Sunday, August 31, 2008

School has started this past week for almost everyone, from pre - K through college. Students are excited, and so are the parents. In our house it is "off and running" on another year of K - 4 "prep kindergarten" stories from Beth's students. As Art Linkletter (don't tell me you don't know who he is) said, "kids say the 'craziest' things." (Actually he used another word I won't use here.) They say things like this little 5 year old:

I took my 5 year old grandson to the optometrist to pick up his new glasses. The glasses were prescribed "to help him read and be able to see the computer better".
When we got back home, he got on the computer to play a game. In a few minutes he called me and said there was something wrong with his glasses.
I asked him what was the problem and he said, "I still can't read."

Yep, that's the kind of stuff they say. I can hardly wait to hear what comes from the "mouths of babes" this year!

Labor Day weekend is upon us already! Please be safe and enjoy it. And remember to be sure to honor God on Sunday by your attendance in church. This Sunday at 9:30 AM we will hold all our regular classes for kids through adults. The "Lifechange" ABF meeting in the worship center will continue their new study in the book of James. I will be teaching that one for Pete this week as he goes to visit his parents in Indiana. We will study James 1:13 - 27 or at least most of it. Read it over to prepare and bring your questions / comments. Our other ABF's are in studies in the book of Daniel and another in John 3:16 (Max Lucado's series) will also meet.

In our 10:45 AM Worship service we have a great blend of songs and hymns to prepare our hearts for our time at the Lord's Table in Communion. I plan to have a little bit of a testimony time with my friend, Keven Waiters, who was the best man in my wedding. He will be here to visit friends and plans to worship with us. I know you will make him feel welcome. We will look at Hebrews 10:19 - 22 and see how Christ's blood has made a new covenant with us through His sacrifice and our acceptance of Him in our lives by faith.

We will not have any meetings this Sunday evening due to the holiday weekend (unless your small group leaders planned to meet - check with them.) Next Sunday, Sept. 7 is our "Dinner on the Grounds" day, an annnual time of good fellowship and food. Dress is very casual for church that day, as we hope to not only cookout, but also have some activities after our morning services and picnic. In the early afternoon we will have a service where we will hear from Mr. Richard Mook who will tell us how God strengthened him in the course of his life through many tribulations and hardships. His book will also be available that would be a helpful tool to some you know who may be going through a rough time. I hope you will plan to stay for the day, it will all end around 4:00 PM or before.

We have many other opportunities for you that are listed in our bulletin. Some are hosted by other churches or ministries, but all are good things. For our men, this is the "last call" to be involved with the Men's Retreat at Camp Patmos that is sponsored by our sister church, Northfield Baptist. It is going to be held next week, Thursday evening through Saturday. You can get all the information and even register by clicking here.

Next Saturday, Sept. 6 there will be an Open House from 3:00 to 5:00 pm for Kurtis Biltz at their home. Kurtis will be leaving the day after that for Parris Island, SC to begin his stint with the U. S. Marines. Be sure to see him and continue to pray for him and his family.

And AWANA begins a new year on Sunday evening, Sept. 14. If you have questions about it or would like to register your child let us know. And think of some other friends your kids can invite, they will learn and enjoy the time.

And mentioning Sept. 14, that Sunday morning we are pleased to have Dr. Jim Jeffery here to speak in our morning service. He is the president of Baptist Bible College of PA and we are glad to host him and his team while they are in our area for a regional alumni and friends event the Saturday evening before that which our church will host. If you would like to attend the event on Saturday, click here for information and to register.

Please have a safe weekend and prepare your heart through prayer and quietness a bit for our Sunday services. Especially prepare with Communion in mind, if you do it will be much more full and meaningful to you. And pray that many in all our churches will be challenged with the opportunities to trust Christ as their Savior. I pray many will do just that.

In closing, a few more pictures from our Oregon vacation for your viewing pleasure! God bless.

Paul Bunyan at the "Trees of Mystery" in the N. California Redwood Forest Mt. Hood - east (back) side in evening Commercial basin of fishing port in Brookings, OR (Hannah's town)

This is real, not a post card! Sunset on the Pacific Moonlight over the Pacific beach in Brookings, OR

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

Not much to do in Boring, Oregon

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Beth and I had a great vacation trip to Oregon seeing Hannah and Jon and having them show us all around the western part of the state. The scenery of God's creation is beautiful, especially the places we visited - here are only a few:

The Columbia River Gorge (that's the state of Washington over there.)
Mount Hood - almost 12,000 feet high.
Us at about 7,500 feet up! Only 2,500 more to go!!

At the Multnomah Falls.
Elk in the field near Elkton, OR (of course.)
The coast near Hannah's home in Brookings, OR

And at the NIKE headquarters in Beaverton, OR

Beth and I also celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary at the end of our trip with a special dinner at sunset on the northern California Pacific shore.

On our return we immediately had to pick up Leah in western Ohio (she was with Sarah, Sam, and Nicholas while we were gone.) After packing her up, we got her to Baptist Bible College last Friday to begin her junior year. She is on the Student Leadership Council this year, so she had to be back early. Pray for all our college students who begin classes next week. Also our local students and teachers begin next week as well, pray for them all.

This Sunday our ABF's continue with studies in: Job's life, John 3:16 from Max Lucado's book, and others. It all begins at 9:30 AM and includes our Sunday School for kids and youth.

In our 10:45 AM Worship time we have some good songs and a special by the "Goodrich Trio" - it is nice to have Jessica back north and with us. I plan to talk from 2 Timothy 2:15 (and other passages) about "Let's Be Sure to Cut It Straight." Sounds strange, but is supremely important to our interpretation and view of Scripture. It will give us a good reminder of the basis of our doctrine and theology from God's Word. Please pray for me as I strive to make this subject clear and that God's Spirit will apply it to all our hearts for life change.

Remember that we continue some of our Small Groups on Sunday evening. I continue to hear good reports from the groups meeting at the Sterner's and Mace's homes. Their times have been beneficial to not only study in God's Word, but also prayer and fellowship. You can still take part before it is over for the summer.

Next Sunday AM we plan to have our Communion service which is always a special time. A special blessing to Beth and me will be a visit from the best man in our wedding who now lives in Tacoma, WA. We saw Keven while in Oregon, and now will see him for the second time in a month after not seeing each other for about 27 years. I plan to have him share a little by way of testimony, it will be a blessing.

Plan to attend our annual "Dinner on the Grounds" day on Sept. 7. There will be sign up sheets for food and we hope to have some games for kids and maybe some for adults. After our morning services we will eat together and then gather for an early afternoon service which will feature a talk by Mr. Richard Mook who will testify how God supported and strengthened him in his life of many losses. You will be blest and encouraged, and if you bring someone with you who needs uplifting, they will be blest as well.

And then on Sunday, Sept. 14 we are pleased to have Dr. Jim Jefferey, president at BBC here to speak in our morning service. He and his team will be here the Saturday evening before for a BBC Alumni and friends banquet which will be held at our church and Beth and I will host. See me if you would like to attend the banquet time, or if you can help to set up, serve, or clean up. You can register to attend the banquet by clicking here.

Well, we have a lot going on and coming up, and I wanted you to know now so that you can plan to be involved. As I close let me say that it is good to be back, I have missed you. Please pray for me and our services this Sunday that all will be honoring to God. And know that we are under budget in our giving by several thousand dollars. This prohibits some ministry things we would like to do, not to mention the concern it brings to those in charge of our church finances. Please remember to give and help make up our deficit - thanks.

Stay safe and have a great summer weekend honoring God in all things!

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org