Duties to Fulfill

When it came time to pay, I didn’t really know how to respond. Oh, I pulled out my card and placed it in the kiosk. Everything went through without a hitch. My confusion came when I looked at the screen in anticipation of punching the OK button. Staring me in the face was a request for the selection of the percentage of tip I wanted to include with my payment. I was buying a suit that was being ordered for delivery at a date to be determined. I had told the young man helping me what size of coat and what size of pants I needed. All he did was confirm my information and place the order. Did I need to tip him?

I am not against tipping when I eat out and receive decent service. I understand that most waiting tables make minimal pay other than tips. I like to tip in order to affirm people who are actually working. That is in a restaurant. I don’t feel the same about a clothing store or a department store or a self-serve deli. A tip is not an entitlement. A tip should not be expected for just doing a job.

Jesus told a story about this in Luke 17. In the story, a servant did a lot to provide for his master without expecting a thank you. Jesus applied this reality to our relationship with God in verse 10 of the same chapter.

“So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants, we have only done what was our duty.’”

We have duties to fulfill in our relationship with God. We should not expect a pat on the back or a thank you note or a “tip” from God when we simply do our duty as grateful servants who have been saved by grace. Permanent forgiveness of sins and a residence in heaven is more than enough compensation for every Christian. However, some Christians wrongly think that if they actually serve the Lord they should be recognized by God with favorable treatment.

I will remind you of what you should already know. God owes no person anything. Still, He has graciously provided salvation for us sinners. This is His gift to us. This is not His obligation to us.

100% for Jesus! Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “Black Friday ” Mark 15:21-41
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

Hope Filled Grief

It became an event in my life that I shall never forget. My daddy had died a few weeks earlier. As a family, we had grieved and gotten things done. The shock of daddy’s death launched us into a period of great activity as we arranged a funeral, secured death certificates, greeted guests, and sorted through details. Daddy was a “get it done” kind of man and taught us to do the same. We got things done. I cried, but I did not grieve.

I was returning to Weatherford after visiting my mother when I passed by the Rose Cemetery on the east side of Hobart. I pulled in and drove over to the fresh grave that held my daddy’s body. My intent was to get a pine cone from the casket piece that I could place in the shadow box of memories I created for Daddy. The winter air was cold and misting rain. The fresh earth topping the grave had turned into mud and stuck to my boots. At that moment I became so overwhelmed with grief that I could barely see through my tears.

I could not stop crying. He had gone to be with Christ, which is better by far. I was still on earth and would never visit with him again, this side of heaven. Describing quail hunts to him was a thing of the past. Never more would he be seated at the back of the worship center with Mom while I preached a sermon. Christmas had been so different without him. More differences would arrive and continue. Life had officially changed.

God had not. I continued to read His Word and trust His grace. I leaned on those who love me most. I stayed in my routine as much as possible. It proved to be my friend. I was able to function in the midst of my sorrow because I had a pattern to follow even when I would have rather been doing nothing. Eventually grief loosened its grip on my life, but it took a while.

I still live with precious memories and eternal hope because of the grace of God.

So can you. When you grieve, know that you are not alone and that better days are coming. You never get over losing someone you love. However, you can and will move forward. As Christians, we grieve but not as those who have no hope.

I Thessalonians 4:13,                                                 Earl 

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• This Sundays Sermon “Palm Sunday ” Matthew 21:1-11
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

New Member

Ellie Wall

I Found It!

I couldn’t find my quail hunting belt. Last year, after Christmas, Kendall showed up wearing a belt his grandchildren had tooled for him and a belt buckle his son had given him. The belt buckle was a replica of a buckle from decades gone by. When I saw the replica of two quail in flight I recognized it as a buckle I had received decades earlier. I found the buckle and attached it to an old cowboy belt. I wore it on every hunt for the rest of the season.

Before the first hunt of this season, I gathered supplies on the night before we went. I filled up two one-gallon milk jugs with water to share with the dogs. I stocked my vest with 16 gauge shells. I set out my hunting pants and my ammo box. I even put the gauze and duct tape I use to boot the dogs on the dryer. I did not set out my belt.

