As of August 14, the death toll stands at 141 from the tragic flooding that took place a month ago in Texas, as the Guadalupe River overflowed its banks. Additionally, 165 people are still reported missing. Once caught in the rapid moving flood waters, victims could not save themselves. They couldn't even call out for help as they struggled to breathe. Their only hope was for someone else on the outside to see their plight and send for help. Any that were saved from the swift water, were saved b...
Aug 20, 2025•51 min
Eighty years ago, this past Wednesday, was the anniversary of the only time nuclear bombs have ever been used in war. And while opinions continue to be sharply divided over whether President Harry Truman’s decision to use nuclear weapons was justified, the human tragedy and global “nuclear fear” accompanying that decision, is not debated by anyone. All of this is but one symptom and manifestation of what we examine this Sunday, as we finish our study on ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS. ...
Aug 13, 2025•59 min
The LORD has given us a special opportunity to welcome Pastor & Evangelist, Dr. Frank Reynoso to open GOD’s Word to us! Frank has been involved in ministry for over 30 years. After growing up in the Bronx and living a life of gangs, drugs and crime, Reynoso relocated to Orlando, FL where he accepted Christ in 1992, shortly after began a street ministry in Orlando’s inner city called Answer to Life Ministries. He then co-founded Choice Ministries, a jail ministry where he served as the chapla...
Aug 07, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Stating “What’s the point…”, Scottie Scheffler, the world’s No. 1 golfer, recently sparked discussions by openly grappling with existential questions about the meaning and purpose of his career and life! Psalm 144:3 poses a provocative question that we should all ponder deeply: “O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them?” Psalm 144:3 (NLT) This question and its answer is central to orthodox Christian doctrine. The reformers tried to ...
Jul 31, 2025•49 min
One of the reasons I’m a Christian is because the Christian worldview clearly describes reality. It is not hard to see the impact of sin and evil on the world—injustice, war, oppression, racism, hatred, violence, abuse, rape, murder, addiction, selfishness, and every evil known to humanity. The Bible points out all of this, explaining the cause and proclaiming the only solution! While it is very easy to compare ourselves to people worse than us and think we are doing well, the reality is that it...
Jul 24, 2025•49 min
Most of us, when walking into a dark room, immediately begin to run our hand along the wall in search of the light switch. We do this to illuminate the room we’re entering because we don’t want to crash into furniture and break a precious little toe, or something worse! Often, when characters in cartoons get an idea, a little light bulb appears above their heads. This is an indication that they’ve had an illuminating thought, shedding light on their circumstances! You and I are meant to have thi...
Jul 16, 2025•50 min
We are blessed to celebrate the 249th anniversary of our nation’s independence. It began at the signing of that great document known as our Declaration of Independence, signed in Philadelphia, PA, on July 4, 1776. A short 12 years later, on June 21, 1788, another great document was ratified by the 13 original colonies (now states) and the “Constitution” became the official framework of the government of the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution makes the United States a constitutional ...
Jul 09, 2025•56 min
In this message from Pastor Joe Still, we'll examine the teachings from God’s Word about the Humanity of our Lord Jesus. This will also help us remember Him and know Him as He really is; stirring an even greater affection for Him. 2 Peter 1:3 from God’s Word gives us this great promise: “For as you know Him better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us! (2 Peter 1:3 TLB)
Jul 02, 2025•1 hr
I am so very grateful to GOD for the privilege I’ve had this week to observe our incredible team of Kingdom servants, a.k.a. our VBS Team. The Holy Spirit has worked powerfully through each and every one of them to joyfully magnify JESUS in the hearts and minds of children and students. It has filled me with joy. As we continue in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE series, with our time in GOD’s Word this week, focused on JESUS! We’ll explore the mystery that JESUS is 100% GOD and 100% man and what a dif...
Jun 26, 2025•55 min
Dads, it is not too late to tell your family that what you want for FATHER’S DAY is for them to come to church with you! This Sunday we get to celebrate dads at Riverbluff. We’ll have several from our church family sharing some of their heart-felt thoughts about their dads and husbands. We will also continue in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE teaching series. This Sunday, we turn our attention to what we believe about JESUS. I am so grateful, that on FATHER’S DAY we’ve landed here in our study, becaus...
