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!
Friday, December 18, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Busy Weekend Ahead
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!
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!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Sunday's On The Way
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!
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!
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Feels Like Friday
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!
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!
Friday, November 20, 2009
It Keeps Getting Better And Better
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!
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!
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