BRING YOUR “A” GAME!

How cool is this: Kenny Chesney at Celina High School pep rally. And, on Sept. 28, his new release with the DVD featuring his song and Celina football will be in the stores. I can’t wait to get my copy.

Congratulations to all students, teachers, administrators, board members, and coaching staff. All play a role.

Which leads me to wonder…what if people in church followed leadership and worked as a team as does a good football team? Hmmmm….just sayin’!

Sunday September 26 you will have opportunity to hear Don Cass, one of the most gifted of Southern Baptists’ state evangelism directors. Don has served in the Evangelism Dept. of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, directed the New Mexico Baptist Convention’s Evangelism Dept. and now serves in the same capacity with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Greater than his achievements is the word he will have from the Lord for FBC Sunday.

Sunday October 3 Michael Gonzales will be preaching. Mike directs the Hispanic initiatives for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. Mike and his wife served as missionaries to Spain and were appointed in the same appointment service in which Brother Raymond Horne and Janice were appointed to Togo. Mike is a dear friend and great man of God. He will be a blessing to us.

Sunday October 10 Garth Smith will be a special music guest. This is Sunday School high attendance Sunday. It is right to emphasize Sunday School. FBC is a Sunday School church. It is one of the ways we practice Community. With others in your small group, you will experience fellowship, prayer, Bible Study, and often have opportunity to serve in some area of the church. Let me urge you to invest yourself through the Sunday School. Any of our staff can help you ‘get plugged in’.

Please know that we love you. I ask your prayers during these two Sundays of revival meetings in FBC Batesville, AR and for FBC Newark. Please pray that God will anoint me to speak to these two fine congregations; that lost people would be saved; and that the saved would hear the voice of God and obey. Pray for me as I process decisions I must make.

God bless you!

WAITING ON THE LORD

Many of you are aware that I also work with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. One of my responsibilities is in Facilitating Ministries. Here I work with a large number of pastors and directors of mission from Wichita Falls to Georgetown.

One of those pastors, Doug Helms (Crowley, TX) and his family are going through a very trying time. Their 17-year-old son, Peter, was severely injured (head trauma) in an auto accident 4 weeks ago. He is in a coma at John Peter Smith Hospital in Ft. Worth. There is a page on Facebook with continual updates. Peter’s mother, Selah, posted this yesterday. I emailed Doug and asked permission to re-post. He has given permission in the hope that God will be glorified in all this. These are Selah’s musings as she waits by her son’s side. As you read, be blessed. And may we learn. And please pray for Peter and the family.

From Peter’s Mom:

Today marks the beginning of week 4 since Peter’s car accident. The doctors and nurses tell us that, though it seems like a long wait to us, it’s actually still very early on in the recovery process for an injury like Pete’s.

My husband reminds me often (and I’m thankful) that we are not just waiting on Peter to wake up, but that we are also learning to wait on the Lord, and that there are promises in Scripture for those who wait on the Lord. I really like C.J. Mahaney’s definition of waiting on the Lord. It showed up in a post by Sunny Shell on the group wall: “It takes faith to wait tranquilly for something for which we have a promise from God, but no date. . . . Waiting is not resignation; waiting is active trust in God to provide fulfillment in His perfect timing, according to His ultimate purpose of glorifying His Son.”

As we wait on the Lord “more than the watchmen wait for the morning,” He promises to renew our strength. He also promises that He will give what is good to His children, just as an earthly father would – that if we ask Him for bread, He won’t give us a stone. So we come to Him fully trusting His character, asking for bread. Then, we wait. But we know while we wait that in whatever manner God chooses to give to us, what he gives will be bread and not a stone. We cry out to the Lord, asking for many things regarding Peter’s healing, and we know His answer will be good, and it will come in His perfect timing.

People ask me how I’m doing. Well, as I’m learning to wait, here’s what I am doing: the duty of this particular day. It’s a discipline included in waiting – that I learn what my duty is only for the day at hand, without giving in to speculating on future days.

What is trust and what is obedience for this day? I’ll tell you what it looks like, practically speaking. For one thing, I am learning much about physical therapy and respiratory therapy. We do Passive Range of Motion (PROM) exercises with Peter throughout the day, along with talking to him about things he is familiar with. Here’s the schedule we have been loosely adhering to around the interruptions that typically happen in hospital-life:

7:00 a.m.–Family member who spent the night with Peter wakes up. Miriam Simmons (dear friend who was once an ER nurse, now homeschooling mom of Peter’s good friend Caleb) arrives. She goes through PROM with Peter, talks about date, time and weather, sings “Give Thanks” to him and reads Isaiah 40. Nurses come through and give him meds.

