Living
Eternally
Grateful
As
Christian
Youth

The kids have designed a new T-shirt and they should be ready any day. We are all very excited.

As a fund raiser to cover cost of T-shirts as well as sponsor some of the kids for upcoming trip, the youth group is selling greeting cards and Christmas cards. There are a dozen cards per pack and are beautiful scenic pictures on the front of the card with engraved scripture verses. The inside of the card is blank. Cost of the cards is $7.00 per box or $6.00 per box when you buy 2 or more. We have sold the cards after church, door to door, and with the help of some businesses. Thank all of you who have helped support our youth. I also hope you really enjoy the cards and think they are a terrific price.

As you get this letter we will be off to DARE 2 SHARE November 6-8. Please pray for us. We have seen God truly work wonders at this conference and we have many younger kids who have never been to this event. I pray God touches all of us. I think it could be a life changing. I am always amazed at how God can work.

It has been a busy fall for our youth group as a new school year has begun. We have many new faces and have really been having a blast. Lots of laughs, fun games, singing, crazy dancing, worshiping God, and exploring our faith. God is really blessing us each and every week. What a pleasure to serve Him.

On Sept 16, 1620 2 ships set sail from Plymouth England, The Speedwell and the Mayflower. The Speedwell encountered much difficulty as they began their journey springing many leaks in the ship. So when the 2 ships went to Port in Plymouth England, the Speedwell decided to go no further and 42 passengers from the Speedwell joined the 60 passengers and 30 crew members aboard the Mayflower. Of the 102 passengers on board the Mayflower the majority were devout Christians. They were coming to America to shake lose from the bonds of the Church of England so they could worship God as they believed scriptures taught. And with great excitement and expectations that set sail for a new land… It wasn’t long before the trip became difficult for several reasons, as noted by William Bradford an historian on the Mayflower, who would later became Governor of the colony for 33 years.. Many of the passengers became sea sick as huge waves would crash over the deck of the ship… The nights were cold, damp and dark… Remember there was no indoor plumbing or electricity. And to make matters worse one of the crew, a very large man would constantly curse and abuse those who were sick… saying he was going to throw them overboard and steal all of their possessions… Bradford records, “BUT IT PLEASED GOD BEFORE THEY CAME HALF SEAS OVER, TO SMITE THE YOUNG MAN WITH A GRIEVOUS DISEASE OF WHICH HE DIED IN A DESPERATE MANNER.. AND SO HE HIMSELF WAS THE FIRST THROWN OVERBOARD. THUS HIS CURSES LIGHT OWN HIS WON HEAD, AND IT WAS AN ASTONISHMENT TO ALL HIS FELLOWS FOR THEY NOTED IT TO BE THE JUST HAND OF GOD UPON HIM..” But their problems were far from over yet, they encountered many fierce storms which shook the ship with tremendous force. So fierce that many times they could not even keep the sail out and the force of the wind — eventually cracked and bowed the main beams when they had just went over the half way point across the Atlantic. And although the passengers and crew wanted to turn back, Christopher Jones, the ships Master, assured all the vessel was “strong and firm under water.” He ordered the beam to be secured. It was hoisted into place by a great iron screw that, fortunately, the Pilgrims brought out of Holland. AND Upon raising the beam, they “committed themselves to the will of God and resolved to proceed.” These 100 people; cold, wet — on wooden ship in the middle of the ocean — put their hope, trust and lives into the hands of God. The battered ship finally came within sight of Cape Cod on November 19, 1620. Two had died at sea and two had given birth. The Pilgrims scanned the shoreline just to the west of them and described it as, “a goodly land wooded to the brink of the sea,” William Bradford writes, “AFTER LONG BEATINGS AT SEA THEY FELL WITH THAT LAND WHICH IS CALLED CAPE COD; AND THEY WERE NOT A LITTLE JOYFUL…” Before going ashore they decided to write a document known as the Mayflower Compact. At the heart of the compact lay an undisputed conviction that God must be at the center of all law and order and the law without a moral base is really no law at all. The day the Pilgrims signed the May Flower Compact, according to William Bradford, “they came to anchor in the Bay, which was a good harbor…and they blessed the God of Heaven, who brought them over the fast and furious ocean… and a sea of trouble. And they read the following from the Geneva Bible (the Bible the Pilgrims used) “LET THEM, THEREFORE PRAISE THE LORD, BECAUSE HE IS GOOD AND HIS MERCIES ENDURE FOREVER.”

