Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Hundreds Baptized

My baby brother's church doesn't have a baptistry. (haha. I know what you're thinking "they must not be Baptists." Well... you're right. Still don't know why they don't have a baptistry though.)

So once a year they fill in a big pond on their property. They can't keep water in it other times because the geese and airplanes don't play well together.

Here's is an entire afternoon of baptizing in one miniute. It's pretty cool to watch. You can see the people in the pond holding up the names of the ones being baptized. Then it looks like maybe they conclude the afternoon with a picnic.

Monday, June 28, 2010

What is ESL?

Those of you who go to Hilldale Baptist Church know that our pastor has been in a sermon series about the church - "Is THIS What Christ Died For?"

I missed the final sermon (I guess I should go on line and listen to it... Sermon Series on line

Part of what we, as your Pastoral Staff, have talked about is the church "Gathering, Growing and Going."

Gathering is how we will describe our Sunday mornings. It's us, as a church, getting together for worship and Bible study.

Growing is how we will describe Wednesday nights with choir rehearsals, Bible studies, prayer meetings and more.

Going is how we will describe the many ways we are going to connect with our community and be "the church" out doing something for the Kingdom!

What does that have to do with ESL? And what IS ESL?

ESL is teaching English as a Second Language. It is a great way to reach out to our community. We have many people from many countries in Clarksville. Many of them want to know English. We can not only share with them the basics of conversation in English, but we can share the Gospel with them at the same time.

The Tennessee Baptist Convention is offering a three day workshop  on ESL.



Teaching English Language Learners
the Good News
A 14-Hour ESL WORKSHOP
Topics included:
* What is ESL ministry ?
* How to use ESL to minister to internationals.
* How to teach English
* How to share Jesus with internationals.
* Resources to use in ESL ministry.
* How to relate to people from other cultures.
* Much, much more!

The dates for the ESL training are July 16-18.

Firday night, 6:00 - 9:00
Saturday - all day - 8:30-4:30
Sunday - 1:30-4:30

Let me or Donna know if you want to attend the training with me.

To see the ESL info for yourself, click here to go to the Tennessee Baptist web site.

Slaves and Masters - Memory Monday - June 28

Matthew 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master."

We don't know much about being servants nowadays. (Haha. I think that may be the first time I've ever actually typed the word "nowadays." I had to go to Merriam Webster nowadays to make sure it was one word and not hyphenated or whatever.)
Anyways, nowadays we don't have servants and we don't really understand the concept that a servant was totally subject to his master's authority. He had to be abedient. He had to humble himself before his master.

These are very un-American concepts. We are all created equal and endowed with unalienable rights. Why would I, as a red-blooded American, ever humble myself to another or be servant to someone.

Because... the Apostle Paul instructs us to have the same attitude that our Lord Jesus Christ had.

Philippians 2:5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, 6. who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7. but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

Jesus, Himself, instructed us to be like Him. That brings us to today's memory verse.

Matthew 10:25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master."

There is much to be said about this and more verses that I could share, but let me encourage you to ask God to show you how you can be a servant to others today (and this week, and forever).

I'll be praying that you all become more like our great teacher and master.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Memory Monday - June 21

Happy Birthday to me!

I've always had so much fun letting everyone know that June 21 is the First Day of Summer and the longest day of the year and my birthday! Woohoo!

So since it's my birthday I'm going to put my life verse favorite verse up here. I think I already have, but it is such a wonderful verse and is how I try to live my life each day. Hmmm, just typing that sounds like something I've typed before.

Anyway, here it is.

Ephesians 3:
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

So you've probably already memorized it (if you've been going along with me) so you can use this week to review all of our verses. (I wish I would review more consistently.)

Have a wonderful first day of summer!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Catching Up

We've had a wonderful week at the Southern Baptist Convention. It is always wonderful to hear the great stories and testimonies of how God is at work through our churches, pastors, missionaries, NAMB, IMB, Baptist Global Response, etc.

The wonder of the Southern Baptist Convention, hmmm, wonder may not be the right word... well, anyway, the thing that is really awesome is how thousands of autonimous churches freely work together and give to the Cooperative Program to support mission efforts around the world. Thousands of missionaries from other denominations have to spend a lot of time raising support, asking for money, hoping a church or individual somewhere will help them get equipment they need, or dollars for a salary (you still have to eat and live when you are a missionary, you know), or supplies or other needs. Southern Baptist Missionaries in North America (NAMB) or around the world through our International Mission Board (IMB) can go right to work on the field knowing that churches from 30 to 30,000 members are working together, praying together and giving together to give them what they need to do their work.

