Spiritual B-Day

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2Cor.5:17)

When you think of your most memorable birthday what comes to mind? A particular party you were given? A new car? A special card someone wrote and gave you?

I can remember the most memorable birthday I ever had and it had nothing to do with a new car, a card, or anything like that. This gift was different and it was special. As a matter of fact, I can remember when I was born-actually born-again. Ten years ago today I received the gift of salvation given to me from Jesus Christ. Ever since that "spiritual birthday" I've never been the same. I've had my "ups and downs", victories and defeats, but Christ has given me the strength to continue on triumphantly.

What about you? Have you received that gift? Have you forgotten about that gift? Do you still appreciate that gift?

Thank you Jesus for changing my life ten years ago!

Sharing of Resources

“All the believers were agreed in heart and mind. They didn't claim that anything they had was their own. They shared everything they owned. With great power the apostles continued their teaching. They gave witness that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. And they were greatly blessed by God. There were no needy persons among them. From time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them. They brought the money from the sales. They put it down at the apostles' feet. It was then given out to anyone who needed it.” (Acts 4:32-34)

Did you notice in the above passage that in the early church we read about in Acts there were “no needy persons among them.” Why was that? And why don’t we see that today? The reason there were “no needy among them” was because nobody claimed that their possessions were there own! How far have we come from that day in time? Quiet the opposite! We see popular Christian TV where people are literally braggin about there “big houses, cars, horses, and so and and so on! Guess what? It’s not yours, its Gods and we must give an account of how we used our resources to help others!

Earlier in the year my family was given a prophetic word during a very difficult transition in our lives. We were told to write down the date of this particular day the word was given because one year from then we would look back and be amazed at what God has done! Well guys, we are barely 6 months from that word and let me share with you what God had done. He has placed me in full-time ministry at a phenomenal God-fearing church. He has allowed Jodi to minister at home with our daughter plus allow her to be on staff with me here at church. Many of you know that God gave us a small house and 8 ½ acreas 5 years ago. It is a private beautiful place out in the country but the living conditions aren’t the best. As a matter of fact many living in different countries have lived better. With a 90 year old house come 90 year old problems. We have not had central air/heat for the past 5 years. God spoke to some young brothers/sisters within our small group and they have blessed us with not only central air/heat but we wil begin soon on renovating our entire house! Praise be to God! I wish I had the time to testify about all the great things God has done! Great is His faithfulness!

What if we were a church (as a whole) with no “needy” among us because the giving and sharing of our resources were so great? I’m honored to be apart of a body where there is an abundance of giving done “quietly” and without letting the “left hand no what the right is doing.”

Doing more yet becoming less

"As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord's feet, while listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." (Luke 10:38-42)

Far too many of us resemble Martha than we do Mary. We live in such a fast pace world that we hardly take the time to just stop, rest, and listen. It was said that Martha was "distracted" by the big dinner she was preparing. What was she distracted from? What really mattered! She was distracted from sitting at her Lord's feet! Yes, she was doing important things! I mean, someone had to make the meal right? Someone had to do all the "ministry" and work right? When she complained to Jesus he responded to her by saying, "You are worried and upset over all these details. There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it." So what was it Mary discovered? The right time and place to sit at the Lord's feet-to listen! If we aren't careful the noises of this life will choke out the voice of the Lord! Even in ministry we take pride in being "busy" and doing so many "good" things. We must remember our first ministry is upward before it is outward! It is unto God before it is unto man! The great commandment comes before the great commission! Please help us Lord not to be so busy doing more that we start becoming less of the man or woman of God you have called us to be. Help us to be good stewards of our time. Help us to know when to say "no". Help us God to slow down or even stop so we can make sure we don't miss what trully matters-spending time listening to you.

Church alive and well

It has been so good to be back to my "roots" here on this campus. To be apart of Claiborne Christian School and Family Church is such a very humbling opportunity.

