Psalm 67 Missions Update

Hopefully I will be able to share more with the congregation soon, but here is one of the highlights from the Psalm 67 Mission Network mission trip to Tamaulipus, Mexico this past weekend.

On Saturday, November 14 we met with a few Pastors and leaders from churches in the region of Matomoros, Mexico. Included in this group was the man who is the director of the local "Baptist Association" of churches as well as the state leader for the "Baptist Convention." It was a great blessing to get to know these guys.

During our conversation, the leader for the state association asked us if we would be willing to come speak to the state Pastor's meeting on February 8, 2010. So, please pray with us as we put together a team of people to do this.

If you have an interest in participating in missions through Psalm 67 or would like to know more information please visit http://www.psalm67missions.net

Enduring the Ridiculous

Sadly, the Westboro Baptist "Church" has come to town again , spreading their vindictive non-Gospel of hatred and bigotry at a local High School that dared hold a funeral service for one of our brave, fallen warriors. As you might imagine, such visits put most of us historic, biblical Christians on edge, who understand that the Bible is to be read and believed, not waved around and wielded like a blunt instrument to savage and belittle those with whom we disagree.

I get embarrassed enough when genuine Christians do such ridiculous things. But it's worse when, what is clearly a cult in both it's belief and practice, puts itself in the headlines in a way that makes it easy for those outside of Christ to identify us with their hate-filled propaganda. How do we make it clear to the world that just because they've taken upon themselves the names "baptist" and "church," these folks have nothing to do with those who legitimately gather under those banners? How can we make it clear that they do not represent historic, biblical Christianity?

For one thing, we can make sure we don't engage our debates using their same tactics. Do we believe that homosexuality is sin? Yes, but it is not the unforgivable sin. It is sin like adultery is sin, and pornography. It must be repented of. It certainly invites God's wrath upon those who practice it. But let's be clear. So does hypocrisy and envy, selfishness and lying (see Romans 1:18-32 for the whole list!). The problem is not that one type of sin is more heinous than the rest. The problem is that we are all sinners in desperate need of God's grace through Christ. What does the Bible say?

As it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;
no one understands; no one seeks for God.
All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good, not even one."
Romans 3:10-12

Sin is a problem that touches and taints all humans, not just some. All of us have acted out or a rebellion against God that makes us worthy of death. Some by the misuse of their sexuality, others by the misuse of their tongues, but both sin. And both stand in need of the grace of God to be forgiven and reconciled to the God their sins have offended. That's why I'm so grateful for the many passages of Scripture that offer hope to sinners, rather than condemnation. Here is just a small sampling:

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.
John 3:17

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved.
Romans 10:9

Repent, then, and turn to God,
so that your sins may be wiped out,
that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,
Acts 3:19

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins
and purify us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:8-9

This is the message the world needs to hear, that anyone who comes to see their sin so that they turn from it to take hold of Christ by faith, believing that His death on the cross counts for them and that by trusting in His righteousness, they can receive as a free gift all that they need to be forever accepted by God. They need to understand that there is hope for any sinner who repents and embraces Christ and all He has done by faith. This is the promise of God, not for those who protest the sins of others, but for those who come to see in themselves, the worst of all sins and are thus moved to humbly bow before Him to receive what His grace alone can give.

My prayer is that those who gather at today's protest will hear that message, and not the arsenic-laced hatred that spews from the mouths of those who claim to speak for God, but in reality have never known Him. I ask God to help sinners -- heterosexual sinners as well as homosexual sinners and non-sexual sinners of every kind -- see their need for a Savior in Christ, and learn that they will be accepted by Him with open arms when they turn and come to Him by faith.

For that matter, if you are struggling with sin and wonder if you would be loved by our church if you showed up this Sunday, let me assure you that the answer is yes. We believe there is no sin from which God cannot cleanse the man or woman who comes to Him by repentance and faith in Christ

May God grant mercy,

S Scott Lee
Pastor, Rockport Baptist Church

Among the Elders (October - November)

I apologize for being very late with this report from our last two elders' meetings. Here is a summary of what can be shared.

October 12, 2009
Our meeting began with a devotion by Will J on the issue of Integrity from Proverbs. We then discussed the needs of those in our body, especially some of our seniors who have health needs, those who are newer to our fellowship, and some we have not seen recently. Time was spent in prayer for each

Scheduling issues were discussed for such matters as the systematic theology class, and for how we want to make better use of Sunday Evenings at Rockport. It was decided that, for now, we will have a monthly Q/A Fellowship on the 3rd Sunday of each month. Otherwise there will not be a regular Sunday evening worship service. Instead, theology class will be moved to 6 PM on those Sundays when there is not another Sunday evening event. From time to time, though, we will have special called Sunday meetings for missionaries, or other informative events.

