So now that Christmas is over, what are your plans for the New Year? 2009 will be here in a few days. I will turn 50 in 2009, now while this doesn’t really bother me it is a milestone, a half of a century. If I live this long again I will be 100. What major things do you think will happen in your life this year? We all make plans for a better year than the one we just finished, but do we do anything to make it better? Or do we just keep on doing the same thing the same way and hope that it turns out better. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing, the same way and expect different results. It just doesn’t happen. Something must change in the process in order to obtain different results. So what will we change to make this a better year? Let me ask you, how much time did you spend with the Lord this past year? Can you improve? Yes, we all can. How much time did you spend in His Word? Can you improve? Yes, we all can. How many people did you invite to church this past year, of those that you invited, how many did you go by and pick up and bring to church? How many people did you witness to this past year? Can you tell more people about Jesus? Can we improve? Yes We Can! Let’s use 2009 to build His Kingdom, Let’s spend more time with Him and His Word, let’s invite and bring more people to church and let’s share Jesus with more people who are lost and going to hell. Let’s make 2009 a banner year here at Carey 1st Baptist Church. Are you with me? Let’s do it!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
2009, Wow, can you believe it, what great things will you do this year? Have you made plans for 2009 yet, you know, the plans to improve your life and make it better. All of the self-help books tell you what’s wrong with you and how you can make it better. I always have to wonder about those people that write the self-help books, are their lives that great, or will they be after they make a million off the book. Do you remember who Dr. Spock was? He was the parenting expert who messed up a whole generation of kids by telling the parents how to do their jobs. He didn’t know what he was talking about, but we still see remnants of his expertise today (don’t spank you child, it will damage him later in life, just talk to him...). By the way, Dr. Spock didn’t have any children, he wasn’t such an expert after all. Before you take that self-help book to heart, remember, self is what got you into this mess, your human self, and it will take someone better than yourself to help. That someone is Jesus, that someone is God, and His book, the Bible is the only book that can really help. This year, 2009, when you decide to improve your life, begin by improving your Bible reading habits, prayer habits, sharing your faith habits. Let’s make 2009 the best year ever for our church and for you, let’s truly put Jesus first and everything will improve, everything. Happy New Year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
GIFT 2
Last week I talked about buying that special gift for that special someone, knowing just what to buy.
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know they will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on their face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give Becky a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
Have you ever wanted something so bad that you just ached for it? Have you ever wanted something so bad that you ached for it but you didn’t really know what it was that you wanted, you just knew that you wanted something? What do you give a person who has everything? Or a person who thinks they have everything? Do you ever ache to give a gift to someone, a gift that they really need, but they don’t know that they need it? As a believer we possess a gift like none other in the entire world, a gift that is impossible to understand until you have it. A gift that people are aching for and they don’t even realize it. A gift that we should be wanting to give so bad that we just can’t wait. You know, that special gift for that special someone. That special gift is Jesus, that special someone is the person God puts in your path, how bad do you want to give that gift? Are you willing to go and tell?
We have that very opportunity, as an association we voted to become an engaging association, and to adopt a people group in Africa. We have adopted the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa. You will have the opportunity to go there and tell these people about Jesus, if there is just no way that you can go, maybe you can help others go. There is one thing that I know you can do, PRAY! For the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa, they are a forgotten people who are lost and without Jesus, without hope. I am planning on going in 2009, are you? Begin praying about it, get your passport ready, if you don’t have one, get one, and above all, pray!
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know they will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on their face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give Becky a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
Have you ever wanted something so bad that you just ached for it? Have you ever wanted something so bad that you ached for it but you didn’t really know what it was that you wanted, you just knew that you wanted something? What do you give a person who has everything? Or a person who thinks they have everything? Do you ever ache to give a gift to someone, a gift that they really need, but they don’t know that they need it? As a believer we possess a gift like none other in the entire world, a gift that is impossible to understand until you have it. A gift that people are aching for and they don’t even realize it. A gift that we should be wanting to give so bad that we just can’t wait. You know, that special gift for that special someone. That special gift is Jesus, that special someone is the person God puts in your path, how bad do you want to give that gift? Are you willing to go and tell?
We have that very opportunity, as an association we voted to become an engaging association, and to adopt a people group in Africa. We have adopted the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa. You will have the opportunity to go there and tell these people about Jesus, if there is just no way that you can go, maybe you can help others go. There is one thing that I know you can do, PRAY! For the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa, they are a forgotten people who are lost and without Jesus, without hope. I am planning on going in 2009, are you? Begin praying about it, get your passport ready, if you don’t have one, get one, and above all, pray!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
GIFT
Have you finished all of your Christmas shopping yet? Have you bought that special gift for that special someone? It always makes you feel good when you know what you are going to buy for that special someone, and then you go out and get it, of course it always helps when they give you a lot of hints. The best is a list written out and given to you, it’s only fair, that’s what they want from you. Of course if you wait until December 24th it’s a lot easier, you just pick up whatever is left. The selection isn’t as vast, but the decisions are easier, “Do I get her a snow shovel or a water hose, ice melt or a skateboard, mittens or flip-flops? Snow shovel, ice melt and mittens, then she will be all set for….” Maybe this isn’t the best way to do it but when you wait until the last day, this is what you get, trust me I know. It’s times like this that you really push that “it’s the thought that counts” thing. Maybe we should put a little more thought, a little bit earlier into it. Of course if you are like me, I go to buy Becky that special gift that will just make her day, and I go to the store, and since I don’t have a list, I forget what it is (snow shovel, ice melt, no no that’s not it, now what was it). But those times when I do come through it makes me feel great to know that I did good.
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know she will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on her face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give her a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
So what is the most special gift that you have ever given someone? Let me know.
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know she will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on her face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give her a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
So what is the most special gift that you have ever given someone? Let me know.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A DATE WHICH WILL LIVE INFAMY
"Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives:Yesterday, December 7, 1941 - a date which will live in infamy - the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.
Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And, while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.
……..
No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people, in their righteous might, will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.
With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph. So help us God.
I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."
These were the words spoken by President Roosevelt on December 8, 1941. This is the event that propelled us into World War II. We need to learn about this important date and remember it. Just as we were attacked on September 11, 2001, we were also attacked on December 7, 1941. we were not at war before, but we were after. Pray for our men and women who fight to keep us free.The attack on Pearl Harbor was not an isolated incident, but was rather one thrust of an overall Japanese offensive in the Pacific. Ninety minutes before the first bombs were dropped in Hawaii, Japanese forces invaded British Malaya, which is today the country of Malaysia. Hong Kong was attacked eight hours later, as were the Philippines. At peace the day before, the United States now found herself on the defensive in a war she was not prepared to fight.
Also did you know that on On December 8, 1941, at 12:35 P.M., 196 Japanese Navy bombers and fighters crippled the largest force of B-17 four-engine bombers outside the United States and also decimated their protective P-40 interceptors. The sudden blow allowed the Japanese to rule the skies over the Philippines, removing the only effective barrier that stood between them and their conquest of Southeast Asia. This event has been called "one of the blackest days in American military history."
If we don't learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. We did repeat it on September 11, 2001, we did not attack, but we were attacked, we were not at war, but we are now. Pray for our men and women in the military, pray for our nation.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
SILVER BELLS
Christmas makes you feel emotional
it may bring parties or thoughts devotional
whatever happens or what may be
this is what Christmas time means to me;
Silver Bells, silver bells
it’s Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
soon it will be Christmas day.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Which Christmas song do you hear that takes you back to that special time in your life, that time when Christmas was still magical and it took forever to get here? When you hoped and hoped that you would get what you wanted, and you rip the presents open and you got clothes.
Now that you are all grown up, Christmas seems to come around a lot more often than it used to. And you hope at Christmas that you will get clothes that fit. But most of all you hope to just have everyone together, safe and sound.
Christmas is a time when you can feel emotional, thinking of years gone by and loved ones gone on. But we need to remember to live in the present, not the past. These are the days that are making memories for others. Let’s do our best to make them special.
it may bring parties or thoughts devotional
whatever happens or what may be
this is what Christmas time means to me;
Silver Bells, silver bells
it’s Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
soon it will be Christmas day.
City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear
Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day
Which Christmas song do you hear that takes you back to that special time in your life, that time when Christmas was still magical and it took forever to get here? When you hoped and hoped that you would get what you wanted, and you rip the presents open and you got clothes.
Now that you are all grown up, Christmas seems to come around a lot more often than it used to. And you hope at Christmas that you will get clothes that fit. But most of all you hope to just have everyone together, safe and sound.
Christmas is a time when you can feel emotional, thinking of years gone by and loved ones gone on. But we need to remember to live in the present, not the past. These are the days that are making memories for others. Let’s do our best to make them special.
Monday, November 24, 2008
An ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE
What does Thanksgiving mean to you? I didn’t ask what are you thankful for, or what Thanksgiving do you remember most? But what does Thanksgiving mean to you?
In 1621 the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is now known as the first Thanksgiving. While cooking methods and table etiquette have changed as the holiday has evolved, the meal is still consumed today with the same spirit of celebration and overindulgence. The first feast wasn't repeated, so it wasn't the beginning of a tradition. In fact, the colonists didn't even call the day Thanksgiving. To them, a thanksgiving was a religious holiday in which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event, such as the winning of a battle.
All of this is well and good, but what does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it just a day of family, eating and football? Or is it something more? We should be giving thanks every day, not just one day a year.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (HCSB)
We need to remember to always give thanks, even when we don’t feel like it, even when we don’t understand, even when we are mad or sad, give thanks.
We need to be careful what we say, a heart of gratitude shows up in the mouth.
Psalms 35:28 says, “And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness, Your praise all day long.” (HCSB)
Psalms 107:1-3 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe
3 and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.” (HCSB)
This Thanksgiving, let’s all try to have an attitude of gratitude, let God hear it, let man hear it, let yourself hear it.
In 1621 the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Indians shared an autumn harvest feast which is now known as the first Thanksgiving. While cooking methods and table etiquette have changed as the holiday has evolved, the meal is still consumed today with the same spirit of celebration and overindulgence. The first feast wasn't repeated, so it wasn't the beginning of a tradition. In fact, the colonists didn't even call the day Thanksgiving. To them, a thanksgiving was a religious holiday in which they would go to church and thank God for a specific event, such as the winning of a battle.
All of this is well and good, but what does Thanksgiving mean to you? Is it just a day of family, eating and football? Or is it something more? We should be giving thanks every day, not just one day a year.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in everything,
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (HCSB)
We need to remember to always give thanks, even when we don’t feel like it, even when we don’t understand, even when we are mad or sad, give thanks.
We need to be careful what we say, a heart of gratitude shows up in the mouth.
Psalms 35:28 says, “And my tongue will proclaim Your righteousness, Your praise all day long.” (HCSB)
Psalms 107:1-3 says, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim
that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe
3 and has gathered them from the lands—
from the east and the west,
from the north and the south.” (HCSB)
This Thanksgiving, let’s all try to have an attitude of gratitude, let God hear it, let man hear it, let yourself hear it.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
HARVEST PARTY 08 Pictures
This is part 2 of the Harvest Party, I had trouble loading pictures last time. So here are some pics. This could be the best turn-out we have ever had.If you missed it, you missed a great one.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
A NEW PRESIDENT!!
Well, we have a new president in our nation tonight, President Elect Obama. For better or worse, if you voted for him or not, it is what it is. What's in store for our nation? I don't know, I hope and pray for the best and fear the worst. One thing I do know, we must pray for him as we have for President Bush, more than we have for President Bush. And we must continue to pray for President Bush, his days in office are not up yet. There are those who have made threats against Obama if he was elected, pray for his safety. When a president is shot, it is always bad, no matter who it is. In my lifetime I have seen two presidents shot. Reagan who recovered, and Kennedy who didn't. It is never good for our nation when a president is shot, pray for his safety, pray that God will draw Obama close to Him and give him wisdom to do our country no harm.
Always remember that no matter who sits in the White House, we know who sits on the throne. It is God's throne, always has been and always will be. Pray for our nation as never before, I feel that time is short and Jesus will return soon. We need to be an active witness for Him who set us free.
Always remember that no matter who sits in the White House, we know who sits on the throne. It is God's throne, always has been and always will be. Pray for our nation as never before, I feel that time is short and Jesus will return soon. We need to be an active witness for Him who set us free.
HARVEST PARTY 08
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….about a month after Thanksgiving, which is almost a month away. But if you go into Wal-Mart you can go from Halloween to Thanksgiving to Christmas in about 2 isles. You can decide what kind of Halloween candy (it’s on sale now), which Thanksgiving decorations and what size Christmas tree to buy in just a few steps. Amazing isn’t it? I keep looking for the Easter eggs on the next isle, but that won’t come out until they have made all they can on Christmas.
Wow, did you come to our annual Harvest Party? I believe that this may have been one of our best. All of the booths were great and all of them were busy the whole night, we had a church full of kids and everyone had fun. Did you try your hand at the basketball shoot, or the cake walk, or the pin the nose on the pumpkin, or the ring toss, the cup stack, pick up ducks, tug of war or the drag races? Or any of the other 4 or 5 or 6 booths that I didn’t even mention? Like the target shoot, or the ball toss or...well you just had to be here.
Did you know that we had drag races inside the church, one of the booths was drag racing. It was a two person team, one pulling the sheet and their partner riding on the sheet (drag racing...get it?). We had some great races with the kids, youth and adults. We even had a monster pull, I know that it was because we had two wives pulling their husbands (monster being pulled). It was a great night.
Why do we do the Harvest Party every year? This is a great way to minister to kids and parents. We had several adults here that do not go to our church, some that I talked to don’t go to church at all. But they all got an invitation from me and I hope from you also to come to church here. You see they got to see us having fun, and they realize that we are just people like they are. Sometimes the unchurched look at us like we are something strange or like we don’t want to associate with them. Something like the harvest party puts us side by side with them, loving on their kids. It works.
Wow, did you come to our annual Harvest Party? I believe that this may have been one of our best. All of the booths were great and all of them were busy the whole night, we had a church full of kids and everyone had fun. Did you try your hand at the basketball shoot, or the cake walk, or the pin the nose on the pumpkin, or the ring toss, the cup stack, pick up ducks, tug of war or the drag races? Or any of the other 4 or 5 or 6 booths that I didn’t even mention? Like the target shoot, or the ball toss or...well you just had to be here.
Did you know that we had drag races inside the church, one of the booths was drag racing. It was a two person team, one pulling the sheet and their partner riding on the sheet (drag racing...get it?). We had some great races with the kids, youth and adults. We even had a monster pull, I know that it was because we had two wives pulling their husbands (monster being pulled). It was a great night.
Why do we do the Harvest Party every year? This is a great way to minister to kids and parents. We had several adults here that do not go to our church, some that I talked to don’t go to church at all. But they all got an invitation from me and I hope from you also to come to church here. You see they got to see us having fun, and they realize that we are just people like they are. Sometimes the unchurched look at us like we are something strange or like we don’t want to associate with them. Something like the harvest party puts us side by side with them, loving on their kids. It works.
Friday, October 31, 2008
IS GOD CONCERNED
I believe that God is concerned about every area of our lives, and I believe that He wants to be actively involved in our lives if we will let Him. Why would He say that He knew us in the womb, why would He send His Son to die for us and then not be concerned about us and what happens to us? I was asked once if it was OK to pray for a car if a person had no way to get around, or was this just trivial prayer. I said that I myself had prayed for a car, not having a car was a hardship on me and my family and we could not afford to go out and buy a car. so we prayed about it, and someone gave us a car. It wasn't new, it had a lot of miles on it, but it ran good and it provided a way to get to work. we have had to put some money into that used car, but it is a good car. And we have loaned it to others from time to time.
Gos does care about you and your daily life, He loves you and He wants the best for you. Take your daily cares, concerns, joy, needs and thanksgiving to Him everyday, this is what He wants, and you will be better off if you do.
Gos does care about you and your daily life, He loves you and He wants the best for you. Take your daily cares, concerns, joy, needs and thanksgiving to Him everyday, this is what He wants, and you will be better off if you do.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
WHAT DOES GOD THINK??
Do you think that God is really concerned with the things that concern us? When we pray for our everyday needs, do you think that God really is concerned with them? Does God consider these things to be petty, does He expect us to have enough faith not to bother Him with these trivial things. Or do you think that God wants us to talk to Him about everything??
Let me know what you think about what God thinks.
Let me know what you think about what God thinks.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
SOUTH AFRICA
We were happy to have Susan Stokeld with us on Sunday; Susan is a Southern Baptist Missionary with the International Mission Board (IMB). She has been working in the Pacific Rim. She was here for our On Mission Celebration which were are doing in conjunction with our Red Fork Annual Jubilee.
I always love to have a missionary in our service, we need to be reminded of whom and how the message of Christ is being carried around the world. We as adults, youth, and children need to learn about missions. And the best way to do that is to hear from missionaries, this is the best way for that spark to be put in our hearts for missions. We give about 30% of the money that comes in to missions, that includes 20% to the Cooperative Program. The Cooperative Program is what enables our missionaries to stay in the field. It is great to give the way that you do, but when we meet someone who is on the receiving end of our missions money and hear about what they do then we have a better understanding of how it all works. Through the International Mission Board (www.imb.org), Southern Baptists support approximately 5,100 missionaries who are engaging more than 1,170 different people groups around the world.
New churches numbering over 1,458 are planted through the efforts of more than 5,153 North American Missionaries, whose efforts are coordinated through your North American Mission Board (www.namb.net) and individual state conventions.
Working together, Southern Baptists saw 836,898 new believers baptized in 2006!
If you missed hearing Susan, you missed a treat!!
Sunday night at Calvary Baptist in Vernon we had our Annual Jubilee and all of the missionaries that were at Red Fork churches were there with tables set up so that you could see things from all over the world. We also had a missionary speak during the 6:00 service, I had the honor to speak during the 4:00 service. If you did not go because you did not see the importance in it, shame on you. We as an Association to begin going to the Mbalantu tribe of the Owambo nation in the South African country of Namibia.
I will be sharing more about these people soon, but begin praying about going, and get your passport ready, if you don't have one, get one.
Let me know what you think about going to Africa.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
I always love to have a missionary in our service, we need to be reminded of whom and how the message of Christ is being carried around the world. We as adults, youth, and children need to learn about missions. And the best way to do that is to hear from missionaries, this is the best way for that spark to be put in our hearts for missions. We give about 30% of the money that comes in to missions, that includes 20% to the Cooperative Program. The Cooperative Program is what enables our missionaries to stay in the field. It is great to give the way that you do, but when we meet someone who is on the receiving end of our missions money and hear about what they do then we have a better understanding of how it all works. Through the International Mission Board (www.imb.org), Southern Baptists support approximately 5,100 missionaries who are engaging more than 1,170 different people groups around the world.
New churches numbering over 1,458 are planted through the efforts of more than 5,153 North American Missionaries, whose efforts are coordinated through your North American Mission Board (www.namb.net) and individual state conventions.
Working together, Southern Baptists saw 836,898 new believers baptized in 2006!
If you missed hearing Susan, you missed a treat!!
Sunday night at Calvary Baptist in Vernon we had our Annual Jubilee and all of the missionaries that were at Red Fork churches were there with tables set up so that you could see things from all over the world. We also had a missionary speak during the 6:00 service, I had the honor to speak during the 4:00 service. If you did not go because you did not see the importance in it, shame on you. We as an Association to begin going to the Mbalantu tribe of the Owambo nation in the South African country of Namibia.
I will be sharing more about these people soon, but begin praying about going, and get your passport ready, if you don't have one, get one.
Let me know what you think about going to Africa.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Matthew 28:19 (NIV)
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
SCHOOL PRAYER
Now I sit me down in school,
where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God,
finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
it violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow,
becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate: to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed.
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen.
This was written by a teen in Arizona.
where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God,
finds mention of Him very odd.
If Scripture now the class recites,
it violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow,
becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.
We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate: to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed.
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen.
This was written by a teen in Arizona.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
TOP OF THE WORLD
There is the story of a youth pastor in California by the name of R. Kent Hughes who went on a hiking trip with some of the High School students. They hiked to the top of Mt. Whitney in California, the highest spot in the continental United States at 14,495 feet above sea level. They exulted over the wonderful panorama of the Sierra Nevada and the Mojave Desert. What a spot, with its rare field, crystal-clear air, its indigo and turquoise lakes-vista giving way to vista as far as one could see. As they gazed together from what seemed to be the top of the world, one of their party pointed out that only eighty miles southeast was Death Valley, the lowest spot in the United States at 280 feet below sea level and the hottest place in the country with a record 134 degrees in the shade!
