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A Different Look at Praise

Posted in Church, Community, Formation, Grace, Motivational, Uncategorized on July 20, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Worship BWWe talk a lot about praising God.  In any given church around the world on the weekends, you most likely will encounter an effort to praise God.

Praise, by definition, is the act of expressing admiration or thanks to someone.  When we think about God and all that he has done, we are moved to express our thanks and admiration.

But as I have been pondering this most important element of worship, I have wrestled with this question:  Is praise just an intellectual assent or does it require action?

Psalm 148 calls all beings (even inanimate objects – mountains and hills) to praise the name of the Lord.   How can a mountain praise God?  How can a bird or snow or the moon praise God?

Granted,  the Psalms are given in poetic form, but I think there is more going on in this Psalm than poetic license.  What we learn here is that praise has as much to do with being God’s best version of ourselves for his glory as it does with giving verbal acknowledgement or intellectual tipping of the hat to his grandeur.

God created us with gifts, passions and talents with the sole purpose of living out those gifts, passions and talents in a way that honors God and points those around us to him.

Maybe praise has a lot to do with living in such a way that God can cross his arms and say with a smile, “Yeah, that’s my kid.”

Just something to ponder today.

Be blessed.

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Being the Church at the Ball Field

Posted in Church, Community, Hope, Missions, Uncategorized on July 18, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Our mission team made it home for the Dominican Republic safely last week and then we spent the rest of the week recovering and catching up on all the things that went undone while we were gone.  It was a wonderful trip and as I process the experience in the coming days, I will share more with you about what God did and is doing.

But one thought has stayed with me as I have reintegrated back into my schedule and that is the importance of the church being the church outside the walls of our buildings.  I saw a group of people who left the comforts of air conditioning and television and went to minister in another country.  I saw the impact of the church truly being the church and I saw the difference it has made in the lives of those serving as well.

Moving forward, we must continue to look for ways to BE the church to a world who needs to see believers living out their faith.  This coming Sunday afternoon our church is having “First Baptist Day at the Hooks.”  The Hooks is a double A ball club here in Corpus Christi (that is doing very well this season by the way).  Our church is going to have a presence at the game this coming Sunday afternoon.  Those among us that are musically gifted will be singing the national anthem to begin the game.

HooksAnd our Recreation Minister has orchestrated an invitation for me to throw out the first pitch.  Do you know how long it has been since I threw a baseball – let alone 60 plus feet in front of thousands of people.  To answer the first half of that question – a very long time.  To answer the second half of that question – NEVER.

So – OK – I may be a bit nervous, but here is the point, this will be just one simple way for the church to be visible in the world.  We will be supporting our local team, enjoying wonderful fellowship and showing all those present that our church family loves being together and loves Jesus.  Being the church in the community does not always have to involve back breaking service (although that is often a key component) – it also takes the form of the church being real and showing love and community.

Now where did I put my ball glove – I think I need to practice!

Be a blessing today!

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Almost Home

Posted in Community, Formation, Missions, Uncategorized on July 12, 2016| Leave a Comment »

It is hard to believe that we are headed back home today after almost seven days in the Republica Dominicana. I apologize that I have not posted daily as I had hoped. Between the internet being down most of the time and our busy schedule, I have not been able to keep up.

We had an amazing week! Our team pulled together and pushed each other beyond what any one individual thought they could do. We built ten desks and two book cases for teachers in one of the schools we have worked with in the past and then delivered them. We had three ladies from our team offer teacher training to teachers in a school in Villa Alta Gracia. We had ladies from our team help with the sewing ministry here at Iglesia Bautista Quisqueyana (IBQ), making costumes for a huge city wide production the church put on this past week. We did VBS and sports camps with kids in two different areas. We had a part in a pastor and wife conference and a three of our ladies helped almost daily with meals for our team – pitching in with the local cooks.

And Sunday was a beautiful experience. We had the opportunity to worship in the morning with IBQ and then with a church in La Romana on Sunday night. Chris, our Student Pastor, and leader of this trip spoke at IBQ on Sunday night at the youth service and I had the blessing of preaching Sunday morning at IBQ and then Sunday night at La Romana. There is something special about worshipping with brothers and sisters of another country. We have been guests in their country and they have welcomed us in. I was reminded as we worshipped together that when our focus is on praising God, our differences fade away and what we have in common takes center stage – one God, one faith, one body (Ephesians 4).

