Life Matters

Thank You for Donating 2,319 Pairs of Underwear & Diapers on Undie Sunday!

Here is the final report from "Undie Sunday." (From Kirstin Montenari)

Thanks to everyone who donated items last Sunday to benefit the Cabaret Baptist Children's Home in Haiti!!! Because of your generosity, we were able to deliver the following items for "our kids" in Haiti:

• Underwear - 715 pairs
• Diapers - 1604
• Baby Wipes (over 2814 wipes) -approximately 75 packages
• Toothpaste & Toothbrushes - 43
• Misc. Kids & Baby Items - 12, Deodorant - 5, & Towels & Washcloths - 4

God is so good!! You have made a difference in the lives of these children. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving and helping.

The Sanctity of Human Life

Jan 15, 2012 - 9AM from Fort Caroline Baptist Church on Vimeo.

The Family (Doctrinal Statement of the Southern Baptist Convention and Fort Caroline Baptist Church)

The Family

God has ordained the family as the foundational institution of human society. It is composed of persons related to one another by marriage, blood, or adoption.

Marriage is the uniting of one man and one woman in covenant commitment for a lifetime. It is God's unique gift to reveal the union between Christ and His church and to provide for the man and the woman in marriage the framework for intimate companionship, the channel of sexual expression according to biblical standards, and the means for procreation of the human race.

The husband and wife are of equal worth before God, since both are created in God's image. The marriage relationship models the way God relates to His people. A husband is to love his wife as Christ loved the church. He has the God-given responsibility to provide for, to protect, and to lead his family. A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation.

Children, from the moment of conception, are a blessing and heritage from the Lord. Parents are to demonstrate to their children God's pattern for marriage. Parents are to teach their children spiritual and moral values and to lead them, through consistent lifestyle example and loving discipline, to make choices based on biblical truth. Children are to honor and obey their parents.

Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; 127; 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7.

"Faithful and True" Support Group at Fort Caroline Baptist Church

 
I recently received an e-mail from one of the missionaries our church supports. His name is Jerry Sinclair. He leads a ministry support group that meets in our church called Faithful and True. This support group helps men who struggle with sexual sins. They also provide support for their families. If you know of someone who could benefit from this type of group please contact Jerry at the number below. Here is Jerry's e-mail to me (shared with permission).

Pastor Ricky,

Thank you for the $100 donation to Faithful and True from Ft. Caroline Baptist Church.  We are extremely honored to have you as a systematic financial partner.  Last month, a hurting gentleman was referred to us.  He was so grateful that for the first time he could attend a meeting and talk with six other men about his struggles and addiction. He is already making major progress in a relatively short period of time. 

Also, a young man was in Minneapolis last month to be with our founder, Dr. Mark Laaser at an intensive recovery workshop.  We had, three of our couples in Nashville to be at a Bethesda Intensive Couples Reconciliation Workshop.  One husband returned from the couples workshop to share with the Sunday night group an enthusiastic report of how much different things appear to him.  His own demeanor has made a dramatic change from the appearance of being cold and indifferent to warm and receptive.

Pastor Ricky, because of Ft. Caroline's help (and the help of many others), we are able to have resources and meetings for our constituents.  Their testimonies and transformation is proof of God's grace.  We appreciate your contribution.  Thank you and God bless...

We stand ready to serve...together. 
Jerry and Susan Sinclair
Faithful and True of Jacksonville, FL
904 553 4703 (no texts please)  www.southpointbaptist.org/psalm51.htm

The Little Chap Who Follows Me

 
 
I read this poem today and it reminded me of my awesome responsibility to set a good example for my children, especially my sons. I pray that I am a good role model for them.

A careful man I want to be,

A little fellow follows me;

I do not dare to go astray

For fear he'll go the self-same way.

I cannot once escape his eyes.

What e'er he sees me do he tries.

Like ME he says he's going to be---

That little chap who follows me.

I must remember as I go

Through summer suns and winter snows,

I am building for the years to be---

That little chap who follows me.

---Author unknown

From Developing the Leader Within You, by John Maxwell, p. 4.

Deal or No Deal, Part Three

Have you compromised your parental responsibilities as outlined by God? Many parents have neglected to be the spiritual leaders in their children’s lives. This is exactly what the Devil desires.

Five Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I weighed 4lbs. and 9oz. when I was born.  

I was born in Mobile, Alabama on November 25, 1967. I was a month premature. I remained in Providence Hospital for a month while I gained weight. (I haven't had trouble gaining weight ever since!) My mother could only see me at certain times of the day. She said the Nuns and nurses of this Catholic Hospital were very kind. Of course, I was born at a very early age, so my knowledge is all second hand from my mother!

2. Skydiving is on my “Bucket List.”

My wife calls this my death-wish. She cannot understand why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. My desire to skydive was inspired by my dad. He served in the 82^nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. As I was growing up he would tell me about his stint in the Army and becoming a Paratrooper. The mission of the 82^nd is described on their website: “The 82^nd Airborne Division strategically deploys, conducts forcible entry parachute assault to secure key objectives for follow-on military operations in support of U.S. National Interests.”