As I dressed on the following morning, I looked in my closet for the belt in question. I saw it nowhere! I looked where it used to be on the top shelf. I looked where it should have been on the hook facing me. I could not find it anywhere! I opted for a standard, simple belt that held my pants up. Still, it bugged me that my belt and buckle were nowhere to be found. Changing belts had no effect on the hunt. We walked plenty and my pants didn’t fall down.

Later that week, while I was retrieving a shirt from my closet, I saw the quail hunting belt hanging in plain sight on the side of a shelf. I had moved it there for safe keeping during the off-season. Too bad I forgot where I moved it! I found it where I left it.

The same is true in our relationship with God. Whenever He seems distant or absent, He is never the one who moved. If you were ever closer to God than you are today, He remains where He has always been. You are the one who needs to find closeness with God where you knew it before. Maybe that was when you were reading the Bible daily and attending church consistently. Return to the tried and true actions that brought you close to God. He is still where you left Him.

He remains faithful! Earl

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• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

New Members

Olivia Garrison and Liam Kluver

What’s On The Inside

Article by Michael David:

I was out buying some plastic eggs the other day for a LifeGroup class. There were several
options, some colorful, some plain, some filled with candy, and some not. I got to thinking
about the Easter egg hunts that will happen this year. There will be lots of time spent putting
candy and maybe even money into the eggs. The kids will run out and gather as many as they
can. The kids will not really care what color of egg they get (well some will). It won’t matter if it
has glitter on it, stickers on it, or multi colored. They will be more concerned with what is inside
the egg. The joy will be opening up the egg and finding their favorite candy or finding one with a
large dollar bill in it. It doesn’t really matter what the outside looks like; what’s important is
what is inside the egg.

I am reminded of 1 Samuel 16:7 as God said to Samuel, man looks at the outward appearance
but God looks at the heart. When God looks at me, He is more concerned about the inside of
my life, the deep, private recesses of my life, than He is on the outside of my life. It does not
matter how good I look on the outside or what I wear, how many times I go to church, where I
serve or how nice I am to everyone. It doesn’t matter if I sing loud or soft, raise my hands or
just stand there. What I do in the community and how much I help others really isn’t that
important. The outward appearance isn’t what God is looking at. It’s about my heart. I need to
focus on the inside. As I prepare for Easter, I challenge you to join me as I take the advice from Paul in 1 Timothy 1:5 “that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and genuine faith.”

Remember, it is what’s on the inside that is important, not the outside.
Michael David

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• This Sundays Sermon “Lies and Truth ” Acts 24:1-21
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

New Member

Piper Kreizenbeck

Our Firm Foundation

Nancy and I were searching for cheese ravioli on the frozen food aisle. I drive the cart and she navigates. We actually enjoy shopping together on the weekends. Parked between us and the ravioli was an older lady who was upset about the new shopping carts that had replaced the old ones. She was letting the nearby worker have a piece of her mind.

“Not for me. No, these carts are not for me. They are too tall and don’t fit me like the old ones did. What are they doing? Why would they replace perfectly good carts with new carts?”

I never heard the worker respond. How could he respond? What was there to say? He couldn’t leave. He needed to re-stock the freezers. While he waited, she chewed. She needed neither the cup holder nor the phone holder. What kind of world are we living in?

I didn’t hear everything that was said, but I did hear enough to make me smile. I smiled because I was reminded that the church is not the only place where people push back against change. It happens everywhere!

Earlier we had seen a young mother and her two children. The youngest was riding in the cart and watching a movie on her mother’s phone that rested in the new cart’s phone holder. They loved the new carts and told us so. New and improved appealed to them but not to the aforementioned woman.

Change happens. Some people like change and some people don’t. Attitude is key in adjusting to change. I can choose to accept change and make the most of it, or I can choose to fight change and make myself and others miserable. That poor worker! That poor principal! That poor worship leader! That poor preacher!

As we live in an ever changing world, the firm foundation we can build our lives on is the Lord Jesus Himself. Jesus remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. He offers hope through faith in Himself. Things seem to be changing at warp speed in the world today. However, what matters most – God, His Word and His mission – remain unchanged for the rest of our days. Great is His faithfulness!

