From the beginning of creation, the Bible teaches that we did not choose to be here at all. We were planted in a place, given to a world, created by God. We argue over how all that happened, but none of us chose the place where we were born, or our families of origin. We have freedom to choose how to live, and we are also compelled--even drawn--by Someone beyond who calls us to something greater than even we could ever imagine. That usually happens in the place where we live, work, worship, or play.

From Adam and Eve, the disciples, and people today, we wrestle with and are challenged by the notion that our lives are not our own. Even our freedom has limits and boundaries. God wants something from us, and that just means that God really loves us. It’s not merely for ministers to say “I’ve heard God calling.” Rather everyone realizes eventually that no matter where we live, work, or play, God’s call is on each one of us right here.

The good news is that we don’t even need credentials, degrees, or experience to do something. In fact, we’ll never have enough information, Bible facts, or lessons. We just simply have to trust that as we go, the Holy Spirit will give us the words to say as we carry out the mission.

For the past few weeks, we’ve started together with seven building blocks of the resurrected life. They are memory, hospitality, character, generosity, testimony, mission, and worship. My challenge to you this summer over the next 80 days is to use one of them wherever God has called you. The place could be right next door, across the city, or around the world.

As C.S. Lewis has said, “To follow the vocation or the calling does not mean happiness; but once it has been heard there is no happiness for those who do not follow.” Listen for God’s call with the words of Samuel, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Watch the resurrection come alive.

The researchers at Beloit College tell us that these 18-19 year olds have a unique perspective on life. They have never seen an airplane “ticket.” There has always been professional football in Jacksonville but never in Los Angeles. They have never needed a set of encyclopedias on a bookshelf, and most of their news comes from YouTube and possibly The Daily Show. They get History from a channel; and if they watch television shows, they rarely use a TV to do so.

Because of First Baptist and the families that surround them, they also have a unique Christ-like mindset. You’ve been trained, nurtured, and supported by a youth ministry with Todd Smith and youth choir with Pam Cooke. Your parents and grandparents have demonstrated the importance of church involvement as a critical part of the formation of church. You’ve sung, served, and shared as a vital part of our ministries. While in school, you’ve navigated the treacherous waters of grades, relationships, choices, and loyalties. You’ve been given a firm foundation to build upon.

Our work as a church family is not complete, however. Most students stop attending church during their college years, and relatively few return. Those who remain engaged in a life of faith cite one primary reason for active involvement. Caring adults stay in contact with them while in college and maintain a personal connection and relationship. Chap Clark of Fuller Seminary suggests that most young adults need at least six–seven caring adults in his or her life, in addition to their parents, to weather the storms.

This Sunday, we take the next step on the resurrection journey: worship. When we worship, God changes our minds. We encounter a living God who moves us to connect with others. Accept the invitation in worship to remain in one student’s life for the next four years. Stay in touch by text message and email. Engage in their world while they are studying. Invite them to babysit the kids or mow the grass. Learn from their experiences, and pray for them. We are blessed as a church family to have a great youth ministry and college ministry. As we pass the baton from Todd to Zach, do your part to connect to each one of these students and their families. You can start here Sunday as we worship together.

Our Youth Choir travels to Boston June 2–9; Youth Mission Fuge is June 17–22; Builders for Christ is scheduled for Birmingham, Alabama, July 14–21; and the Haiti team is on mission from July 27–August 3. Throughout the summer, several people will be serving around the world as camp counselors, directors, and teachers. Each person is involved in our college, young adult, or music ministries.

Jared Coleman

Matt Deming

Will Fransden

Marcus Harden

Dana Rozier

Kate King

Amanda Moulton

Luke Hinson

William Sahely

Josie Markel

Maris Renard

Michael Warriner

Kylie Elliott

Sarah Harrington

Chris Frakes

Emily Greene

Tom Wright says, “The mission of the church is nothing more or less than the outworking, in the power of the Spirit of Jesus’ bodily resurrection.” In other words, the mission of the church is resurrection. When people are leaving our church to serve around the world, we are carrying out the mission of Christ. Please pray for them. It’s incredible to think of the impact that First Baptist will have as a result of the work of these people, and so many more this year.

This Sunday, we take the next step on the resurrection journey: mission. It’s more than the projects and programs. We walk through a door that Christ has opened through the power of the Spirit. As we go, even our homes become a launching pad for service. Let’s start here Sunday.

In the early churches, people gathered together to eat, read scripture, and share the story of how Jesus Christ fulfilled the hopes and dreams of the Hebrew scriptures. The Christians called these Old Testament passages the testimonia, and the New Testament writers included them in their books. The word testimonia is also at the root of our word for testimony: the story of one’s personal, ongoing faith in Christ.

For years, Baptists have viewed a testimony as either a dramatic story of someone who was “blind but now they can see” or something that extroverted people like to do when called upon by the preacher. The book of Acts suggests otherwise. Luke tells us that Paul shared his testimony three times, adapting the story to fit the circumstances and the audience. The purpose of the story was not to count the number of conversions, or to impress someone else with a dramatic reversal in life. A testimony tells Jesus’ story and the small part we play in the larger narrative of his work. We participate in a living, ongoing conversation with another person as we point them to Christ.

In their book Move: What 1,000 Churches Reveal About Spiritual Growth, Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson found that these spiritual conversations are a catalyst for discipleship. People who have at least six or more meaningful spiritual conversations grow in their relationship with Christ and the church.

On Sunday, we will look together at Paul’s last public appearance, when he shares his story as a prisoner. It’s the next building block of the resurrected life and the next step on the journey as we start here together. The good news is we don’t need a Damascus road experience to initiate the conversation. We just need a willingness to “tell the old, old story of Jesus and his love.”

None of us could take credit for what has happened here. Through God’s abundant provision and your sacrifice, you have not only weathered a financial storm; but you also have a spiritual landmark to commemorate what has happened here. When Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan, they built a monument to remember their journey. The Welcome Center and other additions provide a living reminder from this point forward of our church’s commitment to Christ and God’s faithfulness to us during these past few years.

This Sunday, I invite you to join me as we mark a milestone in our church’s journey together and blaze a trail of generosity. We will look together at how the early church took care of each other and their community during economic hardship in Jerusalem. As the capital campaign comes to an end, I will invite you to direct what you are already in the habit of giving to Here for Life and give to the budget resources.

After four months into the year, we have a deficit of approximately $50,000. If each of us gives just a little more, we can catch up the deficit and prepare for a great summer and fall of ministry ahead. How can we do that? If you are already giving to the capital campaign, as those commitments come to an end, give those resources to our operating budget. For others who have not been able to give to Here for Life, start together by giving to the Lord through the church.

Generosity is just another building block in the resurrected life. When Jesus is Lord, he turns our finances into a vehicle for life, for each other and for everyone in our community. Let’s start here Sunday.

The Holy Spirit creates as much of a disturbance as it does deliverance. Believers are pushed out of their comfort zones to hang around with other sinners. The converts begin reorienting their lives around “Jesus as Lord of all” but are not quite sure how to leave behind the old practices and habits to take on the new life in Christ.

Sprinkled throughout the New Testament, relationships emerge that are designed primarily around character formation. There was no set program or curriculum, but a teaching emerged in various pockets around the Mediterranean world designed to disconnect from the old way and connect people into the life of Christ and the church.

This paideia, or pedagogy, can be found in several passages. For instance, in 1 Timothy 4:13 Paul urges Timothy, “Devote yourself to the public reading of scripture.” In Hebrews 10, a preacher teaches believers how to learn from suffering. In Titus 2, women teach Timothy through correction and accountability.

There are many more, but these are just a few of the relationships spawned by the resurrection. Each one was unique, tailored to the individual and community. As the early churches discovered in Acts, they needed more than a welcome mat, a reception of punch and cookies, and a nametag. They needed time, and they took whatever was necessary to pour their lives into each other. If we start here, Tallahassee can be a community filled with this kind of character formation. Let’s take the next step Sunday.

Robert Schnase writes, “Hospitality means we pray, plan, prepare, and work toward the purpose of helping others receive what we have received in Christ.” Every person who comes to church for life was first welcomed by someone in the church. Hospitality signifies vibrant congregational life and requires the ongoing spiritual discipline of welcoming people who are strange—and strangers—to us. It forms another building block of the resurrected life in the book of Acts. As we recall and retell the stories of Jesus in our own words, the Spirit opens the doors of our hearts and those of the strangers we encounter every day.

According to the book of Acts, there is one kind of stranger that the Spirit especially loves to connect to followers of Christ: God-fearers. These are people who believe in one God, are spiritually minded, but are not very religious in their devotion to Jesus. These people, like the Ethiopian eunuch, Saul, Lydia, and Cornelius; they believe in one God but have not quite accepted the reality that Jesus really is Lord. Often, the Spirit’s greatest barrier is not in the heart of the God-fearer but in locating a Christian brave enough to eat with the seeker on his own turf. The Spirit needs people to listen long enough to their questions and concerns about Jesus and his followers.

This connection happens initially not when we open the doors to invite them to come into our building. That usually works pretty well for people who already believe in Jesus. For those who don’t we have to become the guest and allow the God-fearer to be the host. That’s tough if you are afraid of being perceived as a “stumbling block” to other believers. But for Christians comfortable enough to trust the Spirit’s movement, all kinds of doors fling open in the book of Acts and in Tallahassee.

Last week, we asked you to recall and retell the Emmaus story in your own words to a resurrection friend. Now that you’ve practiced on friendly ears, imagine having dinner with someone who does not believe in Jesus yet but is willing to talk with you about God. Let’s start together and see where the Spirit takes us. If we are willing, someone might be inviting you to share your story too.

Following the resurrection in Luke and into the book of Acts, people encounter the risen Christ along the path of life. Each event is an opportunity for a new beginning. Each person is not alone; he usually has a friend or a mentor who accompanies him. He is usually pushed out of his comfort zone of religion or culture and into a radical relationship with Christ like never before. This life requires risk and adventure, danger and opportunity, suffering and sacrifice. Each response opens a door of faith not only for the convert’s life but also the community that surrounds him.

These examples of living encounters with Christ form the building blocks for believers starting over with the resurrection. I’ve identified eight foundational elements that each person has in Luke and Acts that we can learn from. We are invited to build our lives using many of the same qualities: Memory, Hospitality, Character, Generosity, Testimony, Mission, Worship, and Vocation. During the Easter season through Memorial Day, I will be preaching about each one of these building blocks for a resurrected life. They are in no particular order. Each one is important, and each one has power for life today. Each one can help you start again rebuilding a life that encounters the risen Lord.

As we go along, share you stories where these building blocks are already a part of your life. Email me, post a story or two on our Facebook site, or tweet with the hashtag #StartHere. At the end of the series, I’ll invite you to pick one to try this summer and report what you learned. For those of us who have discovered or rediscovered the resurrection, the empty tomb is a wonderful place to lay a new foundation on the life of Christ. Let’s start here together.

Most people merely manage the passing of time with birthdays or anniversaries. Others make New Year’s resolutions to start over each year, hoping to gradually improve. The calendar offers 365 days to try to get it right; and we keep going, making small steps of progress along the way. That’s the way of time management.

The Resurrection Way is God’s work. Here life begins with an empty tomb, the presence of a risen Lord, inviting disciples to a life of conversion. Easter Sunday gives us a day to remember why this Way is so important. We recall Jesus’ words, celebrate his presence and start living the message all over. Resurrection is still alive in the present when we choose to hear Paul’s question, “Death where is your victory, Grave where is your sting?”

Maybe that’s why the church chose the date of Easter to align with the beginning of spring. Centuries ago, Western Christians decided to gather at least once each year and celebrate on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal

equinox. I think they also knew that if we forgot, nature would remind us of the new beginning. Trees bud, flowers bloom, and seasons change.

So if you’ve forgotten how, or if the winter of life has left you dormant, Christ still has some work to do. It’s almost impossible to believe that a Jewish man from Galilee, born of a virgin, who walked on this earth a short time could have such an impact that his presence is still felt today in the world. But we believe it, and even more importantly, we live it. And if you ever doubted, show up Sunday. We’ll start here together.

When Paul and Barnabas returned back to their missionary home base in Antioch of Syria, Acts 14 says, “They gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.” Each Sunday you will be hearing bits and pieces of my story in these first few weeks together. I also want to get to know what God is doing through you, and the needs and opportunities in our community. We might even find an open door of faith to the lost and needy in our community.

To assist me, I am asking these questions to guide our conversations and discussion.

If you have time, send an e-mail or jot me a note. I will be asking similar questions of people in our community who share a desire for the common good in Tallahassee. I’ll compile this information and share (with no names attached) in a usable form to our church leadership in May. This will be a way for us to hear the burning issues and opportunities that are like open doors for us as we begin the journey together.

As Revelation 3:8 suggests, “I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.” Let’s walk through those doors together.

This Sunday marks a significant milestone. We celebrate Fran Buhler’s 20th anniversary as Associate Pastor and express our gratitude for his service as Interim Senior Pastor. Fran and Nancy’s calling into the life of vocational ministry came from within our congregation. They led as active laypeople before joining our staff. Fran could have done any number of things, but he loves our church so much that he has been willing to serve our church. He has been Interim Senior Pastor not just once, but twice. Just as he did before, he has built a bridge that all of us have walked across on this journey together.

Associate Pastors share the same calling that all have in vocational ministry. They rarely get the credit or applause that goes to staff in the spotlight. They are neither second chairs nor backup quarterbacks. They are armor bearers for the church family and the Senior Pastor, protecting, guiding, encouraging, and consoling all of us. In 1 Samuel 14, Saul’s son Jonathan asks his armor-bearer to help him engage the Philistines on the outskirts of Gibeah. “Do all that you have in mind,” his armor-bearer responded. “Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” Fran continues to be with First Baptist with all of his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Thank you, Fran, for your partnership in the gospel. I am grateful.

This Sunday, we gather at the Lord’s table to share our first communion together as Pastor and people and receive the quarterly benevolence offering. In this season of lent, we gather in remembrance of the One who made it possible for us to be here and welcomed us with open arms of love.

In 2007, Nancy and I attended my 45th alumni class reunion at Carson Newman University in Jefferson City, Tennessee, near Knoxville. On our way home, we stopped by FBC Knoxville to hear Dr. Bill Shiell. I felt then he was a Baptist Pastor with a God-breathed future.

In 2008 I ordered and read “Sessions with Matthew: Becoming a Family of Faith,” by William D. Shiell. I was drawn to a subsection “Hearing the Sermon Preached” on page 38.

When Dr. Dortch resigned, I thought hmmm. Yet I never lobbied the Pastor Search Committee, feeling such activity

inappropriate in my position. But I did pray – daily – for our PSC. I was asked by the PSC Chair, as Dr. Dortch was asked, if I had any recommendations. I submitted only one name.

Remember this Sunday’s time change, the start of a new future at FBC Tallahassee.

He came. He preached. He helped us expand our understanding and deepen our appreciation for both well-known and little- known texts in the Bible.

The experience was instant, the bond between pulpit and pew. The man is gifted.

Respected and entrusted with high level responsibility as Provost of Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama, God has led and used Dr. Brad Creed to “bless us and keep us” and also to challenge us during our interim.

Thank you to the faithful committee that brought Dr. Creed here: Joan Cassels (chair), Penny Folsom, Josh Hall, Chris

Rettkowski, and Cal Zongker.

Sunday, March 3, is Appreciation Sunday for Dr. Brad Creed and his family.

Dr. Creed’s wife, Kathy, his daughter, Carrie Grace, and his son, Charlie, will be present.

Our Appreciation Reception for Dr. Creed will be in the Fellowship Hall following the contemporary service at 12:30PM. For those unable to attend the Appreciation Reception, you may greet Dr. Creed in the Welcome Center following the traditional worship service.

Dr. Bill Shiell’s first Sunday is March 10. I hope you can worship with us and invite someone to be our guest. Speaking in both morning worship services, Dr. Shiell’s “The Living Stones” sermon theme (1 Peter 2:1-10) will connect with our interim “Pray First” theme in which the Pastor Search Committee Chair, Darrell Thompson, led us to use the covenant stone as a constant reminder to pray first.

Indeed, our prayers---individually and corporately---have been answered. Thanks be to God.

So…why don’t we keep on praying? Praying for our new Pastor as he leads us in faithful witness. Praying for Dr. Bill and Kelly Shiell, and for their sons, Parker and Drake. Praying for our First Baptist Church to be God’s church, in this time, in this place. As a special part of our worship together on March 10, please bring your covenant stone as a symbol of your commitment to continue to pray, and to build your life around Christ. We will have extra stones available for those who do not have one.

Thanks also to our Pastor Search Committee, who worked so diligently for more than a year: Darrell Thompson (chairman), Beckie Maynard (vice-chair), Amy Baker, Cecil Davis, Bill Gardner, Meghan Greene, Jennifer Hendrix, Eric Palm, and David Westberry.

students to study.

What are the students studying? The theme this year is “Distraction.” I love this theme. Students are busy today. Media, friends, problems, stress, athletics, music, boy- and girl-friends, parties, phones, games, social media, jobs, etc. are constantly distracting them. This week we will ask the question to our students, “What distracts you from fully following Jesus?” That is a good question for adults to ask themselves. What is there in your life that keeps you from falling in love with Jesus? What do you give time too that distracts from Jesus?

Who is the speaker? His name is Nathan Smith. Nathan is national speaker and creative communicator. He speaks to over 100,000 teenagers a year. He is also the author of the curriculum that our youth will study. You will enjoy hearing Nathan in both services on Sunday morning.

Tell me about the music. The music will be provided by the Greg Wells Band from Atlanta, Georgia. If Greg’s name sounds familiar, it should. He is a former intern with our youth ministry and led music with the praise team in the contemporary worship service around four years ago. The students are so excited to see Greg again. He has a heart for God and loves our students. Greg’s band will be playing in the 11:15 worship service this Sunday.

Is recreation a big deal? Recreation is an important aspect of Disciple Now. This year the students are having their recreation at the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. They are so generous to allow us to use their field next to the York Cottage. Our students compete in different competitive (and often silly) events. The winning team gets their group name engraved on the recreation trophy that will be proudly displayed in the youth area. Our students love competing at the FBCH. They get to interact with the children and run recreation for the York Cottage. Many of our youth find this time of giving back the best part of the week.

How can I help? Pray. “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Pray that our leaders will lead with passion and selflessness. Pray that our youth will grasp the vision of what it means to be a disciple of Christ. Pray that hearts will be touched and many will “fall in love” with Jesus. Pray that youth will give their hearts to Jesus this weekend. Pray, pray, pray.

Thank you for loving our students. Thank you for praying. You are an amazing church. I cannot wait to tell you the wonderful God-stories about this weekend.

Blessings,

No matter how long I live I will never forget words I absorbed as a child at Fairview Baptist Church in Lebanon, Tennessee. The words of Harper G. Smyth:

Four simple questions. For we as Christians, these questions learned long ago never have an expiration date. No matter how complicated life gets, no matter what life dumps in our laps, no matter whether we choose 11:15am or 9:00am worship, no matter what’s on our “to do” list for our lives, we can’t escape these questions.

This Sunday, February 17, Dr. Brad Creed

February 24, Youth Disciple Now Guest Speaker, Nathan Smith. Nathan speaks to youth groups, FCA, Baptist College Ministries, and Campus Crusade for Christ. He is before over 100,000 youth each year. Our Minister to Youth, Todd Smith, has great plans for Youth Disciple Now – Thursday evening through Sunday, Feb 21 - 24. Youth parents, please see fbctlh.org/DNOW13 for all of the details. This year features a Saturday “rec time” at the Florida Baptist Children’s Home. Isn’t that awesome?

March 3 – Dr. Brad Creed. His final Sunday with us.

Please help us show personal thanks and church-wide appreciation for Dr. Brad Creed’s leadership and preaching ministry during our interim. Dr. Creed’s last Sunday with us will be March 3 at 9am traditional worship and 11:15am contemporary worship.

We have two appreciation opportunities:

Dr. William Shiell will be here March 10, preaching both services. His sermon: “The Living Stones,” 1 Peter 2:1-10.

“Make me a channel of blessing today,

make me a channel of blessing, I pray…”

Remember the power of the spoken word as you navigate life this week.

Dr. William Shiell’s first Sunday at FBC Tallahassee will be March 10, as announced. Dr. Shiell’s March sermons will be:

March 10 - “The Living Stones,” 1 Peter 2:1-10

“We build our lives together on the rock of Christ by coming to him like exiled children who have outgrown their old clothes and their baby food are ready to try on the clothes and taste the meat of a relationship with Jesus Christ. We join together by building our lives with each other on the firm foundation of Christ.”

March 17 – “Taking the Gospel Lying Down,” Luke 22:9-23

March 24 – “Praise that Ends with Tears,” Luke 19:39-44

March 31 – “Words to Remember,” Luke 24:1-11

February 10 – Dr. Jerry Haag, President, Florida Baptist Children’s Homes, Lakeland, FL

February 17 – Dr. Brad Creed

February 24 – Youth Disciple Now, Guest Speaker Nathan Smith (Nathan speaks to over 100,000 youth each year via FCA, Baptist College Ministries, and Campus Crusade for Christ.)

March 3 – Dr. Brad Creed

We are thankful for Dr. Brad Creed’s leadership and preaching ministry during this interim time. As he has said himself, his goal in coming was to preach Scripture each Sunday he was here, and also to get fired. With the recent calling of our pastor, Dr. Bill Shiell, Brad’s last Sunday with us here in Tallahassee will be March 3. I’m sure you will want to be in attendance to thank him personally. After the 11:15 worship service, we will have a reception in the Fellowship Hall for everyone who would like to express their gratitude. If you are unable to attend the reception, Dr. Creed will be available for a brief period of time in the Welcome Center after the 9:00 worship service. Please plan to be there that Sunday, so we can send him on toward his next interim with blessings from his family here at FBC Tallahassee.

We appreciate Dr. Jerry Haag’s preaching visit this Sunday. The ministry of the Florida Baptist Children’s Homes – across the state of Florida and here in Tallahassee – has been strongly supported by our church. FBC Tallahassee used to be in the top five or top ten Baptist Churches in Florida in contributions to the Mother’s Day Offering earmarked for FBCH. We have slipped a little in recent years. I would personally like to see us back up there at or near the top in our faithfulness to support FBCH.

FBC members Greg and Jeanne Thornton are outstanding staff members with our local FBCH, and are faithful in our Inter-Action Bible study group and in our church.

Please give a warm welcome and extend our appreciation to Dr. Jerry Haag this Sunday.

At a combined worship service on Sunday, January 20th, over 1250 people packed our sanctuary to hear Dr. Shiell deliver the morning message “Digging Deep With the Lord.” After our Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Praise Team, Praise Band, Youth Choir, Pianist, and Organist led us in a time of outstanding music directed by Penny Folsom, Pam Cooke, and George Feijoo, Dr. Shiell stirred our hearts with a message from Luke. At the conclusion of the worship service, we entered into a special business session where the PSC unanimously recommended William D. Shiell, Ph.D., as Senior Pastor of FBC, Tallahassee. The PSC recommendation was seconded and by a unanimous vote Dr. Shiell was called as our next Senior Pastor. Dr. Shiell graciously accepted the call. After Dr. Shiell led us in a closing prayer as our new Pastor, the congregation welcomed him and his family to the FBC family of Tallahassee.

Dr. Shiell’s last Sunday at FBC of Knoxville will be February 10, 2013, and his first Sunday in Tallahassee will be March 10, 2013. Kelly and the boys will remain in Knoxville to finish the school year and relocate to Tallahassee over Memorial Day weekend.

The brochure we mailed to church members contains the biographical information on Bill and his family, so I won’t repeat that information in this article. I will share with you some background information on how the PSC was led to Bill Shiell as our unanimous recommendation for Senior Pastor.

As you may recall, the PSC was appointed in early February of 2012. Since our first meeting on February 26, 2012, the members of the PSC have felt the Holy Spirit’s presence, guidance and direction during every phase of the search process.

One of the very first actions taken by the PSC was to enter into a covenant with each other to pray, pray and pray some more that the Holy Spirit would give us the wisdom and discernment to find the pastor the Lord had prepared for our church. We also asked the FBC congregation to enter into a covenant with the PSC to diligently pray for the search process. Members of the congregation were given “stones” to serve as a reminder of your covenant to pray for the search process.

With your help, the PSC conducted congregational listening sessions to develop a church and pastor profile to guide us in our search efforts. After the congregational listening sessions were conducted and the profiles were created, we requested senior pastor recommendations and resumes.

Our deadline for receiving resumes was August 31, 2012, and we received approximately 85 resumes. After countless hours reviewing and deliberating over the 85 resumes, we narrowed our list of pastor candidates to 8 finalists, each of whom we interviewed and then listened to numerous sermons. The PSC developed an evaluation matrix that each member used to privately and independently evaluate and rank the 8 finalists. Our plan was if we all had the same top 3 candidates we would continue our search process with the top 3. When the PSC met to review our independent ranking of the 8 finalists, we did not have a consensus on the top 3 ranked candidates; however, the Holy Spirit amazingly led each of the nine members of the PSC to the same candidate (Bill Shiell) as our first choice. Only the working of the Holy Spirit could have made this possible.

After more discussion and intense prayer, it was obvious that the Lord had led all of us to the pastor that He had prepared for FBC. All of the members of the PSC went to Knoxville to hear Bill preach and after meeting both Bill and Kelly during subsequent visits, we continued to be unanimous in our conviction and belief that Dr. Bill Shiell is the pastor that the Holy Spirit has chosen to lead our church.

The PSC would like to express our deepest appreciation to the church family for your prayers and support during this search process. We also want to thank each of the FBC staff members for their prayers, commitment and willingness to fill the gap during this critical time in our church.

Now is not the time to stop praying! We need each of you to continue your intense prayers for Bill and his family during this transition period. Pray for Bill, Kelly and the boys as they are separated for about three months. Pray for the FBC of Knoxville as they start their search process for a new pastor. Continue to pray for the PSC as we work with Bill to develop a 100 day plan to assimilate him into the church and into the community. Pray for our church staff as they continue to lead us and prepare for new leadership. And most of all pray for the lost and be thinking of ways you can minister to them and bring them to our church where they can hear the gospel preached.

On Sunday, March 10, 2013, we will welcome Bill to Tallahassee by bringing our “stones” to church where they will be collected and formed into a visual reminder of our “spiritual journey” together.

Psalm 118:23-24 says, “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

On January 20, the First Baptist Church of Tallahassee voted unanimously to call Dr. Bill Shiell as Senior Pastor, to begin on March 10. Dr. Shiell has been Pastor of First Baptist Church of Knoxville, Tennessee. We appreciate Bill, Kelly, Parker, and Drake, and look forward to their arrival in Tallahassee. Kelly and the boys will stay in Knoxville so Parker and Drake can finish school. The family will relocate over the Memorial Day weekend. You can find out more about the Shiell family at fbctlh.org/pastor.

Thank you for your prayers and your participation. Let’s show our appreciation to the Most High God, to the Pastor Search Committee, and to Chairman Darrell Thompson. Keep touching your stone… and continue to pray.

What if we could be comfortable and effective talking about our faith and interacting with others about matters of faith? Have you ever wanted to grow in that area of your Christian life?

Our CONNECTIONS WEEKEND, February 1 – 3, 2013, will focus on how you can develop your relationships for the advancement of the gospel. The event is open to the community and happens right here at FBC.

You will find breakout sessions to strengthen your faith and equip you as an ambassador for Christ in your various contexts: home, neighborhood, community, classroom, and workplace.

Conference speaker Greg Koukl (rhymes with “vocal”) will teach us essential skills and tactics to help us share our faith and make our conversations with others more likely to bear fruit.

Greg Koukl, founder and president of Stand to Reason (str.org), started out thinking he was too smart to become a Christian and ended up giving his life for the defense of the Christian faith. A central theme of Greg’s speaking and writing is that Christianity can compete in the marketplace of ideas when properly understood and properly articulated.

Greg is the author of “Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions” and more than 180 articles. Greg has had extensive TV exposure, serves as an adjunct professor in Christian apologetics at Biola University and speaks on numerous college and university campuses. Greg has hosted his own radio talk show for 20 years advocating clear-thinking Christianity and advancing the Christian worldview.

Register online at fbctlh.org/connections.

Our Pastor Search Committee has prayed and deliberated and brings to our church a single unanimous recommendation for our Pastor.

Sunday is Decision Sunday.

At 2pm on Saturday, January 19, in our Sanctuary, FBC members have an opportunity to meet the candidate and his family. Come, and be a part of the process.

FBC gathers in worship at 10:30am on Sunday, January 20, to worship God, to pray, and to hear the candidate preach. In a called business session following our service of worship, the First Baptist Church of Tallahassee will vote on our next Pastor, the nineteenth in our storied history since 1849.

First, I thank you as a FBC member for your faithfulness during this interim.

Second, we thank our Pastor Search Committee under the leadership of Darrell Thompson for their prayerful diligence and their “God-directed” work in our behalf. We need to thank the Committee members, each one, for their hard work: Amy Baker; Cecil Davis; Bill Gardner; Meghan Greene; Jennifer Hendrix; Beckie Maynard; Eric Palm; Darrell Thompson; David Westberry.

And we must thank God for this “God-breathed” experience in our journey as a people of faith. The Providence of God is for real.

This week I reread Deuteronomy 31 – 32, traditionally called the Song of Moses, to reflect once again upon Moses’ interpretation of the history of the sometimes faithful, sometimes wayward, sometimes downright sinful, people of Israel. In addition, I reread Psalm 78; 105; and 106.

In Deuteronomy, we see times of national humbling and disaster plus times of the ultimate victory of God as He brought vindication to His people. Such a strong composition with what G. Ernest Wright called the “warmth and fire of faith.”

Deuteronomy 32:2 caught my attention: “May my teaching drop as the rain, my speech distill as the dew, as the gentle rain upon the tender grass.” Do I give as much attention to God’s Word as I do the weather?

I think of Pierson Parker’s reminder from a previous generation of Old Testament scholarship: “We cannot sink to where the word of God cannot reach us.”

I reread verses 4 and 5 of Deuteronomy chapter 32, with the reference to “the Rock,” a clear metaphor for God: “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He.”

I touched my smooth stone in my pocket. I prayed again.

The Future is here!

And so is the Great God of all space and time.

See you on the Sabbath… at 10:30am.

Does anyone remember “Sweet Mud”?

Think FBC Tallahassee, late 1970s and early 1980s. If you do remember, then you have an image in your memory bank of the popular “Sweet Mud” singing group. The group performed on many occasions at FBC and other events in churches in

Tallahassee and throughout Florida, Georgia, and Alabama in the late 70s and early 80s. Oh, the memories of laughter,

spirited music, and good fun. I can recall some Sunday nights when the rafters shook.

Let’s see… there was

This Sunday, January 13, Karl Hay returns home, Rev. Karl Hay, that is, to preach in both worship services, at 9:00am and 11:15am. His sermon this Sunday is “The World is Watching” from 1 Corinthians 16:13-14.

The son of Pete and Tawanna Hay, Karl has been Pastor of First Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, Georgia since 2009. Prior to that he served as part-time Youth and Music minister at Mt. Vernon First since 1994.

During those years, Karl was a full-time computer instructor and then the Director of Online Learning and Extension with a local technical college. Prior to being called as Pastor, Karl was employed as the Chief Information Officer with Brewton-Parker College in Mt. Vernon. His wife, Laura Turner Hay, is the Administrative Assistant for the Daniell Baptist Association.

Both Karl and Laura grew up at First Baptist/Tallahassee and have family who are active members. Karl’s mother is Tawanna Hay. Laura is the daughter of Jeannine and O’Dell Turner.

Karl and Laura’s daughter, Rebecca, a summa cum laude graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, is interested in teaching English in Viet Nam when she completes her Masters. Karl and Laura’s son, Curtis, is a Drug Agent for the Regional Drug Task Force in Eastman, Georgia.

This Sunday also marks the final day Nick and Amber Sroka will be with us prior to their departure for Brazil under the auspices of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Both Amber (Brown) and Nick were youth and college interns at FBC before their seminary studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Having come to faith in our church, Nick and Amber have requested that FBC/Tallahassee be their “sending” church as they follow God’s Call in their lives to serve in Brazil.

Our Sunday worship services will include a Commissioning Prayer signifying the prayer support of our church as Nick, Amber, and son, Carter, depart to serve the Lord.

According to my seminary Old Testament professor, and Wikipedia: “Genesis, Deuteronomy, the Book of Judges and Joshua hallow Shechem over all the other cities of the land of Israel.”

If you are curious, read and explore Genesis 12:6-7; 33:18-19; 34:2,5. In Judges 9:1-45, you will find history I won’t mention at all this Sunday.

Geological excavations confirm Shechem was destroyed in 1100 BC and rebuilt in the 10th century BC.

In addition to the Genesis 12 text above, we will focus Sunday on Deuteronomy 27:4-8; Joshua 8:30-35; and Joshua 24:1-15.

I’ve always been amazed that we give so much attention – and rightly so – to the stories of Israel’s experience at Sinai, especially in sermons and Bible study lessons, and give so little attention to the significance of Shechem and the times of spiritual formation and commitment this hallowed ground represents.

Between “yesterday” and “tomorrow,” we always live in “today.”

“Today” is

where we live,

where we work,

where we do family,

where we sin,

where we lose our way,

where we repent,

where we find redemption,

where we serve,

where we dream,

where we die.

I feel the “todays” that Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and the people of Israel spent at Shechem make it worthwhile to revisit Shechem, and it’s spiritual, Biblical, history.

Scholars affirm the events that are part of Shechem and its spiritual resume.

The bible.org website discusses the geographical, historical, and spiritual significance of Shechem. The summary includes the following statement I won’t include in Sunday’s sermon: “Joshua demonstrates not only the grace of God in calling them out of a pagan past, but also the faithfulness of God in taking care of them after their redemption.”

Isn’t that also true for each of us? See you this Sunday, at Shechem!

We prayed for the families and children of Sandy Hook Elementary School, the wounded adults, the families of the 27 who were killed – the 20 children, the six adults, and the shooter.

We have witnessed the headlines: “A Town Of Tradition At A Loss As Grief Engulfs Holiday Joy;” “Bodies Are Removed From Building As Details Of Massacre Emerge;” and “Horror Is Halting A Season Of Celebration.” That’s the point to which I shall respond.

One Connecticut resident was quoted as saying “I don’t think we’ll recover from this for a very long time.” And I fully agree.

None of us is a stranger to tragedy. We have, each in our own lives, experienced our own episodes of tragedy and grief. Maybe not on this scale. But then, maybe so, for some of us.

In recent memory, we recall the headlines of horrific mass murder at a theater in Colorado (July 20), a Sikh Temple in Wisconsin (Aug 5), a manufacturer in Minneapolis (Sept 27), and numerous others.

Since 1982, we have witnessed 62 mass murders in the US in 30 states in which the shooter took the lives of at least four or more people.

First Baptist has certain protocols in place for guiding our response and assuring timely reaction to unexpected circumstances and serious threats. We need to do more.

A number of deacons and members have been working for some time to examine our past experience and plan for appropriate staff and congregational response to emergency challenges.

Leaders in this effort are Charles Maynard, who currently chairs our Security Committee, Charles Garner, former TPD officer and currently head of security for TMH, who will chair the committee in 2013. Other committee members are Charles Lawson, Lorne Shackelford, and Lee Vickery. Roy Story, who gives coordination to our Sunday Greeters and Ushers is also involved. Charles and Roy, with appropriate Committee and Deacon leadership are circulating drafts and developing protocols beyond what we now practice. We anticipate review and discussion early in 2013, followed by information dissemination, congregational awareness, and staff readiness to cope with whatever the future holds.

