Tom with kids in Kuwait

Tom with kids in Kuwait
Tom with kids in Kuwait

Friday, December 26, 2014

Top 10 happenings of 2014

What do you do when the year is about to run out?  Why, we recap its highlights.  With so many to choose from, it is hard to pick just 10.  So this is what we will do.  We begin with these 10 and you add any that you think are deserving of year-end recognition as well.

# 10  Walk a Block for Jesus X2.  One was conducted in Burns Flat during the spring, mostly praying at different points throughout Burns Flat.  The second was following camp and was a gospel blitz throughout Dill City.
#9  VBS – It always rocks!  Des Simmons got the pie in the face on the last day.
#8  Camp WOW.  Youth that had been reported long missing came out of the woodwork for life changing experiences at Camp WOW.
#7  First CPC in Mangum.  The Burns Flat CPC continued to pray for this small sister congregation as they went through more pastor trials and are struggling with their future.
#6  New tile in the women’s restroom and the kitchen.  It’s not all about the building, but every once in a while, you just have to do a little upgrade.
#5  Backpack ministry.  The church budgeted $1,000 and the community added $4,000 more.  We were able to help every child who came with just about everything on the list.
#4  Ice Bucket Challenge.  The session accepted the Ice Bucket Challenge put before us by Covenant CPC in Ada, Oklahoma.
#3  Baptisms.  We baptized 6 people this year.
#2  Broke the vending machine.  The church stopped conforming to the patterns of the world and returned to being faithful to its mission, especially in the areas of Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets and angel gifts.  We are feeding people with what lasts—the Bread of Life and Living Water.  What was in the basket will be gone in a week or two, but we bring love and life and life eternal to the world in Jesus Christ.
#1  Chewy Tuesdays.  What began a few years ago as a feast for a few turned into love delivered to 70 and 80 kids every Tuesday this summer.  This is God’s love in action!

God Love You!
Love One Another!

Add your top Burns Flat CPC events to the list in the comments section.

Saturday, December 20, 2014

"Tis the season...

Every gift given this Christmas Season that is not given in the spirit of Happy Birthday Jesus is really given in the spirit of the world.  Every present that we give out of obligation worships the god of this age.

Gift giving is great when the Spirit of God abides in us and our gifts.

The excitement over Santa is fun when it is secondary to seeking God, his kingdom, and his righteousness.  Our God is a jealous God.

We can hang stockings and put out cookies and have fun doing all of those seasonal things so long as we have celebrated the right thing—the birth of the Child who was King at this birth.

He is still King and Lord and Savior and Redeemer and Friend.  Let’s not make room for Jesus this Christmas Season.  Let’s make everything about him and then there will be room for Santa, elves, Rudolph, Frosty, and all those who have been hogging center stage for too long.

Jesus is not just the reason for the season; He is the reason for everything.

Let’s put these words in the front of our minds for the next week:


HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!