Pastor's Blog

When God Seems Late

2011-05-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

Have you ever felt like God doesn't care what you are going through? Does it sometimes seem like He's a million miles away when you're having problems? Have you ever wanted to pray, "God, I'm serving you faithfully, and yet you still don't seem to be showing up in my life?"

Chances are, if you've been a Christian for very long, you've experienced times when God just seemed to be running late. I heard a country song one time that suggested that "God must be busy," and that was the reason He wasn't coming through. And although I have no doubt that God is very busy, I want you to know that He's never too busy to help you out in your times of trouble. The only thing we have to understand is this: His timing is seldom what we're expecting or hoping for; but it's always perfect.

This Sunday at EFBC, we'll look at John 11 as we wrap up this three-part series called Alternate Plans. The message this week is entitled When God Seems Late, and hopefully you'll find comfort in learning that many people in the Bible had to wait on God just like we do. I'm so excited to preach this message on Sunday, and I hope you'll plan on being here!

If you're down, depressed, and feeling like there's no hope for your situation, I've got some good news for you today: The best is yet to come, and you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Alternate Plans

2011-05-06T11:41:00.001-05:00

Hope everyone's having a great Friday. If not, take heart, because Sunday's on the way! Are you as excited about worship this weekend at EFBC as I am? I can't wait to meet together with my church family and see what God has in store for us! I hope you're still praying BIG prayers!

It has been such a blessing this week to see how folks in our church have responded to the needs associated with the tornado disaster. We've had much given including money, food and supplies, and manpower. It was awesome this past Sunday to have the opportunity to help out a precious 90-year-old sister in Christ. Our team from EFBC worked tirelessly transforming what was a disaster area back into something resembling normalcy. I hope we were a blessing to her, but I know this experience was definitely a blessing to me and everyone who participated.

Now, as we look forward to Sunday, let me encourage everyone to be praying. Pray for a mighty move of the Spirit. Pray that God will use me to bring a powerful message. Pray for lives to be changed. And most of all, pray that we'll make much of Jesus. He's what it's all about, anyway!

This Sunday we'll continue the series we started last week called Alternate Plans. The message is entitled From Bad To Worse, and we'll be looking at Genesis 39-40. Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like things couldn't get any worse? And then, somehow, things got worse. You may be going through something like that right at this very moment. This Sunday we're going to look at a guy who understood all too well what it meant to go from bad to worse. I hope you'll plan on being here.

Also, don't forget that this Sunday is Mother's Day, and we'll be recognizing all the mother's that are in attendance. And remember, there's no evening service on Mother's Day.

Our God is an awesome God! Come to worship this Sunday morning like you really believe that! And come to worship this Sunday like you really believe that the best is yet to come and that we ain't seen nothin' yet!

About Sunday

2011-04-30T20:31:00.004-05:00

Hope everyone's doing well tonight. This past week has been historic for the state of Alabama, and unfortunately not in a good way. The response from our church has been phenomenal...including donations and people volunteering to work on the front lines.

Many, however, who work during the week have felt helpless not being able to go and do something. We've had an overwhelming number of people wanting to go tomorrow and work in the affected areas. Therefore, we've decided to postpone the deacon's meeting, and call off evening services tomorrow to allow our people an opportunity to minister. This is what being the church is all about.

If you still have donations to give, you can bring them with you to church in the morning. Then, after the service, we'll break for lunch and everyone who can, meet back at 12:30 (time may be adjusted depending on what time we dismiss). If you can't be back that quickly, but still would like to help out, we'll have a contact person you can call to find out where we're working.

Sorry I didn't get out a Sunday Preview email this week, but with everything going on I just haven't had the time. Tomorrow morning we'll begin a new series of messages entitled Alternate Plans. Tomorrow's sermon is When Your Dreams Are Shattered, and I promise you, I wrote this sermon before the storms that came through on Wednesday. In fact, I sent Star the bulletin outline on Tuesday, having no idea at the time the depths of the devastation our county and state would experience the next day. But God just works things out that way sometimes. The scripture we'll be looking at is 1 Samuel 21 and 22.

I can't wait to meet with my church family tomorrow. We've seen a lot of bad this week, but we've also seen a lot of good as people have responded. But never forget that the best is yet to come, and we ain't seen nothin' yet!

Will The Sun Stand Still?

2011-04-22T10:19:00.001-05:00

Last Sunday at EFBC, we talked about how Joshua prayed an audacious prayer, asking God to make the sun stand still...and God answered his prayer! On Monday, just 24 hours after preaching that message, I read this quote from Francis Chan: "If we never pray audacious prayers, how can He answer them?" Could it be that the reason we don't see even greater, more miraculous things than we've already seen, is because our prayers aren't audacious enough?

This week, I've been praying HUGE prayers for this Sunday at EFBC! I'm praying that we'll see "sun stand still" kind of miracles right here at the end of Gate 8 Road. I hope you're praying those kind of BIG prayers, as well. If you haven't already, let me ask you to please start praying right now for Easter at EFBC.

We'll begin the day with a sunrise service at 6 a.m. That will be followed by Sunday School and morning worship, both at their regular times. There will be no Sunday night service this week.

At the 10 o'clock service, I'll be preaching a sermon entitled The Best News. In case you're wondering, this will be a straightforward gospel message taken from the resurrection chapter...1 Corinthians 15. I'm praying for a packed out church building, and I'm praying for a multitude to be saved!

Besides praying, however, I'm also inviting people. I hope you are, too! This may be the best opportunity you have all year long to get your family and/or friends to attend a church service. Do your best to GET THEM HERE!!!

One more thing I wanted to mention this morning: If you or your family haven't yet had your picture made for our self-published church directory, we'll be doing that one more time this Sunday. This will be your last chance to be a part of this, so please help us make this directory complete.

Christ is risen, He's still answering audacious prayers, and He's coming again! The best is yet to come, and you ain't seen nothin' yet!

Audacious Prayers

2011-04-15T09:46:00.002-05:00

Have you ever prayed a prayer that was audacious? I was blown away recently by the audacity of a prayer that Joshua prayed. I've known this story for a long time, but when I got to really considering just what he asked for, I was kind of overwhelmed. When I saw the bigness of his request, and that God actually granted it, it made me realize just how small my prayers really are.

The sermon this Sunday is entitled Audacious Prayers, and we'll be looking at Joshua 10:6-14. If you're reading ahead, it would help if you go back and read all of chapter 9 and the first five verses of chapter 10 to get some important background information. Then, when you get into this week's text, pay careful attention to what Joshua prays for in verse 12. God's answer follows immediately in verse 13. It's one of the most audacious prayers ever prayed, and the result is one of the most amazing miracles the world has ever seen!

This Sunday is Palm Sunday. That means we're one week away from Easter. We've already talked about going fishing for Easter, and I'm praying that the results will be MIND BLOWING! I've made up my mind that I'm going to be praying audacious prayers for God to do something ASTOUNDING on resurrection day! I hope you'll join with me in asking God to do something HUGE right here at 1835 Gate 8 Road!

Let's face it, folks: We've already seen God doing incredible things here. We've seen a miracle take place with our Wednesday night ministries. We've seen more baptisms than this church has seen in decades. We've seen God doing more than we could have ever imagined. And yet, I have no doubt that He wants to do more! Second Peter says God's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Until we've seen every soul saved in this community, I believe God wants greater things for Eulaton First Baptist Church!

With Easter Sunday coming up, I'm asking you to join with me in praying audacious prayers. Pray that God will send so many people that we'll be busting at the seams! Pray that the seed of the gospel will find fertile ground in the hearts of the lost and that multitudes will be saved! Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit like we've never seen before! And pray for God to do the impossible!

Church, I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it: The best is yet to come, and we ain't seen nothin' yet!

Go Fishing For Easter

2011-04-01T09:28:00.002-05:00

OK, so I am still being consistently BLOWN AWAY by how God is working in our church! This past Wednesday night was AMAZING! Ten decisions for Christ were recorded, and yet I still can't get past the feeling that we've only seen the beginning of all that God wants to do in this community! In fact, God laid something on my heart yesterday that I'm trying to iron out some details on. If it all works out, it has the potential to have a HUGE impact on Wellborn High School! Hopefully I'll have something to report on this really soon; possibly Sunday!

And speaking of Sunday, my message this week is entitled Go Fishing For Easter. You know, Resurrection Day is less than a month away, and we need to be thinking about how we can not only lift high our risen Savior, but also how we can use this opportunity to reach the lost. The scripture we'll be looking at is from Matthew 4:18-20. I hope you'll plan on being here this Sunday at EFBC!

Keep lifting Him up! Keep reaching out! Keep on praying! And keep on believing that we ain't seen nothin' yet

It's Time To Celebrate

2011-03-18T14:26:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for Sunday at EFBC? I'm unbelievably excited about what God has in store for us this weekend. We'll be hearing an incredible testimony from two very special people, and you definitely don't want to miss it.

The message this Sunday will come from Luke 10, and it's entitled It's Time To Celebrate. The testimony we'll be hearing is definitely something worth celebrating; and even more than that, if you've been saved by God's amazing grace you've got even more of a reason to celebrate.

We serve an awesome, holy, powerful, amazing, healing, forgiving, saving, mighty God! We ought to celebrate all that He is, all that He's done, and all that He's going to do! I hope you'll be able to be with us this Sunday morning, and I hope you'll come ready to celebrate Jesus!

He has done great and mighty things, but I guarantee you that we ain't seen nothin' yet!

Rob Bell And The Danger Of Stereotyping

2011-03-15T11:05:00.002-05:00

A typical response by some evangelical church leaders to the Rob Bell controversy goes something like this, "Bell's denial of orthodox Christianity exposes the postmodern church movement for what it really is: a sham." Many seem more than willing to seize upon this opportunity to castigate all pastors who may not dress in a traditional suit and tie, read from the King James Bible, or lead a church that sings only hymns that are at least a hundred years old. It's almost as if any pastor who is young, hip and non-traditional has become anathema to them.

And that's a problem. Because as I see it, there are a lot of "trendy" pastors out there who are reaching a multitude of lost people not with a watered down, soft on sin and hell gospel, but rather with the timeless message that God is holy, sin has separated us from Him, Jesus died in our place to atone for our sins and save us from a literal hell, and without Him we are eternally lost and condemned. To be sure, that's not the message that Rob Bell appears to be preaching in his latest book Love Wins, and the outcry against it is loud and absolutely justified.

But why do some conservative Christians feel the need to stereotype and paint with such a broad brush the Rob Bell scarlet letter onto countless other ministers who stand diametrically opposed to the message in Love Wins? When did style of dress, choice of Bible translation, musical preferences, etc. become a litmus test for true orthodox Christianity? Because last time I checked, there are plenty of pastors out there who wear a suit and tie, read from the KJV only, and pastor a church that sings only the timeless hymns of the faith, and yet their message is as foreign to the truth of the scriptures as is Rob Bell's and Brian McLaren's. The emerging church movement doesn't have a monopoly on bad theology; you can find it in all shapes, sizes and styles.

So here's my plea: Let's get back to substance over style. Let's quit judging ministers by the clothes they wear and the music they listen to, and let's start listening to the content of what they're communicating. Heresy is heresy whether it's coming from a guy with tattoos and earrings or whether it's coming from a man in a three piece suit. Truth is truth whether it's coming from a guy wearing denim or whether it's coming from a man wearing silk.

Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream that one day every man, woman, boy and girl would be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. And I believe in that dream. But I also have a dream that one day the evangelical world will judge pastors, ministers and churches by the message they are preaching and not the methods they are employing.

March Newsletter Column

2011-03-04T09:48:00.000-06:00

Have you caught the vision? Thankfully, it's not a new contagious disease that's going around. It's the expectation of seeing God adding to this church daily those who are being saved, just like He did in the first church. And on February 20th, we got just a small taste of what that would be like!

That morning we saw seven people come forward in the service and trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior. What would it look like if that became a weekly occurrence? What would it look like if, instead of averaging one baptism a week (which is incredible), we were averaging seven baptisms a week? What would it look like if God used this body of believers in Eulaton, Alabama to spark a revival that would spread throughout our community, our county, and our state?

We were privileged to have John Hays with us on February 23rd, pastor of Jersey Baptist Church in Ohio. He shared with us how thirty years ago God planted a church in a cornfield in the middle of nowhere, and how that church is now one of the largest in the state. The journey at Jersey began with eighteen people who had a vision for what God could do in that community. And today, eighteen has grown to over twenty-five hundred!

Church, if God can do that in a cornfield in Ohio, He can do that on a dead end road next to an army depot in Alabama! I'm not saying we'll one day have twenty-five hundred people here. We may never see that many here; we may see more. But what I'm trying to get across is that God is able to do exceedingly greater things than we can even imagine. So let's not limit our vision!

One of the things Pastor John shared that really stuck with me was his testimony. He grew up in a home that knew nothing about Jesus. The first time he ever went to church, it was so he could play basketball. But even though he didn't attend church for the right reason at first, He soon met Jesus and his life was radically changed. And look at how God has used him!

The thought that came to my mind was this: how many kids do we have attending on Wednesday nights that might not be coming for the right reason? I'm sure many come just so they can play with their friends or to get out of the house for a few hours. But what's important is not why they've come to church; what's important is what we share with them while they are here! And who knows what the future will bring for some of these children? We may be ministering to the next John Hayes, or Adrian Rogers, or Billy Graham. What we're doing here matters. And it will have eternal consequences.

Have you caught the vision?

Ten In Eleven

2011-02-18T11:22:00.000-06:00

Just finished signing baptism certificates for those we've baptized since January 1st, and I counted ten so far in 2011. And that's definitely not going to be the end, because as I write this, I'm filling up the pool in anticipation of another baptism this Sunday at EFBC! Our God is AWESOME, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us next!

I'm super pumped about continuing our It's About Time series this Sunday. The message this week is entitled It's Time To Meet With Jesus, and will be taken from Luke 10:38-42. How often do we make the mistake of choosing the good over the best? I know I'm guilty of it in my life from time to time, and so was one of the ladies in this Scripture passage. Can't wait to see what we can learn this Sunday as we dive into the Word of God!

God's still working here! He's still not finished with this church! He's still changing lives! We've seen some amazing things, but I'm convinced now more than ever that WE AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!!!

The Fullness Of Time

2011-02-11T09:37:00.001-06:00

I love the verse in Galatians 4 that says, "When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son." It's a reminder to me that God works in His own perfect timing, not my messed up, flawed sense of timing. And just as God knew the precise moment to send His Son into this world, He also knows the precise moment when He'll send His Son back to this world.

In the meantime, God has left us here with a mission; and the clock is clicking. We've all been given precious opportunities to serve the Lord, and it's imperative that we make the most of every moment. I'm reminded of the words of John Keating from the movie Dead Poet's Society, "Seize the day...make your lives extraordinary."

This Sunday, I'm excited about continuing the series we began last week entitled It's About Time. This week's message, It's Time To Tell Somebody, will come from Galatians 4:4-5. I'm praying for God to show up in a HUGE way and blow our minds with His presence and power!

Eulaton, you ain't seen nothin' yet!

No Church Tonight

2011-02-09T13:13:00.000-06:00

The decision has been made due to the Winter Storm Warning that goes into effect at 6 p.m., as well as the church van that runs as late as 8:30, to cancel services at Eulaton First Baptist tonight. Please help spread the word to those who aren't on the Internet. Hope to see everyone on Sunday, as it looks like the weather's going to be much more Spring-like this weekend! Everybody stay safe tonight and tomorrow as the wintry weather moves in.

It's About Time

2011-02-04T10:26:00.001-06:00

I'm really excited about beginning a new series of messages at EFBC entitled It's About Time. Message number one, It's Time To Hear God's Voice, will be this Sunday and we'll be looking at Hebrews 3:7-13 (if you want to read ahead).

You know, God's given each one of us a finite number of days here on this earth. My prayer through this series is that we will learn to better appreciate the opportunities we have, and that we'll choose to make the most of every moment. The clock is ticking, and it's up to us to seize the day!

Are you expecting God to show up every time we meet together? Are you ready for all that He has in store for us? Are you prepared to see greater things at EFBC? You may think you've seen all there is to see, but I'm here to tell you that you ain't seen nothin' yet!!!

Biblically True; Culturally Relevant

2011-02-01T09:45:00.002-06:00

On the last Sunday in January, I preached a message entitled Starting From Scratch, and I asked the question, "What would it look like if you were starting a church, and you knew nothing about how to 'do church' except what the Bible says about it?" It's a question we need to consider, given that most of us have grown up with an "Americanized" version of Christianity. And that's not necessarily a bad thing, but it does sometimes beg the question, "What do we do because it's biblical and what do we do because it's 'the way we've always done it?'"

One week earlier, on January 23rd, the message was entitled Where Opportunities Abound, and we talked about the church at Philadelphia and how Jesus opened some amazing doors for ministry there. One of the things I said in that sermon was that we have to realize that the way God calls us to do ministry in 2011 may not look exactly like it did twenty, thirty, or fifty years ago. The message is the same yesterday, today, and forever, but the means that we use to get that message out can and does evolve from time to time.

