Cheryl and I see people texting and driving all the time.
STOP IT!
:-)
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.
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.
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!
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.)
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.
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!
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!
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