Opportunity

For all our folks in the Tampa area. I want to invite you to a great opportunity to see young lives changed and possibility have yours changed. For all others who are checking in on this blog site, I want to invite you to be part of this opportunity by praying for those of us who will be working.

Westchester Manor Mission Project. April 6-10. It was finalized today for our church to hold backyard bible club for about 25+ children 1st -6th grade. Theme: The Big Backyard. They will learn about serving others and our neighborhood from the examples found in the gospels.

If you are interested in helping, let me know. We need people for music, crafts, bible study, recreation, and snacks.

There will be more to come, but I ask that everyone begin praying now for God to go before us and prepare the hearts of children and parents as we assist Lifegate Baptist Mission.

Pastor Roger

2 Great Events Today

1st Great Event - "The Wednesday Letters" - Yesterday Rosemary and I began reading this novel by Jason Wright.  I am not that much of a reader, but this book got both of our attention so much that we could not put it down.  We finished it this afternoon.  The book teaches one to trust in God, to forgive, and to redeem.  It will make you cry and laugh; have feelings of anger, sadness, and joy.  It is full of passion, mystery, suspense, morals, and compassion.  I recommend this book to anyone who will agree to read it.  You can find it at amazon.com.  

2nd Great Event - NGBC 50th Anniversary - What a great day at NGBC.  The ladies and choir did a fantastic job with all the music,  Pastor Paul delivered a challenging message, and the food oh the food was great.  Today we celebrated all the church is and should be for the next 50 years.  I look forward to what God is going to do through a willing group of people as we reach out to our changing community around us.  Be looking for the videos and pictures to appear on our website northgatebaptistchurch.org.

Anniversary

Each year of a couple's life they come to the bringing point called their anniversary. Rosemary and I will celebrate our 34th this March. We always do something special to remember all these years of being together .

Our church is doing the same thing this Sunday. We will celebrate 50 years of service. Back in '59 some 250 people felt that God wanted a church our community. Over the years the church has begun 2 other churches and seen many men and women called into the ministry.

The vision back in the beginning of Northgate is still the vision today. "Taking Christ Into Our Community" The times, fashions, methods, and people have changed over the years, but one thing has never changed. God still wants to use people at Northgate to reach out to the hurting and lost souls within our community with the message of hope.

Are we still standing the test that was started 50 years ago? I encourage everyone to get involved in not just doing things at the church house, but being involved in the community. Reach out and touch someone today with your God given talents, abilities, gifts and compassion.

One of Those Days

Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel blahhh? Every once in awhile I have one of days. You have plenty to do but just don't want to do anything. It is hard to think and some times you would rather craw back in bed.

But, life goes on. It is during those slump times that God can speak or do something marvelous. It is during those down times that we need to reflect upon what HE has done for us already. That out of His love, mercy and grace He has blessed us beyond what we deserve. Most everyone reading this blog has a decent home, a car in the driveway, plenty of clothes to wash, food in the pantry, and family around us.

So, chin up. Remember if you have Christ in your life, you are a child of the King of Kings, Lords or Lords, the Alpha & Omega, the creator, and sustainer of life. You belong to Holy God.

Ponder on that for a while!

Revival Time

It is time to begin praying for NGBC revival meetings.  Revival dates were confirmed today.  My brother Mark will be preaching at our revival beginning Sunday, April 5 - Wednesday, April 8.  That equates 4 messages.  

As you pray, consider this specific items:  for Mark as he prepares the messages, for him and his wife's safe travel, for the music leader, for God to prepare our hearts to hear and respond to HIS message, for people to accept Christ, for people's lives to be changed, etc.

Also be praying about the mission project scheduled for that same week in the Westchester Manor complex.  Somewhere around 50 children and their families live there.  We will be assisting the Life Gate Baptist ministry located within the complex.

I realize it will be a very busy week but it should be very rewarding.  I am excited about what God is and can do through our obedience and service.

Sunday's Coming

Why do we go to Church?  Today I talked with a lady who made this statement.  "I don't believe in all this religion stuff.  I don't like all the hypocrites so I will never go to church again."  Sadly somewhere along the way she came across some people who called themselves Christian but didn't live their life after the pattern of Jesus.

So, why do you go to church?  Hebrews 12:25 says "And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of His coming back again is drawing near." (NLT)

Benefits of meeting together:

• encouragement
  
• gain knowledge
• express appreciation
• challenge to grow
• time of reflection

The problem is that many times we are guilty of coming to the place of worship unprepared and with a bad attitude.  We allow our personal preferences to interfere with what is important and become selfish with our motives.

What do I need to do before going to church?  [Pray, Seek God, Pray, Meditate, Pray, Reflect, Read His Word, Pray, Obey]  Do this during the week every week of the year and watch what He  does through your life and how your attitude to church will change.

Excited!

Today has been a day of great encouragement and excitement.  In the frame of 12 hours the tentative date for revival was set and a mission project confirmed.  My spirit was lifted as I observed God placing things into motion that only He could have arranged.

As of tonight, our mission project this spring will be during spring-break at Westchester Manor.  We have the opportunity to work with from 20-50 children as we assist Life Gate Baptist Ministry.  (April 6-10)

As of today, we will have Revival that same week of spring-break.  My brother Mark will come down from IL. to lead the Revival and I am working on the music minister.

Begin praying for both today and see me if you would like to be a part of the mission project.

Look for more to come.

Sunday is coming!  Are we ready to meet together and celebrate what God has done in our lives this week?  To bring your mind to focus, the title of Sunday's message is "Gone Fish'en".  I remember  a special fishing trip with my oldest son one Saturday in Panama City.  We had been introduced to a spot where the sea trout would come to.  That the moment we cast the bait into the water a trout would strike.  Time after time, fish after fish we would reel in our catch even more excited as each one came in.

This type of excitement also happens when were see people accept the gift of eternal life. When was the last time you went fish'en for people?

Hope to see you Sunday.

Sunday Review

What a busy day.  Many people talk about being off on Sunday but the life of a pastor is far from being a day off.  With that in mind after some struggles with saving and printing my sermon notes, we had a good day at Northgate.

The challenge this week is going to be whether or not we are going to intentional with our witness for Jesus Christ.  It is easy to say we will talk to our community about the hope in us but it is another story to actually do it.

I encourage you to comment back with your experiences this week as you put intentional witnessing into practice.

Prepared?

In our society today, the day runs so fast. It seems that we no more than get out of bed and it is time to crawl back in. When we look back over the day's activities, what did we do that counted? Did our actions change the life of another for the good? Is God pleased with our accomplishments?

Most Christians today start preparing for Worship when they arrive at the worship building. I want encourage you to start preparing today. Take some alone time and spend it with God and His Word. Listen to Him as He speaks to your mind and heart.

This weeks message is entitled "Intentional Witnessing". See you then.

DC Mission Trip

I received a phone call today letting me know that the DC Mission trip was canceled.  Although I'm let down, in the back of my mind comes the thought that God may be protecting us from something or that He wants to do something else greater.

A large part of following God's leadership is realizing when He is moving and standing still.  That means we have to be in tune with Him daily.