Pray for Suburban Baptist Church in Moore, OKlahoma

Storms have ravaged the midwest. Oklahoma has been hit particularly hard at least three times in the past two weeks. No sooner had folks there gotten things dried out when another storm would dump 7-8 inches of rain on them again. The loss of life from the tornadoes has been staggering. It seems almost surreal that that area would be hit three times in such a short period of time. I am sure the good people of Oklahoma must be asking themselves many questions. Why us? When will it end? How are we going to get through this? Are there more dangers ahead?

I have been in contact with a sister church, Suburban Baptist Church, in Moore, Oklahoma. We will be sending an offering directly to them to help seven of their church families who have been devastated by the storms. I know that what we will be able to send will only be a drop in the bucket compared to what is needed. Some have lost all their possessions. We trust that God will use our token to bless these dear folks. By God's grace, none of their church suffered any fatalities. 

If anyone would like to donate to these seven families feel free to send a check to the church and we will forward it on with our offering. You can contact me at info@thechurchatkaty.com and I will let you know how to send any donations.

This week I would like to focus on another church member, Dan Rebsch.


Through Bill Gothard’s Basic and Advanced Seminars, the Holy Spirit worked in my heart by showing me the truth of His Word. I had never received so much Biblical truth as I received at those seminars. When I realized that the religion I was following was teaching a different doctrine than that of the Bible’s, I made a salvation profession to Jesus, left that other religion and began a new life in Christ. I have never looked back or regretted that decision even though it cost most of our friends and family members at the time. 

Dan & Granddaughter Melissa

I like to make time in my schedule for staying in shape by running and weight training. I usually run three miles at Memorial Park 2-3 days a week during lunch. I do my own weight training at home in my garage also 3 days a week. 

I enjoy teaching the adult Sunday school class because I love to research Biblical topics which broaden my understanding of God and His word. I love any type of in-depth scripture learning. As Pastor’s deacon, I enjoy being able to serve him and the church in areas of leadership and assistance. One of my other favorite church related functions would be when we have missionaries come in and present their ministries. Since one of my daughters is a full-time missionary wife in Ukraine and my other daughter was on the foreign mission field before marrying a young pastor, I have a soft spot in my heart for missions. 

At The Church at Katy, I serve as deacon with responsibilities for keeping the missionary bulletin board, purchasing all the church supplies used on Sundays and for special events, teaching Sunday school, setting up the church weekly, and keeping Pastor in line. :>) Outside of my church responsibilities, I, along with my wife, do an outreach to the Chinese on Friday nights. The group is known as the American Chinese Fellowship (ACF) and my wife and I teach a beginners Bible study every other Friday. 

Jesus Loves Me This I Know

"Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." - Luke 12:6,7

Have you ever wondered why you are here? What is the purpose for your existence? Does your being here really make a difference?

These are all questions many of us have asked ourselves at one time or another. Usually we contemplate these deep things when we are discouraged or upset, when we are going through a difficult time in our lives. It is this mindset that opens us up to thoughts of despair and gloom. We tend to feel sorrow for ourselves when life gets difficult as though no one else has been where we are:as; if our trial or burden is greater than what others have faced.

I don't intend to minimalize your burdens or trials. Whether they be large or small, they are personal to you and therefore important. It helps, however, to keep a proper perspective on things.

"There hath no temptation taken you but as is common with man." - 1 Cor 10:13

This verse teaches that whatever you may be going through others have as well. The verse goes on the tell us that God is faithful to make a way for us to bear up under the trial and come out victorious.

God promises us that he will never leave us nor forsake us (Heb 13:5). He also promises that no good thing will he withhold from us (Psa 84:11).

We are taught a song in church from a very young age. "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so." What a thought. The creator of the entire universe cares about ME! Wow.

So the next time you feel discouraged or down, remember, God loves you (more than many birds).

Delight in the Word

When I was a little kid I always had hand me down baseball gloves. When my older cousins got a new glove I would get their old one. They were often well used, sometimes to the point of ripping apart. I wanted a new glove so badly I begged my mother. Back in those days there was a reward program called S&H Green Stamps. When you shopped they would give you some stamps that you would fill in a book. When you got enough books filled you could redeem them for items out of a catalogue. One day my mother gave me her books of stamps and told me I could get a new baseball glove. I thought I had died and gone to heaven.

I slept with that glove. I wore it around the house all winter long. I oiled it, folded, it, worked on it, and slept with it some more. I would hold that glove up to my face and deeply breathe in its scent. Ahh, cowhide leather. What a smell. It was wonderful. I was the happiest little boy on earth. I delighted in that glove.

A little over the top you think? Maybe. But that glove meant the world to me. I treasured that glove. My mother sacrificed a great deal for me to have that glove. Most of us have something in our life that we treasure as much as I did that glove. What is it that you treasure? What do you delight in?

Why is it that we can delight so greatly in something so mundane as sports equipment? Or a car, or boat, or purses, or shoes, etc., etc.? Some people would nearly kill over their guilty little pleasures. Why do we delight in these while the most valuable treasure of all goes unused and unvalued? The Word of God is something that is far more valuable than anything I've listed so far, and yet most Christians ignore it until Sunday.

The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 1 "His delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night." He goes on to say, "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Wow, what a great promise.

There are scores of other verses that teach much the same as Psalm 1. Psalm 119:14 says, "I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches." 2 Tim 3:16,17 teaches that the word of God is profitable for the man of God equipping him for all good works.

Spend some time with the scriptures. Learn the value of them. Delight in them.

