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Thanksgiving

by Pastor Doc Adkins

I am sure that if in a church service we took the time to share blessings of life that we have encountered the list would be tremendous.  I love holidays. I always have.  There seems to me something wonderful and phenomenal that takes place during this time.  Holidays bring out the best in most folk or the very worse of a few others.

Thanksgiving is my pet peeve.  It seems that we go straight from Halloween to Christmas and not much emphasis is placed on Thanksgiving.  Yet, the other day I found this little Bible study and as I did some research on my own, this is the conclusion:  there is more said in the Bible about Thanksgiving than Christmas and Easter combined.  Not discounting the absolute relevance of each of them.  The Birth of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ are the foundation of our faith and Gospel.  Yet from day to day living, thanksgiving is a daily condition of our heart. I live in light of the Resurrection and always celebrate Christmas but Thanksgiving is an everyday business.

So let’s do the study:  by it we all might just be blessed.

THANKSGIVING – PRAISE BIBLE STUDY

This is just a simple search through the Scriptures for different ways and things to give thanks and praise for. It is intended to help you get motivated to improve your praise life.   Just look up the Bible verses in each one and complete the answers.

  1. Psalm 95:2 says to come before the presence of the Lord with what? ___________________________
  2. When giving thanks to God, we should make known what? 1 Chronicles16:8 His ___________________________
  3. According to I Chronicles 16:34 we should give thanks to the Lord because He is ___________________________and His ___________________________endures forever.
  4. I Chronicles 16:35 says give thanks to ___________________________.
  5. Psalm 30:4 says to give thanks to the Lord at the remembrance of His what? ___________________________.
  6. 1 Corinthians 15:57 says “But thanks be to God, which gives us what? ___________________________
  7. 2 Corinthians 2:14 says we should give thanks to God because He always causes us to do what? ___________________________
  8. Psalm 42:11 says, “I shall praise him, who is the health of” what? ___________________________
  9. In Psalm 63:3 why does it say “my lips shall praise thee”? Because ___________________________
  10. What kind of lips should we praise with? Psalm 63:5 ___________________________
  11. What does Psalm 9:1 tell us to praise God with? ___________________________
  12. According to I Thessalonians 5:18, we should give thanks because it is the ___________________________ of God.
  13. In Hebrews 13:15 how often should praise be given to God? ___________________________
  14. Psalm 148:13 says to praise the Lord because His name is what? ___________________________
  15. 2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be to God for His ___________________________ gift.

Growing up in the simple life of Summers County, my grandmother planned out our Thanksgiving meal with lots and lots of love and devotion.  Turkey and the trimmings, sugar cured Country Ham and pies! Lots and lots of them: apple, pumpkin, cherry and lemon.  Why lemon, I have no clue; just momma wanted it.  It was my brother Arthur’s favorite, I guess.

Thanksgiving….daily.

Your Help is Needed

Helping Hands is in need of some volunteers to work in the mornings.

They are open from 9:00 until noon Tuesday through Friday and you can volunteer to work any of those days.

The need is growing monthly and your help would be greatly appreciated.

See Edna Nasby to sign up or call them at 304-253-3467.

Non-perishable food items, toilet paper & soap are also needed.  Donations can be left in the box outside the church office.  

ABW October Update

by Norma Gunter

The American Baptist Women’s Ministry Focus circle program for October is See…My Neighbor.  The scripture is Luke 10:29-37.  “With the observances of the International Day of the Girl Child, Children’s Sabbath, and Bullying Prevention Month in October, there is ample inspiration to help women and girls consider how they might also be at work for peace and justice in the world neighborhood.”  We, AB women, can encourage children who are often forgotten by taking a few minutes to pray for them.

