A famous landmark church in Maine...... now in the hands of the historical society.
Oh, God. That you would send a man to Sedgewick, Maine!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
First Baptist Church of Sedgewick
A famous landmark church in Maine...... now in the hands of the historical society.
Oh, God. That you would send a man to Sedgewick, Maine!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Have I mentioned how undeserving I am?
What a blessing the last few weeks have been to me!
On Memorial day I had prayed to the Lord for more preaching opportunities. Oh, did he answer!
I had the opportunity to travel with my wonderful family to East Millinocket, Maine to preach at Tri-Town Baptist Church on the 5th of June. What a blessing that was! The Lord gave me great liberty to preach and it was a true blessing! My entire family had a great time with those great folks. (BTW, thank you to the Stanley's who hosted us for the delicious lunch). At the end of the day I was presented with a very generous love offering. Oh, how the Lord knows how to take care of His own! This love offering covered the shortfall that my bread business has suffered. Additionally, on the way home we stopped in Newport at the Burger King for some supper. While there I bumped into Pastor Chuck Barnes from Second Baptist Church in Palermo, Maine. During the course of the conversation I was invited to preach on July 10 and 17. Wow! God truly is good!
On the evening of the 5th Pastor Wiley and his family left town, headed for a couple weeks rest in Oklahoma. I had opportunity to preach at Church Hill Baptist Wednesday night, Saturday for a graduation ceremony (congratulations Amanda Thompson!), Sunday for "graduate appreciation Sunday), the following Wednesday, and then again on father's day! All great experiences!
On Saturday the 18th I went soul-winning with Hal and Jacob Harris and Gary Partridge. We had the opportunity to lead five precious souls to Christ! God gives the increase! He is so faithful!
Through the time that Pastor and family were gone, we had the opportunity to minister in situations that we never had dealt with before. Did I mention how good God is? How he helped! I am learning more and more that I have absolutely no knowledge or power in my own self, but we serve a God who has never-ending knowledge and power! I am so undeserving of all that God is doing! I praise His holy name! I sure am glad that God specializes in taking the unusable and making them usable!
We are entering quite a busy time of summer for us at Church Hill Baptist.
Sunday June 26 we are hosting the Weaver family, missionaries to Scotland. They are literally leaving for Scotland after the morning service.
Monday June 27 - Friday July 1 Heritage Baptist Bible College is offering a one week class in Baptist Distinctives. Dr. Ryan McGuire and family will be arriving on Monday and Brother McGuire will be teaching the class. Brother McGuire is pastor of Bluestone Baptist Church in Clarksville, VA. You may know Brother McGuire for his documentaries on Baptist History.
Sunday July 3 will be a fellowship Sunday to get our water bottles ready for distribution in the Independence Day parade in Augusta.
Monday July 4 at 4pm, Church Hill Baptist Church will have the opportunity to pass out 8,000 water bottles at the parade through downtown Augusta. Each water bottle will have a "God's Simple Plan of Salvation" tract. We are praying that God will us this outreach effort to reach more precious souls!
Tuesday July 5, Pastor Jeff Faggart and family arrive for the week. Brother Faggart will be studying and preparing for the 2012 Baptist History tour which is taking place in Maine. What a blessing the Faggarts have been to our ministry.
July 10th we will be having another fellowship Sunday so we may get ready for vacation Bible school which will be taking place from Monday to Friday.
After vacation Bible school I will begin preparing to teach "New Testament Survey" at HBBC.
Wheeeeewwwwwww, busy month. Oh, yeah, it's also the busiest time of year on the bread route.
Well, it is a true blessing to be busy about the Lord's business. He is so good and I am so undeserving of Him!
On Memorial day I had prayed to the Lord for more preaching opportunities. Oh, did he answer!
I had the opportunity to travel with my wonderful family to East Millinocket, Maine to preach at Tri-Town Baptist Church on the 5th of June. What a blessing that was! The Lord gave me great liberty to preach and it was a true blessing! My entire family had a great time with those great folks. (BTW, thank you to the Stanley's who hosted us for the delicious lunch). At the end of the day I was presented with a very generous love offering. Oh, how the Lord knows how to take care of His own! This love offering covered the shortfall that my bread business has suffered. Additionally, on the way home we stopped in Newport at the Burger King for some supper. While there I bumped into Pastor Chuck Barnes from Second Baptist Church in Palermo, Maine. During the course of the conversation I was invited to preach on July 10 and 17. Wow! God truly is good!