9:00–PROM with Dad. Doug reads through questions #1-5 of the Shorter Catechism with Peter, including Scriptural proofs. Peter memorized the Shorter Catechism in high school. Doug sings “Before the Throne of God Above,” prays with Peter and talks to him. He also reads James 1, as Peter memorized the book in the past.

11:00–PROM with Doug again, then questions #6-10 of Shorter Catechism. Doug then sings another hymn, reads James 2 and talks to Pete. Then we put on YoYo Ma playing the Unaccompanied Bach Cello Suites in the background. It’s soothing.

2:00–PROM with Mom. Then Mom reads James 3 to Peter, talks to him and sings “Great is Thy Faithfulness.” Often I also read Shakespeare’s version of King Henry’s speech before the battle of Agincourt to him. As Pete is an avid history buff, this was another piece of memory work he chose a couple of years ago.

4:00–PROM with Mom again. Then James 4 and “Great is Thy Faithfulness” again. Then I either put on “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and some other Mozart, or some of the pieces he has recently performed in piano recitals.

7:00–PROM with Andrew. Then Andrew reads James 5 to him, and we all sing “Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken” around his bed. This is often the song Pete chooses for his turn during family devotions. When Caleb, Hope, and Beth are there, it really sounds good because they sing in parts. We miss Pete though, because Peter is the only one in the family who sings the bass line, so it doesn’t sound as fully rounded out without him. We hope he can hear the difference, and that it will prompt him to wake up and help us out.

Last night, Andrew and I were trying to be creative in coming up with some things to talk to Peter about. “Twenty Questions” has been an old family favorite from the time the kids were young. So we played it over Pete’s bed. Andrew guessed Knight Roland and Neville Chamberlain from my clues. I guessed Bede, but got stumped on King Hrothgar from his clues. So he won. Pete would have guessed King Hrothgar.

“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” Psalm 27:14

Selah

WEEK OF PRAYER AND FASTING, July 25-August 1

When John’s disciples asked Jesus why his disciples did not fast, he gave them three illustrations (wedding guests, torn garment, wineskins) and in the midst of that said, “The days will come when the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast (Matthew 9:14-17).” Fasting for us is  biblical.

As stated in Sunday’s message, the reasons for fasting are (1) To hear God; (2) To discern truth; and (3) To Extend the character of God. Of course, one cannot possibly preach everything in one message, even though it may seem that we preachers try!

So let me give you some practical tips on fasting. Fasting is not just about eliminating a meal. It is that whatever we drop, we put in its place space to seek God through prayer and Scripture. Our hunger for God is greater than the hunger for whatever we have done. For some, and certainly biblically, that means to (1) give up a meal and spend the time in prayer and Scripture; (2) give up something meaningful such as your favorite television show or an activity to use the time for prayer and Scripture.

The idea is not about giving up, but about replacing that time period in our life with time to seek God through prayer and Scripture.

Some will fast certain meals one day. Others will fast daily. Some will drop other things from their schedule either one day, or daily. Perhaps some will even do a total fast for one, two, three or more days. A total fast is becoming so consumed with seeking God one abstains from food. As a corollary, married couples also abstain from sexual relations. If they choose to do so, it should be by mutual consent (1 Corinthians 7:5).

Our prayer coordinator, Pam Peters, helped develop a prayer guide for the week. It was printed in the Sunday bulletin, but if you were not there or have lost your copy, I am placing it here. It is long for a blog, but you may access it if you need. I also want to remind you of the weekly prayer meeting every Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. in Room #315 (choir room).

Due to blog length, I am removing the printed part of the Scripture, but not the reference. Look the Scripture up in your Bible and let God speak to you.

Sunday, August 1 will be a time of celebrating what God is doing and we will worship Him through praise, testimony, Scripture, and the Lord’s Supper.

Sunday July 25 Prayer Focus:  Family

Ask for the Lord’s help in strengthening relationships within my family:  my marriage, my relationship with my children, siblings and parents.  Help my family to grow together in the study of God’s Word in our home.  Show me ways to guard our time for prayer and Bible study.  Scripture: 1 Peter 3:8

Monday July 26 Prayer Focus:  Personal

Ask God to show me anything in my life that would make Him sad.  Reveal to me the things in my life that hinder my fellowship with God and with others.  Scripture: Psalm 139:2-24

Tuesday July 27 Prayer Focus:  Relationship with others

Show me where there are relationships with others that need to be healed.  Help me be kind and gentle, even when I may not agree or when we disappoint one another.  Help me to love others as my Heavenly Father has loved me.

