Brotherhood Meeting

Men, you are encouraged to attend the Brotherhood meeting Tuesday night at 7:00 PM. There has been a change of location you need to be aware of. The meeting will be held at the church instead of the home previously stated.
There has been great ministry and growth in our Brotherhood. All men are welcome to come out for a time of hearing God's Word, prayer and godly encouragement.

Children's Mission Project

The Wednesday night children's mission classes have been studying about a family in Alaska - The Purples. The Purple family distribute toys in addition to other mission work in Alaska. Our children will be collecting toys for this missionary family to share. There is a box in the fellowship hall marked "Purple Family" where you may drop off donated toys.

Thank you for your support for our children as they support missions!

Prayer Requests

There are many in our church family who are in need of prayer this morning. Keeping them close in your thoughts and prayers will be a blessing and help to them.

Anita B. had an uncle to suddenly pass away this week. Please pray for the family in their time of loss and travel to the services.

Wendy P. (Willard and Judy H.'s daughter) is in the hospital for illness and they are running tests. She is very ill and needs our prayers.

Mary Kay (Felton and Mary Lou's daughter) underwent surgery this week and is recovering at home.

Bessie P.'s granddaughter in law underwent surgery also this week and is at home recovering.

Robert S. has a nephew who has been battling cancer and has been placed in Hospice care.

Carol A. will undergo some tests today.

Sickness...many families have been affected by sickness.
Liz H. has suffered with the flu for several days.
Lowell and Lisa L.'s family has had sickness and their young daughter is still sick.
Lucas and Theresa H.'s family has been sick.
Mike and Sarah K.'s family have been suffering with illness for several weeks and some of the children are still sick.

Please pray for healing for these families and remember to encourage one another in the Lord.

Saturday Church Workday

There will be a church workday this Saturday (September 26) beginning at 8:00 AM. This was not in the bulletin, so please share with church family you may have contact during the week with.

Homecoming will be October 11 and we will be doing some cleaning up around the church to prepare for that special day. Men will be working on the outside - pressure washing sidewalks and building exterior, tending shrubs etc. and there are many indoor tasks the ladies can accomplish.

Looking forward to a great workday!

Funny For the Day

Maquire State Offering

Florida Baptists look to the month of September as a time of awareness, reflection and prayer for the great opportunities God has presented them in the state.

Understanding that the growing missionary needs in Florida cannot be met by Cooperative Program gifts alone, the Maquire State Offering complements Florida Baptists’ commitment to the Great Commission and their mission field.The offering has a missionary purpose—helping new congregations through no-interest church site loans, supporting partnership pastors and spreading the gospel through evangelistic ministries.

Our church will be receiving an offering for these missions through the month of September. To read more about this offering see Unspeakable Amazing Joy and Generosity.

See You At the Pole

“Go and pray to God for me and for the people . . .“ —2 KINGS 22:13a (The Message)

How about you? Do you desire to see a mighty move of God on your campus? Are you pursuing God passionately? Are you serious about radical obedience? Are you determined to get rid of anything and everything that dishonors God and ready to challenge your friends to do the same?

This year’s See You at the Pole™ theme is very simple—ENGAGE: Go and Pray . . .

GO to your school flagpole on Wednesday, September 23, and PRAY for your friends, family, school, community and the world.

This year’s See You at the Pole™ challenge is simple:

ENGAGE - ENGAGE your school

ENGAGE - ENGAGE your community

ENGAGE - ENGAGE your world . . . for His glory!

See You at the Pole™ is a great place to

ENGAGE - ENGAGE God,

ENGAGE - ENGAGE with other believers, and

ENGAGE - ENGAGE His heart for your campus . . . in the name of Christ.

See You at the Pole™ connects believers together at the beginning of the school year, so you can stand strong together throughout the year.

See You at the Pole™ is all about prayer. It’s about you coming together and laying aside all of the labels and groups for one day, to simply engage with God in prayer and connect with fellow Christians in unity around the flag pole.

Our local schools participate in See You At the Pole. All students are encouraged to meet at their school flag poles Wednesday September 23 before school. For more information, visit SYATP.

How Does God Speak To Us?

There are some common ways that God speaks to His people today.

He does still speak..the problem is not God not talking, but that we don't understand.

God Speaks:

1. Through His Word:
The Bible is inspired by God. II Timothy 3:16

2. Through Gifted Teachers:
The more godly teaching we hear, the more opportunities we have to hear God. We hear godly teaching in Sunday School, Christian radio and church services.

3. Through Impressions:
God puts ideas and or inspiration into our minds at times. This is an area for careful discernment. Impressions from the Lord will always line up with the Bible.

