From:                                          Kara Morrison [kara@fbcws.org]

Sent:                                            Friday, April 04, 2008 11:00 AM

To:                                                Kara Morrison

Subject:                                       First Forward FBCWS Newsletter

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Friday, April 04, 2008

News Spotlight

VBS, Outrigger Island, will be June 22 - 27. This is the biggest evangelistic outreach opportunity for children in the area and we need your help!  For more information, please see Gene. Upcoming Children’s Ministry Meetings Sunday, April 6, 5:00 pm - Meeting for all children's workers and parents. Come find out what we have planned for our children's ministry. Sunday, April 13th, 5:00 pm - VBS Meeting. This is for everyone interested in helping with VBS. Sunday, April 20th, 5:00 pm - Children's camp meeting. For all parents interested in hearing more about camp.

I know I have mentioned this quote numerous times over the past few months but it is one that hits home with me and one that I believe has some biblical underpinnings. The quote is from Albert Einstein and he says, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We have probably all heard that quote at one time or another. So how does that apply to my spiritual walk and the spiritual life of his body? God calls us to “get better and better at it (1 Thessalonians 4:10 MSG)” in reference to loving each other. Throughout scripture we are encouraged to grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Growing and change are a natural part of the human existence. We know that God never changes but only because He is already perfect. Is any one of us even close to perfection? I think we all know the answer to that. Therefore, all of us should be in a state of growth and change in our lives. On the radio this morning I heard someone talking about the old cliché that “variety is the spice of life.” His point was that for most of us, we don’t really want variety. We like things to stay pretty much the same. This goes for many things in our life but it applies to our personal spiritual walk as well as what we want when we come to church. But let me say that without growth, without change, we are in danger. I’ll talk more about those dangers in the near future. In the meantime just know that one area where we will be challenging this body of believers to grow is in the area of small groups. We believe small groups will be one way that God helps us grow together to become fully devoted followers of Christ. More to come!

I know I have mentioned this quote numerous times over the past few months but it is one that hits home with me and one that I believe has some biblical underpinnings. The quote is from Albert Einstein and he says, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” We have probably all heard that quote at one time or another. So how does that apply to my spiritual walk and the spiritual life of his body? God calls us to “get better and better at it (1 Thessalonians 4:10 MSG)” in reference to loving each other. Throughout scripture we are encouraged to grow in Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Growing and change are a natural part of the human existence. We know that God never changes but only because He is already perfect. Is any one of us even close to perfection? I think we all know the answer to that. Therefore, all of us should be in a state of growth and change in our lives. On the radio this morning I heard someone talking about the old cliché that “variety is the spice of life.” His point was that for most of us, we don’t really want variety. We like things to stay pretty much the same. This goes for many things in our life but it applies to our personal spiritual walk as well as what we want when we come to church. But let me say that without growth, without change, we are in danger. I’ll talk more about those dangers in the near future. In the meantime just know that one area where we will be challenging this body of believers to grow is in the area of small groups. We believe small groups will be one way that God helps us grow together to become fully devoted followers of Christ. More to come!

Albert Einstein

News Spotlight

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  What?  I understand the intent behind that statement, but lately I’m finding it harder to believe.  Perhaps we should say, “The more things change, the more they… change.”  Allow me to elaborate. Change at home:  Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kohlton’s potty training advances.  He’s pretty much done now, except overnight.  Kaleb has finally taken off with walking.  We’re extending our patio. Change at church: The young adult Sunday School room will be painted this weekend.  We’re building a new Fellowship Hall and Gym.  We have a new Children’s Minister.  Later this year, we’ll be adding Small Groups to the list of ministries our church offers. All around is change.  And nothing is staying the same.  I can’t decide if I like that or not.  We are creatures of habit.  We  like things just so… the way it’s always been.  But another part of me loves new and different things.  There’s an excitement in me that wants to see things change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when we are in Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come.”  That’s all about change.  Another old saying goes something like this, “God loves us too much to leave us the way He found us.”  As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we will change.  That’s the way he designed it.  Don’t resist change… embrace it, and make it your own.

Well, Gene is out this week in Philadelphia doing some top secret work for the government… or something like that.  So I’m writing in his absence. I once took a road trip with some guys while I was in college.  We were all ministry students and we had opportunities to go to small, rural churches and preach – a sort of “hands on” training for ministers.  This particular weekend, several of us were going to towns that were close together, so we all loaded up in a school car (1980’s Ford Crown Victoria… aka: a BOAT).   The five of us were headed from central to southeastern Oklahoma, just cruising along talking about something interesting I’m sure, though I don’t remember.   All of a sudden… the car just dies.  It won’t start.  Five guys.  You’d think at least one of us would know how to get it started.  Eventually, a state trooper shows up and we load up in his cruiser and head to town – the only time I have ever been or plan to be in the back of a police car. Once in town, we contacted the churches we were going to.  They came and picked us up and we carried out our assignments.  Sunday afternoon, our professor shows up in a school van and takes us all to dinner at a very expensive Italian restaurant. The moral of this story:  sometimes life leaves you broke down on the side of the highway.  But there’s likely to be a ride in a police car and a nice Italian restaurant in it for you too.  Check out Psalm 40.

