Sunday November 27, 2011

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What a great time on Sunday and I want to especially thank the “ Senior Moments” for bringing the music.  We had a great time of fellowship and sharing!  I believe the spirit was really moving and I believe there was some healing done on Sunday.

This is the week of Thanksgiving and I hope you have a blessed and thankful holiday.  I hope you will see some friends and family and I hope you will remember to give thanks for the blessings from above.  My family is so precious to me both my immediate family and my church family and I speak blessings on all of you.  This Sunday I am going to bring a message on “ In all things give thanks.”  The scripture verse this week is Ephesians 4: 17-20.  I want you to think this week about what you are thankful for and find out who you are thankful for.  Ask this question “ Where would I be right now if not for God?”  I hope you will be in Church on Sunday to help answer that question.

Please pray for those that are traveling this week and I hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.

Pastor David & Pris

 

Sunday November 20th, 2011

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I want to thank everyone for the great time we had last week.  I appreciate every one of you and am looking forward to many years of worshiping together at BBT.  I think last week was not just a appreciation Sunday for me but it was a celebration of this church and what it means to all of us.  I can’t believe the hard work and the dedication from the members of this church.  I want to thank Larry for bringing the message last week on how do we handle our anger.  It was very insightful.  I want to thank all those that helped prepare the meal afterwards, it was terrific!  I really want to thank you for all the nice things said last week and I hope you know how much we love you as well.

This week Chuck Cagel and the “Senior Moments” will be here to sing some Thanksgiving hymns that we love so much.  I am going to preach on  “What is important to God”.  The scripture verses this week will be Matthew 25: 31-46.  This is a parable that Jesus is sharing with his disciples & others on this subject.  We have read this many times and I have preached on this scripture before but it is very important that we understand what our responsibilities are here on this earth.  I hope you will be with us this week as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving.  I hope you will stop during this season and really thank about what you have to be thankful for.

Please continue to pray for those that need our help and lets be there for the people that need us.  We will enjoy this season if we will take our eyes off ourselves and look at the person in front of you.  I bet you can find some good things about this person and maybe see Christ in everyone.  We love being part of this ministry and we are looking forward to see you on Sunday.  May God keep you and bless you and we will be praying for those that are going to be traveling this holiday.

Pastor David & Pris

 

Notes for November 13 – Be Angry an Do Not Sin

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Since I forgot to start the recorder this week and someone asked me for the verse references, I am posting the outline I was working from, which has the verses written out.  It turns out that Sandra captured at least part of it on video, so maybe we will be able to share that soon.  If you have any trouble with the file let me know.

Be Angry and Do Not Sin

 

Message for November 13 – Be Angry an Do Not Sin

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Hello BBT family and friends.  I sure hate that we missed seeing you last week.  I know you’ll be glad to hear that Linda is much better today and we look forward to seeing you this Sunday.  Our pastor appreciation dinner will be held this Sunday since Pastor David was sick when we originally scheduled it.  As he mentioned we will not have the Sunday school time so that we can be done before dark.  We can also consider this our Thanksgiving celebration, since that holiday is close at hand and we have much to be thankful for.

As you will have guessed already by the fact that I’m writing this week’s post, I will bring the message.  I would like to discuss something we’re all personally familiar with.  No one has to teach us.  We’re born with it and it usually takes only a few months after that for it to show.  It’s not sin, though the same could be said of sin and sin is often not far behind.  I’m talking about anger.

Ephesians 4:26-27 says, “BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”  Jesus got angry, so it can’t be a sin just to be angry, but anger often leads to sin.  Why do we get angry?  Is there ever a place for it?  What should we do when we feel it?  Let’s examine God’s word for the answers.  Come join us!

 

Sunday November 6 2011

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I hope you are having a better week then I am having.  It started last week with an infection in my leg and this week I have a virus.  I have been in bed all week but I know the worst is over and I plan on being in Church this week.  I really appreciate Ms. Lugo from “Need Him” coming and sharing with you.  I heard she did a great a job.  I am sorry we had to move back pastor appreciation day last week but we will have that on Sunday November 13Th.  We will discuss the menu again church on Sunday so please let us know what you want to bring.  Larry will be preaching next week and we will not have Sunday school so we can be through before dark.

This week I am going to talk about “Want are you planning for in life? The scripture verse is Matthew 25:1-13. It is the parable of the wise and foolish virgins.  I want us to look at this as a way for us to see what the future can hold for us.  I have a different way of looking at these foolish virgins and see what is it they were guilty of? I hope you will be in church this week. I know I have been out for the past 2 weeks and it has been a LONG 2 weeks!

Keep inviting people to come and visit with us at BBT and lets bring them to church so we know they will be here.  Thanks for all your prayers for my family this week and I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.  Don’t forget to move your clock back Saturday night so you can get that extra hour of sleep but don’t be surprised when it is dark by 5pm.   We love you and can’t wait to see you on Sunday.

Pastor David & Pris

 

Sunday October 30,2011

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I really missed seeing everyone but we had a great anniversary and a great time spending some time with Priscilla’s parents.  I heard the service was really good and I want to thank Joel and his group for leading the service and I appreciate Don for driving the Bus and Larry and Linda for doing prayer request.  I am so excited about getting back this week I can hardly control myself.

This week you have decided to honor me with a pastor appreciation day.  I am very appreciative of the honor to help lead this group of disciples.  I think it should be the other way around and let me show you how much I appreciate you because it is you who makes this church go.  I am very fortunate to have been the son of Don Whitmore and getting the chance to be part of this ministry he started along with my mother.  Bartimeaus is a family business and you are all part of that family.

This week we will have a guest speaker.  Her name is Shellie Lugo and she is the new director of voluntary services at Need Him.  She is going to speak to us during the preaching service so you can appreciate the fact that I am not preaching this week!  Just kidding, I know how excited you are each Sunday to be in church.  We will not have the Sunday school time this week as we are having a dinner after the service and it is starting to get dark really earlier so we will be done by 4:30 or 5:00.  Brenda Potts has agreed to make enchiladas, my favorite, and everyone else can bring what ever they want.  It will be a great time of fellowship together and I am excited about our guest speaker.  Let me tell you again how honored Pris and myself are by having this special day.

Keep doing the things God has for you to do. Continue to pray for one another and find things to do to show someone you love them.  Keep inviting someone to come and visit BBT and let’s not keep this secret to ourselves.  BBT is GREAT place to worship!  We love you and can’t wait till we see you on Sunday

Pastor David & Pris

 

Sunday October 23,2011

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Last week was another great week at BBT.  We finished up our study on discipleship and we have made a commitment to not just be a fan of Christ but a disciple, at least I hope we have.  Thank you Linda for bringing the lessons the last 2 weeks.  We had a good group in church and as we head into the end of the year I expect we will have a great closing.  2011 has been a good year with some disappointments and some blessings as well.  My prayer for 2012 is that we will see God move in this place and we will be better at being his people and understanding what he wants for us and from us.  I hope you will commit to being the disciple that we need to be and make good choices.

This week Joel and his group will be in church and he will bring the praise and worship on Sunday.  I am always amazed at their commitment to us over the last few years and it is always one of my favorite Sundays when they are here.  I hope you will be in church on Sunday.

My wife and I will be celebrating our 30-year anniversary on Saturday and we have planned to spend this weekend visiting with her parents in Tyler.  We hate to miss church on Sunday but this is a great chance for us to get away for a few days and to visit her parents.  I am looking forward to see them again.  Keep our family in your prayers and we will be praying for you as well.  If you get the chance call someone this week that maybe was not in church and tell him or her how we missed them.  When I call sometimes people are saying I am calling because that is my job but when they hear from you it may mean more.  Keep doing good things for people and keep being the disciple Jesus wants us to be.  I will see you on the 30Th and I want to hear about what God did in church on Sunday.  We love you and thank God for you every day.