The reality of Christmas is we live in a dark and “fallen” world. Not everyone will do the right thing. We need to react prayerfully and compassionately. And we need to prepare for the unknown prayerfully and carefully.

On the night Jesus was born and on the night he was betrayed, evil was loose in this world. On the day Jesus was crucified, evil was at work in this world. Today, evil is alive and well, and just around the corner. We need to be prepared for coping with evil “out there” and we need to be prepared for evil that penetrates our peace “in here.” We need to think and act deliberately, proactively, and responsibly to any evil that would invade us.

Don’t allow the horror of evil or innocence to halt our season of celebration and our Christmas Joy. The reality of Christmas is the reality of the world in which we live. But it is also the reality of “A Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

Fran Buhler

I write it now because my uncle, a World War II vet, was present at the time, heard the comment, and didn’t say a word.

Nancy and I were home for Christmas, married, in our mid-30s, with our three sons. One of my aunts asked my uncle why he didn’t say anything. After all, he fought in WWII from Normandy to the Rhine River. “I did my talking in the war,” he said, “I don’t need to say anything else.”

When Uncle Osko returned from “the war”, he stayed at my grandparents and helped on the farm. “He just needs a chance to work through some things,” “Gran-daddy” Graves would say.

In retrospect, I suspect my uncle experienced what today is called PTSD, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, part of the price he paid for the preservation of our freedom.

And he did work through it. He married eventually, lived a good life, living beyond those days of death and horror far from home – at Christmas.

I had another uncle on the opposite side of the globe in the Pacific Ocean in the US Navy. I watched him die in “Gran-Granny” Grave’s guest room, his life the price of liberty.

He was part of the island-hopping campaign in the Central Pacific. The Allies became expert at amphibious invasions, each island they captured providing a base from which to strike the next target.

The costly, bloody battle for Tarawa forced a significant change in the leapfrogging strategy. “We didn’t try to capture every island,” my uncle explained, “that would have required too many lives and cost too much money.” Instead the Allies by-passed Japanese strongholds and invaded islands that were weakly held. That strategy saved time and lives, ultimately contributing to the war’s conclusion.

So… I never approach our annual Christmas celebration without thinking about my uncles, and all the men, women, and families they represent – before and since, who spend Christmas far from home. There may be someone in your family as well. If so, then I write for your family also.

Why do we have war? Because we live in a dark world, and sometimes we must choose to defend ourselves.

Why do we sin? Because we live in a dark world, and we choose to sin.

Why do we celebrate Christmas? Because the “Light of the World is Jesus,” and we choose to “Come to the Light,” as we did this past Sunday night. Thank you, Sanctuary Choir, Orchestra, Praise Team, Youth Choir, FBC Internationals Ministry, soloists, and duet.

Our very own musical marketing maven, Penny Folsom, raises the question of the week! “Where can you experience a rousing African Noel, a hauntingly beautiful Italian carol, a sizzling salsa and Stille Nacht as it was first performed in 1818, all in one place?” Try the FBC Sanctuary this Sunday, December 9, at 6:00pm. As we celebrate Jesus as “The Light of the World.” Our choir, orchestra, and praise team join forces for an uplifting, inspirational, Christ-honoring, multi-cultural joy.

“Like sunshine at noonday His glory shone in. The Light of the World is Jesus.” From “Come to the Light” by David Rasbach.

As you check out your options, families of all ages and sizes will find joy at Breakfast in Bethlehem. Parents of children (birth – 5th grade) may consider “Parents’ Time Out” on December 16. You’ll find other options for Youth, College, Singles, and all adults. And the December calendar is filled with dates for Christmas fellowships in our small groups. Make sure you know when and where your group is meeting.

And make sure you know this celebration did not begin with us!

This time of the year I give thanks for a person who was an Anglican, then a Puritan, then a Separatist, then a Baptist before he fled England to escape harsh persecution. You have heard of him, Roger Williams, born in England around 1603. He worked in a British courtroom where heretics were prosecuted, tried, convicted, and sentenced – harshly. By the time this teenager graduated from Cambridge, he was a preacher and a relentless advocate of religious liberty. He was infuriated by the treatment given a Puritan friend who endured public whipping, his ears cut off, his nose split on both sides, and a life sentence. Threatened himself when he spoke out, Williams fled to the colonies arriving in Boston – this week – December 8, 1630.

Williams faced intolerant Puritan opposition in America also, so he fled by night through the snow, escaping to safety in Indian Country. He purchased land from the Indians on the shores of Narragansett Bay, naming it Providence, as he established the colony of Rhode Island, where all could worship in freedom.

There, Roger Williams also established the first Baptist Church in America. Williams felt “the whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,” and “the Light of the World is Jesus.” I’ve stood in the pulpit of that church. It’s still a dark world.

May we “Come to the Light.”

“Take my life and let it be,

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my hands and let them move

at the impulse of Thy love.”

December 2, 2012 marks the first Sunday in Advent at FBC as we light the Candle of Hope. My December 2 sermon is “An Advent Hymn of Hope,” Isaiah 9:2, 6-7. Dr. Brad Creed will be preaching on December 9, 16, and 23 as we light the Candles of Peace, Joy, and Love.

December 2, our Youth Choir sings in both morning worship services. Expect high energy via Christmas music of Advent Hope.

December 2 signals our Christmas Cards for Inmates collection as in “I was in prison and you came to me…” (Matthew 25:36). We need 2,500 religious Christmas cards with a meaningful Christian witness to gift to the 1,250 inmates of the Leon County Correctional Facility. Each inmate receives two cards to send to family and friends, plus a tract telling them of God’s love. Please use collection boxes in the College Avenue Foyer, the Library, and the Welcome Center. Bring your cards this

Sunday, December 2.

December 2, 6:00pm, FBC sanctuary, offers our Hanging of the Green, a family celebration of the season. In the words of Penny Folsom, “Don’t miss this hall-decking, tree-trimming, carol-singing, wreath-lighting, smile-bringing service.” Bring your family, invite your neighbors, as we prepare our sanctuary and our hearts to worship the newborn King. Bring your favorite holiday treat to share at the “Almost Christmas” party afterwards in the Fellowship Hall.

December 3, Global Missions Week of Prayer Luncheon, Fellowship Hall, 12:00 noon. WMU Group Leader Donna Heald has planned a program on global missions, followed by the Hope Community Ladies Craft Group display of their gift creations. Sales proceeds support the Hope Community.

December 2 and 3: Great opportunities to appreciate Frances Ridley Havergal’s “All For Jesus” experience of inspiration followed by consecration: “Take my life and let it be, Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.”

Much of humankind is angry at God when things go wrong but forgetting Him completely when things go well. According to J. Stephen Lang, author of several books about the Bible and a regular contributor to “Discipleship Journal,” “Christian History,” and other periodicals, “God faces the same problem we face: hearing more gripes than thank-yous.” “Interestingly,” writes Lang, “the Bible presents thankfulness to God as the best motivation for living a good life.”

Personally, I’m convinced my prayer life is strongly connected to the question of my thankfulness. As Max Lucado expressed it, “Prayer pushes us through life’s slumps, propels us over the humps and pulls us out of the dumps.” When I get through the slumps, over the humps, and out of the dumps, guess what? I find I am quite often more thankful. Not just thankful in general – toward the universe. But more thankful to God, “our refuge and strength.”

“You have turned my mourning into dancing; … You have clothed me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.” – Psalm 30:11-12

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands… Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful to Him, and bless His name.” − Psalm 100:1, 4

“I have come that they might have life, and have it more abundantly.” – John 10:10

“Speak to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Give thanks always for all things to God…” − Ephesians 5:19-20

“Let the peace of God rule in your hearts… and be thankful…” – Colossians 3:15

“In everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” − 1 Thessalonians 5:18

“Of the three kinds of giving – grudge giving, duty giving, and thanksgiving,” writes Stephen Lang, “God prefers the last.”

Have you ever ridden a chair-lift up a mountain? A spirit of thankfulness is like a spiritual chair lift, elevating us above the clouds of our complaints to where the sunshine of God’s Grace warms our hearts.

An attitude of gratitude – regardless of our situation or circumstance – represents lives marked by thankfulness. Add compassionate hearts, generous spirits, and life-long faithfulness to our Lord, and you have a formula for God-honoring faith. When our gratitude translates into compassion for those in need, then our thankfulness gives way to joy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are drawn to those “stone-passages” in the Bible.

Jesus’ resurrection – the signal event in Christian faith – was punctuated with a stone, the rolling away of the stone sealing Jesus’ burial site. (Matthew 28:2).

Peter speaks of “living stones” in the sense we come to Jesus as “a living stone” and as Christ-followers we are “also, as living stones,… built up as a spiritual house”… “to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-5)

1 Peter 2:8 also speaks of “the stone of stumbling” which we want to avoid and evade.

And don’t forget, in Gethsemane, Jesus withdrew from his disciples “about a stone’s throw”, and “He knelt down and began to pray.” (Luke 22:41)

I think of the stone in FBC’s past, the cornerstone of our Second Century Church, “That they might have life. – John 10:10”, and the construction stone in our recent “Here for Life” offerings to the Lord, for the renovation and new spaces we have dedicated to God.

I am also aware – and I believe you are too – of the smooth stones we each accepted as a constant reminder to pray for our Pastor Search Committee and our “God-breathed” pastor search process.

One smooth stone… plus some “chutzpah” and faith in God was all David had.

One smooth stone… plus a willingness and a personal/congregational commitment to call upon God… and dare to believe… is all we have.

But that one smooth stone, and all the stones like it, and all the prayers with it, are all we need.

Think about it. Give thanks. Keep touching your stone… keep praying. And God’s future will come into focus… as in FIRST FOCUS.

On Sunday, November 11, we will express appreciation to three Golden Members for their FBC membership of 50 years, a half century of faithfulness. Our church continues to attract and reach people under 40 but we recognize our legacy of faithfulness among our members. For example, in the past decade, since 2002, 80 members have received Golden Member recognition, representing 4,000 years of involvement in our church. This year we honor Mrs. Carole Jo Hardiman, Mrs. Laverne Slocumb, and Mrs. Maurine Wagner.

The First Baptist reach includes the people in need following the devastation of Sandy in NYC and the northeast. Please respond as you feel led, using the option you prefer.

You may respond financially through the North American Missions Board disaster relief (namb.net/disaster-relief-donations) or through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship on their giving webpage by clicking on the “Mission Communities/Projects” tab and the “Disaster Response Ministires” button at thefellowship.info/give/donate. You may also find more information about donating tangible goods (through Metro Baptist Church in NYC) on our website’s “Serve in His Name” page at fbctlh.org/serve.

Our First Baptist reach includes monthly church budget support of ECHO, the central food, clothing, job help agency in Tallahassee.

On February 12, August 8, and October 28, FBC collected food for ECHO distribution. And that’s not all. The following “Thank You” from ECHO Executive Director Marta Arrington explains:

“Please accept my sincere thanks for all of the effort put forth by your fellowship in organizing a food drive for ECHO. Their generosity is truly humbling. All of the food collected will be given directly to those in need who come through our doors each day. And more specifically, it will help us fill the 100 Thanksgiving baskets we plan to distribute the week before Thanksgiving.

We are often blessed to receive donations from organizations around town, but not so often do we have volunteers to come sort the food the same day! We truly appreciate the ladies from Women on Mission Group 1 for doing just that this past Monday. It was a tremendous blessing!

As you know ECHO is local and serves the needs of Tallahassee’s citizens and the support we receive from businesses, organizations, and churches like First Baptist is what keeps us going. We couldn’t provide our services without generous hearts supporting us. Again, we sincerely thank you and your congregation for blessing others through the food drive and being the hands and feet of Christ.”

The First Baptist “reach” is for real, not for show, and it is always carried out in Jesus’ Name.

We were ready, thanks to our response and our experience last winter. And thanks to our community partners who gladly participate along with our FBC member volunteers. In addition to FBC, the following churches and faith communities are involved: Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, St. John’s Episcopal Church, First Presbyterian Church, United Church of Tallahassee, Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, Unitarian Universalist Church, Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church, and Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

On October 18, our Church Administrator, Steve Wofford, and I met with the Cold Night Shelter Planning Committee. First Presbyterian Pastor, Brant Copeland, chairs the group.

On Tallahassee “cold nights” with wind chill under 35° for three or more hours, the demand at the Tallahassee Homeless Shelter exceeds capacity. On these nights, the Shelter receives women and children plus men up to its capacity. Homeless males seeking shelter beyond the Shelter’s capacity are bused by the City to our CLC gym and given a cot and blankets (provided by the Red Cross), restroom use, and a warm night’s sleep. The Shelter on West Tennessee Street provides dinner and breakfast the evening before and the morning after.

The Cold Night Shelter Overflow operated 42 nights in 2010-11, and 23 nights in 2011-12. FBC had 60 plus volunteers in 2010-11 and 25 plus in 2011-12.

If you wish to be on the “call list” (It’s actually an email list followed up with a call), please contact my assistant, Paula Clayton, paula@fbctlh.org or 222.5470 x131.

I asked Paula, based on her experience, what has impressed her most about the response of FBC members: “Their huge hearts. Their willingness to always serve, and serve joyfully. We had FBC members who were disappointed that they didn’t get to serve more often. We also had some who served on nights other than just the Tuesdays that FBC was responsible for.”

Volunteers are on a rotational schedule. FBC’s night is Tuesday, for example. Volunteers serve a single shift from 8:30pm to 10:00pm. City law enforcement and Shelter Staff remain in the CLC throughout the night.

Our FBC Deacons have approved and supported this ministry each year and receive a summary report following each winter season.

Help if you can. If you can’t, don’t feel badly, just be glad you’re in a church with people who care and who can. At FBC, “serving in Jesus’ Name” is more than a slogan. Thank you for making it so.

“Remember also your creator,” Ecclesiastes implores (Chapter 12, verse 1).

And Malachi 3:16 speaks of “a book of remembrance” written for God “for those who fear (= revere, respect, worship) the Lord and who esteem His name.”

In John 15:20, Jesus said: “Remember the word that I said to you…”

Remembrance is essential in the life of faith, important in the ways we choose to keep our faith, and celebrate the One who is worthy of our faith.

This Sunday we recall, we remember intentionally, those of our faithful members who have gone to be with the Lord during the past year:

As we remember their lives, as we give thanks for their faith, we recall their contributions to the kingdom of God, and to this First Baptist Church.

This week we also remember our corporate effort to serve in Jesus’ Name during our 10th Annual First Love.

As beloved children, we sought to be God’s children, “imitators of God,” as Ephesians describes it, “an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2). Remember?

THANK YOU to the 350+ people who gave up some of their Saturday to participate in loving our neighbors together, in over 25 projects.

For FBC members – and for greater Tallahassee – our annual First Love mission and ministry blitz happens this Saturday, October 20. And what a happening it is! Fifty projects. 400 plus members. A day of Serving in His Name throughout Tallahassee and Leon County. (Do we have 450 members registered? Not yet. But every year we have more than our pre-registration.)

Tom Perrin, Jr. is our faithful First Love coordinator, along with Zach Allen, Joyce Barnes, Jim Brewster, Daniel Cone, Lissa Cone, Shari Cromar, Gerald Culbreth, Angela Gaskins, Donna Heald, Rigsby Jones, Steve Lawrence, Denise Perrin, Lyle Ragans, Janet Ray, Linda Smith, Rhonda Smith, Richard Tudor, Erin Westberry, Curtis Whigham, and Steve Wofford. Please thank Tom and his helpers for the time and attention they have devoted to the pre-planning details First Love requires.

Hope to see you Saturday morning at 8:30 in the FBC Sanctuary. We will gather briefly for our First Love devotional thought before leaving for our assignments.

On Sunday, October 21, we will celebrate visual highlights of First Love and hear an inspirational gift from FBC member and former FSU coach, Bobby Bowden.

When Bobby Bowden was a young coach, as part of his faith commitment, he promised the Lord he would always accept Sunday speaking opportunities as a way of living his Christian witness.

When Coach Bobby and Ann Bowden moved to Tallahassee, one of their first actions was to join this First Baptist Church. Over the years they have remained faithful to God in Christ Jesus and to our church. Coach Bowden has – for all these years – kept that long ago promise to accept Sunday speaking opportunities no matter how busy he was.

The man has an impressive resume. Two National Championships. Ten Top Five Finishes in a row. And more “Dad Gummits” than you can count!

Yet though his name is associated with the best, indeed the legends, of college football, Coach Bowden has assembled an incredible record of faithfulness to Jesus Christ. He has done so in an industry where one’s Christian walk day-by-day gets lost in the quest for winning seasons, top recruiting, conference and national championships.

For me personally, last Sunday night’s special Celebrating Grace worship time, “To Live His Song”, in dedication of our new church hymnals, was a high worship experience. The content and the music were very moving to me. We appreciate Penny Folsom, the Sanctuary Choir and Orchestra, Pam Cooke, the Praise Team, and Mark Edwards, our guest worship leader for such a strong worship experience.

Where are we in this interim? I believe our Pastor Search Committee is a way above average PSC. I believe we are in a healthy, positive position if we follow God’s lead, and if we act accordingly. But where are we as a congregation, right now?

Worship attendance isn’t what it should be – or could be – but since last January, we’ve had new faces and new members join the church we are today – not the church we will be when our next Pastor comes to lead us.

Sunday Morning Bible Study (SMBS) participation isn’t what it should be – or could be – but since last January, we’ve seen new members become involved in some of our groups.

What would happen if we started thinking and acting as if our new Pastor was already here?

What if we gave up our passive habits and invited people we know and people we don’t know to 9:00AM Traditional Worship and to 11:15AM Contemporary Worship? What if we made it a priority to start thinking and planning and acting on the matter of inviting guests to worship?

What if in our Sunday Morning Bible Study small groups we started our own growth challenge?

What if we started thinking about and relating to…

What if we actively, purposely, prayed for new people, invited new people, related to new people, and re-connected with members who haven’t been attending?

What if we offered a personal ministry of “an encouraging word” as part of our discipleship, and actually set goals to reach new people to become involved in Worship and Bible Study? What should the goal be in your group? One, two, five – by when?

Where are we in this interim? Well, that depends somewhat on who you ask but more so on what we do!

We discussed this matter in pastoral staff meeting today. We were challenged last week to be a congregation that seeks to love this city. We should seek to be a church – made up of followers of Jesus, who love a city – made up of people that Jesus loves. Prayerfully reflect on that challenge and the questions above. We’d like for you to join us in this ongoing conversation. Let us hear from you on how FBC can truly reflect a church that is here for God, here for the city, and here for life. Send your thoughts to fran@fbctlh.org.

After last Sunday, the larger question may be: Do we want to take on the strategic question of where are we in this interim and do something about it because our hearts burn within us? Or do we want to wait? We as your staff do not want to wait.

The Word of God is alive and able to change lives now! Many people never open God’s Word. Do we want to accept the challenge of broken bread and burning hearts?

Where are we in this interim? This is a question that can only be answered by our congregation, by each of us individually, and all of us – together.

…the Deacons Benevolence Offering comes from contributions FBC members make on the Sunday when we observe the Lord’s Supper?

…following our Lord’s Supper observance, a designated, trustworthy member will be at each Sanctuary exit to receive your free-will offering?

…a free-will offering means you give what you wish, what you feel led to give – a certain amount isn’t expected?

…the quarterly Lord’s Supper Sundays are the only times our church receives member contributions to the Deacons

Benevolence Fund?

…the Deacons Benevolence Fund is the only budgetary means we have of addressing internal needs among our brothers and sisters in Christ?

…caring for one another when emergencies arise, when circumstances beyond our control come crashing in, when life pulls a sneak attack, is an important part of our commitment to be a New Testament Church?

…the observance of the Lord’s Supper this Sunday is “the church gathered” in repentance and worship, in thanksgiving and praise?

…Luke 24 describes a post-resurrection meal with Jesus and two disciple followers who initially do not recognize Jesus?

...The Lord’s Supper is a time for us to clearly recognize Jesus, a time for “broken bread… and burning hearts”?

For example, how many of us as Christians are still unregistered voters? See inside for more information.

Example #2: How many of us as faithful, active FBC members have not made it a priority to sign up for the church-wide

pictorial directory?

We’ve given you the schedule. October 9 – 27, Tuesdays – Fridays from 1:00 – 8:00pm and Saturdays from 10:00am – 5:00pm. You can sign up in person at FBC on Sundays or Wednesdays in the Connect Center, or online at fbctlh.org/photo.

If we don’t respond, the example below represents the gift we are going to give to our new pastor.

Last Sunday, we had two individuals, a couple who relocated here from Ohio, and two families of three each join our church. We are seeing God at work among us. We are celebrating people who come to know Christ. We are here for life.

Our projected FBC Tallahassee pictorial directory should reflect the life-giving vitality we experience in Christ Jesus. I hope our new directory will reflect who we are. And I hope it will include you… and all the individuals and families that compose this diverse and dedicated family of faith.

Dr. Bill Wilson, with the Center for Congregational Health, our consultant advisor during the search process, will lead our time together and make an important presentation for our prayerful consideration. Bill provided the following summary description for the benefit of FBC and our SMBS leadership.

“Every congregation in America is facing a constantly changing landscape as we move into the 21st century. Many of the assumptions about our culture that have guided our thinking for decades no longer hold true. Taking an honest look at reality is never easy, but is essential if we are to continue our rich legacy of ministry and service. During this time of transition in the life of FBC Tallahassee, it seems wise for us to take stock of our context and the realities of our time and place as we search for our next pastor. Come to be challenged, informed, and inspired about the days ahead of us.”

Please understand Dr. Wilson’s presentation is not about denominational issues, but the challenge of being God’s people and doing God’s work in an increasingly disinterested and hostile environment.

Traditional 9:00AM worshippers may take a break at 10:00AM then resume at 10:15AM in the sanctuary for this special church-wide session.

Contemporary 11:15AM worshippers who are among the SMBS faithful will gather in the sanctuary at 10:15AM for the combined session with Bill Wilson. For Traditional or Contemporary worshippers who have not been attending SMBS, this is an excellent Sunday to begin.

Personally, I appreciate the way our Pastor Search Committee has scheduled opportunities for FBC member participation as part of the larger process.

Oct 7: Sunday Morning Bible Study Hour

10:15 – 11:00AM in the FBC Sanctuary

led by Dr. Bill Wilson

FBC Pastor Search Committee

But you know what? He worked at it. I would often go into his office about a matter and find him studying the church directory – putting names and faces together. He made it a priority. Yet without the church directory, his challenge would have been multiplied many times.

This past week FBC members or member households received a letter from me outlining our October plan for a new FBC pictorial directory. Please review the letter and note the dates and time frames.

October 9 – 23 for photography, Tuesday – Friday (1 – 8pm) and Saturday (10am – 5pm).

Sign up for your portrait session:

• Via the Lifetouch link on our FBC website (fbctlh.org)

• At the church on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings

• By calling the church office during office hours (8:30am – 5:00pm)

Check the letter from me about the following:

Lastly, who is Lifetouch Church Directories and why are we using them? I thought Olan Mills did our directories. You are correct. Lifetouch acquired Olan Mills so we essentially enjoy the same corporate “provider” relationship for this 2013 FBC Church Directory.

If we do our part in October, we anticipate delivery of the new FBC directory by February, 2013. What a special gift for our new Pastor whenever God leads him here. And what a valuable tool for each of us in maintaining and improving the level of connection between and among our church family.

Youth Collide at 7pm Wednesday. Learn from the words of Jesus, a new series---The Red Stuff. Also, are you Grounded? The September Sunday series is from Ecclesiastes, a realistic look at life. Discover how Big God is.

Young Adults, September 28, movie night. Young Singles lunch after contemporary worship September 16. YAs with children party at the Trousdell Aquatic Center pool, September 8, 9am to 11am.

First Ladies---two new Bible studies this Fall:

Jonah, Navigating a Life Interrupted: Wednesdays at 6pm, led by Linda Smith in A-301 Cafe Praise.

Malachi: A Love that Never Lets Go: Wednesdays at 9am at Betty Gardner's home, led by Patsy Faircloth.

Women on Mission---2012 Florida State Missions Week of Prayer emphasis. Tuesday, September 11, 9:30am in the church parlor followed by worship and prayer in the chapel at 10am. Speaker: Denise Henderson, Florida WMU President.

Free Sign Language classes for deaf ministry. Begins Sunday, September 9, 4 to 5:30pm C-2202. Taught by Melanie Jernigan and Anita Pearson.

Have you seen the FBC Kids Family Leaflet for all September Sundays in 2012? Covers concepts to be taught from the Bible. Goals and Objectives. Do you know about the Rotation Rooms, with Art, Bibleland, Drama, Multimedia, Mystery? It's a bold, God-breathed way of teaching children about God, life, the Bible. Parents, make sure your kids are plugged in. You too! And don't miss the Memory Verse from the NIrV Nahum 1:7: "The Lord is good. When people are in trouble, they can go to Him for safety. He takes good care of those who trust in Him."

September Sundays 9, 16, 23 both services: Zach Allen, Minister to Students, preaches each Sunday. FBC is serious about connecting with students this Fall. Let us Connect-U to Jesus Christ.

From the viewpoint of College Ministry, this week has been an amazing week to see how the Church has worked & grown together with a growth that has come from our Heavenly Father. It has also been a week where we’ve seen the Church grow to be more conformed into the image of Jesus! It was a blessing to have the help of many of our members to help serve/feed close to 250 students during their mission trip to FSU’s campus in an event we call GO WEEK. The eternal blessing of having a church that believes in, loves, supports, & encourages college students to live out their faith came to fruition as we saw 2 students trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. There were many other Gospel conversations that took place last week & our prayer is that those seeds would be watered & that God would cause them to grow over this semester.

Our church had a major part in throwing a luau on FSU’s campus last Friday night, where more than 3,500 students came out & had the chance to connect with the different churches & ministries that were a part of GO WEEK. One huge blessing from the luau was First Baptist reaching out to Lusi. She’s an international student, new to Tallahassee from Asia, & had never been to a Christian church. Guess where she was this past Sunday? In our church, FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, she experienced authentic worship at First Baptist! She was loved by our congregation, given a Bible, & is beginning relationships with our students who will be sharing the Gospel with her over the next few days & weeks.

So, as we continue in our theme of GAME ON…this Sunday should be another incredible day to see First Baptist come together. Sunday you have three main opportunities to get your GAME ON! First, we are asking you to take part in WEAR YOUR COLORS SUNDAY! We want you to wear your favorite school’s colors on Sunday morning & represent the team you root for during football season. Each year it has been interesting to find out the alma mater of our folks…it amazes me to find out some of the nicest people in our church went to The University of Florida (…just kidding Gator fans).

The second way you can join in the action this Sunday is to eat with us at the FOOD TRUCK TAILGATE! Join us after our Bible Study hour (11:15AM) or Contemporary Service (12:15PM) for lunch. We’ll have the Duval Street parking lot blocked off Sunday morning so we can park 4 local food trucks that will be on site to serve you lunch. Instead of you bringing a casserole or fried chicken, just bring some money, order lunch, & join us in the Fellowship Hall for a fun time of sharing a meal together. It’ll be like an ole Dinner on the Grounds, but 21st century style. If you need help because of mobility issues, just make your way to the Fellowship Hall & we’ll have some students there to take your order (& your money) & bring your food back to you.

The final way you can move from being a fan, to being a follower is to BRING SOMEONE WITH YOU THIS SUNDAY! Offer to buy them lunch after church, tell them to wear their school’s colors, & be excited about the things the Lord is doing through our church. Take a risk & ask somebody to come with you to church this week. I don’t know a lot, but here’s two things I know for sure: 1) Jesus promised a harvest - He prayed for laborers because here in Tallahassee, Florida there is a harvest to be reaped; and 2) You’ll never be a laborer; you’ll never see the reality of the harvest; if you never ask.

So “buck up!” “Play to win.” “Don’t drop the ball or pull any punches.” “Knock it out of the park!” “Answer the bell.” “Play as a team & don’t just talk a good game.” “Step up to the plate.” “It’s gut-check time!” Because, “We’ve got to play all four quarters.” Live out the faith you profess in Jesus & allow your actions to match your beliefs. Be bold for God & for His fame…don’t just throw out the Christian clichés in your words & deeds….GAME ON!

The first of these events will be Wear Your Colors Sunday + Food Truck Tailgate on September 2. That morning, everyone is invited to show up for worship wearing your school colors! Whether it's garnet and gold, orange and green, or even orange and blue, support your school and create a fun and welcoming environment for our new college students. For lunch, join us for a food truck tailgate beginning at 11:15AM for early worshipers finishing SMBS, and at 12:15PM for late worshipers. There will be several food trucks parked in our lot on Duval Street, creating a food court on wheels. You can then purchase your lunch from one of the food trucks and eat in the fellowship hall. We hope you'll take this opportunity to have a good time in Jesus' name and make some new friends!

Looking ahead, we will also be gearing up for our 10th Annual First Love on Saturday, October 20! This is a tangible way to show Christ's love to people in the Tallahassee community. Whether you will be building a wheelchair ramp, singing at an assisted living facility, packing boxes for our troops, or anything in between, start praying now for opportunities to serve others and to share the gospel.

This fall theme culminates on Sunday, October 21, as we welcome home Bobby Bowden to speak in our morning worship services. We hope you will take advantage of these opportunities to invite others to become involved at FBC. More importantly, we hope that you will be encouraged to invite others to come to know Christ as Savior and Lord. That's what the game is all about!

GAME ON!

(Erin is FBC's Communications Coordinator. In addition to her job responsibilities, she gave leadership to our Haiti Mission Trip in July, serves as a teacher in our College Ministry, works with the Youth Choir, and sings in the Contemporary Worship Praise Team. --Fran Buhler)

I once read, “A teacher’s purpose is not to create students in his own image, but to develop students who can create their own image.” From kindergarten to college, teachers inspire others. A teacher can be a caring friend when you need a shoulder to cry on, a supporter to parents who are exhausted from all of life’s demands, and a detractor of students who are going down the wrong path.

Teachers, thank you for being an educator. To teach a student a completely new and unheard topic, so that the student

remembers it and learns to apply it in the right manner is a very difficult task. You faithfully do this day after day.

Teachers, thank you for inspiring others. Many of us consider our lives a product of an encouraging and motivating teacher. Guy Doud, National Teacher of the Year, said, “I am a teacher because of teachers. They showed me that someone other than my mother could love me.” Teachers, we are better people because you have invested and inspired us.

This Sunday, August 19, is Promotion Sunday at First Baptist Church. The students' first day of school for Leon County is

Monday, August 20. Teachers, I want you to know that you are prayed for and loved. In Isaiah 64:8, the scriptures tell us that God is the potter and we are the clay. I want you to know as teachers that you are also molders. Thank you for molding the lives of our students. You make a difference. See you Sunday.

GO WEEK is our mission trip to campus. It is that plot of land that students are in week in & week out for 32 weeks of the year. This is where they learn & live. For those participating in GO WEEK, college has become something more than books, football games, syllabi & studying. The term “campus” becomes more synonymous with Jesus' illustration of a field white unto harvest. So these students have come back to take up the task of being laborers out in the fields. While the fields are known by names like Landis, Cawthon, Strozier & Doak…the harvest is still the same…people.

Over the course of four days, our students will serve new FSU freshmen & transfer students through a variety of activities (dorm/scholarship house move-in, afternoon games on the green, library/campus tours, snack tables for sorority recruitment, late night pancakes, and a luau). We also connect with parents by giving families rides around campus, helping them find parking, & connecting their kids to a good church. And since the success of last year’s luau (over 3500 students in participation & the second most attended event of FSU’s Welcome Week), we have seen our relationship with university administration strengthened, the reputation of FBC raised, & the name of Jesus proclaimed.

So what can you do to be involved in GO WEEK? There are two ways you can get your hands dirty. First, you can pray. Ask God to give us favor with new students & families, as well as with FSU administration. Ask God to allow us to have favorable weather during our days of service. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide the conversations of our students as they welcome & befriend new people that God has brought to the state capital. Ask Him to draw those who are lost to our students & that they would clearly articulate the Gospel message. Second, you can serve. There are a variety of activities where we could use you if you’re interested in serving college students. If you’d be interested in helping with the serving, preparing, or clean up of meals, you can email Barbara Corven (bcorven@comcast.net) to volunteer. If you would be interested in greeting students as they report & register at FBC for our kick-off service, if you could help to wash & fold t-shirts during Thursday or Friday of GO WEEK, if you would like to be a smiling face during our luau to welcome new students, you can email me (zach@fbctlh.org).

There is a strong foundation of ministry to college students here at FBC. For 80-plus years, our church has reached out to

collegiates. It is exciting to continue serving alongside a congregation that cares to see students reached for Christ, discipled, & sent out to repeat that process. Thank you for being a great co-worker, field, & building (1 Corinthians 3:5-9 NIV)!

We have been learning a lot lately as a team and focusing on the need to fulfill our role in the Great Commission. I know it is the heart of each person participating in this trip to not just meet the great physical needs of the Haitian people, but to be used by God to have some part in meeting their spiritual needs as well. Moreso than the previous two years, we will be placing a concentrated effort on evangelism. Each day, our team will break up into groups, and each group will participate in equal parts construction, VBS, neighborhood evangelism, and discipleship classes. As "Christ's love compels us" (2 Corinthians 5:14) to go, I look forward to telling the stories of God's glory being manifested in Gressier.

I would love for you to participate with us by praying for us - for boldness in the Gospel, for confidence, for strength, for perseverance, for God to prepare the hearts of those we will meet, and for the attitude of Christ in everything we do as a team. I am so grateful to this First Baptist church body for how you have supported us these past years. I am praying that this trip will be transformational for us all as we return to preach the Gospel to our friends and family here at home.

You can keep up with our trip on the website at fbctlh.org/haiti (we plan on sending blog updates each day), or on Twitter by following @fbctlh, or search the hashtag #FBC2Haiti. Also, after our return, be sure to join us in the Fellowship Hall during the SMBS hour (10:00AM) on Sunday, August 12 when we give our report.

HAITI TEAM MEMBERS:

Gale Neal

Lizzie Neal

Johnathan Spencer

Dave Westberry

Sherman Wilhelm, III

Sherman Wilhelm, IV

Travis Hill

Andy Stant

James Craig

Jennifer Hendrix

Jeff Latimer

Chris Rettkowski

Jaynie Stant

Erin Westberry

Our Minister to Young Adults, Josh Hall, participated in this year’s Convention in New Orleans. The following review of current Baptist statistics will help you put FBC Tallahassee in perspective. Josh’s summary of other actions taken will help all of us be informed from a “Baptist” perspective:

The mission of the First Baptist Church of Tallahassee is to be a God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused, caring body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ; led by the Holy Spirit in worshiping, serving, and sharing Christ, and in equipping believers to carry out the Great Commission in the community and throughout the world.

Even in an interim, we as a church do not lack mission. In our Sunday Morning Bible Study ministry, in all of our small groups, we try to be Great Commandment and Great Commission Baptists.

2012 Nominating Committee Members:

Richard Duley, Chair

Gerald Culbreth

Lois Duley

Stuart Folland

Hugh Hauck

Tawanna Hay

JoAnn Hunt

Stan Sheppard

Charlene Wilson

Fran Buhler, Staff Liaison (fran@fbctlh.org, x131) + Paula Clayton, Assistant (paula@fbctlh.org, x131)

Sunday, July 15. We have prepared a classified advertisement that will be submitted to four Baptist publications stating that resumes for the position of Senior Pastor at FBC Tallahassee will officially be accepted until August 31, 2012. During this period, members of the FBC congregation should submit the names of any pastors they want the PSC to contact, or inform the prospective pastor candidates of the profile information that is available on the FBC website and the submittal deadline of August 31, 2012.

