Messenger - Woodward First Baptist Church

Periodicals Postage Paid
Baptist Messenger Special Edition for
First Baptist Church
Woodward, Oklahoma
www.fbcwoodward.org
April 9, 2015
202 E. Hanks Trail
580.256.2837
Dr. Guy McGraw
Senior Pastor
I was considering cursing today but not like you are thinking. One of the my favorite events of the Old Testament
occurred when a shepherd boy stepped out on a battlefield to take on a 9 foot giant in a game of one on one. Like a
roach crossing a dancehall David’s brothers and others must have wondered how long it would take for David to be
squished. This account is one of the reasons why I love David so much. Even as a young man David could not sit by and
accept the name of God being treated in a demeaning way. The bible says that David’s brothers and the other soldiers
had been hearing Goliath curse God for 40 days and I suspect that they had probably grown used to it. But David had
just arrived from spending intimate time with God and his ears and heart had not acclimated to this environment.
I wonder if one of the most unique aspects of modern American Christianity is the ability of the average believer
to mindlessly sit thru the use of God’s name being used as a curse word to the point of actually accepting it as a mode
of entertainment. This surely is not only unique in time but also in the world of religions. Author and preacher Michael
Youseff wrote in his book, Jesus, Jihad and Peace, ‘A number of years ago, a militant Muslim said to me, “You
Christians are all cowards!” “Why do you say that?” I asked. “You claim to believe in Jesus,” he said, “but you never
defend him. The name of Jesus is used as a curse word in your American movies and TV shows. Movie people don’t
dare to speak blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad, because they know that Muslims would kill them for it. But
Hollywood doesn’t fear Christians.’ It seems that Hollywood has truly become in American culture the giant that
Christians not only tolerate but also have learned to enjoy watching.
One of the first things that immediately changed about me when I was saved was my attitude toward profanity. I
never really cursed as a lost person but even then I realized it was the worst of all things to curse using God’s Name.
Every time the Jewish scribes copied the Scriptures they would wipe the pen and wash their entire bodies before
writing the most Holy Name of God. They were never allowed to erase the name of God much less accept it as a
curse word. I think that one of the main reasons God defended, protected and used David so much during his life is
that at such a young age David stepped out against all odds to defend and protect
the holy name of God.
A.W. Tozer wrote once, ‘'When we become too glib in prayer we are most surely
talking to ourselves’. I think that if we can become so casual with God being defamed
in our culture that we might also find ourselves alone in trying to reach it. This may be
why so many churches have settled for gimmicks, watered down teaching and world
imitating presentations to try to get a hearing instead of seeing the very power of
God alive thru His Word and Name. Peter said of Jesus to the Sanhedrin in Act 4:12
that ‘there is no other name under name that has been given among men by which we
must be saved’. Paul wrote in Philippians 2:9, For this reason also, God highly
exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name’.
David offered himself that day to bring an end to God's name being used in such
a way. I have told people in the past that if they wanted to use a name to curse with
then they are free to use mine. In bible times a person’s name represented them as a
person and that is why it is so concerning that Jesus said, ‘if you deny Me before men
then I will also deny you before My Father Who is in heaven’. I encourage you to not
only share that name of Jesus Christ but to also exalt it and protect. I pray that this
would be evident in our church and I promise as your pastor that I will do nothing less.
Pastor Guy
First Baptist Church
Page 2
Vacation
Bible
School
May 24-30
It’s time now to be thinking about
where you will serve.
Directors:
6th Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . This Could Be You!!
5th Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Call Tony to Volunteer!
4th Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Michelle Hutton
3rd Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kelli Burton/Youth
2nd Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Paula Harmon
1st Grade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . You Are Needed!!
Kindergarten. . . . Is this Where the Lord Wants You?
4 year olds. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Don’t Miss Out!
Nursery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tina Woodson
Recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tony Barros
Kitchen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Betty Feese
Missions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeff Barros
Music. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Is This Your Spot?
Krafts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sally Luthi
Workers for every area are needed.
Contact Tony to volunteer
Quarterly
Meeting
Sunday, April 19
6:00 p.m.
Potluck Supper
Thunder Game Fellowship
Sunday, April 12
5:00 p.m.
Family Life Center
Bring Finger foods
Woodward, Oklahoma
Ladies Night Out
April 16 at 6:00 p.m.
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Salad Supper
Door Prizes
Beth Moore Video
Nursery Provided
Please call the church office to reserve nursery for
your child/children! Feed your children before you
come.
Romania Needs
There are trunks in the hallway down from the
office to put donated items in for the Romania
Mission Trip this summer.
Items needed: Vitamins, Tylenol, Advil, Aleve,
Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste.
These items are needed for adults and for children.
Mission Arties
Friday, April 17
6:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
$40.00 Each
Proceeds will go towards Youth Mission Trips
First Baptist Church and Woodward have
been invited to bring “Dust Bowl” Survivors to the
State Capital on the 80th anniversary of “Black Sunday”,
which is Tuesday, April 14, 2015. Dust Bowl survivors
will be honored by the Governor and the Oklahoma
Legislature beginning at 9:00 a.m. on that day. There
will be a luncheon following at the National Cowboy
Hall of Fame. The church bus will be available. Please
call Tom Lucas at (580)727-4397 or (580)254-3014 if
you are interested in attending this event.
Bible Drill Updates!
Associational Bible Drill is April 19 at 5:00 p.m.
in the 6th grade classroom. You must have 7
mistakes or less to advance to the state Bible
Drill.
There will be no Bible Drill on April 12. Study!
Study! Study!