Sunday, August 19, 2007

Last week Beth and I had a great trip to Indiana. I attended the Leadership Summit, and Beth stayed with Sarah and Nicholas. It was a very helpful and encouraging time, and we anticipate the results God may bring our way because of it. Over this past summer we have traveled many hundreds of miles, but have not missed very many Sundays ( I think just one.) One place we have not gone is down south, and this story makes me glad I have not:

Atlanta State trooper pulls over a pickup truck on I-75.
He says to the driver, "Got any ID?"
The driver says, "Bout what?"



This Sunday will be a "normal" type of Sunday, meaning we don't have any special events or speakers planned (but still come!) We will continue our study in 2 Corinthians in the 10:45 AM worship service by looking at chapter 11 - read it over ahead of time. The sermon will be about, "When Our Boasting is Beneficial" and there are not many times that it is. In fact, we teach our children they should not "boast" or brag about themselves, but in this passage the Apostle Paul breaks those rules. As I read it I felt bad for him in that the circumstances brought him to this uncomfortable point. But we gain insight into his heart as a pastor for a people that are sometimes difficult to deal with. Read it a few times prayerfully.



Be sure to be early on Sunday for our 9:30 AM Adult Bible Fellowships and Sunday School. Many of our adult groups are studying about the Apostle Paul's life or other writings, so it should support what we are looking at in the worship service.



At 6:00 PM our "Sports 4 Life" will wrap up for this summer. It has been a helpful ministry for the first time through. We will do some things differently if we do it again, but pray that we will have good success in trying to follow up with some of those families who are not usually a part of our church. I appreciate those who have taken this ministry "by the horns" and been faithful to it. Josh Workman and Gary Leech, two of our main sports leaders deserve special mention. And all others who faithfully helped during this "Summer of Service" are to be commended - thank you all!



Several of our college students have already returned for the fall semester, and some more will venture back in the coming week. Please pray for safety in travel and a good start to the new semester. Our high school kids are not far behind, and if they are in sports or music for the fall, they have already begun practices. And our teachers have already set up their rooms and are preparing for their meetings this week and school starting later this week. I think there should be a rule that if it gets to 88 degrees up here in the north that school should be cancelled! That is too hard to concentrate when you would rather be at the beach!!



Next Sunday, August 26 is our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" day here. We will celebrate our church's 44th anniversary (even though the actual date of incorporation was March 30, 1963) and we will host the Michael and Kelly Banks family who will minister that day. Plan to dress casually, stay for the picnic (bring your meat to grill), and wrap the day up with an early afternoon service where the Banks will present their anticipated future ministry. It should be a great day.



We praise the Lord that our own Bruce and Kim Havens and family were just voted in last Sunday as the new pastor at the Calvary Baptist Church of Brewerton, New York! It has been a wonderful adventure for us all to see how God worked in their hearts over the past 8 years to minister so effectively here at Faith, then lead them through their training at Baptist Bible College and Seminary, and now to this first vocational ministry. Keep them in prayer as this is not the culmination, but now the beginning of exciting things in God's work.



Enjoy these last few days of summer vacation, but not so much that it keeps you from God and His church. Pray and prepare for this Sunday as we look forward to being together in Him. Pray that His work will continue in all our hearts, and that new folks will hear a clear message of God and His love for them. May the Lord have the preeminence in all our churches!!



Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

Nicholas and Aunt Leah on the Panama City Beach, Florida a few weeks ago at the "Bigstuf" camp for teens. (Aunt Leah at "Bigstuf" with "Littlestuf"!) I think Leah said he was "slathered" with SPF 90! Sam and Sarah were able to attend the sessions with their teens and it was a profitable time in the Lord for all. Plus I heard Jeff Foxworthy the comedian even showed up! Maybe our teens should go next year.