Go to Hell?

The phrase “go to hell” is an all too common phrase and often accompanied by the one-finger salute or a few choice words. It is obvious that people don’t really consider the seriousness of hell when they make such a statement.

At the risk of sounding as though I interpret the Bible literally (which I do without apology), I believe that hell is a real place. Jesus taught more about hell than He did about heaven; so either hell is real or Jesus is a liar! The Bible describes hell as a place of physical, mental, and spiritual torment; where the worm does not die and the fire is not quenched. It is a place of outer darkness, with unending suffering, wailing, and gnashing of teeth.

Society’s trivial approach toward hell has caused cynicism about it. Hell has been downplayed, glorified, and portrayed as a party. Rock-n-Roll classics about hell include: “Straight to Hell,” “Burn in Hell,” “Go to Hell,” “Highway to Hell,” “Hells Bells,” “Vacation Hell” and many more. The Charlie Daniels Band told us the “Devil Went Down to Georgia” and Terri Gibbs told us the Devil has blue eyes and wears blue jeans.

Popular television shows and cartoons including: Family Guy, Futurama, The Simpsons, South Park, Tom & Jerry, and others have used hell as a plot. Popular comics: Dilbert, The Far Side, Hellboy, and Spawn; used hell as their theme. Even Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto have been depicted as being in hell. Is it any wonder that people have become desensitized to the severity of hell?

We would expect the secular world to be confused about hell; but sadly, even today’s churches seem to have varying opinions. There was no confusion in the minds of history’s great evangelists. Jonathan Edwards, Oliver Green, D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Sunday, George Whitefield, Billy Graham and numerous other great evangelists preached a literal hell. They didn’t avoid truth for the sake of popularity as this generation does.

I believe some people have a hard time accepting that a loving God would ever send anyone to hell. The fact is that He doesn’t… He lets us choose. Because of Adam’s sin, all mankind is separated from God; but “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish (in hell), but have everlasting life” – John 3:16. Matt 7:13-14 LB reads, "Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. 14 But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through Him” –Jn 14:6. So, the choice is yours – heaven or hell - but avoiding the topic won’t make it any less real.

WITH BOUNDARIES COMES FREEDOM

My wife and I recently vacationed in Myrtle Beach, SC. Upon entering the condo, we immediately headed for the covered balcony to get our first glimpse of the SC coast. Without even thinking, we leaned our weight against the handrail of the balcony located on the eleventh floor! Those were the first minutes of many hours we spent on that balcony. We even let our twenty-two month old granddaughter play on the balcony. One day, it occurred to me that none of us would sit on the patio, much less let an infant play out there, without the presence of the handrail. That handrail was a boundary that provided us with the peace of mind to freely enjoy the beautiful view from the balcony.

I had a similar experience many years ago when our children were young. We bought a house on a canal and the yard was not fenced when we moved in. We noticed that our children would go only from the back door to the swing set and back. They never wandered near the water, nor to the sides of the yard. We eventually put a fence around our back yard and noticed that our children started using the entire back yard. They went down to the fence line at the canal and also began venturing toward the neighbors houses on each side of us. Again, it dawned on me… by defining the boundary, it gave a sense of security for our kids. It kept good things in, bad things out, and gave freedom to use the entire backyard, rather than only a small portion of it.

While some would argue that boundaries restrict freedom, the truth is that boundaries expand our freedoms and protect our interests. Within the boundaries of marriage; couples create confidence, establish trust, learn the art of partnership, experience greater happiness, increase their emotional health, enjoy guilt-free sex; and all of this without looking over their shoulder, worrying about STD’s or wrestling with emotional pain and guilt. Traffic boundaries also illustrate the point. By staying between the painted lines (boundaries), a vehicle will most often reach its destination without incident. Athletes try to keep their feet in bounds; businesses operate within the boundaries of the law; and governments protect those who live within their borders.

Establishing personal boundaries is a healthy part of life. Dating boundaries help maintain purity. Physical boundaries help protect against abuse. Intellectual boundaries allow opinions to be shared respectfully. Emotional boundaries keep us from personalizing everything. Digital boundaries help us avoid pornography, gossip sites, cyber bullying, or even attempting to impress others by embellishing our posts on social media.

