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A Glimpse into the Kingdom

by Rev Robert A Wendel

“We all know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding that we may know Him. Hear for I will speak noble things from my lips will come what is right.” (I John 5:20, Proverbs 8:6, Matt. 13 (NRSV.)

“Strive first for the Kingdom and righteousness and all these things will be given to you. He who wishes to be first, let him be the last of every man, and the (humble) minister to every man. (Matt. 23:11 Aramaic translation.)

Jesus’ disciples all focused on “The Kingdom”. Not that they were concerned about that honor of the King or the success of the Kingdom; no, what obsessed them was their place in that Kingdom. For them, the Kingdom was all about personal power, prominence and position. (Matt. 19:27).

In Mark 9:33-34 the disciples argued about who was the greatest of them. Jesus said, “The first one must be the last and servant of all. “ Those who follow Jesus should not suppose a prime place in the Kingdom of Heaven for themselves.

We love being in control. We love getting our own way. We love being indulged and served. We love being right. It’s hard to admit that we’re more like the disciples who all wanted first place. Jesus said that he did not come to use his power to make their little kingdoms work, but to welcome you, by grace, to a much greater Kingdom than you could get on your own. “I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:1-3, Psalm 145:13-13)NRSV).

One of the concise parables is contained in a single scripture verse – Matthew 13:33. Jesus taught them saying “The Kingdom is like yeast that a women took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked the dough.”

The woman had a plan. She introduced yeast into the dough and mixed it together. The yeast spread throughout the dough, it fermented, causing the dough to rise. The result was freshly baked bread. So it is with Heaven’s Kingdom. God always has a plan and a purpose. (Psalm 16:4)

Since it’s small beginnings 2000 years ago, Christianity has affected and elevated every successive culture and generation. God has placed his Church in the world permanently. Like yeast into dough, the Church cannot be taken out!

Mission Update: World Mission Offering

We have started our third mission offering which will be collected through the end of October. This offering helps fund missionaries around the world and will be taken through the month of October. Our goal is $1500. Your prayers and support are greatly needed.

Also please keep our missionaries here and overseas in your prayers. Some are living in dangerous areas of the world and your prayers are extremely important.

ABW Fall Rally

Saturday, October 5th – Registration is at 9:30 – Program begins at 10:00 and concludes with lunch at noon at Breckenridge Baptist Church in Bolt. The program will be on the Pinehaven Homeless Shelter. Guest speakers are Chessie Collins from Crab Orchard Baptist and Virginia Peele the RCCAA Coordinator. Rally Mission Project is towels, washcloths, pillows, twin bedding and blankets. All items must be new and light colors.

My Favorite Season

by Pastor Doc Adkins

My childhood autumns in Hinton hold precious memories—the fall revival at church, unpacking warmer clothing, hot cocoa, harvest moons, fires in the hearth, a well-stocked pantry, and best of all—FOOTBALL! I loved it, playing it and watching my Steelers in their heyday.

Of course then, there was and still is the endless desire to go hunting if only just to watch and see God in our beautiful mountains.

You know…sometimes when I think about all the “life” experiences I had growing up in that old farm house…man, it does at times seem so very long ago. In reality, it was a long time ago.

Life has it seasons: The autumn of life is a strange mixture of nostalgia, blessings, and potential. It yields the harvest of seeds we’ve sown throughout life and braces us for colder days to come.

When life’s autumn arrives, we look back and better understand the way God led us; but we still have work to do—the best and fullest. It’s a good transition time.

“Autumn” only occurs once in the Bible. In Jude 1:12, false teachers are compared to “autumn trees without fruit,” implying that autumn should be a fruitful season, the most abundant of the year. How can we take advantage of the “autumn of life”?

The Unchanging Nature of God

The seasons come and go, so focus on the God who remains unchanged and unchanging. “LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:1-2).

There’s a lot of unwelcome changes in our world. Moral and societal changes brother us most when we turn on our television or glance at the magazines. We’re painfully aware our kids are growing up in a world far different from the one we knew as children.

And personal changes—children leaving home, the passing of dear friends, and the slow, or possibly steady decline in vitality and health. Sometimes we feel outdated at work.

But amid all the changes, one thing, one person, never changes—our eternal God. Remember this verse from John 15, “Abide with Me”?

J. I. Packer points out that God does not change. His life is always the same. His character is always dependable. His truth, ways, and purposes do not change. His Son does not change. He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).

His children will enjoy His fellowship a million years from now. The world may fade, the stars may fall, the seasons may change, and winter may come. But the God who has been our help in ages past is our hope for years to come. In Him we have permanence, stability, joy unshakable, and life unending.

The Divine Foresight of God

We’ve all suffered setbacks along the way. But God promised, “I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten. . . . You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God” (Joel 2:25-26). His divine forethought knew it all in advance, and He can be trusted with what has happened to us in years past.

Our omniscient Savior knows the end from the beginning, and He will bless whatever is yielded to Him. Focus on His foreknowledge, providence, and sovereignty.

The Wonderful Blessings of God

The autumn of life is a great time to focus on God’s wonderful blessings—family, friends, strength, shelter, provision, guidance, care, fruitful ministry, opportunities to serve, more time to pray and study His Word, and eternal life still to come.

During life’s autumn, we have a richer perspective and can count more blessings than ever before.

