"Philippians: A Precious Gem of Joy" Sermon Series by Pastor Osborne

Pastor Osborne recently finished a series he started on May 6, 2012 that covered Paul's letter to the Philippians.  We have gathered the links to all of the sermons for your convenience.  We hope this will be a blessing to you!

1. "Philippians - A Precious Gem of Joy" (audio) 
2. "Confidence in God Leads to Joy" Phil. 1:1-11 (audio)
3. "The Pursuit of Happiness" Phil. 1:12-21 (audio)
4. "Pulled in Two Directions" Phil. 1:21-30 (audio)
5. "Examining Christlikeness" Phil. 2:1-11 (audio)
6. "Life's Challenge to Stay in Balance" Phil. 2: 12-18 (audio)
7. "Excellent Friendship - Part 1" Phil. 2:19-30 (audio)
8. "Excellent Friendship - Part 2" Phil. 2:19-30 (audio)
9. "The Great Temptation" Phil. 3:1-11 (audio)
10. "The Patient Discipline of Determination" Phil. 3:12-16 (audio) 
11. "God's Strategy for a Lost World" Phil. 3:17-4:1 (audio)
12. "Analyzing Conflict" Phil. 4:1-3 (audio)
13. "The Universal Addiction" Phil. 4:4-9 (audio)
14. "7 Characteristics of the Mature" Phil. 4:10-19 (audio)
15. "The Doxology" Phil. 4:20-23 (audio) 

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You Might Be Mature If.... (by Pastor Osborne)

Maturity is becoming increasingly rare.  It is not natural.  It is a choice that we are all faced with.  Pastor Osborne recently preached from Philippians 4 and discussed the topic of maturity.  He defined maturity as

"the process of leaving behind childish habits and consistently moving toward emotional and spiritual adulthood."

He further provided 10 ways in which maturity is expressed.  In other words,

You Might Be Mature If...

1. You are concerned for others more than yourself.
2. You discern the presence of danger before it is obvious and too late to leave or change it.
3. You can express disagreements in a civil, kind, and adult manner.
4. You use knowledge in wise & productive ways.
5. Your goals are accompanied by action.
6. Your compassion & involvement match awareness
7. Your own spiritual growth is pursued privately & corporately.
8. You have the determination to stay committed to a task.
9. You have the courage to change when correction is given.
10. You refuse to blame others for the bad consequences of poor choices.

6 Truths Every Parent Must Teach Their Children (by Pastor Osborne)

This past Father's Day, Pastor Osborne preached a two-part message entitled, "To Parents and Their Children."  In his sermon, he covered Six Truths that We Must Teach Our Children.  His basis for these truths came from various excerpts found in Proverbs.


Truth 1 ~ We Must Teach Them to Know God

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction."  (Proverbs 1:7)

Parents must teach their children about sin.  Sin separates you from God.  Sin invades every corner of our lives.  Sin robs you of your passion for God.  Sin steals your joy.  Sin leads us to death & eternal separation from God. 

Teaching our children to know God involves teaching them that we are all sinners.  All sinners need a Savior.  Jesus is the only Savior.  Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead, thus having victory over sin.  We are saved from sin through faith in Christ alone.

Truth 2 ~ We Must Teach Our Children to Stand Alone

 "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm."  (Proverbs 13:20)

Standing alone means that our children know the importance of having Biblical convictions and are willing to stand up for them.  Children's friends are a constant pressure to conform and follow the crowd.  So if pointing out the right path is not enough, then a change in peer groups is/may be necessary for our children.    

This process of leaving and entering friend groups has the potential to be difficult and even painful.  But as parents, we have the opportunity to teach our children what a good friend is and remind them of the consequences of wrong choices.

Truth 3 ~ We Must Teach Our Children to be Open to God's Counsel

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:11-12) 

Children, especially boys, need to understand that a tender heart towards God is a a hallmark in the Christian walk.  We need to teach them to respond to our counsel, as parents, but they also need to see the value of other people's correction.  If children can learn to respect the correction of teachers, coaches, grandparents, and other adults, it becomes less difficult for them to respond to God's discipline later. 

Share experiences of life with them!  Real life lessons that we have learned will give our children something they will remember, understand, and hold on to for the rest of their lives.  Sharing victories, defeats, and what we learned when we were their age will make the values more real to our children.  As parents, we must give sufficient amount of time to our children.  Presence and availability will shape our children's personality for the full scope of life's responsibilities.  

Truth 4 ~ We Must Teach Our Children How to Deal with Temptation

"And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth.  Keep your way far from her,  and do not go near the door of her house," (Proverbs 5:7-8) 

Parents must explain the beauty of intimate marital love that is found in Song of Solomon and Proverbs 5:15-19.  God's plan is for the flames of passion to increase in intensity within the boundaries of marriage.  As parents, we must also explain the dangers and consequences of sexual relationships outside of marriage.  Temptation comes from the center of our hearts and minds.  If our children resist lust or give in to it is determined on the daily battlefield of their hearts and minds.  We must prepare them by teaching the value of purity and how to detect the slightest glimmers of immoral enticement.

