The time has come to stand for what we believe in…

Hillsong wrote a song titled “The Time has come” and this next week, our students will be living out the words to this song. Just read these lyrics…

“The time has come
To stand for all we believe in
So I for one
I’m gonna give my praise to you”

“Today today
I live for one thing
To give you praise
In everything I do
Yeah all the praise goes out to you”

“Cause all we are is yours
And all we’re living for
Is all you are
Is all that you are”

This week at WIRED, our students will be on a mission based experience where we will have over 100 teams and over 1000 students out being the hands and feet of Christ! Some will be doing sports camps with kids from 1st-6th grade teaching them drills in 4 different sports and sharing Christ with them each and every day. Others will be on construction teams, 32 different teams, helping out with missions of love by rebuilding porches or decks, yard work, flooring, painting and many other projects. While others will be on Social Teams that will visit nursing homes, soup kitchens, adult daycare, pregnancy resource center, and a favorite place of mine…Mama Tina’s.

Our days will start at 6:30 AM with breakfast and ends with lights out at 11:30 PM! (as if that will actually happen!)

Our team consists of 8 Parents and 34 students. 6 of those students are our guest. No hotels for us, we are staying at FBC Dothan in SS classrooms! Shower trailers for the girls. Hot and humid weather awaits. And all will be done for God’s Glory!!!

I am really looking forward to seeing our team bond with each other and to really see God move in a special way. I praying for a revival among these students. I am praying that we, as adults and parents, will get serious about what is really important in the lives of our students and stop allowing the world to tell us how we are or should raise our students. I think God knows best!

I would ask you to do something really special this week…pray for our students!!! Let’s show that with action! Here is how you can do that…

If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or just a dear friend, I would ask that you commit to praying every day and WRITING THOSE PRAYERS DOWN IN A NOTEBOOK and give it to that student when they come home. This is a wonderful thing to actually see prayers that where prayed for that student that really needed it on that specific day. If you take this action and do what I ask, I want to hear your testimony on how it effected you and the student. I am telling you know, it will be a blessing you do not want to miss out on!

So, the time has come…to stand for what we believe in…are you ready?

Let’s do this thang….Peace. Out!

Is Anybody Out There?

Last Monday, I was in the office and heard this chirping every five to seven seconds. I looked out my window and there on the window seal was  a baby bird. The little bird looked like he was ready to fly. But all afternoon, this little bird chirped hoping mama bird would come to his rescue.

Now, I don’t know how that bird got out of the nest. Maybe he had fallen. Maybe he had gotten so big that mama bird kicked him out. Maybe he just decided it was time to fly the coup. Regardless of the reasons, this little bird wasn’t happy with his circumstances. He was chirping for help and getting no immediate assistance.

Usually, I run to the rescue of animals. But for some reason, I sensed that my help would actually hurt my little window friend. I have a feeling that mama bird was close by with a watchful eye, but left her little one alone so that he would learn to do what birds do–fly!

Have you ever been in similar circumstances? You’re needing help and crying out to God and wondering if He was out there listening? All you seem to be getting is silence. You begin to wonder if God has suddenly become deaf and dumb.  You ask the question, “Does God even care any more?”

Psalm 139:1-6 gives us some encouragement when God is silent. “Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit  and when I rise; You percieve my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue You know it completlely, O Lord. You hem me in –behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me . Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

Just remember that God’s silence is not God’s absence. He sees us with a watchful eye. His silence forces us to become what He intends–fully mature in our faith. Just as the mama bird was silent to force baby bird to fly, so God is sometimes silent to force us to soar in our faith.

God is watching and hearing the cries of His children. Trust Him even when there is no response. 

Is this where you are today? Let me know what’s going on, how you’re doing, and how I can help!

Ed Jansson, Pastor

Do others see Jesus in YOU?

A little girl was on the way home from church when she turned to her mother and said, “Mommy, the preacher’s sermon this morning confused me.”

The mother asked, “Why is that?”

The girl replied, “Well, he said that God is bigger than we are. Is that true?”

“Yes, that’s true,” the mother replied.

“He also said that God lives within us. Is that true, too?”

Again, the mother replied, “Yes.”

“Well,” said the girl, “If God is bigger than us and He lives in us, wouldn’t He show through?”

So many times we feel that no one is watching or listening to us and the fact is that when we profess to be followers of Christ, people notice EVERYTHING!

In Ephesians 5:8, Paul writes, “For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord. Live as children of Light.” (NASB)

Many times we do not live this way. Many live life defeated and the Light of the Lord is never shown to those who need to see it. We call ourselves Christians, yet our lives do not reflect it! Why is that?

This week, I have been humbled again by the power of God as we see the news of Joplin and hear all of the sadness that they are now walking through as a community. But now is the time they NEED LIGHT!!!  Now is the time Christ needs to be shown in our love and actions. Now is the time for you and I to be LIGHT in an area of darkness.

There are going to be those that do not believe that God could allow or do something like this if He is such a God of love, but we need to understand that nothing ever surprises God. Nothing ever sneaks up on Him. He is in control of ALL THINGS and He is, I believe, trying to wake His Church up! Trying to shake His people into realizing that HE IS COMING BACK! Not on May 21st, obviously, or October 21st, but He is coming back and we need to show Jesus to all that we come in contact with…EVERYDAY….EVERYWHERE!!!

If you have received the gift of Salvation through the blood, shed by Jesus on the cross and have been saved, then we MUST SHARE HIM WITH OTHERS, for we ARE Children of Light!!!

Will you show Jesus to others through YOUR actions and attitudes? Or will you continue to hid Him under a bushel?

Peace.

FBC Helps Tuscaloosa, AL

 FBC Kennett Tuscaloosa Relief from Rodney Rogers on Vimeo.

