HOW IS YOUR “SOUND SYSTEM”?

January 3, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

Just about every church-goer knows that a good “sound system” is a great asset— a good aid to the preaching and singing. You are also probably aware of the fact that most churches do a “sound check” before the service begins, at least they should. It’s important that we do all we can to make sure that the music and message can be heard. However, today I want you to think about the “sound system” in a different way. I recently read the following article that should be of interest to every Christian.

Every church ought to have good acoustics. Not that the music and message should just be heard easily inside the building — they should also be broadcast clearly out into the neighborhood. But the best amplification will not come from a sound system in the building; it will come from sound living in the community.

Paul commended the church in Thessalonica for being sounding boards for the gospel: they not only received the Word of God, with joy in the midst of their afflictions, but they then sounded it out through the entire city and surrounding area. They were not content to experience the freedom and privileges of the gospel themselves; they were intent on sharing their joy in Jesus with others.

What about you? Are you just a receiver, or are you an amplifier, for the gospel? When you leave church do you feel like your spiritual work is done, or just begun? Are you living for your own pleasure, or for the glory of God? (From “A Good Thing”).

So, what do you think? Isn’t it amazing that we go to great lengths to make certain that we hear and then make no effort to help our neighbors hear the gospel. We need to get the Word of God beyond the four walls of the church building. We spend thousands on high tech amps, projectors, programs, etc. just to make the worship experience better for us, and then ignore the needs of our community. Maybe that’s why people don’t believe our message when they do happen to hear it at some special service. We used to have a sign posted at the exit saying,”You are now entering the Mission field”. We need to rediscover that fact. We need a better “Sound system”! We need to make the gospel known to the regions beyond the walls of the building.THINK ABOUT IT!

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

January 1, 2011 By Pastor David Stone

Well I never expected that I would be typing the first blog of the year shortly after midnight, but here it is. I haven’t been to sleep yet, but that isn’t by choice. I went to bed at 9:30pm and planned to get a good nights sleep–boy was I ever wrong! I laid in bed over three hours listening to fireworks! About the time I thought it would settle down—the midnight flurry, the dog started in. Believe it or not he takes a notion that he has to go out, so at 1:00am I’m in the backyard waiting on the dog, thinking “There’s something wrong with this picture!”

So, here I am trying to make the best out of a bad situation. But, maybe there’s a lesson in this madness. We aren’t prophets, so we can’t predict what will happen in the new year, but here’s one thing you can count on–the new year won’t be problem free, things won’t turn out as you expected. The lesson is this–expect the unexpected. Sometimes it will be something good and sometimes it will be something bad–something we can’t control. That’s life. It is what it is, and we have to deal with it the best we can.

Well, I would like to take some appropriate scripture and expound upon it at great length, but I’m not in the mood for it, I would rather be sleeping. I know that doesn’t sound very spiritual, but right now I’m not interested in trying to leave the impression that I’m some kind of spiritual giant. The truth is I’m an old, over weight, worn out crank that needs some sleep–so I think I’ll go to bed and try it again, but before I do I want to wish you all a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! Remember–expect the unexpected. Believe it or not, the dog is whineing again–I didn’t expect that!

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT

December 23, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

Although I determined to never do it, I have failed repeatedly, and the older I get the more often I do it. I’m talking about reminiscing.( I used to hate hearing the old folks do that and now I’m doing it. Forgive me kids!) One of the things that sets it off is Christmas. My dad died just a few days before Christmas nine years ago, and since that was his favorite time of the year, I can’t help but thinking about my childhood days.

Starting Jr. High was–well I guess you could say a scary experience. Leaving grade school where I knew everybody was a bit unsettling. Suddenly I was in a school where I knew only a handful of kids and none of the teachers. There were a lot of adjustments to be made. Even the “pecking order” had to be re-established. I guess that’s why I got in two fights the first day. It didn’t take long to realize that I wasn’t the toughest kid in the new school. A big tall red-headed kid named James Minks was the toughest boy in that school and everyone knew it. But, that’s another story.

The new school, named Study, was a couple miles from home–a big difference from the short distance I travelled to York Elementary. However, I usually enjoyed walking to school–it was a new experience, with new sights to see. I say “usually” because there were times when I hated it–winter time! I didn’t mind the rainy days so much, but I hated the cold and snow. I still do! Winters in Missouri can be brutal, but I had to get to school, rain or shine, heat or cold.

But, as bad as I disliked winter, there were two things that I loved inspite of the cold weather–hunting and Christmas. Nearly every year dad and I would get the annual Christmas tree while we were rabbit hunting. Cedar trees were thick in the Ozarks and as we hunted we kept an eye out for what dad figured was the ideal tree, boy could he ever be picky! We would cut it down, bring it home and then start the process of decorating it.

Kids today know nothing or little about the joy of putting up a Christmas tree. Now-a-days, dad digs out one of those plastic trees and sticks it in a corner–a 10 minute process. Back then it was different. We had only a few oraments. Most of the decorations were made of popcorn. Mom would pop a bunch of popcorn and sis and I would string it on a piece of fishing line then wrap it around and around the tree. Mom used the rest of the popcorn to make “popcorn balls” that were hung as ornaments on the tree. Then the final touch–a big white star with a red border rested at the very top of the tree. That’s enough details–let’s get back to the story.

I would like to tell you that I loved Christmas because it celebrates the birth of Christ, but as a child that had nothing to do with my fondness for Christmas. We didn’t attend church and I knew next to nothing about Christ. What I loved about Christmas was the gifts. However, you need to remember that the gifts back then were nothing like they are today. In those days most gifts were clothes, and we were glad to get them. Mom sewed and we never threw anything away–mom just kept adding patches. About the only hope for something new was to out grow what you had. It was a thrill to get a new pair of jeans or a new shirt. In addition to the few clothes there was the Christmas stocking, stuffed with candy, apples, nuts, and oranges. In addition to that we usually got one gift of some sort–nothing expensive, but something personal–like a fishing pole, or a pocket knife. I loved Christmas, but one stands out above all the others. My favorite Christmas of all was the year I started Jr. High school. That’s the year I received a “new” coat. Let me explain.

As I mentioned earlier, the only way to get to school was to walk and on those cold snowy days that was miserable. I didn’t just want a new coat, I needed a coat. The only problem was that dad was short of money that year and there didn’t seem to be any chance of getting a new coat anytime soon. So, you wouldn’t believe the surprise and joy I experienced when I opened my gift that Christmas and found a “new” coat. I’ll never forget it! But now, as Paul Harvey used to say,here’s “the rest of the story”.

My grandpa Loveland, whom I hardly knew, was in the VA hospital in Little Rock, Ark. He was disabled as a result of being “gassed” in W.W.1 and confined to the hospital. In addition to that he was an acholic. Everytime they tried to bring him home he would get drunk and end up in jail. Finally it was decided that the hospital was the best place for him and that’s where he stayed until he died. Now, back to the “new” coat.

Among grandpa’s belongings was an old well-worn, camel colored wool top-coat, that appeared to be good for nothing. But mom thought otherwise. Knowing I needed a coat my mother cut-off that old ankel length top coat, hemmed it up and, somehow, made me a waist length coat that somewhat fit me. She took something that was good for nothing but trash and turned it into a treasure for me. No king in his robe was ever more proud than I was of my “new” coat. I couldn’t wait until school resumed to show-off my “new” coat. I strutted off to school as proud as a peacock. To my young mind, that was the most beautiful coat I had ever seen. I thought I was making a fashion statement of the highest sort when I returned to school. Regardless of how it might have looked to others, I could not have been any happier. Up to that point it was my best Christmas ever.

Well I guess I’ve bored you long enough so I’ll wrap this up. Other than the joy I get from reliving that moment in my life, the only reason I share this is because I believe there are some very practical lessons that can be learned from it.

#1 Don’t neglect to do something because you can’t do something “big”. Mom could have concluded that since she couldn’t afford a new coat that I would just have to wait until she could, but she didn’t. She found a way to meet my need. That’s what love does–it always expresses itself! It isn’t deterred by difficulties. If it can’t do one thing it does another. If you can’t give a gift send a card, but do something to express your love.

#2 Don’t waste what you have and then expect God to give you more. We Americans are the most wasteful people on earth. We throw out more each year than what some people possess. Let’s face it–we are spoiled! We have enjoyed the benefits of living in the land of plenty to the point that we feel justified in wasting what God has given us. There is no excuse for it and you can rest assured that God takes note of it.