The spiritual boundaries found in the Bible are also there for our protection. Just as God set boundaries for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Bible reveals boundaries for daily living. Loving God first (Matt 22:36-38), loving others second (Matt 22:39-40), and following the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17) are good places to start. The Bible discusses boundaries regarding doctrine, conduct, friendships, business partnerships, relationships, work/rest, idols and so much more. God loves us enough to set boundaries that protect us and that allow us to enjoy life to the fullest. The bottom-line is that the boundaries established by God do not restrict our lives, they enhance it (John 10:10).

For Such a Time as This

My wife and I love to spend Saturday mornings drinking coffee at the beach, as we watch the boats going out through the inlet for a day of deep sea recreation. When the coffee is gone, we usually take a leisurely stroll down to the Deerfield Beach Pier, as we enjoy the beautiful beach, the early morning sun, and the surf. One morning, we were blessed to see sea turtles hatching; another day we watched the pelicans repeatedly diving to catch fish; and some days, the best entertainment comes in watching people.

Recently, we were enjoying an early morning walk and noticed the surf was a little more rough than normal. The tide was in, the waves were breaking closer to shore, and there was a large amount of seaweed. The clear path of firm sand along the shoreline was more narrow than normal and we were cautiously watching so as not to step on any man o’ war. For these reasons, we fixed our gaze on the ground in front of us.

Staring down made me notice the footprints in the sand. I observed the small footprints of children, the large footprints of adults, footprints revealing those who were pigeon-toed, those with crooked toes, and so on. Regardless of the size and shape of the footprint, they all had something in common – they were only there for a few moments and then washed away by the waves. I was reminded of James 4:14 – “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

I mentioned my observation to my wife and soon we had both stood still to watch the footprints being formed and then the waves washing them away. It was one of those AHA moments in my life. It dawned on me how short life really is. I realized that the impression I make in this world is here only for a moment. Others will come behind me and never realize that I had walked before them. I was walking where others walked previously. I found myself asking the question, “What is my life?” “Will my effort really make any difference or does it simply fade away never to be noticed by those who come after me?” I must admit that I found myself slightly discouraged for a moment, since I pour my heart and soul into everything I do.

In those moments, it was as though God was teaching me one of the most valuable lessons of my life. I immediately thought of Mordecai’s words to Queen Esther, “…who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Mordecai knew that God had prepared Esther for what needed to be done in that exact time – not in the past and not in the future; but for that exact moment in time. Matthew instructed us not to worry about tomorrow. Solomon stated “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted; A time to kill, And a time to heal; A time to break down, And a time to build up”

As I stood there on the shoreline gazing at those footprints, I realized that God only wants me to consider the work HE has trusted me with today – not the past, nor the future. He placed me here “for such a time as this.” We cannot change the past, nor can we dictate the future, as it applies to family, ministry, work or any other area of life. Be encouraged, realizing that God only asks us to be faithful to the task HE has entrusted us with today.

A re-post that's worthy of your time.

I'm not sure that I've ever re-posted someone else's blog, but this one is worthy of your read. I've experienced most of these over 35 years from novice staff members who think they are God's gift to the church, "used to be" pastors who failed and now want to impart their knowledge, and laypeople who believe their longevity in a place has somehow given them ownership and governing power. I speak to hurting and frustrated pastors weekly. These front-line spiritual soldiers often mention these things, among other nonsensical items. God has given me a heart for and is opening doors to minister to pastors hurt by their congregations and even other pastors. Pray for us as we continue to build this ministry of restoration and I hope this re-post helps you to be a helper and friend to your pastor.

8 “Armchair” Pastors who Frustrate Me
By Chuck Lawless on Oct 01, 2018

Okay, I admit it. I’m writing with some frustration today because I watch committed pastors struggle because of “armchair” pastors in their church (that is, those who aren’t pastors, but who feel serious freedom to tell pastors how to do their job). Here are some armchair folks who frustrate me:

