Sunday, March 29, 2009

As many of you know, it has been a busy and exciting week for Beth and me. Our newest grandson, Jonathon Matthew Burke was born last Friday morning and we have been here ever since. In fact, I am writing this to you from Sam and Sarah's home here in Indiana. He has had quite a bout with a certain kind of jaundice, and got home only this past Wednesday. They are right now at the doctor getting his blood count checked, we are praying he will be able to stay home and use the "biliblanket" and not have to be readmitted to the hospital. Everything else about his birth and adjustments has been just great, and we praise the Lord for it all. It has been a good time being true grandparents to Nicholas on a full time basis. He sure is active, but we want it that way. Please pray for their family as they adjust in the next few weeks to another little one in the house.

I appreciate Pastor David Henry and our own Bill Mace filling in for me on short notice last Sunday. I am sure they were a blessing to you. And it was good for Beth and me to take Nicholas to his own church and to attend there with him.

This Sunday for us at Faith we will have all our regular services and ministries. 9:30 AM are the classes, 10:45 AM is our Worship service, and 6:00 PM is our service and ministries for all ages, including AWANA. Since I am not in my office I don't have access to all that is going on, but be sure it will all be worth the effort to attend. I plan to speak on the subjects planned for last week from Ezra in the AM and about "God Our Father" in the PM services.

As we get into the month of April next week, we enter the Easter season. A week from this Sunday (April 5) is Palm Sunday. We plan to have our friend, Pastor Igor Bagirov of the Beth - El Messianic Ministries with us in the AM service to show us what the "Seder Dinner" and its messianic implications are. This is really a Passover experience, and that day will be the following Sunday (Easter Sunday) on the Jewish calendar. It will be an interesting time, but a moving time spiritually as you remember or maybe learn for the first time what that Passover (Seder) Dinner is all about.

Plan now to attend our Good Friday Service at 7:00 PM. It is always a time for everyone in the family to think more deeply about what Christ did for us in His sacrifice on the cross. It will include drama and music, as well as the Communion time. It only lasts about an hour, so put it in your schedule now.

To close on a lighter note, how is your March Madness bracket doing? I felt pretty good about mine last week before it all started, but by the end of the weekend my thoughts were, "what was I thinking?" I will admit that I was pretty proud of picking Sienna and Cleveland State to win (they did) but embarrassed that I missed on some others. So far in this second weekend all my teams won, I hope that continues so that I can bounce back.

Well, Beth and I hope to be leaving for home soon. Thank you for enouraging us with your prayers. We hope God will continue to be honored and blest by all we do, and that starts as we prepare our hearts now for Sunday.

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I finally got my March Madness Bracket done late yesterday - this is a fun time of year for all basketball fans. I am not sure how my bracket will hold up since I took a few "chances" on some teams. I wanted to check with Nicholas to help me pick the teams, but I would have to ask him things like, "do you like the bear or the soldier better?" Actually, Sarah said he picked Ohio State since Papa gave him a Brutus the Buckeye puppet, which he calls his "Go Bucks." Don't tell him that Papa doesn't think "Go Bucks" will go very far this year.

One team that DID go all the way this year is the Brookings Harbor High School Bruins. This is the school where our Hannah teaches and Jon is the Athletic Director and assistant basketball coach. They WON the Oregon State Championship game (class 4A) last Saturday night, and finished their season with a record of 28 - 0. What an acomplishment! On the way home last Sunday the team was escorted for a half hour trip by the local police and over 200 cars supporting the team. We celebrate with them!

We have been a little more preoccupied with Sarah's pregnancy - she is due with the baby in a week (March 27.) So, Beth and I better pack our bags soon to be ready when the call comes. Nicholas has been practicing "feeding" his moose in preparation for when baby brother comes - we'll see how he does.

Don't forget that this Saturday at 5:00 PM is our "Chili / Soup / Bread" supper with our church family, guests, and the BBC Chamber Singers. We have had many guests in our services recently, and most of them plan to attend the supper. This is a great opportunity to help them get to know us, so come and sit with them.

Then at 7:00 PM the Chamber Singers will give their concert of worship and praise to God. They are always a blessing, so plan to come and bring someone with you. Remember that we need to give a good offering to help with the costs of bringing them here (approx. $640), so plan ahead what you can give.

As for this Sunday, we continue all our classes and ABF's at 9:30 AM. There are three ABF's from which to choose, in addition to classes for kids from nursery (yes, this is a class) through grade 12. Plan to attend.

At 10:45 AM we worship God together in some great songs and great giving (giving has been going very well, please keep it up.) We continue to look at Ezra 6 (and Haggai and Zechariah) as we consider part 3 of "We Need to Cooperate with God's Perfect Timing" in our lives. I don't know what all of you may be anticipating from God, but I can say that if we cooperate with His timing in our lives it will be best. It was for His people after the exile, and though it seems at times we are also exiled, we know He still cares. Don't forget that we also offer Children's Church for ages 3 through 3rd grade at this time - last Sunday we had 23 kids! Mr. Cobb needs some help!!

At 6:00 PM all services will be active. AWANA kids are to bring a picture about their favorite Bible story, and parents don't forget to pay your child's dues if you haven't already. Teens will fellowship and study about "Are Mountain - Moving Prayers Possible?" This will certainly be applicable in their lives as they are currently raising funds for their mission trip to Japan this summer. And adults will continue the study, "God Our Father" by considering the Father's relationship to the Holy Spirit. Once we better understand how the Tri-une Godhead interacts, we will better understand how God interacts with us as our Father.

