First Baptist Church of Ojai, California

Highlights From Today's Bible Reading

2 Cor. 4:16-18 (NIV) 
    Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. [17] For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. [18] So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Cor. 5:5 (NIV) 
    Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

2 Cor. 5:7 (NIV) 
    We live by faith, not by sight.

2 Cor. 5:10 (NIV) 
    For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

This Week's Bible Reading Schedule

Here Are This Weeks Readings

Based upon your start date of Jan 01, your scheduled daily reading for today is Aug 31
Fri, Aug 28 Readings	JOB 28:1-30:31 2 CORINTHIANS 2:12-17 PSALM 42:1-11 PROVERBS 22:7
Sat, Aug 29 Readings	JOB 31:1-33:33 2 CORINTHIANS 3:1-18 PSALM 43:1-5 PROVERBS 22:8-9
Sun, Aug 30 Readings	JOB 34:1-36:33 2 CORINTHIANS 4:1-12 PSALM 44:1-8 PROVERBS 22:10-12
Mon, Aug 31 Readings	JOB 37:1-39:30 2 CORINTHIANS 4:13-5:10 PSALM 44:9-26 PROVERBS 22:13
Tue, Sep 01 Readings	JOB 40:1-42:17 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11-21 PSALM 45:1-17 PROVERBS 22:14
Wed, Sep 02 Readings	ECCLESIASTES 1:1-3:22 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1-13 PSALM 46:1-11 PROVERBS 22:15
Thu, Sep 03 Readings	ECCLESIASTES 4:1-6:12 2 CORINTHIANS 6:14-7:7 PSALM 47:1-9 PROVERBS 22:16

Bravo!

To Dan Bergstrom and Zac Cannon for the careful and thorough work they are doing in building a solid foundation for family life ministries at First Baptist.  We are about to see the fruit of their labors.

Did You Know?

Retha Nordyke has been appointed as the new Wednesday programming children's director.  Welcome Retha!

Currently Reading: Tortured For Christ (continued)

But looking at men like this (those who abused him in prison)--not as they are, but as they will be--I could also see in our persecutors a Saul of Tarsus--a future apostle Paul. And some have already become so. Many officers of the secret police to whom we witnessed became Christians and were happy to later suffer in prison for having found our Christ. Although we were whipped, as Paul was, in our jailers we saw the potential of the jailer in Philippi who became a convert. We dreamed that soon they would ask, "What must I do to be saved?" In those who mocked the Christians who were tied to crosses and smeared with excrement, we saw the crowd of Golgotha who were soon to beat their breasts in fear of having sinned.

It was in prison that we found the hope of salvation for the Communists. It was there that we developed a sense of responsibility toward them. It was in being tortured by them that we learned to love them.

A great part of my family was murdered. It was in my own house that their murderer was converted. It was also the most suitable place (58).

This Week's Bible Journey

Here Are This Weeks Readings

Based upon your start date of Jan 01, your scheduled daily reading for today is Aug 25
Sat, Aug 22 Readings	JOB 4:1-7:21 1 CORINTHIANS 14:18-40 PSALM 37:30-40 PROVERBS 21:27
Sun, Aug 23 Readings	JOB 8:1-11:20 1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-28 PSALM 38:1-22 PROVERBS 21:28-29
Mon, Aug 24 Readings	JOB 12:1-15:35 1 CORINTHIANS 15:29-58 PSALM 39:1-13 PROVERBS 21:30-31
Tue, Aug 25 Readings	JOB 16:1-19:29 1 CORINTHIANS 16:1-24 PSALM 40:1-10 PROVERBS 22:1
Wed, Aug 26 Readings	JOB 20:1-22:30 2 CORINTHIANS 1:1-11 PSALM 40:11-17 PROVERBS 22:2-4
Thu, Aug 27 Readings	JOB 23:1-27:23 2 CORINTHIANS 1:12-2:11 PSALM 41:1-13 PROVERBS 22:5-6
Fri, Aug 28 Readings	JOB 28:1-30:31 2 CORINTHIANS 2:12-17 PSALM 42:1-11 PROVERBS 22:7

Highlights From Today's Bible Reading

Job 19:25 (NIV) 
    I know that my Redeemer lives,
        and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

Job 19:26 (NIV) 
    And after my skin has been destroyed,
        yet in my flesh I will see God;

Psalm 40:1-3 (NIV) 
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

    I waited patiently for the Lord;
        he turned to me and heard my cry.
    [2] He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
        out of the mud and mire;
    he set my feet on a rock
        and gave me a firm place to stand.
    [3] He put a new song in my mouth,
        a hymn of praise to our God.
    Many will see and fear
        and put their trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 22:1 (NIV) 
    A good name is more desirable than great riches;
        to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.

Currently Reading: Tortured For Christ

It was strictly forbidden to preach to other prisoners, as it is in captive nations today. It was understood that whoever was caught doing this received a severe beating. A number of us decided to pay the price for the privilege of preaching, so we accepted their terms. It was a deal: we preached and they beat us. We were happy preaching; they were happy beating us--so everyone was happy.

The following scene happened more times than I can remember. A brother was preaching to the other prisoners when the guards suddenly burst in, surprising him halfway through a phrase. They hauled him down the corridor to their "beating room." After what seemed an endless beating, they brought him back and threw him--bloody and bruised--on the prison floor. Slowly, he picked up his battered body, painfully straightened his clothing and said, "Now, brethren, where did I leave off when I was interrupted?" He continued his gospel message! (41)

One great lesson arose from all the beatings, tortures, and butchery of the Communists: that the spirit is master of the body. We felt the torture, but it often seemed as something distant and far removed from the spirit which was lost in the glory of Christ and His presence with us.

When we were given one slice of bread a week and dirty soup every day, we decided we would faithfully "tithe" even then. Every tenth week we took the slice of bread and gave it to weaker brethren as our "tithe" to the Master (42-43)

Coffee Hours

Coffee hours continue to be a big hit.  If you are interested in spending an hour together and talking about life, sign-up this Sunday.  Pastor Chad's coffee hours are from 9:10 AM-10:00 AM, Tuesday-Friday at Full of Beans in Mira Monte. If you can't make it during these times, give me a call and we will make a separate appointment.

What's Next? Message Preview

Ephes. 4:3-6 (NIV) 
    Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. [4] There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to one hope when you were called-- [5] one Lord, one faith, one baptism; [6] one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Paul is very concerned about the unity of the church.  The key to this unity is right doctrine.  When doctrine becomes fuzzy, divisions occur.  Paul gives seven core doctrinal foundations that Christians must share.  They bind us together.  Tomorrow we will cover the first three:  one body, one Spirit, one hope.