I look at how the world has changed just in the past 18 years since I've been in vocational ministry. The teenagers I worked with as a youth pastor in 1993 were growing up in a very different world than this current generation of students. When I was starting out, if you had asked me what the World Wide Web was, I would have said it was probably a new movie about the son of Spider Man who goes rogue and tries to dominate the planet. And Facebook? That was just another name the kids were using to describe their high school yearbook. My computer skills back then consisted of doing word processing on a 1984 Commodore 64 using a 1541 floppy disc drive.

Having said all of that, here's the question: How do we reconcile those two thoughts from those two sermons? How do we seek to do church the way the Bible prescribes, and still manage to be culturally engaged in 2011? Some people may think that those two things are mutually exclusive, but I'm here to tell you that they most definitely are not! Using new technologies to reach people, engaging the culture, and meeting people where they're at are all good things that can be done in a way that stays true to the biblical mandate. Notice how The Message paraphrases the words of Paul found in 1 Corinthians 9:20-22:

Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

If Paul was able to go to different places in the first century and engage the culture while still remaining true to his biblical principles, there's no reason why we can't go and do likewise right here in the twenty-first century!

Starting From Scratch

2011-01-28T12:11:00.001-06:00

What would it look like if you were starting a church, but you had no previous exposure to church culture in the United States? What would it look like if your only blueprint for how the church ought to operate was the Bible? What would it look like if the modern church in North America sought to align our priorities more with the priorities of the church in the first century?

These are some things that have been on my heart a lot lately, and this Sunday we're going to try to answer these "what would it look like if" questions. Our main scripture focus will be in Acts 2, where Luke describes the day to day workings of the first church. Along the way, we'll also be looking at a couple of other first century congregations in the book of Acts to try and get a better understanding of what a true New Testament church looks like. The message is entitled Starting From Scratch.

I'm incredibly excited about what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC! As I write this, I've got the pool filling up yet again in anticipation for another baptism. Do you really believe that God can add to this church daily those who are being saved just like He did at the first church in Acts 2:47? He's still the same God, and if He did it at Jerusalem, He can do it at Eulaton!

Strap yourselves in EFBC members. I firmly believe 2011 is going to be the greatest year this church has ever seen! You may have been here to see the days when our attendance was higher and our bank account was stronger. But believing that God has even greater things in store for our church, I want you to know Eulaton that despite what you've already seen: YOU AIN'T SEEN NOTHIN' YET!!!

Make It Stop!

2011-01-14T10:00:00.001-06:00

As one who generally loves winter weather, I've got to admit that I'm ready to scream, "Make it stop!" I've had enough of the ice on my driveway. I've had enough of the slippery conditions. And I've had enough of the cancelled church services!

Thankfully, it looks as if we're in for a well-deserved break from the wintry landscape we've been living in. Granted, we're not going to hit the 80's anytime soon, but at this point, just reaching the 40's will be a huge milestone. And it will be nice to get back to normal here at EFBC!

This Sunday, we'll be back in Revelation chapter 2, looking at the churches at Pergamos and Thyatira. The message is entitled A Load Of Compromising (yes, for you Glen Campbell fans, that's a Rhinestone Cowboy reference), and I can't wait to share with you what God's laid on my heart for this weekend!

God is here! He is working! And He wants to do more than we could ever hope for or imagine!

Come expecting great things! Come seeking His power and His glory. And come with the knowledge that the best is yet to come!

Can You Hear Him Now?

2011-01-07T10:51:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! Hope your Friday is going well. I've been watching the weather reports and forecast models this morning, and it looks like we are in for a major winter storm Sunday night and into Monday. HOWEVER, please everyone take note that we're not expected to get anything until after noon on Sunday, so morning services SHOULD NOT be hindered in any way!

Everyone please make sure that you are prepared for the possibility of power outages Sunday night and into Monday. Also make sure you've got enough food for a few days just in case the worst case scenario happens. We want everyone to be safe!

But again, regardless of what happens Sunday afternoon and night, Sunday morning's looking really good, and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC! I know we've got some baptisms lined up, and that always lights my fire! And I've got a message that is burning within me for this Sunday. The sermon is entitled Can You Hear Him Now?, and we'll be looking at Revelation 3:1-6. I can hardly wait!

Don't forget that this Sunday we'll also have our monthly business meeting immediately following the morning service. If you're a member of this church, let me encourage you to please plan on staying for the business meeting. These meetings are not just for the "church leaders." If you're a member here, these meetings are for you, too! I hope you'll stick around.

By the way, did anyone notice how many folks were here Wednesday night? Quite possibly the biggest crowd for a regular Wednesday night service we've ever had (at least in the past 9 years). It was an AWESOME night!

God is up to something BIG at EFBC! He's not done working here! He's got greater things in store for 2011! Last year was great, but THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Behind The Manger

2010-12-17T08:43:00.000-06:00

OK, so it probably feels like it's been a month since I published a weekly "Sunday preview." And it nearly has been. Certain things have happened on Fridays that have prevented me from doing this, so I'm really glad to get this out today.

I'm really excited about our Christmas Experience Live Nativity which will be tomorrow night and Sunday! This was one of the highlights of last year, and I fully expect it to be even better this year! And it looks like the weather is going to cooperate with us this year. We'll begin at 5 o'clock each night and will go until eight. Remember to dress warmly, and pray for lives to be changed as a result of this ministry!

I'm also excited about Sunday morning at EFBC! This week's message is entitled Behind The Manger. Have you ever noticed how Luke tells the Christmas story with a focus on Mary, while Matthew tells the story with a focus on Joseph? We're all familiar with the human side of the story, but what would it look like if we pulled back the veil and saw the story of Christmas from God's perspective?

I think that's what John's Gospel does for us. This Sunday morning, we'll be looking at the Christmas story from John 1:14, going behind the scenes to see what Christmas is all about. I'm really looking forward to preaching this message, and I hope you'll plan on being here with us. It will be a special day because our children's choir will be sharing several Christmas songs with us during the morning worship, as well.

Also, remember that this Sunday is the day when Angel Tree gifts are due. And, don't forget about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. It should be a great weekend here at Eulaton First Baptist Church as we kick off Christmas week! I hope you'll plan on being a part of it!

Joy to the world, the Lord has come! The best has already come into this world, and praise God, the best is coming again!

About The Church

2010-11-19T09:22:00.001-06:00

It's Friday, and you know what that means, don't you? It means I'm getting super-pumped about this Sunday at EFBC! Wednesday night was amazing this week! At about 5:45, we had everybody in the fellowship hall, and just seeing all those kids in there lit a fire in me. Sure, it was a bit loud and crazy for a few minutes, but I'll take a loud crowd over a silent and empty building any day!

What we're doing at EFBC is the most important thing in all of the world! OK, so it's not really us, but rather God doing it and using us in the process. There's no greater need on this planet than for people to have a life changing relationship with Jesus! For those of you who are serving in ANY capacity, don't ever think that what you're doing is not making a difference. God has already produced fruit that we've been able to see right now. And I truly believe there will be many other fruits that we'll not even know of until we all get to heaven.

This Sunday at Eulaton, we'll be continuing our Frequently Asked Questions series. This week's message will deal with frequently asked questions about the church. Here's the questions we'll try to answer this Sunday:

-Why can't I just watch church on television?
-Can't I worship God just as well in the woods?
-Aren't all churches full of hypocrites?
-With so many denominations, which one is right?
-Why should I attend when it doesn't apply to me?
-What is church really all about?
-Can't I love Jesus without loving the church?

I hope you'll plan on being with us this Sunday morning. I'm praying (and I hope you will be, too) that God will show up in a huge way. One verse God showed me this week is Psalm 69:9, where David says, "zeal for your house consumes me." I'm praying that a zeal for Jesus and His church will consume all of us in a powerful way!

Keep praying! Keep investing and inviting! And keep expecting GREATER THINGS because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

About The Bible

2010-11-12T09:21:00.000-06:00

I'm incredibly excited about this Sunday at EFBC! This weekend will be the second installment of the 2010 edition of Frequently Asked Questions. Our theme this week is frequently asked questions about the Bible. Questions we'll try to answer this week are:

-Isn't the Bible just an invention of man?
-Weren't eighty gospels considered for the New Testament?
-Wasn't the Bible compiled by the Roman emperor Constantine?
-Does the Bible really teach that Jesus is God?
-How can I be certain the Bible is the word of God?

I hope you'll plan on being with us Sunday morning at EFBC. Keep investing and inviting! Keep praying! And keep expecting GREATER THINGS! I'm looking for God to show up in a HUGE way this Sunday!

It's more than just a cliche' folks...I really mean it every week when I say that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Sunday's Coming

2010-11-05T09:08:00.001-05:00

As I write this, we are now just a little more than 48 hours away from Sunday morning worship at Eulaton First Baptist; and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this weekend! I'm really excited about getting together with my church family and lifting high the name of Jesus! And I'm super-pumped about the opportunity to get to preach to the best group of people that I know.

Last November, I did a series of messages entitled Frequently Asked Questions, and it was without a doubt the most talked about series I've ever done in 17 years of ministry. After we finished up the series, I mentioned that we would do it again next November. Well guess what: November's here and the FAQ's are back for another round of sermons.

We're going to do it just a little bit different this year, though. Last year, the questions were all completely unrelated. We might have been talking about the doctrine of election one minute, and then we were shifting gears and talking about divorced deacons. Well, this year every message is going to have a theme. The first message this Sunday will deal with frequently asked questions about spiritual warfare. Here are the questions I plan to address this weekend:

-Where did Satan and the demons come from?
-Can a Christian be possessed by a demon?
-Are Christians instructed to bind Satan?
-Aren't angels just Christians who've died and gone to heaven?
-Do angels have to be seen to be real?
-What should be my response to spiritual warfare?

I'm really excited about this series of messages, and I hope you will be, too! Tell a friend, tell a co-worker, and tell a family member. Let's fill this place up Sunday morning and blow the roof off with our praises to Jesus! And let's come together expecting God to show up as we remember this verse:

Ps 63:2 - So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (NKJ)

Keep investing and inviting. Keep praying for your lost friends and family. Keep praying for all of our folks who are sick and going through tough stuff right now. And keep believing God for GREATER THINGS because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Three Questions That Can Change Your Life

2010-10-29T10:09:00.001-05:00

After missing last Sunday at EFBC, I'm super excited to be back with my church family this weekend! And we've got a HUGE day in store! This Sunday is our annual Harvest of Fun Fall Festival, immediately following the morning worship service. We'll have our regular morning schedule, followed by lunch at 11, and the Harvest of Fun begins at noon.

Please, if you are able, plan on helping us this Sunday for this special outreach event. Please be praying that we'll have a great day, and that we'll have a big crowd not just for the fall festival, but also for church Sunday morning!

And speaking of that, let me encourage you again this week to keep investing in and inviting friends and family to come and hear the Gospel. This Sunday, I'll be preaching a very simple, straightforward, Gospel message. I'm praying for lost souls to be saved! You be praying too!

The message for Sunday is entitled Three Questions That Can Change Your Life. We'll be looking at Romans 3:23-24. For those who are lost, it's the most important message they can ever hear. For those of us who are saved, the Gospel is truth that we need to re-preach to ourselves every single day. We can never hear the message of the cross enough! We should never get over what Jesus did for us!

Let's pray for God to show up in a HUGE way this Sunday! Let's pray for lives to be eternally changed this Sunday! And let's keep looking for GREATER THINGS because the best is yet to come!!!

p.s. Returning for November...Frequently Asked Questions!

Invest And Invite

2010-10-22T09:16:00.001-05:00

About a year and a half ago, I introduced a strategy to the church called Invest And Invite. The idea behind this is getting every church member involved in evangelism and church growth. You can take the time to invest yourself in the lives of your family and friends that don't know Jesus. You can build relationships with folks and let them know that you care about them. And you can invite them to come to church to hear the message of the Gospel.

Of course, the best thing you can do is share the message of the Gospel yourself. Talk about how Jesus has changed your life, and what a difference He can make in theirs. Your personal testimony and a presentation of the Gospel are the most effective tools you have to lead somebody to a saving faith in Jesus.

Unfortunately, not everybody is comfortable doing this. In fact, statistics show that most church members have never shared their faith with anyone. Well, I want to see every member of EFBC be involved in soul-winning! The Invest And Invite strategy allows everyone to be a part. Just look at Andrew in the Bible. Every time you see him, he's bringing someone to Jesus! And when you bring someone to church with you, you're bringing them to the body of Christ here on this earth. Just like Andrew did!

The next two Sundays will be a perfect time to put the Invest And Invite strategy into action. This Sunday morning, Koy will be preaching an evangelistic message entitled Seven People Headed For Hell. If you know somebody who needs Jesus, do your best to GET THEM HERE this Sunday!

Next Sunday, October 31st will be our Harvest Of Fun day. I'll be preaching another evangelistic message that day, and I'm praying for a HUGE crowd. What a great time to invite somebody for church: Worship, followed by lunch, followed by a fall festival. Do your best to GET THEM HERE, and not just for the Harvest Of Fun, but for church that morning, as well.

Opportunities are everywhere! Seize the day! The best is yet to come!!!

The High Price Of Stew

2010-10-15T10:59:00.002-05:00

Let me begin this week's update by saying "THANK YOU" to everyone for your prayers, visits, thoughts, and food during Steph's surgery this week. She's done very well, and is very glad to be at home. There will still be a recovery period as she heals and gets her strength back. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Also, please be praying for Darthy Chappelle, who is Brenda McCrary and Cindy Starnes' mother. She had a colonoscopy on Wednesday, and her colon was punctured, forcing immediate emergency surgery. She's doing fine now, but please keep her in your prayers. Also, please continue to pray for the family of Jerri Thompson. The graveside service is tomorrow at 3, and visitation is tonight at Gray Brown from 6-8.

As far as Sunday is concerned, let me just say that I CAN HARDLY WAIT!!! This week's message is entitled The High Price Of Stew, and is taken from Genesis 25:29-34. I have to admit that in the past I've read the story of Esau selling his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew and thought, "This just doesn't make sense." But recently, God used this story to show me some valuable insights and teach me some important lessons that I'm excited to share with you on Sunday. I hope you'll plan on being here!

Greater things! Why not here? THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

What Do I Do Now?

2010-10-06T12:56:00.001-05:00

I'm posting the Sunday preview a couple of days early, as I'm heading to a conference in Atlanta tomorrow and Friday. I'm really excited about what God has in store for us TONIGHT and SUNDAY at EFBC!

This Sunday we'll conclude our series Are We Living In The Last Days? This week's message will be taken from the closing words of the Bible, in Revelation 22:6-21, and is entitled What Do I Do Now? Knowing the things we've learned over the last five weeks, what should our response be? The Bible has some very specific answers!

Come tonight! Come Sunday! Come expecting greater things! And come with the knowledge that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

What's Going To Happen?

2010-10-01T09:26:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for worship at EFBC this Sunday? I'm crazy excited about what God has in store for us this weekend! I hope you'll come expecting God to show up in a HUGE way! Please be praying for our church. We've seen God do awesome things in the past year because His people have been praying. Galatians 6:9 says, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV) Let's keep on keeping on when it comes to prayer!

This Sunday we'll continue our Are We Living In The Last Days? series with a message entitled What's Going To Happen? We'll be going through the book of Revelation and looking at what we can expect to take place in the very near future (and beyond). The first verse of Revelation says the book was written to show us "things which must shortly take place." I'm so glad that we serve a God who knows the future. And I'm so thankful that the One who holds tomorrow in His hands is the same One who holds me in His hands!

Jesus is LORD! He's coming again! If you know Him, you'll spend eternity with Him! The best is yet to come!

The Bridegroom Is Coming

2010-09-24T10:12:00.001-05:00

This week's Sunday preview will be a quick one:

I'm INCREDIBLY EXCITED about this weekend at EFBC! Message four in the Are We Living In The Last Days? series will be this Sunday morning. The Bridegroom Is Coming is the title of this message, and we'll be looking at John 14:1-3 (as well as a host of other scriptures). I hope you'll plan on being here!

I realize the last two sermons have been pretty deep, and maybe hard to follow at times. Studying history and its relation to prophecy isn't always easy, but it's so worth it! This Sunday's message should be much easier to follow, so I hope you haven't given up on this series. I believe God has great things in store for us this weekend at EFBC!

Jesus is LORD! He's coming again! And the best is yet to come!!!

The Last World Empire

2010-09-17T10:03:00.001-05:00

Amazing! Incredible! Unbelievable! Wow! Those are just a few of the words that come to mind when I think about this past Wednesday night at EFBC! Little Panther Day was a huge success, and I want to tell everybody who helped out, "THANK YOU!!!" We had over 250 people here, and got to meet a whole bunch of new folks. I believe we'll see major fruit from this in the coming days and weeks!

Tonight's another big event, as we'll be having a 5th Quarter immediately following the Wellborn/Leeds game. Let's pray for God to show up in a HUGE way! We've seen Him work at these events in the past, and I can't wait to see what He has in store for us tonight! And by the way...GO PANTHERS!

And we're now just 48 hours away from Sunday morning at EFBC! I can't even begin to describe to you how excited I am about gathering together as the church and worshiping Jesus! This Sunday we'll continue our series entitled Are We Living In The Last Days? This Sunday's message, The Last World Empire, will be the third in this series and will be taken from Daniel 2. We'll also be looking at some parallel passages in Daniel 7.

