Update and Prayer

The diagnosis for little Bridget (age 3) great granddaughter of Felton and Mary Lou was not the good report we were hoping for.  She does have leukemia, there are no more details available until the full lab report comes back.  Treatment plans are to have a port inserted this week with chemo to begin right away.

Please keep Bridget and the family in your continued thoughts and prayers.

Prayer Request For Wednesday

A few prayer requests went out on the prayer chain last night and you are encouraged to keep these lifted up in prayer today.

• Felton and Mary Lou's great granddaughter - 3 years old will undergo serious testing today.  Please pray for the tests, the family and the results.
• Bill D. will undergo a test tomorrow.
• Ida D.'s son was severely burned a few days ago and will be having a skin graft today.
• Tina S. is having some serious eye issues and will face eye surgery soon.

Remember the mid week services, there are classes for the children, youth and a time of devotion and prayer for the adults.  Your dedication and faithfulness are vital to our church.

Prayer Requests

There are some prayer requests to share this week as we seek to lift one another up in prayer.

• Mary Lou and Felton's great granddaughter who is 3 years old is in the hospital undergoing tests.  Please keep her and the family in your prayers.
• Joe R.'s father spent the weekend in the hospital, is now home, but continues to need prayer.
• Rufus S. who is battling cancer
• Bessie P.'s grandson will have a scan for a lump on his chest
• Rex and Dianne Mc. will have doctor appointments and get test results this week
• Bro. Dave and Caroline also have appointments and tests this week
• Mark S. will undergo medical tests this week
• Liz H.'s father needs our prayers

Please keep these in your thoughts and prayers this week and be mindful of ways to be an encouragement and blessing to others.

The Lord's Supper

Sunday morning we will be observing the ordinance of the Lord's Supper.  This ordinance began with our Lord breaking bread with His disciples and encouraging them to continue in this to 'remember Him."

"...and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes."  I Corinthians 11:24-26

May we enter His house with a heart thankful for the sacrifice of Jesus, thankful that He broke His body and shed  His blood for our sin.  O' what a Savior! May we always be mindful of His sacrifice and 'do this in remembrance of Him.'

Crossing the Uncrossables In Our Lives

Our sermon on Sunday was based on Joshua 2:24 and gave us hope and inspiration to believe God to do what He alone can do in our lives.  When we get to the points in life where we are up against a hopeless situation..we can't..be He can.

What do we do?

1.  Follow the Movements of God:
Focus on the Lord and follow where He leads.  We cannot fail when we fix our eyes on Jesus and follow Him.

2.  Consecrate Ourselves:
Prepare, dedicate and set apart are characteristics of consecration.  Sin will block our way, may we seek God to purify our hearts and cleanse us from sin. 

3.  Set Ourselves Apart For Him.

4.  Step Out and Stand Still:
We use our eyes to be fixed on Him to lead us, our ears to listen for the call of repentance and then we must use our feet to step out and do what He calls us to do.

Parents Night Out!!

Moms and Dads, are you ready for a 'date night'?  Make your reservations for this Friday night!

Our youth group is hosting a Parents Night Out on Friday, September 24 from 6:00 - 11:00 PM.  The youth and adults will be providing free child care compete with activities and supervision to keep your child safe and engaged in fun while you enjoy some free time.  Please see Liz H. for more information.

The Bigger Breakfast For Men

The Bigger Breakfast For Men

• September 25, 2010
• First Baptist Church of Dowling Park
• 8:30 - 10:30 AM
• All Men Invited

If you would like to ride together, the church van will leave at 8:00 AM.  See Bro. Dave for more details.

See You At the Pole

 For twenty years now, See You at the Pole™ has been about students leading out in prayer, asking God to reveal Who He is on campuses all over the United States and the world.
On Wednesday, September 22, at 7 a.m., GATHER at your school flagpole, PRAY for your school, friends, families, and world. ASK God to REVEAL Who He is to your campus. Pray for AWAKENING.

The 2010 See You at the Pole™ theme is Reveal based on the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13.

The Message Bible states the Lord’s Prayer like this:

"With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this: Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what's best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others. Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You're in charge! You can do anything you want! You're ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes."

