SUMMER PLANS

We are approaching the time of year when families plan their summer events. School will be out in about a month or so, vacations will be planned, and the summer will be busy. I would like to encourage everyone to keep several church events coming up in mind as you plan.

1) Gospel Meeting. Faires Austin will be with us May 8-11 for this event. He will be presenting Bible lessons as well as relating some of his experiences in archaeological digs in and around the Holy Land. There are three things you can do to make this effort a success: pray, invite, and attend. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Anything in life we want to be successful, we need to be fervent in prayer. It is also necessary that you invite others to attend, friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers, even your enemies (if you have any). They may not come when you invite them, but it is even less likely they will come if you do not invite them. Tell them you will pick them up and give them a ride. Invite them for dinner and then bring them to services. Do anything you can to encourage them to attend. Finally, you need to attend yourself. Every time you miss a service (during a gospel meeting or other worship times), you miss a blessing. Also, consider the impact you will have on the person you invite who comes and finds out it was not important for you to be here.

2) Cochran Campaign. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). June 17-20 we will be taking our youth to Cochran, Georgia for a door knocking campaign. We help provide financial support to the work in Cochran and this is our second trip to help in other ways. Five of our young people went last year and did an excellent job. As a result of their efforts, several Bible studies were conducted, people attended services, and some have heard the gospel who might never have heard it without the efforts of these young people. Again, pray for the success of these efforts. Young people, make your plans to participate. I would hope we can take even more this year than last. It will be hot, hard work, but it will be worth it. Parents, encourage your children to participate. They will receive great blessings from doing so as well as doing their part to fulfill the great commission.

3) Camp. We will be attending camp July 4-9. The theme for this year is “He Is My Everything.” This year we will be joining the Williams Road congregation from Americus. Many of our young people have participated in camp over the years and realize that it is a great week. There is opportunity for worship and study of God’s word. It is also a good way to develop new friendships and strengthen those already existing. Again, I would encourage our young people to make plans to attend. You will not regret it. Parents, do everything you can to encourage your children to attend. Applications will be available soon.

4) VBS. Our VBS this year is July 19-24. This is a great opportunity to reach out to the community, especially to the children. Those things mentioned earlier to make our gospel meeting successful also apply here. Pray for God’s blessings on our efforts. Pray that He will bless the teachers and other workers. Pray He will open someone’s heart to the gospel. Invite everyone you know to attend. We often think of VBS as only for the children. While it does focus on the children adults can benefit from attending. You can also benefit from your presence. Again, do not think of VBS as only for the children but realize you can be blessed as well.

As you make your plans for the summer, do not forget to include the church and its activities in those plans.
--Lamar

OPENING DAY

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

This past week marked opening day of the 2010 baseball season in major league baseball. Many of you are probably thinking who cares, but for baseball fanatics like me it is an exciting time. It is a time of fresh starts and renewed hope. At the end of last season, the Washington Nationals were the worst team in baseball. They won 59 games and lost 103. They were 33 games out of first place. Guess where they were when this season started? Equal with everyone else. How many times have you heard, “Wait till next year?” That sentiment is based on the fact that next year represents a new start. What if the seasons were cumulative? What if they started this year where they ended last year? According to the “experts,” the Nationals do not have much of a chance for winning their division this year, but what if they started the season 33 games out of first place? It is great to have a chance for a fresh start.

Paul tells us I the above verse that we can have a fresh start. In John 3, Jesus speaks of it as being born again. In Romans 6, Paul talks of walking in newness of life. When we obey the gospel, culminating in being baptized into Christ, our sins are forgiven, washed away. In 1 Corinthians 6, beginning in verse 9, Paul gives a list of some who will not inherit heaven: fornicators, idolaters, homosexuals, thieves, drunkards, etc. Then in verse 11 he says, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” One of the words he used to describe their status was “justified.” I have often heard this word defined as “just as if I’d” never sinned. David writes, Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). When we become a Christian, it is like opening day. The past is past and we have a fresh outlook, a renewed hope.

There is also the hope provided to the Christian who sins. 2 Peter 3:9 says that God does not want any to perish and this applies to the erring Christian as well as the alien sinner. When a Christian sins, God’s grace is available for a new start. “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Many people have tried to have a fresh start in life. They buy a new house or car, move to a different city, try to change their personality, go to therapy, etc. Most do not realize they are looking in the wrong place. In order to really get a fresh start we must renew the inner man, and the only way to do that is through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
--Lamar