This Sunday's message will prove once again just how miraculous the Bible really is, and that it truly is the inspired, inerrant, infallible Word of God. This sermon will also show how we've seen Bible prophecy fulfilled in our own lifetimes...right before our eyes! These are extraordinary times we are living in, and I believe we're living in the very last of the last days!

Are you ready? Do you know Him? If you do, then I can promise you that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

The Clock Is Ticking

2010-09-10T09:53:00.000-05:00

We live in interesting times. Everywhere I look, it seems there are prophetic signs. The world seems to be in utter chaos, and yet we know by the authority of God's Word that He is totally in control. Is Jesus coming back in our lifetimes? I believe it's entirely possible, and more than that, I believe it is highly probable. But whether He returns in ten years or two hundred years isn't really the point. The point is that we should live every day as if it is our last, and make sure our spiritual bags are packed and ready.

This Sunday we'll continue the series we began last week entitled Are We Living In The Last Days? Last week we looked at some signs of the end times that Jesus gave us in Matthew 24. This week we're going to turn to the Old Testament and look at Daniel 9:24-27. The message this week is entitled The Clock Is Ticking, and I'm incredibly excited about looking at these ancient prophecies this Sunday morning at EFBC!

Let me encourage you to spread the word about this series. Lots of folks have questions about what they consider to be the "end of the world." Just last year, a movie came out based on predictions from the Mayan calendar that the world would end in the year 2012. Many people are searching for answers, and we've got much more than an ancient calendar left behind by an extinct civilization; we've got God's Word. The Bible has the answers; we just need to spread the message! So please, do everything you can to GET THEM HERE this Sunday!

Jesus is coming again. Are your spiritual bags packed? I hope you know Him, 'cause the BEST IS YET TO COME!

What Time Is It?

2010-09-03T10:52:00.000-05:00

I'm crazy excited about this Sunday at EFBC, and I'll tell you why: I'm starting a new sermon series entitled Are We Living In The Last Days? Did you get a flyer in the mail recently about a seminar being held in Anniston on this same subject? I've had several people ask me about this, and I honestly had to tell them that I know nothing about this teacher and what he believes.

What I do know, however, is what the Bible teaches; and there seems to be a lot of interest in this given the events in our world today. That's why I'm REALLY excited about these messages. This series is going to be a thorough examination of where I believe we are in Bible prophecy, and what I believe we can expect to happen in the near future.

Let me encourage you to get the word out about this series. Invite your friends and loved ones, especially those who don't know Jesus. People are fascinated with Bible prophecy, and just might be interested enough to come to church for this series. My sermon for Sunday is entitled What Time Is It?, and we'll be looking at Matthew 24.

Jesus is coming again. Are you ready?

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

The One And Only

2010-08-27T09:56:00.000-05:00

Before I jump into today's weekend preview, let me remind everyone to please keep praying for little Alexander, Bruce and Nikaa. They had a really long night, and they've still got a long way to go as Alexander still has another surgery to go through before they can come home. Please keep praying also for Susie, Therman, Frieda, Gary Mize and all the folks on our prayer list. Our God is bigger than all of the pain, sickness and disease that seem to be plaguing so many!

I'm so super pumped for this HUGE weekend that I can hardly stand it! It's already off to a great start as I got to speak to the football team and cheerleaders this morning at the prayer breakfast. I shared the story of Shammah from 2 Samuel 23:11-12. Long before there was a fictional character named Rambo, there was a REAL man named Shammah who took on the entire Philistine army and single-handedly defeated them. Of course, he wasn't really alone, because verse 12 tells us it was the Lord who brought about a great victory!

Tonight should be AWESOME as the first football game of the season kicks off on "The Hill" and is followed by our Fifth Quarter at Wellborn Park. I hope you can come and join us tonight. You may have to stay up a little (or a lot) later than normal, but I promise you it will be totally worth it. God really moved at last year's Fifth Quarter, and we're expecting even greater things this year!

And let's not forget about SUNDAY!!! I'm really excited about the message God has given me for Sunday entitled The One And Only. This sermon will be directed at two very different audiences: First, it will be for those who see Christianity as just one of many ways to get to God. This message will show how Jesus sets us apart from every other major religion in the world.

Second, this message will be for Christians who want to be better able to share their faith, but need some ammunition when it comes to defending it. It's important that we not just believe that Jesus is the only way to heaven; we need to know WHY He is the only way. In a world that seems to be caught up in the spirit of, "It doesn't matter which God you worship, just be sincere about it," we as the Body of Christ have a responsibility to warn them. It's our job to proclaim that Jesus is not one of many ways to get to heaven or even the best way to get to heaven; He's the ONLY WAY!

Are you ready for a BIG weekend EFBC? God's got greater things in store, He's not finished working in this church, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

God's Challenge To Us

2010-08-20T13:34:00.000-05:00

OK, so I can't even find the words to describe what happened here at EFBC this past Sunday! Panther Day will go down as one of my all-time favorite days at church that I've ever experienced! God showed up in a HUGE way! Thank you church for all of your hard work and most of all for your prayers! Thank you to all of the coaches, faculty and sponsors at Wellborn who supported this outreach! And thank you Jesus for changing lives!

Now a question for all EFBC members and attendees: Do you believe that this Sunday can be just as good as or better than last Sunday? I do! We serve a BIG God and He can show up this weekend just as powerfully as He did last weekend! So keep praying, keep investing and inviting, and keep expecting GREATER THINGS!

This Sunday's message will be one that could've very easily have been included in the I'd Rather Not Talk About... series. God, however, wasn't quite yet ready for me to preach it. This week's message is entitled God's Challenge To Us, and it's a sermon that some folks might not want to hear. What's it about, you ask? Well, I'm going to leave that up to your imagination until Sunday morning. Just be praying and asking God to prepare your heart for this challenge.

Church, God's not through with the Wellborn/Eulaton community! We've seen that in the past year, and we definitely saw it this past Sunday! Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done in this city, this community, and YES, in this church! It's been great, but we ain't seen nothin' yet 'cause THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Panther Day

2010-08-13T09:22:00.000-05:00

I'm out of my mind excited about this Sunday as we are having the first ever EFBC Panther Day! Excitement is building as final preparations are being made to welcome in the football team, band, cheerleaders and volleyball team from Wellborn High School. Please be praying for God to show up in a HUGE way on Sunday and for things to run smoothly and orderly. This will be a big undertaking, but I have no doubt that God is in it and that He's going to do great and awesome things!

We'll have our guests in the fellowship hall during the Sunday School hour, and we'll be serving them breakfast (anybody that wants to bring some fruit or doughnuts, please feel free). Then they'll all be moving to the sanctuary for our worship time. We'll have an overflow room set up in the chapel for our members who aren't able to get a seat in the sanctuary. It may be a bit of an inconvenience for one Sunday, but I think you'll all agree with me that it will be TOTALLY WORTH IT.

The message God has laid on my heart for Sunday is entitled Get In The Lifeboat. It is a straightforward, simple Gospel message. Please be praying for those students, parents and coaches who don't know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Let's pray that God will fill this place with His presence and that lives will be changed!

Come prayed up and expecting God to do GREATER THINGS! Jesus lives! He's working in our midst! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Two Special Sundays

2010-08-05T09:44:00.000-05:00

It's probably no surprise to anyone who reads my weekly ramblings that I'm SUPER-PUMPED for church this Sunday...actually the next TWO Sundays! This Sunday and the next we'll be lifting up Wellborn to the Lord as a new school year begins on Monday. I hope you'll plan on being here for these special services.

This Sunday, Koy will be doing a special commissioning service for the youth who've been training this summer to be Campus Missionaries. This will be followed by a sermon I've entitled Being A Missionary that will be taken from Acts 8:26-40. It's my prayer that we'll realize that God has called us all to be missionaries right here where He's planted us.

The following Sunday, August 15th, is going to be Panther Day here at the church. We've invited the football team, band, cheerleaders and volleyball team to come and be with us that morning. We're planning on having an overflow room for our church members who aren't able to get a seat in the sanctuary. The potential for this day is HUGE!

Please be praying for these two special Sundays. I believe God wants the fires of revival and renewal to burn WHITE HOT in this church, in this community, and yes, even in our schools! Don't stop praying now, Eulaton, 'cause the best is yet to come!

The "O" Word

2010-07-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

I'm crazy excited about Sunday at EFBC, and I hope you are, too! I know there will be a lot of celebrating after the answered prayers we've witnessed this week with Frieda! God's still in the miracle-working business, and I'm so glad we've seen His hand at work again in the life of our church! Frieda's CaringBridge sight was updated this morning, and you can click here to read it.

This Sunday I'll be finishing up our I'd Rather Not Talk About... series, and we're going to look at the "O" word. The message is entitled I'd Rather Not Talk About Obedience, and we'll be looking at 1 John 5:1-3.

I hope you'll plan on being here. I hope you'll be praying for lives to be changed. I hope you'll come expecting God to show up in a HUGE way. And I hope you'll keep expecting God to do greater things, because the best is yet to come!

Hope For The Hurting

2010-07-22T17:58:00.000-05:00

I'm writing this week from Children's Camp in Millerville. So far we've had a great time. The kids have all been really good, and God has kept everybody safe. I'm really excited about tonight's (Thursday) chapel time. That's always the highlight of camp for me!

I'm also really excited about this Sunday at EFBC! I'll be preaching a message from Job 23:8-10, and the message will be entitled I'd Rather Not Talk About Pain. Most folks would prefer to not talk about it, but let's face it: pain is a part of life. My prayer is that this message will offer hope for those who are hurting.

That's about all for this week. Supper's almost ready, and for those of you who've been here to the "Coop Camp," you know that's always a good thing! Tonight's menu includes chicken fingers! We'll be home Friday night, and I'll be looking forward to seeing you on Sunday morning as we come together as the church to lift high the name of Jesus!

THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Wow...Just Wow

2010-07-16T09:16:00.000-05:00

I can think of no other word to describe our Vacation Bible School this week here at EFBC! God has been blessing our socks off, and we've still got ONE MORE NIGHT TO GO! We've averaged right at 130 children each night, not counting the fifty plus workers. The kids are having a great time, and learning a lot about the Bible at the same time. Please pray for me and the children tonight, as I will be sharing the Gospel with them.

Looking ahead to Sunday, I'm out of my mind excited about what God has in store for us! Sunday morning is going to be one that you'll never forget; I can promise you that! We're going to continue the series we began last week entitled I'd Rather Not Talk About... This Sunday we're going to be covering another subject that most folks would prefer not to talk about: Death. Our scripture is Hebrews 9:27-28. All I can tell you is that it will be memorable and this is one you don't want to miss!

Sunday night's going to be memorable, as well. Think about it for a moment: What if all the kids we've had in Bible School showed up for commencement, and their parents, and their grandparents, and all of our regular Sunday night folks! This could be one of the largest crowds we've ever had in our sanctuary! We're already making plans for some of the kids to be sitting in the choir loft and in chairs. When we get all those children in here, and their families, and our church members, it's going to be AWESOME!!!

So let me encourage you to be praying about Sunday at EFBC! God's working, lives are being changed, and I don't have to tell you cause you already know that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

I'd Rather Not Talk About...

2010-07-09T09:26:00.000-05:00

Is anybody besides me excited about what God is doing and is going to do here at EFBC! I'm more pumped now than I've ever been! And with Sunday morning worship now just a little over 48 hours away, my intensity level is rising by the minute!

I'm super excited about this Sunday because I'll be starting a new sermon series entitled I'd Rather Not Talk About..., and I believe it's going to be AWESOME! You know how there's certain things that most people tend to not want to talk about? Well, guess what? We're going to talk about them! Week one's message is entitled I'd Rather Not Talk About Hell, and the scripture we'll be looking at is Luke 16:19-31. If you've got friends or family that don't know Jesus, do your best to GET THEM HERE this Sunday!

One other thing that's brought my excitement level through the roof is we're now just a few days away from Vacation Bible School! Saddle Ridge Ranch starts on Monday, and I can't wait to see how God's going to work through this year's VBS! I believe God's got HUGE things in store for us this year! Don't forget that tomorrow we'll be decorating beginning at 9 a.m. We'd love to have your help!

Sunday night we'll be talking about Saddle Ridge Ranch in our evening worship service. I'll be sharing about the things our kids are going to be learning next week. We'll also have a special time to pray for Bible School, the workers and the children they'll be leading. We could have the best planned, best staffed, and best decorated VBS in the country, but without prayer it would be a disaster. Please commit to pray for Bible School!

Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (NIV)

God's got greater things in store for us! I hope you're ready, 'cause THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

The True Source Of Liberty

2010-07-02T11:22:00.000-05:00

Today's Sunday Preview will be brief...I'm really squeezed on time today. This Sunday our country will be celebrating its 234th birthday, and what better way to begin your Fourth than coming to worship our Savior who has set us free! My message for Sunday is about Jesus, and it's entitled The True Source Of Liberty. The text is Luke 4:16-21.

I'm really excited about worship this Sunday. We'll begin our service with something a little different, and we'll definitely be celebrating our freedoms as Americans. But most of all, we're going to celebrate Jesus! I hope you'll be here!

The best is yet to come!

Got Any Storms?

2010-06-25T12:02:00.000-05:00

As I'm writing this, a storm is passing over 1835 Gate 8 Road. We've got thunder, lightning, and heavy rain. I pray that our power doesn't go out (although if recent history means anything, it probably will).

But thundershowers aren't the only type of storms we have to deal with in life, are they? The truth is that we all face different kinds of storms: financial, physical, emotional, etc. And right now, it seems like we've got a lot of families that are weathering some pretty intense storms.

With that in mind, God has laid a message on my heart for Sunday that I hope will be incredibly encouraging. My sermon is entitled An Anchor For Life's Storms, and we'll be looking at two primary passages: John 16:33 and Hebrews 6:19-20. In the midst of life's storms that toss us like a ship on the open ocean, God has provided us with an anchor! And although He doesn't promise us that we'll never have troubles and trials, He does promise us that He'll see us through them!

So if you know someone that's going through some struggles right now, I want to strongly encourage you to get them here this Sunday. And if you know someone who doesn't know Jesus, this message will have a powerful emphasis on the Gospel. This will be a great weekend for you to invest and invite!

In the midst of all of the storms that are raging around us, God is still working in a powerful way here at Eulaton First Baptist Church! And I, for one, am incredibly excited to see how God's going to show His great and awesome power in the midst of these storms. There's an old hymn that contains these words, "Trials dark on every hand, and we cannot understand...but we'll understand it better by and by." If I were to rewrite that and do a Lambertized version of that song, it would go something like this: "Storms will come and storms will go...but THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

A Tale Of Two Fathers

2010-06-18T09:52:00.000-05:00

It was so great to be back with my church family on Sunday! Vacation was wonderful, but getting back to worshipping with EFBC was even better. I had a blast preaching last Sunday!

Now as we look forward to Father's Day, I have to say that I'm incredibly excited about the message God has given me for Sunday. I'll be sharing a sermon entitled A Tale Of Two Fathers, and we'll be looking at 1 Samuel 1-2 if you want to read ahead. In these two chapters, we see two very different fathers. One had a son who became well known for his faith. The other had two sons that brought shame on the priesthood and the ministry of the temple. Looking at the good, and not so good in these stories, we'll learn seven lessons about being a good father.

Come to worship Sunday expecting God to do great things in our midst! I know this world we're living in seems dark and dry. I know we're living in troubled times. But let's remember the words of David in Psalm 63:1-2:

O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (NKJ)

Let's come together this Sunday expecting to see His power and His glory! Let's come together this Sunday expecting lives to be changed! And let's come together this Sunday expecting God to do greater things!

I know I say it all the time, and I know it probably sounds cliché by now, but I really do mean it every week when I say that, "THE BEST IS YET TO COME!"

Two Weeks In One

2010-06-04T10:11:00.000-05:00

I'm so out-of-my-mind excited about the next two Sundays at Eulaton, and the bad thing is I'm not even going to be here for the first one! Because of that fact, today's Sunday preview will look ahead to this Sunday the 6th, and the following Sunday the 13th.

This week we'll have a couple of guest speakers sharing in our services. Our youth camp speaker, Jeff Brooks, will be sharing in the morning worship service. Jeff did a great job at camp, and I know you'll be blessed as he comes to share with us Sunday morning. Charles Israel, who spoke at Greg Cupp's ordination last month, will be speaking during the evening worship service. I was really blessed by the things Charlie shared during the ordination service, and I have no doubt he'll have a word from the Lord as he comes this Sunday night.

And I know it's over a week away, but I can hardly wait for June 13th! My message for that day is entitled I Once Was Lost, and we'll be looking at Luke 19:1-10. This message will have a HUGE emphasis on the Gospel, and I want to strongly encourage you to try and get your lost friends and family here that Sunday. Remember: Invest and Invite!

Come this Sunday and the next expecting greater things! God is working, lives are being changed, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Recharge; Not Retire

2010-06-01T08:41:00.000-05:00

"Summertime, and the living is easy." I seem to recall those lyrics from a popular song, and it has me already looking forward to having a time to refresh and recharge. My family will be taking a week for vacation this month, and we're excited about getting to go back to Pawley's Island, S.C. again this year. My only regret is that I have to be gone from EFBC during a time when God is moving so mightily.

But I know, and I hope you do to, that we all need periods of rest and rejuvenation. And that's just as true for those of us in vocational ministry as it is for folks employed in the secular world. I read recently where one minister wrote: "Pastors cannot lead their churches on empty." Even Jesus understood this, and He often took opportunities to get away and get refreshed.

