A MESSAGE FROM Rev. Scott Faw, Rowan Southern Baptist Association Board of Directors

Dear Friends:

Well, the year is half gone and it is now time to celebrate our nations independence.  Soon the dog days of summer will be past and our minds will turn to the fall months of the year.  This month I want to share with you some truth that God has been working in my life.

When you think of the letters F or V and what they stand for in the Christians life.  If I’m honest the letter “F” is too often the scarlet letter of my life. Many of you are familiar with the shameful “A” sewn on Hester Prynn’s garment in Hawthorne’s classic. Mine is an internal letter; a big “F” sewn on my heart. The “F” stands for failure. Sometimes my prayer life seems to consist of one continuous apology. “Lord, I’m sorry…again.” There are days that I wonder if I will ever overcome my childish, selfish tendencies.
The Scripture that I most relate to in these times is the question that the Apostle Paul asked in Romans 7:24, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Yeah, I know how that feels. My greatest enemy is often the one frowning back at me in the mirror. I know some people struggle with hateful neighbors, irritating coworkers, or dysfunctional families. I have found, however, that the person who gives me the most grief is none other than my own sinful self.

What I am learning (however slowly) is that as long as I tolerate it, my nemesis “self” will always give me problems. I can’t sit down at the peace table and make negotiations with my personal enemy. There can be no cease-fire. The internal enemy of my flesh can only be dealt with through the most drastic of measures – he must die.

In an age where a high self-image is a premium, I am not trying to build up myself; I am trying to kill it. I am not talking about suicide, but rather spiritual survival. The old man must be crucified, to state it Biblically. Every day, there has to be an execution. I know it sounds brutal, but not everything about Christianity is flowery and sunny. As gloomy as it may sound, every new day of my life should begin with a funeral. I must die to myself in order to truly live in Christ.

When self-dies, the scarlet “F” that I so often feel emblazoned on my heart can be removed and replaced with a beautiful “V”. A “V” for victory! This month we celebrate our nations victory from tyranny from Britain some 249 years ago.  We have ultimate victory in our lives when we submit our lives fully to the Lord Jesus.  Do pray for the search committee as we have began the search for the next man in whom God would have lead our association of churches.  God is faithful and we want to make sure we join him where he is working. 

 Until He Comes,

Scott Faw

Calvary Baptist Church