This coming month we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day. Many will be busy cooking turkeys, making stuffing, baking pumpkin pies…. and watching football games and that is fun stuff it is important to get together with loved ones. But that is not what thanksgiving is really about, it’s not about food and fun, it is about giving thanks to the Lord God Almighty. We usually picture the first thanksgiving in America, as the time when the Pilgrims and the Indians got together for a great feast (though I really don’t know how they could of eaten pumpkin pie without cool whip). But I tend to look at that time when on the sea battered Mayflower anchored in the bay at Cape Cod, a group of weary and worn men and women were on their knees praising their God in heaven for bringing them safely through the treacherous sea to this new land, as the real first thanksgiving.

I think it is still appropriate for God’s people who are weary and worn in this world to be on their knees this month praising their God for bringing us safely through another year. That would be a real Thanksgiving.

Holidays get interesting don’t they? They bring out the best in people and they also, unfortunately, bring out the worst in people. I’ll have you determine which is true in the following story. The day before Thanksgiving an elderly man in Phoenix called his son in New York and said to him, “I hate to ruin your day, but I have to tell you that your mother and I are divorcing; 45 years of misery is enough. We’re sick of each other, and so you call your sister in Chicago and tell her.” Frantic, the son called his sister, who exploded on the phone. “Like heck they’re getting divorced,” she shouted, “I’ll take care of this.” She called Phoenix immediately, and said to her father. “You are NOT getting divorced. Don’t do a single thing until I get there. I’m calling my brother back, and we’ll both be there tomorrow. Until then, don’t do a thing, DO YOU HEAR ME?” The man hung up his phone and turned to his wife. “Okay, honey. The kids are coming for Thanksgiving and paying for their flights.”

Diane and I are thankful for our church family. We love you.

Ignite your teens’ passion at Blaze, our 2009 - 2010 conference tour. Drawing from Isaiah 6:1-8, teens will be equipped to encounter God in a powerful way, and will be transformed by:

* The Fire That Burns (God’s Glory)
* The Fire That Destroys (God’s Justice)
* The Fire That Purifies (God’s Mercy)
* The Fire That Rages (God’s Love)

Blaze Speakers and Artists

Greg Stier - Greg is the founder and president of Dare 2 Share ministries. Over the last decade, Greg has impacted the lives of tens of thousands of Christian teenagers. He has the ambitious goal of training and equipping one million Christian teens across America to share their faith with courage, clarity and compassion. He is also the author of several books, including Venti Jesus Please, Ministry Mutiny, Dare 2 Share: A Field Guide for Sharing Your Faith, and is co-author of Shreddin the Gnar. Greg is married to his wife, Debbie, and has two young children. Stay connected with Greg through his blog: www.gregstier.org
Zane Black

Getting high, girls, and alcohol, describe how Zane tried to find satisfaction without Jesus Christ in his life. It was not until after high school that Zane discovered that following Jesus is the greatest adventure in life. Zane is passionate about sharing the new Life and purpose that he has found in Jesus with students around the nation. He currently works for Timberline Lodge, a Torchbearer Bible school in Winter Park, Colorado as the “Director of Careless Activities,” teaching at the school and hanging out with students. Check out Zane at www.christplusnothing.com

Tim Neufeld - Tim Neufeld is the lead singer of Starfield, founding the band with his brother, Jon. Tim and Jon toured churches and youth groups all over Canada - partnering with pastors to impact the lives of students long before their record deal with Sparrow Records brought them to the US. Tim and his bandmates are passionate about leading people in worship, and thankful to have partnered with Dare2Share in 2006 and 2007 and now again for the Blaze Tour. Tim is married to Carla, and they have a daughter, Haven Grace.