Also scheduled, tentatively:
- Rockport Elder’s Open House for the weekend of Dec 19-20.
- A week of prayer for the new year Jan 3-10 as a time to prayerfully seek of the Lord together
- Camp Meeting, April 15-18

The ordination of deacons was discussed, as was the building expansion project

The health and needs of our Community Groups was discussed.

Our ongoing relationship with “Gaining Christ Ministries” and Trevor Johnson’s mission work were discussed.

Several other issues concerning individuals and individual needs were brought up and then laid before the Lord in a season of prayer.


November 9, 2009
We began with a devotional brought by Pastor Scott about the biblical role of the pastor a watchman.
We discussed the needs of our members, of various kinds, and how we can lovingly respond to each. We see a need to find better ways to stay in touch with and minister to the growing needs of our body. Several things were put forward which we will be prayerfully seeking to put into practice. In addition, we see the need to remind our body to be alert to those who may be new each Sunday and make the extra effort to embrace them and make them feel welcome. Hospitality is an important grace we must practice constantly.

Scheduled matters were discussed (Most listed above). Added to the calender were:
A Ladies Cooking Fellowship this Friday
Christmas Eve Service
Possible building committee meeting November 29th
Possible deacon ordination January 24th

We agreed that the reading of chapters of Scripture is a benefit to worship. Now that we are finished with Malachi, we will move on to Ephesians. The plan is to alternate between Old and New Testament books.

Our Christmas Missions Offering options were set. Our people will have the option of giving to:
Lottie Moon (SBC); Gaining Christ Ministries; HeartCry Missions Society
Because of the urgent needs being experienced by them right now, we want to especially emphasize the needs of our Gaining Christ team.

We see the need to look into holding a family conference this summer.
Several other matters of importance were discussed.
We spent a season in prayer for these and many other needs discussed.

Submitted respectfully.

Please continue in prayer for us.

Our next meeting is November 23rd.

S. Scott Lee
Soli Deo Gloria
www.RockportBaptist.org

Worship in Singing for Sunday 11/01/2009

As we think about coming together to sing praises together tomorrow. I thought that it might be helpful to post a little information about one of the songs. I didn't really know the background of "All Hail the Power of Jesus Name" so I decided to do a quick, non-exhaustive, search and to share that with you. But first, here is the list of songs we will be singing tomorrow.

All Hail the Power of Jesus Name
Merciful God
Jesus I am Resting
How Deep the Father's Love for Us

"All Hail the Power of Jesus Name."

Some years ago, missionary E. P. Scott went to India. He set out to visit a remote mountain tribe which had never heard the name of Christ. As he neared their land, he was suddenly surrounded by a savage band of warriors, all pointing their spears straight at his heart. Expecting a quick death, the missionary pulled out his violin and began playing and singing in their native language the hymn "All hail the power of Jesus' name." He reached the stanza that reads:

Let every tribe and every tongue
On this terrestrial ball
To him all majesty ascribe
And crown him Lord of all...

The natives lowered their weapons and some were in tears. E. P. Scott spent the rest of his life ministering to these primitive people.

The hymn which so effectively moved this Indian tribe is often referred to as the "National Anthem of Christendom" and has been translated into almost every language where there are Christians. The author of the hymn, Edward Perronet was the descendent of a French Huguenot family which fled first to Switzerland and then to England to escape religious persecution. Perronet was a pastor who worked closely with John and Charles Wesley for many years in England's eighteenth- century revival.

At that time, Methodists were savagely persecuted. According to John Wesley's diary, Edward did not escape his share of abuse either. "Edward Perronet was thrown down and rolled in mud and mire" at Bolton, he wrote.

Edward was uneasy about preaching in front of John Wesley. Wesley urged him to do so several times. Finally, Wesley forced the issue. He announced that Brother Perronet would speak the following week. A week later, witty Edward mounted the pulpit and declared he would deliver the greatest sermon ever preached. He then read Christ's "Sermon on the Mount" and sat down!

During his life, Edward published three volumes of Christian poems, including a poetic rendering of the Scriptures. Shortly before he died on this day, January 2, l792, his last words were,

"Glory to God in the height of His divinity! Glory to God in the depth of his humanity! Glory to God in His all suffering! Into His hands I commend my spirit."

