FIRST BAPTI ST CHURC H
First Look
“Face First”
A Adore God
L Love Others
L Live Like Jesus
De The beginning of baseball season always reminds me of some of the best and worst memories of my childhood. I fondly remember sitting with my Dad in the expansive bleachers of the old Arlington Stadium to watch the Texas Rangers play. My mind races back to how green and manicured the grass in the outfield appeared. The sound of the pop in the glove when the outfielders played catch as well as the magical difference between a hotdog in the stands versus anywhere on planet earth. On the dark side, I still have nightmares of my sharp learning curve of trying to hit a baseball. I could catch. I could run. I could throw, but I could not hit. In fact, it was so embarrassing that my mom celebrated foul balls as if I had hit a clean single into leftfield. However, my most embarrassing moment had to have been on a hot and muggy day at Rockwood Park along the Jacksboro Highway in North Fort Worth. Our youth softball team from North Fort Worth Baptist Church had a game scheduled and I decided to bring a date, a first date, to the game in hopes of impressing her and winning a second date. During warm ups, I did my best to appear to be a real player, snagging throws, and running wind sprints at top speed. All this effort led to building up quite a sweat, but I was determined to show off on this special night. In the first inning, I was batting second in the lineup and wanted to start the night off on the right track with a line drive in the gap, but I over swung and bounced a slow roller toward shortstop. Since church league softball can be an adventure, I ran full speed in hopes of beating out a single. As I neared the bag, I realized I had a chance to beat the throw, so I lunged toward the bag breaking my stride. I hit the base oddly, tripping and stumbling over the bag only to fall face first into the red dirt in the infield. As I slid face first, I heard the ump shout “Out!” which was bad, but not the worst. When I stood up and attempted to wipe off the dirt, to my horror I discovered the front of my green pinstriped uniform was caked in mud. To make matters worse, my face, my arms, and my hands also bore the red hue of the dirt. So much for good first impressions; even my coach had to turn his head and giggle as I walked back to the dugout determine to not look into the stands.
April 12, 2018
There was no second date, for which looking back I am thankful. In fact, who knows, possibly my guardian angel tripped me up to nudging me toward Robyn. Often falling flat on your face, though painful, can be helpful when it forces you to rollover and look up. In the practical book of James, I discovered one of my life verses which says: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV) James wisely points out that we need to find great joy and comfort when we face trials and testing of our faith unexpectedly. In fact, I prefer the old King James Version translation that read, “Count it all joy when you fall” creating the image of one tripping and falling into a situation not of his or her own making. The trials that test and temper our character, do not come as consequences to our sins and failures, but rather as the recognition by our Lord that we may be ready to move up to the next level of maturity and effectiveness. Unexpected trials test your faith, and the testing of your faith produces steadfastness, patience, and perseverance. Tempering of our trust in God strengthens our spirits in such a way that we determine to never give up and to never give in. Much like the determined attitude of Winston Churchill of the British Empire who stood strong in the face of the threats of Nazi Germany declaring: “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never—in nothing, great or small, large or petty—never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.” God loves you and me so much that He allows and at times sends us into the storm so that in the end we can become more and more like His Son in heart and in character. Yes, in the end, God wants you and me to be “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Never forget the next time you stumble into a trial it just may be for your good.
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FIRST LOOK
FBC Leadership Team Financial Statistics for April 12,2018 Dr. David Lowrie, Pastor:
[email protected] Mike Stallsworth, Executive Pastor:
[email protected] Gerre Joiner, Senior Adult Pastor :
[email protected] .
Candy Burden, Children’s Pastor:
[email protected] Ryan Cunnius, Interim Worship Leader:
[email protected] Harold Mosley, Building & Grounds :
[email protected] Bree Kirkelie, Office Manager
[email protected] Miranda Boswell, MDO Director:
[email protected] Beth Addington, Preschool Director:
[email protected] Tithes and Offerings Received: $27,652 Month-to-date Received: $58,599 Building Fund Received: $5,956 Month-to-date Received: $7,126 Weekly Attendance Report
Sunday School Attendance: 319 Worship Attendance: : 438