03.16.12 Faith Connection

.

This Sunday  At Faith . . .     We will continue in our current sermon series this Sunday morning.  In this series we are looking at five major purposes for our lives.   We were planned for God’s pleasure, so your first purpose is to offer real worship. We were formed for God’s family, so your second purpose is to enjoy real fellowship. We were created to become like Christ, so your third purpose is to learn real discipleship. We were shaped for serving God, so your fourth purpose is to practice real ministry. We were made for a mission, so your fifth purpose is to live out real evangelism. This Sunday Chris will help us look at the fourth purpose which is to practice real ministry.   REAL SERVICE Service starts in your mind. To be a servant requires a mental shift, a change in your attitudes. God is always more interested in why we do something than in what we do. Attitudes count more than achievements-Rick Warren   Real servants don't try to use God for their purposes. They let God use them for his purposes. Sunday night (6 PM)   Hope in the Dark NightSunday night I will be looking at Isaiah 4:2-6, this is one of Isaiah's comfort passages.  Isaiah is known for his passages on justice and the judgment of God.  But throughout the book he inserts brilliant rays of light that are designed to give hope to God's people.  Are you going through a dark night maybe you could use a little hope?  For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning. Psalm 30:5 (HCSB)  Lessons from my office . . . Above you can you can see the finished project.  A team of volunteers took two rooms and made them into one office/classroom.  This all happened within a matter of weeks.  I love my new office and we have a nice Sunday School room to use.  As they say in the business world it was a win/win situation.  This whole event taught me some important principles, I would like to share with you. When people catch a vision for something you don't have to prod them to action. When people have the same vision they work smoothly together True vision attracts others to become invovled There is no limit to what can be accomplished when a group of people become energized around the same vision I would just like to thank everyone for the work, sacrifice, vision and team spirit in accomplishing this goal for God's kingdom. In my world. . .  Easter Musical Sunday April 1 in both morning services     Easter is just three weeks away   On Sunday April the 8th we have a real opportunity to make a difference.  This is Easter Sunday, the one Sunday a year that people are most likely to visit church.   People could come to faith in Christ, they could begin a relationship with our church family and they could begin again in a life of faith that has grown cold.  What can you do?   Please pray that God will move that day, only He can change the hearts   of people.  Invite your neighbors, friends, family and co-workers, they may just be waiting for an invitation to church on Easter sunday.  Attend one service and volunteer in the other, we need extra nursery workers, ushers, greeters (wouldn't be great to have some folks out on the parking lot welcoming people as they arrive on Easter) and maybe someone could help park cars that day?  Could you carpool Easter Sunday to provide more space for our guests to park?  Would you consider parking in the  gravel lot in the back or across the street on our land just for Easter?   God has set before us this door of opportunity, lets walk through it and reach as many people as possible on Easter Sunday 2012. Deacon on Deck for March:Mike Wade (962-4732) Missionary  of the week: Tim and Jessica Robertson Battambang, Cambodia Follow us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faith-Baptist-Church-Covington-VA/367864835486 Is there something you would like to comment about in this update?  Need to let the rest of us know something?  leave comment on Facebook at the link for this update Praise the Lord for our missionaries, we got a note from the Word of Life camp ministry, 101 Korean students came to faith in Christ (see below) We are scheduling a baptism service please contact the church office if interested 50+ is planning a very special trip call John Burnham for info  You can watch or listen to the sermons from Faith on the Internet just follow this link to watch a recent sermon. http://www.truthcasting.com/player.aspx#showSermon=35980 You can also watch or listen to sermons on your iphone,ipod or ipad.  You have to download the Truthcasting app for your device. http://www.truthcasting.com/     Some local pastors gathered this week at Faith for an online pastor's conference.  The guy in the green shirt is Howard Merrell from the Covington Bible Church and he spend part of his birthday at the conference, Happy Birthday Howard.   Guess who turns 60 this week.  My wife made me put this in here.  :)     Here is a photo of a large mouth bass caught at Douthat State Park recently, it was 11+ pounds!  Thought I would spread a little spring fever and fishing fever.  :)    I though I would close this connection on a youthful note,  Kadence Bradberry really enjoyed the recent Mission Team event at church, she even brought a guest.  Hope to see you Sunday