Church | Waypoints

Your Kids, Our Morality, and Jesus’ Kingdom

Yesterday was another incredible day and much better than the week before because we didn’t have to talk about Hell! Looking back on the last twenty-four hours through this rainy, Monday afternoon, it seems like we had a “heavy” day! As many of you know we learned about the “Judgment Seat of Christ” in the morning services and then at our Purposeful Parenting seminar we heard from Tal Prince! My friend, that seminar was a kick in the gut!

Tal’s message last night will leave an incredibly lasting impact on our families. I have prayed throughout today that many moms and dads – and staff members if necessary – will contact Tal’s ministry seeking help against pornographic addiction. I believe we have many homes, marriages, and families being torn apart by this epidemic in our church!

By the way, thanks for taking the time to write your notes of encouragement and sharing verbally your appreciation for this seminar. It is awesome to be in a church and work with a leadership team that will go to bat with God and allow Him to hit grand slams for the Kingdom! If you were not able to attend this past Sunday night please take some time to view what Tal had to say on our website. Click here (http://www.fbctrussville.org/link_update.htm) and scroll down to view the videos! If you want to check into Tal’s ministry, Tapestry of Hope, click here (http://www.tohcommunity.com).

We know that we ALL have sinned and need a gracious Savior. That’s one reason we needed this emphasis! We are a church who seeks – and loves – people regardless of their present situation or past sins. Why? Because that’s exactly how God loves us! God is good! We have always said “the ground is level at the foot of the cross,” now we need to go live it!

This Sunday will be incredibly encouraging. We are going to look to the future and see a God that is in control and calling the shots of eternity! Don’t miss it!

September

September is going to be an incredible month! In addition to cooler temperatures that will usher in football season and beautiful fall foliage, we have awesome opportunities taking place in the fellowship.

The New Normal

The life of Jesus is characterized by fulfilling the teachings of God while at the same time transforming our world. Each Sunday morning in September we are discovering “The New Normal” in our lives as followers of Christ. In order for us to experience God’s presence we must place our lives under His description of The New Normal…which really hasn’t changed for 1000’s of years! Living the “New Normal” is the key to an abundant life.

Phase 1 Completed

As we finish up the month we will begin a new era in the life of First Baptist. As we complete Phase 1 of our building program, we will finally have an opportunity to have seating for those who have a passion to worship God in a contemporary worship setting. It is great to see God’s people embrace one another as we provide traditional, blended and contemporary venues that allows us all to worship our Creator. Our renovated gym will be an incredible space that will continue to impact lives for many more years.

Phase 2 Begins

As you know, we are also preparing to break ground on a new preschool building that will address an area of our ministry that must be corrected so we can reach the next generation for Christ. Soon you will be receiving information for a special ground breaking celebration that you will want to attend. Be in prayer for this process…it will be an exciting journey.

Upward Basketball & Cheerleading

Have you been praying for Upward Basketball? Our newly renovated gym will also be beginning a new ministry that has literally reached children for Christ around the world. Two “p’s” come to mind that are necessary for this ministry to spread through our community: Prayer and Participation! All of us can pray for the children and their families that we need to impact for Christ. Please remember to pray every day for what God wants to do through Upward this winter. Also, have you signed up to participate in this ministry? There is a job for every one of us who have a desire to win children for Christ. Sign up this Sunday and your life will be better for it.

Faithfulness

All of this is possible because of your tithes and offerings. Please make sure that each Sunday we honor the Lord with our tithe…which is 10% of your income. You know, Scripture teaches that this is the first portion that is distributed from what God has allowed us to oversee. Also, as God leads, be faithful with your offerings which is always in addition to your tithe. This would include your commitment to “What If…” that we are a part of. These are exciting days because of God’s love and our faithfulness.

So what’s your story?

God is doing incredible things in your life. Often, your story will be a source of encouragement and strength to those who hear it. When God works in your life, visit our website and send me a note. As the opportunity arises we may use your story to strengthen the family! I look forward to hearing from you soon!

This is Big!

