Okay, so I didn’t get this out in the middle of the week because I was on the road.  We drove (my brothers, Dex and Rod, nephew Jay, and myself) over 3400 miles (Huntingdon, PA to Lexington, KY to Orlando, FL to Lexington, KY to Denver, CO and then from Pittsburgh back to Huntingdon) and flew over 1400 miles, watched Penn State University attempt a comeback, but fall short, and delivered a car to it’s owner in Denver, CO, all in 5 ½ days!  Some would say we are nuts, and for those that say that, I don’t think anyone is arguing with you!  HA!

As I watched the PSU game and then listened to the banter on social media calling for Coach Franklin to be fired, I became concerned about the way we view things.  People complaining about the fake punt on Penn State’s first possession and blaming Coach Franklin for a terrible call that lead to a UK field goal would have been the same ones praising him IF the long snapper would have made a more accurate snap and the runner would not have dropped the ball.  If the ball drop never occurred, the runner would have made the additional half yard needed for a first down.  The game came down to special teams not executing for Penn State and the wide receivers dropping balls.  In spite of quarterback Trace McSorely’s valiant effort to lead the team back to victory while nursing a possible broken foot, Penn State fell short, 27-24.

Okay, why do I start this report this way?  Because last Sunday we read Phil 3:12-4:1.  We talked about the need to let go of the past (the good, the bad, and the ugly) (v.13).  If we don’t let it go, we wallow in it and are not able to execute in the present and future.  We talked about reaching for those things ahead of us (v.14).  We have a goal before us, and that goal is Jesus.  We tend to head towards were we are looking.  So if our focus is on Jesus, it is only natural that is where we are going.

Focus … what a powerful word.  We declared that was the word for 2019 … FOCUS!  We need to constantly check our focus … to make sure we are looking in the right direction, to encourage others to keep heading the right way. 

Heb 12:2 ERV  We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

In 2019, don’t get distracted, don’t get discouraged, don’t quit … keep your focus so you can successfully execute our game plan and be MORE than conquerors … we can win!

This is ​an excerpt from Pastor Art's weekly email

Isn’t it nice to know that in spite of sickness and difficulty, we can still have God’s peace?  Why?  Because God’s Peace came down to earth and was laid in a manger a little over 2000 years ago!  Luke 2:10-14 NIV  But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  (11)  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  (12)  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."  (13)  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  (14)  "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests."

Wow! God’s glory and peace has been given to us in the form of a child.  Why us?  Not because we are perfect or sinless, not because we deserve it, not because we are favored, but because we are God’s children and He WANTS to bless us!  But that blessing is up to us to receive.  We need to accept Christ and the work that He did on Calvary for us to experience the Peace of God, the blessings of God, the forgiveness and redemption of God!  Jesus made that way for us!  Hallelujah,  For unto us a child is born!

By: Pastor Art Speck

Good day from the office on Thanksgiving Eve!​

You have heard me say many times how much I love Thanksgiving … not because family, food, friends, but because of the attitude the act of giving thanks brings!  When our outlook changes to giving thanks instead of grumbling, WE CHANGE!  We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for, yet too often we choose to focus on the negative, the bad, the gloomy.  We complain about politics instead of being grateful that we live in this great Republic!  We complain about our health instead of being grateful for our breath and life.  We complain about family and friends, our job, other drivers, etc., instead of seeing the positive in each and every situation.  Tomorrow, as we gather around our tables, remember to give thanks, even if you have to look for things for which to be thankful!

Psa 100:1-5 ERV  A song of thanks. Earth, sing to the LORD!  (2)  Be happy as you serve the LORD! Come before him with happy songs!  (3)  Know that the LORD is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep he takes care of.  (4)  Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him. Enter his courtyards with songs of praise. Honor him and bless his name.  (5)  The LORD is good! There is no end to his faithful love. We can trust him forever and ever!

Psa 100:1-5 MSG  A thanksgiving psalm. On your feet now—applaud GOD!  (2)  Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.  (3)  Know this: GOD is God, and God, GOD. He made us; we didn't make him. We're his people, his well-tended sheep.  (4)  Enter with the password: "Thank you!" Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.  (5)  For GOD is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.

Psa 100:1-5 NIV  A psalm. For giving grateful praise. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.  (2)  Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.  (3)  Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

You can view this video for a brief history of Thanksgiving and how it became a national holiday.