What a contrast! One place is the top of the world, the other the bottom. One place is perpetually cool and the other relentlessly hot. From Mt. Whitney you look down on all of life. From Death Valley you can only look up to the rest of the world.
Sometimes it seems as though we are on the top of the world looking down, and sometimes it seems that we are in the valley looking up. When I was in high school we lived in the San Luis Valley in Colorado, my brother and I went to the top of Mt. Baldy, a big mountain on the west side of the valley. We drove as far as we could, stopping to move fallen trees, driving around some and finally we had to get out of the truck and walk the rest of the way to the top. What a view from the top, we could see for miles, looking down to the valley floor we couldn’t see anybody, but we knew they were there. As great as it was to be on top, we had to come back down, you see, we didn’t live on topof the moutain. We seem to think that we should always be on top of the mountain and never in the valley, but the valley isn’t such a bad place to be. It’s in the valley that we listen to God as never before, in the valley we can get still, quite and really listen to God. When we are on that mountain top we are too busy looking around, going from this side to that, thinking about what we are going to tell others. Mountain tops are great, but valleys are great also, get quite this week and really listen to God. As the song says, If the blessings are in the valley, then in the river I will wait.
What a contrast! One place is the top of the world, the other the bottom. One place is perpetually cool and the other relentlessly hot. From Mt. Whitney you look down on all of life. From Death Valley you can only look up to the rest of the world.
Sometimes it seems as though we are on the top of the world looking down, and sometimes it seems that we are in the valley looking up. When I was in high school we lived in the San Luis Valley in Colorado, my brother and I went to the top of Mt. Baldy, a big mountain on the west side of the valley. We drove as far as we could, stopping to move fallen trees, driving around some and finally we had to get out of the truck and walk the rest of the way to the top. What a view from the top, we could see for miles, looking down to the valley floor we couldn’t see anybody, but we knew they were there. As great as it was to be on top, we had to come back down, you see, we didn’t live on topof the moutain. We seem to think that we should always be on top of the mountain and never in the valley, but the valley isn’t such a bad place to be. It’s in the valley that we listen to God as never before, in the valley we can get still, quite and really listen to God. When we are on that mountain top we are too busy looking around, going from this side to that, thinking about what we are going to tell others. Mountain tops are great, but valleys are great also, get quite this week and really listen to God. As the song says, If the blessings are in the valley, then in the river I will wait.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
WHAT TO DO ABOUT SIN
What should the church do about sin? Should we confront it in hopes that the person who has committed the sin will repent or just ignore it in hopes that it will just go away? I believe that for way too long churches have been afraid to confront sin, they preach about, talk about it, even teach about it; but when it comes to confronting a brother, or one that calls himself a brother, who is intentionally doing something that will bring himself and maybe others harm, and gives the Church a black eye, all too often the church is not willing to confront it. It’s almost like a parent that wants to be a buddy instead of a parent. We must be willing to do the hard things in the church as well as the easy and fun things.
Did you know that when you join the church you enter into a covenant relationship with the church? You are a covenant member; this is for your protection as well as the churches. How is this protection for you? As a covenant member you know that you have people, including myself, praying for you, also as a covenant member you know that if I feel that you have stepped out of line too far I will come to you in love and talk to you. Jesus was always rebuking Peter in love, it isn’t wrong to be rebuked in love; this is one of the ways we learn. We all need someone to help us in this way; I have the deacon’s to help me. I have on many occasions gone to a member of the church and talked with them in love. Most of the time I am met with a sense of gratitude, but once in a great while anger or resentment and even a threat or two.
So what should we do? Should I just keep my mouth shut and let you believe that whatever it is that you are doing is alright. By doing that we are giving that person the seal of approval from the church, and by rebuking them in love maybe a stronger Christian will be serving the Kingdom.
Now weigh your answer carefully, because what if, by some strange twist of events, it was you approached by me or even one of the deacon’s, what would your reaction be? Think about it, pray about, what would your reaction be? It should be our desire to have stronger Christians, a stronger Church and a stronger Kingdom. What should the reaction be of a Christian??
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Did you know that when you join the church you enter into a covenant relationship with the church? You are a covenant member; this is for your protection as well as the churches. How is this protection for you? As a covenant member you know that you have people, including myself, praying for you, also as a covenant member you know that if I feel that you have stepped out of line too far I will come to you in love and talk to you. Jesus was always rebuking Peter in love, it isn’t wrong to be rebuked in love; this is one of the ways we learn. We all need someone to help us in this way; I have the deacon’s to help me. I have on many occasions gone to a member of the church and talked with them in love. Most of the time I am met with a sense of gratitude, but once in a great while anger or resentment and even a threat or two.
So what should we do? Should I just keep my mouth shut and let you believe that whatever it is that you are doing is alright. By doing that we are giving that person the seal of approval from the church, and by rebuking them in love maybe a stronger Christian will be serving the Kingdom.
Now weigh your answer carefully, because what if, by some strange twist of events, it was you approached by me or even one of the deacon’s, what would your reaction be? Think about it, pray about, what would your reaction be? It should be our desire to have stronger Christians, a stronger Church and a stronger Kingdom. What should the reaction be of a Christian??
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
COMING EVENTS
Did you know that we go from the laziest days of the year, Summer, now I know that we have been busy around here this summer with VBS, Father’s Day Cook-out, Youth Fish Fry and Fund Raiser, Youth Habitat for Humanity camp, Open House & Fish Fry and vacations, to the busiest? Summer is called the lazy days, kids are out of school and things seem to be more relaxed. So we have gone from the lazy days of summer right into possibly the busiest time of the year, that being fall and all of the holidays. Looking at the calendar I am thinking of all of the things coming up in October, November and December; September just seems to getting us ready for it all.
A quick rundown; we have our On Mission Celebration (OMC) on October 5, we will have a missionary here on Sunday morning and then we will all go to Vernon that night for the Annual Red Fork Jubilee, and I will actually have the honor of speaking during the 4:00 pm session. Also in October we have the Teachers Banquet and Harvest Party. November we will host the After Game Fellowship for the High School students; church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving and of course the Hanging of the Greens. We will need to have all of the Christmas decorations up and in place and everything cleaned up on that night because on December 1st we will host the Annual Red Fork Staff and wives Christmas Dinner. We will need people to help with this as we host all of the pastor’s and staff of the Red Fork, we need to all work together to make Carey Baptist shine. Also in December we will have our Carey Christmas program (begin practicing now), do our food baskets (we need to begin bringing canned goods for this) and our Christmas Eve Service.
Just so you know, in September we are doing the Reach Texas offering, all of the money raised for this stays in Texas and goes directly to mission work in Texas. I am also forming new 4 X 4 groups that will begin in October. If you would like to be in one of these please let me know, I need your names, address and phone numbers. Also if you are in a group and do not wish to be again let me know. Also this month is See You At The Pole for our students, and the Brotherhood work day at the church on the 27th. Let’s all get involved, see you there.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
A quick rundown; we have our On Mission Celebration (OMC) on October 5, we will have a missionary here on Sunday morning and then we will all go to Vernon that night for the Annual Red Fork Jubilee, and I will actually have the honor of speaking during the 4:00 pm session. Also in October we have the Teachers Banquet and Harvest Party. November we will host the After Game Fellowship for the High School students; church-wide Thanksgiving Dinner, Thanksgiving and of course the Hanging of the Greens. We will need to have all of the Christmas decorations up and in place and everything cleaned up on that night because on December 1st we will host the Annual Red Fork Staff and wives Christmas Dinner. We will need people to help with this as we host all of the pastor’s and staff of the Red Fork, we need to all work together to make Carey Baptist shine. Also in December we will have our Carey Christmas program (begin practicing now), do our food baskets (we need to begin bringing canned goods for this) and our Christmas Eve Service.
Just so you know, in September we are doing the Reach Texas offering, all of the money raised for this stays in Texas and goes directly to mission work in Texas. I am also forming new 4 X 4 groups that will begin in October. If you would like to be in one of these please let me know, I need your names, address and phone numbers. Also if you are in a group and do not wish to be again let me know. Also this month is See You At The Pole for our students, and the Brotherhood work day at the church on the 27th. Let’s all get involved, see you there.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
ONE OF THOSE WEEKS
Do you ever have one of those weeks when everything happens at once? You know what I mean, you have all of those things that you need to be doing, all of the things that have to be done by a certain day, you are under the gun, feel the pressure, have the responsibility, these things must be done. But then everything else happens that keeps you from doing them. This seems to be a weekly event in my life. I have learned that the bulletin will get printed and my sermon will still be ready, even if I am still working on it at 3am Sunday morning. God has never failed me just because I felt too pressured or too busy. He always comes through, always has, always will. Jesus felt this kind of pressure from people also, only worse. He had people pulling Him in several directions at once, heal my son, come and heal my daughter, touch me and I will be healed, teach us, feed these people… I’m glad I’m not Jesus. Even Jesus felt it, and sometimes He had to get away, He had to be alone and let God talk to Him. Sometimes we also need to get away and have some alone time with God. What is your alone time, or quite time? Time when your brain can unwind, it is important that we all do this. Find your alone place, it doesn’t have to be a far away exotic place, it can be your bathroom, bedroom, yard, garage or wherever. Find a place for yourself.
Next week is going to be a great week, we will have a Gideon with us in church, telling us what all the Gideon’s are doing. And then Desert Reign will also be with us in church, it will be kind of like Desert Reign unplugged, they will be doing some music and sharing what God had laid on their hearts. You may see Desert Reign like you never have before.
And then on Sunday night at 6:00 pm we will be doing the free food and free concert with Desert Reign in the park. Why am I telling you this? Because all of this takes money. The man from Gideon International will take up an offering at the door to help buy the bibles they give away. We need to give Desert Reign a generous offering and we need to give Morris and Carolyn money to cover food expense. I know; give, give, give. But you do it so well. Let’s show everyone what we are made of, and make this the best outreach ever. What do you say??
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Next week is going to be a great week, we will have a Gideon with us in church, telling us what all the Gideon’s are doing. And then Desert Reign will also be with us in church, it will be kind of like Desert Reign unplugged, they will be doing some music and sharing what God had laid on their hearts. You may see Desert Reign like you never have before.
