Sunday, July 27, 2008

If you get this note only through your email, please click on the weblog link: http://www.lookingtowardsunday.blogspot.com/ to see the full site. I added our podcast link at the bottom, and you probably won't get this and other features on the left menu only through email.

We had a great Vacation Bible School this past week. From the pictures you can see that we had a good attendance and a lot of fun learning. We want to thank our director Sandi Goodrich (and her friend, "Dr. Doug A. Fossilup") and everyone who helped in making this year's VBS a success: all teachers, helpers, band and singer members, craft and activity workers, snack coordinators, kid "herders", multimedia guys in the back, Ray and Cherie for cleaning each day, and especially the parents who brought the kids and their friends each night. Much was done in young lives to teach and challenge them to think about our Creator God and how they can have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus.

Last Saturday the wedding for Nikki and Bobby Childs was a blessing. Earlier this week I asked prayer for him and his brother as they were sick right before Bobby and Nikki were to leave on their honeymoon; we are thankful that they did leave though I have not heard personally from them that they did, how he is doing, or how the honeymoon is going. Strange thing, huh? Pray for them as they come home later this week and then eventually resume their duties on the staff of Skyview Ranch.

This Sunday we will be hosting our annual "Candidate Sunday" featuring staff and missionaries from Baptist Mid Missions. One of the privileges we have in being located not too far from the home office is to help them by providing a place where brand new missionary candidates can "get their feet wet" in front of real church people as they hone their testimonies and presentations before they "hit the road" in deputation minstry. I appreciate our church being so gracious to work with them and encourage them in this way.

This Sunday we are privileged to have Dr. William Smallman come and with him will be third generation missionaries, Mark and Leslie Boyd (headed to Germany.) Dr. Smallman is the First Vice President and Director of Global Training. His responsibilities include overseeing Baptist Mid-Missions’ continuing education program and serving as consultant to BMM seminaries. Dr. Smallman holds a Doctor of Missiology degree and is also adjunct professor of Missiology at a number of Baptist seminaries and Bible colleges. He wrote "Able To Teach Others Also: the Nationalization of Global Ministry Training" and co-edited "Missions in a New Millennium" with Dr. Ed Glenney.

Dr. Smallman and his wife, Doris, joined BMM in 1968 as missionaries to Manaus, Brazil. Dr. Smallman came to the Home Office in 1980 as Candidate Administrator and assumed his current position in 2004. Please prepare for their ministry by praying that God will minister through them as they present God's Word and testify of His goodness in their lives. The Boyd's will also be ministering in music and possibly with our children.

Please keep Beth and me in your prayers as we will be leaving for two weeks on Tuesday, July 29 through Tuesday, August 12 to be with Hannah and Jon in Oregon. This is our first trip to see them since they were married three years ago - we are long overdue! They promise to be looking for us on the other end in Portland, OR and after them showing us around Jon's home area for about a week, we will travel down to the southwestern corner to their home in Brookings, OR. We are looking forward to seeing the beauty of this state that so many have told us about. An added feature will be a meeting with my best man (and his wife) from our wedding 30 years ago. Keven and I have not seen each other in at least 25 years, so this will be an exciting time. (Keven does recieve these "Looking Toward Sunday" emailings weekly, so: "hey, man, don't forget our appointment!" I don't think he will.)

In my absence some of our men will be handling our midweek prayer and Bible meetings on Wednesdays. The on Sunday, August 3 Mr. Bruce Reese will be speaking in our AM service. He works locally but is also an Advocate with Compassion International. On Sunday, August 10 Skyview Ranch Director Jeremy Hales will be speaking in both Sunday school and our AM service - you won't want to miss him. I know our kids who went to camp this past month will be here for sure.

After we get back late on Tuesday night we will leave sometime Weds. to meet Sam and Sarah out in western Ohio to pick up Leah (and see Nicholas, of course.) Then after one day of catching our breath, we will leave that Friday (Aug. 15) to take Leah back to BBC to begin her junior year. Please keep her in prayer as she was elected to the Student Body Council which will entail extra time and wisdom.

