Years ago, Nancy & I moved to Stephenville to start the Cowboy Church of Erath County. Within a few weeks we joined a Health Club. We met a young man named Donnie. Donnie was the trainer who helped people get into physical shape. Donnie was an encourager but more than that he was a vibrant Christian.  At the health club…he encouraged folks to get into spiritual shape. Every time I saw Donnie, I would ask, “How are you, Donnie?” Donnie responds, “Brother Charles I’m Blessed!”  Sometimes he would say, “I’m too Blessed to be Distressed.” What a testimony! When we are asked how were doing, many times we just comment on our problems. I think that if we reflect on our lives, as the Psalmist did in Psalm 103, then we to can say, “I’m Blessed!” Think about this: The shortest distance between a Problem and a Solution is the distance between your knees and the floor. The one who kneels to the Lord can stand up to anything.  It comes down to control. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, said that we can organize the church for control or for growth, but not for both. The same is true of our lives. We can stay in control of our lives, and seek safety, security, and predictability. Or we can turn control of our lives over to God, and experience growth in joy, peace, purpose, and power. The issue faces us every morning, every decision and in every significant event. Each day we need to acknowledge that God has and is blessing us.  Where is Charles & Nancy this morning? We have a dear friend named Kim. We met Kim back in 1998 when I became Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Portland, Texas. Kim recently retired as an Educator. This weekend, Kim married her fiancé, Scott.  The wedding was at New Braunfels, Texas. Her parents are deceased and we wanted to be there to celebrate her marriage to Scott.

Refuge Worship & Recovery Ministry to begin Sunday, January 25th @ 5:00 p.m. Happy Birthday to Margeret Caskey. She had a special Birthday this past week. "I am too blessed to be stressed!"

-Charles

A View of Life from St. Patrick: “I will say of the Lord, “HE is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:2

“God’s might to direct me, God’s power to protect me, God’s wisdom for learning, God’s eye for discerning, God’s ear for hearing, God’s word for my clearing" - St. Patrick

As a youth, Patrick was captured by pirates and sold as a slave. After six years of servitude, he escaped and returned to his home. He would then begin his ministry of Christianizing his homeland of Ireland. Ireland then became a center of Christian influence throughout Europe. The trials that Patrick molded him to become a victorious Believer and Evangelist.  God is still in the business of using believers. We just need to allow Him to mold us; make us and use us.  What will God have you to do at home, church and in your workplace of life? Live life with a Purpose!  

-Pastor Charles  
 
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:9-10/NKJV

Next Sunday @ 4:00 p.m. Church Team Meeting- Everyone is invited even visitors. We will meet in our Conference Room in the Educational Building. I want to hear your questions, your suggestions. This is like a “Open Forum.” We will also look at the year ahead.

Country Fellowship - FEED THE AGGIES". C.F.C. has volunteered to feed the Aggie BSM next Wednesday, Nov 5. We need several volunteers to help cook spaghetti & meatballs at the church kitchen and then transport it the campus, serve, & then return & cleanup. If you can help with any if these jobs then please let me know.

Need the Following: Cook- need 2-3 people in the kitchen at 8:00am to help prepare the food/Need 4-6 people that can go to BSM and help serve. We will feed 160-180 Aggies beginning at 12:30pm/Need 2-3 people to help clean up the pots & pans, kitchen, etc. We probably return to the church about 2:00pm. Let me know which item to can help with.  Thanks, Mike/ 979-229-9211

Monday Morning, November 3rd @10:00 a.m. in the Large Fellowship Hall- Christmas Shoebox Packing Party. In the Large Fellowship Hall.

This last week, I read an article written by the Apologist, Dr. Jim Denison. The article was about navigating our Cultural Moment.

He asked the question, “Are you a “Christian” or a “Disciple”? The word “Christian” is found in the New Testament three times (Acts 11;26; 26:38; I Peter 4:16) The word Disciple is found 261 times in the Gospels and the Book of Acts.

What is a Disciple? The title of “Disciple” in the ancient world was an apprentice to a great teacher, someone that followed a master and would initiate there way of life. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” (Mt. 4:19) Those early Disciples would let down their nets and followed Jesus. So being a Disciple is more than trusting Christ as Savior it is also applying our faith in Him to our daily lives. Denison pointed out that the Greatest need in America is for the Christian to be a Disciple- a person who follow Jesus courageously imitating His Teachings. Disciples follow Jesus and become Salt to a tasteless Culture. Disciples follow Jesus and become Light to a Dark World. (Mathew 5:13-16) John Mark Comer writes: “Jesus is not looking for converts to Christianity: He’s looking for apprentices in the kingdom of God.” Lord helps us to be Disciples and follow you.”

Today get a copy of the information sheet, “Grid for Growth” I wanted to share this with our church family this past Friday but we did not have the turnout that I expected. Here is a list of “Challenges”- “Fears”- “Positives-Mission Outreach” and items like “Friday Night Live” to reach “Single Adults”.  Mission outreach and the Hispanic Church that uses our building. Please get a copy. Let us continue to move forward. Remember we are Disciples.
 
I have Decided to Follow Jesus No Turning Back! No Turning Back!

Celebrate Father’s Day with us this next Sunday! We have a gift for Dad’s next Sunday
 
Blessings!

Archie Bunker, played by the late Carroll O’Connor, claimed to know a little about theology. Here is a sketch about Archie finding a glimpse of God that was real: Archie Bunker was experiencing double trouble. He was laid off from his job and to make matters worse he had to have gall bladder surgery. At home recuperating, Edith his wife, and his son-in-law, Mike (Meathead) was trying to give him some encouraging words.  Times were now better for Mike and his wife Gloria. Mike had graduated from the University, had a good paying job and a little baby boy named Joey. Mike writes out a check for 1,500.00 to Archie and tells him that it is a gift. Archie says, “I ain’t going to be a Moocher from my relatives.” Archie then proceeds to tear up the check. And then Mike leaves the room.

In the next scene, Archie begins to talk to Edith about God caring for him. He tells her that he is a pretty good Christian. He tells here that while other men have been unfaithful to their wives and had good times, he instead stayed home. Then he says, “I don’t understand it why God does not care for me.”

Edith replies, “Now Archie you better not talk like that. Didn’t God bring you through the surgery?” Archie goes on to tell her that God did help him, but he still would have to pay over 600.00 out of the pocket expenses for surgery.

Next Archie answers the door and greets one of his fellow workers at the plant. He tells Archie that he is back at work and that he has taken Archie’s old job as foreman. Archie gets mad and ask him how he could take his job since they were friends, and especially since he was recovering from surgery. His reply, “Archie I had to take your job because you received a promotion. You are the head dispatcher.”  Archie is jubilant when he hears the good news. After his friend leaves, he says, “You know God does care. I am like Job in the Bible. He had his bad times but got rewarded double. Edith, I think you can go to church Sunday, in fact I think I might just go with you.”

Archie’s episode with adversity reminds me of a little girl went to church, leaving her invalid father at home. In his anger and frustration, he wrote on a piece of paper the letters, GODISNOWHERE. She came home, saw the sign, smiled, and said out loud, "God is now here!" And he is.

Today, I want to remind you that God is here and He does care. We can experience the Touch of the Master’s Hand.  I am praising God for what He is doing at CFC. I thank Him everyday for allowing me to be the pastor of such a caring church family.

Love You CFC Family!
Charles

Philippians 1:6

There is a little prayer in Luke 18 that you may recognize. A crowd was following Jesus, and a blind man sitting by the side of the road started crying out, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.” The crowd tried to quiet him, but he persisted. Jesus called the man to him, restored his sight, and the man began to follow Jesus and to glorify God.

Dr. Ed Young Sr. says, “This little prayer, The Jesus Prayer,” is something you can pray 50, 60, 100 times a day. Just a little prayer: “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.”

This prayer will prepare you to pray longer, to study longer. Whatever you are doing, wherever you are going, this simple prayer will give you a sense of God’s presence and help set your mind on biblical truth.

If you have any prospects for our church or someone that needs encouragement or prayer then please give me their name and contact information.
 
Happy Mother’s Day & Lord Have Mercy on Me
Pastor Charles 

p.s. We will be updating our Website and Facebook page in the next two weeks.