Overwhelmed?

 

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

This picture really inspired me to think about life and the past eleven months.  When life is overwhelming what do you do and where do you begin?

For me, God has taught me to get on my knees more. While some things have stayed the same, many things have absolutely been turned upside down. While we have been shaken, our God has not.

Look at this guy in the picture. Some personal statements that would go through my mind would be:

•  Are You kidding me?
•  Really?
•  This is useless!
•  I quit!
• Where is everybody?
• God is this what I was called to do as a pastor?

And then He speaks.  Take one shovel at a time and I will get you there. He represents many pastors and those in ministry who have not quit.  Doing what they know to do, being faithful, and still slinging snow. 

Sunday, by Sunday, video by video, God is still on the throne and worthy to pursue.  Slowly, one shovel at a time, some progress is starting to be made.  A few Sundays ago , I could see it as we went over 215 combined in worship.  Nursery back, Children's church now functioning with all sails set on March 7 for the return of Small Groups, then pow!  Frigid temps, snowfall after snowfall and people forced to stay in.

The excitement that I have to see our entire church family reunited and back together is growing daily.

So when life overwhelms you, where do you begin?  By taking one step of faith, one step, one shovel of snow, and then going to the the next.

Somewhere out there, a person has a heavier load, harder circumstances, more difficult health challenges, and continues to serve the Lord.  May we not quit as we finish our race for the Master.

Christmas and Why Jesus Came

Dear FSBC, what a great day in the Lord yesterday.  We were right at 200 in worship and continue to pray for some of our folks who are still battling, some getting stronger and some need prayer.

I appreciate a church that is Gospel, Bible preaching receptive.  It is not that way everywhere, and we don't take it for granted.  As a matter of fact, 2020 has taught us to take nothing for granted, and to appreciate everything that God does and is doing.

I also praise the Lord for the giving heart of FSBC as we went over the the Lottie Moon goal by giving over 6,500!!! We also  had a good number here last night to observe the Lord's Supper and to celebrate the birth of Christ.

Below is a devotion in regards to last night's Communion service and I hope you will let it challenge you.

One of my favorite traditions at Christmas regarding church is the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service. At a time when celebrating the birth of Christ is so wonderful,  communion, or the Lord's Supper is a good reminder of why Jesus was born, and why He came.  At the last supper Jesus said, "As often as you do this, do it in remembrance of Me."  So in the celebration of His birth, we take time to remember His death.

It wasn't just enough that He was born and took on flesh and blood.  In order to be our advocate we need Him to be, He came to earth  and experienced everything you and I would ever go through.  While He created everything, He experienced everything, yet without sin.  As a carpenter, He dealt with everything.  He knew what temptation was, and once again, without sin.

Recently Renee shared a good question.  What about Joseph as Jesus grew up and went to the cross?

We don't know what happened to Joseph beyond Jesus turning 12.  It is possible that Jesus may have even experienced what it was like growing up in the home of a single parent.  You never know.  He understands all struggles.

I believe God has big plans for FSBC in 2021.  May we be found faithful.  May we Love God, love people, and serve people!

Remember this Christmas, recognize that God knows your greatest need , and He has the power to meet it.  Let's celebrate Jesus, and remember why He came.... for you and me!

Defining Moments

This past Sunday we had the blessing of doing something every grandparent prays for.  That was to be able to attend the baptism of our oldest grandson Aiden.  We have been praying for him and asking God to speak to his tender heart over these past few years and we praise the Lord for His goodness. It was  a blessing to hear Aiden read his testimony, be challenged by his Pastor, Uncle Stephen, and then identify with Christ, death burial, and resurrection. 

Baptism is to be a first public step for believers.  It doesn't save, but identifies you as part of  God's forever family. I believe we can sometimes downplay the importance of baptism, yet what a significant step to take as a child of the King.  Jesus was baptized without any need to to do it other than modeling for us its importance.  I encourage you to prayerfully consider being baptized by immersion if you have never submitted to it.  It will be a defining moment in your Christian walk.

Seasons

The older I get , the more I appreciate the change of the seasons.  I love the spring, yet my favorite is the fall.  The crispness, the color change, the leaves, the harvest, the apples and cider, the fires, the football.  As a boy, I was a three sport kid.  Whatever was in season, baseball, basketball, football, that would be the sport I was  playing.  Young people, did you know that soccer was only a sport we watched on TV from Europe when I was a boy?

As a Pastor here in Camden for over twenty seven years, and a Papaw of four boys, I am in a different season personally and professionally.

Personally, our oldest grandson has recently been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease.  It really has been hard to believe due to the fact that he has been so healthy. I believe God will use this in a great way in his life.  We all will be learning about the best way to help him manage and live with it. We spend our Saturdays, at some form of athletic event, cheering our guys and their teams on.  Win or lose, we don't want to miss this season in their lives.  Renee and I want them to look over at the sideline and see  grandparents that unconditionally love them....regardless.

