Notes From the Pastor

He Shoots . . . He Scores . . . and the Parents Go Wild!!

2012-02-01T06:41:00.000-08:00

Little Dribblers began several weeks ago here in Grandview and can I just say if you have not been to the gym to watch some games you are really missing out! It is so much fun to watch the parents!!! (There is a game going on as well, but the parents are way more entertaining!!) Seriously, it is great to watch the kids work together as a team to try and score and prevent the other team from scoring. It is even more tantalizing to watch the parents when their child gets a rebound, dribbles, or shoots . . . but “Katie, bar the door” if their child SCORES!! There is an amazing glow that overcomes the parents, and they are so proud you can literally see their chest poke out a few inches!! I might add they should be. Their child has succeeded in accomplishing a goal!

I found myself thinking . . . and I know that is a shock to many of you . . . but if you will stretch with me a bit, I wonder as God looks down on his children (granted we are not playing a basketball game) playing the game of life what the Heavenly Parent’s reaction might be? As we set our goals and try to live out a life that would be pleasing to Him, do you think you are doing so well that he is glowing and poking His chest out because He is so proud of you?

As I watch Cameron and Easton play basketball, I realize they are going to make mistakes and turn the ball over and they are going to miss shots. I also know from experience and playing myself that you will never make a shot if you never shoot. You will never make that perfect pass unless you attempt to pass the ball. You have to put forth effort and even be willing to fail if you are ever going to have success.

Our Christian life is the same way. There are going to be times you stumble and fall. There are going to be days you fail in having your quiet time or prayer time. There are going to be situations you might have the opportunity to share Christ with a friend and let it go by. If you are not having that quiet time for several days in a row, you would not care that you missed one day. If you were not faithfully praying for others, you would not be concerned you missed once. If you were not concerned for lost people, then you would not be disappointed in yourself for missing an opportunity. I challenge you to get in and stay in the game -- not to look good to others -- but to please your Heavenly Father!

We just wrapped up a great weekend of Disciple Now. Great job, Preston and youth workers! Now we head into the month of February with the Senior Adult Valentine Banquet with Randy Mac coming to entertain as well as a children’s camp fundraiser. I will be speaking on vision during the month of February. Please be in prayer for me as we look at what vision for the church really means, and then in March I will be laying out the vision and mission for our church.

Continue to pray for one another, encourage one another, and watch what your tongue says about one another! Let’s keep the main thing the main thing!

In Him,

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2012-01-29T08:27:00.000-08:00

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Jan. 29 Early Sermon

Jan. 29 D-Now Sermon

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Word of the Week

2012-01-29T08:05:00.001-08:00

What a great weekend we have had!! You are going to be blessed this morning with the message delivered by Brian Burgess! I hope you will give him a warm Grandview welcome! I want to give a great big pat on the back to Preston for a job well done! He walked into a situation that was mostly planned and made it all work! And how about our very own Barefoot Disciples? What a fantastic job they did leading worship!

A big thank you to our group leaders: Karen Hixson, Marissa Salley, Jessica Rivas, Amanda Early, Rachel Dacus, Kevin Goodwin, Caleb Camp, Paul Morrison, Chris Nelson, Paul Head, Mike Cannain, Dallas Hicks, and Coby Duren!!

Another big thank you to our host homes: Cathy Neal, Brad and Amy Quisenberry, Brad and Kandace Collins, Ryan and Melissa Hurt, Kenneth and Claudia Montgomery, Mike and Amber Reeves, Barry and Shirley Beggs, Chris and Diane Rose, Robbie and Kim Mayes, Russell and Shelly Allen.

There is not enough room to thank all the folks who prayed, served and did who knows what else, so just know you were appreciated!!

I hope you have a great week . . . go and be a fanat>ic!!!!!

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2012-01-22T08:30:00.001-08:00

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Jan. 22 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2012-01-21T23:01:00.000-08:00

Do you remember being a little kid and not wanting to take a bath? We face that on a daily basis at our house right now. Easton would rather climb Mt. Everest than take a bath! The amazing thing is once he gets in the bathtub, he has a blast playing with his toys and “washing” himself off! He smells so good when he gets out!

I have been reminded this week of how great a spiritual bath can feel. The problem is as Christians we go kicking and screaming into God’s tub! Once we take the bath we feel so much better and even smell better to the nostrils of our God and even fellow believers. So I challenge you to “hop” into the tub once in a while and ask God to give you a good scrubbing. In the end you will feel a whole lot better!

I hope you have a great week!

Sunday Worship

2012-01-15T07:51:00.000-08:00

Special observance of Lord's Supper today.

Word of the Week

2012-01-15T07:50:00.001-08:00

The countdown is on . . . 12 days until FANAT>iC begins . . . D-Now 2012 is upon us!!!! I want to ask you to begin praying now for Preston, his leaders, Brian Burgess (speaker), the Barefoot Disciples (Ryan, Raney, Brodie, Robbie), and the students (already have over 60 signed up)! Ask God to do an awesome work that the world cannot explain other than to say, “Wow… that was God!”

The weekend begins January 27th and ends with worship on the 29th. If you know a 6th-12th grader who has not signed up, get them signed up today!

I hope you have a blessed week!

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2012-01-08T08:04:00.000-08:00

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Jan. 8 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2012-01-07T21:09:00.000-08:00

I had the privilege to go to watch my college Alma Mater, Sam Houston State, play in the National Championship game yesterday! It has been fun for me to tell people this week “I am getting to go to the National Championship football game!!!!” Then I tell them it is not LSU and ALABAMA but SHSU and North Dakota State. We then all giggle. However, I know this much . . . Sam Houston may be small but if they won, they are the national champions!! They are the best at what they do!!

I found that to be a challenge for us as a church. We may be small and may not be able to do what FBC Dallas or Fellowship Church can, but we can be the BEST at what we do and what God has called us to! So in 2012 I say, “Let’s Go Team!”

I hope you have a great week!!

