This Week in Osprey

OSPREY E-NEWS
November 6, 2009

This is a busy week. But I love it! It keeps me out of trouble and keeps me looking forward to the next big thing.

There’s the Ladies night out on Tuesday at the Dutch Heritage Restaurant.

The Senior Adult Luncheon kicking off on Thursday with a program on security put on by former law enforcement officers. There is a sign up sheet in the hallway. Please sign up so we can know who to provide food for.

Sara and I will be leaving on Sunday afternoon for the Florida Baptist Convention in Pensacola. We’ll be back on Tuesday evening/Wednesday morning.

In my absence, we are blessed to have Mike Risley leading the Sunday night Bible study. You will enjoy learning from Mike.

I’ve put a slide show of the Trunk or Treat from last Saturday up on the blog site. Take a look at the pictures. Here’s the web address for my blog: www.theviewfromosprey.blogspot.com Or you can just hit this link The View from Osprey

Here’s what’s going on:

THIS WEEK:
 Sunday Morning – The Evidence of my Life
 Sunday Evening – Mike Risley leads Sunday night Bible Study!
 Tuesday Night – Student Ministry @ 6:30 pm
 Ladies Night Out – Dutch Heritage @ 6:30 pm
 Wednesday – Going through Genesis
 Senior Adult Luncheon – 11 AM – Crime Prevention Seminar
 WMU – 1 PM


FROM MY HEART:
In the American court system a jury is instructed to find someone guilty if the state prosecutors have proved a person guilty beyond reasonable doubt. There is the presumption of innocence for every person charged. I am thankful for that presumption. They have to show evidence that a crime has been done and the person charged is the person who actually did the crime.

In Ephesians 5:18-21, Paul gives each of us some evidence that we are actually under the control of the Holy Spirit. (That’s what the Bible means when it talks about being “filled with the Holy Spirit”).

This evidence has nothing to do with how ecstatic our worship is. It has everything to do with what we say, how we think and how we act.

So a good question for you and me would be: Am I guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of being controlled by the Holy Spirit? Study what Paul says. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal our guilt or innocence of being under His control. He wants us to obey this command.

I’ll see you in church this Sunday.

In Jesus Grip,
Pastor Tom

The Evidence of My Life
Ephesians 5:15-21

EVIDENCES OF A SPIRIT CONTROLLED LIFE
1. SHOWS IN HOW WE _________________________.

Colossians 4:5 – Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.

Ephesians 6:13 – Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

2. SHOWS IN HOW WE _________________________ _____________.

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Acts 16:25 – But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

3. SHOWS IN HOW WE _________________________

John 4:23-24 – But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. 24 "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

Matthew 15:8 – 'This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me.

4. SHOWS IN HOW WE _______________________.

Colossians 3:17 – Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

5. SHOWS IN HOW WE ________________________ ___________________.

Galatians 5:13 – For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Philippians 2:3 – Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

1 Peter 5:5 – You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

More from Trunk or Treat, 2009

Trunk or Treat Slideshow

Trunk or Treat 2009

Just some pictures from Saturday night's "Trunk or Treat. We estimate about 100 kids and parents came through.

We handed out lots of candy and tracts. But even better than that we met some neighbors and made some friends!

Thanks FBC, Osprey for a GREAT night

This Week at Osprey!

OSPREY E-NEWS
October 30, 2009

This plans to be an extraordinary weekend. Lot’s of great events for all of us to get involved in.

We have “Trunk or Treat” on Saturday night from 6:30 – 7:30 PM. Invite some kids to get some candy.

On Sunday morning, we get the extra hour of sleep we all crave! Don’t forget to set your clock BACK on Saturday night.

Best of all, we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper in both services on Sunday morning. I love every service at Osprey, but I am always looking forward to a service given over to remembering Jesus death, burial and resurrection.

Here’s the web address for my blog: www.theviewfromosprey.blogspot.com Or you can just hit this link The View from Osprey

Here’s what’s going on:

THIS WEEK:

• Saturday - “Trunk or Treat” 6:30-7:30 PM
• TIME CHANGE SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 1! FALL BACK
• Sunday Morning – The Lord’s Supper
• Sunday Evening – 1 Peter Series
• Monday – Prayer Walk – 9:00 am
• Tuesday Night – Student Ministry @ 6:30 pm
• Wednesday – Going through Genesis

FROM MY HEART:

“On the night Jesus was betrayed …” is the context of the Lord’s Supper. Jesus had been prepared for this moment even before He came to earth. His whole purpose in coming to earth would reach its zenith over the next few days.

But before He died and was resurrected, there was one last thing for Him to do: Celebrate the Passover with His friends.

