Pastor Vince Giardino combined the important day of Mother’s day with a message of “Worship”. Quite a leap but WOW, what a message.

OK, who knows who Moses’ mother was, by name??? A question asked to the congregation by Pastor. I was stupid and thought the Egyptian woman was his mother. Though God ordained Moses to be raised by the Egyptian, Ex: 6:20 clearly says Moses was the son of Jochebed, his mother and Amram, his father. Moses was a Hebrew child.

Mother, Mom, Mama, Ma, no matter how you put it, it is clear “Mom Loves You Best”. She saved Moses from being killed by the Egyptian Pharaoh by putting him in a basket and sent him on the bank of the water. Ex.2:3 (Moses was drawn out from the water.) “Water” … remember that word for we are baptized through water. Pastor directed us to the opening scripture: Is.66:13. God loves us like a Mother.

“Women” were so incredibly important in Biblical history and faith history as Pastor read to us the moments of Lady Jane Grey before her murder/martyr because of her faith. She was not biblical but her story is documented.

Worship seems to be different between men and women. Men are to worship with humbleness and surrender, while women worship with their demeanor and dress. 1Tim.2:8-10. I really loved this message.

After pastor couldn’t wait to get to Luke chapter 1, with several delays, we find Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary was an example of worship. We read Lk 1:26-38. Verse 38 was her worship. Lk 1:38 And Mary said,”Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.”

John 4: 23-24 Explains to us that God is a Spirit and those who worship Him MUST worship in Spirit AND in Truth. Not about a physical assembly at a certain place but as a gathering in Truth by His Spirit.

You will get some idea of the size, scope and complexity of God’s handiwork. Go from atoms and quarks to galaxies and nebulas. Enjoy.

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

Preacher Mike and Heather Gross, Missionaries to Sierra Leone, reminded us of a plea used often in the Bible, “Come and see.” When you are headed out to preach the Gospel in a country which is 78% Muslim, you want to be well acquainted with the verse “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.” (Ps39:8) Jesus came to John the Baptist who said “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” After Jesus’ Baptism (by immersion), John identified him as the Christ; “Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” Surely this great truth is one that must be seen for oneself. John the Baptist said it “And I saw and bear record that this is the Son of God.” Then when John the Baptist appointed two of his disciples to follow the Christ he again said, “Behold the Lamb of God,” and when they approached the Christ he said to them “Come and see.” To those who are searching, the longing, those hungering and thirsting after righteousness repeat the refrain; “Behold the Lamb of God, … come and see!” When Nathanael said “Can there any good come out of Nazareth?” it was Philip who said, “Come and see!” When the Samaritan woman knew that Jesus was the Messiah she said to all, “Come and see!” Nowhere in the Bible is a soul won by lifestyle evangelism, it is done when a genuine believer and witness says with their mouth, “Behold the Lamb of God … Come and see.” Got a mouth? Be a witness. They need the invitation.

Published at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/pulpit

“Mama Is” – written by Mrs. Brenda Derefinko

Read at the pulpit by Mrs Shirley Jenkins this Mothers’ Day, May 13, 2012

“Mommies can’t be daddies, and daddies can’t be mommies, children need both!”, proclaimed Brother Ralph Stokes to the Sunday evening crowd at Gospel Light. Brother Stokes is canvasing local churches for the purpose of encouraging ministry to troubled youth. “Victory for Troubled Youth” is the name of his mission to the juvenile delinquents of America. He has been preaching to kids since 1995, starting in his home state of Alabama. His concern locally is the Industry School in Rush.

We were presented with a short video presentation of the sad story of juvenile detention centers. Brother Stokes hit the nail on the head when he stated that “the problem isn’t the kids, the problem is the home.” His ministry aims to put a King James Bible into the hands of every boy and girl, where hopefully the Word will reach their hearts. Brother Stokes preached out of the books of Joshua and Judges, encouraging saved Christians to choose to hear God’s voice and get busy doing His will. He reminded that will be judged not for what we did, but why we did those things. The evening ended with a question and answer period where we learned more about what these troubled youth face in their lives.

Pastor Vince Giardino brought us to Ecc. Chapter 3 after viewing a beautiful video put together for the Youth Rally’s “Moment in Time”.

Titling the message “Definite Time” we read the 1st verse: “To Every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” Have we ever asked ourselves or God, “What is my purpose?” God has laid down a time for “Every” purpose under heaven.

The author of this book, Solomon, had a very unique and special call and purpose. Having been given the gift of great wisdom, he was allowed to live and experience freely and still maintain his mind, through the Holy Spirit, in order to make evaluations of man’s purpose upon the earth. Pastor used the analogy of a Gold Credit Card, drawn from Heaven’s account in that he was able to get all that he wanted.

