Broken Steeple

Check out this service project opportunity.

2012-01-11T09:34:00.000-06:00

This Coming Monday, January 16th, 2012 from 12-3 pm

Join others from First Baptist Waco for a community garden work day at St. Luke’s AME Church in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of building broad and diverse community coalitions. St. Luke’s AME Church is an avid supporter of our own L.I.F.T. Workshop; let us give back in a small way for all the help they have given us! MLK Jr. said once, “Everyone can be great because everyone can serve.” This time will include a FREE lunch provided by Baylor Campus Kitchens.

All ages are welcome!

When: Monday, January, 16th 2012

Time: 12-3 p.m. is the scheduled time for the event. Meet at the church at 11:30 a.m. to carpool.

Where: Meet at First Baptist Waco’s Activities Center Parking lot and then we’ll drive together to St. Luke’s AME Church.

What to Bring: Clothes that can get dirty, gardening gloves (optional), water and a spirit willing to serve!

Contact Heather Mustain to reserve your spot, or for more information!

Email: Heather_Mustain@baylor.edu

Phone: 678-936-5236

The Importance of Thinking Small

2011-12-27T10:22:00.000-06:00

“I look on all the world as my parish; thus far I mean, that, in whatever part of it I am, I judge it meet, right and my bounden duty, to declare unto all that are willing to hear, the glad tidings of salvation.” John Wesley

We have been encouraged all our lives to THINK BIG. I am all for that and do believe we need a vision as big as the world. But we need the corresponding ability to break the world into small pieces. Often people hide behind the veil of big thinking in order to shirk the responsibility for messy engagement. Churches run from one big program to another hoping that the next big thing will be the magic red pill of success. We need to learn to think small! We will explore this notion through four messages in January. Spend some time with these stories as the New Year begins. I look forward to worshipping and serving with you in 2012.

1.8.12 – “Small is Big” John 6:1-14

1.15.12 – “Small Faith” Mark 9:14-32

1.22.12 – “Small Church” Acts 2

1.29.12 – “Small World” Acts 10

Jon Kvanvig - Destiny and Deliberation

2011-12-12T10:21:00.002-06:00

Clarity Needed

2011-11-15T12:31:00.000-06:00

Clarity is one of the most import parts of good leadership. Vision is more about seeing the river in front of us than decades into the future. We are more river pilot then palm reader. We need to see the rocks and turns as they approach in the distance. . Murkiness creeps into our thought processes through an assortment of mental and spiritual pollutants. These pollutants keep us from visioning well. The darkest pollutant is unforgiveness.

Doriss Hambrick gave a devotional at our monthly deacons gathering last night that affirmed this for me. She read 2 Corinthians 2:3-11. It’s a passage about the hard work of forgiving. Verse 11 asserts that unforgiveness leads to Satanic deception. Unforgiveness makes us dumb and vulnerable. That’s ample reason to give forgiveness a shot.

A Thank You Note to FBC Waco

2011-10-26T11:59:00.000-05:00

Thank You

I thank my God every time I remember you, Philippians 1:3

You are a reason for gratitude to God. I typically use we and us language when I talk about our congregation. I think of us that way. We are we. For just a moment I want to traffic in some pastor to congregation you language. I want you to hear why I’m grateful to God for you.

You are family to our family. When we moved to Waco we moved a long way from the people we love the most. We came because we believed (and believe) God wanted us to. You have embraced us and called us your own. Meredith and I appreciate the love you have shown our children. Thank you.

You serve. I am grateful that you serve one another and this community. Yes, there is more that we can and need to do but you are faithful servants. Thank you

You give. You faithfully give money for the ministry of FBC Waco. Money does not sound very spiritual but it is. You demonstrate faith by consistently giving. You have shown kindness through numerous extravagant gifts. Your gifts large and small are improving the financial health of our church. By God’s grace I believe we will be debt free. We will be responsible stewards. We will be able to invest more in the cause of Christ. We will be able to make needed capital improvements. Thank you.

You pray. I have seen many tears fall this year. Many of you have said during critical moments, “I feel the prayers.” I think you are feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit but in some mysterious way prayer does have a deep effect on God and us. Thank you.

You persevere. You are tough as a boot. Thanks for hanging in there and maintaining your confession. Thank you.

You forgive. I am praying that we become a group of people known for radical forgiveness. We need honesty, correction, and grace. Many of you are walking in forgiveness. Many of you will. It’s the only wise way to live in a broken world. Thank you.

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:4

Stained Glass and Stained Carpet

2011-10-17T10:32:00.001-05:00

I consider Ron Cook to be my pastor. He is one of the best listeners I know. He love me. He is wise. He loves God. He once told me something like this, "God loves the church more than pastors know." How true. I was remided of this yesterday as I worshipped with our church family. I started crying tears of joy during the announcements and that set the tone. Jamie McCallum preached in our evening gatheing. It was a confessional message about God's work in our midst. FBC folks - If you missed this please take a little time and read it. I love y'all.

Stained Glass and Stained Carpet: God Is Here

It is an honor to stand before you this evening and call you friends. When I first walked the steps to this pulpit back in January, I looked out on a room full of new faces, besides the one row of relatives and couple rows of friends from Truett that had come to encourage me and help calm my nerves. That was a great night- one that I’d remember for years to come, even if it had been my only interaction with all of you. For on that night, about 5 rows back and 3 seats in, sat my 90-year-old grandfather who has been a Southern Baptist preacher for at least 95 years it seems. I had only felt that God was calling me to preacher for a year at this point- and just like you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, it seems you can’t teach an old preacher new parameters of orthodoxy. So, my Papaw walked into this chapel a bit skeptical- a bit confused- quiet torn.

He wanted to be here to support his only grandchild out of 12 who was following in his footsteps by going into ministry. He loved that I had been a missionary. He loved that I was working for Baylor as a chaplain. But this idea of preaching- and serving the local church made him uneasy. Yet here he was- and one by one you embraced him and welcomed him- and you embraced me and welcomed me- as though you didn’t see that big of a difference between us. And through you, my Papaw began to see me as a preacher for the first time in my life. He saw that you were a people who loved God and served God- and who actually allowed me to offer a word from the heart of God. Because you believed in me that night, my Papaw believed in me. And, even if that had been the totality of my experience with the folks of the First Baptist Church of Waco- that would have been enough for me to love you forever. For on that night, 2 preachers walked into this room unsure of the other- and both walked out understanding each other better than we ever had before. We were preachers. We were family. And we encountered the living God in this place- through you.

And as I stand here tonight, my hope is to do nothing less than show you that the God who filled this chapel on the evening of January 30th and changed my life as a result of it, has continually filled my heart through the people and the work of this church since the day I walked the aisle and became one of you on May 22nd. He is here- He is moving- and His life resonates through you. I see it- can I tell you just how, just where, and just when?

You see, this concept of reporting what God has done is not just a random idea for tonight’s sermon, but rather is something people of the faith have done all along. There is something very biblical- very crucial to communities of faith- that comes from one within the community reporting to the others what God has done. It’s how we remember his goodness, when life just seems so hard- how we remember his presence when life just seems so ordinary- how we find the joy to gather in this place again and again- when we have already been gathering week after week, for decades.

So, as I report to you the signs of the Living God that I have seen in you I follow in the footsteps of the 70 who Jesus sent out in Luke 10. As they returned from their journey, they rushed back to Jesus overwhelmed with excitement because God had shown up! Verses 17-18 say,

“The seventy returned with joy, saying “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning.”

They claim that they saw things happen they never would have imagined possible, and Jesus affirms that he saw it too.

Tonight, can I join with these disciples- and with a spirit of humble amazement, exclaim to you what God has done?

Along with those disciples, I want to follow in the tradition of the apostle Paul, as seen in Acts 21. Starting in verse 17, the author recounts,

“When we arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us warmly. The next day Paul went with us to visit James; and all the elders were present. After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard it, they praised God.”

After being away from some time, Paul gathers around a church that is near and dear to his heart, and begins to tell them all the things God had done. Paul gives a testimony of the fruits of faithful service, and as a result the people praise their God.

They become convinced once again, that God is in the work of transformation, conversion, and salvation.

Tonight, along with the apostle Paul, can I report to you the fruits I see from your faithful service- fruits that convince us that God is at work- even if we haven’t been so aware?

For the next few moments I simply want to walk alongside Paul and the disciples- and simply proclaim how I’ve witnessed God at work among you? Would it be okay, if I just give a report of where I have seen Him in this place?

I have seen him as I gathered around the table with some of you. Whether it was over a cup of coffee at Starbucks, a meal at your kitchen table, or lunch at a local restaurant- we have sat and have shared stories of life with God. You have asked me about my calling, my journey, singleness, studies, and the transition. I have asked you about your family, your work, your life in this church, and your life outside this church. We have found that we are more alike than different- and we agree that we’re better for having broken bread together. God showed up when I met with you. And for that I’m thankful.

Then, I have seen our Father as I walk the halls on Sunday morning and pass by some of you who I know struggled to get out of bed that morning. Last week we awoke to a rain storm- some of you awake to that most every day. Some of you, I’ve come to know, wake up with grief many days. Others to physical pain that makes each step from the house to the church and back difficult. Some have been hurt by the church in the past- either this one or another- and to come back each week stirs up old feelings of regret and disappointment. Yet, here you all are- week after week, with each step proclaiming that somehow being here is worth the effort- even worth the pain. You have helped me believe that church is worth it too. And in this shared conviction, I see God- and I praise him for you.

I see God each day- as I look around and see families, single people, young folks and older folks simply wanting to be a part of what God is doing. Some of you spend months out of the year preparing for one week in Guatemala, praying that the children you serve will see Christ in you. Others help volunteer at the Gospel Café as often as they can- choosing to know and serve our homeless population- praying they see Christ in you.

And then each month the fellowship hall is packed with folks who give up their typical dinner time to sit alongside and serve the homeless who come to us to be fed. I was talking to a homeless man in my first month here- and when he found out I worked at First Baptist he said the Agape meal was the day he looked forward to the very most each month. He said at least that night I know I will leave full and will be treated well. You pray they see God through you- and it seems those prayers are answered.

And each Saturday a bunch of little kids with their cleats and shin guards on make their way to FBC- because this church has determined that fun should not be regulated to those who can afford it.

From LIFT workshops, to summer meal programs, to ESL, to VBS canvassing in Kate Ross- you show that our God will not be contained in this building. He’s on the loose and you’re out there with Him!

As you walk out these doors week after week and long to be the presence of Christ for those out there, I also find myself challenged to not get too comfortable inside these church walls. God is present in your belief in his kingdom- and as you serve He shows up all over this town, all over this world.

I’ve seen God in deacon’s meetings- yes even in deacon’s meetings- as a room full of folks put the prayer needs of this church before any issue on the agenda, week after week. It was in these meetings that we celebrated that birth of a new child and mourned the death of Mrs. Dodee Jackson. It was in one of these meetings, that just a few weeks after her death, Dick Jackson stood and shared a word of encouragement from Scripture- as though he needed to encourage us in his time of loss! In the midst of his pain, he wanted to offer a word of life to the church that loved him- and in that moment that room became a holy place. This church is still a place people cling to in life and in death- Our God is still the One you cling to in life and in death- and each day in between.

I could go on to talk about how I’ve seen God at work as a senior adult class pulled their funds together to send a young 13 year old boy to summer camp. They had never met him but decided he was worth taking a chance on. That week this young boy’s life was changed and the life of our entire youth group was changed by him.

And on these Sunday evenings, when a group of you gathers to hear one seminarian try out this thing called preaching after another. God knows you could get better speakers up here. It could be more interesting- it could be more entertaining. Yet, you don’t seem to care too much about that. You’re too busy offering hugs and words of encouragement to those of us who are terrified that we’re not really cut out for the call on our lives. I see God in your selflessness- it often seems church isn’t about you at all.

Or I could tell how I see God each week when parents and leaders throughout who have put in 40 hours at work and who knows how many hours at home, come into their respective classrooms with a lesson ready to go. In the midst of busyness and being pulled every which way, you come to this church ready to give some more of yourself- because you seem to take Jesus’ command to make disciples literally. You care that He is known- you care that each one in this church from the youngest child to oldest adult has the opportunity to really love him. I see Christ in your care and in your efforts.

Or we could speak of the Sunday School class who adopted and elderly couple and gave up a weekend to give them the anniversary celebration they would never forget.

Or what about those college students who fill this very room every Wednesday night, until an hour past my ideal bedtime, worshipping and digging into the depths of Scripture together. We all know college students have plenty of options for where to be at any given hour of any given day. And yet they’re here- they’re worshipping- they represent the next generation that stands alongside each of you and says God is worth it! And the church is the Bride of Christ!

And then, there’s those youth who know the codes to the doors in this building better than I do. That probably makes insurance companies nervous, but it reminds me that you have given them a place to belong- a place to call home- they call this church their own.

And then once they break into the building, they could proceed to show you every knick and cranny of this church. From secret rooms, to dungeons, to the top of the dome (not that I’ve gone up or down there in case Cecil is listening). As they lead me around the maze that is First Baptist I can’t help but smile. The fact that they know this place so well tells me that they’ve been allowed to live in this place- to enjoy- to kick back and realize that sometimes God’s presence must be responded to with reverence and awe- and other times His presence is best responded to by kids laughing, and running up and down the hallways- truly believing that there is no place they’d rather be in that moment.

Or I could mention how I’ve seen God in the lines that almost go out the sanctuary doors as you all gather to welcome new members and new believers. This family is not closed- but is always ready for who God will send next and what he wants to do next. By the time the last hand is shaken, those standing in the front have a coarse voice and a full heart. They realize you cared more about welcoming them than beating the lunch crowd- and in that gesture you stand with our God who always puts people above agenda.

I see God in the carpet stains that show signs of activity- of eating and creating together. I see him during the children’s sermon, as boys and girls rush to sit closest to our pastor. They cling to him, because he’s not just mom and dad’s pastor- he’s their pastor too!

I see God as folks who have shared passed disagreements stand pews apart week after week and lift their voices simultaneously to the God of reconciliation- to the God who heals. They pass the bread and cup to one another, acknowledging that we’re all broken, and by sharing in or Savior’s brokenness we can all be made whole.

I see him in the group of 10 or so WMU ladies who meet the third Monday of every month with a simple desire to know what God’s doing in the world and pray on behalf of those serving far from home. They don’t think they’re doing much, but as one who spent a couple years far from home I can testify that they are. There were many days that I didn’t know much about why I was there or what I was doing, but the one thing I did know was that the WMU ladies were praying for me and for God’s work through me. These women are prayer warriors- women who still believe God has a heart for the nations and prayer matters. Their years of faithful service inspire me to press on as well.

And I experienced God through you on July 31, as I had the opportunity to preach that Sunday morning and then accompanied a group of youth to serve at the homeless shelter that night. You have given me a place to embrace my calling just as I am. You have believed in me, and in so doing have helped me believe in the church that I was so afraid would never want me. You see me as a minister- and I see each of you as one as well. For in a time of great uncertainty, you ministered to me- by believing God could actually use me- not because of my gender, experience, or skills- but simply because God is faithful to work in and through his church.

Friends, this is just the beginning of my report of what God has done. Praise him there’s even more- more that you know that I don’t. More that some of us will never know- and most definitely more to come. In Scripture, when a report was given the purpose was to proclaim to the hearers that this God really is who He says he is. To remind the believers that He really is at work- that he really is present- that He really is on the move. Friends, if nothing else may we leave this place tonight convinced more than ever that God is here among us. May you see him in the sanctuary as you find yourself gazing up at the massive dome where light trickles down. Mat you see him as you look up at the baptistery imagining the many feet that have walked down those steps, and the many that will. May you see the story of his work among us is in the beautiful stained glass windows and in the beautiful stained green carpet. May you see it in the ancient pews and the month old futons that already show signs of donut icing and taco night. May you hear him in the songs you sing, the words of life you offer, the laughter that arises, and the tears that are shed.

As we live life in this place, our Father is living it with us. You- the ones who are even here on a Sunday night- are the ones who tend to be here most every night the doors are open. Sometimes when life becomes pretty normal, and worship routine- we need someone who is utterly convinced that we’re living in the midst of a miracle- that we’re dwelling in the presence of the Living God- to help us remember and believe it to. Like our friends the disciples and Paul I’m here to confess that God is at work, that the miracle of his presence is here, and that I see him in you. May you leave rejoicing- convinced once again, that God is in place.

Embodied Holiness

2011-09-30T14:01:00.002-05:00

Broken Steeple Songs

2011-09-29T10:15:00.002-05:00

I feel like this blog needs a few tunes that encourage broken steeples everywhere. Don't give up y'all! The first is from Billy Joe Shaver. My buddy Marcus and I are going to try to meet him before Christmas. Wish us luck.

I Have Decided

2011-09-14T13:18:00.000-05:00

I am working on a new sermon series called, "I Have Decided." I will explore some of the big decisions we face in life. I would like some feed back from you. What are some of the BIG decisions you've made in your life? Let me now through this blog, Facebook, Twitter, or my email - msnowden@fbcwaco.org

Prayer Pods

2011-08-31T09:27:00.000-05:00

We have been members of FBC Waco for one year. It is hard to believe that I am able to type that sentence. Time has flown by. In a strange way we also feel like we have been here much longer than 365 days. We joined a story already being told and we feel it. Thank you so much for allowing us the privilege of serving along side you in the cause of Christ. You words and deeds of encouragement feed our soul. Thank you.

My hope for last year was to see significant change in congregational attitude. I wanted church to be fun in the holiest sense. It has been said that laughter is carbonated holiness. We have laughed together. We’ve wept together and we have developed as sense of expectancy. God blessed us last year and we should be grateful.

I sense that this year needs to be about a few simple things. We must continue to address the alignment of ministries and systems. We need to critically appraise all that we do. Above all we need a revival of prayer. My prayer about our prayer (better than a meeting about a meeting) is based on Zechariah 12:10. I’m asking God to pour out a , “spirit of compassion and supplication.” We are simply not enough but God is all sufficient. One simple thing we can do to foster this renewal is organize a collection of prayer pods.

Seed pods are little clusters of life. Prayer pods are to. Our Wednesday gatherings will be dedicated to three things this year. We will prepare for Sunday worship. 2. We will disciple children and students. 3. We will pray. I’d like to gather our congregation in small groups for prayer that will partner with each other during the year to encourage intercession and share concerns. These groups will pray around tables during the mid-week gathering. Following an encouraging devotional we will pray. It will take a few weeks to organize the pods so look for opportunities to sign up. You can sign up now by emailing me at msnowden@fbcwaco.org. I believe that God intends to do great things in and through us this year. Let’s be joyful participants in his mission.

Gifts From the Road

2011-08-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

We recently took a trip to visit family in Mississippi. Our kids had a wonderful time and were more than a little sad when it came time to leave. To make matters worse, our daughter Molly Katherine discovered that she left something at my parents house when we had made it thirty minutes down the highway. It was not a turn around worthy item. It was one of those simple chunks of plastic that define a five year old's life for a few hours. I tried to console her by saying, "Molly Kat, the road gives us gifts." The road produced a gift a little bit later.

My parents gave the kids jars of coins when we left. They let them play with them and then handed them as gifts. A few hours into our trip we found a Coinstar machine at a grocery store. We let them feed their jars of filthy money into them. We were surprised when the machine spit our coins from India, Israel, Russia and other countries. These were coins that I had tossed into the big coin jar at my parent's house years ago - gifts from the road. The kids took their receipts and purchased more chunks of plastic. I pocketed the international loot and remembered good times. The road really does offer us gifts.

Life is a journey and God wants us to receive his gracious gifts along the way. We must develop a reflective attitude in order to appropriate this traveling mercy. I highly recommend Alister McGrath's wonderful introduction to Christian spirituality titled, The Journey: A Pilgrim in the Lands of the Spirit. He writes about the type of posture we need by summarizing it this way: Remember, Anticipate, Resolve to deepen the quality of our Christian faith and life in the present. He is a sound traveler and we'd be wise to hitch a ride with him. Check out the book and enjoy the gifts of the road.

Baptism - Thanks Craig Blomberg

2011-06-28T08:43:00.003-05:00

Baptism is a beautiful symbol and an important biblical practice. I'm grateful to Craig Blomberg for sharing his thoughts on the issue. Click the title of this post to read his piece.

Social Media and Ministry

2011-06-22T10:56:00.001-05:00

I have been asked to do an interview on local television about social media and ministry. I'll share more about this later. I thought I'd repost a two year old piece about Twitter and preaching.

_____

I've thought a good bit about how I share messages lately. Oddly, Twitter has helped. I've mapped out a model and I've been using it in preacing, teaching, and personal evangelism. It's a work in progress. Check it out if you have time and let me know what you think. Thanks!

What Are You Doing: Thinking about Twitter and Communicating the Gospel

I became a pastor at 22 and began preaching three sermons a week. This went for eight years until I accepted a staff position at First Baptist Church in Meridian, MS. This put me on the other side of the Lord’s Supper table for the first time in a long time. I teach several times a week in very different settings and still get to preach often but the Sunday morning change has given me an unexpected gift. Getting the opportunity to listen to sermons and reflect on preaching has helped me do something I have not yet done in my young ministry. I’ve developed a philosophy of preaching. I preached my first sermon at 15 and have preached a truck load of them. I’ve done this with passion and have really enjoyed it. I’ve now had some time to think about what I’m doing and I am grateful.

My thoughts on preaching have been impacted by an unpreacherly source, Twitter. Twitter is a social networking tool that connects people through the sharing of simple messages through the day. I’ve often played host to the wedding of intellectual odd couples. They get together in my brain and send me off in a new direction. Twitter and preaching have synched up in my noodle and here are the resulting thoughts –

Social Networking

Preaching and teaching are acts of social networking. The preaching event draws together a group of people that are connected by a common bond. The people have come to hear and respond. The gathered community is the preacher’s network. Each hearer also sits in the middle of a network of his or her own. The wise teacher or preacher sees both the network gathered under the steeple and the many networks just beyond.

What

When you go to www.twitter.com the introduction page explains Twitter using the categories: what, why, and how. I’ve begun thinking about preaching and teaching using these categories. The WHAT of preaching consists of three things – text, title, and tweet.

The sermon must honor the biblical text. People come to church with the strange notion that they will hear something from God. They want this message to speak to deep needs in their lives but they want it to be more than friendly advice. They get that all week long. If they went to the trouble of getting to church they want to connect with God. A message must be built from the biblical text.

The talk or sermon also needs a title. I’ve found that the really good ones also wind up with nick names. Sometimes I start with the pet name and then write out something for the worship guide. This helps me love the message.

The sermon needs a Tweet. Each sermon or lesson needs a point. Think of an arrow. The entire arrow and the bow serve the purpose of the point. Sermons need to be well tipped. I have friends who go around looking for ancient Native American arrow heads. The heads always last the longest. The same is true for the sermon. The point is what will last.

A Twitter message is called a Tweet. With Twitter, you only get 140 characters. I have not done a good job of sermon prep if I can’t tell you what the message is about on Twitter. When I prepare the point of a message I ask the sermon, “What are you doing?” If I can’t Tweet it I won’t preach it. Calvin Miller and Andy Stanley are my favorite preachers (I don’t know them. I mean technically.). They are big champions of one point preaching. I’ll bet they can Tweet a sermon.

Why

The point of the message must connect with people. The network of people in front of the preacher is the reason for the sermon. The sermon exists for the people because people matter to God. The preacher must make the case for the point. We can’t assume people will care. The "why" part of the message generates creative tension, without which every sermon falls to the ground. What are the people's longings and fears? What does God want for them? These types of questions help craft the why of a message.

How

Application is the gift of a message. To stand in the center of our network each week and talk about the what and why of scripture is not enough. Sadly, we often assume they will know exactly what to do with the message. I think of John the Baptist’s network in Luke chapter 3. After he preached they asked him, “What shall we do then?” As a preacher I need to anticipate this question and work hard at application.

Don’t take notes Tweet.

When I grew up I was taught that the good Christian takes notes during a sermon, so I became a note taker. I’ve been encouraging people to update Facebook and Tweet during lessons and messages. This happened last night as I led a bible study for young adults called The Gathering on Parkway. They were all goofing around with their fancy little phones. I told them to update their status. To tell their network what they were doing. This gets the word out and sends the message down a relational bridge already built for the gospel. CNBC just ran a piece of Mark Driscoll’s encouragement of sermon twittering at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. I hope this goes viral.

Andy Stanley wrote something interesting that applies here, “The last category I might apply a message to is the person who is not there. Every time you speak, somebody is sitting there thinking about someone who really needed to hear what you had to say. Go ahead and address the person who is there but who knows someone who should have been there. Suggest ways for them to get your message in front of that person, tactfully.” Here’s a weird sentence I've come up with that helps me – “We preach to our thems for them AND for their thems.” Preaching is social networking.

These thoughts are really for me and they are a work in progress. Feel free to comment if you can help me with them. I’m working to craft my lessons and sermons based on these ideas so it’s a big deal to me and I’d appreciate your insight. If they help you communicate the gospel then I am really grateful. If you read all this thanks!

you think.