He would say that He was looking forward to it. He would tell them that He would no longer call them servants, but friends. The Bible would remind us that having loved them, He loved them to the end.
So as we take this Lord’s Supper, travel back in time to this moment as the Lord Jesus spends a few hours with friends and gives them new insight into an old ceremony. He would talk about the slavery of God’s People and remind them of the slavery of sin. He would remind them that a deliverer had come and that the final Deliverer was there sitting with them. He would talk about the lamb being killed and remind them that He was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

In doing that, Jesus gives us a reminder of how we ought to prepare for this service as often as we do it. As we prepare for the Lord’s Supper, take some time to think about the blessed Lord Jesus Christ who is the Lamb of God without any kind of blemish who was slain before the foundation of the world. His death would accomplish eternal life for us.

I’ll see you in church this Sunday.

In Jesus Grip,
Pastor Tom

No Ordinary Meal
Text: 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

We sit with no ordinary __________.

We dine at no ordinary ___________.

We have no ordinary ____________.

This Week at Osprey!

OSPREY E-NEWS
October 23, 2009

Why do we come to church? I have several reasons. Obviously, it’s my job, but I would be in church even if it wasn’t. So here are a few:

• To hear from God through His Word
• To praise God in music
• To praise God with His people
• To be obedient to Scripture
• To show to my neighbors that church is important

The main thing is that coming to church is not about me. It is about God. It is about giving Him one day out of seven.

I hope to see you here this Sunday!

Here’s what’s going on:

THIS WEEK:

• Sunday Morning – “Wisdom for the Ages” Series
• Sunday Evening – 1 Peter Series Begins
• Monday – Prayer Walk – 9:00 am
• Tuesday Night – Student Ministry @ 6:30 pm
• Wednesday – Going through Genesis
• Saturday - “Trunk or Treat” 6:30-7:30 PM

FUTURE STUFF: TIME CHANGE SUNDAY – NOVEMBER 1! FALL BACK

FROM MY HEART:

Who isn’t thinking about finances now?

Over the past 2 years, people here in our church and throughout the United States, have suffered through some of the worst times financially I can remember… and please, don’t let anyone ask if I can remember the Great Depression?

Jobs have been lost. Homes have been foreclosed. People have moved. Much of this is because we as a nation and even sometimes, we as believers have not followed God’s wisdom concerning finances.

We are looking at finances as we continue our series on “God’s Wisdom for the Ages” on Sunday. You will be amazed at how many verses refer to money and other financial matters throughout Proverbs.

I was once taught that money is far from being a satisfier. It is, in reality, a dis-satisfier. I have discovered that is true. Money only buys things. It cannot buy happiness and often the more money we have the more unhappy we are. To be blunt, God doesn’t care whether we are rich, well off, comfortable or poor. His purpose for us is to find our contentment in Him. And that includes how we find ourselves financially.

Together, let’s discover God’s wisdom for our finances!

I’ll see you in church this Sunday.
In Jesus Grip,
Pastor Tom

WISDOM FOR THE AGES
PROVERBS 10:15-16
MONEY!
Proverbs 10:15-16 - The rich man's wealth is his fortress, the ruin of the poor is their poverty. 16 The wages of the righteous is life, the income of the wicked, punishment.

GREAT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT MONEY:

1. HAVING MORE THINGS WILL MAKE ME ______________

• Proverbs 10:22 –
• 1 Timothy 6:10

2. HAVING MORE THINGS WILL MAKE ME _____________________________

• Proverbs 22:1 –
• Proverbs 1:18-19 –

3. HAVING MORE THINGS WILL MAKE ME __________________________

• Proverbs 22:4 –
• Matthew 6:19 –

FINANCIAL TRUTHS
1. GIVE _________________________ –

• Proverbs 3:9-10 –

2. WATCH YOUR _____________________ –

• Proverbs 27:24 –
• Proverbs 21:5 -

3. AVOID _______________

• Proverbs 22:7 -

4. MAKE A COMMITMENT TO _______________________________________

• Romans 13:8 –

5. BE ___________________ TO THE POOR

• Proverbs 19:17 -

MEDICATION IN TIMES OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE:
1. FIND MY ___________________ IN KNOWING GOD.

• Philippians 3:10 –
• John 17:3 –

2. FIND MY _____________________ IN HELPING PEOPLE

• 1 Timothy 6:17-19 –
• 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 –

3. FIND MY __________________ IN TRUSTING CHRIST

• Matthew 6:19-21 –
• 1 Timothy 6:17-19 –

The Most Important Service of the Year

Too many years ago, I spent a few weeks in Hammond, Indiana at the First Baptist Church of Hammond, then pastored by Dr. Jack Hyles.

