November, 2015

“...encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I Thessalonians 5:11

Pottawatomie-Lincoln Baptist Association, Shawnee, OK ~ Dr. Russell R. Cook, Director of Missions Vol. 19, No. 11

EXECUTIVE

BOARD

The next regular meeting will be

February 8, 2016

Association

Website

www.plba.org

November 1 Daylight

Savings Ends

Association Office Closed

Wednesday, November 11

for Veteran’s Day

and November

25 & 26 for

Thanksgiving

Association Christmas Banquet Tuesday, December 1, 6:30 p.m.

OBU ~ Geiger Center Featuring: The Bison Glee Club

$10 per person

Retired Pastors & Widows are free of charge

Please RSVP by Monday, November 23

Call 405-273-4558

2015 Lottie Moon Christmas Offer ing

Week of Prayer for International Missions ~ Nov. 29-Dec. 6

AND BECAUSE YOU GIVE, IMB HELPS CHURCHES SEND MISSIONARIES TO THE BILLIONS WHO HAVE YET TO HEAR.

PLBA WOMEN

It seems like just yesterday when we were thinking, talking and writing about the 2014 Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. How is it that a year can go by so fast? And how is it that life can be so unpredictable? After spending many years in the same home as Jesus, and walking with Him during His earthly ministry, James, His brother, left us with some very good counsel. To the unpredictability of our lives, James says,

“You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” (James 4:14-15).

Has your life handed you some unexpected, unpredictable experiences this year? Probably so! I would never have predicted that one of our churches would disband only to leave way for a new church to start. I would never have predicted that I would complete my nineteenth interim pastorate. I would never have predicted that my daughter, mother of four, would have a thyroid-ectomy that revealed cancer and undergo iodine radiation therapy-all at the same time preparing to move to Phoenix, Arizona with her husband’s new pastorate. I would never have expected my close cousin who was my age to die of pancreatic cancer. I never expected that our closest friends for 40 years would move from Dallas to Houston-yet another four hours away from Shawnee. I never expected to become an insulin dependent, type 2 diabetic. Yes, life has been filled with experiences that I did not expect. But God has known and planned them all. So, I must only say, “If the Lord wills, I will live and also do this or that.” Blessed be the name of the Lord! When it comes to “wrapping up” this holiday season, I hope you’ll join me in this prayer,

“If I live, I live, for the Lord, or if I die, I die for the Lord; therefore whether I live or die, I am the Lord’s” (cf Romans 14:7-9).

Encouragingly Yours, Russell Cook

“STEPPING OUT OF GOD’S WILL Deuteronomy 4

Moses was warning God’s people not to step out of His will when they finally entered into the promised land. Several times in Deuteronomy 4 he says, “give heed to yourself” (v. 9), “watch yourselves” (v. 15), “watch yourselves” (v. 23). So what are we to watch for? How do we know when we are stepping out of God’s will?

I. When we STOP LISTENING TO GOD’S WORDS (v. 1 “...listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you…”)

cf. vv. 6, 10, 33. II. When we START CHANGING GOD’S WORDS (v. 2 “You shall not add

to the word which I am commanding you, nor take away from it…”) cf. II Timothy 3:16 III. When we STOP OBEYING GOD’S WORD (vv. 5-6 “…you should do

thus in the land… so keep and do them…”) cf. Deut. 11:28 and 28:15-19 IV. When we STOP PRAYING (v. 7 “For what great nation is there that has

a god so near to it as is the Lord our God whenever we call on Him?”) cf. Deut. 9:26 V. When we STOP SHARING GOD’S WORD (v. 9 “Only give heed to your-

self and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen…make them known to your sons and your grandsons.”)

We know we’re stepping out of God’s will when: 1. We stop listening to God’s Word (preached & taught). 2. We want to change God’s Word (to justify our sin or condition). 3. We stop obeying God’s Word (ignoring or rebelling against His com- mands). 4. We stop praying by God’s Word (no confession, thanksgiving, petitions). 5. We stop witnessing of God’s Word (family, friend, the world).

— rrc

It Might Preach! A Nugget From My Spiritual Journey...

