Biblical Knowledge About Adoption Resources

For those of you who were at WBC this past Thursday night, you heard Dr. David Platt preach a very moving and powerful message on adoption and orphan care, using Ephesians 1:3-14.

He reference a book by Dr. Russell Moore during his sermon. The title of the book is Adopted for Life: The Priority of Adoption for Christian Families and Churches. You can order it from Amazon here. I started reading it this weekend. It appears to be Dr. Platt's sermon in book form. Very, very good and necessary read for the evangelical world.

I also found this free e-book on adoption. You can find it and download it here.

There is a great Together for Adoption web-site you can go to directly by clicking here.

Recently, there was a Together for Adoption conference. The audio of the conference can be listened to and/or downloaded here.

Reflections from WBC's GIC 2009 So Far...

I hope to type out more later, but so far the time at GIC here at Wynne Baptist has exceeded my hopes.

Wednesday night David Platt preached from Luke 9:57-62 and asked these three questions:

(1). Will you choose comfort or will you choose the cross?

(2). Are you going to settle for maintenance, or are you going to sacrifice for mission?

(3). Will your life be marked by an indecisive mind, or an undivided heart?


Wednesday after the evening service Dr. Platt met with our fellowship of deacons and ministerial staff. We ended up spending the majority of our time hearing from him relating to the radical experiment going on at Brook Hills.


Thursday evening David preached to us about adoption and orphan care from Ephesians 1:3-14. Absolutely amazing and life-changing message.

He labeled his three points as "3 Simple Glorious Truths of the Gospel"

(1). The Father has Planned Our Salvation/Adoption (vs. 3-5)

(2). The Son Purchased Our Salvation/Adoption (vs. 5-7)

(3). The Spirit Will Preserve Our Salvation/Adoption (vs. 13-14)


Thursday night after the service I had the incredible and unique privilege of meeting with David and Al Jackson (pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, AL). We meet for a couple of hours. Needless to say, it blessed my soul beyond description of words. I am grateful to the Lord God for both of these men and for the opportunity to sit in the same room with them and just talk about church, the convention, Jesus, etc.

Today I had the wonderful privilege of spending the day, along with my wife and boys, with several of the missionaries that are here for GIC serving King Jesus around the world. What a privilege of being with these people of God today!

Tonight, Bro. Al will be preaching to the people of WBC out of Matthew 6:19-24. He preached a form of this same message at Southern Seminary and Southeastern Seminary recently. Very powerful and something I, as well as our people, desperately need.


I hope to post several reflections in the days to come. God is doing alot in my heart and in the hearts of the people here at WBC. I look forward to seeing how He is going to appropriate it.

Other Posts Responding to the USA Today Article on the Exclusivity of Believing on Jesus for Salvation

Al Mohler blogged here on the issue related to this.

Kevin DeYoung blogged on the article itself here.

Interesting dialogue. These issues are helpful for all Christians to think through to be able to answer and defend the hope that is within us.

USA Today Article On Sports and the Exclusivity of the Gospel

Mike Pohlman, over at the Gospel Coalition blog, includes a section of an article in yesterday's USA Today entitled "And I'd Like to Thank God Almighty" by Tom Krattenmaker. I am posting it here below and would love to hear and read thoughts concerning this. Very interesting to say the least. In short, the author does not deem it a good thing at all that figures such as Tim Tebow believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to avoid eternal punishment. Just a reminder of the hostile world Christians are finding themselves living in. God help us. Here's Pohlman's post:

Sports and the Gospel

Writing for USA Today, Tom Krattenmaker isn’t so sure conservative evangelicalism is all-together good for college and professional sports. While he lauds the civic-mindedness of many high profile Christian athletes, Krattenmaker is concerned with the exclusive claims many outspoken Christian athletes make with respect to salvation. From the column:

But Jesus’ representatives in sports aren’t just practicing faith. They are also leveraging sports’ popularity to promote a message and doctrine that are out of sync with the diverse communities that support franchises, and with the unifying civic role that we expect of our teams. Typifying the exclusive creed taught by many sports-world Christians is the belief statement published by Baseball Chapel, which provides chaplains for all major- and minor-league baseball teams. Non-believers in Jesus, the ministry declares, can look forward to “everlasting punishment separated from God.”

