FBC Carthage E-News
April 15, 2013
Happy Tax Day,
April 15 is a
deadline that seems to come quicker each year.
The old adage is still true, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” As believers we are prone to resent about paying
taxes and feel it is a burden, but may this be a day to remember Jesus’ words
about our civic duty to pay our taxes in Matthew 22:
15 Then the
Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. 16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians,
saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth;
nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. 17 Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay
taxes to Caesar, or not?”
18 But
Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test Me, you hypocrites?19 Show Me the tax money.”
So they brought
Him a denarius.
20 And He
said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”
21 They
said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to
them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that
are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they had heard these words, they marveled, and left Him and went their
way.
This week I want us to be
praying for our high school and college graduates. With the high school prom this Saturday, it
will be just a few days until the school year is complete and the seniors
graduate. Graduation for the county high
schools will be Friday, May 10 for Gordonsville High School and May 11 for
Smith County High School. In addition,
many of the college and university graduations will be that weekend as
well. Listed below are the graduates
from FBC Carthage. If you know of others
graduating this spring, please contact the church office at 735-1929 and let us
know. We will have a time of recognition
for the graduates in the morning services on Sunday, May 5, followed by a
church-wide luncheon in their honor at 12:00 Noon.
High
School Graduates
Ryan
Angel
Tommy
Lee Bane
Mary
Lynn Bush
Mary
Michael Denney
Madison
Dillon
Spencer
Hackett
College
Graduates
Zach
Brubaker Carson Newman University
Greg
Dowell University of Tennessee
Rhonda
Ethridge Tennessee Tech University
Tim
Frank Liberty University
Samantha
Key Nashville School of Law
Lauren
Nesbitt Vol State
Audrey
Russell Trevecca University
Erin
Tackett Lipscomb
University
Have a blessed week,
Bro. Tim
Here’s the news for the
week:
1. Everyone is invited to a Community Fellowship Lunch on
Saturday, April 20 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Smith County Ag Center. This effort is to provide an opportunity to
fellowship with others from Smith County and provide a meal for many in our
community who are in need of food. If
you can bring sandwiches, soup, and/or deserts please contact the church office
or Phillip Slagle.
2. We will have a Mission Montana meeting this Sunday
afternoon at 4:00 PM in the classroom beside the Sanctuary. We will discuss the details of the trip and
plan our work with the people of Poplar, Montana. The mission trip will be June 23 thru July
3. We have extended the trip one day to
include a drive through Yellowstone National Park on the way home. Our main work this year will be Vacation
Bible School with the children.
Additional team members are needed for this important work. Say “Yes” to Mission Montana 2013 and come to
the planning meeting this Sunday.
3. FBC Carthage
will host the Defeated Creek Campground Service this Sunday, April 21 at 8:30
AM. Jeff Hall will be leading the
service.
4. This Sunday, April 22 will be the final session of
AWANA for this year. A special “Thank
You” to all the dedicated workers who have ministered to the children during
this year. We have had several accept
Jesus as their Savior and Lord in the past couple of weeks and hope to see them
follow in baptism soon.
5. Just a reminder that our
adult Wednesday Night Prayer Service will
meet in the Christian Life Center during April to allow the Children’s Choir to
rehearse in the sanctuary. They are
preparing for their spring musical which they will share on Sunday, April 28 at
6:00 PM.
6. A church-wide Family
Day at Fall Creek Falls State Park is scheduled for Saturday, April 27. We will leave
from the church parking lot at 8 AM to enjoy hiking, a picnic, and a time of
fellowship together. For more information see Jeff Hall.
7. The Children’s Committee is
planning a trip to Dollywood for the entire family on Thursday, June 6. The bus will leave Carthage at 7
AM and return around 10 PM. Cost for anyone age 12+ is $50.00, ages 4-11 is
$40. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Transportation via church bus is
provided for up to 23 people. Sign up deadline is Sunday, May 19. Contact
church office or Fran Frank to sign up.
8. The Smith County Drug Coalition is planning a
Drug-Take-Back on Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Smith
County Chamber of Commerce. Go through
your medicine cabinet and gather up any out-of-date and unused prescriptions. The medications that are received at the
Take-Back will be destroyed in a proper way that does not compromise the water
or air.
9. Last week I had opportunity to share a brief message
to several of the graduating seniors from the high schools. Here is the outline shared with the students
along with some additional scriptures.
Perhaps you can use this to encourage someone to have a Christ-like
attitude. Paul challenged believers to
have the mind/attitude of Christ in Philippians 2:5-11.
Ten
Choices that Make a Difference in Life
In
living life, the attitude you choose to have makes the difference. Education is important. Intelligence is important. Ability is important. Attitude makes the difference. There have been many intelligent, well
educated, capable people who never achieve their full potential because of the
attitude they choose. Charles Swindoll,
pastor and author has said, “I am
convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react
to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our attitudes.”
How you approach life, deal with people, face
challenges is summed up in one word – Attitude.
1)
Be positive.
Phil
4:8 Finally, brethren,
whatever things are true, whatever things are noble,
whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any
virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on
these things.
You
can choose to be positive and live with a positive outlook on life. Anyone can see the negative and why something
won’t work.
2)
Be
encouraging.
Eph
4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for
necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
“You can achieve your goals as you
help others achieve their goals.” Zig
Ziglar
3)
Be friendly.
Prov
18:24 A man who
has friends must himself be friendly.
4)
Be kind.
Eph.
4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Go
out of your way to help others.
5)
Be hard working.
Col 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to
men.
“Opportunity is missed by most
because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Thomas Edison
6)
Be
adventurous. New places. New friends.
New experiences.
Luke
9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come
after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,[a] and follow Me.
7)
Be generous.
Acts
20:35 It is more blessed to give than to receive.
8)
Be honest.
Matt
5:37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’
‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
9)
Be loving.
Matt
22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as
yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and
the Prophets.”
10)
Believe.
Acts
16:31 “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you
and your household.”
Mark 8:36 For
what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
“It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that
determines your altitude.” Zig Ziglar
