Author name: Paul Cannings

Why is giving so challenging to do?  I believe it is because there is a tug-of-war between what we want and God’s demand for us to trust and love Him.  The things we love can compete with God.  A true love for God requires sacrifice.  An example is a mom giving birth to a child.  On one hand, she would love to keep her figure and not put herself through so much pain.  On the other hand, she wants to be a mother (as God has blessed her to be) and develop a family with her husband.  But it calls for sacrifice.  Another example is a hard-working parent who tirelessly toils daily to support a child through college or prepare them for the prom. For a moment, let’s evaluate the things we must do to express godly love. “If you love me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  Loving is obeying God’s Word (1 John 2:3-6) because we are committed to thinking the way He does (Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25).  When we decide to think biblically and obey His Word, our love is transformed into Christ’s love.  This is the means by which we can genuinely and actively love God and each other.  When Christ’s love overflows in us, we deny ourselves, pick up the cross, and follow Him. (Luke 14:27) The Bible describes love this way: “Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous, loves does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly, it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all thing.  Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) Because loving God’s way requires patience, we can resist the emotional impulse to buy things and wait. Because love is not jealous, we don’t have to envy what someone else has and purchase something we don’t need. Because love “rejoices in truth; bears all things, believes all things,” we will accept God’s challenge and trust Him for our daily needs because love always hopes. Giving can be difficult because it is in giving that we are letting go of the world.  (Matthew 6:24)  It is when we let go of the world’s way of “making it” that we demonstrate faith and experience God’s way of living. “…you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.”  (Deuteronomy 8:3)  “And the world is passing away, and (also) its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.” (1 John 2:17) Giving in worship expresses our love and trust in God.  This is why it is worship.

A class of little girls was learning to spell. They spelled several small words, such as “pig,” “cat,” “dog,” “cow,” and amused themselves by imitating the sounds that these animals make. Then little Mary was asked to spell “love”.  She didn’t stop to give the letters, but ran and threw her arms around the teacher’s neck, and kissed her on the cheek. “We spell ‘love’ that way at our house,” she said. The girls laughed, but the teacher said, “That is a beautiful way, but do you know another way to spell ‘love’?” “Oh, yes,” cried Mary, “I spell love this way,” and she began to put the books in order on her teacher’s desk. “I spell love by helping everybody when they need me.” (from Illustrations of Bible Truths Copyright © 1995, 1998 by AMG International, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.) Love is an act of obedience to God; “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” (John 14:15-16; NIV) It is when we keep His commandments that we experience God’s love; “If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in His love.” (John 15:10-11; NIV)  God’s Word is His covenanted love for man (1 John 2:3-6). Two little boys were each given a box of chocolates by their grandfather. The first boy took the package into his bedroom, tore into it, and stuffed the candies into his mouth until he was one big mess of smeared chocolate. Because of his love for his grandfather, the other boy unwrapped his package there in front of his grandfather. He opened the box and looked at all the candies. Then he raised the box to his grandfather and said, “Thank you for giving me this candy. Here, you have the first piece.” (Source: Morgan, Robert J. Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, & Quotes p341) “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Love is an act. Acts of love make the word love, when spoken, substantive. Those around us know what we mean by what we do. It is the same with the Lord. Loving God is more than singing a song (1 John 3:18) or attending church. It is obeying Him by serving (1 Peter 4:10), by loving others who may not, but someone’s standards, be lovable (Matthew 22:36-40; 5:43-48; the Book of Hosea), and by giving to Him from our very best. “…….Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver…..” (2 Corinthians 9:6-15)  This is because a sincere giver obeys God (John 14:15) and therefore experiences His love (John 15:10-11). Giving is an act of loving appreciation to God, which is why it is an offering (Exodus 35:20-29). Prayerfully, when offered, God accepts it (Haggai 1:2-11). Giving is a matter of the heart.

