Zemek's Updates

Sweet Saturday Was Very Sweet Today

Karen & gerard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:36:02 GMT

Four times a year the ladies at Parma Heights Baptist Church have a get-together called "Sweet Saturdays" for fun, food and fellowship. It's from 8:30 - 11:00 on Saturday mornings. I always look forward to these because it's a relaxing time of entertainment and chit chat. Previous themes were on balance, de-stressing. Today's them was on planning gatherings with the holidays approaching.

There were four mini-workshops that we went to in small groups which were dinner card making, connections, chocolate creations and ornament making. Then we heard about doing table decorations, had some music and of course enjoyed all the food.

My first workshop was making some placecards. We just glued on a picture of a turkey or some little leaves cut from construction paper and a colorful strip across the bottom and wrote our names with a marker on the front. On the placecard, we could write a short Bible verse on the inside and a conversation starter question on the back. Here is a list of some of the suggestions:

What new thing would you like to learn to do? why?

What was the kindest thing that someone ever did for you?

What is the best Thanksgiving you have ever enjoyed?

What is your favorite story, and why?

Tell us what you think is special about older people?

Tell us what you love about babies.

What is your favorite room in the house, and why?

Next we moved to an easy mixer game. Each of us was given a lunch bag with a number on the front and an object inside that was stapled shut with a ribbon through it. We each put on a bag and then tried guessing what the objects were inside just by feeling through the bag. I only guessed 4 right out of 12. It did get everyone talking to everyone though which was the real point of it.

The chocolate room was a big hit! There was melted chocolate in several small crockpots and we got to dip in pretzels, cookies, chunks of cake and even spoons and then add sprinkles if desired. There was also some popcorn that we could dribble some chocolate on! What great treat ideas! This, of course, was my favorite activity!

My last workshop was the ornament. I shaped my ornament as a football with the year on it. You use 1 cup applesauce to 1 cup cinnamon and they smell very good! You roll it out and then for about 5-7 days depending on how thick you make it, just flip it over once a day until it dries out. Then put a string through it. The suggestion was to make these to have handy to give out to visitors who come to your house during the holiday season.

We had a great time and one lady shared ideas for decorating the table and one family shared about things they did to make holidays special. Another lady challenged us to create a gathering to show God's love to others. It was a very enjoyable morning!

Are you having a gathering for the holidays or any time soon? Do you have any other suggestions to share for making it special?

Food Pantry At Parma Heights Baptist Church

Karen & gerard — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:39:43 GMT

One of the things I love about Parma Heights Baptist Church is that they meet needs. In this recession, many in our church are unemployed and struggling financially. In order to help, the church congregation is bringing in food, paper products, soap, baby supplies and personal hygiene items to go into a pantry that can be available to those in need in our own congregation. There is also an ongoing benevolent fund on hand to assist those in need.

So, yesterday I decided to go buy a few things to donate. I went to Marc's right after my radiation treatment because it was close by. I get a bunch of stuff, get up to the checkout and oops, forgot to switch my cards and cell phone to my jeans when I changed clothes after work!

I apologized and left the stuff there. When I got home, I saw the cat had knocked over a lamp but fortunately, it didn't break (Manny wrote about this: That Lamp Was In My Way. Then I got my cards and cell phone, and went to a different Marc's with success. I'll take my bag to church this weekend.

A Surprise Visitor Came To Church Today

Karen & gerard — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 00:00:15 GMT

Our normal routine on Sundays is for me to leave the house around 7:30 a.m. to set up for my Sunday School class and then my husband comes a bit later and we attend the 8:15 a.m. service together. Then I teach Sunday School and my husband goes home, walks the dog and then to the gym. Orders pizza and brings it home for lunch.

Today though, I was surprised when Sunday School was over and I opened my door to see my dog walk in! I couldn't believe my husband walked her all the way up to church from our house, a 45 minute walk, and then actually brought her into the church! I quickly hoped she wouldn't have an accident inside the building and hurried them out through the kitchen to cut over to where my coat was hung.

She didn't seem winded and all and her tail was wagging the whole time. Many people squealed with pleasure when they saw her and she got lots of pets. She is very friendly and was a big hit, but I was embarrassed that he brought her inside. My husband said it was cool and a nice day so he just thought he'd try bringing her up to church. She enjoyed chasing some squirrels on the front lawn of the church too he said.

