A Note From Jimmy
 JUNE 2010

I LOVE THE STORY OF THE OLD COUNTRY PREACHER WHO HAD PROMISED HIS CONGREGATION HE WOULD PREACH ON NOAH AND THE FLOOD THE FOLLOWING SUNDAY. HE EVEN GAVE THEM THE SCRIPTURE TO READ AHEAD OF TIME. WELL A COUPLE OF ORNERY BOYS ( WE WILL CALL THEM MELVIN AND BOBBY YOU DO THE MATH) NOTICED SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING ABOUT THE PLACEMENT OF THE STORY OF THE FLOOD IN THE BIBLE. SO THEY SLIPPED INTO THE CHURCH AND GLUED TWO PAGES OF THE PULPIT BIBLE TOGETHER AND WAITED.

THE NEXT SUNDAY, THE PREACHER GOT UP TO READ HIS TEXT. NOAH TOOK HIMSELF A WIFE, THE PREACHER READ AND SHE WAS… HE TURNED THE PAGE TO CONTINUE, 300 CUBITS LONG, 50 CUBITS WIDE, AND 30 CUBITS HIGH. HE PAUSED FOR A MINUTE, SCRATCHED HIS HEAD, TURNED THE PAGE BACK AND READ IT AGAIN TO HIMSELF. FINALLY HE LOOKED UP THE CONGREGATION AND SAID. I HAVE BEEN READING THIS OLD BIBLE FOR NIGH ON 50 YEARS, BUT I GOTTA SAY SOME OF THIS STUFF IS REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE.

DO YOU EVER FEEL THAT WAY FAMILY. THAT SOME OF THE BIBLE IS REALLY HARD TO BELIEVE? IT WOULD BE MY GUESS THAT MOST OF YOU DO NOT. IT WOULD BE MY GUESS THAT MOST OF YOU BELIEVE THE BIBLE FROM FRONT TO BACK AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. YOU BELIEVE EVERY STORY. YOU BELIEVE EVERY PROMISE. YOU BEILEVE EVERY WARNING. YOU JUST BELIEVE. GOOD FOR YOU. SO DO I.

BUT LET ME ASK YOU THIS. CAN YOU DEFEND IT? WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU THE HARD QUESTONS LIKE, WHERE DO WE PUT THE DINOSAURS? HOW OLD IS THE EARTH? WHAT ABOUT THE FLOOD? WHAT ABOUT CARBON DATING? WHAT ABOUT OTHER RELIGIONS? WHAT ABOUT HELL? HOW DID WE GET THE BIBLE? WHO DECIDED WHAT TO PUT IN IT? WHAT ABOUT…..? LISTEN, OUR KIDS ARE WAY PAST JUST BEING FED THE LINE IT DOESN’T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE. JUST TRUST JESUS. THEY NEED MORE. THEY DESERVE MORE. WE NEED TO GIVE THEM MORE. THEY NEED TO KNOW THAT THE BIBLE IS TRUE ALL OF IT. AND WE BY THE GRACE OF GOD CAN SHOW THEM. I PET 3:15 READS, “ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. BUT DO THIS WITH GENTLENESS AND RESPECT.” I LOVE THE WAY THAT READS IN THE MESSAGE VERSION. “BE READY TO SPEAK UP AND TELL ANYONE WHO ASKS WHY YOU’RE LIVING THE WAY YOU ARE, AND ALWAYS WITH THE UPMOST COURTESY.”

YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING NOW FOR SEVERAL WEEKS FROM THE PULPIT ABOUT OUR UP AND COMING PLAN FOR OUR FALL PROGRAM CALLED DEFENDING YOUR FAITH. WE ARE SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS. WE ARE SO CONVINCED THAT THIS IS WHAT GOD WANTS NEXT FOR THIS BODY, THAT WE ARE EVEN ADDING ANOTHER SERVICE JUST FOR THE TEACHING PART OF THIS PROGRAM. PLEASE COMMIT TO THIS. SEPTEMBER 12TH UNTIL OCT 31ST. SOMETHING THIS IMPORTANT IS WORTHY OF A SMALL 8 WEEK COMMITMENT. WE WILL ALSO HAVE A 40 DAY CHURCH WIDE FAST ( THIS WILL BE MUCH LIKE THE 24 HOUR PRAYER WHERE WE HAVE A SIGN UP FOR AT LEAST ONE CHURCH MEMBER A DAY FASTING 40 DAYS OUT). THERE WILL BE MUCH MORE ON THE FAST TO COME.

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS, CHANGE YOUR PLANS IF YOU NEED TO, AND SIMPLY COMMIT TO THIS MUCH NEEDED TEACHING TIME. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ASK ANY STAFF MEMBER OR DAVID OR JANE BALL. BUT BE PREPARED TO HEAR AN ANSWER BECAUSE THEY ARE PREPARED TO GIVE IT.
 
Love you all, see you Sunday.

    Jimmy