God's People Hungering for God's Word

I absolutely love it when folks ask for a copy of what we have talked about recently in God's Word.  It is an evidence that there is indeed a hungering among us for knowing and doing the Truth!

Here is an outline of what we looked at this past week at MIDWEEK.

The Call Away from Sin

Joshua 7

1. Sin Rouses God's Anger.  (7:1)

2.  Sin Brings Public Defeat.  (7:2-5)

3.  Sin Stirs Personal Doubt.  (7:6-9)

4.  Sin Removes God's Presence.  (7:10-13)

5.  Sin Demands Particular Repentance.  (7:14-21)

6.  Sin Causes Disasterous Consequences.  (7:22-26)



Pastor Todd

Be Do Be Do Be Do Be Do Be Do

People must have righteous principles in the first, and then they will not fail to perform virtuous actions.

                                              Martin Luther

Pastor Todd

Jesus Christ is the Living Lord!

Christ is Risen!  What about You?

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

If we believe that Christ is risen:

1.  We will be right with God.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  (v. 21)

2.  Christ's love will control us.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one died for all, therefore all have died;  (v. 14)

3.  Our life will not be our own.

and he died for all, that those who love might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.  (v. 15)

4.  We will not live according to the flesh.

From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh.  Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.  (v. 16)

5.  We will not be the same.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  (v. 17)

6.  We will be ambassadors of reconciliation.

All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministryof reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.  We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  (vv. 18-20)

Pastor Todd

Low in the Grave He Lay

Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,

Waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!

Vainly they watched His bed, Jesus my Savior;

Vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord!

The boys took the pipe cleaner Jesus off the cross and put him in the tomb this afternoon.  All week long, we've been walking through the story of Holy Week.  Intense eyes, puzzled faces and careful little hands took it all in as we sealed the tomb with the stone.

I sure am looking forward to rolling the stone away Sunday morning with the boys!

Pastor Todd

Sunday's Coming!

Passion:  A Worship Celebration was a God-Centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-Empowered evening of heartfelt worship at 2890.  Praise be to God.  If you missed it, you missed it.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.  2 Corinthians 5:21

Our Good Friday service is today at noon.

Today is Friday, but Sunday's coming!  We will gather together on Sunday to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.  God's Word for us will be "Christ is Risen!  What about You?," 2 Corinthians 5:14-21.

I look forward to seeing you then with a Bible in your hand and a friend by your side!

Pastor Todd

God--Man's All-Satisfying Treasure

The man who has God for his treasure has all things in one.  Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness.  Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight.
                                              A.W.Tozer






Pastor Todd

Parents are to impress...

As the Designer of humanity, God knows--and every sane psychologist agrees--that the single most important experience in a person's life is his or her family of origin.  Everything flows from the original familial relationships that we enter into without choice.  God's plan for spiritual formation places the family in the lead when it comes to equipping the next generation.  Parents are to imress the commands of God on their children in everyday life as they walk along the road, as they sit at home, when they lie down, and when they get up. 

                                               Brian Haynes

More Pictures from a Great Week...Coming Home to Be a Blessing

What a week it has been!  Tonight we ended our time together with David and Lydia Martinez--those whom God used to begin Orphanage Emmanuel years ago.  They shared their story about God calling them to Honduras.  And they helped us see again that being a part of a week like this is not about us doing a work FOR God, but about our being a part of a work OF God.  There is a big difference!

This week has not been about us.  This week has not even been about the children.  This week has been about God--about Him and what He has been doing.

Psalm 67 has been very real to us--May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his to shine upon us, that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.  Let all the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

The take home principle for us as we fly back to the States is that GOD BLESSES HIS PEOPLE FOR THE SAKE OF HIS OWN GLORY.  God does not bless us for our sakes, but for His sake.  The Psalmist prays for God's blessings so that God's ways might be known everywhere and so that all the peoples of the earth might praise Him.

Thanks for your prayers for us and for the 500 children, staff and volunteers here at Emmanuel.  Thank you for praying for our team.  May God indeed burden us with a greater burden for His heart for the world.

See you soon.

Pastor Todd and the H4W team

Photos from the Orphanage!

Advancing the Gospel in Honduras

Day two at Orphanage Emmanuel has been hot and lots of fun, and did I say "HOT?"  It's hot down here.

Our scripture passage for today is Philippians 2:5-7--Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  After getting an hour and a half's worth of work in, we gathered for breakfast and reminded ourselves of the fact that the attitude of Christ is the only proper motivation for anything.  As goes our belief, so will go our behavior.  As we think, so we will do.

