Shiloh Baptist Church

“As also ye have acknowledged us in part that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 1:14 KJV

Our spiritual lives are not separate and apart from our actual lives. Indeed, we need The Holy Spirit day by day to live in this ball of confusion. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day” (2 Cor. 4:16 KJV).

Therefore, it is unlikely that we will not be impacted by the worldliness that surrounds us; even the Commodores. So in reflecting on the 32^nd Pastoral Anniversary of our beloved Pastor, Rev. Herman Washington, I borrowed the words for this headline from The Commodores’ “Celebration.”

Most of us know the song and, that the Commodores are an American funk and soul band who were at the height of their fame in the late 1970s through the mid- 1980s. The members of the group met in 1968, when they were freshmen at then Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. “Celebration” is often played at weddings, family reunions, and other social events, and has been the theme song for many celebrations. With a mood of joy and sophistication we are encouraged to “Celebrate…Come On.” It’s a clarion call dedicated to the sentiment towards something that is so great, that everyone is called to it. The words are crooned, written by native Alabamian Lionel Richie, who was recently inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame for his great body of work.

We celebrate many things: our heritage, our kids, our service, our style, but this month we are celebrating our Pastor, Reverend Herman Washington.

Come On. “Cel-e-brate,” (v) means to acknowledge; to honor; salute; recognize; praise; and to our Pastor on this, our 32^nd anniversary together, we say, “Happy Anniversary Pastor.” We give praise to our God for the marvelous things He has done. You are our rejoicing.

Thirty-Two years ago, June 5, 1990, Pastor Washington, called to be Pastor came to Shiloh; a young man with a thirst and a hunger for righteousness. Armed with his Bible, some hard-learned experience, and the influence of many mentors, including his pastor-father, Pastor Washington obediently took watch over the flock at Shiloh, and with the unadulterated Word of God we have grown, and changed together.

So many great sermons. So many great lessons. So much influence and sacrifice. We have gained a lot together, and we have lost a lot together, yet together we stand on the Word taught here. He is not just our pastor, he is our brother and our friend.

There is no way to put into words the gratitude and the love that we have for him in the past 32 years, and there is no dollar amount that would be equivalent to his commitment to serve.

Some things have intrinsic value, and I believe that the love and leadership of one, who is just like us but sacrifices for others, is one of them.

We’ve all learned a lot from Pastor’s ministry, but I think the greatest lesson I’ve learned is that Jesus is incarnate God. He is not sitting around somewhere with his feet up watching me struggle through life. He’s got blood on his hands, wounds in his side, and a headache from a crown of thorns forced on his head- just because He loves me. The Word of God is rich and powerful, but we cannot hear without a preacher, and he cannot preach unless he is sent. Aren’t you glad that he came?!

It’s time to celebrate! Come On! This is a worthy cause, and we are encouraged to gather our best love gift this month, and through the provision that God has given us, show our love and appreciation to our Pastor. He’s really the people’s pastor, because he ministers to the world. As children under his watch, this is our time to acknowledge, and to honor him.

He is a great father; we know his children. He is a good husband; we know his wife. He is a great Pastor, we are his flock. He is a true leader, and a humble man with a big heart. We salute Pastor Washington.

Even after two and a half years of Covid, he’s still teaching; still preaching; still encouraging; still blessing babies; still counseling; still consoling; and with his own limitations, still standing!  

What do we know about Jesus Christ?  Here’s what we know. People didn’t think there was anything special or impressive about the way Jesus looked.  Jesus would have never made the cover of Gentlemen’s Quarterly or GQ.  There was nothing about Jesus that people could see that would make people like Him.  Jesus would have never qualified for the American Idol show because the on-stage judges and TV viewers would have never voted for Him.  People treated Jesus like someone of no importance.  Jesus was treated badly (Isaiah 53:7).  People treated Jesus like someone people would not even look at but turn away from in disgust.  People made fun of Jesus, and even His friends left Him (Isaiah 53:2-3, Luke 22:54-62, & Matthew 26:69-75).  In mockery, people put a purple robe on Jesus, made a crown of thorny branches and put it on His head and then bowed down on their knees pretending to honor Jesus as a king.  Ironically, Jesus even reiterated what the Prophet Isaiah said, which was in the heart of the hypocrites who claimed they loved God and physically displayed by those who mocked Him, “These people come to honor me with their words but I am not really important to them. Their worship is worthless” (Isaiah 29:13, Matthew 15:8-9, & Mark 7:6).  People hit Jesus with their fists and slapped Jesus with their open hands (Matthew 26:67). Others hit Jesus on the head with a stick and spit on Him (Mark 15:19).  People lied on Jesus and unlike people today who are quick to confront liars in more ways than one, Jesus said nothing (Mark 14:55-61). 