Scripture: Romans 12:9-21

Wed. July 28 Prayer Focus:  Service in the church

Show me how I can better serve the Lord through my church.  Pray that the Lord will give me a servant’s heart, putting others’ needs above my own.  Scripture: Philippians 2:5-8

Thursday July 29 Prayer Focus:  Church Search Committees

Pray daily for each search committee member by name and ask that they discern the voice of God. Pray that this will be a time of unhindered fellowship with God as they seek the Lord’s good, pleasing and perfect will for our church through Scripture and prayer. Direct their steps according to your Word.  Thank God for their service and show me ways that I can encourage and pray for them daily.  Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:7-13, 16-18

Friday July 30 Prayer Focus:  Service in the Community

Awaken me to the needs around me.  Create in me a passionate desire to reach others for Christ.  Pray that I not miss an opportunity to minister to people in our community through service, witnessing and loving others unconditionally.

Scripture: Philippians 2:1-4

Saturday July 31 Prayer Focus:  Global

Help me to pray daily for our president, for our nation, and those in places of authority throughout the world.  Help me to hear and be sensitive and obedient to your call to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ from my Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.  Scripture: Acts 1:8

Sunday August 1 Prayer Focus:  Worship

Ask the Lord to strengthen my love and desire for time with Him.  Show me where my preferences are taking my focus off of Jesus and onto myself.  Show me how I can worship the Lord in ways that are pleasing to Him.  Help me to persevere in prayer whether I feel like it or not.  Scripture: John 14:23

Let’s gather Sunday expecting to meet God in a very significant way!

PS: The link to the video regarding the turn-around of a cult into an evangelical denomination is here: http://www.edstetzer.com/2010/07/a-denomination-renewed-in-chri.html

LEARNING FROM AN AFRICAN BROTHER

Many years ago I had the privilege of being one of hundreds who participated in the Kenya Coast Crusade. I spent six weeks in Mombasa, Kenya showing the Jesus Film every night but three. What a privilege! I met a great Kenyan pastor by the name of Joseph Maisha. Joseph was and is a mighty man of God.

He came to the United States a year or so later. While here, he went with me to a local church revival meeting. Several came to Christ that night and Joseph shared his testimony. The next day we were visiting with a pastor friend and Joseph shared the things God had done. The American pastor was very busy and well, sort of rushed us along.

In the vehicle, Joseph reflected and said something I have never forgotten. These were his words. “Ah, Teddy, you Americans are so casual toward God. If I had shared that story with my people in Mombasa, they would have said, “Oh, Pastor, since this is what God is doing, let’s fast and pray and ask him to do more.”"

Sunday July 11 Dr. Jim Richards will be more than our “guest speaker”. I know he has labored in study and prayer and will bring the message God has burned into his heart.

You will choose two committees vital to the future of the church in the business session to follow.  I know that many have been and are praying about these choices. I wish I knew the mind of the Father to the extent I could tell you all He is doing in this. I do not.

What I do know is that God has his hand upon FBC and this process. I know that He has given new families as well as others who have trusted Christ as their Savior. He has entrusted us with his new babies. What a privilege!

Students leave Monday for Orange Beach, AL for Student Life. We must keep them and those who lead them in our prayers.

Cheryl and I have the privilege of walking this brief journey with you until you find a full-time pastor. We pray for you and for that day. In the meantime, let me say, since this (previous paragraphs) is what God is doing, let’s fast and pray and ask him to do more!

GOD DOESN’T SAY “OOPS”!

One of my favorite verses is Paul’s expression in 1 Corinthians 13:12. The old KJV says “we see through a glass darkly.” I like the poetry of that expression. However, the NLT may add clarity: “Now we see things imperfectly as in a cloudy mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.”

“then” refers to the coming of Christ when we are in the eternal order.

It is not uncommon for a congregation to struggle with questions and issues at any time, but especially is it true during a transitional phase in the life of the church. Nor is it uncommon for God to affirm that He has not, as was said of Elvis, “left the building”.

Sunday was a great example of God’s affirmation. The emotional shift from hearing the announcements to hearing the confession of faith of a long-time respected member of the congregation were a stretch to anyone’s mind/emotion. But throughout the entire service, God was showing Himself mighty in behalf of His people, FBC Celina.

God is mightily at work in FBC Celina. Do not doubt that. People are coming to Christ, some are joining the church, and I have personally visited with several faithful members in whose life God is powerfully working.

Recent decisions made by Godly people were done so on behalf of the congregation, even to the point of bearing disappointment and hurt in the process. This speaks of the character and integrity with which many in the congregation serve.

