Still Waters

As of December 12, 2013 my blog will be the "Pastor's Blog" for Still Waters Baptist Church. We are still in the pioneering stages and have more of an internet church at the moment. We have adopted our constitution and bylaws and we are structured. Our leadership team meets regularly at my home office. We are taking it slow trying hard not to rush things and get ahead of where God wants us to be. But having said that we are almost completely positive that it will be in the Coshocton Ohio area. We are just watching and listening for God to point out the building. Meanwhile we are doing what  we can to share the Gospel in Coshocton County and the surrounding area. Check back here often as there will be a new blog posted weekly and I'll include updates on our progress. But for us it is a praise report that we have finally gotten over that first big hurdle of becoming a "church" according to law. Signing that constitution was a good feeling. Praise God and may He greatly bless all of you.
Yours in Christ, Pastor William "Shannon" Caplinger.

God bless America again

I have listened to this video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COl-rPT203w) several times. My conclusion; he’s right. In short just consider his reference to the Iroquois Nation. That would/could resemble our core makeup of the 50 sovereign States. Next remember that our National Government was intended to be a government “by the people for the people”.

To explain it easily just think of a meeting of people (Governors) who are representing a variety of communities (States). At the meeting there needs to be an unbiased completely neutral Moderator to keep the meeting in order and to assure that all sides of an argument or opinion are equally reflected and considered by the group. What America has done through a long process is to complicate the matter with Congressmen and Senators who through two separate houses represent the States. And the Moderator (President) has become an authority in and of himself.

Add to that the illegal measures the current President has taken to elevate his power to that of a dictatorship. Congressmen and Senators were supposed to provide a system of check and balance to prevent this very problem.  Instead they have acted on behalf of big business and big money and ignored the people they are supposed to represent. And in the process, they allowed their authority to be taken by more government agencies (IRS, DOJ, FBI, CIA…) leaving themselves powerless to defend the Constitution and thereby defending the people.

Understand now the problem: America was never a democracy. It was always intended to be a “Constitutional Republic”. The Constitution is the system of Law intended to keep the States from straying too far apart to function as a Nation. It is the anchor of America’s freedom. “The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom” - John Locke. The Supreme Court was established to make sure that all actions taken by the States, by Congress, by the Senate, and by the President were within the boundaries of the Constitution. Today the Constitution has been ignored and trampled by a Dictator and numerous big money institutions. There is only one solution left to save America. (Let it be known that I do not believe this can be accomplished by any man or group of men but by Almighty God alone.)

Revolution is no longer an option but a necessary course of action. But like the video states, if we try a revolution by show of violent force we will fail. We are out gunned in that arena. We must stand united as “We the People” and demand a return to the system of government our founders intended. In my opinion the easiest way to do this effectively is this November go cast our votes in an educated manner considering Godly principles. That does not mean the President must be a Christian per se but a man who will hold himself accountable for the responsibility we are giving him. And the best candidate must not be a politician. Electing another politician to the office of President will only lead to a continuation of the failed government we have now.

I have made my decision to step up and be counted. I will prayerfully examine the stance of each of the candidates for each seat on the ballot and cast my vote based on the result of self-educating on the issues without depending on the media that is owned by the same interest groups who pull the strings of the “elected” officials. I will not consider race, gender, or party affiliation as an excuse to vote for anyone unfit for the position for which they are running. And after I cast my vote I will continue to pray and let the Lord handle it. May God’s will be done. And I do pray that God will bless America again.

Two foundations

            Of all the parables of Jesus it is difficult to pick one as a favorite, or as most important. They all relate in one way or another to one or more other parables. And there is not one of all the parables of Jesus that should be left out of modern day Gospel preaching. However, one that stands out when churches are observed, especially in America, is the parable of the Two Foundations. This is found in Matthew 7:21-29¹. In this parable Jesus talks about two different kinds of people. In the parable itself He describes them as a builder who builds on sand and a builder who builds upon a rock. The builder who builds on the sand will be greatly distressed when the storm comes and his house collapses. He will see that all his hard work was for nothing. On the other hand the builder who builds on the rock sees that he has built on a firm foundation. When the great storm comes he will be secure knowing that because of the good foundation his house will weather the storm well. Of course in this parable Jesus is referring to Himself as the rock. He is the solid foundation that the Christian life is built upon. And in these troubling days that are getting increasingly worse in the “free world” there will come a time when many will deny the faith in order to maintain their temporal standard of living. This is evidenced by the way they live as Christians. Anyone can consider themselves Christian. And there are many who even go to church on a somewhat regular basis. But when their lives are examined there is nothing to be seen that would indicate that they are truly Christian. It is reminiscent of the parable of the tree and its fruit. (Actually these two parables are directly connected. Many try to start the parable of the Two Foundations at verse 24. But verse 24 starts with “Therefore²” and so is a connection to the preceding section which ends the Parable of the trees and their fruit). Saying one is Christian and actually being Christian are two entirely different things. There are many so-called Christians in America today who will scoff at this kind of teaching. They prove the point. What should strike at least a bit of concern in the hearts of many is that Jesus clearly stated the difference and the consequences of that difference in the opening of the parable! He stated that, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter³”. One should be able to see that it isn’t enough to “believe” in Jesus” as the word believe is defined today. And it is not enough to say “I’m a Christian”. Being a Christian means being built on the solid foundation which is Jesus. Being a Christian means doing the will of the Father. What this directly implies is that being a Christian involves obedience. Could this be why America is considered to be the third largest mission field in the world today⁴? As a Pastor, Church Planter and Evangelist this concerns me.

