The Saturday Morning Post by Pastor Ted Stahl

Today’s Reading – 1John 3-5; 2John; 3John

1John 4:9-11 On Earth Peace, Good Will Toward Men

Merry Christmas and good morning. I hope you slept well. Did the kids bust in your room at 1:00 AM exclaiming that Santa came? But we’re not here to chat about Satan Claws. December 25th is the day we celebrate Emmanuel: Jesus coming in the flesh: God with us! And the reason for the season is told in 1John…

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1John 4:9-11)

On earth peace, good will towards men Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. This is the Christmas story. The key bringing glad tidings, edifying the breathren, having peace on earth, and good will towards everybody is Jesus: our Emmanuel. Mathhew 1:23 quotes Isaiah: ” Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Emmanuel means God with us. God is with us. He is right here, and everywhere. If we would only realize that God is always with us: He hears and sees what we do. Knowing and believing this may help us not to grieve the Holy Spirit. Maybe then we will love others as ourselves. We would not be texting messages across the church about someone who doesn’t meet your standards, or dress as well as you do. Jesus sees every where you place your thumbs, or index finger, on the keyboard. And He already knew the message you would type before creation. That may be something to think about before hitting send. Gossip is bad for everyone. Not just texting it, but speaking it also. Here is something else to think about when someone gossips to you: think about this – what are they saying about you when you are not around? What makes you think that someone is not speaking or texting the same things about you? Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you paranoid. Gossip hurts others, so maybe it’s time to put the cellphones away and concentrate on what the Preacher is preaching. Listen as the choir proclaims glory to God in song. You can proclaim God’s glory too during the congregationals. As for me, when I find out that someone has said something derogatory about me, I pray for that person. I know God hates that stuff. To me, I’m not worth God advenging me, and I would feel bad if your thumbs fell off, or you lost your voice. Let’s strive together in the new year to be more like Jesus: loving and edifying the breathren. Then maybe we can have individually peace on earth and good will to all men.

Peace (Luke 2:14)

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Phil Erickson

Pastor Phil Erickson has been the pastor of Jersey Shore Baptist Church since January of 2002. Having grown up in Ocean County, Pastor Phil has always had a burden for the south Jersey area. After graduating from Bible College in Longview, Texas, he and his family moved to Galloway Township with the vision of digging in and serving the Lord and the people of Atlantic County. Pastor Phil and Cindy Erickson have been married since 1985. They have four children and ten grandchildren. Their oldest son, Phil Jr. and his wife Katelyn are serving the Lord in Egg Harbor Twp., NJ. Their oldest daughter, Melissa, is married to Wesley Clayton who is in the Air Force and is currently stationed in New Mexico. Samantha, their third child, is married to Justin Mears and they are both serving the Lord at the church in Galloway. Hannah, the youngest, is married to Lucas McCollum, and they are also serving here in Galloway. In preparation for ministry, the Lord led him through a variety of educational experiences that have equipped him to serve the Lord and His people. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgian Court University, a Bachelor of Biblical Studies in Pastoral Theology from Texas Independent Baptist Seminary (formerly Texas Baptist College), a Master of Religious Education in Bible from West Coast Baptist College, and a Master of Biblical Studies from The Crown College. More recently, he completed a Graduate Certificate in Biblical Counseling and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Veritas Baptist College. He is thankful for these opportunities to study God’s Word more deeply, and counts it a privilege to use whatever knowledge the Lord has given him for the building up of His church. In addition to pastoring, the Lord has given Phil the wonderful privilege of teaching as an adjunct professor at Vision Baptist College in Berlin, NJ and Veritas Baptist College.