March 27th, 2009
Spring has sprung! (I’m speaking in blind faith!)
Hey, despite the weather, I am so thrilled to see what God is doing in hearts, lives, minds and bodies! It’s truly exciting to be a part of these last days. Sunday is shaping up to be another powerful day together with the Body of Christ at First Assembly. Sunday morning, I will be speaking on “The Revenge Factor”. There’s not a person reading this message who hasn’t at sometime contemplated revenge. Come on, be honest now! That’s why I feel the Word Sunday morning will be so relevant to all who attend.
Then, at 6:00pm Alongside Women’s Ministries will be presenting their Women’s Day program, “The Intentional Woman”, with Bridgit Smith speaking. This service was postponed from last month when Trevor (Bridgit’s son) had an emergency appendectomy. He only had one appendix, so we should be good to go for this week!
I hope to see you all Sunday!
Pastor Dave Pugh <><
Acts 4:13
March 21st, 2009
We have been proclaiming for the last several months that “Nothing is Too Hard for God,” and you that we have had a myriad of events and tragedies in our world, nation, community and individual homes and lives that have tested that truth. I do want to say that God is familiar with these things, and is not the least bit intimidated by them. I want to encourage you today by saying that “The Stink WON’T Stop Him!” I’ll even go further — this will be the subject of my message on Sunday morning. I firmly believe that we have reached a juncture where we all need to hear this word, and I encourage you, challenge you, and dare you to join us this Sunday morning. I know that it is Spring Break, but God won’t be on Spring Break!
By the way, this email is a little early in the week, but I am taking tomorrow through Friday off to do some things with my family during the break. However, I am pumped and ready for the weekend already!
Believing God for the impossible,
Pastor Dave Pugh <><
Acts 4:13
March 16th, 2009
We had a great weekend with Jason Bowman March 14 and 15.
On Saturday, Jason met with the men of First Assembly at our monthly HonorBound meeting, at Michael Jennings’ home. He spoke regarding the Kingdom of God — what it looks like, and how to build it.
Then, that evening we sponsored a Community Potato Bar at the Huck Boyd Center, where Jason shared his story of deliverance from a life of addiction to drugs. On Sunday morning at church, he gave “Part 2″ of his story — what God has been doing in his life since he came to Christ 12 years ago, specifically the founding of the New Life Community Church in St. Louis.
March 14th, 2009
Hey, Kids!
This Sunday, March 15, all kids 6th grade and younger that come to Sunday School and Kids Church will receive a free kite! You won’t want to miss this exciting morning!
March 14th, 2009
Men,
The leadership of HonorBound requested that I send you a reminder today about tomorrow’s monthly get-together. We will meet at 2:00 at Michael Jennings’ home (1687 East 200 Road). Food will be provided, Jason Bowman (our guest speaker for the weekend) will be speaking, and we will discuss the approaching paint/work days at the church.
I hope to see you tomorrow!
Pastor Dave Pugh <><
Acts 4:13
March 14th, 2009
We have been praying for months for this coming weekend, and I don’t want you to miss out on what God is going to do! Jason Bowman, pastor at New Life Church in Saint Louis, will be with us for an incredible weekend, to top off our “No Addiction is Too Strong” theme that we have carried all winter.
Jason became addicted to drugs at the age of 14, and was a successful drug dealer a short time later. He was a gifted student and athlete, but because he never had to work at any of these things (it came naturally), he became very bored, which led him to experiment with drugs. But God completely delivered him, and he is a living testimony to God’s grace.
Tomorrow evening at 6:00, we will have a Community Potato Bar at the Huck Boyd Center. At that time, Jason will share his amazing story. You will not want to miss this. Either you have an addiction, or you don’t. If you do suffer from any sort of life-controlling problem, you need to be there to get delivered! If you do not have an addiction, you need to be there for those who do.
Then, Sunday morning, Jason will minister here at church, sharing how God has been using him since he’s been a believer.
I hope that you will join us this weekend, as together we share with our community that “Nothing’s Too Hard for God”!
Pastor Dave Pugh <><
Acts 4:13
March 8th, 2009
The primary purpose of the baptism or infilling the Spirit is power. But let’s look again at that verse (Acts 1:8) — it is power to “be my witnesses”. This is not an absence of nervousness when we share Christ, nor is it necessarily the ability to automatically know what to say in a witnessing situation. Rather, it is the power to live a life worthy of a witness for Christ. Don’t forget that the Spirit’s first name is “Holy”. In John 20:21,22, Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, “Receive the Spirit”. The Spirit is the breath of God.
