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First Baptist Blogs

FBLR E-News: Higher Purpose

6/27/2019

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Do you really believe that God is faithfully at work in your life – leading, shaping and remaking you for His glory? God perfects us by orchestrating even the toughest circumstances of our lives for a greater good. Consider the life of Joseph.

He was the youngest son of Jacob, and his favorite. His brothers were very jealous. Then Joseph had a dream that all his brothers would bow down to him. They hated him and plotted for a way to get rid of him. His brothers sold him into slavery in Egypt and told Jacob that he had been killed. Their problem was solved...sort of.

Joseph went to work for an Egyptian official and God was with him and blessed that household until the lady of the house accused Joseph of attempted rape and he was thrown into prison. (Gen. 39) How would you respond to being unjustly accused or imprisoned? This is a recurring action in his life.

Joseph prospered in jail and was able to interpret dreams. That got him out of prisonand into Pharaoh’s court and basically in charge of all of Egypt. So, at the age of 30, Joseph had become the second most powerful man in Egypt.

So what is the message here? God loves you and nothing can ever happen to you apart from the will of God. God might not cause what is happening to you, but He is likely using it to eventually lead to a greater good.

Romans 8:28 says “In all things God works for the good of those who love Him, whohave been called according to His purpose.”

We can endure almost anything if we believe it has a purpose. God always has a higher purpose, a greater good in mind. He is at work, not only in the circumstances but alsoin us....to become more useful and beautiful for him.

His plan is always the same...to put His power on display in my life to bring about agreater good, one that will bring Him the glory that only He deserves.

If you are suffering right now, you might not be able to see God’s higher purpose. When you do see it, it will explain the pain you are feeling now. He may use sacrifices you make or suffering you endure to bring the greater good.

In due time
  • Your purpose will become visible
  • Your pain will become explainable
  • Your peace will become possible
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FBLR E-News:  Forgiveness in a Relationship.

11/6/2018

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                                                                   FORGIVENESS
         Forgiveness is a critical component of any relationship, but especially so in a marriage. Putting two sinners together for a lifetime is sure to create opportunities for hurt feelings and the necessity to make peace. Being a peacemaker from a biblical perspective allows the relationship to be restored and generates great rewards when done properly.
         What are the components of this process? The priority in it is to glorify God instead of focusing on individual desires. It requires being honest about both party’s contributions to the problem and each one taking ownership of their part. In other words, before flying off the handle, “get the log out of your own eye”. After that, set the goal to gently restore the relationship and the offending person(s), and regardless of who did what first, God’s Word tells us to “Go and be reconciled”. Knowing that He wants our relationships to be restored as soon as possible, actively seeking restoration is of paramount importance. It doesn’t matter “who is at fault”. Simply knowing that the relationship is strained should be enough to get one “off the couch” and into “peacemaker mode”.
          Evidence of real forgiveness would be that you would not dwell on the incident, that it would not be brought back up and used against the other person, that it would not be a topic of discussion with others, and it would no longer hinder the relationship in any way. 
            Real forgiveness is tough but vital to a vibrant marriage. Saying “I’m sorry” is not enough. Owning up to the sin and letting the offended person hear that you under-stand the pain and extent of your actions, as well as expressing a desire to keep it from happening again will go a long way toward healing the relationship and allowing your marriage to thrive and bear fruit.

Eric Stockholm
Biblical Counselor

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FBLR E-News: Giving up on God......

10/18/2018

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​Life is busy.  I hate the feeling when I realize that time has once again slipped through my fingers.  We are entering a season when people are very open to the Gospel.  Please don’t let this time pass with regrets about what you “could have” done.  We will be starting a new worship series this Sunday entitled, “I quit”.  This series is designed to help those who have given up on church.  This is not just about the lost or disenfranchised, many people that come to church every week gave up on God a long time ago!  This series has been intentionally planned for this season. 

We also have several events planned that will help you extend an invitation to a friends, coworkers, and acquaintances.  
 