We all rode home in my car, but on the way I decided to do something spontaneous too for a change and we went to the park to enjoy the beautiful colored leaves and some extra outdoor time with Abby which she just loved. We ordered the pizza from the park (cell phones are so convenient!) and then introduced Abby to the owner our favorite pizza place, Casamel's, where we usually go every Sunday.

What have you done that was spontaneous lately? Does your spouse ever surprise you be doing something completely out of the ordinary?

Meet Bill & Jeff: Two Christians Who Were Homosexuals

Karen & gerard — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:56:18 GMT

Meet Bill and Jeff--Two Christians Who Left the Homosexual Lifestyle and had the courage to share their story with our congregation during our Sunday morning services (Part 2)

This a Part 2 of the “Tough Question--How Should Christians Respond To Homosexuals?” This was the sermon Pastor Dan preached on August 30, 2009 at Parma Heights Baptist Church. After his sermon, he then interviewed two Christian gentlemen who left the homosexual lifestyle they were in. This post picks up with their stories which I found both fascinating and mind boggling. Both these men sought help from The Way Out non-profit ministry to gain freedom from homosexuality and found it.

Bill’s Story:
Bill had a background of emotional, physical and sexual abuse. He was an Eagle Scout. By the age of 10 he had been abused by eight different men. Growing up, he began to notice boys but thought it was just a phase--it wasn’t but it didn’t feel right to him. In college he became actively involved in the “Lifestyle Choice” group. He went to church and heard Romans 7 preached talking about the inner struggle the apostle Paul had and identified with that.

Jeff’s Story:
He grew up in a loving Christian home. At age 9 he was molested by an older boy. He was saved at the age of 10 but had feelings towards other boys. He felt God rejected him and that he was an abomination to God. He went about seeking to earn God’s love by going to a Bible college to become a Pastor. He thought certainly God would love him then. In college, he got a homosexual roommate and so he continued in that lifestyle and did not become a Pastor. Then he figured if he got married and just had a “normal” home, that would do it. He got married and lived a double life for 15 years. He went to a men’s conference and got counseling.

Here are the questions Pastor Dan asked them and their answers:

1. As a Christian who has/is struggled with same-sex attraction, what message does the church need to hear?

Jeff: Show love and kindness to homosexuals.

Bill: Don’t say homosexuality is a choice because it just proves you really don’t understand. Show patience, compassion, love and try to understand that it is an urge that we don’t control but that we don’t have to give into and act on it.

2. How can the church (Christians) minister to those struggling with homosexuality?

Jeff: The myth is that we’re born this way and can’t change.

Bill: Realize that acting out is a sin but thinking and desiring men is a temptation, not a sin. Help by realizing a change in desire is necessary. I turned from desiring to act out on my urges to desiring to develop a relationship with Jesus. The opposite of homosexuality is not being straight, but being holy.

3. How do I respond to a homosexual family member who is living with a partner? Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, family get-togethers… I don’t want to condone or accept their lifestyle, but Christ calls us to reach out in love and compassion. How do we do that? What does that look like?

Jeff: Let Jesus shine through you and realize that everyone is entitled to God’s grace.

So, be nice, people! I must admit I find it creepy if I see two guys or two women kissing, but condemning them or labeling them and name calling is certainly not acceptable. I admit I don’t understand homosexuality but do know that God loves them too!

Tough Questions: A Christian Response To Homosexuals

Karen & gerard — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:30:01 GMT

I know this is a "hot" topic but it was one of the questions from our congregation that Pastor Dan preached on August 30 at Parma Heights Baptist Church. Homosexuality is widespread these days. Many families have people who are homosexual or know someone who is so this is a very relevant topic. By posting this I am not trying to be controversial but sincerely want to let homosexuals know there is a way out and that all Christians do NOT hate you.

Basically, homosexuals think Christians hate them. Some may but they are wrong! We should love like Jesus. Jesus does not hate homosexuals!

On August 30, 2009, Pastor Dan preached on this topic at Parma Heights Baptist Church, looking at the world’s perspective and then comparing it to God’s perspective. Then we heard from two men who left the homosexual lifestyle to find out how Christians can minister to homosexuals.

This is such a long post that I’m going to do it in two parts. I’ll post the stories of Bill and Jeff separately, the two former homosexuals that shared with our congregation how best to respond to homosexuals. I found this to be very interesting and helpful in understanding homosexuality a little better than I did before.