1. Those who have no clue about theology, but who tell a pastor when he believes wrongly. I know laypersons who are theologically strong, but I also know some who aren’t. The latter are often the ones who tell a pastor when he’s “wrong.”
2. Those who are sure they know how the pastor should spend his time. After all, they’re certain they already know how he is spending his time, even though they haven’t spent any time with him.
3. Those who “guide” the pastor in how the church should spend the budget, even though they give minimal (or perhaps no . . .) dollars to the church. Their level of financial sacrifice gives them little leverage to speak into these matters, but they direct the pastor nonetheless.
4. Those who tell the pastor how a pastor should raise his children. This one probably annoys me more than any of these. If you’re concerned about your pastor’s children, pray for him and them. He might just be more burdened than you are . . . .
5. Those who tell the pastor what the Lord has “told” them to tell him. To speak for the Lord apart from rightly proclaiming His Word is a dangerous move indeed, so all of us likely need to be careful here.
6. Those who are convinced a pastor can read minds. These are the armchair pastors who get angry with a pastor for not responding to a need about which he had no knowledge.
7. Those who tell the pastor he should confront somebody, but without using their name in the conversation. Unless you’ve walked in these shoes (and armchair pastors usually haven’t), you cannot know how difficult this position is.
8. Those who see themselves as the unofficial church leader. Their “yes” vote for a pastor is really only perfunctory, since they’ll remind him about their positions and power anyway.

May I ask you to pray for your pastor today, particularly if he has armchair pastors in the church? AND pray for any armchair pastors in your church as well – that they might re-think how they can best help your pastor? All of us can be armchair people at times . .

Learning from Party Lines, Pay Phones & Pagers

A couple of weeks ago, I found a plastic bag laying on the walkway leading to my front door. Curious, I opened the bag and to my great surprise, I found a Yellow Pages phone book! I honestly did not know that phone books were still distributed and I probably have not used one in 8-10 years. In fact, the last time I saw a Broward County phone book, there were two 2-3” thick Whitepages and one 2-3” thick Yellow Pages. Interesting how much these books have been scaled back now that people find the information they need online.

Seeing that phone book started my reminiscing. I thought back to the “party line” that meant the neighbors shared a phone line and you had to wait, until it was clear, to make a call. It also meant you could listen to your neighbor’s phone conversations! I remember phones with rotary dials and cords. I remember the cordless phones with the antenna you had to pull out each time you wanted to make a call. If you ventured outside the house, there were pay phones on almost every corner and people could deposit a dime (later a quarter) to communicate. Only a short time after that, pagers were the talk of the town and “beeps” and “tones” were being heard coming from belts and pockets. I remember the first cell phone that came in a large carrying case and then the “brick” phone that would pull your pants down if you tried to carry it in your back pocket. Then came flip phones and Razors. The race was on to make them thinner and smaller. In fact, I remember Nokia and Ericsson commercials bragging that their phones were small enough to fit into the palm of your hand.

Then someone had the idea to merge the cell phone with the Palm Pilot and two devices became one. Soon, the Walkman and iPod were merged into that same phone. Shortly thereafter, the cell phone also became a GPS. These new uses and the introduction of social media called for larger screens to accommodate people’s desire to read and look at pictures on their phones. Next came app’s and videos, and before you knew it, cell phones increased in size and started looking more like iPad Mini’s! If that were not enough, people started talking to their cell phones and Siri or Google Assistant started dialing, searching for information and providing directions for them. Now, most people will text and rarely even talk on their cell phone; but the purpose of communication is still being accomplished. New technology continues to be discovered and user needs are continuing to change, so no one really knows what telecommunication technology will look like in the next 5-10 years!

The Church can learn a lot from the telecommunications industry. Times will change, needs will change and the Church will need to change and adapt to effectively meet the needs of those they desire to reach and serve. Someone said, “The Church exists to take the never-changing message to an ever-changing world.” Someone else said, “The message never changes, but the methods do.” The point is that the telecommunications industry has changed drastically in my lifetime; but the primary purpose of facilitating communication remains the same. In the Church, there have also been many changes: praise teams have replaced choirs, bands have replaced orchestras, guitars have replaced organs, video has replaced overhead projectors, colored lighting has replaced white lights, theater seating has replaced pews, casual dress has replaced suits, online Bibles have replaced printed Bibles, and so much more. In spite of all these changes, the purpose of the Church has not changed – the Church still exists to share the Gospel message with those who still need to accept the gift of salvation found through the sacrificial death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

You have been noticing some changes at Grace Church over the past year. These changes have been and continue to be made with the intent of helping us to become more effective in sharing the Gospel and bringing people to Jesus. The fact is that the Church is one of the only organizations that exists for those who are not its members. Yes, our methods are changing; but the message preached from the pulpit of Grace Church will never change! If you are looking for a place to help you discover your faith, learn about God and grow in your relationship with Him… then Grace Church may be just the place for you!