1.      New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 7:21–29.

2.      New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 7:24.

3.      New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 7:21.

4.      “Prayer targets world's 3rd largest mission field – America”, WorldNetDaily, July 27, 2008, accessed April 28, 2016. http://www.wnd.com/2008/07/70601/

LORD

              I think it is time for us to address a critical issue. According to Acts 2:36 Jesus is “Lord and Christ [Messiah, Savior]”. We hear a lot about the doctrine of “Lordship Salvation”. Some say it is Biblical while others say it is false. The truth is that there is one definition that includes things like “making Jesus your Lord,” as well as wearing certain clothes, having a certain length of hair, reading a certain translation of the Bible, and more. Truth is that this is a false doctrine based on legalism. We know that there is no way we can work our way to Heaven. There is no way we can ever deserve salvation. There is another definition of “Lordship Salvation” that is based on surrender to Jesus and obedience to Him. This doctrine is Biblical. My complaint is that because of these confusing definitions there are many people who, as soon as you mention Jesus being Lord, they begin to shout that you are teaching salvation based on works.

We really need to get to what the Bible says concerning all this. According to Ephesians 2:8-9 we are saved solely by the grace of God. So we can throw out the idea of working our way to Heaven. But what does salvation by grace look like? Well, according to Jesus it looks like this: You surrender to Him (Mark 8:34). You follow Him (Luke 9:62). You obey Him (Luke 6:46). I have even heard it said that you can’t tell a sinner to “repent”. They say you have to “get saved” before you repent. But Jesus said “Repent and believe the Gospel” (Mark 1:15). How can there be salvation without repentance? They say repentance is a “work” and according to Ephesians 2:8-9 we are not saved by works.

Well first let me show the flaw in that argument: If I’m driving down the road with nowhere in particular to go, and I am following a dump truck, say we come to a fork in the road. The dump truck turns to the left. Ahead of the dump truck I see a church bus turning to the right. I have a choice to make. I can follow the dump truck or the church bus. Either way I am not “working” but I am continuing to drive which is what I was doing anyway. So repentance is not a work it is just choosing which path you are going to follow. I think some of the critics chose to just keep going straight and they hit a tree and got brain damage.

Second: The “works” that Paul refers to are works of the Old Covenant. These are works like doing the proper sacrifices and keeping the set feasts and so on. These “works” are not “good deeds” or “random acts of kindness”. Those are things a true Christian should be doing. We are saved in order that we will do good works (Ephesians 2:10). John the Baptist said that we need to do “works worthy of repentance” (Luke 3:8).

Those works can’t save us but they are evidence that we are saved. James said that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:20). And Paul said we should “work out [our] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). So what does it take to be a Christian? Faith! And if you have that kind of faith it will result in good works. Remember Jesus said that “you will know them by their fruit” (Matthew 7:20).

What it all boils down to is this: You can’t make Jesus your Lord. You don’t have the authority. But thank the Father that He already did it for you. If He isn’t your Lord and Savior then He isn’t your anything. So receive Him for who He really is. Repent and believe.

God bless you. Rev. W. S. Caplinger

A changed man

I have a letter from my Brother and pen-pal that he and I felt we should share with the world. Let me give a quick bit of background info. There is a program called “The Walk to Emmaus” that is a Christian program designed to take a small group of people and spend three days immersing them in the grace of God. It is a time of great Spiritual refreshment. In February of 2011 I went on the “New Ark Area” Men’s Walk #34 and sat at the table of Peter. My life has been forever changed. There is a similar program for youth and young adults called “Chrysalis”. And there is a program for inmates called “Kairos”. These are very well organized programs that I recommend to any Christian who is feeling burdened and needing a refreshing taste of the Holy Spirit. So look it up and find a program in your area and get involved.

Below is the letter my friend and Brother in the Lord wrote to share with you. Peace and blessings, Shannon.

“My Kairos experience was a well awaited life changing gift! It was a 72 hour retreat, free to be yourself for once. And ‘m now a firm believer that not one person can stand under the attention of the Holy Spirit and remain unchanged! I am forever grateful to have been chosen for the Spiritual nourishment the Kairos Brothers poured into my soul.

I believe everyone on this planet should experience the Kairos retreat, but that’s my opinion. And once you say you are a Christian, non-believers will watch everything you do. They like to see Christians stumble, so speak with respect, the lost are listening. So as you live your life for Jesus, turn your back on trying to please the crowd; face Jesus, and please Him with every fiber of your being.

Finally, a few questions: Do you live by your faith? Do you share your faith? Because one of the true highlights of being a Christian is to bring the good news of Jesus to the lost. The decision has been made, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still! My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, and my future is secure. – J. J.”

Are we seeking God?

                The Bible teaches us that if we seek God we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). But notice it says that we must seek God “with all [our] heart”. When we say we are seeking God what are we really seeking? If we are seeking God to answer our questions then we are not really seeking God. We are seeking answers. If we are seeking God to solve a problem then we are not seeking God. We are seeking a solution. Are we seeking God’s provision or protection? Then we are seeking provision and protection. Jesus said that even the pagans do this. They seek food, clothing, shelter, just stuff. But Jesus said that we shouldn't seek these things because God already knows we need them. He said we should seek God. Then we will find God. And when we have found God we will find the answers, solutions and stuff we thought we needed. So concentrate on seeking God first and foremost. Then the other stuff will fall into place.

“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33 NASB).

Peace and God bless,

Shannon

The Bible Corner

Just reminding everyone that we also do a podcast on soundcloud every week. And we are trying (with some expected difficulty) to get on itunes. You can hear the podcast now at The Bible Corner
Paec and God bless.
Shannon