The World’s Perspective--Prevalent Attitudes:
Who am I to judge, to each his own.
Homosexuality is an alternative lifestyle.
Every couple ought to have the right to marry. The trend is legalizing same sex marriage.

Pastor Dan quoted Ex-gay activist, Michael Johnston who said:

The world was telling me that if this is the way I felt, then that was who I am, so go ahead, live that lifestyle. But what I needed to hear from the church was what God’s Word says. That homosexuality is a sin. Did I like hearing it from church? No way. Did it make me feel comfortable? No. What it did was convict me of my sin and bring me to repentance. Homosexuals need to hear the truth about their sin because it’s only in hearing the truth that the truth will set you free.

God’s Perspective--What Does The Scripture Say?

Leviticus 18:22: Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman. That is detestable.

Romans 1:24-27:
Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator--who is forever praised. Amen. Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

I Corinthians 6:18-20:
Flee from sexual immortality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

Genesis 2: God’s plan for our sexual fulfillment has always been 1 man and 1 woman in 1 marriage for a lifetime. That will never change.

Churches have usually dealt with the issue with one of three approaches--none of which is like Jesus’ approach:

1) Condemnation: Through picketing, labels, protests, rallies, no wonder homosexuals ask, “Why do Christians hate us?”

2) Embrace: Some denominations say it’s okay, they are tolerant and even ordained gay ministers. Tolerance though is the virtue of people who don’t stand for anything.

3) Ignore it: Some choose what they think is the middle ground by just ignoring it and not addressing the issue at all.

Jesus’ approach in dealing with people’s sin was always with love and compassion so that is the example the church should follow too. Personally, I try to do this.

Examples of Jesus:
The Samaritan woman who was married five times and had a live-in boyfriend, Jesus confronted her but did not condemn her. (John :1-24)

The woman caught in act of adultery was not condemned, but forgiven and told to go and sin no more. (John 8:1-11)

According to Romans 2:4, it’s God’s kindness and patience that leads to repentance.

HELP IS AVAILABLE! Check out these resources if you need help leaving this lifestyle of sin or if you know of someone who may need some help:

Exodus International--North America
P.O. box 540119
Orlando, FL 32854
888-264-0877
www.exodus.to

The Way Out: Seeking Freedom from Homosexuality
Betty Kalbes, Director
330-921-1120
Bkalbes2004@yahoo.com
www.TheWayOutMinistries.com

When Homosexuality Hits Home: what to Do When a Loved One Says They’re Gay by Joe Dallas

You Don’t Have To Be Gay: Hope and Freedom for Males Struggling With Homosexuality Or For Those Who Know of Someone Who Is by Jeff Konrad

Loving Homosexuals as JESUS Would: A Fresh Christian Approach by Chad W. Thompson

I haven't read any of the above books but have included links to them on Amazon so you can read the customer reviews about them and make your own decision as to if you think the book would be helpful to you or not.

Tough Question: Why Do Innocent People Suffer

Karen & gerard — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 22:04:34 GMT

If there is a God who is both sovereign and loving, then why do innocent people experience suffering?

Pastor Dan preached on this August 23 at Parma Heights Baptist Church and started out by saying he wasn’t sure he could even answer this one. I agree with him here—it didn’t seem to me like he really had a good answer for this one. Following are some questions that he received from our congregation related to this topic:

I’ve been beaten, raped and abused. How can a loving God watch and do nothing?

Why do some babies die?

Why do we lose loved ones in the prime of their life?

He said some people argue that:

If God has sovereign power and allows suffering, then He must not be loving. On the other hand, if He is loving, and allows suffering, He must not have the power to stop human suffering. Either way, He is not he kind of God I will worship.

Pastor Dan said this is the oldest question about God so let’s begin our quest for truth with the oldest book of the Bible: the book of Job.

There are three words to answer this question that Pastor Dan used which are “trophy,” “tool” and “trust.”

TROPHY

He showed us pictures of his children he has on his desk and said he is proud of them and they are like his trophies. He said God specializes in fashioning trophies of His grace out of the lives of His children.

Job 1:8—Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.

This is how God described Job to Satan. God was proud of Job but Satan challenged God that if he wasn’t so wealthy and didn’t have such a great family, he would curse God. Satan said God had a hedge around Job so God gave Satan permission to make Job suffer. Job lost everything in one day, including his children. He still praised the name of the Lord anyhow! (“The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”)

TOOL

Then Satan was given permission to take away Job’s good health but not his life.

