WMM Spring 2009 - Love-In-Action03.30.2009
The ARBC Spring church-wide collection will benefit our Food Pantry. During 2009, 130 families (with a total of 393 family members) were given assistance in the name of Christ from our Food Pantry, with food that you have donated! With times being what they are, we anticipate an even greater need for 2009. To that end, we will boost our reserves with your generosity. Be watching the foyer in April for information as to what items are needed. Debbie Hudson, who oversees the stocking of the pantry on behalf of the Evangelism Team, will keep us posted. Donation boxes will be nearby. This is a way that we can reach out to our community with “a cup of cold water” in Jesus’ name. Monetary donations will be gladly accepted, too; you may designate your gift on your offering envelope or give it to Debbie or the church office, and as always, thank you! We can “BEEF UP” our STOCK! Posted by arbc at 08:30 AM | Comments (0)
April 200903.30.2009
Last month I talked about my herb garden, and it’s almost time to plant it again. I mentioned that I had to water it daily and compared it with Sunday School – all members need to take the initiative and “water” or reach out to others who are missing in action. I want to continue with the topic of Sunday School. First, here are the nuts and bolts needed to form a balanced class, and they are “3 – 5 – 10”. Perhaps nuts and bolts is not the best parallel – how about “strategic numbers.” Let’s examine what these numbers (bolts) are or let’s “strategize” together. Each class needs a minimum of 1. A teacher. This is the person who prepares the weekly lesson. We use a great curriculum resource produced by LifeWay, but we must always remember that our text book is the Bible. The resource is to help us prepare lessons and provide some further explanation, but it is God’s Word that is living and active in our lives. 2. Outreach person. This is the person who looks at the role each week and determines who is missing in action within the past week or month(s), but they are not the main person to make contact with those missing. Instead, he/she will hand out a card with the missing person’s information to a class member and ask them to make contact with that person. Then, later in the week, the outreach person will follow up with the class member as an encourager to him/her in order to make sure they have contacted the person on their card. 3. Connecting person (or “party girl” as some have called it!). This person is responsible for organizing the class fellowship time – ideally this will take place at least once a month. Just like the outreach person, they don’t do all the work themselves but enlist others to help them. You all know how a potluck works, where everyone is responsible to bring something for everyone to share. This works in a similar way – everybody has a part to play and everyone helps. When our Sunday School classes have at minimum these three leaders, we can actually get more people involved in serving God by serving people (I think that’s Biblical). More leaders can be added later, but each class should have these three to begin. Next month we’ll strategize the “5” above. Remember, we’re all in this together, and I’m pulling for ya! Until next month, Posted by arbc at 08:09 AM | Comments (0)
May 200903.30.2009
WHAT IS AN “OLD SONG”? We should realize that, as each generation ages, fewer of their songs will be recognized. In the future, only a few of the very best examples of all styles will remain. Those that will stand the test of time will be the ones that are not just the most representative of a generation’s musical style but, more importantly, those that are based on profound Biblical truth. Thus, I believe that in 200 years, Christians will still be singing Martin Luther’s A Mighty Fortress is Our God (1500’s), Fanny Crosby’s To God Be the Glory (1800’s) and Terry York’s Worthy of Worship (1980’s). The vast majority of the future’s praise and worship music HAS YET TO BE WRITTEN by those not yet born. I believe that thrills God. It does me! -Mark
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April 200903.30.2009
WHAT IS AN “OLD SONG”? Last month I pointed out that few hymns and songs have stood the test of time. Even the beloved Fannie Crosby has fewer hymns in the newest edition of The Baptist Hymnal than in the previous one. Because of my age and life circumstances, I know a lot of Christian music and truly love most of it. However, each year it becomes more difficult to plan a “blended” worship service for Arapahoe Road Baptist Church. Many times I will include an “old” hymn in our morning worship service only to find out that many people age 55 and younger do not know it. Some people have come from non-Southern Baptist backgrounds, and others are new Christians. Some people come from a contemporary church music background and have never sung the “old” hymns. To some of our members, the “old” songs are the hymns they grew up with in the 1920s and 30s. To other members, the “old” songs are hymns such as #243, “Sweet, Sweet Spirit,” written in the early 1960s, and #12, “Great is the Lord,” written in the early 80s. Still, to other members, the “old” songs are the ones that we learned just 12 months ago! Click here for Part 1 of 3 - "DO I KNOW WHAT AN “OLD SONG” IS? NEXT MONTH: Mark Posted by arbc at 07:42 AM | Comments (0)
InChWesta - April 200903.30.2009
DISCIPLESHIP NOW You have only got one life to live. Questions? Contact Josh Robertson at josh_robertson@arbc.net Posted by arbc at 07:29 AM | Comments (0)
April 200903.30.2009
