http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php Vince's Blog en-us 2008 2008-07-09 nathan@bethshoultzdesign.com It has been a good experience to read through Genesis with our Word of Life Quiet Time Diaries. Reading through chapters 16-28 over the past couple two weeks really made me take a second look at family. There are times in which you can begin to think that the people of the Bible and especially big name people like Abraham were some kind of super human people - super saintly, if you will. Reading through reminded me that they're not super saintly - they're people like me - whom God is working through and in. Abraham, Sarah - Isaac and now Jacob were men and women with failings and faults of all kinds. I found the grace of God impressed upon me when I considered that many of their decisions were seemingly without God's counsel and in some cases directly contrary to His character and revealed will. In it all God preserved them (remaining true to His word) and lead them into blessings - the manner of which they surely did not deserve. Isn't that me. I look at my life and can see the grace of God every where from my wife, children, ministry and life in general - I have been blessed - it does make me appreciate Thanksgiving. The main character of Genesis is not the people - it is God and His glory is on display for all who would look for it. All praise is His! http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#24 2007-11-21 I have been reading through Genesis these past few days and am again taken by grace and the magnitude of God's plans for mankind. When I consider the effects of the fall on all creation and the flood account - it reminded me of the long ranging and collateral damage that sin in my life and bring down upon those around me (especially the innocent - relatively speaking). Mercy is so evident in Noah - while called a righteous man, he and his kin had failings and weaknesses that I can relate to and still - God redeems through them. Redemption is powerful in Abram's life - that's where I am today. Through him the whole of the human race will be blessed - God works out a way. Like in Jurasic Park and the chaos theory, one better - grace finds a way; however, not blindly - but by God's design. Not that I even begin to understand that design or how it will play out; I do acknowledge that I don't always comprehend - I guess if I did - He really wouldn't be God would He? I know this sounds a bit like rambling - but this is where my head is this afternoon. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#23 2007-11-05 I like those scenes in the movie, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, where the main character's Dad is always explaining that the root of any word (in apparently any language) is found in a Greek word. He finishes his explaination with an emphatic - "There you go." Yesterday, God gave me a "there you go" moment. I was sitting in the parking lot (the one we were hoping to transform into a bubbling block party) listening to the rain's pitter pattering on my roof. "There you go", I could hear His voice (almost)as He gave me His answer for my request for no rain. Would I rest myself in His decision or twitter about ringing my hands and complaining? I chose to rest in His arms and run with it (something I shamefully have not always done!). As it turned out, the day was great. Maybe more people from the neighborhood would have come if the weather was nicer; however, that just was not to be. What I came away with us was the conviction to try and handle my future disappointments (in my plans) with the same confidence and ease. I saw yesterdays disappointing weather as a growing moment (stretching me) for my faith walk with Christ. There you go. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#22 2007-10-07 With just two days (including today) until the Block Party, I am growing positive about the rain stopping - oh yeah - I can hear it outside of my window today - but it will stop Friday and Saturday. I am reminded of the CCR song, "Who'll Stop The Rain." I believe that the Lord can stop the rain. If you read this, I hope you'll join me in both praying for no rain and then for a hot dog Saturday! I am bringing sun screen! http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#21 2007-10-04 Walking around the neighborhood surrounding the church I was reminded that change is unavoidable. From the changing leaf colors to the chill in the air - I am reminded that summer has started to give way, in earnest, to fall. The work of God in our lives signals change. We become more like Christ when we shift the agenda of our lives in line with God's agenda. How do I know what His agenda for my life is? Good question - by reading, praying and seeking the counsel of others who are reading (the Bible) and praying. Change is sometimes slow - like the gentle shift in the shades of a leaf from a rich green through firey red or change can be fast like a drop water from a cloud to the ground. I thank God I am not the man I used to be. The key, in all this discussion of change, is doing my best to make decisions that will bring lasting and God honoring change to my life and not fleeting selfishly motivated window dressing changes (that come and go). It's a journey. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#20 2007-10-01 What inhabits my worship? Reading through Ezra 6 and seeing their response to the completion of the temple got me thinking. They were so happy - then they celebrated the Passover and Feast of Unleavened bread on top of that. What a richness to their worship - totally fueled by their thankfulness. They still had the sand and grit of exile in their teeth and the smell of captivity was still hanging in their clothes - but now they were free and back home - in their once destroyed but now rebuilt Temple! How awesome! I thought of my salvation - so easy to make things trite - I am free! Free from sin's penalty = I don't have to fear death! I am thankful - that is what I want to inhabit my praise! Thankfulness! http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#19 2007-07-25 Reading through Lamentations this week in the Quiet Time Diary really hit home with me. I was struck by the raw nature of the lamentations of Jeremiah after Jerusalem's fall and the deportation of her people to Babylon. Groaning was a word my NASB used over and over to describe their pleas. But what really got my attention was when Jeremiah complained not only for their (Judah's) condition but also for the Lord's house (which was in shambles). God's reply was, "this was because of your sin." I believe that God was impressing a message on me this morning about the gravity of sin. In His holiness - He will not tolerate it; in His grace He calls us to repent in order that we might receive mercy. He will go to whatever lengths it takes - even tearing down His own temple - why is that significant. It got Jeremiah's attention and no doubt the people's attention. God is also sending the message - this (temple) is only a thing! I want your heart! I don't want you to lament a place of worship - I want you to lament that your worship was a sham to begin with. Talk about a heart check! What is the focus of my "worship" is it just a form and function thing or is it heartfelt and a true reflection of my attitude and thoughts regarding the Lord? I want my actions to agree with my heart and both glorify God. I don't want to find myself groaning and grieving my sin and it's consequences in my family and the church that God has called me to shepherd. I really want to be sincere. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#18 2007-06-20 Sunny days from an office window are about as hard as they were when I was in school and looked out the window and wished I were running into the lake. Reading through Hebrews as part of our Quiet Time diary, I was really taken back with the listing of the heroes of the faith and what they experienced. Today, Gideon's name stood out as well as Moses from earlier in the week. These men were guys who sought God and then stepped out in faith - faith that was founded in God. In the case of Moses, he left Egypt and the ease that it offered and took his stand with the Israelites. He stepped out of the shade and into the bright light of day... no hiding. I thought about being called to take stands in life and wanting to stand in the Son as well as in the light of day. Sure it's exposure, who is comfortable with that? Sure, it's vulnerable out there - but its warm and when I look at chapters in the Bible like Hebrews 11, I know that I am in good company. Take a stand in the sun as well as the Son. That is what I got today from my time with God. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#17 2007-06-08 Reading through the proverbs has been a refreshing experience. Our quiet time dairies are taking us into chapter 4 this week. I am profoundly thankful to the Lord for His Word - the wisdom and counsel of Proverbs reminds me that He has guidance for me in this life - redemption spans more than just a point in time encounter - but also for my whole life. As a father I want to pass on wisdom to my children and can relate to King Solomon. Most importantly, I want to pass on a Christian worldview and that a foundation can be found in Proverbs - accountability and consequences mark the real world. The Proverbs paint a clear picture of accountability to God (thus fear Him)and the warning to consider consequences in life. This is wisdom that I could have benefitted as a teen and am blessed to know as an adult. We certainly have much to thank God for - His provisions in our lives are always unfolding. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#16 2007-05-01 Its the morning after our mission conference. It was a great weekend of being reminded that our God is so much larger than we give Him credit for. It was so encouraging to hear the stories of how missionaries came together and then to serve the Lord - His sovereignty was on display in full force. We began our weekend conference with a bagpiper marching us in and then playing Amazing Grace. That summed the weekend up - we are all works of God's grace - were in the process of sanctification and every now and then we see redemption in all its glory. In the faces of strangers - now brothers and sisters on the far side of the world - coming to know the Lord as their Savior. Truly an inspiring weekend. http://www.1stbaptistchurch.org/pastorblog.php?name=Vince%20Armfield#15 2007-03-05