We are entering a very critical stage of our search process and we continue to request your prayers and support. We know the Lord has a wonderful pastor prepared for FBC and we are all looking forward to the day when we call our new pastor.

The PSC would like to thank each of you for your prayers and your patience. All of the PSC is humbled and diligently seeking the Lord’s will in this process.

Prayerfully Submitted,

Near the end of my senior year, my church asked me to be the Youth Pastor for our annual Youth Week observance. On that April Sunday, after giving the sermon, I responded to my own invitation. Yet I believe strongly it was God’s invitation.

As a college quarterback I soon learned that a call to ministry was not universally respected – especially by linebackers of opposing teams, or by fans of my team when we lost. As a seminary student, I learned that divinity school classes were more challenging than college, and congregations in other cities were more demanding than my home church. Yet my sense of call and my desire to properly prepare for a ministry career never wavered.

Some things along the way you never forget. We played Appalachian State in their home stadium in Boone, NC. We were the Homecoming opponent. App State was nationally ranked. As I lined up to receive the kickoff at deep safety for the Carson Newman Eagles, a Baptist college in Tennessee, a guy on their kickoff team yelled, “OK, men, everybody get yourself a preacher and let’s clean house.”

Don Newberry yelled back from our receiving team, “Well, we ain’t got but one,” pointing to me as he added, “and that’s our quarterback.” I thought, “Gee thanks, Newberry; nothing like being the weekly target.”

Appalachian State was favored to beat us, by the way, by four touchdowns. Our little preacher-led team pulled the upset of the week. You wouldn’t believe what opposing players will say and do when they find out you’re a preacher.

Why do I recall such memories and dredge up such stories from the past?

Because I believe – and this First Baptist Church believes – that God still calls people to ministry as well as other vocational paths.

Every person on our Pastoral Staff has a unique story of their experience of God’s Call in their lives. Each story is God-breathed. I also know many FBC members who feel called to their career pursuit. Nancy Buhler felt called to classroom teaching; and never wavered from that call.

I am personally concerned that we are not seeing more young people dealing with a sense of God’s Call. I’m asking myself, "Have I been faithful in presenting the challenge of God’s Call to our church?"

“Consider your calling…” Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 1:26. Again in 1 Timothy 1:8 Paul writes, “… join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling… according to His own purpose and grace… in Christ Jesus…”

After the college spring semester ended this year, we sent out a team of college students and others from our church to work on this project. That team worked on the foundation for this building and prepared the way for volunteer teams that began arriving in late May and will continue throughout the summer.

As we assist the Mountain View Church, we are continuing an over two-decades-old ministry to communities in mostly the northeast and midwest to either build Southern Baptist churches' first church building or to make additions to and/or renovate existing facilities. Generally, Builders' projects are in areas of the country where there are limited resources available to assist the churches there and so Builders For Christ does not normally work on projects in the south where more help is generally available to churches.

On one prior project (2007 and 2008), Builders For Christ did assist another church in the south, the First Baptist Church of Chalmette, LA. That project followed the devastating losses to the community following hurricane Katrina and allowed First Baptist Church of Chalmette to resume its ministry as quickly as possible in a community that was in tremendous need for the hope and peace of Christ that the church proclaims.

As with the Louisiana rebuild, this year's Builders For Christ work with the Mountain View Baptist Church in Alabama will assist that church with assuring its community of Christ's hope and peace. Not only was the church's buildings destroyed during the tornado, 27 people were killed in a community of less than one thousand; percentage-wise, that would be like over four thousand people being lost in our own community. Eleven people were killed within two blocks of the church building and four church members were killed.

During this summer, keep this year's Builders For Christ project in your prayers. Volunteer teams will be in Phil Campbell, Alabama all summer. Pray that the work on this project proceeds within God's will; that volunteers have safety in their travels as well as in their work and that the volunteers have the strength and wisdom to move this project along smoothly. For the Mountain View church members, pray for the work that they do to reach their community for Christ and give them endurance to provide support to the crew of volunteers that arrive each week.

If you would like to follow this project more closely, you can see current construction photos at facebook.com/mtviewbaptistchurch12. You can also see more about Mountain View's story at its website at mtviewbaptistchurch.org.

We fathers need to make sure we don’t flub this opportunity to be part of God’s family plan. We enjoy God’s long-standing support: “Children obey your parents…” “Honor your father and mother.”

Every father should know the color of his wife’s eyes, the birthdates of his family, and what day the trashman comes.

Every father should occasionally spend time in solitude, hug his wife and children without a reason, and not eat unshelled peanuts in the living room.

Every father should know his children learn more from what he does than what he says, know how to build and start a campfire, and know how to sing the words to the national anthem.

Every father should know how to laugh and have fun with his children, and always hang up his own clothes.

Every father should know the Father, walk with the Lord, talk with the Lord, and know how to help someone having a hard time.

Every father should know how to order a dozen roses – not because it’s a special day – but because she’s a special lady.

Every father should help get the kids ready for church, know how to forgive others, and believe self-worth is more critical than net worth.

Every father should know how to give his kids a bath, tuck them into bed at night, tell them a good bedtime story –

especially the ones you make up – and distribute personal hugs – after a prayer.

Every father should be a man of faith, fairness, honesty, and integrity – and know how to throw a surprise party.

I am eternally grateful for Allen Buhler, my father. We did so much together, as fathers and sons should. Dad offered the Big D, discipline, as well as the Big L, love, and the Big E, encouragement. We had fun. I shall always be grateful.

This Sunday, Rev. Clint Purvis, FBC’s former Minister to Students, will bring our Father’s Day sermon at each service. As a minister, and now as chaplain and counselor to the FSU Seminole football and baseball teams, Clint has been a surrogate father to numerous fatherless athletes and has often been the significant “non-coaching” male presence in an athlete’s life. See you Father’s Day.

In the listening sessions our members shared their thoughts about our heritage, mission, leadership culture, connections, and future. The average attendance of our church-wide listening session was 108, and we have heard from many of you that these sessions provided an opportunity for our members to share their experiences, ideas, dreams, and desires for our church. Some attendees even suggested that it would be valuable for congregational listening sessions to be conducted every few years so FBC members could share and discuss these types of topics.

Through these listening sessions we have collected valuable information from you that will assist us in preparing profiles of both our church body and our next pastor. The committee is currently scheduling interviews with our ministry staff members and to gather the final input needed to complete our church and pastor profiles. All of this critical information will allow us to move forward into the third phase of our search process (considering candidates). Very soon we will begin actively gathering names of potential pastor candidates, requesting and reviewing resumes, and prioritizing candidates relative to our church and pastor profiles.

For those of you interested in obtaining even more information about our work, I encourage you to go to our webpage (fbctlh.org/pastorsearch) where you can obtain updates on the listening sessions and other activities as they are completed. Additionally, we have established an email address (pastorsearch@fbctlh.org) and traditional mail address (P.O. Box 10010, Tallahassee, FL, 32302) for those wanting to contact us.

Your PSC would like to express our sincere gratitude to the many members who faithfully attended one or more of the congregational listening sessions. Because of your participation, the committee has a better idea of “who FBC is,” “where FBC wants to go in the future,” and “what type of pastor we need to lead us.” We ask for your continued prayers for our committee, our future pastor, our current staff members, interim preacher Dr. Brad Creed, and all of our church programs and ministries. As was mentioned in my first update to you, a healthy search process requires great patience, spiritual maturity, and hard work. Therefore, we again ask the congregation to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY as we follow the Lord’s direction and search for our next pastor.

Prayerfully submitted by,

Every year it is our privilege to welcome FSU students from the English Department at the University to observe our program and participate in the teaching process. This year, six students spent several weeks with us while satisfying a course requirement for their degree. They were very complimentary of our program and teachers.

The Thanksgiving Banquet, one of the outstanding events of the year, was well attended this year with 26 countries represented. The people brought foods from their countries, as they wore their native dress and sang, "The more we get together the happier we'll be," AND THEY WERE HAPPY!

Our annual picnic held last April was well attended and again gave us an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. As we played games and enjoyed fellowship that many had not experienced before, they had the answer to what many had been asking: "What is a picnic?" Now they know and are looking forward to next year when again they will enjoy the picnic experience.

Sunday Morning Bible Study at 10:15AM is attended by many international students and adults. Through this outreach we are able to minister to the physical, material, and emotional needs of our guests from other countries while they are away from their families.

We can enjoy the International Ministry because of the many volunteers who step forward and go the extra mile to let foreign friends see Jesus and ask about salvation. Our sincere thanks to all who helped again this year; teachers, food workers, bus drivers, everyone who brought refreshments, and many who helped in numerous other ways. There are about thirty volunteers who make this ministry possible.

During the year several students made inquiry about trusting Jesus. Our prayer is that because so many people helped, many will get to know our Savior. Thanks for all you have done and please continue to pray for us.

No matter how you feel…trust God!

No matter what people do…trust God!

No matter what happens…trust God!

No matter where you are…trust God!

What incredible Bible truths for children and adults alike to discover or reclaim and be able to apply to daily life. Each day at SKY VBS 2012 through Bible adventures, Bible verses, songs, and hands-on activities we will have the opportunity to know more about God and His love for us. Each activity points the children to the Bible Point for the day and will encourage them to watch for how God is at work in their lives.

VBS at First Baptist Church will have a different look this year. First, all children will have the same lesson each day. Families will be encouraged to discuss the Bible Point with the children each evening. Secondly, children will be divided into Crews of 5-7 children of with a Crew Leader who helps them build relationships throughout the week. The Combined-age Crews will encourage cooperation, improve social skills, and raise self-esteem as each child experiences acceptance as a special creation of a Loving God.

It is so exciting to be a part of God’s work at FBC in 2012. Every single person who is a part of our church family in this season of your life has the privilege of serving during the week of June 11-15 in our SKY VBS. A question I am often asked during this time of year is “Do you have enough people for VBS?” My sincere answer to that question this year is, “If everyone God calls or leads to serve responds with a yes, we will have enough!” The secret is to understand how God is calling you to be involved. Following His leadership might place you as a Station Leader, a Crew Leader, a member of the Support Crew (including Bus Drivers for outreach opportunities), or a fervent Prayer Warrior. Many have already responded but some of you may not have had the opportunity to say yes to the Spirit’s prompting. Please contact the Children’s Ministry Office or fill out a form at the display in our Welcome Center if you have not already done so. Theresa Lambert, Susan Stahl and I are trusting God to call and you to respond. We are anticipating a thrilling, life-changing week!

Parents please don’t forget your part in this. Register your children at the display, at the Children’s Ministry Office, or on line at our Web site. VBS is really all centered around the children and their learning about God and His love for them.

My heart goes out to:

I do not want this piece to add to your pain. If you have been unable to have children, I respectfully urge you to focus on the gift of your mother, not the fact you have been denied the experience of being a mother.

If you never “knew” your mother, never had the benefit of a mother’s nurture and love, I urge you to relate to God as both Father and Mother. The Mother-hood of God is as significant as the Father-hood of God. God stands ready to receive, nurture, and love every human, regardless of our parental circumstances.

I remember a Mother’s Day card I read but didn’t buy: “The moon never beams without bringing me dreams of that wonderful mother of mine”.

A friend of mine told his mom: “I’m glad I’ve got you for a mother… some stranger wouldn’t have put up with me this long.”

Henry Ward Beecher wrote: “The mother’s heart is the child’s schoolroom.” Mark Twain said: “My mother had a great deal of trouble with me, but I think she enjoyed it.” “The most remarkable thing about my mother,” wrote Calvin Trillin, “is that for thirty years she served the family leftovers. The original meal has never been found.”

I was spoiled by my mother, though not in the way you may think. She spoiled me because: She gave me room to be me. She did not try to keep me a child. She trusted me. She loved me, and let me know it.

The quote “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born” is in high circulation these days. Sounds profound. Don’t fall for it. All good mothers I know started becoming “mothers” long before the child was born, long before marriage for that matter.

I’m glad Amy Lee Graves Buhler was my mother. She was a mother all her life, although she also worked outside the home. She had many achievements in her life, but none meant as much to her as being mother to her six children. Yes, I was spoiled. I hope you were, too.

Think on these words printed in the Foreword of our new hymnal:

Hymns stir the soul and breach the barriers between our knowledge of God and our inner experience of God. In the singing of hymns, we are able to exalt the mystery of God’s abundant grace and, at the same moment, find our own spirits becoming attuned to God’s spirit. The mystery of God is too awesome for words; with poetry and music, we are able to sing even when we cannot speak. Hymns are rarely meant simply to instruct. Their power lies in enabling us to join our hearts and to lift our spirits in a celebration of God’s abundant and enduring grace…..The singing of these hymns will inspire us to affirm our faith more gladly and to proclaim our faith more boldly. They will lift our spirits, give us strength and mend our hearts.

In short, the singing of these hymns enables us to “live His song”. This collection contains hymns that give testimony to the faith of our Christian brothers and sisters of centuries long past, as well as songs and choruses bearing witness to the active work of the Spirit among composers and hymnwriters of the 21st century. You’ll find the great foundational hymns of the church (“A Mighty Fortress is our God”, “Holy, Holy, Holy”), the well-loved gospel songs you love to sing (“The Old Rugged Cross”, “Victory in Jesus”) and new hymns and choruses previously heard from choirs and soloists that we can now sing together as a congregation (“In This Very Room”, “Speak, O Lord” and “How Great Is Our God”).

We need to purchase 800 hymnals to supply our sanctuary and we are giving you the opportunity to participate in this exciting project with an “Honor your Father and Mother” emphasis. During the period of time between Mother’s Day (May 13) and Father’s Day (June 17) we encourage you to purchase a hymnal in honor or in memory of a parent, grandparent, child, or anyone you desire to honor or memorialize in this way. Your gift, including the name of the donor and honoree, will be printed on a nameplate inside of the hymnal(s) you purchase. Each hymnal is $20 and you may pick up an envelope with which to place your order at the front desk, from the pew racks, or from the Music Ministry office.

Please help us to “live His song” as a congregation with your gift!

Among Baptists, we ordain individuals to the Gospel Ministry when a person senses and responds to the call of God specifically to the vocational area of pastoral ministry in a church-related setting.

Brett Brandewie has been a member of First Baptist Church of Tallahassee since 2004, when he joined by letter. As a full-time student at FSU, Brett served FBC initially as a College Ministry Intern (December 2005 – April 2007), then as an Interim Youth Ministry Leader (April 2007 – July 2008).

Brett was faithful and effective in both areas, exhibiting the evidence of his calling and his strong interest in ministry even then.

Brett, along with his wife Laura, daughter of Steve and Jane Wofford, our Church Administrator and his wife, will graduate with a Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School of Samford University in May. Brett graduated FSU with a

Bachelor of Science double major in Psychology and Economics.

Since Brett’s departure from Tallahassee, he has served the Rocky Ridge Church of Birmingham (Associate Youth Pastor); Mountaintop Community Church of Birmingham (High School Ministry Pastor); and First Baptist Church of Hoover, AL (Youth Ministry Worship Leader).

Brett’s ordination to the Gospel Ministry will be this Sunday night, April 29, at 6:00PM in the Sanctuary.

Consider participating in our third Congregational Listening Session at 4:00PM in the Fellowship Hall. The session theme is “Leadership,” led by our Pastor Search Committee. Come to the Listening Session and stay for the ordination. Because… “we should do this more often!”

Choir member, Jeff Crew, said he has been impressed with the “enthusiasm and strong positive concern” expressed by FBC members. Jeff described the sessions as “a conversation, not a presentation.”

“The listening sessions help me to understand the past, present, and the future of our church,” says Dr. Matthew Jenije, who works at TMH, serves on our WorkFaith team, and adds: “It all brings praises to Our Lord.”

Jeff Butts, a deacon who works in the Florida Legislature and is in the Adult Three teaching rotation, likes the way the listening sessions are a “continuation” of the already strong “fellowship” at FBC.

Retired airline pilot and Deacon Chair-elect for 2013, Dennis Jorgensen said: We have seen “participation by a large group of people with excellent comments.” (132 the first session, 126 the second, according to Pastor Search Chair, Darrell Thompson.)

Choir member and children’s dentist, Dr. Stan Sheppard, observed: “A valuable tool that gives one depth into the gut feelings and purposes of our church.”

Al Eppinger, a Georgia Tech engineer, one of our volunteer FBC reps as construction liaison with the contractor for our recently completed project, a member who has given more hours to our Sunday Morning Bible Study ministry since 1985 than any other single individual, called the sessions “excellent and well orchestrated.”

Al observed, correctly, I believe: “We are a body of individual believers with our own gifts and relationships to Jesus. We have been formed and we have evolved into this First Baptist Church by Him,” Al observes.

You know how strong we Baptists are on “the priesthood of the believer,” Al concludes. “The listening sessions allow us to describe FBC to a potential pastor, but, much more importantly, they allow us the opportunity to define how this FBC best incorporates each of us – and our individual ‘Priesthoods’ – into our church. At the end of the process,” Al suggests, “we will have a much better appreciation for how we worship and serve together! Get involved!”

As you can see, FBC Deacons and our Pastor Search Committee are on the same page.

That’s a major impression Nancy and I had back in 1975, again in 1982, and also in 2012: FBC is a church where people make an effort to be on the same page and reach people for Christ as we worship and serve together. Hope to see you April 29 for Session Three.

Dr. Bill Wilson, from the Center for Congregational Health, will be our roving facilitator again.

We had an impressive member response from our first session and Pastor Search Committee Chair, Darrell Thompson, would like to see us increase the turnout for this session.

No doubt you have heard comment about the first session on April 1. The experience was voluntary but not coerced, participatory but without pressure, interesting without being excessively long. The first session theme was “Heritage.” The second session theme this Sunday is “Mission.”

I believe we need to hear again the Session Two descriptive comment from Darrell Thompson:

April 15, 2012, “Mission” – Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” A congregation must redefine its sense of purpose and direction and determine what distinguishes it from other churches and organizations in the community. In this listening session, we will define the boundaries within which we will operate (core values). Core values are those values which the church will never compromise and is willing to pay a price to uphold. We will define why the church exists (mission statement). The mission statement establishes why the work is done, but not how that work is done. We will define what the church aims to accomplish (vision statement) or a clear, specific picture of what the church will look like at a particular time in the future, usually one to three years. We will define the specific practical steps it will take to achieve its mission/vision (ministry plans). The ministry plan should determine how things will be accomplished and include priorities and organizational structure.

Please keep the future listening session schedule on your calendar:

All sessions will begin at 4:00PM in the Fellowship Hall

Come, participate, and be part of defining who FBC is, where FBC is going, and what type of pastor will be leading us in the future.

Hope to see you this Sunday!

I simply could not celebrate Easter without excellent music. At First Baptist/Tallahassee, I’ve never had to face such a reality.

I look forward to this Easter Sunday, the opportunity to enjoy world-class Easter music, the opportunity to worship and celebrate Christ’s resurrection. the chance to hear a challenging Easter message from Brad Creed, our Interim Preacher, and the opportunity to give thanks for God’s endless blessing through my Tennessee family, including the family Nancy and I treasure as our own, and the special family of this First Baptist Church.

For on Easter 1979, following a horrible auto accident in January of 1979, my Nancy was still in the hospital – three months later – and our FBC Sunday School class was still bringing meals to me and our three sons. The meals continued after Nancy returned home. In that experience in this fellowship of believers, we learned the profound impact of Easter grace and resurrection hope.

Push, push, push. Rush, rush, rush. Missed, missed, missed. Will we push and rush and miss an opportunity to experience God in this season of life? Why don’t we stop? Why don’t we slow down? Why don’t we prepare ourselves to worship and serve?

We will receive another sermon gift from Dr. Brad Creed on this Palm Sunday: “When the Cheering Stopped,"

Matthew 21:1-11. Are we praying for Brad? Will we pray for our Palm Sunday worship?

Will we Pray First on April 4, our monthly Wednesday at 6:00PM congregational prayer time for God’s leadership during the FBC interim?

Will we “Remember”: a personal Good Friday prayer and meditation experience, in the Sanctuary, 11:00AM – 5:30PM? You may also participate where you are.

Will we participate in “Tenebrae: A Service of Shadows,” in the Sanctuary, April 6, 6:00PM? Experience seven movements of sacred scripture, music, and reflection.

Will we consider the Secret Church Simulcast, April 6, 7:00PM, a time to stretch ourselves, assess our lives, and live forward with a Christ-centered purpose?

Will we enjoy the Children’s Easter Celebration, April 7, 10:30AM, or the Internationals Ministry Picnic, April 7, 10:00AM – 2:00PM, J. Lee Vause Park? Or both?

Will we engage in Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday worship? Will we invite others to worship?

Will we tell students about their College Easter Lunch, April 8, 1:00PM?

Will we participate in the Passover Seder, April 11, 6:15 – 7:30PM, Fellowship Hall? What would Jesus have been thinking and praying during his last Passover Seder meal?

Why not choose from the possibilities above? Make the intentional choices right for you, perhaps even life-changing for you. May each of us pray a Palm Sunday Prayer: “Father, forgive us – and lead us in your path to our future.”

Brad Creed is Provost and Executive Vice President and Professor of Religion at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He is a native of Jacksonville, Texas, and received his education at Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He holds a PhD in the History of Christianity from Southwestern Seminary.

Prior to coming to Samford University, Creed served in the roles of Professor of Christian History, Associate Dean, and Dean at George W. Truett Theological Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, from 1993 – 2001. Creed is also the former pastor of the First Baptist Church of Natchitoches, Louisiana, and has previously served as a youth minister and a church planter. He does frequent speaking for churches, conferences, workshops, and groups. His published works and articles have appeared in The Cresset, Christian Ethics Today, Fides et Historia, Review and Expositor, and Baptist History and Heritage. He has also been a contributor to several books including Has Our Theology Changed?: Southern Baptist Thought Since 1845, Proclaiming the Baptist Vision: The Church, The Holman Bible Dictionary, Turning Points in Baptist History, and For Faith and Friendship.

During the year 2000, Creed was the Scholar in Residence at the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs in Washington D.C. and Visiting Professor of Church History at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Falls Church, Virginia. He has been active in Baptist life having served on various state and national denominational committees, and has been the interim pastor of churches in Texas, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Alabama.

Creed is a member of the Birmingham Kiwanis Club and the 2004 Class of Leadership Birmingham. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities, the Alabama Historical Association, and serves on the Academic Task Force for the Council of Independent Colleges and Universities. He is a member of the Dawson Memorial Baptist Church of Birmingham. Creed is married to the former Kathy Harton, also a native of Jacksonville, Texas, and they have two children, Charlie, and Carrie Grace.

Last Sunday we participated in the Commissioning of our Pastor Search Committee. We heard from Committee Chairman, Darrell Thompson, and we participated in the Congregational Covenant. It was exciting to hear about what’s happening.

I am sure you have appreciated Darrell’s informative reports in the last two issues of the Vision about the search process and the opportunity for the congregation to participate in the upcoming five listening sessions, beginning April 1. Also, Darrell has promised monthly reports throughout the pastor search process.

All members will be able to stay informed.

We also have good news from our Interim Preacher Search Committee, chaired by Joan Cassels and including Dr. Cal Zongker, Chris Rettkowski, Josh Hall, and Penny Folsom.

Along with our Deacon leadership, I have felt it important to include Pastoral Staff leadership early in the interim in both our Sunday morning services, our Sunday night Anchor Group in the Chapel, and our three Wednesday Bible studies at 11:00AM, 4:00PM, and 6:00PM.

Each staff member has had to manage extra pastoral duties and carry additional ministry responsibilities.

This Sunday, March 18, Joan Cassels will announce our choice for the one who will fill the First Baptist pulpit for most of the Sundays from March 25 until we call a new Pastor. Joan will provide more information this Sunday.

I’ve met the gentleman. He has excellent credentials, strong qualifications and experience. He will be good for our church. I am excited.

We will worship together at 9:00AM and 11:15AM this Sunday. Come and participate in the good news.

In last week’s Vision, we introduced the five Phases involved in the pastor search process and stated that we are currently in phases 1 and 2:

A “Commissioning Ceremony” is being planned for both worship services (traditional and contemporary) this Sunday, March 11. We urge each member of First Baptist Church (FBC) to pray for this service, the PSC, and our future pastor; and to make plans to attend this special service in the life of our church on March 11th.

Last week, the PSC introduced a schedule of five congregational listening sessions to begin on Sunday April 1 at 4:00PM in the fellowship hall. These listening sessions are designed so the PSC can hear information from the congregation that will be used to develop the church profile and the pastor profile for FBC. Listening to the congregation and obtaining this information is absolutely an essential step in the pastor search process! Each of the five listening sessions will address a different topic designed to encourage congregational input; therefore, we strongly encourage the congregation to make attendance at all five sessions a priority and a matter of prayer.

Each of the five listening sessions will be on Sunday afternoons at 4:00PM in the fellowship hall and childcare will be provided. Each listening session will take place around tables, a facilitator will lead our time together, and table monitors will be at each table to assist with the discussion and to take notes and document the comments. Dr. Bill Wilson, from the Center for Congregational Health, will facilitate several of our conversations and will guide us through this important process. A detailed description of each session and the date for each session follows:

In addition to these listening sessions, the congregation may also share any information that should be considered in developing the church and pastor profiles with the PSC by sending an email to pastorsearch@fbctlh.org or mailing their comments to:

Additionally, anyone can personally share information directly with any member of the PSC. The PSC is also willing to visit with any SMBS class, ministry group, committee, or organization to obtain your relevant information. Phase 2 (preparation) of the pastor search process must not be rushed, and the congregation must be comfortable with the profiles that will be developed before we move on to the next phase in calling a new pastor. A congregation must know who it is and where it is going before calling a new leader.

When we as a church are satisfied with the church and pastor profiles, we will then be ready to move to Phase 3 and begin gathering names of potential candidates from church members and other sources. As you leave the “commissioning” service this Sunday please take a “stone” (see 1 Peter 2:5) that will serve as a token of the covenant between the PSC and the congregation and our agreement to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.

Prayerfully Submitted By

On February 26, your PSC met with Dr. Bill Wilson, President of The Center for Congregational Health. Dr. Wilson has been retained as a “coach” to assist our church and the PSC in the process of finding a new pastor. During this meeting, we learned there are five phases involved in the pastor search process:

The PSC is still in phase 1 (getting acquainted), but we have also started phase 2 (preparation). We have started getting to know each other better through praying together and sharing with each other. We also have a covenant with each other as a committee and we would like to enter into a covenant with the congregation of FBCTLH. As a committee, we covet to pray for the church and our new pastor and we are asking the church to covet to pray for the PSC and our new pastor. This is a spiritual discernment process and we need the congregation, the staff, and the PSC to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY!

On March 11, the PSC is recommending that the church “commission” or “launch” the pastor search process through a commissioning ceremony. During both worship services, the members of the PSC will be introduced to the congregation and the chairman of the PSC will ask the congregation and the PSC to make a covenant with each other. A stone will be given to each person that agrees to the covenant. Every time a member of the congregation looks at the stone, holds the stone, or even thinks about the stone, they will covet to pray for the PSC and our new pastor. When we call our new pastor, we will all bring our stones back to the church and they will be collected and displayed in a prominent place.

Even though the PSC was selected to represent a broad cross representation of our church, the congregation still needs to be involved in the development of the church and pastor profiles. These two profiles will allow the PSC to move forward by answering these questions: “Who are we?” and “What do we believe God wants us to be?” To that end, the PSC will be conducting five focus group meetings with the congregation to obtain input for the church profile and the pastor profile. Each of the five focus group meetings will address a different focus point; therefore, we would like the congregation to commit to attending all five meetings or as many as possible. The five focus point sessions will be conducted at 4:00 PM on Sunday afternoons on the following dates: April 1, April 15, April 29, May 6, and May 20. In next week’s Vision, I will discuss each of the five focus point sessions in detail.

In closing, the success or failure in finding the right pastor for FBCTLH will likely be determined by the work we do during this “Preparation” phase prior to ever soliciting a resume or having a conversation with a candidate. A healthy search process requires great patience, spiritual maturity, and hard work so again, we covet with you to PRAY, PRAY, PRAY.

Your Brother in Christ,

For those of you not familiar with DNW at First Baptist, here is the scoop: DNW centers around small-group discipleship in a home setting for a weekend. Think of it as a retreat without leaving Tallahassee. We kick-off DNW Thursday night with a banquet at the church. On Friday and Saturday, our students will be staying in host homes (like a sleep over with 6-10 of your closest friends). Bible study, worship, and recreations will happen at the church or around Tallahassee. It all wraps up on Sunday as we

celebrate the weekend during Bible study and worship.

This year our theme is “The Power of One.” The lessons will lead students to the idea that our youth group being led by God can accomplish amazing things for the kingdom if they are unified in all they do. In other words “together we are better.”

Here is an outline of our lessons:

Our camp preacher is Gary Morgan. Gary is pastor of The Mosaic Church in Nashville, TN. Gary is a former Youth Ministry Coordinator for Centrifuge Youth Camps and is a popular youth communicator. Haley Morgan Smith is our guest musician. Haley is a popular singer/songwriter from Georgia. She has led worship for numerous ministries such as North Point Community Church and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes camps. Our youth will love her humor and energy.

Remember our young people in prayer this week. I believe that if we start to move towards being “one,” we will see incredible things happen in our youth group, Tallahassee, and then our world. Our prayer is that our students fall in love with Jesus this weekend.

Thank you for loving our students and pointing them to God,

Your reaction to the WorkFaith theme has been encouraging. We appreciate the extra preparation by our participating small group Bible study teachers. We’ve received commendation for “Taking Your Soul to Work”, the resource tapped for the February series.

Other WorkFaith opportunities to consider:

No matter where you work, remember Todd Smith’s challenge: find a purpose beyond your paycheck.

From Cecil Davis:

Please provide your work/career mentoring preference in one of the following ways:

Todd Smith, FBC’s Youth Minister, will provide a companion WorkFaith sermon series for the February emphasis.

Early in 2011, Dr. Dortch commissioned a WorkFaith team to develop this initiative. Dr. Jim Croushorn, who has a long-standing personal interest and passion for this theme, agreed to coordinate the WorkFaith Team in developing our WorkFaith focus for February and the weeks following. We appreciate the work of Jim and all the team members: Cecil Davis, Stuart Pearce, Linda Thompson, Dr. Matthew Jenije, Chris Rettowski, Priscilla Tharpe, James Craig, and Susan Byler.

The selected resource for the WorkFaith series is “Taking Your Soul to Work” by Paul Stevens and Alvin Ung. Free copies will be available, courtesy of FBC’s Bible Study ministry (one per couple, please) to encourage every participant to take seriously the daily challenge of living our faith in the places where we work.

Participating small groups include: Adult Three; Median Adult Two (will combine into one class); InterAction; Median Adult One (interested members will join Median Adult Two); Young Marrieds, Young Singles; The Word Seekers Class; and The Women’s Career Class.

The WorkFaith series also includes:

• Mentoring with WorkFaith challenges: Cecil Davis

• Three Monthly Lunches, March to May

• Welcome to the World of Work Banquet, April 9, for graduating college seniors

• Website support and additional information.

On behalf of FBC members and staff, I want to thank Jim Croushorn and the WorkFaith Team with staff support from Josh Hall and Erin Westberry for your good work.

Already our communications reflect the season with announcements of informational meetings.

Haiti Trip Informational Meeting, January 29, 4:30PM, Room C2201, 2nd floor Chason Building.

College Challenge Informational Meeting, January 29, 5:30PM, CLC Snack Area, 2nd floor CLC.

Builders for Christ will have an informational meeting later this Spring, to help a Baptist Church somewhere in the US build or expand.

And there will be others.

Missions and ministry are in our DNA at FBC. They’re also in our mission statement: “… to be a God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused, caring body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ…”

“… led by the Holy Spirit in worshipping, serving, and sharing Christ…”

“… equipping believers to carry out the Great Commission in the community and throughout the world.”

FBC members not only believe in the Great Commission, we also believe in “the Great Follow-Through.” Deeds speak louder than dogma! Any day of the week.

The Haiti quake two years ago killed more than 200,000 and left 1.5 million homeless. FBC has been there the last two summers. The need is huge. FBC is going back again. You may want to go this time.

That’s why we have informational meetings.

Are you interested in the “stats” for our Connections Weekend?

204 Adults/Youth. 24 Children. 11 Childcare Workers. Total 239.

Not bad for a bunch of Baptists, and their guests. Thank you for participating.

Reactions to Friday and Saturday main sessions plus Sunday traditional and contemporary worship with Dr. Jim Burns:

Reactions to 26 breakout sessions:

Jim Burns comments we’ll remember:

Josh Hall: Regarding 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Prayer with thanksgiving equals joy.”

“You bless your children and you bless your family with your presence. Presence matters.”

Zach Allen: “There are good things that are attractive distractions and can take your focus off the

most important things.”

Fran Buhler: “Am I giving my family my emotional scraps?”

“Am I making spiritual deposits in my family?”

“The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.”

“Over-committed and under-connected.”

“Closer Time” with Nancy.

--Fran Buhler

...if smart phones are an indicator:

We want a church where people are simply smarter about living the Christian life. That means people recognize the importance of obedience, try to live lives of obedience, and take seriously the call to follow Christ. When we go to church, do we wonder, "What will they think?" or, "What will God think?"

We want a church where we can talk to people and people talk to us. Like a friend of mine said, "Sometimes I just close out the noisy world and talk to my iPhone. Or, better yet, allow my iPhone to talk to me." Do you realize some folk live lives of relative isolation? They want a church family. They enjoy the fellowship of small group Bible study. They need the boost of welcoming human relationships.

Some of us admire the long battery life of our smart phones and want to build lives with the same kind of endurance for the long haul. There is so much in life to live for, so much to enjoy, and much to treasure.

My iPhone makes it easy to transfer music to my life. I wonder sometimes, "Does my life bring music to anyone else's life?" It's so easy and human to live a self-centered existence. But that, of course, is not the good life. Nor the Christ-like life. Think of it as a daily challenge that becomes an opportunity. Today, will I contribute the music of my life to the world?

Smart phones also come equipped with an all-new camera, a capability we need in our hurried lives. A visual reason to stop and smell the coffee, capture a timeless moment, see the growth of a child or grand child, or savor the images of togetherness that tug at our hearts.

A good church, like a good smart phone, enables us to connect and stay connected. The Connected Life is the life we read about in the Bible, the life we need to help us face...L I F E.

The best thing?

Think about it. Of all the good things that have happened to you, what is the very best thing that has happened to you?

The best thing that ever happened to me? My salvation.

I’ve had some wonderful things happen to me in my life, but the best thing by far is salvation.

I had fun growing up… too much fun to write about. I enjoyed my high school and college years. I learned so much. And I needed to learn, and grow. My time in seminary, preparing for ministry, was a challenge, but highly satisfying and enjoyable.

Still the best thing that ever happened to me is the experience of salvation.

Marrying my childhood sweetheart, growing the gift of three sons, enjoying the gift of their families – these have been my highest adult experiences. Yet they came after my salvation.

Actually, as I think about it, I have given a false impression. I called it “my salvation.”

Yes, I have experienced salvation. Yet it’s God’s salvation. God gave it to me. All I did was receive it.

God’s salvation is a gift. I can’t make it, build it, or create it. I didn’t earn it, qualify for it, I will never be good enough for it. I cannot purchase it, contract for it, or lease it.

What I can do is accept the salvation God offers. I have. You have, too.

As Timothy reminds us, God wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4).

Salvation has become for me a personal joy and source of confidence, whatever today or tomorrow bring.

As I read Holy Scripture, salvation should be a precious gift we share with others. Let’s not forget that part – the GIFT we share with others.

