FBC Carthage E-News for March 14, 2011

FBC Carthage E-News
March 14, 2011

Good Early Morning,

At least it feels early this morning after the Daylight Savings Time change yesterday. It normally takes me a couple of days to get back into a early routine after the “spring forward.” Aside from the sluggish start, it will be nice to have an extra bit of sunshine and light in the afternoon. It also is a sure sign that spring has come.

This week we will begin our 40 Days of Easter e-Devotionals. In preparation for the celebration of our Lord’s resurrection, we will send out an e-Devotional each day to everyone who receives the e-News. The devotionals will also be posted on the blog, www.ontheword.blogspot.com. I hope these daily scriptures and thoughts will help focus our attention on this most important event. If you are writing a devotional, please have it returned to me this week; the earlier, the better.

Our Relay for Life team did a great job yesterday providing lunch after the services. Thank you to everyone who helped and to all who came down for lunch. The donations will go to the American Cancer Society’s work. The next event will be a painting class on Sunday, April 10 from 2-4 PM at the Paint Pail. The Relay for Life event will be at the Courthouse on June 4-5. To find out more on the Relay for Life, click on this link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esdA6RMpm3I&feature=email

Let us all be praying for the people in Japan and the surrounding areas. The devastation is horrific. I received the following e-mail from Randy Davis, the Executive Treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Convention:
“I know you and your church will want to join the TBC staff in praying for the many, many people who have been impacted by the earthquake off the coast of Japan this morning. The 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Japan causing significant damage to the island nation and spawning a massive tsunami that continues to move across the Pacific Ocean. A tsunami warning has been issued for the west coast of the United States. Your Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief leadership is monitoring the situation closely and I wanted to let you as a Board know our protocol during this type of disaster.

Based on the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief international response plan, Baptist Global Response (BGR) will take the initial lead in assessing the situation and how Southern Baptists can best respond to this natural disaster. In fact, BGR has Baptist partners in the area who are moving to assess the damage even now. Jeff Palmer, BGR’s executive director (and originally from West Tennessee), has issued a statement saying, “We hope to have someone on ground tomorrow for an initial assessment and contact with Baptist partners there. We have great Baptist partners that we will contact and see how we can initially support them with resources and expertise in the response.”

It is unknown at this point if volunteers will be needed to assist in the response. If they are needed, Alabama is the first state convention on call during the month of March and have been put on standby. Tennessee is the first state convention on call during the month of May each year. However, a large volunteer response may necessitate trained personnel from multiple states being involved in the effort.”

In these days, it is a blessing to know we have a Heavenly Father who knows us, loves us, and calls us to reach out and serve a hurting, helpless world in the name of Jesus. Do what you can, where you are, with what you have for the glory of God!

Have a blessed week,

Bro. Tim


Here’s the news for the week:
1. We rejoice with Kasey Eatherly, Chelsey Apple, and Johnny Baxter and the decisions for Christ made yesterday in the 10:45 AM service.

2. This Sunday, March 20 we will have our New Member 101 class at 4:00 PM in the room to the left of the sanctuary. This one-session class is for all new members and those wanting more information on becoming a member of FBC Carthage.

3. Sunday night, March 20 will be a case of role-reversal. Bro. Zeke will be preaching and Bro. Tim will be leading the music.

4. Mark your calendars for two special city-wide outreach events. The churches in the Tennessee Baptist Convention are joining together to prayer-walk every street and invite every family to the 2011 Easter services. This emphasis will work like this:

Saturday, April 9 Teams from FBC Carthage will Prayer-Walk the streets
of Carthage and South Carthage.

Saturday, April 16 Teams from FBC Carthage will visit every home in
Carthage and South Carthage with a special invitation to the Easter service at the High School on Sunday, April 24.

5. All Vacation Bible School workers are urged to attend the VBS training conference on Tuesday, March 29 at FBC Carthage at 6:30 PM. If you have not yet signed up to help in VBS you can do that by contacting Rhonda Etheridge or Becky Mitchell. There will also be a sign-up form this Sunday in the bulletin.

6. The Mission Montana Team will meet this Sunday, March 20 at 5:00 PM in Jim Broyles Sunday School room, just behind the Sanctuary. All persons interested in being a part of this mission team are asked to attend. The mission trip to Poplar, Montana is planned for July 4-13.

7. Plans are being finalized for a mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya in late May, early June 2011. If you have interest in being a part of this effort, contact Tim Frank for information and details.

8. Attention, Ladies! We will host the national women’s conference simulcast of Priscilla Shirer on April 1-2. This special conference will begin on Friday night, April 1 at 7:00 PM and resume on Saturday, April 2 at 9:00 AM. Invite your friends to attend with you. Check out her web site and hear a special message for you in preparation for the April 1&2 meetings: http://www.goingbeyond.com/

9. I referred to Dr. David Sills several times in the message yesterday. Dr. Sills spoke at FBC Carthage on March 6 in the evening service. If you did not hear him, I encourage you to take a few minutes to listen to his message. You can find it on the church web site www.fbccarthage.com under the Media page. You can also click on this link: http://sermon.net/fbccarthage/sermonid/2629366

10. I close today’s E-News with an e-mail sent last week by our friend and former Interim Director of Missions, Billie Friel. I mentioned this in yesterday’s message and wanted you to have a copy. As you read the devotional, take a minute to reflect on your perspective of church. Do you see FBC Carthage as a place where you come to be served or a place through which you serve Jesus and others. Good stuff Bro. Billie:

Bibs or Aprons?
I recently visited a fast-growing church in Minnesota to learn from their staff. It was a privilege to witness their passion for doing high quality ministry in Jesus' name. I left with some new insights and renewed passion for the Gospel.

One of the phrases that I heard while I was there was, "We want our members to wear aprons, not bibs."
Here's what they meant:

Bibs are for people who only want to be fed.
Bibs are for those who are not yet ready or willing to feed themselves.
Bibs are for those who are more interested in being served than in serving.
Bibs are for those who insist that the church exists for them and their needs.
Bibs are for babes in the faith, those who haven't caught God's vision for the church, or those who are not yet of the faith.

Aprons are for those who have a heart to serve others in Jesus' Name.
Aprons are for those who know that they are the church.
Aprons are for those who don't mind getting their hands dirty.
Aprons are for those who take the time daily to feed their Spiritual hunger.
Aprons are for those who are growing in faith, and hunger to help others grow.

Church growth consultant, Win Arn, interviewed thousands of Christians in America several years ago and asked them, what they though the church existed for. Eighty-eight percent said, "The church exists to serve my needs and the needs of my family." In other words, 88% of Christians in America are still wearing bibs.

On the night when he was betrayed, just hours before he was crucified, the very Son of God took off his outer garments, wrapped a towel around his waist, and washed his disciples' feet. When he was done he said, "I have just given you an example to follow." In other words, Jesus called his disciples to wear aprons, not bibs.

In Matthew, Jesus is recorded as saying, "For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give My life as a ransom for many." He also said, "If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it."

Jesus calls us to wear aprons, not bibs. Which are you wearing?
Bringing It Home:
1. How would you answer the question, "Why does the church exist?" Does your answer reflect your bib or your apron?

2. How can you help others in your Christian community to trade their bib for an apron?

3. If you're not already serving in a ministry in your church, make a commitment to begin this month.

"For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."
Matthew 20:28