FBC Chattahoochee

April 9, 2009

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:32-43)

I still remember the play…a double reverse and my responsibility in the defense we were running was for me to “stay home.” In other words I was not to pursue the running back who was running away from me…I was to stay in my area in case the play came back my way. I did pursue and I hadn’t stayed! After a long gain we finally tackled the runner and I had to face my coach. I just knew he was going to substitute for me, but he didn’t. He said, “Jimmy, go back in there and don’t ever let that happen again.” I never did. I was given a second chance.

The criminal on the cross beside Jesus on that dark Friday we call “Good”, got a second chance when he asked for it. His belief assured that. But interestingly, the soldiers who would crucify Jesus were given another chance even though there is no recording of their request. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” was the recipe of a second chance. Whenever we forgive anyone it also ushers in a second chance… in our case sometimes we, the forgivers, are actually the recipients of that new beginning.

Easter is all about Second, and many more, chances. It is about forgiveness. It is about new beginnings. It is about a close companion that denies knowing Him on the night of his betrayal yet is given the first great preaching assignment some 50 days later at Pentecost. It is about a woman at a public well who is living in an adulterous relationship but is given the opportunity to change her life and she shares this change with her many “friends.” It is about a murderous Rabbi whose mission in life was to destroy all Christians and how he would become the first great Christian missionary. It is about the young man who left the first missionary journey in defeat but would one day write a Gospel which we read in our present day Bible. SECOND CHANCES are written all over the face of Christianity. And Easter is here to make sure we never forget it. Hallelujah!

The new sermon series in which we are in the midst is “Who Is Jesus?” As you can see below, we are looking at what different people and documents say who Jesus is. We will conclude with seven self-identity statements Jesus said which are recorded in the Gospel of John. This Easter Sunday I will preach a sermon which has as its focus the sensibility of our belief in Jesus as Savior. I hope you will attend and bring someone with you.

Who IS Jesus?
“Questions and Answers about the True Identity of Jesus Christ”
March 29 CULTURE SPEAKS: Jesus Is Confusing (Matthew 16:13-16)

April 5 RELIGION SPEAKS: Cheers Can Become Jeers (John 12:12-19, 19:15)
April 12 EVIDENCE SPEAKS: It Makes Sense to Believe What’s All the Fuss about Easter?
(Matthew 28:5-7, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
April 19 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Need Satisfier (John 6:25-35)
April 26 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Journey Director (John 8:12-20)

May 3 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Life Fulfiller (John 10:1-10)
May 17 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Sacrificial Lover (John 10:11-18)
May 24 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Death Destroyer (John 11:17-27)
May 31 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am Inclusively Exclusive (John 14:6)

June 7 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Growth Stimulator (John 15:1-4)

Expectantly,
Jim

…patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. These words from the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth are primarily for relationships within the church. But like all biblical teaching, its truth can be applied in a number of different situations. This week as we celebrate Valentine’s Day, named after two Early Christian martyrs named Valentine and which became associated with romantic love during the time of Geoffrey Chaucer, it is a good time to reflect on these words. Some would tell us that if we have the proper emotional romantic feelings toward another, these actions will take place automatically. I tend to subscribe to the idea that these actions, and love is something you do, if applied will lead to the emotional romantic love that is desired by our spouse. How about you…done anything loving lately?

We are so blessed as a church to be a servant to our community and other churches. We will be hosting two of our Neighborhoods Association meetings this month. Our Glenlocke Grove neighbors will meet in our facilities on Tuesday February 10th while the Whittier Mill Village Neighborhood Association will meet in our Fellowship Hall on Thursday February 19th. Another great opportunity we have to help a new Baptist Church in our community will occur on Sunday February 15th at 6:00pm in our Sanctuary. Midtown Bridge Church, a new church sponsored by FBC Woodstock and our state convention, will have a worship/baptism service. They meet on Sunday mornings in the movie theaters in Atlantic Station and have no other facilities. Larry Grays leads this wonderful cutting edge ministry and I am delighted that we can serve them with our Kingdom mindset like this.

