February 7, 2010

45th Faith Promise Missions Conference

A Great Success! … A Remarkable Experience!

A "special thanks" to each of you who participated by your faithful attendance and involvement in last week’s Missions Conference. Thanks for contributing to our Church’s responsibility of preaching the "Cause" of Christ worldwide.

It’s "GREAT" to take part in God’s "GREAT" Commission!

God’s "GREAT HEROES" were in our Church last week!

Gary & Verda Keck (New Guinea)

Jerry & Atalias Lantz (Brazil)

Dave Hardy (Conference Preacher)

Featuring Gospel Music by Mark & Mary Gray

How Does God Supply My Faith Promise Offering?

When it comes to God’s provision to enable me to give a mission’s offering beyond my tithe and offering, I must believe that God is able and sufficient … for He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think (Eph 3:20). God may employ in His sovereignty these various (though not exclusively) means to provide the F-P finances: 1) I may have an increase in income. 2) I may realize a decrease in expenses. 3) I determine to give sacrificially. 4) I become a better steward of my own budget. 5) God performs the supernatural to provide my offering. These are five ways to recognize the Faith Promise offering to be given each week to fulfill my last Sunday’s commitment! When my interests involve world evangelization, I can always depend on my Lord for His provision! … when your faith is increased … to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you (2 Cor.10:15-16). The primary purpose for Faith-Promise giving is that others, beyond my local church ministry, have the same opportunity through the missionaries to hear the Word of God and have a local Church like mine in which to serve and worship the Lord!

Some called this Super Sunday … We call it THE LORD’S DAY!

Pastor’s "In-depth" Strategy for Tonight’s Super Bowl XLIV

This is the "big game." After considering the dilemma of our Church members who are football fans, I am codifying my previously formulated "game plan." This counsel will enable all sports enthusiasts to obediently attend the Sunday night service in God's house (Heb.10:25), and afterwards to really, and I mean really, feel no guilt by prioritizing a sports event that falls on a Sunday.

Here follows my strategy to effectively counter the use of The Lord’s Day by the National Football League. This afternoon at exactly 4:25 PM (MST) turn on your TV for the kickoff. You surely don't want to endure the outlandish performances of rock musicians during the extended preliminaries. Certainly you don't want to listen to the pre-game analytical confusion of all the "experts," or witness again this past year's NFL highlights and the antics of idiots celebrating some half-witted dance in the end zone.

Watch the game with great intensity, being alert enough to mute all the commercials that cost million dollars per minute. If you are a veteran Super Bowl observer, you will remember the anger you’ve vented during other Super Bowls because of excessive merchandising blitzes. (Admittedly, many TV commercials have been more entertaining than most Super Bowl games)

During one of the commercials, change into your "Sunday-night-go-to-meetin’-clothes." At 5:25 PM turn on the DVR (have your youngster double-check for the correct settings). With the car radio off, carefully drive to Church praying for your Preacher’s Gospel message and the invitation. Of course, you could include a brief prayer for your favorite team. At the very least, this will insure an expectant attitude for God's blessings on the evening service. During the service be on the lookout for members with a far-away gaze in their eyes and a wire coming out an ear. Don’t ask the score, but report your observation to the nearest usher!

On the way home after Church services, make sure your car radio is off. Should you stop at a restaurant: don’t look at any TV monitors; don’t allow anyone to reveal the score. On your arrival at home, have a disinterested family member make the proper set up for the playback. Stay in the car until you get the "all clear." Then, sit down, enjoy the game when the only interruption is the fast forward zipping through the halftime extravaganza and the multiplicity of commercials!

Result: after watching the game, you will feel good about yourself having been in God’s house on Sunday night - when and where you should be every Sunday night! If your team wins … that’s a "second blessing." Since I first introduced this definitive plan in 1997, this strategy has worked well for NTBC football enthusiasts. Many of them declared how fortunate for them to have a Pastor, an old "triple-threat" quarterback himself, who looked after all their spiritual and sports "needs." (Oh, me!) Now, for any skeptics and critics, let me quickly add that this commentary is done with "tongue-in-cheek." It’s all in fun … Get a life!

- - Preacher