Jun 18, 2025•56 min
If my math is correct, there are 201 more shopping days until Christmas!! Did that statement surprise you? Are you wondering, “Why on earth is Pastor Joe bringing Christmas up in June?” I think most of us would agree, that for the world, Christmas is the most celebrated of the Christian Holy Days, with Easter coming in second. For many Christ-followers in the “Western World”, those are often the only two Christian Holy Days we celebrate. In the last 5 or so years, through my study of God’s Word,...
Jun 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min
The Great Commission…most all of us are quite familiar with the final words our Lord Jesus shared with His disciples, as recorded in the Gospel of Matthew, instructing them to “go and make disciples.” Indeed, with this command, Jesus gave His followers a “life purpose” that would guide them wherever they would go and with whomever they would speak from that day forward. Certainly, in the years that followed, each of them would boldly proclaim the Good News of Christ Jesus to their friends, famil...
Jun 04, 2025•54 min
We continue this Sunday with our series on Essential Beliefs. This week we will be focusing on Eternal Security. I have a friend who retired from pastoring, and he often says that one of the enemy's biggest schemes is to steal the joy of Christians. Have you ever had thoughts like: Am I really saved? Did I follow the right steps to gain salvation? How can I go to heaven after what I've done? If you have been robbed of your joy and peace of mind, then this week's message is for you! I’m praying t...
May 29, 2025•33 min
The previous message in our ESSENTIALS WE BELIEVE teaching series, we began with the essential beliefs Christians have about GOD. We continue that journey here in part two of that message! Pastor Joe Still looks at three characteristics that are absolutely unique about our GOD. We’ll see how those unique characteristics deeply impact everything we do!
May 22, 2025•1 hr 1 min
Our culture seems to have a fascination with celebrities, people who are rich or powerful or popular. We want to know about what they do, how they live, and even what they wear. It’s the topic of many magazines, podcasts, and late night shows. What if one of these could actually interview GOD? He is, after all, the most powerful personality in the entire universe. No one is richer than GOD! It is from His person that everything began, and it is before Him that we will all eventually stand. GOD i...
May 21, 2025•50 min
Christian Confessions, Creeds, & Core Belief expressions, have been around a very long time, some since the 2nd century. I, along with others would argue that some of the New Testament statements found in the writings of the Apostle Paul, became the earliest Creeds of the Christian Church. Do these hold value for us today? I believe JESUS' half-brother, Jude, would answer, “yes” to that question, because they can help us “contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” ...
May 07, 2025•1 hr
When you were growing up, maybe like me, you were taught the prayer, “God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for our food." Many of us learned at an early age, God's great and God's good! If you've been in church any length time, you’ve heard some pastor or worship leader say, “God is good," and the congregation shouts back, "All the time." Then he'll say, "All the time," and they say, "God is good." But for many who regularly gather in worship of GOD, there is a unspoken question about thi...
Apr 30, 2025•58 min
While Riverbluff’s “Weekly Update” arrives in your inbox every Friday, this one comes on what is the most sacred Friday of the year. It is often called Good Friday. It is “good” because it is the day, over 2,000 years ago, when GOD demonstrated how truly Good and unconditionally Loving HE is toward humanity. HE demonstrated this by sacrificing HIS one and only begotten SON on the Cross of Calvary. Though you and I were not there physically, the Bible says that our sin was. The Apostle Peter writ...
Apr 23, 2025•57 min
Maundy Thursday Communion Service 2025 Maundy Thursday service is a meaningful and sobering prelude to the Easter weekend. It simply means we will focus on the Lord’s Supper and what happened the night before Jesus was crucified. It is indeed a somber time but we need to be reminded regularly of what it cost God to save us.
Apr 23, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Fun fact: In a healthy human being over half of our body’s composition is water, 60% to be exact. That means that if you weigh 175 pounds you’re walking around with about 105 pounds of water! Even with all of that water, your body still must have an adequate daily supply, or bad things begin to happen in you. Most people don't realize how bad dehydration is for you. When you get dehydrated, you get headaches, you get muscle cramps, your brain even begins to shut down. Your brain has to have wate...
Apr 16, 2025•55 min
JESUS FORSAKENNESS means my FORGIVENESS FOR OUR FORGIVENESS, JESUS FORSAKEN SUBSTITUTES? The label might read “plant-based meat substitute”, but I’m sorry, there’s just no such thing as a “Garden Burger”; I don’t care who puts one on their menu. “Hamburger” means meat! And please, don’t try to fool me into thinking “carob” is “chocolate.” It never has been nor will it ever be, in any universe! Seems like we have substitutes for everything in our day. Though I am no fan of substitutes in my food,...