Fall Festival

Antioch will be hosting a Family Fall Festival on October 30 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM.  This promises to be an event filled with fun for the entire family, great fellowship, food, games and prizes as we welcome fall.  There will be games for children of all ages, a bounce house, cake walk, hay ride, trunk or treat and of course food!

We will need a lot of help and volunteers!  Opportunities include:

• 
  
  Running Games and Booths
• 
  
  Baking Cakes for Cake Walk
• 
  
  Materials for hay ride (trailer, hay, driver, etc.)
• 
  
  Volunteers for Trunk or Treat - use your vehicle to distribute candy to children
• 
  
  and donations of CANDY, CANDY, CANDY!!!

Watch for more details, but please mark the date and plan to have a great time at the Family Fall Festival!

Prayer Requests

There are several prayer requests and updates to share for this week.

Aulden K. - son of Mike and Sarah K. had surgery yesterday to remove a birthmark.  The surgery went fine and he is doing well. Please pray for a great recovery.

Chris R. who fell out of a tree is slowly recovering.  He is in a wheelchair and able to slowly get into his activities.  He continues to need our prayers as he recovers.

Mark S. took a fall and has deep bruises, but is ok.

Edward H. is undergoing treatment for a blood clot.

Don S. who had heart surgery is now at home.

Sam C.'s brother had hip replacement surgery and is recovering.

Gene B.'s grandson is in the hospital with surgery planned for today.

Caroline Mc.'s brother has several prayer needs and has requested the church to lift him up in prayer.

What a beautiful bond is formed when God's people pray for and minister to one another.  May His love and care flow freely in our church.

Walk For Life

The annual Pregnancy Care Center's Walk For Life will be October 2 at the coliseum. This is the biggest fund raiser for the year that enables the Pregnancy Care Center to minster in our community and give guidance to those in crisis pregnancies to 'Choose Life'.  There is a 2 mile and 5 mile route you can walk at your own pace.  Mark your calendars now and let's show some great support for a great cause from Antioch!

Children's Bowling Trip

All children are invited to a special bowling activity on October 2.  Children's Ministries is hosting a fun day for children at the bowling alley.  The event will be Saturday, October 2 at 3:00 PM.  Bowling and shoes will be provided, snack or video game money should be brought from home.

Bring your children out for a great day of fun!

Funny For the Day

What Path Are You On?
Is God your Navigator?

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

  Matthew 7:13

Examine Our Prayer Life

Self examination is not something to bring us down, but to look for any areas of weakness and build them up.  Examining our prayer life is a way to enhance and open up the doors of blessing in our prayer times.

1.  Our Heart Attitude:
Prayer, the desire, the words, the attitude all begin in our hearts.

2.  Measure Our Words:

From our heart, our prayers make way to our lips.

3.  Releases Into Our Life:

May our hearts and words honor our Lord.  May we be willing to participate with God's plan for our life.  May we be not only a hearer, but a doer of God's Word.

Save Those Ink Cartridges!!

The youth group is collecting empty ink jet cartridges for recycling.  They can receive up to $4.00 for each cartridge recycled.  There is a box by the water fountain to collect the empty cartridges.  Thanks for your support!

WOW! What A Poem!!

BEST POEM IN THE WORLD


I was shocked, confused, bewildered
As I entered Heaven's door,
Not by the beauty of it all,
Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven
Who made me sputter and gasp--
The thieves, the liars, the sinners,
The alcoholics and the trash.
There stood the kid from seventh grade
Who swiped my lunch money twice.
Next to him was my old neighbor
Who never said anything nice.
Herb, who I always thought
Was rotting away in Hell,
Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,
Looking incredibly well..

I nudged Jesus, 'What's the deal?
I would love to hear Your take.
How'd all these sinners get up here?
God must've made a mistake.
'And why is everyone so quiet,
So somber - give me a clue.'

'Hush, child,' He said, 'they're all in shock.
No one thought they'd be seeing you.'

JUDGE NOT!!!!
REMEMBER .....
Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.

Awakening America

"....and cry out to the Lord." Joel 1:14

America is in a Spiritual Crisis - - Your Participation Can Make a Difference!

