08/13/2018
Good morning, family/friends:
As noted yesterday several of our families will be traveling/camping in the next few weeks and physically away from our church family. But we will think of these brothers and sisters often and when we do offer a prayer for their safe return home and pleasant experiences while traveling. It's wonderful to be able to travel and share part of this big, wonderful world God created!
And as we pray, REMEMBER THESE SICK: Heather Simmons, relative of Cheryl, finished a second round of chemo and making progress at St. Jude. Steve Mastro, former member now living in FL and battling cancer. Judy Hopkins, another former member, also dealing with cancer. April's Mom as she continues rehab in a local nursing facility.
Pray also for Jon/Mark Hoover as they fly to MN this week for the funeral of a dear friend of the Hoover's. Ronnie/Sandi as they travel to Mattoon, IL with Ronnie's business. Remember Gary/Roberta as they sell their house and relocate in the Nolensville area. And remember Nancy/family as they continue to deal with several domestic issues.
Joey is learning the sound board and other A/V technicalities really fast and is a God-send for the congregation. Just as we're reminded of what it's like to live without the convenience of electricity when the power goes off, so it is with contemporary worship without the audio and visual aids we have come to appreciate. Thanks, Joey!
As Charlie mentioned Sunday we are reaching out to Lipscomb University--and perhaps other schools in the area--in an effort to supply our preacher pool, just as we've done with music leaders to fill those slots. Please be in prayer that God will direct us to just the right people needed for all areas of our congregational worship and ministry. I will be meeting with the director of Lipscomb's church relations ministry soon. In the meantime if you know of speakers who are Biblically based and balanced and available to speak for us please let any one of the shepherds know!
This next Sunday Dr. Roy returns to lead in studies from John's gospel. He will be with us the next two consecutive Sunday's. But beginning in Sept. he will only be with us once per month as the twice per month schedule he's been following had begun to impact his family situation. Come next summer he will not be able to give us any more of his time, period.
The Sunday morning adult class will begin John Eldredge's "All Things New" video series this next week. Eldredge says, "Most Christians miss the ultimate hope for their future because their views of heaven are vague, religious...and, frankly, boring. Hope begins when we understand that for the believer, nothing is lost. In this stunning video series the author shows how according to the Bible, heaven (the present heaven) is not our eternal home--the New Earth is. Jesus said the next chapter of our story begins with "the renewal of all things" (Matthew 19:28), by which He meant the earth, ourselves, and the restoration of everything we love." Please join us!
Men's gathering tonight at 7.
Be blessed in your week and watch where God will lead you to help rescue another!
Julian