Jude 1:22, “And of some have compassion, making a difference.”

Our theme for 2012 is “Making a Difference.”  I believe the Lord has challenged us to be MAD (Making A Difference).

Monday I headed to Oklahoma City for the National Home Missions and Church Planters Conference at the campus of Heartland Baptist Bible College.  Last year the church voted to allow me to spend some Missions money to help some church planters at this conference.  This conference has always been a highlight for my family and I to attend.  Due to previous commitments, I went by myself this year.  I truly missed my family, but am very thankful for the opportunity to attend the conference.

It was awesome to see pastors from around North America give and partner together with church planters.  I am very thankful for such a loving and missions-minded church family that would give so that I could go and distribute the funds to some church planters.  I believe with my whole heart that God allowed our church to be MAD in Oklahoma.  Below are the names of the churches and their locations that our church helped.

• Moses Lake Baptist Church in Moses Lake, WA.  Pastor Dennis Fountain.
• Berean Baptist Church in Burleson, TX.  Pastor Jason Pugh.
• Liberty Baptist Church in Philadelphia, PA.  Pastor Burton Gates.
• A new church plant in New York City, NY.  Pastor Mike Newburger.
• North Central Baptist Church in Roy, UT.  Pastor Jason Harris.
• Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Sallisaw, OK.  Pastor David Harris.
• Landmark Baptist Church in Springfield, MO.  Pastor Matt Dedmon.
• Liberty Baptist Church in Boston, MA.  Pastor Adam Riveiro.
• Crescent Baptist Church in New Orleans, LA.  Pastor Brent Givens.
• Liberty Baptist Church in Indianola, IA.  Pastor Tommy Adams.
• Lighthouse Baptist Church in Newport, AR.  Pastor Raymond Beckles.

There were 104 church planters at the conference this year.  God moved through the preaching as well as the needs that were met.  I am so very thankful that our church was MAD in OKC this year!  Please click on the above links to see some of the websites.  I believe that it will be a blessing to you!

Colossians 3:23, “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.” 

With a new year, many people make resolutions.  They set certain goals that they want to accomplish.  Sometimes, these resolutions do not last.  As Christians, we should make a resolution in 2012 as well.  We do not need a huge list of things we want to accomplish, but rather we could put one thing on the list and that would be sufficient: “To please the Lord in  everything I do.”  Pleasing everyone is impossible.  The Bible says that we should not do things to please people.  Setting the goal of pleasing God is much more attainable.  Work, school, church, etc. should be done with the end result of God being pleased.  It is important that God’s children set out to please HIM.  It is natural for a child to want to please his or her parent.  That is a good goal to have.  Christian, realize you are a child of God.  You should desire to please Him more than anyone else in your life.  Begin today and purpose in your heart to please God with everything you do in 2012.

Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

For the Christian, Christmas is a wonderful time of year! Beginning the first Sunday of December, I will be preaching a mini-series about Celebrating the Saviour. This is the real reason for the season. I want to encourage you to be at every service this month. Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year and we will be having all regular services that day. I know many spend time with family. I want to challenge you to bring your family and friends Christmas Day and spend the day in the House of the Lord. We will receive a Christmas offering on Christmas Day during the AM service. That offering enables us to give our missionary families a special gift each year. Don’t miss being in church as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday!

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
While this verse in Thessalonians is easy to read, it is often more difficult to put into practice. When things are going well, being thankful is easy. It is when the trials and challenges of life come, thankfulness is more difficult. Paul admonished the Thessalonians to give thanks in everything. There is always something that we can be thankful for. Although at times it may be more challenging to find, there is always something in which we can be thankful. Despite what happens in your life, you can be thankful for the fact that Jesus saved your soul! That alone should give any Christian a reason to SHOUT!!! Christians should be thankful everyday of the year. As you celebrate Thanksgiving with your family and friends, remember to be thankful in everything.

Psalms 85:6, “Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?”

Tonight marked the end of our revival with Evangelist Bill Abbott.  This was our third year with Bro. Abbott and his family.  I believe that this one was the best thus far.  Personally, God spoke to my heart in each service and I am very thankful for it.  We had visitors almost every night and the altars were full.  It is my prayer for our church family that we keep the messages we heard fresh on our hearts.

Is revival in our nation still possible?  For a nation that was founded upon God’s Word and His principles; is revival within reach?  Yes it is because God has not changed.  He did not forsake America, America forsook Him.  I want to encourage each Christian to ask God to use you each day to impact those in your life.  If every Christian purposed to live for God on a daily basis, revival would happen.

