A New Beginning

As 2009 dwindles away, I can't help but feel excited about 2010. Every new year is an opportunity to start fresh, but this is the beginning of a new decade! I am trusting that God has great things in store for us we walk in His ways and seek His face. I will soon begin preaching from the the book of Acts on Sunday mornings. We will get a close up look at what the church was like in her early stages. We will see the excitement of how God used ordinary people to turn the world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray that we can experience a new beginning here at Ocean Park as 2010 begins.

In His Grace,
Russell

Reflections on the Stomach Flu

I spent Saturday and Sunday at home wondering why my stomach was so mad at me. It is hard for a preacher to sit at home on a Sunday. God has given me a passion to preach His word, but I guess it's OK to be sick every once in a while. On Saturday, Jarod (who was also sick) and I watched episodes IV, V, and VI of Star Wars. On Sunday, Cami came home from Illinois where she attended her cousin's funeral. We were all glad to see her, but she was very reluctant to see us. I was sorry to miss the Christmas Musical in the morning and I was blessed to have Bro. Eddie step in for me on Sunday Evening. I am very wound up, so come prepared this Sunday! Until then, I pray you have a blessed Christmas!

In His Grace,
Russell

The Meaning of Christmas

Christmas will be here in just a few days. Like you, we are running around trying to get everything ready. Our shopping is just about done and we have only a couple of parties left to attend. Our church choir will soon be sharing the beautiful music of the season. So as we continue to check things off our Christmas to do list, have I made sure I am ready? In all the craziness of this time of year, it is so easy to remember the stuff of Christmas and still forget the true meaning. Christmas is about the incarnation of Christ - That He came to this sinful, dark world as the One true light. He lived a perfect life and laid Himself down on a cross to forgive our sins and rose again three days later to give us life everlasting. The beauty of Christmas is that He came to reconcile sinners to God. Have you placed your trust in Jesus? It is the only way to truly celebrate the meaning of Christmas.

In His Grace,
Russell

Every Member a Missionary

It's more than a sermon title or catchy slogan. Every member a missionary is the heart of what it means to be a Christian. For too long churches have made missions and evangelism a program. Much time and energy are spent convincing members to participate in specific church created opportunities to share their faith, but what about everyday life? Jesus did not commission us to reach the world through a church visitation program alone. He has called us to reach our own corner of the world. We need not go very far to see people in need of His grace and mercy. We must learn to see our families, friends, jobs, schools, and communities as our personal mission fields. Yes, churches should seek to reach out to their surrounding communities, but let's not forget that God has called every member to a mission field that is ready for harvest.

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few, therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38

Imagine If...

Cami and I braved Tropical Storm Ida in Pensacola as we attended the Florida Baptist Convention and Pastor's Conference. We were challenged to imagine what God could accomplish in our churches, cities, state, nation, and around the world through us if we simply trusted and obeyed Him. John Cross, pastor of South Biscayne Church in North Port, was reelected as President. He was also given overwhelming approval to form a Florida State Great Commission Resurgence Task Force. Ron Rowe, of the Jacksonville Baptist Association, has been selected to serve on the GCR Task Force. I am excited about what God is doing and is yet to do in the state of Florida.

In His Grace,

Russell

He Turns Our Mourning Into Dancing

Earlier this week, seven year old Somer Thompson was laid to rest. We continue to pray for her family and the Orange Park community that has shared this tragic loss. We also pray for those investigating her murder - that they quickly will find the one responsible and bring that person to justice.

There will be another funeral this coming Monday. I have had the great pleasure of getting to know Bill over the past few months. He had been battling cancer for a long time with great courage and strength. We had many conversations about his military career, his love for his family, and his deep faith in God. He knew, without a shadow of doubt, that his life was in God's hands and that the cross of Christ covered him. Bill trusted in God's sovereignty and grace which allowed him to die with peace. I would visit Bill with the intention of ministering to him, but it usually went the other way around. Please pray that his 94 year old mother will be covered in God's peace and strength as she buries her son. Pray for his wife and children as they face the upcoming days.

May we all come to the realization that life is only a vapor. We are not promised another day. What matters most is that we trust Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. Have you had a saving encounter with Jesus? Email me, I would love to share this beautiful truth with you.

In His Grace,

Russell
oceanpark@bellsouth.net

Praying for Somer

Even though I'm a pastor out at the beach, we still live in the Orange Park area of Clay County. Most of you have heard about the seven year old girl who has been missing since Monday afternoon. Her name is Somer Thompson and she lives about five miles from us. Please join me in prayer for Somer, her family, and all those who are searching for her.