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2012-01-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

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Jan. 1 Sermon

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Word for the Week

2012-01-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!! So how many of you have started losing weight? Did you already read the Bible through? Already a better husband or wife? You gotta love those New Year’s Day resolutions . . . You know those are supposed to last longer than just ONE day, right?

Today is a day of new things and I am so excited that Preston, Sarah, Perry and Titus Cave are here today! I hope you will give them a big Grandview style welcome and make sure they feel right at home! This is going to be a great year . . . get ready . . . get set . . . let’s GOOOO!!!!!

I pray you and your family have the best year ever!

Ahhhhh..... The Smell of Something NEW!!!

2011-12-30T16:45:00.000-08:00

We have all been enjoying new things lately!! One of the great joys in life is opening something new because of the smell. The best part about a new car for instance is the new car smell! Well I am excited about a new smell being at our church!!! Preston is on his way with his new youth guy scent!!!! I cannot tell you how excited I am to have him and his family come onboard here at FBC!

With Preston’s entrance comes his first BIG youth activity, D-NOW FANATIC, January 27th-29th. We are still in need of a few host homes and help in the kitchen. If you are interested, please let Preston or me know ASAP! As always we will be in need of some scholarships for the students who cannot afford to attend. So if you are willing to help out, it would be greatly appreciated!

Speaking of new things! A new year is upon us!!! I am excited about what this coming year will hold for our church family. I pray for more people to come to know Jesus than last year. I pray for more people to go to the next level in their relationship with Christ. I pray for us as a church family to step outside our walls more often to be the hand of Jesus in Grandview and beyond. I pray that we will be faithful in our tithing, so we can continue to do ministry in the places God has called us!! I ask you to pray for these things as well, but also ask God to show you which of these areas you need to be challenged in!!!

A couple of weeks ago I received a phone call from the pastor at Coon Creek Baptist Church in Missouri where our mission team went a few years ago. He asked me if I would be willing to come and preach a revival for them in March. I was honored he would ask but got really excited when he expressed his gratitude for our team coming and serving their church. His comment was, “There was just something different about your group that our people recognized and when we talked about who should come preach, several people suggested FBC Grandview!” It is no newsflash that those who go on the mission trips are “different” on many different levels, but the church recognized God doing something special among His people. That is an encouragement to me and should be to you as a church family as well! I say all of that to encourage you to pray about marking down the week of July 21-28, 2012, and if need be, take vacation time to go and be a part of this year’s mission trip with FBC. I have no idea yet where we will be going, but God always provides!

I pray that you have a great new year and God blesses you and your family in 2012!

May we be a blessing to Him!

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2011-12-25T09:23:00.001-08:00

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Dec. 25 Sermon

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Word for the Week

2011-12-25T09:22:00.001-08:00

I have to be honest. I have struggled with how I feel about Christmas falling on Sunday morning. It makes it hard on families to get up and do Christmas around the tree and then get ready to go to church, the kids (both big and small) want to stay home and play with their new toys!!! But I am glad we are here!! What a great day to come together and worship the new born KING! “For unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord!” Let us worship the King!!

Merry CHRISTmas!!!

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2011-12-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

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Dec. 18 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-12-17T23:02:00.000-08:00

We will have our Christmas Eve Candlelight Lord’s Supper Service at 6pm on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning we will have one service at 10am and no Sunday School. On New Year’s Day we will be back on regular schedule with the exception of evening activities.

I hope you have a great Holiday season and are making plans to be a part of these special days with your church family!

Merry Christmas!!

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2011-12-11T07:58:00.000-08:00

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Dec. 11 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-12-11T07:37:00.000-08:00

Today is one of the most special days of the entire church year for me. All year long the staff asks you to serve and give of your time and be involved in the day to day life of the church. You are almost always full speed ahead in supporting us and serving alongside us. Tonight is the night we get to say THANK YOU!! At 6:00 this evening the ministerial staff would like to invite you to come and enjoy a brisket dinner with all the fixings and dessert with no strings attached. We are all fortunate to serve in such a loving and caring church and look forward to good days ahead!

I hope to see you tonight!

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2011-12-04T19:37:00.000-08:00

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Dec. 4 Worship

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Word for the Week

2011-12-03T19:32:00.000-08:00

We are privileged this morning to welcome Blu and Darbi Tidwell to FBC Grandview this morning as they share with us about their ministry to orphans in Zambia. Allow me to share a bit about the Tidwell’s.

Blu and Darbi Tidwell both grew up in Texas and were married in 2001. Upon Blu’s graduation from Texas A&M in 2003, they served with the International Mission Board in Zambia, Africa. There, they worked with teenagers and children in the schools as they taught the True Love Waits program. It was then that God began to lay on their hearts a love for orphans and a desire to teach them God’s Word while helping them rise above their seemingly hopeless living situations.

The Tidwell’s returned to the States in 2005 with their firstborn son, Caedmon, who was born in South Africa. Blu completed his Master of Divinity Degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary while serving as youth pastor in Alvarado, Texas. Cambree joined the family in 2006, and Baby Cason arrived in 2008.

The Tidwell Family moved back to Zambia in January of 2010 to work full-time with New Day Orphanage.

Join me in extending them a warm FBC Grandview welcome!!

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS - ACCORDING TO CHARLIE BROWN

2011-12-01T19:26:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite times during the Christmas season is when “A Charlie Brown Christmas” comes on television. It is such a great reminder to me what Christmas is all about. In the midst of the “gang” sending Christmas cards, making their Christmas lists and decorating for the holiday, Linus reminds us all by reciting the Christmas story what Christmas is all about! Perhaps you need to buy the cartoon now to help prepare for CHRISTmas this year!

I love the month of December for so many reasons. The month is filled with all kinds of fun activities and great worship times with our church family and friends. Let me highlight a few of those for you.

Wednesday night, December 7th, we are privileged to be hosting the Ugandan Orphans Choir. These children will be singing and sharing with us beginning at 6:30. Come and have dinner at 5:30 and enjoy the choir. We will take a love offering for the choir that evening to support this ministry.

Sunday, December 11th, will be a great day at our church. Our Children’s Day Out kids will be singing at the 11:00 am service. Later that afternoon children (up to 5th grade) and their families are invited to Deck the Halls at FBC from 4:00-6:00 pm. This will be a time of baking cookies, hearing the Christmas story, making crafts and celebrating Christmas! That evening at 6:00 the ministerial staff would like to invite you to our Annual Christmas Dinner. As a staff we are blessed by you throughout the year . . . either by your willingness to serve or your generosity and this is our way of saying thanks! I hope you will make sure to plan on spending the day at FBC on the 11th!

Christmas Eve means so much to some many people but for me it includes the Candlelight Lord’s Supper! If you have never attended a Christmas Eve service before, you have missed out. This is one of the most intimate and personal times of worship we have all year as we focus on the birth of the Savior of the World! The service will start at 6:00 pm.

This year Christmas falls on Sunday morning. We will have a combined service at 10:00 am on Christmas morning. It will be a special time for us to sing carols and perhaps share what gifts we have already received! I know many of you will be traveling this day, but perhaps some of you will have family visiting you that you could bring to church.

On a final note and completely off subject I believe we all received our first “gift” a few weeks ago. I am so excited about Preston and his family coming to Grandview to do ministry. If you haven’t had a chance to meet him or his precious family, I hope you will stop by after the first of the year and give them a warm Grandview welcome!
I encourage you to remember that Christ is the reason we celebrate Christmas and to keep Him in the middle of all you do this holiday season!

Merry Christmas!

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2011-11-27T08:22:00.000-08:00

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Nov. 27 Sermon

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Word for the Week

2011-11-26T13:22:00.000-08:00

Did you get enough to eat this past week? Did you have some great times with your family? Did you stay stress free? I hope so. That is what I prayed for this week for all of you!

Now it is time to turn the page toward the month of December. There are a large number of activities coming in the next several weeks for all ages. I want to encourage you to stick your newsletter calendar on the refrigerator and make sure you don’t miss out on a great opportunity to celebrate the season with your church family!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-11-20T07:49:00.000-08:00

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Nov. 20 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-11-20T05:07:00.000-08:00

This week most of us will do too much! That is right . . . too much. We will eat too much food and dessert. We will watch too much football, and for most of us we will NOT exercise too much!!

What a fun week Thanksgiving is!! We are so blessed and have so much to be thankful for. Some of us have new babies or grandbabies since last year and others are perhaps expecting a new baby in the near future. Several have new jobs or have graduated college. The list could go on and on, but then there are others who are less fortunate than us. Some who have lost a job, lost a loved one, are struggling financially. The list again could go on and on. I hope you will take time to do something for the less fortunate. We delivered over 100 shoe boxes this past week that will minister to children around the world this year at Christmas. Ask yourself, “What else can I do?’

I hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Youth Minister Called

2011-11-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Preston Cave has been called as minister to youth. He will be moving to Grandview with his family in January.

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2011-11-13T08:24:00.002-08:00

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Nov. 13 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-11-13T08:24:00.001-08:00

Today is an exciting day in the life of FBC Grandview! I am excited that Preston Cave and his family are here in view of a call to be our new Minister of Students. Preston has been serving at FBC Centerville and done a great job of ministering to the students there.

I hope you will be sure and give a warm FBC welcome to him, his wife, Sarah, and their two boys, Perry and Titus (Ti). They are a great family who love the Lord and I believe will bring a great excitement to FBC with them.

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-11-06T08:14:00.000-08:00

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Nov. 6 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-11-05T20:31:00.000-07:00

Do you miss church when you miss church? That is an interesting question, isn’t it? This past Sunday morning when I was in my bedroom resting after a long night, I heard one car door after another close. It meant someone was getting out to go into church. I wondered who I was missing out on getting to see. I wondered who I was missing out on giving a hug? I wondered if I was missing out on a good joke? In short I was missing out on fellowship and encouragement from other believers!!!

I wonder if you miss that when you miss church? It drove me crazy to not be here last Sunday. I was so thankful to Kenneth Pipes who texted me at about 10:15 to let me know the 8:30 service was online if I wanted to listen. It made me feel like I was there! I pray when you are unable to come to church you will feel like you have missed something or someone!

I hope you have a great week!

Download Sermon (Scott WIllingham)

2011-10-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

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Oct. 30 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-10-30T01:54:00.000-07:00

Tick . . . Tick . . . Tick . . . Tick . . .

What are you thinking about? A clock? A bomb? An animal that attaches itself to you? I am talking about all three!!!

The Fall Fun Festival is tomorrow night and the clock is ticking down to a great time! It is going to be a blast and the kids and adults are going to have a great time from 6-8pm, but I am here to tell you it will look like a bomb went off when everyone leaves. I am not sure if there will be any kids dressed as ticks, but there will be kids who will attach themselves to you if you are not careful!!!

I hope this all sounds like a great time to you and that you will be here to help out or bring your family to enjoy a great time of hayrides, bounce houses, games, cake walks, train rides and much, much more!

I look forward to seeing you tomorrow night!

Trick or Treat: A Bag of Fall Goodies

2011-10-29T12:05:00.000-07:00

This newsletter is going to be Fall FUN Fest intensive and for good reason!! Next Monday we will have literally hundreds of children and families come to visit our church and perhaps in some cases get their first impression of First Baptist Church of Grandview. I wonder what they will think? I wonder how welcomed they will feel? I wonder what part you will play in making it an incredible evening of fun for those who attend?

Dorothy and her merry band of workers have been diligently working for a couple of months now to make sure the event on Halloween goes off without a hitch, and for that I am extremely grateful. Each year it seems the event gets bigger and better, and I know this year will not disappoint. The only thing that will make it better is your attendance and your help!! If you cannot come, then I assure you that you will miss out on a great evening of fun! Last year I told you to come and check it out, and a couple actually took me up on it and they said, “We had no idea what all was going on!!!” Come see for yourself! If you would like to help, please sign up on the Nursery Hallway bulletin board and be here at 5:00 that evening or as soon after as possible. I know Dorothy will appreciate your help!

