Cedar Bluff Baptist Church

"Hasn't God been Good Ya'll"

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 10:21:00 +0000

I've got a lot to say about God's goodness, but I don't have the words. God has been good to our church, he's been good to my family, He's been good to me!

At Cedar Bluff, we've seen the Hand of the Lord moving in our services and in the heart of our people. We've moved in to our new building (May 14th), had our dedication, over the last months, we've had three souls saved, and more join the church.

Though this post is short, be checking back, I'll be back and I hope you will too.

Your Pastor's Heart

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 13 May 2014 17:10:00 +0000

Yesterday while driving around town a thought came to mind. I thought maybe that would be a great Facebook post, but today thought it would be better suited as a blog post.

I want to share my heart for a few minutes.

I see you when you cry in the pew with that tissue in hand. I see you when you attempt a show of strength while your face betrays your heart. I see the blank stare while others are praising God with upraised hands. I hear your sobs as you cry out in prayer and I see your tears that have stained the altar while pouring your heart out to God. I see you sitting there with your head rested in your hands. I see you with your head hung low hoping no one sees the questions in your eyes.

I can see you as you quietly slip out of church in hopes that no one will notice. I can see your empty seat in the pew you once sat in. I see your husband or wife sitting alone missing you being by their side. I hear your silence in the crowd. I see the empty stage where you used to stand. I hear the kids questioning where you are and when you're coming back.

With all of that said, and with all of that seen and heard by me, it has occurred to me that God has seen, heard, and is well aware of your heart, circumstance, burden, and your relationship with Him.

So, the verse that comes to mind is I Peter 5:7 "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." Bear with me here... If I, as your Pastor can see the hurt, pain, discouragement, fear, defeat, and loneliness, if I can care so much that I weep for you, if I love you so much that I hurt when you hurt and long for peace for you and your family, if my heart is broken for you...How much more is the heart of God broken for you.

Though I may be the one you can physically see, and touch, God is more in touch with all of your trouble than I will ever be, He knows you more than you know yourself. God is the one, the only one that you can really lean on to help in a time of need. You see, the verse I mentioned says that he "careth" for you, what does that mean? It means that your care is a care to Him. Did you catch the meaning? Your cares are His cares, the thing that evokes fear in your life...He (God) cares about. The loneliness that you feel...God has been there, He was separated from His Son, and His Son, Jesus was separated from His Father. When we face illness, trouble, loneliness, unsettling circumstances, persecution, or pain God has suffered those things Himself, and He cares that you are going through these things, not only that, He cares for You. You are a care to Him, not just the things you endure but He cares for you.

So even when I forget to call your name in church, shake your hand, make a call or send a message when you miss a service, God knows, and God Cares. You've heard my heart as an under-Shepard, I trust that you have heart the heart of The Shepard.

With Love,

James Burke

Pastor

Laughing with The Lord

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 13:37:00 +0000

Have you ever listened to your own laugh? I noticed this morning while the office was quiet except for a Customer and a Salesman, the Salesman laughed out loud, it was genuine but different than other times I've heard him laugh. It made me think about my own laugh. I realized that I laugh a certain way with my wife, another way with some of my closest friends, and different still while at work.

It made me wonder, How do we laugh with the Lord? Have you ever just sat back and laughed with the God of the Universe? Think about it, then do it...but be prepared, to really "belly Laugh" with the Lord you have to know him well...so get to know him today.

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 17:07:00 +0000

As most of you know today is Valentine's Day, so...Happy Valentine's Day!

If you have someone you'd like to spell out L O V E for, go ahead, but be sure first. Matter of Fact make sure its okay with GOD first. While it's become commonplace and comedic to say "I Love You" to just anyone and everyone, true love not only "waits" but it is also a serious thing. One of the most powerful emotions that you will ever feel.

Last night we started 1 Corinthians Chapter 13. "The great love Chapter", is more than just a bunch of sappy love talk, it speaks of absolute love, brotherly and the Love of God.

How fitting it was in God's timing that we should begin this chapter ton the Eve of Valentine's Day. It's fitting because all too often we say we love, but we seldom show we love. Check out this video to here the song "The Proof of Your Love" that I played last night. notice that the band sings about God's Love.

You see, we can buy all the candy, roses, cards, and spend untold amounts of money to prove our love for that special someone, but the Proof of our Love is not in our gifts or talents, the Proof is in our words, our deeds, its in how we treat those around us. These verses from john Spell it out the best:

John 13:34 KJV - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 13:35 KJV - By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Let me leave you with one final word, if you're one that doesn't "do" Valentine's Day, or you don't have that special someone in your life, please, show Love to someone today.

p.s. Yes that is a purple valentines heart! Real Mean Love Purple!

