We had a good time yesterday in our Sunday Bible Study. Easter is always exciting to me, but we had a good group and a good study. It was time for a little brain-storming and small group work. We divided into two groups and searched for some of the "infallible proofs". After the jury was "out" for a while, we then shared our findings. Great job in discovering these truths of Scripture. It was good for our faith to find out what the Bible says about the resurrection of our Lord.
We need to be in prayer for:
Susanne's mother has a tumor on her kidney and will be going to Birmingham for surgery.
Tammy's cousin has cancer and needs prayer.
Keep praying for David's nephew.
Spence's mother is also still needing prayer, also his aunt who is a caregiver.
Francis' brother Harold and his wife both still need our prayer.
Terry is not feeling well so pray for him.
Tammy - expecting the baby :-)
Brother Larry Sauvageot needing money for truck engine replacement.
Freedom Sunday is coming up. . .next Sunday we are having a planning meeting.
I do pray that you will have a blessed and fruitful week. E-mail me if you have anything to add to the blog or prayer list. God bless!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Spence Teaching!
I do hope that everyone will be present this week. Spence Brandon will be presenting the lesson. Come and receive a blessing. Our theme for the week is Prayer. Certainly there is no more important aspect of our Christian lives than staying in communication with our Lord 24/7. Pray for me as I prepare and teach for the children's Sunday School.
Keep on praying for each other and for the needs presented in the class.
Did you enjoy the Creation DVD? Let me know if you would like a copy. I am not sure how soon or if these are readily available, but I will check if anybody is interested.
Call somebody and invite them to join us this next week!
May the Lord bless ya'll really good. :-)
Keep on praying for each other and for the needs presented in the class.
Did you enjoy the Creation DVD? Let me know if you would like a copy. I am not sure how soon or if these are readily available, but I will check if anybody is interested.
Call somebody and invite them to join us this next week!
May the Lord bless ya'll really good. :-)
The More Excellent Way
A More Excellent Way – 1 Corinthians 13
Introduction:
A Good Teacher and a Great Teacher
"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go" (Mat_8:19).
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16 and research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not completed until 25 years later.
When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums, others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)!
What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, "Well, there was this teacher...." Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher.
The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that "I truly loved my students."
1. The Power of Charity
- w/o charity our words are empty
- w/o charity our preaching is powerless
- w/o charity our faith is of no benefit
- w/o charity our giving profits nothing
They Killed My Brother
I vividly remember an incident that took place at our Greek Keswick in Macedonia one year. The Lord had just opened the door for a special ministry among the Turks. After I announced it, a devout Christian woman came up to me, placed some Greek currency in my hand, and said, "I want this used to win Turks to Christ. They killed my brother, but I want to be the first to contribute to their cause." There will be a special reward for that woman at the day of judgment for believers.
- w/o charity our supreme sacrifice is 0
But with charity, our words are made health and healing, our preaching reaches down and touches the hearts of our fellow men, our faith touches the lives of those who will come behind us, our gifts mean so much more than just money, and our supreme sacrifice of ourselves is transformed into something glorious.
2. The Personality of Charity
- Charity is long-suffering; James 5:7
- Charity is kind (gentle in Behavior)
- Charity does not envy (from – BOIL)
- Charity vaunteth not itself (braggart)
- Charity is not puffed up; 1 Cor. 4:6, like bellows. . .
- Charity does not behave unseemly; is not indecent. . .1 Cor. 7:36 “uncomely”
- Charity seeks not her own; 1 Cor 10:24,33; not after personal interests
Christian Love
That great blind preacher, George Matheson, adequately grasped the idea of Paul when he wrote: "Christian love is the only kind of love in which there is no rivalry, no jealousy. There is jealousy among the lovers of art; there is jealousy among the lovers of song; there is jealousy among the lovers of beauty. The glory of natural love is its monopoly, its power to say, 'It is mine.' But the glory of Christian love is its refusal of monopoly. The spiritual artist-the man who paints Christ in his soul-wants no solitary niche in the temple of fame. He would not like to hear anyone say, 'He is the first of his profession; there is not one that can hold a candle to him.' He would be very sad to be thus distinguished in his profession of Christ, marked out as a solitary figure. The gladdest moment to him will always be the moment when the cry is heard, 'Thy brother is coming up the ladder also; thy brother will share the inheritance with thee.' "
- Charity is not provoked; can be good Acts 17:16, or bad Acts 15:39
- Charity thinketh no evil; does not make a list of the wrongs done, like a ledger.
