tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33112331804184738302012-02-19T12:37:00.633-05:00A blog written by a pastor who leads two historic Baptist congregations in the western piedmont of North Carolina. This blog is updated with sermons, thoughts, bible studies, prayers and discussions on the Bible and current issues.Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.comBlogger961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-57535188542401656162012-02-19T12:37:00.005-05:002012-02-19T12:37:00.662-05:00

A Sermon based upon 2 Corinthians 4: 1-15By Charles J. Tomlin,  DMin.Flat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipTransfiguration Sunday, Feb. 19th, 2012 Delos Miles tells of the darkest moment of his life.  He was in the army during the Korean Conflict and the North Koreans had suddenly attacked and overrun his unit.   He was lying there in a foxhole, alive but frozen in fear.  Most all his buddies around

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-82213565092690541792012-02-12T17:07:00.000-05:002012-02-12T17:07:40.040-05:00

A Sermon based upon  2 Kings 5: 1-15  Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipSixth Sunday After Epiphany,  Feb. 12th, 2012 Once I had a deacon come to me with a special request he brought from another church member.    It is important to note that it was a member I had never seen in church.   The deacon said, “Pastor, a friend of mind, would like for you to come and tell his son

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-58920475604408506232012-02-05T11:31:00.006-05:002012-02-07T12:52:06.965-05:00

A sermon based on Isaiah 40: 21-31Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership5th Sunday After the Epiphany, February 5, 2010 British Philospher Anthony Flew, who is now a Christian philosopher, once elaborated on a famous story entitled The Parable of the Invisible Gardener.   Told in brief, the story is about two people, a believer and a skeptic, who are walking through the jungle

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-11027560617616563282012-01-29T11:00:00.016-05:002012-01-29T11:00:03.851-05:00

A sermon on Psalm 111By Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership4th Sunday after Epiphany, January 29, 2012 As is my custom, I took off the week after Christmas to visit a church in the area that was experimenting with a different style of church and a different type of worship.   It was New’s Day, and upon entering the Sanctuary, knowing that it was a “contemporary” worship style,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-9102702886727225322012-01-23T06:04:00.001-05:002012-01-23T06:06:36.058-05:00

A Sermon Based Upon Psalm 62By Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Third Sunday after Epiphany, Jan. 22, 2012 Curt is thirteen years old.  But Curt is physically and mentally disabled.  He can’t talk. He’s a bit fragile. He’s just now getting to the place where he can go to the bathroom by himself.  He can feed himself. He can hug you and love you. Even though Curt’s life

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-2440670293911174332011-05-29T11:59:00.033-04:002011-09-13T23:27:22.843-04:00

A sermon based upon John 14: 15-31Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipMemorial Day, May, 29, 2011 Memorial Day weekend is a time to remember those who have died in our nation’s service; those who have paid with their lives the ultimate sacrifice.   Since 1868 our nation has set aside this time to remember and not forget—those who died the Revolution; those who died in the Civil

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-74799934008526347062011-05-08T13:18:00.005-04:002011-09-13T23:28:28.859-04:00

A sermons based upon Luke 24: 13-35Charles J. Tomlin, DMin.Sunday, May 8th, 2011 Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership “We’re all gonna get lumps.  We’re all gonna get bumbs.  Nobody can predict the future, but we do know one thing.  It ain’t going to go according to plan.”  “It’s sad”, Neil Pasrischa continues, “but things could happen or hurt you that you just can’t predict…  Your husband might

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Colossians 3: 1-4Dr. Charles J. TomlinEaster Sunday, April 24, 2011Flat Rock –Zion Baptist Partnership A woman named Mary has a four-year old daughter, named Elena.  As Easter approached she struggled to get through to four-year old Elena the meaning of Easter. It went something like this:"Mommy, will the Easter bunny bring me purple jelly beans?"I am sure he will bring you jelly beans, Elena.

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-91405776720682623182011-04-10T12:40:00.001-04:002011-04-10T12:40:00.187-04:00

A sermon based upon John 4: 27-38By Dr. Charles J. TomlinApril 10, 2011Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Have you heard about the MOVIE ENTITLED, “SUPER-SIZE ME?”  It’s a movie that shows America’s obsession with “sizing-up” fast food meals from French Fries, to Biggie Fires; from Large soft drinks, to Huge Gulp Drinks; from a single Hamburger to a Double, or Even Triple Burger, with of course

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-74643787786483330592011-04-08T12:39:00.000-04:002011-04-08T12:39:57.323-04:00

A Sermon based upon 2 Samuel 13: 1-22Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipApril 3, 2011 About 25 years ago, not long before the fall of the Soviet Union, the Russian government experienced a deep embarrassment at the hands of a nineteen-year-old German youth.   This German youth FLEW HIS SINGLE ENGINE CESSNA Skyhawk airplane HUNDREDS OF MILES OVER RUSSIAN TERRITORY completely

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-77600457577506417292011-03-20T11:55:00.001-04:002011-03-20T11:55:00.343-04:00

A sermon based upon Numbers 22: 21-34Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipMarch 20, 2011,  Second Sunday of Lent For several weeks now we’ve been studying the seven most deadly sins.   Thus far we’ve been considering Christian scholars have defined as the “cold” sins: pride, envy, sloth, and greed.    The final three sins we’re going to discuss in the next few weeks are defined

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-20547312219906431262011-03-13T12:36:00.008-04:002011-03-13T12:36:00.712-04:00