Mothers

Yesterday we celebrated Mother's Day. For many of us our mothers are no longer with us. We sure do miss them. It is especially hard this time of year when so many pay tribute to their moms and post pictures and so forth.  We share their joy. Those of us without mothers who are parents get to enjoy Mother's Day from the other side, the receiving side. Though I am a father I enjoy the celebration of my wife and her children. She truly is a great mother. The things that make her a great mother are a reflection of God's relationship to His children.

Isa 66:13 - As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. (Never a truer statement)
Hos 13:8 - I will meet them as a bear that is bereaved of her whelps. (Don't mess with a mother's children)
Deut 32:11-12 - As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh ten, beareth them on her wings: (Mom to the rescue)
Isa 49:15 - Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget. (A mother's love never wanes)

These verses are not saying God is feminine. We do not call him God the Mother. The bible clearly refers to as our heavenly Father. Rather, these verses teach us that whether we are male or female, mothers or fathers, we are to conduct our lives living the image out of God. Mothers are to be Godlike in their relationship with their children.

We celebrate all mothers, especially so those who are living their lives to the glory of God. So if your mother is still living, give her a hug, tell her much she means to you.

Topsy Turvy World

We are living in marvelous times. I call the times "marvelous" because I "marvel" at how society has allowed political correctness to rule the day. I grew up in simple times. Times when the lines between right and wrong were fairly clear cut. I was told where my parents drew the line between what was right and wrong and I paid the price for crossing that line. I was held accountable for conducting myself according to rules of what was right and wrong. If I crossed that line at school I paid the price with the school, then I paid the price again when I got home. I was expected to "act right" and obey the rules (of right and wrong) at school. My parents supported the teachers and the school administration in whatever disciplinary actions they took to correct my "wrong" behavior. Today is not the same "times" I grew up in.

Satan would like you to believe that the lines between right and wrong are blurred. He would like you to believe those lines are ambiguous and can be moved as it suits you. He would like for you to believe that it does not matter what you "do" just what you believe is right in your own heart. So just go ahead and indulge yourself.

God has given us His set of "rights and wrongs," the Bible (law). Cross God's line and you will pay the price. I did not say that, God did.

Rom 3:23 - The wages of sin is death.
Num 32:23 - Be sure your sin will find you out.
1 John 3:4 - Sin is the transgression of the law.
Heb 9:27 It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.

America is heading down a very dangerous path. It is a path which leads us further and further away from God. Our Father has graciously warned us of this in scripture when He inspired the prophet Isaiah to pen these words:

WOE unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. - Isa 5:20

Most Beloved Gospel Singer

In the past two weeks the world lost a man that was called, "The most beloved gospel singer," George Beverly Shea. Shea was most known for singing at the Billy Graham evangelistic crusades for over fifty years. When Dr. Graham first met Shea and asked him to be his singer at the crusades he was more popular than Billy Graham. His beautiful baritone voice was truly a catalyst for the ever growing attendance at the meetings.

The thing that strikes me most about this man was his humility. Here was a man that turned down many opportunities for fame and fortune when he was a young man in order to sing for the Saviour. Together with Dr. Graham, they saw countless numbers
of souls come to a saving knowledge of Christ. His music prepared the hearts to receive the word of God. When asked what he hoped people would remember about him he quipped, "that I sang on key."

Over the past year there have been many superstars of the entertainment world pass into eternity. The news channels all lined up to report the tremendous tragedy of the loss of this one or that one. Many of these people did not honor Christ with their lives. Some may have been believers. I do not intend to disparage the loss of these people. I am sure they will be missed. I only want to point out that the world truly lost a hero of the faith when George Beverly Shea died. While the majority of the world's population did not even hear about it, the angels of heaven are rejoicing to receive him into their presence. He should fit right in with all the praises being sung!

Good News From a Far Country

My family and I spent nearly sixteen years as missionaries to the country of Ghana, W Africa. I can still remember the first time (1994) I heard about this new thing called "email." I heard you could could send and receive letters electronically. What a great idea. I would scour the capital city of Accra looking for anyone who knew how do this thing called email, never to find them. In 1989 on my first trip to Ghana I would have to wait in line at the post office for hours upon end waiting to see if they were able to get a phone line open to America. I could wait as many as three days before I could call my wife back home. I once received a box of cheese and sausage that was sent as a Christmas present. It arrived sixteen months after it was sent. I found out it had been sitting in the corner of some rat infested office somewhere. Obviously we had to throw it away. Things are better now for missionaries than we had it. Things were better for us than they were for thousands of missionaries before us. Times are changing. Technology is changing. Communication is getting so much better worldwide.

My wife has a ministry of hand making cards. They really are a piece of art when she is finished. All of our missionary families, each one in the family (60+ cards total), receive a hand made card from our church for their birthday. Each married couple also receive an anniversary card. My wife personally makes a card for each member of our church (80+ total). The ladies of the church get together to make the cards for the missionaries. Today a group of our church ladies got together and had a brunch then spent several hours snipping and glueing and making cards. There are ways to send cards electronically over the internet. We certainly could do it much quicker and easier that way, but with each hand made card a prayer is offered up for the blessing and watchcare of God upon the recipient. Our ladies really do care for the missionaries we support and we want them to know that.

Many missionaries feel isolated. With all the technology available that should never be the case. FaceTime, Skype, chat rooms, Vonage, smart phones, texting. All this technology makes it so simple to keep in touch with friends and family living abroad. Having lived in isolation I know what it means to get connected to home. Is there someone you can bless today by simply connecting with them to say "hello" or "I was just thinking about you"? You don't have to make a hand made card or send a gift box. Just use the technology available and make an effort to bless someone.

"As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." - Proverbs 25:25