- Charity rejoices not in iniquity; Romans 1:32. . .be careful of your entertainment.
- Charity rejoices in the truth – truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness.
- Charity beareth all things – the idea is of a roof, a protection or covering – 1 Peter 4:8
- Charity believeth all things; not gullible, but having faith in people. . .
- Charity hopeth all things; seeing the bright side, not despairing.
- Charity endueth all things; perseveres as a stout-hearted soldier; Jim Vineyard’s green beret experience in Vietnam walking out with broken bone in his leg.
3. The Perfection of Charity
- Perfect in its endurance, “never faileth”
- Perfect in its expression, the Book
- Perfect in its experience, seeing Him
Introduction:
A Good Teacher and a Great Teacher
"Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go" (Mat_8:19).
A number of years ago a Johns Hopkins University professor asked his graduate students to locate 200 boys, ages 12-16 and research their family backgrounds. The assignment was then to predict their future. The students were sent to the slum area of the city to find the boys. The conclusion reached by the graduate students was that 90 percent of those researched would spend time in jail. The final chapter of this study would not completed until 25 years later.
When the 200 original students were sought after, some 25 years later, John Hopkins sent the researchers into the slum area again. Some of the group still remained in the slums, others had moved away, a few had died. In all they were able to locate 180 of the original 200. What they found amazed them. Only four had ever been to jail (remember the prediction had been 90 percent of 200)!
What caused this figure to be so low when all indications pointed to a larger number? When the researchers began to ask this question they found that they were getting the same answer, "Well, there was this teacher...." Pressed further, the researchers found that the teacher in all cases was one and the same. The boys had all been influenced by the same teacher.
The graduate students traced down the teacher, now living in a retirement home, and inquired about her remarkable influence over a group of boys who were headed for a life of crime. She really could not think of any reason why she would have this kind of influence. She did mention that "I truly loved my students."
1. The Power of Charity
- w/o charity our words are empty
- w/o charity our preaching is powerless
- w/o charity our faith is of no benefit
- w/o charity our giving profits nothing
They Killed My Brother
I vividly remember an incident that took place at our Greek Keswick in Macedonia one year. The Lord had just opened the door for a special ministry among the Turks. After I announced it, a devout Christian woman came up to me, placed some Greek currency in my hand, and said, "I want this used to win Turks to Christ. They killed my brother, but I want to be the first to contribute to their cause." There will be a special reward for that woman at the day of judgment for believers.
- w/o charity our supreme sacrifice is 0
But with charity, our words are made health and healing, our preaching reaches down and touches the hearts of our fellow men, our faith touches the lives of those who will come behind us, our gifts mean so much more than just money, and our supreme sacrifice of ourselves is transformed into something glorious.
2. The Personality of Charity
- Charity is long-suffering; James 5:7
- Charity is kind (gentle in Behavior)
- Charity does not envy (from – BOIL)
- Charity vaunteth not itself (braggart)
- Charity is not puffed up; 1 Cor. 4:6, like bellows. . .
