Shawneetown First Baptist News

 Another life changing event took place at the Hall household on Wednesday of this week!  Millie and I were relaxing after we had gotten home from Bible Study and Prayer at the church.  Matt had come in after his church activities at Harrisburg to pick up a few things to use on Sunday morning because he was going to preach at McKinley Avenue.

   A little before 10:00 p.m. the front door opened.  K.C. (pronounced Kacey), our daughter Natalie’s little wire-haired Terrier, came running into the house.  Since K.C. is staying with them while Natalie is in Coast Guard training, we immediately knew that some of the Smith Family (our daughter Kellie’s family) would be following.  Actually, it was all of them!

   Kellie had a camera in her hand.  Matt said, “What’s up?”  There was a silence.  Then, there was some whispering.  Kellie became teary-eyed and we began to catch on to what was going on.  McKellyn, our eight-year-old granddaughter was acting shyer than usual, clinging to Mom and Dad.

   Nana (Millie) said to her, “Come over here!”  McKellyn went over to her Nana and hugged her and began to cry.  Nana half-whispered, “Did you accept Jesus?”  McKellyn replied by nodding her head. Then the tears really began to flow!

   And, the rejoicing began!  McKellyn came over and hugged me and I encouraged her.  Then, she went over and hugged Uncle Matt as he happily said, “Cool!”  Millie said, “The angels are rejoicing in Heaven!”  And Matt added, “There’s a party going on in Heaven!”

   Kellie shared with us that McKellyn’s Grandma Smith had recently been talking to McKellyn about Jesus and that she had come into Mom’s and Dad’s bedroom that evening and wanted to talk about it. McKellyn was saved there in their bedroom!

   Once again the Hall Family had the wonderful experience of witnessing the amazing grace of God!  God’s salvation is available to everyone, regardless of age or condition!  However, every person who is saved must accept Jesus Christ as McKellyn did—“as a child.”

   In Matthew, chapter 18, the disciples asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  In verses 2-5, it says Jesus “called a child to Him and had him stand among them.  ‘I assure you,’ He said, ‘unless you are converted and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child—this one is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.’” (Matthew 18:1-5)

   I believe this is why many adults have such a difficult time being saved.  They cannot humble themselves and just accept God for who He is!  And, they are unwilling to give up the fact that they cannot save themselves.  And, as adults, they have been so indoctrinated by the world that they miss out on the kingdom of heaven!

   I was saved at the age of nine and I am so thankful that I had parents and others around me that encouraged me to ask Jesus Christ into my life at a young age!  I don’t know what my life would have been like if they had not.

   And, because it is much harder for many adults to give up their pride and humble themselves to repent of their sin and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, I believe that many who are leaders of children today should fear God rather than be intimidated by government authorities and those who reject God.  Denying them access to prayer and the Bible may be a negative influence that could play a part in keeping them from humbling themselves to receive Jesus Christ!  “Whoever welcomes one child like this in My name welcomes Me.”

   On Sunday, May 26^th, we will have a Memorial Day service and recognize all our military personnel past and present in our Morning Worship.

   On Sunday, June 2^nd, we will once again remember what our Lord Jesus did for us and we will observe the Lord’s Supper together.

   I want to ask you to be praying for me as I spiritually prepare for June 9^th.  It is Pulpit Freedom Sunday and I have committed to join pastors throughout the nation in preaching on the biblical view of marriage.

   A group from our association will be traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 3-10 to share the Gospel in different ways.  We are hoping to take a group from our church.

Shawneetown First Baptist News

   What has changed since 1970?  That is a question that is upon my mind at present.  Actually, it is on my mind every year just about this time.  You may ask, “What ‘time’ are you talking about?  The “time” I am referring to is “graduation time?”  As the graduations approach each year, I always wonder what is about to transpire.  Let me try to explain what I am talking about.

   1970 was the first year that I was pastor at First Baptist Church of Shawneetown during the time of the graduations taking place.  At that time, I was asked to lead either a prayer of invocation or a prayer of benediction at the high school graduation commencement and another pastor was asked to lead in the other prayer.  And, it was the same procedure for the junior high school graduation commencement. That happened for several years.

   However, after several years, that began to change.  The pastors began to be notified that we would no longer be asked to participate in the commencement exercises.  It took us by surprise.  But, then they told me that students would begin to be asked to lead prayer in the program.  Far from upsetting me, I actually rejoiced in that decision.  I thought it was wonderful that the young people would themselves do the praying!  And, in the following few years, I was overjoyed to hear some of the wonderful prayers offered by the students in our schools!

