First Baptist Wylie Student Ministry

Attn: Bud Sealey

2010-10-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

This morning as I watched Sports Center it hit me. People have some real opinions out there. I know, I know, this is not news to you or me, but it was still one of those "wow, I can't believe this is an issue" moments.

Evidently the Yankees and the Twins are in the playoffs (I say it that way because i care for neither of those teams. I am all about the Rangers getting there!) And the game was almost ruined by a bad call to end the competition. As I turned on my television I heard more people than I care to remember talking about the need for Instant Replay.

Why is it such a big deal? so every other sport has it (well except for soccer, but is that really a sport?) and baseball doesn't, so what? Why do we need to watch a closeup of a fly ball going over the outfield fence to make sure that it was in fact a home run? The ball left the stadium for crying out loud! Of course it was a home run!

There were more opinions in one segment than I think you could get in any three viewings of Pardon the Interruption. How could they feel so strongly about something that is seemingly so insignificant? I think it all comes down to our desire to speak out on what we think is important to us. We all have this desire to make known our opinion. Whether or not we want to admit it, we want to be heard when we speak. We want our voice to register. I just hope my opinion is concerned with things other than instant replay. Psalm 107 starts out giving an opinion and then reminding the redeemed of the Lord to implore their opinions. "Let the Redeemed of the Lord say this-"

We have a responsibility as Christians to make known the amazing things that God has done for us. We have the responsibility to shout as loud as we can that God is good. His love endures forever. Now that is an opinion that needs to be heard!

God is good. His love endures forever. How's that for instant replay?

Guest Post: Griffin Gulledge

2010-10-04T15:17:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, sure do miss you all out here at Auburn.

1) I will be back for Refuel. Now obviously this should tell you that it better be awesome, and you better be there.

2) I hope you are all helping Sam out. I pray for you all daily and for Sam.

3) You all need to read this:

http://stuffchristianslike.net/2010/09/letting-go-of-the-barns/

Keep it cool. I really only posted b/c Sam never does and I think you all really wanted a blog.

Seriously Sam, Doogie Howser? You're so old.

-Griffin

Doogie Howser

2010-08-16T06:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I think we don't have a clue. There are days that I look around and feel like I don't have a good grip on the realities of this world. Reality is a funny thing. It is obviously surrounding us all, yet trips to places like Wal-Mart help us to realize that some people avoid it like the plague.

Case-in-point: one of my favorite actors when I was young was Neil Patrick Harris. I wanted very much as a 10 year old to be Doogie Howser, M.D. He seemed like the smartest, most together guy that television had to offer. Fastforward to his character on How I Met Your Mother and it is a similar situation. He j2ust seems to be a smooth fellow. (thanks to my daughter Virginia for that numerical addition)

So how could a guy who has it together tweet something like this: "So, get this: David and I are expecting twins this fall," Neil Tweeted. "We're super excited/nervous/thrilled. Hoping the press can respect our privacy..."

Did you catch the logic that preceeded this paragraph? He tweeted to his hundreds and maybe thousands of followers that he wanted his privacy protected. To me this is the equivilant of a three year old walking into a coctail party and screaming at the top of their lungs "I need to be alone!" Or what if the guys from Deadliest Catch exclaimed that they needed a break from the ocean before the season was over. Logic just seems to never enter the argument.

For some reason, the reality that most people seem to live in is directly opposite from that of actuality. Paul, said in Ephesians that they are "darkened in their understanding" I guess I just didn't realize or perhaps still don't, exactly how darkened the world actually is.

For us, I guess the challenge is still what it has always been: Help people live in the reality of truth and not the reality they create. So Tweet this today: "I Need to be alone for a while."

Cuy

2010-07-26T13:40:00.000-07:00

Waterfall in Ecuador

2010-07-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

Here we are Baptizing in the Rio Verde!

2010-07-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

2010-07-22T21:01:00.000-07:00

2010-07-20T19:56:00.000-07:00

Tuesday

2010-07-19T17:37:00.000-07:00

Ecuador

2010-07-18T20:29:00.000-07:00

Hey Crew,

I know you were expecting a video blog and hopefully we can post it up tomorrow, but tonight we have been having some difficulty with my computer. Call Kirk McDowell for me!

But enough about that. Let's talk about what God has done. We have in the first few hours seen several people come to know Christ. How about that? We also have had opportunities to pray with people on the streets and focus our hearts on what is before us.

It really is incredible to watch God work right in front of us! Today on the street we were praying and an Ecuadorian literally ran out from where he was, crossing the street (which in Ecuador is more than a little dangerous) and beg us to pray with him for his life and for direction from Christ. Amazing!

I think the lesson that has been most evident today is that prayer is one of the most important tools that we have as children of God. We spent time with him and continued on our prayer walk.

Luther said that "if i neglect but a single day of prayer, I will lose very much of the fire of faith." Keep praying for us and pray that the Holy Spirit will show up!

