Redeeming Technology

Pastor Mark Batterson has a theme concept that I like, "Redeeming Technology." I have adopted it as my technology theology.

Humanity is constantly creating new stuff. At the dawn of the television age Billy Grahm found a way to create a presence on television and reach people for Jesus. For all the bad stuff that we can find on T.V. we also find that it can be reeemed as a tool to tell people about Jesus.

The internet can be a bit like the wild west at times. There is little control, and often it is the avenue for an individuals downfall. But, it can also be a great tool for good. We need to use every advance for Jesus sake.

I would like you to pray about a few things. One, that the Lord would richly bless us in our sound department, so that worship will be the best it can be. Two, that the Lord would bles our use of inspiring and creative videos in our chruch and web presence. Three, that the Lord would help us to use technology for the mission that Jesus left us to complete.

Shadows and Fog Update

Sunday we returned to the series on the book of Judges. I know that this series is hard hitting. Many of the Old Testament stories are like that. I think that most preachers today are failing to use the Bible in the way God intends. The Bible is not only a self help book on how to live a happy life. It is an emergency manual on how to be saved from a painful eternity without God.

Have you ever worked with a person who messed up so much that they essentially taught you what not to do? The book of Judges is like that. One of the main themes of the book is that people mess up. Left on our own we will fail before God (Romans 3:23). We need God to save us and change us (Romans 3:24).

So, if the messages seem to be hard hitting remember, it is better to be hit hard by your pastor's words and respond, than to be crushed by God's words. "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.” Matthew 21:44.

I would rather hear: "His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" Matthew 25:23

New ATTIC Youth Web Site

We have created an ATTIC Youth ministry web site. It is new so it is simple. The address is http://www.theatticyouth.com/. I want to encourage you to check it out.

If you are a parent of a teen or a 6th grader who will soon join youth please notice that there is a feature to e-mail Dylan. Please do not fail to communicate with him! He wants to know what you think.

Get A Paper Bag and Breath!

OK, being the only person in the office this week is turning out tougher than I thought. I had 6 people people volunteering today to help get the January newsletter out on time and things ready for the weekend. It has been a very busy day!

I am checking out for two days. I will be celebrating Christmas with my family Friday and Saturday. Off to the farm!

Christmas Rewind

Today I am getting back from a Christmas break. I had a great time with family and some friends. I really was able to do a lot of reading on Monday and Tuesday. I read the emancipation proclamation yesterday. It was not what it is hyped up to be, but it was interesting to read. You can tell that Abraham Lincoln was a lawyer by the way it is written. It is amazing to think how drastically that document changed peoples lives, and not just the slaves who were set free. I have not yet found the answer to one question. Why did the emancipation proclamation leave out several counties and the city of New Orleans? I may find the answer as I continue my reading, but I don't get that one yet.

My three kids are really getting into the gift opening thing this year. In past years it had not been a big deal to them and they did not really understand the whole process. We had what seemed like a mountain of wrapping paper to haul out to the trash can Tuesday afternoon.

Christmas day was just me, Steph and the kids. We stayed home all day! It was strange to think that as the years go by, these will be the people that I will spend most of my Christmas holidays with. Its a good thing I like them so much! We head off to my family get-together this weekend.

The best news is that the kids understand what Christmas is all about. Not gifts, food or Santa, but the celebration of Jesus Christ's birthday. Their favorite movie this month has been, "The Very First Noel." A computer animated version of the Christmas story. I think they have watched it 50 times!

I hope your Christmas was blessed.

Your Prayers Matter

Today I read the story of Hezekiah again. He is one of my favorite kings in the Bible. When Hezekiah got sick Isaiah the prophet gave him a message from God that he would die from the sickness. He needed to get his house in order and prepare to die. Hezekiah, however, prayed to the Lord with tears and asked for help.

What is so amazing is God's reply. God spoke to Isaiah again, before he could even get out of town from delivering the first message and said, "I have heard your prayer and seen your tears..." (2 Kings 20:5). God granted Hezekiah 15 more years of life.

When God speaks he keeps his word. I think that Isaiah heard God's word in the first message. But God is so kind. Amazingly, God sends Isaiah a second time to change his message to Hezekiah. When we pray God is moved with compassion and feeling to hear and answer us.

I don't think I will ever perfectly understand the justice and mercy of God, but I know that I can count on his kindness when I give everything that I am, everything I believe, everything I hope for, to him.

The Big Day

The big day is here.

Please keep our church secretary in your prayers, she had her knee replacement surgery today. She is out of surgery, but the Dr. says she will be very uncomfortable for a while. He also said the surgery went well.

In the next few weeks I will need some extra help. If you would be able to help with the cleaning of the building please call my cell phone number and let me know. I have two people who can help so far but have not set the time for this week. Keep your ears peeled at announcement time at church for other chances to help in the office.

