New Hope Northwood: An Evangelical Free Church

Ted’s Tidbits – thoughts on spiritual issues in the context of today’s world. New tidbits are added on a regular basis, so check back next week for another spiritual snack!

New Hope-- an Evangelical Free Church

"To Know the God of the Bible and to make the God of the Bible known."

P.O. Box 60(545 First New Hampshire Turnpike)

Northwood, NH 03261

The Wrath of God!

By Pastor Ted White

People generally are comfortable with the love of God, but not the wrath of God. God is love. That is His very character, but He is also a God of wrath, of judgment. If you are reading this article, you are either in the love of God or under the wrath of God. But, it is not just a matter of thinking or saying that I am in the love of God and not the wrath of God, rather, it is by a life lived out in obedience to God. Not out of drudgery or passiveness, but in love and devotion.

In John 3:18 we read "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son." So for the person who has not come to belief in Jesus (trusted His finished work at the cross, the resurrection and who He is as the Son of God) stands condemned before God already. If that person were to die in that condition He would be separated forever… forever apart from God in Hell, a place no person should want to go. This is a common, very common teaching of Jesus. It is a warning. Listen to this in John 3:36. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on Him." Again, for the person who hasn’t come to the point of trusting Jesus as Savior and Lord, they are presently under the wrath of God. But for those who have trusted Him, they have eternal life.

It is my hope and prayer that you do know the love of God so you won’t experience the wrath of God. You are presently in one or the other.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever, under His wrath in Hell. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

New Hope-- an Evangelical Free Church

"To Know the God of the Bible and to make the God of the Bible known."

P.O. Box 60(545 First New Hampshire Turnpike)

Northwood, NH 03261

Laodicea Christianity

By Pastor Ted White

What do you love above all else? Who is the most important person in your life? How do you know this is true in your life? Do others see this? Can they see this? Or, do they see something else? Just because a person says he is a Christian doesn’t mean that he is. A person can say anything, but it doesn’t mean it is fact.

In Revelation chapter 3, verses 14-22, the church in Laodicea said they were rich and did not need a thing. But Jesus said they were wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. The church had one perspective of themselves and thought it was great. Jesus had a different perspective and saw their great need. Why the two different perspectives? In verse 19 Jesus said He shows the ones He loves where they are erring. The Lord loved the church at Laodicea, but they were wrong in many areas. Jesus was offering them to take His counsel.

In verse 20 Jesus said He wanted those who know Him to be open, to spend time together with Him. Wow! Jesus wants those He loves to spend time with Him. That will give the proper perspective, one through His eyes. So many that profess the name of Jesus believe they are doing fine when in reality they are erring. Erring because they are physically OK and don’t think they need anything, but spiritually they are in dire need. They need to have a heart change and move in a different direction, thinking correctly about themselves. The Lord told them to listen to what the Holy Spirit had to say (3:22). If we do not take the time to listen to Him, we will be in error and yet think we are OK. How many are living today, doing what they desire, not listening at all to the Lord and think they are OK? May we reflect on where we are as followers of Jesus. Are we hot, cold, or lukewarm?

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Origin of Sin

By Pastor Ted White

Did God create sin in the human race? Did God create evil? When bad things happen, is that God’s fault? It is true. God can do whatever He desires, but a wrong view of sin and evil inevitably brings about a wrong view of God and a wrong view of man.

Many people say, "The devil made me do it." Usually joking around, but not always. Then those with a wrong view of God will say, "Well, God is the one who made me do it." Both of these views are dead wrong and seek to escape personal responsibility.

This is what happened in the Garden of Eden. God gave them a choice, the choice to obey. When they disobey Him (sinned) they experience the consequence of their actions. He warned them this would happen if they went against His Word, but they did anyway. The consequence was death (Genesis 2:17). Romans 5:12 says, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned…" Sin entered the human race because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve. The whole human race became infected.

