![]() When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more, And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair; When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore, And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there. Time is so important to us. I know it sounds so cliché, but I honestly can’t believe it is already October. This year has flown by unusually fast. I hope the first nine months of 2015 have been productive ones. We tend to think about time in the short term; what do I need to do today, or this month or even this year? We hope to make the most of our time, but what about when time will be no more? Isn’t it important for Christians to think about the promise of a morning that is eternal, bright and fair? I want to designate these few lines to reminding you of a glorious eternity that waits for us. Oh, I don’t know when that morning will break, but I do know that it will. It will be wonderful. Not only will we experience no more sorrow, hurt or tears, but we will also experience no more clocks, calendars, or time restraints. Revelation 21: 22-27 tells us of the wonder of eternity, “And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life.” I long for that reality, but I also know there is much work to be done here and now. Although we long for the time when time will be no more, God has called us to minister and live in an age were time is a reality. Part of my role as a pastor is officiating funerals. As I speak with those families grieving their loved ones, I often think that if God allowed us to see the eternity that lies before us in all its glory, we would have no motivation to continue in this life. He has wisely and intentionally left some mystery in our future reality to prevent us from missing the blessing and work of this present life. Let’s commit anew to making the most of our time while it is day. Let’s serve the Lord with gladness and joy all the days of our lives. In Christ, Blain Craig
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Today is the first day of fall. I know the 90 degree temperatures may not feel like fall, but cooler weather should not be far away. Fall is my favorite season, with winter a close second. In the fall, we are back into normal routines after the chaotic schedules of summer. It is a perfect time to start fresh especially when it comes to worship.
Fall is a great time to re-evaluate what is truly important. I want to invite you to our mid-week worship and activities at Oak Crest. There are so many things to do and places to go, but don’t neglect the most important thing. We have a unique opportunity in the middle of the week to pray, learn, and worship. Students and children are studying the Word in-depth. There are activities for everyone. Would you consider gathering with us on Wednesday nights? Our Prayer Meeting and Bible Study begins at 7:00pm. The time we spend together on Wednesday nights is a time of recharging and renewal. I am so thankful God has granted us the privilege of feasting on his Word in the middle of the week. Don’t wait for Sunday to worship with other believers at Oak Crest. Make Wednesday night worship a priority in your life. Two and a half years ago we began a series in the Gospel of Luke. Just now we are arriving at the final week of Jesus earthly ministry and life. It is a perfect time to jump into the series. In Luke 1: 3-4 we read, “it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.” Isn’t that interesting? Luke’s goal was to write an account of the life of Christ so that we might have certainty concerning the things we have been taught. I don’t know about you, but by the time Wednesday rolls around a lot of pressures and stresses from the week have started to pile up. It is a blessing to come together corporately to God’s Word for a boost of certainty. We gather every Wednesday. Would you consider joining us? In Christ, Blain Craig ![]() Acts 1: 8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Although Jesus was speaking to his disciples just before his ascension, his words are still applicable to our situation today. Jesus told his disciples that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit for the cause of evangelism. If you note, the evangelism is to begin right there in Jerusalem and expand throughout the region. Eventually, the gospel message was to be proclaimed throughout the world. This verse is still a perfect mission strategy today. We are first and foremost to be gospel witnesses right here in Midlothian, but not Midlothian alone. Our giving and going is to reach beyond our own city, even to the whole world. Of course, throughout the year we are reminded of our responsibility through offerings like Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong. These offerings go to fund mission efforts throughout North American and the world, but what about Texas. Isn’t it our responsibility and privilege to reach Texas? Yes it is. That is why each year we gladly participate in the Reach Texas State Mission Offering. This year the statewide challenge is 1.3 million dollars. I am so thankful that Oak Crest is part of a state convention devoted to the proclamation of the inerrant Word of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ. By God’s grace, our convention is growing through new churches, and expanding to new regions of the state. Through the Reach Texas offering, we help plant churches throughout the state. The offering also funds both missions mobilization and disaster relief throughout the state. Additionally, the Reach Texas offering helps fund numerous evangelism training opportunities all year long. We live in an amazing state. Texas is a big and diverse state. Consider this, “reports indicate that 16 percent of Texans are foreign born, and 35 percent speak a language besides English at home. More Muslims live in Texas than in any other state, worshipping in some 170 mosques—the largest one in the U.S. to be fully constructed by March 2016 near Houston. The 75038 zip code in Irving is the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the entire country.” The world has truly come to Texas. Since that is the case, it should be clear to all of us that our state is a mission field. That is why 100% of the Reach Texas offering goes to missions and evangelism. Not one bit goes to administration. That is encouraging and God-honoring. Would you prayerfully consider what God would have you give at Oak Crest? Over the next couple of weeks we will emphasize Reach Texas. Would you consider not only giving but praying? Pick up a prayer guide in the foyer. Make next week a week of prayer for Texas missions. Our church goal is $2500. In Christ, Blain Craig ![]() I have very little confidence that anyone reads these articles, but I do hope this one is the exception. As I prepare the sermon for this coming Sunday, I feel there are some things that we should be reminded of that I don’t want to take a lot of time to say on Sunday morning. The passage we will be hearing from is when Paul speaks with the Thessalonians about the coming of the Lord. I have always loved the study of the end times. It has fascinated me for as long as I can remember. In my teen years, my constant fascination with eschatology came close to sinful obsession. I remember being 12 or 13 and asking my youth minister if he believed in a pre-tribulation, mid-tribulation, or post-tribulation rapture. Looking back I’m not sure he knew what I was talking about, or he thought I was the weirdest kid he had ever met. After 20 years in the ministry, I realize I am not the only one who is curious about end times. I remember vividly the day I came in view of a call at Oak Crest. We had a joint Sunday School session for Q/A. If it was not the very first question, it had to be the second or third, but my wonderful brother, Ken Rowland, asked me if I believed the rapture would be before or after the tribulation. I remember thinking to myself, “well this is it! This seems like a nice church, but my journey here is done! If I answer this question honestly, I probably won’t make it to the car before being stoned!” Well I did answer honestly and as thoroughly as time allowed. You called me anyway. I am saying all of this to remind you that as important an issue the timing of the rapture is, it is not to be a point of division. It is one of those third level issues that we can disagree on and gladly remain in fellowship. I plan to preach the text Sunday morning as plainly and as clearly and as faithfully as I can. I am asking you to pray with me that God will protect all of us from error or misunderstanding as we look at a passage of Scripture that has been interpreted in different ways. Regardless of the timing of events around Jesus’ Second Coming, the simple, absolute truth is that he IS coming again. This is our great and blessed hope, the resurrection. In Christ, Blain Craig |
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November 2024
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