From our Family and Music Minister | Growing up, everyone was given a nickname at one time or the other. Some are good, and unfortunately, some are bad. The ones given to us by our friends are usually the best because they know us. The nickname is typically related to something funny that has happened in our lives or something that describes us. Our close friends can get away with using some nicknames that would be offensive if used by someone else because, as friends, they also encourage us with things they say and do. As friends, we love to play jokes and pick on each other, but we don’t need to forget that our friends also need words of encouragement and compliments on their achievements. 

From Our Pastor | Isn’t God wonderful? As David wrote in Psalm 23, He is so good to us and wants us to experience His goodness. 

From our Music and Family Minister | Over the years, I have attended many youth rallies and worship services.  These events can be great times of teaching and worship for young people; however, many of the youth just get caught up in the emotion of the event.  As a result, they will come down during the invitation, be attentive during Bible study, and even show up for Sunday School the following Sunday for the first time in a year.  Unfortunately, this change usually passes within a few days because they were caught up in the emotion of the whole event and honestly had not made a heart change.

From Our Pastor | Where can we find strength and help for living in these days?  Everywhere we look we see confusion, chaos, and disintegration.  What will enable us to live in this time?

From Our Family Minister | Last week, Southern Baptist Churches recognized the Sanctity of Human Life Sunday. This reminded me of a David Platt Bible study with our youth several years ago. In the study, David Platt asked, “Is the unborn child a person?” To some of you, that may seem like a pointless question; however, if it is so easy to answer, why is there so much debate about the acceptance of abortion? Of course, as Christians, we would never say murder is okay

From Our Pastor | Are you confused by the direction that God is leading you?  Perhaps He is leading you into a task that you had never considered until now.  Maybe He is calling you into a role that is different than any that you have filled in the past.  Or, you may wonder why He is wanting you to change at this point in your life. 

From Our Family And Music Minster | From roughly sixth grade on, my responsibility was to clean the house while my parents were at work. Of course, my dad and I would do it together if he was off, but generally, the workload fell to me. So, as my mother and sister would head off to open up her clothing store, I would get started.  I would usually do good for about thirty minutes; but, then, for some reason, I would get distracted by something else. And I would procrastinate so much that all of a sudden, I would have to rush to get the house finished before my dad got home. And I, for some reason, would even procrastinate more when I knew he had a funeral or something else that would make him come home later.

From Our Family And Music Minister | I hope everyone enjoyed the choir leading us in worship this past Sunday. I am so thankful for the talented people we have in this church.  I pray that the music ministered to you as much as it minsters to me. After over 20 years of leading Christmas programs, it is beautiful to retell the same story with so much excitement and relevance year after year. Yet, for some reason, this time of year also makes me think of familiar faces we don’t get to see much anymore or, unfortunately, not at all. Yet, those people have influenced my life and shared the joy they have found in Christ with me. These people will always have a special place in my heart and memories.

Attention Sunday School Teachers We want to get pictures of all our Sunday School teachers to promote Sunday School. So please come to the prayer garden between 9:30 AM and 10:00 AM this Sunday, December 19th, to have your picture made. If the weather does not cooperate, we will be in the library.  If you…