Category: FBC

“Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear.”

~Psalm 10:17~

The Thursday night Beth Moore ladies completed the study of James.  Ladies, thanks for your dedication and faithfulness.  The Sunday afternoon group skipped Easter, but will finish in three days.  Then, we will have a brunch on Saturday, the 21st, to celebrate completion of another Beth Moore study.  If you would like to join us at the cabin for the brunch, please feel free to join in the celebration.

Coming soon to FBC, Kentwood – 5th Sunday Singing on April 29th.  Come hear some of the musically talented people out church has been blessed to have.  The service will begin at 6:00 P.M.

VBS is scheduled for the first week of January.  Call the church office is you would like to volunteer to help.  Let’s make this one special to the children.

Photographs will be taken new week, Wednesday – Saturday, for the next edition of the church directory.  If you do now have your appointment scheduled, please call the church office.

The WMU Quarterly meeting will be April 16th at New Zion Baptist Church.  The meeting begins at 10:00 and concludes with  pot lunch.

Camp Living Waters will be having a Senior Adult Day Tuesday, April 17th at 10:00.  You can call the church office to sign up or sign the form in the front hallway of FBC.

I hope these dates are beneficial to you.  I did not include any youth or children activities, but you can contact a staff member or the church office for those dates.

Pray for Linda B. Williams as she has surgery at North Oaks this morning.

Thought for the Day: How gullible are we?

A freshman at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997. He was attempting to show how conditioned we have become to the alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment. In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of the chemical “dihydrogen monoxide.” And for plenty of good reasons, since it can:

1. cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2. it is a major component in acid rain
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4. accidental inhalation can kill you
5. it contributes to erosion
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical dihydrogen monoxide. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was…

WATER!!!

The title of his prize winning project was, “How Gullible Are We?” The conclusion is obvious.

Religion is another area where people have a tendency to be gullible. Extreme examples can be found in David Koresh’s followers and the Heaven’s Gate cult. But it can happen any time we believe someone without checking out God’s Word to see if what is being taught is the truth. Faith does not mean blindly accepting whatever anyone (even a preacher) says.

John warned, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (I John 4:1).

Use God’s Word to discern between what is true and what is false. And if you feel like living dangerously today, pour yourself a big tall glass of dihydrogen monoxide.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Enjoy a great spring day provided by the Lord.

Anna Lee

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it”.

~Isaiah 55:11, ESV~

WE ARE HOME!!!!! She did wonderful. Her tonsils were big and had puss pockets on them. Also the doctor had to pull her two front teeth, because both of them were loose. Instead of singing All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth she will be singing All I Want for Easter is my two front teeth.

Thanks for the prayers!

Marty, Gretchen, Micah & Sarabeth Simpson

Landon Estay’s friends have updated their blog.  You’ll want to read the latest post and pray for the Pauls.

http://www.thepaulfamilyjourney.blogspot.com/

I’m enjoying reading the book of John one chapter each day as suggested by Bro. Joey.  It is meaningful at any time, but seems more meaningful at Easter.
I’m also enjoying my study of James by Beth Moore.  I have learned so much about him that I did not already know.  I think studying the whole book rather than a chapter here and there has been good for me.  My appreciation for him and his work has really grown during the last few weeks.  I’m on the last chapter and will miss this study when it is completed.

Thought for the Day: Becoming

The famous actor Gregory Peck was once standing in line with a friend, waiting for a table in a crowded Los Angeles restaurant. They had been waiting for some time, the diners seemed to be taking their time eating and new tables weren’t opening up very fast. They weren’t even that close to the front of the line. Peck’s friend became impatient, and he said to Gregory Peck, “Why don’t you tell the maitre d’ who you are?”

Gregory Peck responded, “No, if you have to tell them who you are, then you aren’t.”

There’s a great deal of wisdom in that statement. There’s a big difference in who we think we are, who others think we are, and who we really are. Someone has well said that, “Reputation is who others think we are. Character is who we really are.” As Christians, we ought to be more concerned with character than with reputation. Christianity is more than just knowing the right facts. It’s more than going through the right motions. It begins in the heart; it’s who we are.

There is a continual process of growing and adding Christ-like virtues to our lives. Peter wrote, “Add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance brotherly kindness, and to brother­ly kindness love.” (2 Peter 1:5-8). We never stop “becoming”; it’s an ongoing process. There’s always some­thing positive to add to our lives, always something negative to try to get rid of.

We have different ways of measuring growth. When Sueanne and I would take our children to see the pediatrician, the nurse would always check their height and weight. Then that information was written onto a chart that gave us a picture of how they were growing. When we get to be adults, we measure our growth by whether or not we can fit into last year’s pants.

But how does a person measure his growth in Christianity? In Ephesians 4:15-16, Paul says, “…but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into him who is the head — Christ — from whom the whole body…causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Paul says that it’s time for us to grow up, it’s time for us to mature. But what is the goal of our growth? Jesus Christ is!

My favorite picture of the growth of Christianity is found in 2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” Paul says it’s as if we’re holding a mirror in our left hand, and a picture of Christ in our right hand. Now when we look in the mirror and see our reflection, and we then we look at Christ, they don’t look much alike. But every day as we mature, we grow up, we become more like Christ, striving for the day when we look in the mirror and see the reflection of Jesus Christ.