Other ways of service that we have as opportunities in the near future are connected to the Georgia Tech Baptist Collegiate Ministry (Former BSU). The first venue of service is to provide refreshments on campus for about 125 Tech students after the BCM Worship Service on Tuesday night March 3rd. At this time we have commitments for 20 dozen of the 25 dozen home baked cookies needed and $45 of the $75 needed for water and soft drinks. Please let me know if you can help with either. We are also helping to facilitate a Saturday work day on March 28th for the cleanup of the Spink-Collins Park, just down the road from where the Barnetts live. It will be a joint effort of the Georgia Tech BCM and neighborhood volunteers. It will be a great opportunity for church volunteers to build relationships with these college students and neighbors. I hope you will consider participating.

The Easter Egg Hunt is off and running! We have had a tremendous response from our neighbors so we will proceed to have the best Upper West Side Easter Egg Hunt in history! It will be held on Saturday April 11th at 2:00pm in the Whittier Mill Village Park. Joy Gilbert and Mitsy Austin are working on a steering committee with me from our church along with volunteers from three of our surrounding neighborhoods. You will be hearing more in the days ahead.

Two other ways that we might be able to use our facilities to connect and help those that live around us are being discussed at the present time and will be coordinated with our Building and Grounds Committee. The first opportunity came out of our discussions with our neighbors concerning the Easter Egg Hunt. There seems to be a great need for a Mother’s Day Out ministry a few days a week. Mitsy Austin is going to work with me to discuss with our neighbors ways in which our church can be of assistance in seeing this happen. Personally, in addition to the service we would provide it would be exciting to see our building become a center of community activity. In addition to that possibility, I was contacted recently by representatives of the Fulton-Atlanta Community Action Authority who are interested in having a location much closer to our community for the help they provide needy senior adults. At this time a person in our area who doesn’t have transportation has to change busses three times to get to their offices on the other side of the city. Their director is coming to our campus soon to meet with Bob and me in order to investigate the possibility of them using some space in our facility to receive requests from our community residents.

One of the greatest Kingdom assets we have is our building. Isn’t it wonderful to see how God is using it?

Expectantly,

Jim

January 6, 2009

In the New International translation of the Bible the word “new” is found 192 times. Most of the passages where this intriguing word is located are words of encouragement and challenge. One of my favorite messages of encouragement is found in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) WOW! I can’t even fathom what that truly means. I do understand that to really know fresh living we can only find it in a relationship with Jesus. All else might seem to offer the same but only Jesus can be counted on…all other relationships are falsely advertising. I also understand that Jesus offers us this newness by telling us that through a relationship with Him we can put all our past failures behind us and not be held back or sidetracked by them. We really can start all over again!

The three part sermon series which is being offered during these first weeks of 2009 is aimed at the opportunities of a new, fresh start. Last week we talked about the Road to Newness being the road to becoming a Follower of Jesus and how we can take the first step in that journey. This Sunday, January 11, we will answer the question, “Which Rule Will You Live By This Year?” We don’t like to talk about rules but we all live by them whether we know it or not. There is one rule though that is a freeing revelation of relationship based on the kind of love God continues to show us. I hope you will be present for this message. It has the potential to revolutionize your life.

Great things are happening at First Baptist Church Chattahoochee these days. We received more than our budget goal for 2008 for the first time in people’s memory. When other churches and “not for profits” are having to cut their budgets and are cutting back services, God has been so gracious to us that we have increased our budget goal for 2009 by 6.4%. This does not mean that we are in any way better or more faithful than others it simply communicates that God is entrusting us with an opportunity with which we must be faithful stewards of priorities, resources and vision. We also were ecstatic that we were allowed to be a helper in our community filling 4 barrels of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. And our Christmas Eve Service was well attended with at least five families attending that have never attended any of our services before.