Cool Assistance

I have found out lately about some great miracles of provision for folks in our church. First one of our Small Groups donated a huge amount of food to Loving Hearts, a local benevolent ministry. Second a woman in our church called to have her heating oil tank filled for the winter and found that she had been given a huge credit anonymously! Another family in our church pooled their money last week and adopted a family in need for Christmas.

God is so good! I am proud of the faith of our church people who have a passion to glorify Jesus Christ at Christmas through their giving and work. So, with it freezing outside and ice all over the roads, all I can say is, "Cool Assistance!"

Weekend Rewind

This weekend was fun for several reasons.

1. We had a party every night from Thursday to Sunday! I am tired!
2. We had snow on Friday and Saturday night. Interesting for church on Sunday morning.
3. We went sledding with the kids! Fun! Sore!
4. Church, though lower in attendance than usual, was extra fun for me. Snow days always seem more special.
5. The boys had a friend sleep over on Sunday night. Up late!

Audio Sermons

I have been having trouble with our audio sermons. The first several messages in the Shadows and Fog series sound so bad that I am not going to post them. So, the first message is the message about Gideon. I will have the messages posted in an hour or so.

Murkey Monday

Today is another bad weather day. Lots of ice. Schools are closed. However, I am still having class tonight. I will finish up an eight week course I am teaching at MO Baptist University's Franklin County campus.

It has been a good day to study and get reading done. I am continually excited about the messages in the Shadows and Fog series. This coming Sunday is no exception. They are tough sermons and really hit believers between the eyes. Thank God for his grace! Every time Israel was lazy, inconsistent and compromising in the book of Judges God allowed them to struggle. But, when they called out to God for help he was gracious to save them in their trouble.

When you make a problem for yourself, do some self assessment, ask for forgiveness and then ask God to save you, He will! Look up Romans 10:9-13 in a Bible!

Weekend Reflection

Sunday was a terrible weather day, but we had a great time together. I know that attendance would be down in the early service because of the ice, so I thought to do something creative. We had communion and did it a bit differently. It was nice and had a real family feeling. We took extra time to pray. It was a real blessing to me. It is always good to mix up the routine of communion so that we focus on the heart or meaning of the thing rather than the ceremony or the order everything happens.

Sunday afternoon we took the kids to a Christmas concert. It was great. Afterwards we put up our tree and made cookies and eggnog. We still made it bed on time.

FYI

In our first month of Angel Food Ministry we ordered $600 dollars of food. In our second month we ordered $1,900! If you are a volunteer don't miss December 15th. We will need all hands on deck at 7:30 a.m.!

I was totally blessed to find out that one of our Small Groups took a collection and bought four extra orders for four needy families. That is a great way for a Small Group to celebrate Christmas together!

Working Hard on 2008

We are working hard to prepare for 2008. Here are a few goals.
1. Focus on the mission of the church more than ever before. I really think that we should see people added to the church daily. I would like to see us win and/or welcome 365 people to Jesus and First A/G.
2. Complete one youth and one adult mission trip.
3. Build more Small Groups that are healthy and extremely committed to the Lord and each other. I think that the Lord is drawing some people to become Small Group Leaders in 2008. Remember, the Small Group leader does not need to be the host also.
4. Tweak our outreach events and ministries to be more efficient.
5. Create more ways for people to use their gifts for the Lord.
6. Find the Lord's direction for equipping and using the individuals in the congregation who feel a call to full-time ministry and are preparing for that ministry.

I know that some of these are not concrete enough right now, but these have been on my mind.

Weekend Rewind

I like to catch everyone up after the weekend because I am usually so busy that I don't get to blog.

Friday we started Christmas shopping for family and friends. Stephanie and I like to give the helpers who teach our kids at church special gifts. Stephanie always develops some neat idea for that. We purchased cards for the individuals I like to bless with gifts. I like to give gift cards and gifts that allow the person to use the gift however they like. Friday night was Small Group.

Saturday Stephanie went to breakfast and shopping with a good friend. So I had the kids. We had biscuits and gravy at Cowan's and then went Christmas shopping. It was fun to do things with the kids for a few hours. Later I took Elizabeth to a Southern Gospel music concert in Steelville, MO. our 50+ group planned the trip and I was able to go along. We had a great time. It was good to be with my little girl.

Sunday was a beautiful day, even though the weather was cold and ugly. We had a great time in worship in both services! I am really pumped about this series we are in. I think it is absolutely the most challenging series I have preached this year.

Bible Invantory Offering

Hey, just a quick note. The Bible Inventory offering on Sunday Dec. 2nd was almost $2,000. That is great! I think that when we add the amounts that came in early in previous weeks for this Fire Bible offering we will likely hit the $2,000 mark. If you forgot about the offering you can put it in the offering this Sunday and we will send it all in together.