Summer Reading List

2011-06-01T12:00:00.000-05:00

We all stack up books during this season. I've got a few lined up. I'm looking for at least one piece of escape fiction. I would appreciate suggestions. Here's my list:

1. Cloulds Without Water: A Study of Jude As It Deals With Unregenerate Church Members, Bill Austin

2. Love Wins, Rob Bell

3. No Other Name: An Investigation into the Destiny of the Unevangelized. John Sanders

4. The Life Beyond: An Interpretation of New Testament teaching on death, the resurrection, the second coming, and eternal destiny - Ray Summers

5. Nudge, Len Sweet

What are you reading these days?

Soul Food

2011-05-26T10:09:00.000-05:00

I love soul food. The mention of it makes me smile. Soul food feeds the body and as the name implies it feeds the soul. Soul food can be procured in family kitchens, mom and pop restaurants, church fellowship halls, and other fine places. Soul food is loved by young and old, rich and poor. It’s good stuff.

I posted a picture of a soul food restaurant sign on Facebook recently and my old friend Bum Bounds commented that he was sure our church was probably much like the lunch place. He surmised that we were open to all and ready to feed the soul. I want us to live up to that belief.

We will focus on a number of important soul nutrients this summer. I think June and July will be important months for us. We will be reminded of ways to strengthen ourselves in the faith. Come and grab some Soul Food with friends. Bring friends with you! Here’s the message schedule:

June 5 Introduction and Scripture Intake

June 12 Gratitude

June 19 Industry

June 26 Friendship

June 3 Freedom (Curt Krushwitz)

July 10 Rest

July 17 Solitude

July 24 Vocation

July 31 Courage (Jamie McCallum)

W.A.Y

2011-04-28T14:56:00.000-05:00

Joe Trull once wrote, “Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers not only taught a way of thinking, they claimed to pursue a bios, a ‘way of life.’” The bible speaks of God’s way or the way of the Lord. Jesus presented himself as the way and his earliest followers were called people of the way. The word WAY is packed with ethical implications.

When it comes to serving our neighbors in groups we often simply need a WAY to start. I’m using this talk sheet for chalk board sessions with groups at FBC Waco to help launch simply ministry projects that expose our groups to God’s mission in our world. It will be fleshed out but this gives you an idea of where we are going.

Who?

...do not oppress the widow and the orphan, the foreigner and the poor.

Zechariah 7:10

Nicholas Wolterstorff talks about the, “quartet of the vulnerable.” Other biblical passages further flesh out the Who. Do you have friends, relatives, associates, or neighbors in a vulnerable place?

Available Support?

What ministries, agencies or groups are currently working on this?

What is going undone?

You?

What resources does our group possess?

Should we partner with an existing group?

What do we need to find out?

What is our next step?

Gathered and Scattered

2011-04-01T08:17:00.001-05:00

Our friend Jean Ann Jones gave me a beautiful photograph of our sanctuary. It was taken over 100 years ago. I love the light coming through the windows. I am also excited about seeing the Lord’s Supper table. Bill Ramer did a wonderful job of restoring that piece. It is a wooden parable of what God can do. The sanctuary is filled with beauty but the people are absent.

I wonder what the congregants were doing the day of the photo so many years ago. I can imagine that they were going about their work. They were teaching, ranching, tending house, doing all kinds of business. The kids were probably playing. The babies were napping. The people that were FBC Waco were living. They gathered in that beautiful room but they lived outside those walls. They gathered in the sanctuary but scattered to live, love, and serve. They are our spiritual ancestors and exemplars.

We gather in the same beautiful room. We come from all over the county and meet a few times each week in our centrally located meeting house. I love gathering with our church family. We come from West and McGregor and all spots in between. Gathering makes us stronger.

We scatter to live. I encourage you to see the end of our worship gatherings as an entrance to your primary mission field. Your mission takes place where you work, shop, and play. Ask God to help you serve the cause of Easter as you go about your life. Invite your friends to gather with us. Invest in them and love them as we scatter.

Good Work Y'all! Thanks Mike @ The Trib

2011-03-29T10:08:00.000-05:00

Waco Tribune Herald 03/26/2011
Reaching out to the neighbors
First Baptist Church of Waco adds Sunday services in Spanish
By Mike Copeland
Tribune-Herald staff writer

First Baptist Church of Waco is taking another step to reach out to its South Waco Spanishspeaking community by offering a Sunday service in Spanish.

For years, the church offered its “Habla” Bible-study program, sports leagues and classes teaching English as a second language.

“This is another opportunity to worship with and serve the people in our community,” said First Baptist Church Pastor Matt Snowden, noting the high percentage of Hispanics living near the facility’s location at 500 Webster Ave.

While about 500 people attend regular services Sunday mornings in the church sanctuary, Spanish-speaking people wanting to worship will gather at a nearby chapel.

“We do not look at this as a separate church or a separate entity, but another service in our church family,” Snowden said. “We have a lot of ministries for Spanish-speaking people and we have added this to our menu.”

Delores Melendez, who oversees the activities ministry at First Baptist, said the church works hard to overcome doubts that people in the neighborhood may have about attending a large church founded in 1851.

“First Baptist Church has a big heart and it has reached out to the community in more ways than just offering services in Spanish,” Melendez said. “A lot of people look at First Baptist and think, ‘I could never be a part of that.’ “But we are trying to get people away from that wa y of thinking and have been for many years.”

Melendez said First Baptist Church sponsors basketball and soccer teams that attract Spanish-speaking youngsters and other minorities.

It charges a small fee for parents to sign their children up to play in leagues and provides coaches as well as pays to have officials supervise the games and buys T-shirts and other equipment youngsters may need.

“Many of these children never played in a league because their families couldn’t afford it,” Melendez said. First Baptist is targeting these parents as it spreads the word about its new Sunday service in Spanish.

“Some say their children are asking about God for the first time,” Melendez said. Jaime Cortez, 26, hails from Veracruz, Mexico, and attends George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University. He said he enjoys preaching to Spanish-speaking congregants at First Baptist.

“There is need everywhere, but I see a huge need here,” said Cortez, who is married and has a 10-monthold child. “We have a lot of socialwork programs, and we have basketball leagues and soccer leagues that attract Spanish-speaking people. But there was nobody to share the Bible with them.

“I saw that as an opportunity.”

He said he and others approached Snowden about starting a Sunday morning worship service.

“He said, ‘If you want to go for it, go for it,’ ” Cortez said.

Cortez received his bachelor’s degree in theology from the Baptist University of the Americas in San Antonio, where several professors urged him to pursue advanced degrees at Baylor’s Truett Seminary.

Cortez hopes to serve as pastor of a church someday in either Mexico or the United States.

“I don’t know where yet, wherever God leads me,” Cortez said.

So far, attendance at the Spanish services, which began about a month ago, has been sparse.

“We have started very small, but we have great hopes the ministry will continue to grow,” Snowden said.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com 757-5736

The Pulpit and The Table

2011-03-17T11:20:00.000-05:00

I had the joy of preaching at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary this week. Truett is a wonderful place and it was an honor to be there. Click on the title of this blog and you will see the message. It's directed at emerging preachers. Truett has some great young men and women and I'm one of their biggest fans.

Tempted and Tried

2011-03-10T09:12:00.002-06:00

The first Sunday of Lent takes us into the wilderness. It's a place filled with jackals, sand, hot wind, and the Devil. We also find a few angels and Jesus out there. Bonhoeffer once wrote, "So the Chrisitian, too, belongs not in the seclusion of a cloiseterd life but in the thick of foes." Jesus showed us how to live in the world as it is. The focal text for this Sunday reminds us of this truth.

A robust understanding of sin and evil is one of the most practical things we can possess. R.T. Kendall said, "A solid, sound doctrine of evil is essential both to good theological foundation and also to practical Christian living." I hope you'll join us at FBC Waco this week as we begin the long walk to the empty tomb. We start on the piccacle of the temple.

Text: Matthew 4:1-11

Women in Ministry

2011-03-09T21:02:00.000-06:00

Pentecostals were some of the folks that shaped my position on women in minsitry. Here is one their old boys talking about it.

For the folks in Biloxi, Mobile, and NOLA

2011-03-08T09:40:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

2011-03-02T07:34:00.003-06:00

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

by the incomparable Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look’em over with care. About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.” With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down a not-so-good street.

And you may not find any you’ll want to go down. In that case, of course, you’ll head straight out of town. It’s opener there in the wide open air.

Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen, don’t worry. Don’t stew. Just go right along. You’ll start happening too.

Oh! The Places You’ll Go!

You’ll be on your way up!

You’ll be seeing great sights!

You’ll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.

You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed. You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead. Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best. Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t.

Because, sometimes, you won’t.

I’m sorry to say so but, sadly, it’s true that Bang-ups and Hang-ups can happen to you.

You can get all hung up in a prickle-ly perch. And your gang will fly on. You’ll be left in a Lurch.

You’ll come down from the Lurch with an unpleasant bump. And the chances are, then, that you’ll be in a Slump.

And when you’re in a Slump, you’re not in for much fun. Un-slumping yourself is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?

And if you go in, should you turn left or right…or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around back and sneak in from behind? Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find, for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused that you’ll start in to race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.

The Waiting Place…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting.

Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

No! That’s not for you!

Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing. With banner flip-flapping, once more you’ll ride high! Ready for anything under the sky. Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!

Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done! There are points to be scored. There are games to be won. And the magical things you can do with that ball will make you the winning-est winner of all. Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be, with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t. Because, sometimes, they won’t.

I’m afraid that some times you’ll play lonely games too. Games you can’t win ‘cause you’ll play against you.

All Alone!

Whether you like it or not, Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot.

And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants. There are some, down the road between hither and yon, that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go though the weather be foul. On you will go though your enemies prowl. On you will go though the Hakken-Kraks howl. Onward up many a frightening creek, though your arms may get sore and your sneakers may leak. On and on you will hike. And I know you’ll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You’ll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Life’s a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

Kid, you’ll move mountains!

So…be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ale Van Allen O’Shea, you’re off to Great Places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So…get on your way!

Happy Birthday Charlie Boy

2011-03-01T15:26:00.000-06:00

Today is Charles Snowden's 88 Birthday. He's planting a garden. I can wait to eat a tomato sandwich with him.

Church Covenant FBC Waco 1877

2011-02-23T13:50:00.001-06:00

Church Covenant

Having been brought as we trust, by Divine Grace, to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ, we do now solemnly and joyfully covenant with each other to walk together in Him with brotherly love to His glory as our common Lord. We do, therefore, in his strength engage,

That we will exercise mutual care, as members one of another, to promote the growth of the whole body in Christian knowledge, holiness and comfort in all the will of God.

That we cheerfully contribute of our property to the support of the poor of the church, and for the maintenance of a faithful ministry of the gospel among us.

That we will not omit closet and family religion at home, nor allow ourselves to permit too common neglect of the great duty of religiously training our children and those under our care, with a view of the service of Christ and the enjoyment of Heaven.

That we will walk circumspectly in the world, that we may win souls, remembering that God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

That we will frequently exhort, and if occasion require, admonish one another (according to Matthew xviii chap.) in the spirit of meekness, considering ourselves lest we also be tempted; and

That, as we have been buried with Christ in baptism and raised again, there is henceforth on us a special obligation to walk in newness of life;

And the God of peace, who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Shepherd of the flock, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work, working in us that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Dunn's Falls

2011-02-20T21:17:00.003-06:00

Dunn's Falls was one of my favorite places when I was growing up. This show doesn't do it justice but you do get a taste of a great place in Mississippi.

Tracy Lawrence/Find Out Who Your Friends Are

2011-02-17T11:05:00.000-06:00

I'll preach the second message in the, O How He Loves You and Me, series this week. We'll explore Christian friendship. Paul Wadell of St. Norbert College said, "Friends do not give up on one another." Tracy Lawrence said the same thing with a little twang. Enjoy!

MAVIS STAPLES & JEFF TWEEDY (WILCO) TV LIVE 2010

2011-02-07T17:26:00.001-06:00

Mavis and Tweedy blessed me again today. More about this Sunday!

First Steps @ First Baptist Waco

2011-02-04T11:57:00.001-06:00

We are offering an opportunity at FBC Waco for new members and guests called, First Steps. I'll lead the group through four weeks of introduction into the life of our spiritual community. We will meet at 9:30 in room 102. Here is the talk sheet for week 1. Click on the blog title for the '63 Baptist Faith and Message. -

First Steps @ First Baptist Church

Thank you for taking part in First Steps at FBC Waco. We are glad that you are here. We are praying that you experience God’s best during this season of transition in your spiritual life. For the next four weeks we will talk about issues that are important to you. First Steps is designed for you so please feel free to take charge of the direction.

Doctrine

“The basis for our doctrine is the Bible – God’s Holy Word. We consider the Bible to be God’s uniquely inspired revelation of Himself and we turn to it as the authoritative source of our beliefs and practice. Every believer has the responsibility and privilege of interpreting God’s Word in light of God’s ultimate revelation of Himself, Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit guides.”