And then on Sunday night at 6:00 pm we will be doing the free food and free concert with Desert Reign in the park. Why am I telling you this? Because all of this takes money. The man from Gideon International will take up an offering at the door to help buy the bibles they give away. We need to give Desert Reign a generous offering and we need to give Morris and Carolyn money to cover food expense. I know; give, give, give. But you do it so well. Let’s show everyone what we are made of, and make this the best outreach ever. What do you say??
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
NEW BABY
Isn’t it amazing how much you can love someone you just met? It would seem that you would need to get to know someone for a while before you love them so much. After all isn’t that the way it was when you fell in love and got married (if indeed you are married or ever have been). You saw that special someone, found out who they were, hit them in the back of the head with a snowball, (that’s what happened to me), began dating, fell in love, got married, and all of this takes time. But on Tuesday I fell in love at first sight...again. It’s happened 5 times in my life, 2 times with my kids, 3 times with my grandkids. When a man has a son he walks tall with his chest stuck out, knowing that someday this little boy will learn to play catch, wrestle, hunt and fish with him. He can teach his son to be a man, how to love and how to work. When a man has a daughter she immediately takes his heart and wraps it around her little finger, and he doesn’t even mind. Granddaughters are much the same way, and now we have 3 of them. When you have a baby, grandbaby and I’m sure great-grandbaby, you fall in love with them immediately, and you wonder how you can love so completely, but you do. You know that you will do whatever you have to do for that baby, even die. That’s the way it is with God, as a matter of fact, He loves you even more than that, He loves you so much that He let His Son die for you. What on God’s green earth makes you worth that? Absolutely nothing! There is no way that you or I are worth the life of God’s only begotten Son. It doesn’t matter how well you can sing or dance, or how handsome or pretty you are, how much money you have, what kind of car you drive, who your mother is or anything else you can think of, we are not worth the life of Jesus. But there it is, the fact that His life was given for you and me. So what are you going to do with it? Will you live for Him, sacrifice whatever needs to be sacrificed, give up whatever is in your life that keeps you from being close to Him, worshipping Him, from having a personal relationship with Him, you know, really living for Him?
After all, He really does love you that much!
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
FOR MORE PICTURES GO TO MY BLOG; randalwilson.blogspot.com
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
DESERT REIGN & FREE FOOD
Why do we spend money on things like the Father’s Day Cook-out, the Fish Fry, Swim Party, and the Desert Reign Concert (Sept. 14)? Why would we want to buy food to cook and give away to people who don’t even come to our church? Why would we want to spend our time and money on them? After all, a lot of people we come in contact with never darken our doors, so why should we be wasting money on them. And further more, why should we waste our time even if some others are helping with it?
It’s called Outreach. I believe that we need to always be trying new ways to reach the lost and unchurched. Our Father’s Day Cook-out was great, we had over 100 people here, people that came to church, heard the Word, felt the love. The Fish Fry, we had over 110 people here who also heard the Word, felt the love, saw what fellowship is all about. Our Swim Party was a success, we had a good number of young couples come, some who are active in our church, some who will be and some who want to start coming to church here. We also had a lot of Kidzone kids present, getting ready for Kidzone to kick off. Our people had a good time and we had contact with a number of unchurched.
Maybe you believe that church isn’t about having fun, and that if the only way we can reach some people is to give away food or have a swim party, then maybe those people are not worth reaching. Jesus thought everyone was worth reaching. He went to the Pharisee’s house to eat, the Pharisee’s were religious bigot’s, he talked to the Samaritan woman, Samaritan’s were hated by the Jews. He went to the tax collector’s house, they were hated by everyone. He showed the woman who was caught in the act of adultery mercy, and he paid the ultimate price for you, His life.
So is outreach worth it, is it worth spending you time and money on? YES!
By the way, if you think that we should be doing outreach that doesn’t cost any money be at my house tonight at 6:00 pm for Visitation. See you there!!
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
It’s called Outreach. I believe that we need to always be trying new ways to reach the lost and unchurched. Our Father’s Day Cook-out was great, we had over 100 people here, people that came to church, heard the Word, felt the love. The Fish Fry, we had over 110 people here who also heard the Word, felt the love, saw what fellowship is all about. Our Swim Party was a success, we had a good number of young couples come, some who are active in our church, some who will be and some who want to start coming to church here. We also had a lot of Kidzone kids present, getting ready for Kidzone to kick off. Our people had a good time and we had contact with a number of unchurched.
Maybe you believe that church isn’t about having fun, and that if the only way we can reach some people is to give away food or have a swim party, then maybe those people are not worth reaching. Jesus thought everyone was worth reaching. He went to the Pharisee’s house to eat, the Pharisee’s were religious bigot’s, he talked to the Samaritan woman, Samaritan’s were hated by the Jews. He went to the tax collector’s house, they were hated by everyone. He showed the woman who was caught in the act of adultery mercy, and he paid the ultimate price for you, His life.
So is outreach worth it, is it worth spending you time and money on? YES!
By the way, if you think that we should be doing outreach that doesn’t cost any money be at my house tonight at 6:00 pm for Visitation. See you there!!
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
NEO-NAZI FOUND FREEDOM IN PRISON
This is an artic that Russ Rankin of Lifeway wrote about Steven Neil, Paul Harris and myself concerning "Share Jesus Without Fear." It has been in many publications, enjoy.
By Russ Rankin
MINERAL WELLS, Texas—Seventeen years of prison and a lifetime of hate, violence and racism is mapped on Steven Neill’s body. Druids, swastikas, skulls and symbols of the occult circle and mesh darkly up his arms and disappear into his shirt; the letters “skinhead” are tattooed across the knuckles of both fists. Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous phrase – “God is dead” – stands defiantly in black, inked into his wrist.
But God is very much alive to Neill, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas, and his markings weave a visible testimony of a life transformed.
“These are the roadmap of my life-story,” he said unashamedly, running a rough hand up his arm. The tattoos are an easy way to share Jesus, just like Share Jesus Without Fear – the witnessing method that stopped Neill in his tracks and led to his salvation.
The hate and resentment came at a young age for Neill, festered in a broken, abusive home and reinforced in Houston’s dangerous 4th Ward district. After a violent conflict with Hispanic gangs, a 13-year-old Neill found brotherhood with a group of American neo-Nazis. The abuse and neglect crystallized into hate as Neill studied the teachings of radical supremacists.
“We were extremely violent and militant,” he said. “We wanted to wage the racial holy war that Nietzsche spoke about.” Needing paramilitary training to advance in leadership, Neill joined the Army. The white supremacist attachments weakened in the discipline of the military until another altercation changed Neill’s life forever.
The fight started as an argument, but “I stabbed him,” Neill said. “Punctured a lung, severed the small intestine. He died four hours later. Aggravated murder with a deadly weapon gave me a 40-year sentence.”
Going to prison catapulted Neill back into his past. “It was a fight for survival,” he said. “I fully embraced my past and became violently racist.”
Following the teachings of Nietzsche, who blamed Christianity and Christians as the cause of all ills, “I was going to do anything I could do to eradicate Christianity,” Neill said. “In prison, society is organized into predators and prey. I was a predator. I could sense without a doubt who was prey.”
Neill said religious lines in prison were also obvious. Groups would organize based upon what particular ministries had come in and won converts. Converts were weak prey-types, he said. Some would become embolden and share their faith, an exercise Neill relished.
“If I couldn’t verbally convince them their faith was wrong, I’d beat them up,” he said. “But I didn’t have to do that very much because I knew every bit of anti-Christian philosophy – and I enjoyed a good argument – so I would utterly crush them.”
Faced with the Truth
Against his will, Neill was signed up to attend a prison ministry weekend. With his attendance now mandatory, Neill decided to be as offensive as possible.
“I’m rude, belligerent and I go off on how hypocritical everyone is at this thing,” Neill said. “I cussed everyone out and stormed off the stage. Then this guy jumps up into the aisle and jabs a finger in my chest.”
Up until that moment, Paul Harris had begrudgingly endured the prison outreach. His pastor made him come to the prison. Harris had only recently recommitted his life to God after years of charting his own course. But sitting in the prison yard listening to man after man speak about how much they loved God, feelings of condemnation and hypocrisy overwhelmed him.
“And all of a sudden I’m hearing this guy on stage calling us all hypocrites, and I’m agreeing with him,” Harris said. “As he’s stomping out, I jump out of my seat and stick my finger right in his chest and say, ‘You’re the reason I’m here!’
“As a former atheist, I had dabbled in everything he’d been in,” Harris said. “We locked horns that first night. We were both determined to win.”
Neill said he knew he was in a place of heavy discontent. “I came in unhappy, knowing I needed to change. But I went in with a combative attitude and Paul met me on that ground.
“It was intense,” Neill grinned. “Everything he threw at me I had an argument for.”
After an entire day of arguing, Randy Wilson, Harris’s pastor, stepped in and changed the game plan. “I hadn’t read all those books,” Wilson said. “Steven and Paul are both so intelligent. They sat there arguing and contradicting each other with humanistic philosophy. I told Paul it was time to present the Word.”
Wilson is a longtime fan of the Share Jesus Without Fear, produced by LifeWay Christian Resources. The resource offers three simple steps for sharing the Gospel: Five questions to determine where God is working, seven verses to let the Bible speak for itself – which the unbeliever reads for himself – and five questions that lead to the point of discussion.
“What’s so appealing is that it’s not about memorizing a thousand verses and quoting them all,” said Wilson, pastor of Carey Baptist Church, located outside Childress, Texas. “It’s easy. You ask five simples questions; the last is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
“Steven Neill could argue all day against [the Bible], but he’d never read it,” Wilson said. “And so we walked him through this simple process – with him reading the Scripture for himself. At the end, it’s a simple question: according to what you’re read, are you a sinner? Steven wouldn’t answer.”
That night back in lockdown, Neill said his life came into view. “I saw my life as it really was. But I saw everything as God would see it. I saw that I had gloried in active rebellion against God.
“There was no relief that night,” he said. “There was no hope. If I was prone to suicide, I would’ve have done it that night.”
Freedom
Neill said he walked back into the meeting the next morning a broken man. Harris and Wilson could only stare at what was a literal physical transformation. “The darkness was dropping from his face,” Wilson said.
“Randy pulled out his Share Jesus Without Fear Bible and had me read the Scriptures,” Neill said. “By the end, I was bawling like a baby.”
“We didn’t lead Steven to the Lord. We just witnessed to him,” Harris said. “That’s what is so good about Share Jesus Without Fear. When I first used it, it triggered something in me – it wasn’t about me or what I knew anymore. It was up to the Lord, His Word and the Holy Spirit.”