   But since that time, the situation has dwindled to the point that it is a rare occasion to hear a prayer in a commencement exercise.  Why is this a problem?  More than being a problem in itself, it is a symptom of the problems we are facing in our schools and in our society.  All you have to do is take a close look at what is going on in the lives of our students these days.

   So, what has changed about prayer?  One of the popular secular answers to this question is:  “We have evolved!”  This answer is offered with the implication that we have become better and we don’t need God and we don’t need prayer!  I emphatically reject the unproven “theory” of evolution.  It is evident that we are definitely not becoming better!  If anything, we are going the other way.

   I also know that God and His Word have not changed!  God is Creator, Sustainer, Savior, and Redeemer.  He is the answer to all that is going on in our society and our world.  He offers to hear and answer our prayer.  Why in the world we would refuse such an offer is just beyond my understanding!  And, why we would ever refuse the option of prayer to our struggling youth is absolutely unbelievable!

   The Constitution of the United States has not changed either!  The Bill of Rights protects the freedom of religion and does not prohibit prayer in the public arena.  Those who are against religion in any form have put a scare in the hearts and minds of many of our leaders so that they shy away from the one thing that calls upon a good and gracious God to help us with the deepest needs of our society.

   Neither has the church changed!  The church is still that body through which God speaks and works to bring His guidance and blessing to this world.  Unfortunately, the church is not taking her stand and making the impact upon this world that God intends.  The church needs to give itself more fully and more intensely to prayer for our nation.  I am praying that the church has impacted some of the lives of some of our young people to the point that they will courageously take a stand for their God!

   So, what has changed?  I will leave it up to you to answer this question as to why we have come from being completely open to prayer concerning the lives of our young people to nearly eliminating it altogether.

   We will have a Graduate Recognition Day this Sunday.  We will recognize all graduates and family who are in the Morning Worship at 10:40 and present the graduates with a gift.  Then, after worship, we will have a Luncheon in honor of all the graduates.  Associate Pastor Mike Rushing will bring the message in the Morning Worship.

   On Sunday, May 26^th, we will have a Memorial Day service and recognize all our military personnel past and present in our Morning Worship.

   On Sunday, June 2^nd, we will once again remember what our Lord Jesus did for us and we will observe the Lord’s Supper together.

   A group from our association will be traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 3-10 to share the Gospel in different ways.  We are hoping to take a group from our church.

Shawneetown First Baptist News

 The National Day of Prayer is Thursday, May 2^nd.  We will be having a special observance on this day at noon at the shelter in the middle of town.  This year the theme is simply “Pray for America!” We are being called to commit to pray for our nation.  The scripture foundation is in Matthew 12:21:  “In His Name the nations will put their hope.” 

   After last week, surely we can see the urgency of praying for our nation!  We have seen once again how Satan can get into the hearts of men and cause great evil to happen.  We have seen how an accident like the one in West, Texas, can take unsuspecting lives without notice.  And, we have seen a great man of God, George Beverly Shea, go home to be with the Lord!

   My heart goes out to the people in Boston!  I can only try to imagine what they must be experiencing!  How two young men would have such hatred in their hearts to do such a thing is beyond my human understanding.  We need to pray for the grace of God to be seen in the lives of all these folks.

   And, we still struggle to understand such tragic accidents as the one in Texas.  I don’t pretend to have all the answers to things like this.  But I do know of God’s promise to be with us through anything when we trust Him!  And, I do know that He hears our prayers as we bring them to Him!  Another reason for prayer!

   Then, I think of George Beverly Shea.  He was 104 when the Lord took him home.  Still, there are many who mourn his passing.  It is our loss.  However, it is his gain!  He is still singing!  The only difference is that it is with the Heavenly Choir rather than the Billy Graham Crusade Choir.  But, what a difference!

   Whether death comes through the hand of evil as in Boston, or by a tragic accident as in Texas, or by natural causes as with Bev Shea, there is a common denominator here.  It is the urgency of knowing Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior!  Whether our death or the death of a loved one comes by any of these means, we mourn but we do not despair as people without hope, because we believe that Jesus died and rose again!

   This brings me back to our emphasis on The National Day of Prayer.  It is urgent that we pray for spiritual awakening in America!  It is urgent that we pray for the leaders of our nation that they might recognize they are in their positions only because God allows them to be there!  It is urgent that we pray for the many lost people in America who will not go home to be with the Lord when they die!  So, I am asking you to join us at noon on May 2^nd as we come together to “Pray for America!”    