By: Pastor Art Speck 

I praise God that He is so good!  All the time!  On Sunday morning we compared Nehemiah 13 and the “reformation” that Nehemiah was promoting for Jerusalem and Israel to the reformation that needs to take place in our lives continuously.  Nehemiah starts out with a need to be separate from the world, to be different for God, an need to not let mixture into the church or the life of the believer.  A “Mixed Multitude” is when a Christian lets sin enter his life and does not treat it as his enemy. A “Mixed Multitude” is when the church does not teach the cost of discipleship and is then full of people claiming to be Christians who have never given their lives to Jesus Christ.​

2Pe 1:10 NIV  Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,

Nehemiah then talks about the enemy that has come in and the need to remove the intruder, to purify the house, to not neglect the house of God.  All important steps in our lives.  When the enemy slips in, time with God goes out the window and we neglect times of worship, times of reading, times of communication with God, we neglect time with God’s people.  And then we wonder how it happened.   We need to recommit to purity in our lives.

We need to be careful not to neglect God and His calling in our lives.  Our enemy is no politics, it is not the removal of prayer in school, it is not the “big” things we think about, but the real enemy to the Christian today is subtle sins like pride, envy, jealousy, selfishness, lust and greed, that infiltrate the Christian’s life and the church like a virus and produce ineffective, apathetic, complacent and lazy Christians who have no idea what it means to die to self and live for God.

The Times-Reporter of New Philadelphia, Ohio, reported in September 1985 a celebration of a New Orleans municipal pool. The party around the pool was held to celebrate the first summer in memory without a drowning at the New Orleans city pool. In honor of the occasion, 200 people gathered, including 100 certified lifeguards. As the party was breaking up and the four lifeguards on duty began to clear the pool, they found a fully dressed body in the deep end. They tried to revive Jerome Moody, 31, but it was too late. He had drowned surrounded by lifeguards celebrating their successful season.

Don’t be like the apathetic lifeguards, keep pressing forward in our walk with God.  Don’t let the enemy sneak in and push God out!

By: Pastor Art Speck

​On Sunday we talked about the struggles when people turn back from God.   There are several examples in the Bible, King Saul, Peter 3 times, Lot’s wife, etc.  When someone turns from God it can squarely be placed on Satan’s deceitfulness.    The believer is deceived and then works so hard to fill the void of God with things.  One example of this is:

“A brilliant young 17 year old man once wrote: “Our heart, reason, history, and the work of Christ convince us that without Him we cannot achieve our goal, that without Him we are doomed by God, and only Christ can save us.” Just nine years later, he had abandoned any Christian commitment he may have once had. In fact, his new ideas established him as one of the most influential atheists of history. Worse, his ideas spawned, through the former Soviet Union and Communist movement, one of the greatest epics of human misery and death in history. You would recognize this man by the name, Karl Marx.”

That all sounds bleak and ominous, and like there is no hope for us, but thankfully God is the God of second chances!  But even more importantly, He gives us a plan to stay on track and running after Him!  We need to draw near to Him, hold fast to Him, consider one another, go to church, and keep your eyes on Christ!

A. Draw Near

Heb 10:22 NIV  let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 

Jas 4:8 NIV  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

B. Hold Fast

Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)”

C. Consider One Another

Heb 10:24 MKJV  and let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works,
(We are our brother’s keeper!)

D. Don’t Forsake Assembling

Heb 10:25 MKJV  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

Heb 10:25 ERV  We must not quit meeting together, as some are doing. No, we need to keep on encouraging each other. This becomes more and more important as you see the Day getting closer.

E.  Keep Your Eyes on Christ

Heb 12:2 ERV  We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne.

Psa 121:1-8 NIV I lift up my eyes to the mountains-- where does my help come from?  (2)  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  (3)  He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber;  (4)  indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.  (5)  The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand;  (6)  the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.  (7)  The LORD will keep you from all harm-- he will watch over your life;  (8)  the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

When we do this, we can run the race that God lays before us, we can claim the prize, and we can bring others along with us!   God has a plan for us to win and be MORE than conquerors!   So as we get as close to Him as possible, all other things will fall into place.  This doesn’t mean we will never have a problem, but it means we have a way of passage, a plan, a finish line, and we can have peace and joy, and victory no matter what we are going through!  Yeah!

​By: Pastor Art Speck