Revive us again;

Fill each heart with Thy love;

May each soul be rekindled

With fire from above.

May that be the prayer of every Christian…REVIVE US AGAIN!!!

I came across this yesterday while doing some research about prayer.  I was reminded of just how powerful prayer truly is.  I felt compelled to share it.  I hope and pray that it will be a blessing to you as well.

The Scope of Prayer

Through prayer there is no problem that can’t be solved,

No sickness that can’t be healed,

No burden that can’t be lifted,

No storm that can’t be weathered,

No devastation that can’t be relieved,

No sorrow that can’t be erased,

No poverty cycle that can’t be broken,

No sinner that can’t be saved,

No perishing that can’t be rescued,

No fallen that can’t be lifted,

No hurt that can’t be removed,

No broken relationship that can’t be mended,

No difference that can’t be resolved,

No hindrance that can’t be shaken,

No limitation that can’t be overcome,

No mourning that can’t be comforted,

No ashes that can’t become beauty,

No heaviness that can’t be covered with the garment of praise,

No thirst that can’t be quenched,

No hunger that can’t be filled,

No dry ground that can’t be flooded,

No desert that can’t blossom,

No congregation that can’t be revived,

No preacher that can’t be anointed,

No church pews that can’t be filled,

No church leadership team that can’t become ‘one,’

No community that can’t be Christianized and

No nation that can’t be transformed.

Matthew 13:58, “And  he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.”

1 Thessalonians  5:17, “Pray without ceasing.”

This month we are having our annual revival with Evangelist Bill Abbott and his family.  This is their third year with our church.  In Matthew 13, Jesus did not do  “many mighty works” because the people did not believe He could.  Jesus had the power to do those works.  What is the key for God’s people to experience revival?  It is prayer and  belief in God.  It doesn’t come through a preacher or special music.  Revival can happen when Christians believe God can work.  Begin praying now for God to work during our revival meeting; you cannot pray too much about the revival.  Have the belief that God can in fact work.  He is an all powerful God that can work in incredible ways.  I feel that many Christians do not believe God can do great things as He has done in the past.  Let us pray and believe God will work among us.  If we do that, then revival can happen!

3 John 1:4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Tuesday night at our house is “Guys Night.”  Tonight I had opportunity to spend some quality time with my three sons.  We went to eat dinner at McDonalds.  On the way we drove by the Glenwood Cemetary in Alvarado.  We talked about why so many people are buried there.  I told my boys that every second three people die.  We talked about the fact that people all over the world are dying and that many of them do not know Jesus Christ as their Saviour.  I told them that is why it is so important to tell everyone we can about Jesus that we can.

After watching our favorite Tuesday show, Wipeout, we all sat down for our prayers.  Jason (2 years old) prays first each night.  He really enjoys praying.  He likes to pray first before any meal, and even some snacks that he has!  He has started recently to mention specific things when he prays.  He will mention each food item by name, his cup or fork.  Tonight he mentioned his brothers, Josh and Jake, my wife and myself, our home, and our neighbor Laura.  Sometimes he will also mention people from our church by name.  It is very sweet to listen to him pray specifically for people and things in his life.  He truly is sincere when he talks to the Lord.

Jacob prayed for the people in the world who do not have a church to go to.  He asked God to let people build more chuches so that they could have a place to go and hear about Jesus. I was amazed at his concern for lost souls while he prayed tonight.

Joshua prayed tonight about his school work.  He is very diligent in everything he does.  He wants to do his very best on the test that he has later this week.  He asked the Lord to help him get the best grade that he could. He also asks the Lord to help him do a good job tomorrow and listen as well.

Tonight my heart was overcome with joy.  As I listened to each of my sons pray, I simply wanted to thank the Lord!  I am glad that my boys have a desire to pray.  I can tell that they pray from the heart.  As a father, it was a proud moment for me.  I thank God for the opportunity that my wife and I have to make an impact in their lives.  I thank God for a great church they can attend and hear teaching and preaching from God’s Word.  Tonight I had a great father & son moment.  I thank the Lord for it and I look forward to more of them as He allows.

This past Monday night & Tuesday morning, our church had the privilege of hosting a Global Independent Baptist Fellowship of Texas meeting.  We had never hosted such an event before.  IT WAS AWESOME!  If you missed being there, you sure missed a huge blessing!  I’ll try to briefly recap the meeting.