It's a New Day at Grace Church in Pompano Beach, FL

It is hard to believe, but Sunday, March 4, will be the one-year anniversary of my first sermon as the Senior Pastor of Grace. This first year has been a little overwhelming, but very exciting to see what God is doing. I tell people that it is a new day at Grace and if you have not visited with us recently, you need to come worship with us soon. In this post, allow me to briefly share where we were, where we are, and where we are going as a ministry.

Grace and Highlands have had a rich heritage of 50+ years, but the church and school have faced some struggles over the last decade. I believe that God, in His timing, brought in a new Senior Pastor, new Executive Pastor, and new School Administrator to help lead this ministry to a place of health, stability and long-term sustainability. I am so thankful to be part of the leadership team that God assembled here. I am also thankful for the wonderful staff, support team, and the loving congregation that makeup Grace Church. These committed folks have been so willing to follow and support their new leaders as we make changes that will position Grace and Highlands for a very bright future.

So what’s new and what’s been going on at Grace?

First, we established a 3-year plan as follows:

• Year 1 – We have been focusing on getting healthy, by putting our finances in order and trying to eliminate all ministry debt by this May. (I am happy to report that it looks like we are going to achieve that goal!) We have streamlined our staff, replaced people with personnel, started positioning this ministry for long-term growth, and casting a vision for the future. In this first year, God has been blessing tremendously and our average worship attendance has nearly doubled in just 11 months. The greatest blessing is that we have seen over 130 people saved and over 70 baptized during that same time.

• Year 2 – Repairs and Renovations will be our goal and our efforts will focus on repairing what can be repaired, replacing what needs to be replaced, and renovating areas that need some freshening up. A few of the first things you’ll notice will be the renovation of the Solid Rock building into a new Youth Center, a fresh look in our Nursery lobby, and a polished & professional look in our Conference Room.

• Year 3 – In the third year, we hope to be functioning like a well-oiled machine that is healthy and completely focused on evangelism, discipleship, ministry growth, engaged in our community, and possibly building to accommodate the new people that God is bringing to us.

Second, Grace has a new vision. It is our goal to become “A Church for All Nations.” South Florida is a very diverse and international community. I believe the demographics of the local church should represent the community that it serves. With that in mind, our goal at Grace is to become one church with many services preached in multiple languages. We have been and will continue to work toward that goal!

On December 10, Grace started a new Creole-French service to reach our Haitian neighbors. Pastor Jean-Marc Desire’ is a Haitian national who oversees five churches and two Christian schools in Haiti. While continuing his mission work in Haiti, Pastor Desire' is also helping to establish this new ministry at Grace. This new Creole-French service meets in Grace’s Fellowship Hall at 11am for worship each Sunday. The Creole service is already averaging 110 in worship.

On January 7, Grace started a new Spanish service to reach our Hispanic neighbors. Pastor Samuel Herrera has served locally as an Associate Pastor for 14 years and recently felt God’s call to lead a Spanish work. Pastor Samuel’s enthusiasm for serving the Lord is contagious! This new Spanish service meets in the Upper Room (next to the Library) at 10:45am each Sunday and they are already averaging 56 in worship.

Our next goal is to start a Portuguese service for our Brazilian friends! Let me know if you are aware of a doctrinally sound Brazilian pastor who would be willing to help with this endeavor.

Finally, you will see some other changes as Grace not only tries to preach the Gospel in a variety of languages, but we also try to become culturally relevant to our community. Some of the upcoming changes will include more home and community groups, because we believe the church should gather all week long and “do life together.” This fall, we will offer multiple English services in order to offer different musical styles and time options, as well as, seminars and events that focus on the real needs of families in our local community. We want Grace to be a place where people have almost unlimited opportunities to hear about, learn about, and serve the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

We are excited about what we believe is a VERY bright future and we want you to be part of it! To learn more about Grace Church, checkout our website at www.gbcfl.org or follow us on Facebook @gracebaptistchurchfl. You have a standing invitation to come worship with us! If you would like, please call the church office at (954) 421-0190 to setup an appointment with one of our pastors to ask more questions or seek help regarding a spiritual question.

Confusion About Organic & Mechanistic Styles in Church Leadership

Allow me to offer a prelude to this article... I've been a pastor for 34 years, attended dozens of leadership conferences, led leadership forums, lead a two-State church planting network, served as a 3-term Board member & Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and other civic organizations, served on the Board of Trustees for a seminary, hospital, other non-profits, and more. I clearly understand leadership models, terms and theories; including the systems of "organic vs. mechanistic." Having said all of that, I offer the following article exposing the misunderstanding of many young pastors regarding this topic and the laziness that results from it.

Over the last year and in several recent Pastors' networking meetings, the word I've heard repeated more than any other has been the word "organic." Ironically it is most often tied into some thought of working from a coffee shop, no accountability, and the lack of a structured environment. It is glaringly apparent that many have built their theories on the following excerpt from a detailed work by Burns and Stalker. Here's all some church leaders read, "An organic organization is one that is very flexible and is able to adapt well to changes. Its structure is identified as having little job specialization, few layers of management, decentralized decision-making, and not much direct supervision." A misconstrued interpretation of this definition without an understanding of the entire context works well for those who don't like structure and accountability.

The terms "organic" and Reformed go hand-in-hand for many of today's young pastors. This leadership trend is turning churches inward and intellectual, rather than outward and evangelistic. In these churches, the attendance is often declining, baptisteries are empty, and the concept of church membership is removed. It appears that the Great Commission has been replaced by the worship of academia. Remember that Jesus gave the Great Commission and sent out simple-minded fishermen to evangelize the world; while on the other hand, the religious intellectuals (Pharisees) presented the greatest opposition to this effort.

While the Church is a living organism, it is also a business. We, the Church, are in the saving, healing and life-transformation business. We must have a structure, strategy, accountability, and a means to measure our success. If no one is being saved, baptized and added to the Church; then we are certainly not following the example of the Early Church (Acts 2) that so many today claim to model.

Young pastors might like the idea of being "organic;" but the growing and great churches of our nation all have detailed plans, well-defined strategies, and high accountability. Realizing that real disciples make disciples, it stands to reason that church leaders should be setting the example by leading people to Christ, seeing them baptized and taking them through the process of discipleship. Too many organic church leaders feel they are exempt from the Great Commission and their only responsibilities are to study and teach. This explains "why" they dislike goals, reports, and accountability... because requiring those things would expose their lack of productivity to the church body that they serve.

It all boils down to the fact that too many pastors want the title of "Pastor," but they don't want the responsibilities of the Office. They will answer the questions of an Ordination Council, but they don't want any accountability after that. They want to preach, but they don't want to build a church. They want the full-time pay check, but they don't want to work a full-time schedule. It is time for some older, seasoned pastors to pour into the lives of these young pastors and help them see the awesome responsibility of their calling. It's time to teach, train and raise the level of accountability. It's time for Church leaders to lead God's army against the darkness. The time is now and the souls of men are hanging in the balance! Let's get our mechanics in order and sharpen our irons, so we can cut the organic myths that are stifling real ministry!

Colboch's Christmas Letter 2017

Dear Friends,

We pray this letter and Christmas greeting find you and yours happy, healthy, and serving Jesus! For us, 2017 has brought a whirlwind of change for our family, so we decided to write a letter to bring you up to speed on where we are and the wonderful things God has been doing.

After 14 years serving the Lord in Hartsville, SC; God in His sovereign mercy and infinite wisdom moved our family to a new ministry at Grace Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, FL where I now serve as the Senior Pastor. God was so good to us through the years in Hartsville and a summary of what He accomplished during those 14 years can be found on my personal website at garycolboch.com. We left behind many very dear friends, but realize that miles don’t separate true friendships. Several have already come to visit us in FL, others call and send cards regularly, and some are already making plans to stay with us in the summer of 2018. We have not moved often in our ministry, but with each move God just enlarges our circle of friends!