"Be not among drunkards or among gluttonous eaters of meat, for the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, and slumber will clothe them with rags." (Proverbs 23:20-21)

We must be honest and frank with our children about the destruction resulting from letting the search for pleasure dominate our lives.  They need to understand how easy it is to become addicted, the false promises of lasting pleasure, and how it destroys.

Truth 5 ~ We Must Teach Our Children How to Handle Money

"Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need." (Ephesians 4:28) 

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will be bursting with wine. (Proverbs 3:9-10) 

There are four areas of financial responsibility that children need to learn: earning, giving, saving, and spending.

1. Earning means learning a skill that puts your mind to work.  It will help our children develop, train, evaluate, and improve to earn a living. 
2. Giving is our way of honoring the Lord with our income.  We need to teach our children to make giving to the Lord the number one priority on the budget sheet.  
3. Saving is teaching children the discipline of providing for not only today but for tomorrow's needs as well.  It teaches them to deny themselves today, which allows our children to be better followers of Christ.
4. Children need to be taught that spending revolves around one central idea: "If your outflow exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall."  In other words, our children need to understand that in order to keep their spending in check, they need to have a budget and open communication.

Truth 6 ~ We Must Teach Our Children the Value of Hard Work

"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.  He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame." (Proverbs 10:4-5)

Our children must grasp the concept of hard work pays off.  As parents, we must not make the mistake of only giving to our children without allowing them to experience the value and reward of hard work.  Assign chores for them to do around the house, teach them ways to earn money, and let them share in some of their own expenses.   

Final Thoughts

These truths must be taught by parents, but there are two keys to teaching our children successfully.  First, we must be consistent in discipline.  Second, we must have constant delight in our children.  While they are going through life and learning the difficult lessons of discipline, they must know that we care about them, delight in them, love them, and are proud of them.

To hear Pastor Osborne's Father's Day sermons, click the links below.


To Parents and Their Children - Part 1
To Parents and Their Children - Part 2

To Fathers - Avoid the Path of Grief and Heartache

Last November, Pastor preached a message from the life of David entitled "The Painful Path of Grief and Heartache."  This message contained some powerful reminders for men.  So, with Father's Day approaching, I thought it would be good to take another look at it. 

In his message, Pastor reminded us that sin always brings consequences.  As fathers, it is so important for us to remember this every day.  All of our sin has consequences.  Our sin affects the everyone around us. 

Pastor said,

"The pain of the reaping always eclipses the pleasure of the sowing!"

In his message, Pastor identified 8 consequences that were a direct result of David's sin.

• A Son Dies
• A Brother Violates a Sister
• A Brother Hates a Brother
• A Brother Murders a Brother
• A Son Rebels and Runs Away
• A Son Leads a Conspiracy
• A Son Shames a Father
• A Friend Murders a Son

Unbelievable.  Dads, remember, sin will destroy your marriage and your family.  

 Pastor closed his message with three reminders.

1. David's haunting cries calls to a wife or husband allured by the fantasy of a secret affair.  His cries call to the parent drawn to the busyness and rush of life that leaves little or no room for children.  His cries call to anyone who is tempted to exchange their future peace for the fleeting pleasures of sin.  Let me ask:
     
• Are the selfish choices we so easily and casually cast to the wind, worth the whirlwind that waits to strike us and the ones we love?
   
2. If you are starting to veer into the path of carnality, thinking that you can do what you want and God's grace will cover your tracks - STOP and THINK again.  Yes, God's grace cancels the debt of sin, but it does not cancel the consequences of sin.  Yes, God's forgiveness is sure, but so is sin's painful fallout.  Before you make a terrible decision ask yourself:
     
• How many innocent people will suffer in the wake of my sin?
    
3. The best time to brace yourself and your house against a storm is before the rain starts falling and the strong winds begin to howl.  Likewise the best time to protect yourself against the stormy consequences of sin is before temptation strikes.

On this Father's Day, choose to avoid the painful path of grief and heartache!  

• Listen to Pastor's Sermon on our website or your can order it on CD or DVD.

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Listen to Pastor Osborne's Vision for FBC

On Sunday night, January 8th, Pastor Osborne presented a vision for the future of Faith Baptist Church. He began by challenging us to focus on three incredibly important thoughts.

1. Do we really believe God is in control of the universe?
2. Do we really believe God truly loves us?
3. Do we really believe God will take care of us?

Listen to Pastor Osborne’s Vision for the Future of FBC.

Read more posts by Pastor Osborne:

• The Ox and His Dirty Stall
• A Specific Vision for Faith

A Specific Vision for Faith (by Pastor Osborne)

In my last article, we looked at Church Growth and God-Honoring Vision.  Today, I want to pick up where we left off.

So, what then is the vision for FBC?  What do we pray about and seek God's direction for in the next 10 years?

We seek to glorify God by building His church through preaching, teaching and exhorting the blood-bought devoted followers of Jesus Christ to passionately obey God's Word in every area of their lives.  We must be consciously aware that we are always in the presence of Holy God.  Every thought, word, action, attitude, and motive is open before God and will be judged by Him.  Living like that will cause both spiritual and numerical growth and God's church will be built according to His plan.

Faith's 100 & Faith Baptist Mission (FBM)
Under God's plan of the local church we believe God wants His church to impact even the remotest regions of the planet.  Faith Baptist Church attempts to follow that mandate through its Faith's 100 Mission Program and Faith Baptist Mission.  Faith Baptist Church will continue to send missionaries 100% supported all over the world. We will also assist other churches in sending missionaries through FBM.  As FBM grows it will require a President, a financial administrator, an administrative assistant, and a mission secretary.  The Mission accepts the responsibility of teaching churches how to be a genuine sending agent of the Gospel.

Christian Education
Every set of parents has to make a choice before God of how their children are to receive an education.  Some parents choose to homeschool and some choose to send their children to a Christian school.  I believe Faith Baptist Church can assist both groups by providing a Christian school from Pre-K through 12th grade which will challenge every student to reach for their intellectual potential while developing Godly character.  I believe God will give us the ability to put together a school that has the potential of hundreds of full-time campus students and thousands of homeschoolers and on-line students.  I believe we can put together a school that will compete with secular schools academically, artistically, and athletically.  With a strong financial foundation we can offer this service to families at affordable tuition rates and fees while at the same time paying our teachers well.  In order for us to stay focused we will not open the school without a financial foundation of at least one million dollars.

Seminary
The deepest form of discipleship is being trained in the Word of God at the highest levels.  I believe Faith Baptist Church can create a seminary with the brightest minds and deepest thinkers as its lead professors.  This seminary will have two tracks which include both academics and practical living.  The seminary will offer both higher degrees and certificates so any adult can strengthen themselves in God's Word.

Faith Village Tower
God has given us a property that will allow us to build an independent living facility for senior citizens.  We would offer a safe and beautiful place to live overlooking both Spirit Lake and Lake Sears.  The tower would offer seniors a church campus, Bible studies, fellowships, and a place to live out their retirement years.  They could continue to serve God and could create new friendships that in Christ will last forever.  The tower would be a non-profit organization under the ministry of Faith Baptist Church that would produce revenues for future ministries all over the world.

Faith Coffee Shop (FCS)
At the front of the campus on the corner of Crystal Beach Road and Highway 540 would be the Faith Coffee Shop.  It would offer quick and easy drive-through service.  FCS would serve the entire community, hire FBC people, and help fund Faith's 100 for years to come.  You can drive through or come inside and read your Bible, a book, the paper, or visit with a friend.  It would also house a large conference room for private meeting.

What does all of this look like?  On the 23 acre site across Crystal Beach Road on Spirit Lake we would see four buildings:  a new church auditorium, Faith Village Tower, the high school and seminary building, and the coffee shop.  Around the whole property is a walking path which would take you by the lake and through a quiet garden where anyone can come and commune with God.

If you want to hear more about this vision and see what it may look like in the years ahead then come to a vision service on Sunday night, January 8, 2012.  Pray, believing that God can do the impossible.

The Ox & His Dirty Stall (by Pastor Osborne)

Solomon wrote "Where there is no ox, the stall is clean." Clean stalls are great. They look good. They smell good. They can even become the pride of the builder and the envy of stall spectators. However, without the ox, not much work is going to be accomplished. There lies the problem. An ox in the stall is going to get messy and those messes have to be cleaned up. We cannot expect the ox to do it.

Church Growth
Church growth is measured in two areas. First, there is spiritual growth. As God's Word is preached, taught, and modeled to God's people and as God's people apply and practice what they are seeing and hearing from God's Word, spiritual growth is the result. Second, there is numerical growth. As God's people grow and become genuinely excited and passionate about their God and what they see Him doing in and through their lives - they cannot help but be attractive to many others who want God to do the same thing in their own lives. Numerical growth is the result.

People Make Messes
Everyone wants spiritual and numerical growth. But, when it happens, just like the ox in the stall, pastors in pulpits and people in pews make messes. All those messes have to be cleaned up and that takes time, effort, energy and a strong faith in our all-knowing God.

There are some in the church who say "I'm out of energy. We don't need anymore growth and we surely do not need anymore messes to clean up. Let's accept things as they are and settle down." There are others who simply 'like the way things are now,' and would say "we do not need any more changes." There are still others who are afraid of more people and the cost involved of facilitating those people and their spiritual growth. There are also those who want to move forward, reach as many people as they possibly can, and trust God for the wisdom and energy to clean up the messes.

Pastors and Churches
This is one reason why God gave Pastors to Churches. Pastors are to lead God's flock with biblical wisdom and articulate a vision that will guide the church to both spiritual and numerical growth. Pastors clean up the messes. They do all of this so that both the church and the community know that God is alive, working in the lives of people, and receiving all the credit for His work.

The central theme of the Bible is "God receives all the glory." Therefore, articulated and excited vision for the church is ultimately for God's glory. If it is for any other reason, then eventually it will be exposed as worthless human reasoning and that vision will collapse. That is not to say that God-honoring vision isn't redirected as time passes. Of course it is. That does not mean that God has changed, but our knowledge of what God is doing over a period of time does change, and we need to respond to that knowledge.