“There is room for variety of interpretation, but our beliefs are best summarized by the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message, a confession of faith adopted May 9, 1963.”

Membership

FBC Waco believes in a regenerate church membership. Let’s pause and review the ’63 BF&M section on salvation (p.7).

Article II Membership (FBC Waco Bylaws Revised 2008)

Section 1. Members The Members of FBC shall be those persons whose names are on the membership roll kept by the Church Clerk as of the date these revised Bylaws are adopted and all applicants for membership who, upon a majority vote of Members present at any annual, regular, or special meeting of the Members, are subsequently received as members in one of the following ways:

(a) by profession of faith in Jesus Christ and believer’s baptism;

(b) by transfer of membership from another Baptist church;

(c) by believer’s baptism; or

(d) by statement of faith and prior experience of believer’s baptism.

Section 2. Watchcare. A person who has already made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ, but is undecided about believer’s baptism, or who wishes to maintain membership in another church, may affiliate with FBC by watchcare. A person who affiliates by watchcare by watchcare shall not be considered a voting member of FBC unless such person later is received for membership under Section 1 of this Article.

O How He Loves You and Me

2011-01-27T10:48:00.005-06:00

I had wonderful experience yesterday. I spend a little time hanging out with Kurt Kaiser. He was kind enough to let me drop by his house and talk about a song that touches me deeply. His 1975 song, "O How He Loves You and Me" was my uncle Steve's final lesson for his students and has become my creed (more about this later). I am going to preach a sermon series based on this chorus. It will start on Feb. 13 and continue until March 6. Kurt Kaiser will join us on the 6th and help lead in worship. I count all of this as a gift of God's kindness.

O How He Loves You and Me is a testimony, a confession. I'd like to hear yours. In the spirit of the favorite passages series I'd like you to send me your responses to this -

Tell me a little about your love relationship with Jesus. How did it begin?

Your testimony is a beautiful song of redemption and it needs to be sung. Enjoy the YouTube videos of O How He Loves You and Me. Click on the title of the blog piece to link to Kurt's blog.

50 Plus Retreat Bible Study Notes

2011-01-18T10:56:00.001-06:00

I'm giving a bible study for a senior adult retreat this week at the Latham Springs Retreat Center. Here are the rough notes. If you were there - thanks. I hope you were encouraged.

All The Lord’s People: The Church in Service to Christ and Community

Luke 9:28-36 – The Encounter

Jesus filled the prophetic office of Moses. Deuteronomy 8:15, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your people; you shall heed such a prophet.”

Jesus was connected to Elijah, the prophet of the eschaton. Malachi 4:5

The disciples were sleepy but stayed awake. This is an interesting little detail and we should not make too much of it but there is something important about being awake. Falling asleep at the wrong times causes you to miss things. (s) “Odell and the Hearing Aide” (s) Alice Dell Rolling Out of the Pew – Ephesians 5:14-25

Peter- Three equal booths calls to mind the Feast of Tabernacles and God’s provision in the desert. Don’t camp here – keep moving.

Shekinah glory and the voice of God – my son, my chosen, listen to him. “Jesus was found alone.” Christ is utterly unique. Colossians – revelation, creation, dominion, salvation.

Luke 9:37-43 – Into the Mess

The inner circle walks back down into a mess. Mark 9:28-29, “why?...only through prayer” J. Lyle Story, “Some demons are stronger than others.” Spiritual preparation for ministry is vitally important. God openly rewards the secret life of prayer.

Luke 9:44-48 – We Don’t Always Learn From Experience

Admiration is short lived. There’s a cross in the middle of history. Pride seems to be the human default setting. Jesus models Godly humility – the child at his side. God hangs out with weird people. See Timothy Keller’s work.

Luke 9:49-50 – Making Room for Others

Church should be a place concerned with power. We often settle for a cheap knock-off of real power and settle for control. Jesus wants empowered and released disciples. Jesus IS like Moses was – Numbers 11:26-30

God wants us to see Christ as he is and serve in the light of the vision. The service that brings God pleasure is spiritually vital, humble, and inclusive. Let’s wake up and walk down the hill with th

Pilgrims on the Amarillo Trail

2011-01-13T06:33:00.000-06:00

I got back from a mad dash road trip last night. Here's the early morning coffee scribble about it -

Darin Davis and I are becoming friends. I prayed for friends when we moved to Texas and God has really shown out. We've met some truly wonderful people. Darin is one of the best.

One of the common things about good people is they know a truck load of other good people and want to share them. Darin's roots run deep in the dirt of the Texas High Plains. Amarillo has a decent share of good people, many of them friends to Darin. We drove up this week to share a little life with a few of them.

I'm thankful for Howie Batson of FBC Amarillo. We had breakfast and he was interested in our lives and work. He offered good advice and his cell phone number. One of the marks of a good leader is the desire to invest in others. Thanks Howie. I'll be calling.

We also met with Dr. Winfred Moore. Our church family loves him and it's clear why. He is a larger than life character yet a pilgrim and student at 91. I found him curious, a good listener, brave with his confessions, and insightful. He knows how to confer the blessing. He blessed me. We all need mentors, peers, and proteges. I'm glad God dishes them up in his good time. It's one of the chief ways the church finds her voice.

Save This Date - February 5th

2011-01-04T11:40:00.001-06:00

ANNOUNCEMENT

Seminar title: Science and Faith: Breaking Down the Wall

Sponsored by: First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas, and the Center for Ministry Effectiveness and Educational Leadership at Baylor University

Location: First Baptist Church, Fellowship Hall, Waco, Texas

Date and time: Saturday, February 5, 2011. 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Lunch served.

Registration: Contact Carol Huckeby at 254-752-3000 or e-mail chuckeby@fbcwaco.org. $25 registration fee payable to First Baptist Church, Waco; $5 for students.

What is this seminar designed to do?

One of the great challenges deep in American culture today is reconciling tenets of the Christian faith with those of modern science. Many noted scientists and mathematicians often think they cannot become Christians due to the common misconceptions of conflicts between faith and science. High school and college students often lose their faith because of this same misunderstanding. Many Christians see science as a threat to their faith rather than a means to enriching it.

The goal of this seminar is to educate people of the church (as well as those outside the church) regarding the engagement of faith and science. The intent is to help clergy and laity alike understand how, in their pursuit of truth as Christian people, their faith will be strengthened and their Christian effectiveness increased when they take both biblical theology and science seriously. The sponsors of this seminar believe that as Christians better understand the relationship between the Christian faith and the scientific investigation of the natural world, many who may currently see these as antagonistic, or at best as disconnected, will begin to view them as complementary, while also mutually informing and edifying. Christians—indeed, congregations—will become more aware of the positive relationship between faith and science that is possible when each is properly understood, with God seen as the author of both.

The speakers for the seminar are Gerald Cleaver, Associate Professor of Physics, Barry Harvey, Professor of Theology, and Phyllis Tippit, Lecturer in Geology and Interdisciplinary Science, all from Baylor University. If you wish to receive additional information about this seminar, contact Julie Covington at Baylor (tel.: 254-710-4677 or email Julie_Covington@baylor.edu ).

Discovering Jesus

2010-12-23T11:24:00.001-06:00

Christmas Eve is almost here. I'm ready to light the Christ candle and celebrate Jesus. Advent was great. I'm ready.

Randall Perry will preach a message on the Magi December 26th. Don't miss this chance to celebrate the men that sought Jesus and found him. They inspire me in my life of faith. I'll be preaching a series on Colossians during the month of January. We will rediscover Christ together. Get a good start on the journey by reading the epistle. Have a great holiday!!!

Rev. Miss. Moon the Heavenly Book Visitor

2010-12-22T10:03:00.003-06:00

I've had a little fun with the Episcopal Church's treatment of Lottie Moon. They have given December 22 as a day to honor a woman Baptists in the South have called a Saint for years. She really was quite something and worthy of a Google search.

Here are the bible readings for Lottie Moon Day
Psalm 148:1-6
Ruth 1:15-19a
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
John 1:29-33

Prayer (contemporary language)

O God, in Christ Jesus you have brought Good News to those who are far off and to those who are near: We praise you for awakening in your servant Lottie Moon a zeal for your mission and for her faithful witness among the peoples of China. Stir up in us the same desire for your work throughout the world, and give us the grace and means to accomplish it; through the same Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Well done Episcopal friends. Thanks!

The Carpenter's Son

2010-12-17T17:48:00.000-06:00

The home town crowd once asked, "Isn't that the carpenter's son?" I affirm all the miracles in the gospels but my answer to that question is yes. God selected Joseph just like he selected Mary. Joseph was a wonderful man of faith and lived an exemplary life. He was: righteous, kind, responsible, and courageous. If you are in Central Texas this Sunday I'd love for you to join us at FBC Waco as we explore the life of this remarkable man.

Read Matthew 1:18-25

Have a great weekend!

Save The Date: Seminarian Preaching Series @ FBC Waco

2010-12-16T11:14:00.001-06:00

First Baptist Church of Waco has a long history of encouraging young men and women who are preparing for ministry. During the early 1870s Pastor B.H. Carroll began to offer instruction to ministerial students. He did this for over 30 years. His class evolved into a Bible and Theological department at Baylor and eventually into Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. One of his students was a young man named George W. Truett.

When George W. Truett Theological Seminary was chartered First Baptist Church Waco offered to house the seminary for the first years of its operation. Classes began at FBC on September 1, 1994. This continued until the seminary dedicated the Baugh-Reynolds Campus in 2002. The “Preaching” window in the new seminary chapel depicts the pulpit at FBC Waco. FBC Waco and George W. Truett Theological Seminary are old friends and partners in ministry. We want to strengthen our relationship.

FBC Waco is creating preaching opportunities for students at Truett. An initial series begins January 16. There is a clear need for a ministry like this and your presence will insure continued and expanded opportunities. Please pray for this ministry and join us as we worship together. The preachers for the first Seminarian Preaching Series are:

Blakely Winslow

Kyndall Renfro

Jonathan Perry

Mary Alice Birdwhistell

Jamie McCallum

Chris Canary

My Stack of Books

2010-12-15T09:54:00.001-06:00

A friend and congregant recently asked me, "What are you reading now?" I have a few books in the stack and I hope to finish them sometime soon. Here's my list. What are you reading?

Christian Doctrine - Walter Thomas Conner (1937)
Goodbye to a River - John Graves (1959)
God's Order - John A. Mackay (1953)
The Orchard Keeper - Cormac McCarthy (1965)
Home - Marilynn Robinson (2008)
Under the Unpredictable Plant - Eugene H. Peterson (1992)
The Expositor's Bible Commentary on Colossians - Todd Still (2006)

Roger Olson talking theology on Assemblies of God TV

2010-12-14T11:02:00.001-06:00

Mary

2010-12-09T11:10:00.000-06:00

We don't really know how to handle Jesus' momma. Some traditions exalt her beyond normal humanity. I think this reduces her in a strange kind of way. My own tradition, being a little reactionary, often presents her as little more than a borrowed womb. This makes her one more Evangelical "just". The Supper is "just" a memorial meal, etc. Mary has been wrapped in neon and pasted on construction paper. What do we do with her?

We follow her example.

Mary was a holy young woman. She loved God and had grit. We are going to talk about her this Sunday morning. Our focus will be her song of praise recorded in Luke 1:46-55. We are also going to climb a few steps on Benedict of Nursia's ladder of humility. Like Mary - we can grow in God exalting humility by:

Revering God
Doing God's Will
Submitting to One Another
Enduring Affliction

Have a great weekend. I hope to see you on Sunday!

Heaven is weird.

2010-12-01T10:29:00.001-06:00

"Heaven is weird." Willimon and Hauerwas

This is the strangest church steeple I've ever seen. It's at a Presbyterian church in Port Gibson, Mississippi. Look closely and you will see a gilded finger pointing into the sky. The point - God is different. I will talk about the phrases, "In heaven" and "Hallowed be your name" tonight during our midweek prayer gathering. Here's a little preview.

"In heaven" is more spiritual than spatial. "Heavenly Father" speaks of God's personal relationship with us and his "otherness." When we approach God we must remember that he is, well, different. God is independent of us and far greater. God has desires. God acts. God is patient but he's not obligated to wait. God is merciful. Here is some wise guidance for relating to our heavenly Father - "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God; to draw near to listen is better than the sacrifice offered by fools; for they do not know how to keep from doing evil. Never be rash with your mouth, not let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven, and you upon earth; therefore let your words be few" Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 (NRSV).

"All creation is meant to hallow the name of God. We must learn the melody of adoration." Willimon and Hauerwas

When we hallow the name of God we slow down to worship. We put God in his place and find our true location as well. We worship because God likes it. He takes pleasure in us. Worship glorifies God and is a means of our sanctification. In hallowing the name of God we also appeal to his reputation. Moses did this. Joshua did it. We also affirm our commitment to observing the command not to take the name of Lord in vain.