Knowledge, conduct, and character must always go together. We learn God’s will so that we might obey it; and in obeying it, we serve him and grow in Christian character. While none of us is perfectly balanced in these three areas, we ought to strive for that balance.

May God bless you as you seek to “know” His will better, “do” more in service to Him, and “become” more like Jesus Christ!

Alan Smith

Be sure to thank God for the rain.  Just think of all the home-grown vegetables and ornamental flowers that were glad to see the rain.

Anna Lee

“I cried to the Lord with my voice,

and He heard me from His holy hill.”

~Psalm 3:4~

Mrs. Minnie Lou Hutchinson

Haven’t seen Ms. Minnie Lou listed. Our pastor @ Tangipahoa Methodist (and Pine Ridge) announced Sunday that Ms. Minnie Lou Hutchinson was at daughter, Monte Sue (Mitchell?)’s this past wkend and fell and broke her hip. She is in a BR hospital. I think he said Lady of the Lake, but could be mistaken.

Sylvia Day

Carol Jean Gill

“But from there you will seek the Lord your God,

and you will find Him if you seek Him

with all your heart and with all your soul.”

~Deuteronomy 4:29~

Mrs. Carol Jean Gill is continuing to make improvement.  Continue to pray for her, for the rehab workers, and for her family.

James: Mercy Triumphs is great.  We have 36 enrolled.  God is blessing us.

Thought for the Day: Reading God’s Word

The story is told of a door-to-door entrepreneur who became rather bored with his job of selling Bibles, so he decided to become a boss, hiring three people to sell Bibles for him. He interviewed three people. The first came in and said, “I want to sell Bibles for you.” “OK, you’re hired. Here’s your kit; go sell!”

The second came in and said, “I want to sell Bibles for you.” “OK, you’re hired! Here’s your kit; go sell!”

The third came in and said, “I-I-I wa-wa-wa-want t-t-t-t-to s-s-s-s-ell to sell, to sell, to sell, Bi -bi -bi -Bibles, sell Bi-Bibles f-f-f-fo-for y-y-y-y you, Bibles for you!”

“No,” shouted the man, “this will never work! You can’t sell Bibles for me!” The applicant replied, “B-b-b-b-but I r-r-r-eall, but I really, really, n-n-n-n-need th-th-th-this, really need th-this job!”

As there were no other applicants, the man said, “OK, I’ll give you one shot at this, but I expect you to PRODUCE!”

At the end of the day, the first applicant comes back and reports, “I sold 8 Bibles today.” The second reports: “I sold 11 Bibles today. The third worker reports, “To-to-to-to t-t-today, I-i-I so-so, I so-, I so-, I so-, I sold 28 Bi-bi-b-Bibles!” “Great,” says the man. “However, I want you to sell lots more Bibles than that, so get out there tomorrow and MAKE ME SOME MONEY!”

At the end of the first day, the first worker comes in and reports, “Today, I sold 32 Bibles.” The second worker reports, “I sold 44 Bibles today.” The third worker reports, “To-to-to t-today, I-i-I so so, I so-, I sold 79 Bi-bi-bi- sold 79, sold 79 Bibles.”

“Fantastic,” said the man, “since you’re doing so well, so much better than these other two guys, why don’t you tell them what your sales technique is.”

Replied the worker, “I-i-I j-j-j-j-ju-ju-ju-just wa, wa, wa, just wal- wa- wa- walk, just walk up to, up to, up to, just walk up to them and, and ask them, and ask them, and ask if th-th-th-th, ask if they w-w-w-w-w-wa-, ask if they want t-t-t-t-o-o-, if they want to b-b-b-b-b, if they want to buy a Bi-bi -, want to buy a Bi–b–, a – a- a bi -, buy a, to buy a Bi-bi-bible, or d-d-d-d-d do th-th-they do they w-w-w-ant me to ***READ*** it to ’em?”

Though the thought of having that third man read the Bible to us seems a little frightening, we are reminded of how important that we all take time to spend time reading God’s Word for ourselves.

“How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes!…I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” (Psalm 119:9-12,14-16)

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Boone Church of Christ
Boone, NC

Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions

http://www.anniearmstrong.com/whoisannie/

Blessing,

Anna Lee

“Then He said to His disciples,

‘The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.

Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.’”

~Matthew 9:37-38~

From Ashley Raborn

Please keep Sammy Ott in your prayers. They will travel to Jackson in the morning (Friday) to see whether or not he will have a platelet transfusion. We are hoping they will not stop chemo again. As of now, he is in partial remission. We are praying he moves closer and closer towards remission. Please pray for him. Thank you

Pray for Kenneth Birch as he has back surgery today in Baton Rouge.  His sister, Shirley Frazier, has surgery scheduled for the 28th,  Cover these siblings with your prayer.

Testify will be singing at FBC, Kentwood Sunday morning.

http://tangilena.com/view/full_story/17873706/article-Testify-to-appear-Sunday–March-18-at-First-Baptist-Church–Kentwood?instance=Lifestyle+Home+Page

Heart to Heart with Holley Gerth

Thanks for being brave with me…

Posted: 07 Mar 2012 06:29 AM PST