A Larger Life...
A.B. Simpson wrote, "If we would be enlarged, we must accept all that God sends us to develop and expand our spiritual life. We are so content to abide at the old level that God often has to compel us to rise higher by bringing us face to face with situations that we cannot meet without much greater measures of His grace. It is as though He had to send a tidal wave to flood the lowlands where we dwell to compel us to move into the hills beyond. God, like the mother bird, sometimes has to break up the comfortable, downy nest, letting us drop into empty space. There we must either learn to use an entirely new and higher method of support or sink into failure and loss. We must do or die, fly or fall to our destruction."

In other words, God is always trying to take us someplace new! Sometimes in order to do that He has to shake us, break us and even remake us with challenges that demand our trust and pursuit of Him. We don't move easily and as a result God must sometimes use circumstantial "dynamite" to advance us. The movement is always forward and always for our good and maturity of faith.

Speaking of going forward, I'll begin a new sermon series next Sunday that I am particularly excited about, entitled, "Whatever It Takes: To Glorify God and Reach the World."  I'll be sharing and challenging our entire family with four messages that God has given me, culminating on Sunday, October 3. Please don't miss a single message.

Awesome August is in the books for another year, and what a fantastic month it has been with the largest crowds ever and I think the most powerful messages yet. I hope you were blessed; but even more so, I hope you were encouraged, challenged to a deeper walk and transformed by God's Word in such a way that your life is reflecting a fresh work of God.

Remember that this-coming Wednesday we will return to our regularly scheduled Wednesday evening meetings. I have just begun a new study for us on Galatians. If you are not engaged in our Wednesday study at 6:00 PM, this is the perfect time to begin. I look forward to seeing you; be sure to bring your Bible and a notebook.

The Red Chair Revolution will continue until the end of October. Continue the good work you've been doing in inviting new people to connect in your Bible study classes on Sunday morning as well as reconnect others that have dropped out. By the way, be sure to have your guests sign your department's Red Chair. It will be interesting to see which department(s) end up with the most guests and new members by the end of the revolution.

Now, join me as we worship God and honor Him with our obedience to His Word. You're here, He is here, and that means we can connect with Him and hear from Him as we worship. Let's take advantage of this blessed opportunity. Remember, He is always trying to take you someplace new. I love being your pastor!!!

For The Kings Glory,
Bro. Ray

 

Married Without Children | This new class, taught by Gary and Robin Ohmstede,  will start TODAY during the Bible study hour in room D-104. We will GROW TOGETHER, learn to LOVE TOGETHER and SERVE TOGETHER as a family. Come join us as we EXPLORE what it means for two to become one, how to LOVE through the good times and bad, and how to SERVE within our group, our community, our nation and the world.

2010-2011 Deacons | Keith Ammons; Phillip Clearman; Doug Faulk, Jr; John Ferguson; Gerald Hicks; Bruce Kilgore; Wayne Krist; Johnny Middlebrooks; Tim Rhodes; Ron Storey; Aaron Wells; Charles Williams.
   
Angel Tree | Beginning in October, we will be receiving children's names for the Prison Ministry-sponsored Angel Trees. If your are interested in helping, please contact Charles Olive at the church office.