Wednesday, January 29, 2020


New Monmouth Musings: The Day I Told My Garbage Collectors I loved Them.

Dear Friends,

This week I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Jason Sena, one of our church members and a recently elected member of the Shrewsbury Town Council.  During our discussion, I commented to him how impressed I was with the rapidity with which our town’s garbage workers tended to their work. They jump off their trucks and literally run to collect and dump the barrels. “What a work ethic they possess,” I said to Jason, “and how impressed I am with the seriousness they display in completing their work.”

Just yesterday as I was looking out my window, I saw Jean give these same garbage collectors a 'high five' as they came by to pick up our garbage. Why the high five? She was simply thanking them because they not only hurriedly picked up and returned the barrels to the curb, but they went one step further, and personally delivered them all the way back to our garage.

A while later while on my walk, I caught up with them, and I told them how much I appreciated their efforts, and especially the extra time they took to deliver our barrels all the way to their garage. “Oh,” they said, “you saw that woman who high fived us.” “I sure did,”  I said, “she was my wife.” I then assured them of how much she appreciated their kindness.

I think I stunned the two workers with my opening remark when I yelled out “I love you guys.” I am not sure that they had ever heard those kinds of words spoken to them during their service. They were so grateful for my comments, and they couldn’t thank me enough. I told them I was going to write a letter on their behalf and inform the town counsel of how impressed I was with their attitude and work ethic. Their last words to me were, “I don’t think anyone from the Town Council has ever thanked us for the work we do.”

Hopefully they were blessed and encouraged by my words. I know their response blessed and encouraged me, and for the rest of my walk I picked up every stray barrel I saw lying in the road and transported it back to the curb where it belonged.

All of this reminded me of how significant a few words of appreciation can be when it comes to encouraging others. It has been said, “Kind words are short and easy to speak and their echoes are endless,” and how true this is.

I am sure each one of us can remember the words of a pastor, coach, teacher or perhaps even some stranger whose words of encouragement impacted our life.

Paul reminds us that we are “to encourage one another and build one another up, just as in fact you are doing” (1 Thess. 5:11), and that is good advice. The writer of Proverbs expresses how beautiful the right words can be when delivered at just the right time. They are like “apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). 

Why not find someone who would be encouraged by your words, and let them know how much you appreciate them. They will be glad you did, and so will you.

And now for the rest of the story. If you have read thus far, I have something for you to do, and I have a special gift to offer you for doing it. We are not sure who, if anyone, is taking the time to read these weekly devotionals, and so we wanted to do a little survey. This is only between you and me, so please don’t spill the beans. Would you simply send your response to me with the words, ”I read it” and your name? This will ensure you receive that special gift. Remember “mum’s the word.” Just respond to me “I read it” and sign your name. Thanks.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Pastor Tom

P.S. I may make this offer available for the next couple of weeks in the same secretive way, so please don’t share with anyone. I would hate to have you lose your reward!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thursday, January 23, 2020


New Monmouth Musings: What We Learned at U-Turn for Christ About Adversity

Dear Friends,

Last Tuesday I met with members of U-Turn for Christ, an addiction ministry that we host each week at New Monmouth. We were studying the subject of adversity, and I asked the question, “How has adversity shaped your life?” 
And one by one they each began revealing the pain and problems they had experienced as they dealt with their drug or alcohol addiction. They all shared different stories, but they all agreed on one thing: They were glad for the adversity they experienced as they battled with their addiction.

Why would they say that? Because it was adversity that led them into a recovery ministry that had taught them about God. Despite their painful pasts, they were all grateful for their pasts for they could now see how that adversity had now brought them  face to face with Jesus.

Someone was right on when they said, “What we call adversity, God calls opportunity.”  How often God uses adversity to break the bonds of some sin that enslaves us.

Together we examined James 1:2-4: where James reminds us that we are to “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

These brothers in their new-found faith could now see how their painful pasts had now produced a new and a promising future. They now had come to fully understood God’s promise in Romans 8:28 that “In everything, God works together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.”

Each day I receive Allister Begg’s e-mailed daily devotional, and I was struck by his words this morning which focused on the very subject we were discussing within our group. He writes  “Rest assured, if you are a child of God, you will be no stranger to the rod. Sooner or later every bar of gold must pass through the fire. Fear not, but rather rejoice that such fruitful times are in store for you, for in them you will be weaned from earth and made meet for heaven; you will be delivered from clinging to the present and made to long for those eternal things that are so soon to be revealed to you. When you feel that as regards the present you do serve God for nothing, you will then rejoice in the infinite reward of the future.”

Have a great day today and remember that “We are always in the forge, or on the anvil; but by trials God is shaping us for higher things.”

Yours in faith and friendship,
Pastor Tom


Thursday, January 16, 2020


New  Monmouth Musings: Put a Little Whimsy in Your Life.

Dear Friends,

Whimsy is a word that we on staff use a lot around New Monmouth. It is a word that has come to mean a kind of playful communication that often brings joy and laughter to those on both the giving and receiving end. You might call it playful banter. It can momentarily relieve the stress of ministry-yes, there are occasions of stress for those of us engaged in the Lord’s work. 

There is often a lot of laughter that accompanies whimsy, and I have found that laughter can be healthful, even invigorating.  It was President Lincoln who said, “With the fearful strain that is on me night and day, if I did not laugh, I should die.”  Laughter can often help get us through stressful or challenging situations. It enables us to step away from a problem for a few moments, and in so doing gain a fresh perspective on the challenge we are facing.