Starfield - Canadian worship band, Starfield, has spent the last 10 years partnering with churches and ministries, leading students and congregations in passionate and energetic worship. They released their self-titled major label debut in 2004, followed by “Beauty in the Broken” in 2006 and “I Will Go” in 2008. Starfield-penned songs like “Filled With Your Glory”, “Son of God”, and “Reign In Us” are sung in church services every weekend all over the world. Starfield is the most-awarded and top-selling Christian band in Canada, and are expanding that following in the US, United Kingdom, and Europe with yearly concert tours and conference appearances. Ministry partnerships with the Billy Graham Association, Dare2Share, and Youth Specialties have helped Starfield grow beyond the confines of the music industry and more directly into partnerships with the local Church.

Propaganda - With an uncompromising message intertwined with hot rhythms and beats, Los Angeles based Propaganda lyrically puts together potent, relevant music that reaches across the spectrum of youth and pop culture. His subject matter ranges from staying accountable to God to standing up boldly for one’s faith both in word and in one’s life.

DJ Promote - In a town of 100,000 somewhere in West Texas, one humble man with a set of turntables is on a mission. To DJ Promote, deejaying is more than just a profession. “I play all kinds of stuff, but I want to put a message in it. I want to create an environment and give joy where there is no joy.” And how does this talented DJ keep himself grounded? His constant remembrance that it’s not about him.

“I keep looking back at all the things that God has done. God has taken me through all those steps to make music and have fun. For me it’s about getting people excited and then how can I turn this excitement into something that will impact forever. I want it to show that God is real. My job is just to be creative so God can work.”

Tori Thompson of Colorado Springs, Colorado says…

I went to Dare 2 Share in Denver, Colorado this past weekend. After I was asked to go, I was thinking “You know, I don’t know about this”, but as it turned out, this weekend really changed my life forever, and I will never, ever be the same. I accepted Christ at a Youth retreat on September 23rd, 2006. As you can see, I’m one of those “Newcomer” Christians. When you brought up the cell phone idea, I didn’t have my cell phone with me. So I asked a leader from my group to let me use his cell phone. This kid named Everett came into my mind. Everett is a atheist. He’s constantly talking crap about God, telling things that aren’t true about God, and really sounding like God isn’t real. It ticked me off so much that I wanted to literally kill this kid. But, I thought maybe I could witness to him. Some of the kids in school have tried to witness to Everett, and it never worked. So I thought that maybe if I said The GOSPEL thing, it might put a little sense into him. I called Everett up on the phone. I was like “Man, I’m at this retreat in Denver called Dare2Share. All these kids love Christ so much, and we’re calling our friends. Everett, I want you to know that Jesus loves you. He died on the cross for you, to save you from your sins. He does love you, and whether or not you believe me, you and I both know its true”. I went on about what I heard from you, and telling him the GOSPEL message. I suddenly heard this noise, and realized Everett was crying. Then he suddenly said, “You know, Tori. What I’ve heard from you is something I have never heard before. I never knew Jesus actually did that. Tori, I cant be atheist, I cant hate God. I don’t want to go to Hell! Tori, I want to know Jesus. Will you help me?” I was so FREAKING HAPPY! I started to weep. I prayed with Everett, and at the moment, the name Everett was written in the Book of Life. It was amazing being able to do something like that. I felt so relieved, that I could actually do that! Everett came to church with me today, and when we started to sing worship, he just fell to his knees and cried. What you said to me really stuck in, and I will pass it on to anyone, so there will be TONS and I mean TONS more names in the Book of Life. This weekend has changed me forever. Thanks, Greg!

