Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Sunday Summary & Monday too....

Greetings,

I hope that finds everyone doing well! All I can say about this past Lord's Day at BBC is wow! Our day started off at 8am with Early Morning Prayer. I always enjoy hearing the people of God offering up their petitiions. After prayer meeting was over, I figured that we were in for a grand celebration at corporate worship.

After prayer meeting I received some news that really shook me to my core.  One of the most faithful men in the church, Bro. Ocie Richie made his transition from labor to reward at about 9am. I was very saddened by his passing as he was always very supportive of his church and his pastor. Please keep his family in your prayers as they prepare to funeralize him and for me as I have to eulogize him.

Sunday served as our Officers Installation Day. Its the day where the congregational leaders are installed to their office, given the charge of leadership, and discharged to their duties. Normally I would bring a guest pastor in to preach this service, but my leaders said that they wanted to be preached to and installed by their pastor. This was a very humbling experience for me.  Our Mass Choir really blessed us in their ministry of song and we all were very surprised when one of our young ladies came out of the choir choir stand and got on the organ to play, "We Worship You". I thank God for the young people at BBC, they never cease to amaze me!

By it being installation day, I wanted to preach something specific to encourage and strengthen the leadership for the upcoming year of service. The Lord led me to Philippians 2:5-11.  The sermon was entitled, "Serving with the mind of Christ". To serve with the mind of Christ, you must :

1. Have the Correct Psyche

2. Be Content with your Position

3. Exhibit a Charitable Performance

4. Then you'll receive a Celebrated Promotion

God truly blessed the exposition and the people rejoiced in the Word! If that wasn't enough we really rejoiced as people came to give their lives to the Lord! God be praised for the converts and additions to the fellowship.

I was truly exhausted after such a powerful worship service. However I did watch the football games, and I'm looking forward to the "Harbaugh Bowl".

Thank God for the inauguration of our President as well as the celebration of the life and legacy of the Rev.Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. we at BBC spent our King Day celebrating at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka Campus. I am grateful for our choir who sang out of their souls and the opportunity that I had to say a lil something.....

With such a big kickoff to the week, I am really looking forward to this upcoming week of meeting, teaching, and preaching. may God Bless and keep you is my prayer.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Sunday Summary

Greetings,

I pray that everyone is doing well.  I want to start off by wishing everyone a very happy new year! I pray that this year be the best year of your life this far.  I am truly excited about all of the possibilities that 2013 hold in store for all of us.

Today was a wonderful day of corporate worship at BBC. Our day begins at 8am with prayer. This has great value in the life and vitality of our church, especially since I have been led of God in this season to draw the church closer together in the area of prayer. I've clearly heard the Lord say that all that we desire as individuals and as a body of believers according to the will of God will happen as we seek after God.

I was very eager to preach this morning but also somewhat hesitant. As many of you know, I am a competitive weightlifter amd while training for a competiion that I have on March 9th, I seriously injured my lower back. It has been difficult to walk and at times even to stand, but after a week and a half of therapy and much prayer, I felt as though I could preach. Our Male Chorus graced us today with the music for the day. It always does my heart good to see men leading in the worship service.

I preached a sermon from Psam 127:1-2, entitled, Lord, build us a house! I argued that it is better and we obtain greater results in trusting the Lord rather than exerting oursleves in tireless labor. We want the Lord to build our house because:

1. God will produce
2. God will protect
3. God will give us peace

Thank God for the exposition of the text and the response as a result of the preaching. There were members that came to rededicate their lives to the Lord, and one even desired to be baptized again. 

I look forward to this week of meetings with our new ministry leaders. I also look forward to resuming Bible Study on this week. We will be studying Daniel chapter 2.  I ask that you would pray for my continued healing and hopefully I can return to the gym soon. I look forward to sharing with you again real soon! Until then, peace!!!!!