I am enjoying a cold but refreshing Tuesday morning and spending some time with Mom and Dad. It’s always great being with them. I am grateful for their good health and spirits.

We begin the Year of Discipleship at Olive on Sunday. It has been the desire of my heart for several years for our church family to grow together and become stronger in our pursuit of Him. Connection groups will study the same passage and theme as I will preach each Sunday. Devotional guides will be available for individuals to use for daily personal time with God. Other areas of ministry will use the theme as well. These are promising to be great days in the life of Olive Baptist Church and Kingdom work. I ask you to commit to pray for eternal differences to be made in our lives. As you grow in your walk with Him during the coming months, be aware of people whom you can disciple as well.

The Eight Callings of God is printed and on its way to Olive! If all goes as planned, the book will be available for purchase ($15) in the foyer this Sunday. Thank you for praying throughout the process.

As you enjoy the final days of 2009, continue to celebrate the Savior. He came as one of us so we could be like Him.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Jesus
He came not to a throne,
but to a manger.
He lived not as a king,
but as a servant.
He chose not a kingdom,
but a cross.
He gave not just a little,
but everything.*

May you have a blessed Christmas Day

Christmas is just three days away. Most of us are making our final preparations for a wonderful holiday. It’s a special time to honor family traditions and spend time with those you love. It is my hope that you will invite family and friends to join you for one of Olive’s annual Christmas Eve candlelight services. We meet together at 6:00pm and 11:00pm.

One of the highlights is watching the children collect the offering and bring it to the altar manger. This year’s gift is designated to “turning the lights on”. The Pensacola community has a lot of people who are struggling. In these tough economic times it is hard just to meet basic utility payments. Assisting will go a long way in ministering to hurting families. In doing this we have the opportunity to share the Gospel with individuals whom we might otherwise never meet. I am so grateful that Olive is a giving church family.

God’s blessings to you as we celebrate the hope of the world – the birth of our Savior.

Pastor Ted Traylor

In the middle of the week I was in Tuscaloosa for the meeting of the FCA Board. There are some great men on this team. Our task is to support Gary Cramer as he and his staff lead ministry on the campus of the University of Alabama. It has been a great year in FCA. Like many others they struggle in this economy to make the budget work. But God is able.

While at the meeting, some of our team stopped by the football complex to have our picture made with the Heisman trophy that just arrived. Here are some old men” striking the pose.”

As the end of the year approaches I encourage you to support your church financially. Then over and above that be a faithful giver to other ministries that need your help. One of those I give to is FCA. There are many others that are worthy of support. God loves a cheerful giver. You’re never more like Jesus than when you are giving. It takes more than cash, but it does take money to fuel the engine of ministry. BE FAITHFUL! There is no recession in heaven.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Sunday evening we had a great celebration with the Greater Union Baptist Church choir, who joined us for the Christmas Panorama. The building was packed and people were sitting in the aisles and were watching on the screens in the foyer. Wonderful joy filled the air. Thank you, Church Family, for welcoming our sister church. 

Five years ago our long-range plan called for Olive to be a leader in racial reconciliation in Pensacola. I still do not know exactly what that means. But I am convinced of this: all believers, regardless of their racial or economic background, are to embrace others, regardless of their racial or economic background. In short, we are to relate like Jesus. HE loved Jew and Gentile, slave and free. I exhort you to seek to be Christ-like.

Pastor Ted Traylor

The most wonderful time of the year is in full swing and it has been a marvelous week at Olive. Our annual staff Christmas breakfast is always a highlight of the year. It is fun to see the tables which our ladies creatively decorate, and I wanted you to see some of the beautiful work they do. Next year already promises to be interesting because our staff men have been challenged to step up and decorate for the event. I can guarantee those picture will be posted!

I was blessed on Wednesday to meet Marcus Loper, a young man from Mobile who watches the television broadcast each week. He and Pastor John Smith spent time together talking about everything from the Bible to Alabama football. His enthusiasm is contagious. It is always good to meet the physical reminders of how Olive’s television ministry impacts lives. I left our meeting with an encouraged and humbled heart.

Sunday promises to be a great day of worship at Olive. The choir from Greater Union Baptist Church will join us in worship for the morning services. They will return at night for the Panorama celebration at 6:00pm. I am excited to see what God has in store for us.

Pastor Ted Traylor

Last night was the annual Challenger Award Banquet at the Pensacola Civic Center. This great event is sponsored by First Baptist Church and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I was not able to attend this year, but today’s News Journal has a nice story about the event. Siran Stacey was the speaker. He always has a powerful word for young people.

The highlight of the evening is the presentation of the Challenger Award, given to the player from each local team who represents Christ to his team. This is the kind of award that makes you proud of the young men who stand for Jesus and display character traits that are eternal in nature. Players from various universities come to the event and give witness. The young people look up to these college athletes. Last year Trent Richardson sat and listened as a student at Escambia. This year he returned and spoke as a freshman running back.

I like the name of the award-The Challenger. I encourage you to be one of those today. Display the Christ life and challenge others to follow.

Pastor Ted Traylor

While the sports scene is filled with season-ending football, Tiger Woods stepped into the spot light this week. Normally we do not hear much about golf in early December. But when the most popular sports figure on the planet confesses to family transgressions, a big story is brewing.

Scores of people have wondered why would a guy at the top of the world do such stupid things. No one knows what is going on in the life of another. Celebrity status and millions of dollars lead some people to false conclusions. Coach Lou Holtz said it well: when some people achieve fame and fortune they believe they are invisible and invincible. In other words, they think no one is watching what they do. And they do not think anything they do can bring them down. In their own eyes they are too big to fail.

These are good lessons for all of us. Somebody is watching you. Live as a testimony. And none of us are too big to fall. Guard yourself from the wicked one and stupid deeds.

Now, back to football and the game in Atlanta for all the marbles.

Pastor Ted Traylor

This morning I am in Atlanta meeting with the Great Commission Resurgence team. Much progress was made yesterday as God’s vision is becoming more clear. Continue to pray for the Lord’s direction and purpose. Much is left ahead to accomplish. Our desire is that all line up with His plans for Kingdom work.

Two of our team members are going through difficult days. Please take time to intercede for these friends:

Dr. Frank Page, former SBC president, and his wife Dayle are grieving the loss of their 32-year-old daughter, Melissa. I cannot comprehend the depths of sorrow they are experiencing. I am asking our Heavenly Father to bring to their minds His words of comfort and verses of peace.

Dr. Johnny Hunt, current SBC president, was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. He and his wife, Janet, are meeting with doctors and his surgery is scheduled for next month. Decisions lie ahead concerning treatment. Pray for them to clearly know His will and for Dr. Hunt’s healing.

As I mention those two requests I am reminded that many who will read this blog have gone through similar situations in life and know exactly how to pray for those in need. I encourage you to take time today to read II Corinthians 1:3-7 regarding suffering and comfort. The Lord’s desire is for you to reach out in specific situations to remind those in pain of His great compassion. Whatever you have encountered in this life, God can use to minister to others who are struggling.

Pastor Ted Traylor