As a Pastor, we are looking at ways to more effectively minister to our community.  Our theme is Love God...Love People...Serve People!  One thing we are about to change is our worship schedule.  October 4th, we will offer worship services at 8:30 A.M. and 10:30 A.M.  We will also be changing our evening service and moving it to Wednesday night at 6:33 P.M. beginning October 7th.  It is a new season. 

(Why 6:33?)  Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

This has been a hard decision for me personally as I have always had and wanted a Sunday night Service when most of my peers have eliminated it.  One reason I feel led to lead us in this direction now is to hit a target.  I think that expecting folks to come back on Sunday Evening, and them not returning helped me decide to move our Sunday night service to midweek .  We will treat the Wednesday night Service like a full blown worship service.  

We are about to kick off and it is time for us to suit up for a new season.  May Christ be glorified. 

 

Unexpected Turns

This picture taken several years ago is one of my favorites of two of my grandsons, Koby and Jordy.  There are several indicators that this is a great day. 1) The look on their faces.  2) The surprise from unexpected turns. 3)Someone to share the journey with. 4) Somebody who loves me. (Mom and Dad behind the camera)

Look closely and you will see that Koby also has a brand new cast on his arm from a slip and slide fall, yet that did not stand in the way of jumping in car 7 and having a big time with his brother.

What they were not expecting was the whip around each turn that would take their stomachs.  Life is like that sometimes. It is full of unexpected turns, that just don't surprise us, but knock the wind out of us.

As a pastor, we certainly were not planning on having online services for over two months, roping off pews, wearing masks,  not having small groups or children's ministries.  All of these things were unexpected turns. 

As the world watches our lives and how the church responds, may we walk by faith, not by sight.  May the unexpected turns we encounter be a place to testify to the power of God for His glory.  remember their is joy in the journey.

Mask Wearing Christians

 7.2.20
As we continue to navigate the unchartered territory of the Coronavirus here in 2020, what we had hoped for in a decrease of outbreaks has surged and now many states are making mask wearing mandatory in public places.  That has caused quite a stir.  Where do we come in as a church here at FSBC?

From the outset, we have encouraged masks, but they have not been mandatory. We have made plenty available and there is no shortage of masks it appears any more.
Some have been faithful to wear, while others have said no way.  Renee and I try to always wear a mask when we go out to shop or eat.  To the church let me remind us that this really is a small price to pay.  The medical community, first responders, and service personnel are wearing masks their entire shift.  We thank them for their tireless work to help us all live in a healthier environment.

Hiding behind a mask as a christian.

Have you ever been called or called someone else a hypocrite?  The word means to in essence wear a mask.  You are hiding who you really are. You are pretending to be something you are not.  That is a daily battle in my life, I don't know about you.  The Devil wants us to pretend that we are something we are not.  I have been guilty of that, how about you?   One way you and I can walk securely and peacefully is by removing any mask and being transparent, first of all before the Lord, and secondly before others.

In a Francis Chan's excerpt, Fruit that Lasts in Daniel Henderson's  "Old Paths, New Power", Chan writes, "Most preachers don't want to sound dumb.  Rather than doing what Paul did, which was to make himself sound less than what he is, I'm always trying to sound more intelligent than I am, more godly.  Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:2   For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul did not depend on himself .but on the power of God through him and in him.

Let's pitch the mask of hypocrisy and wear tangible masks during this COVID-19.  Not just for ourselves, but for others.  That isn't too much to ask.

On the Air!

COVID - 19 has changed our way of life, we may never return to the way it used to be.  As a pastor in a local church, I truly hope we don't return to normal.  For many, normal included to be operating on cruise control.  Doing all we could with all we have.  The results often seemed lacking and wanting more. We had begun to settle for good, and by doing that, missing God's best.

The Stay at Home orders were something new for all of us. Looking in the rear view mirror, something we all needed.  As one recently told me, "a spiritual reset." To think that we would go six straight weeks without meeting seemed like a mere dream.  Here we are, six weeks later, longing to get back together.  Seeing each other, worshiping together and opening the word of God together.

We pray for everyone who has lost a loved one through this.  We pray for all of those trying to get through and over this virus.  Those in the medical field, we thank you for your daily sacrifice for us.  To first responders we thank you for running to danger on our behalf.

Preaching to a camera, or through a camera in an empty auditorium is a lot like flying weekly in business.  It is not as glamorous as it seems.  Oh, how I long to hear a live amen and praise the Lord!  How I have missed singing the songs of heaven together lifting up the name of Jesus.

We went nearly overnight to not having a video presence to one that has progressively gotten better.  We recognize the importance of presenting our services online to an audience we didn't even know we had.  Thanks to all that has made this happen. Sunday School classes and small groups have taken advantage of Zoom to keep together and I praise the Lord for the tools we have to do this.

When we record our messages and the light goes red, we are on the air.  There is no dress rehearsal.  We are hot and now recording.  Let us remember that life is the same way.  This is our oportunity.  Let's make the most of it for the glory of God!

Can't wait to see you as we hope to return soon.

Love GOD...love people...serve people!

Bro. Greg