Pastor Kenny's BlogPastor Kenny's Bloghttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2011-06-08T17:10:23ZSquarespaceDealing with our "Enemy"http://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2011/6/8/dealing-with-our-enemy.htmlKenny Bailey2011-06-08T15:29:59Z2011-06-08T15:29:59ZWhen it comes to dealing with those who stand in opposition to our position, (they are sometimes called our Enemy) how are we to react to them? Romans chapter 12 gives great wisdom & insight as to how we are to handle this. It really doesn't even need to be an "enemy", it could be someone you work with or even someone you thought you knew who would ridicule you because you may look a little different, you may think a little differently than they do or for many of other reasons not listed!

Let's look at scripture to get God's direction in this matter.  

Romans 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved,never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." 20 To the contrary, "if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head." 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

"Kenny, are you telling me that I must do good to those who would want to hurt me or mistreat me"? I'm not telling you this, the Bible is! This can be one of the hardest things ever to do but if we are to follow the example of Christ, we must learn to try & react as Jesus Himself would react! All Jesus did while here on the earth was love God first & then other people more than Himself no matter what they did to Him & He REALLY does expect the same from us.

Some one who reads this may be dealing with unforgiveness to a point you no longer have any peace or joy about anything you do. God did not create you to exist this way! You cannot function in a normal way because you were made to forgive! God forgives us, we must forgive them. In fact, you cannot be forgiven unless you are willing to forgive. Matthew 6:14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. We must not hate our enemy or simply ignore the fact that they exist!! We must forgive and even go beyond this & if need be, give'em a drink or bite to eat in the name of Jesus! Church, we must overcome evil with good because Jesus died for them too! 

Love you guys,

Pastor Kenny

]]>A "mission" accomplished to our Neighborshttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2011/5/16/a-mission-accomplished-to-our-neighbors.htmlKenny Bailey2011-05-16T20:45:17Z2011-05-16T20:45:17ZThis past saturday was a great success! Bless Lavaca Day 2011 took place all around Lavaca & many people were able to experience what the love of Christ looks like first hand! 

Jesus was asked a question in Matthew 22:36 "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?"  Then in verses 37-40 Jesus said “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

You see church, we really show how much we love God by how much we demonstrate love to our neighbors and also the nations. And who is our neighbor? They are all around us, at any given time & at any given place, your neighbor is right next to you!! Be ready to show the love of God!

FBCL, you were amazing this past saturday. I watched as many of you reached out with the love of God to the people of Lavaca and it was wonderful to see the smiles of those you touched in the name of Jesus Christ!!

Please pray for your staff as we pray for you!

In Christ,

Kenny

]]>Bless Lavaca Day is here !!!http://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2011/5/10/bless-lavaca-day-is-here.htmlKenny Bailey2011-05-10T20:00:14Z2011-05-10T20:00:14ZThis coming saturday is Bless Lavaca Day!! I want to ask everyone to come out this wednesday evening to canvass the area with handouts that have a personal invite to all Lavaca residents. This is a great time to let people know that you care about them by personally inviting them to come and enjoy a day of fun! 

We will start this saturday morning (May 14th) at 10 am through 12 noon with discounted gas at EZ-Mart with .25 cents off of each gallon sold. We will be handing out $10.00 grocery vouchers at CV's, there will be a team picking up trash off of the streets of lavaca which includes hwy 96, hwy 255 and most all city streets. The Blessing Boutique will be giving free manicures, pedicures and haircuts along with the clothing shop open as well for those needing help with clothing and the clowns will be in full force just kinda "clownin' around". We have a group of men that will be mowing and cleaning up almost 50 yards in the area. Our youth led by adult supervision will be giving free car washes at our locally owned car wash. 

At noon WE EAT!! We will have hot dogs & chips along with RIBS!! (first come first serve on the ribs!). There will be cotton candy, popcorn, sno cones and CUP CAKES!! There will several inflatable jump arounds set up along with cake walks for kids. At 1:30 we will give away gift cards from all area merchants & restaurants along with a grand prize, a 32 inch Samsung flat screen television! 

I hope to see you this wednesday afternoon at 6pm to go out and invite and then at 10 am on saturday morning to go out and share the love of Jesus Christ with Lavaca!

God Bless,

Kenny

]]>Haiti Orphanage now serving breakfast @ 7am every morninghttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2011/3/2/haiti-orphanage-now-serving-breakfast-7am-every-morning.htmlKenny Bailey2011-03-02T22:22:04Z2011-03-02T22:22:04ZPraise God for His amazing grace! There has been many hours of praying & planning along with four trips so far to Leogane Haiti with twenty different people and God's children are now being served each and every day starting at 7 am before they start their day! I have learned more about God's timing and His purpose than ever before. If you will, take the time to do a search and see how many times God's orphans & widows are mentioned in His Word. He is very serious about taking care of them and He has opened doors like I have never seen before for this to happen. I can't wait to see what he does next.

Love you guys,

In Christ,

Pastor Kenny

]]>Haiti mission triphttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/8/26/haiti-mission-trip.htmlKenny Bailey2010-08-26T16:35:39Z2010-08-26T16:35:39ZI would like to ask all who read this to start praying for our team going to the devastated region of Haiti on Oct. 15th. We have a team of eight people going to minister to the people of Haiti. We will minister to children in the orphanage along with disciple-making & evangelism in the local churches and possibly even doing some construction work as materials are beginning to come in. 