Neill knows it was the Holy Spirit that opened his eyes that day, but “I think the [SJWF] method is the only way I would’ve gotten there,” he said. “Instead of arguing, I was sitting there reading the Scripture. I’m honest enough with myself to reach for the truth.”
Unable to counter the Truth, Neill gave his life to Christ and immediately began a journey of growth. After beginning a Bible study with two other prisoners, the group grew to 26 as lives change and people began to come to Neill for spiritual matters.
“God wanted something more from me than just going to church,” he said. “He was calling me to something bigger. I was studying Scripture 14-16 hours a day and some amazing things happened. I would dream Scripture passages rolling through my head. I would wake up refreshed, often praying even as I woke up.”
Neill earned a Diploma of Pastoral Ministry through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s extension program and a Diploma in Biblical Studies through Amherst College. After 17 years in prison, Neill was paroled, and he immediately submitted himself to further discipleship under Wilson. A short time later, Neill was ordained into the ministry.
“I want to see this church walk in freedom,” he said, speaking of Northside Baptist, the small West Texas congregation that accepted him with open arms. “I want them to know they can walk with the vilest of sinners because they have in them He who is stronger than the world. Then, lives will change.”
On June 29, Neill, along with Wilson, ordained Harris as associate pastor of Northside to serve alongside the former prisoner he introduced to the Lord. The foundation of the two men’s ministry is grounded in their mandate to share Jesus with boldness and confidence.
“Bill Fay (the writer of SJWF) truly had a great vision,” Harris said. “I believe it’s probably the best way for witnessing. And Share Jesus Without Fear has affected the mindset of our entire church. I believe it’s going to be a catalyst as we look outward.
“The radical power of God to transform lives is what amazes me,” Harris added. “Jesus was a radical man. And that’s why I love to share the Gospel.”
By Russ Rankin
MINERAL WELLS, Texas—Seventeen years of prison and a lifetime of hate, violence and racism is mapped on Steven Neill’s body. Druids, swastikas, skulls and symbols of the occult circle and mesh darkly up his arms and disappear into his shirt; the letters “skinhead” are tattooed across the knuckles of both fists. Friedrich Nietzsche’s famous phrase – “God is dead” – stands defiantly in black, inked into his wrist.
But God is very much alive to Neill, pastor of Northside Baptist Church in Mineral Wells, Texas, and his markings weave a visible testimony of a life transformed.
“These are the roadmap of my life-story,” he said unashamedly, running a rough hand up his arm. The tattoos are an easy way to share Jesus, just like Share Jesus Without Fear – the witnessing method that stopped Neill in his tracks and led to his salvation.
The hate and resentment came at a young age for Neill, festered in a broken, abusive home and reinforced in Houston’s dangerous 4th Ward district. After a violent conflict with Hispanic gangs, a 13-year-old Neill found brotherhood with a group of American neo-Nazis. The abuse and neglect crystallized into hate as Neill studied the teachings of radical supremacists.
“We were extremely violent and militant,” he said. “We wanted to wage the racial holy war that Nietzsche spoke about.” Needing paramilitary training to advance in leadership, Neill joined the Army. The white supremacist attachments weakened in the discipline of the military until another altercation changed Neill’s life forever.
The fight started as an argument, but “I stabbed him,” Neill said. “Punctured a lung, severed the small intestine. He died four hours later. Aggravated murder with a deadly weapon gave me a 40-year sentence.”
Going to prison catapulted Neill back into his past. “It was a fight for survival,” he said. “I fully embraced my past and became violently racist.”
Following the teachings of Nietzsche, who blamed Christianity and Christians as the cause of all ills, “I was going to do anything I could do to eradicate Christianity,” Neill said. “In prison, society is organized into predators and prey. I was a predator. I could sense without a doubt who was prey.”
Neill said religious lines in prison were also obvious. Groups would organize based upon what particular ministries had come in and won converts. Converts were weak prey-types, he said. Some would become embolden and share their faith, an exercise Neill relished.
“If I couldn’t verbally convince them their faith was wrong, I’d beat them up,” he said. “But I didn’t have to do that very much because I knew every bit of anti-Christian philosophy – and I enjoyed a good argument – so I would utterly crush them.”
Faced with the Truth
Against his will, Neill was signed up to attend a prison ministry weekend. With his attendance now mandatory, Neill decided to be as offensive as possible.
“I’m rude, belligerent and I go off on how hypocritical everyone is at this thing,” Neill said. “I cussed everyone out and stormed off the stage. Then this guy jumps up into the aisle and jabs a finger in my chest.”
Up until that moment, Paul Harris had begrudgingly endured the prison outreach. His pastor made him come to the prison. Harris had only recently recommitted his life to God after years of charting his own course. But sitting in the prison yard listening to man after man speak about how much they loved God, feelings of condemnation and hypocrisy overwhelmed him.
“And all of a sudden I’m hearing this guy on stage calling us all hypocrites, and I’m agreeing with him,” Harris said. “As he’s stomping out, I jump out of my seat and stick my finger right in his chest and say, ‘You’re the reason I’m here!’
“As a former atheist, I had dabbled in everything he’d been in,” Harris said. “We locked horns that first night. We were both determined to win.”
Neill said he knew he was in a place of heavy discontent. “I came in unhappy, knowing I needed to change. But I went in with a combative attitude and Paul met me on that ground.
“It was intense,” Neill grinned. “Everything he threw at me I had an argument for.”
After an entire day of arguing, Randy Wilson, Harris’s pastor, stepped in and changed the game plan. “I hadn’t read all those books,” Wilson said. “Steven and Paul are both so intelligent. They sat there arguing and contradicting each other with humanistic philosophy. I told Paul it was time to present the Word.”
Wilson is a longtime fan of the Share Jesus Without Fear, produced by LifeWay Christian Resources. The resource offers three simple steps for sharing the Gospel: Five questions to determine where God is working, seven verses to let the Bible speak for itself – which the unbeliever reads for himself – and five questions that lead to the point of discussion.
“What’s so appealing is that it’s not about memorizing a thousand verses and quoting them all,” said Wilson, pastor of Carey Baptist Church, located outside Childress, Texas. “It’s easy. You ask five simples questions; the last is a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer.
“Steven Neill could argue all day against [the Bible], but he’d never read it,” Wilson said. “And so we walked him through this simple process – with him reading the Scripture for himself. At the end, it’s a simple question: according to what you’re read, are you a sinner? Steven wouldn’t answer.”
That night back in lockdown, Neill said his life came into view. “I saw my life as it really was. But I saw everything as God would see it. I saw that I had gloried in active rebellion against God.
“There was no relief that night,” he said. “There was no hope. If I was prone to suicide, I would’ve have done it that night.”
Freedom
Neill said he walked back into the meeting the next morning a broken man. Harris and Wilson could only stare at what was a literal physical transformation. “The darkness was dropping from his face,” Wilson said.
“Randy pulled out his Share Jesus Without Fear Bible and had me read the Scriptures,” Neill said. “By the end, I was bawling like a baby.”
“We didn’t lead Steven to the Lord. We just witnessed to him,” Harris said. “That’s what is so good about Share Jesus Without Fear. When I first used it, it triggered something in me – it wasn’t about me or what I knew anymore. It was up to the Lord, His Word and the Holy Spirit.”
Neill knows it was the Holy Spirit that opened his eyes that day, but “I think the [SJWF] method is the only way I would’ve gotten there,” he said. “Instead of arguing, I was sitting there reading the Scripture. I’m honest enough with myself to reach for the truth.”
Unable to counter the Truth, Neill gave his life to Christ and immediately began a journey of growth. After beginning a Bible study with two other prisoners, the group grew to 26 as lives change and people began to come to Neill for spiritual matters.
“God wanted something more from me than just going to church,” he said. “He was calling me to something bigger. I was studying Scripture 14-16 hours a day and some amazing things happened. I would dream Scripture passages rolling through my head. I would wake up refreshed, often praying even as I woke up.”
Neill earned a Diploma of Pastoral Ministry through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s extension program and a Diploma in Biblical Studies through Amherst College. After 17 years in prison, Neill was paroled, and he immediately submitted himself to further discipleship under Wilson. A short time later, Neill was ordained into the ministry.
“I want to see this church walk in freedom,” he said, speaking of Northside Baptist, the small West Texas congregation that accepted him with open arms. “I want them to know they can walk with the vilest of sinners because they have in them He who is stronger than the world. Then, lives will change.”
On June 29, Neill, along with Wilson, ordained Harris as associate pastor of Northside to serve alongside the former prisoner he introduced to the Lord. The foundation of the two men’s ministry is grounded in their mandate to share Jesus with boldness and confidence.
“Bill Fay (the writer of SJWF) truly had a great vision,” Harris said. “I believe it’s probably the best way for witnessing. And Share Jesus Without Fear has affected the mindset of our entire church. I believe it’s going to be a catalyst as we look outward.
“The radical power of God to transform lives is what amazes me,” Harris added. “Jesus was a radical man. And that’s why I love to share the Gospel.”
Pastor's Pen 8-17-08
I received this e-mail from Derrell Monday, our Director of Missions, pray about this and see if this is something you might be interested in.
“We have the possibility of doing a construction project (a duplex or housing work) in Haiti for a seminary there. We would be looking at January and February, ideally with two or three (or more) teams staggered to go in and do the project or as much as possible. We would need builders, plumbers, electric, good "Indians" and all. We could have some that would be able to do prayer walking or other things if not able to do construction, but construction would be the focus. I do not have costs yet, but when the missionary returns to Haiti next week he will send me sample plans for the building needed and other information.
I am sending this now for you consideration as if we plan to try to respond we will need to make a commitment and get started enlisting workers and getting a staggered schedule of folks to go. We would not need large groups, but 10-15 or so in each group.
Please pray about this and let's discuss it at the board meetings. Thanks. Derrell”
All I can say is, pray about it, we have some in our church who have a specialty, and we have a good group of Indians, after all we can only stand so many chiefs. Anyway, pray about this and if God lays it on your heart to go and build in Haiti, you will need a passport and money, but the good news is, we have time for both. Time to get your passport (apply now) and time to raise some money. We can do some church fund raisers and you can raise some on your own. If God opens this door, and if He leads you to go, I can guarantee you that this will be a mission trip you will never forget.
