The Lord's Table on Sunday

In gathered worship, on October 2, we will observe communion together at RBBC.  Please prepare yourself for this in the Word, prayer, confession of known sin, and repentance.  Consider reading from Matthew 27:32-50 for meditation.  

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, saying... 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'" (Matthew 27:46)  The suffering required of the Savior to assuage the wrath of God for our sins was incalculable!  On the cross--not including his suffering for days, months and years prior--He suffered hour after hour for the glory of His Father (John 17:1), for countless of His own-- for you, believer.  

"And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior's love?  Died He for me, who caused His pain, for me who Him to death pursued?  Amazing love, how can it be, that Thou my God shouldst die for me?"

Glad Grieving

Carey Dean is answering the Lord's call to minister in another church, Woodland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN.  I am very sad that the Deans are leaving Rocky.  Carey loves God and he has beautifully and faithfully called us to magnify the glory of God and exalt the Lord Jesus.  He has helped many to use their gifts in worship leadership ministries, urging them to grow in the Lord.  He is a man of the Word, teaching and leading and counseling and praying from it.  He has been a great mentor and encourager on our staff.  He is special, humble, gifted man of God.  We have been through much together and he has encouraged me in ministry often.

It is true that I am grieving about Carey's departure, but there is a gladness about it because it is obvious that the Lord of the church is calling him to Tennessee.  So I am glad to yield to His call in Carey's life, and his family's lives, too.  And there is another reason I am glad while sad.  It is that I am confident that our Chief Shepherd will provide for Rocky's needs during the coming weeks and months because he is faithful.  Let us joyfully thank God for His gift of the Dean family to RBBC, and let us pray for them and for our church as we all seek to respond to Christ's leading.

How Great Is God?

Sunday morning, September 11, I preached and taught from Acts 17:22-29.  When Paul was asked to tell more about the meaning of his preaching about Jesus and the resurrection (17:18-20), he began by describing God.  Having observed the hyper-religiosity of the Athenians, because of the prominence of idols in the city, Paul started with doctrinal statements about who God is-- I highlighted nine things that point us to a hugely great God!  

He created  all that is.

He is Lord of all.

He is Spirit and not limited to man-made residences.

He is totally Self-sufficient as is not served by human hands.

He gives life to all mankind.

He made all the nations of the world, defining their times and boundaries.

He mercifully purposes that people seek Him.

He is near us.

He is beyond human imagination--greater!  Greater!

Next Sunday, we move on to Acts 17:30-34.  There we find that all of us are accountable to this great God.  "He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed" (17:30-31).  Please read and re-read Acts 17 in preparation for Sunday and pray for the ministry of the Word and me.

May the GREATNESS of GOD be made known! 

Why Did RBBC Do the Strong Bonds Mission?

Last weekend, September 2,3, and 4 over 100 volunteers from RBBC assisted the 7th Special Forces Group by caring for children while their parents participated in the U.S. Army's Strong Bonds, a program designed to help marriage and families cope with the very stressful realities of military life, and especially frequent deployments.  What a fantastic display of unity in the body of Christ as Rocky people, young and old, selflessly served these newly arrived families to our community!  268 kids from 150 families were served with great love on Friday night, all day on Saturday, and Sunday morning.  Rynette and I served in the three and four years old room and were greatly blessed and burdened-- blessed to share in this unique mission with so many of our church family, and burdened for the families of the 7th Group.  Having recently moved from Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, and still experiencing the stresses of moving, many of them will deploy by the end of the year to fight the ongoing war on terror.  So their challenges and needs are obvious. 

Why did we do this?  Why did dozens of our people invest hundreds and hundreds of hours on a holiday weekend to care for Army kids?  Why did we disrupt the flow of our Sunday morning schedule on campus to go to Sandestin?  Here is why: For the glory of God! His Word in 1 Peter 2:12 says, "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles (unbelievers) honorable, so that...they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."  Also, in Matthew 5:14-16, these words from Jesus: "You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."  So we didn't do it for our own sakes, or even for the reputation of RBBC.  We did it for God's glory!

I thank all who gave their time, energy and resources to provide for this mission of loving care in the name of Jesus!  And Chaplain Mike Smith is deeply grateful, too!  He tells me that the responses of the families were overwhelming those of amazement and gratitude for the care provided their kids.  They could not get over that Rocky people were not being paid for the work.

Please pray for growth of friendships that were begun; for 7th kids who are struggling to adjust to the their recent move; for 7th Group marriages; and for watering and cultivating of gospel seeds planted in children and adults. Yes, the green light was given to speak the gospel during Sunday morning meetings!  Thank God!  And pray for "Remember, Honor, Hope 9.11" on Sept. 11 at 5:30pm.  Chaplain Smith is praying expectantly that many of the 7th Group will attend this special gathering; let's pray along with him.

And dear Rocky family, please be on the alert on Sunday and during the coming weeks.  Some 7th Group families may be visiting our church, and some will not have church backgrounds.  Let us be ready to welcome all of them (and all visitors!) in Jesus' name!

I am grateful to God for all of you!

Pastor Carey  

Mark Wilke Preaching on Sept. 4

Mark Wilke will be preaching at Rocky Bayou Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 4.  For those who don't know Mark, he is an elder of our church who is currently on sabbatical leave, meaning he does not attend elders' meetings regularly, but still actively ministers among us with single adults and Spanish-speaking people.  Mark is called to pastoral ministry and works at Eglin Air Force Base while he awaits the Lord's leading.  He has earned a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Grace University and an M.A. in Leadership from Luther Rice Seminary, having pursued this training while working full time!

Please prepare for Sunday morning's ministry of the Word by reading Acts 17:16-21, the text that Mark will open to us.  And pray for God's help to Mark and yourself.