God has graciously allowed me to serve as your pastor these 31 years. Seeing God establish leadership, strengthen His vision, expand His ministries, and grow and mature His saints has truly been a blessing. When God’s faithfulness manifests itself so powerfully, all one can do is continue to press for the mark of the high calling (Philippians 4:14). It does not mean that everything has been peachy throughout all these years, but seeing God’s faithfulness has undoubtedly been the strengthening factor for our perseverance. Charles Spurgeon once said; “By perseverance, the snail reached the ark.”  Robert J. Morgan put it this way; “We must never forget that the word persevere comes from the prefix per, meaning through, coupled with the word severe. It means to keep pressing on, trusting God, looking up, doing our duty—even through severe circumstances.” “Greg Asimakoupoulos tells of a commuter flight from Portland, Maine to Boston. The pilot, Henry Dempsey, heard an unusual noise near the rear of the small aircraft. He turned the controls over to his co-pilot and went back to investigate. As he reached the tail section, Dempsey was tossed against the rear door when the plane hit an air pocket.  He quickly discovered the source of the mysterious noise.  Someone failed to latch the rear door properly before takeoff, and it flew open, instantly sucking Dempsey out of the jet. Seeing the red light that indicated an open door, the co-pilot radioed the nearest airport, requesting permission to make an emergency landing. He reported that the pilot had fallen out of the plane and asked for a helicopter search of that ocean area. After the plane landed, they found Henry Dempsey holding onto the aircraft’s outdoor ladder. Somehow, he had caught the ladder, held on for ten minutes as the plane flew 200 mph at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and then, at landing, kept his head from hitting the runway. It took airport personnel several minutes to pry Dempsey’s fingers from the ladder. Things in life may feel turbulent,” said Asimakoupoulos, “and you may not feel like holding on.  But have you considered the alternative?” (Leadership Journal, Summer 1991, 49). The purpose of our trials is to teach us perseverance: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4; Romans 5:1-5). The focus of trials is never to test God’s faithfulness; trials prove it (John 10:27-30). I do not know what this year may expose us to as a church body, but Christ’s question is always before us; “when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8) His faithfulness should inspire us to trust His Word. We must press on, no matter the challenges we experience.  

If you are reading this pastor’s corner, it is because you have made it to 2025. This means that the Lord has preserved you in good and difficult times. He has protected you, healed you, whether known or unknown, and provided for you (you may have a job and skills to work it, but you had to breathe to get there, drive there, and have a mind and health to get it done); in other words every day no matter what is taking place in this world the Lord God is still good, perfect, loving, kind, gracious, holy, eternal and forever powerful. Therefore, how should you and I now respond in 2025? His faithfulness should cause us to focus on ‘running the race He has set before you,’ meaning commit to stop waiting on God before acting and start acting based on His Word, knowing He will be God daily. “Faith is what we hope for and the evidence….” (Hebrews 11). We have the evidence….. We have faithfully taught you sound doctrine (2 Timothy 4:1-5). Challenge each person to discipleship and to love each other (John 13:34-35). Now, does all that has been taught translate from sound doctrine, to walk it out so that the Word becomes ‘a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path?’ (Psalm 119:93, 105; Proverbs 6:23; Psalm 119:33-40). As John would say, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory (God in His full excellence), …….., full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) This Word that was preached through the Old Testament (Hebrews 1:1-3) in the New Testament became a light to the world (John 1:6-9), an example you and I must now walk in (lifestyle; Galatians 2:20; Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Peter 2:21-25) so that we become the light (Matthew 5:13-16) in our homes, communities, and world. This process nurtures the development of the Holy Spirit in you, creating genuine fellowship (1 John 1:5-7; Matthew 22:36-40), as the Holy Spirit continuously transforms you each day (Philippians 2:12; 1 Peter 1:13-16). While on vacation, I attended my grandkids’ soccer games. The coaches always expected the players to follow their instructions during practice, but the issue was how they applied all this in a game. This year, you and I need to live out how the Word of God relates to the issues we experience daily; this way, we do not become short-sighted or blind when faced with struggles (2 Peter 1:3-10). This way, amid daily challenges (Philippians 4:13), we become conquerors while transforming to be like Christ, impacting others for His glory (Ephesians 3:14-21).