Jesus' model prayer should impact our prayers in the deepest way. These two little phrases say so much. May we have the grace to apply them in our days.

Go Cats Go!!! - sportsjuice.com

2010-11-25T19:29:00.001-06:00

My old High School is playing for the South State Championship tomorrow night against Oak Grove High (Hattiesburg). Baylor people - Larry Fedora's son plays for Oak Grove. Check out the game on sportsjuice.com Friday @ 7:00.

Thanksiving and Advent

2010-11-18T13:48:00.001-06:00

       American Christians have a unique opportunity. We celebrate a time of “thanksgiving” just prior to joining our brothers and sisters from around the globe in the season of Advent. I love it. Giving thanks really should precede the beginning of the church year. The Christ story is worthy of deep gratitude. We talked about Gratitude and Giving last week at FBC Waco. We will explore Gratitude and Forgiving this week. Please read Matthew 18:21-35 before Sunday.

     For years I’ve been talking about Jesus’ three advents. I was happy to see a piece in Christian Reflection that talked about this. Each advent is beautiful. Jesus came to all humankind. We celebrate this at Christmas. Jesus comes to us now. The Spirit of Jesus Christ is moving in the earth. This advent is the reason we can speak of a relationship with God. Jesus will come to judge and make right. We know the end from the beginning.

     I have great expectation about the next few weeks. We’ll feast and fast. We’ll praise and long. We’ll sing and remain silent. God will be present for it all. Hallelujah.

Gratitude and Giving

2010-11-11T11:44:00.000-06:00

“Gratitude and Giving” - 2 Corinthians 9:7

“Each one of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

We will talk about the spiritual practice of giving this Sunday. Don’t worry about guilt or gloom. They won’t be present. We will simple focus on two things God loves – you and cheerful giving. I believe that all believers want to be part of things God loves. Cheerful giving is one of those things. 2 Corinthians 8-9 gives us plenty of help in developing this attitude and corresponding action. We can study the example of the Macedonians and Paul’s relief offering for some helpful guidance. Here’s a list of observations:

1. Giving is evidence of God’s grace. 2 Cor. 8:1

2. Everyone can give. 2 Cor. 8:2

3. We can give generously. 2 Cor. 8:3

4. Giving should be voluntary. 2 Cor. 8:4

5. Giving demonstrates a commitment to Christ. 2 Cor. 8:5

6. Jesus exemplified giving. 2 Cor. 8:9; I Peter 2:21

7. Giving is a spiritual practice that can be revived. 2 Cor. 8:6-7

8. Giving should be planned. 8:10-12

9. God is the source. 2 Cor. 9:6-12

10. Giving attacks materialism. (G.W. Peterman)

• Christians should know contentment in every state.

• Money is a commodity that should be used in the service of others, not something to display one’s virtue publicly, to gain honor, or to bring others into one’s orbit of power.

• Reward can only be expected from God, not from others.

• God bestows the material wealth we share with others, and consequently God, not the giver, is the one who is to be blessed and thanked.

• Sharing with other Christians is identified as koinonia.

• Giving to others proves that one’s confession of Christ as Lord is true.

The Disciple's Prayer

2010-11-10T10:58:00.001-06:00

Jack Hayford once wrote that the key to everything is giving and forgiving. I read that bold assertion when I was a very young minister and have often observed how true it is. I shared with our church that I will be preaching on giving and forgiving the next two Sunday mornings. I also told them that I would be teaching on The Lord’s Prayer during our Wednesday night gatherings. I’ve discovered a really wonderful correlation between the two themes.

Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:1-18 is interwoven with the call to give and forgive. The themes are overlaid and pressed like a piece of papyrus to form a single unit. Here’s is how it looks –

Giving (1-4)

Prayer (5-13)

Forgiving (14-15)

Fasting (16-18)

Jesus wants to openly bless the secret piety of his disciples. We need his blessing more than oxygen. We do well to linger over these verses. They just may hold the key to everything.

Book

2010-11-07T20:29:00.001-06:00

I've had people ask about the book I mentioned in church this morning. Here it is. I think Paul J. Wadell's book deserves a wide reading. Get it and enjoy.

Set your clocks back and then come to church @ FBC Waco

2010-11-06T21:05:00.001-05:00

This is Rev. Roy Dabbs. I'm going to tell a story about him tomorrow. Set your clocks back. Enjoy the extra hour of sleep. Go to church tomorrow.

Liturgy of Life

2010-11-05T10:37:00.000-05:00

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking around life – and place it before God as an offering… I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me…

Eugene Peterson captures the spirit of Romans 12:1-3 in The Message. We are called to create a liturgy of life – to stand in the offering basket and sing, “I surrender all.” This lived worship is a response to the kindness of God not a ploy to garner it. We cannot make God love us any more than he already does. We can respond with lavish devotion. Some speak of sanctification as the doctrine of gratitude. I want us to focus our attention on this cherished doctrine during the upcoming weeks. We will look at Romans 12:1-3 this week and them build from there. Here’s a look ahead:

November 14 “Gratitude and Giving” 2 Corinthians 9:7

November 21 “Gratitude and Forgiving” Matthew 18:23-35

Reaching Hands

2010-11-02T18:43:00.000-05:00

I had a wonderful conversation with a friend and congregant today. This friend gave me a beautiful image of God's kingdom. We were talking about ministy, poverty, leadership, and God's grace. She began to talk about our church's Pumpkin Patch party. We are both parents and had our children there. She said, "The Pumpkin Patch reminded me of why I love our church. At one point I looked and saw little white, black, and hispanic hands reaching into the same bucket for treasure. They were so happy. It was awesome." I think it was gospel. The message of the kingdom is treasure. We need to continue pointing others to the treasure! Just a thought.

Songs We Sing

2010-10-28T16:41:00.004-05:00

Running With Ancestors

2010-10-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

This Sunday is Halloween. The Christian community has dealt with the day in different ways over the years. Some view it as a totally evil event fit only for real witches and their supporters. Others see the day as a totally secular happening. It's a good reason to hang out with neighbors and eat candy. A third response is to emphasize the All Saints and Reformation Day themes. I blend the last two and claim it as mine.

The Snowden family likes that candy party stuff. Our church had a wonderful Pumpkin Patch party. We shared a night of happiness with our friends and neighbors. That can't be wrong.

I also appreciate the opportunity this time of year offers to focus on our faithful spiritual ancestors. We are truly surrounded by a cloud of faithful witnesses. This is a good time to stop and think about the impact they continue to make. I love the "record art" photo I took last night. You can see two aged arms standing behind the old record player. Those arms helped my little girl create something beautiful with magic marker, an old turn table, and a paper plate. That's what church is - different generations working to make something special.

We will talk about this type of faithful living Sunday morning. The focal text will be Hebrews 12:1-3. Read it and join us for worship. Have a safe weekend y'all!

At Home With God

2010-10-25T16:19:00.004-05:00

Songs We Sing

2010-10-21T16:04:00.000-05:00

We will gather Sunday and celebrate the goodness of God. Many will be in town this weekend for Baylor's homecoming. I think of Sunday mornings as a homecoming of sorts. We return week after week and it feels like home. This week we will open the bible and read the 23rd Psalm. We will also be reminded of why we sing. My prayer is that this will help prepare us for a special night of worship this Sunday evening at 7:00. We will open new hymnals to worship God as a family. He's given us a new song to sing. Let's sing.

Saved by Hope - Romans 8

2010-10-21T09:44:00.003-05:00

I'm catching up on the sermon podcasts

2010-10-20T12:50:00.002-05:00

My first sermon at FBC Waco

2010-10-19T10:25:00.001-05:00

Singing Together

2010-10-18T16:50:00.000-05:00

We will sing new songs Sunday night. Our church family will gather at 7:00 to sing from our new Celebrating Grace hymnals. I can’t think of a better way to mark a new season in our congregational journey and I am excited.

Christians are singing people. We have expressed our heart through music for thousands of years. Singing together is a powerful experience. Singing is one of the chief ways we praise our God and King. Psalm 22:3 reads, “Yet you, the Holy One, who make your home in the praises of Israel,” What a thought! God is at home in our praise. When we sing together we set a place and invite the tender Presence. God comes and settles in with us. That is why we sing.

We also sing because singing draws us closer to each other. It takes a degree of humility to open up and sing in public. Humility is the rock of godly community. When we sing together we sing different parts but the same song. I cannot think of a better picture of community life. We are very different. We have different gifts and talents. We come from different backgrounds. We have different perspectives. We definitely have different personalities. Living with each other takes a truck load of grace and strong unifiers. Thank God we have both. He provides grace for the shared life and gives us a common song to sing. We need to sing. For our sake and the Kingdom’s we need to sing!

I am glad that I serve as the pastor of FBC Waco. The church is my family’s community – our people. We look forward to singing together for years to come.

For God So Love the World

2010-10-15T09:41:00.003-05:00

We will celebrate The Supper at FBC Waco this Sunday. We will also gather around the hopeful promise found in John 3:16-17 -

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (KJV).

We'll see you Sunday!

She that was a princess...

2010-09-30T15:34:00.000-05:00

Waco is filled with some wonderful theologians and only a handful of them cash checks from Baylor and Truett. The rest mostly go on living their vital faith without notice. I just hung up the phone after a wonderful conversation with one of these gonzo theologians.

She asked that I not use her name in a sermon or in print so I won't. She is letting my tell you a little about her. My theological lesson today came from a 93 year old woman. She moved to Waco in 1934 to attend Baylor University. She was happily married for over sixty years. She was separated from her love for three years during WWII. He died a few years ago and that pierced her heart. She is also dealing with illness and the challenge of aging. She shared her favorite scripture with me - Lamentations 2:22-24. When I asked her about it she said, "I know that the mercies of God are new every morning - great is his faithfulness." She has walked with God for almost a century. She has seen great sorrow and joy. She knows God. We can learn from her confession.

This Sunday we will explore the book of Lamentations, giving special emphasis to 3:19-24. Please read the book over the weekend and join us for worship. We hope to have the message available online next week so check back in. Have a great weekend!

Will the Lord be pleased...

2010-09-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

I went to a pastor's conference in Jackson, Mississippi a few years ago and experienced a really weird sacrament. The preacher closed his message with an invitation to come to the altar and receive a smiley face sticker. We were grown-ups and ministers of the gospel. What did we do? We ambled down like sheep to get our sticky trinket. The funny thing is the goofy little act stuck with me. I've still got the grinning little dot in the front of my bible. What was the point?

He wanted all of us give ourselves to living for the pleasure of God. There are many ways to live but the wised and most vibrant way to live is for the pleasure and glory of God. This is what the prophet Micah was after in the 8th century.

This Sunday morning I will explore Micah's answer to the question, "Will the Lord be pleased?" If you are in Central Texas then we'd love for you to join us at FBC Waco for our 10:30 worship experience. FBC family - please prepare your hearts by reading to book of Micah. Have a great weekend y'all!

Home

2010-09-16T10:32:00.000-05:00

Home is a powerful word. It summons deep emotion. I don't know a single person that is moderate about it. That's power. Jesus talked about spiritual home in John 14. God is our dwelling place and we are the dwelling place of God. He promised not the leave us orphaned.

The gifts of home are guidance, peace, and courage. I need all three and so do you. Please read John 14 and join us for worship at FBC Waco this Sunday @ 10:30. I'm praying that many people will come home. Have a great weekend y'all!

Saved by Hope

2010-09-09T16:40:00.000-05:00

I was a cradle roll Baptist. I was a Sunday School kid. I grew up having really wonderful people tell me that Jesus loved me and I believed them. They also taught me about sin and salvation. My childhood teachers taught me that salvation had past, present, and future dimensions. They used words like regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. I remember hearing these repeated for years. I'm pretty sure that they were influenced by the 1963 Baptist Faith and Message. I still have a copy my dad got in 1971.

The '63 BF&M still serves FBC Waco as a helpful guide. It's ours. When I look out over the congregation Sunday I will see Aaron Ogburn. His dad Tom sits at Hershel Hobbs desk at FBC Oklahoma City. I'll see Dr. Ruth Pitts. Her father, James H. Landes, served on the committee. Curt Kruschwitz' grandfather, V.C. Kruschwitz, also helped craft the document. These folks worked and their words trickled down to children like me.

I'll preach from Romans 8 this Sunday morning. This magnificent passage of scripture explores the riches of salvation. It calls us to embrace the past, present, and future aspects of it. Read Romans 8 before Sunday and revisit the '63 statement on salvation. Both will give you plenty of reason to celebrate God's goodness. Have a good weekend.

http://www.baptiststart.com/print/1963_baptist_faith_message.html

Finders

2010-09-07T10:04:00.000-05:00

I’m sitting in my office at First Baptist Waco reading an old collection of revival sermons. They were preached by B.H. Carroll. I found the book when I unpacked an ugly stack of boxes last week. When I looked at the cover I realized that Carroll had once served this congregation. He paved the way. I decided that I would revisit the old pastor’s messages and pray for revival in our generation.