Bibliography:

1. Adapted from an earlier Christian History Institute story by Diane Severance.
2. "All Hail the Power." http://www.webedelic.com/church/hailf.htm
3. "Edward Perronet." http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/p/e/perronet_e.htm
4. Routley, Erik. Hymns and the Faith. Greenwich, Connecticut: Seabury Press, 1956.
5. Wells, Amos R. A Treasure of Hymns; Brief biographies of 120 leading hymn- writers and Their best hymns. Boston: W. A. Wilde company, 1945.

http://www.christianhistorytimeline.com/DAILYF/2003/01/daily-01-02-2003.shtml

Looking forward to a great time of worshiping the Lord together tomorrow @ Rockport. For those who follow this blog, don't forget to visit us and follow us on facebook as well!

Aaron

Ministry Within and For the Family

The following reminder was sent out to our church by one of our elders, Will Jackson. I thought it was worth posting here.

Brothers in Christ,

I've been wanting to say something about the priority God has given us in ministry. I think most of us know this, but maybe a reminder is helpful. We are to be a people fruitful in good works. God has prepared good works for us to walk in. Because of God's work in us, we are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). But that starts with caring for our wives and then raising up our children. If we neglect them in order to do any kind of "church work", we are out of God's will.

What does caring for our wives look like? I'm sure it varies from marriage to marriage, but surely it's more than just providing for their physical needs. We are so busy in our culture, but take even what may seem like drastic action in order to have time to care for your wives.

I don't want to be legalistic, but praying with my wife on a regular basis for her, and together for our family, seems like one of the basics in the life of a Christian husband. My brother-in-law and sister would read a Psalm and pray together every night before going to bed. My parents would pray together each night before going to bed. I think that many of you have some kind of a routine like this. If you don't, I encourage you to work on it. Over the years it will be a precious thing through which the Lord will work and bless you, your marriage and your family.

Regularly taking a little time to open up the Scriptures and read to your children, making a few comments for understanding or application, seems to me another one of those basics when it comes to Christian parenting. Somehow make it a part of your routine; maybe right before dinner or right after breakfast, etc.

The command of Jesus is to love our neighbors. In the original, it doesn't necessarily mean those that live in the house next to us. It means those near us. No one is nearer to us than our wives and children. Caring for and ministering to them is the good work God has given for us to do.

Yours in Christ,

Will

This Sunday's Message: On Prayer

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
John 15:7

Unless you’re really into church history, you’ve probably never heard of John Chrysostom. In addition to being Archbishop of Constantinople from 398 to 407 AD, he was known to be an eloquent and passionate preacher of the Gospel of Christ. “Chrysostom” was, in fact, his nickname. It means “Golden Mouth.” He was the Spurgeon or John Piper of his day.

And, therein,comes my interest in introducing him to you who may never have heard of him before today. Once, while preaching on prayer from Mark 11:22-26, the same passage I’ll be preaching from this coming Sunday morning (9/20/09) at Rockport, Chrysostom had this to say:

Prayer is an all-efficient panoply (something that gives you everything you need), a treasure undiminished, a mine never exhausted, a sky unobstructed by clouds, a haven unruffled by storm. It is the root, the fountain, and the mother of a thousand blessings. It exceeds a monarch’s power. . . . I speak not of prayer which is cold and feeble and devoid of zeal. I speak of that which proceeds from a mind outstretched, the child of a contrite spirit, the offspring of a soul converted – this is the prayer which mounts to heaven. . . The power of prayer has subdued the strength of fire, bridled the rage of lions, silenced anarchy, extinguished wars, appeased the elements, expelled demons, burst the chains of death, enlarged the gates of heaven, relieved diseases, averted frauds, rescued cities from destruction, stayed the sun in its course and arrested the progress of the thunderbolt. In sum, prayer has power to destroy whatever is at enmity with the good. I speak not of the prayer of the lips but of the prayer that ascends from the inmost recesses of the heart.

As I read these words and studied this passage this week, I have been deeply convicted about my own lack of prayerfulness. It is so easy, isn't it, to get "too busy" to pray the way we know we ought. And yet, as I consider the startling promises God makes about prayer, and all that He deems to do through it, I realize that I have made myself a spiritual pauper by my neglect. So I have resolved, yet again, that I will give a greater place to prayer in my daily life. There are so many things I must do, and more yet I choose to do, and yet this is the one thing I cannot do without. To draw near to God, daily; to rest my needs and those of others dear to me in His lap; to have Him redirect my heart and my thinking in every area so that by and by I am more conformed to Him! This is my great need.