It's been a long journey...

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:40:00 +0000

I sing a song to myself sometimes that Ricky Atkinson and Compassion sing, some of the words are ..."It's been a long Journey, but I have been blessed..."

These words are true to my life, my heart, and my soul. I have seen my share of Spiritual battles, slips and falls, I've made decisions based on my own carnal desires. I am thankful that in spite of myself, and for Jesus' sake, God has fought my battles, picked me up from my slips and falls, and Worked my bad decisions for his good.

Today at 2:20 p.m. I will be saved for 20 years! next year on November 14th I will have been preaching for 20 years! These two dates are more important to me than my own birthday. That God would save a young boy like me that was already addicted to sin, simply amazes me. That God would choose a 13 year old boy to preach His Gospel staggers my mind.

It truly HAS been a long journey but as The Happy Goodman's once sang, "I wouldn't take nothing for my journey". It has been a blessed journey, long, wearisome, but well worth it! It has been worth forsaking the sin in my life, and losing some friends and family members. You may wonder how I could say its worth losing...Those things that I forsook have been replaced in abundance by Love, Joy, and peace. I now have gratitude to a Savior who died for my sins. There is a comforter in whom I can trust. The friends and family that I lost have been replaced by a new family, you see I've been adopted into a Royal family...God's Family. I have had opportunities to lead lost souls to the Cross, I've been in the "Delivery" room as they were birthed into the Family of God. I've seen sinner's saved, saints renewed, I've seen churches grow, I've preached to folks just as unworthy as I am, but still God Loves and Cares for them.

you see, the things that I lost, the people that no longer are in my life have been replaced by things and people of God, and even when those things or those people are not enough or maybe they are gone too, I still have God, I still have Christ, I still have the Holy Ghost as my Comfort, my Friend, my Brother, and my Father.

"It's been a long Journey, but I have been blessed..."

The End of another year

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:12:00 +0000

2011 has been a wonderful yet at tiles a trying year. Our theme for this year has been "Evangelism", many of our messages have been preached to bolster this thought.
Many have resolved to make Evangelism an everyday action. Without an Evangelist coming to preach the Word to me, I never would have accepted Christ. So it has been my burden to preach evangelism, and my prayer that the church would once again evangelize the world, starting with Knoxville, TN.
We have seen spiritual growth and maturity all year long. In recent weeks the focus has changed in preaching, this I believe is leading to the new year and our new theme for 2012.
We are looking forward to the direction the Lord will lead in. Can't wait to see what happens

What a service

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Sunday night was a great service in itself. The singing was great the music was wonderful. But the Spirit was real! It was a long time coming for me though, I have been longing to shout and really get "tore up" in the Lord. It happened Sunday night, it felt like the Lord really showed up and showed out. Thank you Lord for allowing me to be a part of it.

Sunday School is NOT a thing of the Past

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:47:00 +0000

You know, a lot of folks think that "Sunday School" is archaic, old fashioned, provincial even, but I respectfully disagree.

It was in Sunday School that I first heard that Jesus was my Savior, it was there that I first heard that Moses wandered in the dessert, I heard it first in Sunday School that a man named Noah was called to build a boat for a flood that would soon cover the whole world.

Oh yes, Sunday School has been around for many years, but without it men and women of faith would have stumbled as children, youths, and yes even adults.

It is Sunday School that sets the stage for worship, it is because of dedicated teachers who study and pray for their lesson, students and yes even themselves, that countless men, women, and children have come to know Christ as Lord in the Worship Service.

Would you be so kind as to determine in your life to seek out a good church, with a good, sound Sunday School department that can disciple you and/or your children in the basics and finalities of the Word of God?

I hope to see you at our church this Sunday, 9:30 to be exact is the time that we'll begin worshipping the Lord in Sunday School, will you please join us?

Storms and Trials, but still pressing on

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:07:00 +0000

This past winter was one of the "wettest" ones I've seen, there was snow, ice, and of course rain. The temperature was cold (very cold) most of the season, but that was a few months ago. now, its Spring, and the Storms have come through, in fact the most recent storm brought hail, tornadoes, and torrential rains to Knoxville. The hail at the church was around the size of a nickel, however in other parts of Knoxville, there were reports of near baseball size hail. There were tornadoes from Alabama to Georgia, Tennessee got pummeled with Tornadoes (not as much as Alabama and Georgia). We had property damage all across East Tennessee, but the worst lost were the lives lost in this horrible storm.
It makes this preacher wonder, have I done enough? It also begs the question, is the church doing enough? In the recent days since these storms I have seen and heard of churches and other organizations band together to help in these times, that is commendable to say the least, but is it too late?