By the grace of God and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, we have completed another year. No matter the challenges or the pain of losing loved ones, the Lord has provided the strength and wisdom to make it through. I would like to thank the elders, deacons, staff, ministers, ministry leaders and all those who served faithfully all year long. I would also like to thank those who faithfully by way of their finances and prayers supported the Lord’s ministry. It is your faithful service, giving, and prayers that have blessed us to make it all year long. Being faithful does not mean that everything in these individual’s lives went well, by no means! This is why the Apostle Paul describes faithfulness as a ‘pressing to the mark’ (Philippians 3:12-16), ‘the fight of the faith’ (2 Timothy 4:8), and the writer of Hebrews would say is a ‘race to run’ (Hebrews 12:1-3).  Faithfulness takes courage to remain obedient during life’s challenges, commitment to the Lord’s vision, and a willingness to endure suffering while using one’s spiritual gifts to bless others. It is for this reason faithfulness provides great eternal rewards. Everyday we go to work and receive a temporary paycheck, it can consume our lives. Like I said repeatedly when teaching Revelation, Satan cannot stop those who are saved from going to heaven, but he can use the challenges of this life to take away our heavenly rewards. This is why after taking us through the ‘Hall of Faith’ in Hebrews Chapter 11, the writer instructs us ‘to keep our eyes fitted… .’ Paul remained so purposeful he said, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 2:21) This is not a temporal gain, it is eternal and does not require any more work once earned. There is so much to gain; the ‘Crown of Life,’ (faithfulness through trials; James 1:12; Revelation 2:10; 3:11), the ‘crown of righteousness,’ for ‘fighting the faith of the faith’ (2 Timothy 4:8), the ‘incorruptible crown,’ (1 Corinthians 9:25) for being discipled to apply God’s word daily in the midst of life’s rat race, and the ‘crown of glory,’ for faithful elders (1 Peter 5:4). Not only do we receive crowns, for all those who faithfully served, they will wear white robes (Revelation 3:5,18; 6:11; 7:9,13), and not be naked, and poor (no rewards; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15) in heaven (Revelation 3:17). Those who remain faithful despite numerous trials, will sit with Christ on His throne as overcomers (Revelation 3:21-22; 21:5-7). This is why Paul says, “discipline my body and make it my slave, so that ….., I myself will not be disqualified.’ (1 Corinthians 9:27). Thanks to all of you, including your children and youth who did not hesitate to serve the Lord. I pray that God blesses you and your family, especially as we approach this new year!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!

The Christmas season does not erase all the events that may have occurred in our lives this past year. For some people, it may be an added financial burden. For some, the pain of losing a loved one heightens in this season because of all the things that the person did during Christmas that are missed. Christmas may be the culmination of events, but it does not erase them. A reflection on what Christmas was like for those who God used to establish this magnificent act of God in human history may refresh us. When you reflect on what Christ meant for Joseph, Mary, and all the mothers in Jerusalem who had lost their sons, it was a very stressful time. Joseph, who had to make plans for a year to build a house and prepare for a wedding, is told by his fiancé that she is with a child immaculately conceived from God. This thrusts her life and his as well in a direction they never imagined. Her life has now moved from Bethlehem to a dirty manger on a journey to Egypt. A journey with no rest stops, no hotels, or restroom facilities for anyone can not be pleasant. I can’t imagine that for a pregnant woman. There are some glorious moments of angels, shepherds in the field, and Magi with gifts, but that does not erase what it was like for them day-to-day trying to care for an infant in a distant land with a husband who had to find work each day. They did not become rich because Jesus was given to them. They did not become powerful. They had to move from one place to another, brave the winter, and face several challenges. Mary had to bury her husband (now a single mother with several children) and watch her oldest son wrongfully accused and nailed to a cross. At the cross, she needed a home; Christ provided her protection through John. How could they endure all of this, and Mary and her son eventually accept Him as the Christ, her Savior (Acts 2:14)? Christmas, then, was about purpose, and it should remain that way. It is about Immanuel, God being with us. It was, therefore, honorable, not just stressful. As a result of the resurrection, He is permanently with us through the ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16). The world cannot say Christ was not born. It is an event in space and time, historical and factual. The only debate that is left is the resurrection. If we lose the purpose, the debate gets more decisive for the doubters. So, like Herod, the world wants to steal it and call it the holidays (the world doesn’t do that for any other religion). It’s about Santa Claus and reindeer. It is about shopping and eating, not worship like the shepherds and Magi. Just like Herod, they try to profit from Christ’s birth rather than be saved by His death and resurrection. What does Christmas mean to you?