Urban Meyer, Tebow’s coach at Florida, has praised his quarterback’s faith-promoting ways as “good for college football … good for young people … good for everything.” Such is the rhetoric usually heard from those who defend sports-world Christianity as wholesome and harmless.
But should we be pleased that the civic resource known as “our team” — a resource supported by the diverse whole through our ticket-buying, game-watching and tax-paying — is being leveraged by a one-truth evangelical campaign that has little appreciation for the beliefs of the rest of us?

Having researched and thought about Christianity in sports for the better part of a decade, I am impressed by the good that’s done by sports-world Christians. Jesus-professing athletes are among the best citizens in their sector, and they commit good deeds daily in communities across this country.

These sports stars, like all Americans, have a right to express their faith.

Evangelical players and ministry representatives in sports aren’t out to harm anyone, of course. On the contrary, they see themselves as fulfilling the Bible’s Great Commission (”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19). In this sense, their mission is pure altruism: They seek to share the gift of eternal life.

But there’s a shadow side to this. If their take on God and truth and life is the only right one — which their creed boldly states — everyone else is wrong.

Of course, there’s the rub. Christian athletes like Tim Tebow actually believe in the exclusivity of the Gospel for salvation. And they want others to embrace Christ as their only hope for forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. For many outspoken Christian athletes life is about far more than sports. And out of love for neighbor and their Savior they risk ridicule and offense in saying so.

Here’s how Krattenmaker closes:

Is sports-world evangelicalism really “good for everything”? Certainly a lot, but not everything. Not if you’re Jewish, Muslim, Catholic, non-evangelical Protestant, agnostic or anything else outside the conservative evangelical camp.

What do you think? Should high-profile athletes use their platform for the proclamation of the Gospel? What guidelines, if any, should be kept in mind?

Powerful Video On An Orphan Ministry in Ethiopia

Click here to watch a 4 and a half minute video about a ministry in Ethiopia called "Drawn From Water." Their aim is to rescue children's lives from being killed due to superstition. Powerful.

(Video found at Jeremy Haskins orphan advocate web-site)

Daily Need of the Gospel Prayer

I came across the prayer posted below at the Gospel Coalition web-site. A gentleman by the name of Scotty Smith composed it. If you are like me, your heart resonates with his prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus,

While I still believe, with all my heart, you are the only Savior, I now see how more of my heart needs more of you and more of the gospel.

There is nobody on the face of the earth that needs the gospel today, and its transforming resources, more than me, and I am SO glad to be able to acknowledge this reality. I need you today, Jesus, as much as I did in March of 1968 when you washed away all my sins and covered me with the robe of your righteousness.

You have saved me in the past, when I was justified by grace alone through faith alone; you are saving me in the present, as the Holy Spirit applies more and more of your finished work to my whole being; and you will save me in the future, when you return to finish making all things new, including ME!

Lord Jesus, though I’m never tempted to look to any other name for my justification, I am very tempted to look to other names and means for my transformation—worse of all, is when I look to me to be my own savior. But only you, Jesus, are able to save completely those who come to God through you, for you are always living to pray for us and to advocate for us (Heb 7:25). You are my righteousness, holiness and redemption, and that’s why I only boast in you today! (1 Cor. 1:30-31)

So I come to you today, Jesus, right now! Save me more fully from my fear of man, my need to be in control, my ticky-tacky pettiness. Save me from trying to be anybody’s savior. I want to get irritated far less often and to be spontaneous much more often. I want to “light up” more quickly when I hear your name, Jesus, and not be downcast, when I don’t hear my name.
That’s more than enough confession for one day… Indeed, Jesus, I must be saved, I am being saved, through your name alone. Hallelujah!

Ed Stetzer and Discerning Ministry for a Local Church

Ed Stetzer recently posted an article entitled "Discerning Your Church's Call to Ministry." Very insightful. I copied it below. He blogs here. I like his ideas and think he provides some very helpful and profitable perspective.

Here's the article:

I have a new article featured at Christianity Today's Building Church Leaders website that focuses on how a local church should discover their particular calling to its larger community. You can read it below. Be sure to check out the BCL site. It has a lot of helpful resources for pastors and church leaders.

Discerning Your Church's Call to Ministry

How does a church discern its call to ministry--creating ministry space that lines up with its mission and vision? Often believers and churches seem to be waiting for God to strike them with a lightning bolt, to reveal what he wants them to do through some spectacular event. But God isn't a genie who pops out of his bottle if we rub it hard enough. A church that waits passively finds itself beset with ministry paralysis.

Then there are the churches that show a degree of life and energy and have significant percentages of the local body engaged in ministry, yet what they do is routine and ineffective. Call it "ministry calcification." Maybe what they are doing was effective five years ago or even last year, but communities can change rapidly. Many churches are ministering to people who have long ago left the community. The missional church constantly assesses what God is doing in a community and what needs are emerging--and adjusts its ministries accordingly.

Do I believe God reveals himself and gives us direction in life? Yes, absolutely. But I also believe he reveals himself more specifically as we obey the commands he has already given us. In other words, God will show us how he wants our church to minister to the community when we act on the directives he has already given us.

Four of the last things Jesus said to his disciples in his final days on earth are a good place for his followers and his churches to seek direction:

1. Jesus reminded his followers they have been sent just like he was: "As the Father sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21). Now, if he stopped there, it could still be pretty confusing. He didn't specifically tell them where to go, what to do, what to say, or what to accomplish. He just told them they were being shipped out to serve in his spiritual army.

2. Jesus continues to clarify the vision and mission he has for his followers and churches: "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matt. 28:19-20). Going out to all the world and proclaiming the Good News was to result in new disciples among all people groups. After that, Christ's followers are supposed to baptize new disciples and teach them to follow everything he commanded.

3. Jesus isn't finished yet. Before he ascends, he tells them: "Thus it is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high" (Luke 24:46-49). This clarifies the Good News they are to announce: Jesus died in our place so we could repent and be forgiven of our sins, and he rose from the dead so we could live a victorious life. In order to be witnesses about these things, however, they needed one more thing: the power from on high promised by the Father.

4. The last thing Jesus communicated to his disciples picked up where his previous instructions ended. He laid out a strategy for things to move forward: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). A good place for his followers and churches to start is to be witnesses in their own communities and then move out from there, as he leads and opens doors for ministry.

As you begin to engage practically in fulfilling the mission and vision that God has already given us, he will begin to reveal where your church fits best in serving and witnessing to your community. Instead of sitting around, waiting to be hit by lightning, here are some practical ways you and your church can begin to discern your ministry call.

Pray together for great boldness. The early believers followed Jesus' instructions and actively waited and prayed for what the Father promised. Assemble a group of people regularly and pray for your church to be filled and anointed with the Spirit. The believers joining constantly in prayer led to the Holy Spirit coming at Pentecost.

Most people remember that prayer preceded Pentecost, but they may not remember that Jesus' followers kept praying after Pentecost. Acts 4:23-31 records believers gathering and raising their voices in prayer. They stood in prayer against the people who were persecuting them and the forces of evil, right? Wrong! They asked the Lord to enable them to speak his word with great boldness and prayed he would do wonderful things through the name of his holy servant, Jesus. What does the current prayer environment of our church look like? Are we praying those kinds of prayers? What steps will we take to change the environment?

Explore multiple ministry options in your community. As you pray, take action by serving your community and finding ways to be his witnesses. God will give your people new passion and direction for ministry as they engage their community. Jesus himself "saw the multitudes" and was "moved with compassion for them" (Matt. 9:35). Try some or all of these practical ideas:

• Set up a time each month to conduct servant evangelism projects like giving away free drinks (water, hot chocolate, coffee, pop, etc.) at a traffic intersection, cleaning local parks, raking leaves or mowing grass for elderly folks, giving away coupons for free stuff, etc.

