Thursday, December 31, 2009

Happy New Year!

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

“Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Bears all its sons away; They fly forgotten, as a dream Dies at the opening day." (“O God Our Help in Ages Past”) Isaac Watts’ Meditation on Psalm 90

2009, like an ever-rolling stream, will soon have gone away! 2010, the first year of the second decade of the 21st Century, will arrive to great fanfare as a clean slate of high hopes and heart-felt dreams. Through 2009, we lost much and gained much. Hopefully, we learned much and achieved much. Change has been constant; the old has passed away and behold, new things have come.

Our beloved Nation has been financially, morally, and spiritually damaged to a degree unprecedented in our lifetime. Shall we see revival? Or, shall we go the way of all Nations that forget God? God knows. Even if God is not willing to save America, (and I pray that He is) He is willing to save Americans! May He graciously use us to bring many sons and daughters into His Kingdom.

If the Lord tarries His coming, in August of this New Year we will celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Central Baptist Association. Please join me in praying that 2010 will be the most fruitful and productive year in our history! God bless you, our Churches, and Central Baptist Association!

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Happy "Thanksgiving" ?

I seem to have my holidays mixed up! Last Friday was Christmas, next Friday is New Year’s Day; but, I am sitting here engaged in Thanksgiving!

I have been feeling overwhelmingly thankful that the Lord is bringing Tom and Pauline Miller and Don and Ruth Ann Lusk back to serve CBA Churches. I am happy for the Churches, our Association, and for me!

I must admit that I am feeling a bit guilty about being so happy because this means that two other IBSA Churches: Youngblood Baptist and First Baptist Ashmore (respectively) have had to say goodbye to these dear friends.

2009 has been a wonderful year in many ways, and it is great to see it capped off by the return of these two godly families! May God bless the Youngblood and Ashmore Churches; may God bless Trinity and SBC Sullivan; and, may God continue to richly bless all of us throughout all the years ahead.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

IBSA Annual Meeting

Well, the 103rd Annual Meeting of Illinois Baptists is history! All-in-all, it was a pretty routine meeting, and as Baptist business meetings go - that is a good thing.

I missed the first night of the Pastor's Conference due to an Elder's meeting at Atwood, but on Wednesday morning I was able to hear a great message by John Franklin about Elijah on Mt Carmel, and I was privileged to nominate our own Adam Cruse to serve as the Treasurer for the Pastor's Conference. He was unanimously elected!

The annual meeting itself was a refreshing time of reunion, worship, inspiration, and a sense of unity that results from the respect and confidence Illinois Baptists have in our Staff and Officers. Several CBA friends were elected or re-elected to serve in leadership positions in IBSA:
Tom Miller (OK, he is a former CBA'er) to serve on the Nominating Committee
Seth Ventress (another former CBA'er and the brand-new Pastor at Taylorville Southern) on the Committee on Order of Business
Randy Moon (Tabernacle) on the Constitution Committee
Adam Cruse (Mt Zion) Board of Directors Strategy Planning Committee
Charles Bayless (Tabernacle) Baptist Foundation Trustee

A Cooperative Program goal of $6,850,000.00 was set and a budget totaling $9,060,400.00 was adopted!

IBSA President, Dr. Kevin Kerr, did his usual great job of leading us and his President's Message was a blessing!

Dr. Doug Munton, who spent several of his childhood and youth years at Macon where his father was Pastor of FBC, was elected as our new President!

New Work was highlighted on Wednesday evening with several of our Church Planters giving brief presentations of their work.

I got to visit briefly with some famous folk including Tom Miller, Don and Sharon Evans, Ed Hollis, Mitch and Linda Flesch, Adam Powers, Adam Cruse, Don and Ruth Ann Lusk, and some other friends from all around the State including Bob Carter, my former DOM!

A tribute to Dr. Earnest Moseley, Kay Shipley, and Dr. Fred Winters was a special blessing to everyone there.

The annual sermon by Pastor Michael Allen of Uptown Baptist Church in Chicago was excellent!

Finally, Tabernacle Baptist Church was chosen as the site for the 2012 Annual Meeting! I am already looking forward to it!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

GREAT NIGHT AT ARGENTA!

What a happy night at Argenta. I stopped by for my regular visit and found a completely repainted interior, a beautiful new Church Sign, and (best of all) a debt-free Church! Last Sunday, they paid off their mortgage on the new addition!