Guest Blogger: Scott Partridge

2010-07-14T07:56:00.000-07:00

I've been reading through some stories in the Old Testament lately, and a truth that I've known for years has become more and more clear to me. Too often, we look at stories involving characters, and we make these stories about them. We talk about Abraham leaving his home, Joseph and his story from the pits to the palace, or Moses and his story of delivering the people of Israel. Is it possible that these stories have nothing to do with these people, but rather, they are supporting characters in a larger story about God and his grace and power? Absolutely.One such example is a story we are all more than likely familiar with: David and Goliath. For a refresher on this story, you can read 1 Samuel 17. Many sermons have been given on this passage, and many low-quality movies have been made about it as well. More often than not, this passage is interpreted as something like, "David was courageous, and we should be as well," or, "Learn how to face your giants." What this does is make us the center of this passage. It's funny how we take this passage and focus it on David, when all throughout the passage (v. 26, 34-37, 45-47), David is focused on God.

JR Vassar preached a sermon on this passage at my school this past spring, and he said that this passage is not about facing your giants, or whatever. This passage is about an anointed king delivering his people from a seemingly unbeatable enemy. We're the Israelites in the story, not David. I don't know about you, but this sounds a whole lot like Jesus to me. We come to situations where we feel overwhelmed and defeated. The truth is, we can't overcome it. We never fully can conquer sin on our own. It's impossible. But, when the King steps in, we can have courage, because our enemy has already been defeated. The story of David and Goliath, like every other passage in Scripture, is about Christ. We need to be reading all of Scripture with that mentality.

2010-07-12T19:35:00.000-07:00

The word of God reminds us us that in the end, the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.

As I ponder the words of Revelation 21:8 I sit in a house in which the air conditioning has stopped working. What I wonder is which of the above am I? Texas is so Hot!

2010-07-08T19:00:00.000-07:00

Maureen and I were having a fun conversation in the car today and I was picking at her and we were laughing about how Baby V is now starting to test the waters of disobedience and we were immediately confronted with the fact that sometimes the fun of being in trouble is getting out of trouble. As people we like to push the envelope and take it to the limits to see what we can get away with.

Tozer said it this way "Let us look to our Lord, having a perfect right to command full obedience from all of His saved people."

Obedience is not always easy. In fact, obedience is really hard sometimes. It seems the I always know the right thing to do, but I sometimes find myself weighing the options to see whether or not I should do what I know is best. I guess that is why being a Christian isn't always easy. Wouldn't it be great if we could just do what is right all the time? We would never disappoint and we would never be on the 'hotseat'

P.S. Lebron is the Man!

AWOL

2010-07-05T22:32:00.000-07:00

AWOL= A Work of Love

And you better believe that's what it was today in the 100 degree heat. Man, was it hot. But boy did we get to serve the Lord! It was wonderful. We took over 20 kids to South Dallas, cleaning a full soup kitchen for the homeless, organizing their clothing unit, and cleaned a whole block of trash. We then spent around 2 hours handing out cold waters to homeless and underprivileged peoples. Tomorrow, we are going back to do a Backyard Bible Club! Our prayer for these two days come from Phillipians 2. May we uphold the standard of Christ, remaining humble, not complaining, and working hard for the gospel! Please pray for us, the people of the area, and Cornerstone Baptist Church! Thanks!

Phillipians 2:1-16

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, [1] 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, [2] being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Lights in the World

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

2010-07-02T14:31:00.000-07:00

I just watched the team that put the U.S. out of the world cup get defeated by Uruguay. I have to admit there are a lot of emotions running through me right now. On one hand I am happy that the team that ended my passion for world cup play is out of the tournament. Yet on the other hand I kind of wish that Ghana would go all the way. (Mostly because their name is fun to scream out loud. take a moment and try it. Now try it with a mouth full of Ritz crackers.)

Anyway, as I sit here wading through the rough waters of my new found "soccer fanaticism" the only thing that will get me through this tumultuous time will be the joy that is about to take place as I celebrate America by eating a bunch of grilled meat. Happy Fourth Everybody!

Message from Sam 6/30/10

2010-06-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

AWOL

2010-06-30T09:38:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone- Griffin here!

This post is about AWOL- which is this upcoming Monday and Tuesday, July 5th and 6th.

AWOL is in South Dallas, and we are working with Cornerstone Baptist doing innercity missions.

Monday, we will be doing mission work such as stocking shelves, cleaning out buildings, nothing too heavy- but dress for work!

Tuesday we will be leading what is called "Rainbow Express" for the children! It's like a mini-VBS or Backyard Bible Club. We will be playing games, singing songs, teaching kids the Bible, doing crafts, and then doing it all again in the afternoon. It's going to be a lot of fun and is a very practical way to show the children the love of Christ and share the gospel with both them and their children.

The cost is $25 and that covers transportation and food! If you absolutely can not come up with the money (not just don't wanna pay it...) then we would love for you to go still and work with you on that. Hopefully money won't be an issue.

Please pray over this, and be sure to sign up! You can sign up here by commenting or at church tonight (Wednesday) or Sunday at church! See you then!

Maureen guest post

2010-06-29T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hi- This is Maureen! I just got back from the Bible Study at the Adkins house tonight. It was a BLAST!! :) We studied the book of Ruth and talked about how all the choices we make have consequences. What a good reminder! My favorite verse from tonight was "Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God." Ruth 1:16

FIRST POST

2010-06-28T12:14:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone I hope that you enjoy this new blog. Be sure to add it to your toolbar or your "favorites" and check in weekly, or daily (whatever) to make sure you can know the latest plans for the student ministry!