And so, while I'm away, I won't be checking my email. I won't be posting on my blog. I won't be on Facebook. I won't even be working on sermon preparation. What I will be doing is spending some quality time with my family and with my Lord. And when I return on June 12th, I plan on being rejuvenated and energized, ready to see what God has next for us at EFBC (and hopefully hearing some glowing reports about what He did while I was away).

So this summer, I hope you'll have the opportunity for some times of refreshing. Let the Lord recharge your batteries and prepare you for greater things in the days to come. But just remember one thing: don't take the whole summer off from church! I've seen it happen all too often: folks go on vacation; come home, and suddenly serving the Lord becomes an afterthought. Let's all strive to NOT LET THAT HAPPEN!

I truly believe that EFBC's greatest days are still ahead of us. And I truly believe that this summer could be the best this church has ever experienced! Youth Camp's just ended, Bible School's just around the corner, and Children's Camp is right after VBS. God's got big plans for us in the coming days, weeks and months! So let's take the time to get refreshed and recharged, but let's all determine that we're not going to retire on God this summer!

It's Hard To Be Humble

2010-05-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Just saw our teenagers off on their way to youth camp, and it looks like we've got fifty, that's right, FIFTY, kids going to camp! I'm planning on spending some time with them this weekend, as they're just on the other side of the mountain in Golden Springs at Camp Lee. Please be praying for our kids this weekend. Pray for their safety. Pray for their attitudes. Pray for them to get along well. But most of all, pray for lives to be changed by the power of Christ!

And while you're praying, let me encourage you to pray for Sunday morning at EFBC. I'm incredibly excited about what God has in store for us this weekend! I'll be preaching a message entitled It's Hard To Be Humble. We'll be reading in 2 Chronicles 26, and we'll be looking at some lessons on how to avoid a fall.

History is full of examples of how strong and mighty people have fallen. You can see it in the world, but you also see it happen in the church. Satan loves to bring down Christians, and he'll attack us in a variety of ways. This Sunday's message will provide you with some guardrails to put up around your heart to help you avoid a spiritual crash.

God's still working here! Let's keep praying for His continued blessings! Let's keep investing in people and inviting them to come and hear about Jesus! And let's keep worshipping the One who saved our souls from hell and gave us life more abundantly!

Greater things are still to be done, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Change Your Clothes

2010-05-21T10:36:00.000-05:00

Can hardly wait till Sunday morning! I'm super excited about my message for this week entitled Change Your Clothes. Actually, it's more of a spontaneous skit than it is a sermon, because this Sunday we're going to have all of our children in the worship service with us! They'll be sharing four songs, and I'm excited about getting to speak to them (which is something I don't get to do very often).

Many of you will remember last spring we had a Children's Sunday, and I got some of the kids to help me do a skit entitled He Took My Punishment. Well, I've written another skit for this year entitled Change Your Clothes, and I can't wait to see how God works in this service. I'll have a brief message after the skit, and the verses we'll be looking at are Isaiah 59:1-2. I'm praying that the message in the skit will speak not only to children, but also to the adults who'll be with us.

If you know children who won't be in church Sunday, do your best to get them here. If you know their parents, try to get them here, too. In fact, if you know anybody, at any age, that doesn't know Jesus, do all you can to GET THEM HERE!!! This skit and message will clearly and effectively present the Gospel in a creative way.

Come expecting God to do great things. Come expecting to see His power and glory. And come expecting lives to be changed!

Greater things! The best is yet to come!

Why Not...One More Time

2010-05-14T10:25:00.000-05:00

So I'm super-pumped about this Sunday, because I'm finally going to get the chance to finish our Why Not Here? series. This four-week series that has taken six weeks is one that I feel is incredibly important. And now that I've had an extra week to let this Sunday's message marinate, I can't wait to see what God has in store for us.

Sunday's message will be taken from Isaiah 43:16-20. God wants to do new and greater things...why not here? The only question is: are we prepared for what He wants to do? I believe our church is more ready now for an amazing movement of the Holy Spirit than we've ever been in the eight years I've been here. I'm so excited about the future of EFBC that I can hardly contain it!

Having said all of that, let me remind everyone that when God starts working like He has been in Eulaton, you can be sure that Satan is going to start working overtime. Let's resolve that we're not going to let the devil get a foothold in our lives and in our church. He would love nothing more than to tear down what God is trying to build up right here.

I know there are some folks in our church who are really going through the fire right now, and I know that there are people in our community who are, as well. When trying times come, we can see them as a chance to be bitter, or we can see them as an opportunity to let God mold us and make us better. Let's resolve to choose the latter!

Some of you may have heard that Lisa Tucker's vehicle was broken into on Wednesday night in the church parking lot. They busted out her window, stole her purse and her coat. This thief stole not only material possessions, but also precious items like photographs that you can't put a price tag on. Please pray that the perpetrator will be caught and that Lisa can get back what is rightfully hers.

And please be sure to lock your cars and bring your purses and other valuable items into church with you. We're going to take steps to see that this doesn't happen again, but it never hurts to be extra vigilant. I learned a valuable lesson Wednesday night: I had an ipod sitting in plain sight in my truck and the doors were both unlocked. It could just as easily have been me!

As horrible as this crime was, it pales in comparison to what Satan is trying to do in so many homes in our community. Jesus said that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, and that's exactly what the devil is doing. He's wreaking havoc in so many places. He's not happy about the way God's moving in Eulaton. He's on the warpath right now!

But never forget that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4). I believe God's got something incredible in store for our church! I still believe we can see Acts 2:47 happen at 1835 Gate 8 Road! The thought of that many people being saved on a regular basis in Eulaton, Alabama gives me chill bumps on top of my chill bumps! And it would really send Satan over the edge, too! Let's keep praying and believing that God will do that right here!

Greater things are still to be done...WHY NOT HERE? The best is yet to come!

Nueve de Mayo

2010-05-07T10:48:00.000-05:00

Cinco de Mayo was a great day for me, and it had nothing to do with eating Mexican food (which I love, but can't have because it makes me larger than I already am). The reason it was a great day was because it fell on a Wednesday, and Wednesdays seem to be getting better and better lately! It was a great night here at EFBC as we had some 75 children and 34 teenagers in attendance. I know it's not just about the numbers, but let's never forget that every number represents a soul!

After a great Cinco de Mayo, I'm now looking forward to an even better Nueve de Mayo (that's "May the 9th" for the layperson). It's Mother's Day this Sunday, and I'm out of my mind excited about what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC! In fact, He's changed my message again, just like He did two weeks ago! I was planning on finishing up the Why Not Here series on Sunday, but God's had me put that message on the back burner.

One of the things that I'm excited about for this Mother's Day is that we're expecting a lot of visitors on Sunday! This could be even bigger than Easter, and I have no doubt that's why God changed my message. With the potential of having numerous people here who don't know Jesus, I'm going to be preaching a message that will have a major focus on the Gospel.

I try to make sure that every week, no matter what I'm preaching on, it all comes back to the cross. And this week, I want people to thoroughly examine themselves to determine if they really have a genuine, saving faith in Christ or just a counterfeit faith that's focused on good works and not Jesus. The title of the message is A Legacy Of Faith, and we'll be looking at 2 Timothy 1:5.

Please do everything you can to GET PEOPLE HERE! We can't save anybody; that's not our job. God's called us to be in advertising, not in sales. We can share the message with them, and we can bring them to church to hear the Gospel, but ultimately it's up to the Holy Spirit to close the deal.

So let's be investing in people. Let's be sharing with them the story of Jesus. Let's be inviting them to come and hear a message of hope. And let's be praying that God will work in their hearts and they'll come to a genuine, saving faith in Christ!

Greater things are still to be done in this county, this city, this community, and this church! THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Jesus and Facebook

2010-05-03T11:27:00.000-05:00

About two years ago, a good friend of mine told me that I needed to be on Facebook. Now if you don't know what Facebook is, it's a social networking sight on the Internet that connects people together. My first response to my friend's suggestion was a chuckle and a polite, "Yeah, that'll be the day." I never went for the whole MySpace fad when that was popular, and I figured this was just another thing that would be good for nothing except wasting my time.

My friend was persistent, however, telling me that Facebook had allowed him to reconnect with people that he hadn't seen in years (even decades). He said I'd be surprised how many old friends and acquaintances I would catch up on if I'd only become a member. So, reluctantly, I filled out the electronic registration form and became a Facebook member (feeling embarrassed as I typed in my information).

Initially, I didn't use Facebook much. I did indeed reconnect with many old friends, and it was kind of cool to find out what so many people were up to these days. But other than that, I didn't see much use for Facebook.

About six months ago, however, all of that changed. I was on the Internet one evening, and I started seeing where people were talking about our church in a positive way, and using this medium to invite their friends. A light bulb went on in my head, and I began to see the incredible potential in this social networking thing. Since that day, I've been using Facebook more and more as a tool for ministry. Let's face it, folks, this is the way today's younger generation interacts!

I say all of that to say this: We don't need to be afraid of embracing new ideas and technologies in the work of the church. There have been a lot of changes in the way church is done in the past 200 years, and not all of them have been bad. I mean, really, who wants to go back to the days when there was no air conditioning? I'm glad someone, at some point, made the decision to put air conditioning in at EFBC. There may have even been some opposition to it, thinking that, "We've never done it this way before." But now, with the benefit of hindsight, I don't know of anyone who thinks it's a bad idea.

Yes, it's true that any tool can be used for harm as well as for good. And I know that Facebook is no exception to that rule. In fact, I think there are some folks whose life has begun to revolve around it. But that doesn't mean that we can't use Facebook, and many other new and exciting inventions in our world today, to reach people with the Gospel. Let's dare to do whatever it takes, short of sin, to see people come to new life in Christ. It may not be the way our parents or our grandparents did it, but if people are getting saved, that's all that matters!

Why Not Here; Why Not Now?

2010-04-30T11:03:00.000-05:00

OK, so this past Sunday was probably my favorite day at EFBC since I came here nearly eight years ago! What an incredible celebration of Jesus and the lives He has changed (and continues to change)! Great to see five more baptized Sunday! It was really cool to have somebody saved in the service and baptized like five minutes later! AWESOME!

So what's next? I'm not really sure, but I can't wait to see what God has in store. This Sunday we'll jump back into our Why Not Here? series with a message from Isaiah 54:1-4. I realize we just covered these verses on a Sunday night in February, but this will be a very different message. And I'm sure it will come as no surprise, but I'M REALLY PUMPED ABOUT IT!

By the way, if you've got friends you've been investing in, please try to get them here Sunday! Although this series has primarily been focused on the church, this Sunday's message will close with a strong tie in to the Gospel. So invest, invite, and leave the rest up to the Holy Spirit.

Don't forget Sunday night we'll have a deacon ordination service for Greg Cupp. The service will be at 6 p.m., and there will be an ordaining council for any ordained men in the church at 5 p.m. I hope you'll plan on being here for this important moment in Greg's life. Ordination services are, for me, always very moving and emotional. This one should be no different.

That's about all for now. Hope to see a packed house this Sunday at EFBC! Hope to see lives changed and eternities altered this Sunday at EFBC! Hope to see God show up in a HUGE way once again this Sunday at EFBC!

Why not here? Why not now? The best is yet to come!

This Sunday at Eulaton...HUGE!

2010-04-22T17:55:00.000-05:00

I know I probably keep sounding like a broken record week after week, but can I just say again that I am crazy excited abut this Sunday at EFBC? We're having a Get Acquainted Fun Day, and we're expecting really big things! One reason I believe God has something HUGE in store for us this Sunday is because He's changed my message in the last 24 hours. I was planning on continuing our Why Not Here? series, but God's pretty much told me that we need to put that on hold for a week.

So...my message for Sunday is entitled The Scariest Verses, and we'll be looking in God's Word at Matthew 7:21-23. These are, in my opinion, the scariest verses in the Bible. How many people sit in church week after week, thinking they're all right with God, having no idea that they're headed for an eternity in a place called Hell? According to Jesus, it's a pretty big number, and there's gonna be a lot of surprised people in the day of judgment.

With that in mind, I'm praying that this Sunday God will fill our church with people who need Jesus. Some of them might be people who haven't set foot in church in years, if ever. Some of them might be people that you sit next to week after week who've been faithful attendees for as long as you can remember. Truth is, the faithful attendee who doesn't know Christ is just as lost as the person who's never set foot in a church. I think God's calling us to reach both groups of people. Maybe this Sunday we'll see many of them cross over from death to life. Be praying!

This Sunday is the perfect time to invite your friends and family members to Eulaton. With it being our bi-annual fun day, you can let them know that we'll be having lunch after church (can anyone say fried chicken?), as well as fun and games after lunch. I believe this will be the year we revive the big softball match-up out in the field. It should be a lot of fun.

Let me remind our members that Sunday's lunch is a potluck meal. Please bring as much food as you can this weekend. The church is going to be purchasing 200 pieces of chicken from Wal-mart, but this will not nearly be enough food. We need as many folks as are able to bring side items and dessert. And maybe even some more fried chicken, as well; you can never have enough of the good stuff!

I realize that most of our folks usually dress casual anyway, but for those few who don't, this might be the Sunday you want to give it a try. Besides, softball and horseshoes are no fun in a dress or tie.

Oh, and one more thing. If you get people here this Sunday, I promise you they're going to hear the Gospel! God's burned a message into my heart that I can't wait to share, and I'm praying for changed lives and for Hell to be less populated after we're through!

Let's pray for God to do HUGE things at EFBC this Sunday! Let's come expecting God to show up in a HUGE way! Let's worship Him like the HUGE God that He is! And let's never forget that the best is yet to come!

Eulaton On My Mind

2010-04-16T11:01:00.000-05:00

Nearly eight years ago, God put a burning desire in my heart to go home. He put a burden in me for the community where I grew up, attended school, and where a large part of who I am today was shaped. Although I didn't know it at the time, God already had a plan to bring me back here.

I'll never forget the day when a good friend called me and told me that Eulaton First Baptist was looking for a pastor. He asked me if I'd possibly be interested. I can't remember my exact response, but it was something akin to, "Does the Pope wear a funny hat?" I was incredibly excited, and somehow I just knew that this was part of God's plan and I was going to end up at EFBC.

Fast-forward nearly eight years, and guess what? That burden for my community is greater today than it was then. We've seen some great things happening in recent months, but I believe God's work here has only just begun. After the success we've seen recently, it would be really easy to put things on cruise control and just decide to coast from here on out.

Problem is, there are still people all around us who are lost and rushing headlong into a Christless eternity. Having a burden for this community means we don't slow down until every person in Eulaton, Anniston, Calhoun County and beyond professes Jesus as their Savior. Or until Christ returns, whichever comes first.

So let me ask you: Do you have a burden for your community? Have you noticed lately that there are people all around us who are headed to a place called Hell? Do you believe God could spark a community-wide, county-wide, state-wide, or maybe even nation-wide revival and that it could begin with us? Some might say "no," but I say "why not here?"

This Sunday, we're going to focus on our community. Some people call it Wellborn; some people call it Eulaton. I'm honestly not so concerned about what name this community is known by; I'm much more concerned that Christ's name is known in this community! Our Why Not Here series will continue this week, and we'll be looking at Nehemiah 1-2. I've also got a little presentation at the end of my message that I hope will inspire you about the possibilities for our area.

Why not Him? Why not us? Why not here?

The best is yet to come!

Why Not Here?

2010-04-09T10:32:00.000-05:00

Now that Super Sunday is behind us (and WOW, it was AWESOME), it's time now to focus on the question that I've been asking a lot lately: "What's next?" Here's the way I feel about it: why can't every Sunday be Super Sunday? Let's not wait till Easter 2011 to see again what we saw on Easter 2010. Let's resolve that we're going to keep investing, inviting, and praying that God will keep on keeping on and that every Sunday will be SUPER!

Remember last August when I asked the question, "What would it look like if Acts 2:47 happened at 1835 Gate 8 Rd?" Acts 2:47 tells us that, "the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." Could you imagine if that happened at EFBC? That would be at least 365 baptisms in a year!

Well, call me crazy, but I can't get that vision out of my head. Some people may say that it's impossible for that to happen at a place like Eulaton. Others might say that I'm out of my mind to dream such an improbable dream. Still others might laugh at the notion. To those who doubt, my question is simply this: "Why not here?"

Sunday morning I'm beginning a new series of messages entitled Why Not Here?, and I know this will come as a shock to everyone but: I'M REALLY PUMPED ABOUT IT! God's not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance...why not here? Jesus said He would build His church and the gates of hell would not prevail against it...why not here? The first church saw people being saved every single day of the week...why not here?

This series will be a bit unusual, because we're going to be looking at Old Testament passages that aren't normally associated with church growth. What you'll find, however, is that the principles taught in so many of the great stories from the Old Testament are timeless and apply to all facets of your life and the life of the church. This Sunday, April 11, we'll be looking at one of the most well known stories in the Bible (it's found in 1 Samuel 17 if you want to get a head start).

Are you ready for Sunday? Please hear me church when I say that Super Sunday wasn't the end, IT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING! God's got so much more in store for this church and this community that it blows my mind when I think of the possibilities. Let's just keep our eyes on Him and not ourselves, because He's the reason we're seeing what we're seeing. God is working, lives are being changed, eternities are being altered, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Super Sunday!