October 21st- Church Picnic at Pinnacle Mountain (Hot Dog & Hamburger Lunch)
October 28th- Baptist Prep Day (Catfish, Chicken, and Shrimp Lunch)
October 31st- Trunk or Treat
November 4th-  After Church Fellowship (Hot Dog & Hamburger Lunch)
December 7-9- The Tree
December 24th- Christmas Eve Candlelight Service
 
Please consider attending all of these events and bring someone with you!  This is a great chance to meet new people and best of all…introduce them to Christ!  Ask the Lord to speak to you about who you might extend an invitation.  Don’t let this season pass with regrets.  Invite someone today!
 
-Pastor Jonathan

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FBLR E-NEWS:  The Awe and Wonder of our Lord!

10/17/2018

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What a wonderful privilege I had studying the Exodus with Anna Kate this morning. We watched a video teaching by Ray Vander Laan in the series, “That the World May Know.” I think over the years I have seen almost all these videos and participated in a group study using the workbooks. His teaching amazed me then and amaze today. Today’s lesson was Moses led God’s people out of captivity and bondage in Egypt by crossing the Red Sea. 
 
As they approach the expanse of water, chaos is ensuing behind them with the Egyptian army closing in. We all know how the story goes, God sends an east wind to part the waters with a wall on each side while the Israelites walked through on DRY land. They did not sink in mud or feel the water on their feet. The group included babies, children, women, and men. There were 8-month olds being carried by their mothers and eighty-year olds shuffling along the best they could as God brings them all safely to the other side.
 
Once everyone was safe, God wrecked the Egyptian chariots and closed the waters to rush over the pursuing army. Exodus 14:30-31 says, “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. And when Israel saw the great power which the LORD had used against the Egyptians, the people fears the LORD, and they believed in the LORD and his servant Moses.” 
 
Imagine the awe and amazement the Israelites felt and saw. Chapter 15 begins telling us Moses and “the sons of Israel sang this song to the LORD.” Everyone together raised their voices to praise Yahweh who saved them. They experienced following Moses by God’s leading out of Egypt only to be pursued by Pharaoh’s army then again God provided for them by parting waters of the sea. As they are singing a song to the LORD verse 20 tells us the women took timbrels and danced! Each week, we stand in pews singing songs of praise and worship to our God, our Yahweh, our Savior, our Adonai, but do we sing and worship for our children, grandchildren, and family to see how praise Him? Do we share our joy for who God is and what He has done for us regardless of our circumstances as we recognize that He is “my strength and song, my salvation, a warrior who is majestic and holy,” (Exodus 15.2-3, 11)?

Our hope is that you will feel this same awe and amazement even today!
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Serving Christ Together,
Laurie Cox
Children’s Minister
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FBLR E-NEWS:  Can we be Truly Intergenerational and Exciting Staff Changes!

9/19/2018

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Many have asked the question, "Is it possible to have an intergenerational church"? I say YES! Just come to First Baptist Little Rock and you will see a congregation of generations who are committed to the Lord and one another! 
 
I am so excited to formally announce that we have a couple of staffing changes that will help us to continue making strides in our commitment to being an intergenerational church. Our personnel team unanimously voted to make Jay Jacobs our new Pastor to Sr. Adults and Men!
 
Did you know that 10,000 people a day are turning 65! These "Senior Adults" are changing the definition of what it means to "retire" and get older. We want to be a church that engages these individuals with the Gospel and harness their love for the Lord to impact the Kingdom.
 
Pastor Jay will also be leading new efforts to engage men and assist with some areas of pastoral care at our church. I am so excited about Jay's desire to lead these two areas!
 
I am grateful for Pastor Eric Stockholm's contribution to our existing ministry to Senior Adults. Eric will remain part-time on our pastoral team. He will continue his role in the RWC and assist with Biblical Counseling. I cannot express my gratitude to him for his service to our congregation.
 
The personnel team has also extended a call to Slaton Teague as our Interim High School Student Pastor. We have been looking for the right fit for over two years and we believe Slaton is the man. 
 

