Hi FBC! I’ve missed you… it’s great to be “back in the saddle.” Something I read today really encouraged me:
The wicked plots against the righteous and gnashes his teeth at him, but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming. The wicked draw the sword and bend their bows to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose way is upright; their sword shall enter their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. (Psalm 37:12-15)
Maybe you, like me, have watched with horror the news about the wicked terror group ISIS and their brutal atrocities committed against humanity. I have a lot of thoughts about all this, but don’t really want to take the time or space in this venue to share all of them here. But what we read today in Psalm 37 today brought some encouragement. God knows. God sees. He is not oblivious. “The Lord laughs at the wicked, for He sees that his day is coming.” Yes, Lord, make it happen.
As most of you know, I have just returned from some time away. I want to thank you for your prayers for me and my family as we were spending time in refreshment and recreation, sometimes together, sometimes separated. And on Friday, just as I was starting to gear up to come back, I received the call that my Grandma Beach had passed away. Many of you have expressed your condolences and assurance of your prayers, and I thank you so much for that. I also want to thank the elders for encouragement to go down to California to be a part of the memorial this past Tuesday. Not only encouragement to go, but also some help with the resources to fly there. I am extremely grateful.
Also, enormous thanks are due to David Douglass, Marc Robertson, and Randy Waldie for preaching God’s Word the last 3 weeks in my absence. What a blessed pastor I am, to be able to call upon men from our own church with total confidence! And these were not the only 3 guys I could have called upon. I am so thankful to have men in our body who love God’s Word and are capable of sharing it with others! I am actually listening to one of the messages right now, and I have the other one on a CD in my pickup. Unfortunately, Randy’s message didn’t get recorded, but I have his notes that I can read so I know what I missed. Thank you men!
This Sunday I will begin a 6 week series on those three words we see in the front of our worship center: “Exalt, Extend, Equip”. I want to again teach on the purpose of our church, and our individual Christian lives, with two messages on each of these foundational words. We will begin this week with EXTEND, which is based on this statement of purpose for us: “Extending the Lord’s Invitation.” This word describes our responsibility to share the good news of Christ with the lost; in other words, evangelism. The title this week is “Invitation to Resurrection”. I believe there are some critical truths for us to glean from 1 Corinthians 15. Please read that chapter before Sunday morning. (If you are following the One Year Bible reading with us, this is the reading for Saturday and Sunday anyway!) I won’t be preaching the entire chapter, but I’d like for you to read it because it all ties together. I will focus on the end of the chapter, verses 35-58. Please prayerfully prepare your heart for what the Lord wants to say to us through His Word.
Also Sunday, right after the Sunday School hour, everyone is invited to our annual All-Church Picnic at George and Gail Millers, which is located at 25844 Hwy 99e in Halsey. There are maps in the foyer that you can pick up on Sunday if you need. There will certainly be plenty of food, and we are all encouraged to bring something to share. Also, you need to bring your own chairs, drinks, utensils, etc. Lindsay Burrows will also be with us so we can spend some time in fellowship with her. We will be able to play some games, horseshoes, catch, etc. I also have asked Phil Halterman to set up a sound system for us, so that perhaps some of you may share a testimony of what God is doing in your life. Maybe there will be a little singing. It will be an informal, but special time together. Hope to see you there!
Thankful to be back, and anxious to see you again!
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael