It is only Tuesday, but Sunday's coming! And I want you to be ready...
In the AM Service, I will begin a series of six sermons (AM and PM) that will close out my thirty-week study of the Book of Revelation entitled, "Revelation for Rookies."
In the morning, we will work through 19:11-21 on the subject, "The Second Advent of Jesus!" In the evening, we will work through 20:1-6 on the subject, "The Millennial Kingdom." I hope you will begin now to prayerfully and carefully read through these passages. These are among the most exciting passages of Scripture and you will not want to miss these messages.
The AM Message on "The Second Advent of Jesus" and next Sunday's AM Message (1-10-10) entitled, "The Great White Throne" are great opportunities for your unsaved family and friends to come to know Jesus! I hope you will work hard to get them to attend these services with you.
In the AM Service, we will continue to receive our Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions! We have already exceeded our all-too-modest goal, but I am hopeful that this will become our largest special offering of the year! I hope you will join Lin and I in giving a sacrificial gift to this worthy cause.
I hope to see you Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side... God bless you!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sunday's Coming! (12-20-09)
Well, it is Thursday evening, but Sunday's coming! And, it is Christmas Sunday, 2009! Our Adult and Childrens' Musicals last week were very well done and well attended. We had 205 in the morning service and something over 100 in the evening. Two of the families who have been regular visitors lately were in attendance and they both shared with me that they really enjoyed themselves.
This Sunday, I will be speaking from Matthew 2 on the subject, "The Reason for the Season!" I know - this is not a very original title... but, it is theologically correct and a deeply profound truth.
I hope you will invite all of your family, friends, and co-workers to this service. You will have a higher percentage of people who will accept your invitation on this coming Sunday than any other Sunday this coming year.
I hope to see you Sunday Morning with a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, and your family and friends at your side!
This Sunday, I will be speaking from Matthew 2 on the subject, "The Reason for the Season!" I know - this is not a very original title... but, it is theologically correct and a deeply profound truth.
I hope you will invite all of your family, friends, and co-workers to this service. You will have a higher percentage of people who will accept your invitation on this coming Sunday than any other Sunday this coming year.
I hope to see you Sunday Morning with a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, and your family and friends at your side!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
"Give, and it shall be given to you..."
Luke 6:38 tells us, "give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you." (ESV) Since the Word of God is true, and God gives to giving Churches, we must have blessings headed our way!
Over the five Sundays in November, we gave nearly $1,100.00 to the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering; and last Sunday we gave $720.00 in a special offering for the Klay family, over $3,000.00 to the general fund, $700.00 in the special offering taken for "Les Snyder and the Sons of the Father" at the Christmas Concert, $500.00 toward the cost of a new engine for their motor home, and enough "Tearing Down the Wall of Debt" funds came in to take down another brick this coming Sunday Morning!
WOW! If I could think of something more profound to say, I would! WOW!
And, this coming Sunday morning we will begin receiving our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions! Lets all pray and sacrifically give each Sunday in December to make this our largest missions offering of the year!
Oh, by the way, we will be voting on the proposed 2010 Annual Budget this coming Sunday morning which will be the largest budget in the history of our Church; and when passed, it will double the amount of missions support we give to Central Baptist Association and to the Cooperative Program!
WOW!
Over the five Sundays in November, we gave nearly $1,100.00 to the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering; and last Sunday we gave $720.00 in a special offering for the Klay family, over $3,000.00 to the general fund, $700.00 in the special offering taken for "Les Snyder and the Sons of the Father" at the Christmas Concert, $500.00 toward the cost of a new engine for their motor home, and enough "Tearing Down the Wall of Debt" funds came in to take down another brick this coming Sunday Morning!
WOW! If I could think of something more profound to say, I would! WOW!
And, this coming Sunday morning we will begin receiving our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions! Lets all pray and sacrifically give each Sunday in December to make this our largest missions offering of the year!
Oh, by the way, we will be voting on the proposed 2010 Annual Budget this coming Sunday morning which will be the largest budget in the history of our Church; and when passed, it will double the amount of missions support we give to Central Baptist Association and to the Cooperative Program!
WOW!
Friday, October 16, 2009
Flu Season Precautions
As flu season has arrived, and especially in light of the threat of the H1N1 virus; I wanted to remind you of some very "common sense" precautions to help protect you and your family. Remember these are hopefully, "common sense" precautions coming from a Pastor and not a medical professional:
1) Pray that the Lord will keep us from an outbreak of flu, (H1N1 or any other kind) among us!
