So many thoughts, so little space, such a short memory…
· Just a refresher – Saturday morning from 10 AM – 11 AM we will be blanketing the community. Our goal specifically is to attempt to reach out to those who have been our guests in the last six months or may be on the Sunday School role but have not attended Sunday School recently. It will just take an hour out of your time but it could greatly influence a life by showing them that at FBCHS we really do care about them and their family. You can choose to participate in one of three ways: physically visit homes and pray with people, make phone calls and pray with people, or write a postcard and pray for people. We will have coffee and light snacks at 9:30 so come out and make a difference. What a difference an hour makes…
· LADIES. Beginning this Sunday morning at 9:30 in room 205 (upstairs from the fellowship hall), my wife will begin the class entitled, “Created to be his help meet.” I promise you this revolutionize your marriage. This is a bridge event that can be effectively used to transition people from a book study to Sunday morning Bible study. You can get information and buy the book at the connetion table at the back of the worship center or in simply show up for the class and pick one up at that time. Any other questions email Michelle at 4realyoungs@comcast.net or check out the “Created to be his help meet” event under Events on Facebook.
· Your Pastor is attempting to transition into the world of technology. Our world is ever changing and fast moving. In an effort to keep our church, friends, guests, etc. abreast as to events, thoughts, and ideas, I have joined the informational network Twitter. Twitter is simply a free site that let’s people know “what [you] are doing”. If you would like to be able to receive thoughts, ideas, and insight as to what God is doing in my life, etc. you can simply go to the link Twitter.com, register your information, go to the find people area, type in my name, and click to follow me. If you have texting or email on your phone, you can choose the option that allows you to receive messages as I make updates throughout the day. I often have inspirational thoughts or challenges and have not had a vehicle to be able to share them until this point. With Twitter, I can now share relavant (or possibly not so relevant at times) information throughtout my day. Why not give it a try?
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Reflexion
God has so greatly blessed our church. This past week, because of the sacrifice and obedience of you, God’s people, we were able to eliminate all debt and we are completely debt free as a church. This is an incredible blessing, but it has the potential to be a curse. Often when churches are not challenged with debt, they decide to take a break from the sacrifice and genuine obedience to giving. This should never be. There is so much to be done, so many people to reach and so much ministry left to do. Now is the time to invest in the church and the kingdom more than ever. We should look at it this way. We are no longer paying interest on a loan therefore every dime is available for expanding the incredible work that God is doing here at FBCHS. You are such a loving, giving, faithful, awesome bunch of people and I thank God for what He is doing, but I must say, the very best is yet to come and I can hardly wait!
Some exciting things just around the corner…Easter Sunday is only five weeks away and now is the time to begin inviting guests. As usual, we will be having two services with a brunch in between. Our service times will be 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Begin thinking now about which service to come to so that you can plan to inform your friends and family. What an incredible time to invite people who have yet to become Christ followers or do not have a church home. The impact could be tremendous.
We are having twins – Beginning April 19th we will begin our second service. Both services will be identical but will allow us to grow beyond our present capacity. Although our worship center does not always look completely full, there is a ratio called the eighty percent ratio. Studies show that once a service has reached that eighty percent number it will stop growing or even possibly decline. If you have noticed, our numbers tend to fluctuate from larger crowds to more modest crows. I believe this is proof that the eighty percent rule is factual. Therefore, in an effort to do “whatever it takes to reach people” this second service is not an option but a necessity. Will a second service require more nursery workers, greeters, singers, band members, parking lot attendants? YES, but as a church we must remember that those who are yet to come are just as important as those who are already here. I pray that you will listen to the Lord as to where He would have you to play a part and jump in with both feet and a whole heart. Beginning the 19th of April, our service times will be 8:15 AM worship, Sunday School at 9:30 AM, and 10:45 AM worship. Please begin now to pray now about the service God would have you participate.
