Issues on your Table

November 4th is right around the corner. I hope you are committed to vote! I cannot tell you how to vote, but I can speak to moral issues that are pertinent to this presidential election. Before I go on, if you do not know where the candidates stand on specific issues, pick up a Voter's Guide in the foyer or go to http://www.freemarketvotersguide.com/ .

Now let's suppose you invite me (your pastor) to come over to your house. You want to discuss the issues facing our country. You and your children or grandchildren are gathered around the table waiting to talk with me about the election. I come to your door with a duffle bag full of stuff. You invite me in, and we all take our places around your dining room table. One by one I pull from the duffle bag items that represent the most critical issues of our day. First I pull from my bag a fence representing Illegal Immigration, and of course, the proposed fence to be constructed on the U.S. - Mexico border. The children ask you questions, and you are glad to explain the situation to them. Second, I pull from the bag, a pile of cash representing the sad condition of the U.S. economy. In truth, the economy would best be represented by an empty wallet! Again you do not hesitate to answer the children's questions. Third, I pull out a miniature replica of a U.S. tank. This reminds us of the ongoing war against terror in the Middle East. You nod your head in agreement as I set forth the issues in ways your children and grandchildren can understand. Next I pull out a wedding cake with two groomsmen figurines embracing one another on top of the cake. Your children and grandchildren begin to make comments. You begin to blush, dreading the questions you must answer. Things get worse, the last item I pull out of my bag is a "life-like" or should I say "death-like" replica of an aborted baby. How would you respond? How are your children or grandchildren going to respond? Would your reaction to the last two issues be different than the first three? If so, why? Could it be because they are so morally repulsive?

All the issues I have mentioned are important to our choice of the next President of the United States. It is my prayer that we as Christians would continue our fight against the horrors of legalized abortion! It is my prayer that we would make a stand to protect the biblical definition of marriage. God designed marriage. Let's continue to let Him define it. Marriage is a life-long covenantal relationship between one man and one woman!

Little Flock what will you do with the issues on your table? I encourage you to pray, get informed, listen to this James Dobson broadcast, pray more and vote.

Brother John

Disaster Relief-October 11, 2008

Damage caused by Hurricane Ike.

Left to Right: John (member of FBC Hampshire), Will (behind John), William, Bill (Pastor of LaBelle Baptist Church) and Lynn

Lynn gutting home. (If pictures could smell!)

Will and William smiling for the camera....we think!

The work was hard but rewarding. A huge thank you to Will, William and Lynn!

Brother John

Give Jesus the Credit

"It is amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit." Author unknown.

We have all heard this little motivational quip before. In the business world it would be a great motto for any organization, but in the church (in our church) it needs to be revised. Here is the way this little quip should read.

"It is amazing what can be accomplished when everyone cares that Jesus Christ gets the credit."

Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord deserves all glory, honor and praise!

Brother John

A Christian perspective on the "Bail-out"

One of the first things I do every morning (once the coffee kicks in) is click on Fox News to monitor the proposed "bail-out". I see pictures of desperate traders and watch interviews with frightened politicians. This is a big deal! How should we as Christians respond to this financial crisis?

Now I do not for a second pretend to have a professional opinion. I do have an opinion. It's just not a professional opinion. I have voiced my opinion. I have already e-mailed Congressman Louie Gohmert, Senators Cornyn and Hutchinson and yes, President George Bush. I would encourage you to do the same. I would also encourage you to struggle with the question I asked above, "How should we as Christians respond to this crisis?" What does the Bible say about our current financial state of affairs?

For some help on these important questions I recommend to you Dr. Albert Mohler's blog "A Christian View of the Economic Crisis." Click on the link below for this blog.
http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=2550 I would also recommend you go to http://www.daveramsey.com/ and read "The Common Sense Fix". Both these men are respected Christian leaders. Albert Mohler is the President of Southern Baptist Seminary in Louiseville, KY and a leading cultural commentator. Dave Ramsey is a straight talking Christian financial counselor with a national audience. I listen to both of these men regularly.

Little Flock pray for wisdom. Do your homework. Do something to make a difference.

Brother John