tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55016075586706142652009-12-06T12:59:25.277-06:00Notes from Pastor Brian Coffey, First Baptist Church of Geneva, ILBrian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-9956912118141488032009-12-03T12:15:00.002-06:002009-12-03T12:16:48.945-06:00

When I checked my voice mail messages this past Monday I had a message from an FBCG member who said he had a “question about Prepare the Way.” I have to admit I wondered if the question might be critical because I know that sometimes talking about money makes people uncomfortable. When I returned the call, the man explained his question to me. “I have some money,” he said, “and I want to know if

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-31040041220111669302009-11-23T11:38:00.002-06:002009-11-23T12:05:01.819-06:00

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7With the red and green lights already sprouting up around my neighborhood, it’s easy to tell that Christmas is coming! And while I look forward with anticipation to the “most wonderful time of the

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-3430143014801836462009-11-23T11:32:00.001-06:002009-11-23T11:37:39.260-06:00

We believe that FBCG is called to REACH the people and families of our local community, CONNECT them to the church and each other, and EQUIP them to SERVE the world in the name of Christ. We also believe that God has not only blessed FBCG with facilities, staff, programs and over 1000 families that call FBCG home - but that he has given us a vision to reach, connect,

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-58127354928878735492009-10-20T11:11:00.003-05:002009-10-20T15:06:34.942-05:00

Having just preached a sermon series from the ancient book of Ecclesiastes, little did I know that these words would so quickly define my world. Just before 6:00 a.m. last Sunday morning my brother called me from the Intensive Care Unit of Summa Hospital in Akron to tell me my father had suffered a massive stroke and that the doctor had just informed him and my Mom that there was "zero chance of

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-22848328926444316302009-09-05T16:39:00.001-05:002009-09-05T16:40:57.878-05:00

Two weeks ago we celebrated a great summer of "One-Campus worship" at our annual FBCG picnic! This weekend, Labor Day weekend, marks not only a National Holiday but the beginning of our fall season of ministry together! In the next couple of weeks we will be launching some of our "bread and butter" programs like Children's, Student's, Women's and the TEAM Men's Ministries; in addition to a couple

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-42285421377200255302009-09-02T10:17:00.001-05:002009-09-02T10:21:03.578-05:00

Two weeks ago we celebrated a great summer of "One-Campus worship" at our annual FBCG picnic! This weekend, Labor Day weekend, marks not only aNational Holiday but the beginning of our fall season of ministry together!In the next couple of weeks we will be launching some of "bread and butter" programs like Children's, Student, Women's and the TEAM Men's Ministries;in addition to a couple of new

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-37090758182621131902009-07-15T07:33:00.001-05:002009-07-15T07:35:33.172-05:00

Next @ FBCG"Town Hall" Meetings regarding facility design and developmentAll FBCGers are invited to participate in one of two "Town Hall" meetings: July 23 (6-8 p.m. East Campus Sanctuary) July 25 (6:15 p.m. West Campus following the Saturday service)The purpose of these meetings is to both present the issues surrounding the continued development of FBCG facilities as well as to solicit input

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-225001922909809672009-07-15T07:27:00.001-05:002009-07-15T07:31:32.158-05:00

The David Yeager BandSaturday, July 186:15 p.m. West Campus Those of you who have made our Saturday night service your "worship home" will recognize the name "David Yeager!" David was one of our regular worship leaders a couple of years ago - and has led FBCG in worship periodically since then. You may not know that David has formed a band with three guys who play regularly in our West Campus

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-7485270188762140542009-06-05T08:37:00.002-05:002009-06-05T08:43:51.072-05:00

Just a reminder that we begin 11 weeks of One-Campus worship this weekend (June6-7)! Join your church family at the West Campus for one of our four weekend services!5:00 p.m. Saturday Evening WorshipIntimate setting of blended worship8:30 a.m. Traditional WorshipHymns with organ and sanctuary choir9:45 a.m. Blended WorshipElements of both traditional and contemporary11:00 a.m. Contemporary

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-82040198176774235032009-06-02T09:44:00.001-05:002009-06-02T09:50:44.131-05:00

Two weeks ago I received a call from an FBCGer that almost shocked me. I say almost because I have been doing this long enough that nothing really shocks me anymore! But when the person on the other end of the call said, "God has blessed our family and we want to give a financial giftto the church," I wasn't shocked, but I was definitely surprised! When the caller mentioned the amount of the

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-89977951609963286752009-05-28T09:51:00.002-05:002009-05-28T09:59:14.077-05:00

Every three years or so Lorene and I pack up our boys and drive 800 miles or so to Mandan, North Dakota for a reunion of her side of the family. ThisJuly we will be making the trek for what will likely be the last time as her parents will be moving to Oregon to be closer to one of her brothers.It's a long trip but we wouldn't miss it for the world because, first, it's just so much fun; and second

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-3801987257381288992009-05-21T11:13:00.002-05:002009-05-21T11:16:12.790-05:00

Many of us enjoy a good cup of coffee in the morning. Maybe you like your coffee straight black (like my Dad); maybe you like it with a little cream and sugar; or maybe you prefer a "tall decaf mocha" (like me); or perhaps even a "venti half-caf latte with skim extra hot and no foam." Or maybe you just like tea! Whatever your beverage-of-choice, the truth is that quite often that cup is the

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-82665251570874226112009-05-12T09:16:00.002-05:002009-05-12T09:24:51.577-05:00

