The Christian Witness
October 2008

God As Most Important


I recently preached during one of our “Hurricane Evacuation” Sundays, which means that most people were on the road or in another town at the time of my sermon ! Therefore, I wanted to share with you two illustrations I used during that service because they were so meaningful to me. The first is about Adoniram Judson, a missionary to India in the early 1800s.

Before departing to India, Adoniram met a young lady named Ann who he wished to marry. Being the 1800s, there were no cell phones, no mass air travel, no email, nor even a quick & reliable postal service for corresponding with people back home. Knowing that when he left America, he would likely never return, never see his family again, and have very little communication with them, Judson chose a life of bringing the gospel to people without Christ OVER a life of comfort and security. Here is a portion of the letter he wrote to Ann’s father. Put yourself in the place of Ann’s father and think about if someone were asking this about your child or family member:

"I have not to ask . . . whether you can consent to part with your daughter early next Spring, to see her no more in this world; whether you can consent to her departure, and her subjection to the hardships and sufferings of missionary life; whether you can consent to her exposure to the dangers of the ocean; to the fatal influence of the climate of India; to every kind of want and distress; to degradation, insult, persecution, and perhaps a violent death. Can you consent to all this, for the sake of Him who left His heavenly home and died for her and for you; for the sake of perishing immortal souls, for the sake of Zion, and the glory of God?"

And so with her eyes wide open to the impending dangers of missionary life, Ann’s father consented to the marriage and she and Judson were wed in February of 1812. Thirteen days later, they left for India. May we make God the overwhelming Passion of our lives!

Stay tuned next month for the other illustration . . . .
Brian (Ezra 7:10)

The Pastor’s Pen:

Last month we began looking at our Articles of Faith as written in the Constitution. As I mentioned last week our national convention (Southern Baptist Convention) passed a statement called The Baptist Faith and Message in 1925. Our Articles of Faith are based on this statement. In 1963 and 2000 the SBC amended The Baptist Faith and Message. Last month we looked at our first article “Scripture”. This month we will look at the second article, “God”. (Go to www.fbcbsl.org for the comments and scripture references of each revision of the Baptist Faith & Message.)

Articles of Faith in our Constitution
2. God
We believe that there is one, and only one, living and true God, an infinite, intelligent Spirit whose name is JEHOVAH, the Maker and Supreme Ruler of heaven and earth; inexpressibly glorious in holiness, and worthy of all possible honor, confidence and love; that in the unity of the Godhead there are three persons, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; equal in every divine perfection, and executing distinct but harmonious offices in the great work of redemption.

Our article is clear that we serve one God that has revealed Himself in three ways: Father/Creator, Son/Jesus, and Holy Spirit.

The 1963 BF&M describes God as father (2000 addition underlined): “God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men.”

See you in Church this week,

Al

This Month’s Birthdays & Anniversaries


Day                   Birthdays                                  Anniversaries
2                  Heidi Egloff                              Jaime & Cristal Bean
4                  Madison Karno 
                   Norma Necaise
5                 Amanda Dearman
7                 Patricia Marallo
10               Donna Serio
14                                                             Todd & Melissa Mannion
15               Melinda Kendrick
16               Alissa Bolian
17               Braxton Bean
                  Bobbye Gibson
18               Frances Rutledge
                  Edith Tabor
19               Mallory Bolian
20               Jessica Necaise                        James & Mary Rorabaugh
22               Joyce Cox
                  Janice Hansen
23               Al Green
                  Sam Wilbourn
                  Louis Zinc
24                                                            Lloyd & Robin Lambert
                                                               Louis & Kathy Zinc
25              Jennifer Bean
27              Carl Gipson, Jr
                 Beth Walley
29              Judy Turnbow
31              Reg Morken

Calendar of Events

Date                         Event                                                 Time
Oct. 5th          Admin Council Meeting                           7:00 p.m.
Oct. 7th          Men’s Bible Study                                  6:30 p.m.
Oct. 12th        Deacon Meeting                                     7:00 p.m.
Oct. 18th        Church Workday                                     8:00 a.m.
                     Shoutfest ’08 in New Orleans
Oct. 19th        Youth Service Sunday
                     Operations Team Meeting                        5:00 p.m.
                     Children’s Ministry Meeting
                     Youth Ministry Meeting
                     Connections (Young Adult) Ministry Mtg
                     Business Meeting                                    7:00 p.m.
Oct. 25th        Fall Festival                                            Noon
Oct. 26th        Dinner on the Grounds                            Following Second Service