#3 Simple is often better and more practical than extravagant or useless gifts. If we would all use a little common-sense we would be the better off for it. There are a lot of ways to express love and some of the most meaningful don’t cost a cent.

#4 Appreciate what you receive. I’ll be honest–I doubt that I would appreciate an old second hand coat today as I did back then, but that’s my fault. When someone does the best they can we ought to accept it with great joy. Mark it down, there will be some kids this Christmas who will complain because they didn’t get exactly what they wanted–even though mom and dad gave all they could afford. Anyone with that attitude doesn’t deserve anything.

#5 Today’s activities are tomorrows memories. As time goes by you will be amazed how the “little” in life become of great impotance. Your children will never forget the things you do or don’t do, good or bad. If you don’t have anything else you can have a good attitude–they won’t forget that.

I’m sure there are other things that could be mentioned, but that’s enough for now–I just hope that I might have said something that will make your Christmas a bit better. Give the best you can, be grateful for what you receive, and thank God for everything. Merry Christmas! –Bro. Stone

AWESOME

December 20, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

I’ll be the first to admit that I tend to use too many superlatives. When I get excited about something I want to express it. I got excited last night! One of the words that gets over-worked is “AWESOME”. However, sometimes I don’t know of any other way to express what I feel. So, here I go–our annual Christmas program last night was simply AWESOME!

I can’t remember a year when our program wasn’t AWESOME, but every year is different. Some might say one year was better than another, but I have a hard time seeing it that way. Again and again I say the program was AWESOME. Every year my heart is stirred and my soul is thrilled. Last night I left the service with a spring in my step and joy bells ringing in my heart. I was truly blessed, as were many others. We had hardly got home before the phone was ringing and people were talking about how AWESOME the program was.

I want to thank all those who helped, in whatever way, with our program. Your hard work is greatly apperciated, and it will also be used of the Lord in some special way. Our children will remember this event many years from now. That makes it all worth while. We have many talented and dedicated workers who helped, but a special word of thanks goes to Jennifer and Julie Morris, two exceptionally gifted young ladies, who directed the program. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.

Of all the good things that could be said about our program here’s the best of all–we were reminded that Christ has made salvation possible for all who will receive Him as Lord and Savior. That’s what Christmas is all about! For that reason I say with the apostle Paul, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”(1 Cor. 9:15).

YOU CAN CALL ME A REDNECK

December 18, 2010 By Pastor David Stone

Although most of you don’t know Dan Burrell, many of you will agree with what he recently wrote on his blog. I enjoyed it and thought you might get a kick out of it also, so I’m passing it on:

I’ve never made it a secret that I’m a “Country Boy”. Though I’ve lived in the city longer than I lived in the country, as the saying goes, “You can take the boy out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the boy.” The values of Middle America, the Heartland, “Flyover Country”, Small-Town America, Norman Rockwell country, the Breadbasket, the Bible Belt or whatever else you want to call it are the values that made this country great. We’re often called “Rednecks” because many of us worked in the sun and our red necks and farmer’s tans were evidence that showed what the callouses on our hands would confirm as soon as we greeted you. We were people who knew how to work hard, love our family, keep commitments and worshiped God.

I’ve enjoyed the humor and jokes that go along with the term “Redneck” and some of them are uncomfortable accurate. But for every cringe-worthy example and silly stereotype, you’ll find some mighty good habits and values as well. Here are a few that someone recently passed on to me.

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God..’

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never protested about seeing
the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ‘ Christmas’
instead of ‘Winter Festival’

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
someone prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never burned an
American flag, nor intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
and you aren’t afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You’d give your last dollar to
a friend.

HOW IS YOUR “SOUND SYSTEM”?

EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS GIFT

AWESOME

YOU CAN CALL ME A REDNECK

Welcome to Lakeway Baptist Church

Latest Posts

Upcoming Events

Men’s Basketball

Men’s Basketball

Breakfast Fellowship

Sunday School

Morning Worship Service

Choir Practice

Evening Worship Service

Recent Announcements

Latest Sermons

Service Times

Sunday

Wednesday

Thursday