]]> http://templebaptistlife.com/uncategorized/dare-2-share-blaze-conference/feed/ http://templebaptistlife.com/pastors-blog/the-church/ http://templebaptistlife.com/pastors-blog/the-church/#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:28:07 +0000 Temple Baptist http://templebaptistlife.com/?p=743 Too many people come to Church three times primarily. They’re Baptized, they get married, and they have their funeral service at the Church. The first time they throw water on you, the second time rice the third time dirt!

IS THE CHURCH ON THE ENDANGERED LIST? Many Americans are on a spiritual quest. This should be good news for the church. But, according to researchers, many of them are choosing noninstitutional forms of religion.

A recent poll by Gallup shows that weekly church attendance is holding steady at about 40 percent of the population - the same rate as in the 1950s.

But other researchers - like Dave T. Olson, director of TheAmericanChurch.org - claim only 17.7 percent of the population attends a church service any given weekend. Olson, who bases his numbers on annual church attendance reported by individual U.S. congregations, says, “People who only go to church now and again exaggerate how often they go.”

Albert Winseman, religion and social trends editor for the Gallup Organization, says people are shopping for alternatives to church and that is one-reason 3,000 local churches close their doors annually. “Most denominations are either declining or stagnant,” says Winseman.

The Assemblies of God is one of the few Christian groups to show steady growth in recent years. The Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches reports the Assemblies of God and Southern Baptists are the only Protestant faith groups of the largest 25 to report an increase in membership for 2004. An April Gallup poll indicated 65 percent of Pentecostals attend church weekly, second only to Church of Christ (at 68 percent) among Protestant groups.

VANISHING PROTESTANT MAJORITY Half a century ago, two-thirds of the population considered themselves Protestants. Officially, for the first time last year, self-identified Protestants dipped below half of all Americans, according to Gallup research. Evangelical and Pentecostal church attendance looks stable, but membership isn’t keeping pace with population growth.

Olson says although the same number of people are attending church as 15 years ago, there are an additional 48 million people living in the country. But people are not necessarily flocking to other faiths. J. Gordon Melton, author of the Encyclopedia of American Religions, says tabulating all the Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and New Agers accounts for only 7 percent of Americans. Self-professing atheists comprise another 10 percent of the population. “In the culture today we don’t have the churchgoing momentum we did in the 1950s, when ’respectable people’ attended church every week,” says Earl Creps, director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, Missouri. “There’s no guarantee anymore that people are going to come to church.”

Although only 17 to 40 percent of Americans attend church regularly, about 80 percent of the population professes Christianity. Pollster George Barna, who last year wrote the book “Revolution: Finding Vibrant Faith Beyond the Walls of the Sanctuary,” believes a transformational shift is occurring in how Christians view church. He claims more than 20 million committed yet disaffected “revolutionaries” have struck out on their own to form house churches, family faith communities and cyber churches.

WHAT CHURCH OFFERS Creps, author of “Off-Road Disciples,” believes these “revolutionaries” are forfeiting a great deal by not being involved in a local church. “A great church offers relational connections, people modeling how to live faith, accountability, the enormous power of a group worship experience and the operation of the gifts of the Spirit,” he says. Theologian J.I. Packer says the reality of corporate church life pervaded first-century Christianity and should today as well. “Individuality is not correct, according to biblical standards,” says Packer, author of “Knowing God.” “The church is central in God’s plan. God uses the church to set up His kingdom - the corporate relational reality where people respond to Christ as King. We can’t dismiss the structure God has established.”

Many observers believe house churches and cyber church movements are short-lived trends that will never amount to more than 5 percent of Christians. Melton says such methods don’t represent a new phenomenon. “For decades people have been saying they can be a good Christian and never go to church,” he says. Gallup sees a strong link between individual spiritual commitment and church attendance by measuring factors such as prayer, Bible study and small group involvement. “People can say they are a spiritually committed person without attending church, but it happens only 5 percent of the time,”

Creps says merely getting people into the sanctuary isn’t the goal. “The issue really is the need for every person to come to God through His Son Jesus Christ. That involves a connection with a community of Christians - which we call church.” “The church is God’s primary vehicle for the proclamation of the gospel,” Winseman says. “The abundant life is found most abundantly in the community of the local church.” –John W. Kennedy,

Much of this article has come from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel. This article reveals the current condition of the church and some new trends in Christianity but for the church to be the Acts New Testament church we need to continue to explore and discover from acts what the church looks like and what the church does.

