Patrick’s real name was “Sucat” (389 - 461AD). He was not Irish, nor was he Catholic. He was dead for nearly 200 years before his name is ever mentioned in any Catholic writings. He has never been declared a “Saint” by the Catholic church.

Patrick was a Bible preacher, and local church planting missionary to Ireland where he was once held as a slave. The message Patrick preached and the church polity he practiced was no different than what you would find here at First Baptist Church today.

There are two writings of Patrick that are still in existence today. The most important of the two is his personal testimony or “Confessions”. Any honest student of history, would find that the real Patrick would sooner be condemned as a heretic (like our other good Baptist brethren) by the Catholic church rather than exalted as a Saint.

One of the truly amazing rewritings of history is that concerning this humble Bible preacher. The “St. Patrick’s Day” celebrations of today are filled with pagan practices of religious superstition, drunkenness, and revelry. This is the very darkness Patrick brought Ireland out of when he brought the marvelous light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our theme at First Baptist Church for 2009 comes from Hebrews 10:25; “…and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Our desire is to walk closer to Jesus as we draw closer to his soon return. Satan knows the time is near and has increased his attack to destroy God’s people, which makes us more determined to stay faithful and walking on the victory side.

We will stay in the Bible so much the more. As a church, we are encouraging each other to use our daily Bible reading calendar. More than just reading the Bible, we are commanded to also meditate, memorize, study, keep, rightly divide, obey, walk in, live, love it.

We will pray so much the more. Prayer is the most powerful force known to man. Through prayer we can accomplish what is humanly impossible. Prayer is the only hope we have for the salvation of our souls, our present needs, our homes, our church, our community, and our nation.

We will stay in Church so much the more. There is no institution on the earth more important than the local assembly of God’s people. It was established by Jesus Christ, and He is still the head of the body. Many, because of false teaching, misplaced priorities, or a “bad” experience have jumped out of the place God says we need so much the more today (this is the context of Hebrews 10).

We will share the gospel so much the more. Jesus said, if we follow Him, he will make us fishers of men. There is nothing so dear to the heart of God than sharing the unsearchable riches of his grace. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost, He gave us the command and privilege to seek the lost and bring them unto Him today.

We will give so much the more. Giving is much more than giving financially. If we have given God our life, we will also gladly give Him of our treasure. Giving is the first ingredient of true worship. We desire to be remembered with the churches of Macedonia which first gave of themselves (2Cor 8).

About a year ago, I was headed out to visit one of our elderly ladies in the church who was having some difficulty recovering from heart surgery. Clara, is the type of person who only has kind things to say about others, and is an example of Christian joy. You would never know when you first meet her, the heart ache, and difficulty she has known most of her life. If there is ever a reason for someone to be bitter, angry, and hateful, Clara could claim that reason. Instead she has always been a good example of how a Christian can chose to be an overcomer instead of a victim of their circumstances.

As I struggled in my own personal life with a situation that would not go away, I thought that this would be a good opportunity to learn from a person with experience. As I visited with Clara, I pulled a piece of paper out of my New Testament to write down her answer to my question: “What can you teach me about forgiveness?” I expected to hear some great hidden truth, or at least a reference to a key passage of Scripture. Jesus’ parable of forgiveness in Matthew 18 or a study in Ephesians 4 would seem appropriate to me.

Instead, she just made a statement, and moved on in the conversation. At the time I felt disappointed, and didn’t even consider writing down what she said. On the drive home, I got thinking about how profound and how applicable that statement was. I may not have the wording exact, but what Clara told me that day has helped me clearly understand the blessing of forgiveness. She said, “I just decided one day that if I don’t forgive, I can’t live my own life”.

Let me illustrate it this way: If I am walking downtown and see someone coming my way that I have ought against, I suddenly duck into a store or turn another way to avoid that person. That person, or should I say, my unforgiveness of that person is now running my life. If I have forgiven as Christ forgives, I would love that person and welcome seeing them again. The longer I go, the more I let the sun go down on my wrath, the more bitter and angry I become.

What a blessed peace and freedom is ours when we learn to forgive even as Christ has forgiven us. Now we are free to live our life instead of allowing others dictate our direction in life. Better yet, Christ is now able to live, love and forgive through us.