October 2007 - Posts

• HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHERI!!!

  You're the greatest! Posted Oct 30 2007, 06:31 AM by Pastor Bill with 5 comment(s)

• Church American Style - RATED X

  eXtreme is the word.  You could also use eXcel.  1 Corinthians 14:12 says, "Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel." (NKJV)  We have finished our journey through the book of 1 Corinthians.  What a sad state of affairs that church was in.  Even though it appears that the church is becoming more like the Corinthians, I hope we never get to the point where sin is ignored and the world-view of our culture replaces the word of God. Our personal walk with Christ is what strengthens the church as a whole.  The stronger the Christians in a local church, the more that church and its members will eXcel!  We get the word excellence from excel.  That should be our goal.  Doing our best for Christ at all times.  Can you imagine what a church would become if there were only 10 people who were "SOLD OUT" totally to reaching the lost and pleasing Christ?  No one nor nothing could stop it. Pray that you eXcel in an eXtreme way in all you do for Christ! Your Pastor,  Bill Posted Oct 29 2007, 07:53 AM by Pastor Bill with no comments

• HAWAII!!!!!! We Still Can't Believe It!!!!

  You guys are just too AWESOME! We have known that we are the most blessed family in any church anywhere.  But a trip to Hawaii?  We don't deserve it.  Thank you so much. We are overwhelmed by your graciousness and appreciate you so much for this special gift.  It comes at a good time.  We celebrate 25 years as husband and wife on November 5th as well as our 15 year anniversary here at Hillview.  We came to Hillview January 3rd, 1993 and have never looked back.  It's been a ride.  There have been a few "tough" times but the good days have far outnumbered the bad.  When we came here, we started a policy (or slogan) by saying Hillview was to be a "NO STRESS" church and that is exactly what it is.  Churches who are more concerned about numbers and the business or political side of the body have enormous amounts of stress.  That's not what church is all about.  We have shown that church is a place where people love and live in harmony together.  Thank you for helping keep Hillview what God wants it to be. We love you guys and are so thankful for every single one of you.  We pray for you, cry with you and laugh with you and we enjoy it.  But, isn't that what church is all about? Enormous Blessings to every one of you! Bill & Cheri P.S.  Jack said he's sneaking into my suitcase and going with us!!!  Let's plan a beach side service the Sunday we go!  Hope you can make it! (lol) Posted Oct 23 2007, 05:24 AM by Pastor Bill with 4 comment(s) Filed under: pastor bill, bill

• Church American Style - RATED R

  It stands for "Relationships!"  I only made it through my first point but that was plenty.  We learned that for a church to have a strong foundation, the families in the church have to be strong.  That starts with mom & dad and their relationship to each other.  We discovered that the Bible places a HIGH value on marriage.  Jesus spoke of it in the gospels and Paul in the book of 1 Corinthians.  I was raised in the home of a pastor.  My mother was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis after I was born.  She was told she would not see my 12th birthday.  She was very strong willed which she proved by staying alive until I was 26.  She died of cancer.  Her and my father had a tremendous relationship.  He gave her vitamin shots every other night which helped her maintain strength.  She was considered by all who knew her to be an exceptionally strong woman. More importantly, they had a strength together.  They were both in it for the long haul (their marriage I mean).  They had many financial troubles and for a good period of her life, mom would have to go in the hospital at least once a year.  They struggled, they cried, they prayed, but they survived. People give up to easy on marriage now a days.  It's really sad.  Divorce is like the "OUT" whenever it gets a little rough. Remember this.  A marriage is much sweeter after you make it through the tough times.  If we would hang on when the going gets rough, we would see the strength and perseverance of our spouse and ourselves.  Just hang in there.  Don't give up!  The family that prays together stays together. Call me any time I can be of assistance. Love you guys! Pastor Bill  A young Rev. James & Frankie Hayes         Posted Oct 22 2007, 06:51 PM by Pastor Bill with 1 comment(s) Filed under: sermon, Church American Style

