Wow! What an incredible Easter we enjoyed celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus with our church family last week. The largest crowd in the history of the church gathered during three services to see, hear, and experience the confession “I am a rescue.” The music was inspiring, the testimonies were amazing, and the response to the Gospel of Jesus was transforming!

Thank you Jesus for working in our lives and rescuing us to life…a life that lasts forever! Thank you volunteers for loving everyone that walked on our campus with the love of Jesus. Those that worked hours on end to get ready for the weekend did an amazing job. Thank You! If you were not able to be here you can go to www.eagleslanding.org to view the service and celebrate with those who experienced the joy of being rescued by Jesus.

My name is Tim Dowdy, Senior Pastor of Eagle’s Landing First Baptist Church, and “I am a Rescue!”

Last weekend was a great celebration of the love of Christ with 25 teenagers coming to know Jesus through DNOW!  I am thankful for the work of our student ministry staff and volunteers for going the extra mile. The difference in the lives of our students will been seen in the way they live out their lives for Jesus. I believe we are raising the next generation of pastors, missionaries, and musicians devoted to the glory of God.

Ben Dempsey weighed 360 pounds when he began his weight loss journey. He was tired of not being able to do the things he wanted because of his excess weight.  He now weighs 215 pounds, for a total weight loss of 145 pounds. He hopes to reach his goal weight of 190 in March 2011. He created his own meal and exercise plan to help him get in shape.

Ben’s Journey…

How long he’s kept it off: He started on July 22, 2009. “I hope to be at my goal weight of 190 when I cross the finish line at the Publix Georgia Half Marathon [in March],” says Dempsey.

Personal life: “I am a physical therapist assistant at Rockdale Medical Center in Conyers. I live in Winder with my wife, Elizabeth, and son, Chris.”

Turning point: “It was on July 22, 2009, a Wednesday, that I woke up with this thought in my head: I had enough of not being able to do what I wanted to do,” he says. Dempsey realized he had to make a lifestyle change. “It involved taking each day on one day at a time, setting realistic goals and defying them. My first one was to stop drinking sodas. … I have not had a soda since.”

Diet plan: “My plan was of my own design: 1,500 calories a day,” he says. Breakfast is scrambled eggs or peanut butter toast. Lunch is a turkey sub. Dinner is grilled chicken with veggies and he has two snacks a day, usually nuts or a protein bar.

Exercise routine: He does cardio six days per week. “I do a run/walk interval because I have very flat feet so I can’t run for extended periods of time. But it is getting better. I do on average two to three miles a day, at most five,” he says. He also does weight lifting three days a week and recently finished a 90-day interval of P90X (www.p90x.com).

Biggest challenge: “For me in the past, I would do well the first four weeks and see results. But when I hit the plateau, I would give up and return to old habits,” he says. “That’s when I set goals to help motivate me, beginning with weekly then monthly and then yearly.”

How life has changed: “When I get up now, I can’t wait to exercise,” he says. “I look forward to challenging myself to exceed past performances. I try to encourage others to attack their goals. My faith and family has helped me remain focused.”

Current weight: 215 pounds
Pounds lost: 145 pounds
Height: 6 feet
Age: 28

The Frontier Awaits! That is the phrase that captures the heart of the challenge for our future as a church family. It is so easy for us to fall into the trap of a ME (Me exclusive) centered life instead of MI (Mission intensive) centered life. Sometimes God moves us off center to get us centered on Him and for Him. My prayer is that today God will move each of us to be truly centered on His purpose for our lives. Over the next several weeks we will focus on three phrases that will echo the call of God to go to the frontier that awaits us. The frontier is different for each of us. The frontier that awaits you is ready…the question is are you ready for the adventure???

Paul had the frontier in mind when he spoke these words…

“But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
(Acts 20:24 ESV)

Let’s follow in His steps and live for Jesus!
Pastor Tim

I hope you have enjoyed the series “In God We Trust, or How I Stopped Trusting the Pig!” I want to encourage you to take the next steps to practically apply what we have covered by become even more informed. Here’s how: On Sunday night, January 30 at 5:30 p.m. we will kick off the next session of Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University. This study offers great practical counsel and guidance to help you get your financial life in order. I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity. You can register by calling Debbie Shoemaker at 678-818-1005.

Believe it or not, January 2011 is almost gone and Super Bowl Sunday, February 6, is just two weeks away. On that day we will celebrate our annual day of vision and direction for this next year and the decade ahead. As we prepare for this strategic day I ask all of you in our family of faith to begin praying for how you can be a part of leading a movement to impact our community and the world with the Gospel. I believe God wants us to stretch ourselves in new ways so we can be even more productive in living for Jesus. So, let’s pray, let’s stretch, let’s change, let’s work, and let’s create a movement that changes the world. The frontier awaits!

Live for Jesus!
Pastor Tim