Newsletter Archive
Newsletter Feb 1st
GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Frigid temperatures plus dangerous roads equal no church services. We really did miss those smiles, handshakes, and hugs that we share as we worship together. Praying for better weather next weekend. Baptist Men’s Day will be observed on the same schedule as was planned for this past Sunday. Looking forward to seeing YOU.
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Let me tweak your thoughts this week. Are there two types of salvation? Does that question start the wheels in your mind to begin spinning? Let’s think about it for a moment.
In a true sense, if we are saved, then we are saved. Anyone who believes that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior, that He was crucified for our sin, that He rose from the dead, and who confesses those truths with his mouth is truly saved. [Romans 10:9] They have salvation and are assured of Heaven. That reality is true and will always be true.
However, I have been meditating upon Psalm 51:12 where David prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation”.[KJV] I really like the way the Complete Jewish Bible states it, “Restore my joy in Your salvation”. At that moment David had salvation, but it was a salvation without joy. Why? He had sinned and was out of fellowship with his Lord. But David was confessing his sin, turning to his Lord, asking for a return to a salvation with joy.
Is it possible to have a salvation WITH joy, or to have a salvation WITHOUT joy? One reason for a salvation without joy is that we have become careless with sin. As a result, we don’t enjoy church services, reading our Bibles, prayer, or spending time with “on Fire” Christians. Over the years, I have met Christians who were saved, but whose sin made them miserable. As 1 John 1:9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. Once our fellowship with the Lord is restored, the joy returns.
A second reason for a lack of joy is Busyness. A married couple can be “head over heels in love”. Yet, as the years pass, they get busy with careers, rearing children, and personal pursuits. One day they realize, “I don’t know my mate any more”. Sadly, many choose divorce at this point. A wiser couple will opt for quality time together in order to reignite that love they once had. In the same way, Christians can get so busy that they neglect their walk with God. They wake up one day and realize the joy they once had is missing. The wise Christian will immediately opt for quality time with the Lord so that the joy can be restored.
Christians without joy are ineffective in their personal lives and in their service for the Lord. When the joy returns, the power returns. Nehemiah 8:10 puts it this way, “The joy of the Lord is my strength”. Psalm 51 says [13] “I will teach transgressors Thy ways”, “Sinners shall be converted”, [14] My tongue shall sing aloud of Thy righteousness”, [15] “My mouth shall show forth Thy praise”.
“JOY” salvation is a powerful salvation. That is my personal preference. What about you? Is your JOY bucket full?
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
- Sunday School is at 9:00 am
- Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
- Prayer and Bible Study are on Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
- February 1—BAPTIST MEN’S DAY—Men’s Breakfast at 8:00 am. Mr. Bobby Williams will speak at the Breakfast and at the Morning Worship Service
- February 15—-Widows/Widowers Luncheon after the Morning Worship Service
- February 22—-BAPTIST WOMEN’S DAY
Rejoice in the Lord always
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church
Newsletter Jan 25th
GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Do you remember that a few weeks ago I wrote a Newsletter about a question many older people ask. WHY IS THE LORD STILL LEAVING ME HERE? I mentioned a dear friend who was in a Rehab Facility. God had allowed her the privilege of talking to a Student Nurse about the nurse’s need to have Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
God continues to use my friend. This week a Rehab Staff member came to the room and said, “You have won your appeal and get to stay for another week. I don’t understand. Most people get 1 or 2 appeals and then have to leave. You have won 5 or 6 appeals. How do you do it? My friend told her, “I am on the Lord’s side and He looks after me”. The Staff member replied, “I never heard of such a thing. What do you mean about being on the Lord’s side?” My friend said, “I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was 9 years old and He has looked after me ever since.” Again, the Staff member said, “I never heard of anything like that. How do you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” My friend was more than happy to do her best to explain how a person becomes a Christian. The Staff member left the room, but later came back and said, “I’m on the Lord’s side now”. My friend showed her a Bible and talked about the next steps to take.
Later in the week, another Staff member came to the room and said, “It makes my day to come see you. You are always so happy. How do you do it?” Again, the answer was, “It is because I have Jesus as my Lord and Savior”. This second Staff member said, I never heard of such a thing, what do you mean?” My friend had another opportunity to share her faith in Jesus.
I am thrilled that my friend continues to have opportunities to share her faith while in that Rehab Facility. I am also saddened and a little puzzled. There are over 60 Baptist Churches in that County [not to mention the Christian Churches of other denominations]. How could someone live there and not know about Jesus, their need for salvation, and how to become a Believer? Another memory pops up—-Several years ago, in that same County, a group was out visiting, inviting kids to Vacation Bible School. At one house, the kids did not know the Name of Jesus. Had never heard about Him. Yet, from their front porch, the tall steeple of the First Baptist Church could be seen.
