June 2018 Happy Father s Day!!! Folks, consider your own role as a father, your dad s role, and the men you have known who were fathers and grandpas. There are two things I would like to share with you. Number one: Forgive your father. On the cross, the Lord Jesus looked at His executioners surrounding Him. Luke 23:34 Father, forgive them, He prayed. They know not what they do. But what if you need to forgive your father? He may or may not have known what he was doing. Forgive him anyway. One of the shining lights of Jewish history was King David, the singer and poet, the man after God s own heart, the picture of what a godly ruler should be. However, to some of his children, he was anything but an example and role model. II Samuel 12-18 tells the story of Absalom, a young man of extraordinary promise whose life was hi-jacked by the assault of his sister by a half-brother. When he saw his father David intended to do nothing about it, Absalom took it in his own hands and killed Amnon. Then, he fled for his life, knowing that surely David would be enraged and would punish him. To his amazement, David once again stood by and did nothing. Gradually, Absalom was filled with rage against his father. Eventually, he led a full-scale rebellion to overthrow the throne and seize the kingdom, resulting in his own death. One can just hear Absalom saying about his father David, Yes, he s such a godly man. Ha! Such a man after God s own heart! What a joke! He s such a hypocrite. It would not be the first time a church leader s child knew his/her father differently from how the world saw him and came to entirely different conclusions about him. We do not fault Absalom for his anger. He had every right to fault David for his negligence as a parent as well as his failures as the king. But what if Absalom had found it in his heart to forgive his father. His hatred, his resentment, and anger ended up destroying him and bringing great suffering to the kingdom. Here are some reasons to forgive your father. He is human. That means he is not perfect. Romans 3:23 We have all come short of the glory of God. Psalm 103:14 He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. You are too. This means two things: you are a lot like your dad as far as being flawed. And, being human, you will require an extra dose of God s grace to be able to forgive him. It s easy to think of your father as choosing to become whatever. However, remember that he was a child once too, and God alone knows about other influences. We mush show mercy. Forgive as we forgive those who trespass against us. Forgiveness opens the grace channel. For a Christ-follower, forgiveness is a choice to obey God and let it go. I forgive you. When I speak those words, I declare that the issue between us is dead and buried. I m saying that I will not repeat it, review it, or renew it. When it comes to my mind, I will take it to the Lord and to the foot of the cross, not to you. Folks. the other thing I wanted to share with you as a possible message for Father s Day
Number two: Things Real Men Know. Men ; what do you know? Great question, isn t it? And a perfect kickoff for a message on What men know or what they should know. However, what real men know would have to include the following: Who I am? The man who does not know who he is will be forever try to find out and to prove himself a man. Whose I am? Is he accountable to any one? Or is he on his own in this world? The man who knows he is a creation of Almighty God and the redeemed of a loving Savior is likely to live a different kind of life from one who doesn t. What am I here for? He needs to know what his role is in life. Why was he put here on earth? Is it to find himself, express himself, fulfill himself, or is he here for a higher, nobler purpose? Maybe for others? Where I m going? I love the testimony of Job. In the midst of his pain and suffering, in the darkness of his soul s depression, still his faith was strong. Job 19:25-27 I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold and not another. In the last writing we have from his hand, the Apostle Paul testified, I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him against that day (II Timothy 1:12). The Apostle John put it this way: By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. (I John 2:3). We know that we know. What do you know? And what difference has it made in your life? In Christ s Love, Bro. Frank June 3, 2018
Hannibal LaGrange University Scholarship available from the Salt River Baptist Association. All applications for scholarships (Church Related Vocation) must be turned in by Wednesday, June 13, 2018 to the SRBA office. The following will be needed each year the scholarship is applied for: Your church name: Your church related vocation: (and) A letter of recommendation from your pastor, church clerk, or chairman of deacons. The scholarship consists of interest fund money equally divided between all parties (or party) approved. This is a one-time, per-year payment made the first semester, in the fall of the year. Send to: SRBA P.O. Box 368, Bowling Green, MO 63334.
