A Great Day Today

Today was a great day. We were reminded strikingly of the full spectrum of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in the morning service. Several of our adults brought us from the Prophet Isaiah, through the Nativity, and ended with a statement from a Roman Centurion. Put the children and music in the mix, and the program was challenging, enjoyable, and a blessing to those who were there. I really want to thank all those who had a part in the program.

Experience Speaks

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear."


Marcus Tullius Cicero

Rick & Jamie Mikesh and First Nations Ministry

First Baptist Church, New Ulm was blessed to have Brother Rick Mikesh, his wife Jamie, and their family in our morning services yesterday (12/6/2009). The Mikesh family is on deputation, raising support to take the Gospel to the First Nation people of Canada. Jacque and I enjoyed great fellowship with Rick & Jamie Saturday evening.

Sunday morning Rick challenged us in our main service with thoughts on "Great Commission Living" from 2 Timothy 4:1-8. His family presented a special musical offering, and his two oldest daughters played a violin and piano duet for the offertory.

In our Bible Study time, Brother and Sister Mikesh shared their own testimonies of faith in Christ and His leading them to go into the ministry. They then showed a DVD presentation of the need for the gospel in the native people of Canada.

The people here were challenged by the ministry of Rick and Jamie. By the time the morning was over, some of our adults and youth were talking of mission trip to work in a Bible camp in the area where the Mikesh's are looking to serve. Only the future will tell the extent of the ministry of this family on the people here. But there has definitely been an increase of interest in declaring the gospel here in New Ulm.

We recommend them. You will enjoy their enthusiasm, be challenged by their dedication to serving God, and encouraged by the ministry of the Word.

Rick and Jamie Mikesh are being sent out by Deer River Bible Church and are going under Biblical Ministries Worldwide (BMW). You can see the description of the First Nations Ministry here.

A Note from Jay Adams

This came through my RSS feed. It is a good, short reminder of the inportance of our companions.

Find it here.

A Sad State of Affairs

I ran across a story and found it on MSN News. Three sad things:

1. It's sad the young boy died. It always is.

2. It's sad that it took his death to bring his mother and father to the place where they act morally and responsibly.

3. It's sad that the boy had a greater sense of morality and appropriateness than his parents.

Economic Earthquake

One of the men of the church was asking about Larry Burkett's "The Coming Economic Earthquake." I thought it was in our church library, but ... oh well. I am still looking. But it got me wondering. Not many years after Burkett wrote the book, the economy started looking not so bad, the earthquake did not come. Tough days for a "prophet." Did he have any reaction to this? Well, he updated the book in 1994 to encompass the Clinton agenda. Then in 2000 he wrote an article entitled "What Happened to the Economic Earthquake." I found it here. Take a read. The updated book is still available. We just might be seeing his forcast coming to fruition.

More on Pillsbury

This past Wednesday, Justin Nelson posted the following on his Facebook page:

"Today an announcement was made that may or may not have shocked anyone who is associated with Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. As of the end of the fall semester of 2008 Pillsbury will cease its academic programs as an educational institution and will begin its process in cleaning up its financial obligations.

"Most who've attended the institution will attest that it is the most family-oriented place on Earth. Others, on the other hand, may say the rules were too strict. Regardless our opinion about Pillsbury, what can we say about the current and conclusive situation? 'I'm sad'? 'I'm angry'? 'Who can I blame'? 'I'm not surprised'?

"Pillsbury has prepared young (and old) men and women for the work of God through education, experience and prayer for over 50 years. Many who graduated are heavily involved in full time ministries throughout the world. Many who graduated are involved in Church ministries around our nation. Many who graduated are working secular 9-5 jobs and witnessing to their co-workers and clients. Many are living their own life with God on the side.

"God has a plan for you, me and this world that we cannot fully understand. However, we do know that God loves and He will not forsake us. He has given us His Word. He has given us His Son. He has given us His Spirit to those who believe on his Son. He has given us instructions on how to live. He deserves our praise for He is Holy and good.

"Pillsbury has been an effective tool that God has used in many lives of people throughout the World. His plan for the preparation of the second coming of His Son is thought out and perfect. Let's remember Pillsbury as a place where God expressed His will to men and women for the carrying out of His eternal plan."