A sermon based on Luke 12: 13-21Dr. Charles J. Tomlin,Flat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipMarch 13, 2011,  Lent 1st  Sunday Right after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the death of Communism in Eastern Europe, then Chancellor of West Germany Helmut Kohl’s public words made headlines: “Marx is dead; Jesus is Alive!”    In a moment of great euphoria Europe shared the Chancellor’s enthusiasm about the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-39290333780565554872011-03-06T12:01:00.015-05:002011-03-06T12:01:00.312-05:00

A Sermon Based Upon Matthew 25: 1-13Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipLast Epiphany/Transfiguration, March 6, 2011 I want to start with a familiar story most all of you know: “One day as the Little Red Hen was scratching in a field, she found a grain of wheat. "This wheat should be planted," she said. "Who will plant this grain of wheat?" "Not I," said the Duck.  "Not I,"

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-59473850496644137532011-02-27T12:40:00.002-05:002011-03-03T13:53:42.614-05:00

1 Samuel 18:  1-10aBy Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipFebruary 27, 2011, Epiphany 8. A story is told that a person dressed like the Duke Blue devil mascot was out walking a neighborhood some years ago when a sudden rain storm came up.  Not wanting to ruin his body paint, the devil-dressed man runs for cover in the closest building.  It happens to be a church and a worship

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-40621805909067301742011-02-20T11:38:00.002-05:002011-02-20T11:38:00.415-05:00

Lenten Series: The Seven Deadly Sins: PrideA sermon based on Luke 18: 9-14Preached by Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership On a sunny day in September, 1972, a stern-face, plainly dressed man could be seen standing still on a street corner in the busy Chicago Loop. As pedestrians hurried by on their way to lunch or business, he would solemnly lift his right arm, and pointing to

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-62204347660566735012011-02-13T12:31:00.019-05:002011-02-13T12:31:00.173-05:00

A sermon based upon Deuteronomy 31: 11-20Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipEpiphany 6, February 13th, 2011 Picture this!  You’re playing a card game with some friends.  You’re losing.   You’re supposed to pick up a card whether it will be favorable or not.   You don’t want to take a card.  You hesitate.  You look at your friends and they look at you and then they remind you:

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-9684163772649938842011-02-06T12:15:00.017-05:002011-02-06T12:15:00.432-05:00

A sermon based upon Isaiah 58: 1-14By Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipFebruary 6th, 5th Sunday of Epiphany All of us are concerned about events taking place in Egypt.  Political experts say the protests of people currently taking place there will change the course of world history. One scene that impacted me this past week was the scene of thousands of protestors on their

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-37130030748710676662011-01-30T09:22:00.003-05:002011-02-04T12:01:54.346-05:00

A Sermon based upon Psalm 15By Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipEpiphany 4, January 30th, 2011 The story goes that a Catholic dies and goes to heaven.  When he gets there, the attendant says, welcome, you'll be in room 21, but be very quiet when you walk past room 8. A Pentecostal dies and goes to heaven, and the attendant greets him and says, welcome, you'll be in room 22, but

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-74590807692753798822011-01-23T11:55:00.001-05:002011-02-04T11:56:47.489-05:00

A sermon based upon Psalm 27: 1-9Charles J. Tomlin, DMin.,Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership3rd Sunday of Epiphany, January 23, 2011 A little bit flaky, that’s what you would call Wilson Bentley.   He lived in Vermont from 1865 to 1931 and was fascinated with snowflakes.   They even nicked named him, “snowflake”.   Bentley actually studied and documented over 5,000 snowflakes and photographed

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-8708189199747847282011-01-16T11:59:00.004-05:002011-01-16T11:59:00.754-05:00

A Sermon based upon Psalm 40: 1-11Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipJanuary 15, 2011, 2nd Sunday of Epiphany Van Kemper tells how twenty-five years ago, a young band of Irish musicians, who called themselves "U2," was recording an album at the Windmill Lane Studios in Dublin, Ireland. They had recorded nine tracks, and needed just one more song to complete their work. But the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-21379328596759336002011-01-09T11:10:00.002-05:002012-01-31T13:41:27.408-05:00

A Sermon Based Upon Matthew 3: 13-17By Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock Zion Baptist PartnershipJanuary 9th, 2011,, Epiphany 1, The Baptism of Christ.  Today’s Bible text is most familiar.   In the opening moment of public ministry, Jesus comes to the Jordan River to present himself for baptism.   It seems simple, right?  Wrong! What happens next is quite amazing.   This strong, earthly, manly John

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-16997210637024565992011-01-02T12:50:00.004-05:002011-01-06T11:28:25.037-05:00

A sermon based upon John 1: 1-18Dr. Charles J. TomlinSecond Sunday of Christmas, Jan. 2, 2011Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership It’s good to be back with you after my foot surgery.  The doctor says I’m making good progress and all is healing well.  Of course, I’m somewhat limited.  Next week I get to start putting weight down and the cast comes off is three weeks, then I’ll be out in a walking

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-3048077586041581982010-12-05T12:00:00.002-05:002010-12-05T12:00:02.197-05:00

A Sermon Based upon Psalm 72Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership2nd Sunday of Advent, Year ADecember 5th, 2010 Sometimes it’s hard to be hopeful. Over Thanksgiving, my brother-in-law and I were talking about the current economic and job situation.  He’s in grading and construction and hasn’t had steady work in over 2 years.  I spoke about my own concern of having a house on the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-90479890791967281052010-11-28T16:25:00.001-05:002010-11-28T16:30:27.406-05:00