There was no man that ever walked on earth like Jesus.  There’s no man that has ever lived who had all God-given power in his hands and restrained that power to allow wicked, wretched, filthy people to slap, spit, lie and hit Him.  Jesus said, “Don’t you know that I could ask my Father, and he will instantly provide more than a dozen armies of angels to help me?” (Matthew 26:53 CJB).  Why did so many people treat Jesus Christ so badly and why, even today, people are still treating Jesus Christ badly? The people in the Book of Malachi treated God badly and had the nerve to ask the Lord, “What did we steal from you?” (Malachi 3:8).  We treat the Lord badly and then ask the question how? Honestly, we don’t really act like we know who Jesus really is.  Even the demons knew who Jesus was, “What have we to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God” (Mark 1:24).  If we knew who Jesus really was then it’s possible that we would think twice about the things we do and say.  Jesus Christ is God manifested in human flesh and if anyone says that is not true then that person has a spirit who refuses to say that God came to earth in human form.  That spirit is not from God and that spirit is an enemy of God (1 John 4:3).  God manifest Himself in three persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Those three persons are called the Godhead and all of God lives in Jesus Christ fully, even in His life on earth (Colossians 2:8-10). 

That’s who Jesus is but who are we?  What do we know about ourselves? The Prophet Isaiah says that we are dirty and everything that we do is no better than filthy rags or like a polluted garment (Isaiah 64:6).  The Apostle Paul wrote that we are wretched (Romans 7:24).  Wretched is defined as worthless, mean, despicable, miserable and pitiful.  King David said that God looked down from heaven to see if there was anyone who understood and sought God but God discovered that none of us was righteous or sought-after God, no not one (Psalm 14:2-3, Romans 3:10-18).   So, on one side there is a pure, holy and righteous God and on the other side is us who are filthy, despicable, worthless, etc.  We are everything that God is not and without God there would never be a relationship between Him and us.  But. There is a but and if we look up the word but, in our dictionaries, we will find synonyms like on the contrary, yet, except that, without the circumstance that and save.  God decided to have a relationship with us and it was His decision alone to save us from total destruction.  Why would a pure, holy and righteous God want to save a mean, filthy and wretched people like us?  1 John 4:8 says that ‘God is love’.  Jesus Christ was the personification of that love, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).  If you’ve ever truly experienced real love in your life then you would know that love is unconditional and love is forever.  When we really love someone, we love them free from restrictions, limits or dependencies like how a Father loves his son or how God has commanded us to love our spouses and our children. Love doesn’t set requirements to be demonstrated.  God demonstrated love to us without people having any say about it.  God’s love to us is a gift from Him.  The question is how do our children receive our love?  They can accept our love or reject our love.  If as a child, I had rejected the love of my parents it would have been impossible for me to be where I am today with my own wife and children.  When the Lord says train up a child in the way that he should go then that training will last a lifetime and be passed on down to the next generation (Proverbs 22:6). 

When the Lord says, “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children” in Proverbs 13:22, that inheritance for us is Jesus Christ.  We give the gift that God gave to us to our own children.  There is no better inheritance than that but love like this comes with a price.  A price had to be paid for us to receive this gift from God. 

We all know the Resurrection story and how Jesus died on the cross for our sins but there is a dynamic that most people may not know about the story.  As we approach the time of year where we remember the sacrifice that Jesus gave for us to have eternal life with Him and the Father in glory, there’s another part to the story along with the thorns on his head and the nails in his hands and feet.  King David cried out to God, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1).  King David was asking God why had He left him and why did He seem too far away to save David and too far to hear David’s cries for help?   God loved David but David’s sin broke their relationship.  The Lord asked King David, ‘Why did you do what I say is wrong?’ (1 Samuel 12:9).  The one who God said was a man after His own heart had broken the relationship between him and his God.  As a result, a price had to be paid.  God loved David and the Prophet Nathan told David that he wouldn’t die but he would definitely suffer (1 Samuel 12:13).  King David’s story was a picture of what was to come.  Jesus Christ cried out to his Father while he was on the cross, “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).  In order to save us, in order to restore us back to where we were before Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the garden of Eden and in order to restore the broken relationship that man had with God, the Godhead had to be separated.  For the first time and only time in eternity God turned His back on Himself. The veil in the temple was torn (Matthew 27:51, Ephesians 2:13-16).  God cut Himself.  God bruised Himself for us.  God the Father turned away from God the Son in order to save the ones that He loved.  It never happened before and it will never happen again because when it was all said and done, Jesus’ last words on the cross were, “It is finished” (John 19:30).  The ones who were once filthy and wretched can now be accepted by God as good without looking at what we have done.  When we accept God’s gift of salvation by confessing our disobedience and believing in Jesus Christ then we will have a restored relationship with our Father without doing anything else to deserve His blessings.  That’s love.  As a result of what Jesus has done for us our names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Eternal life and on judgement when God examines the record, He will see nothing but the blood of Jesus on our lives.  It is a great blessing when God says that we are not guilty when we don’t try to hide our disobedience and accept the Lord’s forgiveness for our sins (Psalm 32:2 KJV).  Jesus Christ has given us a blessing that allows God to accept us without looking at what we have done and instead look at what Jesus has done for us (Romans 4:6).