• Involve your small groups or Sunday school classes in community service projects at least once a quarter so they aren't just fellowshipping and learning stuff.

• Start ongoing ministries by getting some of your members involved in things like Release Time (for public school kids), Hospice, Big Brother Big Sister, and City Mission. Intentionally train people to be better witnesses with materials like Sharing Jesus Without Fear or Just Walk Across the Room.

• Ask three people in your congregation to set up interviews with leaders of local service agencies to discover unmet needs your church family might be able to address.

Trust God to open specific doors of ministry. As you begin to engage practically in fulfilling the mission and vision God has given you, he will begin to reveal where your church fits best in serving your community. God will show you "persons of peace" who will unlock doors of opportunity you didn't even know existed. As we act in faith, God will provide unique opportunities to serve and witness--and people will get excited about joining God in what he is opening before them.

Revelation 3:7 asserts: "What he (Jesus) opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open." I believe that Jesus opens doors of ministry for us to walk through as we pray and engage the needs in our communities. He also shuts other doors. We really don't know which doors are open and which ones are shut until we start knocking and trying to open them. As we seek the Lord with all our hearts--and act in faith--it's easier for him to direct our steps.

So, what is it going to take for your church to discern its ministry call? Pray fervently together for the Spirit's filling. Engage the people and needs in your community. And trust that God will open ministry doors especially for your church.

10 Ways for WBC Not to "Lose Our Taste" Among the Nations

Last night, I took the spiritual truth behind Jesus' illustration of salt in Luke 14:34-35 to call WBC not to be content with the status quo nor to take a step backward in our international missions efforts. By God's grace, WBC is known for its missions emphasis. The risk is there for us to (1) be prideful; and (2) assume we are okay and that we have heard it all before as we approach another Global Impact. In order to prevent these things from happening and for us to be guilty of relaxing our influence among the nations (there is still MAJOR work to be done among the lost and unreached peoples of the world!) I challenged WBC to the following 10 actions:

1. Be here this week.

2. Expect to hear from God.

3. Be open to what God may call you to.

4. Expect to be led to be involved in international missions in some fashion.

5. Take advantage of the missionaries who will be here.

6. Be intentional about blessing the missionaries who will be here.

7. Pray for God to move throughout WBC.

8. Pray against the enemy having a hint of influence here.

9. Recall that ‘making disciples of all nations’ is THE command given by Jesus and the only real way to keep from wasting your life.

10. Be obedient.

Chuck Swindoll's Leadership Lessons

Justin Taylor posted this on his blog...

"Chuck Swindoll: 10 Leadership Lessons Learned in 50 Years of Leadership"

Chuck Swindoll, accepting a Lifetime Achievement Award at Catalyst 09, offered the following lessons he has learned:

1. It’s lonely to lead. Leadership involves tough decisions. The tougher the decision, the lonelier it is.

2. It’s dangerous to succeed. I’m most concerned for those who aren’t even 30 and are very gifted and successful. Sometimes God uses someone right out of youth, but usually he uses leaders who have been crushed.

3. It’s hardest at home. No one ever told me this in Seminary.

4. It’s essential to be real. If there’s one realm where phoniness is common, it’s among leaders. Stay real.

5. It’s painful to obey. The Lord will direct you to do some things that won’t be your choice. Invariably you will give up what you want to do for the cross.

6. Brokenness and failure are necessary.

7. Attitude is more important than actions. Your family may not have told you: some of you are hard to be around. A bad attitude overshadows good actions.

8. Integrity eclipses image. Today we highlight image. But it’s what you’re doing behind the scenes.

9. God’s way is better than my way.

10. Christlikeness begins and ends with humility.

Great Quote from Charles Spurgeon

From the Gospel Coalition (posted by Ray Ortlund)

Christ Himself

Our faith is a person; the gospel that we have to preach is a person; and go wherever we may, we have something solid and tangible to preach, for our gospel is a person. If you had asked the twelve Apostles in their day, ‘What do you believe in?’ they would not have stopped to go round about with a long sermon, but they would have pointed to their Master and they would have said, ‘We believe him.’ ‘But what are your doctrines?’ ‘There they stand incarnate.’ ‘But what is your practice?’ ‘There stands our practice. He is our example.’ ‘What then do you believe?’ Hear the glorious answer of the Apostle Paul, ‘We preach Christ crucified.’ Our creed, our body of divinity, our whole theology is summed up in the person of Christ Jesus.

