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<title>Message from Pastor Brent</title><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/index.html</link><description>Weekly insight from our Pastor.</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2008 First Baptist Church Lake Worth</dc:rights><dc:date>2008-09-29T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:42:25 -0400</lastBuildDate><item><title>Fireproof</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-09-29T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-18</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-18</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[The movie was very well done - it was a great presentation of so many marriages, yet showed what can happen when God takes over. 

...The Love Dare is a 40-day challenge to reconnect and learn to love your spouse in a new and deeper way. 

...Starting this weekend (with the Fireproof outreach) through the end of the year, we are going to have some intentional opportunities to serve the community.   We&rsquo;ll examine what our role is in meeting the needs of the people we work with, live around, and pass by everyday.   We&rsquo;ll have specific things that you can do to serve our community for the glory of God.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Time Marches On</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-09-22T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I mean, I&rsquo;m not running out to get some warm apple cider, hang out in a pumpkin patch and scurry through a corn maze. 

...What was once the pillar of world economics is being helped by world-wide efforts to preserve our economy. 

...There have been baseball games, football games, concerts, rallies, Papal visits, and all kinds of events held in the &ldquo;house that Ruth built.&rdquo; ...  Great athletes and people have performed for years in that venue, but now there will be a new place for them to shine.


...So here&rsquo;s the question I must ask myself today: what am I going to do to make sure that I make today the greatest September 22, 2008 I could have ever imagined?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x201c;BUZZARDS&#x2c; BATS AND BUMBLEBEES&#x201d;</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-09-15T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-16</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-16</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner.   The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet.   Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top. 


...If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. 

...It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Collection of Thoughts for this week&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-09-08T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/message.php#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[&ldquo;Update&rdquo; &ndash; We&rsquo;ve made some changes on Wednesday nights (in case you missed it) and I just wanted to let you know how it&rsquo;s going. 

...It doesn&rsquo;t matter if you&rsquo;re recently dating, married for several years or just want to get together with friends &ndash; join us for a good time!   We will be meeting at the church during the late afternoon (exact time to be determined) and caravanning to CityPlace for a movie (Fireproof) and dinner (location TBD). 

...&ldquo;Live Wires&rdquo; &ndash; Tuesday, September 16, Live Wires will be meeting at the Fellowship Hall for a time of food and fellowship. 

...	◦	God&rsquo;s Provision &ndash; We are struggling financially &ndash; just like everyone else is&hellip; Pray that God will release His resources through His people to reach this community for His fame.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Observations from a Dolphins Game&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-08-25T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-14</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-14</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Wouldn&rsquo;t it be great for us as a church if we were each other&rsquo;s greatest cheerleaders encouraging one another on to do great things for God?   And wouldn&rsquo;t it be awesome for us to gather around one another and console each other and pick each other up after a &ldquo;bad play?&rdquo; 

...We all have a role to play, but we just need to find that role and become the best that we can for God&rsquo;s glory.


...Ever notice how at a football game, total strangers (with totally different views) can become united, high five each other, and maybe even hug in unity over a common purpose &ndash; seeing their team win!   We as a church all come from different backgrounds and points of view, but is their anything more worthy of being unified than the Kingdom of God?
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Greatness</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-08-18T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-13</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-13</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[For many, just competing and representing their country is enough, but then others seemingly redefine &ldquo;greatness&rdquo;.


...I think of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor who have won 106 consecutive beach volleyball matches.   I think of Usain Bolt, the Jamaican runner who won the gold and set the world record in the 100m all while posing for photographers and pounding his chest before ever crossing the finish line.


...Is there a spiritual Olympics in which we unknowingly compete for gold, silver, or bronze? 

...I dare not put words or thoughts into God&rsquo;s mind (like I could anyway) but I wonder &ndash; just wonder &ndash; that if God&rsquo;s definition of greatness is this&hellip;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Soli Deo Gloria</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-08-11T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-12</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/aug-2008#unique-entry-id-12</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Paul teaches us in the New Testament to boast in nothing but Christ, so today I want to take some time to brag on God.


...	◦	Youth Sunday was a great time for our church family to see God working in and through our students


...The phrase was used by the Reformers as they broke from tradition &ndash; doing new things to reach new people &ndash; all for the glory of God.


...First, take time to praise God and give Him the glory for the great things He has done.   And second, get ready for more great things in the days ahead (but we&rsquo;ll have more on that later.)
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Preparation</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-07-21T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-11</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-11</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Yet, having said that, I think there is often a time of preparation that God wants us to experience before He acts.


...Just as they were on the banks of the Jordan, FINALLY ready to experience all that God had for them, they heard these words&hellip; 


...Our desire is to see God do something for which there is no explanation that will forever change our community (i.e. &ldquo;great wonders&rdquo;) as we develop Christ followers (i.e. &ldquo;among you&rdquo;) to love, grow, and serve.


If you are like me and have a desire to see God do amazing things, the listen to the words of Joshua: &ldquo;Purify yourselves&hellip;&rdquo;


Let&rsquo;s be sure we are in the proper spiritual condition for God to work IN and THROUGH us to accomplish His will on earth. ]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Leadership Summit</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-07-14T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And God has called us to influence the world around us with the Gospel message &ndash; so technically we&rsquo;re all supposed to be leaders. ...  So this meeting is a high point for us in our journey as leaders &ndash; an opportunity to survey the situation and go together in the same (and right) direction.


We are going to gather together as a Leadership Team for the purpose of praying together, and being challenged, equipped, and motivated to impact our community.   We are inviting ALL current leadership and anyone else who is interested in becoming a part of our leadership team to be there on that day.


...Lee became Pastor at &ldquo;The Family Church&rdquo; in October of 2001 and has led his church to change the landscape of their Northeast Atlanta area over the course of the last seven years.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Summer Fly By</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-07-07T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-9</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-9</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Between Summer Camp, the Puppet Ministry&rsquo;s trip to Chicago, Deacon Work Day, VBS, and our exciting line-up of Wednesday nights, it&rsquo;s going to be a sprint back to the start of another school year.


...I know it&rsquo;s hard, but for you health (and the health of those around you) take some time to relax &ndash; be still.   God Himself rested on the seventh day, and I don&rsquo;t think any of us are getting done in six days what He accomplished.


...All the programs in the world shouldn&rsquo;t replace our individual need to be sharing the love and hope that is found in Jesus Christ to those around us. ...  I know the economy is tough and it&rsquo;s hard with Summer activities, but we cannot afford to rob God during this time.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Freedom</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-07-01T15:49:35-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-8</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jul-2008#unique-entry-id-8</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Now make sure that you stay free, and don&rsquo;t get tied up again in slavery to the law&hellip;For you, dear friends, have been called to live in freedom &ndash; not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love.&rdquo; 

...You see as a nation we have freedom because of the price that was paid by others.   And as individuals &ndash; those who have a relationship with Christ &ndash; we have freedom, too, because of the price that was paid  by Jesus Christ.


...We have a responsibility as a nation to help those in need &ndash; our own here and those around the world.   We have a responsibility as Christians to love others, fulfill God&rsquo;s plan for our lives, and be salt and light to our community.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Why wait?</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-06-23T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-7</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-7</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Why do we have to wait to go some place else to serve the community?   Why do we have to wait for a natural disaster to happen to serve the community?   Why do we have to wait to go on a missions trip to share the love of Jesus Christ with others?   Why do we have to wait for certain conditions to be in place to &ldquo;do missions&rdquo;?


The more I think about the question, the more I come up with one consistent answer: we don&rsquo;t have to.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Change</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-06-18T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[God&rsquo;s love for people never changes either, but we must always be looking for new ways to express that love to others.


Jesus Himself understood this when He said, &ldquo;And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the new wine will burst the skins and will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed. 

...As the Summer continues and the Fall comes upon us we are all going to have to let God change us.   God desires to use us in a new and fresh way to impact our community, but we must be open to change.


