We need a phone system that can receive multiple lines in and then have multiple extensions. I have never asked for any help like this on this blog but I thought that maybe some of you might have some connections or could help us. If you have any way to help meet this need please add a comment here or send an email to gardner@bcwe.org. Of course you can speak to anyone at the office also.
As I read some Baptist history today I came across the idea of the two bears in the same house by Charles Spurgeon and so I looked it up. This is the story. I want to have these two bears in my house.
I know that I have not always been very kind to others that thought differently than I did. I have also been pretty hard on those that weren’t as worried about world evangelism as I felt like I was.
Well the Lord sure dealt with my heart today. I want to move in the two bears. I want to bear and forbear. I want to be kind and merciful. God help me to treat others like I should.
Let me know what you think when you read the following devotional!
It is not meet that the man who will not forgive should be forgiven, nor shall he who will not give to the poor have his own wants relieved. God will measure to us with our own bushels, and those who have been hard masters and hard creditors, will find that the Lord will deal hardly with them. “He shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy.
This day let us try to give and to forgive. Let us mind the two bears —bear and forbear. Let us be kind, and gentle, and tender. Let us not put harsh constructions upon men’s conduct, nor drive hard bargains, nor pick foolish quarrels, nor be difficult to please. Surely we wish to be blessed, and we also want to obtain mercy: let us be merciful, that we may have mercy. Let us fulfill the condition, that we may earn the beatitude. Is it not a pleasant duty to be kind? Is there not much more sweetness in it than in being angry and ungenerous? Why, there is a blessedness in the thing itself! Moreover, the obtaining of mercy is a rich reward. What but sovereign grace could suggest such a promise as this? We are merciful to our fellow-mortal in pence, and the Lord forgives us “all that debt.”
As I read this note I thought to myself how much my heart longs for men to be raised up in and through our ministry like this man. Hungry to preach. Hungry to get the gospel to people. He is working in Texas way back when it had to be much harder than it is today but excited and paying the price.
God may be calling you right now. Have you offered Him your life to do whatever it is that He wants you to do!
“MARSHALL, November 29, 1855.
“If you could follow me with your eye, you would see me pretty often on a mule, trudging along through the woods and swamps of Texas, hunting up the scattered sheep of my Lord and Master, collecting them into little folds and encouraging them to efforts in the great cause. At other times you would see me in a little cabin, surrounded by a few deeply interested hearers, preaching Christ to them with much plainness and affection. Again you might behold me in some bush-arbor, to which rude sanctuary many are pressing on foot, on horseback and some few in carriages. In preaching, I tell them at one time of Sinai and all its thunders” at another time I depict the glory and dignity of Christ, and tell of His wonderful compassion and willingness to save. All weep. Two or three brethren come up and get me first by the hand and then around the neck. We weep together, we pray together, we sing together. And then away to the great meetings — the Association! the Convention! Thus,
you perceive, my life is a busy one, full of toil, full of responsibility.”
I am sitting here thinking of all the wonderful things that God has done in my life. I love Thanksgiving Day. It is my favorite holiday of the year. It is a time that we focus on God and all that He has done for us. I just wanted to share with you all that comes to mind as I sit here thanking and praising God.
I praise Him for
full salvation by His wonderful grace
my wonderful wife of 35 years, Betty
our 4 children, Chris, Stephanie, Joy, and David, who all love God and are faithful to serve him
our 4 inlaws-Andria, David, Julio, and Katie, who are wonderful additions to our family and great for their spouses
the wonderful staff that God has given me to work with, Mark, Trent, and Philip
all of our missionaries but especially those sent out of our church, Chris Gardner, Travis Snode, Julio Soncco, Mark Tolson, Mark Coffey, Ronald Tubillas
the students at the Our Generation Training Center
the many volunteers that make all that happens at Vision possible
the giving, praying and serving that all of you do
Those that make our music program so special from the pianos, the guitars, children’s ministry, specials, just all of it
the Sunday School, children’s church, Master Clubs workers
John Pearson and his offering devotions
all the kids that come for candy to the office every service
the churches that have worried about our personal needs for 3 years now
a thousand other things that are just too hard to list
God has been so good to us. I love Him and thank Him because without Him I wouldn’t be here or able to enjoy such rich blessings.
I love each of you and hope to see you all on Sunday.
by George Washington, first President of the United States
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor–and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me `to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.’
Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be — That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks — for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation–for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his Providence which we experienced in the tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed–for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted — for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.
And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions–to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually — to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed–to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shewn [sic] kindness onto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord — To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease [sic] of science among them and us — and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best.
Given under my hand at the City of New-York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789.
We are very rich here in the US and no matter how bad things get we are still rich compared to the majority of the world. Just think of where you are and where you could be and give thanks.
As I prepare for Thanksgiving, one image is burned into my mind. It is what starving Zimbabweans are eating in a nation that used to be southern Africa’s bread basket: “Farmers, villagers and townsfolk alike says that some Zimbabweans are reduced to plucking undigested corn kernels from cow dung, which they wash, pound and then cook. That could be tonight’s supper.”
As the article states where I got these quotes we may have lots but we sure don’t give lots. May God help us at Vision to really understand the condition of the world and to become real godly givers.