Sin is simply disobedience. When we disobey God we sin. But, sin is only the fruit of who we are. We are sinners (Romans 2:23) by nature. An apple tree is an apple tree not because it bears apples, but that is what its nature is. It would be an apple tree even if it didn’t produce apples. We are sinners, not because we sin, but because that is our very nature. That nature has its root all the way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve first made the choice to sin, to disobey God.

God loves us and wants what is best for us, but we live in a fallen world, a sinful world, and a dark and evil world. Bad things do happen and they can happen to anyone. The good news is that God sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins that whoever believes in Him can be forgiven has a relationship with Him now and one day is with Him forever in Heaven where everything will be right. Just as God gave Adam and Eve the choice to obey Him, so He gives it to us as well. But, just because we trust Him as Lord and Savior doesn’t mean anything bad will happen to us. He is there to walk through life with us. The choice we make now will have eternal significance.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Trials of Life!

By Pastor Ted White

Life is full of wonderful times, but then there are the trials of life. They come in many forms and various levels. Why do they happen? More to the point, why do they happen to me? We don’t have all the answers, but there are a few that we do know of. The answers do not take away the pain of a trial. They do help us to sort things out some and to try to make sense out of things that sometimes seem senseless to us. How does the loss of loved ones or personal property put things into perspective? There is only one way.

Many ask the question "If God is a God of love, why does He allow evil to happen in the world?" First, maybe we should ask a different question. If God is a God of love, why does He let an evil human race to even exit?" See it is perspective. We think we are good people and good people should only have good things happen to them. Yet, we have missed the basic problem of the human race. It is a simple word. A word that people don’t much like to utter. The word is SIN. We are all sinners we are told in Romans chapter 3 and verse 23. This is the problem that most people do not want to acknowledge.

Not only has sin affected the human race, but also creation. In Romans 8:19-21 we are told that the creation actually groans while it waits to be liberated at the coming of our Lord Jesus. All this started in the Garden of Eden when the first man and woman decided they wouldn’t follow God’s Word. Only God’s Word makes sense out of what seems senseless. We are told in James 1:5 to ask God for wisdom when we are experiencing trials. Usually when trials come most people just blame God instead of seeking Him. But, He loves this sinful human race and wants people to trust Him and live for Him. It is your choice, but He does love you!

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

Take It Up With Jesus!

By Pastor Ted White

Biblical Christianity, that is, a person or group that solely puts their trust in the Word of God, will not be swayed by the whims of worldly philosophical thinkers. I always smile when a person, who does not take the Bible as the final authority for faith and practice, quotes part of the Word of God as authoritative in making a point. Some people like to use parts of the Bible to make their points, but disregard the parts they care not to adhere to.

Is it true that the core beliefs of most religions and nonbelievers offer fair treatment to others? That statement is false and it does not take much looking around to see it. A dear friend of mine from Kenya told me what happened to him when he was 14 years old. He came from a Muslim family, but heard that one could receive forgiveness from sin through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, Jesus proving Himself to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead. When he heard this wonderful news, he did trust Jesus and then his parents found out. After the religious leaders abused him and his family staunchly telling him to renounce faith in Jesus, he said no. He had found forgiveness in Jesus and he was not going to give it up. So they told him to leave home immediately with just the clothes he had on or they would kill him. He left home. This is just one story of far, far to many that I have heard or read about. Just read Fox’s Book Of Martyrs by William Byron Forbush or By Their Blood by James and Marti Hefley and see if most groups live by the "The Golden Rule." You will find that is not the case.

It is great that we live in a country where we have freedom to express ideas and not have to be force to believe one way. Although, there are areas that ideas are limited. The public school being one of them, but also colleges and universities are becoming more and more restrictive in allowing people to express their ideas if they go contrary to the establishment’s thinking. Nonbelievers going by "The Golden Rule," surely some may seek to, but not the vast majority.