So start praying now, please don’t just dismiss this and say that there is no way you can go, with God there is. Remember, prayer is the key.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
“We have the possibility of doing a construction project (a duplex or housing work) in Haiti for a seminary there. We would be looking at January and February, ideally with two or three (or more) teams staggered to go in and do the project or as much as possible. We would need builders, plumbers, electric, good "Indians" and all. We could have some that would be able to do prayer walking or other things if not able to do construction, but construction would be the focus. I do not have costs yet, but when the missionary returns to Haiti next week he will send me sample plans for the building needed and other information.
I am sending this now for you consideration as if we plan to try to respond we will need to make a commitment and get started enlisting workers and getting a staggered schedule of folks to go. We would not need large groups, but 10-15 or so in each group.
Please pray about this and let's discuss it at the board meetings. Thanks. Derrell”
All I can say is, pray about it, we have some in our church who have a specialty, and we have a good group of Indians, after all we can only stand so many chiefs. Anyway, pray about this and if God lays it on your heart to go and build in Haiti, you will need a passport and money, but the good news is, we have time for both. Time to get your passport (apply now) and time to raise some money. We can do some church fund raisers and you can raise some on your own. If God opens this door, and if He leads you to go, I can guarantee you that this will be a mission trip you will never forget.
So start praying now, please don’t just dismiss this and say that there is no way you can go, with God there is. Remember, prayer is the key.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Gossip, An Enemy of Unity
Did you know that there are 5 forces that can tear the unity of a church apart? Poor communication, gossip, unresolved disagreements, lack of a shared purpose and sanctioned incompetence. I want to take a closer look at the destructive nature of gossip.
It’s impossible for people to be comfortable working around or worshiping with each other, let alone enjoy each other, when gossip is present. Gossip is inherently degrading; it will divide and destroy a church or an organization.
What is gossip? It is delivering negative information—any negative information about anyone or anything—to someone who cannot do something about it.
Our motto here at Carey should be: negatives go up; positives go all around. We are, after all, the real beneficiaries of that policy. We need to know what we can and can’t do with negative information; there is no gray area. Of equal importance, we can point to that rule with pride and cut gossip off before it has a chance to do any damage.
Negative stuff will happen. That’s inevitable. The negatives may be about a person or a process. Either way, they need to be handed to the pastor or a deacon, (these are the leaders in the church), someone who can do something about them. If you’re mad at a leader, talk to another leader about it. But complaining to anyone else is disloyalty, and it fosters a negative spirit that will trash the church.
If a person needs to be counseled or educated or reprimanded, that’s a leader’s job. If a process needs to be changed, that’s also a leader’s responsibility. If the situation is really none of the communicator’s business, then a leader will let him or her know that, too.
However, if someone delivers the same negatives to a peer or tells someone below them on the chain of command, then that’s gossip. It’s that simple.
Passing along negative information for the sole purpose of telling someone is gossip. That should never be tolerated in a church that strives for unity. Remember, negatives go up; positives go all around.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
It’s impossible for people to be comfortable working around or worshiping with each other, let alone enjoy each other, when gossip is present. Gossip is inherently degrading; it will divide and destroy a church or an organization.
What is gossip? It is delivering negative information—any negative information about anyone or anything—to someone who cannot do something about it.
Our motto here at Carey should be: negatives go up; positives go all around. We are, after all, the real beneficiaries of that policy. We need to know what we can and can’t do with negative information; there is no gray area. Of equal importance, we can point to that rule with pride and cut gossip off before it has a chance to do any damage.
Negative stuff will happen. That’s inevitable. The negatives may be about a person or a process. Either way, they need to be handed to the pastor or a deacon, (these are the leaders in the church), someone who can do something about them. If you’re mad at a leader, talk to another leader about it. But complaining to anyone else is disloyalty, and it fosters a negative spirit that will trash the church.
If a person needs to be counseled or educated or reprimanded, that’s a leader’s job. If a process needs to be changed, that’s also a leader’s responsibility. If the situation is really none of the communicator’s business, then a leader will let him or her know that, too.
However, if someone delivers the same negatives to a peer or tells someone below them on the chain of command, then that’s gossip. It’s that simple.
Passing along negative information for the sole purpose of telling someone is gossip. That should never be tolerated in a church that strives for unity. Remember, negatives go up; positives go all around.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
ARE YOU READY?
You never know from day to day, hour to hour, moment to moment how you life will be changed. That is the way it was for Becky and I on Wednesday, July 16. She has had this type of rash on her foot for years, and it is trying to spread. Now we have been to many doctors with it over the years and all of them just kind of blew it off as nothing, but a dermatologist in Amarillo did a biopsy on it and sent it in. Well her foot wasn’t wanting to heal so she went to see Dr. Green who did a culture on it. We flew into Denver for our few days off and her foot began hurting really bad so she called Dr. Green who put her on a half of a dose of antibiotics and told her when we got home to come in and see him. So she did and while she was there Dr. Green called the dermatologist to see what the test results were. This is when he told Dr. Green that Becky has cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, cancer. So we went to see the oncologist on Tuesday, July 22 not knowing what to expect. He did some tests and will do more but in his own words, “If there is a cancer to get, this is it.” Basically, this is the type of cancer that shows on the skin and will most likely never show on the inside and that is what these tests are for. Most likely it will be treated with a steroid cream or pills, worst case maybe some radiation or chemo but he did not expect it. We are now waiting on the blood test and pet scan results.
So we never know what life will throw us, but regardless, we know who still sits on the throne and we know who still saves us from our sins and we know where the redeemed of the Lord will spend eternity. Are you ready?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
So we never know what life will throw us, but regardless, we know who still sits on the throne and we know who still saves us from our sins and we know where the redeemed of the Lord will spend eternity. Are you ready?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
TO GOATEE, OR NOT TO GOATEE
On the 10th of August we will be having an Open House and Fish Fry here at the church. Morris had some fish left over from the Youth Fund Raiser and wanted to do this for the church. Now when we did our Father’s Day Cook-out we fed over 100 people, so could we possibly have 125 here for the Open House and Fish Fry? And just to make it interesting I am putting my goatee on the line. I tried to get Jimmy to put his moustache on the line but he wasn’t willing, so he is growing a goatee also. So for 125 here on Sunday, August 10th we will lose our goatee’s. but how many will it take to lose our moustaches? 135...145...150 sounds like a good number, but you really don’t want to see us without any facial hair do you? Do you??
Keep praying for Becky, we got a favorable report from the oncologist Tuesday, she went back on Thursday for a pet scan to check the inside. This scan is to look and see if there is any cancer on the inside of her body, the doctor didn’t think there would be but he doesn’t know until he gets the results back from this scan. It might be 3 or 4 weeks before we know anything so please continue praying for her.
August is often referred to as the dog days of summer, it is seen as a month the is hot and drags by, but here at Carey we don’t accept that and to prove our point we have several things lined up for the month of August, S.N.I.P., Crafty Creations, a baby shower for Zoë (Amy), Open House & Fish Fry, Swim Party, Softball game, Nursing Home Service, Visitation, Family Night, and just in case that isn’t enough, school starts on the 25th. We have some opportunities to have some fun and worship God this month. Let’s have a great August, make it a point to tell someone about Jesus, show someone Jesus, invite someone to church, bring someone to church, after all, do you have anything better to do in August?
By the way, have you asked someone on the Nominating Committee what place of service isn’t filled, a place where you could serve? And do we have a Nursery Group yet? It is important to fill these areas, it is important to the life and growth of our church. talk to Linda Moore, Lori Duffield and Becky Wilson, they will help you find a place to serve the Lord! Thank you.
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Keep praying for Becky, we got a favorable report from the oncologist Tuesday, she went back on Thursday for a pet scan to check the inside. This scan is to look and see if there is any cancer on the inside of her body, the doctor didn’t think there would be but he doesn’t know until he gets the results back from this scan. It might be 3 or 4 weeks before we know anything so please continue praying for her.
August is often referred to as the dog days of summer, it is seen as a month the is hot and drags by, but here at Carey we don’t accept that and to prove our point we have several things lined up for the month of August, S.N.I.P., Crafty Creations, a baby shower for Zoë (Amy), Open House & Fish Fry, Swim Party, Softball game, Nursing Home Service, Visitation, Family Night, and just in case that isn’t enough, school starts on the 25th. We have some opportunities to have some fun and worship God this month. Let’s have a great August, make it a point to tell someone about Jesus, show someone Jesus, invite someone to church, bring someone to church, after all, do you have anything better to do in August?
By the way, have you asked someone on the Nominating Committee what place of service isn’t filled, a place where you could serve? And do we have a Nursery Group yet? It is important to fill these areas, it is important to the life and growth of our church. talk to Linda Moore, Lori Duffield and Becky Wilson, they will help you find a place to serve the Lord! Thank you.
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
AUGUST NEWSLETTER PASTOR'S PEN
You never know from day to day, hour to hour, moment to moment how you life will be changed. That is the way it was for Becky and I on Wednesday, July 16. She has had this type of rash on her foot for years, and it is trying to spread. Now we have been to many doctors with it over the years and all of them just kind of blew it off as nothing, but a dermatologist in Amarillo did a biopsy on it and sent it in. Well her foot wasn’t wanting to heal so she went to see Dr. Green who did a culture on it. We flew into Denver for our few days off and her foot began hurting really bad so she called Dr. Green who put her on a half of a dose of antibiotics and told her when we got home to come in and see him. So she did and while she was there Dr. Green called the dermatologist to see what the test results were. This is when he told Dr. Green that Becky has cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, cancer. So we went to see the oncologist on Tuesday, July 22 not knowing what to expect. He did some tests and will do more but in his own words, “If there is a cancer to get, this is it.” Basically, this is the type of cancer that shows on the skin and will most likely never show on the inside and that is what these tests are for. Most likely it will be treated with a steroid cream or pills, worst case maybe some radiation or chemo but he did not expect it.
So we never know what life will throw us, but regardless, we know who still sits on the throne and we know who still saves us from our sins and we know where the redeemed of the Lord will spend eternity. Are you ready?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
So we never know what life will throw us, but regardless, we know who still sits on the throne and we know who still saves us from our sins and we know where the redeemed of the Lord will spend eternity. Are you ready?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Pastor's Pen 7-20-08
FEEDING THE MULTITUDES IN THE WILDERNESS
We’ve all read about how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. The problem is that the narrative in the Bible just doesn’t bring it down to where we can get the picture of the scope of the miracle of feeding 3,000,000 people every day. What do we know about manna?
