I'm Back!

Here is a question especially for those of you who are members of FBC Owensboro but any of you are free to answer. Would you use the option of automatic bank draft in giving to the church if offered? If you already use it, let me know what your thoughts are about it.

• Yes!
• No!
• Using it now and love it!
• Never!!!

A Late Post!

On Father's Day I shared some questions to ask your children as a Dad. I was asked by someone to print these so I apologize in the delay in doing so. I read them on Tony Merida's blog. Tony is the pastor of Temple Baptist Church in Hattiesburg Mississippi. Here is what he wrote:

Today I mentioned several resources of parents. I have been blessed by Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart, The Jesus Storybook Bible bySally Lloyd-Jones, and My 1st Book of Question and Answers by Mackenzie, to name a few. I also mentioned some questions that a Sovereign Grace Pastor shared with Piper, and he in turn footnoted the book Stand: A Call for Endurance of the Saints (p., 132, footnote 2). Piper honestly admitted that if he could anything over, after a long ministry, that it would be with respect to asking "heart questions" (my phrase) to his kids. He met with them regularly but wished that he would have probed deeper. I went through the questions quickly today in the sermon, but wanted to make the available here. Here are the questions

• How are your devotions?
• What is God teaching you?
• In your own words, what is the Gospel?
• Is there a specific sin that you're aware of that you need my help defeating?
• Are you more aware of my encouragement than my criticism?
• What's Daddy most passionate about?
• Do I act the same at church as I do when I'm at home?
• Are you aware of my love for you?
• Is there any way I've sinned against you that I've not repented of?
• Do you have any observations for me?
• How am I doing as a dad?
• How have Sunday's sermons impacted you?
• Does my relationship with Mom make you excited to be married?

MONDAY!

A lot has happened since I last posted. Celebrities Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Karl Malden, and former Tennessee Titan Steve McNair have all died. The news has been mostly filled with stories of their lives and the events surrounding their deaths. Much has been said about each of these people and much will continue to be written and spoken about them. Their deaths have reminded me what the writer of Hebrews says to us in the ninth chapter verse twenty seven. He writes "it is appointed once for man to die, after this comes the judgement."

Regardless of what you have been taught or believe the Bible says we have an appointment and it is one we will not miss. The good news is that you can be ready for that day but you must make preparations for it. Jesus Christ made the preparation for us as He willingly died on a cross for our sins that we might have eternal life. If we will but place our faith in Christ alone, then our preparations will be complete.

Death has a distinctive way of shaking us into reality and reminding us of our mortality. Life does not end at death and we will spend eternity somewhere. Either in Heaven with God or in Hell, a place of torment and without Christ! We have a choice to make! Will you today trust in Him (Jesus) who has the power of life and death! Will you choose life? Let me suggest some scripture for you to explore known as the Roman road.

Romans 3:23

Romans 5:8

Romans 6:23

Romans 10:9-10, and 13

VBS, SBC, and IWALAHY

We are in the middle of Vacation Bible School. Those of you who grew up in church know VBS stands for Vacation Bible School which means kool aid and cookies for most of us. The refreshments, crafts, and recreation have certainly improved with time but the fun has always been off the chart. VBS has traditionally been one of the biggest outreach tools for our church and this year will probably be no different. Tomorrow is one of the most important days when I share the story of Jesus with grades 1-5. If you think about it, pray for our time together! A special thanks to our 76 plus volunteers who made it happen this week. I am making a promise for next year. I will work somewhere in VBS next year, how about you?

SBC..this stands for the Southern Baptist Convention of which our church is a part. Every year there is a 2-3 day business meeting mixed with some of the best preaching in our Convention. This year it was held in our state of Kentucky. I had the opportunity to go over for a short time on Tuesday. It is a good time to re-connect with other ministers and their families.

IWALAHY....This is what is inscribed on the inside of my wedding ring given to me by Leigh Ann. I can't tell you everything. It has been this way for 19 going on 20 years. Feel free to make a guess! What does it mean IWALAHY? Ditto from me to you Leigh Ann!

Your Favorite Day of the Week?

What is your favorite day of the week? Most of you would probably say Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

Today is Monday and it seems to always bring a new set of challenges. I know Sunday is the first day of the week but most people feel as if Monday begins the week. Monday has taken a bad rap for a long time. It is probably the least favorite day of the week.

