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MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

AUGUST 2019

What Is “Reconciliation”?

Pastor Matt

In 2012, an Online Consumer Poll determined that 70% of people

“never” balance their checkbook, 10% “rarely” balance it, and only 20%

“regularly” balance it. That was seven years ago. Considering the rapid

growth of electronic banking, I would not be surprised if the “never”

has grown significantly and the “regularly” has declined. The difficulty

with balancing a checkbook is that when it comes time to reconcile the

statement with the checkbook they never seem to agree! It takes time

to track down which transactions we forgot to record, and that is time

we feel could be best spent elsewhere. The point is, there comes a time when what we think we owe is challenged by what

we actually do owe! What a headache!

Items that we owe are called debts. Sin is also called debt: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Sin is something

we are indebted to God for. We owe Him. What many people and worldly religions fail to realize is that, unlike in a natural

bank account, we can never deposit enough into our spiritual bank account to pay God what we owe Him. When we check

out of this world (forgive the pun), we will have to give an accounting to God. Hebrews 9:27 states, "And as it is appointed for

men to die once, but after this the judgment.” We have to resolve, or reconcile, this spiritual debt while we are still alive, and

the only way to do this with God is through faith in Jesus Christ that He has paid our insurmountable debt by dying in our

place and raising Himself up to life again. The thing is, while Christ paid the price for everyone’s ransom, only those who gen-

uinely repent from sin and trust in Jesus will be reconciled to God. Jesus says, “Repent and believe the good news!” Mark

1:15.

Are you reconciled with God? How about your loved ones and neighbors? Is the ledger of your life and their lives going to

admit them to heaven or condemn them to hell?

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now

all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,

that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to

us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore

you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17-20

Thank you

New In The Library 1. Leota's Garden, by Rivers

2. An Amish Homestead * A Seat by the Hearth, by Clipston

3. The Tinderbox, by Lewis

4. DVD- The Bible explains Dinosaurs, by Ham

5. DVD- The Message Lives on, by Graham

Children's Library

1. DVD-Joseph King of Dreams, by Dream Works

2. DVD-VeggiTales- MinnesotaCuke, by Big Idea

3. DVD-VeggieTales- An Easter Carol, by Big Idea

Please make sure you check out all books and videos be-fore you take them out of the Library (adult or children). Also try to bring them back on time. You may recheck out your books.

Your Librarian, Peggy McClure

Dear Friends,

I wanted to send some money to help with the

handbells. It is such a wonderful part of the ser-

vice. Norm and I are doing good. Enjoy being

close to family. We miss our friends and First Bap-

tist. Tell David hello for us and know our love and

prayers are with our church. Norm turned 92 and it

has been six years since he fell. God is good and

has supplied love and grace to us.

Our love,

Gladys Weigand

Many thanks to the lady quilters for the nice quilt

that was made for me during this trying time.

Thanks also for the love shown to me by the tying

of the knots and prayers.

Leland Sweetwood

The Bell Choir wishes to thank everyone who

made a contribution toward getting our first four

octaves of bells restored. Your generosity is much

appreciated. We even exceeded our goal and now

can start saving toward getting our 5th octave of

bells restored. May God bless you abundantly!

Helen Czaplinski and the Bell Choir

***We still need 3 bell ringers in our choir!

Rehearsals are Mondays, 6:30pm—7:30pm.

Contact Helen if interested.

DUE TO SYSTEM UPDATES,

THIS LINK WILL NOT BE

AVAILABLE ON SUNDAYS

YOU ARE INVITED to an open house in

honor of Dutch Czaplinski’s 85th birthday!

Come and go Sunday, August 11th, 2:00—4:00pm

1033 North D Street

Call (620) 442-5000 for a new devotion every day!

1 Robin Graves

2 Twyla Hawkins

3 Dick Reedy

4 Suzanne Moore

5 Larry Longshore

6 Judy Reedy

7 LaVerne Lyman

8 Lucille Stockton

9 Ernestine Kennelley

10 Dorothy Johnson

11 Frankie Meek

12 Helen Czaplinski

13 Dick Reedy

14 Jason Brewer

15 Kathy Foust

16 Joyce Jordan

17 Larry Longshore

18 Gary Bowker

19 Susie Bolf

20 Pam Broce

21 Jan Miller

22 Jacque Ramirez

23 Frankie Meek

24 Susie Bolf

25 Suzanne Moore

26 Kathy Harris

27 Judy Reedy

28 Phyllis Bradfield

29 Mark McGuigan

30 Kathy Foust

31 Richard Wamego

Eric Broce

Kathy Broce

Ashley McGregor

Tom Warren

Kasha Broce

Dale Eggen

Misty Lawson

Wayne Ammerman

Bonnie Gilmore

Michael Waggoner

Dutch Czaplinski

Rick Schermerhorn

Jennifer Stoner

Hannah Klaassen

Terry Swanson

Minnie Gildhouse

Diane Baker

Jean Wineinger

Dorothy Johnson

Patricia Rogers

Gary Bowker

Kay Cartee

Devin Graves

Kandi Rich

William Harvey

Robin Tackett

Tracie Moya

Joel Stanley

Lannie Buechner

Brian Phillips

AUGUST

Aug 4 Scott & Nicole Rogers

Aug 11 Robert & Jacque Ramirez

Aug 18 Nick & Brittani Vickers

Aug 25 Matt & Callista Ramirez

Kingdom Kids Volunteers

CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES

Aug 4 Valerie Harvey / Serenity Stage

Aug 11 Amber Wiley / Onelio

Aug 18 Amy Massey / Jevin Foust

Aug 25 Tracie Moya / Grace McJunkin

In the Nursery

220 E. Central Arkansas City, KS 67005 620.442.3510 firstb@sbcglobal.net

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH

220 E Central

Arkansas City, KS 67005