AWANA was in full swing this evening. Lots of happy kids and faithful workers enjoyed their Opening Assembly and watched a skit featuring Pastor Brian Minott and some "Loco Lady" (who bore slight resemblance to AWANA Commander Kathy Rybolt) as they prepared to teach the kids about the Plague of Locusts that God sent upon Egypt just before bringing His people out of bondage! A hot contest is going on, but (thank the Lord) the Israelites are slightly ahead of the Egyptians!

*Imagine the theological difficulties they will have if the Egyptians win!

Please keep Pastor Brian and this happy Church in your prayers as they continue to faithfully witness the Word of God to the people of Argenta and the surrounding areas, and as they continue to minister to "Boys and Girls of All Ages!"

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Another Great Annual Meeting!

The 60th Annual Meeting of Central Baptist Association was a joyous occasion of fellowship, blessing, and good stewardship of the Lord's business. Nearly 80 messengers and visitors from 16 CBA Churches were in attendance. Thank you to all of the faithful members of FBC Atwood who made us so comfortable and prepared a great dinner!

Highlights of the meeting included wonderful music and singing led by Power of Praise, Bill Fleming, Mike Rutledge, and Chris Granda. Pastor Adam Cruse of FBC Mt Zion brought a blessed Bible Study on our theme of, "Standing on the Word" from Ezra 7:10; and Pastor Doug Davis of Arthur Southern Baptist Church preached the Annual Sermon from Exodus 33 on the theme, "Waiting on the Presence of God."

Pat Pajak of IBSA brought greetings and news about the 2010 "Find it Here" campaign as part of the "Across Illinois" evangelism strategy. Ken Stewart brought greetings and an update from the Baptist Children's Home in Carmi, Illinois.

2008-2009 was an "UP!" year as we were ahead of last year in 10 out of the 13 areas in which our Denomination keeps records! 11 of our 23 Churches were recognized with "Excellence in Ministry" Awards! A benevolence offering in excess of $200.00 was received; and, all reports and the 2009-2010 Budget were adopted.

Pastor Adam Powers was re-elected as our Moderator, Glenn Baker as Assistant Moderator, Sharron Jones as Clerk, Dawn Brown as Treasurer, and Chris Granda as Assistant Treasurer. Thanks to these dear friends for investing so much time and effort into your Association!

Next Year's Meeting, which will mark our 60th Anniversary, will be held October 16, 2010 at the Tri-Valley Baptist Church in Bloomington. Pastor Wes Feltner of Tabernacle Baptist will lead our Bible Study and Pastor Mike Arthur of Emmanuel Baptist will bring the Annual Sermon.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

DON'T MISS YOUR CBA ANNUAL MEETING !

I hope you will take time out of your already too-busy schedule to attend the 60th Annual Meeting of YOUR Association this coming Saturday!

The meeting is being held at the First Baptist Church of Atwood, 231 N. Illinois Street, Atwood. The church is located one block west and one block north of beautiful downtown Atwood. (From US Highway 36, turn North on Atwood Road and go to the bank; turn left (west) on Forest Street and go one block to Illinois Street and turn right (north). The church is in the middle of the block on the left!

We have had an overall "UP!" year this year and we will recognize several of our churches with "Excellence in Ministry" Awards! It appears that the weather will be lovely, and I know the meeting will be a source of great encouragement to you!

Power of Praise will provide pre-session music beginning at 2:45pm. The meeting will begin at 3pm, and we will have dinner together at 5:45pm. There is no charge for the meal, which is being provided by the members of the church. Following the meal, we will have a second session and we should be done by 8pm.

We will have great worship led by Power of Praise, Bill Fleming, and Mike Rutledge. Chris Granda will provide special music in the evening session. You will be blessed by our Annual Bible Study led this year by Pastor Adam Cruse of FBC Mt Zion, and our Annual Sermon by Pastor Doug Davis of Arthur Southern Baptist!

Oh yeah, we'll hear reports, vote on the budget, and all of our usual business; but, we will also have a great and encouraging time of fellowship. Pat Pajak, Associate Executive Director of IBSA will bring us a special report on the new SBC Evangelism initiative, "Across Illinois".

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Why Revival Tarries?

