Pastor Ricky Powell

Equal Sacrifice, Not Equal Gifts

Over 100 of our church members made early commitments to our building campaign last night! They made 36-month giving commitments over and above their regular giving. They also committed to bring a cash offering for the building fund on November 9 as their "First Fruits." Their faith and generosity is an example to all of our members. Some of the people who made commitments last night are going through tough times economically, but they willingly committed themselves to the Lord's work here. Perhaps you wonder how you can be a part of the Imagine a Place... campaign when finances are tight. First, let me commend you for your heart’s desire to give. It reminds me of the poor widow Jesus honored for her faith in giving in Mark 12:41-44

"Jesus sat near the Temple Offering Box and watched the people put in their money. Many rich people gave large sums of money. Then a poor widow came and put in two copper pennies. Jesus said, I tell you the truth, this poor widow gave more than all those rich people together! They gave only what they did not need. This woman is very poor, but she gave all she had; she gave all she had to live on."

From this moving example of sacrifice, Jesus taught 3 important truths:
  o  Your attitude is more important than your amount in giving.
  o  It is always possible to give something IF we really trust God.
  o  God measures our faith by comparing what we’ve given with what we have left over after we’ve given.

This is why our theme is “Equal sacrifice, not equal gifts” As you pray about what a genuine "sacrifice" will mean to you, I urge you to read the Bible story of the miracle that happened when a single parent gave away what little she had (1 Kings 17:8-16). God took care of her the rest of her life. And God is still doing miracles today inthe lives of those who dare to trust him!

Imagine a Place... Commitment Sunday and First Fruits Offering is coming November 9 in both morning services! Be a part of the miracle!

The Place Where I Was Saved

I have been reminiscing this weekend about how I came to faith in Christ as a twelve year old boy. Many of you have heard me speak fondly of my childhood church in Lake Park, Georgia so I decided to show you the place I hold dear. I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at the Corinth Baptist Church on Sunday night, July 13, 1980. I had attended Vacation Bible School during the prior week where my teachers, Winston and Becky Yingling, shared the Gospel with me.

I was licensed to the Gospel Ministry by the Corinth Baptist Church on June 15, 1986 and ordained to the Gospel Ministry by Corinth at the request of the Elam Baptist Church, Quitman, Georgia, on February 12, 1989. Pastor Stanley Luke allowed me to serve as his Aassociate Pastor at Corinth before I became the pastor of Elam. I owe a great debt of gratitude to the many godly people who invested in my life in those early years.

The picture below is a close-up of Corinth's original sanctuary built in 1850. The Sunday School wing to the right of the original sanctuary was where I first learned about Jesus from Winston and Becky. Both buildings have been moved and are no longer on the church property.

As our church continues construction of a new Preschool and Children's education building, I cannot help but wonder how many boys and girls will come to faith in Christ through our love and faithful ministry?

I Was Minding My Own Business!

Don't you hate it when you are minding your own business and God convicts you about something? My friend, Dr. Tim Passmore, is pastor of Woodland--The Community Church in Bradenton, Florida. I was reading his new book, One Fry Short: A Journey Toward Self Discovery and Emotional Success, when God used his words to challenge me. Tim wrote, "There are many people who want to build God's kingdom. In fact, I believe that a vast majority of people who claim to be Christians want to build His kingdom. They want to advance His causes. The question is do they want to do it first. Many seek to build their own kingdoms first and then advance God's. Out of pride, they feel their life is more valuable when they receive acclaim for what they have. Out of fear, they may be afraid to let go of their possessions. Letting go would cause them to feel out of control. They may think it's safer to take care of their own kingdom first. That's not the instruction given to us by Jesus."  

Ouch! Tim is right. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Now don't get me wrong. I do want to build God's Kingdom. I am a pastor after all--that's what I get paid to do! I must confess, however, that it is so easy for me to put my plans, my priorities, my pleasures, my pursuits, and my possessions first in life. Every day I struggle with putting God first in my time, in how I use my money, etc. But life does not get easier when I put myself ahead of God. In fact, life gets more difficult! I start worrying about "my" stuff. I get attached to it and do not want to lose it. I begin worrying about tomorrow. I lose faith in God's ability to take care of me. It is a miserable way to live.

I am asking God to help me trust Him more, to put His Kingdom first in my life, and to glorify Him above all else. I ask for your prayers, too.

Imagine A Place...

In November 2005 I asked our members to give a cash offering and make a 36-month giving commitment to the Enlarge Our Hearts Building Fund Campaign. Our future building needs include a worship center, preschool and children’s Sunday School space, adult Sunday School space, parking, etc. The month preceding that year’s commitment Sunday was filled with prayer, church-wide fellowships, special worship services, and a spiritual growth campaign. Many of you have commented on how spiritually enriching that time was in your life and in your family’s life.

