Pastor's Blog2010-03-10T12:08:16ZRandy HarperCopyright 2010, Randy HarperSPHPBLOGThank You Church Family! How can I say thank you? The out pour of love, concern and prayers that you have sent our way, has been very comforting to Vicki and I. Over the last few weeks, I have been reading all your notes, your blog comments, cards and have also been told by the staff just how many of you have called the church office to see how I was doing. My eyes fill with tears, (no it’s not the kidney stone this time), I am just so overwhelmed with emotions because I am reminded of the many struggles and pains that we all go through in life. Like mine, some are physical pains and struggles, but there are many others who struggle with the emotional or spiritual ones.
It also reminds me why “Relationships” are so important to God. In the series, I am praying and believing we will resume this Sunday, “Transforming Relationships”, do you remember the first verse we read?, 1 Corinthians 16:14 “Everything you do must be done with love.” Another key verse we read was Mark 12:30-31 “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength… love your neighbor as yourself. There are no commands more important than these.” I felt that kind of love from many of you during my illness. But if you are one that struggles with being more loving; needs to work harder on your relationships, or just wants more love in your heart, you can become that person too. Please join us as we all learn how to transform our relationships into relationships that please God. ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100309-0940062010-03-09T00:00:00Z2010-03-09T00:00:00ZSticking Together Well, the captain of the boat very calmly reached out, grabbed the man by the arm, and gave a big pull; but he didn't know it was an artificial arm, and the arm came off!
Well, the man continued to kick and splash around crying for help. The captain reached out again; this time he grabbed his leg and gave a tremendous pull, but the leg came off because it was a wooden leg. The man in the water went under again and he came up yelling for help.
The captain, still calm, this time grabbed the man by the hair of his head and gave a gigantic pull. But the man was wearing a toupee and it came off. At that point the captain looked at the man in the water and said, "Mister, if you won't stick together, I can't help you!"
The point is even God cannot help a church that is not going to stick together. As a church, lets be victorious by accomplishing all God wants us to accomplish, being all that God wants us to be, but to do this we must come together, we must work together, we must stay together and we must pray together!
]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100308-1146212010-03-08T00:00:00Z2010-03-08T00:00:00ZLifestyle of Good HabitsTake the time and the trouble to keep yourself spiritually fit. The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine. Successful people form the habit of doing things that unsuccessful people are unwilling to do. You will never change your life until you change something you do daily. We first form habits and then habits form us.
The Formation of Habits: 1) Beliefs 2) Choices 3) Practices 4) Habits 5) Results
God will provide if we do two things: 1) Ask Him to provide for our needs – “Give us our daily Bread.” (Matthew 6:11) 2) Be generous in our giving (Luke 6:28)
Lifestyle Giving and Benefits 1) It puts material wealth into a biblical perspective – “First the Kingdom.” Resources-are they yours or God’s? 2) It teaches that giving is not to be separated from behavior – “First be reconciled." Matthew 5:24 3) It is a key test of spiritual commitment. “If you are untrustworthy in…” Luke 16:11 4) Protects against financial enslavement (bondage). “You cannot serve God and mammon!” Luke 16:3 5) It gives me victory over materialism. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 6) It strengthens my faith. “Test me…” Malachi 3:10 7) It makes me happy. “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” 1 Chronicles 29:14 8) It blesses me in return Luke 6:38; Proverbs 22:9 9) It keeps me from losing my assets and liabilities. Matthew 16:25 10) It is proof of my love. 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 11) It focuses on the eternal rather than the temporal. 12) It will bring rightful recognition from others. 13) It will bring rightful recognition from Christ. “The widow was commended.” 14) It makes me more like God – “God so loved the world He gave….” John 3:16
First and foremost, spend time with God daily and if you have not visited or joined our Fitness Center, make it a point to do so this weekend. ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100305-0933542010-03-05T00:00:00Z2010-03-05T00:00:00ZGods Has a Mission for Al Christians God wants you to have a ministry in the church, but He also wants you to have a mission in the world. Ministry is serving Christ for believers; mission is sharing Christ with unbelievers. Our Mission: It is to lead people to be different through knowing Christ and growing in Christ, and to make a difference by serving Christ and sharing Christ.
Our mission has been defined for us in II Corinthians 5:18-21, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
A young man applied for a job at a theatre, and during the interview the manager said, "Now what would you do if a fire broke out while a film was showing?" The young man said, "Oh, you don't have to worry about me, I would get out okay." Many of us are going to Heaven, but too many of us don't really care if others escape the fire or not. God has given us a mission. We must choose to accept it; do all that we can to lead others out of the fire into the Light.