C. H. Spurgeon, “De Propaganda Fide,” in Lectures Delivered before the Young Men’s Christian Association in Exeter Hall 1858-1859, pages 159-160.

Six Steps for Combating Anxiety from Paul Tripp

From the Gospel Coalition blog/web-site...

"From Anxiety to Peace"

Tullian Tchividjian (via Susan Fiske) summarizes Paul Tripp’s six action steps for combating anxiety:

Remind Yourself That God Is In Control: When you convince yourself that your world is out of control, you are on the verge of paralysis. Watch your self-talk. Are you saying to yourself: “God is in control of this circumstance, He is my Father, and He is ruling this for my benefit”?

Accept Confusion: Believing in God’s sovereignty doesn’t mean life will make sense. Believing in God’s sovereignty is needed because life doesn’t make sense. Your rest is not in figuring out your circumstances–your rest is in the God behind the circumstances.

Don’t Allow Emotions To Rule: As much as the emotions you experience will be right, good, and appropriate, don’t let them set the agenda. There is a temptation to do that, but allowing yourself to be pulled away by the emotions of the moment could cause you to regret your decisions later.

Distinguish Needs From Wants: Be very careful what you put in your catalog of “need.” The minute you tell yourself something is a need, you’re saying it is essential for life. Then you are going to determine that you can’t live without it. It’s easy to attach yourself and your sense of security to the gift rather than to the Giver.

Know Your Job Description: God promises to provide. Your job is to live the way God has called you to live. Instead of giving way to discouragement, look for ways you can contribute to God’s people at the moment.

Run To God, Not Away From Him: God’s promise to us is not first the relief of the suffering–His promise is to give us Himself. He will never turn a deaf ear to the natural cries of a person of faith when life doesn’t make sense. God hears and answers and works and comforts.

Global Impact at WBC - October 14th-18th, 2009

Words could never, ever begin to describe how excited I am about our GIC next week. David Platt, Al Jackson, Jerry Rankin, and a gentleman from the persecuted church, missionaries, etc. It is going to be an outstanding week to say the least.

Though I am not promising, I do want to blog my thoughts next week before and after various events. I believe that God has ordained our time together with these people and has some fascinating plans to reveal to us as a church next week. I plan to be 'radically intentional' in how I approach next week, ready and expectant to hear from the Lord.

To whet our appetite for next week, I am providing some links I encourage you to explore and look through. I encourage you to visit these sites to feed your soul, your prayer life, your brain, and your compassion for the world that so desperately needs the Gospel.

Joshua Project - A incredible web-site designed to educate about the unreached peoples of hte world.

Global Prayer Digest - A great resource to help guide you in different ways each day in how to pray for an unreached people group.

Voices of the Martyrs - A web-site devoted to the persecuted church

The International Mission Board Web-Site - International Missions arm of the SBC and where Dr. Jerry Rankin currently serves as President

Compassion International

The Church At Brook Hills - Where David Platt serves as pastor

Lakeview Baptist Church - Where Al Jackson serves as pastor

Russell Moore on David Letterman and the Gospel

Below is an article posted by Russell Moore (via his blog) on what we can learn about the Gospel and the recent David Letterman scandal. I thought his insights were well thought out and extremely helpful.

"What David Letterman Can Teach Us About the Gospel"

If you pay a little attention right now to David Letterman, you could learn something critical about carrying the gospel to your neighbors, and to yourself.
I’m not talking about re-tooling some Christian version of the late night comedian’s “Top Ten Lists” or his “Stupid Pet Tricks.” I’m not talking about his cynical humor, or emotionally detached coolness. I’m talking about why he was so scared of a blackmailer’s extortion.

We’ve all been there.

