July 1, 2009

“Hints about Heaven”

Dear FBCO Friends:

In Lee Strobel’s book “What Would Jesus Say?” he records this story of billionaire investor, businessman, and TV star Donald Trump. Early in 1989, when (Donald) Trump’s bank account was still bulging, a writer asked Trump the inevitable question about what horizons were left to conquer.

"Right now, I’m genuinely enjoying myself,” Trump replied. “I work and I don’t worry.”

“What about death?” the writer asked. “Don’t you worry about dying?”

Trump dealt his stock answer, one that appears in a lot of his interviews. “No,” he said. “I’m fatalistic and I protect myself as well as anybody can. I prepare for things.” This time, however, as Trump started walking up the stairs to have dinner with his family, he hesitated for a moment. “No,” he said finally, “I don’t believe in reincarnation, heaven or hell—but we go someplace.” Again there was a pause. “Do you know,” he added, “I cannot, for the life of me, figure out where.”

I wish I had five minutes with Donald Trump to tell him about the beautiful, awesome place God has planned for His adopted children.  Heaven is beyond imagination and we will study what the Bible says about Heaven starting this Sunday. Invite friends to come with you the next several Sundays as we mine the riches of the Bible about Heaven. Heaven is a prepared place for a people prepared to meet God there because they followed Jesus here. “But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.”  Hebrews 11:16

SUNDAY’S SERMON:  “Hints About Heaven” I Corinthians 15:35-58.  Will we have bodies in Heaven? What will life be like there? Will we know each other and what will we do? These are just some of the questions we will address about our final home. I am pumped about this series!

A REMINDER:  God is moving and He is using us! Here are some examples:

• I am at Children’s Camp today and already four kids have been saved.
• I had lunch with Dr. Lim this week and he told me of the great things God is doing in Cambodia where I think 90 have been saved.
• Gloria Yeckley shared about their mission trip to the Apache Indian reservation and they have been invited back in 2010.
• In the hospitals this week I saw deacons and Sunday School classes praying with members.  I also heard about them bringing meals, doing childcare, mowing, etc.
• I met 15 of our SBC missionaries at the convention last week. To do what God calls us to do takes money.
• There are two more “Apartment Bible Blasts” this week and Mission Owasso is helping the poor and hurting daily.
• Please leave tithes and Value the Vision gifts before you leave town. Do like I do and set your tithes/offerings up on automatic withdrawal.  OUR OFFERINGS HAVE BEEN LOW THIS SUMMER. THIS WEEK LETS DO ALL WE CAN AND MORE TO HONOR GOD IN OUR GIVING. Thanks for hearing my heart and being faithful to the opportunity.

PRAISE GOD AND THANK-YOU:  We had 200+ guests here Sunday to hear about Heaven from one who was there--Don Piper. Thanks for welcoming people into the presence of the Lamb of God. Many remarked to me about how friendly you are and the extreme presence of God in Worship. I tell them “This is a Jesus Church. He is manifesting His glory through our humanity.” Let’s never take grace for granted. Thank God today for His infinite mercy and then let’s live to be good news to those He sends our way. Write me and let me know how God used Don Piper in your life.

Beloved, God’s working! Do you experience the “LORD’S JOY” in worship?  New folks are coming and we welcome them. I am eager to see you at 9:00 and 10:30 Sunday with a friend by your side, a smile on your face, a tithe/VTV gift and a Bible in your hand, and a prayer in your heart ready to learn about Heaven and honor the Lord together!

The shepherd loves the sheep,

 Pastor Roger