Pastor David & Priss

 

Sunday, October 16, 2011

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The weather sure made a difference in attendance last week.  The rain was nice but it made getting out difficult.  The numbers were down but the spirit was up.  Linda encouraged us not to be a fan of Jesus but to be a follower.  It is not the same thing.  Larry presented a message on Discipleship and his vs. was Proverbs 14:12. His challenge to us was what is our standard?  The spirit was speaking through his words and the message was clear.  Who do we choose?

This week Linda will bring a concluding lesson on Discipleship and my message will be on the danger of Discipleship.  The scripture will be found in Luke the 14Th Chapter vs. 25-35.  Read these words that Jesus spoke and see if you can answer truthfully ” are you really a disciple? ” These are tough words from a loving Savior but it is clear we need to know what we are getting in for when we choose to be a disciple of Christ.  I hope you will be in Church this week and lets not, as Pam said last week, play at being in Church lets make it count!

Thanks so much for your prayers for Pris this week she is feeling much better.   Thanks for Cindy writing down the pray request for us this week and thanks to Linda for getting them posted.  We have many needs that need to be lifted up in prayer but we have many prayers of thanksgiving for what God has done and is about to do in this ministry as well.  Keep believing and trusting in what God shows you and keep us in your prayers.  Pris and myself are praying for you and thanking God every day we have this group of people in our lives.  Do good things this week and we will see you on Sunday.  Know you are loved!!!!

Pastor David & Pris

Message for October 9: What is Your Standard?

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Hello BBT friends and family.  I hope you’re having a great week, rejoicing in the blessings God has given you and using them to be a blessing.  Last Sunday Priscilla led a time of sharing and Pastor David reminded us that when we’re following Jesus the way we were meant to the world is going to think we’re fools.  You can pick up the audio from the Media Center if you missed it.  Yesterday we had a great time together at the fair.

This Sunday I have the honor to share with you again.  Linda will be talking about discipleship and I will be speaking from Proverbs 14:12, which reads, “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”

If the way that seems right to us leads to death, then how do we decide what is right?  Is there a standard by which we can evaluate our choices?  What should it be?  Should it be how we feel?  What about advice from people we trust?  What about books or TV?  Where can we turn for the wisdom that leads to life instead of death?  The answer may seem obvious, yet we don’t always act like it.  We say Jesus is the answer, but in our daily lives we look everywhere else.  If we submitted every choice we made to God in prayer and sought wisdom from His word and His Holy Spirit, what kind of people might we be, and how might our world change?  Come Sunday and explore with us the wisdom of His Word.

Sunday October 2, 2011

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We had another great Sunday at BBT last week.  Joel and Dana brought their group with them to lead us in Praise and Worship and it was GREAT!  You are really missing a blessing if you miss Church when they are with us.  They will be here the last Sunday of every month and I always am amazed at what God does when they come.  They are such committed Christians it is no wonder we get blessed.

This week I am going to be talking about looking foolish.  Many times we don’t speak out or give an opinion because we don’t want to look foolish.   There is always a chance to make a mistake and look foolish.  Our scripture verses for this week is 1 Corinthians 1: 18-25.  This is a letter Paul is writing to the church at Corinth.  He is talking about how we should behave and what is foolishness? What is it we are to get out of coming to Church? What are we suppose to put into it?  I hope we can answer these questions and more by studding these scriptures.

Keep praying for those listed on our prayer requests and if you need something to be prayed over call someone in the Church and have them pray for your needs.  We are all in this together and we are in a war.  We need all the help we can get and even though the war is won the battles still have to be fought.  Keep fighting evil and keeping looking for the good in people.  If you look hard enough you will find it.  Lets make it easy on others to see the good in us.  We are people who are committed to do good things in Gods name.  We will see you on Sunday and know this, we love you so much but God loves you even more!

Pastor David & Pris