You may have heard the saying “He who laughs-lasts.” I suspect there is a lot of truth to this statement. Laughter can relieve stress, and increase  longevity. It may also be true that laughing 100 times a day works the heart as much as exercising for ten minutes on a rowing machine.  Yes, laughter undoubtedly can be good for both the body and yes, even the soul.

Serving on a staff where we often laugh together makes ministry more enjoyable, and it assists in building comradery which is so important in building a team. 

Fun and laughter should be regular ingredients in a Christian’s life. These qualities can make us more relatable. As believers we should be joyful, playful, fun loving, and even whimsical for those possessing these qualities are generally the most attractive people to be around. Who wants to hang with stern, somber, humorless, lemon sucking killjoys who have no appreciation for a few laughs and a little whimsy?

As Christians we should be fun to be with. Our personality should pave the way for the  building of relationships, and those relationships can often provide the open door for the communication of the Gospel.

So, followers of Christ, let’s lighten up a bit and put a little more whimsy in our lives. Let’s laugh a little more and show the world that those who bear the name of Christ are the happiest people alive. And why shouldn’t we be, for we are the possessor of abundant and eternal life. 

Martin Luther wrote, “If you’re not allowed to laugh in heaven, I don’t want to go there,” and neither do I.

Yours in Whimsy,
Pastor Tom

P.S. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22).

Thursday, January 9, 2020


New Monmouth Musings: Are You an “Unfair Weather” Friend?

Dear Friends

Those who know me well, know that I love country music, real country, or classic country as it is better known. I love Johnny, and Randy, and Willie, and Merle and Waylon and George Jones and the like.  A few months ago, I called out to my good friend Alexa, and said “Alexa, play me some Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson,” and she did. And while I know most every song that Willie and Merle ever sung, I didn’t know the one she played. I listened as my old friends musically reminisced about what it means to be  “unfair weather” friends which happens to be the title of the song.

In that song two of country's greatest musical troubadours beautifully define the meaning of friendship. Read and listen to their words.

“I might wind up stuck out on some old forgotten highway
Somehow you'll show up and sure enough be ‘goin' my way

You're always there, right where you've always been
My come whatever, unfair weather friend

I don't have to wonder where'll you be if I should need you
All I have to do is close my eyes and I can see you
Always there, right where you've always been

Sometimes this whole world is my worst enemy
And I know where to run when it gets to me
No one else but you can make it all make sense
My come whatever, unfair weather friend”


I have accumulated a lot of friends over my years of ministry and how grateful I am for each one of them. Over Christmas, Jean and I took the time to re-read a huge stack of cards and letters that we had received during 2019, a time when we were both recovering from cancer surgeries. During those two hours of reading, we once again savored every line of your love, and inwardly gave thanks for the love and encouragement of so many “unfair weather” friends. We both were reminded of the fact that friends can be wonderful medicine for the soul.

One is lucky to have friends, but one is especially blessed to have  “unfair weather” friends who, as one writer expressed it, “will  step in when the whole word steps out.” These are the kind of friends who will show up on your doorstep at the  time you need them the most.

One of the greatest “unfair weather” friends in the Bible was Onesiphorous, a little-known friend of the Apostle Paul. Onesiphorous visited Paul while in prison and he “often refreshed him and was not ashamed of his chains” (2 Tim 1:16). Onesiphorous certainly lived up to his name which meant “bringing profit,” and he did just that for Paul.  Onesiphorous left his family in Ephesus and traveled a great distance to Rome, spending two months encouraging Paul while he was imprisoned. He expended his time and money and risked his own life to make the long arduous journey to bring food, clothing, and money to assist his “unfair weather” friend.

To possess an “unfair weather friend like Onesiphorous is a wonderful treasure.

Proverbs 17:17 reminds us that “a friend loves at all times,” and this is the perfect description of an “unfair weather” friend.

Today let’s thank God for the “unfair weather” friends in our life who have “loved us at all times,” and let’s in turn recommit ourselves to loving others in the same way-“at all times.” Why not drop a note or make a call to one of your “unfair weather” friends and let them know how much you love and appreciate them? And while doing that, why not begin to cultivate some new “unfair weather” friends whom you can love and who will love you in return. If you do, one day they may say to you as one friend said to another: “To be your friend is to possess a great gift.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Pastor Tom

Thursday, January 2, 2020


Have You Chosen Your Life Word for 2020?

Dear Friends:

What’s your “Life Word” for this coming year? That’s the question I asked each of my family members while vacationing with them over Christmas in Destin, Florida. For the past few years, each of my children and I have selected one word that will be our focus for the coming year. Our “Life Word” is a word that represents a value or goal that will bring intentionality to our life and actions for the new year.

In Life Word, Discover Your One Word to Leave a Legacy, Dan Britton writes “Your Life Word is a word that will inspire you to live your best life while leaving your greatest legacy. In the process, you’ll discover your ‘why’ which will help show you the way to live with a renewed sense of power, purpose and passion.”

You have probably heard the expression, “Life is God’s gift to us and what we do with it is our gift to God.” As I thought about what I would select as my Life Word for 2020, I wanted it to be a fitting gift to God. The life word I have chosen for 2020 is the word ‘value.’ In the year 2020 I want my focus to be on adding value to others. I want to be continually searching for ways that I can make others better by adding value to their lives.

The late Mother Teresa exhorts us saying, “Don’t let anyone leave you without being better or happier,” and that is good advice for the one who seeks to add value to others. I want to be a difference maker and I hope you do to.

I would encourage you to join with me and thousands of others who are looking to live 2020 with a focus on doing something that will make a difference in your life or in the lives of others.

In closing, I would love to hear the Life Word you have prayerfully chosen for this New Year. 

Yours in faith and friendship,
Pastor Tom