2010-04-01T16:11:00.000-05:00

So I've been thinking about something that I wanted to share with all of you. Every year in January the National Football League has something called Super Sunday, and it's a huge celebration that I'm told is centered on a particular football game (called the Super Bowl or something like that). Anyway, from what I've been told it's a pretty big deal with a lot of folks. In fact, it's such a big deal that retailers will pay unheard of amounts of money to advertise their products during the television broadcast of the big game. Apparently there's a bigger audience for this one event than for any other broadcast throughout the year.

With that in mind, it hit me this week that Easter Sunday is for the church what Super Sunday is for the football world. Most churches across the country this Sunday will, for whatever reason, experience their largest crowd of the year. And that, my friends, is keeping me up at night thinking about what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC!

I must admit, though, that it's rather sobering to think of the responsibility that we all have this Sunday to make sure we let people see Jesus in us, not to mention the responsibility that I have to make sure that the Gospel is communicated clearly and passionately. In fact, I've really stressed over the message for this weekend, because if there's ever a Sunday that I don't want to blow it, this is definitely the one! Thankfully, God has put my mind at ease and given me a message that I can hardly wait to deliver! The title is At The End Of Your Rope, and it's about the thief who was saved in his dying moments with hardly any time to spare. Please be praying for me that I'll communicate this message in a clear, creative and passionate way, and that those who've never been truly saved will recognize their lost condition and see their need for a Savior.

Having said all that, let me now take this opportunity to say that I'm more stoked about this Sunday than I've ever been for any worship service I've ever been a part of in my life...ever! And I'm not trying to sound overly dramatic or trying to over-hype anything; I really mean it when I say that I'm PUMPED about what God has in store for us! I hope you are, too. Please be praying for an awesome and unexplainable movement of God this Sunday at EFBC!

For our members who are able to, let me encourage you to park in the lower parking lot to make room for visitors to park in the main parking lot. I'm praying for an overflow crowd, and that means we need to anticipate overflow parking. Let me also encourage all of the men in my class and Donnie's class to bring up a couple of chairs to the sanctuary after Sunday School. I'm praying we'll have to open the vestibule doors and stick some chairs out there, as well!

Finally, let me remind you to do all you can to GET PEOPLE HERE THIS SUNDAY MORNING! Easter Sunday is a day when people who wouldn't ordinarily think about attending a church service are somehow more open to an invitation. This might be the open door you've been waiting for to get that special friend, loved one, co-worker, whoever, to come and join you at EFBC. My promise to you is this: if you'll get them here, they will hear the Gospel!

Keep in mind that our day will begin with a Sunrise Service at 6 a.m. We'll then have our regular Sunday morning schedule with Sunday School at 8:45 and worship at 10. There will be no evening services this Sunday.

Be praying! Be investing and inviting! And be ready for kick-off, because our Super Sunday is almost here...and the best is yet to come!!!

First Impressions

2010-03-31T10:56:00.000-05:00

One of the most exciting things that I've been seeing in recent months at EFBC has been the tremendous increase in first time visitors! And as exciting as this is, there's one thing that always goes through my mind when they come: "you never get a second chance to make a first impression." For most of us "regular church attendees," we've forgotten what a scary experience that visiting a church for the first time can be. Visitors walk in not knowing what to expect from us, or what may or may not be expected of them. Hard as it is for us "old-timers" to understand, this can truly be a frightening and intimidating occasion.

With that in mind, let me encourage all of our faithful members to please do everything you can to put our visitors at ease and make them feel at home here at EFBC. This begins with the invitation to come and visit. Let them know ahead of time that we're not going to embarrass them, or single them out, or call on them to pray. Let them know that you'd love to sit with them in Sunday School and during the worship service. Let them know what they can expect when they attend.

I received a call last week from someone who told me they wanted to visit but didn't have any appropriate church clothes to wear. Isn't it sad that the "church culture" has created this idea in so many people's minds that attending a church service without dressing up is an abomination? I'm so thankful that Eulaton isn't that way. I'm glad that people can come here and feel just as comfortable in jeans as they do in a suit. Let's be sure the people we're investing in and inviting to church know that EFBC is not about a fashion show or a beauty contest. We understand that man judges by the outward appearance, but God judges by the heart (1 Samuel 16).

Two years ago I preached a series of messages entitled People Repellent, and it was about all the reasons why people say they don't attend church. The point of this series was to show that sometimes our actions in the church repels people much the same way a can of Off repels insects. Although it is true that the message of the Gospel is offensive, we need to make sure that when we offend folks that we're actually offending them with the Gospel. Most people who've quit attending church have not been offended by the message of the Gospel as much as they've been offended by people in the church who were just real jerks!

Satan's already doing a pretty good job of keeping people from attending church, so let's not go out of our way to aid him in his unholy cause. Let's remember the instruction of Colossians 4:5-6 that says, Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. (NCV)

People are watching us. Many of them are forming their opinions of the church and Jesus based on the things we say and do. They're looking for reasons not to believe. Let's not be that reason! Let's let them see Jesus in us!

Never The Same

2010-03-25T23:10:00.000-05:00

Can hardly wait until Sunday at EFBC! Looking forward to preaching my message this week entitled Never The Same. Text will be Matthew 27:50-54, if you wanna get a head start.

After this Sunday comes Easter! All I can say is I'm expecting something OVERWHELMING, more so than we've already been seeing, on that day! I've just got one of those feelings, if you know what I mean.

So, let me go ahead and be encouraging you: Be inviting your friends, family and casual acquaintances. Try to get them here this Sunday. ESPECIALLY try to get them here for Easter! That's a day when people who wouldn't ordinarily set foot in the church will at least think about coming. Let's take advantage of that! I'm praying for such a packed house that the choir can't come down and people will have to sit in the window sills!

Fasten your seat belts, keep your fork and hold on tight, Eulaton, because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Overwhelmed!

2010-03-19T10:00:00.000-05:00

When I consider all that God is doing here at EFBC and how He has changed this church in the past year, I am overwhelmed!

When I think about how blessed I am to have the greatest job in the world and that I get to do what I love to do right here in the community I grew up in, I am overwhelmed!

When I remember what Jesus did for me on the cross (which we'll be talking about for the next several Sundays), I am overwhlemed!

When I think about what God has in store for us this Sunday at EFBC, I am overwhelmed!

When I ponder the message I'll be preaching this weekend at EFBC, Drinking From A Bitter Cup, I am overwhelmed!

When I realize how much more God has in store for us and that the best is yet to come, I am overwhelmed!

Don't Forget...

2010-03-12T12:07:00.000-06:00

Several things I don't want you to forget concerning this Sunday at EFBC:

-Don't forget that this Sunday is Youth Sunday, and our youth will be leading us in the worship service. Koy will be preaching a message entitled True Love Waits.

-Don't forget that our Sunday School hour precedes our morning worship service, and I guarantee that you'll receive a tremendous blessing by coming and being part of a small group experience.

-Don't forget that this Sunday is the weekend when we move our clocks ahead one hour. Don't be that person who shows up for Sunday School about the time we're heading to the worship service.

-Don't forget that God keeps blessing us week after week at EFBC. He's been showing up in a BIG way, and I believe we're in for even greater blessings in the coming days (starting this Sunday). We need to keep asking ourselves the question, "What's next?"

-Don't forget the words of Psalm 63:2 that says, I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory.

-And finally, don't forget that God is good, Jesus saves, and the best is yet to come!

Short And Sweet

2010-03-05T12:40:00.000-06:00

I'm short on time today, so this Sunday preview will be short and sweet. This week at EFBC we'll conclude our Things Jesus Said series with a message entitled Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The text for this week's message is John 6:51-67, and it's arguably some of the most unusual and misunderstood things Jesus ever said.

I'm expecting God to show up in a BIG WAY again this Sunday, and I hope you'll plan on being here. God keeps blowing me away more and more every week. What will He do this Sunday? I don't really know the answer to that question, but I do know for sure that we'd better all keep our forks because THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!

Does Anybody See What I See?

2010-03-02T10:40:00.000-06:00

Does anybody see what I see? In the past six months, I've seen things at EFBC that have absolutely blessed my socks off. Every week I'm more and more in awe as I see God working in our midst. As I reflect on what He's been doing, I can't help but wonder if others are taking notice too.

I see a church that has fully embraced its primary mission, which is to glorify Jesus Christ and to make His name known. I see people who've come to the conclusion that we ought to be working overtime to see Hell depopulated. I see people who've fully sold out for this mission, and the results are showing more and more.

I see a church that has caught the vision for what God wants to do in this community. I see people who are dreaming incredibly big, God-sized dreams about the future of the body of Christ at Eulaton. I see the things I had envisioned seven and a half years ago when I came here as your pastor beginning to come to fruition.

I see people who are moving out of their comfort zones and doing things that are stretching them. I see folks who've decided that the mission and the ministry that God's placed before us are far more important than their own personal security. I see these same people smiling a lot more as they exercise their gifts in serving the Lord.

I see that people's creative juices are beginning to flow more than ever, and that folks are really learning to think outside the box. I see a church that's been here for over 120 years realizing that we don't have to live in the past to serve God in the present. I see people who have begun to understand what Jesus meant when He said new wine requires new wineskins.

And most importantly, I see lives that are being changed. I see hearts that are being transformed. I see more and more people who are crossing over from death to life, and that's what it's really all about.

I guess what I'm trying to say is this: I see a living, breathing New Testament church that is alive right here in Eulaton, Alabama.

Does anybody see what I see?

Can It Get Any Better?

2010-02-26T11:43:00.000-06:00

Every week I leave our worship services thinking it can't get any better this side of heaven. And yet, God keeps on blowing me away week after week with His presence! Can it get any better? ABSOLUTELY!

I can't wait to see what will happen this Sunday at EFBC. I'm really excited about my message this week entitled Talkin Bout My Generation. This will be the seventh sermon in our Things Jesus Said series, and it will be taken from Luke 7:31-35. Can't wait to stand up and share God's Word!

Let's come this Sunday believing this worship service will be the best one we've ever experienced. I'm expecting that every week, and sure enough, every service is better than the last one. If February 28th is better than February 21st, then we're going to be flying so high we'll have to look down to see heaven! And what will March 7th look like? I can only imagine!

Keep your fork, Eulaton, because the BEST IS YET TO COME!

Countdown Has Begun

2010-02-19T11:17:00.000-06:00

Well, it's Friday and I'm once again counting the minutes until Sunday morning at EFBC. God just keeps on blessing here, and I'm just standing back in awe of what He's doing. I hope you'll plan on being here this Sunday morning, and that you'll come expecting even greater things than we've already experienced!

I'm really excited about my message for Sunday entitled Fear Not. This will be the sixth sermon in our Things Jesus Said series, and I hope it will be a real encouragement for those who hear it. The message will be taken from the words of Jesus in Luke 12:4-7.

Don't forget we're having our I Love My Church Family Banquet Sunday night at 6. Chicken tenders will be provided, but we're asking everyone to please bring side items and desserts. It's going to be a great time of fun and fellowship (not to mention the food). Hope you'll plan on being here!

I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us this Sunday. Everybody had better hang on to your fork, because the best is yet to come!!!

Pumped For Tomorrow

2010-02-13T17:56:00.000-06:00

Hope everyone's survived the great "Snow of 2010" and is ready to gather tomorrow as we come together to worship Jesus. Tomorrow's message will be the fifth in the Things Jesus Said series, and it's entitled Road To Heaven; Highway To Hell. And as you have probably already guessed...I'm pretty pumped about it! Hope you'll plan on being here at EFBC in the morning!

Don't forget we're having our annual I Love My Church Family Banquet tomorrow night at 6 p.m. This is always a great time of fellowship and fun. Some of our men are going to be frying up some chicken tenders, but we need our church folks to bring side items and desserts (and you can bring a main course, as well...if you really want to).

Looking forward to seeing everybody in the morning. Come ready to worship! Come expecting God to show up! And come knowing that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Do Numbers Matter?

2010-02-02T08:57:00.000-06:00

As I'm writing this, I'm still celebrating our most recent Wednesday night service that saw a record 87 children and youth here, not counting all of the adults. But even better was what happened afterwards: I was able to share the plan of salvation with three young ladies and they all trusted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. We're seeing that kind of thing happen more and more often here at EFBC; and that, my friends, is what it's all about.

I recently received an anonymous comment from a person who said that they'd just happened upon my blog while surfing the Internet. It was quite obvious that this person had some different beliefs than we do, but they seemed to genuinely be a follower of Christ. In the comment, several accusations were made. This person wrote that "you care more for numbers than for souls" and that I am only interested in "growing a larger congregation."

So here's the question: Do numbers matter to God? I believe the answer is unmistakably "YES!" Read the Gospels and take notice of how many times you see the writers saying something to the effect of, "large crowds were following Jesus." Did anybody accuse Christ of being "just about the numbers?" I don't think so.

Read Acts 2 where 3000 people were saved and baptized. Did you ever think about the fact that somebody had to count all of those people and God felt it was important enough to include that number in the Scriptures? Throughout the book of Acts, Luke is continually mentioning how the church was growing and the Lord was adding to their numbers.

After the first deacons were called in Acts 6, the Bible actually tells us that the number of disciples began to multiply. Funny how the Bible mentions adding and multiplying (two words that are inherently linked to numbers), yet some people still believe that God doesn't care about numbers.

To the people who would say, "You're more concerned with numbers than with souls," I would respond by saying, "God cares about numbers and I care about numbers because every number represents a soul." And the numbers I am most concerned about are the untold numbers in our community who don't know Jesus.

So if you were wondering if I'm going to apologize for celebrating the numbers we've been having, the answer to that would be a gigantic "NO!" I'll always rejoice as our numbers grow. And I'll especially rejoice every time another soul is saved. Jesus didn't give us the Great Commission for nothing. Numbers matter to God, and they should matter to us, as well.

Less Than 24 Hours...

2010-01-30T11:10:00.000-06:00

In less than 24 hours, we'll be gathering together as the church, and I'm SOOO looking forward to it. Can't wait to finish the message I started last week (which was so rudely interupted by a power outage and bad storm). I've now had two weeks to let this message form, so everybody had better strap themselves in!

Sorry I didn't get a post done yesterday. Got hit with some unexpected things that took up much of my day.

One more reminder: Don't forget the 4th-6th grade Sunday School class is having a bake sale tomorrow immediately after the service. Hope you come with a sweet tooth!

Can hardly wait to get together with my church family and see what God is going to do at 1835 Gate 8 Road tomorrow. Till then, always remember that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Can Hardly Wait!

2010-01-22T13:05:00.000-06:00

Strep has left the building. It's great to be back in good health and I'm now so pumped up about this Sunday at EFBC that I can hardly wait! I really believe God's going to do some INCREDIBLE things this weekend, and I'm excited about what He has in store for us.

This week's message will be the third in our series Things Jesus Said. We're looking at some of the more unusual or interesting passages that came from our Lord. This week's message is taken from Luke 18:18-27 (in case you want to read ahead) and is entitled Who Then Can Be Saved. We'll be studying a portion of Scripture that I believe has been misrepresented by a lot of teachers and preachers, and I hope this Sunday we can set the record straight about what Jesus was saying here.

God's still up to something here at EFBC. We had another great Wednesday night, and I was once again blown away by the people God is sending our way. I read recently that we shouldn't worry about numbers, but rather about souls. And that is true, but I will NEVER stop rejoicing in the "numbers" God is bringing our way, because every single number represents a soul.

In fact, we'll celebrate another soul saved this Sunday morning with baptism. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I hope we wear that baptismal pool out. We may be trying to cut back on expenses, but the water bill is one expense I'd like to see go up! I hope our water bill goes so high that we have to start putting chlorine in the water and install a pump to circulate it. Seeing lives changed and people baptized are the two most exciting things that happen here, and those are two things that will never get old!

Come Sunday expecting God to do great things. Come Sunday with a worshipful heart. And come Sunday ready to celebrate Jesus, because He's alive and He's coming again! That's why I keep saying week after week after week that I know THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Looking Forward To Sunday

2010-01-15T07:40:00.000-06:00

Good morning everyone! Today's update will be short, as I'm continuing to recover from this week's bout with strep and I'm still not feeling very well.

A little sickness, however, can't keep me from being excited about this Sunday at EFBC. We'll continue the sermon series we began last week Things Jesus Said. This week's message is Peace On Earth; Just Not Yet and will be taken from Luke 12:49-59. I hope you'll be with us this Sunday as we continue to look at some of the more unusual and interesting things Jesus said. I'm expecting God to show up in a BIG WAY!!!

And speaking of God showing up in big ways, I was told that our youth and children attendance Wednesday night was 81! And that number doesn't even include all of the adult workers and helpers, not to mention my Wednesday night adult class. Isn't it amazing what God will do if we'll just let Him use us? Let's give Him all the praise and glory, and let's remember that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

New Series Starts This Sunday

2010-01-07T10:42:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! As I write this, we've already had a couple of rounds of snow flurries here at 1835 Gate 8 Road. Everyone be careful today and tonight. Things could get messy, and dangerous, later on.

Right now it looks like Sunday will be fine other than EXTREMELY cold temperatures. Regardless of how cold it may be outside, I'm expecting a great day and God to do AMAZING things! I hope you'll plan on being with us this week.

