We are excited about our Preaching Conference coming up soon. If you would like to come, we will do all we can to keep your cost low. Food for the week is $35, with full-time workers eating free. We will also find a home of one of our members for you to stay in if you wish. Please call soon if you have any questions.

God has blessed mightily in recent years, and we are praying to see His power manifested again in 2004. Two men of God who will be speaking for the first time at our conference are Dr. Don Green and Evangelist David Cloud.

Dr. Green has been the pastor of Parker Memorial Baptist Church in Lansing, Michigan for 47 years. People have been blessed across the country as he has preached in conferences. Brother Cloud is the director of the Way of Life Literature Ministry. His literature ministry started when he was an independent Baptist missionary to Nepal for ten years. He is also the editor of the

Rebuilt Complex

Our ambitious building program is coming along steadily. The men of our church are saving us $500,000 by installing the heating and air-conditioning. Every Monday night throughout the winter they have met at 5:30 for supper and planning. Then up on the roof they go until 11:00 p.m. We praise God for dedicated people.

When this phase is complete this summer, construction will move inside for three years of working on a new kitchen, dining room, college chapel, and classrooms. One year from now, the Lord willing, our new gymnasium will begin to be built by a construction company.

Local Church Missionaries out of Fairhaven

This winter Pastor Damron and I had the opportunity to visit the Muller family in Mongolia. As the plane was landing the pilot announced that the temperature was -39°F. It was cold, but we received a great blessing seeing what God is doing through the Mullers and meeting their people. It has been a hard process; however, Jason and Becky have a strong foothold in that Communist country.

We have been receiving wonderful reports from all of our missionaries lately. Two new works started by Pat Gordon in Zambia and John Kenderdine in Cambodia are experiencing unusual growth and blessing. Contact us if you are looking for truly separated, fundamental, soulwinning, local church missionaries.

The Need for Fire in our Lives and Churches

The best heart a man can have is a burning heart that is literally on fire for God. Like the burning bush that was never consumed, it burns and burns.

We read in Exodus 25:6 that the children of Israel were to bring pure olive oil for the lamps that they might burn always. That's what most of us need-fresh oil that we might burn brightly and consistently.

Oh yes, some of us have an excitement in our heart for God and His work; but other good people are going through the motions, and still others are backslidden Pharisees, just trying to look good.

We independent Baptists usually know our doctrine and what we should be doing. Many times we are even doing "right," but we need an old-fashioned baptism of fire. We have the bush, but not the fire. As in the days of Elijah, we have the altar, but we don't have fire. As in the days of Abraham, we've got the sacrifice, but not the smoking lamp. As in the days of Isaiah, we've got the vision, but not the burning coal off the altar of heaven.

I'm talking about Bible fire that gets hardened sinners saved and working in our churches. I'm talking about the kind of fire that gets the cold Christian off the pew and into the streets. Fire where prayer and giving and soulwinning are real and exciting. Spurgeon fire! John Knox fire! Moody fire!

You don't have to worry about jerking or rolling or walking on the pews. That's "show." I'm talking about Bible fire that gets Pentecostal results in a longing for souls, clean lives, and a true excitement about your church.

In John 5, the Bible says that John the Baptist "was a burning and a shining light." In Psalm 39 the Bible says of David, "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned..." He was musing about his coming Messiah and got a burning heart. In Jeremiah 20, Jeremiah said, "...his word was in mine heart as a burning fire..." It is right-it is normal to have a burning heart. Do you have one? If not, the first thing we must do is admit that ours is in need of divine repair.

We eventually fix our car or home if we are not too lazy. When our fleshly hearts get in trouble, they give us some signals. It may be shortness of breath, or pain down the inside of our arm, or a sharp bolt in the chest, or angina pains. Many times people pretend they are okay, but the wise man watches the signals or he will be riding in an ambulance or hearse.

Neither will a fiery heart stay doubtful. We will believe the promises of God and claim them and live by them. When the tempter comes, we will throw God's promises in his face.

You may be full of shame because you were once on fire, but no longer are. People try to befriend you, but you think you just "don't fit in." You know that you are not on fire.

After 35 years of pastoring, I know you don't have to beg burning hearts to pray or give or witness or be clean. I'd rather be ignorant and have a burning heart than be an ice-cold seminary professor. I'd rather have a fiery heart and not have a dime than be spiritually dead walking around in a $500 suit. If we don't have a fiery heart, we must first see our need of repair and the right relationship with the Word of God.

Some come to the altar over and over looking for some magic formula to the power of God, when the answer is on the shelf at home or in the car gathering dust. Some are always reading about how to have revival, when the ultimate text on the subject, God's Word, goes without serious study. If you get into the Bible in a prayerful manner, it will build a fire again. Jeremiah 23 asks,

Also watch for Jesus in the events of your life. He is standing there in the shadows of tragedy. He is trying to get your attention through the preaching of His Word and maybe even the song service.

I remember when my dad had a serious heart attack and was supposed to die. I drove all night to see him. It was Sunday morning and afterward I didn't want to sleep. I wanted to see God at church. There I heard a cold, dead sermon; so when I returned to the house, I excused myself. My mom thought I was sleeping, but I was looking for Jesus, and He met me there in a real way.

Some of us, when things go wrong, question God or even rail at Him when we should be looking for a blessing. If you learn to see Him in the events of life, you will have a warm heart.

But then you must allow the fire of God to drive you to action. As you know, fire is not good and can be dangerous if used in the wrong way. Every year we hear of wild fires destroying homes and lives. You better use the warm heart God gives you properly. Don't go looking for some new truths, but get out and tell others what God has done.