We must remember that the church is the people and not a building. What is the church? The best way to kill a church is to squeeze it into a building. For without contact with people in need and publicly witnessing faith and trust in Jesus, a church will quietly die. In the Bible, the Church is the only organization that is ordained to reach the world. I believe that every Christian organization that is reaching out to the world, must come under the authority and blessing of the church. God blesses the church and the church is commissioned to reach the world.

Is church important? YES IT IS. Without church there would be no ministry, no music, or no moving of the hand of God. Sometimes the church gets so far from what the New Testament teaches it should be. The church should just step back and let God work. The church is people and life and ministry. That is what Jesus was about and that is what we should be about. I thank God for the church!

I was asked what is the best scripture that describes the church? I think it is Romans 12:1-8:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

To me that is church. I am proud to be a part of the local church that meets at Temple Baptist in Salida, Colorado. The old man says don’t attend church, the new man says let’s go! Don’t return to the old ways.

If you took all the people who attended church each Sunday and laid them end to end . . . . . .they’d be much more comfortable:-)

Mountain Heights Baptist Church, Buena Vista
November 6 - 7, 2009
Starts Friday 5:00 p.m. ~ Ends Saturday 1:00 p.m.

Break-Out Sessions
Praying Across CDA and Colorado
Mission Project (Please bring Pampers)
Lots of Music and Fellowship!

Speaker - Louise Hendley
Musician - Toni Skinner

RSVP: Mtn Heights BC 719-395-8944
or email mtnheights@yahoo.com

This has really stayed on my mind for several months now. If Jesus gave a letter to Temple Baptist Church today, what might it say? What would He be pleased with? What would be a disappointment to Him?

As I continue to ponder these questions, I have to say I don’t have all the answers (to my wife’s surprise I’m sure). There is one thing that is extremely obvious to me though. Our church is really filled with ordinary people, but with the spirit of God, have done some extraordinary things. Truly our church has been a beacon for Gods light to shine in the community of Salida.

I know Pastor Ray would not take credit but God has blessed us with Rays Sunday messages, bible teachings and leadership. I have yet to hear anyone deliver a message better than Ray. Week in and week out God speaks through Ray right to my heart. Yours too? Thank God. And thank Ray also.

Consider how our church has touched this community by different ages. We have had a hand with the Salida Pregnancy Center before a child is even born. Helping pregnant mothers with choices, as well as every day needs. The Salida Christian Schools have touched thousands of young lives throughout the years. From early child care and elementary education that is rivaled by none. How many seeds have been planted there over the years? Vacation Bible School has saved how many souls? Our youth group touches many young lives. Recently we have had many programs to help families and adults with the daily struggles of life. Sunday school classes to be better parents, five love languages to be better spouses and Financial Peace University to be smarter with the riches God has given us. We have begun a new senior program for fellowship and activities. We have helped minister to those in the nursing home and shut ins. I know Jesus would be smiling from these.

In so many other ways our church has blessed this community. Collecting food for Caring and Sharing, the Farm to Table program, and the community gas buy down. The Ladies group through women at the well, the music ministry with its seasonal programs, the many professional music groups to perform here all emit Gods love.

Our church has helped start new churches in the area, maintain Ponderosa Christian Camp, and support several missionary programs. We have recently begun to broadcast Sunday Sermons by radio throughout the county to spread the truth of God.

With all that I mention here it’s just a portion of the many things that our church does. There are also countless ways that we as individuals have shared Gods light.

I’m sure Jesus would be extremely pleased with so much of what we have done. I am also sure that we as a church are not perfect and He would rebuke us for many other things. I do pray that if God is leading you to serve in any capacity that you have the courage to follow Him. I also hope that you take time to ponder what that letter might say to Temple Baptist Church.