Sunday morning I'll be beginning a new series of messages entitled Things Jesus Said. We're going to look at some of the more unusual and/or interesting passages that were spoken by Jesus. This Sunday's message is entitled Am I Doing That?, and it comes from Luke 9:57-62 (in case you want to read ahead).

This week we'll be asking ourselves three important questions based on three things Jesus told three different "would-be" disciples. Another thing I hope to do with this message Sunday is dispel some of the myths people have believed about what Jesus was saying here. Really looking forward to beginning this new sermon series!

One other thing about Sunday: I want to encourage all of our church members to stick around Sunday morning after church for our business meeting. We're going to try to keep the meeting short, because afterwards we're going to have a sort of "town-hall meeting" to try to get some feedback from our members concerning a very important situation. We need as many of our members to be there as possible, so I hope you can stay after the morning worship.

Insanely excited about getting back together with the rest of the church this Sunday at Eulaton! Expecting God to show up and lives to be changed! And looking forward to the future because I know that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Christmas And Beyond

2009-12-23T10:27:00.000-06:00

Good morning, everyone! Hope your Wednesday is off to a great start. This is an early edition of my weekly Sunday Preview, and since it's only mid-week I thought I'd throw in a Wednesday Night Preview for good measure.

I hope everyone can be here tonight as we celebrate the Lord's Supper by candlelight. We'll begin the service tonight with a message entitled Joy To The World, The Lord Is Coming Again. Then, we'll partake of the Lord's Supper as we remember the first time Christ came to earth and look forward to the day when He comes again.

Our children and youth will have their regular services tonight, as well. If the weather permits, the children will be going on a hayride this evening (so be sure to dress warmly). Also, don't forget we'll have supper available beginning at 5:30. The menu for tonight is chicken fingers and French fries.

Looking beyond Christmas to Sunday, I'm really excited about what God has in store for us this weekend at EFBC! Sunday morning one of my best friends in the whole world will be with us and will share a powerful message that you will never forget. His name is Johnny Carr, and his story is one that will challenge you while making you both laugh and cry. I'm incredibly pumped to have him here with us this weekend, and I can't wait to see what God's going to do!

I hope you'll plan on being here Sunday and that you'll come expecting great and awesome things! Remember Psalm 63:2 that says, I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. So many people come to church looking to be entertained. It's almost as if they come in, sit down, fold their arms and say, "Well, bless me if you can." But if we'll all come together this Sunday looking to see His power and glory, I believe God will blow us away with His presence!

I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas. I hope everyone will come Sunday expecting God to show up. And I hope everyone will get excited about what God has in store for the New Year because there's no doubt in my mind that THE BEST IS YET TO COME!!!

Rain, Rain Go Away

2009-12-18T08:51:00.000-06:00

Good morning everyone! Hope everybody's staying dry on this cold, rainy Friday morning. I realize after the severe drought we had not too long ago that we should be thankful for all the rain we've had recently, but today I'm sincerely hoping and praying that the rain will go away for at least 48 hours. Our Christmas Experience looks to be in serious jeopardy for tonight, as the field behind the pastorium currently looks like a small lake.

Should we have to cancel tonight, I'm still holding out hope for tomorrow. We'll make a decision about tonight by 2 p.m. today and we'll get out an email and also have it on the church answering machine. Let's all pray that we can have at least one more night of this powerful dramatization of the life of Christ. (By the way, we will NOT be doing the nativity on Sunday night as was previously talked about. Too many people have other obligations that night. Sunday night will be our regular schedule here at EFBC.)

I hope everyone is planning on being at EFBC this Sunday as we celebrate the birth of Jesus with our children's musical entitled The Perfect Gift. Our kids have been working on this for months, and I know it is going to be a blessing. I'm really looking forward to what God has in store for us this Sunday at Eulaton!

And speaking of our children, did anybody hear about Wednesday night's Birthday Party For Jesus? We had 58 kids here, and several made decisions to trust Jesus as their Savior! And that's not counting all of the youth and adults who were here on Wednesday night, as well. Our Wednesday night ministries have EXPLODED over the past twelve months, and all I can say is, "It's a God thing!"

It's truly exciting (and quite humbling, I might add) to see what's happening here. All I know for sure is that it sure ain't me (pardon my bad English). I know God is using some very dedicated and sold-out people in a powerful way, but ultimately, what's going on at EFBC is only contributable to the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. I hope you'll all savor what's happening right now, and truly appreciate what a special moment this is to be right in the center of a powerful movement of God.

Two more quick items to mention before I close: First of all, don't forget that Angel Tree gifts are due this Sunday. Second, keep in mind that this Sunday we'll be collecting our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. Please be praying about what God would have you give to this important special offering.

Christmas is upon us! The Lord has come! He's coming again! And that is why I know that the best is yet to come!

Busy Weekend Ahead

2009-12-11T08:31:00.000-06:00

Good morning everyone! Hope your Friday is off to a great start. Today's Sunday preview is going to be relatively short since there's so much going on this weekend and my plate for today is pretty full.

Let me begin by asking everyone to continue to pray for the Rollins and Champion families. I'm getting some conflicting information right now about the arrangements for the Greg Rollins funeral, so I'll hold off on reporting that until I get a confirmation. I do know that the service will be tomorrow. But again, I've gotten two different reports about time and location, so I'll send out an email once I know for sure.

The preliminary thinking on the Joe Champion funeral was that it would be Sunday at 2 p.m. at the K.L. Brown chapel in Golden Springs. This, however, has not been confirmed. Again, as soon as I know for sure, I'll send out an email.

Anticipation is growing for our Christmas Experience that begins tonight! Looks like the rain is going to hold off for this evening! Tomorrow may be a different story, but tonight looks like it's a go! It will definitely be cold, though, so everybody be sure to bundle up as best as you can (sorry Todd).

Sunday morning we'll close out our Frequently Asked Questions sermon series with a special Christmas edition. The questions we'll tackle this Sunday are:

-Doesn't Christmas have pagan origins?
-Did the wise men actually visit Jesus at the stable?
-Was Mary sinless and should we worship her?
-Was Jesus really born of a virgin?
-Why would God want to leave heaven and come to earth?

It's going to be a great time of worship, and I hope you'll all plan on being here. This Sunday will be the third month in a row that we've had baptism and business meeting on the same day. I promise I've not been planning it that way, but it's just worked out like that. I'll take baptisms anytime, though! It's going to be a wonderful time of celebration!

Keep praying, keep investing and inviting, and keep expecting greater and greater things because the best is yet to come!

Sunday's On The Way

2009-12-03T08:41:00.000-06:00

It's been another great week at EFBC. Last night was a blessing as students from the Baptist Campus Ministry at JSU came and led a missions study for all of our different classes. It was great to have them back with us this year.

Also, some of you may not have heard, but Gary, the campus minister, told us last night that he was just recently engaged! He's had a difficult time the last several years, losing his wife a couple of years ago and then his daughter just this past June. It was exciting to hear the good news about his engagement!

Speaking of exciting, is anybody else ready for Sunday? There's nothing I look forward to more than getting together with the church body and worshipping Jesus! I can't wait! This Sunday, we'll do one more set of general frequently asked questions. Then, on December 13th, we'll close out this series with a special set of frequently asked questions about Christmas.

This past Sunday, we answered the following questions:

-If I'm already saved, why should I keep coming to church?
-Has God predestined some people to hell?
-Does the Bible teach that divorced men can't be deacons?
-Is Christianity really any different than other religions?

This Sunday, we'll tackle the following:

-Why are so many Christians against gambling?
-What does the Bible say about capital punishment?
-Is it OK for Christians to drink alcohol in moderation?
-Will Jesus return in my lifetime?

I hope you'll come expecting great things to happen. I hope you'll invite your friends and family who don't know the Lord. And I'm praying that God will show up in a BIG way this Sunday! You be praying, too.

God's continuing to work here at EFBC. He's been blowing my mind week after week. We've seen some amazing things this year. But I'm convinced that we ain't seen nothing yet, because the best is yet to come!

Feels Like Friday

2009-11-25T11:57:00.000-06:00

I don't know how it is with you today, but for me, it feels like Friday. And since it feels like Friday, I figured it was best to go ahead and write my obligatory end of the week post. So here goes:

We've had another great week at EFBC. It was wonderful to see Dalton Epps baptized this past Sunday! That makes nine baptisms in the last two months! Praise God for what He is doing! It was also exciting to see a great Wednesday night crowd here again last night (even though it was really on Tuesday). God is working in so many different areas in our church that I'm finding myself daily in awe of His power and presence.

As you're gearing up for the long holiday weekend, let me encourage you to not forget about coming together as the church this Sunday to worship our Lord together. I'm really excited about continuing our ongoing series on Frequently Asked Questions. This past Sunday, we asked and answered the following:

-Does it matter which version of the Bible I use?
-If I was baptized as an infant, do I need to be re-baptized?
-How can a loving God send anybody to hell?
-Is suicide the unforgivable sin?

This Sunday, I'm planning on answering as many of the following questions as time permits:

-If I'm already saved, why should I keep coming to church?
-Has God predestined some people to hell?
-Does the Bible teach that divorced men can't be deacons?
-Is Christianity really any different than other religions?
-Why are so many Christians against gambling?
-What does the Bible say about capital punishment?

If all goes according to my plans, I'm going to do one more installment of the random frequently asked questions on December 6. Then I'll close out this series on December 13 with a special message on frequently asked questions about Christmas. It should be fun (at least it has been so far). Don't forget, these messages are available online at www.eulaton.org. Just click on Online Sermons to access them.

A scripture for you to keep in mind during this Thanksgiving weekend:

Psalm 100:4-5 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations. (NKJ)

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving. I hope everyone will remember that giving thanks should be a part of our lives daily, not just on a Thursday in late November. And I hope everyone will plan on being at our worship services this Sunday morning as we lift high the name of Jesus!

Enjoy the turkey! Enjoy the Iron Bowl! Enjoy the shopping (if that's possible)! But when Sunday rolls around, come meet with us as we worship the King of kings and Lord of lords! You might overeat this weekend. Your team may lose this weekend. You might spend way too much money this weekend. But take heart, because Jesus is alive, He's working all around us, and the best is yet to come!

It Keeps Getting Better And Better

2009-11-20T08:54:00.000-06:00

Good morning everyone! Hope your Friday is off to a great start. My day has already started off well after attending a prayer meeting at Wellborn High School with Mr. Carter and several other staff members. God is up to something HUGE in our church, in our community, and yes, even at our school. Get ready, because what's coming is going to be, I believe, amazing beyond our wildest dreams.

How do I know that? Because people are praying, a lot of people! And I believe Satan is shaking in his shoes just thinking about what God is about to unleash on this community. And that's why we need to keep praying, because our adversary is not happy about what's going on around here. He's going to attack full throttle, so we'd better make sure we've put on the full armor of God.

I'm really looking forward to this Sunday at EFBC (as usual), and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us this weekend. We're going to continue our Frequently Asked Questions series. Last week, we tackled four more questions:

-Why don't Baptists allow women to be pastors?
-Where did Cain get his wife?
-Did God create evil?
-Why does God allow bad things to happen to Christians?

After some of the "controversial" topics we've covered, you might think that this week we'd try to take it easy and back off on the tough questions; and you'd be wrong. This Sunday, we're going to see how many of the following questions we can answer:

-Does it matter which version of the Bible I use?
-If I was baptized as an infant, do I need to be re-baptized?
-How can a loving God send anybody to hell?
-Is suicide the unforgivable sin?
-If I'm already saved, why should I keep coming to church?
-Has God predestined some people to hell?
-Does the Bible teach that divorced men can't be deacons?

We'll take them one at a time and see how many we can answer this week. So far I've only been able to squeeze in four questions in each of the first three messages. You may be wondering why I'm even bothering to publish seven questions every week. Well, I look at it like this: if we only get through four of seven questions this week, the other three are like previews of coming attractions. I'm hoping I can whet your appetite for more!

Let's pack this place out on Sunday! Let's be praying for, investing in, and inviting others. Let's come expecting God to show up in a BIG way! Remember Psalm 63:1-2: O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (NKJ)

I said earlier that I believe what God has in store for us will be amazing beyond our wildest dreams, and there's a couple of verses that keep coming to my mind. They're found in Ephesians 3:20-21: Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (NIV)

Are you ready? I'm blown away more and more everyday as I see God at work all around us, and I can't wait to see what's next. It just keeps getting better and better, but the best is yet to come!

What's Next For EFBC?

2009-11-12T11:26:00.000-06:00

I'm continually being blown away by what God is doing at Eulaton First Baptist, and I can't wait to see what He's got in store for us next! Wasn't last Sunday awesome? Wasn't it great to see Logan, Tanner, Sarah, Morgan, Michael and Mason baptized? Wasn't it also wonderful to welcome Lindsey Wiley into our church family? I left here Sunday with my head in the clouds and my heart full of joy.

Speaking of how God's working at EFBC, have you been here on Wednesday nights lately to see what He's doing? People are coming, lots of people, especially young people. And they're being fed; both physically and spiritually. God's up to something BIG, and I'm just excited that He's allowed me to be a part of it. I hope you are, too!

I also hope you've been enjoying our current series entitled Frequently Asked Questions. We're covering a broad range of topics, and it's been fun (at least for me, anyway). This past Sunday we looked at the following questions:

-Is tithing a New Testament practice?
-Does God hear the prayers of non-Christians?
-What does the Bible say about tattoos and piercings?
-How were people saved in the Old Testament?

Don't forget, if you miss a message and would like to hear it, you can go to www.eulaton.org and click on Online Sermons. Sermons are usually uploaded to the web by noon on Mondays. This Sunday, we're going to see how many of the following questions we have time to answer:

-Why don't Baptists allow women to be pastors?
-Where did Cain get his wife?
-Did God create evil?
-Why does God allow bad things to happen to Christians?
-Does it matter which version of the Bible I use?
-If I was baptized as an infant, do I need to be re-baptized?
-How can a loving God send anybody to hell?

We may get through all seven; we may not. If not, we'll just pick up next week where we leave off this week. I'm incredibly excited about this series, and about this Sunday. I realize that some of the topics we cover may be a bit controversial, and I realize that there may be some things that we're not going to see eye to eye on. But like I said Sunday: that's OK! As long as we agree on the truth that Jesus is the only way to God, we can agree to disagree on a lot of other stuff.

I hope you're planning on being here Sunday. I hope you're inviting others to come, as well. Remember to be investing in the lives of others, and inviting them to hear the message of the Gospel. This sermon series has such a broad appeal that it's the perfect time to be inviting your friends and family members. Feel free to forward this web address on to others. I want to see our building packed out this Sunday!

God is working! He's doing great and wonderful things in our midst! But as good as it's been, it's nothing compared to what He's got in store for us next. And that is why I keep saying that the best is yet to come!

Another Big Day Sunday!

2009-11-06T10:32:00.000-06:00

As I write this, we are just forty-eight hours and nineteen minutes away from Sunday morning's worship service. Is anybody other than me excited about what God's going to do at Eulaton this weekend? I'm incredibly excited because this Sunday we're going to be baptizing several (not sure how many yet) new believers! That will NEVER get old. In fact, like I told everyone Sunday, I hope we wear that baptismal pool out from overuse!

I'm also excited about continuing our new message series entitled Frequently Asked Questions. Last Sunday we only got through four questions, so we're going to pick up this week where we left off. If you missed this past Sunday's message, we answered the following questions:

-Is it wrong for Christians to celebrate Halloween?
-What about the people who've never heard about Jesus?
-Can a person lose their salvation?
-Is it biblical to speak in tongues?

If you'd like to hear that message, you can always go to http://www.eulaton.org/ and click on Online Sermons. Most every message from this past year is archived there. This Sunday, we're going to see how many of the following questions we can tackle:

-Is tithing a New Testament practice?
-Does God hear the prayers of non-Christians?
-What does the Bible say about tattoos and piercings?
-How were people saved in the Old Testament?
-Why don't Baptists allow women to be pastors?
-Where did Cain get his wife?
-Did God create evil?

Once again, I don't know if we'll get through all of those questions or not. We're just going to take them one at a time and see where God leads with each one. These messages may seem a bit odd to those who've been attending church for a long time because they are so disjointed. I believe, however, that for the person who's new to the church experience, this series is a breath of fresh air.

How many people, if we're honest, haven't asked one or more of these questions in their lifetimes? What new believer or seeker wouldn't want to have a list of the most frequently asked questions about God, the Bible, and Christianity answered in rapid-fire succession, regardless of how random they may be? Didn't Jesus sometimes preach this way?

Answering those questions leads me to the unmistakable conclusion that this is a series that is incredibly beneficial. And that's why I want to encourage you again this week to invite friends and family to come. They've got questions; we've got answers. Let them know about this informative series that we're doing at EFBC.

Eulaton, get ready for the ride of your lives because Jesus is alive, His Spirit is at work in our midst, and THE BEST IS YET TO COME!

Gearing Up For New Series

2009-10-30T09:59:00.000-05:00

I'm already super-pumped this morning after having a chance to speak to the Wellborn football team and cheerleaders at their prayer breakfast. What an awesome opportunity it is to be able to minister in our local school like that. This was the second prayer breakfast that EFBC has been a part of at WHS, and Koy was able to speak to them at the one we did back in September. It's exciting to see the great things that are happening at the school, and we pray for even bigger and better things in the coming days (and I'm not talking about winning football games, although that's been great, too!).

