FBC Carthage E-News for March 30, 2009

FBC Carthage E-News
March 30, 2009

Good Morning,

With the cool weather this morning I had an extra pep in my step as I walked to the office. The fog will lift in a while and this will be a beautiful day. The Psalmist said it well in Psalm 118:24 as he wrote, “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Cool or warm, sunny or rainy, everyday is a great day with the Lord Jesus Christ.

All morning I have been humming the song we closed with in last night’s service, “Set My Soul Afire, Lord”. My prayer for the revival services beginning this next Sunday is that the Lord will “let the fire fall” in my heart as your Pastor and in this church congregation that we might have a fresh vision of reaching this community for Jesus Christ.

Last night I was asked a simple question that we overlook and take for granted. One of our new members asked, “What is a revival?” In fact, I had another person ask that same question a couple of months ago. A revival is an outpouring of God’s presence and power in our lives and in our congregation. A revival is a fresh sense of vision and purpose for Christians to reach the people in the community for Jesus Christ. A revival is a time where God’s Spirit moves in conviction in the lives of people and people come to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. In other words, revival is something only God can bring. We have scheduled services for next week. We have been challenged to pray for revival and lost friends. We have been asked to attend and bring our friends. Revival is more than what we can do. Revival is God working in a fresh way in our hearts and in our church. One of the scriptures we often quote during a season of revival is 2 Chronicles 7:14 which says, “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” In this revival, let us humble ourselves before God, and pray. Let us seek Him and His will with all our heart. Let us allow the Lord to examine our hearts and show us the wicked ways from which we need to turn away. As we do this, revival will begin in us.

Preparations are in full swing for the Spring Revival services which will be April 5-8. Bro. Jimmy Napier will be our guest evangelist and will be preaching Sunday morning at 8:00 and 10:45 AM and at 6:30PM each of the four evenings. He led several revivals at Stevens Street Baptist in Cookeville and we had a great revival each time. I am trusting this next week will be the same. His wife will be coming with him for the week and she will be sharing several times through special music.

This week we are focusing on praying for revival and the revival services. I hope you have several people whom you are praying for by name each day this week. Spend time each day in prayer to the Father to touch these people and draw them into a relationship with Him through the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are also gathering to pray this week in several homes of our members. You are invited and urged to attend at least one of these Cottage Prayer Meetings, preferably the one nearest your own home. Here is the schedule for this week’s special Cottage Prayer Meetings:

Monday, March 30 @ 6:30 PM South Carthage
Jeremiah and Hailey Wilkerson Home
29 County House Road

Tuesday, March 31 @ 6:30 PM Carthage
Brad and Melody Tackett Home
740 Jackson Avenue

Thursday, April 2 @ 6:30 PM Tanglewood
Tommy and Mary Hight Home
51 Morris Drive

Each night of the revival will have a special emphasis and a special group for you to invite to attend with you. Invite your neighbors, friends and families each of these nights. Each night the services start at 6:30 PM in the Sanctuary. The special emphasis nights are:

Sunday, April 5 Children’s Night
The children from Awana will meet at 5:30 PM and then come as a group into the service. The youngest Awana group, the Cubbies (3-5 year olds), will stay in their class during both hours. Invite your neighbors, friends and families each of these nights.

Monday, April 6 Sunday School Night
All Sunday School Classes are challenged to have 100% in attendance at the service. Also, invite the prospects for your class to come and sit with you.

Tuesday, April 7 Friends and Family Night
Invite your friends and the members of your family to come and sit with you on this night. Some of you have large families and could fill several pews. This will be a great opportunity to get that lost family member to come who might otherwise be resistant.

Wednesday, April 8 Youth Night
This night begins with a hamburger cook-out at 5:30 PM for everyone in the Family Life Center. The youth are hard at work inviting friends for this night. If you have family or neighbors, invite them to come with you for the evening.

These are two big weeks in the life of FBC Carthage. Pray. Invite. Pray. Attend. Pray.

Have a blessed week as you are a blessing to others,

Bro. Tim


Here is the news for the week:
1. The Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions will continue to be received through Easter Sunday, April 12. As we consider the blessed gift we have received in Jesus through His death, burial and resurrection we want to give so others might hear the good news. Giving to missions through the North American Mission Board is the way we have to share the love and message of Jesus throughout the United States and Canada.

2. Speaking of missions, here are some of the details that were shared yesterday in the Mission Trip meeting. As you are interested in these mission trips, contact Tim Frank of plan to attend the next Mission Trip Planning meeting on Sunday, April 19 at 4:30 PM in the Sanctuary. For those wishing to fly, we will need know so we may purchase tickets.

Mission New York
Date: June 28-July 6
Lodging: Parsonage and Church / Motel Available
Meals: Cooking Team
Transportation: Car – 18 Hours Fly - $300 June 29-July 5
Cost: $150 if driving $350 if flying (Tent.)
Work: We will be working with Jim and Karen Wilburn
and their church on Long Island.

Mission Montana 2009
Date: July 14-22 (Working Dates – July 16-19)
Lodging: Parsonage
Meals: Cooking Team
Transportation: Car – 3 Days Travel Flying - $300
Cost: $150 if driving $350 if flying (Tent.)
Work: Ministry Booth at Pow Wow

ReFuel ’09: Community Youth Mission Project

ReFuel ‘09 is a community youth mission project in Smith County, Tennessee on June 10-13, 2009. The events and activities will be coordinated through the First Baptist Church in Carthage, Tennessee.

