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".
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
We’re about to pop!
What a day! The dear Lord has given to us another happy and blessed day "At the Woods!" Our day began with a great attendance in Sunday School and Church; a great lesson from James; a special little someone visiting with us; lots of visitors; Kathy White accepted the Lord; lots of prayer; great singing; we dedicated our AWANA Team; we heard "God's Simple Plan of Salvation" from Mark 10; and, celebrated the Lord's Supper!
I commented that our dear Church is so filled with the Holy Spirit that it feels like we are about to pop! Others picked up on that line and the more I hear the phrase, the more I like it – and the more and more I expect it any moment.
Speaking of our SS lesson from James: just after I finished teaching the lesson and ended with notes on “praying for one another that you may be healed” I walked past Misty’s Ladies Class and (guess what?) they were gathered around a lady praying for her! WOW, I am back in the old Sanctuary talking about it – while they are in the fellowship hall actually getting it done!
Attendance at our Sunday Night study, “Revelation for Rookies” continues to grow! Tonight was a blessing: more visitors; Revelation 13; two beasts; ten horns; ten crowns; seven heads; and one tired preacher! Whew… we got about half-way through the Chapter!
Remember that our Fall Harvest Revival begins on September 20th and goes through the 23rd. Pray for our speaker, Roger Ellsworth and our folk who will be bringing special music!
Great burdens; great blessings; bright future! Pop?
I commented that our dear Church is so filled with the Holy Spirit that it feels like we are about to pop! Others picked up on that line and the more I hear the phrase, the more I like it – and the more and more I expect it any moment.
Speaking of our SS lesson from James: just after I finished teaching the lesson and ended with notes on “praying for one another that you may be healed” I walked past Misty’s Ladies Class and (guess what?) they were gathered around a lady praying for her! WOW, I am back in the old Sanctuary talking about it – while they are in the fellowship hall actually getting it done!
Attendance at our Sunday Night study, “Revelation for Rookies” continues to grow! Tonight was a blessing: more visitors; Revelation 13; two beasts; ten horns; ten crowns; seven heads; and one tired preacher! Whew… we got about half-way through the Chapter!
Remember that our Fall Harvest Revival begins on September 20th and goes through the 23rd. Pray for our speaker, Roger Ellsworth and our folk who will be bringing special music!
Great burdens; great blessings; bright future! Pop?
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Well GLORY!
What does one say about a day like today? One word: Glory! I wanted to take the opportunity to join several in our church who have shared with me, posted notes on Facebook, and given testimony before our church today about the great blessing of God we experienced in our service this morning!
I knew that we would have several visitors with us today because of the Elder and Deacon Ordination service. I felt impressed of the Lord to drop the planned sermon and preach a simple presentation of the soul-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. It was in the fall of 1976 on the island of Guam that I first heard Missionary-Pastor Bruce Wring preach from Luke 23 about the thief on the cross and how his salvation was a model of how everyone who is saved comes to faith in Jesus.
Over the years, I have tweaked it, added to it, and preached it over fifty times! It is still the greatest presentation of the gospel I have ever heard or preached. So, I shared this sermon again this morning. Many have shared how they and their family and friends were touched by the message and one man indicated that he prayed to receive the Lord during the invitation.
The Ordination service was a real blessing as well. By the grace of God, He has given us six men to serve our church as Elders and eight men to serve us as Deacons. We also celebrated the retirement from the Deacon ministry of Bob Fleming and Ralph Hanner. These two men together have served our church as Deacons for over sixty years!
Power of Praise did a great job on “I am just a sinner saved by grace” which is the favorite song of many in our church – including me!
The concert on Saturday night by Ivan Parker was a smash hit with nearly 400 in attendance and some of the most joyous worship I have experienced in a long time. I thought the closing number, “Carried Away” which Ivan did with Power of Praise was one of the most exciting and happy moments I have had in a long time! You can check out photos from the concert at: www.firstbaptistatwood.org.
Several were in attendance for our evening service as I continued our study in the Book of Revelation! We continue to thank God for His blessings and look forward to every opportunity He gives us to worship Him together!
I knew that we would have several visitors with us today because of the Elder and Deacon Ordination service. I felt impressed of the Lord to drop the planned sermon and preach a simple presentation of the soul-saving gospel of Jesus Christ. It was in the fall of 1976 on the island of Guam that I first heard Missionary-Pastor Bruce Wring preach from Luke 23 about the thief on the cross and how his salvation was a model of how everyone who is saved comes to faith in Jesus.
Over the years, I have tweaked it, added to it, and preached it over fifty times! It is still the greatest presentation of the gospel I have ever heard or preached. So, I shared this sermon again this morning. Many have shared how they and their family and friends were touched by the message and one man indicated that he prayed to receive the Lord during the invitation.
The Ordination service was a real blessing as well. By the grace of God, He has given us six men to serve our church as Elders and eight men to serve us as Deacons. We also celebrated the retirement from the Deacon ministry of Bob Fleming and Ralph Hanner. These two men together have served our church as Deacons for over sixty years!