Calendar of Events Strawberry Festival Date: June 2nd Time: 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. Place: First Baptist Church, Arnold, MO Vacation Bible School Date: June 3rd-8th Time: 6:00-8:30 p.m. Place: Mt. Zion Baptist Church Christian Day at the Ballpark Date: Sunday, June 3rd Time: 1:15 p.m. For more information, go to www.cardinals.com/christianday or call 314-345-9000. Youth Camp Forms Due in SRBA office Monday, June 4th Stepping Up/ A courageous call to manhood!- Date: June 7th Time: 6:30 8:00 p.m. Place: Noix Creek Baptist Church Pike County Christian School Annual Banquet & Auction Date: June 9th Time: 5:30 p.m. Place: Family Resource Center To get tickets, call 573-470-9340. Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting Dates: June 12th-13th Place: Dallas, Texas For More information, go to http://www.sbcannualmeeting.net/sbc18/preregistration Super Summer Week 1 Dates: June 11th-15th Place: Southern Baptist University, Bolivar, MO Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Date: June 16th Time: 5:00 7:30 p.m. Place: Salem Baptist Church Father s Day Lester Concert Date: Sunday, June 17th Time: 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Place: New Hartford Baptist Church Super Summer Week 2 Dates: June 18th 22nd Place: Hannibal-LaGrange University, Hannibal, MO Lighthouse Ministries Dinner & Movie Night Date: Friday, June 29th Time: 6:00 p.m. Place: 203 East Maple Curryville, MO 63339 Movie: I Can Only Imagine Door Prizes!!! SRBA Praise & Picnic Date: Saturday, June 30, 2018 Time: 3:00 p.m. -Praise/ 5:00 p.m. Picnic Place: Peno Baptist Church Children s Camp Forms Due Date: July 2nd Youth Camp July 9th-13th (Camp Forms Due ) Beth Moore Living Proof LIVE- Date: July 13th-14th Place: Mizzou Arena, Columbia, MO For more information, go to www.lifeway.com/livingproof County-Wide Community Worship Service Date: July 22th Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m. Place: Pike County Fair Grounds Children s Camp August 6th 10th (Camp Forms Due) 184th MBC Annual Meeting Dates: October 22nd-23rd Place: Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield, MO NEED Biblical Counseling? Call Bro. Kevin Ford at 573-470-1736 Pathway Newspaper- The Pathway is provided FREE through the Cooperative Program giving of your local Missouri Southern Baptist Churches. To subscribe to the printed edition, call 800-736-6227 or subscribe online at mbcpathway.com Celebrate Recovery Tuesday Nights- 7:00 p.m. God s House of Ministry 3407 N. Hwy 79 Elsberry, MO Celebrate Recovery Thursday Nights- 7:00 p.m. First Baptist Church 608 S. Carolina Louisiana, MO Annual Worship Service Date: September 26, 2018 Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: Salem Baptist Church SRBA Annual Meeting Date: September 29, 2018 Time: 9:00 a.m. Place: Family Resource Center Need Prayer? Call our SRBA prayer director, Theresa Trower at 573-324-3814. Camp News Do you have a passion to see others come to know Jesus? Salt River Baptist Association is looking for enthusiastic, fun-loving staff volunteers who love God, love children & youth and want to see lives changed to become closer to the image of Christ. We ask that you would prayerfully consider serving in camp this year. Call our office at 573-324-6420 for more details. CAMP IS COMING!!! If you need extra camp forms call 573-470-9340!!! Youth Camp: July 9th-13th Children s Camp: August 6th-10th
Salt River Baptist Association P.O. Box 368 Bowling Green, MO 63334 (Return Service Requested) DON T FORGET Tell someone about Jesus!!! Happy Father s Day God took the strength of a mountain, The majesty of a tree, The warmth of a summer sun, The calm of a quiet sea, The generous soul of nature, The comforting arm of night, The wisdom of the ages, The power of the eagle's flight, The joy of a morning in spring, The faith of a mustard seed, The patience of eternity, The depth of a family need, 2018 CAMP DATES Youth Camp July 9th-13th Forms due- June 4th Children s Camp August 6th-10th Forms due July 2nd For more information, go to www.saltriverba.com Then God combined these qualities, And then there was nothing more to add, He knew His masterpiece was complete, And so, He called it - Dad. Share your June blessings!!! Your contributions of funds or canned and non-perishable food items to the following outreaches would be most appreciated: Angel Wings Program: Phone: 573-242-3261 Address: 20389 Hwy W, Clarksville, MO The Community Food Pantry: Phone: 573-754-2421 Address: 414 Georgia, Louisiana, MO The Bowling Green Hope Center: Phone: 573-324-6255 Address: 30 North Court, Bowling Green, MO Check out our website: www.saltriverba.com