Collection Sunday is November 15!
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Wow, the season of Thanksgiving is upon us. Following our focus on giving thanks is the celebration of the coming of Immanuel - God with us. If those thoughts put fear and panic into your thinking, just determine to settle down. Would you consider with me a little change in our approach to these next two months? Oh, I recognize that there is much emphasis on family and gathering together and the added time this all takes from our already crowded schedules. I understand that a long list of ingredients is necessary for a Thursday afternoon of feasting and family and football (well, maybe not so much football for some). I accept that another list exists that includes names and potential presents and special gifts to those who may be less fortunate. I especially appreciate the opportunity during these holidays to give thanks to God for all of the bounty and blessing which surrounds us.
A good friend of mine wrote a song several years ago. The lyrics include the following:
Shut off the TV, stay off the phone,
don't go out, just stay home, even with
the family or all alone, spend some
time in the Word.
There is enormous benefit tucked away in those lyrics. These words may never be etched in stone or placed upon a billboard, yet they do represent a Biblical perspective and challenge that has profound impact.
So, my words during this especially busy time of year are somewhat brief in this issue of our church Grace Notes. Yet the invitation is simple and clear. Take some time to settle down with the Word of God. Deal with the issues of life that surround you and stay focused on God. In the midst of a world that surrounds us with negative and overwhelming news, spend some time in the Word and stay focused on the God of the Word. He is the one who truly deserves our thanks, and He is the one who presents to us the ultimate Gift to meet our ultimate need….Immanuel - God with us.
Pastor Paul
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Except by an intervention of God, in all probability your children and grandchildren will live in a Muslim dominated society.
While that kind of statement is usually associated with apocalyptic literature, the unvarnished truth is that our world is changing fast, global culture is changing faster, and tomorrow’s demographics will dictate a whole new society for your prodigy.
In fact, according to recent data, Islam will become the world’s dominant religion within the next five to seven years! Moreover, the Catholic Church has already conceded that its worldwide membership has now been surpassed by Islam.
"We can no longer take the approach of ignoring the landscape of our nation’s politics, morality, and the influences that are shaping the average American’s mind toward religion and evangelism," says Dr. Charles Keen, Founder of FirstBible International. "Our worldwide Christian impact is on the decline and the reality of the decrease in conversion to Christianity compared to the startling increase of conversions to cults, especially Islam, is alarming. There is
no better time or opportunity than the present to have an impact that has the potential to grow exponentially than to reach into the Muslim community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ."
A nonprofit group has compiled large amounts of data on the trend and has posted its findings on YouTube under the heading "Muslim Demographics." The central theme in this and other studies is that the declining birth rate throughout Western society threatens the existence of life as we know it. For example, for any culture to retain even its status quo much less thrive, there must be a birth rate of at least 2.11 babies per family. Drop below that benchmark and the culture declines. Currently the 31 nations of the European Union have an average birth rate of 1.38! The U.S. and Canada each has a level of 1.6!
What keeps the population steady or rising throughout the West is the swelling tide of
immigration. However, across Europe 90% of all immigration is Islamic. Take France as an example. It has one of the highest natural birth rates on the continent (1.8) but is still below the necessary 2.11. The Muslim birth rate in France is 8.1!
In addition:
The situation in the U.S. is equally challenging. The current birth rate of 1.6 just reaches the necessary 2.11 threshold only when you factor in the heavy Latino immigration. In the past 40 years, America’s Muslim population has grown from 1,000,000
to nine million. In 30 years, that figure will stand at 50 million!
"I am encouraging everyone to participate in the Bibles4Muslims project - individuals as well as churches," states Dr. Keen. "If the fundamental community of Baptist believers do not take the responsibility given by our Lord in the Great Commission to `...be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth’ and reach the Muslim culture both here and abroad, consider what challenges our children and future generations may have to face with the reality of the given current demographics. Remember, the Great Commission is ‘do-able’ and is a command to be obeyed. Will you help us reach ‘... all nations, and kindreds, and people and tongues...’
(Revelation 7:9)."
By:
Unpublished WORD
FirstBible International
Editor: Dr. Charles Keen
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| November 22 | Thanksgiving Dinner in the Gym, No Evening Service |
| November 25 | Church Office closes at noon and closed November 26 & 27 |
| November 25 | No Youth or Children’s Program or Adult Bible Study |
| December 13 | AM Christmas Family Gathering and Children’s Program: "Tell Me the Story of Christmas!" |
| December 20 | Sunday School, Morning Choir Christmas Program, Evening Service |
| Dec 22-Jan 5 | Church Office Closed |
| December 24 | Christmas Eve Service - 6 PM |
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Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Voice of the Martyrs is calling on Christians worldwide to set aside November 8 to pray for Christians around the world living daily under the threat of persecution as a part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP). VOM will join hundreds of churches and thousands of individuals in remembering our brothers and sisters suffering around the world. These believers risk discrimination, imprisonment and even death because of their active witness for Jesus Christ. "This is an important day on the church calendar," said Todd Nettleton, VOM’s Director of Media Development. "Scripture instructs us to remember those in bonds as though we were bound with them. This special day of prayer is one of the ways corporately we do that."
Christians are encouraged to pray for continued boldness and courage for believers as they share the gospel and for hearts to be softened to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pray not only for persecuted Christians, but for the persecutors as well.
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Sunday, November 22
This year we would like to give you an opportunity to reach out to your family or community and invite them to worship and fellowship with us. Following the 10:30 AM service we will head over to the gym for our Thanksgiving Feast.
The church will provide turkey and refreshments. We ask that each family provide one or more of the following: a traditional Thanksgiving side dish such as potatoes, cooked veggies, stuffing, salad, yams, dinner rolls and butter or a dessert.
Sign up sheets will be in Sunday bulletins or you may call the church office.
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Pastor Paul's Paragraphs
Facing Up To The Challenge