Jesus will have the last word. When death comes knocking and we breathe our last; destiny is sealed forever, yes forever. You better make sure you are entering the right gate. Jesus said there were only two, the narrow gate and the wide gate. Here’s what He says in Matthew 7:13-14. "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."

The thing to remember is that atheists are not only outside the church buildings, but they are also inside them. The true church is made up of PEOPLE who have trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. People are not Christians just because they meet in a building together any more that standing on a used car lot makes a person a used car.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death, which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

Chucking the Moral Compass

By Pastor Ted White

Airline pilots who do not trust their instrument panel, but think they can fly by instinct receive the consequences of their actions. So do those who become disorientated in the wilderness, yet do not trust their compass. We are a nation, and I do not need to argue the fact that this nation was founded on Christian foundations—a read of history clearly shows that--- but we have largely abandoned the Christian Compass. There will be consequences!

Materialism dulls one’s sense of need for the Lord Jesus Christ. In our culture a person is largely measured by what he has (qualifications), not who he is (character). In his book The Face of Atheism, Ravi Zacharias states that "This is a generation that hears with its eyes and thinks with its feelings." How true this is, whether among those who have not trusted Jesus and even among those who have trusted Him. To so many, "If it looks good, if it feels good, it must be good." Instead of having a constant absolute to test ideas, the vast majority is drifting aimlessly on the open sea of relativity. This is a dangerous place to be and the end results will be destructive. Why? As someone has said, "If we are not willing to serve the Almighty, we will wind up serving a tyrant." That tyrant will come looking good, sounding good, making people feel good. But, the tyrant will not be good.

We see the consequences of a materialistic focus in Deuteronomy 8:10-20. In verses 11-13 we read, "Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe His commands, His laws and His decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down and when your herd and flock grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God…" When a person or a nation prospers, there is a tendency to become proud, self-centered and not sensing a need for God. There will be consequences. Just consider what is happening in our nation, say nothing about the world. Earthquakes, increase in storms, economic woes, moral decline… things that are being attributed to global warming. It is not because of global warming. It is the Lord, either directly or indirectly, looking to shake us from being lethargic toward Him, to be dependent upon Him.

One last point. In Luke 12:16-21 Jesus tells the parable of a Rich Fool. The man’s focus was on his stuff. He was materialistic. Jesus said in verse 15, "…a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions" and in verse 21 we are to be "rich toward God." May you focus on Him and not on stuff! He is the True Compass!

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

Your Journey

By Pastor Ted White

    For the past few weeks I have shared my journey, the way the Lord drew me to Himself. Every person who has truly trusted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior has a story of the way the Lord worked in their life. All stories of His workings are unique, but one thing is always common--- no person has a story unless they have trusted Jesus to save them from their sin. He is the reason a person has a story in the first place.

    This was true of the Apostle Paul. You can read his story, his journey, in Acts chapter 9 and a retelling of it in Acts chapter 26. A person’s story is basically in three parts. First, this was my life before I trusted Jesus, then this is how Jesus drew me to Himself and finally, this is the difference He has made in my life. So, do you have a story? The most important part of a person’s story is coming through the cross. It is only through Jesus that a person can be saved and have a story to tell. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father but by me" John 14:6.

    We are really His story. Do you have one? Have you truly trusted Him? With Him the story ends well. Without Him the story will have a terrible ending. Trust Him and have a great ending!

    God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Journey (Part 1 of 5)

By Pastor Ted White

I was a junior in High School when my Grandfather died. It was the first funeral that I had ever been to and it shook me to the core. My Grandfather was a mason, working with stone and brick. I worked with him when I was a teen. He was a hard, rough man. He drank hard and smoked much. Unfortunately he got me started drinking at a young age. He had been warned by doctors to stop drinking and smoking or he would not live very long because of his emphysema. He told the doctors he would live like he wanted to. He did live the life-style he chose, but he also ended up dying as the doctors told him he would. The last picture I have of him was at the old Hitchcock Hospital when it was in Hanover, tubes running out of his body and a tracheotomy having been established so he could breath and be attended to. Tears flooded my eyes when I saw him in that state. A week later he died.

