FBC Carthage E-News for December 28, 2009

FBC Carthage E-News
December 28, 2009

Good Morning,

This is one of the most exciting weeks of the year. This week is the beginning of a whole new year. It is a time of new beginnings. It is time to complete all those projects you have laid aside for later. It’s a time for me to pick up, put away, and throw away. I have spent the last hour cleaning. I have thrown away much of the clutter on my desk. I have gone through and deleted many old e-mails. There is a sense of accomplishment as I de-clutter my physical space. This New Year, as I think of all I want to begin and do, it is also a great time to consider all the things I need to get rid of and stop. A New Year is a time of beginning and ending, starting and stopping, doing and not doing. This is one of the most exciting weeks of the year. Don’t miss it.

We have a mission team in Franklin, Tennessee today and tomorrow doing some painting and minor repairs at the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home. Christmas break is a great time to do a mission project. Even if you don’t go outside of Smith County this week, reach out with the love of Jesus and do a loving act for someone else. Tell them, “Jesus loves them.”

Please pray for Mark and Karen Stinnett this week as Bro. Mark leaves on Wednesday for his new Pastorate in Waimea, Hawaii. We had a great Commissioning Service last night at New Middleton Baptist Church for Bro. Mark and Karen.

Don’t forget the New Year’s Eve activities and service beginning at 9:00 PM. Bring finger foods, games and a sense of excitement for a whole new year. We will begin in the Family Life Center at 9:00 PM and then move to the Sanctuary around 11:00 PM for a time of prayer, praise and preparation for the year to come.

Be praying for Gene Oldham’s family today as we gather together at Sanderson’s Funeral Home for his memorial service. Gene and his family have been a part of FBC Carthage for many years.

Have a blessed week as you enter into the New Year, 2010.

Bro. Tim

Here’s the news for the week:
1. The New Year is the perfect time to begin Reading the Bible through. We distributed a Reading Plan yesterday called Bible Pathways. If you did not get a copy we have a few left at the church. Stop by and pick one up as a help in reading through the Bible in a year. I have copied an article at the end of the E-News that answers Why? and How? To begin this journey in God’s Word. In fact, the message yesterday was titled “2010: A Bible Odyssey.”

2. Youth, sign-up sheets are in the Youth Room for the annual ski trip which will be January 30-31.

3. I received a letter last week from Jim Wilburn. He is excited about going on a Mission Trip to the country of Thailand in February. The team will preach in the prisons and orphanages but their main task will be to share the gospel with Chinese tourists and distribute Bibles, gospel tracts and the “Jesus” video that they will carry with them back into China. He has asked that we pray for him as he goes on this mission effort. Jim also asks that you prayerfully consider helping financially with the cost of the trip. You can correspond with Jim at 25 West Main Street, Kings Park, NY 11754.

4. I continue to rejoice in the giving to International Missions through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. With the money that was given yesterday we have received $15,335!

5. Here is an article written on the topic, “Make 2010 the Year of the Bible:”

Make 2010 the Year of the Bible
There is one question that will be asked over and over during the next few days. That question is, “Have you made your New Year’s resolutions?” The online encyclopedia, Wikipedia, defines a New Year’s Resolution as “a commitment that an individual makes to a project or the reforming of a habit, often a lifestyle change that is generally interpreted as advantageous.” For most people, however, their resolutions are broken and/or forgotten well before the end of January.

This year, instead of resolutions, what about accepting a year-long challenge? The challenge is simple, to the point, and accomplished by thousands of people every year. The challenge is to read your Bible through in one year.

The Bible is the all-time best selling book of the ages. More than 100 million copies are sold each year. Almost every home in America has at least one copy of the Bible. The Internet has Web sites devoted entirely to providing the Bible, free of charge, for people to read and study. Yet, many have never read the entire Bible.

You might ask, “Why is it important to read the Bible?” The Apostle Paul answers that question in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 as he writes, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” In this one passage he lays out nine benefits to reading and studying the Bible. These benefits are:
· The entire Bible is inspired by God. The pages of the Bible are God’s words written directly to mankind.
· The Bible is profitable. It is beneficial to your life to read and study the Bible.
· The Bible teaches the doctrines of God. Doctrines are the truths of God. The Bible contains the absolute truth of God.
· The Bible teaches the reproof of God. A reproof shows what you should not believe.
· The Bible teaches the correction of God. Correction establishes what actions a person should not do.
· The Bible teaches the instruction of God in righteousness. Instructions teach what we should do.
· Reading and studying the Bible is the path for maturity and completeness for a believer in Jesus Christ. I cannot be all I am called to be without knowing God’s Word.
· Through reading and studying the Bible, a Christian is equipped and prepared to serve the Lord.
· A mature, equipped Christian who is reading and studying the Bible is completely prepared for every good work which God has called him or her to do.

Understanding the benefits and reasons why a person should read the Bible is only the beginning. These reasons by themselves will lead a Christian to make a well-intentioned resolution to read the Bible every day. These benefits will create in the heart of believers the desire to read through God’s Word. However, as with so many other resolutions, there are few who persist in reading past the first few weeks of the year. The real question is “How? How can I read and study through the Bible in a year?”

Listed below are several practical suggestions for reading through the Bible in this new year:
1. Begin with the goal of spending time each day with Almighty God. Reading the Bible is not the true goal. It is the means to the goal of knowing God. As you read His Word, seek to know Him in a real and personal way. God reveals Himself through the pages of the Bible. He literally speaks to the needs of our hearts as we seek Him in His Word. Many have referred to the Bible as God’s love letter to mankind.

2. Have a version of the Bible that you can read and understand. The Bible was originally written in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic. There are good translations of these original languages which are written in modern English with words that can be understood. If you are partial to the King James Version but find the words hard to understand, you might try reading the New King James Version which reads like the King James but has updated the words which are not used in modern day English. If you don’t understand the words, it will be difficult to read through the Bible.

3. You may want to purchase a study Bible that has additional helps such as commentary on passages, dictionary, concordance, and cross-reference index. You may also want to underline important verses and make notes in the margins as you read.

4. Establish a time each day to set aside for reading your Bible. To read the Bible through in one year, you will need to allow 15-20 minutes every day. The most consistent time I have found is first thing in the morning. The hardest part is going to bed a few minutes earlier each night in order to get up earlier each morning.

5. Designate a place to read your Bible each day. It should be a place free from distractions such as the radio, TV, etc. Devote your entire attention to meeting with God and hearing Him speak to you through His Word.

6. Have a pre-determined Reading Plan. One plan is to read fifteen to twenty minutes every day. Another is to read three chapters in the Bible every day. There are many printed Bible Reading Plans as well as over one million Web sites offering Bible reading plans.

7. Begin each reading session with prayer, asking God to open your understanding of His Word. Ask Him to remove any distractions from your mind. Ask Him to speak to you through His Word.

8. Enlist a reading partner. This may be your spouse, a friend at church, a co-worker, or a neighbor. Having someone to whom you are accountable is a great motivation to accomplishing your Bible reading goal. You may also choose to meet each week to discuss the passages you have read.

9. Place a marker in your Bible at the end of every day. This simple action will help you keep your place and know where to begin the next day.

10. If you miss a day or a week, don’t quit. There is nothing the devil tries to stop more than your personal time alone with God. There will be distractions. There will be conflicts. There will be challenges. Know that this is no ordinary book you are reading. This is God’s Book. This is God’s Word. Pick up where you left off and keep going.