Job 2:7--. . . So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord and afflicted Job.

Job had boils all over his body. His wife asked him why he just doesn’t curse God and die, but Job remained faithful. In the end, God blessed Job with even more than He had before.

God wants us to be like Jesus, to have the same mind as Christ, to become Christ like. Suffering and pain is one of the tools He uses.

TRUST DURING STORMS OF LIFE

Then Pastor Dan switched to the New Testament and compared our pain and suffering to a “storm.” In Mark 4:37—A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion.

To illustrate a “storm of life” when he asked God to “make this stop” he used the time when his mom was weak, in pain and dying and just wanted God to make it stop.

God allows storms of life for us to see what we truly fear and to recalibrate our fear to the One who is worthy to fear, Jesus Christ. Because we can trust God with our destination, we can certainly trust Him with the journey to get us there.

He used another illustration of a grandmother babysitting her 3-month-old grandson. A tornado came and hit their house, destroying it. When the rescue crew came to look for survivors they heard some crying. When they threw off the boards, they found the grandmother laying face down dead but underneath her was her grandson in her arms who was still alive.

Jesus was controlling the storm the whole time. Jesus took the “storm” of God’s wrath for all mankind when he died on the cross for us. That grandmother is a picture of what Jesus did for us. He took the storm.

My thoughts:

I didn’t think this sermon really answered the beginning questions very well. Anyone have a better answer? Sometimes God uses bad things so that he will be glorified like when he let Lazarus die and then raised him from the dead. I agree that sometimes God uses pain and suffering to teach us things and to mold us to develop more Christlike character or to even perhaps bring us to a place where we put our trust in Him because we see no other way out. Or what about this—perhaps so we can have something more to look forward to in heaven where there will be no pain or suffering. The good news is that life on earth is short compared to eternity! God always has a bigger picture than what we see so I often remind myself of Romans 8:18, 28-29 when going through difficult times which says:

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. And we know that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

No matter what the reason God has for permitting suffering and pain in our lives, it’s certainly in our best interest to worship Him as our maker and accept Jesus as our Savior to give us a hope. God is sovereign and doesn’t have to explain Himself to anyone! In reading through Job, I don’t see God ever explaining to Job that he gave Satan permission to make him suffer. (See God’s answer to Job in Job 38-42.)

Instead of asking God “Why God?” We need to ask “What do you want me to do today, Lord?” That, I think, is a much better question!

Tough Questions: God’s Sovereignty vs. Man’s Free Will?

Karen & gerard — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 23:00:25 GMT

The most frequently asked question Pastor Dan received from the Parma Heights Baptist Church congregation was “I understand that it’s God’s grace that saves us, but what role, if any, does free will play in our salvation?”

Pastor Dan preached on this August 16 and said this was a divisive issue that has caused new denominations to start. This is a tough question but he said he’d give it his best shot. He pointed out what Scripture says about both God’s sovereignty and man’s free will and drew some conclusions as follows:

God’s Sovereignty

The term “sovereign Lord” is used 289 times in the Bible and so we must conclude that God is sovereign (no, he didn’t read all the verses to us but unfolded the printout of them which went half way up the aisle). “Sovereign” means He does what he pleases with the powers of heaven and the people of the earth. He did read the following verses:

God is sovereign over the heavens:

But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased. (Psalm 115:3)

And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most high, and I praised and honored him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: and all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? (Daniel 4:34, 35)

God is sovereign over the nations

For the kingdom is the LORD’s: and he is the governor among the nations. (Psalm 22:28)

And he changeth the times and the seasons; he removeth kings, and setteth up kings; he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding. (Daniel 2:21) [this one I added]

Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords. (I Timothy 6:15)

God is sovereign over the lives of individuals

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? Or thy work, He hath no hands? (Isaiah 45:9)

But now, O Lord, thou art our father, we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand. (Isaiah 64:8)

O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? Saith the Lord, Behold, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:6)

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? (Romans 9:21)

God’s sovereignty raises two questions:

Does man have free will?

Why then is there pain and suffering. (This is next week’s question)

Man’s Free Will

“Whosoever” means open to everyone. Notice this word is used in each of the following scriptures:

Mark 8:34: . . . whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. (Jesus is speaking)

Acts 2:21: And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Romans 10:13: Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

I John 5:1: Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.