I'm also stoked this morning about a new series of messages I'll be beginning this Sunday entitled Frequently Asked Questions. These messages will be a little different than what I usually preach, as we are going to try and tackle a myriad of difficult questions that are most often asked about Christianity and the things we believe. Here's the questions we're going to attempt to answer this Sunday:

1. Is it wrong for Christians to celebrate Halloween?
2. What about the people who've never heard about Jesus?
3. Can a person lose their salvation?
4. Is it biblical to speak in tongues?
5. Is tithing a New Testament practice?
6. Does God hear the prayers of non-Christians?
7. What does the Bible say about tattoos and piercings?
8. How were people saved in the Old Testament?

Now don't be alarmed by the number of questions, because I honestly don't know if we'll get through all eight of these this Sunday. We're going to start tackling questions one at a time and if we run out of time, we'll just go back and pick up the ones we missed on the next Sunday.

It's going to be different because there's going to be no real connection from question to question. But that's ok, and actually, that's the way I want it. And even though the questions may seem disjointed at times, I can promise you that in the end I'm going to tie it all back to the Gospel. Although I don't plan to make it a habit to preach like this, I believe we need to do things like this from time to time. In fact, I've got two very clear goals for this series:

1. To offer support to Christians who may not always know what to say when others have questions. (1 Peter 3:15)
2. To spark an interest in those who may have asked some of these very same questions.

Goal number 2 is going to provide an opportunity for you to invest and invite in your friends and family members who don't know Jesus. Let them know we're going to be tackling a lot of difficult questions. Let them know that we're going to try and answer as many of the frequently asked questions about Christianity as we can. And most importantly, let them know that you love them and that you'd love to sit with them in church this Sunday.

You may want to copy this web address and send it on to someone you think might be interested. Who knows? God may use something as simple as an electronic message to radically change their lives this weekend. I couldn't be more excited about what I believe God is going to do through this series of messages, and I can't wait to see how He is going to show up at Eulaton this Sunday!

Come expecting God to move! Come expecting lives to be changed! And come knowing that the best is yet to come!

Big Day Sunday!

2009-10-23T10:39:00.000-05:00

This Sunday is going to be a HUGE day here at EFBC, and I am incredibly pumped! Our Harvest of Fun Fall Festival will be after the morning worship service and lunch. We're telling people 12 until 2, but I hope you'll invite people to come to church first, then stay for lunch, and then for the HOF.

Let me first talk about Sunday morning. I hope you'll invite your lost friends this Sunday. The message will be the third in our current series Show Me The Proof. This week's message is entitled Is There Really Life After Death?, and we're going to be talking about the evidence we have for the resurrection.

Many people who don't know Christ may have never taken very seriously the claims the Bible makes concerning the resurrection. This message will powerfully show them that this is something EVERYBODY needs to take seriously, because the Bible says in John 5:28-29: A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out-- those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. (NIV) That tells me that the truth of the resurrection affects every person on the planet, not just the Christian.

Following our morning worship service, we'll be having a lunch with hot dogs and chili. We need folks to please help us out by bringing crackers, chips, corn chips, cornbread, and desserts (and/or anything else that would go well with chili and hot dogs). For those who'll be working the HOF, we'll eat fairly quickly and then get ready to welcome all of our guests.

Let's pray that God will use this event as a powerful ministry outreach for our community! Let's pray that we'll see lives changed as a result of this ministry. And let's pray that God will show up in a HUGE way for everything that we're doing on Sunday!

By the way, we could still use more candy if anyone can bring some by. Donations are greatly appreciated! Let's also not forget that tonight we are feeding the coaches and referees at the Wellborn game. Your help is greatly appreciated!

One more thing before I close this: this past Wednesday night at EFBC we had 62 children (not counting youth and adults), and we fed every one of them! This is a new ministry that our Wednesday night workers have felt led to begin, and all I can say is, "What's God going to do next?" These are exciting times at EFBC! God is working in so many areas that it blows my mind! Thank you all for your faithfulness!

Keep praying! Keep investing and inviting! And keep yourself prepared, because the best is yet to come!

God Is So Good!

2009-10-09T10:49:00.000-05:00

By now most of you have probably heard about the news we got late yesterday afternoon: the judge's ruling went our way concerning the children! Praise God!!! He is so good. He would still be good even if the ruling had went the other way, and He would still be just as worthy of our praise. However, this morning we are rejoicing in the fact that we're going to get to keep our children! Hopefully the adoption will be done very quickly!

That's not all that has me excited on this Friday morning, though. As usual, I'm looking forward to Sunday at Eulaton with eager anticipation! I'll be beginning a new series of messages entitled Show Me The Proof. These messages will be answers for the skeptics who question the validity of our faith. We'll look at some of the convincing proofs that there really IS a God, that He really DOES have a Son named Jesus, that He really DID come into this world as a man and die for our sins, and that He really DID rise again.

Being a Christian doesn't mean you have to check your brains at the door when you come to worship. There is overwhelming evidence that you can demonstrate for the skeptics to prove to them that the faith you have is neither unreasonable nor unintelligent. Some people see Christians as being "simple" and "weak-minded" because we place our faith in a God we have never seen. Well, I've never seen my brain either, but I know that I have one and I'm really glad that it's there (otherwise I wouldn't be able to type this message).

By the way, some of the most brilliant people who have ever lived have been Christians: Nicolaus Copernicus, Louis Pasteur, Isaac Newton, Max Planck, Johannes Kepler, and Blaise Pascal all professed faith in Christ. Modern-day Christian thinkers include men like Dr. William Lane Craig, Dr. Gary Habermas, Dr. William A. Dembski, and Oxford University professor Dr. John Lennox. All are proof that being an intellectual and following Christ are not mutually exclusive.

This Sunday's first message in the new series is entitled Something Out Of Nothing. We'll be talking about how God created everything out of nothing. And we'll talk about the fact that the same God who created something out of nothing does the same thing with us. I don't know about you, but I know that my life was meaningless until Jesus found me and saved me. I'm incredibly excited about beginning this new series, and I hope you will be, too!

For some time now I've been repeating the words of Psalm 63:2: I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Well, today I thought I would share with you what verse 1 says: O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

Are you thirsty for God? Are you longing for His presence in a dry and thirsty land? Why not seek Him early this Sunday in the sanctuary, and come in expecting to see His power and glory? Why not seek Him right now, right where you are? He loves us! He wants to bless us! He wants to do wonderful things in our midst! But He's waiting on us to seek Him. Deut 4:29 says, You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.

Let's seek Him with all our heart and soul; and let's prepare ourselves, because the best is yet to come!

What's Better Than Saturday's In The Fall?

2009-10-05T11:59:00.000-05:00

I admit it: I love Saturdays in the fall. If you're a college football fan, there are few things that get you more excited than Saturdays in the fall. Cooler weather, college game day, and some chicken wings are, for me, a recipe for a great weekend. All year long I look forward to this time of year with eager anticipation.

But as much as I enjoy watching Alabama play football, I recently asked myself a simple question: "Why do I care so much?" I've never attended The University of Alabama, nor has anyone in my immediate family that I know of. In fact, I have no personal connection to the school of any kind, other than the fact that I live in the state that bears the same name.

So why do I get so excited when Saturdays in the fall roll around? Why do I cheer when the Crimson Tide makes a great play and groan when their quarterback gets sacked? Why will I put on an Alabama t-shirt and cap this Saturday and give up three or four hours of my weekend to watch college students move a pigskin back and forth across a cow pasture? The only answer I can come up with is this: it's FUN! So whether it makes sense or not, I'll be cheering for the Crimson Tide again this Saturday. And it will be FUN (especially if the Tide rolls!).

With that being said, however, there's something this year that I've been looking forward to even more than Saturdays in the fall. Can you guess what it is? It's SUNDAYS IN THE FALL! I've started counting the days every week in eager anticipation for worship at Eulaton. I can't wait to see what God is going to do next. My recent bout with the flu that caused me to miss a Sunday was a huge bummer. Having to miss being here made this sick boy even sicker. I seriously can't wait for the next opportunity to gather together as the church.

And here's the great thing: unlike college football, what we're doing on Sundays at Eulaton actually matters. I know some people think it's blasphemy to speak like that, but seriously folks: do you really think when we get to heaven anybody's going to care who won or lost last Saturday's game? In the grand scope of eternity, the importance of college football ranks right up there with a night out at the bowling alley. A few hours of good, clean fun, but nothing of eternal significance.

So go ahead and enjoy some college football this weekend. I will. But let's remember to keep it in perspective. If you're more fired up about your team than you are about your Lord, then maybe you ought to do a spiritual inventory. As fun as it is to cheer for the Tide or the Tigers, how much more fun is it to lift high the name of Jesus? And that's the kind of fun that really matters.

Life After Swine Flu

2009-10-02T09:46:00.000-05:00

The pig has left the building! Or in other words, the swine flu has run its course at the Lambert household. Praise God!!! It's been a tough week, but things are slowly getting back to normal after the flu hit us hard. I'm sorry I didn't have a post last week, as I know many of you have commented on how much you've been enjoying these. Let's just say...I didn't have the strength to even sit upright for a few minutes at my computer keyboard.

The hardest part of the whole thing was missing out on Sunday worship. There's nothing I look forward to more these days than Sundays at EFBC. I was so pumped for the conclusion of my series Messages For Messed Up People, and it was such a let down not to be there. However, now that the pig is gone, I'm more stoked than ever before about what God has in store for us this Sunday at Eulaton. And by the way, I want to thank Koy and Donnie for stepping up to the plate and doing an incredible job in my absence. We are so blessed at EFBC!

This Sunday's message that was supposed to be last Sunday's message is entitled Messed Up And Hopeless. That pretty well describes the life of every person on the planet who has yet to trust Jesus as their Savior. Fortunately, for those of us who know Christ, we may still be messed up but we are by no means hopeless! I'm so thankful that my hope is in Him, and not in me or you or Obama or anybody else. Hope for the Christian is not something we wish would happen; it's something we KNOW will happen!

And that is why I can't wait to get together as the church this Sunday and lift high the name that is above all names: the name of JESUS!!! Remember this verse from two weeks ago?

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Ps 42:2 NIV)

Well, you can meet with Him right now, right where you are. And then, you can come together with others as the church to corporately meet with Him this Sunday morning. Let's come expecting God to do great things. Let's come expecting to see His power and glory. And let's come ready to submit to His will, no matter what He calls us to do.

Sunday's going to be awesome at Eulaton, and I hope you'll be with us. The good was yesterday. The better has come. And the best is yet to come!

Are You Thirsty?

2009-09-18T11:41:00.000-05:00

When was the last time you were really thirsty for God? When was the last time you were desperate for His presence? When was the last time you felt like the Psalmist who wrote: My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? (Ps 42:2 NIV)

The good news is you don't have to wait for a Sunday morning worship service to meet with God. If you're a believer, then you've got His Spirit residing inside of you twenty-four seven. Worship shouldn't be something that we only do for an hour on Sundays; it should be a lifestyle. Don't let the busyness of the world keep you from being the worshiper that God created you to be. Start worshiping Him. Right now! He's worthy of all of our worship and praise!

If you'll do that, then on Sunday when you come into the sanctuary, you won't be coming in hoping to have a worship experience. Instead, you'll be coming in to continue your ongoing worship experience. And if everybody came in already worshiping, then I can't imagine the kind of service we'll experience this Sunday! Are you ready? I'm excited, and I hope you are, too!

This Sunday we'll continue our Messages For Messed Up People, and the sermon title is Turn On The Light. I think sometimes we can be guilty of acting like God is a secret to be kept, and that faith in Jesus is a personal, private matter. But is that what Jesus said? Not hardly. We'll talk about that this Sunday.

This message will also deal pretty strongly with the subject of hell. This will have a two-fold purpose. First, I'm hoping that this message will wake up those who are lost and headed to hell. I want to see people saved and hell depopulated. Second, I'm hoping this message will be a reminder to the saved that hell is a real place, and real people are dying and going there every day. Knowing the realities of a place called hell, it ought to motivate us to shine out our light in this dark world.

I'm truly looking forward to what God has in store for us this Sunday. Here lately, if you were to ask me what is the best service we've ever had at Eulaton, I'd say, "The next one!" I truly feel that way every week. I hope you do, too. Let's all come together this Sunday, having already been worshiping Him, expecting to see His power and glory!

And let's keep asking, "What's next?" I don't know for sure, but I can't wait to find out. However one thing I do know for sure is that the best is yet to come!

Sunday Preview

2009-09-11T12:23:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I've been a bit under the weather yesterday and today, so today's message will be short and sweet. However, a little sickness can't dampen my enthusiasm for what I'm expecting God to do at EFBC this Sunday!

We'll continue our series of sermons entitled Messages For Messed Up People with the second sermon: Am I Making God Nauseous? I hope you'll all be here Sunday, and I hope you'll come expecting God to do great things. Remember: I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. (Psalm 63:2)

See you all Sunday, and don't forget: the best is yet to come!

New Sermon Series Begins Sunday

2009-09-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

I just wanted everyone to know how excited I am about this Sunday (I know, I sound like a broken record every week, but I REALLY AM EXCITED). This Sunday morning I'll be beginning a new series of sermons entitled Messages For Messed Up People. The first message in this series is called Not What You Expected. I don't know what you expect from a message with that title, but you need to be here this weekend to see if this message is what you expected it to be or not. OK, was that confusing, or is it just me?

Anyway, I'm pumped about this new series of messages. But let me give you a little disclaimer: If you've got everything together, never have any problems, and never do anything wrong, you might just want to take the month of September off on Sunday mornings. If, however, you're like me and realize that you are anything but perfect, you should make plans to be at EFBC this Sunday.

Let's face it, folks: we're all pretty messed up, aren't we? There's not a perfect person on this planet. We all have struggles, we all have insecurities, and we all have sinned. Now I've met some people before who seemed to wear a façade of perfection on the outside, almost as if they can't let anyone know that beneath that glowing exterior is a soul that is just as messed up as the next person's. I believe it's time that we drop the charade and take off the mask. Let's just admit that we're all messed up and that we are nothing without Jesus.

I hope you will come to worship this Sunday with a sense of expectation. Remember the verse I shared with you last week: I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory (Ps 63:2). I've asked Carol about putting this verse on a sign that we can hang above the glass doors in the vestibule. Are you coming to worship to see His power and His glory, or are you just coming to a social gathering to "see and be seen." I don't know about you, but I want to have an encounter with God Almighty this Sunday morning. I hope you do, too.

Before I close this message, let me ask everyone to please be praying for John McCoy and Ann Smith this morning. They are both having heart cath's at RMC today.

That's all for the moment. Just remember, you'd better not get complacent now; cause the best is yet to come!

Who's Ready For September?

2009-09-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

OK, is anybody else besides me stoked about what God is doing in our church? We've been experiencing some incredible things, and I truly believe that we've only seen a small glimpse of what He has in store for us. August was an amazing month. We finished up the What Would It Look Like If… series and followed that with an incredible Sunday as we talked about Christ For Clunkers. God has truly been moving in our services, and I can't wait to see what He's got in store for us in September.

Knowing what God is doing in our church corporately, let me take just a moment and get personal with a few probing questions: What is God doing in your life? How's your personal walk with God? Are you excited about what He's doing in our church? Do you have a fervent desire in your heart to see fires of renewal and revival burn white hot in our church and sweep across our community? Are your attitudes and the things you are doing (or not doing) helping or hindering the movement of God in our midst?

I realize these are some very personal, probing questions, but I believe that it's always appropriate to look within and see if there's anything in us that needs to change. David prayed in Psalm 139:23-24:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (NIV)

I believe that should be our prayer, as well. God is definitely up to something B-I-G at E-F-B-C! Let's make sure that we've prepared ourselves for what He wants to do in us and through us.

And let's get ready; cause the best is yet to come!

What's God Going To Do Next?

2009-08-28T11:10:00.000-05:00

Did anybody else notice how many people were here Wednesday night? WOW! I don't think I've ever seen so much excitement about church in the seven years I've been at Eulaton. Is our God not AWESOME?!?! I truly believe we are on the verge of an incredible and unusual movement of the Spirit that will be unexplainable to anyone who doesn't know my God.

I hope you will come to worship this Sunday with a sense of expectation. Let's come in expecting God to show up in a BIG way. Let's remember the words of David that we looked at in last Sunday night's message: I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory (Ps 63:2). I think we should come into the sanctuary EVERY Sunday looking to see God's power and glory! And I believe that the more people who are expecting great things, the more great things He is going to do.

The last two weeks we've been using cars as an illustration: first with Christ For Clunkers and then last week with Take It For A Spin. This Sunday morning we're going to continue the "car" analogy and the title of my message is Keep It Serviced. We're going to talk about how to keep your new creation purring like a kitten. I hope you'll be here and invite somebody else to come, too! I promise you that the Gospel will be shared in the message.

Sunday night is going to be exciting as we are hosting a fifth Sunday singing here at EFBC. West Park Heights and Ruhama Baptist Church will be joining us, and possibly even another church. It's going to be a glorious night, and I believe it will be a service to be remembered for a long time to come. We need folks who can to please bring some side items that will go well with our Boston Butts that we'll be having. Things like cole slaw, baked beans, chips, etc.