One of the oldest of our complaints and cries is "Why does revival tarry?" I have been thinking about this today because of the upcoming revival at Calvary SBC in Decatur. On Sunday, October 4 to Wednesday, October 7, the church will host Dr. Richard Tribble as the evangelist for these meetings. Richard is a good man and an excellent preacher; if a man could bring revival, Richard could!

But, we know that no man can. Only God can send revival, so we continually cry out to him as did the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 64:1-5:

1 "Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
2 as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
4 From of old no one has heard
or perceived by the ear,
no eye has seen a God besides you,
who acts for those who wait for him.
5 You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,
those who remember you in your ways.
Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;
in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?"

Of course, God's answer to this question is given in Isaiah 65... it is our sins that keep Him from sending His blessings!

May God use these meetings at Calvary to convict us, cleanse us, and change us!

I hope to see you there!

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Friday Night at Revival!

Let me encourage you again to come out to revival at FSBC, Boody Friday night at 7pm to hear Dr. Jesse Powers! Tonight he preached one of the best sermons on the person and purposes of Jesus that I have heard in over 30 years of listening to preaching.

Come on out, bring the family. You will be blessed!

One of the "Greats" tonight and tomorrow at Boody!

All of us will be thankful that we had the privilege to sit under the teaching of Dr. Jesse Powers! He has been - over many years - one of the most fruitful and most used evangelists in America and around the world. In God's gracious providence, he has led many revival meetings in Illinois.

He will be preaching tonight (9/24) and tomorrow (9/25) at First Southern Baptist Church at Boody at 7pm. I hope you will be able to attend!

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Pastors Luncheon with Roger Ellsworth

We will have a "Bring Your Own" lunch tomorrow (9/23) at the CBA Office at 11:30am with Roger Ellsworth. We will eat and talk together and have some time to "pick Roger's brain" about ministry and pastoring issues. I hope you will be able to join us!

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Stand Still, and See the Salvation of the Lord!

They were out of Egypt, but they were up against the Red Sea and Pharoah and his army were in hot pursuit! Great fear had come upon them. In Exodus 14:13, Moses said to them, "Do not be afraid, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord..." You and I stand today, as we do on every Saturday, on the edge of our own challenges waiting to see whether or not God will move.

We, like they, are totally dependent upon the grace of God! If He delivers, they will be delivered; if He does not deliver, they will be defeated. Well, we know what Paul Harvey called, "The rest of the Story". God did move, and they were delivered!

The same God Who dried up the Red Sea can remove the great challenges and giants that stand between us and "The Promised Land". They were worried and discouraged not realizing that they were just minutes away from a mighty move of God that would bless them beyond measure...

I pray that the Lord moves on this Lord's Day! I pray that He mightly moves the obstacles and challenges before us; and the enemies that oppose us. I pray that we, like they, see the miracle-working hand of God in all of our services tomorrow and on every one of our services to come.

We at FBC Atwood, and our brothers and sisters at FSBC, Boody, are beginning revival services tomorrow. I pray that God's mighty deliverance will be seen this coming week in the salvation of many, the calling of many to ministry, new members added to our number, and a real spirit of revival in our churches. I pray for all of our churches, all of our people, and for all of our pastors that God will move on all of our churches in the days ahead.

We stand on the edge of the Holy Land of God's blessings! God can part the waters and move us over together this week, I pray that He will. God bless you!

Thursday, September 17, 2009

UPCOMING REVIVALS!

Beloved Ones,

I hope you will pray for and be able to attend many of these upcoming revival meetings in our Churches:

September 20-23, FBC Atwood! Roger Ellsworth is the speaker. Sunday, 6pm; M-W @ 7pm.

September 20-25, FSBC Boody! Dr. Jesse Powers is the speaker. Sunday 6pm; M-F @ 7pm.

October 4-7, Calvary SBC! Dr. Richard Tribble is the speaker. Sunday 6pm; M-W @ 7pm.


Here are more opportunities for God to pour out real revival on us! Please pray for these Churches and these meetings, and attend as your schedule allows!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Welcome to the New CBA Blog!

Welcome to a new concept for my CBA blog! I hope that the idea of continual updates and "News You Can Use" about the Association, our Churches, and our People will be helpful for you.

Communication is really, really important and I hope this tool will facilitate better communication between the CBA Office and each of you. Please feel free to let me know how I can make this tool better and more helpful for you.

God bless you!