Hello FBC Friends!
Consecrate yourselves, therefore, and be holy, for I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 20:7)
To be “consectrated” means to be set apart, or to be “made holy”. One Bible Dictionary defines “Consecration” this way: “It is the act of setting apart any person or thing to the worship or service of God. In Leviticus, Moses was deliniating the Law of God and telling the people of Israel to be consecrated by obeying the law. We know from the New Testament that the only way to truly be made holy is by the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only God’s grace can save us and sanctify us. As His “holy nation” and “royal priesthood” (1 Pet. 2:9), we as Christians are to be consecrated, set apart for His service. We serve and worship a holy God! And He calls us to be holy as He is. It is His grace that empowers us to become holy like Him.
In case you missed it last Sunday, Thurman Falk shared with us about his East Asia Summer Mission (many of you will receive letters in the mail about it as well). His trip is June 14 — July 22. The cost of the trip is $5,100. He will be working with Campus Crusade for Christ (now called “Cru”) at a university in East Asia to share the gospel and train in evangelism and discipleship. I’d like to encourage all of us at FBC to support Thurman generously. He is “one of our own,” having grown up here at FBC Brownsville. This is an exciting opportunity for Thurman, and for us as we partner with him. Please make checks payable to “Cru”, or give at www.give.cru.org/0743833. You can call Thurman at 541-760-6812 for more info.
MEN – This Saturday at 7am is our monthly Men’s Breakfast! Please come join us for a great time together. Our missionary to Brazil, Bruce Tissell, will be here to speak to us. Invite a friend, bring your sons, and come!
Saturday at 1:00pm is the memorial service here at FBC for our sister Betty Keen. Thank you for praying for the family and for a clear gospel message to be shared.
On Sunday, I will be speaking from Revelation 8:13 — 9:11. This is a description of the Fifth Trumpet judgment, which is also the “First Woe”. Prayerfully read ahead and consider how this future demonic warfare relates even to our current spiritual warfare we face today.
Following the worship service Sunday, we will be having our Quarterly Business Meeting. Everyone who considers FBC your home is welcome to stay and join us. Along with the “business” reports that will be shared, I plan to share an update on the current situation regarding additional pastoral staff, and the intentions of the elders and I for the near future. You could consider this a kind of follow-up to the two Vision/Info meetings we had in March. We are considering showing a video about our desire to “Grow Together” as people who represent multiple generations. I think you’ll want to be with us! We will try to not keep you too long!
Thankful for our holy God, and for the transforming grace of God that is making us holy too…
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael