Some of Our August 2009 Articles (Download August Full Issue PDF)

What’s A Church Member To Do?

We want everyone who attends our church to get the most out of every service. Here are some suggestions and requests regarding our church services. Let us each ask God to help us make every service exactly what He wants it to be.

Please Do:

• Be Faithful to Every Service Possible.
• Enter into Every Part of the Worship Service
• Make a New Friend Each Sunday
• Pray for the Pastor and Leaders
• Meditate on the Messages Throughout the Week
• Invite and Bring Your Friends and Neighbors with You
• Plan Vacations so as not to miss Special Meetings
• Tell Friends & Family in Other Areas About Our Church
• Volunteer to Work in some Facet of the Ministry

Please Don’t:

• Move about Unnecessarily, Especially During the Invitation
• Write in the Hymnals
• Ever Criticize or Complain
• Talk to Others During Prayer, Singing, or Preaching
• Leave Early Unless Absolutely Necessary

And above all, DO PRAY that God will work in the hearts of everyone present to be obedient to His Word and His Will.

See Ya Sunday

Preacher Rodney Ricketts

Bean Station Baptist Temple

Hebrews 10:24-25 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.



Moral Confussion

By Ellis Bartley

The world has become confused concerning morals. I would like in this issue to call your attention to some very serious problems that has come upon us in recent years, due to this confusion.

One reason for the terrible increase in violent crimes is the moral confusion produced by well educated people, many in institutions of higher learning, who call evil good and good evil. The Bible warns us of this in Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Four items came to my attention recently that underscore this fact:

First, I read an article which treated lightly the bad results of pornography, but deplored the, “Puritanical attitudes of religionists.” Recent studies of violent sex crimes have proven that pornography is the major cause of these crimes. Yes, pornography is evil.

Second, I came across a news paper article that told about a group of concerned parents who were trying to get an unmarried, pregnant teacher removed from her job. The writer portrayed her as a beautiful person, while the moms and dads were made out to be villains.

Third, I watched as a guest on a television program defended hard rock, the use of drugs connected with a concert a few years ago, in which several young people were killed. He blamed our social problems on individuals who don’t like these kind of gatherings.

Fourth, I am appalled at some of the Supreme Court decisions over recent years that have legislated law with no concern of the outcome. Thanks to some of these, now the homosexual can teach his lifestyle in our public school system while the Ten Commandments have been removed and the Bible cannot be taught. Yes, there is moral confusion today, we now call evil good and good evil.

Now, quite frankly I wouldn’t want to see laws passed that prohibit people from expressing these warped judgments, because if I insist on the freedom of speech for myself, I must grant it to them. But we as Christians can counteract these false ideas by boldly speaking out.

However we have lost much of this freedom over the years. We cannot publicly assemble for Gospel preaching on a street corner, or publicly witness for Jesus as we once did. It is difficult in many cases to simply pass out gospel tracts.

As a minister of the Word of God, I must declare my belief in God’s unchanging moral standards. Anyone who defends pornographers and attacks law-abiding citizens must be exposed. Such perverted thinking is largely responsible for violent crimes.

I would not, knowingly allow a homosexual to teach his or her philosophy to a young child of mine.

Remember, there is one judge that we all must face, even our Supreme Court Justices, Jesus Christ, the Judge of all, before whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess, as Lord! He is the answer, the only answer to all of this confusion of today. With His Truth written in your hearts, you shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free. I close with this thought: The person who can’t be angry at evil lacks enthusiasm for good.



Aunt Helen's Cat

Yesterday I was sitting in the Animal Hospital waiting to get my dogs their annual shots and take care of an allergy problem. I was deep in thought, thinking, "Oh no, this is going to cost me so much. How will I ever save if these problems keep popping up with two dogs with allergies, what an expense?"

I watched as a man got off the bus and came through the door. Immediately I looked at this man and was quick to judge him as a so-called looser. He saw my dogs, especially my large one and said, "Boy I wouldn't want him." He asked me if he would bite and I said no.

This man put me off guard a bit and he started talking about Aunt Helen as if everyone should know who she was. The man had no teeth, it looked as if one of his eyes had cataracts; and although, he was dressed in clean jeans and a T-shirt, it looked as if he was dealt his share of troubles. I wondered if he lived on the street.I was so quick to form opinions of this poor gentleman. He told me that Aunt Helen's cat needed to be fixed, and it was going to cost him more than he had.

He asked if I knew if there was a payment plan there because he could only afford a bit at a time. I looked around and saw people looking away; no one wanted to deal with this man.

I watched as he went to the desk and was thankful that the vet called me into the back so I didn't have to watch this man any longer.

Today I can't stop thinking of this man. Why did he put me off guard so much? Why was I so quick to look down on this man? This man was trying to help his Aunt Helen who had a cat that needed care. This man, although he didn't have much, was trying to work out a deal with the vet so he could get Aunt Helen's cat looked after.Today, I wished I could have helped this man look after Aunt Helen's cat. Today, I wish I could have opened my eyes to the kindness this man was showing yesterday. Today I have been praying that the man got the help he needed to help another person.I don't know why this man touched me like he did, but I know I will be changed because of it. My problems are small compared to that of this man. He is twice the person I am because with all he must have on his plate, he is still trying to help Aunt Helen's Cat.

How often do we judge someone by the way they look? I’m sure that we have all done this at one time or another, but have you ever done this and then get to know the person and they turn out to be really a great person. And if this has happened to you and you became good friends with this person have you ever stopped to think what if you had went on the first opinions that you had about this person when you first met them that you would have missed a great friendship. And what if God did the same with each one of us because there are times in all our lives that we don’t look the greatest and if He judged us by the way we look we would all be trouble. We should try to be more like Him and look beyond the outer shell and see what is in the cross.

"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more." Psalm 71: 8,14




I Shall Meet You There

Some years ago, a radio evangelist announced that he would speak the following Sunday on "Heaven". It was to be broadcast on radio. During that week he received a letter from an old man who was very ill. Here is part of that letter: "Next Sunday you are to talk about 'Heaven'. I am interested in that land because I have held a clear title to a bit of property there for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me without money and without price. But the donor purchased it for me at a tremendous
sacrifice. I am not holding it for speculation since the title is nontransferable. It is not a vacant lot. "For more than a half-century, I have been sending material out of which the greatest architect and builder of the universe has been building a home for me, which will never need to be repaired because it will suit me perfectly, individually, and will never grow old. "Termites can never undermine its foundation for it rests upon the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks or bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land where my dwelling stands, now almost completed and ready for me to enter it and abide in peace eternally without fear of being ejected. "There is a valley of deep shadow between the place where I live and that to which I shall journey in a very short time. I cannot reach my home in the City of God without passing
through the dark valley of shadows. But I am not afraid, because the best friend that I have ever had went through the same valley alone, a long, long, time ago and drove away all the gloom. He has stuck by me through thick and thin since we first met and became acquainted 55 years ago, and I hold His promise in printed form, never to forsake nor to leave me alone. He will be with me as I walk through the valley of shadows, and I shall not lose my way when He is with me. "I hope to hear your sermon on Heaven next Sunday from my home, but I have no assurance
that I shall be able to do so. My ticket to heaven has no date marked for the journey, no return coupon, and no permit for baggage. Yes, I am ready to go and may not be here while you are talking next Sunday, but I shall meet you there some day."