Looking back, we see how amazing God is and how Psalm 37:23 is so true, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD…” God was ordering our steps, even before we realized it! In the summer of 2016, we put our house on the market for the purpose of downsizing and our house sold in a few short weeks from list to close. We tried to buy 3 houses, but each purchase fell through and just 1 week before we closed on a 4th house, God revealed our move. All along, it was as though He was saying, “You’re not staying in Hartsville... I need you somewhere else.” That became clear as on February 5, 2017, Grace Baptist Church in Pompano Beach, FL formally called me as their Senior Pastor. The church had been without a Pastor for 7 months and the Lord connected us just 3 days before they closed their search. During our 5-day visit interacting with the church members (prior to the church vote), we signed a contract on a house that wasn’t even listed on the market. (Did you get that? After months of unsuccessful looking for a house in SC, the Lord led us to a house in FL in just 5 days.) Until we officially closed on the house, God provided me with a free apartment and used a renter from Chicago to delay the closing on our new house, until Flora finished teaching in SC. Through God’s provision, we never had the pressure of 2 house payments. Oh… and did I forget to mention that our new house is… right on the golf course! Amen!

To share the next amazing detail… Grace is a place that has special meaning for Flora and me. Grace was a church plant from my home church, FBC of West Hollywood. Grace is the church where my sister-in-law grew up and where my wife and I first conversed at her brother’s wedding. Grace’s school (Highlands Christian Academy) was a big sports rival when I was competing in high school at Hollywood Christian and coaching at Berean Christian. The story of how God connected us with Grace is nothing short of a miracle and God’s hand can be clearly seen throughout the process. You can see more about Grace Baptist Church and Highlands Christian Academy by visiting:
• Church website – gbcfl.org
• Church Facebook - facebook.com/gracebaptistchurchfl
• School website – highlandschristian.org
• School Facebook - facebook.com/HighlandsChristianAcademy
• Twitter - #gbcfl or #wearehighlands

God is already blessing our efforts at Grace!
• In our first 10 months, God blessed us with 78 saved and 36 baptized in our services!
• Our total attendance has increased by 142.
• Approx. $30,000 of like-new furniture was recently donated to us. (Conference table/chairs, exec. desks & chairs, guest chairs, couches, file & storage cabinets, greenery, etc. and it’s all in great condition!)
• Our church will give $100,000 to missions in 2018.
• Our Haitian ministry launched on Dec. 10 with 115 present.
• Our Spanish ministry will launch on January 7.
• A Brazilian ministry will be launched in the spring of 2018.
• Highlands Christian Academy reached our goal of 600 students for 2017-18.
Again, we give God the glory for what HE is doing and thank Him for allowing us to be part of it!

Not only a new ministry, new house, and God’s blessings; but Flora also started a new job. When God puts the pieces together, they all fit perfectly! Flora had been working with 4K in SC for 11 years. Should it surprise us that a 4K teaching position opened at Highlands this year? The state of Florida pays schools for the 4K program, so the requirements on teachers is very high. Flora successfully completed the equivalent of 120 credit hours in 7 months (God allowed some previous CEU’s to count toward the requirements). Flora now has her FL VPK certification, national CDA certification, and is a NAEYC member! Pray for her as she works on her Spanish and Portuguese language skills to communicate with students and parents.

So… new ministry, new house, Flora’s new job… and let’s add new grandparents to the list! Our first grandchild, Hadlee Grace, was born to Courtney & Brandon on July 21, 2017. She is as cute as can be. So far, we’ve seen Hadlee (and our kids) more since we moved to FL than we did in SC. In addition, we get to Facetime regularly and receive daily videos of her progress. Courtney went back to work as an RN and Brandon continues his work as an attorney. I couldn’t be more proud as a dad and now a Pop!

New ministry… new house… new job for Flora… new granddaughter… and new son-in-law! Yep, Bethany was married to Bradley Gainey on November 6, 2017 on Deerfield Beach. The setting could not have been more perfect and I had the privilege of officiating the wedding. Justin Facenda opened the ceremony, so I could walk Bethany down the aisle. Bethany and Bradley reside in SC where Bradley works as an engineer. Bethany continues to work as a graphic designer. Bradley has been chasing Bethany since 5th grade, so we’re glad she finally let him catch her. Our family loves Bradley and it’s good to have sons-in-law that love our daughters, but also love the Lord! Two down and one to go. (No hurry)

New ministry… new house… new job for Flora… new granddaughter… new son-in-law… and a new study program for Lindsay! God answered our prayers and Lindsay was 1 of 10 accepted into the Physical Therapy Assistant program. God also provided a beautiful place for her to live with a long-time, family friend. This dear lady has taken Lindsay in like a daughter and we cannot thank her enough. We also thank our dear SC friends who still look out for Lindsay and have reached out to help her on several occasions.

