NEW YEAR

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!

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!

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.

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.

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.