October is the month we receive the American Baptist World Mission Offering (WMO) and we have the opportunity to give to spread the gospel around the world.  The theme this year is “Celebrate New Life in Christ,” Matthew 6:10. “That is what IM is doing – through the support of the WMO -by praying, equipping, serving, producing, teaching, inviting, healing and encouraging in the name of Jesus.” (WMO literature)

“The good news is that our church’s support of the World Mission Offering (WMO) is helping to fuel the growth of the Eastern Cuba Baptist Convention through financial and global worker support and through International Ministries (IM)-sponsored pastor conferences.  A great and surprising spiritual awakening is happening in Baptist churches in Cuba right now!  Since 1990, the number of churches in Cuba has grown by 450%.  The number of baptisms has risen by over 500%.  And the number of prayer groups and total church memberships have climbed in equally high numbers.  After decades of harsh restrictions, “the church of God has risen from the ashes,” says a retired Cuban church leader who witnessed the remarkable change firsthand.  “In God’s time, the hearts of so many people have been opened up to the goodness of the gospel.” (WMO literature) Your gifts to the WMO also supports missionaries who haven’t met their support goals, help support global partners and recruit and train new workers.  It also opens up new global mission fields and respond to global disasters.

October is a very busy mission month for the ABW here at Beckley FBC.  We start off the month with the American Baptist Raleigh Women’s Association Fall Rally at the Beaver Baptist Church October 8th at 9:30 am.  Mr. John Jones, Public Relations Officer for Hospice, will be the speaker.  We are requested to bring wrapped snack type items for Hospice House.  The meeting ends with lunch.

Ladies don’t forget Women’s Day October 20th at the West Virginia Baptist Convention at the Gassaway Baptist Church.  The theme this year is “Lord Make Me an Instrument of Thy Peace.”

Hunger is one of the many faces of poverty

by Joyce Mills

Hunger is one of the many faces of poverty.  It keeps children from learning, increases the reason for children being absent from school, causes anxieties and low self-esteem, and even keeps the child from paying attention in class.

Raleigh County Schools are putting great emphasis on good attendance this year.  Being absent causes students from PreK – High School to get behind.  An elementary teacher has said, “The problems of hunger leads to all kinds of problems.  It has a snowball effect.  These students fall behind and they never really catch up.”

As I was reading a national report on hungry children some interesting things were given such as:

  • 3 out of 4 public school teachers say that students regularly come to school hungry
  • 81% of teachers say it happens at least once a week
  • 53% of teachers say children who have enough food have improved attendance
  • 73% see kids paying better attention in class when there is enough food
  • A quote from a guidance counselor, ”Hunger is causing the demise of an entire generation that has much potential.  These children are fighting for their lives daily.”

First Baptist, along with many other churches in the community, is trying to do its part.  This week there will be 16 backpacks for kids at Beckley Elementary filled with nutritious food for 6 meals and 2 snacks for the weekend.  As has been said, “This is America.” 

It makes no sense for kids to go hungry.”  Schools are trying hard to feed kids healthy foods.  Churches are helping on weekends and still the numbers tell us that 1 out of 5 kids is hungry.

We still need workers to pack the backpacks.  This is a one time out of the month job.  Let us know if have less than an hour’s time that you could give to help.  Thank you for continuing to faithfully give your money.  For the     month of October donations of Vienna Sausage are needed.   You are asked to put food donations on the back counter in the church kitchen.

 

Time to Reach Out

by Debbie Vanaman

As the air turns a bit cooler and the leaves burst forth with magnificent color, it’s that time again to help spread the name of Jesus around the world through the power of a simple shoebox.  It’s been 15 years since we entered into a partnership with Samaritan’s Purse and the word of God has been shared with literally millions of children and their families through this ministry.

Our collection efforts have been great throughout the year and for that I am grateful.  Collection week this year is Nov. 14th through Nov. 18th and with your help we can make this year one of the best we’ve ever had.  I will be reaching out asking for volunteers to staff our collection center that week.  So don’t wait until I come for you – ask how you can help.

For the month of October we will be collecting small toys that will fit inside a shoebox –   a small ball, a doll, a jump rope, small cars and trucks are just a few examples.

And last but certainly not least please keep this program in your prayers as the word of God is continually spread throughout the world one shoebox at a time.

Mercy After Spilt Milk

by Rev Robert A Wendel

On September 6, 2016, the Pittsburgh Pirates played the St. Louis Cardinals in a late season match of the regular professional baseball season.  The lead paragraph in the United Press International wire service release the next morning read, “For the Pirates, the contest went from a blow-out early to a stirring mid-game comeback to a devastating ninth inning defeat.”

