AnthonyFosterPhD

We watched the stream of Pastor Fred's memorial service yesterday as it was happening. I have watched video of similar broadcasts, but this one was different in that we were able to identify with what our friends were experiencing as it was happening. I was really proud of the way Cindy glorified God in her eulogy. She did much good in her affirmation of the body there and in here modeling of self control and grace. Joy in the death of a loved one is such a bittersweet paradox, yet she displayed it to a watching world powerfully and peacefully. We continue to pray for our friends at FBCM- for as the pastor who is speaking this weekend alluded, hard times are still ahead. the memory of what happened last sunday will linger on and it will be a challenge to some more than others to focus on the priority of worship. God's grace is sufficient in even this.

Here's one from KMOV VIDEO KSDK

I wrote this for the Spring Production at First Baptist Maryville back in 2001. I was reminded of the theme by the stories on the FBCM site. May we all be as faithful and bold a witness to our communities and places we are called to serve as Fred was to his calling! God Stories Our Life is a story God writes day by day-(Phil 1:6) A journal of joy and a drama display'd (Jer. 27-28, Luke 22:17-19) He creates a canvas and on it He paints (Prov 7:3) A perplexing picture of sinners made saints (1 Cor. 1:28, Romans 5-6) We are living letters that tell of God's grace (2 Cor 3:2-3) He speaks in and out and through all of our days (Col 3:16, Acts 17:28) He molds us and makes us a true masterpiece (Job10:9, Phil 2:12)) A masterwork made for His glory's increase. (Eph 2:10) The story's no fable, just let it unfold (1 Tim 4:7) For a story's no story unless it is told (Psalm 26:7) For ears long to hear, eyes are longing to see (Romans 10:14) The mystery revealed in you and in m

This message on the FBCM site touched us and I thought I would point others to it. It is a great testimony of the difference the Peace that passes all understanding makes...Look for : Submitted by: Sheila Satterthwaite at 4:12:17 PM on 03/11/2009 ...

This is a time of grief and horror for so many of my friends. If I, who cut ties with FBCM as part of my journey years ago am so affected by this-- how much more must they be? I remember once telling Fred just after 9/11 that I wish I had a rocket launcher- I sort of feel that way again today.Anger, rage, deep sadness, and loss. Just like building muscle means breaking it down first, there is an analogy with spiritual growth. Maybe there will come some fruit from all this but it is surely hard to fathom how at this point in time. What men work for evil, God works for good. Sounds like Terry Sedlacek's lawyer is setting up an insanity plea according to press releases. Sounds like the parents knew he was mentally ill and still allowed him to brandish guns and knives. I've been praying for the Winters family today and pondering the shootings that have been occurring across the country in the past few months. Now we are hearing that Sunday was designated Death Day by the assailant

The image of Jesus taking His seat at the right hand of God is taken from Ps 110:1 where David writes... The LORD (God the Father) says to my Lord (God the Son): "Sit at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet." Comment: Literally this begins "Yahweh said to Adonai". David records a remarkable conversation between two Persons of the Godhead. This Messianic psalm is quoted as such at least 12 times in the NT. In Mt 22:43-45 Christ specifically applies Psalm 110:1 to Himself claiming that He is not just the son of David but David's Lord. In short, Psalm 110 pictures the Messiah as King, Priest and victorious Warrior. This is the one who is our warrior in trying times such as this. He is the Great High Priest who sits down in satisfaction after accomplishing his work, and who continues to intercede for us. He is the King who rules with earth as his footstool. He is the warrior who is mighty to save and who is on our side.

Thoreau said many years ago that the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation. The silence is being broken all too often these days as shootings are regularly taking place in places no one could have anticipated. Garden Grove...Knoxville...New Jersey...now Maryville. Recently the state of Arkansas considered eliminating a law that forbade the carrying of concealed weapons in churches. Gratefully, reason prevailed and the bill failed. This context of shootings in a place where people come to cast themselves before God makes the tragedy even more unfathomable. Or perhaps not- there is likely something subconciously or even overtly symbolic in these actions No matter the motive, a choice was made and a life is gone. A family is devastated, a community changed by a single bullet. I must agree with those who say this is an assault in a spiritual war against the body of Christ. All around us we discern an encroaching darkness, a disregard for the value of human life and a desensitizing

Read about it here.. . I may review later... depending on whether I can bring myself to watch it with purity of justification. I sure won't be able to on grounds of edification of the saints... though social commentary is important for us to stomach. I tend to adhere to the philosophy that the world throws enough images and sounds at me intended to scar my psyche- so I don't want to intentionally add to that. Pretty good principle to live by, I think, though it certainly limits my cultural engagement these days. http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/reviews/2009/watchmen.html

I've been availing myself to information on the effects of Lyme disease . My Dad had Lyme disease at one point, but was cured of it. Some of the press is focusing on the mental illness of the assailant allegedly caused by the disease, and others are alleging Satanic attack. Which is true? Both? Neither? Is one related to the other? To read some accounts, the tick is really the culprit. In reality, the effects of the Fall do trace back to the garden and continue to this day. There certainly is such a thing as evil. Satan is alive and well. It seems absurd to even have to verbalize this truth given the state of the world. Disease and mental illness are real and often confused with demon possession. They are often treatable and we praise God for the wisdom of doctors who can help in cases like this. So much is yet to be revealed in this case and we look forward to focusing on the solution- and not affixing the blame from our finite point of view. We all want to get inside the head

My ethnoid and sphenoid sinuses that is. They hurt. Must be due to all the work I did trimming trees and bushes this weekend in the wind....

This one tracks the worldview changes in Christians over the past thirteen years.

This is not a surprise, but informative--- see AP story.

As I was on my way to Church yesterday, it never occurred to me that anything was amiss. I taught a lesson on Hebrews 1:3, had some good conversations and discussion, and we went out to Red Lobster. Upon arriving at home we had phone calls from friends in Illinois telling us the news that Fred Winters had been shot. It took a while for the shock to subside, and even then it seemed surreal. We spent the day following up on news, calling to express our concern, and discussing the events as they were revealed throughout the day. We had ministered at First Baptist Maryville for over six years, alongside Fred, supporting the ministry there in anyway we could, from hanging drywall to teaching for him on Wednesday nights, working with the video and drama ministries, teaching Sunday School and just about anything else one can imagine. We had different philosophies of ministry, but were still able to minister together for that time until we felt the call to move to Bethel Baptist in Troy, Il-