Bryson, one of our team members (and my son) said, “I am ready to go home, but I don’t want to leave.” I think that sums up the feelings of each of our team members!

God is at work in the Dominican and we are blessed to have even a minute part in it.

Please pray for IBQ, our Dominican brothers and sisters and for safe travel for our team as we travel home today.

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Day 3 – The Death of Self

Posted in Formation, Missions, Uncategorized on July 8, 2016| Leave a Comment »

As the sun comes up over Santo Domingo, our group is beginning to stir.  The first two days have been amazing but today, the fatigue will begin to set in.  The first day of a mission trip is filled with the excitement and adrenaline of being in a new place and a person runs off of the energy that is created by the thought of doing something significant.

By day two, reality begins to creep in and one realizes this is hard work and the heat is nearly unbearable – but – we are doing good work and making a difference.  But in my experience, day three is a turning point for most people.  By day three, the glamour of spiritual tourism has worn off and one is faced with a decision.  It is at this point in the trip that one must decide – “am I here to serve or be served.”

Ultimately, most decide to die to self and give all they have to serve God and others.  God gives us that choice.  But really, is it any different at home?

Our group is doing well.  The unity has grown immensely over the first two work days (as well as the day of travel).  In fact, last night we had a game night.  The evening is designed to give the missionaries some downtime but also bring in local kids to play games.  As I watched the interaction, I was reminded of how we aren’t so different – Dominicans and Americans.  It was a beautiful picture of heaven – except for the noise – my vision of heaven is less loud.

Continue to pray for our group.  Pray that today they will fully die to self and commit to live for others this day.  That could be the prayer for each of us each day.

Be blessed.

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Day 2

Posted in Uncategorized on July 7, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The devotion today for our group here in the DR dealt with flexibility.  I find it a bit ironic that I wrote that devotion a couple of weeks ago to be published in a booklet for our group to use on this trip and then when I arrived, I found no internet connection.  So today is the first time I have been able to post – God is teaching me to be flexible.

It has been an amazing journey so far.  God’s timing is humbling.  Our partner church here in the DR has been working for several months on a musical presentation to be presented at the National Theatre.  It is an evangelistic musical telling the story of early Christian persecution and how God guided people of faith.  Last night was the only presentation they will make of this wonderful musical and we were here to attend and experience it.  What a blessing.

We have been blessed with great attitudes as we have begun to learn to work together.  God is teaching us to be humble and flexible, and he is blessing us as he blesses our work.  Construction is ahead of schedule and our first day of VBS was great.

I am always amazed how God can take a group of 20 individuals – some of whom did not know each other 3 days ago and make a beautiful team!

Thank you for your prayers.

Now that I have found “secret” wifi, I will be able to post more frequently.

Follow along!

#fbc2dominican

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Journey To the Dominican

Posted in Church, Community, Formation, Missions, Uncategorized on July 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Front of mission shirtAnd we are off!  20 people from our church are on the way to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.  We will be working with churches and schools in and around that city serving in a multitude of ways from construction to Vacation Bible Schools and sports camps to sewing projects and school teacher training.

It is an awesome group made up of folks ranging in age from 17 to . . . well, more experienced than me.  It was pointed out this morning that the millennials made it through security fine – it was the seniors that were the trouble makers.  It is going to be a fun and exciting journey.  One of the things I really love about trips like this is the way God grows relationships between those on the trip through the week.  I am excited to see how God is going to work through us AND among us over the coming seven days.

Once in country, I should have internet service in the mornings and so I plan on trying to journal some of our experiences here.  So be sure to check back each day to fBack of Missions shirtollow along.  You can also follow us on Twitter (@jbrianhill) and on Instagram – watch for the hashtag #fbc2dominican to stay up to date.
One request I have is to ask for prayer for safe travels and for God to grow our group in compassion, flexibility and service.

Stay tuned!

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Value the Children

Posted in Church, Community, Family, Formation, Uncategorized on July 1, 2016| Leave a Comment »

KidsWe wrap up Vacation Bible School today.  It has been a wonderful week full of activity, laughter and showing the love of Christ to children.  I am so blessed to be part of a family of believers that values the spiritual progression of kids!

The best testimony I heard this week was overheard.  I was entering our recreation center and a mom was leading her young son out of the building toward the parking lot and I overheard her say to her son – “I’m glad you’ve had so much fun you don’t want to leave, but we have to go.”

A child should want to be in church.  Somehow, we have focused so much of our attention on making sure the adults are getting what they need that we often forget that the experience of church and the need for community is just as real for kids.

Jesus said, Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  (Luke 18:16)

Jesus sees value in a child.

So should we.

Be a blessing today!

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A Work In Progress

Posted in Formation, Grace, Hope, Uncategorized on June 29, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Work In Progress

What is God doing in your life today?  Can you see evidence of the God of universe working in and through you in this moment?

So often, the old adage is true – hindsight IS 20/20.  We can often look back in our lives and see God’s hand in the way things have moved and how we have grown.  In fact, I often make the statement in regards to growing spiritually that I hope I am closer to being like Jesus today than I was this time last year.

We can often see how God has moved when we look to the past and survey a specific time lapse.  But can we see God at work in the moment?  I must confess – I don’t see God in the moment as I should and certainly not as I would like.

But I was reminded of a very valuable truth this morning in my reading.  In Philippians 4:6, Paul encouraged the believers in Philippi that God is always at work.  He said this, “being confident in this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

God is at work and you are his masterpiece.  The completion of the project is yet to come but make no mistake – you are a work in progress and every day God works a little more on you.

Sometimes we just need to slow down and take a hard look at how God is working.

Be blessed!

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Constant Truth

Posted in Church, Community, Hope, Uncategorized on June 27, 2016| Leave a Comment »

The first time Jesus spoke publicly, according to the Gospel of Mark, was in a synagogue in Capernaum on the northern end of the Sea of Galilee. The customary order of worship in the Jewish synagogue of that day was to have a time of prayer and scripture reading, where someone, most likely an elder, would read from the law of Moses.

It was also customary after the reading, for someone to stand and expound on the passage read. These scribes would cite a particular rabbinic school and give commentary on the scripture from the sources that had been developed in the Mishnah and other works.

By the time Jesus entered humanity, having someone speak with original thoughts was almost unheard of in synagogues. In fact, it is believed by historians that it had been generations since the people of Israel had heard a word from God.

So when someone arrived with fresh ideas people were amazed and listened. Word began to spread about this man from Galilee who “taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” (Mark 1:22)

Jesus’ teaching is still fresh – it is still relevant.  His truth is constant.  I am reminded yet again of the importance of going back to the source. We often read books about what Jesus said. How about today, we commit this week to read what Jesus actually said.

Jesus called his followers to a new social order.

He still does.

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Not a Time for Agendas – Just Love

Posted in Community, Grace, Hope, Motivational, Uncategorized on June 21, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Since May 1, I have been preaching through the Beatitudes in Matthew 5 on Sunday mornings.  It has been a very meaningful endeavor for me – and I pray for our church family.  On May 22, we had made it to the fourth Beatitude – blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.  The point of this proverbial statement is that as believers we should hunger and thirst for what is right and true.  We should stand firm on God’s truth without vacillating or wavering.  The problem that can arise when we do this is self-righteousness.  Pride can make its way into our hearts through the smallest of spaces.

So the very next Beatitude Jesus gave us was, blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.  Jesus wanted to make sure that we strive to know and live by God’s truth but to do so with humility, love and mercy.  He reminds us that we all need mercy, so far be it from us to withhold mercy from others.

This past Sunday, I felt it imperative to address the Orlando tragedy.  I believe the Beatitudes we have been studying speak directly to our response to this horrific occurrence.  The time to stand on a platform and push an agenda is not in the wake of a tragedy, but I have seen both sides of the LGBT issue do just that.

The bottom line is that human lives were lost – sexual preference has nothing to do with it.  Every single life affected by this senseless act is a soul loved by God.

I am not suggesting that we should waver in our convictions on Biblical truth or compromise our beliefs.   Scripture is clear in its exposure of same-sex activity as sin.  But it is just as clear in its revelation of God’s love for every single human being.

Hold fast to God’s truth but do so with mercy, humility and love.

Father,  I pray that my desire to know and hold to your truth will never cloud my vision of seeing others as you see them.  May your love be evident in me today.   Amen

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