1. The Holy Spirit makes me a new creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 speaks of becoming a new creation in Christ. Why??? This is not just a decision on our own part to clean up our lives. This is an inward work of the Spirit, the work of regeneration. If you’re having problems looking like a new creation — be filled with the Holy Spirit.
2. The Holy Spirit gives me a new character
Character is what you are when no one is looking. We’ve talked a lot lately about discipline and cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to do this. I encourage you to inspect your fruit. If you are growing in Christ, great! But if the fruit of the Spirit is not evident in your life, or if the spiritual disciplines are lacking. you need to be filled with the Spirit.
3. The Holy Spirit gives me a new cause
This is called passion; passion is what drives a person. You may have your own mission statement, but passion is what actually dictates a person’s actions. What drives you? Some are driven by money, by a paycheck. Others are driven by prestige or the “sweet smell of success.” Still others are driven by the need to be entertained. If Christians were led by the same passion as that of Christ, the world would be won. The Spirit-filled believer lives to see the lost saved.
I encourage you to be FILLED with the Spirit, but to not stop there — be FULL of the Spirit!
March 6th, 2009
I trust that all is well, and that no one got heat exhaustion yesterday! Wasn’t that tremendous weather? I am looking forward to seeing you on Sunday, as we visit about “A Spirit Called Holy”. Sometimes in our consideration of the Spirit of God, we forget that His first name is “Holy”, and I’ll be ministering along those lines Sunday morning. The Scripture tells us that laughter does the heart good, like a medicine. Sunday night, we’re going to take that passage to heart. At 6:00 we have a Movie Night planned, and we are showing “Apostles of Comedy”. Think “Blue Collar Comedy Tour” from a Christian perspective! We’ll provide the popcorn; all you have to do is come ready to have a great time, and laugh! We hope to see you Sunday! Pastor Dave Pugh <>< Acts 4:13
March 2nd, 2009
At our Annual Church Business Meeting on Sunday, March 1, an overwhelming majority decided to move forward with the proposed building plans for our new church facility, to be located at 1201 Park Street. Following the vote, an extended time of praise and thanksgiving was offered to the Lord.
Ground will be broken in special service Sunday, May 24, with details forthcoming. The new facility will include a multi-purpose room, which will be used for Sunday worship and midweek youth activities for the time being; a fellowship hall/coffe shop, with adjoining kitchen and office space; and an education wing with classrooms, nurseries and children’s ministry area. A later phase will include a new auditorium.
The leadership of First Assembly feels it would glorify the Lord to believe God for the financing, and not enter into debt. We will pray the money, the resources, the materials and the labor in, and pay as we go. The pastor believes that this will stretch of the faith of the congregation, and stretched faith is proven faith. He believes that stretching the faith of the church will also benefit in believing God for salvations, healings, baptisms in the Holy Spirit, and other things that God wishes to do among us.
We will post new updates as they occur. Meanwhile, we covet your prayers regarding this project. To donate to the church building fund, offerings may be sent to First Assembly of God, 298 2nd Street, Phillipsburg, KS 67661, marked “building”. All donations are tax deductable.
March 2nd, 2009
God has a time and a mission, according to 2 Peter 3:8,9. His mission is to reconcile the world unto Himself. He will adjust time to fulfill that mission, because He is all about waiting for the lost and wanting them to be with Him.
1. His promise will be fulfilled
What is His promise — verse 10 of our passage tells us that it is the Day of the Lord, beginning with the Rapture. This promise is for all the redeemed of all times, and we know that it will be kept. Numbers 23:19 tells us that God is not a man that He should lie — what He says WILL come to pass. He is faithful to keep His promises.
2. His patience is amazing
If God keeps His promises, then why is it taking Him so long to keep this one? It is because of His amazing patience. Christ wants to be with His bride — He loves us! He is denying His own pleasure in this case (patience is the opposite of instant gratification). He puts off the Rapture for the sake of the lost.
3. His power to save is absolute
His blood is enough to save anyone who will come to Him, no matter their history or location. His sacrifice is complete. If you will come to Him, He will in no wise cast you out. His Word is true; the Scripture declares that “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” There are no exceptions to this; what He has said is true!
In light of these facts, we should live in expection of His return, we should be thankful for His patience, and we should do all we can to tell the lost of His power to save.