Have you been surprised by the weather? Now, I must confess, it has been a good surprise! I know, I know, we need the moisture, but I sure like the kind that falls as rain and not as snow! The weather, in its unpredictability, is like life. Let me give one illustration of how unpredictable life can be: The downturn in the economy was a development that was unexpected by the masses (I am one of the masses! My expectation is that my retirement is now “eons” away and I shall still be preaching at 137 and using a walker to move around in the pulpit.). But, I would imagine, the downturn in the economy is just “one” of the unexpected turns you have experienced of late. Now, it is a surprise to me why we are surprised by the surprises in life. (Notice I included myself in the lot!) Why can’t we learn? Surprises really are the norm in life. For me, being slow in getting this simple truism, I blame potty training! You probably have a different excuse! Folks, we are not promised tomorrow, and that includes the plans we make regarding tomorrow. All we have is today. So, my suggestion to you is to make it your business to enjoy this day. The Lord has made today in all its glory for you. Also, don’t be surprised by the surprises of life. Sometimes the surprises are good; sometimes they are not good. An example of a good surprise is the one that happened about 2000 years ago in Israel. You know the one I mean; the one where a dead man got up and walked. Jesus said after three days that He would, and He did, but no one took Him seriously. That surprise, though, guaranteed that all of Jesus’ followers would live forever. We celebrate that surprise this month. (By the way, I hope you can join us for Holy Week services!) Life is filled with surprises, some good and some not so good. Don’t be surprised by the surprises! The Lord said to tell you to stay loose! See you on the Lord’s Day, Posted by arbc at 07:23 AM | Comments (0)
Holy Week Services - 200903.26.2009
Continue reading "Holy Week Services - 2009" Posted by arbc at 11:58 AM | Comments (0)
Women's Study - Beth Moore's "Loving Well"03.25.2009
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March 200903.24.2009
WHAT IS AN “OLD SONG”? I. AT MY AGE (almost 56), DO I KNOW WHAT AN “OLD SONG” IS? My dad was a Southern Baptist pastor. From the late 1950s, I had the hymnal memorized from cover to cover. During the 1960s, a visiting youth choir from Texas shocked our church in Rapid City with a musical—“Good News”. For one year, in the late 1960s, I was a member of ARBC and remember Katy Vogel directing me in the youth choir (Katy: remember “Sunday’s Child”?). There were no Christian radio stations at that time, but a local Denver station began broadcasting “contemporary” Christian music late on Saturday nights and early Sunday mornings. Does anybody remember “Here Comes Jesus”? During the early 1970s, I majored in piano at Oklahoma Baptist University and was exposed to much classical music. Since the mid-1970s, I have been on staff and actively involved in the music ministry of Southern Baptist churches. So now, allow me to express an opinion. Over the centuries and decades a few “new” songs have stood the test of time, but most have not. I read where the great gospel hymn writer, Fanny Crosby, in the late 1800s authored between 8,000 and 9,000 gospel hymn texts. Yet only 17 are in our current hymnal. Fifteen are in the newest edition. My guess is there will be fewer still in the next hymnal. But don’t lose heart! NEXT MONTH: Part 2 of 3 What is My Point? Posted by arbc at 08:54 AM | Comments (0)
March 200903.24.2009
Last summer I planted a small herb garden in the back yard. I have never planted a garden, but since I enjoy cooking, I thought having fresh herbs would bring a lot of flavor to the party. It’s true that fresh-grown anything always tastes better than buying from the store. I have to be honest though; there was NOT a lot of hard work involved in my small herb garden. I remember pulling weeds out twice the whole year, and once was prior to planting the garden. The whole weed pulling thing is what has kept me from planting a garden for a long time. It’s not that I never want to do hard work, I just didn’t want to work hard in a garden. I suppose about now you are thinking, “that’s mildly interesting, but why are you telling this story?” I tell you this because it reminds me of ministry and especially Sunday School. There is a little bit of hard work involved in Sunday School, but most of the work is not difficult. It does take time, however, just like my garden – I had to water it daily, and in like manner, in your Sunday School class you have to make weekly contact with the people whom God has given you. When I say “you” I am not just talking about the teacher or director. I’m talking about every member within the class. If you notice that someone is missing or has been out for a while, you should call them and tell them you missed them. Perhaps that’s God way of telling you, “it’s okay, you have permission; you don’t have to be the teacher, go ahead and call them.” Posted by arbc at 08:49 AM | Comments (0)
InChWesta - March 200903.24.2009
Is It In You??? The youth have begun a new series looking at the Spiritual Disciplines. Recently we asked the question, “Is It In You?” Gatorade, a popular sports drink, has a current marketing campaign asking the same question. Their commercials present famous athletes sweating out whatever color Gatorade they had been drinking; then the commercial asks, “Is It In You?” What a question when it comes to Christians and God’s Word! “Is It (God’s Word) In You?” Is it a part of who you are, so that whatever circumstances you face in life, you can turn to God’s Word for truth even if your Bible is not with you? My encouragement for the students, and for all of us as well, is to memorize Scripture, no matter how difficult it might be for you to commit things to memory. Why? So that when temptation comes, we can fight off Satan with Scripture. So that when trials and tribulations come, we can claim the promises of God. So that when someone asks us about our faith, we can share with them THE Words of life. So that our lives will never be the same again, because God’s Words of TRUE LIFE are always on our minds. Join us as we seek to have God’s Word be “In Us.” Posted by arbc at 08:44 AM | Comments (0)
March 200903.24.2009
I was reading an article this last week which mentioned a “Pooped Pastor’s Conference.” It is an intriguing title. But there are a lot of “pooped” Christians, not just pastors! Jim Posted by arbc at 08:40 AM | Comments (0)
04.26.2009 - Potluck Lunch03.15.2009
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During the week before Easter (Resurrection Sunday) we will relive the experiences of Jesus over the last few days before his crucifixion. We encourage you to read Matthew 26, Mark 11 -14 to refresh your memory of what Jesus experienced. Our Holy Week services will be:
