DO YOU KNOW YOU ARE                  

                                                ETERNITY  BOUND?

The late Dr. John Stepp made a statement in a revival service that went like this, “There was a time that you were not, but since you were born you are eternity bound! Where will you spend eternity?” Most people don’t have enough time to give eternity a passing thought but they should. Ecclesiates 3 tells us that God has put eternity in our hearts. That means that every one of us knows that we will not live forever and in the moment that we die we will step over into eternity. In our hearts we know that to be a fact! So, since we are going to step over into eternity the question is what is out there in eternity.

To one of the thieves on the cross Jesus said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” What happened to the other thief that hung on the other side of Jesus…well let’s just say he hasn’t seen Jesus again.  There is a fellow that works with juvenile delinquents and he says of them that there is a “redemption point” that each of them face. If they choose correctly then they will find purpose and joy in life. If they make the wrong choice then most of the time they will never ever change. The same thing applies to the spiritual life and there is a redemption point for all of us. When will you reach your redemption point? Well that is the question and eternity is getting closer by the second.

In John 14 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.”  Since Jesus is the only way to heaven then you must choose Him to be your Lord and Savior. To not choose Jesus is to choose a different eternity location. Jesus and that one thief are in Paradise and that other thief is separated from Jesus. Forget the talk of torment and agony if you can but to be separated from God would indeed be an eternity in Hell.

Since eternity is in your heart the question presents itself, what have you done about eternity? Have you chosen Jesus to be your personal Lord and Savior? If you answer no…then you have chosen my friend. So, before it is everlastingly too late why don’t you ask Him into your heart. To all my Christian friends out there eternity should shout “urgency” for you as well. Are all of your family members saved? What about your neighbors are they saved? What about your co-workers are they saved?  Eternity is rushing toward us so share your faith while you can! 

See You at IBF on Sunday! (Unless Jesus Comes First)

…and if He does we’ll see you there!

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   Do We Still Trust in Him?

Two hundred thirty-four years ago our forefathers established a new country based on freedom. When you look at the over 15,000 documents produced by these men in forming our United States there is but one conclusion as to the main source of their inspiration–the Bible, God’s Holy Word.

Look at the Constitutions of the original 13 Colonies and you will find that God is at the center core of these documents. This is what you will find unless, of course, you have run into a revisionist view of our nations history.  Thomas Jefferson wrote: “We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  With those words, Jefferson laid a theological and philosophical foundation that would inspire and guide our nation.

Let me share with you a quote from George Washington our first president: “I have often expressed my sentiments, that every man, conducting himself as a good citizen, and being accountable to God alone for his religious opinions, ought to be protected in worshipping the Deity according to the dictates of his own conscience.”–George Washington, letter to the General Committee of the United Baptist Churches in Virginia, May, 1789

Today there are those in our great country that want to distance themselves AND US from “the Deity” that we worship. To those Baptists of 1789 and we Baptists of 2010 that great Deity is our creator the Lord God Almighty–Jesus Christ.  While there is certainly much about which we could worry in this political climate of today, and much for which we must certainly be in prayer, we must never lose sight of the fact that God is still in control. For the believer it is God to whom we place our trust and God in whom we trust for our very well being.

On this Independence Day I draw your attention to John 8:34-36, Jesus is speaking and shares these words:”I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

If our Nation humbles itself, seeks God’s face and turns from its wicked ways God will be the God of this nation and our freedom will be forever preserved. The choice lies in the hearts of every true American–will you choose Jesus and be free or will you choose another and be enslaved.  In whom do you trust?

Come and Celebrate Freedom with the Fellowship this Sunday!   DF

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Very early in the Bible we find the first place where man called on God, Genesis 4:26 TNIV records, “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”  Our people have been rediscovering the joy of prayer and praying over the past few weeks. We are praying for specific people, for specific events, for God to open the windows and doors of heaven and pour out His blessings on our land again. We have discovered that the essence of all religion is people not only trusting God, but trusting him enough to call on his name in prayer so that they can actually experience his gracious provision in their lives.

Now many people pray to God and some actually believe that prayer can make a difference. I am one of those who know that prayer not only changes things it changes people, and circumstances, and yes, even history. A personal example is my life partner, my wife. She has carried a tumor in her body now for many years. It is a tumor that, according to doctors has about 80 billion cancer cells within it.  Her oncologist is amazed at how remarkably healthy she is. One surgeon said, “Lady, God’s angels must have their hands surrounding that tumor!” To which she replied, “yes, I know that.” Prayer is a powerful tool in the hands of a Christian because we pray to the only God. For us there is no other god.

At Irving Baptist Fellowship we have been enjoying this journey of prayer and discovering ways to deepen and enhance of time in prayer. One of my long time friends has a web page I would encourage you to visit and explore ways to deepen your own prayer life. Shelia Everett has a heart for people and is a great encourager of prayer. Please visit her web site regularly. Find time in your busy schedule to be still to listen for God, to speak to God, and to intercede for others with God. Her site is www.prayer4awakening.com.