If you would like to be a part of this mission work but can not go you can still help support someone who is able to take the time off to go. Please see me or contact the church office if you would like to help sponsor this trip.

In Christ,

Kenny

]]>Making Disciples of Christhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/7/20/making-disciples-of-christ.htmlKenny Bailey2010-07-20T15:12:44Z2010-07-20T15:12:44ZI wanted to give a quick update on how God is working in the lives of those who are seeking to follow Christ. 

Matthew 28: 18-20 gives us the command to not only "Go" but also to "Make disciples" and "teach them" as we go! I am watching God transform several lives as we see this very thing happening before our eyes! Just in the last six to eight weeks I have heard stories of how people from this body of believers are "Sharing Jesus without Fear", just yesterday a lady in the church called to let us know that she was able to watch God save a soul as she opened her bible and let the lady read for herself of how Jesus died for her sins and that by turning from her sins and putting her faith and trust in Jesus she could be forgiven (saved). The lady said "Yes" to Jesus!! 

I was told of how one of our bible study teachers while on a mission trip was able to use his bible over thirty times to explain who Christ is and why He had to die for our sins. (He is now on another mission trip)

I am totally amazed while watching God work in the life of a good friend who now has announced his call to ministry.

If you would like to start meeting with someone who can teach you more about Jesus Christ and what He has called us to become and to do, please call me here at the church and we can hook you up with one of several different groups that are seeking to be obedient to the word of God. 

In Christ,

Kenny

 

 

]]>Blog Checkhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/7/15/blog-check.htmlKenny Bailey2010-07-15T13:38:49Z2010-07-15T13:38:49ZHello to all who read this. If you read this blog, please reply back! Just checking to see if any traffic ever comes through here! 

Christ is LORD,

Kenny

]]>The Southern Baptist Conventionhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/6/19/the-southern-baptist-convention.htmlKenny Bailey2010-06-19T16:03:03Z2010-06-19T16:03:03ZAs I reflect back on the week I realize that I was able to take part in what I believe is a defining moment in Southern Baptist history. We from the "south" are use to seeing a church on every corner and seeing some type of Christian influence just about wherever we go in our own little part of the world. But as you start to travel west in our own country you will see that the Christian influence in many places disappears.

What took place this week at the convention will allow more missionaries to work full time not only here in the western part of our country but in all of North America and the world. The GCR task force took serious their task of how to better reach the unsaved with what God has given us.

We take serious the command to "Go and make disciples" here at First Baptist Lavaca and with the overwhelming majority vote, so do the messengers that attended the convention. 

You ask, What does this mean for us? It means that we keep on keeping on! We keep loving God first and then our neighbors as ourselves! It means when we get the opportunity to tell someone about the saving grace of Jesus, we do so! It means that we take that person and personally disciple them in the way that Jesus taught us to. It means that we live our lives as though we were going to look into His eyes and then bow before Him before this day ends.

I want to thank you First Baptist Lavaca for allowing Sonda and I to go,

We love you,

Kenny

]]>A Great Dayhttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/6/11/a-great-day.htmlKenny Bailey2010-06-11T16:44:09Z2010-06-11T16:44:09Z June the 5th was a great day indeed. I gained a new daughter-in-law, was able to see my son as happy as i've ever seen him and it was also my first wedding ceremony. It was a great time as Jake and Tara made a covenant to God and to each other for as long as they both shall live!! 

After it was all over and I had a little time to sit down and reflect, I couldn't believe just how quick he had grown up and became a man. For all of you Fathers of young ones who are wondering how long before it slows down, it will be here before you know it! I can't believe I am saying this, but, I can't wait for grandkids!! Am I not tooo young for grandkids? I guess not (anymore).

For Sonda & I, it's another new chapter we face together. She is a wonderful soul-mate and I think she is the prettiest thing since volunteer orange! NOW THAT is PRETTY PRETTY !

Love you guys,

Kenny 

]]>Spring Time Challengehttp://www.firstlavaca.com/kenny/2010/3/21/spring-time-challenge.htmlKenny Bailey2010-03-21T22:25:47Z2010-03-21T22:25:47ZHello Everyone,

I am thankful that springtime is finally here. Several of the trees and plants are beginning to bud and show signs of new life. People are also starting to come out and about and enjoy God's wonderful creation after a long cold winter. When you are out and about during the next few months I would like to challenge you to share the Gospel of Christ with people who will cross your path. In "Share Jesus Without Fear" it is noted that it takes 7.6 "Christian" contacts (Gospel presentation, Personal testimony or Christian act of love) before someone will commit their life to Christ. My prayer is that God would inspire you to be one of those 7.6 contacts for someone or several people during this exciting time of the year. Who knows, you may even be the .6th person that is there when God saves their soul.

John 4:35-38, The fields are already white for harvest and the ones who sow and reap can rejoice together. What a Savior we serve!

I am truly grateful to serve you guys as we seek to show Christ to the world.

In Christ,

Kenny 

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