Isn’t that what Christmas should be about?

In the Tallahassee village, our FBC is fully involved, giving and forgiving, serving and helping, teaching and reaching, according to God’s Grace and Mercy. (Thank you for helping make it so!)

Jesus’ words from Matthew 25:35-36 offer a special reminder for our personal plans this Christmas season.

We can “visit” those in area correctional facilities with the powerful gift of “Christmas Cards for Inmates.”

We need 2,500 religious Christmas cards that include a meaningful Christian witness. That means we should read the cards for appropriate meaning for someone in prison.

Your donated cards will be given to 1,250 Leon County jail inmates.

Each inmate will be provided with two cards to send to family and friends, along with a printed piece telling them of God’s gift of love to them.

Collection boxes are in the College Avenue foyer, the library, and the Connect Center (next to the office).

PLEASE BRING YOUR CARDS BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4.

Volunteers will do the rest.

Look, anyone can do this. Every one of us is capable of buying some Christmas Cards for people in prison. Forget about how you feel about people in prison. Trust God, buy some cards – with an encouraging message – and leave your cards at the church this Sunday. Then go read Matthew 25:34-45. You will be glad you did.

We thank Rose and Cal Zongker for helping make “Christmas Cards for Inmates” a special gift for struggling souls this Christmas.

I dare you…

As we move forward as a church I would like to ask for your input on a very important matter. We will be forming a Pastor Search Committee that will enter into the process of searching for our next pastor. As you can well understand it is critical that we find the right people to be on this committee. We believe that these folks need to come from a broad cross-section of our church and be truly representative of our membership. In addition, the ideal search committee member will have various spiritual and leadership qualities that will allow them to be best suited for this committee. Some of these qualities include:

1. Trusted

2. Respected

3. Prayerful

4. Without undue bias and preset agenda, open to the Spirit’s leadership

5. Spiritually wise, persons regarded as being mature in their Christian walk

6. Regular contributors in attendance, ministry participation, financial resources

7. Excellent listeners

I would like to ask each of you to prayerfully consider people who would fit these qualifications and suggest their names to us. We will have cards in the bulletins during our worship services for the next two weeks and invite you to write your suggestions on these cards and provide us with their names. We have already received suggestions from many of you and we will keep those names to use in our process.

Our bylaws state that the Deacon Chair names committees in consultation with the Pastor and presents those to the Deacon Board and church body to be voted on. Since this process will likely run into next January, Wayne NeSmith (Deacon Chair-Elect) and I will continue to work together to provide continuity. In addition we will pull in a small group of lay leaders from different parts of our church to help us to sort through the suggestions and pick a committee. We covet your continued prayers as we seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit in this critical task.

Thank you so much for your support during this time of transition. I remain excited about our future and know that God will bless us as we seek his will moving forward.

We recall Dr. Dortch’s sermons – how they touched our hearts – his unique Bible study style – how he opened our minds – and his powerful use of “story” as he taught us the great stories of the Bible and their meaning for our lives. Judy Dortch’s years among us were also high impact as she worked in our Children’s Ministry, served the medical needs of college students, and walked with numerous members, as did Doug, in times of difficulty and challenge.

We miss Doug and Judy already, and we will continue to miss them. That is as it should be. And the reason we miss them so much is simply because of what they meant to us, what their presence brought us – and because we have been enriched by knowing and working along side them.

We also remember the bright presence of Corrie Dortch who has become a very good teacher at Jacksonville’s Mandarin High. Like her parents, Corrie is mentoring this generation of students.

We remember John Dortch’s grin and his excellence in sports at Chiles High School, plus Mercer U baseball. John graduates med school next May and begins a residency afterward. We remember John and Megan’s reception in our new Welcome Center. What a festive delight!

Do you remember? Dr. Dortch came on November 6 and departed on November 6. He came, we believe, in response to the Call of God and we also believe he leaves in response to God’s Call.

In our time of November Remember, may we be confident God is already at work in our collective hearts and in the life of a gifted, experienced Pastor out there somewhere. Remember this: God will bring us together – Pastor and Congregation – and we will continue to do the Lord’s work in this Sacred Place.

Please remember Dr. Dortch’s last words to us in this space. “My last words to you are these: come together, stay the course, and believe the best. I have heard it said that the best measure of someone’s ministry is what takes place months after he has moved on. I fully anticipate hearing good reports from this fellowship, because such expressions of faith are simply consistent with who you are.”

You have been a blessing to me and my family. I am grateful for the many cards and conversations regarding your gratitude for whatever difference God may have used me to make in your life and in the life of this church. I feel exactly the same way; this church has formed me as a minister of the Gospel. I am a much better Christian and pastor because of my time with you. In fact, if we were to compare who grew more over the course of our years together, I would win that contest hands down. There’s no question in my mind.

I remind you that our service this Sunday will be a combined one at 10:30 AM, which is also a time change Sunday. That’s more for my benefit. Leaving will be difficult enough, but preaching two times on my last Sunday with you would be cruel and unusual punishment for us all. I just hope that by God’s grace I can get through it just once.

What does cause my heart to soar is to know that I leave the church in good hands. Most importantly, we serve a great God. He wants so deeply for this church to do well that He will make available the right people in the right places at the right time. That’s how God works.

Moreover, we have a faithful people, who while showing their appreciation for the leadership of its Senior Pastor, recognize that it is Jesus who is the head of the church and by following the leadership of his Holy Spirit will move into his good future with joy and anticipation. Christmas is the season to celebrate how in Christ God is with us, and your dependence on that profound truth just might make this Christmas the best one ever at First Baptist Church.

Finally, you truly are blessed with a capable and committed staff. I have never been around a group so talented and dedicated as they. Each stands ready to stand in the gap and see this church through the upcoming transition, however long it may be.

My last words to you are these: come together, stay the course, and believe the best. I have heard it said that the best measure of someone’s ministry is what takes place months after he has moved on. I fully anticipate hearing good reports from this fellowship, because such expressions of faith are simply consistent with who you are.

It’s been a joy and a privilege to have been your pastor. I don’t know how else to put it but to say as Paul said to the Philippians: “I thank my God every time I remember you” (Phil. 1:3). I only hope you will do the same.

You should know that the Building 4 Community committee had prolonged discussions over what we would ask the artist to render for that first painting. I think the committee chose wisely in asking him to construct a scene that involves Jesus calling his disciples to be “a city on a hill,” shedding God’s light to all in need of its illumination. The studied responses of our congregation show that you agree. The painting inspires us all to be a church that lives up to such a high calling.

By the way, the artist, Frank Murphy of Rome, Georgia, has shipped to us some prints of the painting that are available for purchase. Those prints, which are roughly 12 x 18 inches, would make a lovely addition to your home and office, and also as a gift, considering how Christmas is right around the corner. We have 200 available, and you can order them for $25/print. Each is signed and numbered. I have mine, which will be a lasting reminder of what this church means to me, to this community, and most importantly, to Jesus himself.

Other paintings for the Welcome Center are in the pipeline by the same artist. Each will draw upon Bible scenes that reflect core values of this church. But this one will be an ongoing testimony to what we perceive to be our mission at First Baptist and a good way of remembering just how much is at stake in all that we’re about.

It is with mixed emotions that I leave Tallahassee for this new opportunity. On one hand, this church and community have been home to our family for a longer period of time than any place we have ever lived and served. And what a great experience it has been! You have shown appreciation and affection to us on so many occasions and in so many ways. We will always be grateful for how this church has supported us at such important times in our family’s life. We have truly been blessed.

On the other hand, I am convinced that given my age and anticipated years of service remaining, it is in the best interests of the church to have a new face and a fresh voice, and it is in my best interests also to have a new challenge to which I can give myself. I have prayed much about this matter, and am at peace that this transition is God’s will for us all.

You are most fortunate to have such an able and dedicated pastoral staff to lean upon during these months ahead when you are looking for a new pastor. Along with them, our lay leadership is the best there is. I don’t anticipate any decline in church participation and support, simply because of how the combination of pastoral staff and lay leadership will join together to offer the guidance and direction necessary.

My last day with you will be Sunday, November 6. That schedule will give us plenty of opportunity between now and then to express gratitude for one another. It will also allow our lay leadership to put a transition plan in place so that the days thereafter will go smoothly and successfully. I want to do everything in my power to leave the church in as good a position as possible.

Thank you again for all that each of you has done to make my tenure as your pastor so rewarding. I honestly have not had a bad day in this church. That’s because you really are a church “for life,” and words cannot adequately express how proud I am to have been your pastor.

Thankfully, First Baptist Church, Tallahassee is an outwardly focused congregation. Granted, we’ve just spent a hefty chunk of change attending to some important facilities concerns. But now that our house is in much better order, literally speaking, the time has come to reframe the focus to needs that exist beyond the walls of the church.

One such opportunity is right around the corner with our First Love mission outreach. In fact, this Sunday is the last Sunday you’ll have to register. We have a number of projects our ministry team has identified. Now, we simply need people to step up to do the work. You can register in one of two ways. Yellow registration forms are all around the campus for you to fill out, or you can go to our website, www.fbctlh.org/firstlove and fill out the online registration form.

Other opportunities are around the corner as well. Be looking to our publications for times and places where you can be of service. I am confident that our church will not be content to serve only ourselves so that we leave a needy world on the outside looking in. Our heart is much bigger than that and our focus much broader, just like God’s heart and focus. He will surely bless us for our faithfulness and continue to use us in ways that bring to pass His good purposes, which is the best anyone could hope for, since it puts us in the place where Jesus stands and where his Spirit needs and calls us to be.

One of those “best practices” is right before us – First Love. We began First Love years ago as a response to a desire from within our congregation to minister more significantly to our community. We were looking for a way to involve as many people as possible in as many ways as possible. Our Deacon Chairman at the time, Tom Perrin, attended a Cooperative Baptist Fellowship meeting, where he learned of a way one church was meeting this challenge most effectively. Tom brought back this idea to our church and “First Love” was born. Our theme verse became 1 John 4:19: “We love Him because He first loved us.” From the start, this one event has done more to galvanize our church and position us in the community as a caring body than anything else. Every year we receive tremendous feedback on how well received our day of service is.

This year’s service day is October 15, just a couple of weeks away. The projects have been identified. Now we just need people to step forward, which I’m sure they will. You can sign up with one of the yellow registration sheets you see around the church. Or, this year, we have created an online registration form for your convenience. Go to www.fbctlh.org/firstlove to register. The sooner you register, the easier it will be on our committee to match people and projects.

Thank you for all you do to make us a better church. But thank you for this special day of service. It is, without question, one of the best things we’re about.

Of course, it’s appropriate for our women to have this time together. We are, male and female, relational creatures, and the ladies who will be attending the retreat will definitely enjoy one another’s company. My prayer is that they will be so blessed by their retreat experience that when they return, our church will be the beneficiary, particularly in light of the heavy load they carry in terms of our church’s ministries.

But it’s not as if the men in our church are loafers. We are equally blessed to have a number of committed males serving in important places in our church as well. This Sunday will allow them to step up in an even greater way. For example, you’ll see a men’s choir at our 9:00 service. You’ll see men taking more of a lead in our children and youth Bible Study ministries. You’ll see dads with kids in tow in attendance at both of our morning services. All of this will be good both for our church and our families.

Pray for both parties, both men and women, because each holds such an important place in the life of our church. While this weekend will require us to exercise a little creativity and extra effort, in the long run I believe it will make us better. And who can find fault with anything that does that?

We anticipate a number of guests with us on that Sunday. Some will be here because we’ve asked them to come so that we might recognize them for their help. Others will be with us because they are curious about what we have done and how the completed project looks. Given the fact that it will be a combined service, you’ll probably see a number of unfamiliar faces. Just smile and be nice to everyone you meet. That shouldn’t be hard to do since the level of enthusiasm in our church right now is at a fever pitch.

I want to pause to say thank you to every person who participated in the project – from the Building 4 Community members to those who helped us with our “Here for Life” campaign, to the donors, to the volunteers who served in the “Love First” activity our Property Committee scheduled, and lastly to the TurnerBatson and Culpepper teams and the various subcontractors they employed. It didn’t take just a “village” to finish this project; it took a “community,” a band of believers coming together to trust God for the resources to do what we felt called to do.

In many ways, Sunday will not be the completion of the journey; it will only be the beginning. My prayer is that our church will use these facilities, both new and renovated, as a springboard for reaching out into our community in Jesus’ name. We’ve got a number of things planned about which you will hear more in the coming days. In the meantime, I look forward to seeing you Sunday for worship at 10:30 AM and then the reception we will enjoy afterwards. It will be a defining moment in the life of our church and a project I truly believe generations yet to come will look back upon and thank us for providing.

Now, we live with colored “alerts” and metal detectors and TSA “pat downs.” The veil of our security has been ripped away, never again to be completely put back together. We may moan and groan over the changes that have taken place, but deep down inside, all of us know that there really is no alternative.

My only concern is that we not spend this tenth anniversary only in rueful reflection. While it is perfectly appropriate to take a moment to remember the victims of 9/11, I would hope that we would also use it as an opportunity to reflect on the assurance of God’s presence in the midst of such tragic times and how His Spirit gives us the strength to move beyond them to better times. I would also hope that our reflection would remind us of how dependent we are on God, especially in light of the fact that none of us has any guarantees about tomorrow, except for the promise that as people of faith, we can be certain that God will be there in the future drawing us ever closer to Himself. Otherwise, we will have gained nothing in these ten years and lost more than we may have realized.

The Bible tells us that nothing can frustrate the redemptive purpose of God. As Christians, we believe that purpose has been expressed ultimately and definitively in the coming of Jesus Christ, and we also believe that it will eventually be carried out in completion when he returns in glory, a triumphal Lord. In other words, we know how this story will end. Therefore, we look back with regret, but we look forward in hope. God is still on the throne, and though our confidence may be momentarily shaken, with our faith solidly in His providence, we can move forward into the future, uncertain as it will always be, in boldness, expectation, and joy.

Just as we anticipate the start of a new football season, so should our church be gearing up for a new season of guests coming our way. Actually, the influx started last Sunday, which we might call our preseason. From all accounts, our guests were impressed and are open to giving us a second chance this Sunday.

I was thinking about what made the difference. Looking back, I can see that the music was strong, as usual. The crowd was responsive, also as usual. And the new space had guests and those who were coming back after summer vacation wide-eyed over all that had taken place with our new construction. The bottom line is that everyone sees that our church is moving in a positive direction, and each Sunday brings the possibility of something new and exciting taking place.

The next weeks bring important opportunities for worship, celebration, and thanksgiving. Remember that this Sunday we will honor the Odoms as they make way to North Carolina with a reception in their honor from 4-6 PM. What blessings they have been to First Baptist, and we wish them the best as they begin a new phase of life and ministry closer to family. September 11 is the 10th anniversary of the infamous 9/11. We plan to recognize the anniversary during our morning service and use that opportunity to ponder the hope that is ours because of faith in God. And lastly, September 18 will be our Dedication Sunday, when we celebrate the culmination of a truly amazingly successful capital improvement project. We’ve already enjoyed a couple of celebrations in our Welcome Center, but on September 18, we will meet for one combined service at 10:30 AM, with a reception to follow and a chance to get a good look at the changes that so many have worked so hard to complete.

And all of that is just the beginning. A number of other opportunities for worship and service will follow in the coming months. As you can see, our church is full of “life.” That’s what we’re here for – we’re here for life. And let us pray that all who join with us during these Sundays experience what those of us who have been a part of the place for a long time have known for some time – each season at First Baptist, Tallahassee, just seems to be better than the season before.

Our family will be on the receiving end this Saturday, when the church will hold a churchwide reception for our son John and daughter-in-law Megan. Judy and I had planned to do something along these lines after their wedding, which took place last month in Gainesville. Megan is from there, and as such, deserved to have her wedding in her hometown. The situation was complicated by the fact that virtually all of the churches in Gainesville do not allow for out-of-town clergy to perform ceremonies in their sanctuaries, which sent John and Megan scurrying around town looking for the perfect venue. They found it in the Baughman Center, a chapel on campus at the University of Florida, which overlooks scenic Lake Alice. Unfortunately, the chapel seats only 100 people, which affected our invitation list dramatically. But before we could plan anything, members of our church stepped forward to offer their services for a reception here in Tallahassee. Words cannot express our gratitude for your kindness and generosity.

Megan and John look forward to meeting you, along with her parents Joe and Maureen Deluca. Megan is a graduate of P.K. Yonge High School there and the University of Florida. She is employed by Shands Hospital in their Human Resources department, which is where John and she met. Judy and I think she is a truly lovely person, as lovely on the inside as she is on the outside. You will find her to be a true sweetheart as we have, and we are happy you will be able to celebrate her arrival into our family.

And so, the Dortch family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts. So many of you have gone to so much time and effort in planning this reception. We do feel so loved and appreciated. I hope you will be able to join us this Saturday, August 28, from 2 to 4 PM in our new Welcome Center for the celebration. That way, we’ll have the opportunity to tell you personally just how much we love each of you for your gracious and generous hearts.

The fall season is one of the most critical times for our church in terms of connecting with new people. People who have made transition to Tallahassee over the summer begin looking for a place of worship, and fortunately, First Baptist Church is one of the places they look first.

In anticipation of their arrival, our Property Committee has scheduled our semiannual “Love First” workday for this coming Saturday, August 20. Not to be confused with our day of community service that will happen later in the fall, this “Love First” project gives us a chance to address important needs around the church and to enjoy a time of fellowship with one another as we do so.

The Property Committee has come up with a number of items that need our attention. We will start the morning in our new Welcome Center at 8:30 AM with a devotional time. The coffee will be ready, and once we have our time of reflection and prayer, we’ll get to work. The Property Committee anticipates that we’ll be able to address the list by midday.

That assumes, of course, that we’ll have a good turnout, which I believe we will. The sense of pride and appreciation for what God has given us in the way of ministry facilities is evident all around. This day will allow us the privilege of giving elbow grease to our gratitude and put our campus in a condition that will ready us for what I believe will be a most exciting fall season.

Baylor is, of course, a Baptist school, so you would understand how researchers there might look to the Bible as a foundational source of unity for Christians. However, what also needs to be said is that all Baptists should appreciate how such a prestigious institution of higher learning would want to remain true to its heritage by taking the value of Scripture seriously and affirming its relevance in contemporary life.

There is much about the study I find encouraging. But the one finding that gives me pause is their discovery of how the majority of the people surveyed responded that they do not read their Bible regularly. Less than a quarter of the respondents said that they read it weekly or more often. How can Christians dismiss such a valuable resource, one that promises to offer guidance, direction, encouragement, and, now the survey tells us, mutual support? The only answer I know is that we simply don’t make Bible reading a priority, and our failure to do so is not only to our detriment, but also the detriment of our churches.

One of the core values in our church is that we are a “Bible-directed” people. I believe we take that value seriously and that it is one of the primary reasons for the good spirit that prevails in our fellowship. I invite you to join me in recommitting yourself to an ongoing program of regular Bible reading. There are a number of good reading guides on the Internet. Many of our Sunday School publications also contain them. If you need some help finding one that works for you, don’t hesitate to let us know.

I remember what D.L. Moody, the early 20th century evangelist, once shared as he faced a dry time in his own faith development. Having exhausted a number of other options, he reverted to simple Bible reading and prayer on a daily basis, and Moody began to discover a reservoir of spiritual resources he had simply forgotten how to tap.

Those resources are available to you as well. Draw from them day by day and see how you will be blessed, and how you will be a blessing to someone who needs you to be just that to them as well.

his ten month old grandson Liam. Liam had developed a medical condition that compromised his immune

system. The diagnosis called for him to receive intravenous immunoglobulin, a concentrated dose

of antibodies, extracted from blood plasma, which would help his body fight off the illness. Fortunately,

the treatment worked, and within 48 hours, Liam’s high fever and other symptoms had responded so that

he’s well on the way to recovery, a welcome relief for Bill and his family.

Bill says that upon reflecting on his grandson’s treatments, he was particularly struck by how one dose of

that precious immunoglobulin is derived from the blood of more than 1,000 donors. The collection of antibodies

from that large number of donors enabled his grandson to do what he could not do on his own

– fight off a life-threatening infection. As a consultant for congregations seeking to be “more healthy,” Bill

naturally concluded that churches can serve the same purpose for its members; communities of faith can

help those who make them up do what they cannot do by themselves – live the life God calls us to live.

Bill makes a good point. We all have found ourselves in situations where we needed the help, support,

and encouragement of others to stay faithful to God’s call upon our life. Regardless of our position or

possessions, or lack thereof, we have come to appreciate the grace of leaning upon one another in order

to make sure that we stay in the center of God’s will.

This point needs to be emphasized in a day when too many question the value of the church. There has

always been an independent streak in Christianity that has caused many to wonder if they can’t just follow

Jesus alone. But in recent years, that streak has widened to the place that church has come to be viewed

as more of a hindrance than a help.

I’m glad to be a part of a people that do so much to refute that philosophy and continue to look for ways

to move others closer to God. There will always be a place for a people like us, a people who give and

serve and love and support so that together we experience a level of life that not one of us could ever

experience on our own.

I feel something similar as we approach this Sunday and the “soft opening” of our new Welcome Center. I see it as the dawn of a new day in the life of First Baptist Church. We have been pointing to this day for so long, and now it has arrived, at least in terms of its first glimmers.

We have received a “temporary” Certificate of Occupancy, which allows us to utilize the space as a passageway to other spaces in our church. The parking lot under the CLC is now open, and though there will continue to be further work done on the Welcome Center, there is no reason not to open the doors and allow people to be able to have access to our church that the new construction was designed to provide. In addition, the new bathrooms are ready; the elevator is working; the stairways are in place. I think you will see how the flow of folk will be so much better because of this new space.

The next Sunday, August 7, we will begin coffee service in our new café areas, which are located on both the first and second floors. Our “Upstairs” and “Downstairs” cafes will provide us with the fellowship time so many have missed since we suspended our breezeway service almost eighteen months ago. I would ask that all of our Sunday School departments that have been providing their own coffee service suspend that service beginning on August 7 so that we can begin to maximize the possibilities for gathering and fellowship that the new space provides. In the beginning, we will serve only coffee in order to manage the expenses of that service for the remainder of the year. In fact, our overall plan is to start slowly and simply and then add what we can to the experience instead of taking the opposite approach and starting big, only to have to reduce services. I think you can appreciate the wisdom of our approach.

One other new wrinkle will be the August 28 opening of our “Connect Center,” which will be in the space adjacent to the new office reception area. This space will provide information to both members and newcomers on how to be connected to First Baptist Church. Folk can sign up for small groups and short-term mission projects. They can have questions answered on upcoming ministry opportunities and turn in decision cards. Our monthly First Step coffees will be held in this area. Think of anything that has to do with getting connected at First Baptist and this space is where that can happen. Conversely, if you have any business to conduct, the office reception area will remain the place to do that. If you want to pick up or order a DVD of a recent worship service or if you want to pay for a ministry activity for which you have registered or if you want to turn in an offering, all of that will happen in the office reception area. Think of anything that has to do with “church business” and the office reception area will be the space in which to conduct those matters. This way we separate “connection” and “business,” though if one wants to sign up for something in the “Connect Center” and pay for that registration in the Office Reception area, those two spaces are right next to each other. I think you can appreciate the wisdom of that arrangement as well.

Lastly, our “grand opening” for the entire space will be Sunday, September 18, which is also the weekend of the FSU/Oklahoma game. We will have a combined service that day at 10:30 AM, with lunch following the worship and an open house of the facilities following lunch. Please put that date down now and reserve it. On that Sunday we plan to recognize all of the wonderful people who have worked so hard to make this dream become a reality, from our Building 4 Community Committee and its various subcommittees to our architects and construction team to our subcontractors and other workers. September 18 will be the Sunday when the morning sun breaks through in all its glory for our church.

So, thank you for all the patience and flexibility you have shown throughout this long journey. Thank you for the faithfulness you have expressed through your contributions to our Here for Life fund. We continue to amaze local lending institutions for the manner in which we have stepped up with our giving in the most difficult financial climate since the Great Depression. Please continue to be patient as we bring online other opportunities and services. Pay attention to the VISION for updates on the resumption of activities, such as our Wednesday Fellowship Supper, and other new opportunities that we will be communicating. Most importantly, thank and praise God for how He has sustained us in our “wanderings.” Remember the Ebenezer text in 1 Samuel 7:12-14 and the witness of the Israelites to how “thus far has the LORD helped us.” Indeed He has, and in so many ways, the best is yet to come.

Preston and Janie are fixtures at First Baptist, having served us, as of this past June 1, for 26 years. Over that span of time the two of them have blessed us in so many ways. Preston’s primary responsibilities have been in the Christian Life Center, but in these past years, he has served us as well by working with our Senior Adults. Almost twenty years ago, Jim Chavis, our pastor at the time, approached Janie about heading up our Intercessory Prayer Ministry. Janie readily accepted, and over that period of time, has literally thrown herself into the ministry of prayer, with Preston offering significant support as well. Only heaven knows how many persons have been blessed by this ministry of prayer, though Janie and Preston have also been careful to do their best to track the many ways that God has answered the prayers we have lifted to Him on behalf of so many. Now comes the time for us to pray God’s blessings on them as they move to be near their family and to enjoy what we trust will be many good days together.

Their letter of resignation is attached elsewhere in this newsletter. As you will read, their last Sunday with us will be September 4. The time between now and then will give us plenty of time to express our appreciation, and I trust you will join me in doing just that.

Knowing the two of them, they will be looking for further opportunities to serve Jesus when they get situated in the Charlotte area. So, we pray that God will open such doors for them so that they may continue to use their talents and abilities for Kingdom purposes. And of course, we can be certain that they’ll be praying for us, because that’s their heart for this church and people they have served so faithfully for so long. We are better for the Odoms. Their contributions to us will continue to bless us for years to come, and the difference they made in our midst will definitely not soon be forgotten.

If I were to look for a theological rationale, I could point to the word “enthusiasm.” The word is Greek in origin, and can be broken down into its component parts, which translated, mean “in-God-ism.” In other words, a people caught up in their experience of God are an enthusiastic people in the best sense of the word.

Unfortunately, the summer season is not the best time to develop a good feel for how things are going around church. People are out of town. Students are away for the summer. Camps and family gatherings more than take their toll on the numbers of people participating in church life with their presence and their purse strings.

But though our numbers have been down, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a summer when the level of enthusiasm around the church has been higher. Much of it has, of course, been generated by the fact that we are nearing completion of our capital improvement project. But a lot of it has also been because of the good experiences that folk have been having in our worship and small group activities. In fact, if you were to ask most people around the church about how things are going, they would answer positively and enthusiastically.

You should know that over the course of the summer I’ve also bumped into a number of people who have grown up in our church and are now out on their own in other parts of the country. They have told me that during their summer sojourns back to Tallahassee, they have dropped by the church and been so encouraged by what they see taking place on our block.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I don’t need to allow my emotions to be driven purely by the numbers, or lack thereof. As Einstein was reported to have said, “Not everything that counts can be counted.” Week in and week out, something special is happening right before our eyes. We should be careful to celebrate it. So many churches would love to be at the place where we are – genuinely enthusiastic about all that God is doing in our midst. And that is the thing that I think all of us agree counts most of all.

I’ve always heard that English is one of the hardest languages in the world to master. I certainly wouldn’t have believed that when I was struggling through Mrs. Norton’s French One class at Sumter High School. Back then, mastering conjugations and declensions was like learning how to think all over again. Of course, that’s part of the reason why high school freshman need to take a foreign language during their secondary course of studies. Even if one never steps foot in Paris, there is something to be said for learning how to apply one’s mind and will to the study of a challenging discipline. It was in French One when I realized that if there was anything I needed God to give me more of, it was patience. I had the mind to learn; I just didn’t always have the will.

That’s one of the reasons I marvel at the students from other countries who so patiently and persistently set their minds and their wills to the study of the English language through the Conversational English classes we provide through our church’s International ministry. If you’re looking for a way to participate in something truly life-changing, you need to do nothing more than contact Marty Smith and tell him of your availability to help when classes resume in the fall.

Think for a moment about the vagaries of the English language, which we so often take for granted. For example, consider the homonym. For those of you who were asleep in English class when that word was discussed, a homonym is a word that sounds like another word but has a completely different meaning, as in “patience” and “patients.” Those words sound alike, but they have totally different meanings and are not necessarily connected to one another. However, over the last week, I have seen that they ought to.

This cast that I’ve been wearing from my recent surgery to repair my Achilles tendon (and will continue to be wearing for the next month) has made me a patient but has more than taxed my patience. The challenge of hobbling from Point A to Point B has given me fits. My routine has been shattered and I have not been a happy camper. You can ask the staff; I have fired off more testy e-mails in the last three days than I have in the last three years. But it’s no one’s fault but mine. I just need to grit my teeth and grin and bear it.

My hope is that I’ll learn some lessons that I haven’t thought about since Mrs. Norton’s French One class. I hope that I’ll learn to find new insights from facing this particular challenge and maybe develop some new abilities. I hope I’ll learn to identify better with those who are going through much more serious challenges and, quite honestly, are dealing with them the best that they can and trusting God to help them when their will runs out.

And God promises to do that. Patience is, after all, a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). And Jesus promised that all who came to him weak and heavy burdened would find rest (Matt. 11:28). He is the Great Physician and when we put ourselves in his hands as his patients, we learn a language of love and grace that will surely see us through those times that test even the best person’s patience.

I waited after the first week following the injury to see if maybe it would heal on its own. Lest you think I was procrastinating, that actually happened three or four years ago. But it didn’t happen this time. I went to see the doctor, and it became apparent that surgery would be in my future, a surgery I chose to postpone so that I could go ahead with my plans to take the group from our church to Jordan and Israel, a trip I couldn’t have led in a cast.

Now, the appointed day has arrived. This Tuesday, I will be undergoing an outpatient procedure to have a tendon removed from my left toe and used to reconnect my torn Achilles. I know what you’re thinking; I’m thinking the same thing: this procedure doesn’t sound like much fun. It will surely give a new spin to the old line, “the long, hot days of summer.” I’ll be in a cast for four weeks, then a “boot” for another four.

I am hopeful that I won’t miss any Sundays, other than those I had planned to be out. I’ll have staff help me with other duties, such as hospital visitation and Sunday night Anchor Group. The only times I’ll be coming in to the office will be for Tuesday staff meetings, Wednesday Bible Studies, and the Sunday morning worship. I’ll be working from home and will have my laptop to stay connected to all the good things happening in our church.

I still haven’t figured out if I will stand or sit while preaching – probably the latter, even at the traditional service. The one thing I don’t want to do is to be a distraction to our church’s worship, and I will work hard to make sure that is not the case.

I offer this update because so many have asked about when the surgery will happen. And at one time, I thought it might happen more quickly. But now that we have it scheduled, I can move on with our summer plans, at least as much as I can. Please keep me in your prayers, along with the staff who may be filling in for me. Fortunately, we have a great group of other able ministers on staff, and I am confident that whichever way my recovery goes, our church won’t miss a beat, and every service and Bible Study will be something you will not want to miss.

I will, however, admit to seeing an ad the other day that offered readers a chance to break out of the “Father’s Day tie” mold by giving dear old Dad a gift that was more creative and thoughtful. I looked at the options, which quite honestly looked like items a twenty-something would be happy with, and decided that given all of those options, I’d just as soon take the tie. After all, I do wear one quite regularly.

The article made me think about how difficult we dads are to shop for. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and ask yours what he’d like for Father’s Day and see what he tells you. My guess is that it will be something along the lines of, “Oh, don’t worry about me; a card will do just fine.” Most of us fathers either have very short lists or we know that our kids can’t afford the things we really want; or that we’d just have to buy them for ourselves.

The whole exercise has made me think about what God might want. Jesus did teach us to think of God as “Our Father.” What is it that God might desire from us?

Fortunately, the answer to that question is not as hard as you might think. The prophet Micah was the mouthpiece of God in telling the people of Judah precisely what God was looking for from them, and God’s wishes haven’t changed in 2800 years since those desires were first expressed. I personally love the King James translation: “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8). God desires for us to do the right thing in every situation and to express compassion as we do so, and to do it all with the understanding that we live always in His presence.

The most beautiful part of what God desires is that He gives us the resources to be able to provide it. On our own we tend to come up short of what is necessary. But with God’s help, He can find in us everything He is looking for.

So, I wish all you fathers a big day this Sunday. It is the one day out of the year that is supposedly yours. But let us also wish God the day that He deserves, and as we do, let us remember that every day is His; and in particular, every Sunday, the one day each week when He calls us to worship Him in spirit and truth.

But there are some vestiges of the old playbook that still hold true. One has to do with the value of Vacation Bible School. I remember being told how one week of VBS (done correctly, of course) is equivalent to a year’s worth of Sunday School instruction. The intensity of instruction for a short, focused period of time imparts truths and reinforces previous learning so that the children who participate receive something that will stay with them a lifetime. I can still remember how my own spiritual formation benefitted from those weeks of VBS I enjoyed, and I will be forever indebted to all of the teachers who gave their time and talents to help me learn the stories of the faith and how to relate those stories to my everyday life. I’m sure you feel the same way.

That’s why we should be praying for all those who will be a part of this year’s VBS, which will begin on Monday. Registrations have been strong, and we anticipate a great week for everyone involved. Rhonda Smith, our Minister to Children, has put together another great staff of teachers and helpers. Our church will be better for all of the effort that so many have put forth in preparation for this year’s VBS.

I’ve always thought it something of a misnomer that we call it “Vacation” Bible School. I understand that the event happens when the children are out on summer vacation. But the activity is certainly no “vacation” to the people who are doing all the heavy lifting. An incredible amount of work goes into VBS each year, and this year’s offering will be no different.

So, pray for the workers that they might be up to the task of guiding our children into life-changing truth. Pray for the children that they might be open to what the Spirit has to teach them. Pray that we manage to conduct an effective program in the midst of all the construction excitement that is happening around our campus. We’ve done our best to maintain a routine schedule of activity as our construction has been going on, but nothing challenges us more than the VBS activity because of how it involves so many people in so many different places. But I believe that the effort is worth it in order to have VBS on-site, especially considering how we always combine it with basketball and cheerleader camps in the afternoon, which are also popular offerings.

All of this activity serves our church’s mission of creating God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused children, whom we believe will grow up to be likeminded adults. The world they will encounter then will surely be very different from the one we know today. But because of what we’re doing this week, they will be ready to face whatever challenges that future world will bring their way and in the process enable them to offer a witness to that world that our church will forever be “here for life.”

Since I figure that many will head to the water at some point in the days ahead, I thought it would be nice to look at gospel scenes that took place in the same venue. A good bit of Jesus’ ministry centered around or on the Sea of Galilee, and some of our most important texts recount lessons that promise to give rest and renewal – what summer days are ideally designed to do. So, in honor of the coming season and in recognition of the draw each of us feels toward the Gulf, lake, river, or spring, I offer these texts and titles for your worship preparation.

June 5

Matthew 4:22-33

“Let’s Go Fishing”

June 12

Matthew 8:5-13

“No Need for a House Call”

June 19

Matthew 8:18-22

“Where the Crowds Will Not Go”

June 26

Matthew 8:23-27

“What Kind of Man Is This?”

July 3

Matthew 8:28-34

“Not Everyone Wants to Be Free”

July 10

Matthew 9:1-8

“The Worst Bondage of All”

July 17

Matthew 13:1-9

“How Does Your Garden Grow?”

July 24 + July 31

Doug Out

August 7

Matthew 14:22-23

“How to ‘Faith Up’”

August 14

Matthew 16:5-12

“What Too Many Forget”

August 21

John 21:1-14

“Cast Where He Tells You”

August 28

John 21:15-25

“Show Jesus Your Love”

But that’s being somewhat unduly pessimistic, isn’t it? There are other aspects of the summer that we really should welcome. The pace in our community slows down a bit, as schools are out and the Legislature has finally adjourned. Families take time to get away for rest and relaxation and many use the time to reconnect with one another. The days are longer, which gives folk the opportunity to use the extra daylight to pursue their favorite hobbies. All of this activity is good, and if done properly, gets us ready to gear up for when things pick back up in the fall. I only ask that everyone remembers the church in his or her “down time.”

The fact of the matter is that things really don’t slow down here at First Baptist. Every ministry area is ready to carry out our church’s mission by providing high quality, Christ-honoring opportunities that work to help us fulfill God’s mission. You can rest assured that we won’t be on “vacation” at First Baptist.

So, here are some things I’d ask you to do. In the first place, be present each Sunday that you’re in town. We’ll have our share of people who are away each Sunday, so we will need the ones in town to gather together to create an experience that will be inspiring to the guests we will also have coming our way. When you’re gone, keep us in your prayers. So much is at stake from Sunday to Sunday, and you can lift us up that everything we’re about will be pleasing to God. You can remember your offerings. Expenses do not stop in the summer, and we don’t want to accumulate a debt that will be hard for us to recover from when fall does arrive. Stay posted on opportunities to serve. We will have many groups involved in mission – from Memphis to Eau Claire to Birmingham to Haiti. There is a place for you to connect and a role for you to play.

So, get ready for a great summer, both personally and congregationally. For me, the best news may be that over the summer we will see the completion of our construction so that when fall arrives, we’ll be set for the next chapter in the life of our church. But I don’t want to wish my life or faith away. “One day at a time” is the best way to follow Jesus, and the “lazy, hazy days of summer” will afford ample opportunities to serve Jesus and grow in his grace.

This time is bittersweet for the families of the graduates. While the graduates themselves are overflowing with expectation and their younger siblings are beside themselves at the thought of having more space in the home, the parents are more mixed in their emotions – proud of their graduates, yet saddened by the thought of not having them around as much.

We were planning the service for this Sunday, and I needed to be reminded if we used the traditional graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” in our contemporary service. (We do.) Our discussion got me to thinking about the origins of that song. Where did it come from? The “pomp” I can understand, but where hails the “circumstance?” And how did the two get together.

A little research revealed that the phrase goes back to Shakespeare’s Othello, a complicated tale of love, jealousy, and betrayal – a true Shakespearean tragedy. In Act III, Scene III, as Othello laments what has been told him, though falsely, of the infidelity of his wife Desdemona, he remembers the bliss of the battlefield, which though it puts the body at risk, keeps the soul happily ignorant of such painful betrayals. “Farewell the neighing steed, and the shrill trump,/ The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,/ The royal banner, and all quality,/ Pride, pomp, and circumstance of glorious war!”

It makes sense that Sir Edward Elgar would have chosen that phrase for the title of his famous march. The high school years are for many the best years of life and despite the heartaches and headaches associated with them, it is easy to look back and pine for those simpler and more innocent days. Of course, those days, once left behind, can never be recaptured. But what people can do is attach themselves to a group that will not disappoint or dismay – a group like ours at First Baptist Church.

I’m sorry I won’t be present to share in the celebration and to offer a challenge to keep following hard after Jesus. But I am pleased that our Youth Minister Todd Smith and our College Minister Zach Allen will be tag-teaming to offer such a word at our contemporary service. And I am equally confident that our associate pastor Fran Buhler will do the same at the traditional hour.

So, march on, good graduates. Othello may have been betrayed by the lie of his wife’s infidelity, but as another marching hymn of the church puts it, “God’s truth goes marching on.” Keep your eyes on His glory. Give your heart to His truth. As Jesus promised, in a world full of spurned love, intense jealousy, and cruel betrayal – tragedies you have surely encountered in part but in due time will see in all their ugliness – God’s truth will set you free.

The last time I went I did a blog that many of you followed. Each day I texted out on my Blackberry a description of that day’s events, and a number of you followed our travels by means of our church website. This year, I plan to give you another opportunity, though in another format through “tweets” I will be posting in “real time.”

Many of you are familiar with “Twitter,” a social media platform that allows for exchanges of thoughts, experiences, and gatherings. I have been a sporadic “poster” for some time now but plan to use “Twitter” as the way to send back pictures and updates of what we will be doing in the Holy Land.

There are two ways you can access these postings. If you are on “Twitter” already, you can follow me at @DougDortch, or you can go to our website, www.fbctlh.org/pastor, where there will be a listing of my “tweets.” Since these “tweets” are only 140 characters in length, expect them to be brief accounts but also know that they will be coming with each venue we visit.

This platform seems to be the perfect way to have you follow our group. I hope you find it an inspiring aside in your day and one that enables you to share with us in the high moments we will be sharing together. Please keep us in your prayers for the two weeks we’ll be gone and ask God to bless us with safe travel, good health, and strong spirits. I know the desire of each person going is to return with a heart full of joy and dedication that will bless our church in immeasurable ways. I hope by “following” us, you may experience something of that same joy and dedication even back here at home.

One characteristic of all mothers is that they want the very best for their children. There is something instinctual in every mother that causes her to work for the best for her own and make whatever sacrifices might be necessary in order for that to happen. It’s like the old story of the boy who was asked by his teacher if there was a third of a pie left, how would a family of four divide it, the boy answered, “Three of us would each get a third, and mother wouldn’t take anything.” Sacrifice truly is most mothers’ middle name.

How can we make that wish come true? How can we come to experience life’s very best? That’s where faith enters the picture. Whether your mother was a woman of faith or not, the path to life’s best is through a faith that puts one in the center of God’s will.

So, on this Mother’s Day Sunday, aside from however else you might honor your mother, one way would be to commit yourself to God’s purpose. There may be more expensive ways to show your love and appreciation, but there is nothing else you could possibly do to realize your mother’s hopes and live up to her expectations. Chances are she’s been praying for that anyway, and the blessing you will receive from honoring both her and God’s wishes will be worth everything you will be called upon to give.

Chickasaw was the school I attended when I lived in Mobile. Mrs. Stiles was the principal at Chickasaw Elementary, and somewhere she came up with the idea that her students needed exposure to something more profitable than simple reading, writing, and arithmetic. And since square dancing was her hobby, she thought it would be a good thing if the entire student body participated in a square dance celebration.

I remember it like it was yesterday. We began our practices right around the first of March and culminated with a big party on May 1. On that day, the playground would be filled with little circles of elementary students bowing to partners, holding hands, promenading, and weaving the ring.

Looking back, I have to admit that Mrs. Stiles was on to something. For one thing, there was always that student that somehow managed to get marginalized by the rest. Who knows why that was the case; it just was. But square dancing is not like other forms of social dance. At some point, you have to grab on to someone you’d never be caught dead touching. “May Day” at Chickasaw Elementary was therefore the “great equalizer.” We may have had our cliques and groups every other day of the year, but on May 1, we were truly one body.

I am indebted to Mrs. Stiles. Though I was baptized into the First Baptist Church of Chickasaw around that time, it was Mrs. Stiles who gave me my first lesson on being church. Life in a congregation is a lot like square dancing. You may begin and end with a partner, but along the way you venture out to take steps with the people dancing next to you. You have real contact with people you otherwise wouldn’t spend much time with. You pay attention to the voice issuing “the call” that directs all of the dancers to move in a certain fashion. And the end result is always something bigger and better than you’d ever be able to accomplish on your own.

There are Sundays I look out at our congregation and shake my head at how well we blend and share to become a people who in spite of our differences are incredibly together. And though I get to do most of the “calling” around here, I am very well aware that there is another voice that is dictating the action. We just celebrated his Risen Presence this past Sunday, and this Sunday, May 1, we’ll be able to celebrate it again. So, what do you say? For Christ’s sake, let’s dance!

Simply put, the date of Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox. Now, if that explanation sounds more like a brain teaser, I really don’t intend it to be that way. The vernal equinox refers to the time in the Spring when the sun crosses the plane of the Earth’s equator, making day and night of approximately equal length, which is really just a fancy way of saying that Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of Spring.

The setting of the Easter dates goes back to 325 A.D., when Constantine, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, convened the Council of Nicea. Among the business the council discussed was the establishment of a uniform date for Easter. As was often the case with church councils, the decision was not unanimous. The Eastern bishops wanted to schedule Easter in conjunction with the Jewish Festival of Passover since, after all, Jesus went to Jerusalem in the first place to celebrate the Passover. But the Western bishops preferred a date corresponding with the beginning of Spring, because that was the time already established for a number of pagan celebrations, and those bishops wanted to capitalize on the momentum, which is also why, to this day, we have such things as the Easter Bunny and colored eggs associated with Easter. On this issue (and several others) the church eventually split, and to this day, we who are descendents of the Western line of Christendom use a different calendar from our Eastern Orthodox counterparts. While this year, the two Easters fall on the same day, sometimes the celebrations vary by as much as five weeks!

Personally, I am not bothered by this sacred shift; in fact, I find it helpful. Theologically speaking, every Sunday is a “little Easter.” Every Sunday gives us the opportunity to celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection. The fact that the Church chose to attach it to other pagan festivals and celebrations reminds me of how our Easter message subverts all others that promise a false hope.

What matters most is that those who show up on Easter Sunday be “moved.” My prayer is that everyone who is in attendance this Sunday will come to experience the presence of the Risen Jesus in such a powerful fashion that they will not leave the same person. When that happens, those same people will want to return, and they will bring others with them.

The date may change, but the message remains the same every day of the year, as does the hope it conveys. As my favorite hymn puts it, this hope is our “Solid Rock,” and “all other ground is sinking sand.”

Our Holy Week celebration begins, of course, with Palm Sunday, which is this Sunday. Palm Sunday marks the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, where by the end of the week the crowds that were cheering his arrival soon changed their minds and were calling for his crucifixion. Our worship this Palm Sunday will focus on the triumph of the cross and how what happened at Calvary was in reality a fulfillment of all that the people were celebrating during Jesus’ entry.

The Wednesday of Holy Week will focus on the roots of Jesus’ last moments with his disciples. Our Wednesday Bible Study will deal with Jesus’ final teachings, and our College Students and Young Adults will be sharing together in a Passover Seder.

Thursday night will offer a first in our church. At 6:30 PM, our Music Ministry will provide an experience of remembrance with their Living Last Supper. This event will be more than a performance; it will be a participatory experience. You will be invited to share with Jesus and the disciples around the Lord’s Table. I anticipate that this Thursday experience will be one talked about for years in our church.

Since we are having the Living Last Supper on Thursday, we will not be doing Tenebrae this year. However, we will be opening the church on Good Friday for “Remember: a personal Good Friday experience.” As in previous years, this Good Friday will afford us the chance to come to the church for a time of reflection on Jesus’ atoning death and a personal celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Ministers will be available if you need assistance. The years of Jesus’ life will be chimed on the half hour. The experience will be from 11 AM to 6:30 PM.

Friday night we will join with hundreds of other churches across the country for the Secret Church

Simulcast. This time of intense Bible study and focused prayer will be from 7 PM to 1 AM in the sanctuary. A 15-minute break will be provided after each hour, and a 150-page study guide will be available. Our Children’s Easter Celebration will take place Saturday morning at 10:30 in the CLC gym and include games, crafts, and activities all centered on the Easter story.

Then, everything will culminate with our Easter Sunday celebration. We anticipate the usual strong response at both of our services. I would remind you that there is plenty of parking in Kleman Plaza, and we will have our shuttle service running from there to the front steps throughout the morning. I would also caution you not to park in the Post Office spaces adjacent to the building. Those spaces are reserved throughout the year for post

office patrons.

I am confident that when Easter arrives, each of us will have had the opportunity to experience all the season represents. We’ve actually been preparing ourselves for over a month for our Easter celebration with our purple wristbands and “I Am Second” worship emphasis. Soon we will understand why Jesus must be given our full worship and praise. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and his victory, which he realized through his death and resurrection, is both our hope and joy, now and forever. Such is a blessing that truly is more than worth the wait.

I remember having the same experience the summer I was away on sabbatical. I had been anxious to attend a church I heard much about, but the one impression I was left with was how inhospitable that church turned out to be. And I consider myself to be an outgoing person; so it wasn’t as if I was sending out non-verbal signals to leave me alone. I practically had my arms outstretched to be embraced by a regular attendee, only to leave the service feeling very much like the outsider I was.

Comparing notes with our member, we both agreed that the irony of our experiences was that both congregations, if asked, would most likely describe themselves as a friendly and welcoming church. And as both the member and I could tell, those congregations were friendly to one another; it was just guests who appeared to receive the proverbially cold shoulder.

Our conversation reminded me of how important it is for every church to create a “culture of hospitality.” Especially is that true for a church like ours that is situated in the heart of a community where people from everywhere drop in while in town for activities related to the legislature or area campuses or just Florida vacation sites. In the past three months, I’ve met people from Switzerland to Sacramento, right here at First Baptist Church. And every Sunday, there are guests who gather with us, looking for a place they can call their “church home.”

I understand that God won’t lead everyone who comes our way to stay with us, not even the so-called “hot prospects.” But what I pray will never happen is that people decide to close their hearts to the Spirit’s leadership because of the cool reception they receive the first time they come our way.

Thank you for what you’re doing to help us live up to the core value in our mission statement that characterizes us as a “people-focused” body of believers. Thank you as well for making sure that such focus extends beyond our familiar circles to include those whom we meet for the first time. Who knows when we may in the process be “entertaining angels unaware” (Heb. 13:2)?

So, be on the lookout this Sunday and let’s work together to bring about an atmosphere of acceptance that even the most anxious and awkward-feeling guest can appreciate. Let’s go out of our way to make everyone feel at home. Too much is at stake, not only for our church but also for the cause of Christ. After all, God has brought those persons here to our church so that they might leave better for having experienced Him. And none of us wants to stand in the way of anything as important as that.

This increase in loneliness flies in the face of all the “social media” networks at our disposal. While advances in technology promise us constant companionship, the truth of the matter is that people continue to need actual face and touch time in order to be truly human. I am still haunted by an observation the trend tracker John Naisbitt made in his groundbreaking work, Megatrends, published way back in 1982. Naisbitt peered into the future and noticed that while we were entering into a new era of “high tech,” we would need to be careful to remember that people would continue to need “high touch.” And boy was Naisbitt right. The level of anxiety in our society over the possibility of being alone has definitely reached the orange “High” level and is threatening to move upward to the red “Severe” one.

No other body has the opportunity to address this phenomenon more effectively than the church. Christian faith is inherently a social practice. There is no “Lone Ranger” Christianity; we are called by Scripture to live out our faith in community.

We Southerners have a quaint expression (at least I think so, since I am one). In order to distinguish between the second person singular (“you”) and the second person plural (also “you”), we created this quaint contraction (“y’all”). While grammatically incorrect, this condensing of the less assonant “you all” serves to distinguish between when we’re talking to an individual and when we’re talking to a group.

It was like having my face doused with cold water when I was taught in my baby Greek class in seminary that every single one of the second person pronouns in the New Testament were in the plural person. They were all “y’all” constructions, indicating how each promise and directive was intended to be lived out congregationally. Jesus may have called the disciples one by one (though James and John seemed to have been together at the time), but he nonetheless called them to follow him as a group.

I think you see the point: the church is the one place where people should feel accepted and at home. Of all the groups in our society today that promote inclusion, none should be easier to work one’s way into than the body of Christ. In the church, there should be a place for everyone.

I still remember something Emily Zlotnicki said to me in the breezeway of our church one brisk Sunday morning. As I greeted her, Emily, who has since gone on to be a part of the great “cloud of witnesses” in heaven, looked at me, gave a wry smile, and admonished me never to forget “that saying,” as she called it. “What saying?” I asked, totally befuddled. “That saying,” she insisted. “You belong here!” “That’s what makes this church different from any other church I’ve ever been to. You really mean it here; people really do belong in this place.”

Now, we say that we are “here for life,” and indeed we are. But part of that “life” is to invite people to experience “belonging.” Let’s never forget how important that need is, for if we do, we’ll just be a gathering of individuals who inhabit the same space for a couple of hours one or two days a week, and a far cry from the open and caring fellowship that Jesus expects us to be.

Of course, things have been buzzing around First Baptist Church for quite some time. Our construction project has resulted in an overhaul of the look of First Baptist Church to our downtown neighbors.

I was reminded of the impact of this project last week when I bumped into someone who works right around the corner from the church. He had been following closely what’s been taking place on our block and had to share with me his enthusiasm for how things have begun to take shape to his watchful eye. In fact, everywhere I go, people ask me about the project. There seems to be an incredible fascination with what we’re doing and, perhaps more importantly, how we’re able to do it at a time when so many organizations and institutions are simply trying to survive.

In a day when, sadly, people don’t seem to have much good to say about the church, we are giving them something to talk about that is both inspiring and wondrous. Of course, that has been pretty much the history of our church’s witness to the community, but I nonetheless am overjoyed at how we continue to find ways to let our light shine from our strategic downtown location.

In just a couple of weeks, our church will be surrounded by literally thousands of people who venture downtown for Springtime Tallahassee. While our renovations and new construction won’t be nearly completed, we’ll still be opening our doors to serve in Jesus’ name. Many of you have already signed up to work your one-hour shift. For those of you who have yet to do so, you can sign up this Sunday.

I’m hardly an expert when it comes to bees; I only stand in awe and admiration of their work ethic. But I know that in the providence of God, they play a vital role in helping plants and flowers come to life. I only pray that we as a church will be so faithful in serving God’s life-giving purposes in the same way, and the “buzz” people hear and feel coming from us will attract them to Jesus, who promises all who come to him that same level of life and that they might know it in all of its abundance.

The Baptist bodies our church relates to are at work to assess the best means of help local congregations can provide. Obviously, financial help is the most constructive expression right now. The dollars we give can be used to purchase much needed supplies on the field, without the costs of shipping or the challenge of airlifting them into the most devastated areas. The Southern Baptist Convention has field personnel in Japan, who are in contact with local Japanese Baptist churches to see what is the best approach for Southern Baptists to take. Meanwhile, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is working directly with the Japan Baptist Convention to arrive at the same goal. If you wish to offer financial support, you can make a contribution through either group. Just mark your check “SBC/Japan” or “CBF/Japan,” and we’ll make sure that it gets to the appropriate channels for “relief.”

When the news broke last week, I emailed Richard and Barbara Phipps, members of our church and former SBC missionaries, who are serving a local congregation in the Nagoya area, which is about 500 miles from the earthquake epicenter. Richard and Barbara are safe. The earthquake only registered a level 3 in their city, though the tremors were enough to have them evacuate the top floor of the school where they serve. Richard and Barbara know the Baptist congregations in the Sendai area, which is the region most affected, and they have asked us to pray for those ongregations and the opportunities they will have to serve at this critical time.

Clint Purvis, our Minister to FSU Athletics, also has family in Japan. Clint finally was able to reach his aunts and cousins, and learned that they are in good shape for now as well. Still, life is unsettled for everyone in the country, and there are ongoing concerns about the long term availability of food, utilities, and transportation.

All of us should be in prayer for the people of Japan. We can pray for God to calm the earth and sea. We can pray for people around the world to rise up and lend a helping hand. We can pray for the churches in Japan to use this time as an opportunity to serve in Jesus’ name. Paul said it best in his letter to the Galatians: “Bear ye one another’s burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). Thank you for what you will do to make that imperative a reality.

For one thing, Clint has been able to expand his presence on campus because of his exclusive concentration on his chaplaincy ministry. Whereas in the past, Clint faced the unenviable challenge of juggling obligations here at church with opportunities on campus, now Clint can focus his time and talents to nurturing the faith of athletes in every program he is invited to be a part of. Presently, Clint works primarily with the football and baseball teams, but there are athletes in other programs who look to Clint for spiritual direction and counsel.

This week marks Clint’s 25th anniversary as a member of the FBC/T pastoral staff. Clint’s service to our church began in a combination role as Minister to Youth and College, but over the years, it has morphed and evolved in all kinds of creative and missional ways. What I’ve appreciated is Clint’s faithfulness throughout his ministry journey with the FBC/T congregation and especially the way he has always been proud to have been identified with us. Though you don’t see Clint as much as you used to, be certain that he is still very much a part of our church ministry team and enables us as a church to continue our long-standing ministry to an athletic program that is among the elite among American colleges and universities.

Many churches would give everything to have the opportunity to serve an intercollegiate program as we do. Most programs have actually resorted to a parachurch organization to make such ministry happen. But because of the support of the FSU administrative staff and the coaches of the various teams, our church is in a special role in terms of being the presence of Jesus to the coaches, athletes, and staff, and Clint is our missionary in that regard.

As we mark his anniversary, pray for Clint as he represents us in this way. As you have opportunity, drop him a note and let him know how grateful you are for his ministry. Thank him for all he accomplishes for Christ and First Baptist Church, and ask God to strengthen him for what we trust will continue to be a long and fruitful relationship, and one that offers the depth of spiritual encouragement most needed in college athletics today.

Those memories came back to me as I was apprised of where we stand in our Here for Life project. We are on the “home stretch.” The CLC and Duval basement and first floor renovations are complete, and work is proceeding on Duval second floor and the signature Welcome Center. Most importantly, this week marked the beginning of the “final leg” of the project, as work commenced on our Fellowship Hall. We have rounded the last turn and are headed toward the finish line.

Of course, that’s where races are won or lost. Some horses choose to quit during those last furlongs, weary from their trip around the track. Others, however, seem to pick up a new energy, and they show their heart over that same period of time. How will we respond as a church to the final months of our project? Will we coast to the finish, or will we continue on with even more strength and resolve? I’m “betting” on the latter, figuratively speaking of course.

Clearly, this is no time to spit out the bit. During the time that our Fellowship Hall is under renovation, meals will be served in alternate locations. Wednesday evening meals will be held on third floor Adams. Deacon meals will be served in Adams basement. Food service support for all other ministries will be communicated to participants as ministry activities are planned. Laurinda Norris and her able staff are on top of this situation and will guide us with a steady hand.

Our primary concern is for people who may be accustomed to accessing the campus through the newly renovated areas in Duval. Now that the Fellowship Hall renovations have begun, it is impossible to get from the basement of Duval to the sanctuary or Adams through the Fellowship Hall, which understandably has been blocked off. If you teach or have children in the Duval basement area, you must go to the south stairwell closest to College Avenue and access the Sanctuary and Adams in that way. Signage...is in place to help you find your way around those construction areas. It won’t be as bad as it sounds, but it will require some measure of patience and perseverance. But isn’t that how this entire project has gone?

Thank you for all that you have given to the effort to this point. I honestly believe that our church is better for how we have pulled together during this last year. Everything is on schedule, and our contributions to the effort are actually ahead of schedule. Please keep those up as well.

This is a thoroughbred church in my book. You have shown your heart already in so many ways. Continue to do so and we will cross the line in due time and look back gratefully for how our God has guided us and inspired us by His Spirit to persevere to the end.

Of course, I’m referring to the limited number of parking spaces we have on our block. Prior to the construction, we had somewhere around 33 spaces, but many of those spaces have been lost to the important work we’ve been involved with, making existing spaces something of a premium. We will recover ten spaces once the work has been completed, and a number of new spaces have been created with the demolition of the CLC swimming pool. Still, we face the challenge of being a church “for life,” which among other things means that we are committed to an array of ministry activities for people at every life stage, extending from cradle to “glory.” Most of the time, we do an amazingly good job of balancing the large amount of ministry that happens on this block, but occasionally our efforts get taxed. Our people do a wonderful job of showing sensitivity to the other ministries that happen outside of the ones they’re here to participate in.

Actually, there are just a handful of “crunch times” we have to work around; but one has become increasingly challenging – Weekday Early Education afternoon pickup. WEE parents arrive from between 4:30 and 5:30 PM. Most afternoons, except for Wednesdays, that schedule poses few problems. But in the last couple of weeks we’ve had several short-term ministry activities converging at that same hour so that traffic on Duval street has become backed up past College Avenue. When we sought construction permits from the City, that backup was precisely what almost kept us from securing any. We promised the City that we would do everything in our power to prevent backups on Duval, and the time has come to keep our word. The very witness of our church is at stake if we don’t.

So, here’s the plan. We have asked all ministry areas not to begin any activity before 6:00 PM, which will give WEE parents ample time to pick up their children. That request does not apply to Wednesdays or weekend activities. We are also asking anyone coming to the church between the hours of 4:30-5:30 PM to park across the street in the north portion of the Ron Sachs parking lot (which the church owns). Please do not park in the section of that parking lot next to the Ron Sachs building, because we lease those spaces to their offices. But even those spaces become available to us after 6 PM. You may also park in the lot of the Florida Catholic Conference (the old Florida League of Cities building), which we also have access to after 5 PM. And as always, there is metered parking around the church, which also is free in the early evening. The idea behind this plan is to provide for a balanced approach to ministry that enables us to meet the needs of everyone, members and non-members, who benefit from our activities and to fulfill our mission of being a church “for life.”

I have been deeply impressed at the flexibility our members have shown during this construction period. We have had numerous volunteers staffing the parking lots on Wednesday nights in order to make sure that ministry flowed smoothly and efficiently. A number of you have chosen to pass by an empty space for a more distant one as a way of providing for a newcomer or guest. Others of you have joined me and others on staff in taking advantage of Kleman Plaza and the plethora of spaces available there. In other words, we can implement this plan, because we have essentially been doing it already.

Thanks to all of you for your faithfulness in this regard. We’d always prefer to define faithfulness in more heroic ways, but most of the time, it really just involves doing the small and simple act in the spirit of neighborly love. I am confident that all of us will work together to be the “people focused” congregation we sense God calling us to be and to provide opportunities for people at every life stage to experience the abundant “life” that all our ministries intend to make possible. So, please join me in doing what you can to help us do even more that without such dedication would never be possible.

Last week’s sermon reminded us that the Bible’s definition of love is actually much more sublime than the world’s definition. God’s love is active, unconditional, and persistent, and His love in Jesus Christ awakens within us the same desire to encourage and support others.

The index cards we included in Sunday’s worship bulletins will enable us to show such love. They are truly response cards in the best sense of that word. At the top of the card is the reminder: “We love because He first loved us.” Each card asks for the listing of a need or the ability to meet someone’s need. A good number of our congregation filled out one of the cards and turned them in, and we will be posting them so that we might be able to match needs and responses. As you recall, we did this activity about a year and a half ago, and the response was tremendous. We anticipate a similar response this time around.

We will continue to make these cards available up to Easter Sunday. I think that this activity will make a great Lenten emphasis, when we focus on ways we can bear the cross of Christ in loving and redemptive ways. And since many of you were not able to be with us this past Sunday, we don’t want you to be left out of the blessing of being a channel of God’s love to someone in need, or to be blessed by someone channeling God’s love to you.

So, the cards will continue to be available each Sunday between now and April 24, which is Easter Sunday. You can pick one up in the vestibule or the Welcome Center on any of those Sundays, and then return them with your offering during any morning worship service. Cards will also be available through your SMBS class. We will post the cards in a high traffic area so that you can check them out periodically to see if there’s some way you can be of help or be helped.

Our church has a big heart. More and more people in Tallahassee are coming to see how much that is the case. But what I want them to be sure of is that the heart that they see is actually God’s heart at work through us. That way, when they give their hearts in response, they will be giving them to God, which is why we exist in the first place. Thank you for what you will be doing to help us live out our mission and to be “here for life,” as it can only be found in the love of Christ.

The first experience was with our Deacons at Dowling Park. This year’s retreat focused on the theme, “A Healthy Church,” and our Deacons gave thoughtful reflections on both the many things our church does well and a few other areas where we could do even better. Look for some exciting new initiatives in the months to come, based on the suggestions of our Deacon leadership.

The second experience stemmed from a “preaching workshop” retreat I led for an ecumenical group of Central Alabama pastors who had received a grant from the Center for Pastoral Excellence at Samford. The retreat was held at St. Bernard’s Monastery in Cullman, Alabama. I was inspired by the preaching conversations I facilitated. I always enjoy engaging preachers about how they ply their trade, particularly non-Baptists. But even more uplifting was the Liturgy of the Hours I observed with the Benedictine monks each day, beginning at 6 AM. Granted, my biological clock was helped by being on Eastern time. Still, the chanting of the Psalms and the moments of silence offered a unique time of worship vastly different from what we do at either our traditional or contemporary services. I don’t plan to introduce any of these elements in our worship at First Baptist, though I was reminded at how important a new experience can be in encountering God, which is something I can bring back.

So, I will return to my pastoral duties better for my time away. Old and new friends both have helped me contemplate new ways of attending to the Spirit. I’m looking forward more than ever to our worship this Sunday, when we will be sharing together in the Lord’s Supper. It’s always good to get away, but there’s no place like home, though home is best described as the place you best meet God.

Sometimes it’s good to hear a new voice, especially when it comes to a topic that is as critical to the well-being of a congregation as the importance of our being a “body” of believers. I am way too close to our situation to have any real objectivity on the subject, so I am hopeful that Bill will be able to open our eyes and hearts to the possibilities that are before us as a congregation.

I am prejudiced. I don’t know of a healthier or more faithful church than ours. But it always helps to have that assessment confirmed (or challenged) by someone from the outside. We’ll be better as a church for Bill being with us, and you’ll be better as a member from hearing what he has to share. Consider it an exercise in “body building,” and one that holds great promise for the future of our church.

I have to hand it to the owners of these places for thinking outside the box. But despite their clever marketing, I don’t think the masses will look at funeral homes for anything other than what they were designed to be – places to gather to mourn our losses and remember the legacies of loved ones.

How do people see our church? I ponder that question from time to time, if for no other reason than my heart is for us to be a church “for life.” It won’t be long before our construction project will be finished, and then we will have facilities that will be wonderful venues for all the activities I just mentioned – birthdays, anniversaries, holiday parties, weddings, and, yes, funerals. But more than anything, I hope that people will be able to celebrate the life that Jesus calls us to know.

Any place and people can offer itself and its services any way they please. But people see past the glitz and shine to the substance that lies under the surface. Let’s just be who we say we are – a “God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused body of believers in Jesus Christ.” And let’s introduce them to a life that pales in comparison to anything they might find any place else.

This Sunday, our youth and children’s ministries will be offering tours of our new renovated spaces in the Duval and CLC buildings. Words can’t explain the improvements made to these important ministry areas. If we set out to create “21st century facilities for 1st century ministry,” we have certainly accomplished those goals. I don’t know of many churches that will be able to boast of better facilities than what we have now at First Baptist Church, thanks to the vision of our Building 4 Community committee, the faithfulness of our membership, and the excellent and steadfast work of Culpepper Construction. I think you will see that the future is bright at First Baptist because of what we’re doing to upgrade our facilities and better position ourselves as a church “for life.”

At the same time, I hope that you will be excited about the possibilities of the other work taking place in our Fellowship Hall and our new Welcome Center. I toured those areas last week and finally was able to get my mind around the possibilities of what this new and renovated space will afford us. You can peek through the construction now and see the grand staircase taking shape. What you cannot see is the renovated kitchen and upstairs connector space. Trust me; we will be blessed with tons of new space that will accommodate greeting, fellowship, information sharing, ministry registrations, and community ministry.

Things have been a “four-ring circus” at First Baptist Church for about a year now, but these recently completed areas are like “first fruits” of the rewards that are to come. So, come this Sunday from 4 to 6 PM and take a tour of what with God’s help we have accomplished to this point, and see that there has never been a better time to be a part of First Baptist Church because of how we are privileged to be a part of a church that believes it is called to minister to everyone at every life stage and puts its money and its faith where its mouth and heart are.

There really isn’t much difference when we come to the matter of our discipleship. Fundamentals are essential if we are to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus. What we come to discover is that if our beliefs are in order, our behavior follows naturally. When it comes to faith and practice, belief always drives behavior.

So, if you have been feeling as if your faith hasn’t been working as well as you’d like for it to work, I invite you to consider this sermon series that I will be using to begin a new year. Each of these sermon titles addresses basic beliefs that orient us in a direction that promises both purpose and possibility. To complement the series, I have also suggested some readings that can also fill in some blanks that a twenty-minute sermon just can’t do. My prayer is that this series will get us all on the right foot by putting us in the right frame of mind. The titles, texts, and reading recommendations are as follows:

“God is Good”

Nahum 1:7

“Jesus is Lord”

Matthew 28:16-18

“Salvation is Free”

Ephesians 2:8-9

“The Bible is True”

2 Timothy 3:14-17

Guest Speaker – Bill Wilson

“The Church is a Body”

“Love is the Key”

1 John 4:19-21

“The Path is Narrow”

Matthew 7:13-14

“The Harvest is Plentiful”

Luke 10:1-2

“The Outcome is Decided”

Revelation 11:15

I invite you to press on with resolutions and plans for the coming months. By now, you’ve probably done some soul-searching and you are aware of some areas that could use a little work. Let me encourage you to throw yourself into your aspirations with every ounce of energy that you can muster. I certainly am!

But let me invite you as well to consider the difference that God’s strength can make in working to bring these changes to pass. If we believe that He is interested in every part of our being, as we just celebrated this past Christmas, then His being “with us” is not just a truth we embrace one season in the year. “God with us” is an abiding promise that adds an amazing sense of possibility to each task we undertake and each challenge we face.

I honestly believe that 2011 can be one of the best years our church has ever experienced. So much will be happening in this calendar year that will change the face of ministry in this place for the next 40-50 years! Prepare yourself now for the excitement God will bring about in the days ahead. Then not only will you enjoy a “new you,” so will you come to experience the excitement of a “new us!” And those changes are the ones that make God pleased and cause others to notice.

Now that I’ve given you the bad news, let me thank you for your faithfulness to our “Here for Life” campaign. As of November, we are ahead of pace in terms of honoring our pledges, and there continues to be a substantial amount of money not pledged that comes into the campaign each month. (For example, since the start of the campaign, we’ve had almost $950,000 come in that was not pledged.) In fact, our total giving as a church through November was right at $4 million.

Many of our folk who pledged will be completing their pledges later this spring, and I am hopeful that we will see a significant bump around that time. I am also hopeful that our new facilities will result in improved programming that will bring new folk our way. But the fact remains that those of us who are here and invested in First Baptist Church need to do all we can to keep our congregation on solid footing.

In all seriousness, where some might see a lump of coal, I see a potential diamond. God is truly at work in our midst, and the spirit of our church is as strong as it has ever been. As your pastor, I invite you to look at your end of the year financial situation and do the best that you can to help First Baptist “finish strong.” (By the way, even though December 31 is a church holiday with New Year’s Day falling on a Saturday, Steve will be at the church all day Friday to receive your end of the year contributions.)

There’s no need to panic. We only need to be faithful. And, knowing past history here at First Baptist, I am confident that will happen, and with God’s help, we will move through this present time of challenge to a much better day.

That’s why I think it’s important that our church take our turn at supporting the overflow cold nights shelter at Belle Vue Middle School. When we were approached by the local homeless coalition about our willingness to participate, we answered in the affirmative. Our church has always been responsive to the needs of the homeless, and last year, we even opened our Christian Life Center as an overflow site. So, when the call came for us to provide volunteers for such a shelter at Belle Vue, we quickly agreed that we would.

It was something of a step of faith, especially since we didn’t know for sure that we would be able to generate a sufficient number of volunteers. But this past Sunday, a good number of the folk in attendance did. And as a result, we have a strong list of people we can call whenever the call comes to us for our help.

