Pastor’s Notes – November 26th, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

 

Thanksgiving Memories – As Printed in the Thanksgiving 2020 issue of West Life Newspaper

 

 

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
– 1 Thessalonians 5:18 –

 

By James Mileti, Pastor newly formed Westlake Rocky River
Baptist Church (River Westlake Baptist Church).

When I was in high school in California, one Thanksgiving my parents were out and I was on my own to find and have Thanksgiving dinner. I went to a fast food restaurant called Jack- in-the Box and ordered a burger and fries, to go. It was pouring rain, and when I got home I accidentally locked my keys in the car, so I couldn’t get in the house or back in the car. I ended up eating my Thanksgiving dinner, which was a Jack in the Box burger and fries, on the front porch of our house, by myself, in the pouring rain.

I was feeling sorry for myself.

When I was in high school I had no idea we are to give thanks to God in all our circumstances. Instead of feeling sorry for myself, I should have thanked God for a warm meal, a car to go get it with and a warm home to come home to, among so many other blessings in my life at that time.

I found out later in life, after I became a born again believer in Jesus, that we are to give thanks to God always, and for everything. We can do that if we are truly thankful to God for his blessings in our lives, no matter how we sometimes may not see them.

Not everyone feels thankful during the holidays, and they can be tough times for
some people. You should understand that, as a believer, God is with you during the good and the bad times, and that you should be thankful for God’s great care and blessings in your life, no matter how hard those blessings may be to identify at the moment.
 

 

 

Pastor’s Notes – October 28th, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

 

We Are Underway!  Here is an update.

 

 

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.”
– Proverbs 30:5 –

 

Over the course of the first two weeks of River Westlake Baptist Church we have seen an amazingly large turnout for our first service, the donation of a beautiful piano, a few families and individuals that may be coming consistently, and most importantly, the word of God is going forth among His people and we are being a light to this area.

We have had guest song leaders and piano players for each service so far, but of necessity we are going to be having some services with the songs led by me (Pastor Mileti), with my wife Rebecca on piano.  It’s OK, we sing to praise God, not ourselves!

If you are curious about the church, please do not hesitate to call or email with any questions you may have.  We are a small, simple church, without many bells or whistles, but with a burning desire to preach the word of God directly from the Bible.  God is with us.  Who can be against us?    

Proverbs 30:5 (KJV): “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” 

 

 

 

Pastor’s Notes – October 4th, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

River Westlake Baptist Church

 

First Service will be Sunday October 18th, 2020 at 11am.

 

 

“Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

– Acts 8:29 –

 

We’ve finally gotten word from our sending church that the first service of River Westlake Baptist Church will be Sunday, October 18th, 2020 at 11:00am. 

If God wills, we will continue each Sunday thereafter at 11am.  As the church grows we will add a Sunday evening service and a Thursday evening service, again, if God wills.

If you plan on attending any of the first services, please manage your expectations.  This is a new church plant, that is starting from absolutely nothing.  There may only be a few people at these first services.  Please don’t feel shy, awkward or intimidated.  We will absolutely rejoice to have you!!

Remember, the Holy Spirit called Philip to go to very great lengths to preach to just one man, the Ethiopian Eunuch.

Acts 8:26-29 KJV: “And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.”

 

 

 

 

Pastor’s Notes – September 5th, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

Pastor’s Notes – How Did This Happen?

 

“…the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment…”
– Isaiah 59:15 –

 

I’ve often wondered how the German people could have let the Nazis (National Socialist Party) rise to power in all of their hate and godlessness.  If we consult the word of God we will always find the answer.  The answer is that there was no one that stood up for God’s truth.  Take a look around, we are seeing right before our eyes how it happened; how evil rises.

Isaiah 59:13-16 KJV: “In transgressing and lying against the LORD, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor:”

Those that are not buying into the current evil are preyed upon by the evil doers.  It takes great courage to stand up to these evil doers, but if we don’t, we’ve seen through history what can and does happen to the just. 

We MUST stand (2 Corinthians 1:24 KJV “…for by faith ye stand,”) with the Lord against evil of all kinds, including Socialism, which is built on atheism.  It displeases God when no one calls out or judges evil, and it displeases Him when no one and stands for God’s truth. 

Pastor’s Notes – August 26th, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

 

Pastor’s Notes – Get Away From Me!

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
– 2 Timothy 4:2 –

We pray everyday that God will build his church here at River Westlake Baptist Church.  We know that God works through people, and God has inspired us to print cards with info on this new church on one side and Bible verses about salvation on the other side.

We’ve been putting these cards out in the Rocky River and Westlake areas en masse, and, praise God, there has been some response, with people contacting us for more information on the start date for services.  Maybe you are reading this right now because you got a card on your door.

However, while putting these cards on the doorsteps, we sometimes encounter people wearing masks, by themselves, outdoors.  We attempt to hand them a card and try to talk to them about the church and what God’s plan for salvation is.  In return for our concern about their eternity, we are very often greeted with “GET AWAY FROM ME!” or “GET BACK!” Or “STOP TALKING TO ME!” or “#%*@!%#&$@^*&$!# (unleashing a barrage of hate and cursing)!”

The mask has given people who already have anger against God (the God they say that they don’t believe in) more boldness and aggressiveness, to be as mean and ugly to caring strangers as possible.  The Bible warns us that this would be the case in the end times.

2 Timothy 4:1-5 (KJV) tells us very clearly that these times of anger and hatred of the Word of God would come…

“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.”

We know this anger is only going to get worse, but God implores us to soldier on, be long-suffering, and continue to spread His word.  It is a privilege to do so.  Praise God!.

Pastor’s Notes – July 23rd, 2020

Posted on by River Westlake Baptist Church

 

Pastor’s Notes – Don’t Panic.

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
– 1 Corinthians 14:33 – 

Why is there so much disinformation about the coronavirus, masks, children spreading the virus, the “second wave,” infection numbers, social distancing, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc…? 

Not MISinformation, but purposeful DISinformation?

There is now no doubt that there is a campaign in effect to intentionally spread wrong information and contradictory information to the general public on a daily basis.

How can so many different factions be united in their misinformation campaign?

Who is the “leader” of this campaign that coordinates the dissemination of the disinformation?

As always, we can look to God’s Word, the Bible for answers. John 8:44 tells us “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

Satan is jealous of God. Satan wants to destroy the order that God has set in place and replace it with his demonic order, so Satan uses his willing compatriots in the media and politics to spread his lies and confusion. There is no great master plan; the master plan is to destroy God’s plan and institute Satan’s own will. Remember, Lucifer got kicked out of heaven for wanting to be equal to God: “I will be like the most high.” (Isaiah 14:14).

So Satan’s lies manifest in various forms. Satan wants HIS plan to be in effect, which is the exact opposite of God’s plan. Right now this manifests in a thing called coronavirus. Satan’s lies also manifest in abortion, socialism/communism, destruction of the family, lawlessness, militant feminism, homosexuality, racism, drug addiction, drunkenness, covetousness, sexual promiscuity, false gods, and the list goes on and on.

When we apply God’s Word to the situations we see today, it becomes clear.
1 Corinthians 14:33: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” God is so gracious that He has given us the truth in His word. The Bible was written over the span of about 1,500 years, but it can, and should, be applied to the situations we are living through RIGHT NOW. But you have to know God’s word to apply it.

At River Westlake Baptist Church, we will dive into God’s word and apply it to what is happening to us today. It will be very clear to you too! Praise God.