FBC Carthage E-News for January 20, 2009

First Baptist Church Carthage
E-News
January 20, 2009

Good Morning,

It is great to be back in Tennessee after my trip to New York. Brad Tackett, Michael Key, Jimmy Wilburn and I went to help Jim Wilburn with his move to Kings Park, New York. We left Friday morning around 6:00 AM and arrived there around 12 Midnight. The drive through New York City with three vehicles, one being a moving truck, was the most challenging. We made it there safely and got Jim moved in the next day.

King’s Park is approximately fifty miles from New York City and is much more residential than the city. In fact, Kings Park had a small town feeling with streets and houses, two grocery stores, a school and a train station.

After unloading the truck, Pastor Tommy Curtis, the Interim Pastor of North Shores Baptist Church (and Kandy Smith’s dad), took three of us, Brad, Michael and myself, on a tour of New York City. There are several pictures on the website from this trip at www.fbccarthage.com. New York City is very different than Kings Park. It’s very different from anywhere I’d ever been before. The people, buildings and subway system were a sight to see. We were glad to get back to Bro. Jim’s home that night.

Sunday was a special day as we went to North Shore Baptist Church for Bro. Jim Wilburn’s first Sunday as Pastor. The service was great and Jim did a fantastic job preaching from Genesis 12. The people were very friendly and made us feel welcome. After the service they had a church-wide potluck dinner. The food was delicious even though there wasn’t any fried chicken.

After saying “Good-bye” to the people, Bro. Jim and his dad, we started our trip back to Tennessee. I am greatly encouraged with Kings Park and the opportunities of North Shore Baptist Church and their Pastor, Bro. Jim Wilburn. We are already making plans for a Mission Trip to New York around July 4 to work together for God’s Kingdom.

Be praying for Jim, Karen and Baby Colin as they make this transition. They will be back in Carthage and in the service with us this Sunday. Pray for their families as they go. Pray for the people of North Shores Baptist Church as they come. This is an exciting opportunity for all of us to see God work in a wonderful way as we serve Him together.

Jim and Karen’s new address will be:
25 W. Main St
King’s Park, NY 11754

Have a blessed week and I look forward to seeing you on Wednesday night and next Sunday.

Bro. Tim

Here’s the news for the week:
1. Today is Inauguration Day and I hope you are praying for President Barack Obama and our country. I have written an article for the Carthage Courier encouraging us all to pray for the President and the nation. It is included at the end of this e-news.

2. Sunday is Evangelism Day in Tennessee. We are looking forward to having Benny Jackson as our special guest Evangelist for the morning and evening services. Invite family and friends to attend these special services.

3. This week is the 36th anniversary of Roe vs Wade in which abortion became legal. Since that decision, it is estimated that more than 50 million babies have been murdered in the United States of America through legal abortions. Take a few minutes this week to consider what this means for our nation before a holy God and ask the Lord to bring an end to the slaughter of the innocent children of our nation. Having served for several years on the Board of the Cookeville Crisis Pregnancy Center, I have a passion for the sanctity of every human life. We must be a voice for the unborn. For more information, check out the Focus on the Family web site at http://www.heartlink.org/beavoice/index.cfm.

4. We are beginning to make plans for a couples Valentine dinner on Saturday, February 14. If you would like to help with this event please let me know.

5. Wednesday night we will continue our study of John 15:18-6:4 where Jesus speaks of the persecution we can expect as believers. Here are a couple of web sites that may be of interest and provide additional information to you on this subject:
Voice of the Martyrs
http://www.persecution.com/
This site relates present day accounts of believers undergoing persecution for their faith around the world.

History of Persecution
http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/history/persecution.htm

Persecution of the Apostles
http://www.allaboutfollowingjesus.org/christian-persecution.htm

6. Pray for President Barack Obama
January 20, 2009 marks an historic day in American history as President Barack Obama is sworn into office as the 44th President of the United States. Many Christians have watched the proceedings with mixed emotions and some even questioned evangelical pastor Rev. Rick Warren voicing one of the inaugural prayers.

During these days of uncertainty, few would question the need for prayer in America. Instead of possibly holding back on our prayers for President Obama, now is the time we as Christians need to be praying for him, for the Congress and for our nation. Regardless of political affiliation, he is our President, and we as believers in Jesus Christ have a responsibility to pray for him.

Does praying for a person mean that we approve of all the person stands for or all that he does? Of course not. We do not pray for people just because we agree with them, believe in them or accept what they teach. We pray for people because we believe in God and His power to touch people’s lives and bring about real, inner change. Prayer changes things. Prayer changes people.

The hope for the United States of America does not rest in President Obama or in any elected official. The hope for America is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus is and has always been our hope.

This is the time for Christians to unite in praying for our nation. We need the renewal of what is good and right about America. We need revival of our spiritual lives. These two, renewal and revival, are linked together. Renewal in our land will begin as we see revival begin in the heart and lives of Christians.

The Lord spoke to King Solomon after the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and gave him the call to revival and renewal. God says these words in 2 Chronicles 7:13-14, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

During this first week of President Barack Obama’s administration, let us pray for him and for our nation. There are many serious situations which he will encounter, and he needs our prayers. The headlines of newspapers and the lead stories of newscasts give us ample subjects for which to pray everyday. Instead of feeling there is nothing we can do to make a difference, let us realize that we can do the one and only thing that can truly make a difference. We can pray. “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:17).”