Day #30 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

During this month we've looked at 29 different things for which we can and should give thanks. But when its all said and done, we should be thankful in every circumstance.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)  Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How can we rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances? We can have a thankful heart only through unceasing prayer. We can trust God through every circumstance of life if we walk in fellowhsip with Him each day. As we do so, we come to know God's heart. As we know His heart, we know that He takes the circumstances of our lives and uses them for His glory and for our good.

Give Him thanks today for the fact that His will is  good and you can rejoice in the work He is doing in your life each day as you choose to rejoice and give Him thanks.

After today, I will return to publishing a blog on a weekly basis. If you have not subscribed to my blog at google+ or at rodminor@blogspot.com, I encourage you to do so. You will automatically be notified hen a blog is posted. I will use these posts to communicate , not just thoughts I have at times to share, but information regarding issues in the life of the church.

Blessings!

Pastor Rod

Day #29 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

We give thanks for the reign of Christ. He is eternal in His existence and power. Though He reigns today in power, we can look forward with thanksgiving to the time when He will bring this world to an end and begin to reign over a new heaven for all of eternity.

Revelation 11:17  We thank You, Lord God, the Almighty, who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. 


I'm thankful that the day is coming when the authority of Jesus Christ and His rightful position as ruler of all creation will no longer be challenged. We will live in His presence and under His reign for all of eternity.

Pastor Rod

Day #28 - 30 Day of Thanksgiving

Rick Warren wrote a seasonal article for Time magazine. This is the first Thanksgiving for his family since their son took his life earlier this year. I want to share part of his article with you this morning. It's a great word on giving thanks, whatever your circumstances today.

In a seasonal article he wrote for Time magazine, Rick Warren says: "Thanksgiving is a difficult holiday for many. How can you be thankful when your doctor says it's cancer? How can you feel grateful when the one you love just walked out of your life? Or when you've been fired…or your dream has collapsed…or an economic tsunami has wiped out all you've worked for?

"This year became the worst year of my life when my youngest son, who'd struggled since childhood with mental illness, took his own life. How am I supposed be thankful this Thanksgiving? When your heart's been ripped apart, you feel numb, not grateful.

"And yet the Bible tells us. 'Give thanks IN ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.'

"The key is the word in. God doesn't expect me to be thankful FOR all circumstances, but IN all circumstances. There's a huge difference. The first attitude is masochism. The second shows maturity. We're not supposed to be thankful for evil or sin, or the innocent suffering caused by these things. But even in heartache and grief and disappointment, there are still good things that I can be thankful for."

Happy Thanksgiving!
Pastor Rod

Day #27 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Give thanks today for your work and unique place in this world. Your life is not a a random occurrence or an accident.

Psalm 139:13-16 (NLT)  ¹³ You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. ¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. ¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. ¹⁶ You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Since your life was so intricately prescribed and your days planned with such detail, you have a unique place in the world. The work you do, by vocation as well as in service and ministry, is valuable. It deserves our best.

Psalm 104:23 (NLT)  Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening.


Sometimes in the rhythm of life and demands of our work, our thankfulness diminishes regarding the work we do. You may not be working at your dream job today, but you can thank God that He has provided work and wants use you where you are as you recognize every moment was laid out for you by the One who has so wonderfully made you.

Pastor Rod

Day #26 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Take time today to give God thanks for the good health you enjoy and the healing He has given in the past.

Psalm 41:2a; 3 (ESV)  The LORD sustains him and keeps him alive ... The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health.

I'm sure there have been times in all of our lives where God has kept us from illness when we were not aware of it. But there have also been times for all of us where God has sustained us while we were sick and restored us to full health.

I'm always reminded when I pray for people who are facing surgery, treatments, or questions regarding health issues, that we should be thankful for the doctors and medical personnel who care for us. But we should also be thankful that, ultimately as believers, our lives and our health are in the hands of God and He is able to do far more than all of medical science is capable of doing.

Are you healthy? Thank God. Are you facing health issues? Thank God for His ability to restore you.

Pastor Rod

Day #25 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Thank God, on this Monday, for the church and the opportunity you had to worship with your church family yesterday.

Psalm 111:1 (ESV)  Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

I am thankful for the church universal - for believers all over the world. But I'm particularly thankful for my church family at Anderson Mill. We had a great time yesterday, as a congregation, giving thanks to the Lord. Gathering with others in God's family is an uplifting experience. We are able to pray for one another, sing songs of praise, and hear God speak to each of us from His Word and through His Spirit. Such an experience requires my whole heart. And, the Lord I worship, is certainly worthy of nothing less.

Pastor Rod

Day #20 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

In Romans 16, Paul gives thanks for some who "risked their necks for his life." He is thankful and realizes that others share his appreciation as well.

Romans 16:3-4 (ESV)  Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well.

These friends had stepped up to put their lives on the line in defending and supporting Paul. We have those who do the same for us every day. They may not be friends that we know by name or fellow workers in the church, but they leave home and go to work knowing that they put their lives on the line - "risk their necks" - for us. They wear the uniforms of our military, police, and firefighters.

As a chaplain with our police department, I was recently in a debriefing with officers who had just dealt with a crisis. A shooter had wounded a neighbor, threatened a friend, and began shooting as they arrived. Within seconds, they had to make a decision on the action they would take, knowing that they might not go home to their families at the end of their shift. But they did what was necessary, risking their lives for the safety of others.

That happens with police, firefighters and, of course, our military. We may not often stop to think about what they face each day and the sacrifice that day might bring. Take time today to give thanks to God for those who serve us and are willing to risk their necks for us. And when you see one of those individuals somewhere, take a moment to say "Thanks".

Pastor Rod

Day #24 - #30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today is Sunday. In our worship today, we will share together in the Lord's Supper. Doing so is an act of worship, examination, and thanksgiving. The greatest gift we have ever been offered is the forgiveness and salvation that come through the body and blood of Jesus, broken and poured out on the cross for our sin.

1 Corinthians 10:16 (NLT)  When we bless the cup at the Lord’s Table, aren’t we sharing in the blood of Christ? And when we break the bread, aren’t we sharing in the body of Christ? 


We are usually thankful for any of the gifts we are given. But we are most thankful for those gifts that provide for us something we have no possibility of attaining on our own. You, like I, could identify some wonderful gifts that you have received. There have been scholarships awarded to our children for various reasons, to help with college expenses. What a difference those gifts have made in helping three children with undergraduate and graduate degrees. Early in our marriage, a home builder provided a gift that enabled us to purchase a house that we could not have purchased otherwise, placing us in the community where God had called us to plant a church. And the list could continue, just like your list.