As Barney Fife would say…”This is big!” School has started back and now families have an opportunity to get back to some sort of schedule. We can choose to focus on the important aspects of life. That’s big!

The school year slams us into a routine that is welcomed by many after a long, hot and crazy summer. It’s a great time to check out your life and see how things are going.

This Sunday will be big for churches! This is a great opportunity for small group leaders to contact their members and encourage them to get back into the “habit” of going to church. We don’t want our walk with Christ to be a bad habit…but we do want our fellowship with Him to be habitual! It is a great time for students and neighbors to invite people to come join them in church.

I read a statistic today that indicated that 89% would be willing to listen if someone wanted to tell them about their relationship with Christ. That’s big! Church this weekend is going to be big! We should have a great time together.

I hope you will be there…and bring a friend!

Big!

In the words of Barney Fife: “This is big…big…really big…Andy, are you listening…this is big!” It really is big. James 5:16 says that your prayers are making a big difference and we are praying about some big things. You are praying aren’t you? You prayed last week for our students while they were in Dallas. That was big! Come to think of it…doesn’t Dallas and Texas always make you think “big?” This week is big! Men on Missions…they need our prayers…it is big…and at times dangerous. They create quite a buzz when they arrive…it’s big. Vacation Bible School is big…no huge! Kids are everywhere this morning. There are many guest here that represent various faiths and backgrounds. It is big…they need to learn about Jesus. Sooooo, pray. Pray this week that Jesus would be supernaturally evident from Sparta, Missouri to Trussville, Alabama just like He was in Dallas, Texas! It’s BIG!

Time

Today at lunch Dan mentioned his favorite class that he had taken in seminary was philosophy (not really). Just the mere mention of that word brought back vivid memories of lapsing into a deep coma while sitting in a desk! It would have been more fun to watch paint dry! I still remember the depths at which we discussed others peoples views and questions of life. It seems like we discussed whether “a tree makes noise when it falls in the forest and there is no one there to hear it” for weeks! I could immediately answer that question in two ways: 1. Who cares? 2. Of course it does…the tree is not there for man! That tree was created, existed, and fell to the floor of the forest for God and God alone!

There is not much put here in this world for man. Everything that exists is for God and to bring glory to Him. Sure we oversee it, enjoy it, and are stewards of it – but it is not mine. Isn’t that what the Bible teaches us? Why do we chase after things that focus on the created instead of the creator? We tend to get the cart before the horse and this always leads to big trouble. Due to the fact that we really were not created for “here” but for eternity, we need to understand that I exist for Him and not for me! When we become so short-sighted that we think that this life is about us then we sit around and discuss questions that revolve around us! Since we know far more to “do” than we actually practice, I believe I will get up and go do what I know I should be doing and let other people chase those self imposed questions of life!

People

This Sunday we will begin a new series called “Relationship Status.” Each week we will explore biblical relationships with the goal of enhancing our personal relationships.

Relating to people is just a part of life. If you live a typical lifestyle, you can’t avoid them. Some people choose to live like hermits by moving to a mountain cabin in order to avoid dealing with people. Such isolation is just not an option for most of us.

People are all around us! Some are such a blessing while others can turn into your “thorn in the flesh!” Ecclesiastes 4:10 (NIV) tell us “If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!” All of us fall…in fact when you work with people sometimes you fall because someone pushes you down.

I remember John Maxwell saying that “leadership is lonely so you better remember why you are there.” When you walk with God and step out against the current, you can anticipate someone trying to push you down…yes, notice “when you walk with God!” On a number of occasions I have been the target of that downward push. It doesn’t matter that I am in God’s will, being obedient, working as hard as I can and being sweet. Someone always comes along with a push.

So who gets me up? Home. I can go home and find a loving place filled with people that believe in me. They pick me up. Staff. Some are intuitive enough to check on me and encourage me when they know I am being shot at from all sides. Deacons. Words cannot explain what it means to know there are 60 Godly men standing on all sides of you when things get tough. They provide strength and courage. Friends. A few God-given people that love you…no matter what. While one side of the relationship coin tries to push you down, stay focused on the flip side of the coin that provides daily “pick-me-ups.”