A Renewed Commitment to God

Autumn is a good time to focus on your commitment to God. Some of the saddest words in the Bible are in Jeremiah 8:20, “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” If you’ve never made a commitment to Jesus Christ, do it now, while there is still time.

If you are a follower of Christ, remember to remain close to Him during the shifting seasons of life.

During autumn, we all know that winter lies ahead, but if winter comes, can spring be far behind?

Romance: More than Holding Hands

by Rev Robert A Wendel

Be eager to love because that gift comes from the Holy Spirit. Do not stir up or awaken love until it is ready. This is my beloved and this is my friend. (James 1:17, Song of Solomon 2:7, 5:16 NRSV). To get heaven’s help with romance you must live out your faith. Pray about loves attraction. True romance involves both the ‘heart and the head.” Real love is spiritual. Chronic health problems will impact any relationship.

There are dozens of factors that attract you to one person or another. We form snap judgments based on physical attractiveness, likeability, competence, money wisdom and financial stability. We are drawn to people like us with a similar family history, tradition and religious preferences. Smiling is a sign of someone who is emotionally well adjusted and has a good personality. Romantic love lasts about two years. Then we grow into a deeper more mature love connection. Get to know your future possible in-laws or step children

When trying to decide if couples will stay together, one indicator is how they describe their courtship, hoping that you chose each other through mutual agreeability and similar beliefs which reflect their computability. These are things like daily habits, past-times, child rearing ideas, political leanings and their goals.

If you’re ready to date, think of it as fun, interesting and possibly enriching. Be sure you are aware of what went wrong in your last serious relationship. In the new relationship: Be friends. Spend time together. Laugh together. Be a good and patient listener. Trust, leave some separate alone time and space.

There are bound to be differences. But, over time your brain gets used to the other person. Sharing understandings reduces anxiety, depression and stress and may boost immunity and longevity. The ultimate key to solid relationships is a good verbal communication. Instead of arguing, give each other the benefit of the doubt by hearing each other out first.

“When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible,” wrote screen writer Nora Ephron. American poet Ogned Nash said, “Whenever you’re wrong, admit it. When you’re right, shut up.”

Board of Missions Update

We are growing closer to reaching our goal for the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering. The total as of June 23rd was $1,038 which means we are $462 from our goal of $1,500.

During the summer, please add these missionaries to your prayer list:

The Reed Family – They are natives of West Virginia and are currently serving in Bolivia. They live in Santa Cruz and minister to the Latin American pastors and teachers as they lead their people to grow in God’s word. Last year they trained 70 men and women – all local pastors and leaders.

Rick & Anita Gutierrez – They have been in South Africa for over 18 years. Both of them are physicians with a family practice. They also train and equip local pastors and churches in weekly neighborhood health classes, conduct Bible studies and encourage local churches. Their latest program is the chicken project which at present serves over 150 people. Apparently this is similar to the program in which our own Jim Adkins is involved.

PLEASE KEEP THEM ALL IN YOUR PRAYERS.

ABW Mission Project

We continue to collect used postage stamps for a mission project.

Our MOP (Mission Outreach Project) 2019 Project will be buying rice for the House of Blessing students and their families in Thailand. The rice program was developed by the staff after they noticed the students were frequently absent or arriving exhausted. The teachers discovered that the kids were spending their evenings in the Night Market begging for money to help their parents provide food for their families. Although the parents are working, they struggle to provide for the basic needs of the family. The rice program provides rice if the parents promise not to make their children beg at night. The teachers then noticed a significant difference in the children coming to school more rested and eager to learn. The program has been successful, but unfortunately, the House of Blessing is having a difficult time funding the program. Our MOP goal of $6,000 will provide 16 House of Blessing families enough rice for the entire year! Please pray for each one of this ministry, the people they serve and the missionaries. If you would like to make a donation and have a women’s ministry program in place, please go through your regular channel of giving. If not, you are encouraged to donate individually.

Helping Hands Continues to Grow

The
ministry of Helping Hands is growing more and more each month as they continue
to serve the needs of the people of Raleigh County.  We are in need of  
toilet tissue, bar soap, coats, blankets and deodorant.   Our food shelves are almost bare so your donations
of non-perishable items are also needed.    
Donations can be left outside the church   office in the black container.  We
are also in need of some “helping hands” to serve as volunteers.  We are open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00
AM until noon.  Please see Edna
Nasby.  Your prayers and support are much
appreciated. 

20+ Years and Going!

by Debbie Vanaman

First, I want to thank all of you who have supported Operation Christmas Child over the past 20 plus years that FBC has been involved in this great mission program. Hundreds of thousands of lives have been touched by your generosity in sharing the love of Christ through the power of a shoebox filled with toys, personal items and school supplies.

Now that summer has officially begun, the back to school rush will begin soon. For the months of July and August we will be collecting school supplies such as pencils, erasers, pens, crayons and small coloring books and note pads. There are donation boxes in Fellowship Hall and in the Welcome Center for your convenience. As always keep this program in your prayers as they continue to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to children and their families around the world.

Shopping, shopping and more shopping

by Helen Greene

Shopping, shopping and more shopping. That is what we are doing during the summer months to replenish our backpack pantry. Lots of canned meat, veggies and fruit are needed to fill the backpacks of our Backpack Kids.

We will need lots of volunteers to help with this project. If you are interested in helping please see me and I am sure I can find you a job! Thanks to everyone who has given food, money or prayers for this ministry. May God bless you!

For the summer months please continue to bring applesauce cups for our kids.