Parking, parking, parking…Just a gentle reminder that every week we are so very blessed to have guests who join us for worship. I want to challenge our people to please, please park as far away from the building as possible so that our guests and senior adults can have the prime spots. If you could help us with this, it would be a blessing. It might allow someone who would otherwise turn away to come into our service and find new life in Christ, all because you chose to walk a few more steps. God bless you for you help.
Some exciting things just around the corner…Easter Sunday is only five weeks away and now is the time to begin inviting guests. As usual, we will be having two services with a brunch in between. Our service times will be 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM. Begin thinking now about which service to come to so that you can plan to inform your friends and family. What an incredible time to invite people who have yet to become Christ followers or do not have a church home. The impact could be tremendous.
We are having twins – Beginning April 19th we will begin our second service. Both services will be identical but will allow us to grow beyond our present capacity. Although our worship center does not always look completely full, there is a ratio called the eighty percent ratio. Studies show that once a service has reached that eighty percent number it will stop growing or even possibly decline. If you have noticed, our numbers tend to fluctuate from larger crowds to more modest crows. I believe this is proof that the eighty percent rule is factual. Therefore, in an effort to do “whatever it takes to reach people” this second service is not an option but a necessity. Will a second service require more nursery workers, greeters, singers, band members, parking lot attendants? YES, but as a church we must remember that those who are yet to come are just as important as those who are already here. I pray that you will listen to the Lord as to where He would have you to play a part and jump in with both feet and a whole heart. Beginning the 19th of April, our service times will be 8:15 AM worship, Sunday School at 9:30 AM, and 10:45 AM worship. Please begin now to pray now about the service God would have you participate.
Parking, parking, parking…Just a gentle reminder that every week we are so very blessed to have guests who join us for worship. I want to challenge our people to please, please park as far away from the building as possible so that our guests and senior adults can have the prime spots. If you could help us with this, it would be a blessing. It might allow someone who would otherwise turn away to come into our service and find new life in Christ, all because you chose to walk a few more steps. God bless you for you help.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Reflexion
Warning – These are random thoughts prone to improper grammar, spelling, etc., but they are straight from the heart……..
Easter Sunday is only seven weeks away. WHAT????? Please begin to pray for our Easter services. I pray God do “something only He can do.” It is not too early to begin praying for and inviting friends, neighbors, work associates, family, etc. to come with you on Easter Sunday to worship. Easter Sunday will be an awesome day in many ways. One way in particular is that we will be birthing twins on that day. We will be starting a second service and we want to see God pack this place out for His glory! Our service times on Easter Sunday will be 8:30 and 10:30 AM with a breakfast brunch in the middle. I can hardly wait!!!
LADIES, LADIES, LADIES. Beginning March 15th my sweet wife will be teaching a class based on the book entitled, “Created to be his help meet.” I promise you this revolutionize your marriage. One lady said in reference to this book, “Just wanted to say a big thanks for Debi's book. I laughed and cried my way through it as the Lord brought me to repentance after years of bitterness. How wonderful! Praise the Lord! Your frank, down-to-earth examples and point-by-point use of Scripture is so needed and refreshing in this day and age of psychobabble. Burdens have been lifted, and I look forward to many years of a glorious marriage, Lord willing. From the wife of a non-garbage-carrying COMMANDER!” This class is scheduled for Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM. This is a bridge event that can be effectively used to transition people from a book study to Sunday morning Bible study. You can get information and buy the book at the connetion table at the back of the worship center. Any other questions email Michelle at 4realyoungs@comcast.net.
We need you. March 14th at 10:00 AM we will attempt to touch our community in an incredible way, however it requires your help. On the 14th we will attempt to make contact with every family that has visited our church in the last six months. In addition to contacting guests we will attempt to find those who are on our membership roles but are no longer attending our fellowship. This is endeavor is not intended to guilt people into coming to church or to sneak up on them in any way. This is simply an opportunity for FBCHS to share with these sweet people the great things God is doing here and then to pray with them concerning their needs. When you come out on this particular Saturday you can be involved in one of three ways: A. You can physically go, take a brochure to a family, and pray with them. B. Make a phone call to individual families. C. Pray as others call and go. All three of these areas are vitally important and of equal priority. Please, clear out a place from ten until eleven to show these families that we really care.