As you can see, 2017 was a year of "NEW THINGS" for the Colboch family. The passage that Flora claimed this year was found in Isaiah 43:18-20; but especially vs. 19, “Behold, I will do a new thing..." For me, I chose Philippians 3:13-14 as my life's verses years ago and like the Apostle Paul, I am "...reaching forward to the things which are ahead..." We thank God for what He is doing in and through us. 2017 reminded us that God is faithful, He orders our steps, and He has a wonderful plan for us (Jer. 29:11) We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have been prayer warriors for us during this time of transition.

For those of you that live in the Hartsville area, I’ll be preaching a revival at Fourth Street Baptist Church on April 22-25, 2018. I was so honored to be invited by their Pastor and my friend, Harry Wallace, Jr. I would also be honored if you would mark your calendar and join us for that revival. It will be a wonderful time to reconnect with friends and, once again, preach the Word in the city where God allowed us to serve for so long!

We wish you a Merry Christmas,
Gary & Flora Colboch

Symbols of the Season Point Us to the Savior

You’ve heard the saying, “Jesus is the Reason for the season!” That is true, in spite of efforts to take Christ out of Christmas dating all the way back to King Herod’s effort to “take out” the baby, Jesus! Today, the Christmas season has been overtaken by commercialism and busyness. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, it is easy to forget what (Who) Christmas is all about. Yet, we are surrounded by symbols of the season that point us back to the Savior. Allow me to highlight a few of them.

Whether you are a Christian or atheist, whether you call it a Christmas tree or a holiday tree, whether you like real of artificial, the fact is that the Christmas tree points us back to Christ. It reminds us that Jesus was born for the purpose of dying. It was through His death on that old rugged cross (made from a tree) that eternal life would be purchased for all who believe.

A star is found at the top of many, if not most, Christmas trees. Stars are symbols of the Christmas season and seen on greeting cards, lampposts, ornaments, star shaped cookies, and so much more. The star reminds us of the star the wise men followed. It was the star that directed them to the King of Kings.

The practice of exchanging gifts reminds us of the gifts the wise men brought to the house (Matt 2:11). An undisclosed number of wise men arrived when Jesus was approximately two years old and came bearing three types of gifts. The gold was symbolic of Jesus as King, the frankincense symbolized Jesus as our High Priest, and the myrrh was symbolic of the spice that would be used to prepare Jesus’ body for burial.

Tied to many gift boxes are ribbons and bows. Christmas bows are often found on window decorations, atop of wreaths, and tied to mailboxes. No doubt that bows have become a staple part of Christmas. The bows are beautiful; but they are also symbolic and remind us of the “tie that binds,” that unity that Christ-followers find through Jesus Christ.

Candles have been part of the Christmas season from the beginning. Candles were used to decorate Christmas trees prior to the invention of electric bulbs and can now be found as decorations, in windows, on city lampposts, and used in Christmas Eve candlelight services. Christmas candles remind us of Jesus’ statement in John 8:12, “…“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Christmas bells are a beautiful part of the seasonal decorations and have inspired songs such as, “Jingle Bells,” “Silver Bells,” “Carol of the Bells,” “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” “Come on Ring Those Bells,” and more. Traditionally, bells were used to ring in special days and to get attention prior to a major announcement. Christmas bells remind us of the announcement of Christ’s birth!

The colors of Christmas are red and green. Red symbolizes the blood that Jesus would shed to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “…without the shedding of blood there is no remission.” Green is the color of the Christmas fir tree, an evergreen tree, which represents the fact that those who call on Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Red Poinsettias are often called the Christmas flower. The red color reminds us of the blood Jesus shed to purchase our salvation and the star shape of the flower reminds many of the star that led the wise men to Jesus. The annual bloom of a Poinsettia is beautiful and symbolizes the resurrection, as the flower blooms, withers, and blooms again the next year.