Did you know?
•Only 17 percent of Americans attend church on any given Sunday!

•Moral Failure among Christian leaders continues to rise at an unprecedented level!

•America has become the 3rd largest mission field in the world!

The present condition of our nation demands united, decisive action. We need more than one positive election, more than one court decision, more than one good series of sermons, and more than one significant local church revival. We must experience a new national awakening.

Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening. Our economy has been deeply shaken. Overall church attendance continues to decline across the nation, America is now the third largest mission field in the world and an entire generation is growing up with little understanding of absolute truth. Yet, in what appears to be a very trying time for the Church in this nation, we believe that America is on the verge of a sweeping move of God’s Spirit that will touch every state, every county and every heart. Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening.

The historical patterns of America’s Great Awakenings indicate that it is in precisely this type of seemingly hopeless national environment that God chooses to move in response to the cries of His people. Historically, when the people of God have set aside their differences to come together across this nation in extraordinary, united prayer, God has heard from heaven and responded with great outpourings of His Spirit.

In response to our nation’s need and God’s Biblical and historical pattern for bringing awakening to America, we are calling for extraordinary, united prayer.  Christians nationwide will unite together in prayer on 9/11 at county courthouses across all 50 states to pray for their community and for the spiritual condition of our nation.  Our community will gather at Millennium Park from 12:00 -1:00 PM Saturday for a time of prayer and seeking the Lord for our country. 

Visit Awakening America for more information.

Update on Chris

We have an update on Chris R. the teenage boy who fell out of a tree.  He has a broken tailbone and two fractures in his pelvis - front and back.  His pelvis is stable, so they will let it  heal naturally, but he will be confined in a wheelchair for several weeks.  We give praise to God for His protection and continue to ask for the Lord to be with Chris and his family during this time of recuperation.

Endurance

Often times life comes at us fast and furious.  It takes ENDURANCE and can stretch us as we endure the day struggles of life.  But God is able to give us everything we need to not only get through, but endure life's most trying moments.  He who endures will gain wisdom and renewed strength by walking through each trial.  Here is an acrostic that gives some great tips on Endurance:

E ternity and what is eternal is more important to you than time and what is temporal!
N ecessary it may be that you are distressed by various trials, but look ahead to the time when you will be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ!

D ay by day your inner man is renewed though the outer man decays, so you don’t lose heart!

U nseen is what you should place far above the seen. Don’t look at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen, for the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal. Endure, persevere joyously, contentedly, hopefully, patiently in the midst of all your pain and endure because what is eternal is so much more valuable!

R ejoice in suffering, because you know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God has poured out his love into your heart by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to you!

A lways excel in the work of your Lord, be steadfast, unmovable, because you know that the work that you do for the Lord isn't wasted.

N o turning Back! There’s No turning back for you!

C hrist likeness is your goal. Press toward that! Christ is everything! For you to live is Christ and to die is gain. Constantly anticipate His appearing!

E ternal weight of glory that this momentary light affliction is producing is worth it all!

Prayer Update

Just a quick update on Chris R. (son of Lucas and Theresa H.) who fell about 25 feet out of a tree yesterday.  Chris has a broken sacrum - back side of the pelvis. Please pray for his recovery and the decisions being made for treatment.  

Prayer Requests

There are a few prayer requests to share with the church family.

Chris R. - son of Lucas and Theresa H. fell out of a tree and injured his hip.  He was life-flighted to Gainesville and is being evaluated.

Margie H. has a great grandson who is 2 years old suffering from an infection in his groin.

Rex and Dianne Mc.'s daughter Susie was experiencing chest pains tonight (Wednesday) and is in the hospital undergoing evaluation and treatment.

Please continue to remmeber Joan S. who lost her husband this week.

Please keep these in your thoughts and prayers and be mindful to show your love and support.

Family Meal Tonight

Remember that tonight is Family Meal and Prayer.  This is a great opportunity to visit, fellowship and enjoy a meal together as a church family.  Just bring a covered food dish to share and the family.   Following the meal there are classes for all ages and a devotion and time for prayer for the adults.  Come take part in our mid week service and keep your mid week spiritual batteries charged!