God has done miraculous things in our church over the last three years through your faith and generosity. You have already given over $884,000 toward the building fund!

Now What?
Phase 1 of our Master Plan is a Preschool and Children's Education building, a Welcome Center, increased restroom space, and 407 paved parking spaces. Phase 1 construction is already underway and will cost an estimated $2.8 million. This cost is too great for only a few to carry. We must each continue to give our share and do our part. Your church needs your commitment now like never before. For this reason, I believe God wants us to do it again! God wants us to give a cash offering and make 36-month giving commitments for the Imagine A Place...building campaign. We have already raised almost half of the cost of this new expansion project. With expanded facilities in Phase 1 we will be able to reach hundreds of more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! We need to complete the task so we can be debt free and move on to the next phase of God's plan for FCBC. Here is what I need you to do:

1. Keep the faith. Jesus said, “According to your faith it will be done.”
Don't allow the circumstances of life to shake your faith in our mighty God. He wants to do something through each of us that will bring Him glory. Remember, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him" (Hebrews 11:6).

2. Stay the course and follow through. “Now you should finish what you started. Let the eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in proportion to what you have. Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don't have”(2 Corinthians 8:11-13; NLT).

3. Make a commitment. Some of you did not or could not get involved in the earlier campaign that began in November 2005. This is your chance to join us on this journey of faith. On November 9^th you can join the rest of our church family in making a sacrificial one time cash offering and you can make a 36-month commitment (between you and the Lord) for the building fund that represents an amount over and above your regular giving. 

4. Give sacrificially. A sacrifice means to willingly give the best I have for a greater purpose. We cannot all give equal amounts, but we can all give sacrificially. Don't give based on reason; give based on revelation. Reason asks the question, "How much can I give based on what is left over each month?" Revelation inspired giving asks the question, "After much prayer and soul-searching, what would God have me to give?" This is your opportunity to make a difference with your money, to do something that will outlast your life, and will leave a legacy for future generations!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

How To Get A Handle On Money Matters

Alcorn, Randy. Money, Possessions, and Eternity. Carol  Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, 2003.

I just finished reading a great book and I highly recommend it to you. Randy Alcorn, in Money, Possessions, and Eternity presents a Christian perspective on money and possessions. He demonstrates from the Bible how Christians should view their possessions, use them, and invest them in ways that will affect eternity. He boldly confronts the philosophy of materialism with Scripture’s call for Christian stewardship. Topics include:

Why is money so important to God?
Is prosperity theology right or wrong?
How can we be liberated from materialism?
What should we do about debt?
How much does God want us to give?
How can we best help the poor and reach the lost?
What about gambling? investing? insurance?
saving? retirement? inheritance?
How can we leave our children a true heritage?
How can we use money in ways that God rewards?

This book is a must read for every Christian. You can click on the title to purchase a copy of Money, Possessions, and Eternity.

How To Make A Hospital Visit

The following is adapted from the book, Going... One On One: A Comprehensive Guide For Making Personal Visits.

A hospital visit is one of the most important kinds of visits to be made by Christians. Each year, more and more of our members of our church, our community, and our families are hospitalized for short or long-term treatment. A hospital visit by a pastor, a deacon, a LifeGroup leader, or Christian friend demonstrates God’s care in a way the patient can see. You become a reminder that the Lord Jesus promised to never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). Your visit will remind the person of the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit. Your visit will show them that Jesus understands how they feel. After all, the Bible says in Isaiah 53:4 that Jesus has “borne our griefs and carried our sorrows.”

Here are a few tips for making effective hospital visits that I have found helpful.

Take Time To Notice The Little Enjoyments Of Life

I snapped this photo from my back porch while taking a break from studying this afternoon.  It was one of God's little reminders that He has placed beauty all around me. Sometimes I just get too busy to notice.

Senator Obama Is Right

 

In tonight's Presidential debate Senator Obama said that the abortion issue is one of the most crucial aspects of this election. He correctly reminded Americans that the next President will most likely be called upon to appoint judges to the Supreme Court of the United States. As a consequence, the next President will shape the court for the next two decades or more. The next President will also profoundly impact whether America fosters a culture of life or reinforces the ungodly practice of killing unborn babies, especially through the practice of late-term and partial-birth abortions.