Next Monday, March 23 is a Japan Missions Team meeting from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, and there is also a Men's Ministry meeting at 7:00 pm. Please attend if it applies to you.

We have information on the bulletin board regarding the Men's Retreat at Skyview Ranch (May 7 - 9) and the Memorial Work Weekend there (May 22 - 25). See Ron Sterner if you are interested in all or part of these days. There are also notices on the board for some concerts and conferences coming up, so please take a look and try to attend while these are available.

Well, the Madness continues - not in the basketball way, but with my personal schedule for this day! So, I will close for now with the great encouragement for you to plan now for our services on Sunday. Thanks to all teachers and leaders for your faithful preparation, may God bless all of you who minister His Word in hearts and lives this Sunday.

With prayers for you,

Pastor Don Workman

http://www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org/

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The explanation for no "Looking Toward Sunday" last week is that I was pretty sick with the flu. Beth had the same thing a few days before, missing two days of school (which is highly unusual for her.) I was thankful to have enough strength for all services on Sunday, which reminds me of this little story:

During a revival, the visiting evangelist arrived without his allergy medicine.

Our pastor put him in touch with a doctor in our church for an emergency prescription to get him through the week. The evangelist was so appreciative of the doctor that during the last service, he recommended the doctor to the entire crowd. The ensuing laughter was a mystery to him until after the service.

That was when the host pastor informed him that he had just recommended the local OB-GYN.

Speaking of OB - GYN, we are anticipating the birth of our next grandson soon. Sarah is due on March 27 and looks quite ready as you can see from this picture: She is doing well, and Beth and I are just waiting for the "call" to come. Hopefully that will not be for a few more weeks, but preferably before Easter next month.

Last Sunday was a good Sunday, even though it was very full and I was not at full strength. Between services Beth took part in a recital in downtown Cleveland as part of her voice lessons she has been taking as therapy for recovery from her vocal chord surgery last year. Her recovery seems complete, for which we thank the Lord. Evidence of her recovery is evident from this video I took of that recital - rejoice with us as you view it! (click on the arrow in the box to view it):

This Sunday we have all our regular ministries and services. It begins with our Sunday School and Adult Bible Fellowships at 9:30 AM.

Things continue with our Morning Worship Service at 10:45 AM. We will sing and continue to learn our new song, "Mighty to Save." I will continue some thoughts begun last week from Ezra 6 encouraging us that "We Need To Cooperate with God's Perfect Timing" in our lives. This Sunday will also include looking at Haggai 1 and Zechariah 1 as we see how God works at times in our lives. Also in this service we plan to have a visit from our newest supported missionaries, Michael and Kelly Banks and family. They are on their way to the ABWE headquarters in Harrisburg, PA to attend the "Field Prep Seminar" which is a major step toward arriving on their field of missionary service in East Asia. It will be good to see and encourage them this week. Feel free to give them any "love gifts" (gas and food cards are always appreciated) as tokens of encouragement.

At 6:00 PM this Sunday all our childrens, youth, and adult ministries will be functioning as usual. AWANA children, remember to bring Easter Basket Items for our two Marines, Justin Goodrich and Kurtis Biltz. Even though they are both big, strong young soldiers they are sure to appreciate goodies from their home church kids! Students in grades 7 - 12 will study from 1 Peter 3:8 - 9 and 2 Peter 1:5 - 8 in their continuing look at the life of the Apostle Peter. And Adults will continue our look at "God Our Father" as we see how various passages of Scripture deal with the relationship of the Father to the Son and Holy Spirit. We cannot fully comprehend the Tri-Unity of the Godhead, and I am glad. I don't want a God I can explain fully. But it doesn't mean we shouldn't think about it deeply. We have had several guests from our community in our 6:00 PM services recently, so come and get to know them. Hopefully you can help encourage them to come on Sunday AM, too!

Remember that this Monday, March 21 at 6:00 PM is the "Upward Basketball Awards" night here at our gym. This has been a successful season in many ways, and this time will be a fitting conclusion. Pray for all who attend as we enjoy the time celebrating. And pray for me as I give a closing Gospel devotional to the whole group (kids and adults together.) Then we will enjoy "make your own" sundaes - yum!

And plan now to invite others to attend with you our "Chili / Soup / Bread" supper social at 5:00 PM on Saturday, March 21. Make your homemade favorite, even if it comes from a jar or can. And bring enough to share, because that same night we will be hosting for the supper the 18 member CHAMBER SINGERS of Baptist Bible College. They will be presenting a concert at 7:00 PM that same evening. Since it is a Saturday night, invite friends from other churches as well as your neighbors, it will be a great night of praise to the Lord.

Let me give you this Puritan Prayer ("The Valley of Vision", p. 139) to meditate upon as you prepare your heart to "Look Toward Sunday":

Deliver me from worldly dispositions, for I am born from above and bound for glory.

May I view and long after holiness as the beauty and dignity of the soul.

Let me never slumber, never lose my assurance, never fail to wear armour when passsing through enemy land. Stay my mind upon Thee and turn my trials to blessings, that they may draw out my gratitude and praise.

God bless you, see you Sunday!

Pastor Don Workman

www.faithbaptiststreetsboro.org