HAPPY NEW YEAR

As I mentioned in Sunday's service, the New Year is a great time for an introspective look at one's self. But, it's not enough to just look back, the apostle Paul encouraged us to "press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me." (Phil. 3:12)

I'm also reminded by Nehemiah 10:28-31, specifically verse 29, that God's people made an oath, vowing to follow God. They went so far as to say that if they failed, they would accept the curse.

[They] entered into . . . an oath to walk in God's Law, . . . and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord (Nehemiah 10:29).

While our New Year's resolutions aren't always as serious as this, we should soberly consider our walk with the Lord and admit that any resolutions to follow God is not a casual, fleeting thought. We should consider our spiritual growth; and then, with the leading of the Holy Spirit, pursue our own set of personal declarations wholeheartedly.

In so doing, examine yourself. Acknowledge if you are growing in grace or simply going through the motions of "doing church." Then, consider these four areas and how they might help you be a self-feeding follower of the Lord Jesus in 2008.

1. Sunday Bible Study Participation
2. Worship Attendance
3. Discipleship Involvement
4. Corporate Prayer through PowerSource

Finally, act on your resolutions!

"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." (James 4:17)

I look forward to seeing you Sunday.

--George

The preceding post was originally sent out Thursday, January 3rd, 2008 as a part of Brainerd Baptist's email newsletter (The BBC Mail). If you would like to sign up to receive future messages delivered directly to your inbox, click here and enter your email address.

Christmas Highlights

Well, the Christmas holidays are practically over for most of us. Here are a few things that made our family’s 2007 holiday season memorable.

• The advent service at the Gathering on the 23rd
• Traveling out of town to visit family
• There was snow at my parent’s church on Christmas Eve (actually just strategically placed snow machines, since snow is even rarer in Warner Robins, GA than in Chattanooga, TN)
• Finding out that my sister and her husband are expecting their first child
• God’s protection over a close family member who was in a car accident on Christmas Eve
• Watching our son figure out the whole “present” thing

Have a happy 2008!

--Mark

A Theology of Work

Here is a challenging article I came across a few weeks ago about how Christians should view their work.

It is a little long, but worth reading.

Here is a brief quote:

"Our work should be a love offering characterized by excellence, ethics, evangelism and theological integration, but not as a basis for finding our worth before God or our acceptance from others. We work not for God to accept us, but are accepted because of God's work in and for us (Phil. 2:12-13). This is how we should then work."

--Mark

A Hat Divided

I was recently shopping for a hat to support my favorite college football team and came across this hat. (Click on the picture to see it more clearly)

Just in case you can't make it out, the back of the hat says "Arkansas Razorbacks." I have a feeling that there is a pretty small market for hats that support both the Bulldogs and Razorbacks. Maybe our executive pastor could use it since he recently moved from Arkansas?

--Mark

War and Peace

Here is a great article written by Russell Moore of Southern Seminary.

The article is called "Who Would Jesus Bomb? War, Peace, and the Christian"

The entire article is worth reading. Here is a brief quote:

"We shouldn't tie dye our shirts and pretend a United Nations enforced peace can end bloodshed. But neither should we callously cheer the violence of war, as if it were a video game. Yes, we should visualize peace-but only a real peace, when the true Emperor of the universe rules over a world so pacific that we cannot even imagine the violence we once saw on CNN, or on Animal Planet. On that day, and maybe not until that day, there won't be the sound of rattling swords, firing guns, or bombs bursting in air."

--Mark

Christmas Music

I know it might be a little early for Christmas music, but I thought I would mention a Christmas CD that I have enjoyed and found encouraging.

Behold the Lamb of God by Andrew Peterson: What I especially appreciate about this retelling of the Christmas story is the emphasis placed on the gospel and how the events of the Old Testament led up to the events of Matthew 1-2 and Luke 2.

You can listen to the entire album for free at Andrew's Web Site by clicking here.

Here are a couple of videos from a live performance of the album.

"Matthew's Begats"



"Labor of Love"




--Mark

NPR and the Prodigal Son

A few weeks ago on my way in to work I was listening to NPR and heard a financial segment where they were discussing giving an inheritance to your children. The "financial expert" being interviewed was giving advice on how to fairly divide your inheritance between your children. He made a comment that it was not wise to give a large sum of money to an adult child as an inheritance if they have proven to be irresponsible with money. Next, one of the gentlemen said that this discussion reminded him of the story of the prodigal son (from Luke 15:11-32).