]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100304-0954552010-03-04T00:00:00Z2010-03-04T00:00:00ZGod Will Bring It To Pass Indeed the Bible is all this, but it is even more! It is God's promises to us, promises that we can believe, promises on which we can rely, promises that we can trust. If God tells us that He will do something, you can rest with assurance that He will bring it to pass.
]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100303-1200022010-03-03T00:00:00Z2010-03-03T00:00:00ZWhat is Your Challenge? What is Faith? “It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead.” Hebrews 11:1 (TLB)
Faith is the secret to “rut-free living.” Do you ever find yourself living in a rut? Do you feel like your life is just routine? A couple gets married – yet the passion, romance, life-long love, and dreams turn into routine. A fresh commitment made to Christ, yet you settle for the average life instead of the abundant life. Faith makes a difference. Faith will help us handle two of the main things that push us into the rut of routine… Life's Disappointments ...That’s all there is!! I’ll have to settle for this. Life’ Successes ... Disappointments make us bitter, but success makes us satisfied with ourselves. Faith helps us look past disappointments and faith helps us put success in perspective. Think about this question: "Is disappointment or is success the greater challenge in your life right now?"]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100302-1132062010-03-02T00:00:00Z2010-03-02T00:00:00ZCommunicating Wih God So the question is, “Are you communicating with God on a daily basis?” I am convinced that if you want to see God doing something in your life, in your neighbor’s life, in your business, church or family life, prayer has to be the number one item on the agenda. When you commit to praying, you will notice an immediate difference in your perception of things and in turn the way in which you respond to the things of this world.
When praying, incorporate these four things:
Pray Regularly Psalm 55:16-17 “But I call to God and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice.” Pray Honestly Hebrews 4:13 – “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Pray Fervently James 5:16 – “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” Pray Constantly 1 Thess. 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.” ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100301-1030042010-03-01T00:00:00Z2010-03-01T00:00:00ZSpiritual and Physical Fitness1 Corinthians 6:18-20, "Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body. "
I know you have heard me tell the story of an overweight guy. He had not been able to lose weight. He confided in his pastor. Next morning a slender, attractive young lady knocks at his door, "Pastor said that if you can catch me you can marry me." She turned and ran. He ran after her. For days and weeks this continued. Each day he gained on her. Each day he dropped the pounds. Finally he thought, "Today's the day. I'm going to catch her." About that time, the doorbell rang. He opened the door and there stood a heavy-set girl dressed in a jogging suit. "Pastor said that if I can catch you, I can marry you."
As Americans, we are pretty obsessed with physical fitness wouldn't you agree? And that is not always a bad thing. Everyone at the Bellaire Complex would like to invite you to come check out the facility and the many programs it has to offer for your individual fitness needs. But in doing so, don’t forget your spiritual fitness. Remember, God wants us to be fit in every area of our lives our faith, family, friendships, feelings, and finances. Remember to join us each an every Sunday and see what Bellaire has to offer your spiritual needs as well. See You Sunday! ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100226-1045472010-02-26T00:00:00Z2010-02-26T00:00:00ZAre You a "Part" of a Great Church? Saints- Saved in a growing, loving intimate relationship with God and fellow believers.
Students- Teachable – Hungry to learn and apply God’s Word to daily living.
Servants- Obedient – Committed to putting Christ first, and joyfully serving Him, His church and others in Ministry.
Stewards- Faithful – responsible to manage the God-given resources of time, talent and tithe.
Soldiers- Eternal Perspective – actively praying and seeking to reach the lost.
Chuck Swindoll once said, “The only position in the church is the headship of Jesus Christ. The rest of us qualify as servants.”
Albert Schweitzer once wrote, “I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know, the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.”
So, are you truly a “part” of a great church? Are you a Saint, Student, Servant, Steward, Soldier…anyone can be a member of a church, but it takes a passionate person for Jesus Christ to be a GREAT MEMBER! ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100225-1103062010-02-25T00:00:00Z2010-02-25T00:00:00ZSand Castles If we thought about it, everything we own will one day be like that sand castle…torn down! God says to enjoy them, but do not be attached to them. Although the journey is important, it is the relationships that we make during the journey of life that will last. Our relationship with God will last forever. ]]>http://bellairebaptist.org/blog/index.php?entry=entry100224-0906032010-02-24T00:00:00Z2010-02-24T00:00:00Z