Matthew 24: 36-44A Sermon based upon Matthew 24: 36-44by Dr.  Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Partnership,First Sunday of Advent, Year ANovember 28th, 2010 On January 27, 1986 my wife and I were headed from Shelby to Chapel Hill for a medical consultation.  We had the radio on in the car as we traveled down I-40/I-85.  The whole nation was in expectation and it was a special moment.  It was

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-30879063071155557702010-11-14T12:06:00.010-05:002010-11-15T10:34:38.786-05:00

A Sermon Based Upon Luke 21: 5-28Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock Zion Baptist PartnershipNovember 14, 2010   Proper 28C Loren Rosenberg was struck by a car while attempting to cross a busy Utah street as her eyes were glued to her BlackBerry.  Rosenberg is suing Google, blaming the Google Maps service she was accessing at the time of her accident.  It told her to walk along state Route 224, never

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-32571553477530726002010-11-07T12:18:00.006-05:002010-11-07T12:18:00.691-05:00

A Sermon based Upon Haggai  2: 1-9Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipNovember 7, 2010, Proper 27C Halloween is past, but there is a verse in this passage that still haunts:  “Who is left among you that saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Is it not in your sight as nothing? (Hag 2:3 NRS). Haggai is not only talking about a place that used to be, but

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-31980652003556735272010-10-31T12:07:00.007-04:002010-10-31T12:07:00.531-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 19: 1-10Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipOctober 31th, 2010; Proper 26 Cable News network CNBC, recently aired a few specials about American Greed and the most notorious financial scams and scandals of our times.  One of those documentaries focused upon the notorious Bernie Madoff, who not only “made off” with millions of investor dollars in an

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-15882802397839548962010-10-24T12:01:00.001-04:002010-10-24T12:01:00.062-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 18: 9-14Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipOctober 24th, 2010, Proper 25C This story of Jesus aims to undo the lie of this Pharisee when he prayed: “God, I thank you that I’m not like other people; thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector”  (18:11).  Notice especially how this fellow can only offer his over-inflated prayer, when he

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-84640970011538241192010-10-17T11:59:00.032-04:002010-10-17T11:59:00.988-04:00

More than a Sunday DriveLuke 18: 1-8Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipOctober 17, 2010,  Proper 24C A couple of years ago, a woman was driving her Nissan Altima down Interstate 96 in Michigan.  Reaching for a pack of gum in her pocket, she took her eyes from the road for a couple of seconds.  All of a sudden, a voice, speaking with urgency, said, "Not, Not, Not." Yanking her

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-62544863837026784132010-10-12T10:18:00.001-04:002010-10-12T10:20:08.075-04:00

WHEN I AM MEEK, I AM STRONGLuke 17: 11-19Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipOctober 12, 2010  Proper 23C For much of our culture, “meekness” or “gentleness” is something to be avoided like leprosy.  How in the world can you get ahead, in this world, if you are gentle, meek, and mild?  No, the person who is most perceived to be a hero, who is most admired, or who gets press or

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-11527425604047409042010-10-03T12:43:00.005-04:002010-10-03T12:43:00.212-04:00

“Lord, Increase Our Faith!Luke 17: 5-10Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipOctober 3, 2010    Proper 22C A modern “parable” tells about a man who never seemed willing to wake up for church.  His wife tried and tried every week, but he refused to get up.                        She said, “Honey, come on. You’re going to be late for church.”             “I don’t care — I don’t

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-5024469816959782682010-09-26T12:01:00.001-04:002010-09-26T12:01:00.219-04:00

“A Question of Goodness” A sermon based upon Luke 16: 19-31Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipSeptember 26, 2010,  Proper 21C “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things” (1Co 13:11 KJV).  So goes one of the most familiar quotes from the apostle Paul. Some of the very first

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-76992499854335418162010-09-19T11:59:00.003-04:002010-09-19T11:59:00.061-04:00

Kindness is not Random!Luke 16: 1-13Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipSeptember 19, 2010   Proper 20C There’s an old story about a young man in Montana who bought a horse from a farmer for $100.The farmer agreed to deliver the horse the next day. However when the next day arrived, the farmer reneged on his promise.“I’m afraid the horse has died,” he explained.The young man said,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-22409119986477449412010-09-12T12:30:00.007-04:002010-09-23T12:47:17.811-04:00

"Hurry Up and Wait!" A sermon based upon Luke 15: 1-10By Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipSeptember 12, 2010, Proper 19C Today’s text from Luke opens with religious leaders losing their patience with Jesus because Jesus displays too much patience with sinners (15.2).  In response, Jesus shares 3 stories to illustrate divine patience in some very human situations during biblical

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-83355766780279973202010-09-05T12:44:00.004-04:002010-09-23T12:47:44.717-04:00

Peace is Something You MakeLuke 14: 25-33Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipSeptember 5, 2010, Proper 18C If you ever get to visit Scotland, the ultimate “Vaterland” of some of us, go into the St. Machar Cathedral located in the working man’s city of Aberdeen, where you will an arresting series of stained-glass windows depicting the first 12 disciples of Jesus.  Each picture

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-55208876584691863832010-08-29T12:36:00.005-04:002010-09-23T12:48:35.726-04:00

