Monthly Newsletter
October 2024
But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering, upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.
Philippians 2:17
How do you measure success? Accomplishments, accounts, a general sense of well-being or happiness, contentment? As a parent, I came across this a while back and wanted to share it with you. It also illustrates our measure of faithfulness as followers of Jesus.
You can use most any measure
when you're speaking of success.
You can measure it in fancy home,
expensive car or dress.
But the measure of your real success
is one you cannot spend.
It's the way your child describes you
when he's talking to a friend.
As I write this newsletter, my mind is filled with all sorts of amazing thoughts toward the membership of WBC! You are truly and inspiration to me. I have watched you give, invest, serve, and generally pour yourselves into the ministry of the Gospel through Wallburg Baptist Church. I vividly remember preaching the funeral of one of our dear members and encouraging that family that living for Jesus, not self, was what made life matter, and they had the model for that in their departed loved one. We are so privileged to have so many examples of people pouring themselves into what matters. Honoring the Lord in their families, personal lives, jobs and such, is what makes the testimony about Jesus believable.
So many people in our world have bought the lie that “life is meant to be lived.” You, on the other hand, are showing them that life is meant to be spent, and in that you are finding the true joy. So I wanted to continue to encourage you all in this. Nothing is wasted when it is done for the Lord! Your devotion, sacrifices, service, learning, discipling, and living for Jesus are not unnoticed. The people who have made the greatest impact on you were the ones who poured into you, and you are in turn doing that for others.
The Apostle Paul gives us a graphic picture of this life in Philippians 2:17. In those days a sacrifice would be slaughtered and set on fire on the altar. Then in one final touch a small glass of wine would be thrown on the blazing fire and would instantly evaporate as the fire raged. This was symbolic of a life that had little to offer, but when combined with the sacrifice, lost itself wholly in the service. Paul looks at the service of the believers and says in essence, “if I can just be a puff of steam that amplifies the power of your life, then I am happy to be that.”
That kind of selfless, humble and sacrificial attitude is manifested at WBC! And I just wanted to remind you all that you are seen and noticed. Some of you are so far behind the scenes and so regularly at your posts that you may fear you blend in to the point of being unnoticed. But I see you, others see you and most importantly, God sees you.
God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and still ministering to the saints.
Hebrews 6:10
Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly. Jesus tells us our purpose.
“Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”
Mark 8:35
WBC, keep doing what you’re doing for the Lord. It’s working!
Walking with you,
Pastor Brandon
Philippians 2:17
How do you measure success? Accomplishments, accounts, a general sense of well-being or happiness, contentment? As a parent, I came across this a while back and wanted to share it with you. It also illustrates our measure of faithfulness as followers of Jesus.
You can use most any measure
when you're speaking of success.
You can measure it in fancy home,
expensive car or dress.
But the measure of your real success
is one you cannot spend.
It's the way your child describes you
when he's talking to a friend.
As I write this newsletter, my mind is filled with all sorts of amazing thoughts toward the membership of WBC! You are truly and inspiration to me. I have watched you give, invest, serve, and generally pour yourselves into the ministry of the Gospel through Wallburg Baptist Church. I vividly remember preaching the funeral of one of our dear members and encouraging that family that living for Jesus, not self, was what made life matter, and they had the model for that in their departed loved one. We are so privileged to have so many examples of people pouring themselves into what matters. Honoring the Lord in their families, personal lives, jobs and such, is what makes the testimony about Jesus believable.
So many people in our world have bought the lie that “life is meant to be lived.” You, on the other hand, are showing them that life is meant to be spent, and in that you are finding the true joy. So I wanted to continue to encourage you all in this. Nothing is wasted when it is done for the Lord! Your devotion, sacrifices, service, learning, discipling, and living for Jesus are not unnoticed. The people who have made the greatest impact on you were the ones who poured into you, and you are in turn doing that for others.
The Apostle Paul gives us a graphic picture of this life in Philippians 2:17. In those days a sacrifice would be slaughtered and set on fire on the altar. Then in one final touch a small glass of wine would be thrown on the blazing fire and would instantly evaporate as the fire raged. This was symbolic of a life that had little to offer, but when combined with the sacrifice, lost itself wholly in the service. Paul looks at the service of the believers and says in essence, “if I can just be a puff of steam that amplifies the power of your life, then I am happy to be that.”
That kind of selfless, humble and sacrificial attitude is manifested at WBC! And I just wanted to remind you all that you are seen and noticed. Some of you are so far behind the scenes and so regularly at your posts that you may fear you blend in to the point of being unnoticed. But I see you, others see you and most importantly, God sees you.
God is not unjust, so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and still ministering to the saints.
Hebrews 6:10
Charles Francis Adams, the 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. The only way to tell the difference between wasting and investing is to know one's ultimate purpose in life and to judge accordingly. Jesus tells us our purpose.
“Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the Gospel’s will save it.”
Mark 8:35
WBC, keep doing what you’re doing for the Lord. It’s working!
Walking with you,
Pastor Brandon
