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.

Are you thankful or bitter this year?

The last Thanksgiving basket went out moments ago.

No one stood in line.

Each was given out with God's love.

This was about being transformational and not transactional.

There were some who didn't want any of this God business and declined to go an area church and meet with a family of faith.

There were a few who wanted the vending machine back.  Just fill out the form and get the turkey and keep God and being thankful to him out of the picture.

Those who received baskets were blessed.

Those who choose to worship the god of this age are bitter, and empty, and disconnected from the family that would love to bless them.

It is time to do what Joshua told his people long ago.

Choose this day whom you will serve.

Serve the god of disconnection.

Serve the god of “it’s all about me.”

Serve the god of “what do I have to be thankful about?”                               

Or….

Choose the one true God and come worship him and serve him and learn to love him by loving others.

Many have chosen the one true God and have been blessed this day.

Many have been faithful to the god of this age (Satan).  We pray that their blindness is lifted and they have eyes to see a God of love.

We pray that they have ears to hear that the one true God is a jealous God and will not be mocked by people who choose to worship another master or try to worship two masters.

God has done everything that is needed for you to be in right standing with him.

That “everything” came in the blood of Christ Jesus poured out on the cross as an atonement for our sins.

Jesus paid it all!

Our part—our small part—is to profess Jesus as Lord and live in loving obedience to him.

Many have done this and know life, life abundant, and life eternal.

This Thursday, many will be compelled by the joy of the Lord to give thanks to God in celebration of a special meal, a meal that usually runs the course of two meals.

Some will just say, “The vending machine is broken.  No turkey this year.”

This Friday, many will fight crowds to get the stuff that they can’t live without.

This Friday, many who gave thanks to God on Thursday will begin Friday the same way, giving thanks to our Creator, Redeemer, Savior, Lord, and to the God that we know as Love itself.

As we consider our lives, we might find a parallel to the pair of thieves on the cross.

One was bitter and mocked Jesus wanting the Kings of Kings to get him out of his mess.

The other had eyes to see the unblemished Lamb dying beside him and sought a relationship with this Jesus.

As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, perhaps we should first assess which side of the cross we are on.

Are we bitter because we got ourselves into a bigger mess than we can handle and God doesn’t seem to be doing things our way?

Are we thankful for the relationship with God that we know through Jesus?

Which side of the cross are you on?

Are you bitter because you have mocked God all year?

Are you thankful for blessings too numerous to count?

There is no sugar coating here.

You love God and follow Jesus, worshipping him, trusting him, obeying him, and loving others.

Or you don’t.

Where do you find yourself this Thanksgiving?

If it is not loving God and following Jesus and living as a vital part of the Body of Christ, may I suggest that you change that by the New Year.

It is not just about where you spent eternity.  It is about knowing what real life, abundant life, and eternal life really is in the here and now.

Move worshiping God and following Jesus to the top of your list and know life!