The year 2009 offers some great and challenging opportunities. My prayer is that we will soon have the money needed to proceed with the playground at Scott Elementary School on Hollywood. We are helping to facilitate a Saturday work day for the cleanup of the Spink-Collins Park, just down the road from where the Barnetts live. It will be a joint effort of the Georgia Tech Baptist Campus Ministry (BSU) and neighborhood groups. It is also open to anyone else that might be interested in helping. It will take place the last Saturday of January, February or March. We are working out the date at the present time. We will also be providing refreshments for about 100 Tech students after the BCM Worship Service on Tuesday night March 3rd. If you would like to help me with this please let me know. Another opportunity we are praying about and trying to discover if there is a community desire for it is to offer an Upper West Side Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter. The ladies in our WMU and Circles will be leading out with this if we feel there is adequate interest from our neighbors.

Another great idea that we are looking into is to make our library more accessible to our neighbors. We are going to get some help to know how to best make our library more children friendly then possibly this summer have open hours and “story telling” times. Please be thinking how you might be able to plug into this promising venture. Another Idea that I am nursing along right now is how we might have some Sunday Evening concert type events off the porch in the back of fellowship hall that might be a super time for our neighbors to gather on our back lawn on blankets and even picnic baskets. Chastain Park “Upper West Side” if you get my drift.

Whatever happens in 2009, I’m sure it will be some kind of ride!

Expectantly,
Jim

December 1, 2008

ADVENT…a coming into being…an anticipation.  How do you prepare for Christmas? What do you do that helps build anticipation for that glorious celebration?  Through the years many things come to mind in my case.  As a young child we would receive a calendar from Uncle Jack who was stationed in Germany.  Each day leading up to Christmas we would tear off the tab with that day’s date on it.  It was Christmas Countdown for me.

In recent years I have collected Christmas Movie DVDs and watch them leading up to Christmas…”It’s A Wonderful Life” is not only the best Christmas Movie but the best movie ever made! Each Christmas Eve after the church service our family opens gifts and watches that great Frank Capra classic…whether they want to or not…and loves it.  Maybe you anticipate Christmas by shopping or going to parties or simply riding around and looking at the sights.  We all need to prepare for the celebration of the Christ Event.

I hope we will be able to assist your preparation this season by offering some opportunities that should help us “get ready” for Christmas.  First, I will begin a three part Christmas Sermon Series this Sunday titled Christmas Presents…watch the syllable where you place the emphasis because it can change the meaning of this word.

On December the 8th we will begin collecting can goods for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  We need your help in manning the collection center.  Please contact Kerri Wakefield or Jimmie Jordan to volunteer.  On December 14th you are invited to our home anytime from 2-4 for an Open House.  You had better come since Linda is wearing me out getting things ready for your arrival.  Maps are available at the church facility and on our web page.  And on Christmas Eve we will gather for a wonderful time of carols, communion and candles.  I can’t wait…sounds like I have a lot of anticipation already present.

I received an email this week from the Scott Elementary Principal, Roxianne Smith concerning the status of the playground project.  She wrote, “I just wanted to update you on the status of the Atlanta Falcons’ grant that was to be used for the funding of the playground at Scott Elementary.  Originally, the Falcon Family Foundation was planning to fund 10 grants to various organizations.  Scott was one of the ten projects chosen for funding.  Unfortunately, the effects of the nation’s economy can be felt by all.  When the foundation took the proposals to the Board, they were told that the foundation would only be able to fund one playground at this time.  Of course when we heard the news we were heartbroken, but John Bear, from the foundation, has assisted us with another route.  He has nurtured a partnership between Scott Elementary and Safeplay Systems to install a starter playground.  While the starter playground is smaller than our earlier vision, it can be added upon as future funds become available.  We are even attempting to include Hands-On Atlanta with the playground installation to further cut down expenses.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and commitment thus far with helping us secure the funds that the grant required.  Although the path has changed, I continue to request your support and financial support toward the new plan for a starter playground.  Many of you have already given checks to the school while others have committed to sending your donation by December 15th.  I wanted to inform you that we did not secure the grant and also ask if the funds you already committed to donating could still be used for the starter playground?”