But the greatest gift I've received has been the life of Jesus, given for me. The words to an old chorus go like this: "He paid a debt He did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay." And that's the profound truth of God's gift. Would you take some time today to think about what that means? Give Him thanks for the gift that you have no hope of gaining on your on ability.

Pastor Rod

Day #23 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

We will never know, this side of heaven, how God has used the prayers of others in our lives. Would you take time today to thank Him for putting people in your life who would love you enough to pray for you, not just in tough times, but for all the times of your life?

2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)  You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 


Paul was aware that God uses the prayers of others in our lives. He was thankful for those who prayed for him, knowing that safety and success in his ministry had some very direct ties to those prayers. He refers to "the prayers of many." He didn't know, it seems, the names of all who prayed, but he knew that God had honored those prayers and blessed him as a result.

You could list some who have been faithful to pray for you throughout your life or at times of need. Would you thank God for them? Maybe you should tell some of them personally just how grateful you are for their prayers. And thank God as well for those who have prayed but of whom we are not even aware. Only eternity will reveal the people and the prayers behind many of the blessings we have received in life.

Pastor Rod

Day #22 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Thank God, today, for your ability to give. He has blessed us with the resources to honor Him by giving in obedience to Him.

Psalm 54:6  (ESV)  With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.


We give as an act of worship and gratitude that is born out of our love for God. It has been said that you can give without loving but you can't love without giving. We want to give to those we love. When our love is what it should be for Christ, we find it a joy, not a burden to be faithful in tithing and in generous giving.

Deuteronomy 14:23 (NLT)  Bring this tithe to the place the LORD your God chooses for his name to be honored ... The purpose of tithing is to teach you always to fear the LORD your God.

One of my favorite quotes regarding our faithfulness in this area is from Dr. John MacArthur, who said, "Tithing is not God's way of raising money; it is God's way of raising children." Recognizing our ability to give, whether our capacity is large of small, is cause for thanksgiving. It is God who has enabled us to do so. God is a giver and we are never more like Him than when we give.

Have you been faithful in demonstrating your thankfulness to God through your giving? Thank Him for enabling you to give and for teaching you to hold Him in respectful awe as you do so.

Pastor Rod

Day #21 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

The Bible makes clear the fact that, when we give our lives to Christ, He gifts us with spiritual abilities and will also use our experiences for ministry. All of us are ministers, not just those on our church staff. Have you thanked God lately for the ministry He has given you?

1 Timothy 1:12 (ESV)  I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service.

We are appointed to His service. I'm thankful for that privilege. God doesn't have to allow me to share in His work, but He has chosen to do so. What a joy it is to have a part in life-change that takes place in others as we are faithful in our walk with Christ and used by Him in serving others and sharing the gospel in a variety of ways.

Have you discovered your ministry area of strength? If not, would you thank God that He has given you the necessary gifts and passion for some ministry? Then outline the steps you will take to find that place of ministry. And, thank Him for the strength His gives  to help you in faithfulness, and for His willingness to use you in ministry to others.

Pastor Rod

Day #19 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today, I'm giving thanks for music. The gift of song and music plays a large role of influence in our lives and is mentioned often throughout scripture. We have songs recorded in the Bible as individuals, awed by God's presence or His word of promise or blessing, break out in songs of praise. In scripture you will find all kinds of songs referred to. There are songs of mourning, praise, joy, worship, thanksgiving, victory, and wedding songs as well. Paul and Silas were in a Philippian jail when, as they prayed in the midnight darkness, they began to sing hymns, leading to an earthquake opening cell doors, and ultimately to the salvation of the jailer and his family. Job, a man who certainly knew something about dark nights in life, referred to God as the One "who gives songs in the night." As we look with John into the realm of heaven, there is singing before the throne of God and through the halls of heaven. We are told to sing and that the earth itself is to sing of the Lord.

Psalm 96:1-2 (ESV)  Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

As we give thanks for God's goodness to us, I hope your heart will be filled with songs of thanksgiving.

Psalm 28:7 (ESV)  The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

What song are you singing today?

Pastor Rod

Day #18 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Have you thanked God for the gift of laughter? Aren't you glad that He has created us with a sense of humor and the ability to laugh?  Medical research tells us that laughter releases endorphins that are good for us, with healing properties. The scriptures revealed that truth long before researchers discovered it.

Proverbs 17:22  A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 


Without joy and laughter life becomes broken and dry. I'm grateful that God wants more for us and has given us the cure. Find an opportunity to laugh today. Make it a habit. You will be healthier for it and life will be a lot more fun!

Pastor Rod

Day #17 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Did you see the sunset last night (Saturday evening)? Now, this was sunset in Austin, Texas. And if you don't live in Texas, I'm sorry. I've lived in five different states and have traveled and spent time in 25 additional states and multiple foreign countries on three continents. There is some incredible beauty in those places, but the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen are those in Texas. Yesterday's sunset was another that gave evidence of God's creative work of beauty that inspires awe and thanksgiving.

Psalm 8:1 (ESV) O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

David continues in that Psalm to express his amazement, when he looks at the heavens, the work of God's fingers, the moon and the stars which God has put in place. As he takes in the display of God's beautiful work it causes him to marvel and give thanks for God's care for us.

Give God thanks for the beauty you find around you today. It's a reminder that He cares for you and is capable of beautiful work in the world and in you.

Pastor Rod

Day #16 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Give thanks to God for the guidance He promises to give in the decisions we face. Whether we believe them to be large or small, every decision has consequences and we need God's wisdom in making wise decisions. And God promises the direction we need.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)   ⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. ⁶ In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

We can thank God for His promise for direction for every turn in life.

Isaiah 30:21 (ESV) And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 


As you consider the decisions you have made this year, thank God for the evidence of His clear guidance as you trusted Him for wisdom.

Pastor Rod

Day #15 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for the gift of prayer. The fact that God wants to hear from me - wants to know what is on my heart - is an amazing thought. And, even more amazing is the fact that God wants to speak personally to me, every day and throughout the day.

Psalm 121:4 says that God neither slumbers or sleeps! You never have to be concerned that you are waking God from a "power nap" or that you will have to wait for "business hours" to speak with Him. He is always waiting, ready to to hear.

Jeremiah 33:3 has been referred to as "God's phone number." God says...
"Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known."

Wherever you are today, and every moment, both day and night, He will answer and show you what you do not know!

You will best show your thankfulness for the privilege of prayer by praying throughout the day. Just have a running conversation with God. He has invited you to call.