On the evening of the 5th Pastor Wiley and his family left town, headed for a couple weeks rest in Oklahoma. I had opportunity to preach at Church Hill Baptist Wednesday night, Saturday for a graduation ceremony (congratulations Amanda Thompson!), Sunday for "graduate appreciation Sunday), the following Wednesday, and then again on father's day! All great experiences!
On Saturday the 18th I went soul-winning with Hal and Jacob Harris and Gary Partridge. We had the opportunity to lead five precious souls to Christ! God gives the increase! He is so faithful!
Through the time that Pastor and family were gone, we had the opportunity to minister in situations that we never had dealt with before. Did I mention how good God is? How he helped! I am learning more and more that I have absolutely no knowledge or power in my own self, but we serve a God who has never-ending knowledge and power! I am so undeserving of all that God is doing! I praise His holy name! I sure am glad that God specializes in taking the unusable and making them usable!
We are entering quite a busy time of summer for us at Church Hill Baptist.
Sunday June 26 we are hosting the Weaver family, missionaries to Scotland. They are literally leaving for Scotland after the morning service.
Monday June 27 - Friday July 1 Heritage Baptist Bible College is offering a one week class in Baptist Distinctives. Dr. Ryan McGuire and family will be arriving on Monday and Brother McGuire will be teaching the class. Brother McGuire is pastor of Bluestone Baptist Church in Clarksville, VA. You may know Brother McGuire for his documentaries on Baptist History.
Sunday July 3 will be a fellowship Sunday to get our water bottles ready for distribution in the Independence Day parade in Augusta.
Monday July 4 at 4pm, Church Hill Baptist Church will have the opportunity to pass out 8,000 water bottles at the parade through downtown Augusta. Each water bottle will have a "God's Simple Plan of Salvation" tract. We are praying that God will us this outreach effort to reach more precious souls!
Tuesday July 5, Pastor Jeff Faggart and family arrive for the week. Brother Faggart will be studying and preparing for the 2012 Baptist History tour which is taking place in Maine. What a blessing the Faggarts have been to our ministry.
July 10th we will be having another fellowship Sunday so we may get ready for vacation Bible school which will be taking place from Monday to Friday.
After vacation Bible school I will begin preparing to teach "New Testament Survey" at HBBC.
Wheeeeewwwwwww, busy month. Oh, yeah, it's also the busiest time of year on the bread route.
Well, it is a true blessing to be busy about the Lord's business. He is so good and I am so undeserving of Him!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day, One Baptists' Sacrifice
Happy Memorial day everybody! Today is a day which is set apart for the purpose of remembering all those who died in the service of our country. Countless multitudes of soldiers have given the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we enjoy today. As a Blood-bought Baptist believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I think of those Baptists who paid the maximum price for us. One example that comes to mind is that of Benjamin Merrill. Mr. Merrill was a prominent Baptist in the North Carolina area under the royal governorship of William Tryon. Governor Tryon hated Baptists. Tryon was an Episcopal (the North Carolina state church in 1771). History tells us of the Battle of the Regulators, or the Battle of Alamance, but it is not widely reported that the battle was much more about stifling the revival taking place through Sandy Creek Baptist Church and Pastor Shubal Stearns. The proponents of the church - state relationship were very upset with the rise of this new group of Baptists preaching a separation of church and state and religious freedom. Benjamin Merrill was one of the Baptists who defended religious freedom and fought taxation without representation. Let's read the historical account of the noble death of Mr. Merrill. Praise the Lord for Benjamin Merrill and all other patriots who gave their life for us.
At the Battle of Alamance on 16 May 1771, the militia under the command
of Royal Governor William Tryon defeated approximately 2,000 Regulators.
It may never be possible to identify all of the Regulators. Many have
been lost to history. Of the six who were hanged at Hillsborough after
the battle, the names of two are no longer known.