The bible clearly teaches man has a free will to come to Christ for salvation.

The Bible clearly teaches mankind is commanded by God to exercise his free will to make moral choices.

Most people gravitate toward one concept (sovereignty or free will) to the exclusion of the other, but the Bible teaches both.

Pastor Dan quoted from A. W. Tozar’s The Sovereignty of God throughout his sermon. One of the quotes was this:

God sovereignly decreed that man should be free to exercise moral choice, and man from the beginning has fulfilled that decree by making his choice between good and evil. When he chooses to do evil, he does not thereby countervail the sovereign will of God but fulfills it, inasmuch as the eternal decree decided not which choice the man should make but that he should be free to make it. Man’s will is free because God is sovereign. A God less sovereign could not bestow moral freedom upon His creatures. He would be afraid to do so.

Final conclusion:

Our choice may be our own, but the consequences of those choices have already been determined by the sovereign will of God.

To illustrate how God’s sovereign will and man’s free will can co-exist, he used an ocean liner bound to a predetermined destination representing God’s sovereignty. The passengers on board have freedom of choice to eat, sleep, move around, participate in different activities but they were still moving toward the final destination.

Man has the freedom to make moral choices and is free to choose to submit to God and be redeemed or choose not to submit to God and face eternal damnation in hell.

[All verses are from the King James Version]

Further reading on this topic:

The Sovereignty of God by A.W. Tozer

www.Biblelife.org/election

Tough Question Series: Is There Eternal Security or Can One

Karen & gerard — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:02:35 GMT

Pastor Dan and Pastor Zerby preached together on the question of eternal security at Parma Heights Baptist Church on August 9. This is something Calvinists and Arminians have been debating for centuries so Pastor Dan said we probably won’t get an answer in 30 minutes. However, scripture was presented and not what each “camp” believes. Can one lose his salvation or is it "once saved, always saved"? I’ll share the scriptures with a brief summary of what was said about them and let you decide for yourself where you stand on this issue as we were challenged to do.

God the father’s Part In Our Salvation:

God has chosen us to be holy (Ephesians 1:4).

God predestined us to be adopted as sons (Ephesians 1:5).

Our salvation was planned in advance by God!

God the Son’s Part in Our Salvation:

Jesus Christ died so we can have our sins forgiven and be free from the power of sin to serve God. Jesus has redeemed the believer (Ephesians 1:7). Sin is anything that displeases God who is perfect and Holy. Sin is making anything more important than God, including doing things our own way instead of God’s way. Romans 3:23 says, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Jesus forgives the believer’s sin.

God the Holy Spirit’s Part In Our Salvation:

The Holy Spirit convicts of sin (John 16:8). Before we believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit is at work convicting us of sin to show us our need for a Savior.

The Holy Spirit indwells us when we trust in Jesus as our personal Savior (John 14:16-17).

What chance is there for a person with the Holy Spirit living in him to go to hell? None.

The Holy Spirit seals us (Ephesians 1:13).

Sealing wood with varnish preserves it. A notary seal on something makes it legal—the Holy Spirit’s seal shows we belong to God.

The Holy Spirit is the deposit guaranteeing salvation (Ephesians 1:14).

Like an engagement ring represents a promise to be wed, the Holy Spirit indwelling us is a promise that we will be with God forever.

What about Hebrews 6:4-6, a passage that seems to indicate a believer can lose his/her salvation?

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

God certainly disciplines those He loves and sometimes when someone who hardens their heart and refuses to repent after knowing the truth, God may call that person home before he dishonors God any further. Pastor Terry gave an illustration of a disobedient child making a public scene, disgracing his parents. Certainly, the parents may take him/her home, but they don’t disown them.

Hebrews 13:5 says: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.

John 10:27-28 refers to Christ’s follower as sheep and Jesus says:

My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

What about the person who is saved and lives for the Lord a while, but then just turns his back and returns to his sinful ways?

We are not the judge. (Romans 14:4, 10)

Not everyone who claims to be a Christian really is: In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus says:

Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in they name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I NEVER knew you, depart from me ye who work iniquity. [emphasis added]

It could be that person was never really a true believer but just made an empty profession of faith as described in the above passage.

God will discipline His disobedient children. This doesn’t mean they are kicked out of the family. (Hebrews 12:4-11)

The proof of one’s salvation is in his obedience to the will of Christ.

I Corinthians 5:15 says: And that he died for all that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

My Conclusion:

Personally, I believe once saved, always saved. I am glad my salvation is not based on what I do or don’t do or how I feel but on my faith in what Christ has done for me! This is what makes Christianity different from other religions: God is the initiator in the relationship—“We love Him because He first loved us!” (I John 4:19)

What do you believe concerning this?

Read Other Tough Questions In This Series:

What Does God Really Think O fWomen?

Will God Forgive Abortion?

Why Get Baptized?

Movie: Fireproof and Dinner

Karen & gerard — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 01:04:06 GMT

UPDATED 8/23/09: We went to see this move and enjoyed it. Wrote about it on my other Karen & Gerard Zemeks blog at Fireproof and the Love Dare.

Parma Heights Baptist Church is having Date Night on Friday, August 21. A good dinner will be served to couples at 6:30 p.m. at the church followed by a movie for just a $10 donation per couple! I am really looking forward to this. The food is always good and it will be nice seeing this movie with my husband. The movie, starring Kirk Cameron and Erin Bethea, will be Fireproof which is about a Firefighter whose marriage is falling apart that he works to save.

Kirk Cameron stars in it. I liked him in the show "Growing Pains" and am very impressed with his commitment to his spouse which I only recently learned about after reading his autobiography, Still Growing. The producers of this film respected his conviction not to kiss any woman other than his wife so for the big kiss at the end of the film, they let his real wife sub in for that scene.

This is open to any couple who would like to come.

Why Get Baptized?

Karen & gerard — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 00:43:10 GMT

Pastor Dan addressed this issue in his "Tough Question" series where he answers questions from his congregation.

A common understanding by some is that baptism washes away our sins based on John 3:5 which says, "No one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit" but is this really the teaching of Scripture? The short answer is no--the blood of Jesus washes away our sins.

I John 1:7: If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanseth us from all sin.

This is the tough question Pastor Dan of Parma Heights Baptist Church addressed in his sermon in his "tough question" series on July 26. He explained that being "born of water" refers to physical birth (woman's water breaks) and "born of the Spirit" refers to spiritual birth into God's family as indicated in John 1:12 which says "But as many as received Him (Jesus), to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on His name."

First of all, it is clear in scripture that salvation comes by faith in Jesus and not by being baptized. For example:

For by grace are ye saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

In Acts 16:30, 31, the jailor asked Paul and Silas, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved and thy house." indicating that if his family believed as well, they too would be saved.

There is no mention of baptism here to this direct question, but then in Acts 16:33 and 34 it says he was baptized and all his house believed.

Romans 10:9-10 says

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hat raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

And I love Romans 10:13 which says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The thief on the cross who expressed his belief in Jesus as being God and admitted his sin was not baptized, yet Jesus told him "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." (Luke 23:39-43) The thief didn't have opportunity to be baptized but if he had, I'm guessing he would have been.

I believed in the Lord Jesus Christ when I was about 7 years old and called on Him to save me; however, I did not get baptized until I was in 11th grade (because my fear of being dunked in the water). The reason I finally got baptized is that I wanted to be obedient to the Lord and follow His example. Scripture gives us the following three reasons to be baptized once we accept Jesus as our personal Savior by believing in his death and resurrection and surrendering to His Lordship over us, confessing and turning from sin:

1)    Jesus commanded his disciples to baptize believers in Matthew 28:19 & 20.
2)    Throughout the New Testament, believing and being baptized is the pattern of new believers.
3)    Baptism is your public testimony that you are a follower of Jesus (Matthew 10:32).

So, what is the significance of baptism?

Baptism by immersion in water (which is the way it was always done in the scriptures), pictures our Lord's death, burial and resurrection from the dead (I Corinthians 15:1-4) and relates to our old sinful nature being put to death, buried and now being risen to a new life in Christ, being made alive to God as explained in the following verses:

Romans 6:3-11 (3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (4) Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: (6) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. (7) For he that is dead is freed from sin. (8) Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: (9) Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. (10) For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God, (11) Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 2:20: I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.

I Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Let me just say, I know some denominations differ on this point, perhaps because of a different interpretation of the scripture. However, I do not believe it is worth arguing over and I respect those who believe baptism is necessary for salvation even though personally I do not believe that view is supported by scripture. The bottom line is that If you believe in Jesus as Savior, you should be baptized if possible as well.