Pastor Rod

Day #14 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Give thanks today for the fact that God has blessed you with safety, shelter, and resources that much of the world cannot imagine. And, He has blessed you with the opportunity to share those gifts and provisions with others.

As I watched the latest account of the devastation in the Philippines, my heart broke as I saw adults and children of all ages crying out for help. They have been days without shelter or food. Thousands have died and multiple thousands have lost everything material as they desperately cling to life. And as I watched, I thanked God that, as a Southern Baptist, I knew we have volunteers, missionaries, and relief workers on the ground and many more waiting for a clear pathway into the area for them and for the food and supplies they bring. Jesus said...

Matthew 25:35-40 (ESV)  ³⁵  "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶  I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me." ³⁷  Then the righteous will answer him, saying, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸  And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹  And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?" ⁴⁰  And the King will answer them, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Agency is the 3rd largest relief agency in the world, just behind the Red Cross and Salvation Army. You won't hear much about that on the news, but we respond because we love those in distress and the One who has told us to give, go and serve. Every time you place your tithe or gift in the offering, a portion of that goes to support our work around the world in disaster and hunger relief. You can also give additional support for crucial needs such as the one
faced in the Philippines. You may donate in one of several ways...

Give through AMBC and mark your gift as "disaster relief". We will send the total amount to the North American Mission Board Disaster Relief office.
You may also give online at: www.namb.net/disaster-relief-donations/ 
Or, call 1-866-407-6262 (Our North American Mission Board)
You may also mail a contribution to:
     NAMB, P.O. Box 116543, Atlanta, GA. 30368-6543 and mark your check as "Disaster Relief"
100% of all gifts go directly to relief needs. No administrative fees or staff support is ever taken from gifts for our missions or relief ministry agencies.

Would you pause today to thank God for the home and bed you slept in last night, the food and clothing you have today, and the resources you have to share with those in need? And as you do so, ask Him if you should give something today for those who are in such crisis.

Pastor Rod

Day #11 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today is Veterans Day. Thank God, today, for the veterans who have served us, often at great sacrifice, through the years. We will soon lose the WWII veterans, that group that has come to be known as "The Greatest Generation." Their ranks have been greatly thinned as they are our oldest living veterans. Korean vets are following suit. But we still have Vietnam vets, as well as many from the Gulf Wars and Middle East wars in recent years. I thank God for these men and women who have stepped up in defense of our nation.

Jesus said...
John 15:13 (ESV)  "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

He was referring to His impending death for us, but He was stating a principle as well. When we love, we serve others. But by far, the greatest act of love is serving at the risk of our own lives. The veterans of our nation deserve our honor and our thanks because they have done just that.

If you know a veteran, today would be a good time to call or to see them personally just to say, "Thank you." You may see someone this week in uniform. Even though they are not veterans in the strict definition of the word, they will be one day. Thank them for their service. And give thanks to God today for a nation and way of life worth defending.

Pastor Rod

Day #13 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

John 14: 1-3 (ESV)  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."

As I watched a "Texas-beautiful" sunrise last Friday (the start of an incredibly beautiful day in central Texas) I thanked God for this world, filled with beauty and enjoyment. But for those of us who know Christ, the best is yet to come. If this world, marred by the results of the fall, holds such beauty and enjoyment, how much better is heaven, the home of perfection God prepares for us?

Thank God, today, for the countless aspects of beauty in creation. Then, give Him thanks for the home He has for you, filled with beauty and eternal joys beyond our imagination. Enjoy today while anticipating the tomorrow God has for you.

Pastor Rod

Day #12 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Philippians 3:20 (ESV)  But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

I had a New Testament professor in college who, in speaking of the promised return of Christ, jokingly said, "The Bible tells us that Jesus will return when we do not think or expect. That's why I believe He will return at nine o'clock on a Monday morning, because nobody is thinking on Monday at 9 a.m.!"

As we set off on another morning, thank Jesus for the fact that He will return, and it could be today at 9 a.m., or at any time on any day this week!

How does the expectation of the return of Christ make a difference in the way you live? Thank God for the hope you have in the certainty that Jesus will come again.

Pastor Rod

Day #10 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Give thanks today for the salvation of others and for the opportunity God gives us in helping others to discover His offer of grace.

Romans 6:17-18 (ESV)  But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.

Who do you know who has come to know Christ in the past year? Take time to thank God for them and for God's gift. Can you give thanks for someones salvation for whom God allowed you to play a part this past year? Who are you praying will come to Christ in the days ahead - for whom you will be able to give thanks in the year to come?

Pastor Rod

Day #9 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Thank God that you are loved. Of course, we know God loves us. But I'm thankful for people He has put in my life who love me. A few days ago we gave thanks for friends that God has placed in our lives. Today we can pause to give thanks for those who are more than caring friends. We give thanks for those who have loved us deeply. These are people have shown us unmerited love that gives us hope and a sense of worth. Some of those, such as my wife, have loved me when I have been at my worst as well as at my best. My children, other family members and a few enduring friends have done so as well. We have been created with a psychological and emotional need to be loved. We don't live well if we don't know that there is someone who cares and loves us - some others to whom we matter.

Who loves you? A spouse? Children? Other family members? Church family? Long-time friends?
Maybe you would choose to make a list today of people in your life who have loved you, making your life richer in so many ways. Then, do what Paul did...

Philemon 4 and 7 (ESV)  "I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers... For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love..."

Pastor Rod

Day #8 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Psalm 119:89; 103-105 (ESV)  Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens... How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Today we can give special thanks to God for His Word. It is firmly fixed, unchanging, trustworthy in every detail. The scriptures become sweeter to us through time as we read and apply God's truth to our lives. Understanding is found in the Word.

The lamps of the Old Testament period varied in size and style, but all were pottery with a a bowl for oil and a narrow spout where a wick was inserted. One thing the lamps had in common was the fact that, though they gave needed light, that light was not cast for great lengths ahead of it. The psalmist reminds us that God's Word is a lamp, giving light for each step on the path. We have all the light we need for the next step or the next few steps to come. We may not know clearly what lies in the distance to come, but if we trust God's Word and walk in His truth, we will have all the light we need to keep us on the path of understanding and godly living. It's a sweet way to live!

Thank God today that He has preserved His fixed and trustworthy Word for you. Thank Him for the guidance He has shown you in recent days from the scripture. How are you and the life you live different today because of the blessing of God's Word?

Day #7 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Today, give thanks for the fact that God gives us His presence each day and we can look back to see the evidence of that in so many ways. When the earth is shaking and unstable because of events, whether the result of men or of conditions beyond our control, God is never shaken. When you lose your balance as your world shakes around you, He remains steady and His presence certain.