Are We Christian Enough?Luke 14: 1, 7-14Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipAugust 29th, 2010 Late one night, a burglar broke into a house he thought was empty. He tiptoed through the living room but suddenly froze in his tracks when he heard a voice say: "Jesus is watching you!"Silence returned to the house, so the burglar crept forward again. "Jesus is watching you," the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-16774340293919496232010-08-22T11:59:00.002-04:002010-09-23T12:48:59.228-04:00

Straighten Up!Luke 13: 10-17Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion PartnershipAugust 22, 2010 Way back in cold February, fourth grader Patrick Timoney came face-to-face with what “zero degrees” really mean.  Not “zero degrees” Fahrenheit, but “zero degrees” of tolerance. It seems Patrick had taken some of his favorite Lego toys to school to show off to his buddies. Any parent of young children can

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-34924684947219546942010-08-14T12:39:00.002-04:002010-08-14T22:48:12.836-04:00

Isaiah 5: 1-7Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion PartnershipAugust 15, 2010 Heartbreak songs fill the airways.  Know a few?  Maybe you could write your own.One most of us know was Elvis’ “Heartbreak Hotel”:  “Well since my baby left me.  I’ve found a new place to dwell.  It’s down at the end of lonely street, they call heartbreak hotel.  You make me so lonely baby.  I get so lonely.  I get so

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-41496544840287411992010-07-25T12:32:00.001-04:002010-07-25T12:32:00.612-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 11: 1-13Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion PartnershipJuly 25, 2010 A mother sent her 5th grade son to bed. A few minutes later she went in his room to make sure he was in bed. When she stuck her head into his room, she saw that he was kneeling beside his bed in prayer. Pausing to listen, she heard her son praying over and over again. "Let it be Tokyo. Please dear Lord, let

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-75893745869049194622010-07-18T12:07:00.001-04:002010-07-18T12:07:00.789-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 10: 38-42 Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipJuly 18th, 2010 A police officer pulls a guy over for speeding and has the following exchange:Officer: May I see your driver’s license?Driver: I don’t have one. I had it suspended when I got my fifth DUI.Officer: May I see the owner’s card for this vehicle?Driver: It’s not my car. I stole it.Officer: The car

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-18827219916961873232010-07-11T12:11:00.004-04:002010-07-11T12:11:00.618-04:00

A sermon preached by Luke 10: 25-37Charles J. TomlinZion Baptist ChurchHomecoming, July 11, 2010 Last year, I read an interesting little book entitled “When the Buddha meets Bubba.”  It’s a very uncommon fiction story written by southern writer Richard “Dixie” Hartwell”.   It tells of a red-neck, whose life is falling apart and who’s Christianity, which he inherited from his parents, wasn’t worth

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-13939734741033430902010-07-04T12:05:00.004-04:002010-07-07T17:14:49.757-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 10: 1-11, 16-20             Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipIndependence Day, July 4th, 2010 Jesus and politicians have a lot in common.   I know this sounds a bit weird.  We normally think of politics as being dirty, deceitful, full of trickery and sometimes stretching the truth, or out-right lying.    Sometimes it is.  On the other hand, we most

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-88977089651201499202010-06-27T12:07:00.009-04:002010-07-07T17:15:35.031-04:00

A sermon based upon Galatians 5: 1, 13-25Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipJune 27, 2010 There is little doubt that the experience of freedom releases within the human spirit an incomparable exuberance and excitement.     Last week  for the first time, I heard about the annual “Juneteeth” celebration.  I didn’t know about this until recently and have since discovered that “

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-79021993557324894282010-06-20T12:01:00.004-04:002010-06-20T12:01:01.297-04:00

A Sermon Based Upon Luke 8: 26-37Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipFather’s Day,  June 20th, 2010 Something is pathologically wrong with Joran Van Der Sloot.  He not only killed Nattily Holloway and got away with it, but now he’s killed another girl in Peru.  A lawyer for the Nattily Holloway family recent confronted Van der Sloot, just before this second murder.   He

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-11709508949494424172010-06-13T12:01:00.003-04:002010-06-15T12:57:46.910-04:00

A sermon based on Luke 7: 36-50Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipJune 13th, 2010 It’s a well-worn story, but worth repeating again. A family had twin boys whose only resemblance to each other was their looks. If one felt it was too hot, the other thought it was too cold. If one said the T.V. was too loud, the other claimed the volume needed to be turned up.  Opposite in every

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-22270846703085445602010-06-06T11:58:00.004-04:002010-06-06T11:58:00.759-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 7: 1-17Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership2nd Sunday of Pentecost, June 6th, 2010 Last month, the popular website “You Tube” celebrated its 5th anniversary.  As a part of the celebration, the news media reviewed some of the most viewed videos.   One of those was the unforgettable wedding that went from processional and party as the bridesmaids, groomsmen

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-25905035257328039782010-06-02T10:32:00.001-04:002010-06-02T10:35:37.548-04:00

A sermon based upon Psalm 8Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipTrinity Sunday, May 30th, 2010 Sojourner Truth was a freed slave, who although she was set free, at one point decided to return to her former owner because her slave life had been easier than her free life.  She "looked back to Egypt" as she described it. Most of us would probably agree that freedom is usually

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-46064796009549289812010-05-23T12:11:00.001-04:002010-05-23T12:11:00.604-04:00