   In the next few weeks, Bro. Mike and I will be sharing with our church family about a mission trip which is being offered through Saline Baptist Association.  A group from our association will be traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 3-10 to share the Gospel in different ways.  We are hoping to take a group from our church.  Pray about it!      

   And, in November, our church family is planning to be intensely involved in the “My Hope, Billy Graham” personal evangelism effort throughout our community.  We will begin making plans for this important evangelistic effort this Sunday!

   Mother’s Day is coming up.  It is May 12.  We will be inviting ladies from our church and our community to join us for worship.  We will present a gift to all of the ladies above high school age.  Also, we will offer a Parent/Child Dedication service to any who have not yet dedicated themselves to raise their children to know God.  If you are interested, please let me know by May 5^th.

   Then, we will have a Graduate Recognition Day on Sunday, May 19^th.  We will recognize all graduates and family who are in the Morning Worship and present the graduates with a gift.  Then, after worship, we will have a Luncheon in honor of all the graduates.

   On Sunday, May 26^th, we will have a Memorial Day service and recognize all our military personnel past and present in our Morning Worship.

   Go to shawneetownfirstbaptistchurch.com and check out changes in our website. 

Shawneetown First Baptist News

   The tomb is empty!  Last week I shared with you that the cross is empty.  It is also of great importance that you believe the tomb is empty.  I am appalled when I hear how many preachers in the pulpit today do not preach that Jesus was bodily resurrected from the dead.  It goes all the way back to Satan’s lie in the First Century:  “After the priests had assembled with the elders and agreed on a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them, ‘Say this, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’  If this reaches the governor’s ears, we will deal with him and keep you out of trouble.’” (Matthew 28:12-14).

   You may think that was just a First Century plot.  However, listen to all the lies Satan has out there today:  (1) The women and the disciples went to the wrong tomb.  (2) Jesus never really died on the cross and was revived in the coolness of the night (the swoon theory).  (3) The disciples stored the body.  (4) Jesus continued to live in some “spiritual” sense that did not involve a bodily resurrection.  (5) The disciples were hallucinating. And, (6) Jesus had a twin.

   The problems with all of these “theories” are that even the disciples of Jesus were not expecting His resurrection and that He appeared to so many people—to the women, to Peter, to the 12, to over 500 believers at one time, and to James and all the apostles (1 Cor. 15:5-7).

   Why is it important to believe in a “bodily resurrection” of Jesus?  Because, if there was still a body in the tomb, it would give substance to some of these so called “theories” and Christianity would be no different than many of the other religions who claim a martyred leader who is still with them “in spirit.”  And, our “faith is worthless; and (we) are still in our sins.” (1 Cor. 15:17).  And, we would be without hope!  “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).

   What kind of body is Jesus’ resurrection body?  He Himself showed His disciples and us!  “Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself!  Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.”  Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet.  But while they still could not believe because of their joy and were amazed, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate in their presence (Luke 24:39-42).

   So, the tomb is empty for that reason!  Jesus was raised “bodily” from the dead!  And, if you are curious about what kind of body you will have in the resurrection, Jesus has just shown you through the Word of God.  Because His body is the firstfruits of what our new bodies are going to be like!  Is that not Good News?  But only for those who believe in the substitutionary crucified Savior and the bodily resurrected Lord!  He is Jesus Christ!  Put your trust in Him today and you will not only have the hope of a new body like His resurrected body one day; you will have the assurance that He walks and talks with you each day and will lead you to live the Christian life!

   Living out that Christian life, of course, means being a witness of His resurrection.  Matthew, Mark, and Luke, all three record the commission that Jesus gave to all His followers, past and present.  The one we are most familiar with is in Matthew:  “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.  And, remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

   In the next few weeks, Bro. Mike and I will be sharing some ways you can obey this commission of our Lord.  One is a mission trip which is being offered through Saline Baptist Association.  A group from our association will be traveling to Ann Arbor, Michigan, August 3-10 to share the Gospel in different ways.  We are hoping to take a group from our church.  Pray about it!      

   And, in November, we are hoping that our church family will be intensely involved in the “My Hope, Billy Graham” personal evangelism effort throughout our community.  Pray about this!

   I would like to ask you to begin praying about the National Day of Prayer.  It is Thursday, May 2^nd.  We plan to have a community observance of the day.  I’m certain you will agree that we really need to pray for our nation and all of our leaders. 

   Go to shawneetownfirstbaptistchurch.com and check out changes in our website.