Lord helping me, it will become my more consistent and joyful practice.

Soli Deo Gloria
(For His Glory Alone)

Pastor Scott

Missions

At the last congregational meeting a board was approved and a "missions organization" was formed with this board appointed to provide direction. I would like to let everyone know that we have selected a name; "Psalm 67 Missions Network." We are preparing a report to provide at the upcoming congregational meeting, but please be in prayer for us as we are doing all of the administration work to get things rolling.

Psalm 67 Missions Network's website will soon be running with information of upcoming short-term and long-term missions opportunities, online registration, online donation option, and articles/testimonies.

There is a short-term mission trip to Mexico scheduled for November and this trip is currently full. We will soon be taking registration for a trip in December during Christmas break (December 26 - January 1, 2009). Information that is available is currently posted at http://www.rockportbaptist.org/rom. Future information will be available as soon as our website is up and running!

In Christ,

Aaron

Celebrating Independance DAy

My country, 'tis of thee,

Sweet land of liberty,

Of thee I sing;

Land where my fathers died,

Land of the pilgrims' pride,

From every mountainside

Let freedom ring!

Our father’s God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing;
Long may our land be bright,
With freedom’s holy light
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God Our King

There is a special joy and pride (the good kind) that comes from knowing that we live in a nation with a long and godly heritage. No, I’m not one of those who imagines that every one of the Founding Fathers was a committed Christian. It’s clear they weren’t. But many of them were. And what’s more, it’s just as clear that the original Pilgrims who came to this land seeking religious freedom were indeed faithful and committed (not to mention reformed!) followers of Jesus Christ.

For that reason, when we as biblical Christians celebrate our nation’s Independence Day, we can never look at it as just another secular holiday. It is for us a time of thanksgiving and joy for all the good God has done in and through this nation over these many years. And sure, we’ll be the first to recognize that America is not (nor has it ever been) a perfect heaven on earth. She has her flaws and indeed, her many sins (abortion certainly comes to mind). Yet God has been pleased thus far to use this nation in a very special way in this world. And for that we are grateful.

How long will God’s special providence last for this country? I really couldn’t tell you. But I believe it will be as long as there are Christ-exalting believers who faithfully ‘tread the old paths’ and preach the Gospel of ‘grace through faith in Christ alone’ and who are committed to using their many advantages as citizens of this nation to spread the Saving Gospel to the ends of the earth so all will hear and know there is a Savior in Christ. Will you be one of these Gospel-sharers? May God make it so! And may future generations still continue to sing, “God bless America”


Seeking Him by faith alone, because of Christ Alone,

Pastor S. Scott Lee, Patriot

Come Thou Fount...from Sunday

Some have wondered about the "extra" verse that we sang on Sunday during the morning service. What we sang was not indeed a "new" verse, but actually it was a slight revision of one of the verses that most modern hymnals leave out. I have included it below. I pray that this might be of great use for you during family worship and during your c groups, and all those other times!

Oh That Day When Free from Sinning
I'll shall see Thy lovely Face
Clothed in radiant, blood-washed linen
How I'll sing thy Sovereign Grace
Come my Lord no longer tarry
Bring thy promises to pass
For I know thy power will keep me
'Til I'm home with Thee at last

Song for Sunday...New to some at Rockport

From the authors of songs like "In Christ Alone" is another great modern-day hymn entitled, "Merciful God." I am posting the words here for you to consider before tomorrow morning. I pray that this will be a blessing to us as a church.

"Merciful God"
Words and Music by Keith Getty, Kristyn Getty, and Stuart Townend
Copyright © 2006 Thankyou Music

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful to all who draw near You;
Hearing the cries of the humble in heart,
Showing the cross they may cling to.
Broken I come, helpless in sin,
Found at the feet of Your mercy.
Father, forgive; may my sin be remembered no more.

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful through times we have failed You;
Selfish in thought and uncaring in deed,
Foolish in word and ungrateful.
Spirit of God, conquer our hearts
With love that flows from forgiveness;
Cause us to yield and return to the mercy of God.

Merciful God, O abounding in love,
Faithful to keep us from falling;
Guiding our ways with Your fatherly heart,
Growing our faith with each testing.
God speed the day struggles will end;
Faultless we'll gaze on Your glory.
Then we will stand overwhelmed by the mercy of God.