FBC Independence Podcast

People's past experiences often prepare them for meaningful roles—like George Washington's background as a surveyor preparing him to lead in battle. Similarly, biblical figures like Abraham were uniquely shaped by their lives to fulfill God's purposes.   Abraham's story is a prime example of obedient faith. At 75 years old, seemingly out of nowhere, God called him to leave his home and everything...

Some time ago, I stumbled upon a video produced by a Christian organization about Easter.  Rather than a serious-minded drama depicting Jesus on the cross, or Roman soldiers mocking Jesus and gambling for his garment as he hung in the background, it was something very different!  A very creative teacher had instructed a group of elementary-age children to write their version of the Easter weekend...

Have you ever considered the question, "What is God's will for my life?"  That is a serious question!  When I was in college at a Christian school, this was the 'hot topic' for many of the sermons we heard during group Chapel.  Preachers would talk loud and long about how important it was to find and live out God's will for our lives.  There were formulas for success; some made sense, and others s...

In one of His final moments on the cross, Jesus speaks powerful words found in John 19:26-27—words that show His deep love, compassion, and purpose. Join us as we explore how Jesus remembered His mother, cared for her, and honored her, even in His suffering. Through this act, He not only fulfilled His duty as a son but also revealed the heart of God and invited us into a greater spiritual family....

I grew up in a large family, where I was number 5 out of 6;  the youngest was my little sister, a pretty, quiet little blonde who went through a several-year period of frailty and illness, which she eventually outgrew.  Interestingly, due to her physical condition, she lived with a persistent, irrational fear that our parents were going to die and leave our family without anyone to care for us.  S...

I recently read through an online discussion regarding God's forgiveness.  The format was simple:  The question posed was:  According to Christianity, will criminals like rapists, serial killers, and school shooters go to Heaven if they ask God for forgiveness before dying?"  Predictably, the answers and opinions varied widely!             Here are a few examples of the hundreds of responses given...

I often think of one of my favorite hymns, that goes like this:   What can wash away my sin?"  with a refrain, "Nothing but the blood of Jesus."   The song is simple yet profound in its meaning—the blood of Jesus, shed on the cross, is God's way of washing away the guilt and stain of sin in our lives!   In one of the Apostle Paul's letters to the church at Corinth, he spoke on the issue of the blo...

It is sometimes hard to follow Jesus!   In the book of Acts in the Bible, we find a record of events in the early Church. One story, found in chapter 16, tells of an episode in the life of Paul the Apostle and his associate Silas.  These two preachers of the Gospel were traveling through the city of Philippi, and they were being followed by a group of men who 'owned' a slave girl who had a spirit...

Several years ago, I was getting ready to attend a musical concert at the church where I served as pastor; I and many others were really looking forward to it, as we got a famous guitarist to come and perform, along with his band.  It was going to be a great night!  Unfortunately, our older building had other plans….             About an hour before the concert started, I got a call from our custo...

I recently heard a story of a young couple who began to feel that their well-funded, organized, all-American lifestyle was starting to feel empty and meaningless.  So, they decided to have children, which ultimately didn't work out, as they could not conceive.  The next step for them was taking care of foster children and then adopting a couple of their foster kids.  Along the way of working in th...

As I sit in my office, I notice models of cars and motorcycles, along with a few gift books and knick-knacks lining the shelf. Each of these items holds memories for me, collected over my 45 years of ministry. The goofiest gift—and the one I can't help but share the story about—is my "wild moose" coffee cup. It's a large porcelain cup that looks like a bull moose crashed through it, with its head...

When I first began preaching over 45 years ago, I began performing weddings for various couples in my community.  I would meet with the couples, plan the wedding, and usually offer a couple of counseling sessions.  I would teach them about handling their anger, working with the in-laws, and generally trying to 'keep the peace' in the home to keep the marriage together.  After a few years of this,...

Some time ago, I called a credit card company multiple times regarding an unexplained charge on my credit card bill.  I left several messages, and when I finally got through to a human being, I could not understand the service agent due to his heavy foreign accent.  Although I asked him several times to repeat himself, I still could not understand what he said.  In disgust, I told the individual,...

