FBC Carthage E-News for January 18, 2010

FBC Carthage E-News
January 18, 2010

Good foggy morning,

The warmer temperatures and the foggy morning give me hope for Spring. After the severe cold of last week I am looking forward to the Springtime. I have to remember what my mom often said, “Don’t wish your life away.” This is going to be a great week.

Yesterday we received baby bottles to remind us to pray for the formation of the Smith County Pregnancy Center and the Director Debbie Bernal. The work of a Crisis Pregnancy Center provides a great service to a community as it ministers to women in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They will provide pregnancy tests, counsel on alternatives to abortion, help for the expectant mother, abstinence education for teens and post-abortion counsel for ladies who have had abortions in the past. Remember to fill your baby bottle with change and bring it with you on Sunday, February 14 for the Smith County Pregnancy Center.

There are several good websites on the ministry to women in crisis pregnancy. You can check them out through these links:

Heartlink is a ministry of Focus on the Family
http://www.heartlink.org/

North American Mission Board
http://www.namb.net/site/c.9qKILUOzEpH/b.232948/k.75CF/Pregnancy_Care_Ministries.htm

Loving and Caring Ministries
http://www.lovingandcaring.org/

Last night we studied the first two letters to the seven churches in Revelation, Ephesus and Smyrna. I found the two links below that are helpful and give a brief tour of the cities where these churches were located.

The Church in Ephesus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TW5-J0hSrm0&feature=PlayList&p=54948EC038758BDE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

The Church in Smyrna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chzqWs0JVgY&feature=PlayList&p=54948EC038758BDE&index=0&playnext=1

This week I will be contacting our mission agencies to find an avenue for us to help meet some of the desperate needs in Haiti. Pray for the people of this devastated country and consider your gift for the relief efforts. I will share more on this on Sunday.

Several of our families need your prayers this week. Alissa Hodge, wife of Tyler Hodge, is having major surgery today at 1:00 PM at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. Also, remember Jane Trainham and her family in the death of her dad, Milton Dickerson.

Thank you for praying for me last week while I was in class at Liberty Seminary. The class was great and I hope to implement several of the concepts and ideas I learned here at FBC Carthage. Liberty has 10,000 resident students on their campus and over 30,000 who study online from home.

Have a blessed week.
Bro. Tim

Here’s the news for the week:
1. We will have a New Member/Prospective Member Orientation Class this Sunday, January 24 at 4:00 PM in the classroom to the left of the Sanctuary. This orientation will cover the basic information about our church and provide a time to answer questions you may have. If you have not listened to the messages, “Four Things Every Member Should Know” that might be helpful as well. These messages are located on the church website under media. Here’s a link: http://www.fbccarthage.com/media/media.htm

2. All Youth planning to attend the Annual Ski Trip January 30-31 are asked to come to the Youth Bible Study this Wednesday night, January 20 at 6:30 PM for information and release forms. Parents are welcome to attend. If you have invited friends for the trip have them come with you this Wednesday night as well.

3. All couples are invited to a Valentine Dinner on Saturday, February 13 at 6:00 PM in the Family Life Center. The cost will be $20 per couple. A sign-up sheet will be available this Sunday on the table in the foyer or you can call the church office at 735-1929. Robbie’s Catering will be providing the meal.

4. We will be ordering Bible Pathways tomorrow. It is not too late to sign-up and join in this year-long adventure through the Bible. Call the church office today and ask to be included on the list. The church is glad to provide this resource for you as an encouragement to read, study and know God’s word.

5. Here is a prayer for the people of Haiti I received this week. Let is be a reminder to us to pray for this country and its people in their time of need.

Lord, I just want to say THANK YOU, because... this morning I woke up and knew where my children were. This morning my home was still standing. This morning I am not crying because my husband, my child, my brother, sister, or parents, needed to be buried after being pulled out from underneath a pile of concrete.

This morning I was able to drink a glass of clean water. This morning I was able to turn on the light. This morning I was able to take a shower... I was not planning a funeral, but most of all I thank you this morning because I still have life and a voice to cry out for the people of Haiti.

Lord I pray that you, the one that makes the impossible, possible, the one that turns darkness into light, I pray that you give those mothers and fathers strength, give them a peace that surpasses all understanding, that you may open the streets so help can come.

May you provide doctors, nurses, food, water, and all they need without hesitation. For all that have lost family members and loved ones, give them peace, give them hope, give them courage to continue. Protect the children and shield them with your power.

I pray all this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.