Newsletter Aug 16th

GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

Mr. Garry Hamilton was elected as a Deacon this past Sunday. He replaces Mr. Leonard Harvell who finishes his term of service. Pray for Garry as he serves our church and the Lord.
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We rejoice that Jeremy and Tina Burris have chosen to join us in serving the Lord at Barbee’s Grove. We welcome them into our fellowship.
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What a special sight we had Sunday morning. A platform full of beautiful children, backpacks ready, and preparing for this school year. We thank our WINGS group for planning this wonderful event for our children and youth.
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One morning recently I woke up with the Lord reminding me of the 2 main houses of my childhood. The first one belonged to my Grandpa and Granny Smith. It was an old, two story, farmhouse with a porch that wrapped around 3 sides of the house. The corners of the house sat upon rocks. Some places had several rocks piled on top of one another. The house was open underneath. In the summer, barefoot boys had to watch where they stepped because chickens roamed the yard. Often, Little Eddie [ME!!!] was instructed to crawl under the house and gather the eggs that the hens had laid.

I realize now that those rocks made for an unsecure foundation. A slipping or a crumbling rock would have been disastrous for that section of the house. The open space led to freezing pipes in winter and an invitation to other critters to set up housekeeping. Thankfully, in later years someone had the wisdom and the money to underpin the entire house with concrete blocks.

Many people build their lives upon an unstable foundation. When a crisis comes, or when their life ends, that foundation crumbles and they have no hope. Consider these verses:
   …”For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”. [1 Corinthians 3:11]
   …”Nevertheless, the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His.” [2 Timothy 2:19]

The second house of my childhood is the house where I grew up. Dad built that house with wood plank siding. It was painted white. Every few years, the paint would fade and peel. A strenuous scraping and repainting followed. Scraping and repainting was a frequent event. But one day, new [aluminum?] siding was added. It covered the old siding. To this day, it has never needed to be repainted.

Under the Law, Israel offered repeated animal sacrifices for sin. But, no matter how many times they did it over the centuries, it had to be repeated. However, Jesus came. He died on that cross and covered our sin for all of eternity.
   … “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His Own Blood He entered in once into the Holy Place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” [Hebrews 9:12]
   …”But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God. ” [Hebrews 10:12]

What a joy it is to know that, because of Jesus, our faith in Him causes our sins to forever be cleansed by His Blood. One sacrifice that lasts an eternity. Also, what joy it is to know, that when the storms of life come, our lives rest upon Jesus, the most solid, unshakeable foundation in the universe. We praise God for all we have because we believe in Jesus as our Savior and Lord.

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot on 99.1 FM at 10 and on the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. HOMECOMING—-August 16—Rev. Kinney Wallace. Bring a well-filled picnic basket for the fellowship meal. Invite others to join you at the service.
5. REVIVAL—-October 11-14—-Rev. Mark Caldwell—-Pray–Plan to attend—Invite others

One little sentence says it well—-JESUS PAID IT ALL

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church