OK, now I'm hungry! Aubrey is the man when it comes to barbecue (and food in general). I can already smell it and taste it!

That's about it for now. I'm just eagerly anticipating Sunday. Come expecting God to do great things. Come expecting lives to be changed. Come expecting the fires of renewal and revival to be all consuming. And come remembering that as good as things have been, the best is still yet to come!

Three More Days...

2009-08-20T16:34:00.000-05:00

It's Thursday afternoon and I'm counting the minutes until Sunday at EFBC. I can hardly wait to see what God has in store for us this week. If last week is any indicator of what we can expect this week, then we'd better all get prepared to be blown away by the power of God. I'm expecting even bigger and better things this week, and I hope you are, too.

I truly believe that God honored the prayers and efforts of many of you who invited friends and family members to come to church this past Sunday. Some of you may have been disappointed that the person you've been investing in didn't show up, and that's understandable. But let me encourage you: DON'T LET SATAN DISCOURAGE YOU!

Just because they weren't here last week doesn't mean they won't be here this week. Just because they didn't show doesn't mean that God is not working in their hearts. Just because you were disappointed last week doesn't mean you should be discouraged about this week. Keep praying, keep sharing, keep investing and keep inviting. And remember the words of Galatians 6:9: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Translation: Never give up!

I believe this past Sunday was just the beginning of something big that God wants to do in our church and our community. Let's keep coming expecting God to work. Let's keep praying for His blessings on our church. And let's be careful that we don't do anything to quench the Spirit or hinder what He wants to do in our midst. I believe we're about to see something AWESOME!!!

Don't blink now, cause the best is yet to come!

Sunday's On The Way

2009-08-12T14:35:00.001-05:00

I'm struggling to stay awake today. Why, you ask? Because the thought of so many people whose names I don't even know kept me up for the better part of last night. All I know is their initials, but I know that every set of initials on our dry erase board in the sanctuary represents a precious soul. And I'm seriously praying for these people.

Did you write somebody's initials on that board this past Sunday? If you did, let me encourage you to not forget about that person this week. Let me remind you of the commitment you made to God about that person. Let me cheer you on as you seek to share Jesus with that person and/or get them here this Sunday.

I am insanely excited about this week's Sunday morning message (message title: Christ For Clunkers). My promise to you is that if you get your person here, they will hear the Gospel presented in a creative way and in a language that they can easily understand. Don't give up on them. Pray for them. Talk with them. Keep encouraging them to come and see what God is doing at EFBC.

Perhaps you didn't come forward last Sunday, but God put somebody on your heart that you know needs Jesus. Don't let the fact that you didn't put their initials on the board keep you from investing in their life. Pray for them. Talk with them. Invite them to come and worship with you this Sunday. God wants to use you; you've just got to let Him.

Now, let me give everybody a warning. God is up to something big, and we all know what that means: Satan is up to something, too. When fires of renewal and revival begin to burn, everybody will have the opportunity to pick up one of two buckets to throw on those fires. One bucket contains water, and we all know what water does to a fire. The other bucket contains gasoline. Need I say more?

Make sure you pick up the bucket with gasoline, so that we might see these fires of renewal and revival spread and burn white hot. Please don't try and throw water on the fires that God has ignited in so many people's hearts. 1 Thessalonians 5:19 tells us, "Do not quench the Spirit." 2 Timothy 1:6 tells us to, "Fan into flame the gift of God." (NIV) Let's do everything we can to keep this fire burning that the Lord has lit in our church.

And remember; fasten your seatbelts, because the best is yet to come.

A Challenge For Sunday

2009-08-06T11:06:00.000-05:00

I am incredibily PUMPED about the next two Sundays here at Eulaton First Baptist. This Sunday will be the final message in our series What Would It Look Like If... and I can't wait to stand before you and preach! In preparation for this Sunday, I have a challenge for you:

I want to ask everybody who reads this to be thinking about the people you know who need Jesus. When you come to church this Sunday, I want you to come with that person or those persons in your mind and on your heart. I want you to be thinking about them while I am preaching. And then I want to ask you to commit to doing whatever God lays on your heart this Sunday.

If you will take this challenge seriously, I truly believe that the following Sunday (August 16) will be one to remember in the history of EFBC. If very few people or nobody takes this challenge seriously, then the best we can expect is to maintain the status quo. I don't know about you, but I seriously want to see God show up, and show up in a BIG WAY! Let's make history. Or more appropriately, let's let God use us so that He can make history in the Eulaton community.

Please try to get this message out to those who don't have Internet access. I want as many people as possible to come to church Sunday prepared to see this challenge through.

Are you ready? I hope so, because God is up to something HUGE and He wants you to be a part of it. Hold on tight, because the best is yet to come!

The Best Is Yet To Come!

2009-07-30T10:07:00.000-05:00

WOW!!! That's the first word that comes to mind when I look back at our recently completed Bible School. Boomerang Express was a huge success, and most definitely the biggest VBS this church has seen in recent history. I want to thank everybody who worked so hard to make this year's Bible School the best one I've ever been associated with. The prayers and preparation that went into this ministry were HUGE! I was blown away by what God did and continues to do. Thank you church for allowing Him to use you. And a special thank you to Star, our VBS director, for her leadership and vision.

As I write this, we are halfway through our sermon series entitled What Would It Look Like If. We've already asked two questions: What would it look like if we were radically devoted to Jesus? And, what would it look like if we forgave others no matter what? The first two Sundays in August we will be asking two more of these "what would it look like if" questions. The first two have been incredibly challenging, and you can expect that the last two will be, as well. But I firmly believe that these messages are vitally important for the future of our church.

If you miss any of the messages in this series, you can always go to our website at www.eulaton.org and click on Online Sermons. Most of the messages from this year are archived on our website. If you don't have Internet access and would like a copy of any sermon, please feel free to let me know and I'll be glad to burn a CD or make a tape for you.

With a new school and church year set to begin soon, let's commit ourselves to giving God our best in everything we do. Let's keep praying for God's blessings on our church and on our community. Let's keep investing in people's lives and inviting them to come and hear about a man named Jesus who can radically change their lives. Let's keep giving God the praise for all He's done, is doing, and will do in our lives and in our church.

And let's all get ready, because the best is yet to come!

Are You Ready For Bible School?

2009-07-07T07:39:00.000-05:00

Can you believe 2009 is half over and we've moved into the seventh month of the year? Time flies when you're doing the Lord's work, doesn't it?

You can't talk about July at EFBC without talking about Vacation Bible School. One of our biggest events of the year, Bible School requires a lot of manpower as well as a lot of prayer power. This year's VBS theme is Boomerang Express: It All Comes Back To Jesus, and I believe 2009 will be the biggest Bible School EFBC has experienced in this millennium.

With our exploding numbers of children on Wednesday nights, we are expecting our Bible School enrollment to be way up this year. But with additional children comes the need for additional adults to help us work in VBS. If you've not yet signed up to work, it's never too late. We can use you and would love for you to be a part of this incredible ministry opportunity. It's a lot of work, and can be tiring, but it is totally worth it. You'll never regret investing yourself in the lives of children.

July is also the time of year when we celebrate our country's birthday. The United States of America turned 233-years-old on July the 4th. Let's never forget the courage of our founding fathers who stood up against tyranny and boldly declared that "these united colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent states."

It's because of their vision and valor that we can worship freely today as our conscience dictates. Praise God that we live in a country that guarantees freedom of religion.

Let us never take that for granted.

Nothing Is Impossible For God

2009-05-28T09:19:00.000-05:00

Now that school is out and summer is finally here, I think this is a good time to look back and reflect on what God has done here at Eulaton over these past five months.

First, and most importantly, we've seen new members come into the church: some by baptism and some by moving their membership. And what an incredible impact these new members are making. I thank God for sending us people who are allowing Him to use them in our fellowship.

Has anyone noticed how many children and youth are coming on Wednesday nights? They've been averaging in the 50's for the last month or so, and as I write this our most recent Wednesday night saw 62 youth and children here. And that's not the only growth we've experienced over the last five months. Our Sunday School average has been climbing steadily since the end of last year. Of course it's not all about numbers, but never forget that every number is a precious soul and the more we can get here, the more we can reach for Jesus!

I've been really encouraged to see our offerings come back up. It was pretty bleak there for a while, but God has obviously worked in many hearts and people are seeing the importance of giving. Thank you church for being faithful in this area. It's unfortunate but true: without money there are many things that we just can't do. Please continue to be faithful with your tithes and offerings. I know God will bless you if you will (it's a promise from His word).

One other thing that has truly blown me away this year is how well prepared we are for Vacation Bible School. I've never been a part of a church that started preparing this early and had so much done in advance. It truly makes me proud as your pastor to see what this church has already accomplished in order to win kids for Christ. Thank you!

As we head into summer, let's not get complacent and put the ministry on cruise control. Many churches experience what is known as the "summer slump," where attendance falls and people just kind of take it easy. Let's determine that EFBC is not going to have a "summer slump" this year. Let's keep investing and inviting and see what God will do with our efforts. Let's go "over the line in 2009," and let's do it consistently during the summer months.

Impossible? Not for my God.

Change vs. More Of The Same

2009-05-01T10:04:00.000-05:00

It’s official. The numbers are in and they don’t look good. It can now be stated emphatically that we are without a doubt in a recession. But I’m not talking about the United States economy. I’m talking about the Southern Baptist Convention.

The definition of the word recession is, “the act of withdrawing or going back.” The latest study showing that membership and baptisms continued to decline in the SBC during 2008 is proof positive that our convention is heading in the wrong direction.

But what about Eulaton First Baptist?

I was listening recently to an Internet broadcast of Christian financial counselor Dave Ramsey’s radio show, and he was taking calls from people who were declaring that they weren’t participating in the economic recession. Well, why can’t we as a church make the declaration: “We’re not going to participate in the SBC recession!”

Although I’m absolutely discouraged by the numbers showing that our convention is continuing to decline, I’m incredibly encouraged by what God is doing in our church. So yeah, I don’t think we have to participate in this spiritual recession. Let’s buck the trend. Let’s swim against the current. Let’s trust God to make our future even brighter than our past.

Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research, recently wrote about the decline in our convention and compared our problems to heart patients who are incredibly sick but refuse to change their lifestyle. He points to a study showing that, “left alone, most patients choose death over change.” And that is true about many of our SBC churches. Many are so tied to “the way things used to be” and so afraid of the pain of change that they would rather die than transform.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a part of a dead or dying church. And I praise God that EFBC is alive and growing. Have we undergone changes? Absolutely. Have some of those been painful? Undoubtedly. Will there be more changes? Probably. But this past December I reached a point in my ministry where the pain of staying the same became greater than the pain of change. And since then, I’ve been a moldable piece of clay in the hands of the Master Potter.

I’ve decided to choose change over death. I hope you’ll join with me and do the same.

Are You Ready For Sunday?

2009-04-23T10:24:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but I am PUMPED for this Sunday at Eulaton! I believe we're going to see some great things happen because I believe God is going to show up in a BIG way.

There are a couple of things that I want to ask you to be doing between now and then:

1. Be praying. Pray that God will prepare the hearts of the lost that will be here to receive the message of the Gospel.

2. Be investing and inviting. This Sunday's Fun Day is a great time to really put our Invest & Invite Strategy into practice. Invest in the lives of others, and invite them to come and hear the Gospel. I'm praying that God will allow me to present the message in a way that is clear and engaging. I guarantee if you can get your "investee" here on Sunday, they are going to hear the Gospel.

Make sure your investee knows that they don't have to run out and buy some new clothes just so they can "dress up" to come to church. Let them know that at Eulaton, we believe church is about Jesus and not about a fashion show.

Make sure your investee knows that we're not going to embarrass them, have them stand up in front of everybody, or call on them to pray. Let them know that you'll be there with them and that you want them to feel at home at Eulaton.

Don't ever forget how stressful and/or scary it can be for a first-time visitor at a church, especially if that person has never been to a church service anywhere. Let's show them this Sunday that this is not about a bunch of religious stuff that has nothing to do with God. Let's show them that this is about having a relationship with Jesus.

Are you pumped yet? I hope you are. This Sunday is going to be AWESOME! Be praying. Be investing and inviting. And come expecting God to do some great things!

I'll see you Sunday morning.

He'll Do It Again

2009-03-27T08:46:00.000-05:00

In Acts 2, you can read all about the birth of the first church and how it began with some 3000 people being saved and baptized. No kidding. That’s the number “three” with three zero’s behind it. And all this happened without the benefit of a church building, a microphone, or a copy of the New Testament. When God poured out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost, He really started the church off with a bang.

And it didn’t stop. By Acts 4, the Bible tells us that the number of the men (apparently not counting women and children) had grown to 5000. By the time you get to the end of the book of Acts, the message of the Gospel had spread out from Jerusalem and had been carried as far away as the city of Rome. Numerous churches had been planted and the world has never been the same since.

One strange thing about the book of Acts, though: It ends very abruptly. It’s almost as if Dr. Luke was writing one day and decided to put his pen down and close the book without a proper ending. Why is that? We’ll probably never know this side of heaven.

But maybe, just maybe, the reason the book of Acts ends so abruptly is because it is the only book of the Bible that has yet to be finished. Could it be that the book of Acts is still being written today and we are a part of the story? The book is titled The Acts of the Apostles, but I think it could better be titled The Acts of the Church. And the book of Acts was only the beginning of that story.

Some people look at Acts 2 and think that God would never work that way today. Some people read how God used a relatively small group of people to literally turn their world upside down (Acts 17:6) and think that God could never use them in the same way. I’ve got a Greek word for that: “baloney!” God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

So let’s all pray and ask God to bless our church like He blessed those early churches in the book of Acts. He hasn’t changed, and I believe He wants to do it again.

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year?

2008-12-04T11:15:00.000-06:00

Are you ready for Christmas?

Every year I get asked that question, and my response is usually something like, “not even close.” Why? Because one of my annoying and unfortunate habits is that I’m bad about putting things off until the last minute. I heard someone say once that Baptists believe in justification, regeneration, and procrastination. The only thing I could say in response was, “I resemble that comment.”

But getting back to the initial question: “Are you ready for Christmas?” Isn’t it a shame that this time of the year, when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, usually turns into a mad dash to buy presents for everyone on our list. You’ve probably heard by now about a temporary worker at a Wal-Mart in New York who was trampled to death by frenzied shoppers on Black Friday. And when customers were asked to leave the store after this tragedy, many who were so intent on getting that great after Thanksgiving deal flat-out refused. How’s that for this season of peace on earth and goodwill toward men?

Regrettably, what usually happens is that the first twenty-four days of the month of December turns into one big headache that is followed by a huge sigh of relief when the twenty-fifth finally rolls around. The result of this Christmas rat race is that this holiday has by-and-large turned into a huge celebration of American commerce, and if we’re lucky there just might be a nativity story tagged on at the end. I have a friend who pastors a church in Tallahassee, and he posted this on his blog this week:

This past Monday, my wife and I went to a place called North Pole City in Oklahoma. We love Christmas decorations and this place was the largest Christmas store I have ever seen. Overwhelming is the understatement of the day when it comes to this store. It probably takes about 90 minutes to walk through the whole store and I think we still didn’t see everything.

Something we both noticed…was that nothing in the store was about Christ. Nothing.

Santa, Snowmen, Villages, Rudolph, Penguins, Christmas Trees, you name it..they had it.

When did we get to the point where Christmas was not about Christ?

I don’t know when we got to that point, but I do know one thing: I can honestly and unequivocally say that I am ready for Christmas. I don’t have all of my gifts purchased. I still haven’t mailed out any Christmas cards. We haven’t even put up any Christmas decorations at the Lambert home yet. But none of those things matter, because Christmas isn’t about any of those things.

And that’s why I’m ready for Christmas this year.

Morgan Follows In Mommy's Footsteps

2008-07-25T12:43:00.000-05:00

Our Baby Girl loves to sing, just like her Mommy. A few weeks ago, we captured a few songs, as well as a prayer, after eating supper. Thought you might enjoy this:

By the way, watch Justin in the background. I'm not sure what he was eating, but he never lets up; just keeps chomping away. That's my Boy!

Yes, God Still Shows Up!

2008-06-09T15:21:00.000-05:00

After nearly eight months without a post, what could possibly move me to start blogging again? How about eight people baptized yesterday! Praise God for His mighty work!

These changed lives are visible proof that the Holy Spirit is working in our youth and children's ministries. Two of those baptized were saved in EFBC's AWANA ministry. The other six were teenagers who prayed to receive Christ at our youth lock-in at the YMCA Friday night.

As much as I hated them when I was a youth minister, this just goes to show that sometimes good things come out of all night lock-ins.

Thank you, church, for supporting our youth and children's ministries. I believe this is only the beginning of some awesome days ahead.

Bro. Shane

Get The Kleenex Ready

2007-10-15T11:29:00.000-05:00

Oh What A Sweet Sound

2007-09-28T10:49:00.000-05:00

Thought everyone would enjoy these audio clips of our kids. These were recorded on August 7, the day after we got full custody.

Morgan singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (with a little help from Mommy)

Justin singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Morgan singing Row Row Row Your Boat

Justin singing Row Row Row Your Boat

Bubba says "Hey"