You may want to help but were not here this past Sunday, or were here and didn’t get your form turned in. Our church has been asked to provide volunteers on the Tuesday nights when the overflow shelter is open. The expectations involve welcoming guests, helping with registration, and simply being a friendly presence. The shift is from 7:30 to 11:00 PM, though you can break that up into either a 7:30 to 9 or a 9 to 11 shift if you wish. If you’re interested, email Paula Clayton (paula@fbctlh.org) and let her know of your availability. Then we’ll send out an email alert on those Tuesdays when our presence is needed.

As the old carol has it, “What can I give him, poor as I am? Yet what I can give him; give my heart.” Jesus said, “Inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40). On an upcoming bleak midwinter night, you can certainly give for Jesus the compassion that he desires.

In order to maximize the possibilities of this new resource, our transportation team will be focusing on the area around Kleman Plaza, where the trek up College Avenue is the steepest. If you park in the Kleman Plaza or post office parking lots, you can pick up the cart, a six-seater shuttle, and be dropped off right at the front door. (If you park in the post office lot, however, do remember not to park in the spaces immediately adjacent to the post office, which are reserved for post office box holders. If you park in those spaces, you will be towed.) Our hope is that more people will park in Kleman and that we can make that secure, capacious, and available space the primary answer to our long-standing parking challenges.

We’re obviously still in the process of “pouring the sidewalks,” so if you have questions or suggestions, please let us know. My prayer is that this service will be just another way for everyone’s Sunday experience to be more uplifting, pun intended. But if one less person is turned away because of the misperception that our church is inconvenient, I think everyone will agree that this latest initiative will have been worth it.

We all have seen how small beginnings soon escalate into significant movements. Just read the book of Acts to see how that principle applies to the gospel. From the first ragtag bunch of disciples the world was turned upside down for Christ, and all because of the power of the Holy Spirit at work through them. That same Spirit is at work today; all that is necessary is for us believers to yield to it, even as did the first disciples.

That’s the message I hope we’ll take to heart at this time of the year. This upcoming Sunday has traditionally served as the Sunday for directing our attention, and energy, and resources to the mandate Jesus gave to proclaim the Gospel to the “uttermost parts of the earth.” For most Baptists that direction has centered on what we might do to pray and give for the sake of those who serve in our place.

Such prayer and giving are indeed vitally important, and we shouldn’t minimize their importance. However, I sense that the same Spirit that brought about such explosive growth to the Early Church is up to something new today, as more and more people are becoming inspired to consider how they too might be involved in the work of the Gospel. No longer does a “missions emphasis” end with a prayer guide and offering goal. Now, people of all ages are yearning to be involved in God’s work in the world alongside those missionaries who have made serving Jesus in faraway places their life’s work.

This renewed zeal for a more direct experience in missions is a good thing for the church today. The more people in a church who feel an investment in the Great Commission, the more focused that church will be on meeting needs in Jesus’ name throughout the year. That’s certainly what I’d like to see happen in our church, and I think you do as well. After all, the heart of our church’s mission statement is “to equip believers to carry out the Great Commission in the community and throughout the world.” And I sense that our membership sees that statement as much more than just impressive words on a page. I sense that we see that statement as the true desire of our fellowship.

This Sunday, Dr. Courtney Cash will be helping us to think about how we can commit ourselves in this regard. Courtney and his wife Stefanie are faithful members of First Baptist, having joined with us a little over a year ago when they came to Tallahassee for Stefanie to pursue her graduate studies at FSU. Courtney is the Director of Program Development and Mobilization for the Samaritan’s Feet organization. That title means that he is responsible for coming up with mission opportunities for the organization, which is dedicated to changing lives by means of the distribution of shoes in Jesus’ name, and then bringing together enough believers to make those opportunities become realities. He is the perfect person to help us raise our awareness of ways we can further the cause of Christ in our world each and every day.

At the same time, we will be praying for our Baptist missionaries, who serve through both the Southern Baptist Convention and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. We will be receiving our Winter Missions Offering, with this year’s goal of $25,000.

You may think of yourself, your gift, and your prayer as just a drop in the bucket. But the more the drops, the greater the impact. That is true with every endeavor, but even more so when our drops are joined with the showers of blessing poured out through the Holy Spirit.

So, when the Noles lined up for the potential game-winning field goal this past Saturday, I have to admit that I was praying for him to make it, which is something I honestly don’t normally do, not even when it’s the Crimson Tide doing the kicking. There are far more pressing issues in this world that merit our prayers and God’s intervention. But I have to acknowledge that this past Saturday night I threw all of that to the wind and prayed for God to honor that young man’s witness.

So, did God make the ball go through the uprights, which God failed to do the previous Saturday? Of course God didn’t. But what did happen is that the kicker’s strong faith enabled him to be prepared when such an opportunity presented itself again, which came to pass the very next Saturday night. And on this occasion the Noles walked away with victory.

For me, it was a great example of the power of the prayer of faith. Prayer makes us ready for opportunities that come our way and enables us to be able to move beyond past disappointments. Prayer focuses our attention on matters at hand and empowers us to be at our very best. My guess is that if you asked Dustin Hopkins about how his faith was at work a week after his disappointing miss, that is something of what he would say.

I have learned from years of watching football that you can’t trust the way that particular ball bounces. Its oblong shape can cause it to bounce in all kinds of crazy directions, sort of like life. But I learned this past Saturday that if you take those bounces with a heart full of faith, you can overcome those disappointments and take advantage of the new opportunities that come our way to experience redemption and the victory that such faith makes it possible for us to enjoy.

All of this brings me to a statistic I came across recently that startled me – last year Americans bought 2.65 billion holiday cards to give to their friends and family. That is a whole bunch of Christmas, Valentines, and Easter cards, not to mention the birthday, anniversary, and graduation cards that may or may not have been a part of the tally. If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of such a card (and we all have), then you know how much every one of those 2.65 billion cards counts.

I call your attention to the importance of holiday cards, because believe it or not, we’re coming up on Christmas and before long, cards will be coming and going. In fact, you’ve probably already been preparing your lists and making your purchases.

Let me invite you to consider one group to put on your list that no one tends to think of too much – inmates in our Leon County prison. I’m not talking about sending the inmates cards in order to wish them Christmas cheer, though that may not be such a bad thing to do. I’m talking about providing them with cards so that they can participate in the process of extending Christmas greetings to their family and friends.

For the last several years, our church has collected cards that we make available to the inmates for them to mail out to their loved ones. According to the prison chaplain, our efforts save the season for a good number of inmates, who otherwise would have no way to send such a card. And it is true; not a year goes by that we don’t receive several notes from inmates, expressing their gratitude.

One inmate wrote these words a year or so ago: “I am not from Tallahassee. I will not get to see my loved ones this Christmas season. My parents live (out of state). I feel terrible to be away from them and unable to get them anything at all for Christmas. Because of the cards you provided, however, I was able to reach out to them and tell them how much I love them, that I miss them, and to ask for their forgiveness.” I think you can see how all the effort is worth it, a thousand words worth it.

Our leadership team has asked that we begin bringing our cards to the church this Sunday, November 14. Collection boxes will also be around the church. As with past efforts, we ask that you pay close attention to the message of the cards you donate. Please make sure that they are appropriately religious and speak to the situation the inmates are in with the hope, peace, joy, and love that characterize the transforming news of “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”

The deadline for this year’s collection is Sunday, December 5. That date gives our volunteers plenty of time to gather and separate the cards in time for the inmates to receive them, be blessed by their message, and then pass the blessing on. But remember, for that message to have its maximum impact, it must be appropriate to both the season and the setting.

Every card really does count, especially when it comes to the Christmas message. Both for the sender and receiver, every card is a reminder of God’s unmerited love and His grace that is capable of changing every life for the better. And nothing counts more than that.

I heard Adnan’s testimony by way of a DVD someone from our church gave me. As I listened to him tell his story, I thought it would be good for our congregation to hear it as well, especially given our proximity to government and educational institutions.

Adnan graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Business Management and a minor in Leadership Studies. He was named the recipient of the 2009 Wall Street Journal Award for outstanding scholastics and leadership in the Pamplin College of Business. Adnan was recently appointed to serve on the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Board of Directors and is currently teaching in impoverished school districts with Teach for America. His 2-year assignment is teaching 5th grade math and science in Marianna, Arkansas, which is in the Mississippi Delta region.

I encourage you to make plans to be with us in worship this Sunday and to bring someone with you. Adnan will be speaking in both services. Fortunately, the time change, which occurs this Sunday, will give us an extra hour of rest.

It’s going to be a great Sunday, as we celebrate the “good news” of Jesus Christ and the difference he makes in the lives of those who receive him.

Well, plans are in place. I’ve spoken with the travel group we worked with two years ago, and we’ve come up with another Israel/Jordan pilgrimage that is scheduled to depart Tallahassee on May 16, be in Israel and Jordan for two weeks, and then return to Tallahassee on Memorial Day. This itinerary will have us in the Holy Land one more day than last time, which means that we’ll visit the same sites as last time and a couple more!

We will have an information meeting on November 14 at 4:30 PM in the Chapel. By then, I hope to have the plans more finalized in terms of specifics. I have reserved space for 30 people, which is a larger number than we took last time, but not so many that the group becomes too large to keep up with.

Be praying about your participation and help me get the word out about this opportunity to people you know who would have interest. To secure your place you’ll need to be prepared to put down a $100/refundable deposit, which is for the airline. A second deposit will be required later through the travel group. Both of these deposits will be applied to the package price.

I wanted to make sure that we had this meeting so that everyone has ample time to make plans for next May. The weather should be a bit cooler than our last trip and the accommodations just as nice. I understand that some might not be able to make the meeting on the 14th, so if you’re interested in securing your place, you can make your deposit earlier. If you have questions between now and the 14th, let me know as well. The folk who went last time returned more committed to Christ and our church, and I am excited about how this coming group of pilgrims will feel the same way.

This Sunday evening we will have another good opportunity to extend an invitation. The FAMU Concert Choir will be with us at 6:00PM for a continuation of our Fall Concert Series. This concert will actually be their choir’s Fall offering, which our church is more than glad to host. First Baptist has a rich heritage of appreciation for good music. Couple that appreciation with our long-standing commitment to student ministry, and our willingness to host this concert just makes such good sense.

I always hope for a good turnout whenever we host such events, and fortunately, we always do. But this event is important for many reasons, and I encourage you not only to be present but also to take advantage of this opportunity to invite someone to come with you.

This fall at First Baptist has shaped up to be an exciting one, and in many respects things are really just beginning. I’m grateful for how our people are responding to the doors God is opening up to encourage others to join us. Keep being faithful in this regard and it won’t be long before we sense God doing something in our midst that will be more than we ever thought possible.

A good part of that hope stems from trying to do church in a culture shaped by consumerist values. Everywhere you turn, people are encouraged to make decisions on the basis of “the best deal” or “the greatest value.” If we’re not careful, faith becomes just another commodity on the local exchange. “We have the best (you fill in the blank) and you get more bang for your buck at First Baptist.” Surely, there’s a better way to do church.

Perhaps that better way is to commit ourselves more to “being” church than to “doing” church. “Being the church” involves nothing less than expressing our faith through an everyday witness that is grounded in our experience with Jesus Christ. It means bearing our cross in the midst of everyday challenges and inviting others to join us as we encounter the power of the Risen Jesus in the process. In case you’ve forgotten, that’s what our recent “2x4” emphasis was really designed to encourage.

And it’s working. Just the past Sunday I ran into three different people in our church who actually took seriously the discipleship challenge and have already invited people to join them. Hearing their reports of how those guests were moved by their experiences at First Baptist brought me great joy in seeing how my hope for our church is being realized in ways greater than I had imagined and sooner than I had expected.

I am more convinced than ever that people today just want to be around folk who are genuinely committed to following Jesus. They don’t want the slickness and glitz; they simply want to rub shoulders with people who seem to know Jesus and can help them know him in the same way.

Thank you for being that sort of people. You are making a difference. And when all is said and done, who can really hope for anything more?

This year’s event is coming up in a matter of weeks, October 23 to be precise. Because of how Tom and his committee work feverishly to connect member talents with community needs, we need everyone to sign up for the event as soon as possible. You will see yellow registration sheets around the church. I encourage you to join me in filling one out, submitting one part to the committee via one of the collection boxes located around the church, and retaining the other as a reminder to you. Again, the sooner the registrations come in, the sooner our committee will be able to plan for the day and the smoother things will run.

I’m always amazed at the stories that are generated each year from our church’s involvement. Some of the stories relate to friendships made between members whose paths never crossed. Others are of significant ministries that touch lives and change hearts. Those of you who worked on the Sanders Home Build will remember how that ministry activity came from this First Love emphasis.

The point is that First Love conveys how serious we are about serving in Jesus’ name. And surely that is reason enough for us to sign up and to do so early in order that October 23 will be all that we want it to be and all that God’s purposes demand it to be. Look for those yellow forms this Sunday, and please get them in. This, after all, is serious stuff.

It might behoove us to assume that perspective a little more in days such as the ones in which we are living. If the call of faith demands us to pursue a different way of life from the world, then Elijah’s preaching is a good source for us to consider as we seek to be faithful in this respect.

During the month of October, we’ll take a closer look at Elijah’s ministry. Each Sunday, we’ll focus on a story from Elijah’s ministry so that we can see how God promises to sustain us during times of challenge, disappointment, and setback. Elijah, as important as he was, experienced each of these emotions; yet God saw him through them all so that Elijah came to be considered the foremost spokesperson of how God “comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable.”

I’ve never done a series like this one, so I’m definitely looking forward to what I will learn from him who set the tone of faithfulness in a precarious time. I invite you to bring someone with you to worship, as together we call upon that source of help and hope that Elijah discovered is constant and sure.

Here are the topics, texts, and themes for you to be anticipating:

“Out of Town, but not Out of Sorts”

1 Kings 17:7-10a

Theme: GOD”S PROVISION

“Outnumbered, but not Outmanned”

1 Kings 18:36-37

Theme: ASSURANCE

“Out of Place, but not Out of Hope”

1 Kings 19:9b

Theme: OBEDIENCE

“Out of Options, but not Out of the Woods”

2 Kings 1:16-17a

Theme: RESPONSIBILITY

“Out of Presence, but not Out of Power”

2 Kings 2:13-14

Theme: GOD’S POWER

Such observations cause me to look in the mirror and ask myself if I am doing enough in this area. Am I willing to offer my services, my experiences, or my knowledge to others who might find them beneficial? And more importantly, do I see how dependent I am on the compassion of God for my everyday needs?

Mercy is the aspect of faith that keeps us centered on God’s provisions and our calling to extend those provisions to the people God puts in our lives. The fifth beatitude reminds us of this truth: “Blessed are the merciful,” said Jesus, “for they shall obtain mercy.” In other words, when I act mercifully toward those who are in a hard place, I come to experience similar mercy for those hard places I encounter.

In his book, The Divine Conspiracy, Dallas Willard reminds us that our pursuit of discipleship is the means by which God intends to change the world for the better. While it’s easy to rue the fear and suspicion that cause many to shut themselves off from others, we should never fail to celebrate the acts of those who are faithful to display the compassion of Christ in their everyday relationships.

That’s a group I aspire to be in, because of the way they seem to receive more mercy than what they give and for how they reflect Jesus in everything they’re about.

In preparation for my role in the process, I inquired of several colleagues for some perspective on how they are facing these times with their congregations. Everyone seems to be taking the same approach of seeking a balance between economic realities and spiritual vision.

As I have been praying about our financial future, the thought came to me that we are in fact a “wealthy” church. In terms of our financial resources we are on a sound foundation, but that’s not really what I’m talking about. Our greatest “wealth” is our people resources. I never cease to be amazed at the talent and dedication of our congregation, and how those expressions of faith continue to bless us on a regular basis.

Just this past weekend, I was in awe of the folk who came together to participate in “Love First,” a

project focused on taking care of pressing needs and improvements with regard to our church facilities. Not only the numbers but the wide range of talents that came together reminded me of what a special congregation we have. Then looking at all the faithfulness of our people in Sunday Morning Bible Study, morning worship, and the afternoon activities of Financial Peace University and Bells of Praise practice confirmed my conviction that we are a people-blessed church. God has raised up precisely the resources we need to fulfill the mission He gives us. We can look to the future with confidence, knowing that there will be no shortage of what is necessary to continue our church’s ministry effectiveness.

So, take this column as a thank-you for your role in making us the strong church we are. And take it also as a call to celebrate God’s goodness in blessing us with all that we need. While others may look to the future with fear and trepidation, I look to it with anticipation because of what we have and how we are faithful to share it.

feeling over world conflicts at the time. Come to think about it, I don’t know of any season when a song like that shouldn’t hit close to home. No one can ever get enough love.

The same might can be said of churches. While most everyone would be quick to acknowledge their love for their church, you might not be able to tell it by the state of disrepair into which many of them have fallen.

Fortunately, we have a Property Committee who “loves” First Baptist enough to stay with the nagging needs of a large, aging facility like ours. Even when the church was undecided about our ultimate location, members of our Property Committee were hard at work to “band-aid” situations until a final

decision could be reached. When we reached that decision three years ago this month, the Property Committee intensified their efforts at arriving at some permanent solutions to some long-standing challenges.

Not all of these solutions are financially costly. Some months ago, they came up with the idea of a Saturday work project they called “Love First.” Based on our popular outwardly-focused community workday, “First Love (which this year is October 23), “Love First” is a campus-focused workday for small improvement projects right here on our own block. The spring workday was a huge success, so much so that our Property Committee thought it wise to plan another one for this fall.

So, this Saturday, we’ll be meeting at the church to do some fix-up, clean-up sort of tasks. The day will begin at 8:30 AM and we’ll conclude by 12:30 PM. (The FSU/Okalahoma game is later in the afternoon.) Supplies will be provided. All we need are workers, and given the success of the last workday, I’m expecting a good crowd to show up. After all, we “love” our church, and when newcomers make their way to us, as they’ve been doing in good numbers recently, they’ll know it by what they see, both in terms of our warmth of spirit and our care of our facilities.

For example, this Sunday we will be “embarking on a voyage of discipleship we’re calling “2x4.” Two by fours are a common building material. (They are also the subject of a peculiar idiom in the English language that describes being waylaid by an unforeseen object or occurrence). In this case, the phrase refers to an effort on our part to encourage everyone to commit to reach two people through four discipleship practices over the next two years. Those four practices – INTERCEDE, INTERACT, INVEST, and INVITE – will form the themes of our worship during each of the Sundays in September, beginning with this Sunday. Each Sunday we will look at one of the themes and how we can muster our resources to touch more people with the life-giving message of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Some might ask, “Why are we conducting this emphasis now with all of the construction taking place around us?” That’s a good question. Many might say that we would be wise to wait until everything is finished before launching a campaign like this. But one could also contend that this present hour is precisely the time to do something of this order, particularly in light of the facilities challenges we are dealing with at this time. If we can instill these practices now and make them “holy habits,” imagine how much more effective our witness will be when we finish our construction and are primed for the next level of faithfulness. Besides, what better time is there to begin such an emphasis on the “work” that Jesus calls us to be about than a Labor Day Sunday?

So, come ready to join us on what promises to be an exciting and challenging adventure. Rouse up from your summer doldrums to be the new thing to which Jesus calls us. Get a board and get a plank, and lay your “2x4” commitment on the altar of what God intends to build in our midst. Our church is definitely moving forward as an army for transformation, and we need every member to be with us in this effort so that we can experience together the victory that God in Christ calls us to enjoy.

One of the examples he offers hits close to home – the choice of attending a football game versus watching it at home. With the emergence of High Definition television, not to mention the convenience of watching in the comfort of your own home, many people are confronted with a decision on whether to attend and do so on the basis of a “trade-off” between fidelity and convenience. “Is my experience at Doak Campbell enough better that I will suffer the inconvenience?” As we saw last year, a lot depends on how the Seminoles do (which Maney contends has to do with social identity – I want to side with a winner, not a loser). If you have doubts about his thesis, think newspapers, Netflix, digital cameras, and eBooks.

I think he’s on to something, and I think his thesis has multiple applications to the church, and in particular, FBC/Tallahassee. Here are a few I’ve drawn:

Maney’s best word is an admonition to businesses and organizations not to compromise their place on the fidelity/convenience continuum. For us that means that if we are a fidelity-based organization, the worst thing we could do is lose our fidelity focus in an effort to be more convenient. Does that then mean that we make our services as inconvenient as possible? Obviously not. There is always a “trade-off” in how you structure your services, but an organization like FBC/T would always do well to remember that its “place” is always to be on the side of “fidelity.” People will tolerate a certain amount of inconvenience if the quality of their experience surpasses what they might have in another place (not just another church; after all, our “competition” is essentially with a fallen world).

Of course, John the Elder understood this dynamic when he wrote his first letter, reminding his “children” of the “trade-off” all disciples are wise to make. “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). Such is a truth, which if forgotten or ignored, will result in something lost that we will never be able to recover.

With the start of school this week, we can officially pronounce summer vacation to be over. I know that many will find that statement distressing. But if the truth be known, I would actually think that most of us are actually excited about the start of a new school year. Students are ready to be reunited with friends. Parents are ready to not be so concerned about making arrangements for their children. Workers are ready for office staffs to settle back into a more normal routine. And churches are ready for everyone to come back and get to work.

The church is a bit unique in that it requires an enormous number of volunteers to enable it to pursue its God-given mission. During the summer months, people are away, and much of what the church does gets put on the back burner. But when fall returns, things heat up once again, and with it, the potential for volunteers to burn out if the church fails to encourage some sort of spiritual balance among its workforce.

Two articles I read recently brought this topic to mind. One, published by the Alban organization, a group that encourages church health, warns congregations about the irony of needing volunteers to achieve its mission while working them too heavily without thought for their need for occasional periods of rest and renewal. The other article, an interview with Greg Garrett, an English professor at Baylor University, speaks to the gentile decline of evangelicalism in America, particularly among those in the 18-49 demographic. As a professor at an evangelical school, Garrett bemoans what he sees as the tendency of people in that demographic to be “religious” but not “spiritual.” In other words, while the “practices” may be present among young adults, there doesn’t seem to be enough devotional substance evident among them that would prevent burnout over the long haul. My only disagreement with Garrett’s assessment is that his observation may not be limited to the demographic he isolates; it most likely is more widespread.

How then do we sustain our zeal as the fall comes upon us? How do we maintain our enthusiasm past Halloween so that we can make it to the Christmas break productive and fulfilled? One exercise mentioned in the Alban article is to be alert to “holy moments” in the midst of all our activity. Where is God being revealed in the midst of my work, both in the church and outside of it? How are His kingdom purposes being brought to pass? And when I am feeling tired and depleted, how might I reshape my priorities to be able to experience renewal in the work He has given me? How might I “reinvent” myself for the task at hand? I think you can see how a healthy sense of the holy really does make a big difference in this regard.

So, gear up for the coming weeks and months. There is much to be done and lots of work to be accomplished. The best news is that God has been working all the while. Look for Him in all that you have to do, and even in the face of your busy and hectic toiling, you can find rest and perfect peace.

This summer has resulted in a number of folk from our church being away from Tallahassee “on mission.” That, of course, is a good thing. Jesus calls us to “go and make disciples” and promises to be with us “even to the end of the world.” If you’ve talked to any of these persons upon their return, then you know that their faith will never be the same. Once we experience the joy of serving Jesus in some other venue, our horizons are broadened as to how we might serve Jesus right here “at home.”

For those of you who served some place beyond Tallahassee (and for those of you who had wished that you had done so), we have another opportunity that is right in our back door. You won’t have to go very far in this one.

Our college ministry is gearing up for the influx of arrivals that will take place in mass this next week, August 17-21. We’ve seen a number of students who came early to “get the jump” on the rest, but the big numbers will be happening this coming week, and Zach Allen, our Minister to Students, wants us to be ready.

Most of the “heavy lifting” will be done by our students themselves, pun intended. Zach has partnered with Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) to assist students who are moving in to on-campus housing. Since most of these students will be freshmen and transfers, we obviously intend to introduce our church to these new arrivals by offering some help during what can often be a chaotic time. Our students will be there to greet and answer questions, along with providing some “muscle,” if load-lifting is what is required. But Zach needs help from the rest of the church with shuttling students and their families from the campus parking garages to the dorms where the students will be living. In other words, while most of the families will be allowed to park to unload their students’ belongings, they will be expected to move their vehicles away from the dorms before coming back to arrange things. That’s where Zach has concocted a plan to transport those families from the garages back to the dorms, all the while promoting FBC/T as a place that is “here for life.” I think you can see the genius in the plan; if you can’t just go outside in this August heat, walk around the block, and then you will.

What Zach needs most are drivers who are registered with our church vehicles. If you are registered, we need you to touch base with him to let him know of your availability. If you’re interested in getting registered to drive, then you need to contact Steve Wofford to take a test that qualifies you for that responsibility.

I’m sure Zach has other ways for you to support this “Go Week” effort, as he is calling it. If anything, you can pray, which I know he and the other students would appreciate.

The area campuses are primary mission fields for our church. God has seen fit to use us to reach this part of our community over the years in amazing ways. Only He knows how much the Kingdom has flourished throughout the world because of our church’s faithfulness in this regard. I expect God to do no less this coming semester, in large measure because of our willingness to go where needed. In this case, you won’t have to go very far, so let Zach know how you can help us help students and forge a relationship that will bless all of us more than we could ever imagine.

I think that’s where many churches struggle. Worship takes on a “programmatic” approach so that what matters most is maintaining a set pattern in worship, ignoring the generational and spirituality differences that might be reflected among participants. What is communicated as “ritual” (not a bad thing at all) becomes fossilized as “rut” (never a good thing at all). And lest you think the churches about which I speak fall into one particular stylistic camp, think again. Fossilization just as easily takes place in “contemporary” worship as it does in “traditional.”

Churches do better to seek ways of pursuing “transformation” in their worship. Asking the question, “How can we create experiences where participants leave worship as changed individuals?” focuses leadership on the kinds of concerns that make worship a “can’t miss” opportunity. It moves a congregation away from the familiar and routine to places of vulnerability and dependence, which are places where God tends to show up most.

Having been away from our worship for a couple of weeks, I was glad to be back this past Sunday. How easily we take for granted the level of talent and dedication that characterize every expression of our worship. I honestly can’t understand how people can stay away from worship at First Baptist. Each Sunday I leave better for having been there and more focused on the week ahead in terms of my discipleship.

Perhaps you feel the same way; perhaps you don’t. If not, I’d like to hear from you…seriously. If there’s something we’re not doing to make our worship a more transforming experience for you, I’d like to know that…honestly. Worship planning involves the precarious balance between what matters to God and what matters to us, if for no other reason than how we plan it to effect a divine/human encounter. You can email me at doug@fbctlh.org, or “tweet” me @DougDortch, or call me at 222-5470. Worship is too important a thing for us not to have this conversation – for you, for me, and ultimately, for God.

Of course, there are many different ways to define that term. When two people announce to the world that they intend to spend the rest of their lives together, we know that announcement to be “engagement.” When someone declines an invitation to attend a gathering, he might express his regrets as a result of his having committed to a “previous engagement.” When an army contemplates the various scenarios in which it will take up arms against another country, it considers what we call the “rules of engagement.” As you can see, “engagement” is a somewhat neutral term. The context determines its moral value.

Over my vacation I finished up a book by Mel Lawrenz, titled Whole Church. In that book, Lawrenz contends that a maturing congregation strives to find balance between four areas of “engagement”: engagement with God (worship), engagement with God’s people (fellowship), engagement with one’s community (ministry), and engagement with the world (mission). Lawrenz sees each of these facets of engagement as “bringing together God’s supply and human need,” or closing what he calls “the God gap.” I found his thoughts to be most applicable to a church that presents itself as being “here for life.”

No sooner had I finished Lawrenz’s work that I then came across an article in an Alban Institute newsletter on “Evangelism and the Under-Thirty Crowd.” Evangelism is a challenge for every life stage group, but as the article suggests, it seems particularly difficult for the under-thirty generation, which is open to belief in God but suspicious of traditional institutional structures, even religious ones like the church. As the author, Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook, offered, the key to reaching that next generation of potential leaders is “engagement.” Since young adults seem to relate more freely to individuals than institutions, the church would do well to encourage all of its members to be willing to share stories of God’s transforming power at work in their own lives. Instead of “engaging” in persuasive debate, we might find our efforts more productive if we were simply to point out the manifold ways God is at work for good in the world. The goal is more celebration than contention so that a relationship might develop and the good news offered in a way that will connect in a much deeper and more lasting way. It seems that this too is characteristic of a church that is “here for life."

But of course, summer is also a time to get away, to “vacate” as the word suggests. Even if the vacation gets turned into a “staycation” (an interesting expression that has become a part of our everyday conversation), everyone can benefit from a little rest and renewal.

Even preachers can benefit from some time off to recharge and reflect. I remember a coffee klatch friend from a previous community who used to goad me with his comments about how I only worked an hour and a half a week. He was a member of another congregation in another denomination and I just chalked up his insensitivity to ignorance, but I was always grateful for the members of my church who, realizing my burden of responsibility, would tell me to pay him no attention. Clearly, his barbs irked them more than it did me.

Fortunately, I’m blessed to be a part of a church that understands the importance of allowing the pastor to be away. I try not to abuse that privilege, and as my wife reminds me, there were many years that I didn’t take the Sundays off allotted me. But about this time of the year, I have to be honest about my need to take some time off. I can feel it emotionally and even spiritually. There is no doubt in my mind but that I am a better preacher and pastor when I can catch a break during this season of the year.

So, I will be out of the pulpit the next two Sundays. We are blessed to have a host of capable ministers on our staff. Fran Buhler will be preaching the next two Sundays and other staff will be supporting him in other pastoral tasks. If you always have to worry about the shop when you’re away from it, then what’s the use of being away? But that’s never been a concern of mine since we have such a gifted staff.

Thanks for your understanding and support. Thanks also for your patience and flexibility in being so accommodating in the face of changes around the church campus due to the next phase of construction. We do have much going on and even more to take place in the coming days. Contrary to the saying, there is rest for the weary, and may we all find our share of it over these busy summer months so that we might be ready for the even greater opportunities ahead of us.

Marty and Janice have dedicated themselves to being servants for Christ to those who come to Tallahassee from around the world. I can’t imagine what it would be like to leave America for a period of time to study abroad. But I am confident that if I knew that there would be a couple like Marty and Janice waiting to receive me, it sure would make the journey abroad less intimidating. That’s what Marty and Janice do for us at First Baptist, and even more importantly, that’s what they lead us to do in terms of encouraging others here to be equally hospitable.

But of course, what I appreciate most of all is the way that these two servants couch their hospitality in a winsome evangelistic approach that is inviting and non-threatening. No wonder some of the best stories of life-changing ministry at First Baptist come from their work.

This Sunday, we will recognize their fifteen years of service through our church. As Marty said earlier this week, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” That’s how ministry ought to go, and it doesn’t surprise me one bit that Marty and Janice look at their role in our church that way.

Please join me in expressing your appreciation to them for their faithfulness. But also ask them to share with you a story of the difference that Christ is making through our church through the ministry they lead us in doing. You’ll be blessed, and you’ll probably also be inspired to work with them or pray for them. The world is coming in our direction, and how good it is to have such fine servants as Marty and Janice in place to make sure that we miss no opportunity to live out the Great Commission without having to leave Tallahassee.

In the first place, we’ll be having a combined worship experience at 10:30AM that will emphasize elements of both our spiritual and civic freedoms. While our primary citizenship is the kingdom of heaven, we live out our faith as Americans, who have been granted incredible rights we should never take for granted. Our worship will emphasize our gratitude for these rights and will remind us of our need to continue to pray for our country and its leaders.

After worship, we’ll be moving over to the park, where we’ll enjoy an All-American luncheon of hot dogs and all the “fixins.” There will be no fixed cost for the luncheon. We will instead receive donations that will go toward our Haiti mission trip that will be take place later in the month. On a day when people will be getting together with family and friends, I think this luncheon just makes sense and will be a great time of fellowship for our church.

For those of you who like fireworks, Preston Odom has reserved a special spot at Park Capitol Shopping Center, on the corner of Park Avenue and Capital Circle NE, across from the Federal Prison, where you will have a great vantage point for the fireworks display at Tom Brown Park. That display happens around sunset, and you will be able to see the fireworks without getting hemmed in by all the Tom Brown traffic.

I know that we will have a lot of people out of town for the holiday weekend. But for those of us who will be in town, I believe this schedule will afford us a wonderful opportunity of worship and fellowship. If you do have other plans for the Fourth, this schedule will allow you to keep them as well. But I encourage you to bring friends, family, and neighbors with you and make this Sunday a great outreach event as well. This is the life to which we’ve been called by Jesus; and as he taught his disciples, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36).

Remembering that incident raises a question in my mind regarding our mission as a church. “Do we ever fully accomplish the mission God gives us?” Along the way we experience significant victories, but as far as the completion of our work goes, I’m not sure that we can say that we’ve done all that God has given us to do until Jesus returns.

What is our mission anyway? Perhaps that’s a good question to begin with. As you’ve heard me say on many occasions, I boil our mission statement down to the clause: “equipping believers to carry out the Great Commission in the community and throughout the world.” I don’t mean to minimize the rest of our mission statement. I see it as emphasizing our core values (God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused) and our methodologies (worshiping, serving, and sharing Christ). The heart of the statement has to do with our efforts at fulfilling the Great Commission (Go, make disciples, baptize, teach). So, how are we doing with our mission? We haven’t accomplished it by any stretch of the imagination. But we are making progress.

In the coming weeks we will have had three groups from our church involved in “going” and “serving.” A group of our college students have been in Tampa this week, conducting block parties for a new church start that is focused on “making disciples.” On our website, click the “Events” button and then the “College Mission Trip” button to read about their ministry (or click on the slide on the main page). Then on July 12-16, our Builders for Christ group will be “going” to Tyrone, PA to do construction work for the Grace Baptist Church, another congregation committed to “making disciples.” You can go to www.gracetyrone.net to read about the ministry of this pioneer congregation. And lastly, a group from our church will be journeying down to Haiti on July 24-31 to be involved in recovery ministry for that earthquake-ravaged people. The precise focus of their work is yet to be determined, but the fact that we are sending a team there shows our resolve to be a factor in the resurgence of that country.

I share this news to have you pray for each of these groups. But I share it also so that you might be thinking about what you can do “locally” to help us make headway with our church’s mission. After all, the Great Commission applies to every locale and the responsibilities here in our own community are equally pressing. By working together, locally and beyond, we can have an impact for the Kingdom, and most importantly, we can make progress in fulfilling the work that we know in our hearts God has given us to do.

One of my fondest memories of childhood was watching the “Batman” television series, which looking back, marked a real revolution in broadcast television. For those of you of my generation, you’ll remember that every episode ended with a cliffhanger conclusion and the dramatic tag: “Tune in next week; same ‘Bat’ time; same ‘Bat’ channel.” For those of you of a later generation, you need to go online and watch some of those episodes so that you can appreciate the spate of big screen Batman movies the TV series generated.

Anyway, I wish I had one of those cool spotlights that Commissioner Gordon had to signal the news that Gotham City needed Batman’s services, but I don’t. It would come in handy for letting Tallahassee know that First Baptist is back on television – same day, but on a different channel.

As you’ll remember, we transitioned from our biweekly broadcast earlier this year to a by-request DVD system. That system has worked well, but all the while we were looking for another broadcast option, knowing that our worship services touched a segment of our community way beyond the reach of our church.

Thanks primarily to our Administrator Steve Wofford’s persistence, we have secured a slot on Comcast’s local access channel, Channel 21, for Wednesdays at 5:00 PM, and with our Technical Coordinator Lee Shell’s assistance, we have resumed our broadcast of each Sunday’s service. Since this channel is on Comcast’s “basic” package, subscribers don’t have to have the more expensive “digital” package to receive the broadcast, which bodes especially well for many of our senior and homebound members. I wish that we were able to resume immediately with a second broadcast, but because we had discontinued funding in this year’s budget, we have only been able to cobble together enough money for one broadcast for the remainder of the year. However, as we look at next year’s budget, we plan to work at adding at least one more hour segment, and hopefully, perhaps a third.

What we need from you is some word-of-mouth assistance. Certainly, we will include the new time and channel in our Saturday ad in the Democrat, but my experience has been that the best way to get the word out about something is plain, old one person telling another. So, help us by getting the word out to your friends, neighbors, and associates – especially those who have been bemoaning the loss of the old broadcast. I don’t know if we can anticipate any BAM, PLOP, or ZAP! But I am confident there will be a HOLY moment or two in every broadcast, because that’s what God promises when His people gather to worship Him in spirit and truth.

Much of Preston’s value to our church lies in his ability to bless us in so many ways. Most of us have benefited from his leadership in our church’s recreational ministries, which have centered around our Christian Life Center. We are especially indebted to Preston for his taking the initiative in starting our Upward Basketball ministry, which has come to be one of the most well received community ministries we offer. Others of us have been on the receiving end of many encouraging prayer grams and emails because of Preston’s work in coordinating the aforementioned prayer ministry with Janie. But then others have recently come to value Preston’s ministry to our Senior Adults and Singles over 50. Rarely do you find someone who is gifted in so many areas, and what a wide range of ministry leadership Preston has provided us.

What I have appreciated most about Preston is his consistent Christ-like spirit. Even in the most tumultuous and harried of times, Preston has been a source of calm and encouragement. His “can do” attitude is inspiring, and even more so because of how it stems from his deep belief that with God’s help, all things are possible.

Please join me in sending an expression of appreciation to Preston and Janie for their faithfulness to Christ and our church. Let them know how valued they are and what blessings they have been. Pledge to them your continued support as they press on with the work to which we have called them. Twenty-five years is a remarkable accomplishment, and it speaks to the special bond First Baptist has forged with the Odoms, a bond for which we should be eternally grateful.

I still enjoy the summer for all the same reasons. And I anticipate this summer being a time of significant spiritual growth because of all that our big church will be providing.

Consider for a moment the coming weeks. Just a glance at our church calendar shows a host of offerings that are sure to help us grow in our understanding of God’s purpose. There is a Youth Choir trip. There is Vacation Bible School. There is a Builders for Christ trip and a Haiti mission trip. On the Fourth of July, which is a Sunday this year, we’ll gather for a time of combined worship and then a hot dog luncheon in the park. The summer will culminate with a leadership emphasis for our fall kickoff in Sunday Morning Bible Study. And sprinkled throughout the summer will be a number of other opportunities that will be designed to strengthen our church and each member. I think you get the picture.

I know that the summer will see a number of us out of town. I myself plan to be gone a week or two later in the summer. But when you’re here, you won’t want to miss a service or activity at First Baptist. And even when you’re away, you can still stay up on what’s going on through the many resources that are available on our church website.

So, let’s anticipate the coming months as the “Summer of Joy.” A church “for life” doesn’t take any season off. We’re certainly not doing that at First Baptist. And I invite you to join with me in making this one the best ever in our church. After all, “there ain’t no getting over the Summertime Joys.”

Because I am on mailing lists for multiple “trade journals,” I receive sample issues of magazines that aim to sign me up as a paying subscriber. While my first impulse is to rifle these “freebies” into the waste basket, I often will flip through one to see if the sample copy contains anything of worth. One such gleaning came this week by way of a business journal that promises to help readers recognize emerging trends before their competitors do – the idea being that having a leg up over others in your profession is always a good thing.

I can’t disagree with that logic, even as it applies to “our Father’s business.” Everyone knows the famous proverb, “Without a vision the people perish” (Prov. 29:18). People of faith need an understanding of a “preferred future” in order to be sufficiently motivated in their Christian service. Most find that understanding to fall out somewhere in the areas of worship, evangelism, missions, discipleship, and community –areas of common purpose that every Christian shares. But then as Christians come together, each congregation has to find its own understanding within these areas so that they might have the greatest impact.

First Baptist, Tallahassee, has embraced a “future” that is characterized by people who experience the abundant life promised by Jesus (John 10:10). We are “here” on this block to prepare ourselves for the work to which Jesus has called us. Our worship connects us to the Source of abundant life, which then empowers us for a life of witness and service that enables us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus and in appreciation for others who are with us in the journey of faith. As long as we focus on this vision, there is every reason to believe that our best days lie before us.

I say all of this to encourage you to keep your eyes on the “big picture” as we move into the next phase of our construction project. We will face many challenges in the next year or so in terms of access to our facilities, but I see possibilities for creative solutions to these challenges that will make us a better church in the long run. We will attempt some new ways of doing things that we may find to be far superior to the old ways. We will be “hands on” with some tasks that previously we relied on other people doing. We will come to value some realities that heretofore we had always taken for granted.

So, I envision a future that has us trusting God for more grace than we ever imagined necessary. And as we do, we’ll come to see ourselves a stronger and more resilient people. That’s not how life always goes for churches (and individuals) who face times of transition. Without a vision they perish; but with one they flourish. If this is a choice, I know which option and future I prefer.

As I write that last paragraph, I’m taken with parallels to the journey of faith. For one thing, baptism is an important rite of passage for believers, where each new Christian dons a white robe, signifying his or her purity of spirit in confessing Christ as Savior and Lord. And then the real work begins! God’s call is for the professing believer to be salt and light in making this world more along the lines of what God created it to be – to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.

Unfortunately, many Christians stay in the “study” phase, where they prepare themselves for a life that they never get around to practicing. I am all for “lifelong learning” in the matter of discipleship, but at some point the knowledge of faith must be expressed in practices that make a difference.

But then, there is a host of Christians who do this practice on a daily basis. They work for good in Jesus’ name, and they are effecting transformation in every walk of life. They bring encouragement. They offer hope. They extend grace. They mediate the presence of Jesus.

In John’s letter to the church at Sardis in the book of Revelation, he calls those Christians to task because they are not what they profess to be. “You have a reputation for being alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:2). In other words, the community of Sardis was no better off for the presence of the Christians there. If anything, they may have been worse. Clearly, they had work that they needed to do. But even then, there were some who took their faith seriously enough to put it into practice. Hear John’s description of these true disciples: “Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy” (Rev. 3:4).

My son John has at least been found worthy enough to be given a coat that proclaims he is competent to begin learning the “practice” of medicine, but he is still some ways from being acknowledged as a “Doctor.” And yet, his accomplishment in this regard prods me to examine my witness and how it stacks up to what Jesus expects. Perhaps it will do the same for you.

“He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (Rev. 3:5-6).

We’ve got a similar situation approaching us at First Baptist. On May 24, construction will begin on the centerpiece portion of our “Here for Life” capital improvement – the Gathering Space and subsequent construction of a new church kitchen. This construction will take approximately a year, so the sooner we get started, the sooner we’ll be able to use the space and enjoy its benefits. That’s the long-term gain. The short-term “pain” will be the loss of the center section of our parking lot and the spaces that will be tied up during the year-long construction.

There are a number of ways we could look at this situation, the most obvious being that we could bemoan the loss of an already meager number of parking spaces. But we could also look at our upcoming situation in another way – as an opportunity to explore creative responses to what has for many, many years been a less than desirable circumstance. Because we are a strong and faithful church, we have already begun to approach the days ahead from the latter end; we have created an Ad Hoc Parking Committee that is pouring over possibilities that will serve us beyond the next phase of construction and into the good future that we know God has for us to share in together.

You’ll be hearing more from the committee in the coming days, but for now, simply pray for God to give His perfect wisdom to the group as they look for ways to maximize the possibilities that are before us. Our people have been wonderfully patient as we have gone through the process to this point, and I have no doubts that we will continue to show great resolve in positioning ourselves as a church “for life” and a people who look at everything, good and bad, from a perspective that is God-centered, Bible-directed, and people-focused – core values that will sustain us through all difficulties and see us come out at the other side a better and more effective people.

I trust that you are aware that this coming Sunday is Mother’s Day. Some would argue that each day ought to be Mother’s Day, considering all moms do to make the family work. I can’t disagree with that opinion. I know that in my experience, both as son and father, the two households I have known were and are far better places because of the influence of good mothers.

And not to discount my role as a father, I still have to admit that my two children are better people for the mother God blessed them with. While I did my best to offer our kids counsel and encouragement, it was Judy who did the most nurturing and instructing, as well as the most worrying and watching. I came to see how the fallback response of all fathers – “Go ask your mother” – is actually nothing more than a public profession of how, contrary to the old saying, “Mothers usually know best.”

One thing is certain: mothers are great influencers. Who among us has not found himself or herself saying something or seeing something along the lines of what we learned from our mothers? Clearly, we develop into responsible adults in large measure through the efforts of faithful mothers.

So, if we still have them, our mothers deserve all the praise and gratitude we can heap upon them. And if we don’t, I think it’s still important that we acknowledge the great debt that we owe them. You may have many role models in your life. But chances are that there are none more critical than the mother God gave you. Keep that in mind not just this Sunday, but also everyday of your life and you will do well, just like mom wanted you to do.

As most of you know, our church took a giant step of faith when we partnered with the City of Tallahassee to construct a home for the Sanders family in the Frenchtown area, just north of the FSU campus. Our arrangement was that if the City could arrange for the funding of the materials necessary to build the home, that we would provide the people resources. Nothing of this sort had ever been done, so we were blazing a new trail in terms of this city/church partnership. Though there were some bumps in the road (as there always is with house construction), thanks to the tremendous outpouring of support from volunteers in our church, who were ably led by Bill Smith, the house has been completed, and we are now ready for a dedication.

So, this Sunday afternoon, May 2, at 4:00 PM, we will gather at the Sanders home on 1025 Dover St. for a time of dedication. We are planning to provide a shuttle bus to the Sanders property since parking is limited on Dover. Details as to where you park and pick up the shuttle will be in this Sunday’s bulletin.

This dedication will be an opportunity to pray over the work that has been done so that the Sanders family might know that every hammer blow, paint brush stroke, and planted bush bears witness to our church’s heart to serve in Jesus’ name. We will pray that everyone who comes into their home might be touched with the love of Christ with which that house has been built. We will also pray that other churches, businesses, and civic organizations might follow our church’s lead and consider doing the same for another deserving family in our community.

Thanks to every volunteer who gave time and talent to the cause. Thanks also to the many construction professionals who donated their services when they got wind of what we were doing for this family. It may not make the newspapers or airwaves, but God knows what we’ve done and, more importantly, the spirit in which we’ve done it. Yes, we’ve provided a house for a family, but we’ve done it to the glory of God. Do try to join us this Sunday as we offer our work to God and pray His blessings upon the Sanders family, so that the house we built might be a home where love is expressed, grace is shown, and Christ is uplifted.

A recent reading of Superfreakonomics, the bestseller by economists Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubnar, reminded me yet again of the powerful effect the role of incentive has over us human beings. Their argument goes that in spite of how much we may like to think of ourselves as being selfless souls, in reality we are motivated by self-interest. In their way of thinking altruism is for all intents and purposes a figment of our imaginations. How then do we reconcile their findings with the mandate of Jesus “to deny ourselves?”

Years ago, I was helped by a psychology professor, who in response to a question I raised on behaviorism, answered, “Jesus came to change our systems of reinforcement.” A little background would probably be helpful here. Behaviorism is based on the concept of reinforcement. If you want to change behavior, find out what incentive is most likely to cause a particular behavior and focus on providing it. In time, desired behaviors will become fixed.

When you look at the teachings of Jesus, that formula makes sense. “You have heard it said…, but I say unto you…” is how he approaches the concept of the kingdom of heaven in the Sermon on the Mount. “The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.” “Unless you change and become as a little child, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Indeed, the whole subject of Jesus’ role as Messiah was vastly different from the common view of the day.

So, from time to time, we do well to consider how our “hearts” are passionate for the things of God. Otherwise, we delude ourselves into thinking that we are more faithful than we are, when our behavior suggests exactly the opposite. Jesus had a word for that as well – “hypocrite.”

Here is a suggestion to keep us on the straight and narrow – “Does my life bring joy to the heart of God?” In my own life I find that thought to be great incentive in focusing on those behaviors that keep confession and profession the same. And I also find something else to be true – I find that directing my attention to that which brings God joy gives me joy as well. Some might find such thinking to be “freakish.” I think it to be faithful, and the best way I know to make sure that I experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to give, which I have a hunch everyone really is looking for at the end of the day.

The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is probably still required reading for every high schooler, and for good reason. Coleridge’s epic poem teaches us that life has its ups and downs, fears and fascinations. You have to be ready for what comes your way, and know that sometimes life will tease you with things that may appear fulfilling, but actually aren’t.

I’m thinking, of course, of the most famous line in the poem: “Water, water, everywhere nor any drop to drink.” It is at this point that the sailors blame the ancient mariner for their thirst and force him to wear an albatross around his neck as punishment for the seemingly senseless voyage he has led them on.

I thought about Coleridge this past week as we dealt with a water leak at the house. I first noticed a pool of water in the laundry room, which Judy and I took to be a puppy accident. But when the pool reappeared, I knew we had trouble. Of course, all of this happened on Easter Saturday, which is not the best time to get a plumber out to the house. Long story short, we did, and he confirmed we had, in his words – “a mess.” The following Monday he started “jack hammering,” and you can figure out the rest.

For two days we were without water. It’s amazing how the mind plays tricks on the body. I have never been thirstier. I have never felt such a need to wash my face and hands. All of the things we take for granted in having an endless supply of water were now considered of immeasurable value. When Judy and I went to Wal Mart to buy gallon jugs of water, I suddenly understood why people stockpile water “just in case.”

Fortunately, the plumber found the leak in relatively quick time (though he found it under the slab foundation). He was fair and reasonable (and I’d be more than happy to recommend his services). Everyone else who came in to help was the same. It will be several weeks before everything returns to normal, but already we’re beginning to see how things could have been much worse.

I’m sure there will be many lessons I learn from this experience. But right now, the one that stands out most is this: you don’t know how fortunate you are until something you rely on gets taken away. So, don’t take anything for granted. See everything you depend on as an incredible gift. And that includes God, who as James tells us, is the source of “every good and perfect gift” (James 1:17). It was also James who said that we should trust God for our every need and not doubt, “for he who doubts is…driven and tossed by the wind” (James 1:6). The journey can sometimes get tumultuous and not even the Christian is promised “smooth sailing.” But God is faithful, and He has promised to be with us. His grace is something we should never take for granted. His grace is His promise to us that He will eventually see us through.

We owe these volunteers a huge debt of gratitude. In many ways, we were in “uncharted waters” when we sounded the call for volunteers for this service, and I am so grateful to the people who stepped forward to respond. I was especially taken with how our WEE parents were much impressed with our show of concern for them. These volunteers helped us to place our best foot forward in what could have been a truly disastrous situation as we worked to balance construction with daily WEE drop off and pick up. But as it was, aside from some blustery and rainy mornings and afternoons, everything went off each day pretty much without a hitch.

Some might wonder why we made such a big deal about providing this service. For one thing, we want to maintain a reputation of excellence in every service and ministry we provide, including WEE. Secondly, many of these WEE families are viable prospects for our church, and they need to see tangible proof of how we really care that they invest the well being of their children with our church. And in fact, we have seen several of those families showing up at other church activities in recent months, and I attribute their deeper interest to the impact of the witness that our WEE parking attendants have made on them.

Most of all, I just want to celebrate how the service of these volunteers once again represents the ability of our church to deal with challenging circumstances. I anticipate that we will see several more challenges before this construction project is completed. But I am confident that given how so many responded so faithfully to this most recent need, we shouldn’t have any problems finding the resources necessary to meet any other needs that will come our way. It really does boil down to a matter of faith, and I do thank these “unsung heroes” for showing theirs in such a positive and practical way. I pray that their tribe will increase, as we continue to be at our best in all things for the cause of Christ.

In preparation for this year’s Easter observance, we put together an emphasis we called, “Are You Ready for Easter?” The emphasis was web-driven, with numerous resources designed to focus our attention toward the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection for everyday life. We printed special cards that members have been handing out in anticipation of this coming Sunday. In fact, we had so much response from this past weekend’s Springtime Tallahassee observance that we had to go down to the print shop and retrieve more for distribution.

One of the results from this emphasis that I am counting on is an increase in the new faces that will be with us for our Easter worship. I know that each Easter sees an influx of “infrequent attendees,” and I am always grateful for their presence. After all, the Risen Jesus might move in their hearts during such worship and implant within them a desire to be more faithful in their worship participation. I vividly remember one such story, and how that young man, Chris Morgan, proved to be such a valuable addition to our church during the time he was in Tallahassee. I pray for many such stories to take place this Easter season. It may well be that our reception of them will be a deciding factor in their decision.

So, a different twist to our Easter question is, “Are we ready for the new people God will be sending our way this Sunday?” I believe we will be. Our church has a reputation of being a welcoming place, and I do pray that when our guests this Sunday receive our welcome that they will see within us the presence of Jesus, our Risen Lord, and will consider sharing with us on a more regular basis.

Ready or not, here they come!

The history of worship broadcasts at First Baptist, Tallahassee, has had its share of twists and turns. In the early years, our church offered live broadcasts of our 11:00 service, which must have involved an amazing amount of work behind the scenes, given how complicated many Sundays can be in terms of transitions and timing. In more recent years, the live broadcast gave way to a delayed broadcast, where we rushed a taped copy of the morning service to a local station for replay on Sunday and Wednesday nights. Aside from some occasional glitches, some from our end and others from the local station’s end, that system served us exceedingly well, and for a much lower cost.

Last year, that local station was moved to the digital end of the cable, resulting in a steep decline of homes that could access our worship. Almost immediately, we began to see an increase in requests for DVDs of services, which told us that some were already moving from our cable broadcasts to an “on demand” DVD option. All of these developments coincided with our efforts at upgrading our church’s website, with much attention given to the feasibility of “webcasting” our services there. When we discovered that we could move in the direction of “webcasting,” we knew the time would be drawing near when we would make the switch to that new technology.

As we began to look at the 2010 budget and areas where we might make cuts, we saw that we could realize significant savings by moving to the “webcast” model. Such a move would not only save us money (we estimate a savings of over $14,000); it would also expand our ability to have our worship viewed to anyone with a computer and Internet access.

For several weeks now, we have posted sermons to the web site, and you can view them at www.fbctlh.org/sermons. Our last cable broadcast will be this Wednesday, March 31. After that time, you can either view sermons online, or you can request a DVD copy of the entire worship broadcast from our church office. DVDs are $5, and you may request one either through our web site (under the “Resources” tab) or by calling the church office.

We want this transition to go as smoothly as possible. To that end, we are putting together a group that would be available for those members who might need some help setting a DVD player. If you need such help, call Joyce Barnes in the Pastor’s office at 222-5470 x121 to get your name on the list.

I believe that we are riding the wave of the future with this move. I know of many churches that have already begun webcasting their services, many much smaller than ours. I am hopeful that this move will enable us to expand our reach in the long term, which has always been the driving force in our broadcast ministry. Pray with me that we will be able to address whatever transitional concerns may arise and see even more response to extending the worship of First Baptist far beyond both a set time and a set space. When you think about it, that even has the ring of eternity about it, and all of us can surely feel good about that.

Those of us who grew up in the South pride ourselves on being hospitable people. It is part and parcel of Southern culture to put out the welcome mat and invite people into our homes and our lives with a hearty and sincere, “Y’all come.” In fact, I remember an Alabama governor who used that as his campaign slogan years ago.

But as many of us have experienced, sometimes people don’t mean what they say with those words. They may profess to be hospitable, but their actions suggest otherwise.

It takes a good measure of sacrifice to be sincerely hospitable. Our schedules have to be adjusted. We have to go out of our way in many respects. Hospitality can even dent the purse strings in a significant way. But when we consider the climate hospitality can create, it makes all the sacrifice worthwhile.

Truth be told, hospitality goes way back beyond our Deep South roots to Bible times. For the Jewish people, hospitality was considered a cardinal spiritual virtue. Go back and notice the number of times that strangers were welcomed into a home or community with open arms. And since the New Testament carries forth a number of Jewish ideas, hospitality gets mentioned there as well. Think about the people who welcomed Jesus into their lives. And of course, there’s that admonition in Hebrews: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2), which is a reference to how Abraham and Sarah received the guests/angels who broke the news to them of Sarah’s impending pregnancy.

I say all of this to remind us of what a powerful witness a hospitable expression can be. Particularly is this the case for a church. While you’d expect God’s people to be the most open-hearted people in the world, that’s not always what guests experience. Some churches give strong non-verbal cues that guests are an intrusive presence (and some are actually pretty verbal in their expressions).

But I’m thankful to be in a hospitable church. I hear on a regular basis as to how welcoming our people are, and surprisingly so. I guess our “big steeple” reputation gives some the impression that we are cliquish and snooty.

That’s why I’m always grateful for the opportunities that come our way to dispel that reputation – like Springtime Tallahassee. On a day when thousands are walking all around our church, we have the chance to open our doors and welcome them in. And they come. When they leave, they do so with gratitude and respect. You know; you’ve seen them do so for several years now.

This year’s festivities are just around the corner. Springtime Tallahassee will be March 27, just two weeks away. This Sunday will be the last Sunday to get your name on the list to volunteer. Sign-up sheets are in the Sunday School boxes, or you can sign up after worship. Thank you for what you do to make us a hospitable church and to help us carry on a tradition that is grounded in Scripture. Consider it a witness to our Savior and a way to let people know that we are serious about welcoming everyone, even as he taught us to do.

I hate not knowing the hour of the day. I guess that’s because my life is so heavily scheduled that every minute is directed toward some obligation or opportunity. Your life is probably the same way. I used to think that retirement would be different until I started listening to retirees talk; then I realized that this is just the way life goes. “Busy” people will inevitably find things to do to fill up their days.

A more important question is, “Is my time being well spent?” Am I using my time wisely, and do my activities serve a greater purpose. I like to think of the statement Jesus made to his disciples after having healed the man who had been blind from birth: “I must work the works of Him who sent me while it is day; for the night cometh when no man can work” (John 9:4). As you have heard me say during our Wednesday night study of John’s Gospel, “day” and “light” are important concepts for that telling of the Jesus story.

This is the season when we get a little more daylight to do our work. This Sunday, March 14, is the start of “Daylight Saving Time.” I hope you’ll remember to set your clocks ahead by one hour, which means that you’ll have an hour’s less sleep before you come to Sunday worship. More importantly, it will mean that you will be on time for worship and not arrive as we are concluding. I always have wished that the powers that be had chosen another day to “change the time,” but that’s not the case.

What is the case is that we can use such a season to think about the importance of using the time that we have not just more wisely, but also more faithfully. We can think about how we can “make time” for the things of God. We can think about how the use of our time reflects our true priorities.

So, set your watches and clocks ahead this Saturday night so that you can be ready for this Sunday. But make sure that your heart is set as well. That way you won’t miss anything that God has for you to do. There is joy in living in the center of God’s will and always finding the time to do that which He has given you to do.

Every Christian is familiar with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. That section of Matthew’s gospel contains powerful teachings on how as Jesus’ disciples we are to model on earth what life will be like in heaven. Unlike some people who see these teachings as a mere goal, I believe Jesus really intended for us to live them out in our everyday experience. Granted, they are lofty teachings that set a high bar for us disciples. But I believe that Jesus set them that high in order to have us look to him for the grace we need to reach such heights of faithfulness.

Luke records a similar sermon, though in his gospel it takes place “on a level place” (Luke 6:17). Hence, scholars have referred to this sermon in Luke’s gospel as the “Sermon on the Plain.” Like the Sermon on the Mount, this one reiterates lofty teachings that place an emphasis on our responsibility to others, especially those on the margins of society – which is a typical Lukan theme.

This next week I will be in Plains, Georgia, preaching a revival at the Maranatha Baptist Church, which is, I’m sure you know, the home church of President and Mrs. Carter. President Carter will be teaching the Sunday School lesson that day, and I am looking forward to hearing him. Every church I’ve served has sent a group there to hear him, though I have never been able to go because of my own responsibilities on Sunday. So, I’m thankful for this opportunity to lead this church in their annual revival and to be revived by hearing one of the great laymen in Baptist life. Do pray for me this week, that I will be able to challenge the church to the same level of faithfulness to which Jesus challenged his disciples in those two famous sermons.

While I’m gone, Fran Buhler and Josh Hall will be preaching in our Sunday services. Pray for them, and support them with your presence. God is doing a great work in our midst with folk making decisions each week, and you won’t want to miss what God will be doing at First Baptist this Sunday.

Years ago, during the height of the Baptist controversy, I remember a button that was being sported at the SBC’s annual gathering. The button read, “Doing the Word.” Those who donned it were making a statement that regardless of all the rhetoric that was being bandied about concerning the importance of the Bible, what really mattered was our faithfulness in living its message in our everyday experience. I have to say that the button made quite an impression on me, and I haven’t gotten over it yet. The greatest testimony of my own appreciation for Scripture is my commitment to bear witness to it in tangible, practical ways.

And I’m glad to be a part of a church that thinks the same way. That thought crossed my mind this past Sunday as I surveyed the bulletin to read of the many good things happening in the life of our church. Sometimes you look at a church bulletin, and while that congregation may have a lot of events listed, you wonder how many of those events necessarily serve the purposes of God’s Kingdom.

That’s not so with our church. This past Sunday I looked at the items listed and I thought of our commitment to the poor, the devastated, and the imprisoned – all parties Jesus mentioned in his famous teaching about what he called us to do “unto the least of these” (Matthew 25:31-46). I saw signs of people seeking to use their gifts and abilities out of their desire to see God’s love poured out into the lives of others, which is exactly how the Bible defines love to be more of an action than an emotion (1 John 3:16-20). I noticed announcements that spoke to the need we have for fellowship (Acts 2:42-47) and the importance of readying ourselves to meet the Risen Jesus in a fresh way (Philippians 3:10-11). In short, I saw signs of a church seeking to be true to its mission of being “a God-centered, Bible-directed, people-focused, caring body of baptized believers in Jesus Christ.”

So, you might want to pay closer attention to what you read in both the bulletin and the Bible (though one should obviously not equate the former with the latter). The point is that we commit ourselves to living our faith in ways that reflect our heart for Jesus and our desire to experience the abundant life he came to help us know.

This past Wednesday began the season of preparation for Easter, which on the church calendar is known as Lent. Most evangelical groups like Baptists have not been participants in the Lenten journey. But that lack of participation has tended to change in recent years. More and more evangelicals are beginning to see the value in spending time in reflection and repentance as preparation for celebrating Easter. At First Baptist, we have practiced our preparation in small ways, primarily through various Holy Week activities and our Tenebrae service on Good Friday, which we will do again on April 2.

But in addition to our Good Friday schedule, we’re encouraging a daily reflection on Easter preparation that we’re calling “Are You Ready for Easter?” If you go to our web site, you’ll see a daily devotion that will enable you to focus your thoughts each day on how you might better prepare yourself for the good news of Easter. Then, beginning on Palm Sunday, March 28, I’ll do a Holy Week blog that I hope will encourage you to follow in the footsteps of Jesus to Calvary and then to Easter glory. Each of our worship services during this time, beginning on March 14, will be organized around passages in the Gospel of Mark that address issues of importance for disciples who are serious about taking up their crosses and following after Jesus.

My concern is that because time gets away from us and things are upon us before we know it, Easter can arrive without our really having given it much thought whatsoever. I think you’ll agree that letting that happen would be worse than a shame; it would also be a disgrace, especially considering all that God gave for us and the depth of joy we can experience if only we’ll make the effort to prepare our hearts to receive all that God is yet to give to those who are serious about accepting it.

As this weekend is Valentine’s Day, love is surely in the air. Aside from Christmas and Easter, I can’t think of a better time for Christians than Valentine’s Day. After all, we are the people who are supposed to be known by the way that we love one another; and, if we take Jesus’ teachings seriously, others as well.

Contrary to popular belief, most of us have no difficulty expressing our love. We talk a pretty good game when it comes to love. The only problem is that when you look at the New Testament, love is something that you do. We’re not only supposed to talk about our love; we’re supposed to act it out.

One of the ways we plan to do that around our church is through the implementation of a “Safe Church Policy” that we adopted in our January business meeting. This policy has been designed to assure families that we will care for their children and youth with the very best of intentions and integrity. While we might wish for a day when such a policy was not necessary, the realities of the present time suggest otherwise. Today’s families want to be certain that their children and youth will be ministered to in a culture that is safe and secure, which is precisely what this policy is designed to do.

In the coming days those in our church who work with children and youth will receive information and an invitation to participate in a training session, where the guidelines of this policy will be taught. In addition to these workers, church leaders will participate in the training as a way of conveying the importance of the policy.

I am proud of our church for taking this step in a proactive way. Unfortunately, the church as a whole seems to find itself always having to catch up to the culture on issues of such pressing importance. But in this case, we are right where so many other organizations are that involve work with children and youth.

Jesus encouraged his disciples to “suffer the little children to come to me.” We want to continue to send that message to families today, and we want them to know that they have nothing to fear in bringing them our way. We value their trust. Children and youth have always been “safe” at First Baptist Church, and this policy is our covenant to families that we intend to keep it that way. Join me by praying that God will bless our church in our ministries to these important areas and that our outreach will be even greater because of how we show we are serious about Christ’s love in tangible and truthful ways.

This Sunday marks the “conclusion” to our “Next Step” worship emphasis. I appreciate the support our church has shown for this endeavor. When staff began talking about doing such an emphasis last Fall, we believed God would honor our efforts, but the response that folk have given over these last several Sundays exceeds our hopes and wishes.

But in a way, it really isn’t appropriate to speak of the “conclusion” of such an event. Because we’re talking about the “next step” that each of us has, it really is more correct to talk about the emphasis “beginning.” If I intend to follow Christ in a new and fresh way, then my journey with him takes on a new beginning.

As I recall, the word “graduate” comes from the Latin gradus which means “step.” A graduate technically steps into the next phase of life. That’s why a graduation is called a “commencement.” It really doesn’t signal an end as much as it does a beginning.

So, this Sunday will be our “Commencement Sunday,” when we celebrate the many new beginnings that will take place in the life of our church, as people get serious about the next step in their faith journey. We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper as a way of giving testimony to our desire to obey Christ in these new ways. I can’t think of anything more appropriate that we can do to formalize our responses. As the old hymn puts it, it is, after all, his grace “that has brought us safe this far, and (his) grace that will lead us home.”

Paula Poundstone is a comedienne who was popular some years ago. In one of her stand-up routines, she delivered a line that I have always remembered. “The reason that adults are always asking kids what they want to be when they grow up is because they’re looking for ideas.” Her point was that all of us have some work to do in our efforts at maturing, and few of us have a clue as to how we should be proceeding.

Now that I’ve been over the 50 year old hump for a few years, I’ve been giving more and more thought to that question. A good part of my motivation is my desire to finish well in the “second half” of my ministry and knowing that I need to be making some serious headway in that regard. Consequently, all of my “next steps” have to do with developing more maturity in the leadership I am called to give in my position as pastor. What do I need to pay more attention to? What do I need to ignore? Where can I place the greatest amount of my energy to have the greatest impact for Christ? Where do I need to relax my efforts and be less anxious? These questions deal with the spiritual insight that comes from an ever-deepening relationship with Jesus.

This Sunday’s “Next Step” emphasis will be on “Becoming.” And while I’m not certain that any of us will ever actually arrive at our destination this side of the grave, I am confident in believing that we can come to discover that there is unbelievably great joy just in making the journey.

Life is full of changes. Some are good; some are not so good. Some we have control over; some are beyond our control. The good news is that once we yield control of our lives to God, His Presence in us brings about those changes that make us more like Jesus, which is His will for us in all that we are about.

It really is a journey, you see. So, I invite you to think about where you are on yours and pray for God’s help before your journey comes to an end. When it does, you’ll have no regrets for how you lived your life and practiced your faith. And in the meantime, you’ll know the bliss of finding that every day with Jesus really is sweeter than the day before.

As we continue our “Next Step” emphasis this Sunday, our focus will be on “Belonging.” Christianity is not a solitary affair. Jesus called his disciples into community, because he knew that once he left them, they would need one another in more ways than they could imagine.

Belonging to the church is a funny thing. Once you are baptized into a church, you automatically become a member. But sometimes it can get confusing knowing how to join a church once you move from the place where you began your faith journey. Technically, all it takes is your decision to “transfer” your membership from one Baptist church to another. But for many of us who have never done that, making sure we do it correctly can be a demanding task.

When I was called to be pastor of my first church, I assumed that I was automatically made a member. It was the wrong assumption. After about three months, the church clerk came to me and asked where she should state my membership was located. When I told her that I thought I was a member there, she quickly pointed out that I had never transferred my membership. Imagine my embarrassment when the next Sunday Judy and I joined the church and asked them to forgive me of that mistake I committed from inexperience. It was not the last one they had to forgive, and they were gracious every time.

I have to admit that something changed in our relationship with that church as soon as we joined. It was as if we had given them the message that they weren’t good enough or that we didn’t care enough, but when we joined, our relationship deepened in ways words can never adequately express.

Perhaps you will find the same to be true in your experience once you join First Baptist. Formalizing your willingness to call our church home could make the very difference that is necessary for you to feel fully connected to our fellowship. Everyone needs to belong somewhere – even preachers – and you can take it from this one that First Baptist, Tallahassee, is a church that has a place just for you.

As the saying goes, “Every journey begins with the first step.” In other words, while we often come up with great plans, many of those plans never come to fruition simply because we fail to begin them. We talk and dream big, but most of the time, nothing ever comes from it. Sometimes all that is necessary is for us to start doing something or writing something or saying something in order for planned changes to come about.

That’s what our “Next Step” emphasis is designed to help us do. If we are aware of certain changes that need to happen in our spiritual lives, then an emphasis like this one can provide the motivation to be pushed in those directions.

The greatest part of the emphasis will happen on Sunday mornings. Each Sunday we will focus on one of the following themes: “Believing” (January 17), “Belonging” (January 24), and “Becoming” (January 31). The emphasis will conclude with a “Celebration Sunday” on February 7, where we will observe the Lord’s Supper. But a new twist will be an opportunity to go to our web site, fbctlh.org/nextstep, and read articles and watch videos that will be designed to offer additional encouragement to you in taking your “next step” of faith. In fact, you’ll be able to share with us your progress, as we will attempt to create a “virtual conversation” on this topic where we can support one another.

Chances are that you have known for some time what “next steps” you have needed to take in your faith journey. You just have needed a push in those directions. So, consider this emphasis as your invitation to get started on something you know in your heart to be in your best interest. As you accept it, you will come to see that God will be with you to take you the rest of the way.

I’m reminded of the old saying that every musician knows by heart. “When you hit a wrong note, it’s the next note you hit that determines the rest of the performance.” As every musician knows, wrong notes inevitably get played, and when they do, nothing can be done about them. Musicians have to retain their focus and concentrate on the rest of the piece.

There’s a lesson there for us in terms of our discipleship. How many people do you know who are paralyzed by their past? Regardless of the opportunities that stand before them, they never are able to seize them because of their preoccupation with past mistakes.

Or even better, how many people do you know who never seem to grow in their faith? They reach a certain place in their relationship with Christ and seem to stay stuck in that place? What they don’t realize is that faith is hardly a static phenomenon; it is dynamic, and if we are not maturing, we are regressing. No one stays the same in his or her relationship with Christ.