Apr 09, 2025•58 min
This Sunday, as we continue in our teaching series, “WHAT JESUS SAID IN RED”, we examine the third of the seven, recorded statements, Jesus made while dying on the Cross. This statement, found in John 19:25-27, is a very personal statement of love Jesus makes directly to his mother and one of his very best friends. Jesus endured incredible pain as his organs began shutting down. Even in the midst of that great suffering, Jesus lovingly provides for the long-term care of his mother. Only by using...
Apr 01, 2025•1 hr
The older I’ve grown, the more aware I’ve become, I can learn something new from anyone, if I will listen carefully and truly “be in the moment” with them. My grandkids have been especially helpful in teaching me this lesson! This principle is particularly applicable when it comes to GOD’s Word. Every person who shows up in the scriptures had their story handpicked by GOD to be included in His Holy Word. Each of their story’s deserves our undivided attention, because each can help us see a diffe...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 2 min
While it may not surprise anyone, I have a number of hard copy Bibles in my personal library, (along with many digital editions)! My favorite Bibles, are the “Red-Letter” editions. They have the words the incarnated JESUS spoke printed in red, which make HIS spoken words really stand out. Yes! I am keenly aware that every word in the Bible was GOD-breathed. But, I also know that every word in our Bibles exists to point us to JESUS; HE said so! “Here you are scouring through the Scriptures, hopin...
Mar 18, 2025•56 min
Have you ever been peppered with the “Why” questions from a young child? Why are clouds white? Why does the car blinker make that sound? Why do birds fly or dogs bark? And during hardship, we can begin asking our own questions. Why did this happen? Will I ever get back to normal? How will this affect the people I love? Why do bad things happen to good people? If you have ever asked these questions, then you will want to watch this message from Pastor Dean Infinger. We will explore the questions ...
Mar 11, 2025•39 min
This Sunday, as we open ourselves up to God’s Word together in worship, I’m excited to say that Dr. Curt Bradford will be leading us! For those of you who are newer to Riverbluff, Curt was Lead Pastor at Riverbluff from 1988-2014. He has also been personally mentoring me since 1981. The LORD has multiplied Curt’s mentoring ministry, as he now mentors pastors all around our state. He is currently serving as Point Leader for the Steward Team of the Charleston Baptist Association. I hope you’ll joi...
Mar 04, 2025•52 min
It only takes a few moments with any news source to realize that evil is active in our world today. But, as bad as things are, the Bible says that there is “restraining power” at work, holding back the full measure of evil that could be released on earth. The Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in the church at Thessalonica about this: “I expect you remember now how I talked about this when I was with you. You will probably also remember how I used to talk about a ‘restraining power’ which would o...
Feb 25, 2025•56 min
This morning as I write this, it’s Valentine’s Day. Kathy and I have already exchanged gifts and cards. We’re looking forward to spending the day together, and hopeful we’ll get a nice lunch at a great little Lowcountry restaurant! The Greeting Card Industry is also “hopeful” today. They’re hopeful they’ll make a ton of money off of card sales. I guess, in some small way, I helped fulfill their hope! Though the object of our “hope” can take many forms, ultimately we can’t live long without some ...
Feb 18, 2025•51 min
This week, I’ve had conversations with several people who expressed the same concern. I actually don’t recall a week, when this particular topic came up unsolicited, as frequently as it did this week. The topic and concern was over seeing an increased activity of Satan, in our world, but specifically right around them personally, and how it brought on feelings of hopelessness. In the Gospels, we not only see JESUS teaching His followers about Satan, but actually encountering and standing against...
Feb 12, 2025•55 min
This week has been a week of extremes! Tuesday was filled with such great joy as our 4th grandchild, Easton Everett Housand was born. He got here with a few minor struggles, but by the grace of God is progressing very well and will be going home very soon! Then came the news of the Wednesday night mid-air collision of American Airlines Flight 5342 and an Army Blackhawk Helicopter in our nation’s capital, with no survivors. Friends and family of the sixty-seven people that died in the crash are n...
Feb 05, 2025•55 min