In the event I am not here on Sunday, August 17 I have scheduled our friend, John Nelson, to speak that morning. Beth and I thank you for your grace, understanding, and encouragement this year as it has been out of the ordinary for our family.

Pray and prepare for this Sunday. The missionaries and Dr. Smallman in particular will be a great blessing to you as he shares in ABF and Morning Worship times. Summer is busy, but always be sure to give God the high priority He deserves in your life and church.

God bless you,

Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

Midweek Prayer Items, July 23, 2008

Since this week is our Vacation Bible School each evening from 6:30 - 9:00 pm (thru Thursday evening) I thought I would send some prayer requests that we would normally share on Weds to you to remember in prayer. We believe in prayer, and we have seen God answer prayer in great ways. James tells us that as we have our spiritual lives in tune with God ("righteous") that our prayers are heard and answered in God's time ("avails much".)

Remember Nikki and Bobby Childs as they begin their honeymoon this week. Bobby and his brother, Brad, were quite sick after the wedding. I understand they are doing better now, and the honeymoon went on as scheduled.

Beth continues to recover well from her surgery last week. She will have her follow up visit next Monday, July 28 with the surgeon and staff at the Cleveland Clinic.

Mary Agnes and her family thank you for your prayers for them during her mother's memorial service this past Saturday. It all was a blessing and helped the whole family greatly. Continue to keep them in prayer in the days ahead.

Tom and Sandi Goodrich will be flying with their daughter, Jessica, to Florida this weekend to help her move back north to Ohio next week. Jessica just got word that the Nordonia School District has hired her to teach English in the high school. And they are thankful how God provided someone so quickly to fill her open position at the Indian Rocks Christian School in Largo, FL. Pray the move goes well.

Dan and Jyll Oreskovic have moved Lila Erb (91 years) into their apartment with them and their two children, Connor and Calli. Lila became very sick a few weeks ago, but is gaining in strength this week. She has no family of her own, and she has been a spiritual mentor to Dan and Jyll. Pray for them as they also look for a home to buy that will suit their needs.

Dave and Paula Lysiak appreciate your prayers for their family as Paula's (and Jyll Oreskovic's) father has come to live with them. He has some physical needs and they would appreciate prayer for wisdom during the transition.

Dennis McMichael has asked prayer before regarding the family insurance business as it is doing very well, and that brings unique pressures and time constraints upon him and his brothers. Also, the new office building that they are building is well underway next to their current office. Dennis is very busy, and on top of that he is our deacon chairman as well as youth leader along with his wife, Barb. Pray for his health and strength, and continued wisdom.

David Gentile asks that we would pray for his sister and niece who have traveled to Thailand for a month to minister with the "Women at Risk" ministry. Pray for their safety and the well being of their families at home.

These are only a few of many more requests. Please remember these and others in your daily prayer time, thank you.

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Sunday, July 20, 2008

(note: click on some of the gray lettered links that become underlined below for further information about the item.)

I just got a trailer hitch on our minivan a couple of weeks ago so that I could tow my little aluminum fishing boat. I hope I don't have any experiences like this guy:

A friend, driving home from a fishing trip in northern Michigan with his boat in tow, had engine trouble a few miles inland from Lake Huron. He didn't have a cell phone with him in his car, so he decided to use his marine radio to get help. Climbing into his boat, he broadcast his call letters and asked for assistance. A Coast Guard officer responded, "Please give your location."
"I'm on Interstate-75, two miles south of Standish."
The officer paused, "Could you repeat that?"
"I-75, two miles south of Standish."
A longer pause. Then an incredulous voice asked, "How fast were you going when you hit shore?"

We have entered into a very busy time of the summer for our church and my family, so I doubt I will be doing much fishing anytime soon.

