Church Essentials - beginning Sundays in June 2013 at Trinity Baptist Church

So excited to lead Mark Dever's program "Church Essentials" at our church.  We @trinitymarianna are seeing our discipling effort rewarded by God as people are being added to our number.  I am so hopeful that reviewing God's design of the Body will draw more folks to seek and worship God at Trinity Baptist Church of Marianna, FL.  See www.trinitymarianna.com for more info! Let's function in Christ's Body as prescribed in the Bible - and watch Him bless it and cause it to impact and restore lives!

Creation Restored

Thanks to Matt Carter and Halim Suh for the wonderful study of the gospel in Genesis. Our folks at www.trinitymarianna.com loved this discussion based study - even though we did it with a larger group of about 60 on Sunday nights. I learned that God has ordained even the toughest life circumstances to accomplish His desired best in us. God's sovereignty frees us to pursue holiness, suffer well, consider others, take action, receive good, and forgive when we've been wronged. Be holy and pursue righteousness - God will take care of the rest.

Something Better

We are praying for company and church growth and development in 2013. I want to write a book this year. We are exploring ideas which converge business and ministry. Let us obey God and see what He will do this year. Winning souls. Making disciples. Spreading the gospel within the workplace. Thank God for His grace on us in this year. Be glorified!

Seven Decisions

Hoping to gain value from Andy Andrews' book 'Mastering the Seven Decisions'. Can't be bad if Johnny Hunt recommends it.

Life Keeps Moving

I see my sons growing up and playing ball and making grades.  I see them finding out more about God for themselves.  I see my wife working hard to keep our home a home - and I appreciate it more than ever after these 20 years together.  I see my work struggling but a lot of effort and faith from my brother and all our folks.  I see my faith life wavering abit amidst a storm of work related difficulties.

I also see God moving and working in lives.  I see young people at church turning to God and getting serious about their faith walk.  I see people worshipping.  I know I needed to have been further down the road by now.  I pray God continues to work in me and with me to equip me for every good work.

Life is moving very fast and I need to cherish every moment.  I am seeking God and His future for me and my family.  Hold on.  It is always an adventure. 

Church Ministry Creates Solutions

In studying some of the available deacon training material, it becomes clear that in a church each believer is a priest.  As such, if a believer knows of another believer or church attender's problems, that priest must make himself/herself available to develop alternatives for the solution of the problem.  Then that priest should, as required, include the family deacon or staff minister to assist in planning and implementation of a life solution.  That solution may include only a few tight knit folks, or more of the church family, or even outside resources like government agencies, civic clubs, etc.  In viewing possible solutions from this perspective, the universal set of resources is essentially limitless.  Then the ministry opportunity morphs more into loving counsel, accountability, and connection to the drivers which can get us where we want to go!

It stands to reason that certain members or attenders may resist any ministry support which may risk worsening things.  But aren't all solution sets containing some risk?  In love, if we reach out to people and commit to being available, we may be surprised how we see God working in the lives of people to save and improve relationships, and foster positive progress in areas otherwise just left unattended.  I don't think we want to be content just meeting each other in the church house and saying, "Everything is fine."  If kept in confidence and approached properly, not only are the lost saved and Christians made disciples, but issues and emotions get healthier as the body works out its ministry together.     

These last few months have been the toughest I have ever faced during my professional career.  I thank God that we have been sustained through it all and deeply desire to see advancement through this adversity.  Advancement in spiritual maturity, business acumen, and particularly ministry opportunities ordained of God!  I highly recommend The Wonderful Spirit Filled Life by Dr. Charles Stanley. It is one of the clearest explanations of who the Holy Spirit is and how to recognize and follow His lead!  Dependence and surrender are keys to following Him.  Let's see our manufacturing businesses mount a comeback in the USA and demonstrate our competitiveness!  God, be glorified in our business - Manown Engineering (www.manown.com).  And in our church - Trinity Baptist Church (www.trinitymarianna.com).  In our family and in our daily walk!