A sermon based upon Acts 2: 1-21Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipPentecost Sunday,  May 23, 2010 Fred Craddock tells of a young pastor visiting an elderly woman in the hospital. The pastor finds the woman to be quite ill, gasping for breath, and obviously nearing the end of her life. In the midst of tubes, bags, and beeping medical machines, the pastor reads Scripture and

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-8463901932041111292010-05-16T12:22:00.001-04:002010-05-16T12:22:00.805-04:00

A sermon based upon Luke 24: 44-53Dr. Charles J. TomlinThe Ascension of Our LordFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Today’s text has a rather “strange” ending, if you can call it an “ending” at all. The Resurrected Jesus has just explained his death and resurrection to his disciples, then charged them to go and preach repentance and forgiveness to all nations.    Now, in verse 51, we read that “

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-87670944759797805432010-05-09T11:59:00.001-04:002010-05-10T12:25:56.515-04:00

A sermon based upon  John 14: 23-29Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipMother’s Day, Easter 6, May 9th, 2010 “A child wakes up in the night, perhaps from a bad dream.  Finding himself surrounded by darkness, alone, beset by nameless threats, perhaps imaginary but to this child no less real.   In this moment of sudden fear, when the trusted lines of reality and stability are

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-91092275830450346112010-05-02T12:01:00.004-04:002010-05-10T12:26:54.156-04:00

A sermon based upon Acts 11: 1-18Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipMay 2nd, 2010,  Easter 5 When it comes to food, we all have our “likes” and “dislikes” or we have the things we should be eating and the “no-no’s”; the things we shouldn’t be eating, due to health restrictions or health consciousness.       Today’s text is about food and diet, but it takes us into some very

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-32556905579653364762010-04-29T22:45:00.001-04:002010-05-10T12:27:27.707-04:00

A sermon based upon Psalm 23Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership4th Sunday of Easter, April 25, 2010 After the pastor had preached his morning message, one of his listeners came and said, “Pastor, I didn’t understand your sermon, today.”            The pastor replied, “Good!”   You got my point.            “What do you mean? I didn’t get it at all,” the man responded with a

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-49412110125827620562010-04-18T12:10:00.003-04:002010-05-10T12:28:13.255-04:00

A Sermon Based upon Acts 9: 1-16Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership3rd Sunday of Easter, April 18, 2010 As America entered into its ongoing Economic recession, Japan was trying to come out of its own 10 year-long economic recession, where asset prices were also over-inflated when the bubble burst.   Recovery has been as practically impossible in Japan as here, and jobs are still

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-36554074732644227922010-04-11T11:53:00.001-04:002010-04-11T11:53:00.309-04:00

A Sermon based upon John 20: 19-31Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership2nd Sunday of Easter, April 11, 2010 Once, while traveling in the town of York in England, I came upon a tourist store which sold Family Coat of Arms with small histories of family names.   Upon reading the etymology of the name Tomlin, I found that the oldest form of Tomlin may go back to name Thomas,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-73981647666555721272010-04-04T11:59:00.005-04:002010-04-05T11:49:05.886-04:00

A Sermon Based Upon  Luke 23: 46-49Dr. Charles J. TomlinEaster Sunday, Zion-Flat Rock PartnershipApril 4th, 2010 Have you ever been ripped off?   While living in an East Germany, I went down to the basement of our apartment building where everyone had individual storage rooms.   I immediately noticed the lock of my door was broken and when I looked inside, I saw my new mountain bike had been

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-69021632184303161402010-04-04T09:11:00.001-04:002010-04-04T09:11:00.558-04:00

An Easter Sunrise MeditationZion Baptist ChurchApril 4thth, 7:00 amDr. Charles J. Tomlin You don’t normally think of commandments at Easter do you?  Well today, early this Easter morning, I want to change your thinking. Do you know what is God’s most persistent commandment---the one commandment God makes most frequently in the Bible?”   How would you answer?   Let’s play the guessing game a

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-295525401420831812010-03-28T11:57:00.003-04:002010-03-31T09:26:59.850-04:00

(The Sixth Last Word from the Cross)John 19: 29-30Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipPassion Sunday, March 28, 2010 This week in Washington and around the country people are wondering what, if anything has been accomplished with the signing of the Health Care bill?   I can imagine that much the same confusion took place around the cross.   What, if anything positive did Jesus

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-18203996584009802962010-03-21T11:59:00.003-04:002010-03-31T09:26:22.677-04:00

(A sermon on the Fifth-Last Word from the Cross)John 4: 5-14; 19: 28-29;  Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipFifth Sunday of Lent, March 21, 2010 Humans are naturally hungry and thirsty for life.  Who hasn’t heard a baby’s cry for food or a dying person’s last request for water?   Each and every day and several times a day, our own physical bodies are in need of nourishment,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-17117990749978349702010-03-18T07:31:00.002-04:002010-03-31T09:25:46.805-04:00

A Sermon on The Fourth Last Word from the Cross: Matthew 27: 39-50Dr. Charles J. TomlinThe Fourth Sunday of Lent, March 14, 2010 As a child, sitting still and listening to a sermon was one of the most difficult and demanding things I had to do to obey my parents.   It might be one of the reasons I became a preacher, so I could talk and you are listen.    But of course you don’t have to listen. 