As they spoke of how they felt this biblical example applied to their discussion and how you don't want to be like the father in the story (giving all your hard earned money to a child who will just waste it away), one of the men said, "Yeah, the father was a sucker!"

As I thought about what they were saying, I first thought that this parable from the teaching ministry of Jesus is not about financial planning. Living in America and especially the South we encounter many who are familiar with the Bible but who do not understand or accept the message of the gospel.

Next, I thought about how the father in the parable represents Christ and his abundant love for those who do not deserve it. Jesus taught the series of parables in Luke 15 to respond to the Pharisees who criticized him for hanging around sinners.

This type of love poured out on those who have not earned it is foreign to many in our culture. Jesus was willing to suffer and die in our place, not because we have earned his attention, but because He loved us.

I am thankful for what this passage teaches about God's love and am challenged with the church's responsibility to faithfully take the message of the gospel to the culture in which we live.

--Mark

Proactive Prayer

This week in PowerSource we are going to look at one of Paul's prayers from 2 Thessalonians 1 and seek to discover how we can pray proactively for one another.

I was challenged by this quote from Dr. Charles Lawless, who is a professor at Southern Seminary. The quote is from a Baptist Press article, which you can read here.


I perhaps am most concerned that we pray far too little. Most of our praying is reactive rather than proactive; that is, we pray after we hear about a strife-torn family, after we learn of a wayward teen, or after we are challenged to intercede for missionaries. Seldom do we pray proactively for our Bible study teachers, our pastors, our state convention workers, our denominational leaders or our missionaries.

I hope to see you there.

--Mark

Our Speaker this Sunday

This Sunday Dr. Richard Land will be with us to share from God's Word.

Since 1988 Dr. Land has served as the president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. He is an author and the host of his own weekly radio talk show.

You can find out more about him by visiting his web site.

Real Hope

I found this quote encouraging and thought I would pass it along. It is from a book that I am currently reading called How People Change by Christian counselors Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp.

"The gospel calls us to look at the messiness of life in a radically different way. The good news of the gospel is that Christ has conquered sin and death, and with them every meaningless and destructive end. Our final destination infuses every word, action, desire and response with meaning and purpose. There are no completely hopeless situations. The gospel welcomes us to a hopeful realism. We can look life in the face and still be hopeful because of who Christ is and where he is taking us.

The authors go on to say:

Your destination is secure. All of the things that are truly worth living for cannot be taken away from you! Yes, you can lose your job, your health, your house, your car, or your friend. The loss of any of these things would be hard. But you cannot lose your identity in Christ. You cannot lose his love and grace. You cannot lose his gift of forgiveness or the place reserved for you in heaven. When you keep your eyes on this destination and pursue the things that move you there, you can live securely in a world where it seems as if nothing is guaranteed. You will not escape the difficulties of life, but you can rest assured that your Savior will use each one to prepare you for the place he is taking you......It is about taking an utterly honest look at all earthly life through heaven's lens. There we find real hope."

--Mark

The Battle for the Border

I am excited about our upcoming church tailgate party at the BX; we will be watching the Tennessee Vols vs. the Georgia Bulldogs. I believe this is going to be a great opportunity for our church members to invite their friends and family to our church campus for an afternoon of fun, food, and fellowship. Tailgating starts at 1:30 PM in the upper BX parking lot (bring your own grill and food). The game will be shown on the 12 foot screens in the Crossing at 3:30 PM. Hope to see you all there!
-- Gus Jr.

D, I, S, or C for God's Glory

We (the Brained Baptist church staff) have spent the past two days on an "in-town" staff retreat at the BX.

During the retreat we had the opportunity to spend time with Dr. Roesel and work together planning for the next year.

One of the activities we participated in on Monday was to take a personality inventory. You may have taken one before. You are asked a series of questions about what words you feel best describe you. Questions like, Are you kind, proper, demanding or outgoing? or Do you support Georgia, Florida, Alabama or Tennessee? (just kidding about the last one).

After completing the test and calculating your score, it tells you what your primary personality profile is and whether or not you are a D, I, S or C. I am still trying to figure out what the letters actually stand for.

One thought that struck me as we discussed the results of our profiles is the variety of personalities that are present on our ministerial and support staff.

It reminded me of these verses in 1 Peter:

1 Peter 4:10-11 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies- in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

I am thankful to be part of the staff team that God has brought together at Brainerd Baptist, and am looking forward to see what God is going to do for His glory in the coming months.

--Mark