Osama bin Laden is Dead!

Everywhere we look we see these headlines, “Osama bin Laden is Dead!” There are pictures of rejoicing and celebration all over the world. Many family members of the “9/11″ victims are feeling some sense of closure. Bin Laden was the founder and mastermind of the Islamic terrorist organization called Al-Queada. He was also responsible for thousands of deaths in the U.S. and abroad. His actions brought about the global war on terror. There is no doubt about it, Osama bin Laden was a bad dude!

So, what should our response be to bin Laden’s death? Should we rejoice and be happy? Or, should we feel sad about the death of another human being? There is certainly nothing wrong with bringing someone to justice for their crimes. I am glad that Osama bin Laden can no longer hurt anyone else. But on the other hand,  as a Christian, I cannot be happy about a person’s death. Even God says in Ezekiel 33:11 “Tell them: As I live–the declaration of the Lord God–I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked person should turn from his way and live.” God’s interest, which should also be mine, is that the wicked turn to Him.

As long as a person lives, there is a chance to experience the grace and forgivenenss of Jesus Christ. It should always be our prayer that “…none  perish but for all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

Osama bin Laden is dead! His fate is now in the hands of a just and holy God. Someday, each of us will stand before God and our eternal destination will depend upon where we have placed our faith. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26) 

Let me know what you think !

HE CAN!!!

I know I live in Kennett, MO., but it feels like we moved to Seattle!!! I am so tired of all the rain we have been having the last two weeks. But it could be a lot worse.

I feel for all of the lives lost in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, and Mississippi from the tornadoes last week. So much destruction and many people are left searching for answers and picking up the pieces of their lives. I know many seem to struggle with all that has happened and are asking “Why?”.

I love what psalmist says in Psalm 46:

“1 God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and foam,
Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
The holy dwelling places of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;
He raised His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD,
Who has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariots with fire.
10 “Cease striving and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
11 The LORD of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.”

Even though things may look bad at the time, God is always in control!

God is in control! What a great peace that is for us to walk in. In this world that seems so upside down right now and with all of the chaos and confusion it is good to know that the Creator has things right on HIS pace and it is all under control.

I think sometimes in my own life I THINK I HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL! But the fact of it all is that I don’t and the more I try to control and direct things, sometimes the worse they get. It is a daily struggle and it is so easy to get caught in the control game, but at the end of it all, it is just best for ME to LET GO AND LET GOD!

I don’t have all the answers, but He does. I can’t keep it all together, but He can.

I can’t help all the hurt and heartache of those suffering loss during this time of tragedy…

But HE can!

Home at last

Well, we’ve been home a couple of weeks now from Franklin and the grandchildren care.  It was exciting to see our new granddaughter if only for a short while.  She’s a doll and certainly seems happy with her forever family.  

I was most excited with our Easter services beginning with the sunrise services and then the two services here at the church.  Good crowds for both services and I was so proud of the job our choir did.  Truly amazing considering I missed 3 of the final 4 rehearsals but Rodney kept things going in my absence.  I’m always proud of our choir and they are such a faithful and loving bunch.  

Our concerns are now for the people devastated by the recent storms and flooding.  It’s heartbreaking to see the images we see on TV day after day and then watch the rain continue to fall.  Hopefully we can gather much needed supplies to help out those suffering right now.  You can check with the office or Rodney and see what is needed.  He’s making a trip next week to deliver the supplies that have been gathered.  Continue to pray for those hit so hard by these disasters and try to help out where you can.

Tragedy All Around Us

Rain, rain and more rain! When will it ever stop? I keep thinking about all the tragedy and loss that has occurred over the last several weeks. My prayers go out to the thousands of people who have suffered in the tornadoes of the South, and the floods around the Bootheel area.

It’s  times like these that we begin to ask questions like, “ Why does God allow these natural disasters?  What good could possibly come from the suffering and loss?” The only answers come from God’s Word. Remember that the Bible says “…He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends the rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matt.5:45).  So God’s blessings are poured out on all. The same principle occurs when the blessing turns into tragedy. In others words, life just happens! It doesn’t matter if you are a follower of Jesus Christ or not, difficult things will always occur. The Apostle James said, “Consider it a great joy, my  brothers, whenever you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).

So, tragedies will occur in life and God will use them to strengthen and deepen our faith. These same circumstances can also cause us to reach out and help those in need. We are to feel the pain that others feel. We are to put our selves in their circumstances. We are to practice the Golden Rule which Jesus  says, “In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matt.7:12). 

Let’s grow in our faith as we encounter the difficult times, and let’s allow the light of Jesus to shine through us as we offer a helping hand.

From Franklin (2)

As I write this my heart is so full.  Just got back from the Cynthia mini concert and presentation of “Celebrate Life” at FBC Nashville.  It was a wonderful program.  

Though I am tired and ready to be home the blessings of this trip are too numerous to mention.  In a couple of days we will get to see our new Russian granddaughter face to face and see our other grandchildren’s reaction to her.  I’m grateful to a family who is willing to give this child a forever home with love.  I’m grateful to Kit and his team for covering for us while we have been gone.  He’s helped me out so much not just this time but many times before.  I’m grateful to Rodney for keeping the choir going while we were gone.  I’m grateful to a great choir who are ever faithful and that I could never out love.   And I’m grateful to my FBC family for allowing us to be away so long.  I could never out love them as well.  

As old as I am and as long as I’ve known Him, I’m still blown away by the ways that He loves and blesses me.  Easter is upon us and is a bitter but joyful reminder of just what He did or you and for me.  Hope to see you Easter at one of the services to tell Him how much we thank Him.

Bill

Catalyst News and “Secret Service” Christians

 Secret Service from Rodney Rogers on Vimeo.

« Previous Page — Next Page »