Brotherhood Spring Golf Tournament Saturday, May 3 8:00 a.m. The location will be announcedat a later date. Baby/Child Dedication Baby/Child Dedication will be on Sunday, April 27th, during the morning service.  If you are interested in participating, please contact Gene Moren ASAP.  The correct spellings of names will be needed for the Bibles and certificates that will be given that day. Thanks, Teddy B.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  What?  I understand the intent behind that statement, but lately I’m finding it harder to believe.  Perhaps we should say, “The more things change, the more they… change.”  Allow me to elaborate. Change at home:  Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kohlton’s potty training advances.  He’s pretty much done now, except overnight.  Kaleb has finally taken off with walking.  We’re extending our patio. Change at church: The young adult Sunday School room will be painted this weekend.  We’re building a new Fellowship Hall and Gym.  We have a new Children’s Minister.  Later this year, we’ll be adding Small Groups to the list of ministries our church offers. All around is change.  And nothing is staying the same.  I can’t decide if I like that or not.  We are creatures of habit.  We  like things just so… the way it’s always been.  But another part of me loves new and different things.  There’s an excitement in me that wants to see things change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when we are in Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come.”  That’s all about change.  Another old saying goes something like this, “God loves us too much to leave us the way He found us.”  As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we will change.  That’s the way he designed it.  Don’t resist change… embrace it, and make it your own.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  What?  I understand the intent behind that statement, but lately I’m finding it harder to believe.  Perhaps we should say, “The more things change, the more they… change.”  Allow me to elaborate. Change at home:  Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kohlton’s potty training advances.  He’s pretty much done now, except overnight.  Kaleb has finally taken off with walking.  We’re extending our patio. Change at church: The young adult Sunday School room will be painted this weekend.  We’re building a new Fellowship Hall and Gym.  We have a new Children’s Minister.  Later this year, we’ll be adding Small Groups to the list of ministries our church offers. All around is change.  And nothing is staying the same.  I can’t decide if I like that or not.  We are creatures of habit.  We  like things just so… the way it’s always been.  But another part of me loves new and different things.  There’s an excitement in me that wants to see things change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when we are in Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come.”  That’s all about change.  Another old saying goes something like this, “God loves us too much to leave us the way He found us.”  As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we will change.  That’s the way he designed it.  Don’t resist change… embrace it, and make it your own.

Change is the essence of life.

“The more things change, the more they stay the same.”  What?  I understand the intent behind that statement, but lately I’m finding it harder to believe.  Perhaps we should say, “The more things change, the more they… change.”  Allow me to elaborate. Change at home:  Several weeks ago, I wrote about Kohlton’s potty training advances.  He’s pretty much done now, except overnight.  Kaleb has finally taken off with walking.  We’re extending our patio. Change at church: The young adult Sunday School room will be painted this weekend.  We’re building a new Fellowship Hall and Gym.  We have a new Children’s Minister.  Later this year, we’ll be adding Small Groups to the list of ministries our church offers. All around is change.  And nothing is staying the same.  I can’t decide if I like that or not.  We are creatures of habit.  We  like things just so… the way it’s always been.  But another part of me loves new and different things.  There’s an excitement in me that wants to see things change. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that when we are in Christ, “the old has gone, the new has come.”  That’s all about change.  Another old saying goes something like this, “God loves us too much to leave us the way He found us.”  As we grow in our relationship with Christ, we will change.  That’s the way he designed it.  Don’t resist change… embrace it, and make it your own.

News Spotlight

I picked up an article that caught my attention. It was in The INTEGRIY Today newsletter. Titled “14 Ways to Worship with Your Life”, it stated that worship is more than just music. Then the article went on to ask, “How can you honor the Lord when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of living?” I would like to spend this and the next several articles I write on some of the 14 ways Laura MacCorkle shared in her article. What is the “nitty-gritty” of life and how can we worship in those moments of “nitty-gritty”? Have you ever reacted when someone cuts you off in traffic or in the express line clearly marked 10 items or less and the person in front of you has a basket full of items to buy. Well I know I have. I know I am not any different than you. So I had to ask myself, how can I honor the Lord when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of living? I hope you will prayerfully consider each suggested way.

Windows of Faith

Due to a conflict in schedule the Windows of Faith meetings will begin May 8th. We will meet at the church for lunch on April 24, at 11:15, to go to Rockfish on Hulen. Please see the newsletter for more information on Windows of Faith.

 

 

April is Coming this Month

April Driggers in Concert

April 20 During the evening worship service at 6:00p.m.

I picked up an article that caught my attention. It was in The INTEGRIY Today newsletter. Titled “14 Ways to Worship with Your Life”, it stated that worship is more than just music. Then the article went on to ask, “How can you honor the Lord when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of living?” I would like to spend this and the next several articles I write on some of the 14 ways Laura MacCorkle shared in her article. What is the “nitty-gritty” of life and how can we worship in those moments of “nitty-gritty”? Have you ever reacted when someone cuts you off in traffic or in the express line clearly marked 10 items or less and the person in front of you has a basket full of items to buy. Well I know I have. I know I am not any different than you. So I had to ask myself, how can I honor the Lord when it gets down to the nitty-gritty of living? I hope you will prayerfully consider each suggested way.

The “nitty-gritty” of living

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