The Pastor's Corner
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May 19, 2012
This is something I read from Thom Rainer, who is the President of Lifeway, and thought I would share with all of you...
"I AM A CHURCH MEMBER"
I am a church member,
I will see to be a source of unity in the church. I know there are no perfect pastors, staff or other church members. But neither am I. I will not be a source of gossip or dissension. One of the greatest contributions I can make is to do all I can in God's power to help keep the church in unity for the sake of the gospel.
I am a church member,
I will not let my church be about my preferences and desires. That is self-serving. I am in this church to serve others and to serve Christ. My Savior went to a cross for me. I can deal with any inconveniences and matters that are just not my preference or style.
I am a church member,
I will pray for my pastor every day. His work is never-ending. His days are filled with constant demands for his time with the need to prepare sermons; with those who are rejoicing in births; with those who are traveling through the valley of the shadow of death; with critics; with the hurts and hopes of others; and with the need to be a husband and a father. My pastor cannot serve our church in his own power. I will pray for God's strength for him and his family every day.
I am a church member,
I like the metaphor of membership. It's not membership as in a civic organization or a country club. It's the kind of membership given to us in 1 Corintians 12; "Now you are the body of Christ and individual members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27 HCSB). Because I am a member of the body of Christ, I must be a functioning member, whether I am an "eye", an "ear", or a "hand." As a functioning member, I will give. I will serve. I will minister. I will evangelize. I will study. I will be a blessing to others. I will remember that "if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; If one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it" (1 Cor. 12:26 HCSB).
I am a church member,
I will lead my family to be good members of this church as well. We will pray together for our church. We will worship together in our church. We will serve together in our church. And we will ask Christ to help us fall deeper in love with this church, because He gave His life for her.
I am a church member,
This membership is a gift. When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ. I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized. And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church. I pray that I will never take my membership for granted but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.
I am a church member,
AND THANK GOD THAT I AM!
Until next time, see you in the pews...
--Pastor Mark
May 5, 2012
"Not many should become teachers,my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgement; for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. And consinder ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell. For every creature animal or bird, reptile or fish is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water." James 3:1-12
Wow! These are some pretty harsh words from the Word. However, I have found this passage to be a fountain of truth. Consider how many times the tongue has gotten someone in trouble. Consider how many times the tongue has spoken without all the information. Consider how many times the tongue has been set in motion only to find that the motion it starts destroys instead of builds up. Too many times I am afraid we use our tongues for the negative and not for the positive. In almost 30 years of Pastoring, there have been numerous times that someone's tongue has detroyed years of work in just a few short moments. Or sometimes it stops a progress before it can even start. Most of the time I find that the tongue speaks from more of a lack of full knowledge of the subject and not from an attitude of destruction and not meant to create the problems it produces.
But I like verse 2, "For we stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, He is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body." I want to be mature in God's eyes, don't you?
Until next time... see you in the pews.
April 21, 2012
On Wednesday nights, we have been teaching our way through the Book of Genesis. And in doing so we have found some very interesting things about how we sometimes hear something about the Bible accounts and yet when you read them you find there are some facts that simply are not what we have been taught.
For example, this last week we did a study on Noah and the Ark. I don't know about you, but growing up I had always believed that 40 days and 40 nights is all the time that Noah and his family spent on the Ark. However, upon an in-depth study we find that simply is not true. When we look at Genesis 7:11, the Bible teaches that it was "the 600th year of Noah's life, and in the second month, on the 17th day of the month, the rain began to fall." And in 7:13 we see that on that same day Noah and his family entered the Ark. And God shut the door (vs. 16)! Now to understand the magnitude of this situation we must also be aware of the fact that not only did Noah build the Ark, but had had to plant and grow all the foods necessary for himself, his family, and all the animals that were to be on the Ark. AND IT HAD NEVER RAINED BEFORE! Talk about faith. Now it did rain for 40 days and 40 nights, so that is where the thought came from. However let us look on and see just how long Noah was on the Ark. We follow this account all the way through chapter 7 and into chapter 8 and in verses 13 thru 15 we find these words: "After the 601st year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, the water that had covered the earth was dried up. Then Noah removed the ark's cover and saw that the surface of the ground was drying. By the twenty seventh day of the second month the earth was dry. Then God spoke to Noah, 'Come out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you."
Now stop for a moment and do the math. If they boarded up on the 600th year in the second month on the 17th day. And they did not get off til the 601st year, second month and 27th day. That would mean that Noah was on the ark for 1 year and 10 days. Talk about a man of faith. Talk about a man of patience, talk about a aman who trusted God for everything! And God took care of him the whole time. Gee, I wonder if our God is capable of taking care of us, no matter where He tells us to go? I definitely think He can and does! So study your Bible and find God's promises fresh and new.
Until next time, see you in the pews.