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-50752082032512988092010-03-07T11:59:00.004-05:002010-03-31T09:25:07.027-04:00

A sermon based upon John 19: 16b-27The Third Last Word from the CrossCharles J. Tomlin, DMin.The Third Sunday in Lent, March 7th, 2010 Not a few Christians were stirred up a couple of years ago when the book “The DaVinci Code” came out.    The major controversy was its suggestion that the Catholic Church has been covering up the truth that Jesus was a married man and had a family and that the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-79274859264503065682010-03-01T15:41:00.006-05:002010-03-31T09:24:35.435-04:00

A Sermon based on Luke 23: 35-43The Second Last Word from the CrossCharles J. Tomlin, DMin.The Second Sunday in Lent,  February 28, 2010 If you could be anywhere but here, where would it be? Now I ask this question very cautiously, because realize where you are at the moment and I remember very well that I spent at least half of my childhood and a portion of my adolescence not wanting to be at

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-58036058116094628472010-02-21T15:37:00.005-05:002010-03-31T09:23:52.338-04:00

A Sermon Series on the Last Words From the CrossThe First Word: "Father Forgive"  from Luke 23: 32-34Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist PartnershipFirst Sunday of Lent, February 21, 2010 Our hearts were saddened by the Olympic tragedy on opening day, when a Luge rider from the country of Georgia was killed in a horrific accident.  It didn’t help matters when a couple of days later, even

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-5763152629995764762010-02-14T12:00:00.005-05:002010-03-18T07:36:44.248-04:00

A sermon based on 1 Corinthians 13: 1-13By Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership4th Sunday after EpiphanyFebruary 14, 2010 Actor Matthew Mcconaughey is often type-casted in romantic comedies as a good looking, deviant male who is more often than not “unlucky in love.”   In one of his most recent movies entitled “Ghosts of Grilfriends Past,” Mcconaughey stars as playboy Conner Mead,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-34873551758621770442010-02-08T12:51:00.003-05:002010-02-10T10:44:22.848-05:00

Bob Hill and his new wife Betty were vacationing in Europe, as it happens, near Transylvania . They were driving in a rental car along a  rather deserted highway.  It was late and raining very hard.   Bob could barely see the road in front of the car.  Suddenly the car skids out of control!  Bob attempts to control the car, but to no avail!  The car swerves and smashes into a tree.    Moments  

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-56076621817084019092010-02-07T11:59:00.001-05:002010-03-18T07:37:17.470-04:00

A Sermon based upon Luke 5: 1—11By Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership5th Sunday after EpiphanyFebruary 7th, 2010 Most every fisherman loves to tell a “fish story.”   Fish stories are filled with the unexpected, with adventure and sometimes, great exaggeration.  Sometimes the stories are even about the fish. One fish story tells of a couple of young boys who were fishing at their

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-17739879288255778902010-01-24T12:00:00.005-05:002010-03-18T07:37:44.661-04:00

A Sermon based upon Luke 4: 14-30A Sermon by Charles J. TomlinZion-Flat Rock Baptist PartnershipThird Sunday after Epiphany, Jan. 24, 2010  The other day I saw Jay Leno’s spot; “Don’t Try This at Home.”   The first guest stood on a medicine ball and while balancing himself, took a barbell and did several squats.   It hard enough to do squats on level ground, but he did it standing on a medicine

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-67001958424719841852010-01-17T11:00:00.003-05:002010-03-18T07:38:30.053-04:00

A Sermon based upon John 2: 1-11Dr. Charles J. TomlinFlat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership2nd Sunday of Epiphany, January 17, 2010 Brent Younger, professor of preaching at Mercer Divinity School, says his Junior boy’s class Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Pope, did not care for the story of Jesus turning water into wine.   In fact, she hated this story and tried to get through it as fast as possible. 

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-44425537598301213072010-01-05T13:59:00.002-05:002010-01-05T14:02:50.197-05:00

A Sermon Matthew 2: 1-12 Charles J. Tomlin Second Sunday after Christmas or Epiphany Year C Flat Rock Zion Baptist Partnership The text for today takes us back to the Christmas story one last time.   In the most ancient Church, the Orthodox Church, Christmas was not officially over until after “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, which lasted until January 5th.   You might be ready to move on, but

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-91428270515408920622009-12-28T12:20:00.005-05:002010-01-18T15:00:12.339-05:00

Sermon based on Luke 2: 41-52 Charles J. Tomlin Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Sunday after Christmas, Year C December 27th, 2009 Can you remember when you were 12 years old? I became 12 years of age in May of 1969.   That was the year of the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the year of Woodstock, and it was year Richard Nixon was elected President.   The average price of gas was 35 cents per

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-2471876933414849312009-12-28T12:19:00.000-05:002009-12-28T12:19:13.905-05:00

Thoughts on Psalm 96 Prepared on Christmas Eve, 2009 Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership As we prepare our hearts for tonight and for everything Christmas.  What is it really? What is Christmas 2009 years later? What is Christmas to those of us who weren’t there but are here? What is Christmas to those of us who still face a world that is dark, deadly, difficult and often appears devoid of

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-50148349204751708682009-12-28T12:15:00.000-05:002009-12-28T12:15:08.774-05:00

Sermon based on Luke 1: 39-55 4th Sunday of Advent, December 20th, 2009  (Snowed Out) Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Dr. Charles J. Tomlin, Pastor It doesn’t bother me that sinners come to church.  What bothers me most is people coming to church and not singing.   I know this might sound a little harsh to those of you who are tone deaf or can’t carry a tune in a bucket, but I’m really not

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-22333408441828180572009-12-13T12:30:00.004-05:002009-12-13T12:30:00.413-05:00