I love you, Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “No Place For Sissies ” Acts 23:23-35
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

New Members

Grayson & Morgan Butcher and Glenn & Lisa Zink

Jesus Wept

Jesus wept.  He knew that Lazarus would soon be raised from the dead and all would be well.  Nevertheless He wept.  He, above all people, understood that human flesh does not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Still He wept.  He considered physical death to be the doorway to the eternal presence of God.  Yet He wept.

Jesus wept because the hearts of two of His dearest friends were broken.  Mary and Martha sobbed with sorrow and it touched the heart of Jesus.  In His mind Jesus knew the facts of eternity.  With His heart Jesus felt the pain of those who grieved.  The hurt He shared with others trickled down His face.

Some probably questioned the practical benefit of such a display.  Jesus did not concern Himself with their opinions.  Jesus wept without shame as He entered into the valley of grief and walked beside those He loved.  Mary and Martha were greatly comforted by Jesus’ tears.

So should you.  Jesus feels your pain when you hurt.  He cares when you grieve.  He identifies with your broken heart.  His breaks too.  What a wonderful Savior He is!  He does not love you from a distance.  He enters your world and shares all of life with you.  You are never alone – even in your darkest hour.

Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “God’s Overruling Care ” Acts 23:12-22
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

Skin In The Game

Those in the know have confidently affirmed that the upcoming vote to legalize recreational marijuana will pass. Some have gone on to state that we already have recreational marijuana in the state of Oklahoma. Even though it is called “medical” it is available to anyone who requests a medical marijuana card from individuals who advertise on billboards along the interstate. I may be in the minority, but I will vote against legalizing recreational marijuana.

Let me explain why. I have skin in the game. Actually, I had skin in the game. My younger brother, Rex, died from a drug overdose almost fifteen years ago after battling addiction for a quarter of a century. Smoking pot provided the gateway to the use of much harder drugs that ultimately took his life. During the entire ordeal, my parents found themselves in situations they never imagined they would be. Detox centers, rehab facilities, jails, and hospitals were part of their “golden years.” Rex became a person none of us recognized.

We all believed that he really wanted to be set free from his addiction. For whatever reason, it never happened. Many people drink socially and smoke dope on weekends. I get that. However, since I had skin in the game, I cannot look past those who become addicted and never know freedom again. As a church, we participate in ministries that assist addicts in recovery. How about if, as Christians, we cut off some of the problem at its source?

As a pastor, I am familiar with countless families that deal with problems caused by addiction. Jobs are lost, marriages are sacrificed, families are fractured, resources are drained, and sleep is lost. My parents told me that for years the only nights they were able to sleep well were those nights when Rex was locked in jail or kept in rehab. They knew “the call” would not come that night.

My vote may not make a difference. I have accepted the fact that I am now in the minority in most situations in America. Still, I will stand for what I believe to be God’s will, because one day I will stand before God’s throne and give an account of the life I have lived.

So will you, Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “A Word From The Lord” Acts 22:30 – 23:11
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

New Members

Dru Berrong and Conner King

God Loves Stories

Article by Allison Kendall:

In my walk with the Lord, I have always enjoyed looking for ways that we as image bearers are
like God. It says in Genesis 1:27 that “God created man in his own image.” There are many
things about you and me that are like God. One way I believe that we are like God is that we
both love stories. I love to read books and watch movies where characters build their identity
and deal with the circumstances in their lives. I believe that God loves stories, also. I know this
by the way God teaches us. He has given us a collection of characters and storylines in the
Bible that serve as a guide for our lives. Stories of Abraham, Joseph, and Daniel fill our minds
with understanding and wisdom. We learn about life through these stories, and they give us
instruction on how to walk in light and life and how to avoid darkness and sin. What is also
beautiful is that God creates a story in each of us. We have our own set of characters and
drama. God has written that I would be born in Shattuck, Oklahoma, that I would come to know
him personally as my Savior in the basement of First Baptist Church of Laverne, that I would
marry Joel Kendall, and that one day I would get the opportunity to lead in a church (something I
had no idea was coming). What a wonderful way he has built my story and yours! But the most
important story that our God wants us to connect with is the story of His Son. Jesus left heaven,
came as a baby to live a perfect life as a human, and then died for our sins so that one day He
could give each of us an opportunity to add “redeemed” to the timeline of our life. Oh how I love
that story and how that one story has brought peace, joy, confidence, and freedom to mine.
I love to tell the story;
‘Twill be my theme in glory
To tell the old, old story
Of Jesus and His love