- Charity does not behave unseemly; is not indecent. . .1 Cor. 7:36 “uncomely”
- Charity seeks not her own; 1 Cor 10:24,33; not after personal interests
Christian Love
That great blind preacher, George Matheson, adequately grasped the idea of Paul when he wrote: "Christian love is the only kind of love in which there is no rivalry, no jealousy. There is jealousy among the lovers of art; there is jealousy among the lovers of song; there is jealousy among the lovers of beauty. The glory of natural love is its monopoly, its power to say, 'It is mine.' But the glory of Christian love is its refusal of monopoly. The spiritual artist-the man who paints Christ in his soul-wants no solitary niche in the temple of fame. He would not like to hear anyone say, 'He is the first of his profession; there is not one that can hold a candle to him.' He would be very sad to be thus distinguished in his profession of Christ, marked out as a solitary figure. The gladdest moment to him will always be the moment when the cry is heard, 'Thy brother is coming up the ladder also; thy brother will share the inheritance with thee.' "
- Charity is not provoked; can be good Acts 17:16, or bad Acts 15:39
- Charity thinketh no evil; does not make a list of the wrongs done, like a ledger.
- Charity rejoices not in iniquity; Romans 1:32. . .be careful of your entertainment.
- Charity rejoices in the truth – truth personified as opposed to unrighteousness.
- Charity beareth all things – the idea is of a roof, a protection or covering – 1 Peter 4:8
- Charity believeth all things; not gullible, but having faith in people. . .
- Charity hopeth all things; seeing the bright side, not despairing.
- Charity endueth all things; perseveres as a stout-hearted soldier; Jim Vineyard’s green beret experience in Vietnam walking out with broken bone in his leg.
3. The Perfection of Charity
- Perfect in its endurance, “never faileth”
- Perfect in its expression, the Book
- Perfect in its experience, seeing Him
Friday, January 30, 2009
How Time Flies!!
Can you believe that January is almost over? It will be over Saturday night at midnight. How are your resolutions progressing? Some have resolved to be more faithful in the year 2009, and I can see it happening. Some have purposed to make some changes in lifestyles and habits. Some are working at reaching out to more people with the Gospel. Some just want to not be so cantankerous. . .I had to throw one of my own in here :-). Well, what adjustments need to be made in order to see these resolutions become realities? I urge you to follow through.
New study in the book of Nehemiah begins Sunday! It would be great to have everyone in attendance. Good group last week even though some people have been sick. Come ready by reading ahead. Read at least the first chapter of the book of Nehemiah. If you want a bigger challenge read the entire book (only 13 chapters) each week during our study. Find out how the Bible gets better and better with each reading.
Be in prayer for one another. Sometimes we get discourages and, at other times, we find demonic attacks coming our way. Whatever might be your situation, or mine, it always helps to have a brother or sister in Christ really praying for you.
Wednesady night encouraged me as we got to meet Brother Freddie and Brother Jesse, two preachers from Arkansas. In fact, their enthusiasm was contagious. I hope that all in attendance have picked up some tracts and passed out some of these gold nuggets throughout the week. You never know what God will do with His Word, or a portion of it.
See you this Sunday! God best blessings on each of you.
Brother Mike
New study in the book of Nehemiah begins Sunday! It would be great to have everyone in attendance. Good group last week even though some people have been sick. Come ready by reading ahead. Read at least the first chapter of the book of Nehemiah. If you want a bigger challenge read the entire book (only 13 chapters) each week during our study. Find out how the Bible gets better and better with each reading.
Be in prayer for one another. Sometimes we get discourages and, at other times, we find demonic attacks coming our way. Whatever might be your situation, or mine, it always helps to have a brother or sister in Christ really praying for you.
Wednesady night encouraged me as we got to meet Brother Freddie and Brother Jesse, two preachers from Arkansas. In fact, their enthusiasm was contagious. I hope that all in attendance have picked up some tracts and passed out some of these gold nuggets throughout the week. You never know what God will do with His Word, or a portion of it.
See you this Sunday! God best blessings on each of you.
Brother Mike
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Faithful
If I were to ask, "Who has had the biggest impact on you as a Christian?" Who would you say? Maybe the better question, "Who is the best, real Christian you know?" Chances are that this person would not be known to the news media because they have not been world-wide evangelists, but are faithful, committed believers with a faith that has changed their lives and has also touched your life and others'.