Last week I asked you to think about the statement, “God is preparing us for what He is preparing us for.” If this statement is accurate, and I believe it is, we then need to ask ourselves, “am I allowing God to prepare me as an individual, or am I simply sitting and watching as he prepares others while I sit contently on the sidelines?” If each of us only understood the blessing that comes with a passionate commitment to serving others, they would be a waiting list for every ministry need in this church. Ask Him for ears to hear the call.
THE DESTITUTION OF SERVICE, by Oswald Chambers
"Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 2 Corinthians 12:15
Natural love expects some return, but Paul says - I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service is exactly along that line - I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God's interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things." All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.
Easter Sunday is only seven weeks away. WHAT????? Please begin to pray for our Easter services. I pray God do “something only He can do.” It is not too early to begin praying for and inviting friends, neighbors, work associates, family, etc. to come with you on Easter Sunday to worship. Easter Sunday will be an awesome day in many ways. One way in particular is that we will be birthing twins on that day. We will be starting a second service and we want to see God pack this place out for His glory! Our service times on Easter Sunday will be 8:30 and 10:30 AM with a breakfast brunch in the middle. I can hardly wait!!!
LADIES, LADIES, LADIES. Beginning March 15th my sweet wife will be teaching a class based on the book entitled, “Created to be his help meet.” I promise you this revolutionize your marriage. One lady said in reference to this book, “Just wanted to say a big thanks for Debi's book. I laughed and cried my way through it as the Lord brought me to repentance after years of bitterness. How wonderful! Praise the Lord! Your frank, down-to-earth examples and point-by-point use of Scripture is so needed and refreshing in this day and age of psychobabble. Burdens have been lifted, and I look forward to many years of a glorious marriage, Lord willing. From the wife of a non-garbage-carrying COMMANDER!” This class is scheduled for Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM. This is a bridge event that can be effectively used to transition people from a book study to Sunday morning Bible study. You can get information and buy the book at the connetion table at the back of the worship center. Any other questions email Michelle at 4realyoungs@comcast.net.
We need you. March 14th at 10:00 AM we will attempt to touch our community in an incredible way, however it requires your help. On the 14th we will attempt to make contact with every family that has visited our church in the last six months. In addition to contacting guests we will attempt to find those who are on our membership roles but are no longer attending our fellowship. This is endeavor is not intended to guilt people into coming to church or to sneak up on them in any way. This is simply an opportunity for FBCHS to share with these sweet people the great things God is doing here and then to pray with them concerning their needs. When you come out on this particular Saturday you can be involved in one of three ways: A. You can physically go, take a brochure to a family, and pray with them. B. Make a phone call to individual families. C. Pray as others call and go. All three of these areas are vitally important and of equal priority. Please, clear out a place from ten until eleven to show these families that we really care.
Last week I asked you to think about the statement, “God is preparing us for what He is preparing us for.” If this statement is accurate, and I believe it is, we then need to ask ourselves, “am I allowing God to prepare me as an individual, or am I simply sitting and watching as he prepares others while I sit contently on the sidelines?” If each of us only understood the blessing that comes with a passionate commitment to serving others, they would be a waiting list for every ministry need in this church. Ask Him for ears to hear the call.
THE DESTITUTION OF SERVICE, by Oswald Chambers
"Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved." 2 Corinthians 12:15
Natural love expects some return, but Paul says - I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor." Paul's idea of service is exactly along that line - I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ's idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples' feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God's interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions - "Suppose God wants me to go there - what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things." All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ's idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.
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