Thursday evening, Donna Kay and I were among the more than 20 church members who got a sneak preview of “The Choice” during dress rehearsal.  It was terrific!  So much work and effort have gone into this production.  God will surely use it in a remarkable way.

The original walk-through drama, directed by youth minister Sean Wegener and performed by the youth of our church, deals with choices teenagers make and the effect those choices have on themselves and those around them.  It also points the audience to the ultimate choice, the one that trumps them all, the choice to trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.

Because of the issues dealt with in the play, it is recommended for 7^th graders and up.  It opens at 7 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m. Saturday, with multiple showings each evening until midnight.  Bring your teenagers with you, get in line, and get ready for a powerful evening.

Under the Big Top
Younger kids and their families also have something special at First Baptist Flower Mound this weekend.  The annual Harvest Carnival will offer games, candy and prizes for all who come, 6-8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 31, in Building A.  “Under the Big Top” is the theme this year.  Sandy Oravetz, children’s minister, and her team of volunteers are looking forward to welcoming families from the church and throughout the community for this fun evening.

God’s Stimulus Plan
Our Sunday morning messages are teaching us that God uses hard times to stimulate us toward godliness.  This week we will see how God’s strength makes up for our weaknesses when we serve Him despite the difficulties we face in our lives.  Come and bring someone with you.

I'm preaching a series on "God's Stimulus Plan: How God uses hard times to stimulate us toward godliness."  It's amazing how much the Bible has to say about hard times.  It seems that everybody in the Bible went through hard times.  The Bible is our "Hard Times History Book" and our "Hard Times Handbook." 

We usually see hard times as a mistake, something gone wrong in our lives.  But since Psalm 139:16 tells us that God planned each day of our lives before we were born, then He must have planned the bad days as well as the good days.  He has put together a perfect recipe for our life that will mold us into the person He designed us to be--if we will respond as we should. 

James had discovered the secret to understanding and responding to trials.

James 1:2-4, 12 (NIV) 

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. . . . Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

This passage tells us that: 

1. Trials are a part of life.

2. Trials test (or prove) our faith (or our lack of faith).

3. Trials develop perseverance.

4. Trials persevered make us full-grown, grown-up Christians.

The passage also hints at how our faith can persevere through hard times: 

1. Consider it pure joy.

2. Remember what testing accomplishes.

3. Keep trusting, no matter what.

4. Love God more than anything else.

I just finished a sermon series using Facebook as the theme, a new way of looking at our relationship with God.  The title of the series was "Friended by God."

Although the series was not about Facebook, but only using it as a hook and an illustration, I did take the opportunity to caution our congregation about two things: (1) be aware that Facebook is public, not private and treat it accordingly, and (2) beware of becoming "addicted" to Facebook.

Here's the official list of five indicators that you have crossed the line in your Facebook use (as reported by ABC, CNN and other news outlets):

 1. You lose sleep over Facebook

 2. You spend more than an hour a day on Facebook

 3. You become obsessed with old loves

 4. You ignore work (or school) in favor of Facebook

 5. The thought of getting off Facebook leaves you in a cold sweat

Paula Pile, a therapist, suggests this quick test to see how addicted you are: "Try going a day without Facebook. If you find it causes you a lot of stress and anxiety, you really need to get some help."

I've come up with my own list of warning signs that you are spending too much time of Facebook.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . Facebook is your home page, especially if you wonder why that would be a problem.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You take at least one quiz or survey everyday.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You post status updates about what you are thinking about doing, especially if you come back and post another update saying that you never got around to doing it.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You wake up wondering what has happened on Facebook overnight.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You live on Facebook and have stopped checking your email because if anybody really has anything to say to you they can say it in front of all of your friends on Facebook.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . A growing percentage of your Facebook friends are people you have never met.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You ignore the people you are with to Facebook the people you are not with.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You have joined groups that you really have nothing to do with and have absolutely no interest in.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You feel more comfortable talking to people on Facebook than face to face.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You have ever called in sick using Facebook.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You have your own "farm" in Farmville and it is doing better than your real yard.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You have checked Facebook on your phone at least once since this worship service began.

You might be addicted to Facebook if . . . You are a pastor and you preach a whole sermon series on Facebook.

Don't be addicted to Facebook.  Be addicted to God.  Don't check in with Facebook before you check in with God.