[newsletter] Newsletter 080906
BC NEWS --
Volume 11 Issue 27
August 9, 2006
"My grace is sufficient for thee." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ power may rest on me." What did this mean two millenniums ago, what does it mean to you today? Charles Spurgeon had some thoughts on this; I found his insight as relevant today as it was when it was written.
The other evening I was riding home after a heavy day's work. I felt very wearied, and sore depressed, when swiftly, and suddenly as a lightning flash, that text came to me, "My grace is sufficient for thee." I reached home and looked it up in the original, and at last it came to me in this way, "MY grace is sufficient for thee"; and I said, "I should think it is, Lord," and burst out laughing. I never fully understood what the holy laughter of Abraham was until then. It seemed to make unbelief so absurd. It was as though some little fish, being very thirsty, was troubled about drinking the river dry, and Father Thames said, "Drink away, little fish, my stream is sufficient for thee." Or, it seemed after the seven years of plenty, a mouse feared it might die of famine; and Joseph might say, "Cheer up, little mouse, my granaries are sufficient for thee." Again, I imagined a man away up yonder, in a lofty mountain, saying to himself, "I breathe so many cubic feet of air every year, I fear I shall exhaust the oxygen in the atmosphere," but the earth might say, "Breathe away, O man, and fill the lungs ever, my atmosphere is sufficient for thee." Oh, brethren, be great believers! Little faith will bring your souls to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to your souls.
His grace is great enough to meet the great things—
The crashing waves that overwhelm the soul,
The roaring winds that leave us stunned and breathless,
The sudden storms beyond our life's control.
His grace is great enough to meet the small things—
The little pin-prick troubles that annoy,
The insect worries, buzzing and persistent,
The squeaking wheels that grate upon our joy.
Rely on His Grace to prevent the theft of your Joy.
In Christ Alone
Bill W.
What’s Happening?
This Sunday
August 13 David Shelley will continue the
“Spiritual Awareness” study in Luke 11,
“A sign greater than Jonah.”
August-September Classes
Romans, with Harold Bettger
Dust of the Rabbi, with Dean & Naomi
Tuttle
Cross-Centered Life, with David Hunt
& Greg Mohrman
Discipleship, with
Bill Willcutts & David Shelley
Galatians, with Denise Blevins
Two Ways to Live, with Rob Crust
Middle School: Foundations of Christian
Faith, with Daniel Clark
Pray . . .
For drought relief.
For the Lord to raise up team members for
these Children’s Ministries over the next month:
Sunday School (Praise Factory)
Children’s Church
Early Childhood Ministry
Kids’ Club
For those in medical recovery: Betty Arvas,
Denise Blevins, Tim Sharp, Noel Shelley,
Bob Staley, Joan Worthington.
For progress in the building project.
Quote:
“Man hides his own things in order to
conceal them. God hides his own things
in order to reveal them.”
Martin Luther
Humor:
A mechanic told me, “I couldn’t repair
your brakes, so I made your horn louder.”
Week-end worship attendance……………...190
Special funds…..…………..…….……….$225
Weekly budget needed………………….$7,553
Giving towards budget…………………$10,296
YTD giving toward budget……….…..$195,732
YTD expenses…………………….…..$199,806
YTD budgeted amount…………….…$241,696
Next level giving…………..………….......$720
Next Level TD….....…...……………..$178,426
Coming Events . . .
Aug. 13 1 pm
Aug. 26 4th Annual Nursery Cleaning Party, Saturday, 8:30-2:30
Aug. 30 6:30-8:00 p.m. Kool Kids Klub Leaders Meeting
Sept. 6 6:30-8:00 p.m. Kool Kids Klub Leaders Meeting
Sept. 13 Family Night begins
Children’s Ministry News:
4th Annual Nursery Cleaning Party,
Sat. Aug. 26, 8:30-2:30 p.m.
Children & families would appreciate your help in
washing the toys from the nursery. Please sign up in the foyer or in the bulletin insert for a two hour slot that works best for you. Child care, breakfast, snacks, & lunch will be provided for all nursery cleaning volunteers. Call Christy Aldridge, Early Childhood Development Coordinator, at 356-5858 if you have any questions.
ALL CHURCH EVENT at
Swim and Picnic!
Sunday, August 13 from 1-4 p.m.
Bring your own picnic lunch. Cost is $2 per person.
***If any one is interested in helping with a Children’s Christmas or Easter Program, contact Kristi Weimer, 304-1749.
Weekly Praise Factory Highlight:
BIG IDEA: #62: God’s People Tell Others About Him.
Week #1 story is
Our memory verse for the week: Romans 10:13-15.
Attention Ladies!
☺☺☺Mentoring Breakfast, 10 am on September 9 for women interested in learning how to mentor women! Our guest speaker will be Jacque VerStraten. Cost $5. Please RSVP to
☺☺☺ Women’s Bible Study will begin on Thursday, September 7! Cost $12.
Choice of 3 studies: Calm My Anxious Heart
A Study of Mark
A Mom After God’s Own Heart
Family Night Women’s Bible Study begins September 13. Cost $11.
Time: 6:45-8:00 p.m.
Study: Your God is Too Safe
MISSIONS CORNER
From Elaine Mehn, missionary to
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 19:31
I lived in the same house from the age of two until into my twenties. Since the college I attended was just across the street from my parents’ home, I lived at home through my college years as well. This was the house that I called home for over 20 years. Since leaving home, the number of years that I have lived in one place can be counted on the fingers of one hand. That is until the house that I currently live in. This house has been home for almost 14 years. Granted during those 14 years, I have returned to the States for 2 full and 2 short Home Assignments. But at the end of each Home Assignment I knew I was returning to my “home.” This has given me a sense of belonging in a foreign land.
This return from Home Assignment will be different. We will be moving to a different house in a different neighborhood. I will have to make new friends, find a new grocery store, attend a different church, and make a new “home.” As the reality of what is ahead sinks in, I am trying to figure out how I feel. I am saddened to leave my friends, the checkout ladies at the grocery store who have greeted me and noticed when I have been out of the country, the friendly smiles of my neighbors, and being asked where I am going by the local shopkeepers. This neighborhood is my “village” and I am a part of it. Just the thought of packing and moving is tiring and I am thankful that over the last couple of years I have reduced the amount of stuff that I own.
At the same time I am excited. This is the beginning of a new phase in the adventure of living in God’s family. More than 25 years ago God called me to serve on the mission field. For the last twenty years that has meant learning the Japanese language and culture. During those years I have lived in 3 houses and been involved in several ministries. Some of these have been a challenge and some have been more enjoyable but all of them have been used by God to grow me and bless others. I am sure that this move to the other side of
I find great comfort in being surrounded by the familiar – stuff, neighborhood, friends – but ultimately God is my source of comfort. He has promised to go with me, never leave me, to satisfy my heart needs, and to give comfort to my soul. No matter what is ahead of me in saying goodbyes and hellos, I can smile through the tears because Jesus is leading me.
I pray that no matter where you are in your adventure with Jesus, you will look to Him for your comfort and your “Home.
posted by bethelbaptist | 1:46 PM
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