God-Honoring Vision
The question then becomes, "What is God-Honoring Vision?" To answer that question we will start with what it is not. God-honoring vision never emulates a man or a group of men. When an individual or group want to promote themselves or in some subtle way give themselves the credit for what God is doing - they must get ready for an eventual collapse. The greatest thing in all the world is to be a tool in the hand of God. However, we must consciously be aware that God does not need us to carry out His plan. His plan will be carried out with us or without us. I simply desire to be one of His sharp tools that He can use to do whatever He want - whether I like it or not. That is why God wants obedience to His word more than personal sacrifice. He receives all the glory.

So what then is the vision for Faith Baptist Church? What do we pray about and seek God's direction for in the next 10 years? Come back to the blog on Monday. I will try to break it down in bite-sized chunks.

Eight Analogies of Grace from 2 Samuel 9 (by Pastor Osborne)

 Recently, Pastor Osborne preached a message entitled Eight Analogies of Grace.  In that message, from 2 Samuel 9, Pastor looked at the kindness David showed to the last member of Saul's family - Jonathan's son Mephibosheth.  Pastor highlighted Eight Analogies of Grace that we can see from that story.
   

• There was a time when Mephibosheth enjoyed fellowship with his father.
• So did humanity in the Garden of Eden.
    
• When disaster struck, fear came, and Mephibosheth suffered a fall that crippled him the rest of his life.
• When sin came, humanity suffered a fall, which has left us all spiritually corrupt and crippled.
    
• Out of unconditional love for his friend, David sought anyone to whom he might extend grace.
• God, because of His unconditional love for His Son and His acceptance of His Son's death on the cross, continues to extend His grace to humanity.
    
• The crippled man was destitute and undeserving.  All he could do was accept the kind's favor.
• As sinners we are undeserving and without hope.  In no way are we worthy of our king's favor.  All we can do is humbly and gratefully accept it.
    
• The king (David) took the crippled and broken man (Mephibosheth) from the barren wasteland and seated him at the royal banquet table in the palace.
• God, our Father, has rescued believers from a moral wasteland and seated us in a place of spiritual nourishment and intimacy.
    
• David adopted the crippled man into his royal family, providing every blessing within the palace.
• Believers have been adopted into God's family in which He has provided to us full privileges as adult sons.
     
• Mephibosheth's crippled feet were a constant reminder of David's grace.
• Our moral feebleness and weaknesses keep us from forgetting that where sin abounds, grace abounds so much more.
    
• When Mephibosheth sat at the king's table, he was treated with the same respect as David's sons.
• Some day all true believers will sit at the wedding feast of the Lamb.  We will sit with the prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and missionaries from Peter, to Luther, to Calvin, to Moody, to Corrie ten Boom, to Billy Graham.  God's tablecloth of GRACE will cover us all!

   
Related Posts:

• Sermon Archives:  Esther - The Providence of God
• Sermon Series on Spiritual Defection
  

The Sad Results of Playing the Fool (by Pastor Osborne)

Pastor Osborne recently preached a message entitled The Sad Results of Playing the Fool.  In that message we looked at the life of Saul.  Listen to that message on our website.

In a vulnerable moment Saul uttered what became his epitaph:

"I have played the fool."  (1 Samuel 26:21)

When we look at the life of Saul, it is interesting to compare the death of Saul with the death of Jesus.

• The death of Saul appeared to signal an end of hope in Israel.
• The death of Jesus appeared to signal an end of spiritual hope to the disciples.
   
• The death of Saul had Israel afraid and on the run from her enemies the Philistines.
• The death of Jesus had the disciples scared to death and on the run for their lives.
   
• The death of Saul brought to Israel the belief that their enemies had won.
• The death of Jesus made it seem like the devil had won.
   
• The death of Saul paved the way for a new and greater king to rise and bring relief to the nation.
• The death of Jesus led to the resurrection of Christ, the defeat of the devil, the opening of grace, and the glorious beauty of our salvation in Christ.
   

What can we learn from studying the life & death of Saul?

1. We were created to love, obey, worship and enjoy God forever.  We are here so that our lives and personalities may fulfill His will and accomplish His purpose.  When we obstinately live our lives independently of God, we lose the true meaning and purpose of life.  In greater or lesser degree, we like Saul, play the fool.
     
2. There is no more sure sign that a man or woman is on the road to ruin than when their hearts or minds are hardened to divine warnings.  When men and women are determined to have their own way, when they will not listen to Biblical counsel, when they think they can manage their own lives better than God can manage them, then there is only one way to deal with them - let them go - to walk the path of life they form with their own hands.  If they do not stop, confess sin, and turn toward God, then they like Saul, will reap the bitter harvest of failure.  This is tragic!
     
3. If Saul's life teaches us anything, it is that opportunity and talent do not guarantee that you will be a success.  I would encourage you to ask yourself, "What advantages, gifts, and talents has God given me?"  and "What do I need to do to keep my life on God's course?"  Staying on God's course is success.

"A Tribute to America's Heroes" - Rod & Judy Nyeholt

On July 3rd, 2011, Faith Baptist Church presented a special patriotic program entitled "A Tribute to America's Heroes."  Throughout that program several 'heroes' were recognized.  Two of those heroes are a Mom and Dad - Rod & Judy Nyeholt.