Solomon, having started with verse 1, summed up the evaluation in verse 17 of Ecc. Chapter 3. “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.” Pastor encouraged all believers to read this book as the synopsis would be, “Man is in need of a Savior.” Though man, in his heart, cries out for a Savior they still spends their life in vanity rather than to acknowledge God. It is shown in this chapter that God is in control.

Pastor pulled out a device called a “Definite Purpose Contact” that is used in electronics to perform a definite purpose. Are we aware, as believers, that we have been given a definite purpose to good works. Eph. 2:10. There is a 1st birth (earthly) and a 2nd birth (spiritual). James4:14 For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

How about all my excuses as to why I cannot go to the great banquet. Lk 14:16-21 Even Peter in similar context as Ecc. 3:17 encourages us in 1Pet 4:1-6 to let the time past suffice to the evil things and to rather live out the rest of our time as Christ lived.

We have too much and we bury ourselves with bills and worldly burdens. What will it take? Will it take the food shelves being empty and the gas stations having no gas before we kindle the fire of our faith and respond to the time remaining?

Let us look upon Christ who binds no heavy burden and has lifted the sting of sin (Our Guilt) in order that we may be filled with all joy through his love and be children of God. Consider it a great blessing to bring the gospel to the dead that they might live according to God in the spirit. 1Pet 4:6.

Gospel Light’s adventure to Camp Li-Lo-Li, May 24-28, will be quickly upon us. If you and your family wish to participate, please get your deposit and registration in to Mateo Vasquez. We need to know how many to expect. Cost is $110 per adult and $55 per child ages 4-12. The cost includes all meals and lodging for four days and nights! Information sheets and registration forms are available at church on the back table in the sanctuary.

Call 585-352-4964 for additional information.

One of the articles on this blog, “The Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one”, from April 3, 2011, recently received a comment from Pastor Gary Lockyer, a Baptist preacher in Australia. Please take the time to read his comment, listed in the right-hand sidebar on this page. At issue is the interpretation of scriptures and how meanings are changed by using the NIV version of the bible.

Pastor Vince Giardino plans on responding to this issue, specifically with regard to the verses in question, 1 John 5:7-8. In the mean time, for those who are interested in this topic, Pastor G. is referring us to the Chick Publications article by David Daniels at this link:

http://www.chick.com/ask/articles/1john57.asp

David Daniels asks “Now we have to ask ourselves a question: Who had the most to gain by adding to or taking away from the Bible?” Read the whole article. You will find links to many related topics also.

Pastor Giardino recently received a letter of thanks from Pastor Jose Rodriguez of Bible Baptist Temple. He was present at our Youth Rally last month with a sizable contingent of young folks. His letter is one of great encouragement. Be sure to click the link below to read the letter, (which is also available using the Pages menu in our blog side bar.→)

Thank You Letter

Coming soon: A commentary by Pastor Giardino!

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

A certain lawyer ask two questions of Jesus “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” and “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answers both questions in one awesome parable of the Good Samaritan. Missionary Harris to Colca Canyon, Peru, reminds us that South America is our neighbor. My son is a missionary to Cajamarca, Peru, so his message rings close to home. Unlike the priest of organized religion, unlike the Levite of ‘works’ religion, the Samaritan had compassion. The true born again Christians in America need a revival of Christlike compassion. The Good Samaritan was so filled with it that he made the sacrifice it took to help. He gave up the time, the transportation, and the talent it took to make the difference. He became a giving man who wrote, as it were, a blank check for the salvation of his neighbor. The bigger picture in this parable, aimed at answering the bigger question, is a portrayal of what Christ did for fallen man who could not do for himself. But the clear application for those who would be Christlike is that His compassion in us will cause selfless sacrifice and the issuance of more blank checks to accomplish the commission we have been given. America has had the Gospel of Jesus Christ saturated throughout. It has been rejected on the larger part, only agnosticism, hedonism, and humanism being taught to our children. There is a remnant who received that Gospel and that remnant needs a new fire of compassion to help us answer the question “Who is my neighbor?” and answer it on a national level. People need the Lord, and some nations are still hungry to hear the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Rally behind a missionary, they need your support.

Posted at http://www.GSBaptistChurch.com

Shame! Shame!

by Bill Brinkworth – www.openthoumineeyes.com

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” Ephesians 5:11-12

The Bible clearly commands Christians to keep far away from the luring hold of sin. We are not only to do our best not to commit sin and avoid those that are involved in it, but we are not even to talk about the iniquities others are involved in.

This last principle has not only been ignored by most, but the opposite is practiced. Many, instead of obeying God’s command, “educate” the masses about certain behavior. Their hopes are that knowledge of the side-effects of certain socially unacceptable practices, often what the Bible identifies as sin, will help people stay away from them. Unfortunately education about something one should not do often stimulates an interest in trying that very thing.