Kindness Counts
Loving ways to raise a compassionate child in a me-first world

One of the most common questions parents ask me is, "How, in this materialistic,
competitive world can I raise kind children?" My answer is to begin by being a kind adult. When your child sees you going the extra mile to help a friend, carrying someone's groceries, making a meal for a new family that just moved in, or inviting people into your life who aren't exactly like you, he will naturally see this as the right way to live. We are mirrors for our kids: When children observe your examples of kindness, they'll know where to begin. One day, I mentioned that I had a tummy ache, and my 8-year-old dashed up the stairs to run a bath, turn down my bed, and lay out my favorite nightie. You know who had treated her tummy aches in just such a way.
Discover true joy when you experience a sunset.
Kindness is a quality that isn't often rewarded in our schools, so we must make a strong effort to acknowledge it at home. Kids are naturally empathetic from an early age: As newborns, they cry when they hear another baby crying; they offer their favorite doll to the friend who has scraped his knee. We tend to expect our young children to grow out of this compassion and become self-absorbed. "Oh it's the terrible twos," we say. "Kids just can't share at this age." What if we shifted our expectations and saw our kids as truly caring beings? Boys in particular are often rewarded for being clever or assertive, but not often for showing compassion.
A busy mother I know is making an effort to acknowledge her young son's kindness. She recalls, "I went with the second grade on the bus to the zoo last fall, and Michael sat next to a classmate who uses a wheelchair and is mentally impaired. I was amazed at how helpful and considerate he was, and I was quick to compliment him when we got home."
Kindness, empathy, compassion, and love grow from appreciation and respect, and in turn create more of both. Instead of comparing kids and fostering competition--"You have the best voice in the choir"--it would help to applaud their thoughtfulness. For example, you could say, "I liked the way you complimented Amy's painting."
In an achievement-oriented culture, we may focus more on grades and sports victories than on values of the heart. Take the time to acknowledge kind actions as having true worth. We can weave kindness into our everyday lives, for example, by creating a "kindness board" and posting it on the fridge. Each time a family member does something kind, he or she can write it on the board when it's acknowledged.
Try These Random Acts of Kindness. Ask your kids to come up with their own list of everyday opportunities to show kindness. Some ideas to get them started:
-Smile at the bus driver.
-Compliment at least one person a day.
-Hold the door for the person behind you when you come in from recess.
-Pass on to someone else a book you loved.
-Offer to walk a neighbor's dog.
-Help someone find something he or she has lost.
-Recycle magazines to the local library.
-Help a younger sibling with homework.
-Sit with the kid who usually sits alone on the bus.
-If kids are speaking unkindly about someone, take a stand against it.
-Bake an extra batch of cookies and leave them on a neighbor's doorstep.
-Hug somebody who needs it.
Remind your children they can make a difference each day. They can touch other people's lives through simple efforts: a smile, a nod, a shared laugh, a kind word, a whispered prayer.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4: 7 - 8



God Answers Prayer

I remember reading about the children of Israel who turned from God time and time again, only to realize their mistake and pray for forgiveness. Each time, God would forgive them and they would walk with him for a time. So, I am going to ask you to join me in praying for our nation every day. God is in control.

May God Have Mercy On America ; Protect Our TroopsWhen we were in Texarkana last week, there were signs in people's yards that said, "America, prayer is our only hope" - with 2 Chron. 7:14 underneath. We certainly need God's help!

I have no idea who started this, but I certainly agree with them. I heard a preacher on TV tonight who said if we pray for our nation that things will turn around.

After a day of contemplation and soul searching, I have decided to reach out to my friends and relatives and ask you to do something that has been troubling me for a long time.

Our nation is/has been on the slippery slope for a long time. If you look around you will find corruption, greed, moral decay, and a steady move away from the things that made us great. The principles upon which this nation was founded are no longer our backbone. However, we can reverse this trend. So I ask you to join me in this plea to our Lord.

2 Chron. 7:14 in God's Word, He states,"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." I am convinced that we must pray for our nation and its leaders and ask for forgiveness.



When God Wispers Your Name

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met. For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day’s demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose.

And so I choose.

I choose Love.... No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.

I choose Joy... I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical ... the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I choose Peace I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live. I choose Patience I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I’ll invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I choose Kindness... I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I choose Goodness... I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse.

I choose goodness.

I choose Faithfulness...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word. My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.

I choose Gentleness... Nothing is won by force.

I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.

I choose Self-Control... I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal. I choose self -control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.

To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek His grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest. ---Max Lucado

The Undeserved Gift

I grew up in a small town in Ohio. There was a man in town that everyone seemed to know. Bob was uneducated and couldn't talk plain. It seemed that because he was good natured and not very smart that every one teased him. I guess he was an easy mark. One day when I was sitting on the porch he came walking by. I was about 12 years old and thought it would make me feel grown up to tease him like some adults did in the town. He asked how I was doing. I told him that my father had lost his job, and that we were short of money. I could see my friends laughing in the background so I poured it on pretty thick. I had him fooled so completely that every time he asked me a question, I would make the situation seem worse and worse. I knew he scratched out a meager living doing odd jobs, so it seemed funny when he asked me if we needed anything. I told him that we didn't know if we would have enough to eat. He replied, "You poor thing. I will pray for you." That night I heard the door rattle softly. I thought it was the wind whipping against the door so I didn't pay much attention to it. Later when I opened the door to go outside, I found a box of groceries. I knew who had given the foodstuff. I looked through the small box of canned food with tears in my eyes. I felt ashamed, and wanted to return the groceries. My father would not let me take the box back. He said it would hurt Bob's feelings. Each day when we would have dinner my father would ask, "What side dish are we having from the gift box today?" It was hard for me to eat the food. I knew Bob had given sacrificially. I did not deserve the gift, but he gave the best he had. It reminds me of the gift that God gave, long ago, when He gave us His Son. It was a gift we did not deserve, but He gave us His best.