The reality of the finality of death hit me hard at the funeral. People began filing out after the service, but instead of going out the door, they turned to pass the open casket. As I passed the casket and looked in, there was my lifeless Grandfather’s body and great emotion welled up inside me. The end of life was not pleasant picture.

This experience of my Grandfather’s death caused me to start asking questions. Did God really exits? Was there really a heaven, a hell? What was death like? It would be another 7 years before I found the answers to those questions.

The Bible says in Hebrews 9:27-- "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment…" We die one time and then face judgment unless we know the Lord Jesus Christ. God says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Journey (Part 2 of 5)

By Pastor Ted White

Even though I had started asking questions about life and death after my Grandfather died, my life-style did not change. I really had the same philosophy of how to live life as my Grandfather had, "I’ll live like I wanted and nobody will tell me any different." I drank much and often trying to find some reality in life. But, this behavior drove me from reality into an escapism that could have easily led to my death. There are many things I have done which would shame me to repeat and there were more than a few close calls with death. There was this emptiness inside that I just could not fill regardless of what I tried to fill it with. It was always there, a deadness inside. Once I thought suicide was the answer, but the attempt failed.

Ephesians Chapter 2:1-3 is a good description of me at the time. "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath."

Yes, we are dead in sin, but when we trust and follow the Lord Jesus Christ, we are "made alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved." Ephesians 2:5

Dear Father, thank you for giving me life in Jesus. May I live faithfully for Him and in His authority. Amen.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Journey (Part 3 of 5)

By Pastor Ted White

Living a life-style that I knew could easily end in death, I decided to enter the military, just to get away from the place and people where I had been living. So, I decided to go into the Seabees of the Navy for a four-year hitch. I went in as a heavy equipment operator, something I thought I would enjoy. Trouble is I brought myself with me. People and places can change, but if the person fleeing doesn’t change, things remain essentially the same.

The military did help me in the area of discipline and to acquire some valuable skills, but my life-style did not change. My four-year enlistment passed with much more partying and there were situations that could have led to my death or the death of others.

Then my roommate, Andy, made a decision to follow the Lord. Well, that was good for him, but I didn’t need that stuff. Although, when he wasn’t in the room I would pick up his New Testament and read it. It wasn’t long before I too trusted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. Later I found out that Andy and the Church had been praying for me. Looking back, how grateful I am. I found the answers to the questions I had been asking after my Grandfather died. The Lord Jesus is the answer.

After I had trusted Jesus my roommate said, "Ted, God could call you into a public speaking ministry." I laughed and laughed. "No way, not me," I told him. But, that is exactly what the Lord did.

See God is in the transformation business. He says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will" Romans 12:2.

Dear Father, thank you that you are willing to change us. May we allow you to do so in Jesus’ name.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Journey (Part 4 of 5)

By Pastor Ted White

After trusting Jesus while I was in the military, I still did not know what I wanted to do with my life. I had heavy equipment experience, but I didn’t have any idea of what direction to go in. I remember asking, "OK, Lord, now what?" Unfortunately, I never got connected with a sound church until 2 years later. I worked various construction jobs and had gotten married. My wife and I came into contact with a godly couple who discipled us for about a year. It was a wonderful time of growth in the Lord as we started to serve Him in various areas. But I am convinced it was because of this couple, Henry and Nancy, that my wife and I are where we are today. Discipleship is so important and we are commanded to make disciples in the Great Commission, Matt. 28:19-20 which says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Each of us should be involved in the discipleship process. Why? Because Jesus said so. I think it is very interesting that Jesus worked with the disciples for about 3 years. After that three years they were not being discipled, they were making disciples. How long have we known Jesus? Are we making disciples in obedience to Him? One reason believers are not in the discipleship process is because they do not know how to go about it. For a good resource, among many, go to WWW.disciplers.org.

