Life change is what Christ was all about. He said, "If the son will make you free, you will free indeed.' The purpose of the church is not to inform but to transform through the power of the gospel. We can't stop at giving out information, every learning and never coming to a knowledge of the truth. How is life change going on at Faith?
Steve Mercer recently became a follower of Christ at Faith. He is a sponge now wanting to learn all he can about the Word. He is striving to be a godly husband and father. He was baptized last Sunday and while giving a testimony to the church broke down and cried. He was crying over the change that God had brought to his life.
Our senior high group is on a trip to Va Beach even as I write. Steve All and his wife Kathleen are taking the group of fifteen, just to say I love you. They want to take them to a contemporary church while there, why? They hope these kids will continue in church when they go off to college. Are they thinking life change?
We are taking a mission offering Sunday for our Mexico team. They must pray in 1,000 per member of the team. They have a heart for deaf children in Mexico. Guess what I have noticed? These team members change as they try to help others change. Double life change, pretty cool, huh?
My wife, Elaine,teaches in Sunday School A. She had a student come up to her recently after class and ask, "Who is this God you keep talking about?" Is this not a chance for life change?
BLOG BLESSINGS
We live in exciting times. You can sit down at your computer keyboard and type in your thoughts and people all over the world can read your thoughts. A few weeks ago this was driven home to me when I was promoting our Easter services. I got a comment from a man who said he would really like to come, but he had a problem. HE WAS IN ENGLAND and wouldn't be able to make it. It struck me, this guy is sitting in England reading my writing from Covington, Virginia. In another twist of irony my mother was born in England, now someone is being blessed by my writing here in the US? WOW
Can you write? Is this a talent you could use for God? A blog is simply an online journal in which you write whatever you would like to and who knows? God might just use it in the life of another. It is not for everyone, but it is for some of us. Can't sing, blog. Can't preach, blog. You may find your voice sitting at the keyboard.
Sarah Burnette who goes to our church wrote a powerful blog recently called, Pipe Organ Playing English Teacher (click on this link to read)
Sarah's blog made me think about a song that Casting Crowns sings about the rejection a young girl feels at the hands of the body of Christ. I have included the video above. My point is if God has given you the gift of communicating by writing, use it for His glory. I can't wait to read what you have stored up inside of you. :)
GIVING MY BEST
This Sunday I will begin my new series. It is based on the book of Malachi. Yep you read that right. This OT prophet has a lot to tell us. This was the last prophet in the Old Testament and then 400 years of silence, no prophet, not till John Baptist. God says to His people, " I am not at all pleased with you." What does God want? Malachi tells us and we will look at several areas in which God wants our best.
GIVING MY BEST . . . IN WORSHIP APRIL 6 IN SERVICE APRIL 13 IN MARRIAGE APRIL 20 IN STEWARDSHIP APRIL 27
Please invite someone, hope to see you Sunday.
NOTES
March attendance was a record for that month
Baptized five last Sunday
Mission offering this Sunday
Mission sale next Saturday
The balcony was moving at the Dave Crowder concert, really!
Teresa Calvert found a sticker in her food at a restaurant
My granddaughter Kenzie asked Jesus in her heart :)
My granddaughter Kenzie fell off swing and broke out two teeth :(
John Burnham sounds terrible has allergies
Chris likes coffee, lots of coffee
Elaine had stomach flu on her birthday :( bummer
Didn't have to remove Wayne's kidney PTL
Mrs. Mottern went to be with the Lord pray for her family