Be sure to set your clocks back one hour before you go to bed Saturday night.

11/14/07 a.m.: Some Thoughts on Thanksgiving, from Matthew 6:25-34

I hate it when that happens! You know, when something gets stuck in your head. Someone sings or whistles a familiar tune in your hearing and so you have to listen to it for the rest of the day. That annoying tune just won’t leave your head. I often joke with pastor friends when I see them on Monday and they ask me how services went on Sunday. I like to say,
“My sermon was so good, I stopped and took notes on myself.” Well, I didn’t take notes but my Sunday School lesson and the evening message “annoyed” me well into the night and was still hanging around this morning. I couldn’t shake the thought of my responsibility to love truth and to love others.

I kept hearing myself say, “You must love others enough to tell them the truth about their sin.” I thought about the responsibility that we have, as a church, to love and care for those whose names appear on our rolls but have never been confronted about their lack of involvement or their failure to attend. I’ve thought about those I’ve offended or who have offended me and I did nothing about it. It was just easier to “let it slide” than to confront it or confess my own sin. I tried to rationalize it. I tried to generalize it; after all we’re all guilty of this sort of thing aren’t we? I tried to ignore it. But like an annoying tune it just wouldn’t go away. There was only one way to deal with it - confess it. Own it. Repent. I hate it when that happens - no, I rejoice when that happens. I rejoice because it is the gracious work of my Father who loves me too much to allow me to continue in my sin.

It’s a good hurt. No, the problem isn’t solved. I’ll fail again. But for now I’m on the right path and I’ve grown a bit in the process. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod

Don’t forget to vote.

Keengaers, you are invited to celebrate the Oklahoma Centennial! Thursday, November 8, at 5:30 pm in Fellowship Hall. Cost is $7.00 per person.
There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board! Get your tickets from Phelicia, Linda or Betty by November 4!

As I’m typing this I’m preparing to leave for Oklahoma City for the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. I just spoke to a friend of mine from Missouri. Their Convention was two weeks ago and apparently there were some fireworks. There are clearly two or three sides in the Missouri “fight”, I mean fellowship. Texas is another divided state. I’m glad that our meetings are fairly “boring!” We are a fairly unified bunch as conventions go. I love convention not because I love meetings (I don’t). It is just so good to see old friends and get reacquainted. I don’t expect any big stories coming out of this week and I hope that I’m not disappointed.

I did want to remind you that we will be hosting the Community Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 20^th, at 7:00 pm. Our choir will be singing and I’ll be bringing the message. I hope that you will join with your brothers and sisters in Christ as we gather to give thanks for the goodness and grace of our God. We will be hosting a fellowship immediately following that service so be watching and listening for details. Let’s have a good turnout and make sure that we are a great host for this event.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather to worship the risen Lord.

Trinity will be hosting the annual Community Thanksgiving service. It has been a number of years since we hosted this event. Pastor Rod will be preaching and our choir will be singing so we hope you’ll make plans to be present Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm.

11/20/07 tue: The Secret of Genuine Thanksgiving, from Philippians 4:10-19

The church office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving.