First Focus Articles

Last week I introduced in this space an overview of our planned February WorkFaith emphasis in those Sunday Morning bible Study groups who have elected to participate, using “Taking Your Soul to Work”, the resource selected by our WorkFaith Team: Dr. Jim Croushorn, Cecil Davis, Stuart Pearce, Linda Thompson, Dr. Matthew Jenije, Chris Rettowski, Priscilla Tharpe, James Craig, Todd Roberson, and Susan Byler. I mentioned the WorkFaith emphasis will include a mentoring option for those who confront workplace challenges. Read Cecil Davis’ summary of the qualifications and role of a mentor below – and pray about becoming involved.

 

From Cecil Davis:

 

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

 

 

 

 

During the month of February, FBC staff has planned a WorkFaith Worship and Bible study Emphasis. This short-term, four week series will be offered for young adults – married and single – and other adults still in the workplace. Adult small groups who are retired and no longer in the work place will use your regular resource for Bible study.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Yes, it’s that time of the year.

 

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.

 

 

 

 

“OK, let’s hear it for family!”

 

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

 

What the world is looking for...

 

...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.

 

 

 

What is the best thing that ever happened to you?

 

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?

 

 

 

Tallahassee community leadership has sought for years to reinvigorate the urban downtown hub of Tallahassee-Leon County.  I confess my bias, but there is an exciting story about your/our First Baptist Church at 108 West College Avenue. Elements of the story go like this:

 

 

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!)

 

 

“I dare you to experience this blessing.”  - Fran Buhler

 

 

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…

 

 

 

 

On this beautiful November morning, I am thankful for…

 

 

 

Dear FBC Tallahassee Family,

 

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.