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a missionary? What kind of person, what depth of commitment, what sacrifice, what type of person is a missionary. Some missionaries lay their lives on the line daily for the cause of Christ. By man’s standards many at failures, but by heavens standards they are a great success.

Our spiritual heritage in mission’s traces back to Adoniram Judson who lived from 1788-1850. Judson lived the suffering life of the apostle Paul. He was one of the first to bring the Christian message to the Burmese. When war broke out with England, the Burmese arrested Judson because being light-skinned and English-speaking, he looked and talked like the enemy. He was force-marched barefoot for eight miles to prison where each night the guards passed a bamboo pole between his heavily shackled legs and hoisted the lower part of his body high off the ground. Blood rushed to his head, preventing sleep and causing fierce cramps in his shoulders and back. Clouds of mosquitoes feasted on the raw flesh of his feet and legs. Treatment like this went on for almost two years, and Judson managed to endure only because his devoted wife brought him food each day and pled with the guards for better treatment. A few months after his release, Judson’s wife, weakened by smallpox, died of fever, and shortly after that their baby daughter also died. Judson nearly had a breakdown. He would kneel by his wife’s grave for hours each day, regardless of weather. He built a one-room hut in the jungle, morosely dug his own grave in case it might prove necessary, and worked in solitude on a translation of the Bible in the Burmese language. Only a handful of Burmese had shown any interest in the Christian message. Yet he stayed on, 34 years in all, and because of his faithfulness more than 1 million Burmese Christians today trace their spiritual roots to Adoniram Judson. The dictionary he compiled, now nearly 200 years old, remains the official dictionary of Myanmar.

Why would someone choose to do that? Why would anyone choose to follow a God that promises hardship? It means purity in a world of lust. It means honesty in a world of getting ahead by cheating. It means sacrifice and putting others first and humbling yourself to apologize for doing wrong. We choose to follow Christ because hardships are not permanent; they are temporary. Our God defeated death. He has promised to take us to heaven. He has promised to make us like Jesus.

I think many today here the call to serve to the mission field and turn it down based on hardships many have experienced. Missions are not about living conditions but about commitment to our Lord. Missions are about getting the gospel to every living soul. Missions are about seeing unbelievers becoming children of God.

What kind of person does God use in missions? Someone just like you and me.

Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, which in the 1960’s became what is today the mission’s agency OMF International, knew the secret of strength through weakness. Complimented once by a friend on the impact of the mission, Hudson answered, “It seemed to me that God looked over the whole world to find a man who was weak enough to do His work, and when He at last found me, He said, ‘He is weak enough—he’ll do.’ All God’s giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.”

Now I realize not everyone can go to the mission field, but we all can be involved in giving to missions. Temple Baptist gives to missions. We give to foreign missions, home missions and local missions. Our tithes and offerings reach into our community and around the world.

The late Larry Burkett, a financial expert said, “If every Church member in America would increase their giving to an average of 10% (current estimates are that American Christians give less than 3%), there would be an extra $69 billion for overseas missions and an additional $150 billion in income for American Churches.

Going is important. Giving is important. It is important to be apart of the Great Commission to take the gospel to the whole world. Manny have gone and many have given.

There’s the story of a young married man who was accepted as an African Missionary. It was the great ambition of his young life. He reported to New York harbor with his wife and soon arrived in Africa. It wasn’t long, however, that he found his wife could not physically tolerate the climate. It was killing her. Broken-hearted, he returned home. His father was a dentist, but the young man felt no inclination to become a dentist. His father had, however, a small business on the side making an unfermented wine for use in churches for the Lord’s Supper. The young man began to dabble in this business until he finally took over its management. What a waste of time he must have thought as he labored at making grape juice. The business, however, prospered, and the man eventually gave millions to missions around the world. His company is known today as Welch’s Grape Juice.

William Borden was a wealthy Christian growing up in Chicago as an heir of the Borden milk fortune. When he was in his first year at Yale University he committed himself to reaching the Muslims of North India. Three years later he sailed for Egypt to study Arabic before going to India. He knew that money could not mean security so before he left he gave away his inheritance of nearly one million dollars to various missions. He was in Cairo for four months when he contracted spinal meningitis and was dead within weeks. He had scrawled on a piece of paper under his pillow the words, “No reserve! No retreat! No regrets!”

God blesses missions and empowers those who go and those who give. Missions are the power of God at work.

Missions are on the cutting edge of what God is doing in the world. Missions are sick being healed, young minds being taught, and souls being saved. Missions are the power of God being unleashed in the world.

Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push. After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, “Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable.” He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson’s astonishment, the engine roared to life. For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work. J.B. Phillips paraphrases Ephesians l: 19-20, “How tremendous is the power available to us who believe in God.” When we make firm our connection with God, his life and power flow through us.

That is what being On Mission is all about!

Come celebrate missions with us for the next 5 days.  Hear from 5 missionaries speak about what is going on the spread the Word of God around the world…  and in our own back yard.

Josh Affleck - IMB East Asia
Don Dolifka - IMB Kenya/Tanzania
Trish Davis - IMB West Africa
Keith Ivey - NAMB GA State Missions
Patricia Frost - IMB North Africa & Middle East

Go to our online calendar for a complete schedule of meetings and speakers or call the Temple Baptist Church office at 719-539-2412 for additional information.

What is an On-Mission Celebration?

• An association-wide or an association of churches missions event involving Southern Baptist state Baptist conventions, International Mission Board, and North American Mission Board missionaries that is scheduled through the OMC process.

• A one- to four-day event or can be any associatonal missons awareness event such as a missions fair, or mission banquets that awakens Christians to find their strategic place in missions.

• An associational mission awareness strategy implemented in partnership with state Baptist conventions, the International Mission Board, Richmond,Va., the North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, Ga., and Woman’s Missionary Union, Birmingham, Ala.

Why Should Associations and Churches Conduct an On-Mission Celebration?

• Increased missions awareness
• Increased financial support of missions
• Increased volunteerism
• Calling out missionaries
• Better understanding of the Cooperative Program and mission offerings
• Personalization of mission (putting a face to missions)
• Strengthens mission partnerships

Vickie and I have also seen unsaved have their hearts tugged by God and not accept the loving gift of salvation. We have seen teens stray from Gods path. We have seen how sin can be so destructive in a kids’ life. I believe we even saw Satin try to split our youth group because we had so many on fire for God. These are the heartbreaking moments.

So this year more than any other we face a time of growing and looking forward. We have had many seniors leave the youth group and several teens move out of the area. However we are very excited to have a strong group of freshmen entering High School and an eager group in the sixth grade at the Middle School. We are in the midst of planning lots of fun activities to kick off the new school year. We will keep you informed as they happen but are planning several fun events like putt-putt golf, back to school party, game night and movie night. Vickie and I eagerly await the challenges and great joys that God has planned for “Impact” this year. We sure appreciate the prayers and support that you have given us.

One of the first principles that God teaches is that He owns it all. The first principle is that God is the source of everything. Philippians 4:19 says, “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Proverbs 8:20,21 adds, “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” And 2 Corinthians 9:8 says: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” Whenever we need money or possessions, prayer is the answer. Look to the Lord, because He will provide it - according to His will.

A multi-millionaire was asked how he could remain so humble after amassing such wealth. The man had spent many years in accumulating wealth through his business, and could retire if he wanted and even his grandchildren would never have to work if he so desired. But his answer was very key. He replied, “I know who really gave me the money, and that He can take from me at any minute if He so desires.” He was wealthy, because he worked hard and God had granted him success. But he understood who really granted his wealth.

