Pastor Mike's Weblog

Aaron is back in the room after surgery to close the leaking hole left from his g-tube valve. The surgery was successful and he is sleeping peacefully on Becky's shouder. We will be here at the LeBonheur Children's Hospital in Memphis until at least tomorrow. We will be moving to a new room later today. Aaron can have nothing by mouth today, which will be very difficult; he has already been asking for something. Thanks for your prayers!

Check out this great video taken from the Wednesday night youth service at Boone Trail Baptist Church in Gray, TN. My nephew Jacob May is singing lead and playing the guitar. Also, check out ther web site at: www.boonetrailbaptist.org.

ADMIT YOUR STRUGGLE WITH SIN - Deuteronomy 1:1-3:29

"Why do I sometimes feel dissatisfied about my relationship with God?"

Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 1:6-8, 26-33, 42-46

Many believers ask the life question for this week's lesson, if not out loud, at least inwardly. And an overwhelming majority of believers fail to realize that sin is at the root of the problem. We don't like to admit that we struggle with sin. For some it seems like admitting failure. Others believe that as one grows as a Christian that we outgrow the struggle with sin.

In Romans 7 the Apostle Paul admitted he still struggled with sin. He goes on to explain that when a person becomes a believer, he or she enters a spiritual tug-of-war between his renewed mind and heart and his sinful nature or flesh. This conflict was not part of his experience prior to salvation but remains as long as he is in the flesh. This discrepancy between a believer's intentions and actual practice greatly distresses us. Sin is the problem. Facing one's struggle with sin with honesty and courage will lead us to the path of victory and thanksgiving.

For each of the 4 sections of this week's lesson I want to offer an exhortation toward obedience. Each section is titled with a question to prompt an examination of our walk with Jesus.

Jerry Falwell, a founder of the modern Christian conservative movement who started one of America's largest churches and launched one of its largest Christian universities, died May 15. He was 73. Dr. Falwell, who had a history of heart problems, was found dead in his office, and subsequent efforts to revive him failed. He was pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. Eastern Time. 

Dr. Falwell's Thomas Road Baptist Church grew from 35 members in 1956 to more than 24,000, and the school he founded, Liberty University, saw its enrollment expand from virtually nothing in 1971 to more than 21,000. Both are located in Lynchburg, Va. Thomas Road was independent for its first 40 years before becoming Southern Baptist in 1996. 

Read more SBC-related coverage at the following links:

http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=25647

http://www.albertmohler.com/

http://www.liberty.edu/

For those interested in the long debate over qualifications of missionary candidates at the IMB, the board adopted the following amended policies.

Today, May 3, 2007, is the National Day of Prayer. People all over the nation have gathered to pray for our nation and its leaders. Will you join us and pray for America? Click on the link above for more information, to hear and read prayers and federal and state prayer proclamations.

In the wake of the tragic events at Virginia Tech numerous voices have cried out for stricter gun-control laws, better campus security procedures, stricter screening of students and prospective students, and even psychological evaluations of prospective students and faculty. But are we missing the point?