This past Sunday Family Church celebrated 30 years of ministry (1977-2007) since Pastor Michael and Vicki O'Neal first accepted the call to pastor a small church in West Monroe. It had been around only eight years earlier (1969) and had already seen five different pastors. When Pastor O'Neal took over there were only 23 members but the resulting growth is unbelievable. Family Church now sits at 1,245 members and continues to grown in health and size.

Family Church is a church that is dedicated to becoming fully devoted disciples of Christ and puts a tremendous focus on the family which we believe is truly at the heart of God. It is a church that has not swayed, shifted, or moved from the pure word of God. It is a church that is dedicated to staying focused on eternal things, to love people, to be devoted to prayer and the word of God, to bridle the tounge, to pursue God with passion, to raise up Godly families, and be given to the work of God! It is an exciting body to be apart of!

Sunday morning was a celebration of what all GOD has done in people's lives the past 30 years and what He is going to do the next 7-10 years. The presence of God was so very strong in the service! I encourage you to go watch the service at www.familychurch.org You can go to family media to watch it.

Have a great week!

Crazy Start!

Okay, my head is spinning very fast now! The past two weeks of my life has been extremely busy. This past Monday Claiborne Christian School started which means I got underway teaching 6th and 8th grade Bible. As of next week the school will also start chapel services which I have the honor of leading as campus pastor. I'm excited to see what God has in store for the next year.

Monday morning I was able to have breakfast with one of my most favorite people in the world-Pastor Michael O'Neal. I have never in my life been around someone that lives and preaches as closely to the word of God than that man of God does. He is trully one of my "heros". I soak up every word that comes out of his mouth because wisdom flows from it.

Today the high school goes to Jimmie Davis State Park on Caney Lake where we will have a three day spiritual retreat to begin the school year. I will have the honor of speaking to them during Thursday night's service.

Tonight, we will have our first service @ E3 Student Ministries of Family Church to kick of the new school year as well. We are excited about having the new junior high students attend for the first time!

This Sunday we will have a special service at Family Church. We will be celebrating what God has done and the lives He has changed since he brought Pastor Michael and Mrs. Vicki O'Neal to Family Church thiry years ago. I will have the wonderful and humbling opportunity to share a little of my story on how God changed my life ten years ago at CCS. We are excited to be apart of what God is going to do in and through Family Church the next ten years.

Being able to focus on the kingdom full-time now has fulfilled me more than words can express. Being able to focus everyday on influencing the lives of young people will matter for eternity.

This Sunday night I have the opportunity to influence the people that matter most to me-Jodi and Gracen. He has blessed me with a beautiful daughter and wife to enjoy this journey we call life.

Have a great week!

The greatest in the kingdom of heaven

"At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1-4)

When the world speaks of "greatness" what word or words come to mind? Making it "big" in business? Accumulating wealth? Climbing up the social or corporate ladder? Power, prestige, popularity? The world does have many definitions of greatness but what about the kingdom of God? When we speak of "greatness" in that aspect what comes to mind? Being able to speak well? Being "cool"? Praying great prayers? Seeing sick healed? All of these are important but what exactly did Jesus consider being great was in the kingdom of heaven? In one instance Jesus talked about anyone wanting to be great must become a servant but here in Matthew 18 he gave us another example of what being great in the kingdom of heaven was all about.

Can you imagine what it must have looked like as the disciples asked him (Jesus), "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" They each must have thought to themselves, "It must be me!" "After all, I've seen more sick healed. I pray more than anyone else. I've given more to the poor. I've done great things for God."

Jesus knowing there thoughts, astounded them as he pulled someone else from the crowd to use as an example. Peter? James? John? As great as these men of God were he didn't pull them out, but someone much different-a child. In fact Jesus said a few things as he had the child stand in front of them all; "...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God."

So how about it? Are we changing? Are we becoming more like children? He wasn't talking about becoming more childish but childlike in our faith! There are so many things and mysteries of the kingdom we can learn from little children. May we take notice of them today and change so that we can become great in God's kingdom.

Have a great day!

Joseph and David (word study)

Other than Christ Himself, my two favorite people in the Bible are Joseph (Genesis 37-50) and David (the sheppard and king). Joseph, because of his brokenness, willingness to forgive others, persistence, and willingness to trust God. David, because of His heart for God, comeback from failure, and the way God saw Him when others couldn't. I've just started a study in David's life now.

The story of Joseph opens up in Genesis 37 and concludes in Genesis 50. May I point out some things that were revealed to me through Gods word?

1. Joseph had a dream given to him from God.

• The dream wasn't something Joseph mustered up but was from heaven itself. It wasn't a self-centered dream but one that was directly connected to the kingdom of God.

2. The Lord gave the dream to Joseph when he was a young boy of 17 years of age but it didn't come to pass until he was around 30 years of age.

• He had to be broken and there had to be things he would have to go through before it (the dream) manifested. There had to be a "time table" involved.

3. Joseph was a man of forgiveness.

• Anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness are dream killers! Satan uses them to prevent the will of God happening in your life and calling! Many have fallen pray to the bait! He was betrayed by his own family. He could have been offended at God for allowing him to go to prison b/c of his righteousness (when he rejected Potiphor's wife for sex). He could have gotten offended when the chief cupbearer forgot him in prison after he had promised not to.

4. Joseph persevered even in his darkest trials!

• Joseph could have doubted his "dream" and/or his calling but he dared to trust God!

5. God promoted Joseph!

• We must remember that it is "God who lifts and man up and brings another down." It is God who promotes us in our lives and ministry no matter what the devil may do to stop that from happening!

6. Dream comes to pass!

• As Joseph's brothers bowed low before him and the other things transgressed the dream came to pass in it's proper time.

7. Joseph wept.

• A broken man Joseph did not retaliate (yea, he had a little fun at first) but received his family back with love and forgiveness.

8. If Joseph wouldn't have seen the hand of God in his situation he would have become bitter.

• Joseph told his brothers, "You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Gen. 50:20)

As my pastor would say there are many "cribs of corn to shuck" in that story but I wanted to share just a few that stood out to me.

What has God called you to do? What "dream" has he given you? Are you willing to go through the things that you must go through before they come to pass? Believe and trust God and they will!

Have a great week!

Love of Father

(Pictured to the left is my beautiful daughter Gracen Hope Payne)

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!" (I John 3:1)

I can't even begin to explain to you the joy that is within me when I look at this picture to your left. For those of you who have children you know what I'm talking about. There is a love inside of you that is very hard to explain. As much as I love my daughter it pales in comparison to the love that our heavenly father has for his children.

Do you not know that if you are born again God calls you His child? Is that not amazing!? As a matter of fact so that you could become His child He gave up His first son so that you and I could become His children! Even more amazing! I can't even begin to think about giving up my child for ANYONE let alone someone ungrateful, sinful, rebellious, etc. But that is what Christ did! He gave His son even when He knew people would mock Him, reject Him, and kill Him just so He could adopt you and I as His very own kids! What a father of love! What a dad!

If and when you ever doubt our God's love stop and take a look at a child...maybe even your child. Remember what He gave!

Family Night...

*Pictured from top left to right is Jodi and Gracen at McAllister's, Gracen "pooped" after an evening at the park, me helping Gracen out with a few sips of sweet tea, and finally Jodi and Gracen taking a swing at Kiroli Park.

Once a month we have "Family Night" here at Family Church. We are encouraged to spend quality time that evening with just our family. It is the vision of the house to see families function biblically. There has been a major meltdown within the home over the past 50 years and we want to see families get back to functioning the way God designed them to function-biblically.

My family spent our time at Kiroli Park swinging, walking the trails, and then going to my favorite place, McAllister's, to have a nice family meal.

Embracing Change

Working with Middle School students there is a word that describes this "season" in their lives that they experience between the 6th-8th grades-change. Puberty, growth spurts, increased attraction to the opposite sex, stronger desire to "fit-in", peer pressure increase, emotional "ups and downs", several changes that these young people will be experiencing through the next several years. Some exciting but some very uncomfortable for them.

My family and I have been through many changes this year. Some were very uncomfortable, some very exciting, and some a little scary. Change is difficult sometimes but we need to embrace change not shy down from it. Change can be a wonderful thing! Change can be a learning experience! Change can grow our character!

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven.."

So what "changes" or "seasons" are you experiencing right now in your life? Ask God what it is he wants to do through these changes and allow you to learn and grow during them.

Mature or still a babe?

"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing." (I Peter 3:8-9)

As we read the above verse and break down what is being said can we answer the following questions honestly? Are you living in harmony with others? Are you being sympathetic towards others? Are you compassionate and humble? These are commands from the word of God! If we are striving towards full devotion we must abide by them! Is it easy to live in harmony with others? Is it always easy to love and be humble? Not exactly but Christ has given us the power through Him to do these things.

When people pay you evil are you tempted to do evil back? When people insult you (yes even Christians) do you retaliate and throw insults back? If we do we are putting ourselves on the same level as the one doing the insulting. We deceive ourselves if we think we are anything less than worldly and babes in Christ! When people say and do evil to us we are to repay them not with the same evil or insult but with blessing! We are called to do this!

Leave outcomes to Christ who alone knows all and is the one who is completely just!

Lions, Bears, and Goliaths

"David said to Saul, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him." Saul replied, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine; you are only a boy, and he has been a fighting man from his youth." But David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumsized Philistine will be like one of them , because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine." (I. Samuel 17:32-37)

David spoke these words to Saul after days of Goliath's threats to Israel. Because of David's youth Saul didn't believe he had the power or ability to stand up to Goliath. What Saul failed to realize is that this wasn't David's "first rodeo". You see God had been preparing David for this moment for a long time. He had been preparing him through battle's with lions and bears. David had spent a many of "lonely" nights with sheep in a field praying to God and worshiping Him when no one else was around. He was ready for this test because he had already been through the training!

When we are faced with the Goliath's in our lives we should be prepared and ready to fight. Why? Because we have been preparing for that very moment. We have spent hours in our prayer closest. We have sacrificed many of meals in fasting to the Lord. We have spent energy and heart worshiping God even when it hurt. We are more than prepared for the Goliath that stands in our paths!

So is the same for us.

Kids Camp

( A recent trip to the Board Walk in Shreveport, LA with some awesome people from my small group)

This Sunday we will take 170 Family Church kids, staff, and volunteers to Jimmie Davis State Park on Caney Lake for this years 2007 Kids Camp. I'm excited yet alittle anxious because I don't know that I've ever done a "Kids Camp" before but hey, I get a wondeful excuse to act completely like a kid again. Sometimes thats not too hard to do.

Please be in prayer for us as it will be a 5 Day long event.

Blessings,

Beck

Busyness

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-38)

Why do so many people burn out in ministry? Why do so many people burn out in life? Why are so many people so tired all the time? Although many answers could be given to these questions I believe one main reason for burnout is we as Christians can stay so busy. So what is wrong with that? Aren't we being productive? Aren't we doing "ministry"? Aren't we expanding the kingdom?

So much emphasis these days is put on the "doing" (ministry) instead of the "being" (our relationship to God and holiness). You see we can keep our schedule so full sometimes that we begin to neglect what is the most important relationship we will ever have-our relationship to God. We begin to become spiritually empty, dry, and void while we are dressed in our religiousity. We spend time with others "ministering" while our time with God becomes less and less. Also, other very important relationships begin to suffer including your relationship to your husband, wife, or children. Do we win others all the while losing those closest to us in the name of God? Doesn't the Bible talk about managing our own homes before we can manage others (the church)? You can't live for God on an empty tank. Eventually you will run out.

I encourage you today to stop and see where you are placing most of your time, energy, and efforts. Maybe it is time to reevaluate some things?

*Please pray for us tonight as we minister the hope of Christ in the jail ministry this evening.

Continue Faithful

"...but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition."
(I. Thessalonians 2:2)

Many times through life when we experience resistance or opposition we tend to back off or even quit. Many a Christians overseas are facing continual opposition on a daily basis that refuse to let up, back down, or throw their hands up in frustration. They continue to be loyal and faithful to their king.

Paul and his colleagues in ministry found this same opposition when preaching the gospel to the church of the Thessalonians but did he back off? We have been taught in our thinking that Jesus caused no problems and always brought peace everywhere he went. Just loving Jesus not wanting to stir anything up. That isn't true at all. As a matter of fact it was the opposition of the gospel he preached that put Him on the cross!

So I encourage you today...Yes you will at times experience resistance when preaching the gospel but be faithful! Remember, it is God you are trying to please...not man. Preach on!

We have returned from our New Orleans Mission. For messages, videos, testimonies, worship, etc. go to www.familychurch.org then to Family TV & Media. There you will find Youth Retreat-New Orleans-Steve Hubbard where you can watch the service from your computer. Enjoy!

Beck

New Orleans Mission

I just returned from our Mission to inner city New Orleans, LA and I wish I had the space to write all of the events that touched my life.

A few things that touched my heart were:

1) To see the devastation from hurricane Katrina
2) Swim, play, etc. with the inner city kids in the projects
3) Rebuild homes that hadn't been touched in 1 1/2
4) To see teenagers work in unity and reflect teamwork
5) Ate fried chicken in a family's home in the projects
6) Built relationships with teenagers and youth workers
7)See people the way Christ does

As I walked in the first home we were to clean up it was dark, damaged, destroyed, and broken. As I was placing the damaged items in my wheel barrel cleaning it up I realized something...that house looked alot like some peoples lives I've seen. It looked alot like mine when Christ found me...Maybe it looked like yours...dark, destroyed, damaged, and needing restored. Just as we were cleaning that dirty house I reflected on how Christ came to clean our house...our lives...our hearts...through the blood of His son Jesus Christ and the work of the great Holy Spirit.

The Sunday service yesterday was all student lead and I should have up the link within the next week.

Thanks for praying with us.

I love you,

Beck

Silence

"Silence"

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls. -Mother Teresa

"In the morning, long before sunrise, Jesus went to a place where he could be alone to pray." (Mark 1:35)

Jesus Christ knew the priority and importance prayer should have in our lives. We live in such a "blow and go" society that if not careful we will miss those "quiet times" we so desperately need. Even in ministry we try to justify being "too busy" but we must remember our first ministry is upward to Christ before it is outward to people.

Find some silence today. Be blessed!

Beck

New Orleans Mission Trip

We (Family Church) will be taking the students in the youth ministry to New Orleans, Louisiana where we will be doing a week long mission trip. We will be staying at YWAM (Youth With A Mission) and will be doing practical ministry like rebuilding homes but also ministering spiritually to the needs of the people who were devestated by Hurricane Katrina.

Please be in prayer for all who will be involved in this week long mission. We will be leaving Monday June 25 and will be returning Friday June 29th.

Blessings

Update...

As many of you know my family and I have been diligently seeking God's direction for our lives this year. God has given us a very humbling opportunity to be apart of the staff at Family Church of West Monroe.

On July 1st I will become the new Junior High Pastor and also teach Bible/Chapels for Claiborne Christian School this upcoming school year. My wife Jodi will continue to stay home with our daughter but will also be apart of the Wednesday Night Children's Ministry.

We are very excited and would ask that you continue to pray for us.

You can reach me by email now at beck@familychurch.org

Thank you to those who faithfully stood with us in prayer these past few months as God was in the process of opening the right doors.

May God Bless you!