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• This Sundays Sermon “Avoiding Pointless Pain” Acts 22:22-29
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

When Problems Grow

It didn’t seem like a major issue. I was getting ready for the first quail hunt of the year when I got out a pair of hunting socks and pulled them onto my feet. They had been waiting patiently during the off season. I noticed a small hole in the left sock. I usually get all the good out my socks before moving them to the rag bag. It was about five years ago when I opted to quit wearing socks with holes in them because I felt financially solvent enough to do so.

This morning my choice was more about laziness than anything else. I slid on my boots and smiled unconsciously as I anticipated another quail season. I finished getting ready, booted the dogs, and picked up Kendall. We headed to the fields we always hunt at the beginning of the season. We were pleasantly surprised to find several birds where we had found none last year. It was so exciting to hear coveys flush.

Shortly before lunch, I noticed that the big toe on my left foot was hurting a bit. It dawned on me that the small hole may have grown larger. After consuming a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, I removed my left boot and saw my toe sticking out of my sock. I tried to adjust the sock to cover the blistering toe. If it helped, it did not help much. By the time we had finished our somewhat successful, 10 ½ mile long hunt, my toe was tender. The blister had ruptured, and the toe was throbbing.

What had begun as a small, fixable situation became extremely painful as we logged more and more miles. If I had just dealt with the problem when it was small, band aids and ointments would have been unnecessary. More importantly – pain would have been avoided. It was my own fault. I had plenty of good socks available. I just chose to take a risk on one more hunt. That risk bit me on the toe!

The time to take care of issues in life is when they are small. Remember the young Dutch boy who plugged up the dike and saved his town? Solomon referred to them as the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. Little issues become big issues when they are ignored for any reason. Life is a marathon. Proceed accordingly.

I love you, Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “The Lord Is My Shepherd” Psalm 23:1-6
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday

Available for Service

The barbed wire gate was fairly easy to cross. It was wide enough to provide plenty of slack when I pushed down on it before stepping over. Apparently I miscalculated the location of one of the barbs. When I made it safely to the other side with my shotgun in tow, my right ring finger knuckle was bleeding profusely and throbbing painfully.

I held my hand away from my gun and my clothes. I have injured myself throughout my life, so I am used to seeing blood. My problem was that I had no way to stop the bleeding. I did not want to ruin the clean, white handkerchief in my back pocket. I didn’t really want to mingle my wound with the germs on my hunting vest. I finished walking the weedy corner with my finger dripping blood.

When I made it back to the truck, I looked for a remedy. I have never packed bandages. Maybe I should add them to the list of supplies needed on every quail hunt. I looked inside my ammo box. I found a couple of strips of gauze and a small roll of duct tape. Their intended purpose was to create another dog boot if one of the dogs lost a boot during the day.

I improvised. I wrapped the gauze around my bleeding knuckle before covering it with a couple of rounds of duct tape. It felt more like a splint than a bandage, but it stopped the bleeding! By the end of the day I was able to remove the makeshift medical treatment without causing additional bleeding. Another wound was on the mend!

God improvises to accomplish His purposes and build His kingdom. He patches together those who are available to take the place of those who are AWOL. His goals are too significant to put on hold when “specialized” individuals can’t be found.  

The will of the Lord will be done through those who remain dependent upon Him. Some people who are used by God become somewhat prideful of their abilities and their accomplishments. That pride makes them useless. God exalts the humble while bypassing the proud. God uses those who are present and willing, not those who are absent and reluctant.

Remain humble and available! Earl

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• This Sundays Sermon “Go Make Disciples” Matthew 28:16-20
• Family Worship and LifeGroups, Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
• Services are being posted on the church website, the church YouTube channel at FBC Weatherford Media, and on the church Facebook page at 9:00 a.m. each Sunday