4. Through Our Pain:
Not all pain is God speaking, but on occasions, it is. It has been said "God whispers in our pleasure, but shouts in our pain." Many times we don't' change when we see the light, we change when we feel the heat."

‘Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.’ I Samuel 3:9

Walk/Run For Life

Walk/Run For Life 09 Challenge ~ A Chance For A Lifetime

Join the challenge to save lives. Give the unborn the chance for a lifetime!

October 3, 2009
Pregnancy Care Center Annual Walk/Run Challenge

Registration begins at 8:00 AM, walk begins at 9:00 AM.

There is a 2 1/2 or a 5 mile route to walk. Everyone is welcome.

Become a part of the team. Join us in a walk for life and help our church win THE CHALLENGE trophy! Last year we were in 2nd place for the most walkers! Mark your calendars now!

Happy Grandparents Day!!

"But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, upon them that fear Him; and His righteousness unto children's children." Psalms 103:17

Sunday is Granparents Day and is a wonderful opportunity to express love and appreciation to grandparents. Grandparents are the special people in our lives who show unconditional love and acceptance and if we take time to learn, can enrich our lives with wisdom and gudiance from the paths of life they have walked. Grandparents are special and worthy of special honor on this day!

Night of Joy

Our youth left early this morning for to enjoy - A Night of Joy where various Christian musicians perform. Here are a few scenes before their departure:

There are several youth and adults traveling today. Please keep them in your prayers for a safe trip and a time to enjoy the worship of the Lord through the concerts.

Childhood Conversion Conference

Learn How To Share Jesus With Children

Presented by Tina Kimbro - Florida Baptist Convention
September 19, 2009 ~ 9:30 -11:30 AM

Who Should Attend?
Leadership: All Children's Sunday School Teachers and Workers
Mission Leaders
VBS Workers
Parents, Grandparents
Anyone who crosses paths with children.

Please make plans to attend this conference. Our future generation needs you!

Hearing God Speak

Our church is hearing and receiving from a great new sermons series, "How We Can Hear God". We have been reminded that communication is vital for all relationships. Our God - the Almighty and Holy One wants to communicate with us - how powerful is that?

A few steps will help open our spiritual ears to hear God speak to us:

1. We must cultivate a mind open to God:
We must want to hear God's voice. Be aware of things that could close our minds to the Lord:
Pride
Fear
Bitterness

2. We must make time to listen to God:
Slow down, set a deliberate, scheduled time for prayer and reading God's Word.
Beware of the barrenness of a busy life. Busy does not always mean productive.
Take time to truly listen to God. Let our hearts be as deep roots, seeking nourishment and refreshment.

3. Eliminate Distractions:
When our minds are busy and distracted, we miss God.

4. We need to cooperate with God's Plans.
God will always lead us in the right path. Have a willing heart to obey God's direction. Hear and retain God's Word. This leads us on a productive path.

Be still, and know that I am God;I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalms 46:10

Iron Sharpens Iron Men's Conference

October 3 in Ocala, Florida there will be an Iron Sharpens Iron Conference for men. Key speakers will be :

Bruce Wilkerson:

Bruce Wilkinson has written over 60 books in 30 languages, including The Prayer of Jabez, the fastest selling book of all time. He launched Walk Thru the Bible Ministries in 1976 and it became the largest religious seminar organization in the world. Dr. Wilkinson has conducted and keynoted national leadership conferences around the world but his greatest passion is to speak into the lives of men.www.brucewilkinson.com

Reggie Dabbs:

Reggie Dabbs has served as the emcee for every Promise Keepers Men’s Conference nationwide the last five years. He is also a popular speaker in the public school system where he connects with kids about drugs, alcohol, dating and life. Reggie serves on the staff with his local church in Florida.

Some of the Seminar topics will include:

• Becoming 10-8 In Service for God
• Building a Spiritual Legacy Worth Leaving
• Dad, The Family Champion
• Equipping Men for Better Bible Study
• Every Man’s a Mentor: Reaching Our Boys
• Fatherless America: A Challenge to Today’s Men

and many more. There are seminars geared toward men of every age and season.

For more information please visit Iron Sharpens Iron. See Bro. Buddy or Bro. Dave if you are interested in attending.

Can You Spare 5 Minutes This Week?

Our pastor has issued a challenge for the church for this week:

Spend at least 5 minutes in God's Word and prayer this week. Every day this week, you can make a deliberate choice to spend at least 5 minutes in prayer and reading God's Word. We are currently in a sermon series on the subject of Learning To Hear God Speak. May our hearts be attentive to God and hear Him speak to us.

Let's begin by giving Him some dedicated, undivided time this week!

Brotherhood Meeting

Here are some scenes from the recent Brotherhood Meeting. There were 35 men in attendance and they enjoyed some great fellowship and encouragement. They heard a powerful devotion and followed what they heard with some action at the cross which was brought in for a special biblical activity.