After the Pirates fought back from a 5-0 deficit to take a 7-6 lead in the ninth, ace relief pitcher Tony Watson was one out away from wrapping up his 11th game save when a three run homer barrage lifted the Cardinals to a 9-7 victory.  It was a stunning implosion for National League All Star Watson.

Interviewed later Watson said, “This sudden a loss is hard to swallow especially when the game-tying solo home run came only one strike away from a Pittsburgh victory over a long time rival.”

Pittsburgh played St. Louis the next day.  Watson “saved” the game.  The TV interviewer asked the Iowa favorite son “How did your teammates treat you after last night’s loss?”   Tony quipped “They were great.  To a man, the guys told me to keep my chin up!”

I told this story during my devotion at our Men’s Breakfast just a week later using the theme “Getting Up After a Fall.”  Often a mistake that affects others can do us real emotional harm.  Instead of blaming young Watson, his team remembered the many times he had helped gain them important wins during the already long, hot grueling summer.

For us there’s a triple lesson.  First ‘There’s no point in ‘crying over spilt milk.’  When the milk is spilt, that’s the end of it.  Forget it.  The mistake is in the past.  Second, no matter what happened, tomorrow is another day.  And third, mercy shown in low moments will always make a real difference!                                                                                                        

Waking Up to the Good Stuff

by Pastor Doc Adkins

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”   Psalm 143:8

“The morning is just the most important part of the day”, my Grandmother use to say. Life in my grandparent’s house started early. When you think of the morning, they are clean slates on the day and you get to choose what you do with it. By evening it is just a little too late to start planning your day so why not start it out right at the beginning to get things accomplished and spend time with God before we get bogged down with life?

I can remember how my grandma used to fix breakfast in the mornings, most every morning. She didn’t just pour a bowl of cereal or throw a pop tart in the toaster. She probably didn’t even know what a pop tart was. My grandmother fixed real breakfast food—the good stuff!

I have such memories of my grandma’s country farm kitchen and her frying bacon, sausage and eggs too. Never scrambled ones. They were always over-easy, sunny side up ones. Next came the biscuits. Homemade of course. Not those kind many of us pop out of cans. Then came the gravy. White, country style.  Of course when I was a kid I loved white country style gravy. I still do! I guess because it was all my family ever fixed with anything.  Then, after all this, when good ones were available, my grandma would get a few tomatoes and slice some on a plate to put on the table. In our family it seemed like no meal was complete until there was a plate of freshly sliced tomatoes on the table. The table would always be full. My grandma believed in fixin’ the good stuff. All this topped off with really cold milk, hot…hot coffee and water. You had to drink at least a glass of water.  Just ‘cause mama said so, that’s why.

God also fixes the ‘good stuff’’. He has so much planned for our days but do we miss it because we don’t get up early and spend time with Him? Do we anticipate His goodness and kindness to us each day? Do we seek Him early like David did?

“Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.”   Psalm 143:8

“My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.”   Psalm 5:3

I do have days that I don’t start it off right. We all do, but if we don’t try to spend time with God by reading His Word and communing with Him in prayer at the start of our day then how will we ever be conscious of Him when the afternoon hits or when evening rolls around?

My! How much ‘good stuff’ He offers us. We are given blessings, promises, love, guidance, strength, and protection. We need all of God’s ‘good stuff’ to make it through the whole day.

“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because of his compassion fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”   Lamentations 3:22

Hope you’ll keep your alarm set and wake up to The Good Stuff!

Well, Summer is Over

Well, summer is over and school is back in session again.  This year we are starting out with 15 backpacks with more to be added in the coming weeks.  These children live in poverty and sometimes healthy food is scarce and that’s why this program is so vital.   We have been blessed with many, many donations.  Several weeks ago the Future Farmers of America donated over 1,300 “goodie bags” which contained cereal, fruit cups, a small can of pasta with meat, pudding and a packet of powdered milk.   This will go a long, long way in helping these children.  Your donations of food and money have also been very generous and for that we thank you.