November is upon us. Can you believe it? This month we will be hosting the Annual Community Thanksgiving Service. I always look forward to this service and the opportunity for our community to come together and worship together. This year Mike Lehnhardt from Chamber’s Creek Baptist Church will be preaching the Thanksgiving message. A tradition I believe we have all grown to love is the dinner following the service served by R and K Café II. The date of the service will be November 20th at 6:00pm. We will be taking an offering to help meet the needs of the community benevolence fund. It will be a great night as we welcome our community to our facility.

With November comes the Thanksgiving holiday. I love Thanksgiving because it is a time for family to gather together and enjoy a time of genuine thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for it is unbelievable. I challenge you to take the time to list the things you are thankful for and give praise to our Father for all He has done! God is so good!

As we begin heading toward the Thanksgiving holiday, I want to challenge you to do something perhaps you have thought about but never have done. I would like to invite you to come with us on November 19th at 9:45 to feed the homeless in Fort Worth. If you are having a difficult time realizing how blessed you are, then come feed with us and experience just how blessed you really are. It will bless you and the people we feed. So come on out and share Thanksgiving with a person less fortunate than you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

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2011-10-23T09:57:00.000-07:00

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Oct. 23 Sermon

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2011-10-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

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Oct. 16 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-10-15T20:23:00.000-07:00

This coming week we are once again going to have a foundation company out to work on the foundation here at the church. With the dry summer and now the rain, the variation has caused our foundation to shift and we have numerous cracks appearing.

With the thought of foundation repair in mind, I have found myself thinking about my spiritual foundation and I wanted to encourage you to perhaps do the same. I asked myself if I was not the pastor of FBC, the husband of Shelly, and the father of Cameron and Easton, and everything I had was stripped away except for God would I be satisfied? Would HE be enough? Ultimately that is what our foundation as believers is . . . isn’t it? God should be our foundation. Just a thought for you to chew on this week!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-10-09T11:58:00.000-07:00

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Oct. 9 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-10-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Last week was report card week for the kids at school in Grandview. I got to thinking about what a report card really means. It is an opportunity for the teacher to evaluate the students’ growth over a six week period in areas like reading, math, science and social studies.

As I was looking at my own kids’ report cards, I found myself thinking about my spiritual report card. What if God issued report cards for our spiritual life? How would I be doing if God evaluated my quiet time, spiritual discipline, attitude, witnessing . . . I think I might be a little nervous to see how I have done. How about you? Take some time this week and evaluate your report card!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-10-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

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Oct. 2 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-10-01T23:48:00.000-07:00

It is FALL!!! IT IS FALL!!! Can you believe it is already October? With October comes our Fall FUN Fest. This year we will be having our festival on October 31 st . This is one of the events our church does that truly impacts our community. We will have many visitors from our community with us on this evening. I hope you will make plans now to come and work a booth for a while, cook food for the evening, or just come and greet people and make them feel welcome.

In the meantime, we will need truckloads of candy, more candy and more candy!!! Will you help out with that? If you want to just give some money, Dorothy and her merry band of workers will buy for you!

I hope you have a great week!

GIVE ME THE BUFFET!!!

2011-10-01T10:30:00.000-07:00

I am a guy who really enjoys sitting down to nice meal! I like to have a nice steak dinner but any time Shelly is gone from the house at dinner or lunch time and I ask the boys what they want to eat, the typical response is CHINESE!!! They want the buffet! The thing I like about the buffet is the amazing amount of variety it brings. I never thought about it but our church staff is a lot like a buffet. It is a Staff Appreciation month for Baptist churches during the month of October, so let me share some thoughts on our “buffet!” I will take each buffet item in the order of time they have been at FBC!

Sharon Brock, is our staff secretary. She brings to the table a positive attitude whether you walk into the office or call in. She is responsible for making sure the bulletin and newsletter is done in a timely manner and makes sure everyone else on staff is doing what they are supposed to be doing!!!!!

Mike Northern does a fantastic job of helping keep our building set up and orderly. He picks up our trash and might I add we are a trashy bunch of people. Mike always does his job with a smile!

Bill and Lynn Louthan do an amazing job of leading our traditional service on a weekly basis. Bill also is more than willing to fill in for me when I am away to teach on Wednesday evenings and currently leads our prayer time on Wednesday nights. They also do a great job with our children on Sunday mornings and leading at the nursing home as well.

Cindy Raley is our financial secretary and her job “counts!” Sorry, I couldn’t help it. Sghe makes sure our financial business is taken care of both on the church side as well as the Children’s Day Out side. Cindy is very gifted and has some “bulldog” characteristics when something is not being done the way it needs to from a provider at FBC!

Wally Pippin is our head custodian and do everything guy. Seldom will you see Wally because he is usually here during the early morning or late evening hours. Wally does a great job keeping our building usable and transitioned for each group to use!

Julie Swift, Kaitlyn Turnage and Taylor Turnage are incredible in our nursery and children’s area. They do a great job of not only caring for our children but loving them individually. These young ladies are gifted at what they do and they do it well!

Ryan Hurt, Raney Penix, Robbie Hurt, and Brodie White are known as the Barefoot Disciples. I call them an incredibly talented worship band! These guys do an awesome job of leading us in worship during the contemporary worship service each Sunday morning. They bring great ability to the buffet!

Dorothy Brusaw is our Children’s Director, and boy does she direct them!!! Dorothy has such an incredible passion and drive, it inspires me. She wants to see our children know Christ personally and deeply, and she is going to do whatever it takes to get them to church or an event to learn more about Him!

Airemy Caudle is our Children’s Day Out Director. What an amazing job she has done taking our program to the next level. She has filled the program to capacity and does a great job not only teaching and loving the children but allowing the program to be a true outreach to our community!

I hope as a church you realize how blessed we are with such an incredible “buffet” of servants on our staff! I say thank you to them all for allowing me to lead them as pastor and I hope you will take time this month to let them know how much you appreciate them as well!

Worship From 9/11

2011-09-25T08:14:00.000-07:00

The Sept. 11 Sermon is now available.

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2011-09-25T08:10:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Sept. 25) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Sept. 25 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-09-25T08:08:00.000-07:00

Last week I preached on the “K” factor, being KIND to other people and looking at doing acts of kindness for others. I have been amazed at how many people have commented on that sermon. I knew we lived in a cruel world, but I didn’t realize the number of people who feel they can really improve on their acts of kindness. Today we will take on the “L” challenge. We will look at the story of the lepers. We all have the sin disease and must “work” on it. I have been reminded all week of one of my favorite scriptures, Philippians 1:6, “He who began a good work in your will carry it on until the day of Christ Jesus.” Let Him finish His work in you!

I hope you have a great week!

Worship From 9/11

2011-09-19T20:54:00.000-07:00

The Sept. 11 Sermon is now available.

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2011-09-18T08:12:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Sept. 18) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Sept. 18 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-09-17T17:46:00.001-07:00

It is hard to believe it is THAT time of year again!!!! What is THAT time of year? It is budget preparation time for our church. That means the committees need to be meeting to work on their proposals for their area of ministry they are involved in. This can be a tedious process, but I also believe it can be a healthy process as we ask the questions like, “Is this ministry effective?” or “Do we need to support this ministry more financially?” I hope if you are a member of a committee in our church you will do your part to prepare next year’s budget, and if you are not, you will be praying for those who are doing the preparation. For all of us . . . I hope we are praying and asking the Lord what our part is in supporting the budget will be next year!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-09-12T20:51:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Sept. 11) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Sept. 11 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-09-10T20:35:00.000-07:00

Rachel Scott was the first person killed at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999. Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for one of the most life-changing school programs in America.

On Tuesday evening at 7:30 at Grandview High School, a Rachel’s Challenge speaker will conduct a powerful session with adults and students. Entertainers, politicians, sports celebrities, educators, and even two presidents of the United States have been impacted by Rachel’s Challenge. However, students are the target audience and they have proven that they will respond with positive words, attitudes, and actions. Our community will never be the same after being exposed to Rachel’s Challenge! I hope you will plan on attending!

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2011-09-04T08:13:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Sept. 4) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Sept. 4 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-09-04T08:00:00.001-07:00

Next Sunday is the ten year anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. We have already been inundated with news media coverage and special television reports about the events and recovery over the past ten years. There will be many more this coming week. It will be the topic of the day. I want us as church family to be together on this day. Not to wrap ourselves in the flag, or to recognize a special day, or to focus on the tragic events of the day; but to refocus ourselves on the nearness to God our country had in the days that followed. I pray that the day will be a day of brokenness and repentance before our God that will bring humility to His people so that He can begin to heal His land!

I look forward to seeing you at the high school at 10:30 am next Sunday.

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2011-08-28T08:12:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Aug. 28) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Aug. 28 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-08-28T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today before each worship service you saw a video clip about Financial Peace University. Jeff Moore is going to be teaching Financial Peace in our church beginning on September 11 on Sunday evenings. I am excited about the approach Jeff is taking. He is encouraging you to enroll for the entire class, but if you are not able to attend you are invited to attend certain sessions you may feel are significant to you. If you are at all interested, I hope you will take a few minutes today either at 9:30 or noon or Wednesday evening at 6:00 to visit the Choir Room and see a brief overview about the class. One of the greatest struggles in our society today is finances . . . maybe even for you!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-08-21T08:08:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Aug. 21) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Aug. 21 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-08-21T05:22:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow is the big day!!! Are you ALL ready for it? I know some of you do not really have a dog in the hunt, but we are all affected by the start of school in some way. It may be simply having to slow down in a school zone!!

I want to encourage you to take some time this week and pray for our students and teachers. We have many students across the nation now attending college and they need our prayers. We are blessed to have a large number of Christian teachers in our school district and we must support them with prayer and encouragement. We also have numerous students who profess Christ and are in a war zone and must be covered in prayer to make the impact for Christ that our schools need!

Will you hit your knees as the students hit the books this week?

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2011-08-14T14:09:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Aug. 14) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Aug. 14 Contemporary Worship

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Word of the Week

2011-08-14T07:04:00.000-07:00

What a great week this has been! Our Children’s Day Out teachers met for the first time on Thursday to begin work for the new school year! That means the halls will soon be filled with the sounds of little children on Tuesday and Thursdays. I look forward to that! If you know any children who would benefit from our CDO program give Airemy a call at the office and get them enrolled.

Yesterday was a great day as well. We had the Annual Back to School Fair. In spite of the hot weather, it was an incredible day filled with free haircuts, vaccines, eye exams, free school supplies, and most of all a great time for our families to enjoy one another and get prepared for school.

I can’t wait to see what this week holds!!!

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2011-08-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Aug. 7) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Aug. 7 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-08-06T17:03:00.001-07:00

Last week our teenagers were performing Random Acts of Kindness. It was such a pleasure to watch them fellowship and enjoy each other while they served others. In the midst of all the good times we had, they got a lot of work done as well.

Notice the white doors in the sanctuary when you leave . . . they are WHITE again and not BLACK from fingerprints. The bugs are out of the lights in the hallways, tables and walls in the fellowship hall have been scrubbed clean, and many other projects done. I am proud of them and thank them and the adult helpers for their hard work.

It was a reminder to me just how effective we can be as the body of Christ if we work together as one! I hope the students are a challenge to you in your faith this week!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-08-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (July 31) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

July 31 Sermon

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It Has Been a Really Good Month!!!!!

2011-08-01T05:05:00.000-07:00

Last month I wrote in my newsletter article about how excited I was to see what God was going to do in the month of July with our children and teenagers as we headed into camp and Vacation Bible School. I would like to tell you I believe it has been a really good month!

During Vacation Bible School we had six children ask Jesus to come into their heart and trust him as their savior! That is awesome and those children’s lives were forever changed! A by-product of the week of VBS was watching our people work so well together and in some cases even get to know someone they had never met before! It was great watching the church be the church in so many ways from cooking, to teaching, to doing crafts, to recreation, to doing music, to cleaning up!!! Thanks to everyone for helping 6 children come to know Jesus and many more know more about Him!