2) Please do not come to church if you are ill. If you have cold or flu symptoms, or if you have had a fever in the past 24 hours, please stay home and seek your Doctor's advice about your situation.
3) Please do not bring children who are ill, or who appear to be ill, to church or to church related activities. If they have cold or flu symptoms, or if they have had a fever in the past 24 hours, please keep them home and seek your Doctor's advice about their situation.
4) We have put lots of hand sanitizer around the church, including dispensers on the foyer walls by the main doors. Please use it regularly. (Especially after shaking so many hands).
5) If you have a cough, please cover your mouth and use hand sanitizer before shaking hands with anyone... especially the Pastor! ;>)
1) Pray that the Lord will keep us from an outbreak of flu, (H1N1 or any other kind) among us!
2) Please do not come to church if you are ill. If you have cold or flu symptoms, or if you have had a fever in the past 24 hours, please stay home and seek your Doctor's advice about your situation.
3) Please do not bring children who are ill, or who appear to be ill, to church or to church related activities. If they have cold or flu symptoms, or if they have had a fever in the past 24 hours, please keep them home and seek your Doctor's advice about their situation.
4) We have put lots of hand sanitizer around the church, including dispensers on the foyer walls by the main doors. Please use it regularly. (Especially after shaking so many hands).
5) If you have a cough, please cover your mouth and use hand sanitizer before shaking hands with anyone... especially the Pastor! ;>)
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
I HOPE YOU WILL ATTEND YOUR CBA ANNUAL MEETING THIS SATURDAY!
I hope you will take time out of your already too-busy schedule to attend the 60th Annual Meeting of YOUR Association this coming Saturday!
The meeting is being held at the First Baptist Church of Atwood, 231 N. Illinois Street, Atwood. The church is located one block west and one block north of beautiful downtown Atwood. (From US Highway 36, turn North on Atwood Road and go to the bank; turn left (west) on Forest Street and go one block to Illinois Street and turn right (north). The church is in the middle of the block on the left!
We have had an overall "UP!" year this year and we will recognize several of our churches with "Excellence in Ministry" Awards! It appears that the weather will be lovely, and I know the meeting will be a source of great encouragement to you!
Power of Praise will provide pre-session music beginning at 2:45pm. The meeting will begin at 3pm, and we will have dinner together at 5:45pm. There is no charge for the meal, which is being provided by the members of the church. Following the meal, we will have a second session and we should be done by 8pm.
We will have great worship led by Power of Praise, Bill Fleming, and Mike Rutledge. Chris Granda will provide special music in the evening session. You will be blessed by our Annual Bible Study led this year by Pastor Adam Cruse of FBC Mt Zion, and our Annual Sermon by Pastor Doug Davis of Arthur Southern Baptist!
Oh yeah, we'll hear reports, vote on the budget, and all of our usual business; but, we will also have a great and encouraging time of fellowship. Pat Pajak, Associate Executive Director of IBSA will bring us a special report on the new SBC Evangelism initative, "Across Illinois".
The meeting is being held at the First Baptist Church of Atwood, 231 N. Illinois Street, Atwood. The church is located one block west and one block north of beautiful downtown Atwood. (From US Highway 36, turn North on Atwood Road and go to the bank; turn left (west) on Forest Street and go one block to Illinois Street and turn right (north). The church is in the middle of the block on the left!
We have had an overall "UP!" year this year and we will recognize several of our churches with "Excellence in Ministry" Awards! It appears that the weather will be lovely, and I know the meeting will be a source of great encouragement to you!
Power of Praise will provide pre-session music beginning at 2:45pm. The meeting will begin at 3pm, and we will have dinner together at 5:45pm. There is no charge for the meal, which is being provided by the members of the church. Following the meal, we will have a second session and we should be done by 8pm.
We will have great worship led by Power of Praise, Bill Fleming, and Mike Rutledge. Chris Granda will provide special music in the evening session. You will be blessed by our Annual Bible Study led this year by Pastor Adam Cruse of FBC Mt Zion, and our Annual Sermon by Pastor Doug Davis of Arthur Southern Baptist!