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                                                                                SLATON TEAGUE
 
Slaton is currently a student at Ouachita Baptist University and will be graduating in December with a degree in Christian Studies with an emphasis in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministries.  He is from Longview, Texas and is engaged to be married to Allison Kash on March 30, 2019.  Slaton is called to serve God’s people through the platform of the local church.  His father was a pastor and his mother was a coach.  The church and sports have always been a big part of his life.  He was a three sport athlete (football, basketball, baseball) and enjoys reading, coffee, and playing basketball and golf.  Slaton loves student ministry.  Slaton served on staff at First Baptist Bentonville for the past three summers.  He has a passion for leading students to fall madly in love with Jesus through the bold teaching of the scriptures and building relationships. 
 

Slaton will share his testimony with the church on Sunday, September 30th followed by an afternoon and evening of meetings with our Student Ministry Team, Students and Parents. Please make every effort to give him a warm FBLR welcome! 
 
I am convinced that these staffing changes will indeed help us to become more strategic in our efforts to reach and minister to all generations.
 
-Pastor Jonathan
 
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FBLR E-News:  The Issue of Bullying!

9/13/2018

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​All over the news, schools, homes, and in the lives of children (and sometimes even adults) we hear of bullying.  Bullying is something that as a children’s and middle school pastor, I have to deal with both sides of the issue: The bully and the victim.

Bullying is not an easy issue to talk about with children. According to stopbullying.gov, “about 49% of children grades 4-12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once in the past month.” 
 
Whether your child is doing the bullying, being bullied, or you just want to know a little more about how to help, here are some tips that may prevent bullying:

  • Help kids understand what bullying is. Talk to them about the different types and how to stand up to this issue safely. 
  • Be sure to keep the lines of communication opened. Talk to the kids often about this subject. Be sure you know the child’s friends, ask about school, and listen intentionally when they share concerns. 
  • Encourage kids to do what they love. Be sure to find their hobbies and interests that can boost their confidence. 
  • Remember, you are their model. Be sure to model the behavior you want your children to have. 
  • Lastly, but one of the most important things, remind children that they are a child of God and that their identity is in Christ and nothing else. A couple of good passages are Galatians 3 and 1 Peter 2. 
 
As the school year has kicked off, I am sure some of you have already been faced with this, but it is not something that you have to face alone. Bullying is something that will unfortunately always be a struggle, but it is not impossible to overcome.  Feel free to reach out to our staff and we will be more than happy to help you, pray with you, and find resources for you as we face this issue together. 
 
Mari Bednar 
Lead Children’s and Middle School Pastor 
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FBLR E-News:  The Marriage Marathon

8/28/2018

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Marriage was not designed to be a 100-yard dash. It has its own pace, and goes through seasons where it may feel like a sprint, but it is merely one part of a much longer race. FamilyLife, a great marriage ministry, once interviewed people who had been married at least fifty years and asked them for one piece of advice to give to those in the midst of the marriage marathon. Below is the list of “Top Ten” responses…
  • You need a Savior.  Putting two sinners together for a lifetime makes this a priority.
  • Stay committed to one another.  Love is not a feeling. It’s a decision that needs to be renewed regularly, especially when the relationship is struggling.
  • Pray with your spouse.  This takes us away from a “me first” mentality and opens the spousal needs to each other.
  • Forgive one another.  Remind yourself that if God can forgive you of all your sins, we are to do no less for our spouses. (More on that topic in a later blog…)
  • Realize that there is no such thing as a perfect spouse.  And no, we probably aren’t going to be able to ”fix” their flaws.
  • Have faith that God knows what He is doing.
  • Trust that God gives grace and direction as you trust Him. Regardless of what life throws at you, this is paramount for your marriage to thrive.
  • You will need to make compromises.  No, you can’t always have your way.
  • Be objective and try to take emotion out of problem solving opportunities.  Don’t let a slip of the tongue escalate into a battle.
  • Love your spouse.  In what you say, do, and think. That love can only come from God.

If your marriage feels a little stale, I would encourage you to get out of the rut you are in. Try dating your spouse all over again. 

For any questions or concerns in your marriage, please feel free to reach out!

Eric Stockholm
estockholm@fblr.org
Biblical Counselor
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FBLR E-News:  A Heart to Serve

8/20/2018

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Have you ever been so proud of someone you just couldn't wait to tell anyone who would listen?  Maybe it was one of your kids and the fact that they aced a hard test.  Or maybe they made a great shot in basketball or hit their first home run.  Or, if you are like me, maybe they made it a week at school without getting a behavior notice.  So you celebrate their efforts and find a way to slip it into normal conversation with anyone who will listen.  You become quite the expert at turning, "what are you cooking for dinner?" into "oh I'm sorry, did you ask about my kids winning shot??"