That topic will be the focus of our worship during the month of January. Since the first month of the year is always a time for resolutions, I thought it would be a good time for us to think about the “next step” in our spiritual lives. Over the course of the coming months we will worship together around the themes of “Believe, Belong, and Become.” Within these themes are many ways in which each of us can take the “next step” in our faith journey. And no matter your age or life stage, every one of us has a “next step” we can take.

Along with our worship, we will encourage you to ponder how God is leading in your life through articles, testimonies, and a blog I will be doing, all of which will be posted on our website (/nextstep). The purpose of these helps will be to offer practical suggestions as to what you can do to grow in your relationship with Christ. Is it to become a Christian? Is it to become a member of our church? Is it to join a small group, become a regular giver, or begin a consistent devotional practice? I think you see where this emphasis will be taking us. My hope is that it will take us all to that place of joy that we experience only when we are in the center of God’s will.

The emphasis will culminate with a “Next Step Sunday” on February 7, when we will give folk a final chance to respond. We will also observe the Lord’s Supper on that Sunday, which will be a wonderful way to celebrate our responses.

Be thinking now about your “next step,” though quite honestly, I imagine that in your heart of hearts you already know what it should be. All you’ve needed was an impetus, a motivation. I trust that this emphasis will be the start of more than a New Year; I trust that it will be the start of a new and deeper life, one that is full of the abundance that Jesus calls all of us to enjoy.

A common childhood tendency is to rush. It doesn’t matter if the subject has to do with baths or mealtimes or playtime, children have a tendency to get in a hurry. About the only thing I remember dawdling over was naptime. I was always afraid that if I went to sleep, I might miss something important.

Amazingly, as I have grown older, I have learned to slow down. I was teasing with my mother after she had wished me a happy birthday, my 55th. I said, “Now that I’m the ‘speed limit,’ I guess it’s time for me to slow down.” Actually, I feel like I’ve been slowing down since 50.

But is that such a bad thing? I think not. Regardless of a person’s age, hurry can create more trouble than it’s worth. If one is not careful, rushing headlong into something can land us in some precarious places. Better to go slowly and cautiously, and with both eyes wide open.

As we begin a New Year, I think that will be my top resolution. Instead of speeding through so many obligations and responsibilities, I think I’ll try to take my time in order to better appreciate what God might be trying to teach me in those experiences. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not encouraging procrastination or irresponsibility. I’m simply suggesting that if Isaiah is right and “they that wait upon the LORD renew their strength” (Isa. 40:31), then there’s something to be said for living at a pace that makes sure that God is always in the lead. Call it a “faith pace” instead of a “snail’s pace.”

So, as the New Year cranks up and everyone around you acts as if he’s in overdrive, just remember that, contrary to popular belief, God never seems to hurry; and neither should you. There is so much He has for us to experience in the coming days, but if we zip by Him in the process, we very well could miss the one experience that could add so much to our days.

I like the way the writer of Ecclesiastes put it. “The race is not to the swift…” (Eccl. 9:11). They don’t call that “wisdom literature” for nothing. Life falls to the faithful. So, this year, stay behind God, for that is the posture that all true believers take, because it is always to their benefit and God’s glory. Do that, and God’s promise is that your New Year will be one of the best you have ever known.

I confess that I was taken aback this past week, when an email was sent to all staff, informing us that the baby Jesus had gone missing. It turns out that the doll that had been used as Jesus in the “Glorious Christmastime” musical had been misplaced, and an effort was underway to return it to its rightful owner.

The irony was too much not to notice. How often is it the case that people rush about their activities at this time of the year, totally oblivious to the baby Jesus, who deserves to be the center of it all? His birth confirms God’s abiding Presence and makes it possible for us to live each day with hope, peace, joy, and love.

Our dilemma here reminds me of a much more serious dilemma that a couple found themselves in some years ago while passing through my hometown in West Alabama. They had stopped at an interstate rest stop with their small child late in the night, headed west to their home in Texas. Mother was sleeping in the back with their child, so dad decided to stop quickly without waking either mother or child. When he got out, the child then awakened and thought it would be a good time to go the bathroom herself. You can figure out the rest of the story. Dad got back in the car, assuming that mother and child were still asleep, until 100 miles or so later, mother awakened and realized that the child wasn’t with them. Fortunately, an old high school classmate was the police chief at the time and when he got the call from other travelers, he knew what had happened and figured the parents would be back as soon as possible, which they did. Today, they might be charged with parental neglect, but back then it was enough to facilitate a glad reunion.

As Christmas nears, this may be a good time to reflect on how in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the season we have been careful to stay connected to the baby Jesus. After all, he is the reason for the season. To neglect him would be a serious offense. To embrace him would be a source of great joy.

I don’t know if we found the baby Jesus that went missing at the church, but if we didn’t, he can be replaced. The real one can’t. And the more we ponder how true that statement really is, the more careful we’ll be to hold on to him every step of life’s way.

I’ve always been taken with how quickly people take to opportunities to sing Christmas carols. Many of the very folk who bemoan the way Christmas seems to get started earlier and earlier are among the very first to suggest we break out in Christmas song. That’s understandable. So much of what Christmas really means is best expressed in song. Our prose portrayals fail to measure up to the cadences and comforts of the familiar carols.

That’s why we always begin our Advent season with an informal time of singing and sharing. But as we move nearer to Christmas itself, it’s also important that we become more focused on the yuletide message, though still in a musical sort of way.

This Sunday evening, our music ministry will present its musical celebration, “Glorious Christmastime.” As has been the case in recent years, our entire music ministry will offer selections. In addition, there will be dramatic vignettes that will make the Christmas story come alive.

To speak of “glory” is to talk about something that is best experienced. I am confident that this worship presentation will enable everyone of all ages to understand better the glory that came down to abide with us on that first Christmas.

Admission is free. So, invite your friends, neighbors, and associates to gather with us for the songs that are in the air this special season and the glory they best convey – a glory full of grace and truth.

We began our Advent celebration this past Sunday by considering the mandate we have not only to proclaim “Glory to God in the Highest” with our lips but also with our lives. When Jesus returns in all his glory, we will want to be found faithful, doing what he has given us to do – loving God and loving neighbor.

Many of you responded so positively to the challenge. In fact, a number of you asked for some specifics beyond the ones I gave in the sermon. My best suggestion is that you go to our website, click the link “Serve in His Name,” and look at the three categories of opportunities for you to consider: weekly, monthly, and special. Any of these opportunities will enable you to be a “peddler of hope, peace, joy, and love” and reflect God’s glory in transforming ways. You should consult the website on a regular basis, as we will add new opportunities as they become available.

If you aren’t Internet active, then make sure you check your VISION each week. We list these opportunities in our newsletter, and that way you will be certain that you won’t miss anything we list on the website.

Regardless of your experience level or life stage, there is a way for everyone to be involved in life-changing ministry. I consider it a credit to our church that we would have so many inquiring about Christian service. I also think that it’s another expression of how we are a “mission minded people,” and a most appropriate one at a time when we’re getting ready to emphasize our call to missions this Sunday in worship.

The season of Advent, which begins this Sunday, is no longer an unfamiliar concept to us Baptists. For a good number of years now, we have come to appreciate the necessity of preparing our hearts for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. If anything good has come out of the ever burgeoning commercialization of the Christmas season, it has been the desire of believers to push back against the rampant consumerism with a heightened spiritual awareness of what this season really means.

For the next four Sundays we will focus our worship on the theme of “Gloria in Excelsis Deo,” which as you know means, “Glory to God in the Highest.” The theme, of course, is taken from the famous story in Luke where the angel of the Lord directs the shepherds to the place where they will find the Anointed Child.

I have always taken great encouragement in the fact that the recipients of that angelic message were considered to be of one of the lowest of socio-economic groups in the first century world. How ironic that whereas today we assess our feelings toward one another at Christmas by the amount on a price tag, at the first Christmas the message went to those who had very little in terms of possessions or status. Evidently, glory is not a commodity. It is not anything that can be bought or sold. It is an experience into which we must be invited.

And so, I am inviting you to join us for each of our Advent worship experiences. Our actual emphasis will kick off this Sunday night with a “Carols at the Manger” service at 6:00 PM and an “Almost Christmas Reception” to follow. Then, each Sunday will involve the lighting of another Advent candle until we come to our Christmas Eve celebration, when we will light the Christ candle and affirm once again our “hope of glory,” which has come to us in the birth of Jesus.

As you go about your Christmas chores, always remember the majesty and splendor God invested in a tiny baby. Know that he represents God’s abiding presence in this world and how even in our lowest moments we can be certain that we are favored by our Creator with a hope, a peace, a joy, and a love that this world can never match. Have a glorious Advent and get ready for a very Merry Christmas.

A pastor friend of mine once told me that as he moved from one church to another, he observed how people characterized their community in the same three ways: (1) This place is the world’s worst place for people with allergies; (2) If you don’t like the weather, wait 24 hours and it will change; and (3) The traffic here is as bad as Atlanta (assuming you haven’t been called to Atlanta). Sure enough, when we moved to Tallahassee, I heard all three statements in the first month, but the only one I have bought into is the last. Traffic can back up in Tallahassee anyplace at anytime.

We want to make sure that we don’t contribute to the situation unnecessarily here at the church. I have been so pleased with how everyone has done his best to make our recent traffic flow transition work. I was concerned that we would have all sorts of bottlenecks in our parking lot between ministry participants, CLC patrons, and WEE families. But thanks to the wonderful help of many faithful volunteers, things have gone pretty much without a hitch.

Now, we must gear up for the second of what will be many adjustments. The good news is that the permits for our Phase One project have been secured, and we will see work commencing on November 23. The more challenging news is that the traffic pattern is about to change for another short period of time. We will still enter from the Adams Street side of the complex, but because of work being done at the CLC, there will be no exit onto Duval. All traffic will flow from Adams under the CLC out to Park Avenue. We will be restriping the lot under the CLC the weekend of November 27-28, and the new flow will go into effect on Sunday, November 30. We will have the new flow printed on inserts that will be available this weekend.

Our construction company has been gracious to give us two weeks notice on the need to make such adjustments so that we can get the word out. That way we can make sure that we do everything possible to minimize confusion and get as many people as possible on the same page. We will need another round of volunteers to help with our WEE pickup. If you can assist, please contact the church office.

Things will definitely are moving at First Baptist Church. Thank you again for all you have done and will continue to do to keep a good spirit flowing, as well as the traffic. Such flexibility will make us an even stronger church, and give us an opportunity to have an event greater impact for Christ in our community.

The older I get, the more I understand how important cards are in conveying thoughts and emotions that our own words can’t. No matter the season or occasion, you can always head to your favorite card shop and peruse the stacks of cards until you find the one that captures the moment to perfection.

We’re coming up on Christmas and before long, cards will be coming and going, at least for most of us. There are some who would love to be able to send a card to a special someone, conveying their Christmas cheer, but circumstances prohibit it. One such group is the inmates in our Leon County prison. For the last several years, our church has collected cards that we make available to the inmates for them to mail out to their loved ones. According to the prison chaplain, our efforts save the season for a good number of inmates, who otherwise would have no way to send such a card. And it is true; not a year goes by that we don’t receive several notes from inmates, expressing their gratitude.

One inmate wrote these words last year: “I am not from Tallahassee. I will not get to see my loved ones this Christmas season. My parents live (out of state). I feel terrible to be away from them and unable to get them anything at all for Christmas. Because of the cards you provided, however, I was able to reach out to them and tell them how much I love them, that I miss them, and to ask for their forgiveness.” I think you can see how all the effort is worth it, a thousand words worth it.

Our leadership team has asked that we begin bringing our cards to the church this Sunday, November 15. Collection boxes will also be around the church. As with past efforts, we ask that you pay close attention to the message of the cards you donate. Please make sure that they are appropriately religious and speak to the situation the inmates are in with the hope, peace, joy, and love that characterize the transforming news of “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men.”

The deadline for this year’s collection is Sunday, December 6. That date gives our volunteers plenty of to gather, separate, and mail the cards in time for the inmates to receive them, be blessed by their message, and the bless someone else with it. But remember, for that message to have its maximum impact, it must be appropriate to both the season and the setting.

A card really is worth a thousand words. And in this case, it is worth the one Word that became flesh in the Bethlehem baby. Is it worth it? You can believe so; especially when it reminds someone of God’s unmerited love and His grace that is capable of changing every life for the better, even as it has, and still is, changing you and me.

Long before I came, our church saw fit to offer multiple worship options. Initially, the choice fell out more over time of the day than any other reason. But in recent years, as we’ve seen shifts in worship emphases and style, we chose to provide different options to suit what might be best termed “spirituality types.” Just as some of us are extroverted and others of us are introverted, so some of us are energized by certain forms of worship more than others. My stance has been that as long as our worship of God is offered “in spirit and truth” (John 4:24), style really doesn’t matter. What I do appreciate is how we have arrived at these decisions without the rancor that has ripped apart so many other congregations.

In fact, the only regret I ever hear expressed is that we don’t have enough opportunities to be together in worship. I consider that regret to be a healthy one. I think it’s good that we want occasional opportunities to share together in worship so that we might have a better understanding of just how strong is the Spirit’s work in our midst.

This Sunday we will have such an opportunity as we come together for Heritage Sunday, a celebration of 160 years of life-changing ministry in our church. We will “split the difference” in terms of our start time by beginning our worship at 10:30 AM. There will be elements from each option as a part of our worship experience. I anticipate that God will make His Presence known in a powerful fashion, and that the day will be a highlight of the year for many of us.

Afterward, we will move out to the Park behind the church, where John Chafin and crew will have a delicious lunch prepared. The lunch is free, but we will be taking donations in order to defray the expense. Then, around 1:30 PM, we will come back to the sanctuary to hear Amy Shreve, one of our own who has gone on to a significant itinerant ministry of music.

It will be a day of togetherness. And while we are certainly of the mind on every Sunday, at least in spirit, I think it’s important that we take the time every now and then to be together in a physical sense. There may even be a little embracing, in the spirit of Ecclesiastes, which wouldn’t be a bad thing at all. God has a wonderful future for our church, and in order for us to realize, we must truly be “together” in order to God’s “time and purpose” to be realized in and through us.

For about the last twenty-five years or so, many Christians have had a certain ambivalence toward the Halloween holiday. On one hand, they didn’t want to give credence to the more unseemly aspects of the holiday, but on the other hand, they didn’t want to deprive the children of a night of fun, dress up, and most important of all, candy. This year I’ve noticed what I think is a positive movement toward resolving the tension that Halloween creates for many of us.

For one thing, I’ve noticed that more people seem to be putting up decorations for Halloween and the decorations appear to be lighter and more harmless. There seems to be more of an emphasis on pumpkins and harvest themes. Even the ghosts and jack-o-lanterns have been made to appear more cheery. I actually noticed one yard in my neighborhood that put up Halloween lights. At first glance, I thought they were getting the jump on their Christmas decorations, but a closer look told me that they were transferring a Christmas touch to the Halloween season, which I found quite encouraging. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m sensing that people are moving away from the more ghoulish and gory aspects of Halloween and are focusing on ways to make it more fun and even inviting. I sense people definitely siding with “treat” over “trick,” which was what always drove me as a child to the streets on Halloween night and where I’ve always tried to place the emphasis as a Christian adult. In a day when “tricks” are played throughout the year, there always needs to be a time when people are on the receiving end of some kind of “treat.”

And that is where we as Christians are able to shine, pun intended. We know that in Jesus the light has shined in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5). We know that Jesus has called us to let our light shine (Matthew 5:14-16). We know that the evils of this world will one day be exposed and put to shame and that all nations will eventually walk in the light of the Lamb (Revelation 21:22-27). Simply put, we know that our calling is to “hallow” God’s name – to make it holy – in all that we say and do.

So, if you choose to participate in the Halloween festivities this weekend, let me offer a few suggestions. Be welcoming to the kids who come your way. Brag on the costumes, especially the light-hearted ones. Don’t comment on kids who appear to be too old to be going door to door. Let the others convey that message. Don’t scrimp on the candy if you can afford not to. I remember the neighbors who were generous and the ones who were stingy, and still carry warm feelings for the former.

Chances are, the kids belong to your neighbors, and the neighbors are the people you should be trying to reach for Jesus. Consider your Halloween behavior as one small part of your larger outreach strategy. That way, you will be putting the “hallow” back into Halloween and giving witness to the Spirit that gives life and light to all who walk in Jesus’ name. And as we want others to know, there’s nothing to be afraid of there.

For those of you who may have missed Matt Powers’ welcome in our contemporary service this past Sunday, he wove his remarks around the theme of our church as the place “where the party is going on.” Well, maybe I’m putting words in Matt’s mouth, but that’s essentially what he was saying.

At the time, I thought, “What a great way to convey the work of the church!” Jesus was always speaking of the Kingdom as a banquet or a party, but somehow we have managed to mute so many of the celebratory tones of the Gospel. Because Jesus knew the hearts of men and women, he understood how in a world of stress and struggle, people look for opportunities to rejoice over the many ways God sees us through our difficult times.

One such opportunity I need to have you get on your calendar is our Heritage Sunday, which is scheduled this year for November 8. On that Sunday we will be celebrating our church’s 160^th birthday! Let that number sink in for a moment. How many places do you know that have been around for that long and are still viable today? First Baptist Church has been used of God to change lives in so many amazing ways, and you and I have the privilege of continuing that heritage even today. “Here for Life!” is more than a catchy slogan for a building campaign; it really does capture what has been the heartbeat of our church from the very beginning. I wonder sometimes what those nine people who started this church back on November 10, 1849, would think about what has been accomplished for Christ over these many years. I would imagine that they would simply celebrate God’s grace and His favor upon this church that has remained focused on the task of inviting people to experience the abundant life Jesus came to make possible.

We’ve got some exciting plans to help us with this year’s celebration. After our joint service at 10:30 AM, we will enjoy a “Lunch in the Park,” where John Chafin and crew will be serving up their famous barbecue. The lunch will be free, though if you wish to make a contribution to defray the costs, you can. Then afterward, around 1:30 PM, we’ll move back into the sanctuary for a Heritage concert by Amy Shreve and her husband Gary. Amy, as you know, grew up in this church, and I can’t think of a more fitting conclusion to the day than to have one of our own bless us with worshipful music.

So, do mark this date now so that you won’t miss the big day. To play off an old saying, “Let the party continue.” We know who the “Life of the party” really is, and we celebrate His favor that rests upon us, as we continue as a church to be faithful to what He has called us to do.

You may be aware that this November our church will be 160 years old! I don’t know of many churches that are able to claim such a heritage, but I am grateful to be a part of our church, especially at this time when we express our gratitude to God for how He continues to use us to effect life changing ministry both in our community and around the world.

I know that we are still some weeks away from November, but I wanted you to be aware of our plans to commemorate this signal accomplishment so that you can help make the day all that it deserves to be. On November 8, we will observe our Heritage Sunday. This Sunday is the closest to our church’s actual birthday, November 10. On that Sunday we will have a combined service, which will begin at 10:30 AM. There will be no Sunday Morning Bible Study that day, but of course, we will have child care for the worship hour. Following the service, we will enjoy a dinner on the grounds. John Chafin and his crew will cook for us that day. After the meal, we will go back into the sanctuary to enjoy a “Heritage concert” by Amy Shreve and Gary Wixtrom. There will be no evening activities that night.

We did this schedule several years ago, and everyone had such a wonderful time. We rarely have the opportunity to worship together. But such times enable us to enjoy one another’s company and to see how significant the Spirit’s leadership is in our midst. In addition, the gathering in the Park brings us together in a way that affirms the community spirit we are always working to strengthen.

I can’t think of a better way for us to observe this important time in the life of our church. Obviously, your participation is vitally important. So, mark your calendars now and plan to join us for a wonderful day of inspiration and fellowship. God is at work in our church, and we anticipate how the days ahead will enable us to see His hand of blessing in even greater ways.

You’ve heard the old expression, “If the shoe fits, wear it.” If something applies to your life, or if it seems to have been made for you, then go with it. Don’t question its wisdom or value. Just take it for what is worth, because chances are that it’s worth more than you realize.

Where did that saying come from, after all? Is there any chance it might have come from the story of Cinderella? You remember the story. Cinderella was recognized for the fetching maiden that she was because the missing shoe fit her foot.

I thought about that saying and story when I came across a quote by Christopher J.H. Wright, a British missiologist. In an article titled, “An Upside Down World,” Wright calls attention to the fact that all mission activities to which we give ourselves actually flow from the prior mission of God. That is to say that mission is an activity that begins with God, not with the church. Instead of focusing our attention on goals and schemes, we would do better to start with the question of where is God at work in the world. Wright contends, “We ask, ‘Where does God fit into the story of my life?’ when the real question is, ‘Where does my little life fit into the great story of God’s mission?’” Where does my little foot fit in the grand wardrobe of God’s salvation story?

This Sunday will be your last Sunday to sign up for participating in what we believe is God’s mission through our annual First Love community mission blitz. You may think that this activity is something we came up with in order to facilitate the church’s mission. The truth is that God is always looking for ways to move toward needs in our community, and First Love is just our way of seeking to position ourselves where God can use us.

So, the time has come to put your best foot forward, pun intended. You have something to offer – something God has given you – that will serve His mission in the world. October 17 is upon us. This Sunday is literally the 11^th hour, and the clock is close to striking midnight. So get your form in so that we can best prepare for what we believe will be another great day of ministry. If you’ve participated before, you know what to expect. If you haven’t, then you might just like the fit, and your experience will lead you to look for other ways that you can join God in the work that He is always about, which will make God so happy that in Christ He can count you as one of His own.

We have already heard a good bit about the H1N1 virus, otherwise known as the “Swine Flu.” Most of the news has been meant to shock us into exercising due caution, since most Americans tend to think of themselves as invincible.

In reality, we should exercise every ounce of caution we can muster, if for no other reason than because of how people come to Tallahassee from far and wide. We are hardly an isolated community, so that when someone comes to our community from a place where an outbreak of the virus has occurred, the potential exists for the same to happen here.

How does the church respond to such warnings? I spoke with several friends who are in ministry a couple of weeks ago, and we shared ideas about how to prepare our congregations without resorting to scare tactics. I brought those ideas back to last week’s pastoral staff meeting, and it turned out that many of our pastoral staff members had been having conversations with colleagues in other churches also.

Here is the gist of last week’s conversation for our plan at First Baptist:

Fortunately, the cases of the virus that have shown up to this point don’t appear to be that much worse than the “regular flu.” Still, we want to err on the side of caution and be responsible in our planning. After all, that’s also what it means to be “Here for Life.” We want you to be well in addition to doing well. And if each of us faithfully follows wise practices, then we can expect to see our numbers stay strong through the fall and be a healthy church in the best sense of that word, as we worship, serve, and share Christ together.

Our annual “First Love” community-ministry blitz is just around the corner on October 17. We’ve been promoting this date since we set it back in January, but most of us are proficient at putting such promotions on the back burner until they get a little closer. Well, the time has arrived to put “First Love” on the front burner with the big date only three weeks away.

The first thing we need from you is your registration. For those of you who may be new to First Baptist, “First Love” is a day when we marshal our people resources and move out into the community to serve in Jesus’ name. Whatever your gift or level of ability, we have a place for you to serve. There is something for everyone to do, and the more people we have register, the greater the impact we will have in Jesus’ name.

You’ll notice canary yellow forms around the church. These forms contain a place for you to indicate how you would like to serve, as well as a place to order a “First Love” T-shirt (which is completely optional.) There is also an attachment for you to keep that lists donation items that we will be putting into “care packages” for active duty troops. When you fill out your form, you can place it in boxes in the Church Office, the College Avenue Foyer, or the Welcome Center. We need your forms by Wednesday, October 14, in order to be able to match talents with needs. Of course, the sooner you turn in your form, the better it will be for our “First Love” planning team, under the direction of Tom Perrin.

Every year brings new stories of how our church blesses our community. I anticipate the same stories this year. Moreover, with the blessings we share, blessings return to us accordingly. That’s just the way our faith works. You really can’t outgive God. His favor abounds in the lives of those who willing to share of their blessings.

I’m praying for another great day this October 17. We need you to sign up in order for it to be all that we pray it will be. So, make plans to do so this Sunday so that this year’s effort can be the best ever.

When I was in North Alabama, a good number of our church members were connected to NASA either as engineers or in technical support. Every time a shuttle would launch, there would be palpable enthusiasm that I really couldn’t identify with. Certainly, I understood and appreciated the hours of labor that had gone into propelling something as mammoth as the shuttle into space. But because I had not been invested personally in the project, the excitement that some of our members showed somehow passed me by.

However, I’m gaining a better understanding of what those times must have been like with a launch that is taking place in our church. I’m speaking of the launch of our new web site. This past Monday we flipped the switch that moved us from our old site to our new one. So, by the time you see this column we will have transitioned to our new site with new content and features.

I am grateful to those who put much hard work into this launch. The process actually began months ago as Fran Buhler initiated a process to upgrade our web presence. Then Josh Hall carried the ball by exploring the web sites of other churches to come up with ideas that we could implement into our upgrade. The rest of the pastoral staff offered ideas and insights along the way. The result is a web site I believe everyone in our church will be proud of. It retains the best of what was on our old site with new material that will enable us to move more toward the “web-based” form of communications that marks most cutting edge institutions and industries today.

In the “old days,” newcomers got their first look at a church through the Yellow Pages. Today, even the Yellow Pages have moved online! Our new and improved web site will enable us to convey what is of utmost importance to people pondering the possibilities of involvement at First Baptist, and it will allow us to stay in touch with our members in ways that strengthen our sense of community.

This Sunday I will be preaching a revival at Grace Church in Meridian, Mississippi. Meridian is twenty-five miles from where I grew up in West Alabama, and the pastor there served my home church during some of its best years. His invitation gives me a chance to preach in my “stomping grounds” and to repay a debt to a pastor who blessed my family and friends for well over fifteen years.

Grace is a new church, established to provide a CBF option for Baptists in that part of the state. I will be their first “evangelist,” and I look forward to the opportunity to encourage them to live up to their name as people of grace.

As I’ve prepared my sermons, I’ve thought about every church, regardless of its name, is at its most faithful when it exhibits a commitment to grace. In a day when too many demand what they believe they deserve, I am always grateful that as a Christian, I have been given much more. And I am equally grateful to be a part of a church like ours that believes the same way.

So, I solicit your prayers as I will be preaching from Sunday through Wednesday. We have a great staff that will be covering the bases while I am away. Pray for them as well so that this Sunday may be all that the people who will come our way will need it to be.

I remember reading somewhere that it’s healthy for a pastor to be gone every now and then. Such planned absences are important reminders of where our strength as a congregation truly lies – as if you needed that reminder.

The Adecco Group is an international provider of human resource solutions. Consequently, they are constantly checking the pulse of the workplace in order to stay abreast of critical issues. Last year, they conducted a survey of workers in the United States, asking them to identify topics of conversation they considered to be “off limits” at work. Here are the top five responses:

· Religion – 29%

· Office gossip – 27%

· Personal life – 16%

· Politics – 14%

· Money – 14%

My first reaction is, “Well, what then is there to talk about?” Aside from sports, what other topics can be discussed in order to connect with colleagues on some sort of personal level? But then I understand how most workers want to be left alone to focus on their business and how so many of these topics can cross the line of good taste and leave someone uncomfortable.

Still, I would guess that every one of these topics gets mentioned in the workplace on almost a daily basis. But they come up, only after a level of trust has been developed and people feel safe broaching them during “down times.”

My interest, of course, is on the topic of religion, which received the top rating of topics to be avoided. As the Labor Day weekend draws near, I see this as a time to ponder how we can bridge our worship and work in faithful and heavy ways. I believe Christians can and should speak about their faith to their colleagues, but I also understand that we must earn the right to speak by living in such a way that our words have credibility.

A good guide in this respect is a quote from St. Francis of Assisi. As you know, St. Francis was a 13^th century monk who sought to live his faith in ways that might transform his world. The Order he founded, the Franciscans, have continued to seek such transformation as their goal. St. Francis taught his followers, “Preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” Francis understood that words and deeds are both necessary to change society.

The first part of this week, I had a chance to get together with a group of fellow pastors to play golf, talk shop, and compare notes. There are three groups that I meet with over the course of the year, and this group is probably the one I look forward to the most, because I have known most of the participants since seminary days. Needless to say, we have history with one another, and it’s all good.

One of our sessions deals with books that we’ve read over the past year. I always pick up two or three titles I didn’t know about that I really need to pay attention to, and I hope my suggestions do the same for others.

This year we altered that part of our discussion a bit at the suggestion of one of our more well-read members. His request was that we consider sharing our Top Ten books over the course of our ministry! At first, I thought that would be an intimidating assignment. How could I boil down 30 years of theological and devotional reading to ten books? But as I got into it, I actually found the exercise helpful. From time to time, it’s good to take stock in order to see how our experiences have formed us into the persons we are.

My list is at the bottom of this column, along with some explanations as to how these titles made it onto my list. Looking at it helps me to see who I am and how I have practiced my faith. I would encourage you to do something similar. It may be books you’ve read, movies you’ve seen, or web sites you’ve viewed. It may be the top devotional books that have guided your daily reflection. Going through such an exercise may surprise you, or disappoint you, or cause you to consider some recommitments in your thoughtfulness regarding your discipleship. Either way you will be better for it, as I hope I have been, and will be able to focus your spiritual energies in ways that make you a better believer. When you think about it, anything we do that brings about that result is time well spent.

I was pleased with how our vote on the recommendation of the Building 4 Community went this past Sunday, in terms of both process and result. Sometimes a vote can result in a decision that was arrived at so poorly that things are worse after the vote than they were before. We have taken pains to make sure that we approached this important time in the life of our church prayerfully, deliberately, respectfully, and charitably. As a result, we are prepared as a church to move together into the good future each of us believes God has for our fellowship.

Regardless of how you voted this past Sunday, the “real vote” will take place over the coming years, as we fulfill our pledges to the “Here for Life” campaign. I have every reason to believe that we will do so because of how the giving has gone to this point. We are ahead of schedule on giving toward our pledges in spite of the economic downturn, and as things pick up, we can anticipate an even stronger response. Over the time I’ve been privileged to serve as your pastor, the one quality about our church that has given me the most joy is how we always do the best that we can. There is an old hymn I grew up singing, “Give of Your Best to the Master.” Our church lives out the call of that hymn on a continual basis. It matters not the climate around us. The one constant in our church is that we will be faithful to the best of our abilities, which is all you can really ask of people.

There are a couple of things you need to know about as we take the next step in moving forward on our Phase One project. One, our Finance Committee has a subcommittee diligently pursuing a financing package. The good news is that potential lenders look upon our church with favor, and we should be able to secure an attractive proposal. Secondly, you will receive a letter from our church office, either confirming your pledge or inviting you to join with us on this journey by making one. I want to assure you again that all pledges are held in confidence, and while we don’t intend to pester anyone with a barrage of correspondence, we do want to make sure you have all the information you need to be able to experiencing the blessing that comes with being a part of something truly transforming in terms of our church’s ministry for the coming decades.

I was overwhelmed the first part of the week by the response of our congregation to the invitation to let us know of their needs or ability to meet needs. We received a larger than expected number of responses, which indicates how Sunday’s worship spoke to so many at both ends of the spectrum. As I looked at the cards, I was amazed at how many of the needs matched up so well with the willingness of others to meet them. During this week, we have connected those parties so that ministry might take place.

This Sunday you will see a board in the vestibule that contains the cards that we were not able to match up. I am confident that as people peruse the board, they will see needs that they can meet or they will see responses that speak to needs they have. You will then be able to make connections on your own that will result in life-changing ministry.

The problem with doing something like this on one Sunday means that only those who were present were able to participate. For those of you who weren’t with us Sunday, you can still be a part of our “breathing together” (the meaning of “conspiracy”) the breath of Jesus. First, read Acts 2:42-47 in order to understand the biblical basis for this ministry effort. Then, come by the church to fill out a card or go online to submit a need or response. We will update the “Barnabas Board” (see Acts 4:32-37) over the next couple of weeks to give enough time for us to follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit in being a transforming community of believers in Jesus Christ, just like the Early Church.

As I said Sunday, I’ve never known of a church to try something like this, so we’re learning as we go along. But we’re not alone in the journey. The Spirit of the Risen Jesus is with us, drawing us closer together toward becoming the church that He desires us to be. Perhaps other churches will take notice and try something similar so that our self-centered culture might see a different and better way of life, and in the process the Lord will add to our number those who are being saved – materially, spiritually, and vocationally, which is what salvation is ultimately supposed to be.

Our church showed its true colors Sunday night as we received the final recommendation of the Building 4 Community committee regarding the scope of our “Here for Life” project. I noticed we had several prospects in attendance, and I couldn’t have been prouder of what they saw as our church came together to discuss this most important opportunity before us. The discussion was thoughtful, informed, charitable, and civil. You would be hard pressed to find many congregations that could address such a matter as we did. Needless to say, I am proud to be pastor of such a church.

The next step is the vote. Our Finance Committee and Deacons have already given their recommendations to the project. Now, the church must weigh in for the process to be complete. That is the Baptist way.

But how should we handle the vote? Our bylaws are silent on the issue of how votes are taken. The practice of our church has been to conduct “voice votes” on all decisions, with close votes tabulated by a show of hands or members standing to express their intent. My assumption has been that we would follow that practice with this decision.

However, a couple of variables have led me to change my position. Most of the votes we take as a church are quite honestly perfunctory; for example, our annual budget. I don’t mean to suggest that our budget is not a critical decision; it’s just that by the time the budget development process has been concluded, we pretty much know where we stand as we move into a new budget year. Thus the annual vote on our budget is more of an affirmation on the part of the church.

Over the years we have had other votes that weren’t so perfunctory. The most recent that comes to mind is our vote fourteen years ago on the eligibility of women to serve as Deacons. That vote was a voice vote, which then required a standing vote in order to make sure that the votes were correctly counted. Other important church votes that preceded my tenure here were the votes on the construction of the Allen CLC and the Chason additions, as well as the vote on the recommendations of the Strategic Plan Committee back in the late eighties. Each of those was a voice vote as well. Nonetheless, at all of those decisions the church was together at one service, which will not be the case with this vote. We will cast our votes during one of the two morning worship services on August 16. (Those who attend both services will only be allowed one vote.) Even if we were to have members stand or raise hands, that process would be unwieldy and time-consuming. The easiest and purest vote would be to have members express their decision by ballot.

I have tried to think through some of the questions that our people might have as we approach August 16. One might be, “Will we allow for absentee ballots?” The answer is, “no.” You must be present to vote. “Will those members in service on that Sunday be allowed to vote even if they aren’t in the worship service?” The answer is, “yes.” If you are on the premises in service, such as the TV ministry or Extended Session, we will make sure you are able to vote. “When will the vote be taken in each service?” We will take the vote at a later point in the service in order to ensure that all members will be in place to participate. “Can Associate Members or guests vote?” The answer is “no.” Our bylaws are clear that only full members will be able to cast a vote. “Who will count the votes?” We have a Counting Committee that is already set up to count the offering. We will add a couple of people on that Sunday to assist with the counting of the votes. “When will the results of the votes be announced?” We will post the results on our church web site (www.fbctlh.org) as soon as the votes are counted. Those not Internet-active can call the church office for the results on Monday morning. You may have other questions that I have not thought about. Feel free to send them my way (doug@fbctlh.org) or 222-5470, ext. 121, and I’ll get you an answer.

Your voice is important as we move forward. Regardless of what we decide, it will require the dedication of all of us. But as we come together on Sunday surely we can celebrate the way our people have already shown their spiritual resolve and ponder the possibilities of what lies ahead for us as a people who are “here after” God’s purpose, His blessing, and His pleasure.