Lot's of concrete poured during the last two days.  In fact, what we thought would be three day project ended up being only a two day project.  All hands have been on deck as Orphanage workers, older male teenagers and folks from our team have been shoveling, mixing, smoothing, stricking and more...(See pictures for the BEFORE and AFTER.)  With the son beating down, concrete powder flying everywhere, and sweat dripping off, we continuously remind our selves of the goal of the gospel.  Every square inch of concrete is another piece of the puzzle for the gospel to advance among the hundreds of children.  Sore and aching muscles are the result of more being done so that the way is paved for the gospel to advance further here.

Likewise, as some of our team members milk cows, others teach American government classes, some spend time with toddlers, some sew valances, some see sick children, one sees anyone with dental needs, and everyone does a little work with concrete, we all remind ourselves of our ultimate goal...the advance of the gospel.  Some might think that all the service is for children, but ultimately it is for God.  We desire His glory as we spend the week here--knowing that there is the opportunity for children to grow up, leave this orphanage and become change agents in the Honduran culture.  Today, it might seem like we are making an impact on several hundred children, but we are praying that our life and work here this week might impact these children, this country, this world, and even eternity.

Pictures to come...enjoy!  And pray for God's glory at Orphanage Emmanuel.

Pastor Todd and the H4W team

A Heart for the World in Honduras

Worn and weary, our team of 15 arrived safely at Orphanage Emmanuel just outside of Guaimaca, Honduras.  After leaving Paducah at 1:00 A.M. Sunday morning, we are now settled into the orphanage after walking around, talking with leadership about the week ahead, sharing in supper together, and ready for an early turn in. 

Tomorrow, we begin our concrete project at 5:30 A.M.  That's right, up and at 'em and on the work site at 5:30 to get a jump on the concrete and beat the heat!

Dr. Nelson is heading to the dentist office at 8:30 after milking cows at 5:00.  (He's talking big about milking cows...we'll have to see if he really does it!)

Drs. Stricklin and Housman are headed to the medical clinic at 8:30 in the morning.

Mrs. Presley, Talia, and some other ladies are headed to do some sewing at 8:30 as well.

Josh Cornett and several others will be leading Bible stories throughout the orphanage tomorrow afternoon. 

All this, and over 450 beautiful children to love on.  What a week God has for us!

Thanks for praying.  Keep it up!

Pastor Todd and the H4W team

Applying the Faith, Dedicating Ourselves, and Reading the Bible for Life

Making decisions about fleshing out Christianity into our life decisions is something only we ourselves can do under God’s leadership.  The Holy Spirit leads each one of us to be about advancing the kingdom of God in different ways.  While we all strive to be obedient, each of us will make faith applications according to our own convictions. 

As we share life and walk in obedience together, we exercise grace and compassion as we realize that we are individual members of one body.  Not all of us are the same.  Neither should we be.  What a boring world that would be!  What a boring church we would have.

Some work with their hands.  Some are more skillful with their minds.  Some write cards to those in the church.  Some take frequent international mission trips.  Some adopt babies.  Some make quilts for new babies.  Some speak.  Some labor.  Some teach.  Some serve.  And the list goes on and on and on. 

We all however, are a part of the same family.  God’s faith family called First Baptist Church.  Together, we live out Peter’s words—“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace; whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order than in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.  To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever.  Amen” (1 Peter 4:11-11)

Pastor Kevin DeYoung has written wise words which I recommend to the FBC Faith Family.  May we be encouraged and edified by “Doing Good, but a Little Less Than Others.”  DeYoung’s blogpost has been reprinted in our church newsletter by permission from www.gospelcoalition.org.  To read an online version, click on http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevindeyoung/2011/03/08/doing-good-but-a-little-less-than-others/

We will have Parent Child Dedication during the 8:30 A.M. service on Mother’s Day, May 8.  Anyone who has a child who has not been dedicated at FBC is encouraged to participate.  Please call the church to register, and make plans to attend the Baby Steps class during the Sunday school hour on April 16 in the Discover! room.  We will have a fun and encouraging time of fellowship with one another and we’ll hear a challenge from parents who have already travelled the parenting road. 

Interested in learning how to better read the Bible for life?  Plan on attending the Read the Bible for Life Conference at Union University in Jackson, TN.  David Platt, pastor of Brook Hills Church in Birmingham, AL and Singer/Songwriter Michael Card will join Professor George Guthrie and others for this excellent gathering.  This is a fine opportunity for teachers as well as anyone else who seeks to become a better follower of God.  For more information click on www.uu.edu/events/readthebibleforlife.  To go with the group from the church, call the church office and make your reservations. 

“The grass withers…"

Pastor Todd