• Church American Style - Rated PG

  It stands for "Please Be Generous!"  and that's living and acting like Jesus. Being generous is not just about money.  It includes your time, abilities and sharing.  My wife Cheri and I were headed home late one night from Wednesday night activities. At the State Route 161 construction that seems to be going on for ever, she noticed a car in the median and someone standing outside waving.  She saw it too late for me to stop (yes, I was going too fast) but urged me to take the Westerville exit and turn around and try to see if we could help them.  In the car was a lady in her late 40's who had just been released from University Hospital having surgery that morning.  She was with her elderly mom and dad.  Their car had stalled and were in dire need of assistance.  They lived about 2 hours east of Columbus close to West Virginia and had been given poor directions to travel home  I stayed with their car while Cheri loaded them in the car with our girls and took them to the BP station in Westerville where they could call for help.  Then Cheri returned and picked me up. We stayed with them for over an hour until a nephew could come from the west side of Columbus and pick them up.  They were so thankful we stopped.  They said they had been sitting in the median for over two hours and no one - not even the police - stopped to help.  Now, every year at Christmas, we get a card from them and all we did was show a little generosity.  We took no money but we did let them know the reason we helped is because what Christ has done in our lives.  We came to find out that they were Christians as well so it was family we helped.  WOW!  You just never know. The Bible says in Galatians 6:10, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."  Generosity and sharing define Christ and should define the life and walk of every Christian.  Look for opportunities this week to give of yourself and just watch what God will do.  Remember to read 1 Corinthians 4, 9 and 16 this week.  Next Sunday, we're "RATED R" for Relationships! Love you guys!  Have a great week. PB  Posted Oct 15 2007, 06:28 AM by Pastor Bill with 1 comment(s)

• I'm Thinking of Life (and the alternative)!

  I was asking someone the other day how life was going.  They said, "Better than the alternative" meaning it's better to be alive than dead.  In my job, I am exposed to a lot of both.  Right now, we have a young lady (Lynn Allen) in her early 60's that is literally laying in her death bed in Pickerington.  She attends the first service and started attending about 6-8 months ago.  Her family was told that she most likely would not live through this week.  Cancer.  I received a phone call early this morning telling me that my good friend Mike Knox's dad passed away.  Phil & Beth have attended here on occasion when they visited from their home in South Carolina.  He was a teacher at Reynoldsburg High School.  He has been on mission trips to China, involved with prison ministries and many other Christian endeavors.  Yet another person passing away that's in their early 60's.  While I was speaking with Mike's wife Kim this morning, I was meeting with the architect planning our stage who is 81 years old.  One of my good friends here at church, Ci Litton, is 83 years old. We go to lunch together once a month and he has always been in favorable health other than some of the normal symptoms of aging.  What determines when someone is going to die?  Sounds like a pretty silly question but many of us know the obvious answers.  Heredity, how we take care of our bodies, regular doctor appointments along with many other things have a lot to do with determining our "GREAT ESCAPE" from this planet.  But it goes deeper than that.  The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27 that it "is appointed for men to die..."  In other words, it's on God's calendar or his divine palm pilot when our day will come.  Job 14:5 says, "Since his days are determined, The number of his months is with You; You have appointed his limits, so that he cannot pass". Yes, God has set your life limit and every one of us has a limit. Let me suggest a couple things: Make The Best Of Life!  Enjoy it.  Make sure God is at the very center (read Ecclesiastes 11:9 and 12:1).  But, Make The Best Of Death as well.  Make sure all is well in all your relationships, especially the one with Jesus Christ, before your "Great Escape."  Remember, "Only one life, 'twill soon be past; only what's done for Christ will last." Love you guys!  Make it a great day. PB Posted Oct 10 2007, 07:34 AM by Pastor Bill with no comments Filed under: Church, news, death

• Church American Style - RATED G

  MY WRIST IS SO RED!  Can you believe the preacher complains?  Well, we all do.  It's human nature.  For those of you reading this blog that weren't in service this Sunday, we passed out wrist bands to every one that said "NO COMPLAINING."  We all committed to wearing the band until next Sunday and that we would snap our wrist with it each time we complained.  It's just a friendly :) way to remind us that God doesn't want us to be complainers but to look for the good in others and lift them up. Remember what mom used to say:  "IF YOU CAN'T SAY SOMETHING GOOD ABOUT SOMEBODY, DON'T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL!" God Bless you guys.  Have a great week and make sure you attend your small group this week.  If you don't attend one, CLICK HERE. PB Posted Oct 08 2007, 06:43 AM by Pastor Bill with no comments Filed under: sermon, Church American Style, Church