Last week Letterman started off a segment on his nationally-broadcast program “The Late Show” by telling his viewers a “story.” The studio audience, laughing along, seemed not to be able to tell, at first, if this was a set-up for a joke or a skit, but it became clear this wasn’t a gag.
Letterman said that he had gotten into his car at six in the morning one day to find an envelope in his car, an envelope with details and evidence of Letterman’s sexual affairs with women on his staff. The extortionist wanted two million dollars or he’d make it all public in a screenplay or book.

At first glance, this is just another celebrity soap opera, and, frankly speaking, not a particularly shocking one. What interests me, though, is not that Letterman was doing “terrible things.” What else would I expect a man outside of Christ to do?

What’s interesting to me is that the blackmail scared Letterman, and the reasons why.
Letterman said the extortion note was disturbing, first of all, because he feared the mysterious correspondent was watching him. Someone who knew this much about his life, would this figure be tapping him on the shoulder from the shadows? Pulling him into the back of the car?
Letterman also, though, was upset by the note because it was true.

Letterman acknowledged to this viewers that he had, in fact, had sex with women on the “Late Show” staff. He also said that seeing his “terrible things” there in print, with evidence for it all, in front of him, made him feel “creepy.” Even in his deadpan comedic, “aw shucks this ain’t so bad” wink-and-grin performance, we can hear a terror, a terror that is common to humanity.
If the envelope in the car had accused Letterman of being a member of an Islamic terrorist cell, he might have still been worried that the crazed writer was around, but, after getting out of the parking garage, Letterman wouldn’t have been, in his words, “menaced” by the accusations.

Why not?

It’s because he knows he’s not a member of an Islamic terrorist cell. There could be no evidence to show it, because it’s not a fact. The power the blackmailer had over the comedian was in the truthfulness of his accusations, and in the cold, rational evidence he had for each of his charges.
You and I once felt a deeper, more primal blackmail, and it scared us to the core. In fact, we often still do. Now, for most of us, it’s not the same kind of transgression or the same type of discovery. But we’re blackmailed just as surely, in fact even more so.

The Scripture says that Satan’s reign over this present order is by holding us captive through the slavery of the “fear of death” (Heb 2:15). And why are all humans afraid of death? Because, like Letterman’s letter in the back of the car, our conscience is pointing us to judgment, with a “black box” of evidence of our guilt (Rom 2:15-16).

That’s why the gospel is such good news for blackmailed creepy people like us.
Jesus says of Satan, in one of the most remarkable passages to me of all of Holy Scripture: “The ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me” (John 14:30). Jesus’ calm is the same as if I were asked to take a DNA test to prove that I’m not the father of one of Michael Jackson’s children. I know there’s just nothing there.

Jesus knows that, as the one sinless human since Adam’s catastrophe, Satan has no evidence of guilt in Jesus. He’s been tested, and he’s still standing.

Jesus doesn’t fear Satan’s accusations because he has nothing to hide, from the demonic watchers, from his Father, from himself. He is truth, and the truth makes him free indeed. With his tranquil conscience, Jesus marches right to the pole of slaughter, paying the wages of sin for those in the satanic slavery.

That’s why our Lord Jesus shows us, through our brother John, that “the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God” (Rev 12:10). And how do those in Christ triumph over this accusation? It’s “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (Rev 12:11).

Satan has nothing left to accuse because at the Place of the Skull “you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col 3:3). If you’ve already been exposed, you can’t be re-exposed. If you’ve already been damned, you can’t be re-damned.

David Letterman said the accusations bothered him because he’s a “tower of Midwestern Lutheran guilt.” But there’s nothing particularly Midwestern or Lutheran about it. It’s a signal of a conscience that points to judgment. But it could also point to the One who has borne all the penalty due at judgment, including the public humiliation of being caught. We’ve all been there.
Let’s remember the gospel, and learn from Dave Letterman how scary blackmail can be. As the accusations come at us, let’s acknowledge the truth of the satanic claims. Let’s find ourselves in Jesus. And let’s point to a bloody cross and an empty tomb where those accusations were verified and crucified.