Instead of manna, suppose it was three million cheeseburgers with fries and a drink? Consider the logistics for three million meals every day:
¼ lb. of meat for each: Total 750,000 lbs. (It would take 200 railroad cars to haul the meat and would require 10 locomotives to pull it).
Buns: 250,000 Dozen
Mustard: 11,000 Gallons
Dill Pickles: 12,000 Gallons
Tomatoes: 50,000 Gallons
Cheese: 200,000 Lbs
Onions: 175,000 Lbs
Lettuce: 150,000 Head
Potatoes for French fries: 750,000 lbs (7 = freight cars)
Cokes: 750,000 Gallons (75 freight cars)
Ice: 375,000 lbs (4 freight cars)
Did I mention that a freight train of 100 cars would be about a mile long?
If it took ten minutes to cook a batch of 10,000 quarter pound patties, that would produce 60,000 cooked patties per hour. 3,000,000 cooked patties would require more than two days and nights of preparation - not to mention peeling and cooking the French fries, slice the onions, slice the tomatoes, chop the ice and pour the cokes.
That’s what we would expect today if we found ourselves in the wilderness. We need to get a grip on the size of this miracle and it occurred every day for forty years!
God gave them manna to eat every day for 40 years. The word manna means "What is it." The people looked at this stuff that fell from heaven and said "What is it?" I think hat it must have been a bread type food that gave them all of the vitamins and nutrients that they needed to stay in good health. God took care of every need that they had, everyday. f they tried to take enough for the next day it would mold and worms would crawl out of it. God wanted them to have faith in Him everyday. By gathering enough for today and tomorrow they were telling God that they did not trust Him for tomorrow.
I wonder what we tell God by the way we act and live, do we trust Him for today and tomorrow?
Food for thought!!!
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
We’ve all read about how God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. The problem is that the narrative in the Bible just doesn’t bring it down to where we can get the picture of the scope of the miracle of feeding 3,000,000 people every day. What do we know about manna?
Instead of manna, suppose it was three million cheeseburgers with fries and a drink? Consider the logistics for three million meals every day:
¼ lb. of meat for each: Total 750,000 lbs. (It would take 200 railroad cars to haul the meat and would require 10 locomotives to pull it).
Buns: 250,000 Dozen
Mustard: 11,000 Gallons
Dill Pickles: 12,000 Gallons
Tomatoes: 50,000 Gallons
Cheese: 200,000 Lbs
Onions: 175,000 Lbs
Lettuce: 150,000 Head
Potatoes for French fries: 750,000 lbs (7 = freight cars)
Cokes: 750,000 Gallons (75 freight cars)
Ice: 375,000 lbs (4 freight cars)
Did I mention that a freight train of 100 cars would be about a mile long?
If it took ten minutes to cook a batch of 10,000 quarter pound patties, that would produce 60,000 cooked patties per hour. 3,000,000 cooked patties would require more than two days and nights of preparation - not to mention peeling and cooking the French fries, slice the onions, slice the tomatoes, chop the ice and pour the cokes.
That’s what we would expect today if we found ourselves in the wilderness. We need to get a grip on the size of this miracle and it occurred every day for forty years!
God gave them manna to eat every day for 40 years. The word manna means "What is it." The people looked at this stuff that fell from heaven and said "What is it?" I think hat it must have been a bread type food that gave them all of the vitamins and nutrients that they needed to stay in good health. God took care of every need that they had, everyday. f they tried to take enough for the next day it would mold and worms would crawl out of it. God wanted them to have faith in Him everyday. By gathering enough for today and tomorrow they were telling God that they did not trust Him for tomorrow.
I wonder what we tell God by the way we act and live, do we trust Him for today and tomorrow?
Food for thought!!!
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Youth
Well the Youth Fund Raiser Fish Fry went very well, and the youth are off today going to Amarillo to work at Habitat for Humanity fr a few days. I know that the youth who went will have a great time and come back changed. some of our youth did not go, some had to work, some didn't want to go and work, and yet some other decided to go at the last minute but they had not helped raise the money to go, and still some others could not go for whatever reason. I just hope that next time all of the youth go, and I hope that the parents will help support Amy and Zach in their efforts and talk it up to their kids. Things always go better when the parents support and help.
When they get back we will have some pics.
When they get back we will have some pics.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
"Come and Get It!!"
“YOUTH FUND RAISER”Carey 1st Baptist Church Youth
will be sponsoring an all you can eat
“Fish Fry”
@ the Rotary Bowl
Saturday July 12 at 6pm
Tickets are $10 a plate, $5 for kids under 8, and are on sell now.
Contact Zach, Amy or any of the Youth or the Church Office
All money raised will help send our kids on their mission trip.
This year the kids are going to work at Habitat for Humanity in Amarillo.
This is a great opportunity for our youth, come out and support them.
Tickets can be bought from any of the youth and at the Fish Fry. 
Pastor's Pen 7-6-08
Friday was Independence Day, a day that we celebrate our freedom. A day that marks our separation from England, a day that we celebrate as a day that marks our freedom. But this freedom didn't come cheap, it was fought for, people died for it and we must fight to keep it. In 1776 they could have stayed the way they were, under the bondage and tyranny of the King of England, or they could choose to make a change. They made a choice to change, made a choice and let everyone know about it. I want you to read something;
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
And then it ends like this;
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Then in an act of defiance and high treason, 56 men signed their names on this document, knowing full well that it meant their lives. But with this we broke way from England and fought for our freedom.
Freedom is not cheap, and it cost even more to keep.
Did you know that there are over 200 countries in the U.N., and only about 50 of those could even remotely be considered politically free?
What does the word Freedom mean? “To be released from captivity or slavery, to be out of bondage.”
If we are not saved, then we are in bondage to sin, but the good news is that Jesus paid the price for our freedom.
Jesus wants us to be free, people think that if they turn their life over to Jesus there is a whole list of don’t to follow. But let me tell you something, if you try doing all of the do’s you won’t have time for any don’ts. As a matter of fact, when you truly turn your life over to Jesus, you will be living in such freedom that you will not want to go back to that dark bondage again.
Remember what it means to be free.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,
And then it ends like this;
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
Then in an act of defiance and high treason, 56 men signed their names on this document, knowing full well that it meant their lives. But with this we broke way from England and fought for our freedom.
Freedom is not cheap, and it cost even more to keep.
Did you know that there are over 200 countries in the U.N., and only about 50 of those could even remotely be considered politically free?
What does the word Freedom mean? “To be released from captivity or slavery, to be out of bondage.”
If we are not saved, then we are in bondage to sin, but the good news is that Jesus paid the price for our freedom.
Jesus wants us to be free, people think that if they turn their life over to Jesus there is a whole list of don’t to follow. But let me tell you something, if you try doing all of the do’s you won’t have time for any don’ts. As a matter of fact, when you truly turn your life over to Jesus, you will be living in such freedom that you will not want to go back to that dark bondage again.
Remember what it means to be free.
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Pastor's Pen 6-29-08
Hey, next week is our Fellowship meal after church on Sunday morning. This is always a great time of fellowship with each other. Bring some food and invite some friends to come along with you.
By the way, have told you how great you did on Father’s Day? Well you did, you invited people, handed out tickets, brought people and made it a great day and we feed over 100. Thank You for being eager to serve the Lord.
Speaking of serving, we still have some positions unfilled for the 2008-2009 year. Positions like Nursery Director, Nursery teacher and assistant, Kidzone teachers and assistants, Van drivers, Blessings committee, Greeters, Brotherhood director, and others. Pray about it and then step up and serve. We need you, we need everyone to be serving in some area of the church. When you are serving you are happier and more in tune with what God wants you to do. And when we are doing what God wants us to do we find that we are truly happy and at peace. All too often we are serving in some area that we may not think is important. But we must be faithful in the small areas in order to be put into more important areas.
You see when we start telling ourselves that we are too tired to serve we soon find that we are too tired to get up and come to church. When we start thinking that we are too busy to serve we start thinking that we are too busy to read our Bible and pray. When we start believing that we are not smart enough to teach anyone anything we start feeling like we are not smart enough to understand God’s Word. When we start feeling like we are so unimportant that no one wants us to work in the church then we start thinking that no one will miss us at church. When we start saying that someone else will do it we rob ourselves of a blessing and overload others. When we start acting like our only job in the church is to sit in church on Sunday morning we get lazy in other areas also.
The time for excuses is over, now is the time to step up. What area will you serve in?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
By the way, have told you how great you did on Father’s Day? Well you did, you invited people, handed out tickets, brought people and made it a great day and we feed over 100. Thank You for being eager to serve the Lord.
Speaking of serving, we still have some positions unfilled for the 2008-2009 year. Positions like Nursery Director, Nursery teacher and assistant, Kidzone teachers and assistants, Van drivers, Blessings committee, Greeters, Brotherhood director, and others. Pray about it and then step up and serve. We need you, we need everyone to be serving in some area of the church. When you are serving you are happier and more in tune with what God wants you to do. And when we are doing what God wants us to do we find that we are truly happy and at peace. All too often we are serving in some area that we may not think is important. But we must be faithful in the small areas in order to be put into more important areas.
You see when we start telling ourselves that we are too tired to serve we soon find that we are too tired to get up and come to church. When we start thinking that we are too busy to serve we start thinking that we are too busy to read our Bible and pray. When we start believing that we are not smart enough to teach anyone anything we start feeling like we are not smart enough to understand God’s Word. When we start feeling like we are so unimportant that no one wants us to work in the church then we start thinking that no one will miss us at church. When we start saying that someone else will do it we rob ourselves of a blessing and overload others. When we start acting like our only job in the church is to sit in church on Sunday morning we get lazy in other areas also.
The time for excuses is over, now is the time to step up. What area will you serve in?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Building Back
Saturday, we went over to Calvary Baptist Church to help them get a roof back on their church. We worked all day and made a good showing. We got the roof back on the main part of the santuary but not all of the roof is on, we will go back this Saturday to finish. As you can see we had a good group of men from at least 3 different churches. We had 12 from Carey Baptist, thanks for coming out guys, see you this Saturday to finish the roof.
Everything had to be removed including carpet.
One picture, 1000 words
Jerry Henderson and Rick Elliott working to rebuild wall so that the roof can be put back on.
Slinky helping to get the 2x8's on.
Rick Elliott on hands and knees, a long way off of the ground.
Cliff Johnson, interim pastor cooking lunchand the inside looking better
"It has to be perfect", Jerry and Tim rebuilding the outside wall, getting ready for the last of the roof, (next Saturday).