For the month of September we will be collecting cans of Vienna sausages.  These can be left on the back counter in the kitchen.  Please keep this program in your prayers as we continue to reach out to children and their families in need.

Letting Our Faith Show

by Rev Robert A Wendel

Faith is defined as,” Putting trust in God as the basis for a system of unshakable religious convictions and beliefs.” For Christians, faith is an ‘action word.’ The best way to explain faith is to do it.

James the Apostle, brother of Jesus, wrote, “ I will show you my faith by my deeds”(2:18,CNT).  Compassion, service to humanity and seeking justice for others are hallmarks of a Christian life. As the Sunday school song says, “They’ll know we’re Christians by our love, by our love.”

Here are two examples from professional baseball:

Since 1939, our national game has recognized its stars and behind the scenes heroes by giving each a plaque in its Hall of Fame at Cooperstown, New York.  The citation on the wall for former Dodger general manager Branch Rickey, finishes with, “ brought Jackie Robinson to the Dodgers in 1947.”

Until April of that year, pro baseball had two groupings, the all-White National and American Leagues and several Negro Leagues.  From 1869 until 1947 no Black players were in the dugouts of National or American Major League clubs. It took courage to change the country’s game.

Mr.  Rickey, a cigar smoking, bow tie wearing, devote Methodist layman, “made a vow before God that if he had the opportunity to correct this injustice, he would do it, knowing that, his choice would endure awful indignities. ”Jackie Robinson had guts enough to ‘turn the other check’, while facing numerous insults from fans and other players. But the color line was finally broken. The path to racial justice in the sport was made smooth by love and passive resistance.

Then there was the time in 1957 when the Pittsburgh Pirates were playing a regular season game and home plate umpire Stan Landes ejected Pirate pitcher Vern Law, from the game though he was not pitching that afternoon saying, “There was a lot of abusive language coming from both benches and I didn’t think that Law, an elder  the Mormon Church, should have to hear it.” Can your neighbors see your faith?

On Saturday September 10th at 8:00AM, our deacons will hold another Men’s Breakfast.  Rev Mark Stover, a retired prison chaplain from Crab Orchard Baptist will bring the morning message.   This Fall, plan to support or be involved in one or two ministry opportunities encouraged by our Church.

ABW September Update

by Norma Gunter

The American Baptist Women’s Ministry Focus circle program for September is See…the Peace of Christ.  The scripture is Isaiah 58:12, John 20: 19-23, 26.  “The International Day of Peace falls in September; this can serve as inspiration to explore the peace of Christ in our own lives (John) and to see how we are called to be repairers of the breach and restorers of the streets we live in (Isaiah).  We might name this month’s ministry experience ‘Seeing beyond Brokenness,’ for it offers activities that will help women and girls to look at peace in new ways and assist them in seeing areas for spiritual and personal growth.”

One way our ladies can see areas of spiritual and personal growth is through our West Virginia Baptist Women’s Ministries Spiritual Growth Retreat September 23-25, 2016 at the Parchment Valley Conference Center.  The theme, “Pattern of Living…Following God’s pattern for our lives by living according to His word.” The scripture, Romans 12:2, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Workshops planned are:

  • Puerto Rico
  • Philippine Mission Trip
  • Crafts (bring colorful seamless t-shirt and scissors)
  • Leadership Academy
  • Pattern of Prayer
  • Book Review (purchase book/read and be ready for  discussion)
  • “Renting Lacy: A Story of America’s Prostituted Children” by Linda Smith

Guest Speaker:  Kim Weaver, Executive Director, Weirton Christian Center.  Ladies most of you will remember Kim for she has spoken here at Beckley First Baptist and her ministry is supported by our women’s circles with Quarters for Grades, special projects, White Cross supplies, and gift cards.

Ladies you are also invited to sing in the retreat  choir.  Registration is due by September 2, 2016.

Another Spiritual Renewal event is the 133rd Annual Women’s Day, October 20, 2016 at the West Virginia Baptist Convention at the Gassaway Baptist Church.  The theme for the day is,  “Lord, Make Me An Instrument Of Thy Peace.”  The guest speaker is Vicki Eades.  Let’s get together and go for the day like we did last time.