40 Days in the Word

Has your Bible been gathering dust? Do you look at the Bible sitting in your pew at church, and never open a page? Beloved, the Bible is a collection of God's love letters to his creation. Learning the Word, Loving the Word, and Living the Word, are what our 40 Days in the Word study are all about at First Christian Church in Benton. How often have you read God's word and asked yourself: "What is God telling me, how can I place this into my daily life?" 

Brothers and Sisters, the Bible is the original witness to God's revelation for his creation, that speaks to all humanity in reference to our Salvation in Jesus Christ. As God's people we are given God's written word as a guide for our daily lives, as we share what God has revealed to us with all who will listen.

This is why First Christian is offering this non-denominational study of God's word, in which we will gather weekly in various small groups in different locations. Our groups will watch videos by Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church, and discuss as a small group the emphasis of study for the week.

We invite you to join us, in this study that begins October 7, 2012. If you have any questions, call Pastor Tim Polley at the church office: 270-527-8560.

Until we meet again

Learn God's Word

Love God's Word

and

Live God's Word

Bless God's Holy and Revealed Word

Pastor Tim.

Are You A Murderer?

How often as parents, church members, and friends have we murdered? The murder that I speak of in this message is the killing of someones dream or vision. How often has someone come to us all excited about goals and plans for their lives and ministries, and the first words out of our mouths are murdering words that killed a dream as surely as we would have stabbed it in the heart.

In today's text from 

Philippians 3:14

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹⁴ I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Whether it's the vision for someones life calling, or the vision that a pastor or church member has for a ministry, have we truly thought that this goal or vision has come to a person through much prayer and thought.

Often when embracing dreams and goals, the response is viewed through worldly eyes rather then Holy Spirit, God filled and God Blessed eyes. Brothers and Sisters, yes there are times when we must respond to people in love about their goals and visions, but my prayer for you this day is that you consider the persons goals through Christian eyes and not human eyes

If you have killed a dream, God grants you pardon and forgiveness and asks you to consider the person, the prayers and God before brandishing the killing weapons of a dream killer. We know that when we place our trust in God and relinquish human doubt, the world and universe are open to God's Precious and Loving Majesty.

Taking your wanted poster down today

Pastor Tim

The Work Begins Again

Work hard, but not just to please your masters when they are watching. As slaves of Christ, do the will of God with all your heart. Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. 
Ephesians 6:6

Brothers and Sisters, it's Monday again and the work week has begun. As we each sit at our work location, contemplate our new work week and consider how we are to perform our tasks, does anticipation of the weekend to come override our job performance? 

Personally, sometimes I find myself worrying about the tasks at hand instead of why they are being performed, or who they are being performed for. Sometimes on the job tasks feel menial, and are often done in repetition rather than thought. 

As we go about our occupations this week let us ask ourselves who we truly are working for, and in what attitude God wants on our hearts as we labor. The same goes in our work communications, in the fact that as God's people we are called to share his love, excitement, and compassion with those whom we work with.

My prayer for all of this week is that we concentrate on the tasks at hand, and not worry about the end of the week. Go forth in the promise, enthusiasm, and commitment, in the fact that the God who makes Mondays, makes Saturdays and Sunday's.

God's kingdom is the prize, keep your eyes on it this week.

Knowing who the Boss is!
Pastor Tim

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Back to Church Sunday. September 16, 2012

Pastor Tim's Benton Blog: Back to Church Sunday. September 16, 2012

Back to Church Sunday. September 16, 2012

 
With tomorrow being the eleventh anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, I would like to dedicate this weeks Pastor Tim's Benton Blog to the Emergency Service Personnel of Marshall County Kentucky as well as emergency service personnel all over our wonderful country.

Brothers and Sisters, these diligent hero's go into harms way on our behalf and like the attacks of eleven years ago these selfish hero's run in as we are running out.

We place our trust and safety in them and we thank their families for sharing them with us. This week I ask that you find one of these wonderful individuals and thank them for their service and their sacrifice.

Let us also keep in prayer our military personnel that are standing on that wall and protecting us from those that would try to harm us and our way of life.To those that lost their lives eleven years ago we mourn their loss. and to those emergency personnel that lost their lives on 911, and to those military personal that have given the last full measure,we can never say thank you enough.

Thankful for my Savior and those that he sends to protect me.
Pastor Tim

Prayer for Firefighters and Emergency Responders

Father, I'm praying for firefighters and others who hold dangerous jobs where lives often hang in the balance...

When they face danger—be their stronghold. (Psalm 9:9b)

When they feel inadequate—help them do all things through Christ. (Philippians 4:13)

When they're upset—give them peace at all times and in every way. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

When they're exhausted—give them Your strength. (Isaiah 40:29)

When they're overwhelmed—may Your grace be sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9a)

When things seem impossible—remind them that nothing is too hard for You. (Jeremiah 32:17)

When they don't know what to do—show them. (Isaiah 30:21)

When they're in trouble—be their ever-present help. (Psalm 46:1)

When they're confused—give them a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7b)

When they're afraid—help them trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)

When their heart grows faint—be their Rock. (Psalm 61:2b)

Bring them through fire and flood, that they may praise You. (Psalm 66:12, 17)

In Jesus' name, amen.

Source: "Prayers for the Moment: One-Minute Scripture Prayers" Copyright September 2006. Reprinted with permission of B&H Publishing Group

Parenting By The Book

Godly Parenting Works!

Now this is the commandment—the statutes and the rules^[a]—that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you, that you may do them in the land to which you are going over, to possess it, ² that you may fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life, and that your days may be long.³ Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.

⁴ “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.^[b] 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.⁸ You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:1-9 (ESV)

This morning as I sit in my office writing this blog, different emotions surround this pastor. Last Friday I lost a beloved friend and fellow brother in Christ. This person attended the congregation that mentored me into the pastor that I am today, he was a mentor, friend and confidant. 
Last week my parents visited us and I truly saw how aging is truly beginning to slow them down. With these visions in my head I began to draw on the memories of older mentors and my parents, while embracing the wonderful things that they have taught me.
Is Godly parenting a thing of the past? Is there room for it in today's society? Thankfully the answer is yes! Instead of this weekend being spent in mourning and melancholy, it was spent with God showing me new and miraculous forms of Godly parenting.

• It was shown through a young man showing me his new Bible, and proudly showing his pastor all that he had studied already.
• It was shown through the young mother holding her child on top of the pew so the young lady could sing God's music with the entire church.
• It was shown through the high school youth engaging me in conversation as we discussed the Book of Revelation.
• It was shown through the loving donations of a community to the local free clinic that benefits the working uninsured. 

Brothers and Sisters, as you go about your week, know that Godly parenting works! While it is not often seen, it is alive and well. As you encounter one another this week, embrace the past, embrace the present, and look to the future that God is making, and embracing and loving. 

God shines in the past, present, and in the future.

Pastor Tim