Carroll once called the church to bring men and women to Jesus and stop. Our job is to invite and introduce. We must trust God to do his great work of redemption. Here’s an example of his thought –

“If you have been found of Jesus, then your chief mission is to be a finder for Jesus, and your chief argument in bringing people to Jesus is the fact that you have found Jesus yourself, that is, your Christian experience; and as a remedy against any objection in the way of preconceived opinion on the part of the one you are trying to lead to Jesus, you are to use no argument, no scolding, but simply, ‘Come and see.’”

We must nurture a church culture that values four simple actions. We must invest in our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and the stranger in our midst. We must invite them to join us in worship. We must include them in the life our community. We must introduce them to the Jesus that searched and found us.

We have a story of hope to share. Let’s share it together. I believe that there are great days of ministry in our future. Thank you for calling me to serve as your pastor.

Mission Venture

2010-09-06T21:29:00.000-05:00

I promised my friends Ward and Kristen that I would run in a 5k this year. I try to keep my word so I've been pounding the pavement early in the mornings. You may now call me Thunder. My route takes me through a quiet park and neighborhood. I pass the Westwood Baptist Church every day. I stopped this morning to read the church sign. It gives a brief history of the congregation's long history. You can read the lead paragraph in the photo. I was struck by the fact that faculty and students worked together to do something for the glory of God. It made me think of the great Baylor faculty and students we have at FBC Waco. It made me think of the rest of us. We don't just share pews one day a week. We share in a mission venture! The Westwood Church still has a ministy in this world. The day we moved in a teenage member of the congregation invited my family to worship. The efforts of faculty and students so many years ago touched my family the day of our arrival in the community. Faithful ministry is enduring. We may not see all that God wants to do through our acts of service but we can rest in the hope that he is working. Don't go to church. Take part in the venture!

Glad Generations

2010-09-02T20:19:00.000-05:00

I will be preaching a message from Psalm 100 this Sunday morning. My friend Leigh Moseman shared that Psalm 100 was one of her favorite passages of scripture. She said this about it, "I say Psalm 100 every morning when I get out of bed. It is my prayer to 'make a joyful noise unto the Lord' and to 'serve Him with gladness.' I want to live a life of thanksgiving, of praise, and a life that is glorifying to God." Don't you just love that. I want that for me, my family, and FBC Waco!

Psalm 100 commands us to live a life of adoration. It also gives us reasons for this kind of lifestyle. The Psalm calls us to recall the simple truths of our childhood table blessing - God is great. God is good. We find our gladness and strength from these rock solid realities. Psalm 100 asserts that God's faithfulness and stubborn love is for all generations. That gives us plenty to be glad about and Godly gladness is our strength.

Read Psalm 100 a few times before Sunday and then join us for worship at FBC Waco - 10:30. I'm praying that God will put his gladness in our hearts (see Psalm 4). See y'all there

FBC Waco

2010-08-31T16:54:00.001-05:00

I just wanted y'all to have my new FBC Waco contact information:
254-752-3000
http://www.fbcwaco.org/
msnowden@fbcwaco.org

New

2010-08-12T08:09:00.001-05:00

I love this time of year. Baseball overlaps football. The leaves on the trees start to get cranky. Yellow school buses fill the morning and afternoon streets. I saw a few of them on the way to the office this morning. I thought of Eleanor and bus 493. They were both something!

Late August always gives me butterflies. Ever years it makes me think back on the twelve "first days" I had as a public school student in Meridian, Mississippi. Those new days still stick with me. The first day of something new is filled with excitement, hope, and fear. What a gift.

We serve the God of new things. He is working his good pleasure in all of our lives and we need to celebrate it. New seasons are still occasions for hope, excitement, and a dose of healthy fear.Well maybe not fear but at the very least some focused sobriety.

Here's my challenge for you today. Get a few #2 Ticonderoga pencils and sharpen them yourself. Breath in a good smell of the tip. Find some wide ruled loose leaf paper. You may have to buy some or borrow it from a kid. Write out a prayer of gratitude for the new things God is doing in your life. You may need to ask him to show you the way.

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new" 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NRSV).

Mavis' Trump Card

2010-08-10T09:37:00.002-05:00

I preached at First Baptist Church Waco, Texas this past Sunday. Those wonderful people took a vote and asked me to be their pastor. We were humbled to tears and are excited about serving God with them.

We are also grateful for the prayers of our friends in Meridian, MS. The gracious spirit of our church family is a testimony to their unshakable faith in Jesus. Their encouragement was bread for our journey and I'll always be grateful. I also took courage from a strange place as I approached our weekend in Texas. I said a prayer of gratitude this morning for Mavis Staples, Wilco, and Lollapalooza. Let me explain.

We spent the first night of our trip in Bossier City, Louisiana. We hunkered down in a budget motel just off the interstate. One of the perks of our stay was a free USA Today. They ran a great article about Mavis Staples, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco and Lollapalooza. I've always loved Sister Mavis and Wilco is incredible. I keep up with them trough Mr. Tony Sansone. Mr. Tony is a member of FBC Meridian and one of my favorite people. His son Patrick is in the band and Mr. Tony is proud.

Mavis and Jeff Tweedy have started working together and that opened a door for her to play the big show in Chicago. She's not the normal fare and was a bit concerned about what to wear and how to act. Mavis leaned on a lesson from her father Pops. He would say, "You're singing God's music. You be sincere. What comes from the heart reaches the heart." She reflected, "So whatever audience it is, that's my trump card." Great advice!

Every congregation has a voice. Let's sing God's songs from the heart. It's the only hope we have of touching the hearts of others.

Where is your church?

2010-07-22T10:35:00.001-05:00

I normally have a few books going. I just finished two that dealt with some important aspects of missional Christianity. Stetzer and Rainer’s, Transformational Church, was really good. I also enjoyed a book by a Foursquare pastor named Jerry Cook titled, The Monday Morning Church: Out of the Sanctuary and Into the Streets. Each one these asked a version of the question, “Where is your church?”

Cook talked about his seminary days at Fuller. He said that Richard Halverson, a longtime Presbyterian minister in Washington D.C., would visit the campus yearly. One day a student asked him, “Dr. Halverson, where is your church?” This was his response - “Well, it’s three o’clock in Washington, D.C. The church I pastor is all over the city. It’s driving buses, serving meals in restaurants, sitting in board meetings, having discussions in the Pentagon, deliberating in congress.”
Stetzer and Rainer concluded their book with a comparison of two types of churches. The fictional missional church was named Riverview. Here how they characterized the congregation. “The ministry with Riverview is not based on the location of the church campus but the location of the church members.”
Were is your church?
It is at least partially present where you are right now. The life you live and the ministry you pursue are as important as anything that goes on in a collectively owned building somewhere in your town. We ARE the church. We’ll gather later but we’re scattered now.

Let get in on God’s mission in the world!

Hills of Copper

2010-07-19T06:58:00.000-05:00

Sermon Preview: "Hills Of Copper" Deuteronomy 8:1-10

2010-07-16T14:48:00.000-05:00

Copper is valuable. It has been important and pricey for thousands of years. In Deuteronomy 8 Moses paints a vivid picture of the land of promise. He includes hills of copper in the description of God's good work. He wanted the people the envision the collective future God planned for them so that they would order their lives accordingly. He was making the future present and using it to motivate.

God has prepared good things for us as well. He wants us to grow and increase in our love for him and others. He wants our lives to be more fruitful. As we live and increase there are important realities that we need to keep in mind. Between here and the hills of copper we will experience: God's discipline - the Enemy's confrontation - the Work's challenge. When we experience these "slowing" realities we need to deal with them according to wisdom and remember that there are hills of copper in our future.

Read Deuteronomy 8
Spend some time remembering the way God has led you to this point in your life.

Join us at FBC Meridian this Sunday. Have a great weekend y'all!

Preach on Mr. T

2010-07-14T09:36:00.001-05:00

I went to see the A Team with some friends a few weeks ago. It was fun. The movie was more crass than the old tv show so I wouldn't recommend it for all ages but it did bring back some great memories. What child of the 80s doesn't remember Mr. T's line, "I pity the fool." Fools should be pitied for sure but we also need a strategy for dealing with them. If you shake a magnolia tree ten of them will fall out so we need to learn how to live wisely among them.

I will lead a bible study tonight on 1 Samuel 25. It's a great story with interesting characters. David, Nabal, and Abigail's interactions give us some great principles for living wisely among the foolish. This is how I've distilled them:
1. Do not become a fool dealing with a fool.
2. Remember God.
3. Remember your purpose and identity.
4. Value a clean conscience.
5. Refuse personal vengeance.
Lagniappe - Pity the fool.

Read 1 Samuel 25 and see if you can identify these principles. Come to The Gathering @ FBC Meridian tonight if you can. 6:30. Have a great day y'all.

Trouble Viewing Broken Steeple Using Internet Explorer?

2010-07-13T10:46:00.001-05:00

Many readers have reported trouble viewing Broken Steeple in Internet Explorer 8. The problem is in IE8's "compatability view." "Compatability view" is designed to help you view older websites with a newer web browser like IE8. The problem arises when "compability view" is on and you are viewing a newer designed website like Borken Steeple. Don't worry though, it can be turned off with the click of a button. Heres how...

(Remember you can click any of the images below to view them larger!)

Steps 1-2: Make sure you have the "Compatability View Button" turned on. You can check this by right clicking in the blank area on the toolbar as seen in the picture below. If the "Compatability View Button" is not checked, click it to put a check beside it.

3. Locate the "Compatability View Button" next to the referesh button at the top of the brower as seen in the picture below. Click the icon.

4. Broken Steeple should now look like the picture below.

If you are still having trouble viewing the site, you can leave a comment to this post or let Matt know via Facebook!

This post is brought to you by Matt's personal webmaster, Will.

Ships That Will Not Sail

2010-07-13T08:02:00.001-05:00

Ships That Would Not Sail

2010-07-08T19:07:00.001-05:00

I was baptized when I was eleven years old by a wonderful man named C.C. Randall. He was professor of evangelism at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and the interim pastor of Highland Baptist Church in Meridian, MS. I found a copy of the order of worship from that day a few months ago and was taken by the title of his message. His sermon was, "Ships That Would Not Sail." The text was 2 Chronicles 20:31-37. I have not been able to find a copy of his message but being a preacher myself have decided to write my own and steal his title. I will have the honor of baptizing a bright little girl named Madison this Sunday. I'll be preaching for her and in memory of Dr. Randall.

I invite you to come and participate in worship at FBC Meridian. If you can't be here and are in East Mississippi /West Alabama catch the 10:30 service on WTOK. You can also watch it online next week. The text is really pretty cool. It is about King Jehoshaphat. I love saying that name. He was a good guy that made a few bad decisions. This Sunday we will see that a good man's "howevers" often lead to wasted work. I don't think many people want to waste their labor so this message is probably for you.

To prepare:
Read 2 Chronicles 17-20:37

Have a great weekend y'all. See ya Sunday!

Mercies

2010-07-07T09:33:00.000-05:00

I wake up early almost everyday. I had a visitor break the quiet this morning. Wes got out of his bed and came into the living room. He climbed up in my chair and we both dropped back to sleep. It was nice. It also reminded me of this quote from Jurgen Moltmann -

"With every new beginning of life the hope for the fullness of the life we call eternal acquires a new chance and a new assurance. Every child is also a new occasion for hope for the home of life in this unredeemed world. If this were not so we could expect nothing new of beginnings. But his 'mercies are new every morning', we are told (Lam.3.23). The small and daily renewals of time point beyond themselves to the morning of the new creation of all things."

Live this day for God's sake! Amen.

Learning Jack

2010-06-25T09:32:00.002-05:00

The last post on this blog was about the Jack Reeds. That little scribble led to one of the best lunch dates I've ever had. Here's what happened -

I emailed Mayor Reed telling him how much I enjoyed the Clarion Ledger interview and expressed my admiration for his dad. I included a link. He read the little thing. He was scheduled to speak in Meridian on Wednesday and invited me to be his guest at the event. I once overheard someone at the Neshoba County Fair say, "Mississippi is more a club than a state." I'd have to agree. Social media and the Mississippi Club got me to lunch with Jack Sr. I hadn't seen him since 1987. It was great.

