Pastor's
Harbor
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Antioch
Lighthouse
Here
at Antioch, we are Disciples for Christ, the Church of
Three Ships: Worship, Friendship, and Fellowship; Where our worship is produced by our daily devotion with God,
Where our friendship is produced by our love, Where our
fellowship is produced by our relationship with Christ.
Here at Antioch, we are Kingdom Building.
Rev.
Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
Staff/Writers:
Bonnie Frizell, Rosemary Jordan, Shelly Robinson
Editor:
Stella Thomas
February 2001
Volume VI
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| Is Anything Too Hard For
GOD?
The question above that frames our thinking is very vital. There
are issues that are before Antioch that can only be answered in light
of how we respond to the above question. There are individuals
that are struggling with their relationship with God. There are
families who have fractures in their foundation. This body is
struggling with reflecting a biblical image. The second
quest5ion that arises is, are these issues anything new? We must
admit that the issues we face are not new. They may have a new
looking facade but the inner problem is still the same. Dr. Tony Evens
said, "If God is your problem then God must be your solution."
Sarah, the wife of Abraham, laughed at
the word of God (Fen. 18:1-14). Many times we find ourselves in
this same position. Our actions reveal what we really think of God's
word. We consider that our issues are beyond God. In our
lives we are barren and we do not believe God can bring new life out
of emptiness. Are you and I sitting in God's presence,
worshiping, with doubt in our hearts? If we are doubtful in our
hearts there must be the clear realization that it will flow into our
living. Sarah offered up a substitute wife (Hagar) because she
had doubt in her heart. Sarah substituted her own action for
God, promise, in essence saying my issue is too hard for God. Moses
feels the burden of leading the people of God as he prepares them to
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enter into the
promised land (Deut 1:9). Many times our issues are too much for
us and we see that we are overwhelmed. Where will we look for
help? Jethro, Moses' father in-law, gave him advice on how to
structure Israel's polity. We may mean well yet burn ourselves
out or burn out the people we are trying to serve. When we go
this route we are expressing that the issue is too hard for God.
We can move forward with confidence in our abilities if we know that
the promise of God is complete. So we her Moses tell the leaders
that he has appointed, "You shall not show partiality in
judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not
be afraid in any man, presence, for the judgment is God'. The
case that is too hard for you, bring to me and I will hear it."
9Det. 1:17 NKJ) If we are to represent God we must walk in the
confidence of our call. We may be beyond our individual ability
but never are we beyond the resources of our God.
Antioch needs to meditate, and pray on this matter
of what God can do. It is important that we, Antioch, see
ourselves as the people of God. We must distinguish ourselves as
community of faith. With that distinction we will be a living
testimony tot he glory of God. Let us not substitute our actions
for God's promise neither let us measure the burden we bear by our
abilities. 'Kingdom Building' is the vision of our church, with
this in mind we must press forward. It is not our kingdom that
is being pressed forward but the Kingdom of God.
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From a practical point
of view we must deepen our piety. Holiness is an important issue
for the church. Without holiness we are not in right
relationship with God. At the same time leadership and
follow-ship are important issues as well. Each of these issues
speak to the very problems Sarah and Moses faced. They did not
face them simply as individuals but as the people of God in
community. Our common unity is in God through Jesus
Christ. Antioch we are one body in Christ. In the year
2001 we must trust the promise of our God.
For the church the clear answer is, there is nothing
too hard for God. Antioch must redouble her efforts toward the
mission and vision that is ours. Jesus laid the mission out in
Matthew 28:18-20 the vision in our hearts. Part of our vision is
accomplished in our renovation project. If the renovations are
all that our vision consist of then we simply have a vision of
maintenance as a vision; we have worship, friendship, and fellowship as our vision. As pastor I need each of
you to reach down into
the depth of your faith and reaffirm your dependence on God.
God's word stands before you as your foundation. God's pastor
stands before you as you guide. God's people stand with you to
be your community.
God builds bridges over impossibility, we are the
material he uses!
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Prayer by
Sis. Bonnie Frizell
Prayer is one of the pillars of the Christian life. Nothing can
atone for the lack of prayer. When we prey, we communicate with our
heavenly Father. In prayer we praise Him, thank Him, and worship
Him. If we make our request known to our Father, with thanksgiving, the
indwelling Holy Spirit will guide us unto all truth as we pray (1 John 1:9).
However, Scripture states that God will never hear us nor look
upon us as we pray, if we are regarding iniquity in our hearts or retaining any
known and unconfused sins (Isaiah 59:1,2;Psa 66:18). Therefore, we must
first confess by name all known sin. "If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9).
The Bible also gives us other instructions, examples and
commands on prayer.
-Pray according to God's will (1 John 5:14)
God's will for the Christian is
good, acceptable, and perfect (Rom. 12:2). The ultimate example of praying
for God's will was Christ's going to the cross with the words, "Not as I
will, but as Your will" (Matt. 26:39). This agony unto death paid the
penalty of sin for every believer (1 Pet. 3:18)!
-Pray as the Lord prayed (Luke 11:14)
Christ gives us an example of a model
prayer. Not only did He show others how to pray, He first set the
example. This itself, made others desire to follow His example.
-Pray without ceasing (1Thess. 5:17,18)
This is a command. A believer should
want a continual life of prayer with God - morning, noon, and night (Dan.
6:10). A Christian should always be in the attitude of prayer and to be
conscious of God's invisible presence.
-Pray believing (Matt. 21:21,22)
Faith is based on the knowledge that the Bible is God's inspired Word (2
Tim. 3:16). We believe in God's almighty ability and desire to answer our prayers
from the evidence and testimony of the Scriptures. We must pray witht the
understanding that all things were created, and therefore can be controlled, by
the spoken Word of God (Heb. 11:1-3). True prayer, according to scripture,
includes faith in God's power and will accomplish what we ask. If we ask
God for anything, but do not ;believe He is able to perform it, in a sense we
are not praying. We must be confident in what we know of God's will, and
have faith in his almighty power, before we can ask and receive the
answer. "For whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).
-Pray in His name (John 16:23) Christ
teaches us to pray to the Father in His name. What a wonderful name to be
able to use, what a great Friend to be our Mediator (1 Tim. 2:5), what a mighty
and holy Sovereign with which to storm the doors of heaven!!
It's good to keep a diary of your requests to Our
Father. Keep record on dates and when your prayer request (s) was
answered. Always thank the Lord for whatever His will may be for
you. The answer might not be what you would have chosen, but it will be
better than what you might have chosen. Learn to be patient. Saints
never give up on God!
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
A Revised Copy of our Bylaws was presented to
us at our Annual Church Meeting on Saturday, January 20th by the Bylaws
Committee. We would like to commend those individuals who gave of their
time, talent, and effort which together brought forth for us a finished draft of
Bylaws which reflects Antioch's Theme, Goals and Visions for now an the
tomorrow's to come.
Copies of the revision can be picked up in the church
office. We encourage each member to pick up a copy and read them.
This document is very important as it is that which will be used to govern us,
the Antioch Baptist Church Body. As you read, you are encourage to make
note of your comments and concerned on your copy and then turn in to the office
by March 15th. The Bylaws committee will then pick them up, review your
comments, get clarification if needed, and be ready for the first reading at our
quarterly business meeting in April.
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Upcoming Church Events for February
Friday and Saturday, February 2nd and 3rd - Leadership Workshop
Sunday - February 4th - Communion Service
Sunday - February 11th @ 4:00 p.m., Deacon's Annual Day-
Theme: Deacons of the New Millennium, "Models of Christian
Leadership". Special guest speaker: Deacon Richard Harrell,
Corinthian Missionary Baptist Church, Des Moines, Iowa.
Wednesday, February 14th - Valentine's Day - Couples Night Out -
Date & Time to be announced.
Sunday, February 25th - Wade in the Water Musical
Wednesday Night Praise Service & Bible Study @ 6:00 p.m. -
"Blacks in the Bible, So What?"
Easter Cantata Rehearsal (Dates and time to be announced)
Lenten Season begins February 28th
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VISION PLANTERS FOR KINGDOM BUILDING
STRENGTHENING OUR ROOTS
SACRIFICE IS THE TRUE MEASURE OF OUR GIVING
In June of 1999, the Congregation was presented a plan for
raising the money to pay for our Capital Improvement Vision Planters Program.
All church members are asked to
sacrifice by making a pledge to give each month above and beyond their usual
tithes and offerings.
Pledge cards were distributed, signed, and returned to the Trustees.
Members had a choice of giving as follows:
$100.00 - Ambassadors - Messengers of Christ
$50.00 - Commissioners - On a mission for Christ
$25.00 - Disciples - Bringing other to Christ
$10.00 - Planters - Cultivating for Christ
$5.00 - Youth Partners (12-18) Working for Christ
The Vision Planters Program is on going. We still need
your pledges. Any new members, or members who have not yet pledged are
encourged to do so and can obtain a pledge card from the church office or a
Trustee.
The Total amount Pledged per month was $4,631.00
Total Pledge received for December was $4,582.00
God deserves all of the Praise and the Glory
In future articles we will answer any questions that you may
have about the Vision Planters Pledge Program and keep you informed of our
progress, so all questions should be directed the the Trustees. Our
Stewardship Directors are Norm & Lelia Granger.
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Stewardship: How's Your Faith Today?
A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokes built
a new sanctuary of a piece of line willed to them by a church member. Ten
days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed
the pastor the the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the
building. Until the church doubled the size of the parking lit, they would
not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its
undersized parking lot, had used every inch of their land except for the mountain
against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces,
they would have to move the mountain out of their back yard.
Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he
would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain-moving faith,
" They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from
the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted
before the scheduled opening dedication service the following week. At the
appointed time, 24 of the congregations' 300 members assembled for prayer.
They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the
final "Amen". "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled,"
he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe
He will be faithful this time, too." The next morni9ng as he was
working in his study there came a loud knock at his door. When he called
"Come n," a rough-looking construction foreman appeared, removing his
hard hat as he entered. "Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from the Acme
Construction Company over in the next county. We're building a huge new
shopping mall over there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing
to sell us a chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for
the dirt we remove and pave all the espoused are free of charge, if we can have
it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the dirt in and
allow it to settle properly."
The little church was dedicated the nest Sunday as originally
planned and there were far more members with 'mountain-moving faith' on opening
Sunday that there had been the previous week.
Some people say faith comes from miracles....but others know:
MIRACLES COME FROM FAITH, for it is not in us, but IN GOD
Antioch Baptist Church
Rev. Michael E. Coleman, Pastor
426 Sumner Street
Waterloo, IA 50703