-Pastor Mark
April 7, 2012
Isaiah 53: "Who has believed what we have heard? And who has the arm of the Lord been revealed to? He grew up before Him like a young plant and like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or splendor that we should look at Him, no appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of suffering who knew what sickness was. He was like one people turned away from; He was despised , and we didn't value Him. Yet He Himself bore our sickness, and He carried our pains; but we in turn regarded Him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced because of our transgressions, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was upon Him, and we are healed by His wounds. We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. Like a lamb led to slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers. He did not open His mouth. He was taken away because of oppression and judgement; and who considered His fate? For He was cut off from the land of the living; He was struck because of My people's rebellion. They made His grave with the wicked, and with a rich man at His death, although He had done no violence and had not spoken deceitfully. Yet the Lord was pleased to cruch Him, and He made Him sick. When You make Him a restitution offering, He will see His seed, HE will prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will succeed by His hand. He will see it out of His anguish and HE will be satisfied with His knowledge. My righteous servant will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities. Therefore I will give Him the many as a portion, and He will receive the mighty as a spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the SIN OF MANY AND INTERCEDED FOR THE REBELS.
We are blessed today because of Jesus' finished work on the cross. His burial and as we celebrate HIS RESURRECTION. If that isn't love, I don't know what is.
Rejoice with us and fill His house with praise this Sunday as we celebrate; A RISEN LORD!
-Pastor Mark
March 24, 2012
More Thank You messages!
Dear GA girls and leaders, thank you so very much for the delicious soup, crackers & cookies. It was so good. God bless you all for the things you do for others. Keep up the good work. I know the Lord will reward you for all you do.
--Love in Christ, Faye Robinson
GA's, thank you for the delicious soup, crackers & cookies. I was so pleased to get them & felt so blessed to be thought of this way. You made my day. May God bless each of you and your helpers.
--Love in Christ, Leta Jackson
I would like to thank my church family for the many prayers, get well cards, visits & food provided during my recent surgery & recuperation period. Also many thanks to Pastor Mark, Gerald Wharton, & Diane Thompson for being with me prior to surgery & offering up Special Prayer. Your prayers & concerns have sustained me during these past months as I went through various tests and finally surgery. God has been good, and I am doing well.
--Shirley Hays
I was so touched by the cards & well wishes from my church family on my 97th birthday. It is a rich blessing to be part of such a loving & caring body of believers. Thank you.
--Sybil East
March 10, 2012
Nehemiah 2:19-20, "When Sanballet the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, (rebuilding Jerusalem's walls), they mocked and despised us, and said, "What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?"
As I am writing this, Ray Bennett, Courtney Hill, Joe Castleberry, and myself are preparing to go to Post Falls, Idaho, to investigate from different backgrounds and ministry aspects - a concept that is working and taking the Post Falls area for the Lord. As we go, we realize that we will face some obstacles along the way. Layovers and the possibility of luggage being lost is always a concern. But the concern that I have is what will happen when we get back with all this information. I believe that God is wanting to do a great and tremendous work right here in our church and in our community.
Many good ministry possibilities are becoming reality and the possibility to take what we will have experienced with God and bring it back excites all four of us. However, I am not naive in the fact, that anytime there is transition and new things, there is also opposition. And I am preparing for that. But just like here in the passage and the Book of Nehemiah, what we don't need is folks to become like Sanballet and Tobiah. Sanballet was a very influential person, however he disagreed with what Nehemiah had been given the vision to do. So he got mad, quit, and then started the process of trying to stop the work of the Lord from the outside. He tried to discourage Nehemiah and started accusing him of being and doing things wrong. Then later in Chapter 4, when Sanballet heard that it was not working despite all the efforts he put forth to stop the progress, he went so far as to become angry because he did not get his way and threatened Nehemiah. But Nehemiah said in verse 4, "Listen, our God, for we are despised. Make their insults return on their own heads and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity."
My prayer is that we will bind together like the Children of Israel, rebuild what has been torn down, and reach this community for Christ. I also pray that we do not let any Sanballets keep us from accomplishing what God wants us to do, just like Nehemiah.
Until next time,
Brother Mark
February 18, 2012
You have heard me speak about Missions and serving in the past, here are a few examples of our church doing just that...
"What a pleasant surprise! A bowl of good hot soup with crackers and cookies on a rainy day was a wonderful present from the GA's of our church. Thanks so much for the girls and their leaders from a former GA leader."
--Melba Thurman
"Pastor Mark and all the church family, Thank you so much for your kindness during the loss of our brother, Dennis Ogden. Your support, love, prayers and home visits mean so much. The Ogden family is large and so is your love. A special thanks to the dessert ladies; Karen, Heidi, Robyn, Susan, Peggy, Robin, Allison, Colette and Melissa. I know Dennis is at peace, but please pray for his children; Tracy, Jeremy, Jennifer and Miranda, and his girlfriend Rebekah. Thanks again, with love."