What is the Purpose of ReFuel ‘09?
· To assist families in Smith County with home improvements.
· To provide the youth from multiple churches an opportunity to serve the community.
· To provide the youth an opportunity to grow in their faith.

Who participates in ReFuel ‘09?
ReFuel ‘09 is a joint youth missions effort of the churches in Smith County. All students, grades 7-12 are encouraged to join together for this unique missions experience.

What type of projects will be done?
The projects will range from painting and clean-up to light construction, depending on the skill level of the youth involved and the adult volunteers. There will also be backyard Bible clubs with children in the community. Project Request Forms are available upon request from FBC Carthage.

What is the daily schedule for ReFuel ‘09?
8:00 AM Registration at FBC Carthage.
8:30 AM Morning Worship and ReFuel Groups.
10:00 AM Leave for Community Projects and Backyard Bible Clubs.
12:00 Noon Lunch delivered on site.
2:00 PM Return to FBC Carthage and home for clean-up and rest.
6:00 PM Nightly Fellowship and Games at FBC Carthage.

What is the cost to participate?
There is no cost for the individual youth to participate in ReFuel ‘09. The cost of food, transportation and supplies will be a joint effort of the churches participating in the missions effort. Project costs will be provided by the home owners when possible.

What are upcoming dates for ReFuel ‘09?
April 21 7:00 PM Planning Meeting at FBC Carthage
April 24 10:00PM Youth Lock-In Fellowship - Jimmy Floyd Center, Lebanon
June 10-13 ReFuel ‘09

Who will be leading the morning worship and evening games?
The Youth Group from First Baptist Church Monterey, Tennessee will be the leaders for both the worship and fellowships. They have participated in ReFuel for two years in Monterey and are bringing this mission opportunity to the churches in Smith County.

3. The youth had a great turn out on Saturday night for their Youth Connect. A special thanks to the Youth Committee and parents who helped with the food and games. Continue to pray for the youth, as well as the youth teachers and leaders as they seek to connect and make a difference in the lives of the students in this area.

4. The Senior Adults have a new newsletter which was prepared last week by Carol Wilmore sharing the activities of the month. Thanks Carol for a great job.
FBC SR. Adults Newsletter
April 2009

Welcome the Easter Season by going with us on April 1 to Whitestone Inn, a 360 acre secluded property on Watts Bar Lake near Kingston, TN, with views of the Smoky Mountains. It takes approximately 1 1/2 hours to get to Kingston. Whitestone is approximately 7 miles out of town (sort of like Defeated and Cordell Hull Lake are to Carthage). The Lion and the Lamb (restaurant) is located directly across from the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. You’ll love the relaxed natural beauty of Whitestone.

We will take a guided driving tour through Rockwood. Our much loved sister in Christ, Betsy Broyles, will give us personal insight on the little town of Rockwood where she grew up. (I just know it’s not the same since she left.)

We will leave from the church parking lot next to Finish Line at 9 AM. Rockwood is on Eastern Standard Time so we will lose an hour going up but, of course, gain it coming home. We’ll have lunch around 12:30 and allow some time for you to stroll around the grounds at Whitestone before heading home. We hope to spend a little time in the little town of Kingston with Betsy filling us in on all the details of this town. (Did you know it was once the capital of TN? It was only the capital for one day, September 21, 1807. Can’t wait to hear the details of that story!)

$20 is cost of the trip payable the day of the trip. (Make checks payable to FBC.) Please let the church secretary (735-1929) or Carol Wilmore (489-6841) know by March 30 if you are going with us. Feel free to invite a family member or friend to go with you. We can take additional vans if we need. Tim Frank or Dewayne Wilmore will be driving the church van.

Don’t forget to pray for the upcoming revival. Be sure to thank the Lord for the friends and fellowship we have at FBC.

April Help Center Work Schedule:
Monday, April 6 - Ray & Sharon Raymond (10:30 - 11:30), Tim Frank (1-2)
Wednesday, April 8 - Rita Shiverdecker & Helen McCall (2:00 - 3:00), Kenneth
Robinson and Dewayne Wilmore (3:00 - 4:00)
Monday, April 13 - Faye Reece (10:00 - 11:00)

Thank you for your faithfulness with this project.
Hallelujah! He Arose


The Rules of Chocolate

· If you get melted chocolate all over your hands, you’re eating it too slowly.

· Chocolate covered raisins, cherries, orange slices, and strawberries all count as fruit, so eat as many as you want.

· Diet Tip: Eat a chocolate bar before each meal. It’ll take the edge off your appetite and you’ll eat less.

· The problem: How to get two pounds of chocolate home from the store in a hot car. The solution: Eat it in the parking lot.

· A nice box of chocolates can provide your total daily intake of calories in one place. Isn’t that handy?

· If you can’t eat all your chocolate, it will keep in the freezer. But if you can’t eat all your chocolate, what’s wrong with you?

· If calories are an issue, store your chocolate on top of the fridge. Calories are afraid of heights, and they will jump out of the chocolate to protect themselves.

· Money talks, Chocolate sings!

· Chocolate has many preservatives. Preservatives make you look younger.

· Why is there no such organization as Chocoholics Anonymous? Because no one wants to quit.

· Put “eat chocolate” at the top of your list of things to do today. That way, at least you’ll get one thing done.

· Chocolate is a health food. Chocolate is derived from cacao beans.
Bean = vegetable. Sugar is derived either from sugar beets or cane, both vegetables. And, of course, the milk/cream is dairy. So eat more chocolate to meet the dietary requirements for daily vegetable and dairy intake.