I hope all Christians who are thinking of voting for Senator Obama will strongly consider the consequences of their vote. They will be complicit in supporting a sinful practice that has marred our nation with the deaths of over 40,000,000 unborn or partially born babies. Of course, all American's have the right to vote for any candidate they support. And I have never used my pulpit to tell my congregation for whom to vote. But tonight, Senator Obama said that a woman weighing this issue should consult with her family, her doctors, and her spiritual advisor. So as a Pastor, he acknowledges that I have the right and the responsibility to give godly, biblical counsel on this issue. I will always stand for the rights of the unborn. I cannot imagine any pastor counseling a woman to have an abortion.

Senator Obama is right; the stakes in this election are high.

Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." Jeremiah 1:4-5 (NKJV)

A Better Way To Live

Dr. Adrian Rogers, the late pastor of the Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, Tennessee, once commented on the extravagant spending habits of many American families. He said, "We buy things we do not need, with money we do not have, to impress people we do not like."

The recent turmoil in the global economy, however, has caused many people to take a fresh look at their family budget. We realize that we must set priorities and spend wisely. People are taking a sober look in the financial mirror and concluding that there has to be a better way to live. Indeed there is a better way to live. God's Word shows us the way to fill our homes and lives with true riches. This is especially evident in the biblical proverbs that use parallelism to highlight the value of certain things over others. These proverbs use the phrase “better is…than…” to show us a better way to live than the world’s way. Take a look at five of them and ask yourself if you are filling your home with the good things of life. 

1. Fill Your Home With Piety.

“Better is a little with the fear of the LORD,
Than great treasure with trouble.” (Proverbs 15:16)

(“Godliness with contentment is great gain.” 1 Timothy 6:6)

2. Fill Your Home With Charity.

“Better is a dinner of herbs where love is,
Than a fatted calf with hatred.”(Proverbs 15:17)

(The King Ricky Version reads, “It is better to eat collard greens with people who love you, than fillet mignon with people who loath you!”)

3. Fill Your Home With Integrity.

“Better is a little with righteousness,
Than vast revenues without justice.” (Proverbs 16:8)

(I would rather be poor and honest than rich and dishonest.)

4. Fill Your Home With Humility.

“Better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly,                                                 
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.” (Proverbs 16:19)

(As my Grandmother would say, “Don’t get too big for your britches and don’t forget where you came from.)

5. Fill Your Home With Harmony.

“Better is a dry morsel with quietness,                         
Than a house full of feasting with strife.” (Proverbs 17:1)

(Good company makes even the most meager meal a feast. Bad company can ruin the best meal. Cultivate an atmosphere of love, peace, and joy in your home.)

Vote Yes On Amendment 2

 

Here are some facts to consider when voting on amendment 2.

Amendment 2 does one thing and one thing alone.

It defines marriage as the union of one man and one woman, but it does not prohibit the government or private companies from extending benefits to whoever they wish. The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that Amendment 2 concerns the “single subject” of marriage and simply takes the existing state marriage law and places it into the constitution having similar effect. Most amendments do something new. Amendment 2 does nothing new but simply protects something longstanding, something precious, and something beautiful.

Amendment 2 allows the people of Florida and not activist judges to decide how marriage is defined.

In Massachusetts and now in California, activist judges have re-written marriage laws and ignored the will of the people by legalizing same sex marriages. There is a national movement to do this all over the country which is why 27 states have passed state constitutional amendment to protect marriage. In the next six months, four of the seven members of the Florida Supreme Court will be replaced by Governor Charlie Crist completely changing the make up of the Florida high Court. What happened in California could easily happen here in Florida over the next year. Amendment 2 protects the definition of marriage from activist judges.

Amendment 2 will not take away any existing rights or benefits from anyone.

Amendment 2 does not take away any rights or benefits from Florida’s domestic partnerships or any other shared living arrangement. Homosexuals already have full contract rights under Florida law and access to estate planning tools just as every other citizen. Amendment 2 does not affect these existing rights.

Amendment 2 protects our children.

Amendment 2 protects our children from being taught in public schools that same-sex marriage is the same as natural marriage. If same sex marriage is legalized in Florida, public schools will be forced to teach your children and grandchildren that homosexual marriages are equal to marriages between a man and a woman. Since homosexual marriage was legalized in Massachusetts, public school teachers are now being forced to teach this very thing. NPR Interview, Massachusetts Schools Weigh Gay Topics, September 13, 2004.

Amendment 2 gives children the best chance for both a mom and a dad.

While we will always have death, divorce and other circumstances that may prevent the ideal, the best arrangement for children is to have both a married mother and a father. Single parents do the best job they can but a vast body of social science research clearly tells us that children are always happier, healthier and better adjusted when raised by a married mother and father.