Psalm 75:1-3 (ESV)  We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. "At the set time that I appoint, I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars."

We will never know, this side of heaven, of all the times and ways in which God has kept the pillars of our lives steady. But we can see, as we look back, some of those times and ways and recognize the wondrous work of God in our lives.

You might want to take some time to think back through this past year and make a list of the evidences you have seen of God's nearness in your life and times when He has brought stability to your heart, mind and circumstances. Maybe it was during a time of illness; a time when someone disappointed or hurt you; a time of financial instability; a time when you could see no way out of what seemed an impossible situation; a time when you needed clear direction regarding God's will in your life; and God stepped in to bring stability and solutions only He could bring. Or it may have been an unexpected blessing God brought to you, just to remind you that He is near and blesses you even when you are not asking or anticipating it.

Give Him thanks. You may find that the list is far longer than you would have thought. He is always near working wondrously in the lives of those who know and love Him.

Day #6 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Yesterday was an election day across the nation. I hope you made it to the polls to cast your vote and are grateful for the freedom we have to do so. We enjoy a level of freedom in America that doesn't exist elsewhere in our world. Take time today to thank God for the freedom we have. This nation was founded by people seeking freedom in worship and in their form of government. They believed that the very idea of freedom was God's plan. And real freedom comes for each of us as we walk under the control of God's Spirit in our lives.

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

The death and resurrection of Jesus has broken the power of sin's bondage for each of us. But we will not live in that freedom unless we receive the gift of freedom that comes through repentance and complete trust in Jesus. And we must be careful to walk daily in submission to the Lord in order to walk in spiritual freedom. If we become careless or complacent, we will find the grip of old habits and sin taking control and robbing us of our freedom to live for Christ.

We can also lose our political freedoms in the same way - through carelessness and complacency. It's the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics at work. That law essentially states that things, left to themselves, do not become stronger and improve, but they deteriorate or break apart. Political freedom can be a fragile thing if left unattended or complacently surrendered to those who would govern at the expense of our freedom.

Take time today to thank God for the freedom we have because of Christ. Thank Him also for our freedom as a nation. Where would you be without either of those freedoms? How do you need to express your thanks and to be vigilant to guard against the slide in either away from freedom?

Day #5 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

The Apostle Paul was a man with a thankful heart. Enduring more hardship than most of us - certainly more than I have ever encountered - he exuded thankfulness in every situation. One of the things for which he consistently expressed thanks was for the people in his life. He loved others, prayed for them, and told them of his thankfulness that God had allowed them to be a part of his life.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (ESV)  "We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

Colossians 1:3-4 (ESV)  "We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints."

I'm thankful for the people God has placed in my life, especially for other believers. I look across the faces of those gathered for worship on Sundays and am deeply grateful for individuals who encourage me by the lives of faithfulness they live and the love they express. From the east coast to the west, north and south, and in countries around the world, there are people God has brought into my life through the years to love me and to have an impact on my life. You can say the same, whether your relationships are local or span the world. They are wonderful gifts from God.

Who are the people you need to pause and give thanks for? Today, I am making a list of some for whom I will pray specifically this month. And there are some phone calls I will make today. What about you?

Pastor Rod

Day #4 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

It's Monday! And as you begin a new week of work or study, no matter what you face, you can know that the Lord is your shield, your glory, and He is the one who lifts your head to walk confidently into each day. We do not have to slump into the day with heads hung low. He will protect us, sustain us with peaceful rest, and remove any fear of those who might set themselves against us.

Psalm 3:3-6 (ESV)  "But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around."

What or who has been set against you? Give thanks today that the Lord is your shield and glory in life. He will sustain you.

Where do you need His sustaining presence today? How will you choose to rest in Him?

Pastor Rod

Day #3 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Thank God for the victory you have over death and the power of sin in your life. Find yourself struggling with an area of temptation or habit in your life? Victory can be yours in Jesus Christ. He has promised victory over our struggles and over our greatest enemy - death.

1 Corinthians 15:57 (ESV)  "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Pastor Rod

Day #2 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

Give thanks to God today for His enduring love.

Psalm 118:1 (ESV)  "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!"

God is good. He is steadfast - unwavering in His love for you. And that love never wanes and is never withdrawn. His love endures forever.

No one else loves you like that. No one can. Thank God for the fact that He has chosen to lavish His love on you!

Pastor Rod

Day #1 - 30 Days of Thanksgiving

This is the first of 30 daily blog posts that will help give some direction for one new thing each day for which we can give thanks. You may have a different one that God impresses on your mind and heart each day, but these will be daily suggestions that can give you some help as we allow God to continue to cultivate in each of us a heart of gratefulness. If you missed the blog yesterday, I encourage you to take a moment to read it as an introduction to the daily messages to come. Each day will be short, but will give you a start in reflection, encouragement to express your thanks to God, as well as looking for ways in which you can express your gratitude that day. So, let's begin with God's greatest gift!

2 Corinthians 9:15 (ESV)  "Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!"

God's inexpressible gift is His gift of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Reflect on that gift for your life, what it means, and where you would be without it. Give Him thanks. How can you live today in gratitude for God's inexpressible gift?

Pastor Rod

Cultivating a Thankful Heart

     During the month of November, I have encouraged us to find one thing each day for which we can give thanks to God. It's easy for us to become so familiar with God's blessings in our lives that we become complacent, or worse, develop an attitude of entitlement rather than a heart of thankfulness. None of us, no matter what our current circumstances, should have a problem finding 30 things for which we can express our thanks to God. Each day of November, I will publish a blog with one item found in the scriptures for which we should give thanks. Spend some time reflecting on that item, or any other that God brings to mind for you. Consider what that provision or blessing from God means to you, what your life would be without it, and how you need to demonstrate your thankfulness for it. Pray, thanking God for His goodness in blessing you with that undeserved gift.
     I would encourage you to make it part of your meal-time discussion or devotional time as a family each day. Ask each family member what that item means to them or have them share one new item each day for which they would like to give thanks to God.
     Some years ago I spent two weeks in Tanzania sharing the gospel and helping to encourage believers and pastors in that east African nation. A young pastor from the country who spoke English as well as his native Swahili, walked for miles every day with me over dirt roads and paths talking with people about Christ. He was married, had two young children, pastored a small church, and was still studying at a Bible college and seminary sponsored by Southern Baptists. His wife suffered from a health issue that we would consider to be minor in nature and could be treated by an OTC medication. But in their country, the medication was not available, nor did they have the money to purchase it if it was. At then end of my time there, I gave a coat, a few ties, and some other clothing to him and paid him for his work as a translator. The money would not have been considered a large sum for us and it certainly would be quickly spent in his economy with the needs of family, school and church.
     On the following day, as I prepared to leave, my young pastor friend held out several articles for me - gifts for my wife and three young children. By affluent American standards, they were not much - a wooden stirring spoon for my wife; a colorful piece of silk cloth that would serve as a scarf for my daughter; and two hand-carved wooden whistles for my sons. He had taken some of the money I had given to him in payment for his work and made sacrificial purchases for my family! I could not then or now place any monetary value on those gifts. To place a dollar figure on them would demean them. They were worth more than I could express. He had sacrificed more than I can really understand in order to give to my family. Even today, as I think about the gifts (still in our possession) I experience those deep emotions of gratitude and humility once again. And as I gave those gifts to my family, I tried to explain to them the cost - the sacrifice behind them. I wanted my children to look at those items through the years ahead and be reminded of just how much we have been blessed and how grateful we should be.
     As I give thanks to God each day through November, I'm going to pray that God will cultivate within each of us a heart that overflows with thanksgiving. God is good and "His mercies are new every morning."

Pastor Rod

Do You See Anything?

     The simple four word question was asked by an aide of Dr. Howard Carter, a well-known British archaeologist, who at the time, had his head poked into an ancient Egyptian tomb in the middle of mounds of debris left from years of digging by others who had concluded that there was nothing more to be found at that site. But now, after 6 continuous years of digging by Dr. Carter, the question would later seem a bit humorous because he certainly did see something - something beyond imagination. Where others saw only worthless mounds of debris, Carter saw "the glint of gold everywhere." He was looking into the priceless tomb and treasures of King Tutankhamen, the teenaged King of Egypt.
     Vision is seeing beyond the immediate. Vision generates encouragement and motivation to move beyond the status quo surroundings and see what God wants to do when we see our world through His lens instead of living with our eyes on the mounds of waste around us created by our feeble attempts at discovering something worth pursuing in life and ministry.
     Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint." In other words, there are no boundaries or direction which serves to move us to the future which God has for us.
     Our Vision Team has worked faithfully over the past months in prayer, research, planning, and seeking God's discernment and leading for a clear vision for the church in the years to come. As we near the completion of that work, I'm excited, along with the team, about the mission, values, strategy and mission measures that we believe God has given for us. Those elements will enable us to stay on a simple and clear path as we live each day by our mission statement: Engaging others in my daily path to take their next step with Christ.
     The message God gave to Judah through the prophet Zechariah, as the people were charged with rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem after their return from 70 years of exile in Babylon, is His message to us as well. He has a promise, a plan, offers His protection, and will bring His glory to the church and community if we will choose to see His vision and pursue it together.
     Let's choose together to look beyond the present and dream a new dream born of God's vision. Let's keep asking one another, "Do you see anything?"

Pastor Rod

God Continues to Provide

     God is faithful, and we continue to see the evidence of His faithfulness in our fellowship. We have prayed for the right person to lead the critical area of our preschool and children's ministries. After many months of prayer, searching, and patiently waiting on God's direction, He has provided in an incredible fashion. Some of our staff and leadership met Dr. Jim Dempsey several years ago while attending a family ministry conference. He was attending because, like us, he has a heart for equipping families and homes to be the primary faith-training centers in the lives of our children. That's the ministry path that he, as Minister for Preschool and Children,  and other staff members of First Baptist Church, Keller, Texas were pursuing together, and the path that we have been developing at AMBC. This past year, Jim's name was mentioned to us by one of our seminary professors who knew we were searching for someone in this position. I spoke with him at that time but we were not in a position to bring him to the staff in a full-time capacity. We agreed to continue to pray for one another in the days ahead. Jim and I did not speak again until months later when I received a call from him to ask if we had filled the position, and if not, would we be open to praying about the possibility of him joining us in a part-time capacity? I was thrilled about the possibility of that arrangement, so we scheduled a time to visit.
     Some weeks later Jim and Gail came to Austin to spend some time in conversation and prayer with us. God had been expanding their vision for ministry and family. Jim is a speaker and leader for conferences through our state convention and for some national family ministry organizations. He has also written articles for those publications and is working on the details of publication of a recently completed book. By moving to Austin and joining us in ministry, Jim can provide some excellent, experienced leadership for us and have time to expand his ministry beyond the local church in consulting, writing and speaking. At the same time, he and Gail will be able to live closer to their daughters and their families in Austin and San Antonio.
     We are looking forward to Jim joining us in ministry in November as Associate Pastor for Family Ministry. Please pray for Jim and Gail as they sell their home in Keller and leave a church family where they have worshiped and served for many years. For them, the move is bittersweet. It's tough to leave longtime friends and successful church ministry. But the sweetness is found in the fact that they believe, as do we, that God has opened a wider door of ministry for the Dempsey's and AMBC.
     And... there's still more to God's provisions related to children and family ministries at AMBC. We have also prayed for the resources and plan needed to upgrade our preschool play area. The need and desire have been there for us, but not the necessary finances. But again, as we have prayed and waited, God has faithfully provided. We've not solicited gifts for this need, but some have been faithfully praying for the resources. Last week a man and his wife gave me a check to be used for the makeover of our preschool playground. The gift should be adequate to provide a cover for shade in the Texas sun, new fencing, and more. And what about the design for the makeover? Well, it "just so happens" that Jim Dempsey spent years before full-time ministry as the co-founder and co-owner of a very successful worldwide business which designs and builds playgrounds for children. He has already made measurements and is beginning to work on some plans.
     Isn't God good? And His faithfulness is unquestionable. If we will pray, trust, and wait for God's faithful provisions, He will never disappoint. In fact, He will supply beyond our imagination.

Pastor Rod

Vision Clarity - The Work Continues

     We began the process of working to clarify the vision for Anderson Mill Baptist soon after the beginning of the year, with the hope of finishing the task by the end of September. Now it's mid-September, and we're still working! But even though we had hoped to be wrapping up the work at this point, the news is good news. We're not stumped or at odds as our vision team has worked together. On the contrary, we are discovering some exciting truths regarding AMBC, our community, and the vision we believe God has given for us to pursue with the unique gifts and heart God has developed in our church family.
     I recently read a short article written by Chuck Lawless, Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Baptist Seminary. He described ten "diseases" he encounters as he consults with "unhealthy" churches around the country. I want to refer to three of those diseases that our vision clarity work will help us prevent at AMBC.
     First is "Community Disconnect Disease." Churches with this disease meet in a given community, but they really don't know that community. The members drive to the church building, meet, and then drive home without ever taking note of a changing community around them. AMBC has always been a multi-cultural church. That's something we're very thankful for. Most churches would say that they are open to all nationalities, races and cultures, but few have the visible evidence of that like we have. It's something that God has clearly done here. And you are to be commended for your genuine love for all who come through our doors. There are nine different nations represented in our church family, which does not include our ESL Ministry with even more. But our vision work will help us to look closely at our community. It has changed through the years. The demographics are much different than they were ten years ago. The economic, cultural and social aspects of the community surrounding us have changed. That's not a negative reality. It's instead, a challenge to us to get into our community with open hearts and to open our doors with ministry that embraces people of all cultures and generations and helps them to take their next step with Christ. We want to make disciples - reproducing believers ... multi-cultural and multi-generational disciples.
     Another disease is "Methodological Arthritis." The name of this condition says it all. A church with this illness is stuck in doing things the way they've always done them. Movement is painful, and the church that suffers from this condition finds it easier not to take a step forward. But what they often don't recognize is that standing still is also risky. Eventually, they will not move at all. AMBC doesn't show evidence of the grip of this disease, but clarifying our vision will better enable us to examine what we do to ensure that we focus on the things that will line up with our values and our mission. It will help us to say "no" to the things that will take us away from a focused pursuit, and "yes" to the opportunities and ministries that will accomplish what God has uniquely called us to do.
     And then there is "Professional Wrestling Sickness." Ever watched professional wrestling? It's hero vs. villain, right vs. wrong, good vs. evil - but it's all fake! The church with this disease talks a good game in standing for righteousness, but hypocrisy can be found in many of the lives. And, as in professional wrestling, most spectators watching the show know it's fake. We know that our desire is to live in such a way that genuineness is evident in our ministry, our church family, and in the lives we live. We want to allow God to use us to produce disciples of Jesus Christ who experience worship, growth in godliness, serving in ministry, and going to our community and world with the gospel message, reproducing the discipleship process in others.
     Wouldn't you like to know with clarity what God has called us to do at AMBC? Wouldn't you like to be able to have a ministry map which helps you determine where you are in your spiritual life and what your next step is as you move toward the goal of maturity and of becoming a reproducing disciple? Wouldn't you like to be able to understand the simple path we want to encourage people to follow? Wouldn't you like, instead of just telling new believers or new members about the ministry schedule or a long list of Bible studies they could attend, to be able instead, to point to a clear "next step" in the process that they should take as they move forward with Christ? The church that cannot do that is a church that suffers from another disease called "Baby Believer Malady", living by the unwritten and wrong assumption that says, "As long as you show up for our small groups and worship service, you'll grow." That church often selects leaders on the basis of attendance rather than spiritual maturity and is not involved in making genuine disciples.
     I'm thankful for your commitment to the process we have undertaken to wrestle through more than 30 years of ministry and history in order to identify the wonderful foundation God has laid in this church, the uniqueness of our church family and community, and to follow God's leading toward a clear vision and plan for making disciples where God has placed us.
     Years ago, as our family was about to embark on a new path of ministry, one of our children, very young at the time, assessed our plans with this remark: "It's gonna be a fun future!" And I believe that's true right now for AMBC. Looking at what is to come, I believe it's gonna be a fun future!

Pastor Rod

Explore God Campaign Begins

     With 345 churches across the greater Austin area, Explore God begins this week. The potential for this cooperative undertaking is incredible. By the most conservative estimates, we could see close to a half million conversations taking place across the city regarding spiritual matters and the encouragement for people to "explore God" and what He says about life and what it means to have a relationship with Him. If we commit to looking for and making opportunities each day to engage others in conversation regarding their spiritual lives, that topic would become the most talked about subject across our city for the next 7 weeks. Some of you are already having those conversations with friends, neighbors, co-workers or people you meet in the course of your daily path. With billboards visible all across the city with simple messages such as...

We All Have Questions: ExploreGod.com

                                                (or) #Explore God

directing people to the ExploreGod.com website where they can find honest answers to honest questions, the stage is set for us to engage in conversations with others. Just in the past 2 days I have had 5 conversations with people I have met in the course of my day regarding their spiritual lives. Knowing that others in our church family and across the city have committed to looking for opportunities every day to have those conversations, makes me so much more conscious of the need and opportunities I have each day.
     How can you begin a spiritual conversation with others? You will find all kinds of ways as you look for the opportunities, but here are a few suggestions.

Questions to ask:

• Do you ever think about...
• spiritual things?
• God?
• what your purpose is?
• Did you go to church growing up?
• What's the most important thing in your life?

Comments to share:

• I'll be praying for your situation
• Let me know how I can help
• Why don't you come to church with us this weekend?
• Have you visited ExploreGod.com? I'll send you the link.

This Sunday we begin a sermon series where. for 7 weeks. we will examine 7 questions for which many people seek answers. Sunday we begin with the question, "Does Life Have a Purpose?"  In the weeks to come, we will examine topics such as, "Is There a God?"; "Why Does God Allow Pain and Suffering?"; "Is Christianity Too Narrow?"; and "Is Jesus Really God?"

We are about to see something incredible happen in our city. I hope you are praying, talking, sharing, expecting and bringing others to share in Explore God groups throughout the week in our homes and work places and on Sunday as we open God's Word to find answers for life's greatest questions.

Pastor Rod

From My Library

     From time to time I have shared something about a book that I was reading at the time. Pastors are readers. The nature of the task to which God has called us demands that we be readers. But I didn't become a reader when I became a pastor. It has been a lifetime pursuit, and one that I hope you have acquired as well. You may not read as many books as others read, but I hope you find and read some good ones on a regular basis.
     I read a variety of book themes and types, including biographies, history, historical novels, and stories of sporting events or athletes that provide some lighter reading for enjoyment. But of course, much of my time is spent with writings on subjects I'm drawn to because of a desire to grow in my walk with Christ and gain more knowledge in areas of the Christian life and leadership. Two from that subject area of my recent reading are worth sharing with you.
     I've just finished Mark Batterson's latest book, The Circle Maker. Mark is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D. C. and author of several other best-selling books, all of which I would recommend. But The Circle Maker has been one of the most encouraging books on prayer that I've read. He is an engaging writer who is easy to read while communicating deep insights from the scripture with personal or firsthand illustrations that bring it all to life. Batterson is a master storyteller whom God has used in this book to convict me and make me hunger for a changed prayer life and deeper walk with God. I encourage you to move this to the top of your reading list as we join together to become a church that prays. I want to learn to, as Mark says, "pray circles around my (and our) biggest dreams and greatest fears." "God honors bold prayers and bold prayers honor God." I believe it. I know you do also. And I want to honor God with bold prayers.
     The second book is one that I have just begun. Discipleshift is written by Jim Putman with help from Bobby Harrington and Robert E. Coleman. Putman is pastor of Real Life Ministries in Idaho, leading a thriving church that is built on the principle of discipleship. He has led this church on a very clear, simple path of sharing the gospel and making disciples who can, in turn, make disciples. The subtitle of the book is: Five Steps That Help Your Church to Make Disciples Who Make Disciples. This is not a book that is just another theory for church life. It is very practical, biblical, and it just makes sense. I've shared often with you in the past year or more how burdened I am over the need for discipleship. We have too often measured the success of a church by how many people come, how much money is given, and how many people join. These are all worth measuring, but they are only secondary measures. I have become absolutely convinced that the New Testament gives us a different standard and plan of action where success is measured by how many people are being loved and led to Christ; who are following Him; who are being transformed into the likeness of Christ and are pursuing His mission. We must measure how many are actually becoming disciples who can make disciples. And that will not happen through, even the best worship services, Bible studies and Bible Fellowship classes. Information transfer will not make disciples. It can only be done the way Jesus did it - in a smaller relational context of shared lives, commitment, accountability and growth that produces Christ-like men and women who can be disciple-makers also. If you would like to know more of where my heart is as a pastor, reading this book will help.
     If you should decide to join me in reading one or both of these books, let me know. I would love to hear how God is using them in your life.

Pastor Rod
   

July Sabbatical Comes to an End

     The term "Sabbatical" is derived from a word which literally means "ceasing." It's a break or a rest from work, traditionally lasting from two months to a year. The scriptures speak to the sabbatical principle in a number of places and describe it as a time of rest and refreshment in order to prepare again for productive labor.
     August 1 marks the end of a short sabbatical for me for the month of July. I am grateful for a church that sees the value of providing such a time for their pastor and the encouragement and support to make it happen.
     How did I spend these days? The time was not additional vacation time. I have vacation weeks granted each year for rest and relaxation and have to confess that I've not always been good about taking all of my vacation allotment through the years. I should do better in that area, but that's a different discussion.
     The sabbatical time provided an opportunity for a break in routine that freed me to be able to read, do some planning for sermon direction for the months ahead, and allow God to use the time to bring refreshment to my spirit. We were also able to worship in different churches - something we don't often have the opportunity to do. In each setting I was able to experience a good time of worship, but also to gain ideas for things that we can incorporate in our worship as well. Experiencing those things is much better than simply hearing about them.
     These days, though in a different way than the other 11 months of the year, can be very productive ones for me and, ultimately, for the church as well. Camille and I spent time together and were also able to pull back from the daily demands of ministry leadership in order to be refreshed and refocused.
     I'm grateful for our staff  who faithfully picked up the extra responsibilities through the month. I'm thankful for these men and the ministries and leadership they provide.
     Though Ryan Walling, Al Magness, and Randy Seale all had time away for vacation or conferences during the month, they made certain that everything continued smoothly. And even though I did have a vision team meeting, a church wedding, (plus a wedding for our son), and a few details that required my attention, I was otherwise able to maintain a "low profile" throughout the weeks. I think Camille is ready to send me back to the office now!
     I will look forward to worshiping with you on Sunday, August 4 as we look together at John 9 and share the Lord's Supper.

Gratefully,
Pastor Rod
   

Looking Ahead

     The month of August is both an ending and a beginning. It means that summer is drawing to a close. School begins a new year in just about one month from now. That can be good news or bad news, depending on how things are going for your summer at this point - and maybe whether you are a parent or a child. But either way, the time is drawing short.
    August is also something of a beginning. In many ways it's like the beginning of a new year. As the month moves toward a conclusion, we usually find ourselves looking ahead to new beginnings in the fall. That's certainly true in the church. Families are returning from vacations, rested from a change of pace, and are preparing for a fresh start once again.
     We can look forward to the months to come with a sense of anticipation of new things. We will share together in the Lord's Supper on August 4 as I begin a new 5 week series which will focus on taking the gospel to our community, our motivation for doing so, and the exceptional opportunity God has given us to reach our neighborhood comprised of numerous cultures and life situations, as well as the northwest Austin area. This will not be a series that simply urges us to go, but one that will also reveal the heart of God and His desire for everyone to know His love. It will be a good time to invite friends who do not yet know Christ to join you in worship.
     Then, beginning September 8, we will join with approximately 250 evangelical churches across our city in a campaign called Explore God. You have probably already noticed billboards around the city directing people to the the website ExploreGod.com. For 7 weeks we will all be sharing the same themes in our preaching and teaching, giving us the opportunity and equipping us to help friends and those we meet to explore God. You are already hearing about the campaign at AMBC and I want to urge you to join others as we link with thousands of other believers in taking the gospel to Austin. There has never been an effort like this in any city across America. But others are watching us and now making plans to do what we are doing. Revival and a sweeping movement of the gospel could be just ahead, beginning in Austin, Texas. Will you pray for that?
     Finally, as we near the conclusion of our months of vision clarity work, we can look forward to the roll-out of those details in the next few months. I have been encouraged by the progress we have seen as God has enabled us to gain a better understanding of our community, the uniqueness of our church family, our values, and how we can put that information into a renewed vision for reaching those who do not yet know Christ.
     I'm looking forward to returning to preach in August as we anticipate together a fantastic fall to come.

Pastor Rod

Unfamiliar Surroundings vs. Home Field Confidence

     Camille and I attended an engagement party for our son, Austin, and his fiance, Lauren, last week in the home of Lauren's parents. They are very gracious people and it's easy to enjoy their company. But they live in distant state and, knowing that many of their friends from church, work and neighborhood would not be able to attend the wedding, they wanted to invite them to their home to enjoy food and time to meet Austin. We were invited as well, and enjoyed the time, but our son, and rightly so, was the one everyone wanted to meet. Some 80 people came through their home that night and enjoyed the time. Camille and I did so as well. We met many life-long family friends, neighbors and family members.
     But as Camille and I reflected on the evening, we realized how easily we can forget what it's like for people to step into unfamiliar settings. No matter how good the environment or how promising the event, if you have never been in it and don't know the people there, it's somewhat unnerving. Others seem obviously comfortable because they have been there before, know others who are there, or both. Camille and I are not uncomfortable meeting people for the first time. We do it often. We have no trouble taking the initiative in introducing ourselves to people who come across our paths. However, we were reminded by our experience that we are comfortable doing that when we are in our familiar places - in our church or home or in a setting where we are surrounded by people that we know. We're relaxed and confident, in other words, when we have "home field advantage."
     Now we found ourselves feeling just a little uncomfortable - even intimidated - at times. Do we introduce ourselves to the group circled together in conversation and laughter? What if they ignore us, or smile and return to their conversation, leaving us looking foolish and alone? Should we just find a corner, try not to appear conspicuous, and hope that people will come to introduce themselves to us? We don't know these people and we're not sure about the expectations they might have regarding social behavior in this setting. What if we do or say something that makes us look foolish?
     As you would expect, everyone was warm, friendly and welcoming. We met so many wonderful people and enjoyed learning about them and their relationships with our soon-to-be daughter-in-law. We thoroughly enjoyed the time and suffered no rejection or embarrassment!
    But it was a compelling reminder to us that people who walk through the doors of our church or into a home to attend a Bible study for the first time are inevitably thinking and feeling the same things we thought and felt. That's especially true for those who have not yet come to know Christ or who have little evangelical church background.
     One of the assessments we often hear from guests at Anderson Mill is that we are a very welcoming fellowship. They sense that people in this church genuinely care about them and are glad that they have come. That's always good to hear. But I need to be reminded at times that every person I meet in my daily path or who walks through the doors of my church is valuable in God's economy. There are no little or unimportant people.
     Let me encourage you to ask God to keep your awareness sharp and your heart and attention open to others. Enjoy the relationships we have in God's family at AMBC, but be ready to leave a group conversation to welcome a new face walking through the door. Make a place for them to sit with you or be willing to leave your friends to ask if you might sit with them. A warm smile and some genuine attention can relieve a lot of anxiety for someone new, and may eventually open the door that will make an eternal difference for them.

Men Who Are Making a Difference

     Another Father's Day has come and gone. We had young couples and their children sharing in a time of commitment during a Parent/Baby Dedication in worship. I'm thankful for those young fathers who are committed to living for Christ and to being the men, husbands and fathers God desires for them to be. Included in this group are fathers of adoption - men who have chosen to love a child or children, and who are fathers, in every sense of the word, for their children. And I'm also thankful for so many who have been wonderful fathers through the years who have loved, led and lived for their children as models of God's plan for fathers. We can look around our church family and see the evidence of those lives in the families and children they lead.
     But it occurred to me, as Camille and I talked during a Father's Day afternoon walk, that there are two groups of men not always thought of as quickly or included in our wishes for a "Happy Father's Day." But the men in these groups are fathers making a difference in the lives of children because they have stepped up to fill a void left by others.
     One group is comprised of, for lack of a better term, "stepfathers." I say that the term is lacking because I include several types of fathers in this group. There are those we would readily think of as stepfathers. In some cases, the biological fathers of these children are very much involved in their lives and have not stepped out of the picture or walked away from their responsibilities as a father. In other cases, the relationship is weak or non-existent, and God has allowed that vacancy to be filled by a stepdad who loves the child or children, loves God, and has become the dad they need and love. We have some men in that place, and I am thankful for their choice to love and serve the children that have been placed into their lives. Others I place in this group are grandfathers or uncles who have lovingly and sacrificially accepted the role of dad for the sake of children in their extended family. We have some in this place, and I thank God for you, and for the difference you are making in those lives. If you are in this group, you may not be "Dad" in the biological sense, but you are "Dad" in a far more significant way.
     The last group is one I would refer to as "surrogate fathers." We have so many men who step up to serve as a godly male influence for children who do not have that at home. You give them your attention, time and encouragement. You make sure they are able to attend camps and ministry events that they otherwise could not afford. You have served as a mentor, helping them learn some skills that only a dad could help them acquire. We have so many men in those places, serving children, students and young adults, much like Paul did with Timothy, to whom he referred to as "my dear son (2 Timothy 1:2). You are making a difference. God bless you.
     I thank God for the men who fill these roles and pray that God would continue to raise up others who will live for Him and make a difference in the next generation.

A Grateful Southern Baptist

     Camille and I will be in Houston several days this week for the annual Southern Baptist Convention meeting. Always scheduled in the month of June, the location is different each year, moving to different parts of the country, enabling messengers from churches across the nation to attend more easily. The location change certainly helps pastors, as many serve churches which are not able to afford to send them across the country each year. We might easily miss or forget that, according to some research, the median weekly attendance in a SBC church in the U.S. is 80 people. Nearly half of our churches have a membership of less than 200. I'm grateful that our church makes it possible for us to attend each year to be refreshed and to participate in the business of our convention.
     I'm also grateful to be a part of our Southern Baptist Convention which is comprised of more than 45,000 churches, making it the largest evangelical denomination in the world. Each week, Southern Baptist churches gather in the U.S. to worship in more than two dozen languages. Together, we support 10,000 individuals serving in missions around the world, taking the gospel to 1089 people groups (people who share a common language or dialect, origin, and culture), many of whom would have little or no access to the gospel if not for the missionaries from our International Mission Board.
     Southern Baptists provide training and education for more than 16,000 students preparing for ministry in our six theological seminaries located on the east and west coasts and places between. We also have a worldwide presence in serving through disaster relief as the SBC joins the Red Cross and the Salvation Army as the three largest relief agencies in the world.
     Like people and churches, there are no perfect denominations. But I'm grateful to share in ministry with a Bible-believing people who have a heart to serve people in the name of Jesus and a passion to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. And I am grateful to share in that ministry with you.
Blessings,
Pastor Rod

The Kids Are Coming!

It happens each year about this time... the halls, rooms, sanctuary, and every available space is filled with 500 or more boys and girls for Vacation Bible School at AMBC. Transformation begins to take place a week or two ahead of time and on the Sunday before Monday's start, I preach in front of an elaborate stage setting of some sort. One year, I preached from the deck of a sailing ship. Another, I was in front of a bamboo curtain with Pandas everywhere. And last year I stood in the clouds filled with kites and a large bi-plane. This Sunday I will be preaching from an elaborate castle - but I'm not sure whether I'll be on the drawbridge or in front. Hopefully, I will not be assigned to the moat!

I'm thankful for a church family that is flexible because we care about children and look forward to introducing them to Christ. And, I'm grateful for those who give so much time, energy, and incredible creativity in making VBS an experience that the children, workers, and the families of those children, will not soon forget. Special thanks goes to Chris Simpson for her investment of countless hours giving leadership and direction to this ministry.

I hope you will join me, along with so many others in our church family, in praying that God would bless those 5 days of VBS at AMBC, and that the lives and eternal destination of many of those children would be forever changed.
Pastor Rod