Please be encouraged. I have no idea of who, when, etc. of the coming of a pastor. But in the meantime, God is moving. Some are stepping up to assume spiritual responsibilities. And in the words of many through the years, we must see what God is doing and join Him in His work.

Indeed, Summer 2010…Let it begin within! I look forward to seeing you each and every time we gather for corporate worship. May we be a people walking together in obedience and revival.

It’s a ‘happenin’ place’!

Wow! Great reports of what God did in the lives of campers and sponsors at Camp Gap last week. And congratulations for receiving the “spirit” award.

This week VBS is in full swing – “Power Lab”, a Jesus Power Lab. It is going Sunday thru Thursday, each evening 6-8:45. We had a great beginning.

Thanks to all who are participating and especially to the staff and volunteer team putting all the structure and organization in place. It takes a lot of hard work and we are grateful to each and proud of all.

Sunday is Father’s Day. It is our privilege to have as special guest, Dr. Paige Patterson. Dr. Patterson is President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth and one of the prime influences in the conservative resurgence in the Southern Baptist Convention.

Dr. Patterson is a great preacher whose message will challenge our hearts and encourage us in our walk with Jesus. I look forward to seeing you Sunday. It is a privilege to be your interim pastor. Thanks for the opportunity.

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES AND FAMILIES!

This is a big week in Celina and First Baptist Church. Sunday morning is our Senior Recognition Day at FBC and the High School Baccalaureate service will be in First Baptist Church Sunday evening with our own Jonathan Hewett speaking. Graduates, parents, grandparents, and extended family will join the celebrations.

As an interim pastor, I recognize I am totally an outsider to this event. But do look on with great admiration for the graduates, their families, and the entire Celina ISD. Many wonderful people have worked very hard to make this graduation and these graduates a success.

So with that in mind, please allow me to list the names of the graduates and their parents as given me by staff. If we have overlooked anyone, it certainly is not intentional. Please let us know. Here are FBC Celina members of the graduating class of 2010, Celina High School. Please pray for them as you scroll through their names.

REID BABBITT :: SON OF STEVE & JESSICA BABBITT

KARA CAMPBELL :: DAUGHTER OF CAREY & KRISTY CAMPBELL

JOSH HEWETT :: SON OF JONATHAN & ELLYN HEWETT

RYAN PETERS :: SON OF TOBY & PAM PETERS

CURRY KENNEDY :: SON OF LEW & TERRI KENNEDY

KATY GREENING :: DAUGHTER OF DANE & JANA GREENING

RYAN LOHMANN :: SON OF MIKE & ALLISON LOHMANN

HANNAH FORD :: DAUGHTER OF BUTCH & ANDREA FORD

HILLARY RICHARDSON :: DAUGHTER OF RANDY & NANCY RICHARDSON

RYAN MERRITT :: SON OF JOEY & CARY MERRITT

PAULINE HOANG :: DAUGHTER OF BRIAN & KIMBERLY HOANG

KARA SCHMID :: DAUGHTER OF JERRY & SHELLEY

BEN DERMODY :: SON OF MIKE DERMODY & CHEREE FOX

HONOR

It is a word used often, understood less, and practiced even less in a culture that values self. But once understood and practiced, it is transforming. With honor comes dignity and Godly heritage that is passed from generation to generation.

It is no mystery the Enemy attacks the concept of honor. The theft of honor occurs many ways, but relationship is always the target and the result is confusion and destruction of something good.

The Ten Commandments formed the Law of God in ancient Israel. Even Jesus said he did not come to destroy, but to fulfill the law of God.

Exodus 20:1-17 forms the Ten Commandments and commentary.

The people of God were to first honor God as God. In 20:2 God discloses Himself as the God who delivers and then commands, “You shall have no other gods before Me.” The English language is often so weak when translating Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic. This verse literally is saying  we cannot honor God with a pecking order of allegiance and affection. God is not first and something or someone else second. Literally, “You shall have no other gods before, beside, or behind Me.” In other words God is our all in all. The honor of God is the cause and course of our existence.

Exodus 20:3-11 tells us to honor God as God by worshiping Him alone; not creating idols; giving respect to His Name; and setting apart the Sabbath to honor Him. The first four commandments had to do with the honor of God.

The second group of commandments have to do with honoring one another in society. These are in Exodus 20:12-17.

The first of that group has to do with the home: “Honor your father and you mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God give you.” (Exodus 20:12)

That verse has nothing to do with longevity of personal life. It is not a promise of a celestial fountain of youth. It is a promise to the nation. When honor of parents is at the heart of family life, the heritage of the family and community is extended and God promises our heritage will be prolonged. It is a promise to the nation as much as to the person. The protection of God is with those who practice honoring their parents.

