{Pastor’s Note} A Breath of Fresh Air

Tags

Church, fresh start, new beginning, Revival, start over, Victory

This Pastor’s Note appeared in the March 3, 2013, bulletin

The Christian life is a series of new beginnings.  We do not live from defeat to victory and from victory to defeat; the Christian moves from victory unto victory unto victory.

There are times when we must have a new beginning with God.  We must have a breath of fresh air.  Away with staleness and stagnation!  I am committing to seek the Lord for that newness.

May God give us a new beginning of obedience unto Him and of joy in His service.  May we have a fresh start in the preaching and teaching of His word.  God can give a freshness to your love for His word, your dedication, and your enthusiasm!

The Lord is able!  There is joy in His presence!

Please visit Friendship Baptist Church on the web at http://www.fbcstanfield.com.

Let us know you were there!  We would love to hear from you!!

{Pastor’s Note} Being Thankful for Law Enforcement & Emergency Personnel

Tags

emt, fire fighters, law enforcement, LEEP, police, sheriff

This pastor’s note appeared in the bulletin of Friendship Baptist Church on February 24, 2013.

Today we celebrate LEEP Day, honoring our local law enforcement and emergency personnel!  It is our desire to be a blessing to those who serve, as they are a blessing to us.

Imagine dialing 9-1-1 but no one answered the call. It would be disastrous!  We are thankful to God for people who have dedicated themselves to protect, serve, and help others, often times at their own risk.

As Christians, we ought to have a spirit of appreciation for our local officers and workers.  How can this be done?

1.  Pray for their protection, and thank God for them
2.  Tell someone, “Thank you,” as you have opportunity
3.  Always be respectful and courteous of their work and position
4.  Teach your children to honor and respect them

LEEP Sunday

Tags

ambulance, emt, fire, fire fighters, firemen, first responders, Friendship Baptist Church, law enforcement, LEEP Sunday, medical, NC, nurses, police, sheriff, Stanfield

I am very excited about February 24 in our church; it’s LEEP Sunday!  No, I haven’t forgotten how to spell the word leap, but that is not the kind leap we have in mind. LEEP stands for Law Enforcement and Emergency Personnel.  We want to recognize and honor our local heroes!

Can you imagine dialing 911 and no one answers the phone or no one comes to you?  It would be a nightmare!  Thank God for people who are willing to serve as first responders, medical personnel, fire fighters, and law enforcement!

I would like you to be involved in this special day!  How can you be involved?

1.  Pray for tomorrow’s meeting.
2.  Pray for those who serve
3.  Thank someone in your community who is serving

I would like you to visit our website (www.fbcstanfield.com), and I would like for you to “like” our Facebook page here.

We would love to hear from you!

Thank you for your prayers for our heroes and Friendship Baptist Church!

{Flashback} Real Faith

Tags

Believing God, Christianity, Faith, Hebrews, Trust

This post originally appeared on Counsel of a Friend on August 30, 2011.

When we look at the concept of Faith we must look at it is definition in Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  The one thing we must realize, as believers, is the fact faith is not blind. Faith never operates in the dark.

What You Must Do

Tags

active, Attendance, Baptism, Bible, Church, Faithful, obedience

Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.  - Isaiah 1:17-20

There is nothing greater that you could do with your life than the will of God.  To succeed outside of the will of God is the greatest defeat.  We must be careful to follow the Lord with our lives.

We must be careful to pray about God’s will and seek what He would have us to do.  However, there are matters clearly stated in God’s word which we should already obey and trust God to clear up any areas that we do not understand.

What must you do?

Real Men Serve (Real Men, Part 10)

Tags

foot washing, Happiness, happy, Real Men, servant, Service

If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. - John 13:14

Our study of real men is a look at a real man.  Jesus Christ, who is God in human flesh, is that real man.  He is the perfect, sinless example of manhood.  If we would be real men, we must follow the Lord.

As we read John 13:1-20, we realize that there has never been a greater servant than the Lord Jesus Christ.  He came not to be ministered unto but to minister.  He took upon Himself the form of a servant and made of Himself no reputation.  Jesus Christ taught us what it means to serve.

In this passage, the Lord washed the feet of His disciples.  Even in modern times, foot washing would be a humiliating task.  Imagine washing the feet of people who walked down hot, dusty roads wearing sandals!  Yet, Jesus served His disciples.

I do not believe that foot washing is an ordinance of the church like baptism or the Lord’s Supper, but it may not hurt us to break out the old foot pan every once in a while!  Many people are willing to be served, but few are willing to serve.  If we would be real men, then we must be servants.

Real men serve.

Real Men Have Zeal (Real Men, Part 9)

Tags

Christianity, John 2, Matthew 21, Money Changers, Real Men, Sin, Temple, zeal

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. - John 2:17

Our study of real men is a look at a real man.  Jesus Christ, who is God in human flesh, is that real man.  He is the perfect, sinless example of manhood.  If we would be real men, we must follow the Lord.

Jesus was a man of zeal.  Read the story (John 2:13-25) of how He took a scourge of small cords and drove out those that sold goods and the changers of money from the temple.  Listen to Him as He fearlessly and courageously proclaimed, “Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”  This was a zealous man.

Zeal means to boil up and boil over.  It is like a pot of water on a stove.  The heat has been applied, the water must boil.  Zeal is that passion that produces action.  If my God is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), am I close to that heat that it produces zeal in my life?

Real men have zeal for God.