Boughs of green holly are often used to “deck the halls,” to decorate homes, and to make wreaths. Holly is prickly and reminds us of the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head during the trials and crucifixion. The red berries remind us of the blood He shed for us.

Mistletoe is hung above doorways and light fixtures. It symbolizes love. Tommie Connor wrote the song, “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” …where…underneath the mistletoe! This symbol of love should remind us that “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16) and “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13). God’s love for mankind is what Christmas is ALL about!

Stockings that are hung by the chimney with care are also a symbol that point us to the Savior. I know… some of you are already thinking… he’s really “stretching” this one! Think about it… when the stockings are empty, they hang limp, as though they are just waiting to be filled with gifts. Likewise, we are empty and waiting to be filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of our salvation!

Finally, for now, the Candy Cane is also a symbol pointing us to the Savior. The “Legend of the Candy Cane” tells the story of the candy cane and its rich symbolism. Click the link for the whole story or think about the “J” shape that represents Jesus, the “crook” shape that represents the shepherd’s staff, the “red” color that represents the blood of Christ, and that whenever a piece is broken-off, it reminds us of Christ’s body that was broken for us.

With so many Christmas symbols pointing back to Christ, it makes me wonder how anyone could miss the message of the manger found in Matthew 1:21, “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Without question, Jesus is the Reason for the season and the symbols point us to the Savior! This year, look for those Christmas symbols that point to Christ and receive God’s gift of salvation, if you have not already done so.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent

"One of the most sacred principles in the American criminal justice system, is holding that a defendant is innocent until proven guilty. In other words, the prosecution must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, each essential element of the crime charged." - Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary. We have all heard that statement above or the term "presumption of innocence." Our American judicial system has always been based on a presumption of innocence; but the times they are a changing.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you have heard about the accusations of sexual misconduct flying all over the entertainment world and Capital Hill recently. Having a wife and three daughters, I certainly believe men should conduct themselves properly and be held accountable whenever they cross the line of sexual harassment. Bill Cosby, Roger Ailes, Harvey Weinstein and other prominent individuals were proven guilty and deserve whatever punishment they received. On the other hand, it should concern all of us that in today's climate, any person can simply "claim" an act of misconduct and they can immediately ruin another person's reputation forever. With simply an accusation, a dark cloud can be cast and a stellar reputation can be lost whether the accusation is true or not.

Regardless of whether you are a Republican or Democrat, and whether or not you like a particular candidate; you should be concerned with what we are witnessing. Roy Moore has long been attacked for his conservative Christian beliefs; but throughout the years of accusations, he has never been accused of sexual misconduct, until now. President George H.W. Bush has had a stellar reputation and now some attempt to tarnish his reputation at age 93. I was stunned the other day when I read that Ravi Zacharias was now facing accusations from a lady who emailed nude pictures to him and then "claimed" that he solicited them. That's bizarre! In light of these recent headlines, it appears that VP Mike Pence revealed great wisdom and integrity when he stated that he does not have private meetings or dinners with those of the opposite sex.

People have always had a tendency to stomp on others as they try to climb the corporate ladder. Whether a pyramid scheme, a no-fault lawsuit, frivolous claims of negligence, or Bernie's push for Socialism; people will do whatever it takes to get money out of someone else's pocket. There is no doubt that narcissism has overtaken our society. Think of the world's affinity with selfies, social media, etc.; and it should not surprise us that people would do whatever it takes to advance their cause, even at the expense of others. I've seen it in the secular world and even in the church. I've also seen how accusations travel slow and are often snuffed out, when made against those who live by character, integrity and faith.

So what can we do? We must teach men to practice the biblical principle of being a "one woman man." Older men can teach the younger men how to properly treat and respect ladies. We can stay away from off-color jokes and comments. We can practice the Billy Graham rule of not being alone with a woman who is not your wife (at any time). Men should ask permission, prior to hugging or touching a woman for any reason. We can also genuinely love people in both business and ministry. People who feel loved and appreciated will probably help squelch the rumors. Finally, we can help comfort those who are being falsely accused. If we as believers join in the accusations without evidence, then where will hurting people go for comfort? Remember, Jesus loved the outcasts and provided many examples of extending forgiveness and facilitating reconciliation. Let's do our best to follow His example.