Trust me, I don&rsquo;t like change either; but I must embrace it so that I might grow in Christ.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>On Mission with God</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-06-10T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-5</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-5</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This coming Saturday, our student ministry embarks on the great adventure of being on mission with God as they head out to New Orleans. ...  Hope through hammers and paint brushes to physically rebuild that community; and hope through the message of Jesus Christ to spiritually strengthen and renew the area.


...You might not be going on this trip to New Orleans, or you may not be able to be downtown during the week to reach out to our community. 

...Pray that our church would be a living expression of God&rsquo;s grace to those we cncounter.


...Think of this: the next time you are in Publix and you are standing in line &ndash; if there are four people in front of you, three behind you, one running the register, and one bagging the items, then YOU are the ONLY ONE going to church.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Quest for the Keys to Joy</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><category>None</category><dc:date>2008-06-02T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-4</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/jun-2008#unique-entry-id-4</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I want to encourage you to join us over the next few weeks so that we can arrive at the destination &ndash; experiencing joy &ndash; together.   We are going to look at the keys to being joy-filled while examining John&rsquo;s writing and measuring it against our lives.


...It&rsquo;s not very often that you get to celebrate anniversaries of great faithfulness of service to the Lord and to His Church, but we are blessed to get that opportunity a second time this year.


...I can&rsquo;t imagine all that she has endured through the years by working with different pastors &ndash; well, I guess, yes I can imagine it, since I&rsquo;m one of those she&rsquo;s enduring.


...Be sure to thank the Lord for Glenda and let her know how much you appreciate all she does for us.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Out And About</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><dc:subject>Message</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-05-28T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/may-2008#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/may-2008#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As we head into this time of the year, we have a great opportunity to make inroads into the lives of our families, friends, neighbors and co-workers to reach them with the love and hope that is found in Jesus Christ.


...The first is because the first Wednesday of each month (June, July, August) we will be setting aside time to spend together with our families.   There won&rsquo;t be any activities on campus, but instead we&rsquo;ll be gathering in homes to be a &ldquo;family&rdquo; during this busy season.   The second is because our Wednesday night activities in July give us an opportunity to spend time together as a church family. 

...We are gearing up for an exciting and big Fall, but we must maintain our momentum throughout June and July to hit it out of the park in August.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>&#x22;The Voice&#x22;</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><dc:subject>Message</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-09T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/apr-2008#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/apr-2008#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Two weeks ago we met as an Executive Council to pray and discuss a lot of different things about the direction of our church. ...  He was referring to the unique design and plan that God has for us as a church. 

...Like we talked about yesterday, hearing God&rsquo;s voice is critical to the nature of being a Christ follower.


...We have talked a little bit about the vision God has for us, but we need to set aside some time to seek His face, listen to His voice, talk about it, and brainstorm as to what our voice might be.


...I look forward to serving alongside each and every one of you as we move forward developing Christ followers who love, grow, and serve.
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Connected&#x2026;</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><dc:subject>Message</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-04-02T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/apr-2008#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/apr-2008#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, over the next three weeks, we are going to be talking about being connected.


...It means that I desire to be connected with others &ndash; I want to be available&nbsp; and be able to get a hold of others. 

...That&rsquo;s what we are going to be talking about &ndash; being connected (to God and to Others).


...I&rsquo;d also like to give you a &ldquo;heads up&rdquo; and mark the calendar.   The last week in April (27th through May 1st) we are going to have &ldquo;Vision Week.&rdquo;
]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Now What?</title><dc:creator>Brent Myers</dc:creator><dc:subject>Message</dc:subject><dc:date>2008-03-26T12:00:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/mar-2008#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.firstbaptistlw.org/message/files/mar-2008#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[And a special &lsquo;thank you&rsquo; to so many of you who invited your friends, co-workers, and family to join us for worship.


...Maybe you were able to get someone to come to church with you who hadn&rsquo;t been in a very long time. 

...We invest in others and give our lives to them to help them to become Christ followers who love, grow, and serve.   The apostle Paul teaches us that we are to continue that process until we reach perfection (Eph. 4) which really doesn&rsquo;t happen until we receive our glorified bodies.


...April and May will take some of our momentum to a new level, so be on the look-out for opportunities to be involved!
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