Our culture teaches us that if we do not have the money for what we want or need, we must borrow in order to get it. All that is necessary is that you have enough income to pay the monthly bill. The Bible teaches us that “the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7) God’s word does not encourage borrowing. However, if you must borrow, do it modestly and cautiously, and always repay what is owed. (Psalm 32:21, Proverbs 3:27-28)

Many years ago, a professor from Harvard University was speaking to a class on Columbus Day. He said that there were three profound things about Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America: First, when he left Spain he didn’t know where he was going. Second, when he arrived in the New World he didn’t know where he was. Third, when he returned to Spain he didn’t know where he had been. A voice from the back of the class added, “Yeah, and he did it all on borrowed money!”

It seems like debt is a way of life accepted and embraced today. It is embraced by individuals, businesses and governments around the world. The words billions and trillions are accepted by governments as numbers that are okay for a deficit. Not too many years ago millions used to upset the people, even politicians. I have wondered what has happened with living within your income? It has been proven over and over again that a person’s income is their major financial tool. The lottery and Publishers Clearing House are not the best way to look for security. We must remember that God has set for us a pattern that man is to work for a wage and then live on this wage. That is a tremendous potential to apply to today to our personal budgets and to our national budget.

I heard someone say the other day they lived on a “fixed” income. I thought there are probably some people thinking, “I’d love for my income to be fixed, lately I’ve been thinking it was broken.”

The Bible has always honored working and receiving a wage for the work done. Nothing is wrong with that. However I see in our nation and even around the world the idea that you only work if the income matches your expectations of a certain lifestyle. In other words, if one cannot make a certain amount of money, why work? Won’t the government take care of me? Those we have sent to Washington think government has all the answers. The Scriptures spell it out: “In all labor there is profit: but the talk of the lips tends only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23). “He that tills his land shall have plenty of bread: but he that follows after vain persons shall have poverty enough” (28:19).

I see in the current administration in the United States the idea that if you have a certain amount you must surrender that and let the government give it to someone else. When I think of this I remembered something Pastor Adrian Rogers (who died in 2005) once said, “You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

I do believe in helping those who need help, but we have moved to the place where “needy” is defined by politicians who need to secure votes. Our government wants to meet every need so we will be even more dependent on them.

If we apply God’s principles in our finances we will have enough for all our needs. We will have enough to give the way God teaches in the Bible. The world says to give if you can afford it or if you can receive a tax deduction by doing so. In addition, give to the poor through benevolent organizations that can give you a tax receipt. God’s Word says that Christians should give joyfully, willingly, and without coercion. They should provide for every legitimate need within their own fellowships. This could include funds for illness, unemployment, and old age (2 Corinthians 8:14-15.)

Charles Spurgeon was once invited by a wealthy man to come down and preach in a country church in order to help them raise funds to pay a debt. The man told Spurgeon he was free to use his country house, his town house, or his seaside home. Spurgeon wrote back and declined coming and said, ‘Sell one of your homes and pay the debt yourself’.

From Reader’s Digest: It’s time to pay my income tax and, brother, that’s no joke. For after paying IRS I find that I R broke! The average American saves only 4% of his income. The average European saves 16%. The average Japanese person saves 25%. Why do we save so little in America?

Another financial principle from the bible is concerning saving money and setting something aside for a rainy day. Proverbs 21:20 says, “There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.” And Proverbs 22: 3 emphasizes, “A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

A few years ago, I read about David Letterman, and he was broadcasting his show from Las Vegas. He was doing his opening monologue and he told this joke. He said that he was standing in front of one of the casinos, and a man came up to him looking desperate. “Please!” the man begged frantically. “Could you possibly spare $500. My wife is very sick, and I really need the money to take her to the doctor and to buy her the medicine she needs.” Dave looked at the guy suspiciously, and he asked the man, “Wait a minute! If I give you $500, how do I know you won’t just go into one of the casinos here and gamble it all away?’ The man quickly responded, “Oh no, I wouldn’t do that! I’ve got gambling money!”

Knowing how to manage money is key to survival in our world today. Money is a tool to operate in this world, but it must be handled responsibly and within Biblical principles. The Bible is very clear when it speaks to finances. I challenge you to manage God’s money well.

Glad To Be Your Pastor
Ray Adkins