The Southern Baptist Convention is like a giant church business meeting. We vote on things, elect officers, hear reports, sometimes fuss about things, but in the end, we are brothers and sisters in Christ working together to further the Kingdom.

Since I have been in Orlando and not with my computer I am behind on some blogging. Here we go catching up a little.

Memory Monday
Here's a short one since you just have a few days.

Ephesians 2:14 For He Himself is our peace.

In context, this verse is talking about how Christ brought peace between the Jewish and Gentile believers. But I think in the broader view of life in general, the Southern Baptist Convention, in our local churches in everything - for us to have peace we must have Jesus Himself as our peace.

If that verse was to easy and you want more to memorize or at least put in your heart for later reference, look at Philippians 4:6-7. I memorized these verses as a teenager and have practiced them in my life thousans of times through the years.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Continuing on with catching up - Sunday's Music

I don't really remember. I do know it is Father's Day so we are singing some songs that refer to God as our Father.
One I remember for Sunday is...
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God, my Father, there is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not, as Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

We also have a men's quartet singing The Lord's Prayer. Our Father, which art in heaven.

Join us Sunday at 8:30 or 9:45 and worship the Father with us.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

June 13 Music

Sing to the King
How Great Is Our God
How Great Thou Art

Sorry, no choir again this week. I'll be at the Southern Baptist Convention.

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)
Here I Am to Worship

Special Music - Angie Thomas

Yes. I know I should write more, but we're in the middle of a crazy fun week of VBS!

Helpers

Helpers?
Yeah, They really are. They help with sound, computers and stuff - and do a great job. I thought this was a good collage from how we looked last year to this year.

Oh, and then of me a Brother Tim from 2007 to 2010.

Wednesday, June 9, 2010

More Cute Kids with Bro. Lyndel

So why do I have so many pictures of me with the kids? 'Cause it's a lot of fun taking the pictures and it is  my blog after all. hahaha.
You may have noticed the beautiful baby boy I'm holding in the top left picture. That's my youngest grandbaby, Beau. And the picture right next to it is me and Gibson, my first grandbaby - although he would be quick to tell you that he is not a baby, he is in 2nd grade!

I'll have another post later today or tomorrow with lots of VBS pictures of people other than myself.

Monday, June 7, 2010

Memory Monday - June 7

Since it is VBS week I'll post the VBS memory verse for our verse to memorize this week. This has always been a favorite verse of mine. I suppose it became a favorite when I was much younger - like early 20s - and was trying to be the best Music Minister/Worship Pastor I could be and I realized that at such a young age (and I suppose even now that I'm old the same thing is true) that I really needed God's wisdom to be able to help shepherd His flock and to be a leader in a church, etc. I prayed this verse a lot and I know that God answered my prayers. Not to say that I have arrived or know all of the answers to the deep mysteries or even the shallow puddles of life, but I do know that many times in my ministry, God has given me wisdom when I needed it - which has been often.

James 1:5 says,
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

What a fantastic promise. Here's part of the really cool thing about this promise. It's made to all of us!

Look at the verse in conext.

Jamese 1:2-6 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.

Later in that chapter James says 17.Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

Oh, and here is some good advice that adds to wisdom

19.This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger ;


20.for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

21.Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.

22.But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

23.For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror ;

24.for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was.

25.But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

26.If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless.

27.Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this : to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
 
You know? You should probably just memorize this entire chapter. Get busy... That's a lot of verses to learn (and do!)
 

Me and My Twin Brother

"Me and my twin brother."

Bro. Tim likes to call the two of us that. I suppose that's possible if you think of us as Jacob and Esau.

I had a lot of fun (and possibly wasted an hour or so) making a collage of the two of us over that past three years. I know there are other pictures of the two of us together having fun. (We always do!) I just couldn't find them.

Bro. Lyndel with VBS Kids

This is one of my favorite things to do each year at VBS. I plop down in the middle of a bunch of kids and say, "Hey! I want you to be in a picture with me." They squeeze in, I hold the camera out and "click" "FLASH" there you go - I turn the camera around and say, "How do we look?" (Mainly because I am totally blinded by the flash and partly so they will see how great we all look together.) And they say, "Yeah! We look great!" and then I move on to another group of kids.