However, Monday is a welcome day to many preachers. Some pastors probably Monday as a day off after a long day on Sunday. My day off is Thursday and it works well for me.

Monday does seem like a vacation day because Sunday is such a busy day for pastors. For me it is a time to rest and re-engage, to think about the week ahead, to remember what God did the day before, to recall what didn't work with the sermon, to evaluate the whole worship experience, to begin again the process of putting together the sermon that will be preached in less than 7 days.

On this Monday there is also a funeral. Ministry sometimes can be planned but sometimes it must happen.

Today is a great day because the Psalmist reminds us "Today is the day the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it". I pray today you can and will rejoice whether or not today is your favorite day or least favorite!

Back in the Saddle

It was good to be in Nepal with our missionaries Bo and Summer. We had a fantastic time and learned a great deal about the commitment level of people like Bo and Summer. There are others who are walking with God by faith in other areas around our world. I think of Jeff and Denise Gray, Judy Miller, and even those in the states where the gospel is not being preached. Let's pray for these and others who have given their life to the greatest mission cause ever, the spreading of the good news to the nations. I am proud to be a part of the greatest mission effort in the world... the Cooperative Program of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Here are a few more pics from Kathmandu Nepal.

Nepal 2009 by Brad Erickson

It has been an incredible trip and hard to believe that it is coming to a close.  Each day has presented us with new and unique opportunities.  Yesterday was no different.  Bo met us at our hotel at 5:30 a.m. to hike to a local hill-top Tibetan Buddhist monastery.  Along our way to the “hill” (which seemed less like a hill and more like a mountain) two national believers joined our group.

Though our inexperience of hiking in such high altitudes slowed our progress, we eventually made it to the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery at the top.  After praying around the top for the city of Katmandu stretched out before us, we sought a monk to whom we could dialogue with and share the gospel.  We were unable to enter into lengthy conversation with any of the monks, because their classes were starting at 8 a.m., but the Tibetan believers in  our group distributed gospel tracts and discussed them with several monks.

Upon finishing our descent, we loaded into Bo’s car and drove to the top of the Swayambu Stupa for lunch at Doma’s (the Tibetan ‘Miss Barbara’) restaurant.  Earlier in the week, she had promised to make us a traditional Tibetan lunch, and that she did.  We ate Tea Momo’s, which were comprised of Tibetan Tea (made from milk and butter), barley flour, and butter.  After adding all the ingredients in a bowl, we mashed them together to create a large, glutinous ball from which we picked and ate from.  Though the texture reminded us of sand, they tasted very good.  At the end of lunch, Doma, who is not a believer, allowed us to pray with her and for her elderly mother, who has recently fallen ill.

After returning from the Swayambu Stupa, Paul and Matt lead a series of church leadership lessons with several Tibetan believers.  Paul’s lesson covered the sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, which he encouraged the believers to practice both.  Matt’s lesson focused on instilling biblical and practical methods of discipleship.  Following our hours of study, we journeyed to a local Tibetan / Chinese restaurant and ate with the Tibetan believers.  Our night concluded with two hours of praise, games, and lessons at a local orphanage.

One of our largest events of the week took place this morning at the Swayambu Stupa, where we distributed water and gospel tracts to Buddhists worshiping at the site.  We awoke early again and joined up with several Tibetan believers and began our work.  We distributed over 500 bottles of water in under 45 minutes.  Though we were more than happy to satiate the Buddhists’ physical thirst, our prayer is that the gospel message sent forth this morning will satiate the Buddhist’s spiritual thirst.

The trip has been incredible for many reasons.  One of the most incredible is seeing the faith of Bo and Summer.  How easy it is to practice Christianity in a city, state, and country where we are not required to sacrifice.  During this week, I have often been reminded of the early church and the sacrifices its members are recorded to have made.  Time and time again, we have seen the IMB missionaries and Tibetan believers make these same sacrifices in their striving to share the hope they have in Christ.  We have all personally been touched by their dedication and obedience.  

Though our time in Katmandu has come to an end, the work needed in the city has only begun.  The harvest is plentiful, but the workers truly are few.  I encourage anyone who reads this to consider spending a week, a month, or even a summer in Nepal.  God has already called us to make disciples of all nations.  Are you willing to answer the call?