Sometimes, I think that the Christians in the USA believe that all the citizens of our nation can be divided into 3 groups
,,,Church members who serve the Lord regularly and faithfully
…Former church members who know about Jesus. They once served the Lord but now, because of deliberate choice or slow backsliding , no longer serve
…People who know about Jesus, but who choose not to follow Him
Unfortunately, [ we may deny it] there is a fourth group. These are people who are as ignorant about Jesus as any native living in the jungles of South America. Friends, if we truly love Jesus, we will be asking the Lord to allow us to harvest in fields 2,3 and 4.
By now, I can imagine that the devil is regretting his attack on my friend’s body. His attack caused her to be in that Rehab Facility. Since she arrived, she has been faithful to lift up Jesus and the devil hates it. Jesus told His followers to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel”. [Matthew 28:18-20] My friend has a “world” that is limited. She sees family and friends who come to visit, Staff Members and Therapists. If she can share Jesus in her small “world”, what can we who are “up and out and about” do to spread the good news of Jesus in our much larger world?
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
- Sunday School is at 9:00 am
- Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
- Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
- $ 1075,05—Pregnancy Resource Center Offering—AWESOME–THANK YOU
- January 25—BAPTIST MEN’S DAY—Men’s Breakfast at 8 am. Mr. Bobby Williams will speak at Breakfast and at the Morning Worship Service
- February 15—Widow/Widowers Luncheon after the Morning Worship Service
- February 22—BAPTIST WOMEN’S DAY
LET’S GO HARVESTING!!!
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church
Newsletter Jan 18th
GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
There is a song that has blessed me many times for over 60 years. Recently, it fit with a sermon I planned to preach. I asked Leonard to sing it. He was accompanied by Brenda and they did their usual wonderful ministry of blessing us with that song. The title of the song is “The Love Of God’. Every line is a blessing, but the ones I remember so often are:
“The love of God is greater far
Than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star
And reaches to the lowest Hell”
God’s love is so amazing:
…An astronaut can get saved on the International Space Station, or after landing on the moon
…A person can be saved in the most miserable slum, or the vilest prison
…God’s Creation is awesome. He created many marvelous things to delight our eyes—-mountains, oceans, sunrises and sunsets, flowers of many colors and varieties. He created a vast array of fruits and vegetables and other foods to satisfy our taste buds
…God did us the honor of creating us in His own special image [Genesis 1:26]
…God’s love is from the beginning of time. Jesus is the “Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”. [1Peter 1:19, 20—2Timothy 1:9—Ephesians 1:4]
…God’s love is a keeping love. “No one shall take us out of the Hand of the Father or the Son” [John 10:28-30]
…God’s love is a forgiving love. “If we confess our sin He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” [1 John 1:9]
…God’s love is a sacrificial love. Jesus died on the cross to take away our sin and to restore us to fellowship with the Heavenly Father [John 10:10-John1:12-John 3:16]
…God’s love is forever. “I have loved you with an everlasting love” [Jeremiah 31:3]
God offers that love to you and to me. “He that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out”. [John 6:37] God greatly desires to pour out His love into you and over you and for you to experience that love for all of eternity.
God’s love is available. God’s love is offered. My prayer is that every person reading these words is living in God’s love. If not, please give serious consideration to receiving that love today.
“The love of God is greater far, than tongue or pen can ever tell
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest Hell
The guilty pair bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin
Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade
To write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky
Oh love of God so rich and pure, how measureless and strong
It shall forever more endure, the saints and angels song”
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
- Sunday School is at 9:00 am
- Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available at 10 the parking lot on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
- Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
- January 18—Special offering for our local Pregnancy Resource Center
- January 25—-Baptist Men’s Day—Breakfast before Sunday School-Guest Speaker—Mr. Bobby Williams
Simply stated—God loves YOU!
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church
Newsletter Jan 11th
GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
Thank you so much for the many ways you blessed me during this Christmas Season. The beautiful cards, the “well wishes”. The gifts, and the very generous Christmas Love Offering, are all deeply appreciated. I feel totally loved by you. My Church Family.
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One night this week I was wide awake at 3:00 am. I found myself reminiscing about ministry opportunities Pamela and I had over the years. But before I talk about us, I want to talk about Jesus. Here are a few examples from His ministry:
As we read our New Testaments, we learn that often Jesus deliberately chose His ministry opportunities.