NOVEMBER…a month to focus on “thankfulness,” which sends my mind all over the place. I am literally overwhelmed at how much I have for which to be thankful! Of course my salvation in Jesus Christ is #1. Beyond that, God’s pa-tience and graciousness to forgive me over and over and over for sins that occur in my life and His willingness to always teach me new ways to become more like Him are continually amazing. I am also thankful for the family He has given me. First, my parents and sister, and then in later years, the addition of a loving husband, three chil-dren and their three mates, and seven grandchildren. I am so grateful for our strong and loving marriages. Although we stand in constant need of improvement, I am blessed that we all love Him and each other! For the years I have been privileged to serve the Lord in many ministry roles, I am humbled that God would have in His plan to use one of the shyest little girls on earth to share with others His love for them. I would have never guessed that God would stretch and use me beyond my wild-est imaginations and that He would “loose” my shy tongue, both literally and through writing, so that I could have the joy of teaching and sharing with others His great love. As an American citizen, I am also amazed at how patient God is being with us as a nation. Reflecting upon both the history of our nation and the current events I see today, I am “blown away” that God has not already let His very heavy hand of judgment fall upon us. Never a perfect nation, yet based upon the Judeo-Christian laws of God’s Holy Word, we have come a long ways from that basis and literally deserve His judgment for our national sin(s). Yet, because of the remnant of His people here and because of His gracious patience, we are still here. Let us never forget that we are “…one nation, under God…” and be thankful that He has con-tinued to allow us to be so.

Marsha Cook, Director

Baptist Women World Day of Prayer Monday, November 2, 2015 @ 10 a.m.

First Baptist Church, Tecumseh Everyone is invited to join in prayer for the world.

For more information please call 405-598-3778

Mission Celebration November 9, 2015

Southern Hills Baptist Church, OKC 2:00 p.m.—6:15 p.m.

Celebration Dinner @ 4:30 Meal Cost $15 ~ Everyone must register for the meal.

Word of Encouragement

November 2015

BGCO 2015 Annual Meeting

Monday ~ 6:15 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Tuesday Morning ~ 9:15 a.m.-Noon

Tuesday Afternoon ~ 1:45 p.m.-5:00 p.m.

1 Daylight Savings Ends 2 Baptist Women’s World Day Of Prayer FBC Tecumseh 7 My Hope with Billy Graham 9 Ethnic Pastor’s Dinner 9-10 BGCO Annual Convention-Southern Hill, OKC 11 Veteran’s Day Association Office Closed 12 VBS Jumpstart, FBC Edmond 25-26 Thanksgiving Association Office Closed 29-Dec 6 Lottie Moon IMB Week of Prayer Dec 1 PLBA Christmas Banquet-OBU Geiger Center 6:30 p.m.

Association Website — www.plba.org

Budget Receipts

TOTAL CHECKING AND SAVINGS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR Beginning Bal. Income Expense Ending Bal. 9-1-15 9-30-15 Budget $44,123.51 17,973.68 20,180.53 $41,916.66 Designated $181,979.40 $179,659.39 Total Monies $226,102.91 $221,576.05

Churches listed in red are Pastorless

PASTORS CHURCH Sept. ‘15 YTD Roger Shaw Agra, FBC 397.30 3,907.11 Dale Griffin, Int. Asher, FBC 213.82 1,564.00 Larry Sparks Blackburn Chapel 520.73 2,744.01 Albert May Carney, FBC 109.61 1,299.56 Rick Blackwell Chandler, FBC 1,040.80 7,766.39 Keith Henley Chandler Southern 294.17 2,633.52 Doug Parker Dale 27.49 320.39 Mike Mitchell Davenport, FBC 774.47 5,624.07 Mike Haines Deer Creek 277.60 2,648.12 Mark Streetman Earlsboro, FBC .00 300.00 Galen Greenwalt Earlsboro Indian Mission 93.29 769.79 Wayne Knight Fairview 156.68 1,100.72 Dan Campbell Faith 369.78 2,713.18 Jeff Bruton Forest .00 .00 Lee Witt Hazel Dell 387.45 3,121.36 Tuney Ropp Hillside 1,054.22 10,017.04 Gary Nickerson Hilltop 320.20 4,731.02 Bryan Cook Hopewell .00 .00 Billy Benson Macomb 112.00 1,442.69 Mike Hazelwood Mammoth 414.00 2,974.00 Bobby Shatto Maud, FBC .00 200.15 Butch Bradley Maud, Trinity 167.13 1,601.92 Shawn Crawley McLoud, Covenant Hope 171.81 171.81 Doug Henson McLoud, Emmanuel 424.71 4,676.12 Jerry Gray McLoud, Emmaus .00 949.67 Matt Halsted McLoud, FBC 91.48 694.60 Joe Jones Meeker, FBC 313.22 2,379.23 Jerry Jackson Morning Star 100.00 450.00 R.J. Stokes Mt. Pleasant .00 109.25 Jimmy Reed Newalla, New Life 700.95 6,364.71 Ed Moore Newalla, Pecan Valley 104.59 700.96 Mike Collyer Pink 295.15 2,619.38 Jim Morningstar Pioneer .00 352.00 Nathan Howard Pleasant Home 193.31 1,447.62 Tim Emmons Prague, FBC 471.20 4,269.73 Danny Napier, Int. Rock Creek 858.14 7,076.11 Gaspar Reyes Rock Creek Spanish 29.42 208.49 Tony Black Romulus 208.09 1,925.43 Monte Dean Sh-Aydelotte .00 3,604.50 David Henry Sh-Calvary .00 .00 Ray Miller Sh-First 261.95 2,506.51 Spencer Davis, Int. Sh-First Indian 295.74 882.52 Anthony Rhone Sh-Galilee 75.00 700.00 Bob Dawson Sh-Good Shepherd Chapel 53.24 500.05 Jay Sampson Sh-Heritage .00 2,273.93 Todd Fisher Sh-Immanuel 2,106.80 18,939.98 _______________ Sh-Karis .00 .00 Tom Hall Sh-New Life 25.00 233.25 John York Sh-Oakland Chapel 29.46 138.85 _______________ Sh-Sallateeska .00 806.00 Mike Craig Sh-Temple 1,008.70 8,531.19 Larry Norris Sh-Trinity 188.10 1,461.98 Steve Dominy Sh-University 394.39 3,605.25 Kent Wooster Sh-Wallace Ave. .00 1,395.74 Perry Tripp Sparks, FBC 64.87 640.83 Faren Coody, Int. St. Louis, FBC 298.61 3,009.34 Ben Little Stroud, Disciple’s Way 6.89 35.10 James Bond Stroud, FBC 371.48 4,269.34 Tony Peak Tecumseh, FBC 1,032.49 8,213.93 Will Wilson Tecumseh, New Hope 50.00 400.00 Clint Dawkins Tecumseh, Sharon 823.39 6,709.95 Bob Fowler Tryon, FBC 194.76 1,648.81 Britt Lesley Wanette, FBC .00 1,428.08 Bill Howse Wanette, Victory Pointe .00 35.00 Russ Houser Wellston, Cornerstone .00 .00 Darrell Sullivan Wellston, FBC .00 3,247.12 Lane Buckley Wellston, Trinity .00 1,100.00 Donation .00 1,368.00 TOTAL $17,973.68 $169,559.40

Shopping Safety & Sipping Coffee hosted by Trinity Baptist Church , Shawnee

It's getting time for Black Friday and Christmas Shop-ping!! Also time for the burglars to prey on women & men in the malls and Wal-Mart parking lots. Sgt. Dan Shumaker of the Shawnee Police Depart-ment will be presenting an enlightening, preventative

and informative program Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm at Trinity Baptist Church, 1315 N. McKinley, Shawnee, OK

Come learn how to protect yourself from getting into unsafe situations and what to do in case you find yourself in a compromising position.

All PLBA family and friends are welcome and encouraged to attend. Present to your churches and bring a van or bus load--you'll learn to be safer and enjoy fellowship with us.

Following the presentation, we'll sip some coffee or tea!

To let us know approximately how many are attending,

call 405-273-4319 and leave a message for # attending

and your church name. For more information call

Wanda 405-850-4393.

Staff Needed

Incorrect information... please call the Association

office, 405.273.4558.

Church News

Please let us know of any upcoming events or news

from your church!

Birthdays

1 Mrs. Vicki (Larry) Sparks 36325 Lake Road Shawnee OK 74801 Pastor’s Wife, Blackburn Chapel

2 Rev. Ellis Rolette 405 N. Pesotum Shawnee, OK 74801 Retired Pastor

4 Rev. Bill Donovan 43 Sequoyah Shawnee, OK 74801 Retired Pastor

4 Rev. Mike Haines 355960 E 960 Rd Stroud, OK 74079 Pastor, Deer Creek

10 Mrs. Colleen (Bob) Fowler PO Box 95 Tryon, OK 74875 Pastor’s Wife, First, Tryon

11 Mrs. Karen (Jerry) Gray 29554 Oklahoma St. McLoud, OK 74851 Pastor’s Wife, Emmaus

13 Rev. David Henry 503 S Market Shawnee, OK 74801 Pastor, Calvary

13 Dr. Ed Moore PO Box 270 Newalla, OK 74857 Pastor, Pecan Valley

13 Rev. Darrell Sullivan 331178 E Captain Dr. Wellston, OK 74881 Pastor, First, Wellston

29 Rev. Thom Duncan 9782 Econtuchka Rd Prague, OK 74864 Retired Pastor

29 Mrs. Amy (Jay) Sampson 6 Janeway Place Shawnee, OK 74804 Pastor’s Wife, Heritage

30 Rev. Al Farrow 1 Dennis Blvd Shawnee, OK 74804 Retired Pastor

Anniversaries

1 Rev. & Mrs. Mike Hazelwood PO Box 891 Meeker, OK 74855 Pastor, Mammoth

12 Rev. & Mrs. Lane Buckley PO Box 122 Wellston, OK 74881 Pastor, Trinity, Wellston

19 Rev. & Mrs. Tony Peak 21425 Trailridge Tecumseh, OK 74873 Pastor, First, Tecumseh

22 Dr. & Mrs. Dan Campbell 20385 Elm St. Harrah, OK 73045 Pastor, Faith, Harrah

28 Rev. & Mrs. Joe Jones PO Box 431 Meeker, OK 74855 Pastor, First, Meeker

FAITH, HARRAH is seeking a godly part time Youth Minister. If inter-ested send resumes to Faith Baptist Church, Attn. Dan Campbell, PO Box 419, Harrah, OK 73045 or email to brodan-1@cox.net.

(Dan Campbell, Pastor) FIRST, SPARKS is taking resumes for bi-vocational music minister for blended services. Please send resumes to: Sparks FBC, c/o Earl Hall, 349117 E 980 Rd, Sparks, OK 74869, or email to: lori.foley@ymail.com. (Perry Tripp, Pastor)

SALLATEESKA, SHAWNEE is prayerfully seeking a Bi-Vocational pastor. Please send resumes to Sallateeska Baptist Church, Attn. Pulpit Committee, P.O. Box 1842, Shawnee, OK 74802.

FIRST INDIAN, SHAWNEE celebrated their 40th year as a church on October 11, 2015. They had a full day of music, memories and fel-lowship. (Spencer Davis, Interim Pastor)

EMMANUEL, MCLOUD has called Doug Henson as their pastor. May God bless your ministry at Emmanuel. (Doug Henson, Pastor)

IMMANUEL, SHAWNEE will be presenting their Christmas musical on December 12 @ 2:00 p.m. and again Sunday, December 13 @ 6:00 p.m. (Todd Fisher, Pastor)

MAMMOTH, MEEKER will have the Needham Family in concert on October 24, 2015. (Mike Hazelwood, Pastor)

Director of Missions ............................................... Dr. Russell Cook, 405.273.4558 Moderator .................................................................... David Henry, 405.275.3450 Vice Moderator ............................................................. Will Wilson, 405-598-6430 Treasurer ................................................................... Clint Dawkins, 405.273.5502 Clerk & Office Manager ......................................... Janice Maynard, 405.273.4558 Media Manager .......................................................... Tanya Bruton, 405.273.4558 Discipleship Director .............................................. Mike Hazelwood, 405.279.2451 Family Director ........................................................ Shawn Crawley, 405.229.5813 Worship Director ...................................................... Jason Henson, 405.273.2105 Missions Director ........................................................ Kirk Holloway, 405.258.0175 Support Director ................................................... Dr. Russell Cook, 405.273.4558 Youth Minister ............................................................ Chris Groves, 405.760.5444 Licensed Counselor ........................................................Brett Ellard, 405.275.2222 Licensed Counselor .................................................... Larry Roberts, 405.275.2222

WAR ROOM Bible Study

and

HERE and NOW

THERE and THEN

By Beth Moore