Preparing for our Church Renwal Services is going well.  Two Cottage Prayer Meetings have come and gone so far with good attendance but more importantly those who attended came focused on prayer.  Our theme has been Praying for a Harvest and has included requests for personal holiness, willingness for church members to serve, new excitement in the church, praying for the lost by name, along with other requests. 

Keep Praying!

See you next week at the Carman's house.

Excitement and anticipation are building as we prepare for our Church Renewal events planned for October 4-7, 2009.  Our speaker, Ed Wingfield has shared a wonderful, helpful set of preparation material to guide the process.  He writes, "It is my belief that everything we experience during our renewal events will be the direct result of our prayers ahead of time." 

Our prayer preparations for these services include Cottage Prayer Meetings.  This evening our first meeting will be held at the Pastor's house.  The early church, out of necessity, met in homes for prayer and worship.  Although today we have church buildings in which to meet Cottage Prayer Meetings still bring the church together in one accord in one place (Acts 2:1). 

This evening we will pray for renewal, salvation for the lost, and laborers for the harvest along with other needs. 

"The need is great, but our Lord is even greater."

Accepting a challenge from Faith Comes By Hearing our church received MP3 format audio New Testaments to listen to in 40 days.  The challenge began Father's Day and can be accomplished in 40 days by listening to the audio Bible for 28 minutes a day. 

Sunday, July 5, 2009, an 85 year old church member reported that since Father's Day she had read through the entire New Testament in only eight days.  Her challenge was if she could do it anyone can.  She has also been blessed and feels a great sense of accomplishment and excitement.  Her enthusiasm is contageous.

We may believe we are too busy to read through the New Testament in only eight days but certainly we can rearrange 28 minutes a day to spend in God's Word. 

If you have not yet begun listening to or reading the New Testament begin today.  You too will be very blessed.

Sunday, June 28, 2009 was a tremendous day at Fairview.

The evening service was given to our Youth group to share with the church how God moved in their lives the past week at Falls Creek Youth Camp.  The testimonies were fantastic and gave insight into how God moves in a person's life.  Some were thrilled because they had the opportunity to personally lead someone to faith in Christ.  Others told about significant steps taken in their spiritual lives and how they have grown.  Some told of the importance of missions and how difficult it is for churches in some countries to meet for worship.  The whole group told of how God used the free time at camp to strengthen the bonds of friendship within the group. 

This year we would like to thank our heavenly Father for Falls Creek.  Also for all those who take vacation time to serve as drivers, cooks, and sponsors.  Finally, thank you to Fairview Baptist Church for the support you have consistently given through prayer, time, and funds. 

We are very blessed.

P.S.  Jacob, does a bat really sound like that?

What's your view?  Historians have offered two primay ways to date the exodus.

In 1 Kings 6:1 the exodus is described as taking place 480 years before "the fourch year of Solomon's reign over Israel."  The fourth year of Solomon's reign is said by scholars to be 966 or 967 BC.  When 480 is added to these the dates for the exodus are 1446 BC or 1447 BC. 

Other say that the mention of the city of Rameses in Exodus 1:11 excludes a fifteenth century date.  Archaeologists have identified what they believe to be Pithom and Rameses and say these cities give no sign of occupation during fifteenth century.  These sites call for a later date to the exodus, around 1290 BC.  This date is derived from the end of the reign of Rameses II after whom the city of Rameses is believe to be named.  The weakness with this date is that archaeologists could have easily misidentified the sites. 

What is your opinion?

Sources: Longman, Tremper III and Raymond B. Dillard. An Introduction to the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI.     Zondervan, 2006.

Kaiser, Walter C. "Exodus" in The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI. Zondervan, 1990.

The candlelight service December 21 was very worshipful.  I believe the Lord Jesus was lifted up in His birth, life, death, and resurrection.  Jim and Rodney did terrific jobs presenting the innkeeper and the shepherd. 

Thank you to all who attended