The next week we loaded a charter bus with 40 teenagers to go to Highland Lakes Baptist Encampment for a youth camp. Each night I would get a text from someone telling me about more students giving their lives to Christ at the end of worship! By the end of the week the numbers had totaled 10!!! Ten more names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life! The angels rejoiced, and as a church family we should as well. Thank you to many of you who gave money to sponsor a student to go to camp and to the leaders who took a week out of their lives to love students!

On July 17th we loaded a charter bus and our church bus with 58 preteen students (4-6 grade) and headed to Latham Springs Baptist Encampment. On Monday night I got word that 6 children had given their lives to Christ from our church and 62 total had made that decision!!! Seventeen from our church by the end of camp!!! WOW!!! Again thanks to all of the people who donated to help some of these children get to camp, I would say it was worth it!!!

Are you seeing a pattern form here? It looks like God is hard at work among our church family! We had two young men come forward and publically profess their faith in Jesus during a worship service a few weeks ago. I know my math is not very good but I believe that adds up to 24 new Christian during the month of July!!!! TWO DOZEN!!! I can only say, “Praise the Lord!! Thank you, Jesus, for the things you have done!” I also want to thank you all for praying for these activities! You were obviously a force!

I am convinced God is only just beginning what He wants to do among us as a church family! On July 31st we are going to have an awesome day of baptism. I hope the place is packed to encourage these that have made decisions and to be a part of an awesome worship time!

Don’t forget it is not too late to sign up for Supper 8 or Life Groups!! We will be starting them up in September!! Details coming soon!

What a great month . . . I wonder what August has in store???

Word of the Week

2011-07-31T18:58:00.001-07:00

One of the most exciting moments in the life of a pastor is watching different ones within his “fold” come to Christ. Over the past few weeks I, as well as many of our leaders and families, have experienced that very joy by watching the results of several of our church family children and youth accept Christ as their Savior following their spiritual experiences through VBS, youth camp and preteen camp. What a blessing it will be today for all of us to share in that experience as they participate in the ordinance of baptism at both services. May we all commit to share in their new found faith and nurture them as they begin their Christian journey.

Walking side by side with you through the journey,

Sunday Sermon

2011-07-24T17:39:00.000-07:00

Sound technicians were away on Mission Trip this week. Watch for the sermon to return next week.

Word of the Week

2011-07-24T06:52:00.001-07:00

I am so glad you are here for worship today! I pray that you came with an expectation that God is going to do something amazing in your life! I am thrilled that Dr. Scott Willingham, my friend and mentor, is here today to preach in my absence. I know you will be blessed by his presence.

I challenge you this week to be praying for our mission team serving in Rockaway Beach, Missouri. Pray for safety and ministry opportunities!

I hope you have a great week!

2011-07-17T08:18:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (July 17) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

July 17 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-07-17T07:51:00.000-07:00

The next couple of weeks are great weeks in the life of our church. We have over 60 of our folks loading up to head to Latham Springs this week for pre-teen camp. That is the largest group attending the camp! That is awesome . . . Way to go Dorothy!!! But it is also an opportunity for Christ to knock on the door of the hearts of these children.

Saturday our missions team will pull out for Missouri to Rockaway Beach to help with construction and share the Good News of Christ with that community through Backyard Bible Clubs and apartment ministry.

I ask that you be in prayer for both of these groups as they travel and are a part of great things for the Kingdom of God. I look forward to great reports from both groups!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-07-10T08:06:00.001-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (July 10) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

July 10 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-07-10T00:14:00.000-07:00

What an incredible past two weeks we have had as a church family! We had six children accept Christ last week at Vacation Bible School, and this week we had fourteen students accept Christ as their Savior at youth camp! That means you have sixteen new little brothers and sisters in Christ!!

I always try to remind you that if you tithe to this church you are a part of ministry. Your tithe dollars helped purchase curriculum and other items needed for VBS, and your tithe dollars helped offset the cost of camp for the students who went to camp! What a privilege to get to be a part of God’s work simply by being faithful in giving!!!

Celebrating what God has and is doing!

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2011-07-03T07:52:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (July 3) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

July 03 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-07-02T21:07:00.000-07:00

What an incredible summer we are in the midst of having! Our students who went to Super Summer had an amazing week! We just had perhaps the largest Vacation Bible School we have ever had! We saw children trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior for the first time! Praise God! In the morning at 11:30 we will see about 45 load a chartered bus to head for youth camp, and I expect great things from this week!

Are you doing your part? Are you daily praying for the ministries that are going on? I sure hope so . . . it is great to see God working among our people! Keep on praying and we will see Him continue to do amazing things! Isn’t it wonderful to get to be a part of His work?

I hope you have a great week!

The Bigger We Get the Smaller We Must Be!!!

2011-06-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

If you have been in worship over the past several weeks you are probably getting tired of hearing me talk about “connection points” and small groups. Well for the sake of those of you who have perhaps been on vacation, been really busy, or perhaps have just been playing for a few weeks, months or years, let me fill you in a bit.

In the past seven years I have had the privilege of serving as pastor, we have seen many people come to First Baptist. Many of those have joined and have become very active in the life of the ministries of the church. Other have not joined but have become involved. Others joined or did not join and found the back door just as easily as they found the front door. That has troubled me for a while now. How do we do a better job of making people feel welcome and get them plugged in when they come to our church? I have really been concerned that we have become complacent and comfortable and at times flat lazy in doing ministry. IT IS TIME FOR CHANGE!

I am convinced that for us to continue to grow we must find ways for us to connect on a smaller level. I love the concept of small groups (LIFE groups). They are groups of 8-10 who meet on a regular basis to fellowship, eat, disciple, and do ministry together. IF there are over 350 in worship on a Sunday morning it is easy for someone to fall through the cracks, but if they are involved in a group of 8-10 they will be missed. Hopefully someone in the group will notice and contact them.