As you grow closer to God, as you go deeper in your relationship with God, as He teaches you new and wonderful lessons and works in your life would you please keep Irving Baptist Fellowship in your prayers. God is doing some wonderful things through His people and we need to unleash the power of prayer on our community to see the changes we believe God desires to accomplish here in south Irving.

Don’t forget to pray for the pastor…he’s praying for you!  See you any Sunday you can make it to IBF, we need you in the family!  DF

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NASCAR and LIFE

I recently attended my first NASCAR race at Texas Motor Speedway and people watched the day away. Human nature being what it is, so human, is full of many ups and downs, good as well as the bad– and believe me I saw it all at the races. That being said, I want to share a few observations from the race that apply to everyday life.

1. Life goes by fast and you better know your main competition or you will lose the race by being out strategized.  The track at TMS is about a mile and a quarter and the average car covers that distance in about 38 seconds…life is just as fast. “What is your life? You are just a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” James 4:14.

2. Fanatics are everywhere…you have more people cheering for you than you realize. As the cars sped past the fans they had their favorites, they would stand, shout encouraging words and encourage their driver on! In this life you have those who are cheering you on too! Most of these people you won’t even know, but somehow they have seen your witness. Last week I received a Facebook note from a person that I had never met thanking God for my ministry! You have encouragers too! “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” Hebrews 12:1

3. The race is a mixture of good and bad and so is life.  The day began with a prayer–in Jesus name. Amen! Followed by Charlie Pride singing the Star Spangled Banner the way it should be sung. The race was run full out with pit stops, accidents, and crashes. Many of the shiney cars ended up scarred, broken and limping across the finish line…others were so battered they couldn’t leave the track without assistance. There were those people who left the track that day so full of beer that they were acting crazy and having difficulty walking and locating their trucks. I was convinced in my heart that their lives were already wrecked and wondered if there would be anyone who would help them to finish the race. “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize” 1 Corinthians 9:24

4. The race is governed by a series of rules to protect the drivers, the support teams and those who maintain the track. Signals are sent to the car via lights, red, yellow and green. By flags…yellow caution, green go, and by the microphones inside of the drivers helmets. God has given us rules to protect us as well. The 10 Commandments, which some call a list of don’t do’s, is really a list of pay attention and respect these and you will run a fantastic race. The Bible, God’s Holy Word is God’s way of speaking to your heart to keep you out of the mud and on the path to the most amazing experiences that you cannot even begin to imagine. If you will but pay attention to the rules you will win the race! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life “ John 3:16.

People watching is a past time for me…but for the Heavenly Father it is a matter of love. We are all in the race but not all are paying attention to the rules and these people are headed for a horrible crash. If you are on a collision course…change direction and follow the rules. If you know someone who has crashed help them until they can get rebuilt and back into the race.

Hope to see you Sunday!  If you need the way we have included a map. If you need a ride we have included a phone number!  DF

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EASTER 2010

It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus came from heaven, incarnated, and sacrificed his life for sinful man. Christians celebrate not only his dying for us but God raising Him from the dead after 3 days. It is interesting to me that those who were closest to Him, the disciples, were with Him for three years and yet they came right up to Passover and still Thomas says, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” The all important truth of Easter is summed up in Jesus’ reply to Thomas and the remaining disciples: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Well, are we any better 2,000 years later? I just read in the Baptist Standard, and I quote: “While most Americans describe Easter as a religious holiday, fewer than half of the adults surveyed link it specifically to the Resurrection of Jesus,” a Barna Group study shows.  Seven in 10 respondents mentioned religion or spirituality in their response to an open-ended question about how they describe what Easter means to them personally. But just 42 percent tied Easter to the Resurrection. The age group 18-25 were the least likely to describe Easter as a religious event.

If Jesus was who He claimed to be then the CROSS and the EMPTY TOMB are the two most important symbols in all of humanity. If Jesus was who He claimed to be then WHERE you spend ETERNITY is tied to a choice. The blood of Jesus covered the sin of humanity period! Will you believe that Jesus is the way to heaven, was telling the truth? If you do He offers you ETERNAL LIFE in Heaven with Him. If on the other hand you choose to reject His blood sacrifice for you then you will still have ETERNAL LIFE, but you will be forever separated from Him and Heaven.

If what I just shared is the truth, and I know that it is, then the CROSS is of eternal importance. What we learned from the Barna study is this…”the Easter holiday has a distinctly religious connection for people, but…the specifics of it are really fading in a lot of people’s minds.”  I hope the empty tomb is of paramount importance to you and your family. What the Barna study says to me is this, we need to be sharing the Easter message boldly with every opportunity that presents itself to us. If we are obedient to sharing the Easter message with the excitement of the 1st century believers we can turn this decline in believers around. “He is not here, He is RISEN!  Just as He said!” Luke 24:6

At IRVING BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP we serve a RISEN SAVIOR He’s in the world today! Have a Blessed Easter! DF

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