Hebrews 11 reminds us that all of the faithful are not wealthy, bountiful, and beautiful. Some of the folks mentioned in the last few verses of the chapter endured great tribulation and privations, yet of these it is said, "Of whom the world was not worthy." That would make some epitaph. Let's ask God to allow us to be faithful to Him through the tough times.
Prayer Needs:
Brandi, Mary's daughter, has some spiritual needs right now.
Spence and Tammy
David's mother - tests on Tuesday
RU folks, and for a greater attendance
Heritage Academy - praying for more students
Missionaries' needs
Those who have been sick. . .Ethan, Moss family, Billy and Jean, Helen Smith's husband, Brenda, and others
Harold, Francis' brother, financial needs with the dairy farm
Outreach to be blessed
I do hope that you all have a good week in the Lord. Let's do what the preacher challenged us to do and lay aside every weight AND the sin that easily besets us so that we can perseveringly run the race for the Lord.
God bless you. See you Sunday if not before!
- You may want to be reading ahead as we will begin a study of the book of Nehemiah: "Building for the Lord" starting this next Sunday.
Hebrews 11 reminds us that all of the faithful are not wealthy, bountiful, and beautiful. Some of the folks mentioned in the last few verses of the chapter endured great tribulation and privations, yet of these it is said, "Of whom the world was not worthy." That would make some epitaph. Let's ask God to allow us to be faithful to Him through the tough times.
Prayer Needs:
Brandi, Mary's daughter, has some spiritual needs right now.
Spence and Tammy
David's mother - tests on Tuesday
RU folks, and for a greater attendance
Heritage Academy - praying for more students
Missionaries' needs
Those who have been sick. . .Ethan, Moss family, Billy and Jean, Helen Smith's husband, Brenda, and others
Harold, Francis' brother, financial needs with the dairy farm
Outreach to be blessed
I do hope that you all have a good week in the Lord. Let's do what the preacher challenged us to do and lay aside every weight AND the sin that easily besets us so that we can perseveringly run the race for the Lord.
God bless you. See you Sunday if not before!
- You may want to be reading ahead as we will begin a study of the book of Nehemiah: "Building for the Lord" starting this next Sunday.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Faithful to Follow God's Plans
Joshua stands out in the OT as a beautiful picture of Christ. In fact they share the name Yeshua: Jehovah is salvation. This Sunday we will be studying his life and also the life of Rahab, whose life was transformed by faith in the Lord. I hope that you can join us for this study.
Keep praying for David Cook's mother. David and the family went down last weekend to check on her thinking she may have had a stroke. She has been under a lot of stress with her husband's illnesses. Anyway pray for this family in need. It was great to see Spence and Tammy's fiends in church last weekend! I hope that they will come again and maybe even involve themselves in our class fellowships in the new year. Pray for them. It's my turn to hold Jack when we see them again :-). Pray for our men who are needing work. Tom has started a new OTR trucking job, so that is a praise note. Terry is still looking for more work. Thank the Lord for His provision day by day. Pray for our missionaries. Get a prayer list and find out what they are battling right now. Some have health concerns, others safety concerns, and others are praying for help. The fields are white already to harvest, so let's pray for the Lord to send out laborers. Pray for the various ministries of the church. It is our privilege to reach and teach folks. Let's ask that God would grant a spirit of cooperation among us so that we might more effectively do the work He has for us to do. Remember Sunday morning Christianity is not what the Bible talks about. Salvation changes us, so we are different all week long.
I love ya and look forward to seeing you this Sunday morning at 9:45 for Sunday School. Have a wonderful week!