Poor David Letterman. This extortion is nothing like the one he, and billions more, are facing from a threatening presence who can’t be indicted by a New York grand jury. Let’s pray for him, and plead with those like him in our neighborhood and in cities and villages all around the world, as we remember what it’s like to be that scared.

And let’s remember not to be paralyzed by cosmic blackmail. The satanic powers have the evidence against us; yes, they do. But every accusation comes before an Advocate with a still conscience in his chest, scabbed-over spike-marks in his hands, and a crushed snake skull at his feet.

The satanic accusations are usually true. They wouldn’t bring them up if they weren’t. But if Christ Jesus is raised from the dead (and he is) then they can’t paralyze us anymore.

In fact, if you think about it, they’re just stupid demon tricks.

Powerful Video On the Effects of the Gospel

Click here to go directly to a short video (via Zach Nielson's blog) about a couple who chose to move to an inner-city neighborhood for the sake of the Gospel.

Very, very powerful.

50 Days of Prayer and Fasting: A Pastoral 'Thank You'

On July 12th, 2009 I challenged the flock at Wynne Baptist to a 50 day season of prayer and fasting. Not one where all of us prayed and fasted for 50 days, but one in which at least 50 of us committed to pray and fast for one day over a 50 day period (July 13th-August 31st). Nearly 100 WBCers committed to pray and fast for at least one day. The call was to seek the will of God for our church's future and to plead with Him to come and move in and around us in extraordinary ways in the days to come.

This past Monday, August 31st, was the 50th and final day for this specific prayer and fasting period. I just sent out an e-mail to all who participated. I wanted to include it here, hoping that some will post a response, detailing ways they have seen the Lord work recently and in ways they see Him work as a direct result of their obedience to pray and fast.

In what follows is the e-mail message I sent out. I urge everyone to be expectant in the days to come and express faith in the Lord that He heard our prayers and will answer in His way and in His time. Thank you WBC!




WBC Family,

I am writing this e-mail to all who participated in my July 12th challenge (the closing challenge for the church to be "Radically Intentional") for the church to pray and fast for 50 days straight in order to seek the Lord's will for our future and ask the Lord to move in power in the days ahead.

My purpose in sending this message is two-fold. First, I want to personally thank each of you for participating. I am trusting that all of you who signed up to pray and fast for at least one of the days between July 12th and August 31st, did indeed pray and fast for our church on your assigned day. THANK YOU!!! There is no doubt in my mind that God has heard our prayers and will be faithful to answer them in His way and in His time. Your commitment and love for WBC is so appreciated by me and I truly thank you for being willing to forsake food (or whatever you were led to fast from) for us to be able to have more of the presence of God in our midst.

Second, I want to ask you to be expectant in the days to come. In other words, now that you have accepted the challenge to pray and fast for our church, I challenge you to follow through with that by expecting God to answer and wait with eager anticipation for God to move in extraordinary ways. I still believe that the best days WBC have ever seen are ahead. Not in the sense of God making much of our church, but in the sense of His releasing the power of His Spirit in our congregation in supernatural ways like never before. So now that we have spent time praying and fasting, let's express our faith in Him to act by expecting to see God save lost souls in Wynne and around the world; let's expect God to grant us all a deeper love for His Son and each other; let's expect God to lead us in the area of our music ministry; let's expect God to call more of us out to serve Him on mission around the world; let's expect God to stir in the hearts of those who are cold to the Gospel and lukewarm to the things of the Lord. In short, let's expect God to do far more than we could ever ask, or imagine, or think.

I would love to hear from you, especially if God did some unique things in your life as a direct result of your obedience to pray and fast. Let me know how God is at work in ways that you know were prompted by your seeking Him on your assigned day to pray and fast.

My e-mail address is: mpearson@wynnebaptist.orgAlso, I plan to post this "thank you" e-mail on my blog: www.mattwbc.blogspot.com.Here you can leave comments for anyone who logs on to my blog can read for themselves.

Thank you, again, for your commitment and diligence to do this. May God reveal Himself to us in marvelous ways in the days to come.

With Great Expectancy in My Heart,

Bro. Matt
Acts 20:24