Imagine how a parent would feel if their children were given gifts on Christmas Day and laid them aside without attempting to open them or even find out what they were, and just said: “Thank you.” Imagine how the Lord must feel when He has given gifts to us that He intends for us to use (1 Peter 4:10), and yet we never take the trouble to find out what they are, never put them to work, and then excuse ourselves from serving the church by saying that we can’t do anything! Like any gift, it must be unwrapped, examined, and used. It is when we use our gifts the body of Christ is served (Romans 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-20). When the body of Christ is served, we are built up spiritually (Ephesians 4:12-16). When we are built up spiritually, Christ is glorified. When Christ is continuously glorified, lives are changed, souls are won to Christ, and Christmas is celebrated all year-long as we worship Him daily (Colossians 3:12-17). Our service pleases God because it demonstrates our faith in Him (James 2:14-17) and our love for Him (1 John 3:16-20). The greatest gift we can give to God is to use the gift He has given to us to serve others. “For the one who sows to his own flesh shall from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith” (Galatians 6:8-10).  Serving the Lord is one of God’s greatest desires for us (Deuteronomy 11:13; Joshua 22:5; 24:21-1 Samuel 12:24). Let this season remind us of our need to unwrap the gifts that Christ has provided us so that the season serves the reason all year-long. When we unwrap His gifts there is no way we will be disappointed. We will be a blessing, and we will be blessed.

Christmas is the most beautiful time of the year. Houses are decorated with lights; Christmas trees are decorated inside homes; ornaments and the like; people’s cars are decorated; the malls are filled with items that represent Christmas to them, and the music of Christmas plays regularly. What was Christmas like for Christ? What did God’s love mean for the Giver of His love? Britisher Geoffrey T. Bull, a missionary to Tibet, was cold, exhausted, and hungry. Communists had seized him following their takeover of China in 1949, and his future was bleak. His captors drove him day and night across frozen mountains until he despaired of life. Late one afternoon, he staggered into a small village where he was given an upstairs room, swept clean and warmed by a small charcoal brazier. After a meager supper, he was sent downstairs to feed the horses. It was very dark and very cold. He clambered down the notched tree trunk to find himself in pitch blackness. His boots squished in the manure and straw on the floor. The fetid smell of animals was nauseating. The horses sighed wearily, tails drooping, yet the missionary expected to be kicked any moment. Geoffrey, cold, weary, lonely, and ill, begins to feel sorry for himself. “Then as I continued to grope my way in the darkness,” he later wrote, “it suddenly flashed into my mind. What’s today? I thought for a moment. In traveling, the days had become a little muddled in my mind. Suddenly, it came to me. ‘It’s Christmas Eve.’ I stood suddenly still in that Oriental manger. To think that my Savior was born in a place like this. To think that He came all the way from heaven to some wretched eastern stable, and what is more to think that He came for me. How men beautify the cross, and the crib, as if to hide the fact that at birth we resigned Him to the stench of beasts and at death exposed Him to the shame of rogues. “I returned to the warm, clean room which I enjoyed even as a prisoner bowed to thankfulness and worship” (Geoffrey T. Bull, When Iron Gates Yield (Chicago: Moody Press, n.d.), 158–159. 2 Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson & #39’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes. electronic ed. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000, S. 110). “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:10-11; NASU) God’s gift to us, and for us, far outweighs any gift we can provide to Him. This is why this is a season of thanksgiving that should result in `thanksliving.’