I also am in the process of developing a visitors luncheon every other month following morning worship where we can invite all our guests from the previous two months to enjoy a meal and have an informative question and answer time with the pastor and staff about the ministries of the church. (Some of you who have been here a while might want to join us for this)!!

What I am getting at is this: If we are going to continue to be effective in ministering to our community we cannot be comfortable. We must continue to seek new ways of doing ministry and connecting with people. We must grow smaller as we get bigger!

On a completely different note, the summer is in full swing! Things are going great. We just finished up a fantastic Vacation Bible School week (way to go Dorothy and your helpers!!!). On July 4th we have 46 youth heading to Highland Lakes Baptist Encampment on Lake Travis in Austin for youth camp, and later this month we have 62 heading to pre-teen camp at Latham Springs. Please continue to pray for God to do mighty things among our students this summer!

This past month Shelly and I have been in Grandview for 12 years. It has been a wonderful time and it has been amazing to see God work among His people. I look forward to what he has in store for us in the days to come. Let’s all put on our seat belts and get ready for the ride! Be praying for your staff and for one another as we get about HIS business!

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2011-06-26T08:17:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (June 26) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

June 26 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-06-26T07:50:00.001-07:00

Vacation Bible School! Vacation Bible School! Three words that send all ages into different kinds of feelings! For the children, it is euphoria! Singing, Bible stories, recreation, crafts, snacks…. It is like heaven on earth! For some adults just the sound of the three words makes them tired.

It doesn’t matter what feeling you get when you hear the words, “Vacation Bible School.” What matters is that an incredible number of children have come to know Jesus personally because of the efforts of teachers and adults during the week of VBS! I hope you plan on inviting children you know (and even bringing them if they need a ride) and on coming yourself each evening starting tonight at 6:00 until 8:30 for an amazing Big Apple Adventure!

See ya there!

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2011-06-19T08:18:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (June 19) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

June 19 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-06-19T05:33:00.000-07:00

Happy Father’s Day!!!! I have been a really big fan of Father’s Day for about 7 years now! Yes, I have a father and yes I would always make sure he felt special and loved on Father’s Day, but it is a whole different deal now that I am a father! It has gone to a new level!

It is the same way in our Christian faith. We become a Christian and don’t really know a whole lot about what that means, but as we grow in our faith it should be going to a whole new level!!! I challenge you today to go to that next level in your faith and in your relationship with your Heavenly Father!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-06-12T09:34:00.001-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (June 12) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

June 12 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-06-11T18:42:00.001-07:00

I love to work in my yard! There are times though that I don’t want to get out and mow. Shelly will say, “If you don’t want to mow, then don’t fertilize and water!” If I don’t water and fertilize, the grass won’t grow!!!

The same concept is true with the church. If we don’t want to grow spiritually or numerically then we don’t need to water or fertilize. In other words if we want to be stagnant and not make an impact on our community then we can sit back and do nothing, or we can choose to spread the Word of God like fertilizer, share the living water, and be ready to work! I choose work. How about you?

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-06-05T08:31:00.001-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (June 5) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

June 5 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-06-05T08:17:00.001-07:00

When I was six my brother and I made pancakes for my mom on Mother’s Day. We were very proud of ourselves for showing love to our mom on her special day. As my mom took the first bite of her pancakes, the look on her face was amazing!!! It was not a good amazing. We had made a terrible mistake . . . did you know there is a difference between baking powder and baking soda??? Yep . . . you guessed it. We used baking soda!

I tell you this great story to remind you that during the summer months it is easy to take a Sunday off from church, but I hope you realize that you are an important ingredient to what goes on around here! If you are missing then we are all missing out on something. I hope you will be committed through the summer months!

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-05-29T08:08:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (May 29) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

May 29 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-05-29T03:42:00.000-07:00

What do you believe in? We all have things that we are big believers in, don’t we? I am a HUGE believer in church camps! I was called to the ministry at a youth camp and had the privilege of working at a camp for 5 summers in high school. I have seen God change students’ lives in drastic ways while they are away from parents, friends, television, Facebook, school, etc., . . . and are able to focus on their relationship with Christ. As a believer I want to see as many students attend camp each year as possible. In many cases families can’t afford to send their kids and that is where you come in. Do you believe in camp? If so, I hope you will come out tonight and celebrate Memorial Day with us and enjoy a hamburger or hot dog and make a donation to youth camp. If you can’t make it, perhaps you will make a donation this morning before you leave church.

I hope you have a great week!

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2011-05-22T08:22:00.001-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (May 22) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

May 22 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-05-22T08:21:00.001-07:00

This morning we are taking time to honor our graduates. What an exciting time in life this is for these young people as they close a chapter and begin a new one in life. I want to personally congratulate our seniors for a job well done and also mom and dad for their support through this journey. Congrats to all of you!

Next Sunday evening you have the opportunity to support our future graduates. We will be having a camp fundraiser Sunday evening at 6:00 with hamburgers and hotdogs to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday as a church family! I hope you will come and bring a game or two and enjoy some good fellowship as we remember the sacrifices made by our military.

I hope you have a great week.

Download Worship Service

2011-05-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

Download excerpts from today's (May 8) worship service in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

May 8 Worship

Cameron plays Amazing Grace.

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Word of the Week

2011-05-14T23:21:00.000-07:00

"One by one, one by one, Reaching neighbors, reaching nations one by one. One by one, one by one, Reaching people where we meet them one by one."**

What an opportunity and blessing it is on this missions emphasis Sunday to welcome persons dedicated to sharing the Word and Love of Christ within not only our community but throughout the U.S. and countries beyond. It is my prayer that the messages shared today by our own summer missionary youth - Taylor Price, our own New Tribes missionaries - Mark and Lauren Ducommun, and the representative from The Gideons International will bring enlightenment and a passion for missions to our church family and friends.

There is an old saying . . . “God gave us music that we might pray without words.” Sit back and enjoy the special music brought to us today by Vicki Nichols and The Zebra Strings. Please keep them in your prayers as they travel to Branson, Missouri this week and reach out to others through their talents and music.