Were you baptized? If so, what was it that convinced you? More importantly, is Jesus your Savior and Lord? (All scripture here is the King James Version).

Our Vacation Bible School

Karen & gerard — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:50:14 GMT

Both Gerard and I are helping in the Parma Heights Baptist Church Vacation Bible School. It is so much fun seeing all the children come eager to learn and participate. Our theme this year is SonRock Kids Camp. Each day focuses on a specfic aspect of Jesus: Jesus accepts us, protects us, saves us, forgives us and then we live for Jesus.

Before it starts, the children in grades 1-6 color outside until it's time to go in. Here is Gerard with some of the children in his group.

Our Pastor and his wife are teaching through a skit each day in the second and third grade group (the tents). I just peeked in at it today to see a little bit of them in action. They are so good! They do not normally dress like this but they are both good sports and help make things fun for the children. Every morning there is a camp skit for all the grades and the lessons are usually taught in skit form to make it more interesting and fun.

I am helping in the Moose herd group (grades 4th-6th). We had somthing like 112 kids in just his group the first day which was more than the highest we had last year. Since we are the moose group, some of the children who attended Beulah Beach taught a moose song they learned there. Here is part of the group singing it.

Every year ay offering we collect goes to the Chain of Love orphanage in Brazil. This year our goal is $2400! That is a lot of money but we have a lot of kids and a lot of staff so each year we usually reach our goal the last day. For a day-by-day report in pictures of all our groups, check out our church blog at http://www.phbaptist.blogspot.com. We have around 700 kids attending this year!

Our Softball Co-Ed Team Went Farther Than Expected!

Karen & gerard — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 22:51:43 GMT

At 3:00 today we had the 9th inning scheduled to play of the game that was suspended at 4-4 because of darkness last week. It was tough getting enough of our players there today. Gerard and I had his nephew's graduation party right before so we literally ate and ran. Fortunately, it was only about 20 minutes away. We left a little later than planned and then hit about every red light along the way. Traffic was heavy around the shopping center on the way there so we arrived about 10 minutes late. It made us feel important that they held up the game until we got there.

We started with a runner on second and proceeded to score 4 runs--as many as we scored in all 8 innings last week! Even though the other team loaded the bases, we got them out without letting them score a run and won! Even I finally got a real hit!

Immediately following, we played Broadview Heights Friends Church next (the church that has the two dogs cheering for them). This time we did not do so well and lost something like 15-2. They just out hit us. We hit the ball but it wasn't falling in. I missed the homerun that Cory scored because I was chasing after the foul ball that went over the fence and ALMOST hit our car.

I think Gerard and I are the oldest players on the team but we still enjoyed it and hope to play again next year. The best news is no one on either team got hurt today!

We wish the Broadview Heights Friends team well--I love their mascots!

Our Co-Ed Softball Team Hangs On--We're Still In It!

Karen & gerard — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 21:46:02 GMT

We started our softball tournament last night. It’s a double elimination and it was another wild time. First off, our game time was postponed because there was a make-up game to finish first which ran into extra innings. This held everything up because who won that game affected who would play who first in the tournament. We were scheduled to play games but couldn’t get started until 6:40 p.m.

Even then, we settled for playing on a different field which wasn’t in as good condition, used flat little bases and had only one umpire. Our other option was to wait another hour to play because there was another game scheduled to start ahead of ours.

Our team has a knack for getting hurt. One of our players got hit in the chest with a ball when just warming up! In the first game against Broadview Heights Friends Church, I got knocked over at first base while trying to catch a low throw because I was blocking the base--which was smaller than the usual bases. I fell on my back and got a black and blue mark on my butt because I had my thick card holder in my back pocket hurt when I landed. Shortly after this happened, a second base for the runners was added to first base to make it wider which helped.

The other team had two dogs there cheering for them which I’m sure helped them to win 8-4. They also had a very good woman second baseman which seemed to get anything in her vicinity. We had some outstanding hits (not mine which were always at someone) but still lost. Broadview Heights Friends Church went on to lose their second game by just one run against the best team in the league (the ones with the black shirts). Too bad, I was hoping they'd win.

The second game we started off well and had a couple double plays even., including a big play by two of our women (Lisa & Sharon) involving tagging out a runner coming to third and then throwing out a runner at home. Our defense was pretty solid. Our outfielders did great for the most part. Big hits came from Corey (two homeruns!), Chuck, Paul and David. It was a close game all the way and we had bases loaded, two outs and chuck up. A golden opportunity to break the tie but unfortunately, although Chuck hit the ball far, it was a high fly right to their outfielder who caught it with no trouble.