Luke 3: 7-18 Third Sunday in Advent, Year C December 13, 2009         Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Several years ago, when I started exploring the preaching history of the church, I discovered something very interesting about the way the church has preached its way toward Christmas.  Two of these four Sunday’s is normally spent considering the preaching of John the Baptist which places

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-38769193795878884212009-12-08T13:29:00.004-05:002009-12-08T15:57:53.000-05:00

Malachi 3: 1-4 Second Sunday of Advent, Year C December 6th, 2009* (*Note:  I didn't get to actually preach this sermon due to mission speaker, but here is it for your reading and contemplation.  Perhaps I can actually preach this message when the text rolls around in three years.) As children, one of the first lessons in life is to learn to prepare and get ready.  “Are you ready to go to

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-88600275692608675692009-11-30T10:34:00.005-05:002009-12-08T15:56:59.616-05:00

A Sermon Based Upon Luke 21: 25-36 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C November 29th, 2009 Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Our text for today begins with words which describe the terrible, horrifying and dreadful experience of the absence of God in the world:   "There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-86860619783691839122009-11-22T14:53:00.017-05:002009-11-24T07:59:10.435-05:00

A Sermon based on John 18: 33-37 Christ the King Sunday, Year B November 22, 2009 Flat Rock-Zion Baptist Partnership Childhood can be filled all kinds of mysteries and riddles to be solved.   The challenge to figure out the truth is part of the wonder of it.   I’ll never forget how one day I solved one of those wonders.  Like most children, I used to believe that Christmas fell out of the sky.

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-84049965798885463042009-11-16T06:44:00.009-05:002009-11-22T15:00:34.984-05:00

Several years ago, when I was a missionary in Germany, my family went with me to make a pastoral visit in our city on a cold, snowy evening.   In hopes of starting a snowball fight with my 5 year old daughter, I rubbed my hand across our VW station wagon and scooped up a hand full of snow and started to make my weapon.  Right after my hands came together to give shape to the snowball, I heard

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-13714953838635829402009-11-09T18:03:00.001-05:002009-11-09T18:26:21.766-05:00

Most of us remember where we were when we first heard about the collapse of World Trade Towers on September 11th, 2001.   For me, and for most Americans, it became shockingly clear that our nation was under attack by a fanatical, corrupt religious form of Islam and a terrorist group called Al qadea, which has declared Jihad, holy war, on America.   This extreme form of religious terrorism has

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-56232433957541968352009-11-02T17:01:00.004-05:002009-11-09T18:25:42.815-05:00

When life hurts, it’s not easy to keep going.  Most of us, at some time or other, have experienced some kind of “dark night of the soul”----a time when perhaps we have come close to losing faith in life, losing hope for the future and giving up on faith in God. A couple of weeks ago, just before Wednesday night Bible Study, a stranger showed up at the church unannounced.  According to the

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-88958492457429309272009-10-25T21:58:00.001-04:002009-11-09T18:25:11.367-05:00

“Spanking lowers your IQ.”   When I recently read that news headline, I thought to myself: “Gee, If it hadn’t been for my mother I could have been a genius!”  How many “could have been” geniuses do we have attending church here today? Seriously, according to the LA Times, this is what a new study from the University of New Hampshire declared in a conference on violence in San Diego.  

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-28845992272837656632009-10-21T21:10:00.006-04:002010-03-01T15:38:55.752-05:00

Years ago, while I was serving a church in Shelby, the deacons and myself developed a jail ministry to the county jail.   On one particular Sunday afternoon visit, the jailer invited me to come in a cell with a 12 year old boy, awaiting juvenile court with a charge stealing a car.  When I sat down with the boy and started to talk, I asked him how he came to stealing at such a young age.   I’

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-1799631760760629432009-10-13T00:04:00.002-04:002009-10-16T09:31:16.467-04:00

In one of Charles Schultz’s “Peanuts” cartoons Lucy is playing her role as psychiatrist. She sits in her booth with the sign that reads: "Psychiatric Help - 5 cents."    The sign below says, "The Doctor Is In."   Lucy says to Charlie Brown, "Your life is like a house."     In the next frame, she says reflectively, "You want your house to have a solid foundation, don't you?" Charlie Brown has a

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-17663788144509645032009-10-04T15:53:00.007-04:002009-11-09T18:23:38.521-05:00

Bungee jumping is not a difficult sport. In fact it may be the easiest sport there is. All one has to do is take the first step, and the rest comes easy. But that one step is a doozy. We may be dressed to jump. We may have all the facts about the security of the bungee cord. We may even have complete confidence in the operators. But we won't jump until we are ready and willing, entirely ready

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-34961420053657739592009-10-04T15:39:00.003-04:002010-09-23T10:23:31.971-04:00

Recently, when the two churches where I pastor came together for Bible Study one Wednesday evening, we had a passionate discussion about the Baptist faith and the issue of religious liberty.  As anticipated, the discussion was not only passionate, there were distinct, conflicting opinions about what religious liberty has meant in American history and what it should mean today.   One voice took

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-26890087961245692442009-09-28T09:25:00.000-04:002009-09-28T09:25:53.724-04:00

Joe Gibbs, the former Head Coach of the Washington Redskins, tells a true story about a friend of his who owned a fine Labrador retriever. The friend, whom we will call John, looked out his window one morning and saw his faithful obedient dog sitting on his haunches near the front porch. John thought he saw something hanging from the dog's jaws. Sure enough, a closer look revealed it was his

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-77192207984252521372009-09-17T13:35:00.009-04:002009-09-24T09:29:22.567-04:00

A little country schoolhouse was heated by an old-fashioned, pot-bellied coal stove. Two brothers had the job of coming to school early each day to start the fire and warm the room before the teacher and their classmates arrived. One morning gasoline had been mistakenly delivered instead of kerosene for starting stove. There was a horrible explosion and the schoolhouse was engulfed in flames.

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-58805683850631404102009-09-13T15:52:00.006-04:002009-09-24T09:30:59.686-04:00

What kind of image do the words faith and healing conjure up? If you are over 50 “faith healing” has a spooky, negative image. You might either imagine something like the late Katherine Kulhman who began her 60’s show: “I Believe… in Miracles”. Or it could be the lesser known but even more colorful 70’s healer Earnest Angley’s and his very effeminate shout: “Be Heal---ed”? For most of you,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-59901509646345974082009-09-04T10:51:00.004-04:002009-09-24T09:31:55.579-04:00

Last week, we took a very intimate, “tell-all”, personal tour into a troubled soul. Paul wanted desperately to do what was right, but realized he couldn’t. No matter how hard he tries, no matter how much he has mastered the details of God’s laws, he still can’t be good enough to measure up and master himself. Paul expresses his own powerlessness by crying out in desperation: “O wretched man

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-80994907180804652292009-09-01T10:29:00.006-04:002009-09-24T09:33:52.698-04:00

In Italy, in the mid‐1990s, judges fined a 50‐year‐old Italian driver for dangerous driving after he handed the controls of his car over to God. A judge heard how the man let go of his steering wheel and cried, “God, I’m going to let you drive!” The man’s car ended up in the ditch. The story goes on to tell how the motorist’s lawyer mounted a rather ingenious defense. He maintained that the court

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-86870970425725580172009-08-23T15:53:00.019-04:002009-08-24T01:43:08.174-04:00

Do you remember the moment in Jesus' ministry when he encountered an ill, supposedly crippled man who had been sick for 38 years? Believe it or not, that man came daily to a pool that was believed to have healing properties but he had not asked anyone to put him into the waters. When Jesus encountered the man, his question was surprisingly frank: "Do you want to get well?" (John 5: 1-10).Well,

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-75642197128627535692009-08-20T22:27:00.009-04:002009-09-24T09:44:20.433-04:00

MISSIONS: Are You a World Christian? The mission statement of our partnership says: “The e-mission of our church is to exalt Jesus Christ as Lord, evangelize others to know him as Savior, to encourage believers to become equipped and empowered disciples who engage the world with faith, hope and love…and the greatest of these is love.” My focus is on the last phrase. What does it mean to be

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-63335076673266216302009-08-03T18:41:00.011-04:002009-09-24T09:48:11.442-04:00

The story goes that two people were riding a bike built for two up a steep hill. They finally made it up the hill with great difficulty. After catching his wind, the person on the front finally spoke up, “Whew! That was surely a steep hill!” Then the person on the back responded, “Yea, if I hadn’t kept my foot on the brake we might have rolled down backwards.” In regard to your church life, are

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-66112329767600141972009-08-03T18:32:00.005-04:002009-09-24T09:48:42.095-04:00

Are you still learning from Jesus, or do you think you already know everything? I recall hearing about a pastor who once told one of his parishioners, “There’s nothing in the Bible I can’t understand!” Maybe he was that smart about the Bible, but I believe there is still something even the most brilliant minds can still learn from the living Christ. Recently on NBC the Today Show took a

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-55283576583713184842009-08-03T16:56:00.006-04:002009-08-23T15:43:53.162-04:00

It was not until 1993 that I purchased my first "cutting-edge Window's operated computer. Up to that time I was still using MSDOS on a reconditioned 286 with a 5 1/4 inch floopy drive. After extensive research, I decided to buy frmo a top-rated mail-order company. The best, most powerful computer you could buy at that time was a 486 Intel processor with 66 megaherz of power. When I

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-70146914343107545992009-07-25T22:50:00.002-04:002009-08-23T15:44:24.921-04:00

Bryan Stone, a professor at Boston University School of Theology, in his book, Evangelism After Christendom, (BrazosPress, 2007), relates a line from a recent advertisement brochure for a church ladies function: "An environment of mutual respect is maintained in which members may freely share beliefs and differences without fear of disparagement or evangelization." He adds, "To evangelize means

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-30451874732060817382009-07-24T16:21:00.003-04:002009-08-23T15:45:05.650-04:00

In the next six blogs I want to catch up on the theme I’ve been preaching on these days: Doing Church on Purpose. Much has been written about the Purpose Driven Church or about the broader idea that a church must have a clear sense of mission in order to thrive as a congregation. So, let’s think about the first primary purpose of the church: Worship. Why should you come to worship on any given

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3311233180418473830.post-34051711542445262292009-07-23T10:21:00.000-04:002009-07-24T16:57:53.411-04:00

This is my first blog site. It's about time, don't you think? I've been writing newsletter articles for many years as a pastor and a missionary, but now it's time to move into the brave new world of internet blogging.I hope to use this blog to communicate my ideas, thoughts, prayers and pastoral writings with the "connected" church members of both Zion and Flat Rock Baptist churches who make up

Dr. Charles J. "Joey" Tomlin, BA., MDiv., DMin.http://www.blogger.com/profile/02074205002705529047noreply@blogger.com1