--Randy, Cathy, Susie, Chris, Karen, Kevin and Diane
"From our hearts to yours. Thank you so much for the wonderful soup that you gave us last Saturday. It was so nice of you to do that for us."
--Bill & Norma Jean Eaton
"Thanks you for your thoughtfulness for the soup. And thank you for thinking of me."
--Charlotte Swinford
"Dear GA's and leaders, my brother and I want to thank you for the delicious soup. My nephew and his wife enjoyed it, also. Serving others was taught by our Lord. Your activity made Him, you and us very happy. Keep up the good work of learning about and following our heavenly Father who is the greatest example of Love. God Bless all of you."
--Mary Ruth Scherer and Ed Goodwin
"Thank you GA's and leaders, for the delicious soup, crackers and cookies. It was a Special Blessing to meet one of the GA's who brought it to me in my home. It warmed not only my tummy, but my heart to be remembered."
--Sybil East
"Thank you for the delicious soup, crackers and cookies. I was pleased to receive them. So blessed to be thought of this way. You made my day. May God bless everyone of you and your leaders. Love in Christ."
--Leta Jackson
"Thank you GA's for the soup and cookies the nice young lady brought me Saturday. They were really good. It is so wonderful to belong to such a loving and caring church. Thank you teachers and girls."
--Linda Payne
February 4, 2012
As we continue to think about the "Vision" for our church, we must continue to be very intentional about Missions. As many of you know we have already been able to assist our Sister Church in Colp, IL and had a wonderful result from that. I am sure we will have other opportunities to assist in the future.
We are also looking toward helping to start a new church in one of the most heavily populated areas in our state. Shorewood, IL, is the location of this church plant. We are going to be working along side Friendship Baptist Church in Plainfield, IL to accomplish this Kingdom of God work.
There are approximately 3.1 million people in this Three Rivers Baptist Association that are unchurched. And this is one of the areas that has no church presence, yet, this is a sister town to one of the fastest growing places in the United States, Plainfield, IL. Shorewood is growing rapidly as well. So this will be a great way for us to make a Kingdom impact in one of the most heavily populated areas. We have tentatively scheduled training for sometime in March for this mission work. So be looking and praying for this opportunity to win people to Christ.
We just had a guest speaker to share about the ministry at the Granite City Abortion Clinic. It is a non-aggressive ministry of prayer walking and singing praises to God across from the clinic. To date, over 4,115 babies have been saved by this ministry. We are looking at taking a group in March, so if you would like to go let us know, as we will make arrangements for transportation for everyone.
Finally, we are looking at the way we do things here. I have a vision that God is wanting to do a great work here, reaching the Lost and helping us to become what He wants us to be. However, we may have to change our focus on the way we do some things. You should have noticed that we have been offering individual studies for the ladies, a home group and our January Bible study. Those were done to see how the response would be for those type of ministries in our church. And they have produced wonderful results in both Discipleship training and participation. They all have shown growth. So we will be looking much harder at these types of studies in the future as well. I am excited and motivated by this "Vision". I hope you will become part as well and help.
-Brother Mark
January 21, 2012
So many of you have expressed excitement about the "Vision" that we cast on the 8th of January's Morning Service and have asked that I share it again. So I thought I would share with you "Where we were, where we are, and where we are going" in a brief manner here for those that want to hear and those that want to hear again.
As many of you know the direction of the church is slowly but methodically and continually in transition. As we look for where God is working and go to Him, we have to be open for those moves. Proverbs 29:18, "Without revelation (vision) the people run wild, but the one who keeps the law will be happy" (HCSB). King James teaches it this way, "Where there is no vision the people perish." And personally I see that happening all across our church culture. Last year I expressed that we enjoyed a lot of firsts together. And in doing so I tried to evaluate all that we did, all that we are doing, and the way we're doing things. My main question to a lot of people this year is, "Why are we doing this?" and "Is it beneficial to the Kingdom work we are trying to accomplish or just a tradition we have set forth that is just being done for tradition's sake?"
I shared that we have some maintenance issues that have been undone for some time due to lack of resources and time to do so. But we have increased the amount of time to the custodial staff and allowed them to do some of the things that are needed. And we have seen improvements already. We have new energy efficient lighting throughout the church, new paint on the walls that were showing wear and tear (along with the fact that we live in a visual society), and added color to walls that were very neutral in color. We've focused on the children's wing especially and the monies to do the majority of the work was raised and did not come from the church budget. We have new flooring in the children's wing as well, to replace carpet that was beginning to show wear. I firmly believe that we need to get the "grain bin ready if we are to receive a harvest." And that is exactly what we will be doing and are doing. We have heating and air conditioner issues that we are taking care of with the highest energy efficiency available today. And we will have a bold day of pledging and giving above our tithes to keep us from going into debt for this on January 29th. There is more but I will share that next time. Get excited, God is moving and we are with Him.
-Brother Mark