In fact, fewer than 5 percent of churchgoers actually tithe 10 percent of their income; the average, according to numbers from Empty Tomb, a Christian research group that puts out annual reports on church giving, is now 3.4 percent, or 21 percent less than what dust-bowler counterparts gave during the worst of the Great Depression. Figures show that churchgoer contributions have been cascading downward since the 1960s. Religious conservatives do give more. Problem is, they only give nominally more and other groups give next to nothing.
All day yesterday I looked forward our churches Thanksgiving Service. We have some wonderful cooks in our church. Also, I love the variety. Every meal at our church looks like an “international dinner” from a missions conference. I am so thankful to be part of such a diverse church.
The main reason I was excited about our service last night was of all the “testimonies of praise” we would hear. It was a great reminder that people coming to church hungry and being fed is not just something that happens one night a year. It happens on a weekly basis.
Many of the testimonies centered around the fact the Word of God had changed and is changing their lives. Here are a few of excerpts from what was said last night.
” This is a church where you do not have to come in with a plastic smile on your face. You can come in and be honest with you problems and get answers from the Bible”
“This summer my family and I were going through a very difficult time. The Pastor’s messages on “Trial by Fire” (from I Peter) was exactly what we needed at that time in our lives.”
“I am so thankful for Uncle Sam inviting me to this church. I did not know how to go to heaven before and since I have been here I have been shown Jesus is the way” (Teenager)
“Last year someone knocked on my door and I knew I had a decision to make. I could go to church and learn about God or stay home do what my family does. I came to church, learned about God, and got saved. Now I am working at inviting my family here so they can get saved also.” (Teenager)
“I am so thankful for people I can share my problems with. My family does not come to church but I am thankful for people I can talk about the struggles I have as a Christian”. (Teenager)
“I am back. I have been away from sometime. I am thankful for a pastor and many others who stayed after me and never gave up. I am also thankful that when I came back I was welcomed with the open arms of all of you.” (teenager who followed the national statistics and left church after graduation)
As you can tell I am partial to the teenager testimonies. Last night was a testimony that some people have been fed from the Word of God. I am thankful to the hunger God has given them and the Word of God that truly satisfies. Being involved in church planting is one of the most exciting adventures anyone can experience. I can say the only thing I find as almost enjoyable as seeing someone accept Christ is seeing a community accept a church.
I haven’t seen him in years but Pastor Hardin and his church were our faithful supporters for many years as we were missionaries in Peru. As you read the article below you will see the horrible situation and know how to pray. My family and I ate lunch on a Sunday afternoon in their home in 1986. They are very good people and she dearly loved the Lord. Please pray. I will update you more on any news that I get.
CHESNEE, S.C. — A woman died in a house fire Monday morning, despite her husband and a neighbor’s attempts to save her. Duwayne Corn from the Spartanburg Coroner’s Office said she died from carbon monoxide poisoning and possibly thermal burns from the fire.
Chesnee Fire Capt. Matthew Scruggs said neighbors called to report that the woman was trapped in her burning home in the 100 block of Rhode Island Circle.
Albert Hardin said the victim was his wife, Jettie Hardin.
Neighbors told WYFF News 4 that Jettie Hardin was cooking when the fire broke, but her husband said he took care of all the cooking, and he wasn’t home when the fire started.
Albert Hardin said he left the house at about 8 a.m. and came home at 10:30 a.m.
“When I drove down here the house was on fire, smoke was coming out the gable in and out of the roof,” he said. “The door was locked. I unlocked it and tried to get in. The smoke was so bad I couldn’t get in.”
He ran to his neighbor’s home for help and he and a neighbor tried to get into the house to rescue the woman. The neighbor said he could hear Jettie Hardin calling for help.
Hardin said the smoke was too intense and they couldn’t get inside.
Hardin’s husband said that they had been married for 53 years. Her son said he thought his mother had turned 78 on her last birthday, but he wasn’t sure because she didn’t like to talk about her age.
Georgia Seay was Jettie Hardin’s friend for 15 years.
“I’m going to miss her,” Seay said. “She was there for me when my mother passed away. It’s kind of hard, knowing she won’t be here no more.”
The Hardins’ son said that his mother had been disabled for the past three years and relied heavily on his father, who is a pastor.
Hardin said, “She said she prayed every night the Lord would take her and I prayed everyday the Lord would able me to take care of her at home as long as she lived and he did. But, sir, the thing that hurt so bad — that she died the way she did. I loved her. We had a good life. We had a good marriage. God’s been good to us.”
“She was a good woman, she had been a good wife and she’d been a blessing. She loved God.”
Albert Hardin was left without his wife and with only the clothes on his back, but his faith is giving him strength and hope.
“One day, by His grace, I’ll see her again and meet her again,” he said.
Could I challenge you to do something very special this year for Thanksgiving. Not only should you be in church and thank God for all He has done but how about trying to make a list of at least 4 or 5 people that God has used to bless and impact your life and then telling them thank you in a special way.
Send them a letter, card, email, gift but just tell them that you love them and thank God for them.
Be sure to tell them exactly what you are thanking God for. Make it exact and personal and it will mean far more. If you do this and get a blessing from it maybe you could leave a comment about how God uses your thankfulness to bless you too.