Jesus’ Resurrection has Led to our Restoration.

Hallelujah & Praise God!

Submitted By Trustee Stan Ridley

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”

Psalm 130:5 NRSV

In April, we look forward as Easter is coming. It is the day we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Risen Savior, and it gives us hope to know that He is coming back. That’s why we celebrate.

Recently while surfing the world-wide web, I came across the fact that the internet technology pioneer, Stephen Wilhite, had passed away from COVID-related complications. He was seventy-four years old. I had never heard of him, and while I was sorry to hear of another COVID-related death, I learned that his legacy is the GIF, a game-changer for the world-wide web.

I am a baby-boomer, and I admit that I am technology-challenged, but I have grown to appreciate the unlimited resource that the internet has become in our lives. I don’t pretend to understand Wi-Fi, or any of its related lingo, but I am learning to appreciate its benefits.  

“GIF” is an acronym, which stands for Graphics Interchange Format. Who Knew? It is pronounced “JIF,” and not “GIF,” with a soft “G.” GIFs are short animations that you see in memes, or send in group chats to your contacts. In addition to texting, they have become our new way of expression, and serves us in many ways; eliminating the need to spell out what we are feeling, or what we have to say.

Representing our emotions, (also known as emojis) they are symbolic of our feelings, and when we lack words, GIFs can tell our story, or speak for us. We can now close our sentiments with GIFs. Where for many years our signatory was closing with ‘Very Truly Yours;’ or ‘Sincerely’, we now can sign off with a “smiley face,” or a “heart-filled,” one, among many. Thanks to Stephen Wilhite.

While the COVID Pandemic has gravely impacted how we meet and greet one another in the past two years, in addition to cellphones, the internet has widely become the biggest source of our communication, and information. Encyclopedias and libraries have become almost obsolete. Not to mention, we’re not even actively talking to one another on the telephone. Not to be confused with the cellphone. It’s a horse of another color.

Some people I know have gone so far as to shut down the home-phone, in favor of the mobile or cellphone because you can take them anywhere, even into the bathroom. I have seen people walking down the street with a cellphone, having open dialogue with someone I couldn’t see. With our cellphones, we have access all the time. We can speak to people from our cars, or while waiting on line in the grocery store. It’s simply amazing.

This technology has become not just a source of communication, but it’s our life-line. It’s the way we keep up with what’s happening. It’s the way we learn new things, or confirm old things. Just Google It! It’s the way we get instruction on how to thread a needle, or how to braid hair, or make a banana pudding.

More recently, it has become the way we worship. For two years since the Pandemic, we have been fortunate to have a MAC Team, acronym for Media & Communication Ministry, who help us stay connected. The internet has been a god-send. When we were not able to go to church, we’ve been able to have church at home; and we haven’t missed a beat or have we?

We’ve been able to ‘Zoom-In,’ or ‘Go to Meetings’, for fellowship, Christian Education, Prayer, and Bible Study. While we are grateful for those moments to login, or log on, where we can stay in touch, and keep up with what’s happening in the world, and in our lives, I long for the personal touch. Granted, I will only pick-up the phone when it rings when I can see who it is that’s calling on my television screen, but I long to hear the voice of others and to share in personal conversation.

The Pandemic has created a sense of loneliness, and separation through isolation, that has been lessened by our ability to tap in, or swipe left. And even with the help of technology, I’ve missed the ability to interact, or to ask questions during Bible Study (although I know I can put it in the chat). All-in-all, some would say technology is great. It’s been good to work remotely, (saving gas and travel time) and to meet virtually, and to pray accordingly. I agree, except I desire the personal touch. I, too, long for normal.

I saw a T-Shirt once that said, “Normal isn’t coming back – Jesus is!” and I was encouraged by this simple, but profound message.

We’re all tired of COVID-related deaths, masks, and Pandemic-related situations. For sure, we long for the return to “normal,” and it is our hope that our future will be brighter, better, and more better.

By “Go-To-Meeting,” the women of our church have been studying the Book of Ruth, and it has been very enriching. In my personal study time, I learned that there was a famine in the land of Judah, in the days of Ruth, which sent Naomi and family to Moab. I learned that famine comes in many forms; they represent lack, but they come to pass. In the COVID Pandemic times, mandates are being lifted, people are returning to their offices, and we want things to go back to the way they were, right?

This Pandemic has been our famine. We were in lack before it came, and we are in lack now. Much of who we are, and what we are familiar with was taken away. Do we really want to go back to it?

As we reflect, we must ask, ‘as good as technology is, is it truly the answer, or if Jesus is.’  Selah.

According to scripture, there will never be a day when God will come back on the scene and say, ‘I’ve been rethinking My Book. Some of the truths I wrote about Jesus, well, I need to rewrite. A few of the character traits about Me and some of those doctrines in My Book need to be updated.’

There is no going back. His Word is truth, and His character is without question. We can stand on His Word. Even in times of Pandemic, we are still standing. The Psalmist has said, “For ever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth.” Psalm 119:89 KJV