Don't get me wrong, know one could know that this was coming, and these organizations are doing what they can to help now, but I wonder about eternity. Eternally there are souls that either died and went to Heaven and all of its splendor, or they have died in their sins unprepared to meet a Holy God, they will spend eternity in that awful place called Hell. It makes my heart sad to know that someone, maybe even your neighbor or loved one has passed on unprepared.

In January, the Lord impressed on me the theme for this year at Cedar Bluff, its one word...Evangelism. It's high time for our church, your church...God's Church to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature"...in other words we must Evangelize this world. Will you join me in the Lords mandate to preach His Gospel?

In spite of your answer to that question, I am determined to keep pressing on in this "Pilgrim way" I have faced many things, but God has always been faithful to take me through each of those trials or storms. I have a feeling that He will be with me in the next storm too.

Until next time,
Preacher

New Episode of Conversation's

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Part 2 of our Conversation with Dr. Beth Montgomery should post this evening! Please be looking for it in the player to the right, or you can catch it on youtube or facebook!

Revival Update

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:14:00 +0000

What a blessing we have received from this family and most of, the Lord! We've been preaching praying for and about Revival, God has brought it!(if to no one else to me)
Our Revival Choir has sang their hearts out, the Keffer's have sang the roof off, and the Men of God have preached the Truth of the Gospel of Christ!

Please continue to pray and if you can join us, we'd love to have you!

"Wilt though not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?"

All of the Messages so far are posted on line at www.sermonaudio.com/cedarbluffbc feel free to download or stream the messages!

God Bless!

Revival Flyer

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 20:57:00 +0000

March Revival

Men of Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Time is winding down until or Men's Conference and Revival.

Listen to WRJZ 620am in Knoxville in the morning to hear Mitch Mitchell, Bob Bell and I talk about the conference and the Revival. The Keffer's will be with us on Sunday Through Wednesday singing and preaching.
Personally I can't wait, The Lord is going to do great things, and I'm looking forward to it!!!

Please tell your friends, son's husbands, and even your enemies about both of these meetings!

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noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 01:16:00 +0000

Welcome to the Cedar Bluff website.We're still working on it, so come back often and see our progress.

We've just returned from Pigeon Forge, we had a Sunday School Class Retreat this past weekend. Very encouraging time int he Lord, and sweet fellowship with God's people.
I spoke with Mitch Mitchell today and we may have a radio spot lined up to promote our Men of Purpose conference. So everyone help us pray about that!

I'll post some video's from this weekend sometime this week, and also post part two of the conversation with Beth Montgomery.

Don't forget to tell everyone about our conference, click on "Registration" and register today.

New Page... Must See

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Sun, 06 Feb 2011 02:38:00 +0000

Hey Everyone! Take a look at the new page, "Registration" if you want to join us for the Men's Conference next month. You HAVE to register. Space is Limited, and the sooner you reserve your space, the better.

Video Update

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 03:43:00 +0000

Henley Street

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:41:00 +0000

I found this picture this morning. This was late December right before the closing on January 3, 2011. As you can see there was still snow on the Heli-pad of Mercy Riverside.

New Episode

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 19:35:00 +0000

We've just posted our first episode of Conversations with Beth Montgomery! Check it out and tell us what you think.

Children of Light

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Sat, 01 Jan 2011 21:02:00 +0000

Does it feel dark inside ur heart? Do u feel all alone? There is always someone who wants to make ur heart his home. The darkness that u feel inside is sin living in u. But Jesus is the light of God who will make the darkness flee. He died to take ur sin away and rose to set u free. If u want the light of god to live in u believe through faith what he has done.
You were once darkness, but now u r light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

---Submitted by Kati Smith

Tell me what you think

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 21:55:00 +0000

For some time now I have been maintaining several social networking site, at last count, that number is 10...yeah 10 separate sites. Now, keep in mind that some of these sites have the same information.
I need your help on something though. You see, each of these sites have their own "fan base", for instance I have some followers on "YouTube" that don't follow on "Facebook", and those may not follow us on "GodTube". I can cutback on some of these websites by using only a few but I'm reluctant because of the possible loss of "Fans".
Another thing and the real reason for this post, I've been thinking about shutting down our Official Website, and use this blog as our website in the future.
I am praying about this, and I ask you to join me in prayer about this change.