Years ago, I heard a ruckus in the basement of our home – my young daughters were at it again!  "It's not fair!"  One said, "Yet, it is fair," said the other.  This went on for some time.  I eventually went downstairs and tried to calm them down, but I must admit, I failed!  I tried my best to make sense of the situation and perhaps inject some peace and justice into the situation – but I could no...

Years ago, my dad was driving us through the Ozarks while on vacation, looking for "cheap gas."  Back in those days, (the mid-1960s), there were often so-called 'gas wars,' where competing gas stations would try to lure in customers from other stations with lower gas prices.  So intense was the competition that even a penny or two difference per gallon could make a huge difference!  At some point...

An update from Rob Van Wey on his missionary work with Soldiers in North Carolina.   "For God so loved the world."                 One of the most familiar passages out of the Christian Bible, this passage is always appropriate!  In creation, "For God so loved the world."  In good times and bad, "For God so loved the world."  In life and death, "For God so loved the world."  In all situations, the...

Last week, we began a series on The Incarnation of Jesus.  We pondered an answer to the question, "What is the Incarnation," and learned that the act of God the Son, coming in human flesh, was the simplest way to understand the Incarnation.  It was a miraculous act demonstrating God's willingness to do great and mighty things to help humanity.  This week, we will consider an answer to the question...

"With."    A simple term, really.  A word that can truly 'make a difference' in one's life or a specific situation.  Here are a few examples:    "Will you come with me?"  "May I come with you?"  Or, perhaps, "It would mean so much to me if you would come with us."              When used in such a way, the term "with" can refer to an invitation, an expression of devotion or love, and maybe even a d...

Guest Speaker:  Brian Forman "Again and Again," Mark 1:9-15 Brian serves on the Senior Leadership Team at CBF, helping to coordinate congregational ministries.  Brian lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Denise, and they have two adult children.    Your support is invaluable in spreading the message of our ministry. By sharing our podcasts with your friends and family, you play a signi...

Good morning, FBC! It's an honor to be filling in for Pastor Kevin while he's taking a well deserved week off. Since this morning is our Operation Christmas Child Celebration Sunday, I thought I'd extend Rev Kev's 3:16s of the Bible sermon series. This project allows us to send a shoebox filled with gifts and essentials to children in need, helping them experience the tangible love of God.   Our m...

The book of Exodus, the second book in the Bible, is the story of how God rescued the Hebrew people from slavery in Egypt.  This powerful narrative of liberation and faith is at the core of our ministry's mission, inspiring us to bring hope and freedom to those in need.  Here is a little bit of historical background:             Egypt was at the peak of its political and military power, dominating...

Several years I was conducting a wedding for a young couple in the church where I served as pastor.  I met with them a couple of times to plan the ceremony and discuss the issues, and all seemed well.  Both were Christian, young, and in love, and seemed to get along very well.  The big day arrived, and a few minutes before the ceremony began, I met with the groom behind the stage, waiting for the...

Not too long ago, I watched a TV program focusing on the use of what are called 'service robots,' which are becoming commonly used worldwide; it was a fascinating program.  One of the 'robots' that was very popular was the 'robot dog,' which is in use in several large cities worldwide.  This 'dog' could walk up and down stairs and is equipped with a camera and lights, a 'sniffer,'  and, in the fut...

While in high school, I got into a huge argument with one of my good friends; we almost came to blows!  We finally calmed ourselves down and ended up laughing at ourselves due to the nature of the argument.  Our big blow-out resulted from a fairly ordinary discussion for high-school boys:  we all worked on our cars, and we would compare notes about tools, techniques, and in this instance, which oi...

I recently attended a cross-country track meet so that I could cheer on my teenage daughter, who is well on her way to becoming a successful athlete. In a cross-country meet, the parents and families of the runners stand at different parts of the course and cheer their loved ones on. Then, everyone rushes to the finish line to yell like crazy, hoping that the support will give the runners an extra...