pastors' Blog
FBC's Pastors' Blog was developed to be an encouragement to those who read it. Whether it be digging a bit deeper into the Word, recommending a good read, sharing a few words to reflect on to start your day or to give updates on what's happening in our church - you won't want to miss it!
Bonjour
by: Dave Anderson
10/28/2024
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Bonjour!
Apart from a couple of déjà vu’s, my exposure to French culture was limited to French Fries, French Toast, and French Vanilla Ice cream until I travelled to Paris a decade ago. I feared my visit to France might make me too sophisticated and erudite for my own good, but c'est la vie. I went anyway.
By birth, I’m Choctaw, Irish, and Spanish, but there is anecdotal evidence of French blood. I like hors d'oeuvres and chicken cordon bleu, I’m prone to faux paus
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All Hat and No Cattle
by: Dave Anderson
10/14/2024
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All Hat and No Cattle
Real cowboys and cowgirls have a term for people who like to dress like one of them without being one of them. Wearing a great pair of boots, a western shirt, wrangler jeans and a cowboy hat may give you the style of a cowboy, but it does not give you the lifestyle. City slickers who adorn themselves in western attire, people who make promises but don’t follow through, dogs who bark but don’t bite, and people who profess faith but don’t live by it, all
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Little Things
by: Dave Anderson
10/07/2024
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Little Things
There were many secret missions during the Civil War – some succeeded and some failed. Two of the missions that failed, although only in small ways, ended up having a great impact on the outcome of the war. Small things are easy to overlook, or if noticed, even easy to be neglected on purpose.
The first of the two missions occurred during the Union siege of Petersburg, Virginia. The commanders suggested to General Grant that a tunnel should be dug to all
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The Nature of Grace - PT 3
by: Joseph Hamlin
09/30/2024
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The Nature of Prevenient Grace
In our first installment of the nature of grace series, we looked at Common grace. This is the grace that every human being who ever lived or ever will live receives. It is the grace of God that allows the sinner to live and enjoy the blessings of God’s creation. Last week, we looked at God’s Special grace. This is the grace that is bestowed upon those whom God chose before the foundation of the world to be saved.
Today we close out our discus
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The Nature of Grace - PT 2
by: Joseph Hamlin
09/23/2024
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The Nature of Special Grace
Last time we looked at the subject of common grace. This is the grace that is bestowed upon every single human being who has ever lived. It is the unmerited favor of God in his creation. He allows all people everywhere to live and enjoy the world and all of its blessings even when they are in rebellion against him. Even though according to Scripture we are all born dead in our trespasses and sins, living according to the course of this world and
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The Nature of Grace - PT 1
by: Joseph Hamlin
09/16/2024
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The Nature of Common Grace
A Biblical definition of the grace of God would be, the unmerited favor of God. In other words, God gives you something that you are not worthy of. This can include his kindness, his love, his patience, and his salvation. In our world today, we see the need for the grace of God in every aspect of life. Whether it be in the home, at work or school, during our leisure time or even at church, our sin causes us to be in need of the grace of God at all
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Dangerous Beauty
by: Dave Anderson
09/09/2024
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Dangerous Beauty
After inexplicably escaping her habitat at the San Francisco Zoo, a beautiful Bengal tiger named Tatiana killed one young man and mauled two others. Confused, scared and out of her element, she had to be killed to prevent further loss of human life. Viewing the broadcasted report, it was impossible to not marvel at her brilliant coloring, exquisite striping, and elegant movements as well as the surreal truth that something so beautiful could prove so dead
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Stop Asking Jesus into Your Heart
by: Joseph Hamlin
09/02/2024
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Stop Asking Jesus Into Your Heart
If your childhood was anything like mine, you grew up hearing that to go to heaven you had to ask Jesus into your heart. Or, maybe you were told to walk the isle at church and accept Jesus by repeating a prayer that the pastor said. This is exactly what happened to me.
I remember going to a youth event that a close friend had invited me to. At this event we played games and enjoyed snacks and then we listened to some man tell a story from t
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The King's Heart
by: Dave Anderson
08/26/2024
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The King's Heart
Two decades ago, my daughter accompanied me on a missions trip to Morocco. At the direction of King of Morrocco, through an intermediate, we were invited, to visit Morrocco to discuss the issues and beliefs that divide Christians and Muslims. We were part of a small delegation of evangelicals on a mission to build a bridge – not one constructed of steel and concrete, but of understanding, tolerance and compassion. What made this mission unique was who ini
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It Doesn't Take Much
by: Dave Anderson
08/12/2024
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It Doesn't Take Much
Years ago, our church family implemented a watermelon field fundraising project. The next time I join in on raising watermelons I will remember these lessons: 1) it is hard work, 2) you are going to get dirty, 3) you have to prepare the soil, 4) you have to have good seed, 5) you need good irrigation, 6) you need help, 7) you have to plan for a harvest, 8) you have to plan a market, and 9) watermelons explode!
Once the watermelons were ready to harvest,
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INTERPRETING BIBLE PROPHECY
by: Joseph Hamlin
08/05/2024
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Interpreting Bible Prophecy
After I became a Christian in 1996, I could not get enough of the Bible. I would read it for hours on end devouring chapter after chapter. I was drawn to the gospels and the narratives in the Old Testament. These wonderful accounts that so vividly displayed the character of God were just beautiful to me. Soon after I had devoured the gospels, the Epistles were next on my list as I continued to read the Historical books and the Pentateuch in th
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Blowin' in the Wind
by: Dave Anderson
07/29/2024
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Blowin’ in the Wind
As I was out walking one day, I noticed a constant noise. It was a collection of individual sounds that took turns being the loudest. The palm leaves above me sounded like clashing hand fans, the bushes next to me made a noise like rustling brooms, the reeds in the pond whispered with a faint whistle, and the loose leaves scraped across the street like small pieces of sandpaper. It was a cacophony of different sound effects all caused by the same force –
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Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
by: Joseph Hamlin
07/22/2024
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Here Today Gone Tomorrow
On July 13, 2024, we were reminded as a nation of the wickedness that exists in our world as well as the frailty of life. A twenty-year-old man attempted to assassinate the former president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. This is the kind of reminder that brings us back to the reality of our mortality. These reminders happen every day on a personal level when someone’s family member dies or is diagnosed with terminal cancer. This has happen
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Be A Jumper Cable
by: Dave Anderson
07/15/2024
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Be a Jumper Cable
The full spectrum of jumper cables available to the American consumer covers various levels of craftmanship and quality of materials. They all work, but the craftmanship and materials determine the duration of their reliability. The best ones are flexible enough to coil, insulated with thick rubber, and securely attached to sturdy clamps. These qualities make them durable enough to withstand years of exposure to the elements so that they are reliable and r
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Fraudulent Friendships
by: Dave Anderson
07/01/2024
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Many people connect with other people almost exclusively through their computers. Their most frequent conversations occur with people who are never in their presence. This has proven to be both a blessing and a curse. Interaction is more frequent, but can also be less genuine, or less appropriate. The common sense buffer that restrains us from saying something too aggressive, snarky or improper does not seem to be engaged when we communicate online – especially when we are
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