Part of our busy - ness has been to take care of Beth's long awaited surgery on her vocal chord. She had that done this past Tuesday at the Cleveland Clinic with great success and blessing. We thank the Lord for such a good outcome and positive prognosis from the doctor. Here she is BEFORE the surgery (beautiful as ever) and here she is AFTER it (still beautiful!) The main immediate issue is that she cannot speak for three full days (that is the reason for the clipboard) in order to get the healing off to a good start. Though it has been pretty quiet at home and in the car, we are ready for the "silent period" to be over (which is Saturday.) Then it is "confidential tone" talking for the next three weeks. And after some therapy the doctor said he sees no reason why she will not be able to resume her singing as before. Thank you for your interest and prayers for her, she is doing well. (and I have pictures of the vocal chord itself from the doctor, both before and after. Write to me if you want to see these.)

A couple of days earlier before Beth's surgery we were sure to celebrate Leah's 21st birthday by taking her to dinner at "Pickle Bill's" up near Lake Erie. She had been wanting some "fish and chips" like she had in Ireland, and this was the only place I could think of to take her. Though they didn't measure up to Ireland's dish, our own Lake Erie perch are pretty good. It was a nice night and a fun time. (And we can't believe our youngest is now 21!)

That leads to the next big event this week, the wedding of Nikki Carroll and Bobby Childs at 2:00 pm on Saturday. Today is Friday and the rehearsal is this evening, and all the family and friends from Oregon and other states have arrived, so the excitement continues to build. Please pray for a good day and a God honoring ceremony for them.

On Sunday we have our "regular" services, one of the last normal "routines" before we have several weeks of special speakers, etc. 9:30 AM is our Sunday School and Adult Bible Fellowships. At 10:45 AM we will feature a preview of what Vacation Bible School will be about, and then sing and look into our last segement on our series of "Acceptable Worship." To prepare for this Sunday look over Hebrews 11:4 - 7 where through the examples of some Old Testament saints we are given "Our Priorities in Worship." We can very easily turn these things around if we are not careful. And I think that God gave them to us in this priority for a reason. As I talk about it this Sunday, please open your heart to God to rearrange anything as needed as it relates to your life of Worship and living for God.

Following our morning service, for any who can stay, we will eat and then set up for our Vacation Bible School which begins Sunday evening from 6:30 pm to around 9:00 pm each evening through Thursday evening. Our "Dino Detectives" theme looks to be a fun one, and as the kids "Dig for God's Truth" in God's Word we are praying that God will work in their young lives. Excitement is running high, so be sure to invite your friends and any neighboring kids if you don't have any of your own who fit into the 4 year old through 6th grade age bracket. And I should add that EVERYONE will enjoy the opening and closing times which feature our "VBS BAND" and a lot of prizes. We will be taking an offering all week for a special project that is always worthwhile and often related to missions, so if you can't attend but would like to give, just place your giving in an envelope and mark it "VBS offering." Thanks.

Next week I will include more information about our coming Sundays which feature special speakers in my absence as Beth and I travel to Oregon for two weeks to visit Jon and Hannah. We come back home in August on our 30th wedding anniversary, but I am afraid with the time difference that we will be too tired to do much celebrating.

In closing let me encourage you to pray for and support one another in a variety of ways. Sometimes seemingly little things can mean a lot. Remember Mary Agnes and her family as she lost her 91 year old mother this past Saturday evening. I understand her mother would have been 92 in the next week or two. Remember Lila, who has been sick and is now living with Dan and Jyll. Remember Art Goodrich at Maplewood Nursing Home here in town. Thank you for responding so well to our church budget needs, pray that this will continue through the rest of the summer. Remember our missionaries worldwide as they minister and then report to us regularly. Remember those who have gone out of our church to serve the Lord either vocationally or in very significant ways in other local churches. Remember to be sensitive to each other's needs in these hard economic times as situations vary from family to family.

May God bless you greatly as you live for Him and prepare your heart for services in ours (and your) church this Sunday. For our own people, remember to go over the "Worship Checklist" from Hebrews 10:22 and come ready to offer God all that He deserves!

Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

A couple of weeks ago Sarah and Sam took Nicholas to a very interactive Children's Museum not far from them. Here he is as an "archaelologist digging for dinosaur bones." I wish he could be here for our VBS next week, it would be perfect!