Dear Father, may we be obedient to you and be involved in making disciples as you have commanded us--- in Jesus Authority.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

The Journey (Part 5 of 5)

By Pastor Ted White

It is interesting to look back to see how the Lord has led. My Grandfather’s death got me to thinking about the purpose of life and death and if there was anything beyond the grave. The life-style I was living at the time encouraged me to get out of town and join the military. It was in the military where I picked up my roommate’s New Testament and came to the conclusion as to who Jesus is and trusted Him as Lord and Savior. Then a couple discipled my wife and I through which we grew in our faith and began to serve. Then, it was through that service that the Lord prepared us to go off to school. Through school He led us into the pastoral ministry and now it has been 14 years that I have been in pastoral ministry.

Why do I share this? I had mention that after coming to the Lord my roommate told me that God could call me into a public speaking ministry. I had laughed and laughed at that thought. You see, when I was in high school I had a small circle of friends I felt comfortable with. That was all I needed. I actually dropped out of a class in High School because there was too much small group interaction. Speaking with strangers was not something I was interested in.

Today as I look at what the Lord has done in my life, I marvel. I know it had to be Him, because things He has me doing today, even right now, are not things I would naturally want to do. But, because of Him, I seek to do whatever He desires. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body" Philip.3:20-21.

He transforms by His power. May we yield to what He desires to do in and though our lives for His honor and glory.

Dear Father, may we be yielded vessels for you to work in and through by the Holy Spirit’s power and in the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

In His Grace,

Ted White

Life & Death!

By Pastor Ted White

We know it is something every living thing goes through, but where did death come from? For sure death happens, but how did it start? Why do we die? If we can answer the question, “Where did death come from?” maybe that would help us answer the question, “Where did life come from?”

Let’s take a look.

                                                                Life

            One thing we do know without a doubt is that we are alive. This is something that is provable. Not many people would disagree with that.

                                                                Life            Death

Another thing we do know is that we die. That also is provable.

                                                                Life            Death = non-existence, nothingness

            Now we move into an area of disagreement, but I am going to take just one angle. Many believe that when we die that is the end. There is nothing else after death. One may believe that, but it is not provable except from a purely materialistic viewpoint. Yes, the body is dead, but is there more to our make-up that the physical? Is that provable?



                        (Cause?)              Life            Death = non-existence, nothingness

Follow life back, however many years you desire: Thousands? Millions? Billions? Something happened for life to come into being.   Can the (cause?) be answered? That (cause?) cannot be proven by people who were not there. There can be theories, but man cannot state with absolute authority what the (cause?) was. If someone claims with absolute authority that their theory is fact that theory now becomes a belief, a belief that is wrong.

non-existence     =      (Cause?)              Life                Death = non-existence, nothingness

            Many would also agree that before life there was nothing living, no life, no death. If there is nothing after death, if that is the end, how can life have a beginning from nothing? What is the (cause?) that will give us the answer?

non-existence       =    (Cause?)              Life                Death = non-existence, nothingness

( 0 )           +    (Cause?)      =      Life            Death = ( 0 )

What is the (cause?) that brought about the effect (life, death)? Science cannot answer that question. Man does not have all the answers in himself as much as he thinks he may. Did life evolve? How? What is the (cause?), the force that started it and where did that come from? Did death evolve? How did that happen? What was first—life or death? Something or nothing?

God’s Word answers these questions easily. “In the beginning God created…” (Genesis 1:1). He is the (Cause?) for life and gave the consequence for disobedience =death. “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17). God wants you to enjoy the life He has given you and to escape the consequence of death which is separation from Him forever. To do so go to www.newhopenorthwood.com or call 942-7729 or to find peace with God http://www.billygraham.org/SH_StepsToPeace.asp or http://www.simplysharejesus.com/

Top of Page