So before I die, I would like to check this off my list of crazy things to do in honor of my dad. My wife says I just have to make sure my insurance is paid up for the month.

3. I love riding roller-coasters.

Maybe this goes along with skydiving. The first roller-coaster I ever rode was the Great American Scream Machine at Six Flags Over Atlanta. I rode with my Uncle Dalton. I don't remember how old I was, but I could not have been older than ten or eleven. I recall three things about that ride. One, Uncle Dalton forgot to take his cap off and lost it on the first drop. Two, I had never been more scared in all my life. Nothing could have prepared my young heart for the feeling of that first drop. The wooden coaster was loud, harsh, and fast. Three, when it was over I wanted to do it again! I was officially hooked. Since then I have ridden coasters every chance I get. I have ridden coasters at Six Flags over Atlanta, Busch Gardens in Tampa, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in Orlando, Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, TN, and Wild Adventures in Valdosta, Georgia. (How unfair is that? I grew up in Valdosta, but they waited until I moved to Jacksonville before they built a theme park a few miles from where I lived!)

4. My first car was a 1969 Mustang.

Just after my sixteenth birthday my dad came home with the car and handed me the keys. It was a white coupe with a 250 six cylinder engine making 155 horsepower. (The picture above is from the internet.) It had a lot of miles on it and needed a lot of work. The dash was cracked, the driver's seat was torn, and the driver's side window regulator was failing. It needed a new carburetor, evidenced by the frequent engine stalls at red-lights. It had hubcaps on the front wheels and chrome mags on the back. (Can you say, “Redneck”?) But I loved that car. I religiously applied AmorAll to the cracked dash, I washed it every week, and even replaced the worn floor carpet. I saved up my money and replaced the front hubcaps with chrome mags. As I drove, I imagined I was in a Boss 429! (A boy can dream can't he?)

In the end, I did not have enough money or expertise to completely restore the car. I eventually sold it and bought a white late 80's Camaro. Since then I have owned a Volkswagen Fox, a Ford Tempo, a Ford Probe, a Ford Thunderbird, a Mazda 6, an Acura TSX, and an Acura TL. 

5. I love vanilla ice cream covered with Ritz Crackers and Hershey's Chocolate Syrup.

Don't knock it until you've tried it! My mother introduced this delicacy to me when I was young. We would sit up and watch the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and eat ice cream. Her dad had introduced this mixture to her when she was a little girl. The sweetness of the ice cream goes well with the buttery saltiness of the broken-up Ritz Crackers. I've tried passing this tradition on to my children but they refuse to eat it. They say its gross! How would they know? They've never tried it! Try it. I dare you! Let me know what you think.

Did you learn anything new about me? What are some things I might not know about you? Leave your comments below!

Just Some Summertime Fun From the Powell's!!

Staring Joshua, Casey, Caleb, Ricky, and Donna!

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Please Give To The Florida Baptist Children's Homes This Mother's Day

Our church will receive an offering this Sunday for the Florida Baptist Children's Home. Please give generously to help children who need a home, hope, and the love of Christ. Offering envelopes will be available in the worship center. You may call the church office at 904-642-2288 if you have questions or would like to make a donation. "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

 

Witnessing To Your Family

Every Christian knows that Jesus Christ has commissioned us to share the Gospel with others (Matthew 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). We have the wonderful privilege of telling people that God loved us so much that He sent His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and saves from eternal punishment all who place their faith in Him (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9-11).

Every Christian also knows that one of the most difficult things to do may be to witness to your own family members who are spiritually lost. Someone recently asked me how he could witness to a lost brother. He was having difficulty getting his brother to listen to him because his brother could not forget how he (the new Christian) used to live. His brother also felt like he was being judged by his saved sibling by telling him he needed to place his faith in Jesus Christ. Here are a few suggestions I offered this man. Perhaps they will be helpful to you as you witness to your family members. I would love to hear your ideas as well.

1. Remember that salvation is a work of God. [Jesus said] “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”John 6:44 (NIV)

2. Make sure your life matches your lips! Follow Jesus as the Lord of your life and actions. Be respectful to those who do not believe. Demonstrate hope and faith in God even during the difficulties of life. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”1 Peter 3:15-16 (NIV)

3. Deal with any unconfessed sin in your life. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”1 John 1:9 (NIV)

4. Invite them to church worship services or activities (baptisms, Baby Dedication, Life Group parties, etc.). They will get to know other believers and they will hear the Gospel at church. You know I do not let a service go by without sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ! “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where [Jesus] was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).John 1:39-42 (NIV)

5. Pray for them regularly. “Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”Romans 10:1 (NIV)

6. Share the Gospel verbally as God gives you the opportunity. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Romans 1:16 (NIV)