McCarthy Night at the Mustangs Game

We had a great time last night at Phil Welch Stadium here in St. Joe as our church converged on the ballfield to celebrate “McCarthy Baptist Church Night” at the Mustangs game. Despite the incredible humidity, everyone seemed to have a blast–I know my family did. A few of the highlights from the evening were:

Some of the guys from our worship choir sang the National Anthem, while parachutists from the Navy dropped onto the field with the American flag.

 

Jack Flook threw out the first pitch. Yesterday was Jack and Un-Ae’s 31st anniversary, and Jack had flowers for her and the game announcer wished them a “Happy Anniversary” between innings.

Stephen and Crystina Goss participated in a between innings game. Stephen was blindfolded and had to feel the faces of several women, including his wife, and when he thought he found her, give her a kiss on the cheek. Fortunately for him, Stephen found his wife!

 

Ryan Beck, our Student Pastor, participated, ironically, in a between innings game that was sponsored by a local casino. Probably thanks to divine intervention, he did not win.

 

To top it all off, Kelsie, my daughter, lost her first tooth in the 5th inning. She was very excited.

 

Katie and Caleb sharing a sno-cone.

The Psalm 139 Project

As we prepare to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday at McCarthy with Parent/Child dedications in our morning services, my thoughts are drawn to how precious these little lives are, and what a monumental responsibility we have to protect, nurture, and preserve life at every stage of development. To that end, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission is involved in an ongoing effort called the Psalm 139 Project through which they seek to purchase sonogram machines for crisis pregnancy centers. According to the SBC website:

Most women in a crisis pregnancy who are given a glimpse of the life within them choose life, but this is only possible when women can go to a pregnancy resource center with an ultrasound machine. Sonogram machines are expensive, however, and most crisis pregnancy resource centers do not have the funds to buy the equipment or have a medical expert on staff to “read” the output.

There are many ways to be a Champion for Life, and one of them is providing a woman in a crisis pregnancy a “window” into the world of the child she is carrying. This is the intent of the Psalm 139 Project—to aid pregnancy resource centers in securing ultrasound machines.

I encourage you to take a look at the website and consider what you or your church could give. At McCarthy, in leiu of individual gifts for the moms in the congregation, we are giving a gift to the Psalm 139 Project in their honor.

Four Things That Made Sunday Great

Each and every Sunday we gather corporately to worship is special. I try to really prepare my heart for Sunday and never take for granted what it means to gather as the church, the “called-out” ones, and worship our Lord  with my church family. This Sunday was no exception. However, there were some extra-special things that took place that really made my day.

First, we had a fun, God-honoring, note-burning time during the morning worship services. The McCarthy family has faithfully given to pay off a major renovation debt from several years back. The celebration was a real reminder of how God is faithful to meet our needs.  Not even a stubborn lighter that refused to light  (even though it worked mere moments before the beginning of the service!)  could dampen the fun!

Second, a young man who had received Christ a couple of weekends ago at the Missouri R.A. Congress came forward for baptism. It was a joy visiting with he and his mom and hearing first-hand what Christ is doing in his life.

Third, we had a great Deacon ordination council meeting during the afternoon. Ben Creedy confirmed what the Deacon body and others already knew–that he is a godly man with a heart to serve and a love for and knowledge of God’s Word. I think the time of questioning and encouragement was a real reminder to all of us present what a privilege it is to be servant leaders in the local church.

Finally, I got to spend the rest of the afternoon and evening just hanging out with my wonderful wife and kids. We didn’t do much, didn’t accomplish much, but we sure enjoyed being together. After the kids went to bed, Dana and I had time to just relax and talk.

A day doesn’t get much better than that.

Immeasurably More

Tom, top center, with Susan, Josh, and Joe

I’ve been preaching through the book of Ephesians this year at church, and this last Sunday’s passage was what I consider the key to the entire book–chapter 3, verses 14-21. Paul’s prayer that we be “filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” is followed by the key to understanding the purpose of the epistle to the Ephesians:

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!” (verses 20-21)

What made Sunday extra special was that Tom Wilson, our Associate Pastor of Fellowship Groups, led into my message by singing and playing a song that he wrote, entitled “Immeasurably More”. I am so blessed to serve alongside some of the most gifted, faithful, and godly men I know. I hope you’re as blessed by the song as I was.