Keep praying for David Cook's mother. David and the family went down last weekend to check on her thinking she may have had a stroke. She has been under a lot of stress with her husband's illnesses. Anyway pray for this family in need. It was great to see Spence and Tammy's fiends in church last weekend! I hope that they will come again and maybe even involve themselves in our class fellowships in the new year. Pray for them. It's my turn to hold Jack when we see them again :-). Pray for our men who are needing work. Tom has started a new OTR trucking job, so that is a praise note. Terry is still looking for more work. Thank the Lord for His provision day by day. Pray for our missionaries. Get a prayer list and find out what they are battling right now. Some have health concerns, others safety concerns, and others are praying for help. The fields are white already to harvest, so let's pray for the Lord to send out laborers. Pray for the various ministries of the church. It is our privilege to reach and teach folks. Let's ask that God would grant a spirit of cooperation among us so that we might more effectively do the work He has for us to do. Remember Sunday morning Christianity is not what the Bible talks about. Salvation changes us, so we are different all week long.
I love ya and look forward to seeing you this Sunday morning at 9:45 for Sunday School. Have a wonderful week!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Happy New Year!
Wow! 2009 is here. Can any of you remember in gradeschool trying to work out how old you would be in 2000? Well that has been almost ten years ago :-). God has blessed us in so many ways during the past year. I will thank Him for the pain as well as the pleasures. He is so good to us.
It is great to have anticipation and excitement. Sunday School brings me a lot of excitement. So many are getting involved and helping out in the new Sunday School program that I can't help but be thrilled. We are looking for new kids and adults every day. Keep on praying and talking it up.
Our study in faithfulness resumes this Sunday with the life of Joseph. He was faithful to the plan and purpose of God. He could not see the "good" in all his circumstances at the time, but he still trusted God. He still honored the Lord with his actions and words. After going through the tests, he looked back and saw the hand of God in all of it. This challenges me to faithfully serve the Lord day by day, and trust His wisdom and power to keep me effective for Him.
Are you ready to accomplish those resolutions? What kind of resolutions do you have? Some of mine are - journaling through the year in my devotion time; losing a few pounds; spending more time praying and less time griping; writing songs; using my time better; in-depth study of Nehemiah. . . There are more, too. Having goals is important. Zig Ziglar tells the story of famous archer, Howard Hill. Hill won 196 archery tournaments in succession. He also made short films of his archery feats such as shooting aspirins from the air and hunting elephants with his bow and arrow. What made Howard Hill so effective? He had a target. Without a target, you have no Howard Hill or Annie Oakley. We also need targets to focus our energy and help us to know the next step in life.
Be in prayer. Pray for the people and items on both our Sunday School list and church list. Prayer that touches Heaven makes all the difference here on earth. Prayer also makes a big difference in our relationships with others. You might be frustrated by someone you pray for, but you can't hate or seek to harm them.
God bless you in the new year as you draw near to Him.
It is great to have anticipation and excitement. Sunday School brings me a lot of excitement. So many are getting involved and helping out in the new Sunday School program that I can't help but be thrilled. We are looking for new kids and adults every day. Keep on praying and talking it up.
Our study in faithfulness resumes this Sunday with the life of Joseph. He was faithful to the plan and purpose of God. He could not see the "good" in all his circumstances at the time, but he still trusted God. He still honored the Lord with his actions and words. After going through the tests, he looked back and saw the hand of God in all of it. This challenges me to faithfully serve the Lord day by day, and trust His wisdom and power to keep me effective for Him.
Are you ready to accomplish those resolutions? What kind of resolutions do you have? Some of mine are - journaling through the year in my devotion time; losing a few pounds; spending more time praying and less time griping; writing songs; using my time better; in-depth study of Nehemiah. . . There are more, too. Having goals is important. Zig Ziglar tells the story of famous archer, Howard Hill. Hill won 196 archery tournaments in succession. He also made short films of his archery feats such as shooting aspirins from the air and hunting elephants with his bow and arrow. What made Howard Hill so effective? He had a target. Without a target, you have no Howard Hill or Annie Oakley. We also need targets to focus our energy and help us to know the next step in life.
Be in prayer. Pray for the people and items on both our Sunday School list and church list. Prayer that touches Heaven makes all the difference here on earth. Prayer also makes a big difference in our relationships with others. You might be frustrated by someone you pray for, but you can't hate or seek to harm them.
God bless you in the new year as you draw near to Him.
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