News and Announcements
It’s May 16 and for me (and kids of KidsFocus), that means reading Proverbs 16.
As I read this chapter, I am struck by the limited nature of our planning. As a vapor, we are so limited in our ability to plan for the future. Here is how the Lord explained it in Proverbs 16…
Proverbs 16:1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
Proverbs 16:3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
Planning is good, but it is limited --- for us.
CenterPoint Bible Church was established in September 2008 with a desire to reach the people of the Spring Mills Community by “Pointing them to Jesus Christ and His Word.” The Lord has blessed our church in many ways. We have been blessed in our spiritual growth, blessed in our relationships, and blessed in our outreach to the community. In a phrase, God has planted a church in Spring Mills.
From the early days, our plan was that we would remain at Spring Mills Middle School (SMMS) as long as we able and as long as SMMS meets our needs as a church. Our ability to meet at SMMS has been another blessing for CenterPoint. We thank the Lord for His provision.
Over the past months, our leadership team has been sensing God’s refinement of our plans (remember Proverbs 16). While we intend to continue meeting at SMMS, we believe that we need to begin the process of moving towards a more permanent facility to better enhance the ministries of CenterPoint Bible Church. While this may not mean moving out of SMMS for now, it does mean that we are seeking the Lord’s direction on potentially obtaining a facility that will allow us to better fulfill our purpose as a church. That driving purpose is to Glorify the Lord by creating an environment where believers can be empowered to live out Intimacy with God, Community with Others, and Influence in our World.
How can you become part of this process?
For now, all we are asking is that you continue to pray for CenterPoint and live out our purpose as a church (Intimacy with God, Community with Others, and Influence in our World). Simply, continue to grow in your relationship with God, invest in your relationships at CenterPoint, and be available to be used of the Lord in your daily life. As we are living out that purpose, asking God for His direction, and then obediently responding by faith, God will establish our plans.
A Few Things to Remember…
CENTERPOINT PICNIC – On June 5, CenterPoint will be hosting a Summer Kickoff Picnic at 4:00 at the Brookfield Picnic Area. We hope to have everyone there. It’s these kinds of activities that allow people to experience real connection with others.
BAPTISM – The Brookfield Picnic Area provides us a great opportunity to hold a Baptism Service in the Potomac River on June 5. If you have not been baptized since receiving Jesus Christ as your Personal Savior, take advantage of this opportunity to be baptized.
Pastor Lowell.
« Back to Top
It was Monday Morning… I had so many things I needed to get done – the To-Do List was haunting me. One of my many things to do was to write Monday Morning Thoughts. And then, it happened. My plans got changed.
Depending upon my attitude at the time, I might refer to “it” in a variety of ways:
• A Disturbance
• An Obstruction
• An Interruption
• A Delay
• A Tangent
• A Rabbit Trail
• A Distraction
• A Coincidence
• An Example of Lucky Timing
• A Divine Appointment
From the annoyance of a “disturbance” to the pious sounding “divine appointment,” it’s funny how we can refer to the same event on different days with such a wide range of descriptors. The difference is not based on our level of busyness for that particular day, but on our recognition of God’s control in our lives.
Could God have a reason for the slow traffic?
Is God big enough to limit the number of cash registers open?
Might God have a plan that uses breakdowns, breakups, and break-ins?
May God’s sovereignty include your bumping into that old friend or new acquaintance?
Is it possible that God is using that problem to fix someone elses?
We all make an effort to plan out our days and try hard to work the plan. The problem is that we don’t typically know God’s agenda for the day. Remember, we are only a vapor. Meanwhile, the Creator and Sustainer of that vapor has a plan. This is exactly why James explains that our attitude and words should be, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." Our typical (and opposite response) is called arrogant and boasting – See James 4:13-16.
Sometimes we don’t get done what we had planned to get done. With the right perspective on God’s control and sovereignty, that can be seen as a very good thing!
I trust that today’s “New Week Thoughts” may point you to that conclusion.
Pastor Lowell.
« Back to Top
Take a moment and read these verses. Think about the all surpassing knowledge of our God.
Matthew 10:29-30, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.”
The God that we love and serve cares for even the smallest of creatures. He can also can give us the exact number of hairs on our head! This past Sunday in the service we sang and spoke about how God knows the stars by name. The exact verse is found in Psalm 147:4 which says,
“He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.”
Can you imagine the immense depth of awareness to know each and every star by their name? In processing through that statement, it is not a far cry to say that he knows the differences each star possesses, and has the ability to recognize their nuances.
Not only does He know the stars, but he knows each one of us. He made us all unique and special. Psalm 139 speaks of God knitting us together in our mother’s womb. If you would like to see evidence of God’s limitless originality, just examine your fingers. Every finger has its own original fingerprint. Not one is the same as any other in all the earth.
Just as a fingerprint is original to the person, so is your story of how you came to personally trust in the Lord. It is a story that you can best tell. The same God who cares for the sparrow and knows you intimately has designed your unique story. One that can not be refuted or denied. One that will help us share His unique story. We will have a chance to learn how to best share what the Lord has uniquely done in our lives in the coming Sundays.
On May 1st and 8th, CenterPoint will be having a combined Focus Group. It is entitled “Your story in History”. In this class, everyone will have an opportunity to learn how best to share their personal story. God has placed each one of us in the position to influence the world around us.
The purpose is to show how your life leads to Jesus, and History. You will be encouraged through the testimonies of others. You will find it is easier than you thought. Will you stand for Christ by sharing your unique story? A good place to start is coming to this Focus Group. We will see you there!
Pastor Billy
« Back to Top
Announcement: CenterPoint Baptism Service – Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011.
Matthew 28:19-20… “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”
Baptism has often been and continues to be a controversial subject. It may be surprising to some to realize that throughout history, baptism has often been a starting point for the persecution of believers. For instance, in some parts of India today, converts from Hinduism are accepted and tolerated until the individual is baptized. After baptism, these believers experience opposition, harassment, and persecution.
A logical question is, “Why is baptism such a big deal?” The answer is that baptism symbolizes our identification with Jesus Christ - and that is a big deal.
The physical process of baptism has no spiritual value in itself. Contact between water and skin accomplishes nothing except perhaps to remove dirt. The physical process is significant only in its symbolism, and the symbolism is rich. Baptism pictures a believer’s identification with Christ's death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:4; Colossians 2:12).
When a person is baptized, they are providing all who are present with a clear picture of their own decision to completely depend upon the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. They have been united with Jesus in His death and in His resurrection --- and they want all to know it!
I have been asked, “Is it okay to be ‘re-baptized’?” The Bible does command us to be baptized, but it does not appear to be something that is repeated over and over again. However, since baptism is simply my identification with Jesus, I would be willing to baptized every week. Why not?
Baptism is my declaration of dependence. I am dependent upon His death, His burial, and His resurrection. He is my Lord. He was willing to die. He conquered death. He is alive today. And because He Lives, I am a new creation. That is what baptism symbolizes.
CenterPoint will be having a Baptism service on Easter Sunday, April 24. If you or a family member would like to be baptized, respond to this email before our first baptism class on Sunday, April 10.
In Christ,
Pastor Lowell
« Back to Top
Copyright 2008
CenterPoint Bible Church, 5448 Williamsport Pike #4, Martinsburg WV 25404, 1-800-875-4395
|