Capt. Benjamin Merrell, one of the North Carolina "Regulators"(colonial
patriots opposing British tyranny) was hanged by colonial North Carolina
Governor Tyron, June 19, 1771, helping plant seeds for the Revolutionary
War of 1776. He was thus ahead of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and
others in striking a blow for freedom. He went to the gallows with a
song of liberty on his lips. He said he had been converted 15 years
earlier, but had backslidden, yet now felt he had been truly forgiven
and would not change places with anyone on the grounds. He then faced
Governor Tyron's sentence:
"You are to be hanged by the Neck; that you be cut down while yet alive,
that your Bowels be taken out and burnt before your Face, that your head
be cut off, your Body divided into Four Quarters, and this be at his
Majesty's Disposal; and the Lord have Mercy on your Soul." His wife and
eight children were forced to watch, including his youngest, Jonathan,
6, our continuing direct ancestor.
"In a few minutes," he said on the gallows, "I shall leave a widow and
eight children. I entreat that no reflection be past on them on my
account and, if possible, I shall deem it a bounty, should you gentlemen
petition the Governor and Council that some part of my estate be spared
to the widow and fatherless."
One of Governor Tyron's militiamen, deeply moved by his speech, was
heard to say, "If all men went to the gallows with a character such as
Captain Merrell's, hanging would be an honorable death."
Today at Alamance National Battlefield Park near Alamance, NC, off
Interstate 85, a granite monument marks his contribution to freedom,
near the spot he yielded up his life for it.
At the Battle of Alamance on 16 May 1771, the militia under the command
of Royal Governor William Tryon defeated approximately 2,000 Regulators.
It may never be possible to identify all of the Regulators. Many have
been lost to history. Of the six who were hanged at Hillsborough after
the battle, the names of two are no longer known.
Capt. Benjamin Merrell, one of the North Carolina "Regulators"(colonial
patriots opposing British tyranny) was hanged by colonial North Carolina
Governor Tyron, June 19, 1771, helping plant seeds for the Revolutionary
War of 1776. He was thus ahead of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and
others in striking a blow for freedom. He went to the gallows with a
song of liberty on his lips. He said he had been converted 15 years
earlier, but had backslidden, yet now felt he had been truly forgiven
and would not change places with anyone on the grounds. He then faced
Governor Tyron's sentence:
"You are to be hanged by the Neck; that you be cut down while yet alive,
that your Bowels be taken out and burnt before your Face, that your head
be cut off, your Body divided into Four Quarters, and this be at his
Majesty's Disposal; and the Lord have Mercy on your Soul." His wife and
eight children were forced to watch, including his youngest, Jonathan,
6, our continuing direct ancestor.
"In a few minutes," he said on the gallows, "I shall leave a widow and
eight children. I entreat that no reflection be past on them on my
account and, if possible, I shall deem it a bounty, should you gentlemen
petition the Governor and Council that some part of my estate be spared
to the widow and fatherless."
One of Governor Tyron's militiamen, deeply moved by his speech, was
heard to say, "If all men went to the gallows with a character such as
Captain Merrell's, hanging would be an honorable death."
Today at Alamance National Battlefield Park near Alamance, NC, off
Interstate 85, a granite monument marks his contribution to freedom,
near the spot he yielded up his life for it.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
What a beautiful song written by Isaac Watts. Isn't it true that all of our worldly cares / pursuits should melt at the cross. This song brings a tear to my eye. I can not understand the love behind the wondrous Cross. When we deserve it least, Christ is reaching down for us to pull us up to Him. Amazing!
1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
1. When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
save in the death of Christ, my God;
all the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.
3. See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown.
4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were an offering far too small;
love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.
Friday, May 6, 2011
One face of compromise.....
"Dear God. Thank you for making me, for creating me, and for loving me. I want to fulfill the purposes that you made me for. Starting today I want get to know you and love you and trust you. And I want my life to bring you pleasure. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ. Help me to understand it more. As much as I know how I want to open up my life to your love and your purpose. In your name I pray. Amen."
What you have just read was the standard Rick Warren salvation prayer. Preceding this prayer (spoken at a prayer breakfast) was a "salvation plea" which never once mentioned sin or being a sinner, never once mentioned redemption or repentance. The speech never once mentioned our need for the Saviour. No, those words are too "negative".