In His Grace,
Russell

Word of God Speak

I began a new sermon series yesturday on Christian doctrine based on the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 edition. Throughout October and November we will dive into the Truths that have marked us as followers of Christ. Yesturday, we focused on the Bible, God's Holy Word in 2 Timothy 3:10-17. Check out this link to see a great video, Word of God Speak by Mercy Me. May we find ourselves at a loss for words, listening to God speak through His Word.
Next Sunday is the first of three weeks dedicated to the Triune God. Check out our web site to listen or download these and other sermons.

In His Grace,
Russell

Total Surrender

On June 4, 1940, British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill gave a stirring speech that encouraged his nation during the early part of WWII. Here is the final portion of that speech.

"We shall never surrender and even if, which I do not for the moment believe, this island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, will carry on the struggle until in God's good time the New World with all its power and might, sets forth to the liberation and rescue of the Old."

Surrender was not an option for Churchill and the Allied forces that joined his struggle against the Nazi regime. Thousands gallantly gave their lives to restore freedom throughout the world.

Surrender is to be avoided by all measures in a military conflict, but total surrender is the ultimate goal for one who follows after Christ. Consider Luke 9:23-24 where Jesus teaches that to follow Him one must "deny himself, and take up his cross daily." Also, consider the Apostle Paul's words in Romans 12:1, calling believers to be "living sacrifices." Galatians 2:20 also comes to mind as Paul reminds believers that we are to relinquish all rights to Christ. We have been called to empty ourselves and follow Christ as Lord of our lives.

Yes, there are times when surrender is not an option, but in order to follow Christ to not surrender is never an option.

In His Grace,

Russell

There Must Be More

I am a prenatal Southern Baptist. I am pretty sure that my first words were all stanzas of Victory in Jesus. I was in Sunday School, Training Union (later Church Training then Discipleship Training), RA's, years of VBS, attended hours of revival services, and was saved and baptized in a Southern Baptist church. I trained in Southern Baptist schools were I learned to minister among Southern Baptists. I was licensed to preach and ordained into the Gospel ministry at the Southern Baptist Church I grew up in. I now pastor a Southern Baptist church.

Still, there must be more to my life than an identity to a certain denomination. Before I am a Southern Baptist, I am a Christian - a child of God. Jesus Christ laid down His life as the perfect and final sacrifice to cover the penalty due me because of my sinfulness. He did not save me to be a Baptist or Methodist - He saved me to be His vessel to carry the Good News of His grace to the world. I pray we all will look beyond our denominational titles and together seek to reach this world with the One who makes us one body with one purpose.

"For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew or Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26-28

In His Grace,
Russell

Run The Race

This past Sunday we were motivated by the cloud of witnessses in Hebrews 11 to run with faith the race set before us. We can also look around us at those who run this race today. Dick and Rick Hoyt have run in marathons, competed in triathlons and once even trekked 3,700 miles across America. What they have accomplished together is simply amazing when you consider that Rick cannot walk or talk. Check out this video on Tangle - make sure to put it on full screen.


http://www.tangle.com/view_video.php?viewkey=c7f297818b844699ba47

In His Grace,
Russell

By Faith

This coming Sunday, I will complete my preaching series through the eleventh chapter of Hebrews - the faith chapter. We all know that God has called us to walk by faith and not by sight. Still, it would be so nice to see more than just a few feet in front of me. But I desire to be like Abraham who, by faith, left all that he knew for a place he had no knowledge of. He held firmly to the promises of God as if they had already come to be. Instead of existing in the familiar, Abraham chose to live the journey of faith. We show our faith in Christ by trusting Him with all that we are. It is then that He uses us as He used Abraham, Moses, David, Paul and so many others who yielded themselves to His will. The Bible is filled with examples of men and women who went from existing to living a life of faith. So, are you existing or living? You've never really lived until you live by faith.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Jesus Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

In His Grace,
Russell

Life of a Commuting Pastor

When our friends found out that I was going to pastor a church out at the beach, they were like, "I wish I could live near the beach." That's exactly how we feel! We have been commuting back and forth five days a week from our Middleburg home (Which is for rent if you know anybody looking) since starting in mid June. It is not all that bad, really. God has used the forty minute drive to teach me a lot about patience - I'm still in the learning process. I definitely have a new respect for those who do this year after year. This time has put a strong desire within me to live among our church members and be a part of the beach community. Anne is enrolled in a PreK at the beach and we are in the process of transferring Jarod into a school here as well. We are waiting for our house to rent - please pray this will happen soon and that we will find a house here at the beach. In the mean time, I will try to be nice as I drive down the commuting pastor's highway!

In His Grace,
Russell