If I post a video, I post to 4 sites, and I may also post here on blogger, it usually takes 30 minutes to 1 hour for editing, saving, and posting. That is not a large block of time, but it is overwhelming at times keeping up with these sites.
The answer could be as simple as organizing the effort, so please help me pray for guidance on this.

God Bless and thank you for your prayer.

Are you Thankful?

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 23:17:00 +0000

The Psalmist, possibly right after his fatal sin with Bathsheba, wrote a psalm that thrills the hearts of readers.
Psalm 103 begins with "Bless the Lord Oh my soul, all that is within me bless His holy Name."
Recently i preached on the Song of Thanksgiving, and since I have been reminded daily about the blessing that God has given. Not just family, friends, health, and employment, but the little things. Things like my baby girl fighting sleep every night, and getting up every morning @ 7:00 or 7:30, or my baby doll whining because someone changes the channel on the tv, or when someone runs all of the hot water out at home by taking long showers. These may not sounds like things to be thankful for, but you see, God has reminded me that in spite of the fighting, and early rising, I have an 11 month old baby that is alive, and healthy. Regardless of the whining, I have a 4 year old that it vibrant, and happy nearly all the time. Whether or not, I have have hot or cold water, at least I have a home, where I rest, love, and live freely.

Are you thankful? David was, even in one of the darkest times of his life, after this horrible lapse in judgement and tragic consequences, he praised the Lord. Heart broken and disappointed, he cried out for his soul to praise the Lord, for his whole body to bless the Lord. Oh, that we would "Praise Him in the Storm" when everything is wrong in our lives, we would be blessed to "Bless the Lord".

Once again, I ask, are you Thankful?

We're not Blind

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 21:34:00 +0000

Christians have weaknesses but blindness is not one of them. We may fall short by gossiping, we see what's going on in this wicked world through prophecy, we at times think negative thoughts, but we realize those thoughts are dishonorable. People can be hypocritical some times but we know we are not hypocrites. We struggle with sin in some areas that can hinder our close walk with God but we overcome by the power of God. Christians have weaknesses, But Blindness Is Not One Of Them. We have eyes to see what is wrong and what is right. Will you choose to acknowledge these warnings?
Submitted by Avery Hicks

First and Last Look

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:24:00 +0000

The first book of the Bible begins with an intimate interaction between God and man and the last book ends in a similar fashion, with God Himself wiping every tear from our eyes. What a way to end the story! With our Heavenly Father bringing us on His knee to wipe away every tear from our eyes. Maybe it will be at that moment when we will realize that we are finally home.
I wonder if the tears we shed will be a mixture of joy at being in the Father's presence and relief that there will be no more death or mourning, or crying or pain. Whatever the reason for our tears, the soothing comfort
of a Father's love will assuredly take away all our pain and make all our suffering but a distant memory. We have this promise, that at the end of all time, we will find ourselves in the arms of the Father. He will come and
live with us and be our God and we will live with Him and be His people.
May this be the hope that we cling to for those who have gone before us in Christ and for us as well. While our temporal life on earth may soon come to an end, we have the hope of an eternity living near to the Father's heart.
*Rev. 21:3-4
Submitted by Avery Hicks

Through the Seasons

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Sun, 14 Nov 2010 21:24:00 +0000

There are seasons of devastation that we all go through where we are in
desperate need of a Father's love and comfort. Let God carry you through
these seasons in your life. You were never meant to shoulder these burdens
on your own. The Lord wants to comfort you with His tender love, so that
you might be able to pass on the comfort that you have received to others
when they need the Father's love.
2 Cor. 1:3-4

Submitted by Avery Hicks

Thus Far

noreply@blogger.com (James Burke) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 15:19:00 +0000

There is a thought on my mind, a burden rather on my heart. However it is one that I cannot explain. It concerns the will of God, and His direction. My Spirit is so excited about the moving of God, however my flesh is hesitant about what it will be caused to do.

If only my flesh and Spirit we not “Contrary” one to the other, this, or these things wouldn’t be so distracting or troubling.

You see, the Lord has impressed me to follow through on things that He began in me, and for the church a year or so ago, however I do not have the time, energy, or the knowledge of how to go forward. I picture myself as Moses (not that I am comparing myself to Moses), He was giving direction from God, yet he made excuses, but I rejoice in the end result…God made Him able, to do His will.

There are currently four separate destinations that are all accessible by the same path, the Will of God. So, I now have to prepare for the journey, make the time, maintain the energy, and go as God leads.

I am praying that God sends someone to join me without, having to be led every step of the way. I need someone that has a desire to do the will of God, and the same burden, and discernment I things of God.

God has been faithful, in everything thus far, and I feel certain that He will continue to be so.

In His Service

Preacherman