Summer "One Campus" WorshipBeginning June 6-7 FBCG will celebrate worship together at the West Campus in the following schedule:8:30 a.m. Traditional WorshipHymns and sanctuary choir9:45 a.m. Blended WorshipElements of both traditional and contemporary11:00 a.m. Contemporary WorshipWorship bandBy now you know that our leadership is focused on CONNECTING and EQUIPPING at FBCG! "Connecting" refers

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-13075258102651086602009-05-06T21:47:00.002-05:002009-05-06T21:50:20.039-05:00

Today, May 7, has been designated the National Day of Prayer. While we all pray in different ways and for different purposes - this is an opportunity to join our hearts and minds with brothers and sisters inChrist all over our nation. Just as the recent outbreak of the H1N1 influenza reminded us of the importance of working together as communities, soalso this day designated for prayer reminds

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-80559787404384662622009-04-15T13:26:00.003-05:002009-04-15T13:28:26.798-05:00

What in the World is the Church?At first it seems like a dumb question! A no-brainer! The church is a place with a steeple on top where you go to worship, pray, and listen to a(hopefully interesting) sermon. And, of course, this definition is both true and very incomplete!First of all, a church is not a building at all, but a community of people bound together by love for Christ and love for

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-54760970358208881942009-04-07T12:14:00.002-05:002009-04-07T12:26:49.431-05:00

Remember and CelebrateRemember is what we do as a church family at our Maundy Thursday communion services. We remember the last supper Jesus shared withhis disciples when he transformed the Passover meal into a symbolic representation of his broken body and shed blood.We will remember Jesus through bread and cup in a very special way Thursday night in two services at the West Campus. You will be

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-65705616983520366432009-03-25T12:46:00.004-05:002009-03-25T12:55:28.638-05:00

My wife Lorene (director of Women's Ministries at FBCG) recently received a beautiful email from a woman who is in the process ofconnecting to FBCG as a new church home. She describes first visiting our Moms Together ministry and then taking the step of visiting FBCG for worship. She describes "the difference I feel when I walk into your church - the joy in the building, the people that are truly

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-29721632808394179822009-03-17T13:34:00.001-05:002009-03-17T13:36:51.125-05:00

So What's Happening with the Survey?Why did we do the survey?After being on two campuses for four years, and recently revisiting the Phase 2 project for the West Campus, it became evident we needed to make surewe understand the needs and hearts of our congregation before moving forward with a building project of significant magnitude. Our congregation nowtotals over 3,500 - with weekend worship

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-42684105144360371212009-02-03T17:17:00.004-06:002009-02-03T17:24:54.482-06:00

Puppy Trainingby Jeff FrazierThis past December we welcomed a new member into our family, her name is Ivy, and she is a black goldendoodle puppy. Having a puppy changes things a little; actually it changes things a lot! We are devoting a disconcerting amount of time, energy and money on the health and development of our new pet. We have taken her to the vet three times, read numerous books on

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-48268195821222313272009-01-15T15:47:00.001-06:002009-01-15T15:48:57.212-06:00

Left-handed Lay-upsTwo nights ago I sat at a high school basketball game and watched as a player (who happened to be my son) caught the ball, knifed between a pair ofdefenders, and deftly flipped the ball off the backboard and into the basket - with his left hand. While in one sense it was just one ofseveral dozenbaskets scored in the contest, in another sense, it was remarkable because I

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-22789579013007454502009-01-06T15:37:00.001-06:002009-01-06T15:42:46.028-06:00

What Better Time?Lose weight.Get out of debt.Spend more time with family.Stop smoking.Go to church.Those were a few of the top New Year's resolutions reported in a recent survey of more than 300,000 Americans. Maybe you've thought about a few ofthe items on that list, maybe not, but almost all of us long to be something more and better than we are right now - it's just how we are made as human

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-7706672063715720432008-12-11T16:26:00.002-06:002008-12-11T16:28:53.030-06:00

The Most Wonderful Time"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." So begins Charles Dickens' timeless novel, "A Tale of Two Cities." I remembered that line as I was thinking about what it means to celebrate Christmas in 2008 -- and how often it is the "worst" around us that allows us to see the "best" within us.Many of us are reeling from the impact of one of the worst economic

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-1552269175439233612008-12-03T15:22:00.004-06:002008-12-03T15:32:07.985-06:00

The Fun of Giving Quick question: Which is more fun – to receive a great gift on Christmas morning, or to watch the face of someone you love as they open a gift you have given that you KNOW is the perfect gift? I think most of us would agree that giving the perfect give is WAY more fun than receiving the perfect gift! But why is that? What is it about giving that brings such joy to our souls? I

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-44804589331039314402008-11-19T16:07:00.000-06:002008-11-19T16:08:10.432-06:00

Courageous ThanksgivingDo not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.Philippians 4:6-7 At first glance, the words “courageous” and “thanksgiving” don’t seem to go together. But when we remember that Paul wrote

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5501607558670614265.post-56681486340748419932008-11-12T15:51:00.003-06:002008-11-12T16:01:36.787-06:00

Courageous Hope For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope forwhat we do not yethave, we wait for it patiently.Romans 8:24-25I believe that HOPE is the second most powerful force in the world! The most powerful force, of course, is love (1 Corinthians 13:13) but hope runs aclose second. Hope sustains in the midst of

Brian Coffeybcoffey@fbcg.com1