In the New Testament, several verses speak of honor in the context of relationship.

Romans 12:10 says “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;”. We are to live with our spouse in honor: “For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warn you.” (1 Thess. 4:2-6)

Paul carries this theme of honor into the realm of church leadership when the young pastor Timothy is directed to honor the widows (1 Tim. 5:3), not to sharply rebuke an older man (1 Tim. 5:1), and to hold the ruling elders in such esteem that they are worthy of double honor (1 Tim. 5:17).

The command to “honor” is of such significance that destruction to the nation, the home (the primary institution of society), and the church (the agensy of the mission of God) is the result when there is a culture of dishonor.

May we this Mother’s Day understand there is a greater spiritual significance than just sending a card and having lunch together. May this be a reminder to us of our obligation to one another in the household of God.

SOME DAYS ARE REALLY EXCITING!

It is into the late afternoon on Saturday before Sunday. For many parents of high school students, you are getting ready for Prom. I remember those times…excited, scared, anticipating, and all the feelings that go with transition into a more adult world. The social passages are important in our life and Scripture has much to say about those transitions. My encouragement would be to read a Proverb a day and every month you will have read Proverbs. Keep God’s word before you for greater success in life as a whole person.

Sunday we welcome Dr. Tom Song as our guest worship leader. How wonderful to have such a man as this. His accomplishments are many and his humility is obvious. You will not want to miss him.

We are hoping for 100 from FBC Celina to take part in the National Day of Prayer Thursday morning at the Cotton Gin Cafe in Prosper. Dr. Gary Miller and his wife Dana will be our special guests. You will not want to miss them, but even more important on this date is the opportunity to pray together with other Christians on behalf of our nation. Cheryl and I hope to see you there. The theme is “For Such A Time As This”.

Wednesday is Awana graduation. Let’s attend in the auditorium and show support for those in Awana and for parents who entrust their children to us during that time each week.

Let’s keep praying. FBC is His church and He will guide the search committee to the right pastor and prepare the church for him. God never reveals his will until his people are ready to follow without restrictions. The church must be spiritually prepared to receive what God desires to give.

THE PRAYING CHURCH AND THE NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

Did you not sense an awesome presence of God in this past Sunday’s worship? To God be the glory! We are so grateful for the Warmann family. Welcome!

I reported the April 15 ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb in Madison, Wisconsin. The suit’s essence is that in 2008 the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit against the federal government that claimed the National Day of Prayer violates the separation of church and state. This group is a Madison, WI based groups of atheists and agnostics.

Baptist Press has the story here. The American Center for Law and Justice has a summary of the opinion here. Please keep in mind that the funding of the  Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention is through our Cooperative Program giving. Certainly you are free to give to any organization you choose, but I wanted to remind you that through the Cooperative Program FBC Celina is already funding those who will stand on our behalf for our religious freedom in Washington, D.C.

I urge you to click on the links and read the articles for a more complete understanding. This ruling will not affect this year’s National Day of Prayer and could be overturned on appeal. Baptist Press reports the law being contested reads, “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”

What shall we do?

We shall continue to pray. We should pray for our nation, our President, and all of our leaders and judges. There is information in Sunday bulletins and on the website about this year’s North Collin County event. I urge you to register and attend. Gary and Dana Miller will be our guest speakers. We must not only pray with other Christians, but also as a local congregation.

We may contact the White House in support of the National Day of Prayer. A form on their site for communication with the White House is here. Previous links increase our awareness of the truth. This helps us carefully word any statement we make. It is possible comments will be kept in somebody’s file in Washington and the one commenting profiled. This kind of thing happens with census, political parties, etc., so it isn’t new. However, while I urge expression of thought, I also encourage us to define ourselves as we want others to define us.

Regardless of whether it is or isn’t overturned on appeal, Christians should continue a National Day of Prayer. In past years I served as prayer coordinator for one of our state Baptist conventions of which I am no longer a part. I was asked by some staff to take part in inter-faith prayer meetings. I could not. While I appreciate and applaud the freedom for all people to worship or not to worship, I am a Christian and I worship God according to the Christian Holy Scripture and through mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ. For me to do otherwise is idolatry. I cannot acknowledge the gods of the nations as the one true God.

I neither believe nor advocate that the United States of America is a “Christian” nation. Christianity cannot be legislated, nor should it. But neither should it be legislated out of the public sector. We live in secular community with wonderful people of all faith and non-faith persuasions. We can indeed live together in harmony. But we can only worship according to the deep beliefs of conscience. And for me, and those whom I influence, that is to worship and pray to the God and Father or our Lord Jesus Christ.