Let’s share the Word and Love of Christ with others!

** Song used by permission under CCLI License #170063.

Download Sermon

2011-05-08T08:16:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (May 8) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

May 8 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-05-07T17:03:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there! I hope your family is taking good care of you, and you are able to relax and enjoy your day!

I was hit with an interesting thought this week about Mother’s Day. We always talk to our children about honoring their mother and father, but what about when we become adults? What does it look like to honor your mother when you become a teenager, young adult, or older adult? I will leave that up to you but wanted to plant that seed in your heart to let it grow.

Moms, no matter what age you are or we are, we love you!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Download Sermon

2011-05-01T08:06:00.001-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (May 1) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

May 1 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-04-29T07:56:00.000-07:00

What a great Sunday we had last week as we celebrated Resurrection Sunday! One of my friends, who is a pastor, told his people that he had so much fun at worship, he thought they should do it again next Sunday! What a great idea!!! I am so glad you are here again today to worship our Lord and Savior. I have been burdened lately about how we pick and choose days that will be good when we come to worship. Every day should be GREAT because of the privilege we have to worship our Savior!!! I hope you worship Him with all your heart today!!!

I hope you have a great week!

Download Sermon

2011-04-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Apr. 24) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Apr. 24 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-04-24T05:24:00.001-07:00

This past Wednesday night we had our Service of Shadows. During the service I found myself feeling a wide range of emotions. I felt empty and sorrowful for most of the time, but then a song would be sung that reminded me Jesus is not in the tomb anymore!! HE IS RISEN!!!

I found myself thinking about how Jesus’ mother must have felt, the disciples, true followers, Pilate, the soldiers as He was being crucified. But even after the resurrection there was still fear and uncertainty. I still have questions and fears today, but I know that Jesus is alive and that is enough for me! How about you?

Happy Easter!

Download Sermon (Contemporary)

2011-04-19T18:45:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Apr. 17) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Apr. 17 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-04-17T08:33:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year!!! Happy Valentine's Day!!! Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! Easter???? I cannot believe it is already Easter!! Next Sunday is going to be a great day at FBC Grandview and I hope you and some of your friends and neighbors will be here to celebrate the Resurrection with us! Let me share with you Easter week activities. Wednesday night at 6:30 we will have our Service of Shadows. This is a sobering time as we reflect on the events of Holy Week and prepare for Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday! Sunday morning we will have the Community Sunrise Service at Meinen Lake at 7:00am followed by worship at 8:30am and 11:00am. We will have brunch between the services with a huge Easter Egg hunt for all the children at 10:00am. Happy week before Easter!

Purchase Approved

2011-04-10T13:58:00.000-07:00

The members voted today to purchase approximately 4 acres of land adjacent to our present campus.

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2011-04-10T08:27:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Apr. 10) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Apr. 10 Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-04-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

Thirty years ago or so, the members of First Baptist made a decision we all benefit from today. They purchased and/or donated the land across the street behind the church building where the new missions building and parking lot now sit. When the purchase was made, I am confident they had no idea what would be built or how the land would be used. However, I am thankful for those people who had the dream and vision of what could be on that land.

Today as a congregation we are faced with the same opportunity! At the end of each service we will have a called church conference to discuss purchasing nearly 4 acres of land just east of the missions building and across on Inez Hardy Way. I have no idea what will be on that land one day or how soon it will happen, but I do believe it is a step in the right direction for the future of FBC!

I hope you have a great week!

Download Sermon (D-Now)

2011-04-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Apr. 3) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Apr. 3 (D-Now)Sermon

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Word of the Week

2011-04-03T08:14:00.000-07:00

If I were to have to choose one of my least favorite days of the year, it would be April 1! April Fool’s Day! I absolutely despise the “fun” people have by trying to trick each other. I have enough to think and be concerned about without worrying about someone pulling my leg or trying to play a joke on me! It drives me nuts to not expect truth.

It was a reminder to me of how thankful I am that God is TRUTH! He is steady, unchanging, and faithful! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever! I sure am glad!

I hope you have a great week!

PLAY BALL!!!! THE TRUE MEANING!

2011-04-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

I am so ready to hear the first call from the umpire to “PLAY BALL!” I love baseball season, but I love it for more than the game itself. With baseball comes other things I really enjoy! Don’t get me wrong. I am excited about Cameron, Easton, the Zebras, and the Rangers seasons to get into full swing, but I am ready for other activities of the spring as well.

The first activity of spring is Disciple Now 2011 . . . I LOVE IT!!!! I get excited about DNow because it is an event that takes so much work from the entire church to come to fruition. It takes the kids signing up and inviting their friends, host homes, leaders, food coordinators, prayer warriors, and the list goes on and on!!! I love the unity and excitement it brings to the church body. If you are not involved in some way already, it is not too late! Start praying today! The event starts Friday night and will wrap up with worship on Sunday morning.

The second activity of Spring is not really an activity, it is an EVENT! A world changing event!! On April 24th we will celebrate Easter! I love Christmas but I get giddy about Easter!! It is after all the celebration of the resurrection of our Savior! The hope for all nations! We will once again have our Service of Shadows on Wednesday evening before Easter at 6:30 in the Sanctuary. On Easter morning we will have the Community Sunrise Service at Meinen Lake at 7:00 followed by our 8:30 worship, a churchwide brunch and 11:00 worship. Then an Easter Egg hunt for the children in between at 10:00 am.

I challenge you to find someone in the next few weeks to invite to come to church with you that day to celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior!

So, as you go out to “root, root, root for the Home team,” I urge you to get active in the life of your church. If you have not planned on being a part of DNow, then get involved somehow. If you have not made plans for Easter, start planning. If you have not been to worship in a while, then get to worship! Good things are happening in our midst. SO GET IN THE GAME!!! PLAY BALL!!!

Download Sermon (Les Williams)

2011-03-27T13:58:00.000-07:00

Download the Sunday sermon (Mar. 27) in MP3 format for your computer or MP3 player. Click on the link below...

Mar. 27 Sermon

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