There were a couple questionable calls--one at second base which our runner was called out that looked safe, a hit by Paul that was way down the third base line but called foul. The funniest call; however, was when the umpire was giving Gerard a walk and Gerard told him he only had 3 balls. The next pitch was a ball, so he did get a walk. Another strange call was when one of the other team’s players was called out just for taking too long to get to the plate. I was afraid it was going to happen to us too one of our players went over at the playground not realizing she was our leadoff hitter that inning.

The game went into extra innings and was finally suspended at 4-4 because of darkness. Now we’ll have to come back just to finish out this game to see who wins and will go on in the tournament. Maybe next year, we should start playing earlier in the day!

Did I mention it was fun? It was in spite of the bug bites, bruise and waiting! Even though I was hot, tired and ready to go home after losing the first game, I'm glad I didn't.

Co-Ed Team Split Double-Header

Karen & gerard — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:16:33 GMT

Saturday we played our last regular season games winning the first on 12-10 against North Olmsted Friends Church 1. I jumped off to a big lead, but then the other team started catching up. It was nice weather, a fun game and I got on base twice with walks and actually got a hit to center field! I did get thrown out at the plate though when I tried to score on a throw to first even though I slid and got all dirty. In the field, we got two double plays!

I was a bit tired though because I only got 5 or 6 hours of sleep Friday night. Just a little slow. The low lights for me was getting picked off second base on a short fly to left center. I just went a little way off because it looked like the fielder may catch the ball and when he did, I couldn't get back in time even though I dove for the base. I was surprised I was out on that one.

Between games someone brought some frozen popsicles that were very refreshing. It was also the first game where we actually had some adult spectators come to cheer us on.

The second game we lost 11-1 using the mercy rule against North Olmsted Friends Church 2. It was not fun. I even got a bruised ankle because I missed a low throw to first. Several throws went over my head and it seemed like no one could catch the stupid ball. We looked like the Bad News Bears again. The highlight for us was scoring the one run.

Their girl catcher got me out by catching my foul tip. What a stupid way to make an out! I felt sorry for her though when later on she got hit by a foul tip right in her face. We stopped the game while one of our players went for her first aid kit. We really should bring some ice packs to these games. It seems like someone gets hurt every game.

Poor Gerard had a bad day too--the one time he got on base he forgot to tag up at second after the catch before running to third so he was out.

We are off this week and have our double elimination tournament on July 11 at 2 p.m. I think we will be knocked out pretty early which is fine with me. The winners will have to play the following week and we have a graduation party to go to for Gerard's nephew.

Fun Week of Sports Camp at PHBC

Karen & gerard — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:50:47 GMT

I am on vacation this week so I could help with Sports Camp and Parma Heights Baptist Church. There are four sports all going on at the same time in morning and afternoon sessions which include Basketball, Cheerleading, Flag Football and Soccer, I am having a lot of fun being active all day instead of sitting at a desk. I love being outside and playing with the kids.

The first day I was very thrilled to show a 2nd grade girl how to throw a football properly and watch her learn and catch on really fast. It's fun to see how excited the children are about coming to learn and play. We have two breaks, one for snacks and one for 20 minutes of devotions between two half hours of skills and drills followed by a scrimmage game. I learned more about football and liked working on skills or playing a mini game with the children who were on the sidelines waiting to play in the scrimmage.

The first day our afternoon session was very rough because we had much fewer children and had all grades on both teams. The younger ones had no clue at all what they were supposed to do and were very discouraged, but came back the next day and had a great time because we made four teams instead of just two so they were able to play their own grade level. I was very happy that one of them even brought a friend with him on Tuesday. The afternoon was more challenging even though we had fewer children because it was so hot and many of our coaches already worked all morning so were a little tired out to say the least.

Best of all, some lives will be changed because many have trusted in Jesus as their Savior as a result of hearing the gospel at this camp. It was an encouragement to me to see some of the boys who I had in my 5th grade Sunday School class last year and the year before help as assistant coaches and even lead some of the devotions.

The video above just shows activities from the flag football group but to see the others, go to the church's official blog at http://phbaptist.blogspot.com/.

To close out camp, we will have special evening picnic for the whole family of our campers with a fun awards celebration tomorrow evening.