Love From Your Pastor

Hi FBC Friends!

 
What a tremendous blessing it is to be a part of the family of God.  We have so much to be grateful for.  I’ve been encouraging you to be following our daily Bible reading, and once again today’s readings were incredible!  Psalm 62, Proverbs 6, John 5… like the commercial for a convenience store once said, “Too much good stuff!”  But I wanted to discuss a passage from Isaiah 56 today:
 
“And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it, and holds fast my covenant– 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. (Isa. 56:6-7 ESV)
 
We are probably most familiar with this passage from the use of it by Jesus when He cleaned out the temple of the money-changers.  Even long before that, God’s house (the temple) was intended to be a house of prayer for all the nations, or for all people.  God’s chosen people were to be “a light to the Gentiles” even before Christ.  Now of course, since the sacrificial death and glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, He has made US to be His house.  The Church, the people of God, is called to be a house of prayer for the world.  We are the light of the world, reflecting to people who are living in darkness the matchless light that comes from Christ, the Light of the world.  Let’s be a people of prayer!  Let’s be a church of prayer!  Let’s be the fulfillment of what God intended all along – a house of prayer for all peoples!
 
I am excited about what God is doing at FBC Brownsville.  Let’s continue to humbly and boldly pray for God to use us in the lives of the people in our community, as well as to continue His work in many other parts of the world through our support of missionaries and through people sent out from us.
 
With the turning of the calendar to September, it means we are beginning many of the fall activities again.  AWANA begins with the Carnival and Registration next Thursday, the 13th.  Then regular Awana club activities and the Parents Class begins September 20.  Please be in prayer and support of this great ministry.  We also have a number of “Care Groups” for your involvement and growth.  We hope to have information out in the bulletin next week with all the details of the various groups.  Perhaps you’re interested in hosting a new group in your home – if so, great!  Let me know!  If you haven’t been in a Care Group before, but are interested in finding out more, you can let me know by emailing me, calling me, or writing it on your Welcome Card on Sunday.
 
We are also having a membership class for all who are interested in joining the church officially, on September 16 from Noon to around 3pm.  Please let me know ASAP if you plan to come so we can have materials and lunch for you!  Please note that we will be having our Quarterly Business Meeting on Sept. 23 immediately following the worship service.  Also, let me know if you would like to be baptized, in our next baptism service on Sept. 30.  
 
This week our speaker will be Tim Watson.  Tim and Joy have been investing in evangelism and discipleship of Russian peoples since 1998.  You will want to come and hear what God is doing in their ministry with Russians and with Black Forest Academy in Germany.  Hearing personally from the Watsons will help us to know how to pray for them and those they serve now and in the future.
 
Praying for a tremendous weekend for you!
 
Love From Your Pastor,
Michael