A Little Foggy This Morning

In Wagoner, OK

Christmas tree up and lit

All before Thanksgiving

Decorating a bit early this year.

BEFORE Thanksgiving

Rib Crib!

Cribfire burger

Earthquakes in Oklahoma and the End Times

Well, Oklahoma has recently been in the news with some earthquakes.  True, we have very small earthquakes everyday, but the recent ones haven't been small and they were felt as far as 1200 miles away.

Some are blaming these recent quakes on fracking, or the practice of petroleum companies to fracture the ground allowing access to trapped gas and oil...

Others are blaming it on geology alone.

I don't know. And I don't really care.

I know that I've felt five or six of them since they started last weekend.

For many Okies, these are the first ones they've ever felt and are extremely distressed by them.  Even during the "biggest" one (5.6 or so) none in my immediate family were distressed.  A little excited perhaps, but not distressed.

It has also been interesting to see  people positively claim that the earthquakes have nothing to do with the events of Matthew 24.  There are others that are convinced that because of these earthquakes, Jesus will return any day now.  In fact, because of both of these statements, I'm going to be preaching on Matthew 24 tomorrow.  (Here's the link to that sermon, if you're interested)

And Jesus answered and said to them, "See to it that no one misleads you. "For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many. "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. "For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. "But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.
(Matthew 24:4-8)

I've also read comments (on Facebook) of people being VERY critical of individuals and churches who make any reference at all to the events in Matthew 24 in relation to the earthquake events here and around the world.  They were condemning the use of "fear" to bring people to salvation.  However, that goes against Scripture:

And pity some, making a distinction. But save others with fear, snatching them out of the fire, hating even the garment being stained from the flesh.
(Jude 1:22-23)

So, what then? Should we trying to scare the Hell out of people so that they'll be saved?  Or should we only preach love and kindness?

Personally, I think those are good questions. And I think the answer to those questions are addressed in Jude....

Some are brought to repentance by kindness; others are saved by confronting the sin in their lives; still others are saved by being brought to the fearful reality of eternity separated by God.  It is sensitivity to the Holy Spirit to know which presentation for which person.

So, what do I, Rick Boyne, think?

I'm not afraid or ashamed to tell you.  Obviously, I have no "special knowledge" from the Lord. But I'm smart enough to see the world changing at an alarming pace.  I'm smart enough to "read the signs."  My position is: I can't believe we are still here.  I honestly thought we'd have been gathered in the skies this summer....

But, the deal is this: since we "do not know the day or the hour" we must heed the words of Jesus:

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.
(Matthew 24:42)

I'm ready. Are you?

Wagoner Band

Half-time show.

Half-time Wagoner 21 Ft Gibson 7

We had 3 TDs called back or it would be 42 - 7

Hideaway for lunch!

In BA

Veteran Art Corrales

At the Wagoner Veteran's Day Ceremony

National EAS

Suddenlink still has some work to do.

NOAA Radio Tornado Watch

Didn't say anything about earthquakes!

32 degrees this morning

Had to scrape frost. It has begun.

Ukraine Mission Trip Report Summary

Thank you to everyone who prayed and gave monetarily regarding my trip to the Ukraine.  Here are the highlights of the trip:

October 13-25, 2011

Donets'k, Ukraine

• Preached in 14 different locations.
• Drove over 1500 miles in Donets'k and surrounding districts.
• Distributed 500 Russian Bibles.
• Saw 46 people make professions of faith in Jesus Christ. (over all teams)
• Heard testimonies of persecution and faithfulness by Ukrainian Baptists.
• Enjoyed numerous fellowship times with believers.
• Gained a greater respect for public professions of faith.
• Refocused vision from temporal to eternal.
• Sampled numerous variations of cabbage and potatoes.
• Tried partially cured lard for the first time.
• Spent the night in Frankfurt, Germany on the way home.

Me and my interpreter, Helen, delivering a sermon.

The home where I stayed while in Donets'k.

At a fellowship meal. The woman on the right had been beaten with sticks because of her faith in Jesus Christ.

A 17th century Russian Orthodox church building.

Bobby & Jeannette Smith (with Helen) preparing to sing.

Me at the Sea of Azov (connected to the Black Sea)

Students holding up their new Bibles.

A 21st century rural Baptist church in Ukraine.

Pastor Dima (r) and Deacon Genna at a fellowship meal.

Bobby Smith distributing Bibles.

Pastor Gary McKeen

At the 99th MBA Annual Meeting

Pastor Tom Gragg

At the 99th MBA Annual Meeting