the active, attractive, and vibrant place it
was always intended to be — a must-see destination for all.

I hope you’ll join me as we use Easter Sunday as a springboard into a whole new
world of dynamic worship, fellowship, stewardship, and evangelism. Then, we’ll see
what God has planned. I believe it will exceed our wildest expectations.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

A Matter of Life and Death

One of the more difficult but also rewarding responsibilities in ministry is
providing comfort to those whose journey in this world is coming to an end. It is a time of
deep sadness but also great joy for the person who has lived a life in Christ.

Last weekend, I visited a member from my previous church at East Greenville.
Her daughter called me a few days earlier and said quite simply, “Mom’s dying.”

I was stunned to hear the news. Although the woman was in her eighties, she
had been a very active and vibrant member of the congregation.

When I arrived at her home, it was difficult to determine how aware she was of
my presence or what was happening around her, but we took time to pray and to offer
words of encouragement as we anointed her forehead with oil.

I was honored and blessed to be with her in her final days. After all, no one wants
to die alone, but I realized that she was not at all alone. The Lord was with her to
comfort her and bring her safely back home to her eternal reward.

The experience left me with a range of emotions, and a few questions — “Why
does dying have to be so difficult.” In fact, “Why do we have to die at all?

Scripture addresses the subject of death in several passages, including this from
the 12 th chapter of the Gospel of John, which we read at our worship service last
Sunday.

“The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. I assure you
that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a
single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their lives will
lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them
forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my
servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.”

So, according to God’s plan for all of us, there must be an earthly death before
there can be an eternal life. We know that, although the prospect is often unsettling and
process often grueling. Perhaps we should consider what happens before that. How
many seeds can we sow and how much fruit will they bear in honor of the Lord during
and even after our life on earth? That’s the real question.

If we are to serve Him, we must follow Him. He then promises to be with us so
that when the process of death is complete, the restoration and resurrection will take
place as it did for Jesus on that glorious Easter morning more than 2,000 years ago.

Let us take comfort in the fact that Jesus paved the way for us so that death in
this world would lead to life in the world to come. This should give us hope and joy as
we prepare for ourselves and others for life everlasting.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

Snapshot of a Growing Church

For many years, USA Today has published a “Snapshot” poll in the lower left corner its front page. The poll measures the preferences of Americans on a particular topic each day. Last week, the newspaper published a poll about what activities Americans have missed most during the pandemic.

Not surprisingly, restaurants topped the list at 59-percent. After all, who doesn’t like to eat out, right? Going to movies and concerts was a distant second at 39-percent. Going shopping was third at 20-percent, although our shopping habits have certainly changed during the pandemic.

I was surprised and pleased to see houses of worship next on the list at 19-percent, finishing just ahead of fitness centers (16-percent) and grocery stores (15 percent).

I’m not sure that 20-percent of our nation’s population even attends worship services anymore, but it is nice to know that the yearning for such services is still relatively high among our citizenry.

There’s nothing quite like in-person worship. The fellowship, the spontaneity, and the connection combine to give us the feeling of community on Sunday morning. Activities during the week give the church additional vibrancy and purpose.

We are hopeful that by late spring or early summer, everyone will feel comfortable coming back to our Sanctuary and worshipping with us. We miss all of our members and friends who have been unable or uncomfortable worshipping in person.

In the meantime, we will continue with the livestream through the pandemic and far on into the future. In fact, we’d like to continue that service in perpetuity for those who are homebound, those who may be traveling, and even those who might sleep in on a Sunday morning but still want to worship, not to mention those who might randomly tune in on their own. Our thanks to Tom Rife for his efforts to get us up and running with a very professional video presentation each Sunday, and Jen Moser for her guidance and assistance along the way. We are very grateful, and we are reaching people through this medium that we never would have reached previously.

Whatever happens moving forward, we can and will continue worshipping together, but we have another very important responsibility along the way — we need to grow. We need to invite others, particularly young people with young families, to plant seeds for the future of the church. Our ancestors, who invested so much in Oak Chapel, never would have envisioned a day when we would close our doors, so let’s make sure that we not only stay open, but that we also flourish and thrive.

With spring rapidly approaching, it’s time to shake of the chill of a bitter cold winter and move forward with an active and comprehensive plan for vibrancy in our church. If you have any thoughts, ideas, or suggestions for new programs or other initiatives, or if you would like to join any of our existing activities or mission efforts, please let us know.

An active church is a growing church. We invite you (and anyone else you would like to join you) grow with us in the year ahead.

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! – Pastor John

A Tribute to the ‘Tower of Power’

As I approached the church late last week, I was greeted by three large
American Electric Power trucks and a host of workers in bright lime green vests. It was
clear that they were on a mission to replace one of the existing poles with a new one on
church property.

I was stuck by the size of the pole. It’s not like I had never seen one before, but
most of the ones we see are perpendicular to the ground. This one was parallel.

It reminded me of the cross. Not only would Jesus be unjustly crucified on it, but
He would be further humiliated by being forced to carry it up the hill on Calvary.

Like the pole, the cross is a symbol of power, but it is also a representation of
humility and submission. The pole has no power without the wires that hang from it. The
cross itself had no power had the Messiah not hung there for several agonizing hours
on the day of His death, but now it stands strong as the iconic symbol of our faith.

All these years later we gaze at the cross with a myriad of emotions. On the one
hand, there is sadness, regret, and horror. On the other, there is joy, freedom, and
praise.

Oh, but for the cross, where would we be today? As we continue to progress
through Lent, let us take some time to gaze once again on the cross to reflect on His
suffering and to marvel at His sacrifice. That could have been the end of the story, but a
few days later, He would rise again in great glory, power, and majesty, providing a
pathway to salvation for generations past, present, and future.

Lent is a sad and solemn time. It is a time for reflection, repentance, and
reconciliation, but it is also a time of preparation when we can come out of the darkness
and into the light.

As we humbly confess our sins, let us also take time to restore our covenant with
him and turn our back on sin. When Jesus said, “Go and sin no more,” He knew that we
would not be perfect beings. He knew that we would be vulnerable to temptation and
that we would occasionally trip, stumble, and fall, but He also knew that we had the
wherewithal — with His help — to not allow sin to reign in our hearts.

That is the key message of His ministry, especially poignant during this Lenten
season. We must continue to walk in the light so that the enemy will not gain a foothold,
and that sin will not control our lives.

Depending on when you read this, there will be roughly three weeks before we
mark the dramatic events that would change the fate of humankind, from the Last
Supper to the Crucifixion to His Glorious Resurrection.

Even in these often dark and dreary March days of Lent, we know that the time
for rejoicing is near. Let us join together and honor the Lord God Almighty with some
meaningful prayer, deep devotion, and compassionate service during the climactic final
few weeks of Lent. Then we will really be equipped to celebrate when the Day of Glory
comes on Easter Sunday.

Until then, Be Blessed! – Pastor John