Moms are especially good at this......which brings me to the point of this post.  I work with a church family who has an amazing heart to serve and you really should hear about everything they do!
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In fact, we are going to play a little game of "did you know".....

Did you know......we have groups that serve Immerse once per month on a Tuesday night?  They make a meal for over 50 kids who have aged out of foster care and are currently homeless or in a group home and serve them family style?

Did you know......we have a sewing group that meets and just recently sent 150 pillowcase dresses to the Dominican Republic?

Did you know.....we have a knitting and crotcheting ministry that meets once per month and donates their projects to areas of need in Little Rock?

Did you know......we helped get Christian Women's Job Corps, a ministry of WMU, off the ground and running?

Did you know......we will participate in "Fill the Pit" this Thanksgiving and give the money and canned goods to a local charity?

Did you know......we provide Christmas gifts for all the teens in Immerse and their children at Christmas time?

Did you know....we just launched a middle school ministry specifically designed for 6-8th graders?  


Did you know....you may never hear about these things from the individuals because they are simply committed to living life on mission?

There you have it.  There are so many ways to serve around First Baptist that I could never fit them all on this page.  

Did you know....all we are missing is you!

Tamra Norman
Discipleship and Outreach
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FBLR E-News:  At The Table

8/13/2018

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At The Table 

If you could eat a meal with anyone that is alive today, who would it be? I know...I know...you would pick Jesus. We would all pick Jesus...so I will remove Him from the options. Who would be your top three? My top three would be Albert Mohler (because he has the Bible memorized), Chuck Norris (no explanation necessary) and Laurence Tureaud (also known as Mr. T., and yes I am serious...I follow him on Twitter). 

We all have people at our table and these people have a profound influence on our lives. You may not even realize their effect on you. In fact, believe it or not, YOU are at someone’s table every day. I am so excited about this series exploring the power of doing life together. Transformation always occurs by the Word and Spirit and the context is usually community. This is how God designed it. The Christ-life was never designed to be done alone. 
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This series is about who is at your table and God’s design for you to impact the world. I hope you will make plans to join me this Sunday as we begin this journey together. 


-Pastor Jonathan
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FBLR E-News: Middle School Student Ministry Launch!

8/7/2018

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       What do you think of when you hear the word middle school?  If you are like me, you think of all things awkward.  First awkward school dance, first crush, a mouth full of braces and so forth.  In fact, one of my most embarrassing memories has to do with a middle school dance.  I  got up the courage to ask a boy to dance and he told me he needed to go to the bathroom first.  Then, he somehow ducked out of the back because I never saw him again that night.  I want to believe he got sick and had to leave early, but I know better....it was the odd velvet dress I had on despite it being decently warm outside (see above for proof).  Thanks mom.

        There is just no way around it.  Middle school is hard.  You don't fit in with the younger kids, but you are certainly not old enough to hang with the seniors.  You are "stuck in the middle" and we have found that church is no exception.  

        So, how do we handle this at FBLR?  Continue to look the other way, or meet the students  where they are?  We have decided, without a doubt, we must meet them where they are.  We are pulling our 6th-8th graders and becoming laser focused on what they need during this transition from children's ministry to high school ministry.  We are writing our programming with their needs and the needs of their parents in mind.  We are working hard to have just the right amount of food, fun, outreach, and discipleship in place while doing it.  

        How does that look?  It looks like the main event being held on Sunday morning from 9:00 until 10:00.  Students will start with worship, transition to games and Bible, and head to the service at 10:15.  Then, on Wednesday night it looks like breaking bread together with a meal and intensive discipleship from 5:45-7:30.  There will be other opportunities on Sunday afternoon to hang out and deepen relationships.
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      Join us Sunday at 10:15 to get a copy of their schedule or check back on our website often for updates.  Together, we can tackle this time and come out stronger on the other side!

Tamra Norman
Discipleship and Outreach

     
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