…Jesus chose to go home with Jairus and minister to the daughter who was dying [Mark 5:22-43]
…Jesus chose to go home with Zacchaeus [Luke 19:1-10
…Jesus chose to visit Mary and Martha after their brother Lazarus died [John 11:1-45]
But Jesus ministered to many people that He encountered daily as He walked down the road:
…A leper who ran up and said “You can heal me if You want to do so” [Mark 1:40-45]
…A funeral procession for the Widow of Nain’s son [Luke 7:11-15]
…A woman who had an issue of blood who reached out and touched Him as He walked past her [Mark 5: 24-34]
…Blind Bartimaeus, a beggar, who cried out, “Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me” [Mark 10:46-52]
It was this type of “As we Go” ministry that the Lord brought to my memory so early that morning. Pamela had a love for Jesus and a boldness in sharing her faith that far surpassed mine. We would encounter someone, she would quickly begin the conversation, and I would join in when appropriate. The following are some of the witnessing opportunities the Lord brought to my memory:
…The Nurse from Oregon we met at an airport in Honduras and sat with on the flight back to the USA
…The young man we met on a city bus in Phoenix. He had just been released from prison. He said he had become a Christian in prison. We gave him a Bible which he needed and encouraged him to grow in the Lord
…The lady who was putting out the breakfast food at a motel in Waynesville, NC
…The lady who was putting out breakfast food at a motel in Montana. We had several days to share with her and mailed Christian materials to her after we got home
…The nice next door neighbor lady who sometimes watched our kids. Her cancer was discovered too late to be treated, and she died at a very young age. But, Pamela made sure that when she left this world so quickly, she went to Heaven.
There are many others, but you get the idea. I have my memories. Many of you have similar memories. You remember those times when “out of the blue” the Holy Spirit used you as a witness for Jesus. As we enter 2026, I pray for myself, and I pray for you, that we will be like our Lord and Savior Jesus. May we listen to the Holy Spirit and take those times when we “deliberately choose” to go and share. May we also ask the Spirit to create in us a sensitivity, a listening heart, so that chance encounters become opportunities to witness, encourage, and bless, in the Name of Jesus. LET EACH OF US SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE THE LORD CAN USE US TO BLESS IN 2026.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
- Sunday School is at 9:00 am
- Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
- Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
What a joy it will be in Heaven to meet those we have touched for Jesus
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church
Newsletter Jan 4th
GREETINGS FROM BARBEE’S GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH
It has been many years, but I still remember one unhappy event from my wedding day. I knew that our Honeymoon trip involved driving several hundred miles. As a result, I had new tires placed on my car. Everything seemed fine as I drove the few blocks from the tire store to my house and then to the church. Our wedding vows were finished about 7:30 pm on a Friday night. Pamela and I jumped into my car and headed to her parents’ house. She was going to change into some traveling clothes, grab her suitcases, so we could head out on our trip.
Suddenly, my car was almost undriveable. It bounced and jerked all over the road. I had trouble keeping it under control. My first thought was that the folks at the tire store had not balanced my new tires. My second thought was that something had broken in the suspension system. I was close to tears. I knew I would not be getting any repairs done that late on Friday night in Albemarle. The thought of spending my wedding night in the house with my new In-laws was embarrassing. Besides, I knew that if I did not leave town, my Dad would expect me to show up the next morning at the Curb Market ready to go to work.
Shortly after we finally made it to Pamela’s house, some guys from our wedding showed up. They were doubled over laughing at the prank they had pulled. They had filled my hubcaps with rocks. Every tire was out of balance, Frankly, I FAILED TO SEE THE HUMOR IN THE SITUATION! I did not use any un-Preacher-like words. But. I threatened them with “great bodily harm” if they did not fix their mess. They realized I meant it. The prospect of a hospital visit did not appeal to them, so they undid their prank. Pamela and I had smooth driving on our trip.
As we come to the close of 2025 and approach the beginning of 2026, have any rocks gotten into the “hubcaps” of your life? Life will always have “potholes” and some rough broken pavement. But life always runs smoother when we deal with the things we can control.
…Have you allowed sinful ideas or actions to creep into your life? The devil tells you it is “okay” but you know the Lord is not pleased.
…Have you been faithful with your tithing and your extra giving to Godly ministries?
…Have you been faithful, or careless, with your weekly attendance at a place of worship?
…Is the Lord pleased with the way you have used your talents and spiritual gifts?
…Have you experienced areas of hurt, and now you hold anger, unforgiveness, and thoughts of revenge in your heart?
As we clear away those “rocks” in our lives, we find peace with God and peace with others. Let’s begin 2026 having done all we can do personally to have a year of smooth driving [living].
I am praying two prayers from Psalms.
…”Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”. [139:23, 24]
…”Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight O Lord, my strength and my redeemer”. [19:14]
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
- Sunday School is at 9:00 am
- Morning Worship and Children’s Church are at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on the website after 12:30 pm
- Prayer and Bible Study are Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
- $ 1470—Final total for the Lottie Moon Offering for Foreign Missions
Smooth driving in 2026
Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church