He was born in 1959 in New Orleans.  He was the oldest of John & Jane's four children. When he started 9th grade, his parents moved to Michigan where he would graduate from Hudsonville High School.  After attending Grand Rapids Baptist College for a year he decided that work was a better option.  He was talented with his hands and could fix anything.  Yet, there was a hunger to serve God in a unique way with the gifts God had given him.  So, in 1981 he moved to Lake Wales, Florida to serve with the Agape Players.  He became the driver, the mechanic, and their sound technician.

She was the youngest of three girls born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.  Her Mom and Dad were George and Martha - not Washington, but Thornton.  She graduated from Central Cambria High School.  For the next two years she worked in her community until everything changed in the 1977 Johnstown Flood.  She knew God wanted her to serve Him in some way.  A group from Florida came to town called the Agape Players.  She decided to try-out.  She auditioned, was accepted, and in 1979 she moved to Lake Wales, Florida to be one of the players in the Agape Players who would travel across the United States and even the oceans to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

They met in 1981.  Three years later in 1984 they had their first date.  Then, on the bus while driving back from a church concert, he asked her to be his life-long mate.  On April 27, 1985 at Faith Baptist Church in Winter Haven, Florida, Pastor Robert Whitney officiated at the service that brought Rod and Judy Nyeholt together as husband and wife.  In 2011 they celebrated 26 years of marriage.

In 1987 their first son, David, was born.  David has graduated from Lake Region High School.  He received his AA Degree from Polk State College and a Bachelor's Degree in Exceptional Student Education from Southeastern University.  He is now a teacher at Polk City Elementary.  He wants to get a Master's Degree in Exceptional Student Studies and serve God on the Mission field.  David says,

"My mom and dad are always here for us.  They are dedicated, kind, generous and hard-working."

In 1992, their second son, Jonathan, was born.  Jonathan graduated this year from Harrison School of the Arts.  He has played his violin in Chicago, France, and most importantly - the FBC orchestra.  He is enrolled at Southeastern University to study Music Education and Performance.  Jonathan says,

"They (his mom and day) are consistent in everything they do - in their parenting, in their teaching, and in their beliefs."

In 1994, their third child was born - a little girl named Heather.  Heather is a special gift from God.  She is enrolled at Karen M. Segel Academy Learning Center for children with special needs.  Rod and Judy are eternally thankful to God for their three children.  Judy is very grateful to God that their children have chosen to stay in church and follow His path.  Judy says,

"It takes a strong church to help us raise our kids."

Rod is very proud of all his children and how they have applied themselves in school and church.

The verse they have for their children is found in Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Faith Baptist Church proudly presents the Medal of Freedom and Citizenship for being heroic parents to Rod and Judy Nyeholt.

Others Recognized During "A Tribute to America's Heroes"

• US Army Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone
• Firefighter Jim Davis
• Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Weppelman & Mike Bissett
• Mom and Dad ~ Rod & Judy Nyeholt
  

"A Tribute to America's Heroes" - PCSO Deputies Weppelman and Bissett

On July 3rd, 2011, Faith Baptist Church presented a special patriotic program entitled "A Tribute to America's Heroes."  Throughout that program several 'heroes' were recognized.  Two of those heroes are Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Weppelman and Mike Bissett.

Deputy Michael Weppelman has been a deputy in the Polk County Sheriff's Office for over 22 years.  He is married to Mary, who is a retired EMS and currently the director of Angel's Care Center of Eloise.  He has 2 children.

Deputy Mike Bissett has been a Law Enforcement Officer for almost 21 years.  He also served our country as an Officer in the Army Air Defense Artillery for 4 years.  He and his wife Renee have been married for 20 years.  He has 3 children.

Deputy Weppelman & Deputy Bissett

Working as deputies in the Sheriff's Department is an honorable profession and it is a high privilege to wear the green uniform and serve the people of Polk County.  It can at times be a very dangerous job.  Deputy Weppelman and Deputy Bissett's lives intersected last year when they were called out to what appeared to be a routine domestic dispute.  There is nothing routine about being a deputy sheriff.  On this particular day, the bad guy pulled a gun and fired at these officers.  Because we have a gracious God and good training in the Sheriff's department, Deputies Weppelman and Bissett handled this situation in the most professional way.  They were instrumental in keeping the community safe and protecting the citizens of our county.

Sheriff Grady Judd & Deputy Weppelman

Deputy Weppelman said,

"I enjoy serving the good people of our community.  I will do whatever service the people need - from retreiving an alligator  from a swimming pool, getting a snake out of a house, talking to a lonely soul on a dark street, to replacing a widow's mailbox, to putting away the bad guys."

When Deputy Weppelman joined the Sheriff's Office, he thought it was going to simply be a stepping stone to something else.  It turned out that the Sheriff's Department became a family he just couldn't leave.

Deputy Bissett said,

"I think it's nice that the people of Polk County know that their police officers really care."