“God grant you the light in Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is love; the radiance of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.” (Wilda English) Christmas time is a great moment for evangelism because it is unquestionably a time that celebrates the birth of Christ. Even in the time of Christ, His birth brought Magi from a distant country, shepherds from the fields and it caused Simeon and Anna to declare; “My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:30-32) Today the world knows the truth but seeks to call Christmas, the holidays, X-mas, a time to party and get drunk. I don’t expect people who do not know Christ to do any different but we who are saved should be like Simeon and Anna and declare the truth. How can we celebrate Christmas so that it is a testimony of Christ’s birth, that can lead to a gospel message? There is a legend of a village in Southern Europe that boasted of a church called “The House of Many Lamps.” When it was built in the sixteenth century, the architect provided for no light except for a receptacle at every seat for the placing of a lamp. Each Sunday night, as the people gathered, they would bring their lanterns and slip them into the bracket at their seat. When someone stayed away, his place would be dark; and if very many stayed away, the darkness became greater for the whole. It was the regular presence of each person that lit up the church (Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed., p. 127) Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers). “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;  nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  (Matthew 5:14-16; NASU) What can we do when our house lights up; can our decorations and ornaments represent Christ and therefore be a witness? How can we function when people are in need after Beryl and are struggling to make Christmas work for their children so that at least their kids can enjoy Christmas? We must ‘let our light shine before men;’ It’s CHRISTmas!

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we often begin to think of all the things we should thank God for. We reflect on a series of events to determine how and when to thank God. Sometimes, we forget the fundamental reasons why we should say thanks. A young man put it this way; “nine months ago, a Christian came to my house and said he wanted me to become a Christian. He talked to me kindly and encouragingly, pointing out the errors of my ways, and I became converted. I had been a hard drinker, but since that time I have not touched a drop of liquor. If anyone had asked who the most hopeless man in town was, they would have pointed to me.” Today, this man is the superintendent of a Sabbath school. Eleven years ago, when I went to Boston, I had a cousin who wanted a little of my experience. I gave him all my help, and he became a Christian. He did not know how near death was to him: He wrote to his brother and said: “I am very anxious to get your soul to Jesus.” The letter somehow went to another city and lay from the 28th of February till the 28th of March—just one month. He saw it was in his brother’s handwriting, tore it open, and read the above words. It struck a chord in his heart and was the means of converting him. And this was the Christian who led this drunken man to Christ. This young man had a neighbor who had drunk for forty years, and he went to that neighbor and told him what God had done for him, and the result was another conversion. I tell you these things to encourage you to believe the drunkard can be saved.” (from Moody’s Anecdotes and Illustrations. Biblesoft formatted electronic database. Copyright © 2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.) “ThanksLiving” begins with keeping the value of being born again front and center. Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8-10). No person sought after God on their own (Romans 3:9-11). It was ONLY because “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son……” (John 3:16). Salvation, by God’s grace, provided the Holy Spirit who was poured into us (Titus 3:5-8), providing a spiritual gift (1 Peter 4:10). Applying ourselves to use His spiritual gift blesses us eternally (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 15:18). Because He does not listen to the prayers of sinners (John 9:31) now saved, we are blessed!! He now hears even the groans of our hearts (Romans 8:86). The Holy Spirit empowers us to mature in wisdom and righteousness, providing material blessings (Luke 12:13-28; Psalm 112:1-3; 24:3-5). Sometimes it is hard to swallow this because we often focus on what we don’t have rather than seek Christ first. He promises to ‘provide our needs according to His riches in glory’ (Luke 12:29-34). Happy ThanksLiving!!