We worked out a simple deal. It was an unspoken contract and we all know those exist. I'd fetch his coffee and desert and he'd answer questions about public speaking and leadership. I wanted to drink from the well and he seemed pretty happy about dipping the water. Jack Reed has a body that moves slower than it once did but his hearing aide and cane don't hide the light in his eyes and the mischief in his good humored voice. He made a deposit in my life this Wednesday and here are the lessons I'm going to try to apply in my life as a leader and speaker. This is not a list of quotes but the wisdom I distilled from our conversation.

1. Be a man of integrity. He quoted Aristotle which was fun to watch. I left with an appreciation for a communicator that truly values ethos.

2. Be funny if you can. Mr. Reed believes that the greatest tool a communicator has is a healthy sense of humor. We both agreed, however, that people who are not funny should not try to be. It's painful to watch.

3. Work to keep the speech/sermon short. A disciplined use of words is a powerful thing. I thought of E.B. White's guidance, "Eliminate useless words."

4. Remember that people remember more than they think they do. Mr. Reed said, "They always remember the punch lines but that doesn't mean the rest isn't in there subliminally."

5. Be moderate. Learn to listen and be humble enough to learn from others.

6. Take control of your emotional health. He cited William James' theory saying, "It's not happiness that creates the smile but the smile that creates the happiness." Being a calm presence is one of the best traits of a leader. Joy really is strength.

7. Be a teacher/mentor. John Wooden, St. Paul and others used the image of parent to describe healthy leadership. You can see the imprint of his life stamped on his son. The man lived what he taught. He also spoke of other's that, "think they are my son." He wasn't bragging but speaking with affection about persons he had invested in. That's huge.

8. Be passionate. You may remember I met Mr. Reed in 1987. I played him in our elementary school's mock election. The last question he had for me was, "Did we win?" He was delighted that we smoked 'em at Poplar Springs Elementary School. Wisdom and moderation is not antithetical to passion and drive. Great leaders nurture both.

God splashes blessings on us at unexpected times. My lunch with Mr. Reed fits into this category. I'm truly grateful for God's absurd grace and I'm thankful to Mr. Reed for once again taking some time for this boy.

Jack Reed Jr. on Leadership or "I'll Have an Arnold Palmer; Please."

2010-06-21T08:12:00.003-05:00

Jack Jr. on Leadership or "I'll Have an Arnold Palmer; Please."

Summer is here y’all and it’s getting deep. I’m not sure where you live but it’s hot in Mississippi. Most good Southerners have a strategy for staying cool and as a good Southerner I’ve been working on mine for years. The Arnold Palmer is part of my master plan. An Arnold Palmer is a drink. It is one part iced tea one part lemonade. I’ve been sipping them for years. I haven’t paused to think of their social importance until yesterday.

The Clarion Ledger ran a piece on Jack Reed Jr. the mayor of Tupelo. I immediately read it because Jack Sr. is one of my favorite Mississippians. When I was in the 5th grade at Poplar Springs Elementary School I played the part of Jack Reed in our school’s mock gubernatorial election. It was a little civics lesson that introduced me to the world of Southern politics. I got to meet Mr. Reed during the course of the deal and even stumped for him at a rally. It was my first and last political speech. Jack Reed Sr. is a class act and I think he embodies the best of Mississippi. Reading his son’s piece brought back some good memories.

At the end of the interview Reed said, “I’m working on a speech entitled, “The Courage to Be Moderate” or “I’ll have and Arnold Palmer; Please.” After a year as an elected public servant, I am more convinced than ever that Tupelo, and Mississippi, need men and women who have the wisdom to consider both sides of public debates; who have the strength to acknowledge that the other side has a good point; and who recognize that the most productive answers are generally ‘both/and’ not ‘either/or.’ In battle, ‘the center must hold.’”

As a moderate in things political and ecclesiastical I say, “May his tribe increase!”

God and the Big Ole Goofy World

2010-06-16T10:01:00.004-05:00

Molly Katherine and I like to dance around the house with each other singing a few lines from John Prine’s song, Goofy World. “There’s a big ole goofy man dancing with a big ole goofy girl – ah baby – it’s a big ole goofy world.” It truly is. Life is hard and unpredictable. Sure things blow up and the rain falls on the just and unjust. As Christ’s followers we can dance our way through by humbly clinging to the kindness of God.

I’ll preach a message tonight based on Hannah’s story in 1 Samuel. We can learn many lessons from her experience and the way God dealt with her. She was mistreated and misunderstood but she presented herself before God and poured out her heart in prayer. God listened and blessed. She’s a good model for us.

If you are in Meridian tonight come to FBC Meridian @ 6:30. I think you’ll be encouraged. We hope to see you!

“The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength.” 1 Samuel 2:4
“…I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:p

Coach Wooden, the Apostle Paul, Dad and Mamma: On Leadership

2010-06-10T09:50:00.001-05:00

I got my copy of, Wooden on Leadership, off my shelves not long after the brilliant old coach passed away. I’m re-reading the underlined and dog-eared parts and that’s most of the book. One of my favorite passages in the book is found on page 80. Here is what he said:

“At some point, later than I’d care to admit, it became clear to me that the most productive model for good leadership is a good parent. A coach, teacher, and leader, in my view, are all basic variations of being a parent. And while parenting is the most important job in the world, leadership isn’t far behind. I revere the opportunity and obligation it confers, namely the power to change lives and make a difference. For me, leadership is a sacred trust.”

Paul wrote about his own apostolic leadership is a strangely similar way. In I Thessalonians he spoke of his leadership in parental terms. “But we were gentle among you, like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children. So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us” (1 Thess. 2:7b-8). “As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory” (1 Thess. 2:11-12). Spiritual leadership is a Dad/Mom kind of thing.

I am grateful for the example of Tim and Sherry Snowden. The lives they live for my brothers and me was/is a living text on servant leadership. I pray for God to supply the grace necessary to live like them for the sake of our children and the work God has called us to do.

Walking 2010 Begins Tomorrow

2010-06-05T18:59:00.000-05:00

Walking 2010 begins tomorrow. Groups from FBC Meridian will serve Meridian in the name of Jesus. We will go into many different parts of our community to live as the presence of Christ. Please pray for God to pour out his Holy Spirit in power. Pray for hearts to be touched and the gospel to be shared clearly. We don't simply go to church. We are the church. Let's get after it y'all!

Memorial Stones and Idols

2010-06-03T18:41:00.004-05:00

Here is my message from Sunday. It's special for me on our tenth anniversary.
Memorial Stones and Idols (Snowden)

The Unfettered God of Pentecost

2010-06-02T08:58:00.001-05:00

I got to lead a group of young adults on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic last week. I could not have asked for a better team to work with. They served graciously and exhibited the kind of grit necessary to roll with the punches. We will share our stories during our church’s midweek service tonight at 6:30.

Someone asked me what the highlight of the trip was for me. There were many high points. The ministry in Sabaneta is maturing and it’s good to see growth in the work. God is doing great things with our friends in the city. The prayer walking is bearing fruit. Other evangelical groups are just now starting to come to Sabaneta. We met a couple with the Alliance churches that had been in the country just a few weeks. Greg Massey and I believe that the prayer saturation is making a difference. The peak of my experience this year was the new influx of Haitians. Sabaneta is very near the border and many Haitians came over after the calamity in their country. Jose and the church are working hard to connect with them.

We had a tri-lingual service on Sunday evening. We worshipped in English, Spanish, and Creole. The language complexity did a number of things for us. Three stand out.:

1. It humbled us. There are few things more frustrating than not being able to communicate.
2. It made us dependent on each other. We were forced to wait on one another. I’m not sure I’ve ever paid that much attention to fellow worshipers.
3. It magnified God. The God of Pentecost is just not restrained by the some local bonds that we are restrained by. God is the God of the whole Earth.

Please pray with me that the Dominican Republic trip continues to bear fruit in the lives of our team. Most were college students and this was their first international mission experience. I want this experience to change them forever. They glorified God and I sense they will continue to as they live for their neighbors and the nations!

The Jesus Manifesto

2010-06-01T08:01:00.001-05:00

Several weeks ago Philip Nation sent me an email asking if I would be willing to help Ed Stetzer review a book. I feel like this invite went out to a truck load of people but it came with a free book so I was game. I also appreciate Stetzer and the work he does.

I really did like the book. It was by Leanard Sweet and Frank Viola. Both of these guys are challenging writers and this book was no exception. I encourage you to buy it and read it slowly if you can. Life really is about Jesus and this book will help you see that fundamental truth again.

Here are the quick scribbles that I sent to Ed Stetzer:

Ed Stetzer,

Thank you for this opportunity. I really like books and free ones are the best. Your ministry has been a blessing to me and I appreciate what you do for our churches. I hope this small review helps.

Should I endorse this?
I believe that you should. I have read a number of your books and I have heard you speak on a few occasions. My perception of you is that you are both orthodox and irenic. I truly think you would accept this work with gladness. The lordship of Christ is the core of true missional renewal and it’s the heart of this book. This book exalts Christ and stirs a desire to love and serve him more.

Flag theological concerns
This book has a very high view of Christ. I found the affirmations orthodox. There is one element that I think may be problematic for some Southern Baptists. There is a section in chapter one that deals with the Old Testament. The writers state, “Jesus Christ makes Scripture intelligible. He is the key that unlocks the entire biblical canon” (p.8) .They conclude this section by saying, “We, therefore, should understand the Old Testament Scriptures in light of Jesus Christ. He is the Rosetta Stone of the Bible” (p.11). I do not have a problem with these statements. I agree with them. I do, however, remember many conversations when the Baptist Faith and Message was revised. The language of this book more closely resembles the “old” BF and M. It may fire up some unfriendly blogger types. I flag another concern later in this work.

What are the big themes?
The theme of this book is Jesus. It calls the church to our fundamental concern. The writers state their hope this way, “…we hope to bring your vision and understanding of Jesus Christ into sharper focus” (p.25). They don’t try to introduce a Jesus we have never known. They don’t dress him as a cynic sage, a Marxist, or the father of French royalty. There is absolutely no novelty in this book. I found this to be the most refreshing part of the work. So many books about Jesus try to introduce the reader to the hidden, lost or stolen Jesus. These writers simply want to highlight the big ole Jesus of the bible. They seem to really believe the stuff as well. They also believe that a confrontation with the biblical Christ holds out hope for real spiritual renewal. Listen to them, “…we hope it will birth in your life a new burst of wonder and insight into the earthly, the exalted, and the indwelling Jesus. But even more, we hope that you will be compelled to respond to the love He has so graciously poured out upon you-and become a Jesus Manifesto in your own community” (p.27). This book is a call to non-saccharin devotion and a mission compelled by love.

What are the key ideas of the book?

Chapter 1: The Occupation of All Things
The opening chapter starts with this huge affirmation, “Indeed, Jesus is not just the Lord of the middle and the margins; He’s the God of the whole show” (Chapter 1 page 1). Knowing this God becomes, “…the chief pursuit of the Christian life” (p.2). The writers assert that knowing and loving Jesus is the heart of holiness and mission. They write, “If the heart is occupied with Christ, Jesus will pour forth from the lips and the pen. He will ooze out of every pore”(p.15). They later affirm, “…Christ will be on the lips of every person and church who is walking in the Spirit, and He will leap out from their lifestyle” (p.17). The problem, they believe, is that Jesus is not the core of large amounts of Christian activity. They write, “The tragedy of our time is that countless preachers, teachers, even healers are giving dozens of sermons, lectures, and messages, relegating Jesus to little more than a footnote or a flourish to some other subject. At best, He gets honorable mention”(p.17). I think you agree.

Chapter 2: A Bottle in the Ocean
This chapter explores the book of Colossians. They see in Paul’s letter the high theme of biblical revelation. “…the message of the Bible is Christ”(p.38). All other messages are to be addressed in light of Christ.

Chapter 3: If God Wrote Your Biography
I had some trouble with the first part of this chapter. I think it possesses one of the weaknesses of the book. It begins with a long section that invites the reader to listen as they assume the voice of God the Father. I found this to be distracting. It may be my personality but I do not believe that I would ever be at home with this type of spiritual exercise. It moves from this, however, to explore a truly Christ-centered concept of sanctification. Sanctification is the fuel of mission. I think you will be particularly interested in this quote, “As we write these words, there’s a lot of talk about being ‘missional.’ But to be truly missional means constructing one’s life and ministry on Christ. He is both the heart and bloodstream of God’s plan. To miss this is to miss the plot. Indeed, it is to miss everything” (p.57). They go on to say, “The engine of being ‘missional,’ therefore, ought never to be religious duty. Neither should it be guilt, condemnation, or ambition. The engine should be blindly and singularly a revelation of Jesus Christ” (p.58). I think this could have been said in Sent or Compelled by Love.

Chapter 4: A Violin Called Messiah
This chapter introduces a “relational Christ ethic.” The indwelling Christ motivates and empowers a life of holiness.