Oh yeah, we'll hear reports, vote on the budget, and all of our usual business; but, we will also have a great and encouraging time of fellowship. Pat Pajak, Associate Executive Director of IBSA will bring us a special report on the new SBC Evangelism initative, "Across Illinois".
Saturday, September 26, 2009
The God-Man Who Gives Sight to the Blind!
Tomorrow morning, 9/27, as the Lord allows; I will be preaching from Mark 10:46-52 on the subject, "A Blessing for Blind Bartimaeus". It is, of course, the well-known story of the healing of this blind beggar on the outskirts of Jericho on the Friday before the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
It is easy to focus on the man Bartimaeus, or on the miracle itself; and, we briefly will do so. But, the passage is really about Jesus the Messiah, God in human flesh Who has the power to give sight to the blind. Of course, He can do this both physically (as in this case) as well as spiritually, as in the case of everyone who comes to faith in Him.
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is still alive and still present to intervene in the physical and spiritual realities of the universe! He still loves people, He still takes time for people, and He still meets the needs of people.
Let us pray together this evening that our Lord will be pleased to pour out His Spirit on us tomorrow and demonstrate His "anointing" presence among us! God bless you and yours.
I hope to see you in the morning with a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
It is easy to focus on the man Bartimaeus, or on the miracle itself; and, we briefly will do so. But, the passage is really about Jesus the Messiah, God in human flesh Who has the power to give sight to the blind. Of course, He can do this both physically (as in this case) as well as spiritually, as in the case of everyone who comes to faith in Him.
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus is still alive and still present to intervene in the physical and spiritual realities of the universe! He still loves people, He still takes time for people, and He still meets the needs of people.
Let us pray together this evening that our Lord will be pleased to pour out His Spirit on us tomorrow and demonstrate His "anointing" presence among us! God bless you and yours.
I hope to see you in the morning with a smile on your face, a Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Stand Still, and see the Salvation of the Lord!
They were out of Egypt, but they were up against the Red Sea and Pharoah and his army were in hot pursuit! Great fear had come upon them. In Exodus 14:13, Moses said to them, "Do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord..." You and I stand today, as we do on every Saturday, on the edge of our own challenges waiting to see whether or not God will move.
We, like they, are totally dependent upon the grace of God! If He delivers, they will be delivered; if He does not deliver, they will be defeated. Well, we know what Paul Harvey called, "The rest of the Story". God did move, and they were delivered!
The same God Who dried up the Red Sea can remove the great challenges and giants that stand between us and "The Promised Land". They were worried and discouraged not realizing that they were just minutes away from a mighty move of God that would bless them beyond measure...
I pray that the Lord moves on this Lord's Day! I pray that He mightly moves the obstacles and challenges before us; and the enemies that oppose us. I pray that we, like they, see the miracle-working hand of God in all of our services tomorrow and on every one of our services to come.
We at FBC Atwood, and our brothers and sisters at FSBC, Boody, are beginning revival services tomorrow. I pray that God's mighty deliverance will be seen this coming week in the salvation of many, the calling of many to ministry, new members added to our number, and a real spirit of revival in our churches. I pray for all of our churches, all of our people, and for all of our pastors that God will move on all of our churches in the days ahead.
We stand on the edge of the Holy Land of God's blessings! God can part the waters and move us over together this week, I pray that He will. God bless you!
We, like they, are totally dependent upon the grace of God! If He delivers, they will be delivered; if He does not deliver, they will be defeated. Well, we know what Paul Harvey called, "The rest of the Story". God did move, and they were delivered!
The same God Who dried up the Red Sea can remove the great challenges and giants that stand between us and "The Promised Land". They were worried and discouraged not realizing that they were just minutes away from a mighty move of God that would bless them beyond measure...
I pray that the Lord moves on this Lord's Day! I pray that He mightly moves the obstacles and challenges before us; and the enemies that oppose us. I pray that we, like they, see the miracle-working hand of God in all of our services tomorrow and on every one of our services to come.
We at FBC Atwood, and our brothers and sisters at FSBC, Boody, are beginning revival services tomorrow. I pray that God's mighty deliverance will be seen this coming week in the salvation of many, the calling of many to ministry, new members added to our number, and a real spirit of revival in our churches. I pray for all of our churches, all of our people, and for all of our pastors that God will move on all of our churches in the days ahead.
We stand on the edge of the Holy Land of God's blessings! God can part the waters and move us over together this week, I pray that He will. God bless you!
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