Power of Praise did a great job on “I am just a sinner saved by grace” which is the favorite song of many in our church – including me!
The concert on Saturday night by Ivan Parker was a smash hit with nearly 400 in attendance and some of the most joyous worship I have experienced in a long time. I thought the closing number, “Carried Away” which Ivan did with Power of Praise was one of the most exciting and happy moments I have had in a long time! You can check out photos from the concert at: www.firstbaptistatwood.org.
Several were in attendance for our evening service as I continued our study in the Book of Revelation! We continue to thank God for His blessings and look forward to every opportunity He gives us to worship Him together!
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Serving Jesus by Serving Us!
Saturday morning, 8/15, following a wonderful breakfast provided and prepared by Bill and Shari Fleming, we had our first Deacon training with the eight men elected to serve under our new Constitution. All eight men were present and Elder Bill Fleming sat in with us.
These men are Andy Appleby, Max Beals, Craig Chapman, Kelly Clough, Steve Dietderich, Gene Greek, Doug Walk, and Jim Wilson.
Jim Wilson was elected as Chairman of Deacons, Gene Greek was elected as Assistant Chairman of Deacons, and Andy Appleby was elected to serve as Clerk of the Deacons. Thanks to each of these men for accepting these additional responsibilities.
We will have our Elder and Deacon ordination service on Sunday, 8/23 in the morning service. I hope you will be able to attend and support these men who are giving so much of their time and work to serve each of us.
Our Constitution states that these men are "gifts of God to our church" and that we ought to recognize them as such. They are... and we do!
These men are Andy Appleby, Max Beals, Craig Chapman, Kelly Clough, Steve Dietderich, Gene Greek, Doug Walk, and Jim Wilson.
Jim Wilson was elected as Chairman of Deacons, Gene Greek was elected as Assistant Chairman of Deacons, and Andy Appleby was elected to serve as Clerk of the Deacons. Thanks to each of these men for accepting these additional responsibilities.
We will have our Elder and Deacon ordination service on Sunday, 8/23 in the morning service. I hope you will be able to attend and support these men who are giving so much of their time and work to serve each of us.
Our Constitution states that these men are "gifts of God to our church" and that we ought to recognize them as such. They are... and we do!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Update: Downtown Decatur
In a speech at Rice University in Houston Texas on September 12, 1962, President John F. Kennedy gave us those immortal words, “we choose to go to the moon (and do the other things) not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” This speech, more than any other single statement is credited with being the impetus for the successful NASA programs that culminated with the Apollo 11 Mission that landed Neal Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the moon forty years ago last Monday.
With the resignation this week of Pastor Mitch Flesch as our Downtown Decatur Church Planter, I wanted to remind all of us that we had chosen to plant a church Downtown, “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” In my opinion, no one could have done more work or better work than Pastor Mitch, who poured so much of his time, prayers, and effort into reaching this community for Jesus; or Tom Miller, who first led this work.
Men and women have come to know the Lord as a result of these efforts, and several Bible study groups have been planted in the apartment complexes in and near Downtown Decatur. We have not accomplished the goal of planting an autonomous Southern Baptist Church in Downtown Decatur; but, our passion for reaching lost people and having a church Downtown is unabated.
We have learned some very valuable lessons that will help us in all of our future church planting efforts. May God use these lessons to shape us and equip us for the great work ahead. Mitch Flesch and Tom Miller have been two of our most effective men at reaching lost people and growing churches in Central Illinois. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue in their present ministries.
Pray for the lost people of Central Illinois, and for our New Work Team as they seek the will and wisdom of God to reach them with the gospel. Pray that God will bless all of our CBA Family of Churches as we continue His Kingdom work.
God bless Mitch and Linda Flesch; God bless Tom and Pauline Miller; God bless our New Work Team; and God bless you!
With the resignation this week of Pastor Mitch Flesch as our Downtown Decatur Church Planter, I wanted to remind all of us that we had chosen to plant a church Downtown, “not because it is easy, but because it is hard.” In my opinion, no one could have done more work or better work than Pastor Mitch, who poured so much of his time, prayers, and effort into reaching this community for Jesus; or Tom Miller, who first led this work.
Men and women have come to know the Lord as a result of these efforts, and several Bible study groups have been planted in the apartment complexes in and near Downtown Decatur. We have not accomplished the goal of planting an autonomous Southern Baptist Church in Downtown Decatur; but, our passion for reaching lost people and having a church Downtown is unabated.
We have learned some very valuable lessons that will help us in all of our future church planting efforts. May God use these lessons to shape us and equip us for the great work ahead. Mitch Flesch and Tom Miller have been two of our most effective men at reaching lost people and growing churches in Central Illinois. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue in their present ministries.
Pray for the lost people of Central Illinois, and for our New Work Team as they seek the will and wisdom of God to reach them with the gospel. Pray that God will bless all of our CBA Family of Churches as we continue His Kingdom work.
God bless Mitch and Linda Flesch; God bless Tom and Pauline Miller; God bless our New Work Team; and God bless you!
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