Programs to educate youth about not doing drugs quite often put the ideas in their minds about doing it and show them how to do something they never would have known about, if they had not been shown how or introduced to it by “education”.

The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D. A. R. E.), a publicly-funded program that uses law enforcement resources to help children resist drugs and gangs, illustrates this fact. Instead of reducing the number of children involved in those things, it has been found that there has been an increase in their involvement in drugs and gangs. The Family Counsel of Drug Awareness reports, “Since its curriculum (D. A. R. E.’s) went national, two patterns have emerged: more students now do drugs, and they start using drugs at an earlier age.” Education, about something that should not even be talked about, many times increases the practice, not decreases it.

Billions of dollars of taxpayers’ money have been spent over the decades to give young people a sex education under the guise that knowledge will help them keep from making “mistakes”. Instead, the education about sex has increased and encouraged its practice at an early age before marriage. Birth rates quickly prove this fact. In 1950, when sex outside marriage was not openly talked about, especially in the school curriculum, birth rates for unmarried women were about 30 per 1,000. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that birthrate has decreased from previous years, but it is now still 450 per 1,000 unmarried women. The CDC also notes that abortions in 1970 were 10 per 1,000 and have increased to 70 per 1,000, not including the effects done by increasing usage of birth control, including the day-after “emergency” birth control drugs. Again, education about not doing something has become a “how-to” and an invitation to “do”.

Other once unwelcomed behaviors are also on the increase. There was a time when few even knew a divorced couple; now it is difficult to find couples that have not been divorced. Perhaps, the exposure in movies and television about divorce and adultery has made a once feared occurrence to be a ho-hum common one. Homosexuality, imprisonment, poor-parenting, lack of respect for Christianity, crime, and hosts of other once frowned-upon activities are so common in public-school lesson plans and media “entertainment”, that they have lost their social stigma and are now acceptable and even encouraged in some areas. Knowledge of taboo areas again have contaminated society by going against God’s commandment of discussing something that should not be even whispered about.

The world often defends their efforts in “educating” by belittling God’s command and labeling it as making the masses willfully ignorant or “censoring the truth”. The truth, however, is that in most situations, speaking of practices that should not be committed only puts the idea in one’s head, and it does not take much thought to develop the idea to, “I’ll just try it this once”. Once it is experienced, inhibitions are worn-away and more frequent practice is easily accomplished.

The human brain is an amazing organ. It seldom completely forgets what it has been exposed to. Conversation about doing improper things often is where the idea to commit them originates. God’s wisdom warns us not even to talk about sin, because it won’t be long until you are neck-deep in it — paraphrased, of course. God’s commands are always the best. If heeded, they will keep you from the hurtful consequences of sin.

Nehemiah, Servant and Leader

What The Bible Says – Nehemiah A Leader

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

When Nehemiah heard that the remnant which left the captivity and returned to the Promised Land were in great affliction and reproach, and that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, the Bible portrays for us certain ingredients which rose this valiant leader to so daunting a task. When the burden on our heart is the burden on God’s, when ‘the desire of our heart’ comes from God, when His priorities override all of our own, we are poised to do great things. God does not raise up great ministries, he raises up great men. Great men take His burden for people and fall on their face before God with the burden. “I heard, … I sat, … I wept, … I mourned for days, … I fasted, … I prayed before the God of heaven, … and I said ‘I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, … Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant,…” A leader needs no permission to lead, only the opportunity, and when Nehemiah’s opportunity came he boldly steps through the open door. Even so Nehemiah was ‘very sore afraid’ but he knew how to pray on his feet. “Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven. And I said unto the king, … ” (Neh 2:4) Nehemiah also knew how to think on his feet. He had not mission statement nor mission plan, no recommendations from committee, board or Sanhedrin, he had only a burden, a prayer life and an opportunity. Lastly Nehemiah had a remarkable ability to employ others. He sets out on a solitary quest to do something great for his God. He does, will you?

Sunday, April 22, 2012 – Posted at http://www.GSBaptistChurch.com

This past Sunday’s sermon, titled “Idle Tales”, is 52 minutes of blessed soul food. As you begin to listen, be sure to open to Luke chapter 4. “Our life should not be an idle tale”, Pastor Vince Giardino preached. What did he mean by this? He explains in his sermon in three points:

1. Idle Worship – Is your life empty, without meaning, and without satisfaction? We need to be either saved or need revival.
2. Idle Words – Ultimately, we will have to give account for all our idle words and electronic texts. God has recorded everything ever said. Unless it is covered by the precious blood of Christ, we will be held accountable.
3. Idle Works – John Wesley once said, “What I can do, God helping me, I can do.” Our works must be for the glory of God, doing all things “in the name of the Gospel”, Pastor said. Idle works will be burned up when the Lord returns (Peter 3:10) and judged (Rev 20:12-13).