Everybody will fall. You are going to fall. Who will pick you up? Probably some of the same ones that you have picked up.

Team Work

I lived the first 12 years of my life in a neighborhood on the south side of Birmingham in an area called “Rocky Ridge.” The street was a big loop that was full of families. From time to time some of the neighbor’s dogs would all meet together and seemingly pick sides. I guess looking back on it, all the dogs could have been gathering together because of one really pretty dog…but since this is a family blog we will leave that subject! Whatever the motive for those get-togethers, it seems that they would always break out into a free-for-all fight! While the dogs growled and rolled in the dust, the kids franctically tried to separate them. Did you experience that as a kid?

In a very positive way that reminds me of the team around here! It seems like every week we have huge projects with a long list of tasks that need to be completed…and soon! Everyone jumps in and the dust begins to fly! It really doesn’t matter if it is “their area,” they just all jump in and make it happen. It is a lot more fun to watch than a pack of dogs fighting.

First Baptist Trussville has a pack that sticks together and surrenders personal desires for the cause! There is a verse about that you know. Do you work in a place like that? If not, remember change has to start somewhere. Today, get out of your area and find someone that is swamped. Lend a helping hand. Take one for the team. If you take a few minutes, you will notice that Jesus is always pleased when we serve others. He taught us the servant way of leadership. It’s All About Him!

The Mission

For several years we have been taught about “mission statements,” “vision statements,” “strategies,” and “procedures.” I’m not sure what all that means and it seems way too complicated to incorporate all that terminology around here. We just simply say we strive for people to be “committed to God, know His ways and do His work because it’s all about Him!” Of course, this was first described by Jesus in what we call the Great Commission. Life’s most important fact is: “It’s ALL about Him.” Whether things are going well or we are experiencing tough times…it is all about Him. Today I was at www.fbctmen.com and came across this great clip by Pastor Voddie Baucham. Listen to this and see if it changes your perspective on today!

In the Springtime when the weather’s just right, birds sing and sing…

It is a beautiful time of the year! I can’t pinpoint exactly what is most beautiful. Perhaps it is the new growth on the trees, or the flowers blooming or maybe it is just the rebirth from ole man winter…or maybe it’s because it’s Turkey season?! Anyway, have you noticed the beauty? It is amazing how creation screams about God as a new day begins. If it has been awhile…or maybe never…since you have quietly sat outside and experienced the beginning of a new day, then I would strongly encourage that you it try this season. Creation seems to be so happy and energetic with each sunrise. God gives humans each day, but creation itself begins the day with a song and a burst of excitement. That’s not really how I begin my day! I roll out of bed with joints popping and get a wake up call with hot water hitting my head! Several hours later, I am ready for coherent discussions about problems and opportunities. We have heard it said that he/she woke up on the wrong side of the bed. In reality, our mood has nothing to do with a certain side of the bed but with the choice we made when we got up! Nature makes the right choice. If creation can sing His praises when they have never known His forgiveness, how much more should I when I am the one that has been changed by His presence!

An Invitation

Holy Week! It is an incredible experience for the believer and gives unprecedented opportunities for outreach. Have you noticed this week that the History Channel, Discovery Channel and The Learning Channel have all had programming that is researching the life and ministry of Jesus? The world thinks about Jesus this week! So what will happen Sunday in Trussville? Most who read this will be at an Easter service somewhere.

My main concern is: who will YOU bring to church?

Easter is a time of celebration by believers and inquiry by seekers, but it is also a great opportunity to do what we are here to do…share the love of God! That’s why we gave out free coffee bags this past Sunday. We set the stage for you to invite someone to the cross! How can we make it any easier? We will conduct four services (five, counting the Annex overflow) with various styles of music but proclaiming the same message: Everyone needs Jesus! Even if you have asked someone 100 times to come to church…ask them one more time!

Pray for Sunday and bring someone with you! I’ll see you then.

BUDDY CHAMPION

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