Mission to Panama

Dear Family and Friends,
We have been given the opportunity of traveling to the country of Panama over our spring break (March 15-24) with a church in OKC, for a mission trip.  My lifelong friend, Matt Hofeld, is the Pastor (Mayfair Baptist Church) and the leader on this mission trip.  Our group will be working in the province of Chiriquí, doing various ministries such as basketball clinics, door-to-door evangelism, children's Bible activities and much more. 
We are anticipating many things on this mission trip. This will be Ben’s first opportunity to go on a mission trip out of the USA and my first time to lead a basketball clinic. We are very excited about our opportunity and would like to invite you to share in it with us by praying for us, and with us during these days and the days leading up to departure.  First, we request a prayer of health while we are preparing for, and on the trip.  Second, that God would use us as we minister to the various people and groups we come in contact with.  Third, that God would use this time to more refine who Ben and I are so we can more fully follow God’s plan. And finally, that God would send resources to insure that the group’s financial responsibilities ($1500/ea.) would be met.

 

A general schedule of events is as follows:

Friday, March 15^th: Travel Day (depart 10:30 AM OKC, Dallas, Miami, arrive 8:30 PM Panama City)

Saturday, March 16^th (Las Lomas): 7 hour bus journey from Panama City, Evening prayer walk

Sunday, March 17^th (Las Lomas): Morning worship, afternoon basketball clinic, afternoon church equipping & leadership meeting

Monday, March 18^th (Gulaca – Wa-lack-a): Morning prayer walk, afternoon basketball clinic, afternoon adult bible study, evening movie event

Tuesday, March 19^th (Anastacio): Morning prayer walk/Door-to-door evangelism, afternoon basketball clinic, afternoon adult bible study, evening movie event

Wednesday, March 20^th (Cerro Iglesias): Volleyball/Soccer during school, classroom evangelism, children’s bible activities, ladies bible study

Thursday, March 21^st (David): Prayer walk/Door-to-door evangelism, classroom evangelism

Friday, March 22^nd: Tour Day

Saturday, March 23^rd: 7 hour bus ride back to Panama City

Sunday, March 24^th: Travel Home (Panama City, Dallas, OKC)

 

We greatly appreciate your prayer partnership.

 

God Bless!

Brian and Ben

 

If you feel led to make a financial contribution, checks can be made payable to Mayfair Baptist Church and mailed to the following address.

Babcock’s c/o Mayfair Baptist Church

2715 NW 50^th

OKC, OK 73112

 

Thank you again for your prayerful support.

 

 

 

This Christmas

What is it about Christmastime that brings with it the expectation and desire to slow down?  Everybody talks about the hectic-ness of the Christmas season, with Christmas parties, presents to wrap, cookies to bake, etc.  But deep inside of us all we want to pause.  We want to enjoy the season with family and friends but the stress of getting everything perfect keeps us "to busy" to chill, to focus on what is really important. 
The first Christmas, and the reason we should all celebrate the season, was pretty amazing. But it didn't happen in what we would call a "perfect" way (referencing stable, manger, hay, farm animals).  The house wasn't decorated, cookies weren't baked, but the Savior still came.  He wasn't worried about the decorations or the treats, He came for you.  He came with you in mind, to spend time here with and for His children.
This season is a great time to remember, not everything has to be perfect.  We need to remember people.  Remember those friendships you used to have, but haven't focused on lately? Remember those people that are truly special to your life but you haven't told them lately? Take time this season to reconnect with those lost relationships, to drop words of encouragement to the person who helped you get where you are today, to hug your family, to worship your Savior. 
Sorry for my Christmas ramblings today, but ultimately stuff will pass and perfection is different for all.  So instead of worrying and running around to make everything perfect, focus on the people that mean something to you.  Stuff passes... people matter.  Make the most of this season.  Share your time, talents and treasure on those close to you.  The memories you create will be remembered long after the fruitcake has gone bad (wait....does fruitcake go bad?). 
Let's remember the true meaning of CHRISTmas and share it with those close to us.  Let's make that phone call to a friend we haven't talked to in a while.  Let's send a note to that parent, teacher, coach that had an impact in our lives.  Let's tell our family of our love for them.  Let's hug those close to us everyday.  Let's love those around us and show the true meaning of Christmas to all we come in contact with.

Peace
Merry CHRISTmas
B

Wow! So true, so true

Proverbs 8....

BOOM!

Proverbs 8

Wisdom’s Call

8 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
³ beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
⁴ “To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
⁵ You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it
⁶ Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
⁷ My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
⁹ To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
¹⁰ Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
¹¹ for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

¹² “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
¹³ To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
¹⁴ Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
¹⁵ By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
¹⁶ by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth
¹⁷ I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
²¹ bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.

²² “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works
    before his deeds of old;
²³ I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
²⁴ When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
²⁵ before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
²⁶ before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
²⁷ I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
²⁸ when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
³⁰ Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
³¹ rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

³² “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
³⁵ For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
³⁶ But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”

 

 

 

 

Well Said!

 

....no matter what God's word helps (2)

John 14:27

²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

 

Where do you place you assurance?

What do you do for peace?

What gives you security?

Whom should you trust?

 

Answers are all in the most sold, (and also) the most stolen book of all time.

 

The Bible

....no matter what God's word helps

2 Corinthians 4:8-9

⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Eat Mor Chikin - Chick-Fil-A

Well it's August 1st and "Chick-Fil-A appreciation day".  A friend of mine says Chick-Fil-a appreciation day is every day at lunchtime (except Sunday's of course).  But, why the "official" day?

Because the pot called the kettle black.

Yep.  It is the American double standard.  If we are a liberal group, we get this protection, we need tolerance, free speech, blah blah blah. 

But if a Christian man who runs a restaurant (some would call it a Christian business) decides to say
"I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at him and say, 'We know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage,' and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about."
...everybody gets in a huff.

So the same people who "preach" tolerance and acceptance have a problem with this, because it is not how they feel.  So what happens...Hate, cries of boycott (see Chicago, Boston and NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, Bob Beckel, etc). 

So what happened to free speech?  Where are we again... Communist China?  Didn't think so.

All I have to say to those who are upset...Grow up.  Not everybody is like you, nor do they want to be like you.  We are a diverse Nation filled with many differing views, take it like a man or woman or ____ and move on. 
I don't like Chinese food because it messes with my stomach, do i protest? do i sue? nope.  I choose to stay away.  But i don't stand out front with a sign...i dont eat the food.

So while the owners of the different Chick-Fil-A's appreciate this attention and the August revenue goals being met on August 1st, I would just merely suggest the best way to protest is to not buy the best Chicken sandwich ever made. 

(By the way, the quote says nothing about you. Just talks about God's definition of marriage. So unless you have a conscience and feel guilty by the comment, it shouldn't affect you at all.)

America how far have we fallen?

Peace
B