Friendship Missionary Baptist Church
Fanners of the Flame
Lisa Mitchell
Zjonrene “Z.J.” Timpson
Keyshaun Miller
Margie Hurd
Kaylee Fields
Jermayia J. Lewis
Lauryn Patterson
Matthew Evans
Julia McCoy
Jupiana Denman
Chelsea Sani
Thomas Barnett
Amari Johnson
Dwight Hodge
PASTOR J. AMOS JONES
Ashleigh Davis
Reginald Patterson
Jamelia Williams
Annie Singleterry
Men want to control their lives –it is our training and our nature. We are raised to be independent. Most men are taught to “pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.” Be a Man! Life is what you make of it!” we’re told. We are taught early-on that we can author our own destiny; we can be the captain of our soul, the master of our fate—Wrong! Flawed teaching.
Men want to control their own lives. To “be a man.” Even if we were not taught to seek independence, which most of us were, our own human nature gravitates in that direction. We want the freedom to chart our own course. We want the power to shape the events of our lives. These are the hallmarks of our desire to be independent. But too often in our effort to be self-reliant, we move away from God and go our own independent way.
There is a marked difference between taking responsibility for our lives and trying to live independently from God. We are to take responsibility for our lives—no one will go to work in our place, in most instances, no one will continually pay our bills. The difference is this: responsibility fully recognizes our part and God’s part. Our part is to trust God and faithfully fulfill our duties. God’s part is to provide for all our need and well-being.
Independence rebels against the influence of God, thinking it can meet its own needs. The independent man thinks, “I want to do what I want to do, when I want to do it, wherever I want to do it, with whomever I want to do it. I want to be in control. I want to satisfy my ambitions. I don’t want to be dependent upon anyone. People let me down. God will let me down. I can make it on my own. With independence, I am in control of my life. I have the power, whether through money or influence, to have my way.” The opposite of desiring to be independent of God is to trust Him.
The Apostle Paul states it so well: “For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring” (Acts 17:28).
Be blessed, Brethren, as we live responsible, yet dependent upon Him, lives
Pastor J. Amos Jones
The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church | 16138 West Bellfort | Sugar Land, TX 77498
presents
Men’s Annual Day Program will be held on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at 3:30pm.
YOU ARE INVITED.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
On today we celebrate and honor all fathers. Be it natural fathers or our spiritual fathers, we thank our heavenly Father for every one of you. We praise Him for your love, your wisdom, your guidance, your fatherhood.
We thank God for your commitment to Him as you carry out your duties toward your children. The following is a partial listing of Biblical duties of fathers:
(1) Love Genesis 37:4
(2) Command Genesis 50:16
(3) Instruct Proverbs 1:8
(4) Guide and Warn 1 Thessalonians 2:11
(5) Train Hosea 11:3
(6) Rebuke Genesis 34:30
(7) Restrain I Samuel 3:13
(8) Chasten Hebrews 12:7
(9) Nourish Isaiah 1:2
(10) Punish Deuteronomy 21:18-21
(11) Supply Needs Matthew 7:8-11
(12) Provoke Not Ephesians 6:4
(Taken from the greatest manual on parenting, the Bible)
Be blessed on this, your day, fathers, as you emulate our heavenly Father.
Pastor J. Amos Jones
Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. (Proverbs 4:1-4)
Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.
When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straightened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.
Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.
For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.
Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.
Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil. Proverbs 4:10-27
Chant: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen! Amen!