As you might know, Dr. Hyles was a fundamentalist fundamentalist. There are lots of things that could be said about him - many of them true - but I did learn some things from my time there.

Maybe the most important concept I learned (along with some things I learned NOT to do) was this:

The Most Important Service of the Year

is the NEXT Service!

We are getting to a busy season of the year - Thanksgiving and Christmas. That is followed by an even busier time of the year when Florida's state bird - the Snow Birds - come down into warm and beautiful Florida. For those who don't know, "snowbirds" are those who have homes in the northern states but stay in Florida for varying lengths of time. Those of us who live here all year round have something of a love-hate relationship with them.

With that migration, crowds are bigger at church and the lines are longer in restaurants and gold courses. Naturally, we have plans for Christmas and for the season. So the tendency is to see these next 6 months as the most important time of the year.

But it isn't.

The most important service of the year is tonight at FBC, Osprey when we meet together for prayer and Bible study. The most important Sunday is this next Sunday. For our student ministry, the most important service is this weekend's "Disciple Now".

This one lesson has kept me relying on the Lord for strength for each day as well as each service. It has kept me from putting all my effort into a so-called BIG Sunday to the detriment of this Sunday.

Just as every Believer is special to God, every service ought to be special to us! Pardon me while I finish getting ready for the most important service of the year.

This Week at FBC, Osprey!

We reach the end of 2 series on Sunday. We conclude “Until the Whole World Knows” with a look at how we can get the message of Jesus out to the vast majority of people in the world who have still never heard about Jesus. Then on Sunday night, we reach the end of our study on 1 John.

By the way, Tuesday night looks swamped with activities. Student Ministry, Ladies Night Out and the Inspirational meeting for the local association are all going on the same night. Since I am neither a woman nor a student, I’ll be at the meeting in West Charlotte Baptist Church for the Associational meeting, not because I really want to but because they won't let me in the Ladies Night Out and I re-arranged my sock drawer to get out of the last Associational meeting

THIS WEEK:

• Sunday Morning – “Until the Whole World Knows” Series
• Sunday Evening – “Concluding Remarks”
• Deacon’s Meeting – 5:00 PM
• Monday – Prayer Walk – 9:00 am
• Tuesday Night – Student Ministry @ 6:30 pm
• TUESDAY NIGHT – LADIES NIGHT OUT @ 6:30 pm at Dutch Heritage
• Tuesday Night – South West Florida Baptist Association Annual Meeting @ West Charlotte Baptist Church
• Wednesday – Going through Genesis

FUTURE STUFF: October 31 - “Trunk or Treat”

FROM MY HEART:

“The Gospel Blimp” is the old (1961) movie about a church that wanted to tell its neighbors about Jesus. They came up with an amazing (amazing to them) idea. They would rent a blimp and then drop gospel tracts out of the blimp onto the city. This way everyone would get a chance to hear.

Predictably, it didn’t work. In fact it back fired in all sorts of ways. They would eventually discover that the best way is person to person., just like Jesus had commanded us in Matthew 28:19-20 and Acts 1:6-8.

That’s true about reaching Osprey, Laurel, Nokomis, Venice, and Sarasota with the amazing story of God’s free gift of salvation. We have to do it face to face, person to person, and neighbor to neighbor.

But what about the huge cities in Brazil? Or the masses in China? Or the Muslims in Afghanistan? God has a plan for them to hear about Jesus also. It includes every one of us. It means that we pray, give, send and go ourselves to people who have never had the opportunity to hear.

You and I have that responsibility, privilege and debt. We are talking about telling the story of Jesus UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS! Become a believer who is world conscious!

I’ll see you in church this Sunday.

In Jesus Grip,
Pastor Tom

UNTIL THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS
MATTHEW 28:18-20, ACTS 1:8
TAKING THE GOSPEL TO THE MOST REMOTE PARTS OF THE EARTH

ACTS 13:1-3 - Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

3 THINGS ABOUT THIS CHURCH:

• They worked under the ____________________________________
• They had ______________________________
• They were ______________________

HOW WILL WE GET THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD?

1. IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE TO _____________________

2. IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE WHO _____________________________________ DIRECTION

THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS DIRECTLY:

• ACTS 8:29 –
• ACTS 10:19 –
• ACTS 13:2 –

3. IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE WHO ____________.

Romans 10:13-15 - for "whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved." How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things.”

4. IT WILL TAKE PEOPLE WHO _____________

Romans 1:14-17 – I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "but the righteous man shall live by faith”