This is what is called compromise. We have no time for compromisers. We have a world to warn of the coming judgement. Like Jonah's "Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be overthrown!"
Separate from compromisers.
This includes Rick Warren.
What you have just read was the standard Rick Warren salvation prayer. Preceding this prayer (spoken at a prayer breakfast) was a "salvation plea" which never once mentioned sin or being a sinner, never once mentioned redemption or repentance. The speech never once mentioned our need for the Saviour. No, those words are too "negative".
This is what is called compromise. We have no time for compromisers. We have a world to warn of the coming judgement. Like Jonah's "Yet forty days and Ninevah shall be overthrown!"
Separate from compromisers.
This includes Rick Warren.
Friday, April 29, 2011
April update
What a few weeks we have had at Church Hill Baptist Church! The LORD has blessed on so many fronts. He is so good! Weekly soul-winning has been so powerful! I praise the LORD for all He is doing in the city of Augusta. We are seeing souls saved almost every week. Every time we hit the streets, I get more of a burden. Amazing how that works!
We had a tremendous Resurrection Sunday this past week. The choir performed the contada "the Miracle I've Seen" on both Saturday night and Sunday morning followed by amazing preaching from Pastor Wiley. There is true power in the Word of God when preached! Each service at least four people (different ones each service) raised their hand for salvation. That is what it is all about! Amen! Amen!
Brother Michael and his new bride Amber arrived on Saturday fresh off the honeymoon. What a pleasure it is to have them back. He will be preaching at Truth Baptist Church for the next three weeks. What a good opportunity for him.
CHBC is hosting the McFarland's from Oklahoma this week. We are praying God will call this precious young family up this way. Maine desperately needs laborers.
The annual ladies tea is tomorrow. Much hard work has gone into the tea. It is going to be a great time for the ladies (the men helpers get to eat leftovers...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!)
We are almost finished with the remodel of the choir loft at church. Many hands contributed to this effort. It looks awesome.
Revival time is here! Two weeks ago Pastor Nathan Pelkey of Bible Baptist in Unity preached revival at Truth Baptist Church. This coming week Pastor Todd Bell of Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford is preaching revival at Bible Baptist in Unity. Looking forward to hearing Brother Bell "Fling'er down!"
We are now just three weeks away from Brother Sam Davison arriving in Maine to preach revival at Church Hill Baptist Church. I am looking forward to hearing this Man of God preach the Word of God!
May 2, 2011 marks the 400 year anniversary of the King James Bible. Have you spent time in your King James Bible today? If not, click the red "X" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and go and read your Bible!
Amen!
We had a tremendous Resurrection Sunday this past week. The choir performed the contada "the Miracle I've Seen" on both Saturday night and Sunday morning followed by amazing preaching from Pastor Wiley. There is true power in the Word of God when preached! Each service at least four people (different ones each service) raised their hand for salvation. That is what it is all about! Amen! Amen!
Brother Michael and his new bride Amber arrived on Saturday fresh off the honeymoon. What a pleasure it is to have them back. He will be preaching at Truth Baptist Church for the next three weeks. What a good opportunity for him.
CHBC is hosting the McFarland's from Oklahoma this week. We are praying God will call this precious young family up this way. Maine desperately needs laborers.
The annual ladies tea is tomorrow. Much hard work has gone into the tea. It is going to be a great time for the ladies (the men helpers get to eat leftovers...mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!)
We are almost finished with the remodel of the choir loft at church. Many hands contributed to this effort. It looks awesome.
Revival time is here! Two weeks ago Pastor Nathan Pelkey of Bible Baptist in Unity preached revival at Truth Baptist Church. This coming week Pastor Todd Bell of Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford is preaching revival at Bible Baptist in Unity. Looking forward to hearing Brother Bell "Fling'er down!"
We are now just three weeks away from Brother Sam Davison arriving in Maine to preach revival at Church Hill Baptist Church. I am looking forward to hearing this Man of God preach the Word of God!
May 2, 2011 marks the 400 year anniversary of the King James Bible. Have you spent time in your King James Bible today? If not, click the red "X" in the upper right hand corner of the screen and go and read your Bible!
Amen!