Deputy Bissett and family

Deputy Bissett wanted to be a police officer ever since he watched the old Adam 12 TV programs as a boy.  His favorite thing about serving as a deputy is that every day is different.  You never know what to expect when you go to work.  His wife Renee, who teaches in the Special Education Low Functioning Autistic Unit at Garner Elementary said,

"I pray for and completely support my husband.  His being a deputy is part of our lives."

His daughter Hannah thinks that it is fine her dad is a deputy.  She wants to go into the Criminal Justice field and someday be Sheriff Judd's lawyer.  Josh said he also wants to be a police officer and serve on the SWAT team.  Sarah said she used to be scared a little about dad being a deputy but now she thinks it's cool.  Her first question to dad when he gets home is "Did you catch any bad guys today?"

Mike Bissett says that his job is enjoyable because the people of Polk County are very appreciative to the Sheriff's Department.

This year Deputy Mike Bissett and Deputy Mike Weppelman were awarded the Medal of Valor for their effective action in the face of life-threatening circumstances.

Faith Baptist Church is proud to present to Deputy Mike Bissett and Deputy Michael Weppelman and to their families the Medal of Freedom and Citizenship for their heroic service to our community in the Polk County Sheriff's Department.

Others Recognized During "A Tribute to America's Heroes"

• US Army Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone
• Firefighter Jim Davis
• Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Weppelman & Mike Bissett
• Mom and Dad ~ Rod & Judy Nyeholt
  

"A Tribute to America's Heroes" - Firefighter Jim Davis

On July 3rd, 2011, Faith Baptist Church presented a special patriotic program entitled "A Tribute to America's Heroes."  Throughout that program several 'heroes' were recognized.  One of those heroes is Firefighter Jim Davis.

Jim Davis was born in a little out of the way place called Wauchula, Florida.  His Mom and Dad were named Charles and Weida.  He grew up next door to the fire station.  As a kid he would get an RC Cola and spend his time around the station talking to the firemen.

As a student, he really was not a troublemaker, but he was always in trouble.  The teachers thought that he wasn't paying attention.  In reality, he had an undiagnosed hearing loss, short-term memory loss, dyslexia and a speech impediment.  No one, except his parents, thought he would go very far in life.  As a child, Jim prayed two prayers:

1. Please God, don't let me vomit.  (because he couldn't stand the thought of throwing-up)
2. Please God, let me be smart.

I don't know if God answered the first prayer the way that Jim wanted Him to, but the 2nd prayer was answered in ways that defy the imagination.  Jim had to learn how to cope with the things in his life that would make others want to give up.  Jim developed the PEG system for memory.  That system for learning and memory has taken him to:

• South Florida Community College where he became an EMT
• Polk Vocational Technical Center where he passed the State of Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards
• Polk Community College where he earned an AA degree in General Education and an AS degree in Fire Science Technology
• Rollins College where he earned a BS degree (with honors) in Fire Safety Administration
• University of South Florida where he earned a Master's degree in Education and where he is currently writing a dissertation for a PhD in Cognitive Instructional Technology.

Yes, God made Jim Davis smart.

At 18, Jim volunteered at the Wachula Fire Department.  There were times back then when you were out of radio range and you just had to fight the fire by yourself.  By the age of 20, he was a full-time fireman in Wachula.  In 1975, he was hired by the Winter Haven Fire Department.  Those were the brutal and harsh growing up years where Jim learned to endure mistreatment without getting bitter.  He fought fires and buried himself into reading and studying every shift.  When test taking time came, Jim was more prepared.  In spite of being the youngest person and the least experienced person on the force, Jim was promoted to Captain.  Jim spent 36 years serving Winter Haven and Polk County as a Fireman, a Captain, and as a Deputy Chief.

Some significant memories of fires are the different packing house that have burned as well as St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  What haunts his mind are the times he had to watch as people lost their lives in fires where he couldn't do anything to help them.  Sometimes people run back into burning building for insignificant things or things that are easily replaced only to lose their lives.

Jim has won multiple awards including Firefighter of the Year in 1987 & 1995.  He is a teacher, an instructor, a writer and a mentor to young men and women all over Polk County.

Jim married Elizabeth on November 4, 1995 and they make an outstanding team serving God and their community.

Jim is an outstanding son.  He and Elizabeth took care of Weida and Charles until their deaths.  They look forward to their reunion in heaven.

Jim is also a gifted artist.  His company, Inspiration Paintings, features Jim's artwork of Jesus Himself or an angel sent from Christ, assisting the firefighter and law enforcement officer.  Jim's prints are found in homes, fire stations, churches, and many other places throughout the world.  Many people find them as a source of comfort during a difficult period in their life.

Jim and Elizabeth's love for the Lord Jesus Christ is evident in all they do.  A verse these two hold on to is John 15:13,

"Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Faith Baptist Church is proud to present to Jim and Elizabeth Davis the Medal of Freedom and Citizenship for their heroic service in the firefighter's community in Winter Haven and Polk County.

Others Recognized During "A Tribute to America's Heroes"

• US Army Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone
• Firefighter Jim Davis
• Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Weppelman & Mike Bissett
• Mom and Dad ~ Rod & Judy Nyeholt
  

"A Tribute to America's Heroes" - US Army Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone

On July 3rd, 2011, Faith Baptist Church presented a special patriotic program entitled "A Tribute to America's Heroes."  Throughout that program several 'heroes' were recognized.  One of those heroes is Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone.

When asked the question, "Why did you join the Army?" Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone answered:

"I feel it is my duty to serve this great country in which my family lives in freedom.  I believe everyone should serve their country in their community in some way."

Staff Sergeant Pantalone is the Section Chief of Bravo Battery of the 2nd 116th Field Artillery in Winter Haven.  He has served the United States and Winter Haven for the last eleven years.  He was deployed to Afghanistan for a year in 2005-2006 and he was deployed again to Kuwait in 2010.

The most significant things that are in the forefront of his mind when he thinks about the war are the countless children in those war-torn countries.  He is very grateful for the packages from the United States, full of toys, shoes, and good drinking water, that he and his men could pass along to the Afghan children.  He remembers how the children would love to hold the soldier's hand because it made them feel safe.  The faces of those children still stick in his mind.  The second significant thought about the Army is the camaraderie of men at arms.  That friendship is like no other because it is built on a trust that must never be broken.

Seven years ago on July 2nd, Dustin married Alicia and they have three children:  Jacqueline (6), Olivia (4) and Mason (2).  When a spouse is deployed to war half-way across the globe, even though the family left behind does not face literal bullets and bombs, the struggle is just as hard on their hearts and minds.

   

Alicia said that the first deployment was not too bad.  Dustin was even given leave and made it home just hours before Jacqueline was born.  The 2nd deployment now with three small children, was much more difficult on the home front.  But with a strong faith in God and loving family members, she and the children made it through until Dustin returned home.  Alicia said, 

"Other than the leaving and separation which is hard, I am so grateful that Dustin serves our great country.  He is a wonderful leader in our home and for the men in his unit."

Today, Dustin is currently at the Police Academy where his classmates voted him in as the Class Commander.  He believes in Sheriff Grady Judd's goal and mission and desires to continue to serve our community in the Polk County Sheriff's Department.

Faith Baptist Church is proud to present to Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone and to his wife Alicia and their children, the Medal of Freedom and Citizenship for their heroic service in the United States Army.
   

Others Recognized During "A Tribute to America's Heroes"

• US Army Staff Sergeant Dustin Pantalone
• Firefighter Jim Davis
• Polk County Sheriff's Deputies Michael Weppelman & Mike Bissett
• Mom and Dad ~ Rod & Judy Nyeholt

"The Disciple's Prayer" - A Sermon Series by Pastor Osborne

(image by Sue Whicker)

"If you think prayer is for your benefit you have missed the point.  The reason we pray and the reason God answers is to put Himself and His glory on display.  His glory is the issue."  (Pastor Osborne - from the 1st sermon, Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Pray)

On Sunday morning January 23, 2011, Pastor Osborne began a 12 sermon series on The Disciple's Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.  For convenience, we have gathered links to all of the sermons and also to the PowerPoint notes that went with each sermon.  We hope this will be a blessing to you.

We plan to prepare a DVD package of all of these sermons.  The editing process is long, but it has begun and we hope to have this available sometime this fall. 

1. Jesus Teaches His Disciples to Pray (audio and PPT notes)
2. "Our Father"  (audio and PPT notes)
3. "Hallowed be Thy Name"  (audio and PPT notes)
4. "Thy Kingdom Come"  (audio and PPT notes)
5. "Thy Will Be Done"  (audio and PPT notes)
6. "On Earth As It Is In Heaven"  (audio and PPT notes)
7. "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" - part 1  (audio and PPT notes)
8. "Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread" - part 2  (audio and PPT notes)
9. "Forgive Us Our Debts" - part 1  (audio and PPT notes)
10. "Forgive Us Our Debts" - part 2  (audio and PPT notes)
11. "Lead Us Not Into Temptation"  (audio and PPT notes)
12. "Thine is the Glory"  (audio and PPT notes)

Samson: A He Man with a She Weakness (by Pastor Osborne)

(photo by Paul Cleveland)

Pastor Osborne recently preached a two-part sermon on Wednesday nights entitled Samson:  A He Man with a She Weakness.  You can listen to it on our website:  Part 1 and Part 2.


He gave 5 principles from the life of Samson:

1. Children driven by their sensuous desires can be born of spiritual parents.
2. A sensuous person focuses on the external instead of the internal.
3. The sensuous person usually lives a life of deception.
4. The sensuous life leads to one anxiety after another.
5. Sensuality can lie dormant for years, but it is never dead.

Pastor also gave a list of 12 Negative Consequences of Sexual Sin:

1. Dragging the name of Christ through the mud
2. Hindering the word and advance of the church
3. Untold hurt to my best friend and loyal wife
4. The loss of respect and trust
5. The possibility I could destroy my marriage
6. The loss of respect and credibility with my children
7. The shame brought to my family
8. The shame and hurt to the church
9. An irretrievable loss of years of witnessing
10. The grieving of the Holy Spirit
11. The possibility of contracting a disease
12. The loss of self-respect, discrediting my own name, and embarrassment upon my family

How Does God Measure a Man? (by Pastor Osborne)

How does God measure a man?  Does He span his shoulders to test his strength?  Does he check his height to determine his leadership ability?  Does he measure his head to check his brain capacity?  The obvious answer to all these questions is obviously "no."  God measures a man by the depth of the man's devotion to Him.  God wraps His measuring tape around the heart.

