Oikos focus · Oikos focus MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | JULY 2020 First B Family -...
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Oikos focus MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | JULY 2020 First B Family - Welcome to July!! In the movies, we watch as a character opens a computer file, stares at the image on the monitor and hears the follow- ing statement, “If you are reading this then you have sur- vived.” J It seems that our current situation these pasts months has been lifted straight from a movie script with Apocalyptic overtures. Reflecting on all that has transpired since the beginning of March has our heads spinning with amaze- ment. COVID-19 shut down large swaths of our country from factories, businesses, churches and government programs. New concepts popped up in our vocabulary like social distancing, wearing masks and the word coronavirus. And whoever would of have been able to point out where Wuhan, China was on a map before COVID hit. Then all the confusion from government agencies hit the airwaves whether the virus was as bad as it was, whether we were to wear masks or not, whether we were to shake hands, elbow bump, fist bump or just stop greeting one another altogether. As a pastor I sit back and take all this in and ask myself - “where is the balance?” I want to approach this time via faith and not fear and I hope you are with me. In the Bible we read Paul’s address to Timothy and his challenge to lessen fear in his life and the church’s life. “6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and dis- cipline.” 2Ti 1:6-7 NASB That word “timidity” is the Greek word - δειλία deilía (pronounced day-leah) which means cowardice, timidity, reticence, fearfulness. Notice that the origin of the fearfulness is NOT from God but originates from somewhere else. That place is either our own minds or the enemy’s. As believers we NEED to approach all the challenges of life with balance. Being wise and cautious when needed but NEVER EVER locked up in fear where we cannot enjoy the things of God, His crea- tion and other people. It’s time the church STOPS living in fear and trust that God, the Father has our best interests in mind. Be cautious. Don’t fear. Live life. I read a quote today in my quiet time that went like this: “if you want to see what you’ve never seen, you’ve got to do what you’ve never done” meaning go live life to the fullest that God has for you and see things that you have never witnessed. Risks await but so does great reward. Blessings PD
Transcript of Oikos focus · Oikos focus MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | JULY 2020 First B Family -...
Oikos focus
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH | JULY 2020
First B Family - Welcome to July!!
In the movies, we watch as a character opens a computer file, stares at the image on the monitor and hears the follow-ing statement, “If you are reading this then you have sur-vived.” J
It seems that our current situation these pasts months has been lifted straight from a movie script with Apocalyptic overtures. Reflecting on all that has transpired since the beginning of March has our heads spinning with amaze-ment. COVID-19 shut down large swaths of our country from factories, businesses, churches and government programs. New concepts popped up in our vocabulary like social distancing, wearing masks and the word coronavirus. And whoever would of have been able to point out where Wuhan, China was on a map before COVID hit.
Then all the confusion from government agencies hit the airwaves whether the virus was as bad as it was, whether we were to wear masks or not, whether we were to shake hands, elbow bump, fist bump or just stop greeting one another altogether. As a pastor I sit back and take all this in and ask myself - “where is the balance?” I want to approach this time via faith and not fear and I hope you are with me. In the Bible we read Paul’s address to Timothy and his challenge to lessen fear in his life and the church’s life. “6 For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and dis-cipline.”
2Ti 1:6-7 NASB That word “timidity” is the Greek word - δειλία deilía (pronounced day-leah) which
means cowardice, timidity, reticence, fearfulness. Notice that the origin of the fearfulness is NOT from God but originates from somewhere else. That place is either our own minds or the enemy’s.
As believers we NEED to approach all the challenges of life with balance. Being wise and cautious when needed but NEVER EVER locked up in fear where we cannot enjoy the things of God, His crea-tion and other people. It’s time the church STOPS living in fear and trust that God, the Father has our best interests in mind. Be cautious. Don’t fear. Live life.
I read a quote today in my quiet time that went like this: “if you want to see what you’ve never seen, you’ve got to do what you’ve never done” meaning go live life to the fullest that God has for you and see things that you have never witnessed. Risks await but so does great reward.
Blessings
PD
NEW IN THE LIBRARY 1. Leaving Lavender Tides, by Coble
2. If I Run #1, by Blackstock
3. Seasons of Amish Garden (4in1), by Clipston
4. An Amish Christmas Kitchen (3in1), by Gould, Drexler & Lloyd
5. Amish Brides of Birch Creek #2, by Fuller
The Innkeeper’s
6. A Place at our Table, by Clipston
Please make sure you check out all books and videos before you take them out of the Library (adult or children). Also try to bring them back on time. You may recheck out your books.
Your Librarian,
Peggy McClure
JULY 12TH
6:00PM
NEW MEN’S STUDY COMING SOON!
“The Greatest Sermon Ever Preached”
Will begin mid July—Friday mornings at 6AM
1 Janet Sparks
2 Kim McJunkin
3 Twyla Hawkins
4 Dick Reedy
5 Suzanne Moore
6 Larry Longshore
7 Judy Reedy
8 Jason Brewer
9 Lucy Stockton
10 Ernestine Kennelley
11 Dorothy Johnson
12 Frankie Meek
13 Holly Peters
14 Dick Reedy
15 Jan Miller
16 Kathy Foust
17 Joyce Jordan
18 Larry Longshore
19 Amber Wiley
20 Susie Bolf
21 Pam Broce
22 Phyllis Bradfield
23 Jacque Ramirez
24 Frankie Meek
25 Susie Bolf
26 Suzanne Moore
27 Janet Sparks
28 Judy Reedy
29 Mark McGuigan
30 Kathy Foust
31 Richard Wamego
Call (620) 442-5000 for a new devotion every day!
Tehyzon Dauber Donna Louderback
Mathew Ramirez Don Bradfield
Blanche Schmidt Blythe Brewer
Norman Weigand Kathi Hawkins
Lisa Longshore Julie Swanson
Kathy Ripperger Jorim Palmer
Elliott Jackson Phyllis Bradfield
Rylan Pal mer Sylvia Riggs
Connie Tyler Katie Ewert
Joshua Abrams Trudy Masingale
Charley Cushenbery Terry McClure
Cindy Czaplinski Natalia Onelio
Clarice Henderson Helen Foster
Bret Stoner J.C. Louderback
JoAnn Baker Bryson Stoner
Clint Combs Katie Schwyhart
Pam Crain
Jul 5 Rogers
Jul 12 Smith
Jul 19 Foust
Jul 26 Virden / Musson
Kingdom Kids Volunteers
CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES
220 E. Central Arkansas City, KS 67005 620.442.3510 [email protected]
Jul 5 Valerie Harvey
Jul 12 Katie Schwyhart
Jul 19 Kimberly McJunkin
Jul 26 Jennifer Stoner
Nursery Volunteers
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
220 E Central Ave
Arkansas City, KS 67005