During the Monday night service, the GloryBound Quartet from Heartland Baptist Bible College provided the special music.  There were 123 people in attendance that night!  Our church was just about full.  The music that night set the stage for the preaching that was to follow.  If you are interested in purchasing their latest CD, please click here.  Bro. Dick Webster, Pastor of Liberty Baptist Church, in Lewisville, TX preached that night!  Man did he PREACH!  He preached about the different kinds of faith that Jarius had in Luke 8.  A good BAPTIST meeting would not be complete without food.  After the services around 50 people went to Dan Chano’s in Alvarado for food and fellowship.

Tuesday morning was a great time as well.  Once again, GloryBound provided special music during the service.  Also during the meeting, some of the young men from GloryBound helped in our music service.  Bro. Jonathan Willoughby lead the congregational singing and Bro. AJ Lutrick played the piano.  The first preacher that morning was Bro. Bob Martin, Missionary to Costa Rica.  He preached from Acts 2:38 about what true repentence meant.  Bro. Jonathan Willoughby preached next from Jeremiah 10.  He challenged us to not place our faith in the things of this world, but rather to depend fully upon the Lord.  Then Bro. AJ Lutrick preached from Jeremiah 9.  He preached on the importance of not glorying in wisdom, might, or riches; but rather glorying in the Lord.  The fourth and final preacher of the morning was Bro. Terry Williams, Pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church in Burleson, TX.  He preached from Malachi 3 about change and how we need to be careful what kind of changes we make in our churches and ministries.  All four sermons were powerful, practical and pointed.  After a short business meeting, everyone enjoyed lasagna and dessert in our gym.  The ladies who helped prepare and serve the meal did GREAT!

Tuesday evening my son Joshua, Jacob, and I played some basketball with the guys from GloryBound at church.  We then enjoyed dinner together.  Wednesday morning we all went bowling in Ft. Worth.  It was a great time of fun and fellowship.  We ate lunch at Spring Creek BBQ!

Wednesday night at our church service, GloryBound again provided some soul-stirring music.  The other three young men from the group preached at church that night.  Bro. Tim Bishop preached from Psalm 124 about having an attitude of thankfulness towards the Lord.  Then Bro. Daniel Ertley preached from Joshua 3.  He preached that God wants His children to get cleaned up (sanctified) so the Lord can do wonders among us.  Then Bro. Daniel Ligon preached from Proverbs 10.  He showed the importance of investing our time wisely in the great harvest of souls.  Again, God was glorified and exalted during the preaching of His Word.  After services my family and I enjoyed dinner with GloryBound at McDonalds.

In 3 days I heard 8 sermons and over a dozen songs about the Lord!  I spent time with my family and a great group of Heartland students and their sponsor couple, Bro. Joe Mizer and his wife Brigitta.  It truly was a wonderful week at the fellowship meeting and at our Wednesday night church service.  I am grateful to God for the opportunity to serve the Lord here in Alvarado, TX.

Joshua 24:15 “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

This Summer we took our teens to the Royal C Ranch in Eufaula, OK. We havn’t been to this camp in a few years.  Teens are faced with so many different temptations and things to pull them away from serving God.  The week was centered on them making up their minds to live for God.

Pastor Wayne Hardy and Pastor Jerry Ross preached at camp to the teens.  Each message stirred not only the hearts of the teens, but also of the sponsors and camp workers.  The split sessions for the boys and girls were also a blessing!  Many decisions were made at camp this past week.  Please pray for our teens that the decisions made will not fade away simply because camp is over.

The special music each day was also very Christ-honoring.  Monday night the choir put on a patriotic show with songs about our great nation.  It was a very moving program!  The fireworks Monday night were also great.  There was special music each night by Wild Dale Hiccup.  If you’ve never heard him, you’re missing out on a blessing! LOL.  I now hear my three boys walking around the house singing various lyrics from his music!  I have his CD if you’re interested in his music.

There were also many different activities for the campers to do and compete in.  Our church was on the red team for the week.  Each contest and event had points at stake for the red, white, and blue teams to earn.  The red team was victorious at the end of the week!

I was very thankful for the hospitality from all the staff and workers at the camp.  You could certainly see they all had a servant’s heart.  Everyone from our church had a great time.  If you’re familiar with this ministry, please check out their website at http://www.calvarybaptistministries.net/ Looking forward to camp again next year!