Here's a collage I made from some of today's pictures.
In case you didn't see them right away in the collage, here I am with three of my grandbabies.

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Ancient Words - Music for Sunday - June 6

2 Timothy 3:16-17 NASB


All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
 
I went to one of my favorite Bible Study web sites http://www.crosswalk.com/ and typed in "scripture." There were HUNDREDS of verses that have the word "scripture" in them. And a whole bunch of those were New Testament verses quoting Old Testament verses and showing how Jesus Christ fulfilled them.
 
These "Ancient Words" written hundreds and even thousands of years before Christ Jesus found their fulfillment in Him. As we look at the Old and New Testaments together we see how they work together to show us God's story in, around and through our Lord Jesus Christ. They are ancient words that ring true today, that still give life, that still are the "sword" for believers and give strength and guidance through trials and temptations.
 
We'll sing about these Ancient Words that are Wonderful Words of Life this Sunday morning. Let me encourage you to find a partner - your spouse, a friend, or check in with me on Mondays for "Memory Monday" - and put more of these words of life into your heart. You can't always have a Bible in your hand (although with the fancy new phones many have you can carry around a Bible with you. But having these words in your heart is where you will find the power in them.
June 6, 2010 AM


Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Everlasting God

No Choir Anthem

Fellowship song – Friend of God

Wonderful Words of Life
Thy Word
Ancient Words

Special Music – Mark Black

There were several YouTube videos of the song "Ancient Words" but I liked this one because it has Portuguese sub titles. Haha. I'm still listening to my Portuguese CDs so I can keep my Portuguese up. I don't know why. Maybe God is going to bring some Brazilians to Hilldale. Hmmmm. Or maybe He's wanting me to visit Brazil again...

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

It's June! - Memory Monday

I love June!

When I was a youngster - early 20s (haha) I had a great group of friends that Cheryl and I spent a lot of time with. We were a singing ensemble at church called "New Creations." We rehearsed every week, sang at our church and other churches, went on mission trips together and we got together just for fun. Each June we had a "Hooray it's June!" party.

Many of us were school teachers, so part of that was a "school's out!" party. But June is also our wedding anniversary (my lovely wife, Cheryl, and I) and it's my birthday - June 21 the first day of summer.
Oh, and Father's Day too! One big party after another. I miss those friends. We moved away. Some of them have moved away. I've reconnected with a few via Facebook, but it's not the same as a cookout in the backyard. I look forward to that day in glory when we are all singing together again around the throne.

And in June the roses really get going - and the daylillies - and hydrangeas. I suppose they sort of start in May, but in June they are great!

So since it's June and since it's probably my favorite month I thought I would encourage you all to join me in memorizing (actually, I'll just be reviewing) my favorite verse.

I've heard preachers talk about a "verse for the year" or a "Life verse" that they try to live their life by. If I ever had a life verse, this would be it. This is how I try to live my life and is totally my outlook on life.

Ephesians 3:20-21 NASB
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

The KJV says "exceeding abundantly." I like that, so I usually mix up the KJV and the NASB.

Here's some of what I see in this verse and why it is such a greaet verse.

* God can do exceedingly abundantly MORE than I can ever ask Him or even think about. What a challenge - and what a joy - to live my life expecting God to do great things.
* the power that works within us is the Holy Spirit. How cool is that? God, Himself, is doing great things in us. It's His power, not my own.
* God does these great things in us and through us and more than we ask or can even think to bring Himself glory. I get a tiny bit irritated at some of the TV type preachers who say "God wants to give you a new car. A big shiny new car. And He wants you to be healthy and wealthy and kickin' Satan around." I realllly don't think that's it. God does exceedingly abundantly more than we ask or even think to bring glory to Himself and to Christ Jesus. He wants to further His Kingdom, not fatten my wallet.
* to all generations - It's my responsibility to make sure my children and grandchildren - and as far as being a pastor, to your children and grandchildren - to ALL generations - it's our responsibility to bring Him glory. to point out to the younger generations the great exceedingly abundant things God is doing. To guide them and encourage them to trust Him, to praise Him, to give Him glory in the church.

Well, I probably wouldn't get a great grade on this if I was turning it into a seminary class, but I'm typing fast and thinking fast and hoping that I'm making a little bit of sense. Let me encourage you to memorize this verse and see what God tells you through it. And let me encourage you to live this verse. It's a great way to look at life! I'm praying you'll have a happy, abundant, Christ glorifying June!

Ephesians 3:20.Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,



21.to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.