Note: Portions of this article have been edited. With a surprise visitor present, Pastor Vince Giardino reminded us, by reading Psalm 100, to be joyful and thankful to the Lord. And how could we not be after a blessed weekend at Gospel Light, which included the much anticipated (and highly successful) Youth Rally this past Friday evening. Our Pastor called for individual testimonies of thanks from his flock and many gladly spoke.

As mentioned, this was a evening and we were greatly blessed by the presence of one of our church’s great friends, Charlie B. Most of us know his younger brother, the local piano teacher Brad, with whom many among us have taken lessons from.

With great admiration for his evident passion for the Israeli people, we listened to Charlie detail his plan to return to the that nation with his wife and family in order to pursue charity work.

The lights were dimmed, the big screen lowered and a slide presentation was given of Charlie’s previous visit to Jerusalem. We saw many Israeli people and the streets of Jerusalem. He gave testimonies of the many doors opened in Israel and of the people he interacted with to spread the gospel message. His method of approach on the streets is that of engaging in conversation. He spoke of how Orthodox Jews are very well versed in the Old Testament. Likewise however, the entire Bible to our missionary friend is as familiar to him as the alphabet. Thus, with intelligence and Spirit-driven compassion, Bro. Charlie was often able to direct the conversation to Christ and His sacrifice. “Jews require a sign”, Charlie said, and showing you care about the people and their country is surely a sign that works.

Charlie began a sermon from the book of Esther (2:7-8,10, 4:13-15), that he titled “Preparation for the Time”. We read how Esther, blessed with beauty and grace from God, went from a slave to being chosen queen of Persia. God had prepared Esther for this purpose. God brought her to a place in time where she could help save the scattered nation of Israel. It was hard to misunderstand where the sermon was going: God will put each of us in a position to do something for His glory and purpose … if we allow it. We were warned that our potential to do God’s purpose is diminished, if not destroyed, by our bad testimony. With sin and skeletons in our closet, then there can be no glory for God.

Thus, how do we get to that place where we can fulfill God’s purpose for us? How can we be sure that we will be able to do what God wants us to do with the position He puts us in? We were given a four step process to “Prepare for the Time”:

1. Daily Devotions – Daily reading greatly help to stay in the Lord. God to speaks to us through His Word.
2. Careful Communication – Read Titus 2:1-2. We need to watch our speech, keeping it sound and pure. Be discreet even in computer texts and tweets. “People are going to want to find a reason you are dirty”, we were told.
3. Strive for Mastery – Whatever you do for the Lord, do it well. And with everything you do, do it as a testimony for Christ.
4. Realize Our Purpose – Read Rev 4:11. The purpose of our creation is to please God. “Our goal should be to live every single day for God … we serve a higher being”, Brother Charlie taught.

It is not hard to appreciate and admire the man, Charlie B. But he would be the first to tell you to appreciate and admire our Lord, who is working through this faithful man to bring the truth to foreign lands. Nevertheless, thank you Charlie for choosing to let God work in you.

Sunday Morning, 04/15/2012 Pastor Giardino

Titled: “FOR THE LOVE OF CHRIST”

After prayer for God’s help in delivering the message and opening hearts pastor gave us the opening verses of 2Cor.5:14-15. Pastor read words from a song written by Elisabeth Prentiss (26 October 1818 – 13 August 1878) called “More Love To Thee, O Christ”.

The message began to unfold as it would unveil why we love Jesus our Lord and Christ.

The word “Constrained” came to life, from the opening verses as Pastor used good words to explain its meaning. I especially remember the word “irresistible”. The Love of Christ is powerfully irresistible and causes us to respond because of God’s great outpouring of sacrifice. When WE should experience death and hell, Jesus did it in our place, proving His great love and then raising from the dead to prove He has the power to love us.

Pastor lead us to various verses to bring us into, and persuade us to, the Love of Christ. Do we lightly esteem Him?

I couldn’t help but realize how this is not about religion or rules to follow, it is about a bond of an eternal relationship.

Pastor ended with this:

• An Exchanged Life
• An Exclaimed Life
• or and Excused Life

All of 2Cor. Chapter 5 is about the “Exchanged Life”. Paul is an example of an “Exclaimed” life as everything out of his mouth is an exclamation. Paul ended the chapter with verses 20-21 showing the move from the Exchanged life to an “Exclaimed” life.

Or we may decide to have an “Excused” life, where we make excuses, similar to those in Luke 14:16-20. Let us cling to the cross of His love and hold fast without entertaining any thoughts of discouragement.