Thank you to Jason and Holly for hosting the meeting, for Buddy for obeying the call of the Lord to stir up and encourage our men to be all they can be in the Lord, and for each man for purposing in their heart to seek the Lord and be godly leaders in their home, church and community. May God continue to guide and bless this ministry.

Awakening America

On September 11, 2001, America was shaken to its foundations by a series of surprise terrorist attacks. All of us were awakened to the new reality of global terrorism. Eight years later our nation needs to be awakened again, not just to the threats of terrorism, but to our critical spiritual condition.

Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening. Over the last few months our economy has been deeply shaken. Overall church attendance continues to decline across the nation, America is now the third largest mission field in the world and an entire generation is growing up with little understanding of absolute truth. Yet, in what appears to be a very trying time for the Church in this nation, we believe that America is on the verge of a sweeping move of God’s Spirit that will touch every state, every county and every heart. Americans are now in desperate need of a fresh Christ Awakening.

The historical patterns of America’s Great Awakenings indicate that it is in precisely this type of seemingly hopeless national environment that God chooses to move in response to the cries of His people. Historically, when the people of God have set aside their differences to come together across this nation in extraordinary, united prayer, God has heard from heaven and responded with great outpourings of His Spirit.

In response to our nation’s need and God’s Biblical and historical pattern for bringing awakening to America, we are calling for extraordinary, united prayer in every county of the nation. At noon, on Friday, September 11, 2009, tens of thousands will gather at county courthouses across the nation in repentance, prayer for the lost and crying out for God to send a Christ awakening to our nation again.

Locally there will be a rally at our courthouse from 12:00 - 1:00 PM Friday September 11. You are encouraged to attend and spend some time to Cry Out for America.

For more information about this movement, visit Awakening America

In the Hospital and Prayer Need

There are some church family which are currently in the hospital.

John P.'s father is suffering from a staph infection and is receiving treatment. He may be released today, but continues to need your prayers for healing.

JoAnn B. is still in the hospital battling an infection in her back. She will undergo another MRI today to see if the infection is getting better. Her pain is better today, but she still needs your prayer and support.

Please be aware that Lowell L's brother passed away this week. Please keep this family in your prayers.

Don't forget tonight's Family Meal - Tailgate Style!! Bring the family and your favorite tailgate food to share!

Look At How They've Grown...

Here are some pictures taken when our last directory was taken:

It's only been a few years, but my, how they've grown:

The new church directory is at the publishers and should be ready very soon!

Good Morning Girls Group

Ladies,

Do you desire a more consistent daily quiet time? We all know the importance of daily prayer and reading God's Word and how this daily practice enriches our Christian walk and lives.

Do you email? Would you be interested in a quick daily fellowship and accountability and FUN??? Please pray about becoming a part of Good Morning Girls Group.

A Good Morning Girls Group is a group of women who love Jesus and love their sisters in Christ. The main goal is to keep each other accountable in their daily quiet time with God.

Each morning Monday through Friday – after you have your quiet time you will email the group just to say – “I read (whatever verse or passage etc.) in my quiet time today.” The first person to email for the day begins the “thread”, then everyone else responds through out the day to say what they learned during their quiet time. There is no set time limit to respond, so you can share if you do your quiet time in the morning, afternoon or at night.

Joining this group is a 3 month commitment. The beginning will be September 18. At the end of three months you can reassess whether you’d like to continue the group or dissolve the group. You can do commit and do anything for three months!

Here’s a sample Good Morning Girls email:

Monday 6:35am– Good Morning Girls! I just had my quiet time in Proverbs 31 – it really motivated me to get busy cleaning today – so I’m off to clean - have a great day!

7:15am – (the next girl in the group replies)–– Good Morning! I just read in I Corinthians 13 about love – I am so convicted about the way I have been treating my husband lately. I’m going to start memorizing this passage.

1:15pm(the next girl in the group replies) – the kids are down for their naps and after seeing that you read in I Corinthians 13 today – I decided to read there too – oh it is so convicting - for me it’s with my mother-in-law – I’m really struggling to unconditionally love her. Say a prayer for me today if you think of it!

Final replier of the day 9:15pm – oh girls – I had a terrible day – I woke up late – the kids would not sleep during their naps and I’m just now getting to my quiet time with God. I’m so glad I have you guys or I’d be tempted to not meet with God at all. So I sat down and read in Psalm 62 and had a precious time with God – I really needed to hear those words. I’m praying for you all and your marriages and in-laws. Hang in there – talk to ya again tomorrow! Night Night!

Please pray about it and if you are interested, leave a comment here on the blog, or email Joyce.
Looking forward to what God can do with hearts that are seeking Him!