Pray for them as Sam leads their student ministry trip to the "Bigstuf" camp in Panama City Beach, FL this week. Leah went with them to watch Nicholas while Sam and Sarah are involved with their kids at "Bigstuf."

July 13, 2008

Our internet connection at the church office was malfunctioning last week, so there was no "Looking Toward Sunday" able to be sent out - I apologize, but don't know why since it really was not my fault.

But you were probably so busy with your July 4th holiday plans that you didn't miss it anyway! I hope you had a good and safe celebration and fun with family and friends. I bought Beth her first ever fishing license, and she put it to good use by catching a nice catfish among many "shiners." Nothing worth keeping, but a fun day. Leah's roommate from college, Lisa, came and spent the weekend with us. We went to my hometown of Wickliffe, Ohio to watch their wonderful fireworks display which was awe inspiring as usual. Then we got some ice cream on the way home, a fitting ending to a nice day. I hope yours was just as nice.

This summer at Faith has been a good one. God has blest us in many ways, even though our offerings have been low (but have picked up the past two weeks - thank you.) Our ABF's at 9:30 AM have been a help and blessing to all who attend. The book of Daniel, The Gospel of John, and a new study in the book of Job are offered to you for your benefit. Support one of them by your attendance.

At 10:45 AM our Worship service will feature a blend of hymns and modern songs, a system that has worked well for our church. I plan to wrap up our series on "Acceptable Worship" by looking at two passages in the book of Hebrews, parts of chapters 10 and 11 that will answer the question, "How Can I Be Sure I am Worshipping Correctly?" In my own personal worship life I have found these chapters to be a tremendous help and guide. In fact, the first part of it serves as my weekly guide as I prepare my own heart, and I hope it will do the same for you. In all of this I do not intend to give the impression that our Worship to God is complicated; but I want us to know that God does not accept "any old thing" we throw at Him under the guise of "worship." I hope you have been reminded and challenged to worship God as He prescribes it in His Word.

In the evening our "Summer Small Groups" continue to meet, this week one at church and the other at the Sterner's home ( the Bill Mace group does NOT meet this Sunday.) These groups have been a great blessing to those attending. The informal nature has been a complement to our morning ABF's, so please plan to attend one this week.

For our Board Members, please remember that our regular meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, July 17 at 5:30 pm. Please give me any agenda items you have. And I do not remember lining up the supper situation - it may be "bring your own" this time.

Keep Nikki Carroll and Bobby Childs in your prayers this week as they prepare to be married this Saturday, July 19 at 2:00 pm. A lot of planning has gone into the whole thing, please pray for good weather, our air conditioning to work properly (thanks, Ron for fixing it this week), and for all the family and friends traveling here this week. Bobby and his family are from Oregon, so pray they will have safe and uneventful trips.

And then next Sunday, July 20 we begin our Vacation Bible School at 6:30 pm. The theme this year is "Dino Detectives, Digging for God's Truth." It is an exciting time and already a lot of decorations and prizes are up. Please invite the kids in your homes and neighborhoods to come and join the fun learning times. It runs each evening through Thursday.

In the midst of all this, Beth will have her vocal chord surgery on Tuesday, July 15. She had the "pre - op" meeting and tests this past Monday, and all looks ready to go. Please keep her in prayer as she has never had a general antisthetic before and we don't know how she will respond to it afterward. And please know that she is not allowed to talk at all for three days following the surgery, so please don't think she is shunning you if you see her. Ask me how it went, I will be her "mouth piece" (some will say, 'what's new about that?')

Thank you for your prayers and interest in our church. As you take part here (or in your own church) I pray that God will bless and minister to your heart and that in turn He will be pleased by what you prayerfully and "preparedly" offer Him. Jot me a note either in the 'comments' or email sections here to let me rejoice with you or pray for you in what God is accomplishing in your walk with Him.

Pastor Don Workman
http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

churchoffice@faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Nicholas is not yet two years old, but Sam found him trying to "work" the computer a couple of weeks ago. He has the basic idea, and pretty soon will be able to teach Bella how to use one better! I hope he is not buying stocks online like that baby in the commercial!