All in all, we are very pleased with the way things turned out.
"It has to be perfect", Jerry and Tim rebuilding the outside wall, getting ready for the last of the roof, (next Saturday).
All in all, we are very pleased with the way things turned out. Come on out this Saturday and help.
Pastor's Pen 6-22-08
Wanted: Hundred Men
John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who fear
nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I
will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they
be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will
overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the
Kingdom of God on earth.”
—The Preacher’s Magazine
Let us enlarge the Kingdom with Boldness..
Why is it important for us to be willing to serve? What would the Church be like today if no one would have been willing to serve, or if only a handful of people would have been willing? Without the people of the church the Church does not go forward. Did you know that the Nominating Committee is looking for people to fill some key roles? Every position must be filled by the August business meeting, that is just over a month away. They have positions open for teachers, nursery, Kidzone, van drivers and others. We have a new committee this year called the Blessings committee, what this committee will do is make sure meals are lined up for church members when they are sick or have surgery. They will also find out if they need anything else done like the yard mowed, sheets changed or maybe the house cleaned. So we will need someone to head this committee up, but we will also need people to serve on it.
Jimmy and Jerry H. are heading up our visitation and outreach, this includes our Sunday night visitation, but we need some people who are willing to go and visit those who visit the church for the first time, this is a simple 3 minute visit. But it is a very important visit, when we as a church go and visit these people within 36 hours it lets them know that they are important and that we want them back.
It is important they we be willing to serve, Let the Nominating Committee know where you would like to serve. The committee consist of Linda Moore, Lori Duffield and Becky Wilson.
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
John Wesley said, “Give me a hundred men who fear
nothing but sin, and desire nothing but God, and I
will shake the world. I care not a straw whether they
be clergymen or laymen; and such alone will
overthrow the kingdom of Satan and build up the
Kingdom of God on earth.”
—The Preacher’s Magazine
Let us enlarge the Kingdom with Boldness..
Why is it important for us to be willing to serve? What would the Church be like today if no one would have been willing to serve, or if only a handful of people would have been willing? Without the people of the church the Church does not go forward. Did you know that the Nominating Committee is looking for people to fill some key roles? Every position must be filled by the August business meeting, that is just over a month away. They have positions open for teachers, nursery, Kidzone, van drivers and others. We have a new committee this year called the Blessings committee, what this committee will do is make sure meals are lined up for church members when they are sick or have surgery. They will also find out if they need anything else done like the yard mowed, sheets changed or maybe the house cleaned. So we will need someone to head this committee up, but we will also need people to serve on it.
Jimmy and Jerry H. are heading up our visitation and outreach, this includes our Sunday night visitation, but we need some people who are willing to go and visit those who visit the church for the first time, this is a simple 3 minute visit. But it is a very important visit, when we as a church go and visit these people within 36 hours it lets them know that they are important and that we want them back.
It is important they we be willing to serve, Let the Nominating Committee know where you would like to serve. The committee consist of Linda Moore, Lori Duffield and Becky Wilson.
In HIS Service, Bro. Randy
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Triumph & Tragedy
TRIUMPH
Sunday was Father's Day and what a great day it was, we had over 100 in church Sunday morning. The service was good, I used the prodigal son story from the father's point of view. Our cook-out was a success, and over all a great day, until later that is.....
Sunday was Father's Day and what a great day it was, we had over 100 in church Sunday morning. The service was good, I used the prodigal son story from the father's point of view. Our cook-out was a success, and over all a great day, until later that is.....
TRAGEDY
On Sunday evening we had a bad storm come through with Tornadoes, straight line winds in excess of 85mph and lots of hail. The entire city was hit, nothing was sparred. Below are a couple of pictures of a sister church here in town, Calvary Baptist Church. They lost part of the roof on their sanctuary and as a result of that and the blowing rain and hail will have to rebuild their entire sanctuary, plus repair their new building and some class rooms. Be in prayer for them and help if you can.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
FATHER'S DAY
What does it mean to be a father? There is proof walking around that it doesn't take much to father a child, but to be a dad, a real dad is different. A real dad loves their children no matter what, he may not approve of what they did, but he always loves them. I always told my kids that no matter what they did to be honest with me about it, otherwise I could not help them. Being a father of two grown children who are married and having their own children I see the importance of being involved in their lives. My wife and I were involved in everything that our kids were, we were a part of their lives, their teachers knew us, their friends knew us, some bad things were avoided because of this. When our kids were in high school they came home for lunch, and brought friends, we had extra kids at our house all of the time and I loved it. That is the way my wife and I both were raised, with parents close at hand. My kids never thought weird of it and neither did their friends.
As a dad we must be involved with our kids, they need to know who we really are and what we believe in, we need to really know our kids. Sunday is Father's Day, I hope you will be with your dad if possible and I hope you will bring him to church for our Father's Day Cook-out.
Se you Sunday!
As a dad we must be involved with our kids, they need to know who we really are and what we believe in, we need to really know our kids. Sunday is Father's Day, I hope you will be with your dad if possible and I hope you will bring him to church for our Father's Day Cook-out.
Se you Sunday!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
RELAY FOR LIFE
We had our annual Relay for Life in Childress this past weekend.
It was held at the City Park for the first time. Here are some pics of the event.
Cancer survivers getting ready for the survivers lap, my mom is the one wearing the hat.
Saying the Pledge
Trey Morgan (Church of Christ pastor) saying the opening prayer
This is in memory of Tom Whitaker, Tom and Jerry Henderson always made the first round together, Tom in his wheelchair and Jerry pushing. We miss you Tom.
Now there's a face anybody can love.
Cancer survivers getting ready for the survivers lap, my mom is the one wearing the hat.
Saying the Pledge
Trey Morgan (Church of Christ pastor) saying the opening prayer
This is in memory of Tom Whitaker, Tom and Jerry Henderson always made the first round together, Tom in his wheelchair and Jerry pushing. We miss you Tom. Now there's a face anybody can love.
The luminaria service is always good, the bags are to remember those who lost their fight with cancer, those who have won or are still fighting, and for the care givers. Candles are placed in the bags and the effect is grand. I had the honor of doing the luminaria service this year.
Celebrate, Remember, Fight Back
We will continue to raise money until cancer is only a bad memory.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Pastor's Pen 6-1-08
“I never worry about what I will do if I win a battle, but I know exactly what I will do if I lose one.” Napoleon
I found this to an interesting quote, Napoleon didn’t worry about his actions in winning a battle, why? Because he was used to winning them, but he was not used to losing them. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to “Fight the good fight of the faith.” 1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) In order to fight a good fight we must be willing to put ourselves on the line for Jesus, no matter what. We must be willing to go and tell, even at our own expense. We may think the price is way too high, even if we don’t know what the price is. A year ago I was honored to go to Belize and share Jesus, it is a trip that I think about daily, the people I met, the country I saw, but most important the ones I led to the Lord and the ones I helped lead to the Lord and the seed I helped plant for the Kingdom of the Lord.
When I watch the news and see the things that are happening around the world I know that time is short, Jesus is coming soon. Now you know that I am not a doomsday prophet, always talking about all of the bad things that will take place in the end times, but anyone with a Bible and an open mind for the Lord and His Word can see that we must be telling everyone we can about Jesus. If all we are concerned about is our own salvation, and our own mansion in Heaven then we have failed. Jesus told us all, everyone, to “go and tell”, that isn’t a request, it is a direct order. What will you tell God when you stand in front of Him and He asks you why you didn’t tell people about Jesus. What is the best excuse that you can think of? Guess what, it isn’t good enough, whatever your excuse or reason for not sharing your faith with others, whatever your best argument is, it just doesn’t measure up. Jesus gave His life and you can’t see your way clear to give 5 minutes telling someone going to Hell about Jesus when you know He is the only way to prevent that lost person from spending eternity in Satan’s Hell.
Let’s not make excuses, let’s make positive results. Who will you share Jesus with today?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
I found this to an interesting quote, Napoleon didn’t worry about his actions in winning a battle, why? Because he was used to winning them, but he was not used to losing them. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to “Fight the good fight of the faith.” 1 Tim 6:12 (NIV) In order to fight a good fight we must be willing to put ourselves on the line for Jesus, no matter what. We must be willing to go and tell, even at our own expense. We may think the price is way too high, even if we don’t know what the price is. A year ago I was honored to go to Belize and share Jesus, it is a trip that I think about daily, the people I met, the country I saw, but most important the ones I led to the Lord and the ones I helped lead to the Lord and the seed I helped plant for the Kingdom of the Lord.
When I watch the news and see the things that are happening around the world I know that time is short, Jesus is coming soon. Now you know that I am not a doomsday prophet, always talking about all of the bad things that will take place in the end times, but anyone with a Bible and an open mind for the Lord and His Word can see that we must be telling everyone we can about Jesus. If all we are concerned about is our own salvation, and our own mansion in Heaven then we have failed. Jesus told us all, everyone, to “go and tell”, that isn’t a request, it is a direct order. What will you tell God when you stand in front of Him and He asks you why you didn’t tell people about Jesus. What is the best excuse that you can think of? Guess what, it isn’t good enough, whatever your excuse or reason for not sharing your faith with others, whatever your best argument is, it just doesn’t measure up. Jesus gave His life and you can’t see your way clear to give 5 minutes telling someone going to Hell about Jesus when you know He is the only way to prevent that lost person from spending eternity in Satan’s Hell.
Let’s not make excuses, let’s make positive results. Who will you share Jesus with today?
In HIS Service,
Bro. Randy
Vacation Bible School
We had VBS this past Saturday, and it went great. We had a one day VBS this year instead of a week long, we like it much better. We had all of the chairs moved out and tents set up for the groups to have lessons in, Community Corner where we had different people come out and tell the kids about their jobs, our youth took care of rec time and all of our adults pitched in and we had a great time learning,about service.
Here are just a few pics.
This is a treehouse Jerry Henderson built on one of our basketball goals
Zach & Amy were our VBS directors, did a great job. Zach and the youth did the decorations inside the church, Zach can make a large tree in just one day!!!
Tim cooking hotdogs for lunch
Some pics of some of our Community Corner, Dee brought his FedEx truck for all of the kids to see and climb in.
Jimmy the Farmer
Jason the EMT
Sheriff Mike Pigg
and Pam the 4H leader
If you missed VBS, you missed a great one, hope you can join us next year.
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