Chapter 5: A Ditch on Either Side
This chapter holds up two popular approaches to Christianity and argues for a third way. They quote Barth, “Indeed, the road to truth is surrounded by a ditch on either side” (p.79). The writers argue that theological rationalism and theological ethics alone are not sufficient guides for the follower of Christ. They state, “According to Scripture, Jesus Christ (and not a doctrine about Him) is the truth. In addition, Jesus Christ (and not an ethic derived from His teaching) is the way. In other words, both God’s truth and God’s way are embodied in a living, breathing person-Christ” (p. 80).

Chapter 6: His Face on Your Face
Chapter 6 challenges the reader not to make Jesus a “cause.” They state, “Focusing on His cause or mission doesn’t equate with focusing on or following Him” (p.94).

Chapter 7: A Collision of Two Empires
This chapter focuses on the Kingdom. I love this quote, “The only battering ram that can storm the gates of hell is not the cry of justice, but the name of Jesus” (p.105). They define the kingdom of God as, “the manifestation of God’s ruling presence” (p.107). They do a good job of placing justice and mercy issues in a “relationship with Jesus” category. I think that this is a fruitful course.

Chapter 8: The Forgotten Tree
Chapter eight explores the question, “How did Jesus do what he did?” The response they give is, “The glory of the gospel is that we who are fallen, tarnished, and marred have been invited to live our lives in the exact same way that Jesus lived His life: by an indwelling Lord” (p.127). This concept leans hard on the old evangelical spirituality of “yielding.” There is no novelty here. It’s a good reminder.

I have a problem with a part of this chapter. They write of scripture, “The fundamentalist idea that the text has only one meaning is of relatively recent invention (it was spawned from Enlightenment rationalism)” (p.139). Footnote 28 reads, “This line of thinking corrals atheists and Christians together into a unison choir to sing from the same epistemological song sheet. For most of Christian history, it was thought that every passage of Scripture had at least four meaning” (p.197). If they were going to drop these bombs then they needed to hash it out a little more. I understand their line of thought but many of us still affirm authorial intent and are far from fundamentalist. I think. This was a flaw from my perspective but I don’t that it was a damning flaw.

Chapter 9: A House of Figs
This chapter deals with the church. They write, “The authentic Christian life, therefore, is not an individual pursuit. It’s a corporate journey” (p.142). I believe that this is a really important observation and sadly it must be stated again and again to American Christians. They speak of the functions of the church this way, “The occupation of every local assembly can be summed up in two words: discovering and displaying – that is, discovering and displaying Christ” (p.144). They use the city of Bethany to explore vital church functions. I think that this was a beautiful chapter and it encouraged me greatly.

Chapter 10: Who Is This Lord of Yours?
Chapter ten sums up the book by affirming, “Genuine Christianity is learning to live by an indwelling Christ.” Again, this is an ancient truth and a solid evangelical affirmation. Many older Baptists will recall Jack Taylor’s call to live by the indwelling Christ. That sparked a season of renewal in many churches. It’s warm hearted Christian devotion. It is rooted in scripture.

I think Ed should endorse this book. He would probably disagree with a few points. I have highlighted a couple of the places I differ. It was written well and the overall emphasis is solid. My love for Jesus was nurtured while I read this and I was motivated to serve in his name. I think that marks a truly good piece of Christian writing. This work was a thoughtful piece of devotional literature. It had a pietistic aroma to it. I would recommend it.

1 paragraph endorsement

Leanard Sweet and Frank Viola fulfilled the aspiration of all truly Christian writers. They exalted Jesus. Sweet and Viola spark a renewed love for Christ by unfolding the deep mystery of His person. You will not agree with every statement in this book but you will be compelled to whisper prayers of gratitude for our beautiful savior. You will also be motivated to love his church and serve as sisters and brothers in his name.

Practicing Hospitality

2010-05-11T07:58:00.000-05:00

We at FBC Meridian have the opportunity to house two missionary families beginning this summer. We pay for and furnish appartments for them. The Missions Committee has the furnishings for one of the families in storage. We need church members and friends to loan or donate items for the second family. It is rare that we house two families at once but feel like this challenge is worth it. If you chose to donate an item know that we will donate it to a Christian compassion agency after it is used by our missionaries. Here is the list of needed items:

sofa
3 chairs
coffee table
end table
lamp
floor lamp
tv stand
breakfast table with chairs
set of dishes (8 piece place setting, 8 glasses, set of silverware)
queen bed
2 twin beds
dresser
chest
end table
lamp
towels
new shower curtain
bath mat
toilet brush
bathroom garbage can
kleenex
toilet paper
hand soap
lotion
bath soap
iron

The family is scheduled to be here by early July. Please contact Matt @ 601-484-4600 if you have questions or can help with this ministry. Thanks.

Presented

2010-05-10T17:47:00.000-05:00

Here is my sermon from yesterday. I hope it encourages you.

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Workin' With Earl (for Jesus)

2010-04-23T08:28:00.001-05:00

We have a great local ministry opportunity coming up Saturday May 1. We will be reparing a roof for an elderly woman and her family in the East End community. This project is funded by the 1 John 3:17 Ministry. We need volunteers to help get the work done. Chuck Braddock and the legendary Earl Laird will be leading the project so your skill is not required. Your back and willingness to work IS needed. Bring a hammer, some gloves, and a nail apron (if you have one) and come to 1909 12th Ave. Meridian, MS. We will start working at 8:00.

If you can come please contact Matt:
www.matt@fbcmeridian.org
wk - 601-484-4600
cl - 601-616-5413

Shaggin' Fly Balls With Jesus

2010-04-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2 (NRSV)

Our friend Charla Jeter Milligan is the Associate Director of His Heart Ministries in Jackson. She’s a Carey and Truett girl and a good minister. From time to time she sends me “kid stuff” parables. I confess to stealing them for my sermons. She sent me one yesterday that is appropriate for this time of year. Baseball is in tha air and we have many lessons to learn from the great game. I admit – this one made me cry. Yes, there is crying in baseball. If you’ve ever played you know it’s true. Read ‘em and weep poker players.

From Charla -
Ethan was at baseball practice and for every ball they dropped, they had to run the bases. Well, after practice the kids were running the bases and each one finished except Ethan and another kid. Afterward, Dave asked him, "Ethan you must have dropped the ball a lot since you had to run the bases so much." He said, "No, Daddy, I just didn't want that other kid to run alone." We could all learn something from this.16 hours ago

Fellowship Church May 2

2010-04-20T10:00:00.000-05:00

I've been invited to preach at Fellowship Church on May 2. I'm happy to be joining this very special congregtion for worship and I'm grateful to Dr. Leake for giving me the freedom to do it. My family has deep roots in that community. Please pray for Fellowship as they are beginning a season of transition.

Did you know that Jesus is God's Son and he spit in the mud?

2010-04-19T14:24:00.000-05:00

Molly Katherine and Wes spend a bunch of time at church. I'm beginning to notice that Molly Kat is drawn to big concept theology while Wes is given to the concrete stuff of the bible. We have the classic divide of theology and biblical studies already forming in our house. When we got home from church last night I asked our kids what they learned in Movers and Shakers. Molly Katherine said, "Jesus is God's Son." Wes screamed over her, "and he spits in the mud." Gotta love it!

A Tune for the Lord and Everyone

2010-04-13T10:48:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed my time with Starlight Baptist this past Sunday morning and will forever be grateful to Bishop McClellan for the invitation. It was also nice having a group of friends from FBC join the worship experience. God, I think, was pleased.

The best part of the service from my point of view was the extended testimony time. The church members shared their stories of God's faithfulness and grace. This set up Sunday PM well. We talked about the value of our stories Sunday night during our Spring discipleship series, "The Externally Focused Life." I've been thinking about the power of testimony alot the last couple of days.

The clincher for me was the quote I read very early this morning. I found it in Alvin Reid's new evangelism handbook. It's from a blog by Ken Keathley and paints a good picture of the collective power of our personal stories of God. Check it out and then tell your story -

“Think of your salvation testimony as a melody being played on a quiet instrument—a clarinet or oboe, perhaps. You play the tune for the Lord and to anyone and everyone who will listen. Now imagine that one day, while engrossed in the joy of playing your simple song, you are joined by an enormous, massive orchestra. And not just an orchestra of dozens or even hundreds, but thousands and tens of thousands—and a choir that is even larger.
Their sudden appearance is overwhelming. What’s more, you realize that they didn’t really join you. Rather, it becomes clear that your melody is actually part of a much larger movement of music—a piece marvelous in its intricacy and genius. At that point you realize that your salvation isn’t just about you; your redemption is part of a plan that encompasses heaven and earth.”

The Externally Focused Life

2010-04-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

We begin a Spring discipleship series at FBC Meridian this Sunday night. It is based on Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson's books the The Externally Focused Life and Externally Focused Church. I highly recommend both of these. Come for a cup of church house coffee and some important conversation. 6:00. Here is an outline for the first session -

The Externally Focused Life

L – Love
I – Intersections
F – Fortune
E – Eternity

Love

Love Stories

Ephesians 2:8-9 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift— 9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
How can we tell others the good news? We (Rusaw and Swanson) suggest you think in terms of stories.
1. Listen to the other person’s story.
2. Ask permission to tell your story.
3. Ask permission to tell God’s story.

Spend some time outlining your story of faith –

Love and Service
Ephesians 2:10 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
10 For we are His creation—created (A) in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time (B) so that we should walk in them.

God saves us from and God saves us for. We need to be “two-testimony” Christians.
Think about this – Do you have a second testimony? What is it? –

Love, Service, and the Church
Ephesians 4:11-13 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, (A) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, (B) [growing] into a mature man with a stature (C) measured by Christ's fullness.

Every member a missionary

There are 4 Characteristics of an Externally Focused Church:
1. Externally focused churches are convinced that good deeds and good news can’t and shouldn’t be separated.
2. Externally focused churches see themselves as vital to the health and well-being of their communities.
3. Externally focused churches believe that ministering and serving are the normal expressions of Christian living.
4. Externally focused churches are evangelistically effective.

... of first importance: the good new of Jesus Christ

2010-04-06T07:51:00.000-05:00

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First Importance

2010-04-01T19:06:00.001-05:00

Come to FBC Meridian Sunday Morning. I'll be preaching on the central theme of Christianity. Christ died. Christ is Alive. Read 1 Cor. 15:1-11 before you come. See y'all Sunday.

The Texture of His Love

2010-04-01T13:01:00.000-05:00

The Maundy Thursday command calls us to love each other as Jesus loved his disciples. How did Jesus love? His love was patient, humble, and sacrificial. Ponder your own love as you continue to walk through Holy Week. Does it match the texture of his?

Mandatum

2010-04-01T10:20:00.000-05:00

I will preach and help serve the Supper tonight at FBC Meridian. If you are in Meridian please join us for a special time of worship beginning at 6:00.

"I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciple, if you love one another." John 13:34-35 NRSV

Celebration and Playground Dedication

2010-03-25T08:14:00.001-05:00

Pray for the Playgound for Jesus Celebration that will take place this Saturday. I am using Colossians 4:2-3 as a basis for my prayer. "Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door for the message, to speak the mystery of the Messiah..."

We want hearts to be open to the simple message of the gospel. Timmy Miller "Da Minista" will share the message Saturday afternoon. He is a hip hop artist and Penetcostal preacher. Pray for the Holy Spirit to move among the kids in East End.

Come out for a great day of ministry and fellowship. Events begin at 10:00. Thanks.

Starlight

2010-03-24T10:30:00.000-05:00

I've been invited to preach for Bishop Cornelious McClellan at the Starlight Baptist Church the Sunday after Easter. Pray that we will be able to develop a healthy partnership. God has put East End on our hearts.

Sunday's Sermon

2010-03-23T06:45:00.000-05:00

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Get up and pray...

2010-03-18T07:34:00.000-05:00

We continue our, Places of the Passion, sermon series this Sunday morning. I will explore the garden prayer scene in Luke 22:39-46. The evangelist gives us a good glimpse into the prayer life of Jesus. We are wise to learn from him. Rabbi Jesus is simply the best teacher and model of authentic prayer.

Stanley Grenz once said, "The greatest challenge that we face today is the challenge to pray." The three apostles faced this same challenge and Jesus called them to, "Get up and pray..." We need to respond to this challenge. A good place to start is by following Jesus' example in the garden.

The word Gethsemane means, "oil press." It is a fitting name for what happened there. The Presence of the Sprirt was pressed out of Jesus' prayer time and he received strength for the hour. Jesus wanted his three closest friends to experience the same gracious anointing he did. They slept through it. We don't have to.

Read Jesus' prayer and notice the elements of it. His prayer life was: habitual, honest, passionate, and faith-filled. Are these elements part of your prayer life? Join us this Sunday as we examine this prayer together or check it out on Truthcasting later in the week. God bless y'all!