This past Sunday night, we began a series of messages from the life of David with a sermon entitled How God Measures a Man.  In this series, we will come face to face with the man who was a celebrity, was hunted like an animal, was crowned King - all while becoming a husband and father.  We will learn about God's grace that can transform a sinner into a person after God's own heart.

Sunday night's message is now available on our website.  Here are some discussion questions based on Sunday night's message that you can use with your family around the dinner table:

1. Most Christians are at least somewhat familiar with David's life.  What scenes of David's journey that we read about in the Bible come to your mind?
    
2. The people of Israel thought Saul was the best choice to become king of the nation.  On what qualities did they base their choice?  (1 Samuel 9:2; 10:20-24)
    
3. According to your answers to the last question, what does that reveal about the people's motives in choosing Saul to be their king?
    
4. In the sermon, we learned that God based His choice of David on the qualities of spirituality, humility, and integrity.  Do these character qualities usually take us very far in the world today?  Does the world value these character qualities?  If they do, why does it seem so difficult to find men and women who display these traits in their public lives?
    
5. Of these three traits (spirituality, humility, and integrity), which one do you need to develop the most and how will you do it?
    
6. Do you like the idea that God uses solitude, obscurity, monotony, and the reality of His Word to train us to be the kind of people He wants us to be?  Why or why not?

Sermon Archives: Living Water

As you already know (hopefully), Pastor Osborne is preaching his way through the Gospel of John.  Early in the series, on September 27th, 2009, he preached a message from John 4 entitled Living Water.  You can also view the powerpoint notes.

In this message Pastor Osborne examined the Living Water that Jesus offered to the Samaritan Woman.  He concluded with the following five thoughts:

1. A sinner’s greatest need is the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.
2. A believer’s greatest need is to understand and do the will of God.
3. For you who are empty – like the Samaritan woman – God is offering the incredible gift of eternal life through the blood of Jesus Christ.
4. For you who believe – like the disciples – God is offering you the opportunity to do His will and share in the joy of the harvest.
5. We have an incredible Savior – Jesus Christ – who gives us the grace to receive Him and gives us the grace to serve Him.

Sermon Archives: Esther - The Providence of God

In 2007, Pastor Osborne preached a series of 10 sermons through the book of Esther.  Today we would like to draw your attention to that first message in the series.  It was entitled Esther - The Providence of God.  In that message Pastor Osborne brought out three concluding thoughts:

1. If we understand the providence of God, and love the God of providence, we are able to worship Him with the sacrifice of praise He deserves, even when things occur that bring pain and sorrow.
2. We must realize that just as God planned Esther's life, so has God planned ours.  We must learn to ignore the loud noises of our surroundings and listen to the still small voice of providence.
3. We must learn that God, though invisible, is invincible.

You can listen to Esther - The Providence of God at our website or you can download  it to your ipod or mp3 player.  There you will also find all of the messages in the Esther series.  They are listed below:

• Esther - The Providence of God
• Two Beauty Queens
• Strength & Dignity on Display
• Responding to Pain
• The Impact of One Person
• Benefits of Waiting on God
• Things Are Not Always As They Seem
• Being Sensitive to God's Interventions
• Breaking Down Walls
• Out of the Rubble of Regret

Congratulations to Pastor and Jill on 15 Years at FBC

 

March 1st, 2010, marked Pastor and Jill Osborne's 15th anniversary at Faith Baptist Church. We honored them with a special recognition service and gift.  Below you can view pictures from that service as well as a video that was shown.

Defeating the Dark Side - A New Wednesday Night Sermon Series

(from Pastor Osborne)

In the Star Wars movies, Darth Vader represented the dark side of human nature. As believers we try to stay away from the dark side of our lives. We want everyday to be so in love with the Lord and so close to our God. We want to blurt out like Peter, "even if everyone else leaves you, Jesus, I will never leave you." That is a wonderful thought. However, we all know that just a few hours later, Peter fell prey to his dark side and denied Christ three times. Peter's "I'll never leave you" turned into "I never knew the man."

The hymn writer wrote "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love." Every christian I have known faces that struggle. The question that has haunted me and possibly you is "How can I as a christian who is saved from sin, turn around and serve sin?"

On January 6th, we will start a new series of messages during the Bible study time exploring the side of our lives that needs the light of Christ to dispel the darkness. Some topics we will be looking at include:

• The Christian and Sin
• The Biblical Analysis of Pride
  
• When Lust Rears Its Ugly Head
• What About Abortion?
• What Do We Do About Sexual Offenders?
• Spiritual Life Cleansing
• Curing Death
• How to Gain Eternal Life
• Every Life has Sharp Curves
• God's Sovereignty
• What Delivers us from Despair?
• God's Grace

I hope you will join me for this unique series starting this Wednesday night, January 6, 2010. May we learn together how God's light dispels the darkness.

Visit our website to download or listen to all of the messages in Pastor Osborne's Defeating the Dark Side series.