The total cost of the starter playground is $19,428.00 which is almost $5,000 more than the $15,000 that needed to be raised for the matching grant of $35,000 from the Falcon Foundation.  We are trying to facilitate the raising of $10,000 of the $15,000 originally needed.  We have received $1800 and have a commitment of $5,000 from an endowment.  It would be great if we could raise even more than the goal we had since the cost has increased.  Can you think of a better Christmas present than providing a safe play space for these deserving children?

Finally, remember to check your stewardship records and make sure you have returned your whole tithe to the church this year.  We will need a huge month of giving in December to reach our budget goal.  Also remember that this is the season we support the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Our Goal this year is $5,000.

Expectantly,
Jim

November 1, 2008

RAMBLINGS…

Well this Sunday, November 2nd is time change Sunday. Before you go to bed remember to turn your clock BACK one hour. That is unless you are one of those analytical precise engineer types who sets your alarm for 2:00am Sunday morning so you can wake up to set your clock back at the proper time.

Wouldn’t it be great if we could turn our life clock back on occasions to avoid a mistake or an occasion when we blew it? Or it would be even greater to be able to set our spiritual clock back so we can erase times when we were disobedient or insensitive to God’s desire for us. Well we can! In the letter of 1John 1:8-9 we are given these life changing words, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

I am so proud to be your Pastor. You blew me away with your participation in the Parktoberfest. Over 20 of our members showed up to serve bar-b-q and the fixings. And instead of staying for the allotted 30 minute slot most stayed the entire four hours. Wow! Many neighbors noticed your service and many have made very positive comments to me. A special thanks goes to Jimmie and Amelia Jordan who led out in this worthy ministry.

This month provides some more opportunities for us to join God in what He is doing. First of all we are enlisting people to take one hour a week to pray specifically for our church. If you would do this either sign up on the sheet attached to the bulletin board outside the church office or contact Hilda Clayton or Amelia Jordan. Also remember to bring your filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child on Sunday November 23rd. And that night at 6:00pm we will have our annual Thanksgiving Dinner.

Finally, allow me to tell you about a tremendous opportunity we have to perform a transformational act of service for our community. Our church is facilitating the raising of $10,000 for a matching amount toward a $50,000 grant to build a playground at Scott Elementary School located less than two miles from our church campus. Neighborhood Associations, businesses, church partners and our own members are being asked to participate. Linda and I have already given an amount over and above our normal tithe and offerings…will you join us? Simply make out a check to FBC Chattahoochee and include a note signifying the designation for the SCOTT PLAYGROUND. I have visited on campus with their principal and I can honestly say that this playground will make a huge impact on our community by giving these precious children a positive place to spend their time.

The Budget and Finance Committee has been working on the 2009 Proposed Budget. Their plans are to present it to the Deacons this Sunday November 2nd at their 8:30am meeting and if all goes well the church will vote on it at the Quarterly Church Conference on Wednesday November 5th at 6:45 in the Sanctuary.

Dates to mark for December
December 8-28: Food Drive for the Atlanta Community Food Bank
December 24: 5:00pm Christmas Eve Service of Carols, Candles and Communion

I believe even more now than I did three months ago that our future is extremely bright.

Expectantly,
Jim

October 1, 2008                                                      Ramblings…

Linda and I complete our first two months with you today. I just want to take a few moments to pause and thank God for leading us to be your Pastor and First Lady…. I guess this is better than First Dudette. I also want to thank you for the love, encouragement and prayers for us you have expressed. Your capacity to allow me to lead and vision has been such a blessing!

While the renewal of our church will take some time, I see so many positive signs. We are still very open to sharing our facilities with our neighbors. One night two of our precious members volunteered to keep the nursery for children of neighbors in a meeting. We had five families from our community that visited with us on our Homecoming. Many are volunteering to participate in the Whittier Mill Village Parktoberfest just to serve them and build relationships. We are going to mail out over 2500 introduction letters to our communities later this week. We have had a school begin discussions with us about the possibility of using our facilities which if it were to happen would cause a lot of synergy around our church campus. We have designed and implemented this webpage which has received many favorable comments and gives our neighbors an opportunity to find out about us.

I believe even more now than I did two months ago that our future is extremely bright.

Expectantly,
Jim